Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame facts for kids

The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum is a special museum in Jackson, Mississippi. A hall of fame is a place that honors people who have been amazing at something, and this one celebrates the greatest athletes from Mississippi.

The Hall of Fame was started in 1961. The museum building itself opened on July 4, 1996. It's located right across from the Smith-Wills Stadium, which used to be the home for several minor-league baseball teams.

Inside the Museum

The museum is filled with cool things to see that tell the stories of Mississippi's sports heroes.

Special Exhibits

• Dizzy Dean Museum: This area is all about the famous baseball pitcher, Dizzy Dean. You can learn about his incredible career.
• Viking Classic Exhibit: This exhibit explores the history of Mississippi's big professional golf tournament. It's now called the Sanderson Farms Championship.
• Wendy's High School Gallery: This section honors amazing high school athletes from Mississippi. It celebrates state champions and winners of the Wendy's High School Heisman award.

Famous Members of the Hall of Fame

The Hall of Fame includes hundreds of amazing athletes. Here are just a few of the famous sports stars who have been honored.

• Lance Alworth: A pro football Hall of Fame wide receiver known for his speed and grace.
• Lem Barney: A legendary cornerback for the Detroit Lions and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
• James "Cool Papa" Bell: One of the fastest players in the history of the Negro Leagues in baseball.
• Ralph Boston: An Olympic champion who broke the world record in the long jump multiple times.
• Willie Brown: A Super Bowl-winning cornerback and coach, also in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
• Van Chancellor: A famous basketball coach who led the Houston Comets to four WNBA championships.
• Charlie Conerly: A star quarterback for the New York Giants who was the NFL's Most Valuable Player in 1959.
• Dizzy Dean: A famous Hall of Fame pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1930s.
• Brett Favre: A Super Bowl-winning quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, known for his powerful arm and tough playing style.
• Ray Guy: The first punter ever elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
• Lusia Harris-Stewart: A pioneer in women's basketball who was the first woman ever officially drafted by an NBA team.
• Kent Hull: The starting center for the Buffalo Bills during their four straight Super Bowl appearances.
• Archie Manning: A legendary quarterback for the New Orleans Saints and the father of two Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks, Peyton and Eli Manning.
• Steve McNair: A tough and talented quarterback who was named the NFL's co-MVP in 2003.
• Walter Payton: Nicknamed "Sweetness," he was one of the greatest running backs in NFL history and a star for the Chicago Bears.
• Jerry Rice: Widely considered the greatest wide receiver in the history of the NFL.
• Jackie Slater: An offensive tackle who played 20 seasons in the NFL and is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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  All Star Buddy Myer