In my last post, I wrote about Barry Lyons’ inexplicable absence from the Biloxi Shuckers opening night ceremonies at MGM Park. His nephew Patrick Lyons also spoke about the injustice, writing this to the SunHerald this weekend:
While he was making a living playing baseball across the country, he dreamed about bringing professional baseball to Biloxi. He first discussed the idea with Mayor A.J. Holloway more than 20 years ago.
Mr. Lyons used the term “blackballed” in describing how his uncle has been treated. I certainly hope this doesn’t indicate that there has been some sort of falling out between Barry and the team organization, but the fact that there been no mention of this pivotal figure in the history of professional baseball in Biloxi – his name seemingly flushed down the memory hole – is troubling.
On a happier note the team itself just keeps rolling along. We dropped Sunday’s game 4-2, managing to bat only 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, which wasn’t enough support for our starting pitcher Hobbs Johnson, who actually allowed fewer hits than his opponent, the BayBears top pitching prospect Aaron Blair. We came back Monday night, winning 2-1, powered by Orlando Arcia’s home run in the 6th, the first in MGM Park’s history. Brooks Hall was stellar again on the mound. The April 2015 Milwaukee Brewers MiLB Player of the Month held the BayBears to one run, on the way to his Southern League-tying 6th win. Did I hear someone say Arcia’s homer cleared the netting over the outfield fence? If that’s the case, then might we start to see folks standing watch on Caillavet Street during games, waiting to snag a souvenir?
So going into tonight’s (Tue Jun 9th) game, we are an incredible 13 games over .500, 3 1/2 games in front of the Mississippi Braves. Regardless how our series with the BayBears ends, we are looking at a big series with the M-Braves coming up later this week in Pearl. Anybody going?
If you haven’t caught any of ESPN’s coverage of the Shuckers and their epic road trip, you should. They did a good, respectful job. The final installment was posted this weekend, as the team came home at last. I think I knew before that former NBA All-Star Tracy McGrady was an investor in the team, but I didn’t know that he and owner Tim Bennett were “childhood friends”. And if I knew T-Mac was in the house Saturday night, I definitely would have kept an eye out – and an autograph pen!
Finally, our radio guy Chris Harris says in his Twitter feed (@CHarris731) that the league will announce the South Division All-Star team tomorrow. I fully expect the Shuckers to dominate that roster!
Biloxi Baseball 