Mississippi State announces Ron Polk Ring of Honor class
Photo courtesy: Mississippi State Athletics
PRESS RELEASE (Mississippi State Athletics)- The sixth class of the Ron Polk Ring of Honor will see their plaques unveiled this spring when the trio of Bobby Reed, Jim Ellis and C.S. “Buddy” Myer are enshrined as the 2024 class.
Reed, Ellis and Myer will be celebrated during Mississippi State’s conference series versus Georgia (April 5-7, 2024) with the induction ceremony set to be held on Saturday, April 6.
The Ring of Honor is named after legendary head coach Ron polk, who led the Bulldogs from 1976-97 and again from 2002-08. Affectionately referred to as the Father of Southeastern Conference baseball, Polk served 31 years as head coach in the league, including a stint at the University of Georgia (2000-01).
The architect of five SEC championship teams and five SEC Tournament-title-winning 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, Polk 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 and 187 Major League Baseball draft picks – including 29 who reached the big leagues. Named an 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.
Bobby Reed
1988-90
A right-handed pitcher with his name all over the Mississippi State record books, Reed showcased his talents at State during the 1988-90 seasons. Reed led the team in four different categories during his time including wins, earned run average, strikeouts and innings pitched. Reed also led the NCAA in ERA (1.09) during the 1988 season.
Until the 2008 season, Reed held the record at MSU for consecutive scoreless innings (25.1) and games started (22). Lettering all three seasons, he earned multiple honors including Freshman All-American (1988), ABCA All-Region Second Team (1990), All-SEC Second Team (1988,90), 1988 SEC Academic Honor Roll, SEC All-Tournament Team (1990) and NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team (1989-90).
Reed was drafted in the 1990 MLB Draft to the Texas Rangers with the 89th pick in the third round. Reed played for three seasons in the minors and reached Double-A.
Jim Ellis
1979-Present
In 1979, Jim Ellis began crafting images over the airwaves and his legendary voice has described many of the iconic sports moments in Mississippi State history. A native of West Point, Miss., Ellis graduated from State in 1969 and began his broadcasting career under the tutelage of the iconic Jack Cristil.
Ellis, affectionately known as “The Voice of the Diamond Dawgs,” has described and interpreted countless magical moments in Mississippi State baseball history, broadcasting 31 NCAA Regional appearances, seven SEC Tournament titles, five SEC championships, 10 trips to the College World Series and a National Championship to date.
A four-time Outstanding Broadcaster in Mississippi award winner, Ellis’ dedication to State has spanned from the baseball field to the court to the gridiron; calling the 2021 National Championship, the first national championship in school history. Ellis now announces the Diamond Dawgs alongside Bulldog legend Ron Polk.
C.S. “Buddy” Myer
1922-24
Charles “Buddy” Myer played for the, at the time, Mississippi A&M Maroons in the early 1920s and etched himself into MSU history. Myer used his talents all throughout the infield playing second, third and shortstop. Myer had a historical hit in the long-lasting rivalry against the Ole Miss where he hit what is believed to be the first grand slam in program history to give his team a 6-4 win over the Rebels.
Myer was signed by the Washington Senators in 1925 and made his MLB debut on Sept. 26, 1925. He spent two seasons with the Boston Red Sox before returning to the Senators. Myer solidified himself as the Senators’ second baseman for a decade. Myer led the team in fielding in 1931 and 1938, won the AL batting crown in 1935 and batted over .300 nine times in his 17 seasons.
Myer ended his MLB career in 1941 collecting 7,038 at bats, a .303 batting average, .389 on-base percentage, .406 slugging percentage and 38 home runs. Myer was a two-time all-star (1935,1937) and led the league in stolen bases during the 1928 season. He was later inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 1971.
