The Easter Flood, a historic event, decided to tag along. Smith-Wills Stadium, which was the Texas League’s first season, was submerged by floodwaters from the Pearl River. Feder stated, “I have never seen so much rain.” It almost seems like it never stops raining. The tarp that I pulled has left me with a few scars on my hands. Feder ran the Jackson team for nine more years. Feder stated, “We had many great players, great managers and coaches who made it to the Big Leagues.” Feder said, “We won some championships” and had fun. Former players, coaches, and managers will return to Mississippi this weekend for a Jackson Mets reunion. The former players, coaches, and managers will play some golf, drink and dine, share stories, and meet fans at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame Museum on Saturday (10:30). There will be more than 30 former players in attendance, including many who were Major Leaguers. Darryl Strawberry, a 19 year-old Jackson Met, slugged 34 home runs. This is particularly impressive considering Strawberry played all of his home games at a humid, cavernous ballpark that was often hot and humid. Strawberry’s bat made a different sound – this is from someone who used to go to the ballpark to see him practice batting. Strawberry’s home runs often reached the top of the pine trees just beyond the right field fence. This area became known as “The Strawberry Patch” in 1982. Terry Blocker, Billy Beane, and Strawberry often filled the three outfield positions for the Jackson Mets. All three were former No. All three were former No. 1 draft picks. Both Strawberry and Beane, who became General Manager of Oakland A’s and subject (played in Brad Pitt’s hit movie “Moneyball”) are expected to attend the reunion. Strawberry was able to score 335 Major League home runs. Anyone who saw Strawberry in Jackson was surprised by his home run total. It was because he didn’t hit more. Mike Howard, a former Jackson Met, lives in Gluckstadt and won’t need to travel far. Howard, who met his wife in Gluckstadt during his Jackson Mets days (1979-1980), and then returned to the Jackson region when his playing days ended. Howard is a Jackson baseball fan who will be fondly remembered. He was known as “Mad Dog”, because of his unwavering playing style. Mad Dog Howard was a relentless player who ran to first base every time he was struck by a pitch or walked. Howard answered, “People asked why I would run up to first base after a walk.” Howard stole 55 bases in his two full Jackson Mets seasons. He was the Jax Mets MVP in 1980 for a Texas League championship team. He hit.291 with 29 doubles, eight triples, and appeared to be on a fast track towards Shea Stadium in New York. Howard made it to New York, but his stay was brief. Howard stated, “You might have heard about the Big Leagues offering a cup of coffee?” Howard said that he had enough time to have two cups of coffee and a bag of bagel during the 1981, 1982 and 1983 seasons with the New York Mets. Howard was in right field on the opening day of 1983 against the Philadelphia Phillies. Hall of Famer Steve Carlton pitched for the Phillies. Tom Seaver, a Hall of Famer, was at the Mets’ mound. The Mets won by 2-0. Howard, a switch-hitter, scored the winning run. This cup of coffee was as sweet as they come. It got even sweeter. “So, the next day it started to rain, so I went to the batting cage under the stadium to get some B.P., but someone was already there. Howard stated that Pete Rose was swinging. “Well, Pete Rose is my childhood idol. So I introduced myself and he said, “Oh, I recognize your.” You have a lot in common with my playing style. Not all of the Jackson Mets who returned for the reunion made it to Major Leagues. Kurt Lundgren pitched three seasons (1985-87), at Smith-Wills. Lundgren was a New Yorker and lifelong Mets fan. He won eight games and lost four. He had a 3.29 earned runs average and was named the Mets most outstanding pitcher in 1985. Lundgren was not your average professional baseball pitcher. Lundgren was just 5’10” tall, and weighed 170 pounds, even with his spikes. He didn’t throw very hard. Lundgren was also an Ivy Leaguer and a Columbia graduate where he studied English. He was an avid reader and would talk as much about Eudora Welty and William Faulkner as he would about how he pitched that evening. I know. This is what we often talked about at the Jax Mets clubhouse. Lundgren was left with no income after his 1987 baseball career. Lundgren decided to become a lawyer, enrolling in the Mississippi College School of Law. After arriving in Jackson Wednesday night, Lundgren stated that he loved Mississippi. I loved the food and the people. It was so laid back. Three summers later, I made many good friends. It was the right thing to do. He has no regrets.” After law school, he returned to New York and became a successful litigator and a partner at a successful firm. He was elated to hear about the reunion. Lundgren stated, “Ofcourse I was coming,” “I cannot wait to see all of the guys and all my Mississippi friends from law school and baseball. Funny thing is, my blood pressure dropped 20 points after I got off the plane.