By T. Scott Boatright
Former Grambling State University baseball coach is pretty much batting 1.000 when it comes to Halls of Fame.
Previously inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2024, the Louisiana Justice Hall of Fame in 2022, the SWAC Hall of Fame in 2011, the Grambling Legends Hall of Fame in 2012 and the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2007, Ellis is once again up to a prestigious at bat.
In February Ellis will be inducted into the The College Baseball Hall of Fame as part of The College Baseball Foundation’s Class of 2024.
The 11-member Class of 2024 is composed of seven players, three coaches and an umpire that have contributed to college baseball history at the NCAA, NAIA or NJCAA levels.
Joining Ellis in the College Baseball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024 will be Mike Schmidt, Shortstop, Ohio, 1969-71; Roger Clemens, Pitcher, San Jacinto JC, 1981/University of Texas, 1982-83; Mark Teixeira, Third Base, Georgia Tech, 1999-2001; Bill Thom, Pitcher, Southern California, 1957-59; Jeff King, Third Base, Arkansas, 1984-86; Woody Hunt, Coach, Cumberland, 1982-2021; Randy Ross, Shortstop, North Park, 1981-84; and Mike Fox, Coach, North Carolina Wesleyan, 1983-1998/North Carolina, 1999-2020.
In addition, Murray Wall, Pitcher, University of Texas, 1947-50; and Jim Paronto, Umpire/Administrator, 1973-2023 will be posthumously inducted with the Class of 2024.
“This was a surprise but a big, big honor when I was told I was going to be inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame,” Ellis said. “I’ve never done any of this for any kind of honor.
“All I wanted to do was impact the lives of young people, coach the game I love and lead the teams I’ve coached to wins. Those are the only honors I’ve wanted. And getting to coach Grambling State baseball was a big enough honor in itself. But this is a big thrill and one I’m proud to be receiving.”
Ellis said he’s especially honored to be part of the same College Baseball Hall of Fame Class as Clemens.
In 1983, Grambling State played in the NCAA Division I baseball tournament’s Central Regional in Austin.
Clemens and Texas won the national championship that year while Grambling fell to Texas-Pan American and Tulane.
“I know just how good Roger Clemens was because I personally watched him play,” Ellis said. “To be part of an induction class with him and other players like Mike Schmidt, it almost brings tears to my eyes. It’s such a big honor.”
Ellis also coached his G-Men against Texas at a 1985 Baseball Regional in Austin, losing to Texas 4-3 in the opening game and Oklahoma 5-2 in GSU’s next game.
“That’s another reason I’m so proud that I’m going to be inducted with Clemens,” Ellis said. “Those games against Texas in the 1980s are still some of the highlights of my career, along with coaching against the (New York) Yankees in Grambling three different times.”
As GSU’s head coach, Ellis guided the college careers of Matt Alexander, who won a World Series title with Pittsburgh in 1979; Lenny Webster, who was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in 1985, hit .254 over 12 seasons and appeared in the 1997 AL Championship; and Gerald Williams, who was selected by the New York Yankees in the 1987 amateur draft, averaged .255 over 14 seasons and appeared in a pair of NL Championship Series (1998-99) with Atlanta and in the 1999 World Series against his former team, the Yankees.
Halls of Fame inductions aren’t the only honors bestowed on Ellis over the years. In 2015, the Ruston-Lincoln (Parish) Chamber of Commerce presented Ellis with the 2015 Robert E. Russ Award, which is the highest award that is given for community impact in Ruston or Lincoln Parish, and in 2021 Ellis received that year’s Bill Best Humanitarian Award from the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce.
That award was established in 1997 by the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce to recognize a local citizen for their outstanding contributions to humanitarian interests, unselfish giving, and service to others.
The 17th Baseball Hall of Fame induction class will be honored at the Night of Champions presented by Prairiefire on Feb. 13, 2025, in Overland Park, Kansas, the home of the College Baseball Hall of Fame. The event will serve as the ceremonial start to the 2025 college baseball season, which begins Feb. 14, 2025.
Individual tickets for the induction ceremony cost $300.
An MLB.com account is required to register online for the Night of Champions. If you do not have an account, you will be prompted to create one when registering. For more information on purchasing tickets or sponsorships, go online to Login | MLB.com.
After registering, go to 2025 College Baseball Night of Champions | MLB.com.
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