Over the past 80 years we have prided ourselves in providing sporting equipment that will get you out enjoying the sports that you love so adamantly. The following is a little history on how the Joe's Sporting Goods that you know today came about. Joseph J. Rauscher began Joe's as a Buick repair garage in 1930 on Dale Street in St. Paul, Minnesota. Many of his customers found a need for live bait, so Joe began to sell minnows. Soon the garage became known as Joe's Live Bait. The business really began to grow after WWII. On August 1, 1959, Joseph J. Rauscher sold the store to his son & daughter-in-law, Joseph D. and Loretta J. Rauscher. The ski business was added in October 1963. As the store's sales continued to grow, expansions were done in 1965, 1969, 1972, 1976, and the last in 1989.

In August of 2003, Joe's opened our current location at 33 East County Rd B. in St. Paul, Minnesota to accommodate our sales growth. The store on Dale St. was closed at the same time. In 2007, we launched our internet store so that we could cater to customers nation wide. Today the store is owned by Joseph H. and James T. Rauscher, sons of Joe and Loretta.


Top image: Joe's Sporting Goods on Dale Street St Paul, Minnesota 2000; Lower left image: Joseph J. Rauscher 1936; Lower middle image: Joe's Sporting Goods Dale Street St Paul MN 1964; Lower right image: Jim Rauscher, Joesph D. Rauscher, and Joesph H Rauscher 1988.

Products of the Month

Minn Kota i-Pilot

It's simple: the less time you spend steering and positioning your boat, the more you can focus on fishing. The new Minn Kota i-Pilot automatically controls and


steers your boat using GPS technology. Lock onto a fishing spot - and stay there. Record a successful path and retrace it later. Set cruise control for perfect bait presentation. All wireless, all with GPS accuracy, all with the sole purpose of making you a better angler at the push of a button. The i-Pilot works in unison with the Minn Kota Terrova and the PowerDrive V2 trolling motors.

Strike King Lure Company

Join Kevin VanDam, winner of his third Bass Master Classic with the New Red Eye Shad lipless crankbait designed by Strike King.
The Red Eye Shad has incredible action and features awesome paint jobs, premium hooks, 3D eyes and free floating rattles to give you the best action and sound of
any lipless crankbait on the market.


March Calendar of Events

March 13, 2010: 17th Annual Joe Rauscher Memorial Ski Race, Wild Mountain Ski Area

March 24-28, 2010: Northwest Sports Show, Minneapolis Convention Center

March 26-28, 2010: Greatwaters Fly Expo, Sheraton Bloomington

March Employee Profile:
Jon Miller
Nordic Ski Department
Q: If you could be a professional athelete who would you be? A: Scott Baker, or any starting MLB pitcher. $3 million to work once every five days, eight months a year would be awesome.

Q: What are your hobbies besides cross-country skiing? A: I enjoy fly-fishing, canoeing, biking, camping, reading, and furniture building/carpentry.

Q: What high school and college did you attend? A: I went to Roseville Area High School. I attended Gustavus Adolphus College and University of Colorado Graduate School.

Q: What are some recent accomplishments that you are proud of? A: Some recent accomplishments would be my second place finish in the City of Lakes Pre-Loppet, and I was the Preseason Physical 8K ski race champion. In 2009, I placed 38th in the Subaru American Birkebeiner and had a 28th place finish in '06. Also in 2007, I ended up winning the Steamboat Stampede Ski Marathon.

Q: In 25 years from now where would you like to be? A: Living in a place where I can ski right out of my back door.