(#61) On a road trip in the spring of 1999 or 2000, some players were caught partaking in the illegal, underaged consumption of what is strangely called an "adult beverage" which was a violation of team rules, especially on a road tip. Plain and simple. I certainly wasn't looking for it, but it came to … Continue reading R-E-S-P-E-C-T!
Month: November 2021
Hinds Athletics Launches Inaugural #Giving Tuesday Initiative
(#60) What is #GivingTuesday? Hinds Community College Athletics and the Hinds Community College Foundation are partnering together for the first annual #GivingTuesday initiative on November 30th, 2021! #GivingTuesday is a day created to encourage charitable generosity to counteract the massive consumer rush on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. In 2020, an astonishing $2.47 billion was … Continue reading Hinds Athletics Launches Inaugural #Giving Tuesday Initiative
Ballbusters
(#59) This is a great article explaining what we already know... the "most influential, yet least discussed biological component relating to male sports performance? Yep... balls." They are the symbolism for a combination of confidence, motivation and determination.... toughness. The "boys" "govern athletic achievement far more than the triceps or any other muscle." (quotations taken … Continue reading Ballbusters
The Boo Ferriss Baseball Card Auction
(#58) I invited two legendary Delta State University baseball coaches, Boo Ferriss and Mike Kinnison to be the featured speakers at our Step Up to the Plate pre-season banquet when I coached almost a full season at Pearl High School in 2006. 🙂 It was held at what is now the Farm Bureau Grill behind … Continue reading The Boo Ferriss Baseball Card Auction
Mississippi JUCO’s in the World Series
(#57) (Updated: May 21, 2024) Suplizio Field, Grand Junction, CO USA Stadium, MIllington, TN David Allen Memorial Ballpark, Enid, OK These are the Mississippi Community/Junior College baseball teams who have participated in the various NJCAA World Series since play began in 1958. * 9 Mississippi JUCOs have played in a NJCAA World Series; Meridian (7), … Continue reading Mississippi JUCO’s in the World Series
Great Baseball Stories
(#56) My whole purpose of writing Diary of a Mad Baseball Coach is to share great baseball stories and put them in a place for everybody to read and share, so they won't be forgotten. Too many of those great characters of the game are no longer with us and those great stories will eventually … Continue reading Great Baseball Stories
Congrats to Stan Cliburn!
(#55) Congratulations to Forest Hill teammate Stan Cliburn for being name the 2021 Atlantic League Manager of the Year! Stan is the manager of the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in Waldorf, Maryland. The Blue Crabs won the North Division of the ALPB, an independent "partner league" of Major League Baseball. Once a Rebel, always a … Continue reading Congrats to Stan Cliburn!
Chisolm and Dickey
(#54) Ricky Chisolm was the poster boy for the mentally tough competitor of the olden days. Of all the great pitchers I've ever coached through 30 plus years, including three former big leaguers and many other great hurlers and competitors, if I had only one game to play and had to name a starter, it … Continue reading Chisolm and Dickey
Something Fishy
(#53) With the best umpires, you never know they are there. Some, however, make their presence known, loud and clear. Whether it is a big time blown call (or two) or a fluctuating strike zone or some other kind of controversy, it is never a good thing to be known as “that” umpire. And when … Continue reading Something Fishy
Characters of the Game
(#52) Kelly Dickinson from Lufkin (TX) High School came to Hinds in the fall of 1986 by way of the great Bill Marchant, who coached him in high school and also coached at Hinds during the 1983 season. He was a gritty, fearless, savvy, and ballsy competitor. He batted right and threw left. In his … Continue reading Characters of the Game
Rick Clarke's Diary of a Mad Baseball Coach 