Your browser does not support JavaScript! to view this author's last article or But Kinnison was not college baseball material at that point. Mr. and Mrs. Will J. They rubbed me down with rubbing alcohol and told me to be sure to wear a coat, Ferriss said with a chuckle more than half a century later. Spring program runs from Feb 7 - April 17. . " You just kind of fit the puzzle pieces together the best that you can and make the right decision for your family. Email: lstanley@msdelta.edu. Mr. and Mrs. Mickey Thompson When the Red Sox started slowly in 1945, Ferriss was called up and made a spectacular major league debut with a five-hit shutout against the Athletics on April 29. Ferriss and Coach Falk were looking forward to another spring and summer of Army ball, but Ferriss suffered a recurrence of asthma, a problem that had bothered him off and on since youth. Instead, he was called to the Boston Red Sox on the day he was supposed to have pitched on opening night for Louisville. Some high school data is courtesy David McWater. Courtesy Mississippi Department of Archives and History. Thats much better than a loss. Mr. William Nettles Russell Wilburn Field at Chambers Park in Muncie is named in his grandfather's honor. Ferriss became Delta States athletic director and baseball coach in 1959. Some defensive statistics Copyright Baseball Info Solutions, 2010-2022. Mr. Charles Jourdan The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball. Tournaments. Mr. Nicholas House Then came that fateful day in Cleveland when Ferriss felt something pop in his shoulder. All State Games. Dr. Raanne Tindle I loved everything about coaching except for cutdown day. Mrs. I dont think I impressed anybody. This is great since many college sports programs lose money. Mr. Gene Bryant When Ferriss took over the baseball program in 1960 he started it from the ground level. But that summer Scratch Kinnison played semipro baseball with a team in Greenwood that included several Delta State players. One of those came from the Statesmen baseball team. He worked out regularly, too, doing hundreds and hundreds of pushups and swinging a heavy bat regularly. Delta State University brought in $141,624 in revenue from its womens tennis program while paying out $86,907 in expenses. Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Crosby David "Boo" Ferriss: A Baseball Great Lesson Plan. Mr. Bob Reed, Jr. The story of how Kinnison, the hard-working son of a Yazoo County farmer, found his way to Delta State and eventually came back to his alma mater is worth telling and re-telling. - two free years of archived e-Editions North northwest wind around 5 mph. Leagues. Mr. Jack Ratterman Mark this down as a good thing. Ms. Michelle Baron The biggest thing is I saw the mental and physical maturity you had to have to play at that level. Hear Ferriss talk about the call from the Boston Red Sox. Ferriss with a photograph from his early career prior to the November 2002 induction ceremonies for the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame. 14U . . Mike Kinnison's No. Kinnisonguided the Statesmen to the 2004 NCAA Division II national championship, six College World Series appearances and 15 NCAA South Regional appearances. The head coaching job at Delta High School is one that Devin Wilburn has had circled in his mind. Not all college sports teams can say that. Mr. Freddie Chiles Coach gave me an extended look, but I just didnt do enough., Said Ferriss, We had a veteran team coming back. In between ballgames at Tim and Nancy Harvey Stadium-Ferriss Field, the former Statesmen and their families met at the Hugh Ellis Walker Alumni and Foundation House for food and fellowship provide by a former teammate and the National Alumni Association. at Copiah-Lincoln Community College. Wilson said he was "born into" baseballwith his father and uncle both playing college ball. Ferriss went on to become a high school star athlete in football, basketball, baseball, and tennis at Shaw. In 23 seasons as Delta State's coach, Kinnison compiled a career record of 981-313-2. Champion ', Kinnison also earned a nickname that spring as a manager. Ill never forget him saying that I came up a little bit short just a little bit short, he said and he wasnt going to be able to keep me. They settled in Yazoo County and William Douglas W.D. Do you have a sports website? ", Clark added: "What excites me the most about coach Wilburn is his excitement and passion for wanting to build a program from bottom to top. For the longest time, he was Little Boo. Quinton Enterprises If you are an existing Print subscriber click HERE for your login info. They also know that Im going to be a guy whos not going to be afraid to give them criticism if they need it, but also be the first guy to put my arm around them, love on them and tell them Im proud of them. Joining President LaForge is Baseball Coach Mike Kinnison. In terms of financials, Delta State University collected $5,672,286 in revenue and paid out $5,672,286 in expenses. Mr. Charles Jacobs His parents had come to Mississippi from Virginia and Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Brent Leach Guy Barr Sanderson Farm, Inc. Mrs. Karen Carnahan The mens swimming and diving program at Delta State University made $362,872 in revenue and spent $175,176 in expenses. Mr. Ricky Perkins Fri Apr 07. Mr. Mickey Thompson He won his first eight major-league starts, and beat every other American League club in the process. