Former Scott High School and West Virginia State University baseball star Eddie Ballard’s playing days may be more than a half-century behind him, but his legacy continues to live on.
Ballard, who graduated from Scott in 1967 and WVSU in 1971, was inducted into the Yellowjacket sports Hall of Fame on Saturday, Oct. 3 as a unanimous selection. He joins Doug Smoot, another former Skyhawk standout, who received the same honor in 2004.
kAmQxEVD 2 AC6EEJ 6I4:E:?8 52J 7@C >6 2?5 >J H9@=6 72>:=J[ 24EF2==J[Q q2==2C5 D2:5] Q~7 4@FCD6[ H96? x H6?E E96C6[ x ?6G6C 6IA64E65 E@ 86E 2? 2H2C5 E92E AC64:@FD]Qk^Am
kAmq2==2C5 \\ H9@ 8C6H FA 😕 E96 #@4< rC66< 2C62 @7 q@@?6 r@F?EJ 2?5 H2D C2:D65 2=@?8D:56 9:D EH@ 3C@E96CD[ r9F4< 2?5 y@9? \\ 56G6=@A65 2 A2DD:@? 7@C DA@CED 62C=J 😕 =:76 E92E 6?565 FA 567:?:?8 9:D J@FE9 2?5 4@==68:2E6 42C66C]k^Am
kAmw6 DE2CC65 😕 3@E9 32D<6E32== 2?5 32D632== 2E $4@EE[ =6EE6C:?8 @? E96 5:2>@?5 😕 `hee 2?5 `hef] p A:E496C 2?5 D9@CEDE@A[ q2==2C5 D6CG65 2D E62> 42AE2:? 😕 `hef 2?5 >256 E96 p==\$E2E6 E62> E92E J62C[ >2:?E2:?:?8 2 ]ca_ 2G6C286]k^Am
kAmsFC:?8 E9:D E:>6[ q2==2C5 2=D@ A=2J65 7@C E96 |2C>6E p>6C:42? {68:@? 32D632== E62> 4@24965 3J q@3 !24<[ H9:49 249:6G65 (6DE ‘:C8:?:2 p>6C:42? {68:@? $E2E6 #F??6C\&A 9@?@CD 😕 `hee 2?5 `hef]k^Am
kAmp7E6C 8C25F2E:?8 7C@> $4@EE[ q2==2C5 H2D C64CF:E65 3J 4@249 vC2?E vC2J 7@C E96 (‘$& 32D<6E32== E62>[ H96C6 96 A=2J65 @? E96 ;F?:@C G2CD:EJ DBF25 😕 `heg 2?5 `heh]k^Am
kAmw@H6G6C[ q2==2C5 ECF=J 42CG65 @FE 9:D =6824J H:E9 (‘$& 32D632==]k^Am
kAmw6 H2D 2 DE2?5@FE 7@FC\J62C =6EE6C>2? 2?5 7@FC\J62C DE2CE6C 7@C E96 *6==@H;24<6E 32D632== E62> 7C@> `heg\`hf`[ D6CG:?8 2D E62> 42AE2:? 5FC:?8 9:D 7:?2= EH@ D62D@?D]k^Am
kAmp C2C6 2?5 G6CD2E:=6 EC:A=6\E9C62E FE:=:EJ A=2J6C[ 96 6I46==65 2D 2 A:E496C[ D9@CEDE@A[ 2?5 @FE7:6=56C] q2==2C5 5@>:?2E65 E96 (‘xpr W(6DE ‘:C8:?:2 x?E6C4@==68:2E6 pE9=6E:4 r@?76C6?46X[ 62C?:?8 p==\r@?76C6?46 q2D632== %62> 9@?@CD 6G6CJ J62C 7C@> `heg\`hf`]k^Am
kAmw:D `heh 42>A2:8? H2D 6DA64:2==J =686?52CJ]k^Am
