Saturday night at Valdosta State University, Dr. June Munford of Coffee County was inducted into the Valdosta State University Hall of Fame. Dr. Munford, a first baseman, played baseball for the Blazers from 1983-1984 following two years at Middle Georgia College (now Macon State University). He capped his MGC career with a 1982 JUCO World Series national championship in Grand Junction, Colorado.
According to a press release from VSU, Dr. Munford’s two seasons with the Blazers included a run at a national championship in 1983. That year, VSU finished third in California with a 45-14-1 record. Valdosta State won the Blue Division in the Gulf South Conference in 1983 and eventually fell to national champion Jacksonville State in the GSC Championship.
Munford brought home plenty of awards that year; he was named to the ABCA First Team South Atlantic All-Region Team and Second Team All-American. Munford batted .368 in 60 games while slugging 13 home runs, tying the league lead, and driving in 55, which was tied for second on the team and the GSC. Munford led the GSC in doubles with 15. Munford’s 75 hits ranked second on the team and the GSC. He also walked 41 times which was third in the league and second on the team. In 1984, Munford played in 55 games, batting .317 in 180 at-bats and striking out only seven times. Munford tallied 57 hits, 13 doubles, two triples, six home runs, and 48 RBI. In the field, Munford carried a fielding percentage of .977; he made just nine errors on the season.
In the 1982 JUCO World Series with Middle Georgia, Munford bated .613 and was a vital part of the Warriors’ national championship. Following his career at VSU, Munford played professionally in the Toronto Blue Jays organization.
When his playing days ended, Munford returned home and enjoyed a successful career with the Coffee County School System. In 2015, he retired as Assistant Superintendent of Operations.