Barry Lyons Honored at Today’s City Council Meeting
Over a month ago, News 25 told you the story of Barry Lyons: a man who worked for over 20 years to bring professional baseball to Biloxi, but never received the recognition for his efforts until tonight.
Tears formed in Biloxi Mayor Gilich’s eyes as he proclaimed today ‘Barry Lyons Day’ and embraced the man who’s been waiting for this moment for over two decades. “The words can’t describe it. The feeling I have inside is overwhelming,” said Barry Lyons.
Former New York Mets player, Barry Lyons, wanted more than anything to bring professional baseball to his beloved hometown. In 2004, Lyons introduced Mayor AJ Holloway to Tim Bennett, president of Overtime Sports and now owner of the Shuckers. Now that the Shuckers team has become a reality, today was the first day Barry Lyons received any recognition for those efforts. His nephew, Patrick Lyons, said, “I just always wanted him to get this recognition and he worked a very long time for this and it’s awesome that he’s being recognized now for it because it’s been a long time coming.”
The whole crowd at MGM Park cheered loudly as Lyons threw out the first pitch, a moment his family was proud to share with him. “It’ll be like his playing day. Everybody would show up to Atlanta or St. Louis and we’d have the biggest cheering section at the games. It’s going to be like bringing that back,” said Patrick.
Both Barry and his nephew feel the recognition is overdue, but they have no hard feelings toward the team or the city and are just excited for Shuckers baseball in Biloxi.
Mayor Gilich and Barry Lyons are cousins through marriage and the Mayor says he was proud to recognize Barry during today’s City Council meeting.
Tears formed in Biloxi Mayor Gilich’s eyes as he proclaimed today ‘Barry Lyons Day’ and embraced the man who’s been waiting for this moment for over two decades. “The words can’t describe it. The feeling I have inside is overwhelming,” said Barry Lyons.
Former New York Mets player, Barry Lyons, wanted more than anything to bring professional baseball to his beloved hometown. In 2004, Lyons introduced Mayor AJ Holloway to Tim Bennett, president of Overtime Sports and now owner of the Shuckers. Now that the Shuckers team has become a reality, today was the first day Barry Lyons received any recognition for those efforts. His nephew, Patrick Lyons, said, “I just always wanted him to get this recognition and he worked a very long time for this and it’s awesome that he’s being recognized now for it because it’s been a long time coming.”
The whole crowd at MGM Park cheered loudly as Lyons threw out the first pitch, a moment his family was proud to share with him. “It’ll be like his playing day. Everybody would show up to Atlanta or St. Louis and we’d have the biggest cheering section at the games. It’s going to be like bringing that back,” said Patrick.
Both Barry and his nephew feel the recognition is overdue, but they have no hard feelings toward the team or the city and are just excited for Shuckers baseball in Biloxi.
Mayor Gilich and Barry Lyons are cousins through marriage and the Mayor says he was proud to recognize Barry during today’s City Council meeting.
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