June 15, 2021
An MPA lifer, Chad Hanson grew up watching a variety of Panthers’ sports. As he got older, Hanson had the opportunity to try out a number of those different including cross country running, basketball, golf and football. But baseball was his true love, and by the time he entered Upper School, he was playing virtually year round.
For the Panthers, Hanson played many positions, and as a 6’4 athletic infielder, he found success on the pitcher’s mound and at short stop. He earned Tri Metro all-conference honors twice, All-state honorable mention twice, and played on the Metro East all-star team in the Minnesota Lions All Star Baseball Tournament as a senior.
Following an exceptional career at MPA, Hanson continued his baseball career collegiately at Division II Bemidji State University in Bemidji, MN, a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). For the Beavers, Hanson made the switch to outfielder and enjoyed four successful years of high level college baseball.
Hanson’s best season came as a redshirt junior in 2013. He started 41 of 42 games, and, batting leadoff, had career highs in batting average (.329), hits (55), RBIs (22), and runs scored (32), while committing only one error with 72 putouts and a fielding percentage of .987. Hanson was named to Bemidji State baseball’s 2010s all-decade team in 2020!
Hanson graduated from Bemidji State University with a degree in Criminal Justice and a minor in Computer Forensics. He is now a police officer with the Saint Paul Police Department.
