MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - John Stanford, Middle Tennessee's highly successful head baseball coach from 1974 through 1997, will be inducted on Friday night into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.
Joining Stanford in being inducted are E. J. Junior, Ted Rhodes, John R. Hall, Dale Ellis, Charlie Coffey, Lin Dunn, Rocky Felker, Bill Dupes, Norman "Turkey" Stearnes and Harley "Skeeter" Swift.
A native of Louisiana, Stanford came to Middle Tennessee to play baseball. As a standout pitcher, he was drafted by the Washington Senators, and played two years before joining the coaching ranks with stints at Shelbyville High School and Motlow State Community College.
In 1974, he came back to Middle Tennessee as head baseball coach. In his 13-year career, he became the biggest winner in Blue Raider baseball history, posting a career record of 402-272-4. He won four OVC titles, as well as five Southern Division crowns, and guided his teams to several NCAA tournaments while garnering multiple coach of the year honors.
After serving as head baseball coach, Stanford moved up to the Athletics Director's slot in 1987, a post he held until he retired in 1994.
Stanford will become the eighth inductee with ties to Middle Tennessee. He joins Kim Webb (1999), Boots Donnelly (1997), Jimmy Earle (1995), Dean Hayes (1994), Reese Smith (1994), Charles "Bubber" Murphy (1976) and Larry Gilbert (1969).
The ceremony will take place at the Renaissance Hotel in Nashville.
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