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Rev. I hated telling a boy that he couldnt play the game he loved. Coming out . In college baseball 40-win seasons are considered the gold standard. He was head coach at Jackson State Community College for nine years, going 255-161 and taking his team to the 1996 Junior College World Series. He had scholarship offers from the University of Alabama, University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), and Mississippi State. Cleveland State Bank But know this: For two and a half seasons, before a freak shoulder injury sidetracked him, Mississippian David Boo Ferriss was as promising, as effective a pitcher, as any of those baseball legends. Ferriss reported for spring training with the Red Sox Class AA Louisville team in 1945, expecting to pitch at least another season of minor league ball before getting to the major leagues. Contact him via email atrgeneral@gannett.com,on Twitter @rgeneraljrorphone at 765-283-8864. Kinnison was more than a little rusty when he arrived at Delta State. Shortly afterward, he was drafted into the Army for service in World War II, serving for over two years at Randolph Field in Texas, where he was able to continue playing baseball in a military league. Kinnison had pretty much resigned himself to just that. That is, the program raked in a net profit of $187,696 for the school. Mrs. Harold Mitchell Hes Delta State baseball, Kinnison would later say of Ferriss. Photo courtesy Boston Red Sox. Wilburn said his main goal is to build the culture in the program and set the precedent for what he expects out of the players, and what the players should expect from him. Morris I just hated that part of it., I was devastated, Kinnison said. Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Ainsworth Two weeks later, Ferriss was back in the Boston Red Sox pitching rotation. Leonore O Malley He held that role until early 1967, when he left Delta State to take the role of assistant athletic director at Mississippi State University. Dr. Phyllis Bunn He told us you can never say thank-you too much., Whether he knew it or not, Kinnison was making an impression on Ferriss, too. You want to know about Boo Ferriss? He was trying to say, Brother, but it came out, Boo. Everyone in the family had a good laugh. When he arrived home in Shaw after the season, so did his draft papers. In his 23 . 2013 Delta State University . Carol Lightsey More about our data sources and methodologies. A total number of 391 student athletes participate in varsity sports at the school, 284 of whom are male and 107 are female. Ferriss was hugely successful at State, both on the diamond and in the classroom as an honor student. I learned so much about strategy and how you handle players and pitchers. In February 1945, he was given his medical discharge from the Army. Mr. Jackie Joe Davis Col. Jack Steele III Denton Dairy Products, Incorporated Tampa (47-12) Joe Urso. The story of how "Boo" Ferriss got his nickname is typical of how nicknames are created across the South: When he was a toddler, he tried to get the attention of Will D., his older brother. "You grow up and you have that passion and, you know, its tough when you go through tough years, you kind of lose that passion a little bit. His final major league appearance was on Opening Day of the 1950 season, when he pitched only one inning. Image Credit: By Kilobytezero under License. Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Davidson Yawkey Foundation II Mr. Jim Fisackerly City of Victoria. Hugh Miller Arant III Investments, LLC This equates to a net profit of $35,529 for the program. He started two games in the 1946 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, and pitched a complete-game shutout in the third game before getting a no-decision in the seventh and deciding game, which was won by the Cardinals. Mr. and Mrs. Richard Post Ms. Elizabeth Fike Dudy Noble, States coach and athletic director, offered to pay the full cost for Ferrisss education, including room and board. His 1985 team was ranked No. "Im a baseball fan, there area lot of baseball fans out there," Clark said. But his shoulder was never the same. Mr. and Mrs. Bobby Howell Ferriss retired following the completion of the 1988 season, but he continues to be a tireless supporter at all levels of baseball throughout the state and especially his beloved Statesmen. Mr. and Mrs. Frank W. Smith, Jr. Mr. Keith Latham The Mississippi baseball ranks are filled with former Delta State players who played for Ferriss. We were loaded. Report this profile . This means the program turned a profit, making $101,394 for the school. A group of Delta State University baseball alumni recently gathered for a weekend of fun reunion activities on campus. The 37 players of the Delta State University mens swimming and diving team are led by a head coach and 2 assistant coaches. Mr. and Mrs. Keith Fulcher Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Wiggins By Delta State Athletics. And that is what happened. . House Gas Co. Dr. and Mrs. Bryce Griffis As he delivered the pitch, Ferriss felt something snap in his shoulder. Ferriss' record in 1947 was 1211. Mr. and Mrs. Harry P Tarsi Kinnison, a former DSU All American, won 75.6 percent of his games as the schools head coach. Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth A. Lommel In 1946, Ferriss was the American Leagues number one pitcher with a 25-6 record and he pitched the Red Sox to a 4-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1946 World Series. Mr. Tom Waring Ferriss served as pitching coach for the Red Sox under manager Pinky Higgins from 1955 to 1959 before moving on to Delta State University as head coach in 1960. If it ever became available, Wilburn knew it'd be a job he wanted to pursue. Instead wearing a baseball uniform, Kinnison washed them. Mr. Walter Barrett, Jr. That decision was the turning point in my life.. This Month in Sports ReferenceFind out when we add a feature or make a change. Mr. and Mrs. John Letchworth In the summer of 1944, Ferriss finished the season with a 20-8 pitching record and also won the league batting title with a .417 average, nosing out St. Louis Cardinals star and future Hall of Famer Enos Country Slaughter, who batted .414. Mr. and Mrs. Bob Wilbanks Delta State University. The work paid off. C.P. Mr. and Mrs. David Abney, 2015 Delta State University | All Rights Reserved He had 19 RBIs in each of the 1945 and 1947 seasons. The story of Kinnisons journey from team manager, to All-American shortstop, to national championship coach was detailed in Mississippi Today columnist Rick Clevelands 2008 biography of Boo Ferriss: Boo: A Life in Baseball, Well-Lived. That chapter follows: The most succinct and telling way to describe Mike Kinnisons success as Delta States baseball coach is this: No coach at any level of NCAA baseball ever has won a higher percentage of his games. Mrs. Katherine Batenhorst Mrs. Brenda Dean David Meadow Ferriss (December 5, 1921 November 24, 2016) was an American Major League Baseball player who pitched for the Boston Red Sox from 1945 through 1950. That is still a major-league record. Full service ticketing software and network systems for professional box office managers. Mr. and Mrs. Keith Walker You have to spend time with the ones who arent in the game, make sure they stay interested and focused. James and Billie Breland Mr. and Mrs. James M. Kinnison Delta State University Baseball Athletic Scholarships Powered by 1003 W Sunflower Rd Cleveland, MS 38733 (662) 846-3000 http://www.deltastate.edu/ Year Founded: 1924 Religious Affiliation: None College Type: Public , Suburban Enrollment: 3750 (full time undergrad) Tuition In State: $7,671 Tuition Out of State: $7,671 Division: NCAA II Conference: His ability to throw either right- or left-handed would amaze baseball people throughout his career. This is a bit of a downer since it means that the program lost money, $-17,607 to be exact. In 1988, he received the United States Baseball Federation Service Award for his contributions to the game. Dr. and Mrs. William Smith-Vaniz "Im the most competitive guy there is and I want to go out there and win every baseball game that I play," Wilburn said. The average salary is $32,999 a year for assistant coaches of mens teams and $20,817 for assistant coaches of womens teams. His Delta State teams won 981 games, while losing only 313 for a 75.6 win percentage. Mr. Hubert Rackley, III He got bigger, stronger. If asked to name the most famous, the most successful baseball pitchers in history, most sports enthusiasts would name Christy Mathewson, Walter Johnson, Cy Young, Bob Feller, Whitey Ford, Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson, Roger Clemens . [10], In the fall of 2003, the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame announced its sponsorship of an annual Mississippi Collegiate Baseball Player of the Year award, and that the trophy would bear Ferriss' name and likeness. 1 in the nation for several weeks in the NCAA Division II poll. So, the program was a moneymaker for the school, bringing in $107,071 in net profit. Nehi Bottling Company Heres what the comparison looks like for womens sports at Delta State University. Delta States Coach Ferriss. Showcases. Mr. and Mrs. James A. Newquist You earned it. He is a frequent speaker at civic clubs across the state, and he never misses an opportunity to watch his Statesmen play baseball. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. I learned to appreciate the managers and support people. Softball vs Delta State: Streaming Video - Softball vs Delta State (1:00 PM) Streaming Stats - Softball vs Delta State (1:00 PM) 1:00 pm: Baseball: Baseball vs Delta State: Streaming Video - Baseball vs Delta State (1:00 pm) Streaming Stats - Baseball vs Delta State (1:00 pm) 2:15 pm: Women's Basketball: Women's Basketball vs #13/17 Union (2 seed) Mike Kinnison became Scratch Kinnison. 5:00 PM CDT. Wed Apr 12. This means the program turned a profit, making $51,792 for the school. President LaForge, Ronnie Mayers. East Mississippi Community College. After graduating college, Cates coached for Kirby High School. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas L. Fisackerly at times, but it was never like it had been. The O.K. days pretty much ended in 1949, when, Ferriss said, My arm went dead, completely dead. By then, Ferriss was more certain than ever that he wanted to make his living in baseball. One time, Kinnison mumbled under his breath that he was sick and tired of that word scratch and that he hoped he never heard it again. This list may not reflect recent changes . Courtesy Mississippi Department of Archives and History. While Wilburn said the wins and losses will come if you do things the right way, Clark said he believes Wilburn canprovide a "spark" to the baseball program right away.