Hall of Fame
Unser, Delbert B. "Del"
Delbert B. "Del" Unser
- Induction:
- 1981
- Class:
- 1966
Del Unser was a three-year starter for the Diamond Dawgs from 1964-66. Unser was a part of two SEC Championship teams in 1965 and 1966. In a 1965 game against Ole Miss, Unser collected three home runs, which set a new program record for the most in a single game. That mark still stands today, as multiple Bulldogs have tied his record, but none have surpassed it. Unser’s 1966 season was one to remember, as he led the team in batting average (.333), hits (39), home runs (7), RBIs (22), stolen bases (6) and runs scored (31). Unser’s home run total also led the conference that season
After leading the Bulldogs to their second consecutive SEC Championship in 1966, Unser earned a pair of All-American honors, one First Team and one Second Team. Unser also earned two First Team All-SEC Honors during his career in 1964 and 1966.
Unser holds a historic distinction in Bulldog history, as he was the first Major League Baseball draft pick in Mississippi State history after being drafted with the 29th pick in the second round of the 1965 draft by the Minnesota Twins. After returning to school for the 1966 season, He was drafted with the 18th pick in the first round of the 1966 draft, once again by the Minnesota Twins, which made Unser the first Bulldog in program history to sign with a team out of the MLB Draft.
Unser’s journey in the show would begin on April 10, 1968, as a member of the Washington Senators, who happened to be taking on the Minnesota Twins. A career .258 hitter, Unser would spend 15 years in the big leagues with five teams. He concluded his career after spending four seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1982, In his second season with the Phillies in 1980, Unser became the second Diamond Dawg in history to win the World Series.
After retiring from his playing career, Unser would then return to the diamond as a minor league hitting instructor for the Phillies in 1984. He worked his way up the ranks, becoming a major league hitting instructor in 1985-88 while also serving as the first base coach from 1985-87. He then became the Director of Player Personnel on September 5, 1989 and served in that role for nine seasons.
After leading the Bulldogs to their second consecutive SEC Championship in 1966, Unser earned a pair of All-American honors, one First Team and one Second Team. Unser also earned two First Team All-SEC Honors during his career in 1964 and 1966.
Unser holds a historic distinction in Bulldog history, as he was the first Major League Baseball draft pick in Mississippi State history after being drafted with the 29th pick in the second round of the 1965 draft by the Minnesota Twins. After returning to school for the 1966 season, He was drafted with the 18th pick in the first round of the 1966 draft, once again by the Minnesota Twins, which made Unser the first Bulldog in program history to sign with a team out of the MLB Draft.
Unser’s journey in the show would begin on April 10, 1968, as a member of the Washington Senators, who happened to be taking on the Minnesota Twins. A career .258 hitter, Unser would spend 15 years in the big leagues with five teams. He concluded his career after spending four seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1982, In his second season with the Phillies in 1980, Unser became the second Diamond Dawg in history to win the World Series.
After retiring from his playing career, Unser would then return to the diamond as a minor league hitting instructor for the Phillies in 1984. He worked his way up the ranks, becoming a major league hitting instructor in 1985-88 while also serving as the first base coach from 1985-87. He then became the Director of Player Personnel on September 5, 1989 and served in that role for nine seasons.
Unser became the 24th Diamond Dawg to earn an induction into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 1981.
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