The Mat-Su Miners are based in Palmer, Alaska, also known as "The Valley", which is about 40 miles northeast of Alaska's largest city Anchorage. The Miners are only one of five teams that make up the Alaska Baseball League, one of the top summer collegiate leagues in the country. Games start early June and continue until the beginning of August. The Miners have gone through one name change, two National Baseball Congress Championships and the building and renovating of their baseball field over the last forty-seven years. Close to 400 former Miners have played professional baseball including 72 who have gone on to the Major Leagues.
In 1976, the then Valley Green Giants baseball team was born in Palmer, Alaska where they had their very first baseball season under the direction of the Fairbanks Goldpanners. They were called the Valley Green Giants until 1980 when it was changed to what we know as the Mat-Su Miners. The name Mat-Su Miners was chosen by the people of Palmer for two reasons. One, to make a clean break from the Goldpanners and two, to recognize the importance of mining in the Matanuska Susitna Valley. So, from 1980 until now, residents of the Valley recognize their team as the Mat-Su Miners.
The Miners home ballpark, known as Hermon Brothers Field, is one of the most picturesque amateur baseball fields in America. Safely nestled in Alaska's beautiful Matanuska Valley with the magnificent 6,000' Pioneer Peak Mountain as it's backdrop, players and fans have a breathtaking view that cannot be duplicated anywhere else. In 1976 volunteers forged Hermon Brothers Field out of a thicket of pine trees and alder bushes at the Palmer Fairgrounds. Over the next 26 years, small volunteer projects to help maintain the field were done, but ultimately time and lack of resources took it's toll on the field. Finally in September 2002, the board of directors hired a new general manager. Throughout the fall of 2002 and the winter of 2003 he focused all his energies to totally renovating the field and clubhouse. By opening day of 2003, Hermon Brothers Field became one of the top fields in the state. The Mat-Su Miners were selected the 2004 American Baseball Coaches Association/Turface Field Maintenance Award winner for top high school field in the country. The Miners continued focusing on the upgrading of structures in the ballpark over the next 20 years. Upgrades included a new press box, merchandise shack, box seats, dugouts, umpire shack, batting tunnel, concession stand, paving around the ballpark and outfield fence. All this done by volunteers and donations from the business community. The late summer and fall of 2013 saw more work done to Hermon Brothers Field. With $450,000.00 in grants from State of Alaska/Mat-Su Legislators, Rasmuson Foundation and Mat-Su Health Foundation, the Miners, with the donated time of Ray Kizer of Lake View General Contracting overseeing the work, re-graded foul territory and infield area, installed a sprinkler system, french drain and 6 bay garage erected to store vehicles and equipment. We want to thank B.C. Excavating, Colton Sprinklers, Denali Drilling, Arctic Fox Steel Buildings, USKH Engineering, Shock Electric and Wayne's Concrete who worked long hours to complete the overhaul.
From 2004 through 2022, a period of eighteen years, the Miners have recorded six first place finishes and ten second place finishes.
In 2018 we enclosed the batting cage for year round usage with the assistance of BoreTide Construction, Klebs Mechanical, MEA Charitible Foundation, the Rasmuson Foundation and the Mat-Su Health Foundation.More renovations to the field in 2020-2021 included clubhouse and bathroom upgrades thanks to BoreTide Construction, Klebs Mechanical, Rasmuson Foundation, Mat-Su Health Foundation, Usibelli Coal Mine, Vannoy Electric, Pioneer Peak Asphalt, Alpine Masonry & Concrete, Northwind Painting and State of Alaska DHSS. It was a big contribution to the community. We keep working on the best facilities we can provide those that live in the Matansuka Borough.
Born and raised in the Valley, the Miners have come a long way since 1976. They endured a name change, struck gold twice in Wichita winning the NBC and renovated a field that professional players would envy in a setting of scenic beauty words cannot describe.
Researched and written by Heather Boring (updated 2023)
