Mark Ross Named to SEC Baseball Legends 2018 Class
May 08, 2018 | Baseball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Texas A&M's Mark Ross was among four honorees who will be recognized as part of the SEC Baseball Legends Presented by AT&T, the league announced Tuesday.
Mark Ross joins Ole Miss' David Dellucci, Mississippi State's Ron Polk and Tennessee's Alan Cockrell for the 2018 class. The quartet will be honored during the 2018 SEC Baseball Tournament, May 22-27, at the Hoover Met in Hoover, Alabama.
Each legend will be recognized individually throughout the two quarterfinal matchups on Friday, May 25 and will have on-field recognition and an awards presentation by Commissioner Greg Sankey on Saturday, May 26 during the semifinals of the SEC Tournament. Fans will have an opportunity for autographs and photos with the honorees at the AT&T Legends Pavilion immediately following. Several legends will also participate in the annual SEC Youth Clinic on Friday morning.
Ross is one of the top pitchers to ever put on the Maroon & White. He owns the Aggies' career records for wins (34), innings pitched (397.0) and complete games (26). His 232 strikeouts and 2.54 ERA both rank 12th on A&M's all-time lists. Ross earned All-Southwest Conference recognition in 1977 and '79.
In 1977, he helped the Aggies win the SWC title with an 11-3 record, 2.41 ERA, eight complete games and three shutouts. Texas A&M won a second consecutive league crown in 1978 as Ross went 11-4 with a 2.63 ERA and seven complete games. As a senior, he was 10-5 with a 2.22 ERA and nine complete games in 15 starts.
Following the 1979 campaign, Ross was drafted in the seventh round by the Houston Astros. He enjoyed a six-year Major League career, including three seasons with the Astros.
Following his playing career, he worked as a pitching coach in the Atlanta Braves organization, including stops in Danville, Macon and Jamestown. In 2018 he joined the Arizona Diamondbacks as an area scout after serving in scouting roles with the Astros from 2002-17.
A four-year letterwinner at A&M, Ross earned his bachelor's degree in finance. He earned the Aggies' Wally Moon Award for most improved player in 1977 and Marion Pugh Most Valuable Player Award in 1979.
He was inducted into the Texas A&M Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010.
This is the Aggies' second time through the SEC Baseball Legends rotation. In 2015, Mark Johnson was honored along with Alabama's Andy Phillips, Florida's David Eckstein and Vanderbilt's Larry Schmittou.
This marks the seventh consecutive year that the SEC has recognized a class of baseball legends. Last year's honorees were Ben McDonald, LSU; Don Kessinger, Ole Miss; Dave Silvestri, Missouri and Earl Bass, South Carolina.
The 2016 class featured Norm DeBriyn, Arkansas; Gabe Gross, Auburn; Cris Carpenter, Georgia and Scott Downs, Kentucky, and the 2014 class featured Phil Garner, Tennessee; Jake Gibbs, Ole Miss; Jay Powell, Mississippi State and Bobby Richardson, South Carolina.
The 2013 class honored Hal Baird, Auburn; Terry Shumpert, Kentucky; Skip Bertman, LSU; and Gene McArtor, Missouri, and the inaugural class in 2012 included: Dr. Jeffrey Laubenthal, Alabama; Kevin McReynolds, Arkansas; Brad Wilkerson, Florida and Rev. Reggie Andrews, Georgia.
Mark Ross joins Ole Miss' David Dellucci, Mississippi State's Ron Polk and Tennessee's Alan Cockrell for the 2018 class. The quartet will be honored during the 2018 SEC Baseball Tournament, May 22-27, at the Hoover Met in Hoover, Alabama.
Each legend will be recognized individually throughout the two quarterfinal matchups on Friday, May 25 and will have on-field recognition and an awards presentation by Commissioner Greg Sankey on Saturday, May 26 during the semifinals of the SEC Tournament. Fans will have an opportunity for autographs and photos with the honorees at the AT&T Legends Pavilion immediately following. Several legends will also participate in the annual SEC Youth Clinic on Friday morning.
Ross is one of the top pitchers to ever put on the Maroon & White. He owns the Aggies' career records for wins (34), innings pitched (397.0) and complete games (26). His 232 strikeouts and 2.54 ERA both rank 12th on A&M's all-time lists. Ross earned All-Southwest Conference recognition in 1977 and '79.
In 1977, he helped the Aggies win the SWC title with an 11-3 record, 2.41 ERA, eight complete games and three shutouts. Texas A&M won a second consecutive league crown in 1978 as Ross went 11-4 with a 2.63 ERA and seven complete games. As a senior, he was 10-5 with a 2.22 ERA and nine complete games in 15 starts.
Following the 1979 campaign, Ross was drafted in the seventh round by the Houston Astros. He enjoyed a six-year Major League career, including three seasons with the Astros.
Following his playing career, he worked as a pitching coach in the Atlanta Braves organization, including stops in Danville, Macon and Jamestown. In 2018 he joined the Arizona Diamondbacks as an area scout after serving in scouting roles with the Astros from 2002-17.
A four-year letterwinner at A&M, Ross earned his bachelor's degree in finance. He earned the Aggies' Wally Moon Award for most improved player in 1977 and Marion Pugh Most Valuable Player Award in 1979.
He was inducted into the Texas A&M Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010.
This is the Aggies' second time through the SEC Baseball Legends rotation. In 2015, Mark Johnson was honored along with Alabama's Andy Phillips, Florida's David Eckstein and Vanderbilt's Larry Schmittou.
This marks the seventh consecutive year that the SEC has recognized a class of baseball legends. Last year's honorees were Ben McDonald, LSU; Don Kessinger, Ole Miss; Dave Silvestri, Missouri and Earl Bass, South Carolina.
The 2016 class featured Norm DeBriyn, Arkansas; Gabe Gross, Auburn; Cris Carpenter, Georgia and Scott Downs, Kentucky, and the 2014 class featured Phil Garner, Tennessee; Jake Gibbs, Ole Miss; Jay Powell, Mississippi State and Bobby Richardson, South Carolina.
The 2013 class honored Hal Baird, Auburn; Terry Shumpert, Kentucky; Skip Bertman, LSU; and Gene McArtor, Missouri, and the inaugural class in 2012 included: Dr. Jeffrey Laubenthal, Alabama; Kevin McReynolds, Arkansas; Brad Wilkerson, Florida and Rev. Reggie Andrews, Georgia.
LSU Postgame: Michael Earley, Jace Laviolette, Clayton Freshcorn
Friday, May 23
Highlights: A&M 3, LSU 4
Friday, May 23
Auburn Postgame: Michael Earley, Justin Lamkin, Kaeden Kent
Thursday, May 22
Highlights: Texas A&M 3, Auburn 2
Thursday, May 22
