totally random, vol. 2.3

Today’s subject: Hughie Critz. A long time ago, Critz was a very good player, worthy of mention any time an All-Mississippi major league team is discussed. The undersized (5 feet 8, 147 pounds) Starkville native, who starred at Mississippi A&M (now State), batted .268 over a 12-year major league career and four times led National League second basemen in fielding. In his first big league game, in 1924, Critz got two hits against Hall of Famer Grover Cleveland Alexander and went on to bat .322 as a rookie. He spent most of career with the Cincinnati Reds but won a World Series ring as a member of the 1933 New York Giants. Other members of that great club included Mel Ott, Bill Terry, Carl Hubbell and Moss Point native Sam Leslie. Critz died in 1980 at the age of 79.
P.S. According to a post on rantsports.com/chicago-cubs, former Ole Miss standout Matt Tolbert has signed a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs. The team has not made an announcement regarding Tolbert, a utility infielder who hit .198 in 87 games with Minnesota last season.