The Ron Polk Ring of Honor at Mississippi State is expanding once again.
MSU will induct four former Bulldogs into the ring of honor at 11 a.m. May 1 at Adkerson Plaza inside Polk-DeMent Stadium.
Paul Maholm, Jonathan Papelbon, Jay Powell and Del Unser will be honored during the ceremony, which precedes the Bulldogs’ 2 p.m. game against Texas A&M at Dudy Noble Field. No tickets are required for the ceremony.
Maholm was an all-Southeastern Conference selection twice during his MSU career from 2001 to 2003, striking out 273 batters during his time in Starkville. He went on to win 77 Major League games over 10 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Papelbon was a six-time All-Star closer in the majors, winning the 2007 World Series with the Boston Red Sox and later pitching for the Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals. Like Maholm, he spent 2001 to 2003 in Starkville, saving 13 games in his career and leading the Bulldogs to the SEC tournament championship as a freshman.
Powell, also a reliever, compiled 160 strikeouts and 17 saves while spending 1991 to 1993 in Starkville. He earned the win in Game 7 of the 1997 World Series with the Miami Marlins and is the only reliever in major league history to pitch for 10-plus seasons without recording a loss. Powell also pitched for the Houston Astros, Colorado Rockies, Texas Rangers and Atlanta Braves.
Unser led the SEC in home runs with seven in 1965 and 1966 as Mississippi State won back-to-back conference titles. He won the 1980 World Series with the Phillies as part of a 15-year big-league career.
Mississippi State inducted Eric DuBose, Bobby Thigpen and Paul Gregory into the ring of honor on April 3.
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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