Congrats to Lee Toney (1982-83) on his selection to the 2023 Hinds Community College Sports Hall of Fame! His induction will be during the Hinds Homecoming Festivities in October.
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Here’s a shoutout to the great Lee Toney who put together the greatest offensive season in Hinds Community College baseball history forty years ago, in the spring of 1982, when he batted .525, hit a record 25 home runs and drove in 83 runs, also a school record.
He added 8 more home runs, 30 RBI and batted .296 the following season. I think the opponents finally learned to pitch around him. But that’s an incredible 33 home runs and 113 RBI and a .415 batting average in his Hinds career.
Noah James (Hammond, Louisiana) hit 19 home runs and had 75 RBI in 1989. That’s the most in each category in my 22 seasons at Hinds.
Lee played at McCluer Academy along with his brothers.
Here’s a great tribute to Lee from one of his teammates, Rob Harrell from the 1982 season:
“Lee Toney is the best hitter I have ever played with. My dad refused to call him a home run hitter because HR hitters struck out too much in his opinion and Lee almost refused to strike out. If I remember correctly, his first year and my last (1982), he led our team in BA, HR, OB%, international walks.
Hell, the dude almost never struck out. Lee strived for that feeling a batter gets when you hit the ball solid and hard. He really didn’t care if the ball went over the fence.
P.S. – After Lee joined the team, my base stealing days were over. Lee batted behind me and if I stole 2nd, all the other teams would automatically put him on base. He once told me if you want to get to 2nd, steal it. If you want to score stay on first, I’ll knock you in. (Note: Obviously Rob got to trot around the bases as much as Lee did.)
The dude could hit and he knew it, I knew it and my dad knew it.“
More from Rob: A true story about Lee.
“Who says baseball players are superstitious?
At the first of the season, Lee and I started a little deal where I flicked the batting donut to him before I walked to the plate. Well, one inning I came in from the field and was the lead off batter for the inning and didn’t have time for our ritual. (I thought). I was about to step in the batters box and out of nowhere came Lee calling time out. He called me over and said your going to pitch that “damn” donut to me before you hit or else. Well, we did our thing and I can’t remember what I did at the plate but Lee hit one that is probably still going today.
P.S. – I hope he gets in the Hinds HOF. Lee Toney was the best hitter I have ever played with or against and that’s the honest truth.“
Note: Rob Harrell could hit, too!!
Rick Clarke's Diary of a Mad Baseball Coach 