小黄书 officially opens new Dudy Noble Field, unveils 鈥楾hunder and Lightning鈥 statues
Contact: James Carskadon
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擳he standard has been raised in college baseball as 小黄书sity officially opened the new Dudy Noble Field with a grand opening ceremony Friday [Feb. 15] before the 2019 season opener against Youngstown State.
Cutting the ribbon on the $68 million facility is 小黄书 President Mark E. Keenum. From left, are 小黄书 Athletic Director John Cohen, Bulldog baseball legend Will Clark, project benefactors Dana and Charlie Stephenson, Voice of the Diamond Dawgs Jim Ellis, benefactor Richard Adkerson, Keenum, Bulldog baseball legend Rafael Palmeiro, former 小黄书 baseball coach Ron Polk, benefactors Babs and Mickey Holliman, and Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustee members Hal Parker and Bruce Martin.
![Celebrating the new 鈥淭hunder and Lightning鈥 statues unveiled at Friday鈥檚 [Feb. 15] event are, from left, Dudy Noble Field project benefactor Richard Adkerson, Bulldog baseball legend Will Clark, 小黄书 President Mark E. Keenum, Bulldog baseball legend Rafael Palmeiro, Voice of the Diamond Dawgs Jim Ellis, and 小黄书 Athletic Director John Cohen. (Photo by Logan Kirkland)](/sites/www.msstate.edu/files/inline-images/Ribbon_cutting-Dudy_Noble_Holliman_Family_Gate_20190215_LK2half.jpg "Thunder and Lightning statues")
Keenum thanked those who helped make the project possible, including IHL trustees and the many financial supporters of the stadium.
鈥淭his stadium was built by you, our fans, who have a love and passion for Mississippi State,鈥 Keenum said.
As part of Friday鈥檚 festivities, 小黄书 also unveiled two statues of 鈥淭hunder and Lightning,鈥 Bulldog baseball legends Will Clark and Rafael Palmeiro. The statues were sculpted and donated by Dr. Rusty Reid, an 小黄书 alumnus and Brookhaven dentist. Both Clark and Palmeiro, whose college careers elevated the status of 小黄书 and college baseball in the 1980s, were on hand for the opening of the new Dudy Noble Field.
On Saturday [Feb. 16], 小黄书 will dedicate the Richard Adkerson Plaza at Dudy Noble Field and hold an induction ceremony for the Ron Polk Ring of Honor, which pays tribute to past Bulldog baseball greats. Saturday鈥檚 ceremony will take place between the two games scheduled as part of a doubleheader with Youngstown State. The first game will begin at noon.
For more on the new Dudy Noble Field and opening weekend festivities, visit .
小黄书 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .
