MERIDIAN, Miss. (Queen City Newsfeed) – The Meridian Blues announced Thursday the hiring of former major league manager Mickey Callaway as the team’s field manager and revealed the club’s new mascot, “Mojo,” during a press conference at City Hall.
The event, held at 11 a.m. on March 19, marks a major step forward for the city’s new independent baseball franchise as it prepares for its inaugural season.
Callaway, a former MLB pitcher and coach who managed the New York Mets from 2018 to 2019, said his passion for the minor league and independent level made the opportunity an easy decision.
“Some of my best memories … are from my time in independent ball, the minor leagues,” Callaway said. “It’s such an intimate brand of baseball, and it’s so romantic to me to be able to be a part of that. … I’m definitely coming, and I can’t wait to get there and get started.”
Callaway emphasized his desire to make an impact beyond the field, particularly with youth in the Meridian area.
“I think we need to have some camps for these kids,” he said. “Once you start learning how to play baseball at a young age, you can really develop that mindset and those fundamentals that are needed … We would love for all of these youngsters around here to end up playing for the Meridian Blues one day.”
He added that the presence of a professional team in Meridian could inspire young athletes to pursue their dreams.
“If you’re not chasing your dreams, you’re probably not headed in the right direction,” Callaway said. “That’s why I think this is going to be so important for this community.”
Meridian Mayor Percy Bland praised the hiring, citing Callaway’s extensive experience at the highest levels of baseball.
“We’ve got a first-class guy with baseball experience, 20 years of major league baseball experience, to coach this first year’s inaugural team,” Bland said. “We’re just very excited.”
Bland also highlighted the unveiling of the team’s mascot, selected through a community vote.
“We also named the mascot today, Mojo, so we’re just very excited about both of those,” he said.
General Manager Larry Gill said Callaway’s experience and vision made him the clear choice for the role. Gill said he initially connected with Callaway through social media before quickly moving to finalize a contract.
“We’re trying to build this thing here in Meridian, and we need someone with some experience, some knowledge, and some know-how,” Gill said. “He had all of those characteristics.”
Gill added that the team aims to be deeply rooted in the community, with players expected to stay in local homes during the season.
“These players are going to be a part of our community,” he said.
He also expressed excitement about the team’s new mascot.
“We’re excited about Mojo. We’re going to have Mojo in classrooms, at events. He’s going to be all over the place,” Gill said. “We want the kids to get excited about Mojo, and we want the community to be excited about Mojo.”
The Meridian Blues are preparing for their debut season, with team officials emphasizing both on-field success and community engagement as key priorities.
