Category Archives: Sports

Buckwalter Stadium in Meridian, Miss.

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By Chris Misun, Meridian, Miss.

Ride along I-20/I-59 through Meridian, Miss., and you see on the edge of town a field full of history and happy memories for many of Meridian’s locals.  Two large structures will capture your attention, one of them being a still standing but not complete drive-in theater screen.  The other is a grandstand, which was ground zero for the Meridian fairgrounds for the better half of the 1900’s.

Buckwalter Stadium in Meridian, Miss., was home to the Meridian Minor League baseball teams from 1937 to 1955. Copyright 2012 Chris Misun

The grandstands were built in 1937 and it was proclaimed Buckwalter Stadium.   The stadium became home to the Minor League baseball teams that graced the city of Meridian.  The Meridian team, which changed names several times throughout their stay in the Queen City, played ball in the Southeastern League, a B level league and also the Cotton States League, a C level league.

Buckwalter Stadium, in it's hay day, was able to seat nearly 3000 spectators during baseball games. The field, located in Meridian, Miss., was converted from a baseball park in the mid 50's to a fairgrounds field used for different attractions, but mainly demolition derbys. Copyright 2012 Chris Misun

The most well known team to run the bases was the Meridian Millers.  Their run lasted from 1949 to 1955.  A couple of years later, the grounds were purchased by Lloyd Royal and the field was removed and transformed into grounds more suitable for fair events such as demolition derbies, concerts and pro wrestling events, according to Royal’s son, Zane Royal.

The home of the Meridian Millers, Buckwalter Stadium, located in Meridian, Miss., was also home to the christening of the famous Key Brothers airplane, Curtiss Robin, after their return of their record breaking of 653 hours and 34 minutes of continuous flight time. That record still stands today. Copyright 2012 Chris Misun

Royal described the days of the fair as vibrant and exciting and many Meridian residents remember wonderful memories of the Mississippi-Alabama Fairs.  The fairs lasted from the late 1950’s until 1999 when Lloyd Royal’s widow decided to end the nearly half century event.

The faucet knob to the original shower in the home team locker room in Buckwalter Stadium in Meridian, Miss. The stadium was home to Minor League baseball teams between 1937 and 1955. The most famous team to play on the now removed field was the Meridian Millers, which played for the Southeastern League and Class C Cotton States League. Copyright 2012 Chris Misun

 

The old fairgrounds in Meridian, Miss., was home to Buckwalter Stadium until the mid 1950's. After its baseball days passed, the field was converted and used for different attractions to the fairgrounds including; demolition derby, pro wrestling events and concerts. Such acts as Elvis Presley graced the grounds of this abandon structure. Copyright 2012 Chris Misun

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The BCS Breakdown – Conference Domination for National Title

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-Chris Misun, Meridian, Miss.

Since its inception in 1998, the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) has determined the National Champion in NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) through one of its Bowl Championship games.  The bowl games since 1998 have been the Rose Bowl, the Sugar Bowl, the Orange Bowl and the Fiesta Bowl.  In 2007, the BCS added the BCS National Championship game, which is rotated through the other four locations every year.  The 2012 game was played in New Orleans, the home of the Allstate Sugar Bowl.  This year marked the first time in the history of the BCS that two teams from the same conference battled it out for football domination.

This appearance by the SEC in the National Championship game provided them with their 9th appearance edging past the Big 12 conference that has 7 appearances.  It is important to note that the Pac-12 had two other appearances originally, but in June, 2011, the Presidential Oversight Committee (POC) of the BCS vacated the participation of the University of Southern California (USC) for rules violations from the 2005 Orange Bowl in which they won the National Championship and the 2006 Rose Bowl.

A League of Their Own

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By Chris Misun

When most people think of baseball, they have images of the players, the crowd, the fields and all the excitement that surrounds the game.  A lot of emphasis is placed on the journey of the player, from their years in little league to high school, college, Minor League and finally the Majors.  But often times there is another group of athletes that get over looked and their journey to the Big League.  The umpire is one of the most important parts of the game and how they get there is just as difficult as the players.

Brandon Misun is one of those umpires on the path to fulfilling a dream of the Majors.  His story started when he was 11-years-old and under the recommendation of his mother, he stepped onto the field dressed in a less familiar attire.  From there he began to spend his summers umpiring for the ages just below his own, then soon officiating high school games, college games and adult league.  Soon that was not going to be enough.  “As I approached the end of my college career, I started researching umpires at a professional level and how they got there,” Misun explained.

He discovered the Harry Wendelstedt School for Umpires in Daytona, Fla.  After two different years of attending the month long training, he got his foot in the door.  Since 2004, Misun has worked in six different levels of the baseball Minor League.

Each level is just as challenging for the umpires as it is for the players, having to adapt to the skills of the players and different aspects that grow with the game. But again, just like the players, the hardships of chasing of a dream are just as hard on the boys in blue.  “You move from city to city in a car, van, or airplane every three or four days.  This can wear on you physically and mentally,” says Misun, “It strains your relationships at home because you are gone so long.”  He also mentions another struggle concerning finances.  Umpires, like players, don’t make the payday until they reach the Majors, so the journey before then comes with financial hardships.  “It makes it even tougher when the checks stop after the season is done.  Then you are required to find another job or two to make up the loss of salary.”

Unlike some of the Minor League players, which some are headed back to college, Misun has found employment over the past years as a substitute teacher at local schools.  He found it to be one advantage of completing his college degree before beginning his journey.

Misun remains positive about the future and his quest to make it in a job he cherishes.  “There are a lot of worse jobs in the world then showing up at the ballpark everyday and getting paid to watch a game.  I know that although the road to the Majors is difficult and ultra competitive, the possible payoff at the end would be well worth it!”

Misun will be returning to the Texas League, which is Double-A in the Minor League system.  This is the second closest division to the Major League.

Photo Credits: Mark Harmon and James Garner