Prior to finishing fifth in the National League Rookie of the Year Award voting and before appearing in the 1993 World Series with the Philadelphia Phillies, Wesley Polk Chamberlain was a Jackson State Tiger. Chamberlain roamed the JSU baseball field from 1985 to 1987. While playing baseball for head coach Robert Braddy Sr., Chamberlain played three positions. As a freshman, he started at shortstop and as a sophomore he played third base. He found his home in the outfield, however, as a junior.
On Oct. 4, he’ll be among 13 inducted into the 2013 JSU Sports Hall of Fame during a ceremony at 7 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom.
At JSU, Chamberlain was an All-SWAC performer. During his final season, he recorded 58 hits, 47 runs, 46 RBI and tied for second on the team with eight home runs. In 1986, he was named to the all-conference first team as a first baseman. During his sophomore season, he had a .393 batting average to go along with 13 home runs and 48 RBI. As a freshman, he batted .313, hit seven home runs and knocked in 44 runs while being named to the SWAC All Eastern Division first team.
Chamberlain played six seasons in Major League Baseball, first for the Phillies (1990-1995) and then the Boston Red Sox (1995). The Pittsburgh Pirates drafted Chamberlain in the fourth round in 1987. In 1990, Pittsburgh sent him to Philadelphia. In 1991, his most productive season with the Phillies, he posted career highs in home runs (13), RBI (50), runs (51), hits (92), stolen bases (9) and games played (101). During that season, he also had three, four-hit games.