where have you gone …

Joe DiFabio will always hold a special place in Mississippi baseball history. He was the first player from the state picked in the major league draft. The former Delta State right-hander went 20th overall to the St. Louis Cardinals in the first draft in 1965. Some very familiar names were called that day: Rick Monday, Joe Coleman, Billy Conigliaro, Ray Fosse, Jim Spencer and Bernie Carbo were among the first rounders who made it to the big leagues. DiFabio got as high as Triple-A before hanging ’em up in 1971. His career numbers were good: 45-34, 3.24 ERA. He deserves a shout-out today, 45 years after his big moment.