Category: Stories 61-70

The Scout Behind the Scenes

(#70) Here's a little known behind the scenes story on the life-changing events for the great Chad Bradford. Bradford graduated from Byram High School in the spring of 1993. After he failed to receive any offers from any of the Division I or Division II schools, he signed with Hinds. He won six games in … Continue reading The Scout Behind the Scenes →

More Moose Tales

(#69) When I was in the 10th grade at Forest Hill I played second base and was pretty good with the glove. A senior, Buddy Oxley was the starter and he was pretty good, too and I learned a lot from him. He gave me the nickname "Hoover" because he said I was like a … Continue reading More Moose Tales →

The Tale of Two Home Runs

(#68) During my first season at Magnolia Academy in 1977, I put on a suicide squeeze play. Everybody used to do it a lot back in those days. Not so much now. Especially the suicide squeeze. Too much pressure. 😁 Richard Kelly was the bunter and Ricky Chisolm was the baserunner at third. Chisolm broke … Continue reading The Tale of Two Home Runs →

1989 – The Turning Point

(#67) Every great season has a definite "turning point," when something happens to change the direction and fortunes of a team. Very few teams go from start to finish without having to make some adjustments, especially baseball teams with such a long season and so many games. During the historical and record-setting 1989 season, I … Continue reading 1989 – The Turning Point →

Chad Bradford – The Last of Dying Breed

(#64) From The Bleacher Report, by Anthony Emerson, September 2, 2009 No one thought that Chad Bradford would make his high school team. Bradford did. No one thought that Bradford would do well in a hitter's ballpark. Bradford did. No one thought that Bradford would become a reliable reliever in the big leagues. Bradford became … Continue reading Chad Bradford – The Last of Dying Breed →

Eagles in the Big Leagues – Pat Rapp

(#63) Patrick Leland Rapp, a right-handed pitcher from Sulphur, Louisiana, came to Hinds as a freshman in the fall of 1985. He was the workhorse for the Eagles for two seasons. He started 27 games, pitched 194 1/3 innings, won 21 games (9 wins in 1986 and 12 wins in 1987), and had a career … Continue reading Eagles in the Big Leagues – Pat Rapp →

Rapp’s Masterpiece

(#62) On September 17, 2020, by Mike Ferguson, fishstripes.com The Marlins record-setting 17-0 win over the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on September 17, 1995 was a memorable night on the mound for right-hander Pat Rapp. Rapp went the distance for Florida, allowing just one hit, one walk and struck out seven while pitching a … Continue reading Rapp’s Masterpiece →

R-E-S-P-E-C-T!

(#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! →