Long Time Mississippi State Baseball Announcer Took His Rightful Spot in the Ron Polk Ring of Honor Saturday

The iconic radio announcer was honored on Saturday.

Jim Ellis and Ron Polk / Mississippi State Athletics

STARKVILLE, Miss. — The Mississippi State Bulldogs ay. One of the inductees has never played or coached baseball at Mississippi State but has been a part of every iconic moment since 1979.

Jim Ellis, who is a long-time radio announcer for Mississippi State baseball, was rightfully enshrined on the walls of Dudy Noble Field. For many years, the only way to keep up with the Bulldogs was on the radio, and Ellis fought hard to expand the reach of his broadcast as nearly every county in Mississippi could pick up MSU baseball.

Ellis is a West Point, Mississippi native and a 1969 graduate from Mississippi State. He spent his early broadcasting career calling local high school games, and when Polk lost his play-by-play announcer in the Fall of 1978, he needed another one.

The long-time MSU baseball coach was given a tape of Ellis, and he responded with, "He'll do." It was not a glowing seal of approval, but it cracked the door open for Ellis, and he busted down the door with his opportunity.

In his rookie season in 1979, the Bulldogs went to the College World Series, and that would be the first of 11 trips the iconic broadcaster would make to Omaha. Of all the iconic moments he has called, Ellis says the losses stick with him more than the wins.

The West Point native told the story of the 1985 team with Rafael Palmerio, Will Clark, Jeff Brantley, and Bobby Thigpen. The now iconic team seemed destined to win the national title, but Miami hit a walk-off home run off of Thigpen to send the Bulldogs home in the semi-finals.

When Ellis spoke at the ceremony, he said the best part of the job was the relationship he built with players and coaches. The broadcaster's legacy will forever be remembered in Starkville as four generations have listened to his iconic sound, which has been the voice of their childhood.

Being able to watch every college baseball game is still relatively new, so for over 30 years if you were not at the ballpark, all attention was turned to the radio. Mississippi State is one of the more historic programs in college baseball, and Polk and Ellis are joined at the hip.

The two now share the booth on the weekends, making for an informative, hilarious, and entertaining broadcast. There is no doubt that Ellis has had a massive role in the progression of this program with his hard work, dedication, and mastery of his craft.

He never coached or played in a game, but his legacy and impact take a backseat to nobody, and he has taken his rightful spot in the Ring of Honor.