Mike Kelley (2019) - Hall of Fame

Mike Kelley

Induction:
2019
Class:
1979

Mike Kelley played four seasons with the Diamond Dawgs from 1976-79. Kelley was the true definition of a gritty player, starting his career as a walk-on.

Over his career, Kelley accumulated a .357 batting average, which is tied for the seventh-best career batting average in history. During his senior season, he batted at a .400 mark, the tenth-best single-season average in program history. Kelley tallied the most triples in a career (20) while also posting the most triples in a single season his senior year (12). Kelley’s career totals for stolen bases (79) and outfield assists (21) both remain atop of the Mississippi State record books.

Kelley was named a Third Team ABCA All-American his senior season. He was named First Team All-SEC and ABCA All-Region Teams twice (1977, 79). He was also named the SEC All-Tournament MVP in 1979. Kelley was picked with the 629th overall pick in the 25th round of the 1979 MLB Draft by the Chicago Cubs.