Baseball Alumni Weekend Welcomes Former Diamond Dawgs
10 Former, Current Major Leaguers Returning For Baseball Alumni Weekend
Anticipation is building for the 12th Mississippi State Baseball Alumni Weekend as the number of former Bulldog baseball players and managers returning for this weekend’s event on campus continues to grow.
More than 140 Diamond Dogs representing eight decades of MSU’s tradition-rich baseball program are expected to converge on Starkville for the Saturday/Sunday baseball reunion. The weekend’s events include a Saturday afternoon golf tournament at the MSU Golf Course followed by a players’ dinner at the Bryce Griffis Board Room adjacent to the Palmeiro Center. Capping the weekend is the popular alumni baseball game, set for 1:30 p.m. Sunday (Nov. 5) at Dudy Noble Field. There is no charge for admission to the baseball game and a brief pregame autograph session will be held along the foul line fences beginning at 1:10 p.m.
“We’ve had another great response from our former players and we’re looking forward to having so many of them back on campus for the weekend,” said Mississippi State skipper and reunion coordinator Ron Polk.
The early-week list of returning players is a veritable who’s who of Bulldog Baseball, and includes 37 All-Southeastern Conference performers, 13 players that earned All-America team honors and 10 current or former Major Leaguers.
The returning “big league Bulldogs” include infielder Travis Chapman (Phillies) and outfielder Jon Knott (Padres) as well as pitchers Jeff Brantley (Giants, Reds, Cardinals, Phillies, Rangers), Eric DuBose (Orioles), Jack Lazorko (Brewers, Mariners, Tigers, Angels), Paul Maholm (Pirates), Jonathan Papelbon (Red Sox), Jay Powell (Marlins, Astros, Rockies, Rangers, Braves), Gary Rath (Dodgers, Twins), and Bobby Thigpen (White Sox, Phillies, Mariners).
All 10 of Mississippi State’s Southeastern Conference championship teams as well as State’s seven NCAA College World Series clubs will be represented on campus weekend.
