Funeral Arrangements Set For Tuscaloosa Baseball Legend Jimmy Hurst

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Funeral arrangements have been announced for Tuscaloosa baseball legend and former big leaguer Jimmy O'Neal Hurst.

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As Patch previously reported, Hurst — a two-sport standout in baseball and basketball at Central High School who went on to play for several Major League Baseball franchises — died Saturday of a brain bleed at the age of 52.

A public viewing for Hurst will be held on Friday, July 12, from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. in the chapel of Rollins' Mortuary, which is handling the arrangements.

Hurst's funeral service is set for Saturday, July 13 at noon at Weeping Mary Baptist Church, with Rev. Pherelle Fowler, Sr. officiating. A burial will follow the service in West Highland Memorial Gardens.

Rollins' Mortuary says Hurst will lie in state two hours prior to the service beginning.

Known affectionately as "Moonie," Hurst is ranked as an outfielder on Patch's All-Time Tuscaloosa Baseball Team.

As a 6-foot-5 senior for Falcons baseball coach Norm Lacey, Hurst was drafted in the 12th round with the 321st pick of 1990 MLB Draft by the Chicago White Sox.

Hurst started in the outfield as a junior and senior for the Falcons, earning Class 6A All-State Tournament team honors and helping a talented Central team reach the Class 6A state finals.

In basketball, the imposing Hurst was also a starting forward on a Central High basketball team that won a state championship his senior year.

After being picked up off waivers by the Detroit Tigers, Hurst made his major league debut as the season came to a close on Sept. 10, 1997.

Hurst recorded his first and only MLB home run on Sept. 27, 1997, crushing the ball over the left field wall in Tiger Stadium in the bottom of the seventh off of Yankees hurler David Wells. He would also double off of Wells and draw a walk in that loss to go 2-for-3 in the best performance of his professional career.

In 17 total major league at-bats, Hurst logged three hits, including the home run, with his first big league hit coming off of Andrew Lorraine of the Oakland Athletics on Sept. 15, 1997.

The Tigers eventually dealt Hurst to the Red Sox for cash and he ultimately played his last season of MLB-affiliated baseball with the Toronto Blue Jays organization in 1999 but not before hitting more than 20 home runs for five different minor league clubs.

This included 18 homers and 88 RBI for the nearby Birmingham Barons in 1996 — tying for most on the team with future big-leaguer Magglio Ordonez and led only by eventual MLB standout Mike Cameron (28).

Hurst went on to bounce around various independent leagues after his notable cup of tea with the Detroit Tigers, along with playing stints in Japan and Mexico.

Hurst played his final professional season in 2008 with the Northern League's Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks, where he hit .301 over 52 games.

After his playing days came to an end, Hurst returned home to Tuscaloosa and was a beloved fixture in the local baseball community, particularly in his old stomping grounds in Tuscaloosa's West End.

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