Feb. 29, 2008
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -
The Samford baseball program held its fourth-annual Hall of Fame Banquet Thursday night at the Pete Hanna Center.
Nearly 200 people attending the banquet as former Samford players Brian Hitchcox and John Russell were inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Hitchcox played at Samford from 1997-99. He holds the modern Samford record for highest single-season batting average in a season (.400 in 1999). For his career, Hitchcox ranks in the top 10 in school history in career hits, batting average, runs scored and doubles.
As a junior, Hitchcox was named first-team All-TAAC, leading the conference in batting, and placing fourth in stolen bases. After his time at Samford, Hitchcox was drafted in the 25th round by the Philadelphia Phillies.
Hitchcox played in the Phillies organization from 1999 to 2005. He played for the Batavia Mockdogs (1999), Piedmont Boll Weevils (2000), Clearwater Phillies (2001), Reading Phillies (2002-03, 2005) and Scranton-Wilkes Barre Red Barons (2003). In 2004, he was invited to spring training with the Phillies and wound up playing the season with the AAA Scranton team.
Hitchcox is now the head baseball coach at Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga, Tenn., where he also teaches history and geography and helps coach the basketball and golf teams.
Russell played baseball at Samford from 1958-61. He set a school record for wins in a season, posting a record of 12-2 as a senior in 1961, and as a sophomore, he helped lead the team to a 17-4 record. For his Samford career, Russell won a school-record 25 games, posting a record of 25-8, and he had a career ERA of 1.90.
Russell signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization in 1961. He played three years in their minor league system, starting with their team in the Florida State League.
Russell is now the co-owner of M&J Steel Company and Russell Batting Cages.
