OXFORD — The first BlackOle Miss baseballplayer to sign a scholarship has died.
Robert "Popeye" Cole died April 29, according to a fundraiser publicized by theOle MissM-Club. He was 60.
Cole was born in 1966. He graduated from Meridian High School and played at Ole Miss from 1985-87. He was a versatile player who was primarily an outfielder.
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Cole played under legendary coach Jake Gibbs. After college, Cole played 10 seasons in the minor leagues from 1987-2000. He topped out at Double-A in 1991.
The Ole Miss baseball color barrier was broken shortly before Cole played for the Rebels. Roy Coleman became the player to do that in 1979, according to theDaily Mississippian. Coleman was recruited as a football player. He became the first Black starting quarterback in 1977. He was a dual-sport athlete as a senior in 1979 who played pitcher on the baseball team.
Sam Hutchens coversOle Missfor the Clarion Ledger. Email him at Shutchens@gannett.com or reach him on X at @Sam_Hutchens_
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger:Robert Cole, first Black Ole Miss baseball scholarship player, dies at 60