Capt. Billy Dickson (1988) - Southern Miss M-Club Hall of Fame

Capt. Billy Dickson

Induction:
1988

Billy Dickson was one of the best middle infielders to ever take the field for Southern Mississippi's baseball Golden Eagles. Over a four-year period from 1960 to 1963 he played nearly flawlessly for the school at a variety of positions. Primarily at second base and shortstop, with an occasionally stint at third or in the outfield, Dickson exciting style of play made him one of the team's most popular players.
   What made Dickson such an exciting player was the way he played the game. He played with a flair and a style that was contagious. Smoothly moving to his left or right to field a ground ball or rounding third and racing towards home plate with what could be the winning run, Dickson helped lead the team to some truly great wins during his career.
   As a freshman in 1960 Dickson served as a reserve during the early part of the season, but before long his outstanding play forced Coach Pete Taylor to find him a place in the starting lineup. He would see most of his action at shortstop and third base that spring and would finish the year with a . 313 batting average and finishing second on the team in triples.
   That 1960 Southern Miss team would finish the year with a 14-3 mark, that after losing two of its first three games, won thirteen of its last 14 to finish a successful year.
   Dickson would continue to shine during the 1961 campaign as the team would finish with a 12-7-1 record. Dickson served as an alternate starter that season, but in that limited playing time he posted a .407 batting average and ranked fifth on the team in runs batted in. He proved his versatility that year by playing second, third and short for the team.
   The 1962 Southern Miss team struggled and so would Dickson, who posted a career low .207 batting average for the 8-7-1 team. But as a regular at second base that season, he continued to perform consistently in the field, making very few errors and taking part in numerous double plays. One of the highlights of the 1962 season for Dickson and Southern Miss was a two game sweep of Alabama in Hattiesburg. Southern took the first game 4-2 and the second game 8-4.
   As a senior in 1963 Dickson had his best all around season. He hit a solid .268 that year and finished sixth on the team in runs batted in for a team that finished 10-12-1. Dickson by then had established himself as one of the finest infielders in the South and played flawlessly in the field all season long.
   Dickson would finish his career with a .281 batting average and although a great number of fielding statistics were not kept in those days, he no doubt would have had one of the best fielding percentages on the team.
   As a hitter Dickson was a man that Southern Miss counted on to deliver the key hit, while on defense he was the man they counted on to make a dazzling play look routine.
   Dickson is still remembered as one of the best infielders to wear the Black & Gold