News
Museum Celebrates Diz' 100th Birthday Saturday
By Michael Rubenstein, Executive Director
Aug 9, 2010, 11:45am

Dizzy Dean was born in 1910. The Museum celebrates his centennial year August 21, 2010.

The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum celebrates the centennial year of Dizzy Dean’s birth with two one-man live performances about Diz starring Ben Jones who played Cooter on the “Dukes of Hazzard” TV series.

The performances will be at 3pm and 7pm on Saturday August 21, 2010. Following the 7pm show, several Mississippians—including Boston Red Sox Hall of Famer and Shaw, MS native Boo Ferriss-- will share their personal experiences with Diz.

“In a sport that has produced more than its share of colorful characters, Dizzy Dean may be at the top of the list,” said Museum Executive Director Michael Rubenstein.“A blazing fastball and mangled syntax made him a baseball icon on the field and in the broadcast booth for more than 40 years.”

Veteran actor Ben Jones, who played Cooter Davenport on "The Dukes of Hazzard" TV show, is a former Member of Congress who has acted with Anthony Hopkins and John Travolta during his career.

Dean was Major League Baseball’s dominant pitcher in the early 1930’s leading the National League in strikeouts four consecutive seasons (1932-1935) and earning NL MVP honors after winning 30 games for the famed St. Louis Cardinal “Gashouse Gang” that won the World Series in 1934. He was inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in 1953 and the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 1990. He was born in Arkansas on January 16, 1910 but made his wife’s hometown, Wiggins, MS, his home.

Seating is limited for both shows. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7.50 for students. For ticket information, contact the Museum at 1-800-280-FAME (3263) .

© Copyright 2001-2002 by Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame Museum