open and shut

It’s Opening Day in the big leagues, so here’s a nod to one of the best Opening Day performances of all-time. Gerald “Gee” Walker, Gulfport native and former Ole Miss star, hit for the cycle in 1937, the only major leaguer ever to pull off that feat. Playing for the Detroit Tigers, Walker homered, tripled, doubled and singled — in that order. He went on to make the All-Star Game that year for the only time in his 15 seasons. Walker hit .294 with 1,991 hits, 124 homers and 223 stolen bases. He has to be in the conversation for any all-time Mississippi team. And certainly no Magnolia State player has had a better first day.