The German Connection

Two of Joplin’s most recognizable names share an unexpected connection: Charles Schifferdecker and Joe Becker were both born in Baden, Germany. Their legacies continue today in places many of us know well—Schifferdecker Park and Avenue, and Joe Becker Stadium.

Schifferdecker immigrated to the United States as a young man, worked in brewing, and eventually made his way to Joplin alongside fellow German immigrant Edward Zelleken. Over time, Schifferdecker became known not only for business success, but also for steady support of local causes—including efforts to build Joplin’s first hospital—and for the park that still bears his name.

Becker arrived in the U.S. as a child and later settled in Joplin, where he worked at The Joplin Globe and poured his summers into the game he loved most; baseball. He was a professional scout for major league teams: the Brooklyn Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, and New York Yankees. While working for the Yankees, he became the business manager for the Joplin Miners (a Yankee affiliate). During his tenure with the Miners the team’s stadium was destroyed by fire. Through Becker’s steady hand and leadership a new stadium was erected. To recognize his role during a most difficult time the baseball park was named Joe Becker Stadium.

Their stories are a reminder of the great distances people traveled to build the Joplin we know today—and how a shared origin can lead to two very different (but equally lasting) community legacies.

What’s your favorite place in town connected to local history? Let us know in the comments.