Inaugural Ron Polk Ring Of Honor Class Revealed

STARKVILLE, Miss. (MSU Athletics) – The inaugural class of the Ron Polk Ring of Honor will be unveiled on Saturday (Feb. 13) in the Adkerson Plaza, located at the right field entrance to Dudy Noble Field. The ceremony will begin at 11:30 a.m.

The inaugural class includes Jeff Brantley, Will Clark, the late David “Boo” Ferriss, the late C.R. “Dudy” Noble and Rafael Palmeiro. The Ferriss and Noble families, along with Brantley, Clark, Palmeiro and Polk will be in attendance for the unveiling.

The Ring of Honor is named after legendary head coach Ron Polk, who served as the head coach at Mississippi State from 1976-97 and again from 2002-08. Affectionally referred to as the Godfather of Southeastern Conference baseball, Polk served 31 years as head coach in the conference, adding a stint at the University of Georgia (2000-01). The architect of five SEC championship teams and five SEC Tournament squads, Polk was a four-time SEC Coach of the Year and two-time national Coach of the Year honoree.

The first SEC coach in any sport to reach 1,000 victories, he guided Mississippi State to six College World Series appearances and owned a 1,139-590 record with the Maroon and White. He totaled 1,373 career coaching victories, making eight total trips to Omaha. A two-time Team USA head coach, Polk is a member of the American Baseball Coaches Association, Mississippi Sports and College Baseball Halls of Fame. During his tenure as a head coach, Polk tutored 33 All-Americans, 71 All-SEC selections, 187 Major League Baseball draft picks, including 29 who reached the big leagues. Named SEC Legend in 2017, Polk has also earned the prestigious Lefty Gomez Award from the ABCA and Rube Award from Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame for his tireless service to others during his career.

The inductees into the inaugural class include;

Jeff Brantley

1982-85

One of greatest competitors to ever take the mound at Mississippi State, Brantley out-worked, out-fought and out-thought opponents throughout his college and professional career. A true Bulldog in every sense of the word, he was an All-American and two-time All-SEC performer with 45 career wins, including an 18-win season in 1985. The 45 victories remain the standard for a career at Mississippi State, while his 18 wins during the ’85 season still top the single season charts.

Along with his leading totals in victories, Brantley’s name remains among the career leaders in innings pitched (1st; 427.0), games started (1st; 63), strikeouts (2nd; 364) and winning percentage (4th; .789, 45-12). His single season totals include  two spots on the innings pitched (1st; 145.2 & 6th; 132.2), games started (4th; 20 & 7th; 19) and strikeouts (5th; 136 & 9th; 115), while owning the No. 8 spot on the single season winning percentage list at .900 (18-2).

A 14-year career in Major League Baseball included a 1990 All-Star selection, 1996 Rolaids Relief Pitcher of the Year and 1989 World Series appearance with San Francisco Giants. Following his years on the mound, Brantley began a brilliant broadcasting career with ESPN and Cincinnati Reds.

Will Clark

1983-85

Known as “Thunder” of the famous “Thunder and Lightning” combination in college baseball lore, Clark was a two-time All-American and two-time All-SEC. He added Olympian, Golden Spikes Award winner (1985) and SEC Male Athlete of the Year (1985) designations to his resume during his time at State, as well. Clark was also a member of the inaugural College Baseball Hall of Fame class in 2006.

Clark’s name still lines the MSU record books, with the slugger ranking among the career leaders in batting average (1st; .391), home runs (2nd; 61), walks (7th; 126), total base (8th; 433) and RBIs (8th; 199). He also owns nine spots on single-season top-10 lists, with multiple appearances on the walks, total bases and home runs.

The No. 2 overall pick in 1985 Major League Baseball Draft, he led San Francisco Giants to a 1989 World Series appearance, earning MVP of National League Championship Series. A 15-year career in Major League baseball included six All-Star selections, the 1991 Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards and a career .303 batting average.

David “Boo” Ferriss

1941-42

One of the most beloved figures in Mississippi baseball history, Ferriss was the first full-scholarship baseball student-athlete at Mississippi State. The scholarship was offered by legendary head coach Dudy Noble, and Ferriss went on to earn first-team All-SEC honors as a pitcher in 1941 and 1942.

Ferriss had a six-year career in Major League Baseball with Boston Red Sox. He posted 25-6 record on his way to an All-Star selection in 1946.

He accumulated 629 wins in 26 years as head coach at Delta State University and is a member of the American Baseball Coaches Association, Mississippi Sports and Boston Red Sox Halls of Fame. Namesake of Boo Ferriss Award, given annually to best collegiate baseball player in Mississippi.

C.R. “Dudy” Noble

1913-15 – Student-Athlete  |  1920-47 – Head Coach

A legendary figure at Mississippi State University as a student-athlete, coach and administrator, Noble began his tenure in Starkville as a 14-time letterwinner for the Maroons. He earned letters in football, basketball, track and baseball.

Noble starred on diamond as a student-athlete and head coach, winning 267 games and three Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association championships as the leader of the program. He served as MSU athletic director for 22 years and is the namesake of the venerable Dudy Noble Field. Noble is a charter member of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and a member of the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Among his many notable moments, he hired the famed Jack Cristil, who would go on to serve as the “Voice of the Bulldogs” for 58 years.

 Rafael Palmeiro

1983-85

Known as “Lighting” of the famous “Thunder and Lightning” combination in college baseball lore, Palmeiro was a three-time All-American and two-time All-SEC performer. The first Triple Crown winner in SEC history, he was inducted into College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009.

Palmeiro still sits among the career leaders in a bevy of categories, ranking among the all-time leaders in home runs (1st; 67), total bases (2nd; 530), RBIs (2nd; 239), batting average (3rd; .372), runs scored (3rd; 224) and hits (9th; 268). He continues to own 11 spots on the single-season charts, including two spots on each of the batting average, hits, home runs, total bases and RBIs charts.

A first-round pick in 1985 Major League Baseball Draft, Palmeiro is one of just six major league players to collect 3,000 hits and 500 home runs in a career. He boasted 10 major league seasons with 100-plus RBIs and 35-plus home runs during his 20-year career in Major League Baseball, He was a four-time All-Star, three-time Gold Glove Award winner and two-time Silver Slugger award recipient.