Demorest Council designates 'Johnny Mize Drive'

DEMOREST - Babe Ruth has eleven. Jackie Robinson and Mickey Mantle have eight each. Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio and Hank Aaron have six. Now baseball Hall of Fame member Johnny Mize has one.<br /> <br /> Tuesday, the Demorest City Council designated a street honoring its native son with "Johnny Mize Drive." The stately home place of Mize, Diamond Acre, overlooks the street which traverses the campus of Piedmont College where he attended and played baseball.<br /> <br /> The section of Laurel Street between Georgia Street and Massachusetts Boulevard is the one being renamed. That segment of the street passes the Smith-Williams Art Studios, Martens Art Annex, the under-construction Student Commons and the back side of Demorest Springs Park.<br /> <br /> Born in 1913 in Demorest, Mize burst onto the national baseball scene in 1936 driving in 93 runs and swatting 19 home runs. His storied career included a 51-home run season in 1947 and playing in five straight World Series as a New York Yankee. He was inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame in 1981.<br /> <br /> "This is a fitting tribute to a baseball legend," says Demorest Mayor Rick Austin. "We are proud to call him one of our hometown heroes."<br />