Latest Ron Polk Ring Of Honor Class Enjoys Eventful Weekend
April 08, 2024 | Baseball
STARKVILLE – On a beautiful afternoon this past Saturday, three Mississippi State baseball icons were inducted into the Ron Polk Ring of Honor.
C.S. "Buddy" Myer, Bobby Reed and Jim Ellis were honored during a ceremony prior to the Diamond Dawgs' game against Georgia, with the two living members of the inductees seeing their plaques unveiled on the pillars of Adkerson Plaza as part of the sixth Ron Polk Ring of Honor class.
Myer starred as an infielder for the Mississippi A&M Maroons from 1922-24, Reed dominated on the mound from 1988-90 and Ellis has painted the pictures of countless MSU wins from the radio booth as the legendary "Voice of the Diamond Dawgs" since 1979.
"Today we honor C.S. 'Buddy' Myer, Bobby Reed and Jim Ellis and next year we'll be honoring three more that have made significant achievements to the great traditions of Mississippi State baseball," Polk said during Saturday's ceremony.
A talented infielder who played second base, third base and shortstop, Myer cemented his spot in MSU history a century ago as he is believed to have hit the school's first grand slam in a 6-4 victory over rival Ole Miss.
"Buddy Myer brings back great memories of me being in his home in 1921, signing him to a scholarship to Mississippi A&M," Polk joked. "Only kidding. That didn't happen."
The Ellisville, Mississippi native signed with the Washington Senators, now known as the Minnesota Twins, in 1925 and made his major league debut on Sep. 26 of that same year. Myer was traded to the Boston Red Sox in 1927 and returned to the Senators in 1929, where he spent 13 more seasons. Myer's 17 seasons of Major League Baseball are the second-most among former Mississippi State players, behind only fellow Ring of Honor member Rafael Palmeiro.
Myer ended his accomplished pro career in 1941 with a .303 career batting average. In 7,038 at-bats, Myer collected 2,131 hits, 38 home runs, 848 RBI and 157 stolen bases. Myer won the American League batting title in 1935, a season where he hit .349. He was named an All-Star in 1935 and 1937 and received MVP votes in four different seasons.
"Buddy Myer deserves this honor for not only what he did as a baseball player in college at Mississippi A&M, but what he did in his big league career," Polk said. "His statistics were amazing."
Reed's fingerprints have been left all over the Mississippi State record books, setting a school record 1.09 earned run average during his fabulous freshman campaign in 1988 where he helped the Diamond Dawgs reach the College World Series. Reed's record of 25 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings and 22 starts on the mound held until 2008.
The right-handed pitcher racked up an impressive collection of honors during his three seasons in the Maroon and White, including Freshman All-American (1988), ABCA All-Region Team (1990), All-SEC Second Team (1988, 90), SEC Academic Honor Roll (1988), SEC All-Tournament Team (1990) and NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team (1989, 90).
During his Bulldog career, Reed was at his best while out on the mound in front of the thousands of fans cheering him on at Dudy Noble Field, finishing with a 25-0 record at home. It was the belief of the loyal MSU fans that propelled a once nervous freshman into one of the top pitchers in the country.
"I remember it like it was yesterday," Reed said. "I was running my foul poles, and I was so nervous. I had butterflies just running foul poles. I stepped on the mound and I looked around at this big stadium with all these people, lots of people. I threw my first pitch and the crowd cheered. And at that moment I realized they're cheering for me. That realization changed everything for me. It launched my career. I'd call it the power of belief."
Reed was drafted by the Texas Rangers with the 89th pick of the 1990 MLB Draft. The Long Beach, Mississippi native played three seasons in the minor leagues and reached Double-A before an injury cut short his once promising pro career.
Since 1979, Ellis' legendary voice has told the stories of some of the most iconic moments in Mississippi State history, having been behind the microphone for 32 NCAA Regionals, seven SEC Tournament titles, 11 trips to the College World Series and the school's first ever national championship in 2021.
"It really is an honor," Ellis said. "I think about all the great names that are already up on this wall, and to be associated with these guys is really an honor. Ron Polk Ring of Honor is a huge part of Mississippi State baseball. It's been a great part of my life, just the association with Bulldog sports over the last 46 years."
A West Point, Mississippi native, Ellis graduated from Mississippi State in 1969 and began his broadcasting career under the tutelage of Bulldog icon Jack Cristil, but he wouldn't have gotten the opportunity to call Diamond Dawg baseball without the approval of Polk.
"The guy that was running the network had heard me broadcast a game or two, and he asked me to send him a tape," Ellis said. "I sent him a tape and he took the tape to Ron. And Ron listened to it and he gave me the rousing endorsement. He said, 'he'll do'."
Since that time, Ellis has been named the Outstanding Broadcaster in Mississippi four times and has built a strong relationship with countless players and coaches who have come through the esteemed Mississippi State baseball program. He now broadcasts alongside another Ron Polk Ring of Honor member, Jay Powell, in addition to Polk himself on occasion.
"I love doing the games and I take it seriously but it's the relationships," Ellis said. "The relationships are what has made it so much fun. The relationships with your audience, obviously, but with the head coaches. I've been so blessed to have talked to and to share a common bond with coach Polk, Pat McMahon, John Cohen, Gary Henderson and now Chris Lemonis. They've all treated me like a part of the family and that's been special."