happy tater day

George Scott, the Greenville native and onetime Boston Red Sox slugger, lovingly called his home runs “taters.” Everybody, save for the pitchers who throw them, loves taters. Every true fan knows the significant home run numbers: 60, 61, 70, 73, 714, 755, 762. There’s another, lesser publicized tater number of note: 62. On July 2, 2002, major league players launched a single-day record 62 homers. Considering the recent decline in home run numbers, this is a record that very well may stand forever. Of course, Mississippi-connected players hit their fair share that day. Vicksburg native Dmitri Young, playing for Detroit, hit two, as did former Jackson General Lance Berkman of Houston. Gulfport’s Matt Lawton, then with Cleveland, hit one, off Roger Clemens, no less. Also taking the trip around the bases that day were ex-Mississippi State star Rafael Palmeiro (Texas), Hattiesburg native Wendell Magee (Detroit) and former Southern Miss standout Kevin Young (Pittsburgh). If we were to honor the home run by naming a day in its honor, today would be it.