Showalter Returns To MSU Tonight, BB Season Ticket Sales Top 5,000 Mark
One of Bulldog Baseball's all-time greats, All-American outfielder Nat "Buck" Showalter, is the featured speaker for this year's event, which begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Griffis Boardroom with heavy hors d'oeuvres and continues at 7 p.m. in the adjoining Palmeiro Center with a player autograph session and the evening's program. The event also features a formal introduction of the 2007 Baseball Bulldogs.
Showalter set the MSU single-season hitting record with an SEC-leading.459 batting average in 1977. After earning All-SEC and All-American honors as a junior that season, the Pace, Fla., native was drafted by the New York Yankees. He played seven seasons in the Yankees' minor league system before beginning his coaching career in professional baseball. Showalter skippered the New York Yankees, the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Texas Rangers for 11 seasons and currently serves as a senior advisor to the general manager of the Cleveland Indians.
Mississippi State launches its 117th season of baseball Friday at 4 p.m. when State hosts Murray State to open a three-game weekend series at Dudy Noble Field. Sophomore right-hander Aaron Weatherford will open on the mound for the Bulldogs, while MSU head football coach Sylvester Croom is slated to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Mississippi State baseball season ticket sales climbed to 5,038 Wednesday, marking the sixth consecutive year State has surpassed the 5,000 mark in baseball season ticket sales. Sales continue for the 31-game season pass at the MSU Athletic Ticket Office.