Photos by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00
Dickins-Scoper Stadium at Frierson Field Clinton, MS 39056
Year Opened: 1988
Capacity: 1,500
Choctaws Baseball at the State's oldest college
Situated just west of Jackson, Mississippi is the nice, quaint, picturesque town of Clinton, home of the Mississippi College Choctaws. MC, as the locals call it, opened its doors in 1826 and is the oldest college in the state, as well as the second-oldest Baptist-affiliated college in the US. Baseball is the oldest sport at MC, with the first year being played on campus in 1905. The Choctaws compete in NCAA Division II and were one of the founding members of the Gulf South Conference in 1972; their name honors the mighty Choctaw Nation that once occupied the area.
The Choctaws were a powerhouse in all sports in the late 80s and early 90s, but had to make the drop down to DIII in 1995 due to football recruiting infractions affecting the entire athletics department. Perhaps the Choctaws best season in baseball occurred in 2010, when MC finished one game away from advancing to the DIII World Series. MC would re-join the GSC in 2015 in all sports, and would capture the GSC championship in baseball in 2018. However, the college has faced some financial difficulties in recent years, which has led to the elimination of certain sports, particularly football which was discontinued after the 2024 season.
Food and Beverage 2
There is one small concession stand located on the first base side of the concourse, where only the basics are sold – burgers, hot dogs, chips, and drinks. The one good thing is that prices here are cheap, but I would recommend walking to downtown Clinton just a few blocks off campus to get a meal before or after the game.
Atmosphere 3
For over three decades the Choctaws have called the beautiful Dickins-Scoper Stadium at Frierson Field their home. The facility is named after Pete Frierson, the owner of Frierson Building Supply, which built the park in 1988. The field is situated on the back side of campus in between the softball complex and Robinson-Hale Stadium, the former home of the school’s football team.
The ballpark features three sections of metal grandstands with seating for 1,200 people. The ballpark received some renovations over the years, most notably in 2017 when the stadium was dedicated as Dickins-Scoper Stadium; named after a prominent MC family that attended and played baseball here dating back to the 1920s. The main entrance to the ballpark, behind home plate, features a nice brick-lined walkway in honor of the family and prominent boosters of the University.
Upon entering the park you’ll be greeted by the three metal grandstands, with one behind home plate, one down the first baseline, and the last along the third baseline. A cool windscreen with all the teams in the Gulf South Conference wraps around the grandstand at the main entrance, while a huge windscreen with the words ‘Choctaw Baseball’ takes up the third base concourse grandstand. Eight rows of metal bleacher seating make up the grandstands on each side, while down the third baseline are the indoor hitting facility and lockers rooms.
The field is absolutely stunning for a D2 facility – the beautifully designed artificial turf, with asymmetrical lines drawn on the infield, really make the field stand out, and the brick covered dugouts and backstops really add to the look and feel as well. Along the outfield wall its kept simple, with no local sponsors and just a basic scoreboard. The field faces north and south with the softball complex providing the view in center field, while Interstate 20, which is a stone’s throw away and runs right by campus, provides the view in left field. There is also an elevated hill with a nice shrub garden extending from right field to the softball complex, while a small party deck sits in right field as well.
Neighborhood 3
Clinton is a nice quaint little town of about 20,000 directly west of Jackson. The downtown area is called Olde Town Clinton, and features brick-lined streets and small businesses at the corner of Jefferson, Leake, and Main Street. Mississippi College is very much a part of Olde Town Clinton, as it sits only one block south. Jefferson Street is lined with several mansions and large oaks as well, which tie-in well with the Greek column buildings on campus.
A few places to check out in Olde Town Clinton include 303 Jefferson; famous for its hot plate lunches and located in a former livery stable, it has served Clinton since the 1870s. Right across the street is Brick Street Pops, where you can get ice cream and popsicles, while just down the road is the Pizza Shack, located in an old bank. Another popular spot is Olde Town’s newest restaurant, Krilakis Gyros.
The Historic Natchez Trace Parkway runs right through Clinton, about a mile from campus. The Trace used to be an old trade route from Nashville to Natchez for Native Americans and early settlers. Today a beautiful, paved road runs the 400 plus mile route of the former trade route; the Trace is filled with many historic sights, cemeteries, ghost towns, and many spot for camping and outdoor activities. The Trace is also a popular spot for bicyclists.
Fans 3
Mississippi College averages about 300 fans per game – this is about average for this level of college baseball. Many of the people in attendance will be into the game, as many of them are friends or family of the players. There will also be a good mix of alumni and former players in the stands, as many people will continue to live in the Jackson metro area after graduation. Unfortunately, however, I did not see a lot of students in attendance.
In right field there is a small, elevated area where I saw about 5 students. There was also a softball game going on next door during the most recent baseball game I attended, and I saw several people traveling back and forth between the two games.
Access 4
Mississippi College is one of the most accessible colleges in the state, located directly next to Interstate 20, with Frierson Field about 100 yards from the busy interstate. Clinton is located in the center of the state; you are within a 3 to 4-hour drive from here to anywhere in Mississippi. The main road into Clinton is I-20, and you would take this road if traveling from the east or west. Note that I-20 can have horrendous traffic, especially at the I-55 junction, so take this into account if you are coming to the game on a weekday afternoon or a weeknight – weekends on I-20 can be awful as well. Once in Clinton you will see the campus on the north side of the interstate; Frierson Field is located right off the interstate next to the football stadium.
If you don’t take the interstate then Highway 80 also runs into Clinton, but it takes you through a rough section of Jackson. However, if you want to take the scenic route the historic Natchez Trace Parkway also runs right through Clinton – this two-lane road is very peaceful and completely void of red lights and commercial traffic.
The Trace has tons of areas where you can pull off and visit, such as Native American burial mounds, old cemeteries, historic houses, natural trails, campgrounds, etc., so if you have the time I suggest driving down the Trace just for its scenic beauty alone. Just make sure you go the speed limit, however – the whole parkway is administered by the National Park Service and the speed limit is between 40 and 50; you will have to pay a pretty hefty fine if you are caught speeding.
Return on Investment 3
Parking is free at Frierson Field, and they were not even taking tickets at the most recent game I attended. You can’t beat that coming to a small college baseball game. You aren’t getting a lot of frills here, but if you are a baseball purist you will enjoy the experience. A nice quiet baseball game at a nice little ballpark; it doesn’t get much better than that.
Extras 3
Over the years the Choctaws have produced four players who made it to the Big Leagues, with two players drafted. Some of the notable players who have played at Mississippi College include Hal Lee, who replaced Babe Ruth in left field in The Babe’s final game, as well as Cincinnati Reds Hall of Famer Harry Craft, who won a World Series ring in 1940 with the Reds. Pro Baseball Hall of Famer Don Sutton took classes at Mississippi College in the off-season of his pro career, but he did not play for the Choctaws.
Another extra goes for the accessibility here; Mississippi College’s campus is one of the most convenient campuses to get to I’ve ever visited – you can go from driving on the interstate, to parking, to sitting down in your seat, all in less than 10 minutes.
Another extra point goes to the campus itself – I recommend just walking around the campus and the town of Clinton before the game, as the nearby area is very pretty. The campus and downtown area cover just a couple of blocks, so you can easily walk around downtown Clinton for 30 minutes or so before the game.
Comments