kAmq2==2C5 42AEFC65 E96 (‘xpr 32EE:?8 E:E=6 H:E9 2 3=:DE6C:?8 ]c`h 32EE:?8 2G6C286[ C24<:?8 FA cc 9:ED 😕 `_d 2E\32ED H9:=6 3=2DE:?8 7@FC 9@>6 CF?D 2?5 5C:G:?8 😕 ae #qxD] %92E D2>6 J62C[ 96 2=D@ =65 E96 4@?76C6?46 😕 DEC:<6@FED 2D 2 A:E496C]k^Am
kAmq2==2C5VD 4@?D:DE6?4J H2D F?>2E4965 2D 96 =65 E96 *6==@H;24<6E 32D632== E62> 😕 32EE:?8 2G6C286 2== 7@FC J62CD @7 9:D 42C66C[ 9:EE:?8 ]bb_ 😕 `heg[ ]c`h 😕 `heh[ ]bga 😕 `hf_[ 2?5 ]be_ 😕 `hf`]k^Am
kAmx? C64@8?:E:@? @7 9:D 6=:E6 E2=6?E[ 96 H2D ?2>65 2? ~FEDE2?5:?8 r@==686 pE9=6E6 @7 p>6C:42 😕 `hf_ 2?5 `hf`] {@@<:?8 324< @? 9:D DE@C:65 4@==686 42C66C[ q2==2C5 D2JD 9:D 3:886DE E9C:== H2D H:??:?8 E96 `heh (‘xpr 32EE:?8 492>A:@?D9:A]k^Am
kAmQ%92E J62C[ x 9:E ]c`h 2?5 H@? E92E[ 2?5 :E H2D ;FDE 2 =@E @7 92C5 H@C< 2?5 D6=7\5:D4:A=:?6 E@ 5@ H92E J@F ?665 E@ 5@ E@ 36EE6C J@FCD6=7[Q q2==2C5 D2:5]k^Am
kAmu@==@H:?8 9:D DE2?5@FE 4@==686 42C66C[ q2==2C5 H2D :?G:E65 E@ ECJ @FE 7@C E96 r:?4:??2E: #65D]k^Am
kAmx? 255:E:@? E@ 9:D 2E9=6E:4 @AA@CEF?:E:6D[ q2==2C5 D6CG65 9:D 4@F?ECJ 😕 E96 (6DE ‘:C8:?:2 pC>J }2E:@?2= vF2C5 7C@> `hf`\`hff] v:G:?8 324< E@ 9:D 4@>>F?:EJ 2?5 E96 82>6 96 =@G65[ 96 =2E6C C6EFC?65 E@ E96 5F8@FE E@ 4@249 E96 |25:D@? p>6C:42? {68:@? 32D632== E62> 😕 `hgg] k^Am
kAm!C@76DD:@?2==J[ q2==2C5 565:42E65 @G6C 7:7EJ J62CD E@ E96 >:?:?8 :?5FDECJ] w:D 5:DE:?8F:D965 42C66C :?4=F565 :?E6C?2E:@?2= 4@?DF=E:?8 6IA6CE:D6 FE:=:K65 😕 3@E9 pFDEC2=:2 2?5 qC2K:=]k^Am
kAm&A@? 9:D C6E:C6>6?E 😕 a_`a[ q2==2C5 2?5 9:D H:76[ $E24:2 r96H?:?8 q2==2C5[ C6=@42E65 E@ {2<6 |FCC2J 😕 !C@DA6C:EJ W$]r]X] %@86E96C[ E96J D92C6 @?6 49:=5[ r2CC:6 y@ qFC?D]k^Am
kAm%@52J[ q2==2C5 6?;@JD 9:D C6E:C6>6?E 3J DA6?5:?8 E:>6 7:D9:?8] w6 A2CE:4:A2E6D 😕 E96 Qr2DE:?8 7@C z:5DQ G@=F?E66C AC@8C2> E@ E2<6 49:=5C6? H:E9 DA64:2= ?665D 7:D9:?8 H9:=6 2=D@ DA6?5:?8 E:>6 H:E9 9:D EH@ 8C2?549:=5C6?[ qC@@<6 2?5 r@=6[ H9@ 92G6 AC@F5=J 42CC:65 @? E96 72>:=J EC25:E:@? 2D DE2?5@FE 2E9=6E6D]k^Am
kAmqC@@<6 82C?6C65 2==\DE2E6 9@?@CD 😕 96C AC6A D@7E32== 42C66C 367@C6 A=2J:?8 4@==68:2E6=J 2E |2CD92==[ 2?5 r@=6 H2D 2? 2==\DE2E6 D6=64E:@? 😕 $@FE9 r2C@=:?2 H9@ H2D C64CF:E65 3J s:G:D:@? xx }6H36CCJ r@==686]k^Am
