all in a day

On this date in 1994 — 30 years ago — former Pontotoc High star Steve Pegues made his big league debut. Playing for Cincinnati, he pinch hit — for ex-Mississippi State standout Jeff Brantley — and drew a walk against Florida. Funny thing about July 6. A whole bunch of Mississippi-connected players did some pretty interesting things on this date, according to baseball-reference.com. In 1958, Southern Miss alum Jim Davenport got a walk-off RBI HBP for San Francisco against St. Louis. … In 1986, former Jackson Mets standout Jeff Reardon surrendered the last of four home runs mashed by Atlanta’s Bob Horner at Fulton County Stadium; Reardon got the save in an 11-8 Montreal victory. … In 1997, ex-State star Rafael Palmeiro homered, tripled and singled for Baltimore in a 14-9 loss against Detroit; he had two chances to complete the cycle and struck out both times. … In 2001, Vicksburg’s Roosevelt Brown registered a five-hit game, including a homer, for the Chicago Cubs against Detroit in the Cubs’ first game in the Motor City in 56 years. … In 2002, Jackson Generals alum Daryle Ward, playing for Houston, became the first player to hit a ball out of PNC Park and into the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh; the homer traveled an estimated 479 feet. … In 2004, ex-Gens star Richard Hidalgo, playing for the New York Mets, homered for the fifth straight game, a club record. … In 2008, Mississippi Braves alum Yunel Escobar got four hits in nine at-bats in Atlanta’s 7-6, 17-inning win vs. visiting Houston. Eight former M-Braves played in the game, the longest ever at Turner Field. … In 2010, ex-Ole Miss star Seth Smith hit a three-run walk-off bomb for Colorado, capping a nine-run ninth-inning rally against St. Louis. … Also in 2010, Mets ace Johan Santana smacked the only homer of his career, a solo shot off Ole Miss product Matt Maloney, in a 3-0 win over Cincinnati. … In 2011, Stone County High product Fred Lewis hit one of four homers by the Reds, who blew an 8-0 lead but won 9-8 in the 13th against St. Louis.