By T. Scott Boatright
The honors keep pouring in for former Grambling State University baseball coach Wilbert Ellis.
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 pair of prestigious at bats next week.
Ellis will be inducted into the The College Baseball Hall of Fame as part of The College Baseball Foundation’s Class of 2024 on Wednesday.
Then next weekend, on Feb. 15, Ellis will be honored with The Dusty Baker Coaching Impact Award prior to Grambling State’s game against Southern as part of the Cactus Jack HBCU Classic at Daikin Park, home of the Houston Astros.
The Dusty Baker Coaching Impact Award is given out by the Astros Foundation and the Astros Youth Academy to baseball coaches from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) who have made a significant impact on and off the baseball field.
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, UTexas, 1947-50; and Jim Paronto, Umpire/Administrator, 1973-2023 will be posthumously inducted with the Class of 2024.
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
All in all, it will be a busy few days for Ellis.
“I fly up to Kansas on Wednesday and then will go to the induction banquet on Thursday,” Ellis said. “Then I’ll fly back home on Friday, get a little rest and then wake up early Saturday to get to Houston. James Cooper is going to drive me down there.”
Cooper is the manager of the Hudson Valley Renegades, the New York Yankees’ High-A affiliate team and a 33rd pick in the 2004 First-Year Player Draft and played 103 games over two minor league seasons for the Astros.
“It’s only fitting that Cooper is there with me,” Ellis said. “After an outstanding career playing for me at Grambling, he went on to play for the Astros’ organization, so he’s as excited as I am about making that trip before his minor league season begins.
(Former Grambling and MLB standout, a Ruston native) is going to be there, too. He’s a good friend of Dusty’s,” Ellis said. “There’s a lot of former Grambling players who live in the Houston area who have let me know they’re going to be there.”
“Reggie Jackson (the famous MLB slugger who became friends with Ellis when he was part of a Yankees team that played an exhibition game at Grambling in 1979) is going to be there. He worked as a special advisor for the Astros until not too long ago.”
Receiving a Coaching Impact Award is something particularly meaningful for Ellis.
“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. Getting to coach Grambling State baseball was a big enough honor in itself. But this one, and the College Baseball Hall of Fame induction, will make next week one of the most thrilling and proudest few days for me ever, and the Good Lord has blessed me with some great weeks in my time.”
Ellis had hundreds of supporters cheer him on as he was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame last summer, and while the numbers won’t nearly match that, he’ll have a strong contingent helping honor him at the College Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
“We’re going to have about 35 people up there for me, including (former GSU and Kansas City Chiefs standout and Pro Football Hall of Famer) Buck Buchanan’s wife, who lives there. (Dr.) Martin Lemelle, Jr. (GSU’s President) and (GSU Vice President for Advancement and Innovation Brandon (A.) Logan are both going.
“(Lincoln/Union District Attorney) John Belton is going up there. Tammy Richardson, president of the Grambling Alumni Association, is going to be there. Cherie (Kirkland, granddaughter of legendary Grambling football coach Eddie G. Robinson) is going to be there, too. Former Grambling pitcher Gary Eave is going to be there. I’m so honored because there’s a lot more people that are going to be there, too. It’s a really good list and I’m so honored they’re taking the time to be with me for that one.”
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