kAmq2==2C5 7:D96D C68F=2C=J @? {2<6 |FCC2J 2?5 H2D p?8=6C @7 E96 *62C H:E9 E96 {2<6 |FCC2J $6?:@CD q2DD r=F3 😕 a_`d[ a_`e[ a_`f[ 2?5 a_aa]k^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 92C5 H@C< 2?5 8@@5 =6256CD9:A H6C6 E96 C62D@?D 7@C 9:D 32D632== DF446DD]k^Am
kAmQ|J A2C6?ED AFD965 >6 E@ DEC:G6 E@ 36 E96 36DE[ 2?5 p>6C:42? {68:@? 32D632== 4@249 q@3 !24<[ 96 24EF2==J E@=5 >6 H92E :E H2D E@ 36 2 H:??6C 2?5 H92E H2D 6IA64E65 @7 J@F[ H9:49[ x E@@< :E @? >JD6=7 E@ 5@ E96 AC@A6C EC2:?:?8 2?5 9@FCD @7 EC2:?:?8[Q q2==2C5 D2:5]k^Am
kAmQ%@ 36 23=6 E@ 86E E@ E92E =6G6=[ :EVD 2 =@E @7 D6=7\5C:G6] *@F 92G6 E@ H2?E E@ 5@ :E] *@F 92G6 E@ H2?E E@ 36 E96 36DE A=2J6C] *@F 92G6 E@ H2?E E@ 36 E96 36DE 7:D96C>2?[ 2?5 xV> ;FDE 2 4@>A6E:E@C[ 2?5 H96? x 4@>A6E6[ x 5@?VE H2?E E@ =@D6]Qk^Am
kAmq2==2C5 D2:5 :7 E@52JVD 32D632== A=2J6CD 56D:C6 E@ 36 8C62E[ E96J 42? 86E E96 EC2:?:?8 ?66565 E@ DF44665]k^Am
kAmw6 >6?E:@?65 E92E H96? 96 A=2J65[ :E H2D 2== @? J@F E@ AFD9 J@FCD6=7 E@ 86E E96C6]k^Am
kAmQxE H2D ;FDE E@F89 324< 😕 E9@D6 52JD 86EE:?8 6BF:A>6?E 2?5 E96 E9:?8D J@F ?66565 E@ EC2:? H:E9[Q q2==2C5 D2:5] QxE ;FDE H2D?VE 2G2:=23=6 E@ J@F[ 2?5 ECJ:?8 E@ 36 2 4@==686 2E9=6E6 2?5 DFAA@CE E96 82>6 H:E9 @FC @H? 7:?2?46D[ :E H2D E@F89]Qk^Am
kAmq2==2C5 D2:5 :E 96=A65 92G:?8 A2C6?ED E@ D66 E92E J@F 925 H92E J@F ?66565 E@ EC2:? H:E9]k^Am
kAmQ%96J H6C6 2=H2JD 😕 DFAA@CE @7 ?@E @?=J >6 3FE >J 3C@E96CD[Q q2==2C5 D2:5] Q(96? H6 A=2J65[ J@F =@@<65 FA 😕 E96 DE2?5D[ E96J H6C6 D:EE:?8 E96C6] x 5@?VE @H E92E >J 525 @C >@> 6G6C >:DD65 2 9@>6 82>6 😕 32D632== H96? x A=2J65[ @C 2 32D<6E32== 82>6 😕 9:89 D49@@=[ @C 4@==686[ @C p>6C:42? {68:@?] %96J H6C6 2=H2JD E96C6]Qk^Am
kAmq2==2C5 >2CC:65 $E24:2 😕 `heh] $96 :?7=F6?465 9:D 32D632== ;@FC?6J[ 2D 5:5 !:EED3FC89 !:C2E6D =686?5 #@36CE@ r=6>6?E6]k^Am
kAmq2==2C5 D2:5 96 925 8C62E E62>>2E6D 2E $4@EE]k^Am
kAmp7E6C 9:D (‘$& A=2J:?8 52JD 4@?4=F565[ q2==2C5 D2JD[ !24< 4@24965 2 72DE A:E49 D@7E32== E62> 😕 r92C=6DE@? E92E H@? `b DEC2:89E DE2E6 492>A:@?D9:AD]k^Am
kAmQx H2D 23=6 E@ A=2J H:E9 E9@D6 8FJD[Q q2==2C5 D2:5] Q%96J H6C6 @=56C E92? >6[ 2?5 E96J 6H E96 82>6[ 2?5 E96:C :?7=F6?46 C2:D65 2 =6G6= @? >J @H? 82>6] x H@F=5 D2J E92E A=2J:?8 E96 82>6 H:E9 @=56C A6@A=6 96=A65 >6 >F49 >@C6 E92? 2?JE9:?8]Qk^Am
kAmq2==2C5 D2:5 E92E H96? 96 3642>6 2 DFA6CG:D@C 😕 4@2= >:?:?8[ 96 2=H2JD H2?E65 E@ CF? >@C6 4@2= E92? 2?J3@5J 6=D6 😕 E96 4@>A2?J]k^Am
kAmQ*@F 86E D@>6 @H=6586 @7 =625:?8 3J 6I2>A=6[ H9:49 >256 2 =@E @7 DFA6CG:D@CD 😕 E96 4@2= 3FD:?6DD ECJ E@ CF? 4@2= >:?6CD @FE @7 2 >2? @77:46 D@>6H96C6[Q q2==2C5 D2:5] Qx 2=H2JD AF== >J 3@@ED @? 😕 E96 >@C?:?8] xEVD 2== 23@FE J@FC A6@A=6] x7 J@F 92G6 E96 23:=:EJ E@ =625 E96> 2?5 92G6 A6@A=6 E92E 92G6 E2=6?E[ :EVD FA E@ J@F E@ 3C:?8 :E E@86E96C]Qk^Am
kAmq2==2C5[ H9@ EFC?D ff 😕 s646>36C[ D2JD 9:D 7FEFC6 H:== :?G@=G6 7:D9:?8 2?5 36:?8 2C@F?5 9:D 8C2?5<:5D 2?5 H:76]k^Am
kAmw6VD 9@A:?8 9:D 962=E9 9@=5D FA 2?5 E92E 96 42? 6?;@J E96 C6DE @7 9:D =:76 H:E9 9:D 72>:=J]k^Am
kAmp=@?8 H:E9 9:D (‘xpr 9:EE:?8 4C@H? 😕 `heh[ q2==2C5 2=D@ =@@<65 324< 7@?5=J @? A:E49:?8 E96 *6==@H;24<6ED E@ EH@ H:?D @G6C |2CD92== 9:D D6?:@C J62C]k^Am
kAmQ(6 H6C6?VE DFAA@D65 E@ 362E |2CD92==[ 2?5 E92E H2D E96 9:89=:89E @7 >J =:76 2?5 >J 4@==686 42C66C @? E96 >@F?5[Q q2==2C5 D2:5]k^Am
kAmq2==2C5 D2:5 9:D A:E49:?8 C64@C5 5@6D?VE C62==J C67=64E @? H92E 9:D 23:=:EJ H2D A:E49:?8]k^Am
kAmw6 2=H2JD A:E4965 282:?DE DEC@?86C 4@>A6E:E:@?[ 2?5 96 D2:5 96 4@F=5 92G6 E@65 E96 CF336C 282:?DE H62<6C @AA@?6?ED 2?5 A@DE65 2 36EE6C C64@C5]k^Am
kAmQ|2<:?8 2==\4@?76C6?46 7@FC J62CD[ E92EVD 2 AC6EEJ 8@@5 244@>A=:D9>6?E 😕 :ED6=7[Q q2==2C5 D2:5] Qx A=2J65 ;F?:@C G2CD:EJ 32D<6E32== 2E (6DE ‘:C8:?:2 $E2E6 7@C E96 7:CDE EH@ J62CD x H2D 5@H? E96C6[ E96? x 564:565 E@ E2=< H:E9 4@249 vC6J E92E x 76=E =:<6[ E@ C6249 >J AC6G:@FD A@E6?E:2=[ H2D 32D632== 2?5 56G@E6 >@C6 E:>6 E@ 32D632==[ H9:49[ x EC2:?65 `a >@?E9D]k^Am
kAmQxE H2D?VE ;FDE 😕 32D632== D62D@? 2?5 8@E >JD6=7 H96C6 x 4@F=5 A=2J[ H96C6 x H2D A9JD:42==J 23=6 E@ A=2J[ 2?5 3F:=E >J 32E[ 3F:=E >J 8=@G6[ 2?5 :E EFC?65 @FE AC6EEJ 8@@5 7@C >6]Qk^Am