(Dr.) Ken Veenema (‘73)
Ken Veenema was Glen Rock High School’s most accomplished baseball player.
A three-year starting second baseman for Hall of Fame Head Coach Carl Zaisser, Ken was a great fielder and an outstanding hitter. He helped lead the 1971, 1972 and 1973 teams to three consecutive B-PSL Championships.
The 1972 team won the Group 2, Sectional Championship and the Group 2, North Jersey Championship. Sadly, they were defeated by defending State Champion Haddonfield in the Group 2, State Championship final. The 1972 team has been recognized as the most powerful baseball team in Glen Rock High School’s history. The team finished with an historic 25-6-2 record (which was the most wins that year in Bergen County). Ken was named to the First Team, All B-PSL and the Second Team, All-Suburban (by The Ridgewood News), and received Honorable Mention, All-County (by The Bergen Record).
The 1973 team won the Group 2, Sectional Championship but lost to Clifford Scott in the Group 2, North Jersey Championship game. The team finished with a 21-5-1 record. Ken was named to the FirstTeam, Group 2, All-State, the First Team, All-County, the First Team, All-Suburban and the First Team, All-B-PSL.
Ken also played football for three years for a young Coach Alan Deaett.
At Cornell Ken led the Big Red in hitting in 1976 (.372) and in 1977 (.373). He set school records for most season hits (56), most season (94) and most career (191) total bases, and most career doubles (27), and tied the career most triples mark (9). He was named to the First Team, All Ivy League in 1976 (at first base) and in 1977 (at second base). He was also named to the Coaches All-Eastern Intercollegiate Baseball Team. Cornell was Ivy League Champion in 1977 and made the NCAA Regional Semi-Finals that year.
The Chicago Cubs drafted Ken in the 10th Round and he played for their Rookie and A League teams in 1977 and 1978.
Ken was inducted into Cornell’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009.