Mitch Moreland joins Diamond Dawg immortality with Ring of Honor induction

As Mitch Moreland gazed across the right field entrance of Dudy Noble Field and looked out over the grass he once roamed, memories no doubt flooded his mind.

Nearly 18 years earlier, Moreland’s strikeout of Clemson hitter Taylor Harbin sent the 2007 Mississippi State Bulldogs back to the College World Series for the first time since 1998. At the time, Moreland was just a good ol’ boy from Amory who wanted to play ball for the Diamond Dawgs.

Two decades later, Moreland has an accomplished MLB career in his back pocket and is now a family man. His return to Starkville marked his enshrinement into Ron Polk’s prestigious Ring of Honor—an achievement that brings the Mississippi native a deep sense of pride.

“Obviously, it’s a huge honor. I’m humbled and grateful for the opportunity,” Moreland said. “When I got the call, it was the last thing I was expecting, but it’s been a great weekend and nothing but first class from everybody here. Just happy to be able to be a part of this, for sure.”

Moreland’s two-way stardom in 2007 made him State legend

The way Moreland finished that blazing hot afternoon in Starkville came as no surprise to those who followed the maroon and white back then. He was a two-way standout for Coach Polk, posting a 3-0 record as a junior with a 3.28 ERA, 28 strikeouts, and just three walks in 19.2 innings.

His primary position was as one of the best first basemen in the SEC. During his final year on campus, he tallied 82 hits with a .343 batting average, 26 doubles, 10 home runs, and 62 RBIs. At 6’3″, 245 pounds, he was built to do a lot of things well for State—and the coaching staff made sure to take care of him.

“Coach Polk and the coaching staff did a great job of keeping us two-way guys healthy and gave us a great game plan to be successful and ready for those spots,” Moreland said. “They did a great job with that, so I have to give them most of the credit. It’s a mindset you have to prepare for, and if you follow the game, you know when those opportunities are coming.”

The opportunity certainly came on that June day at the old DNF. The Diamond Dawgs had been starving for postseason magic after several years away from Omaha, and an upset win at the Florida State Regional the week before opened the door.

2007 Omaha run a special finish

State entered the postseason as a two-seed but went 3-0 in Tallahassee, including two straight wins over the host Seminoles. With Clemson also coming out of its regional as a two-seed, the NCAA selected Starkville as the host site for its first-ever Super Regional.

Fans packed “The Dude” for the two-day event, and the early afternoon games were played under cloudless skies and sweltering heat. Moreland and his teammates were right where they wanted to be.

In Game One, the Diamond Dawgs trailed 5-3 in the sixth when Moreland stepped to the plate and launched a two-run home run to tie the game. State scored four runs in that inning and held on for an 8-6 win. Moreland finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs, a double, and a homer.

Game Two brought even more drama, and Moreland stamped his legacy. He went 2-for-5 at the plate with two doubles and an RBI, then closed out the game on the mound, recording the final two outs—including the game-ending strikeout. It remains his favorite moment from his favorite season as a Bulldog.

“100% my favorite game was the Clemson game when we closed it out to go to Omaha,” Moreland said. “Probably the second biggest game I remember was a Sunday game at Ole Miss in Oxford. We played 17 innings, and I pitched the last four to win that game. I thought that changed our mindset and mentality for the rest of the season, and we ended up making it all the way to Omaha.”

Moreland got to experience the CWS the following week and collected four hits in two games, including a double and another one of his signature monster home runs. After that, it was off to the MLB.

The Amory native was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 17th round of the 2007 MLB Draft—and he far outperformed that selection. Moreland played 12 seasons in the majors, debuting in 2010 with the Rangers. He went on to play for Texas, the Boston Red Sox, and the Oakland A’s, appearing in 1,260 games with 1,020 hits, 219 doubles, 186 home runs, and 618 RBIs.

It was a career well played, and Moreland has no regrets. Now, he and his family are settled in the Birmingham, Ala., area, but they remain loyal Bulldogs. Moreland has generously contributed to the latest iteration of DNF and is a frequent visitor to both baseball and football games when his schedule allows.

His legacy is now permanently etched into MSU history. His plaque overlooks the hallowed grounds he once ruled, and he hopes to witness many more great moments like those he helped create.

“An hour away, this is the only place I ever thought about playing. It’s ingrained in me—I’ll always be a Bulldog,” Moreland said. “I love it here and try to get here as much as I can. If we’re not here, we’re definitely following along. We love being over here.”