Two Mississippi baseball icons, Jeff Brantley and Dave Clark, have been selected for the College Baseball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026, a distinction that will be celebrated at an induction ceremony in Overland Park, Kansas, in February 2027.
A Legacy of Mississippi Talent
Brantley’s collegiate journey at Mississippi State University spanned 1982 to 1985, during which he anchored the 1985 College World Series championship team and established a new SEC record for career wins. His dominance earned him All‑Star honors in 1990 and a World Series appearance with the San Francisco Giants in 1989, and he later transitioned to a broadcasting role with ESPN, joining a long list of baseball figures enshrined in multiple halls of fame.
Dave Clark, a Jackson State alumnus from 1981 to 1983, led the Tigers to a Southwestern Athletic Conference championship and was named SWAC MVP in 1983. The Cleveland Indians drafted him that same year, and he went on to enjoy a 13‑season major league career that cemented his status as one of the most accomplished pitchers to emerge from the state.
The Hall of Fame, founded in 2006, now counts 196 members who have shaped the sport at the collegiate level. The upcoming class will join a storied group of inductees, underscoring the enduring impact of collegiate baseball on the broader narrative of the game.
National Recognition in Kansas
Overland Park, a suburban hub in the heart of the Midwest, has become the annual gathering point for the Hall of Fame’s ceremony, drawing former players, coaches, and fans from across the country. The 2026 induction will be held in February, marking the first time the event takes place in Kansas and highlighting the Hall’s expanding footprint beyond traditional baseball hotbeds.