Special to Texas Metro News
The Legacy League furthers its mission this week by naming the Chaplain Overseer who will be serving the 10 teams that are slated to begin regular season play in 2025.
JoEl Langford is a name synonymous with professional baseball; he served as the Assistant Chaplain for the New York Mets Minor League team (Jackson Mets), who were also the first professional Major League affiliated team to play in Mississippi and, ironically enough, also at Smith Wills Stadium when it opened in 1975.
“I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of baseball and Smith-Wills Stadium here in Jackson after Doug Shanks’ dream was brought to reality many years ago. These young men will be coming from far-away lands, and we want to welcome them with a spiritual message that is the commonality that most all of us share, and that is keeping God in the Game and being thankful for this opportunity,” said JoEl Langford, who is no stranger to the sport.
He has past professional experience in scouting, working as a “talent finder” for the St. Louis Cardinals organization in their International scouting division. He has also served as a sports writer for the Hattiesburg American (newspaper), a graduate teaching assistant at the University of Alabama, and an English instructor at the University of Southern Mississippi.
“We are fortunate to have JoEl here with the Legacy League. His qualifications stand on their own, and he has a good grasp of how to fill the gaps and relate to the young men who will travel here from the United States and other International locations. We are fortunate that JoEl is not only a former teacher but also speaks fluent Spanish, which will benefit our international players,” said Clint Johnson, Legacy League, Deputy Commissioner of Player Development.
Langford was the Captain of his High School’s State-Champion baseball team and has nearly 20 years of dedicated service as a director with the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA). He graduated from Belhaven University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree with honors (English major with double minor in Spanish and Bible).
As Chaplain Overseer, Langford will coordinate with each Legacy League city and its selected church or organization to work directly with each Team, its coaches, and players.
