Mike Devereaux Going Into National Federation Of High Schools Hall Of Fame

A 2-time World Series winning baseball player from Wyoming, will be honored with some of the best athletes, from across the country.

On July 2nd 2014, 1981 Kelly Walsh HS graduate, as well as former Casper Oiler and World Series winner with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves, Mike Devereaux, will be the second Wyomingite inducted into the National Federation of High Schools Hall of Fame.

The 51-year old will join Cheyenne Central graduate, John Godina, who was inducted in 2010.

During his high school days at Kelly Walsh, Devereaux helped the Trojans win the football state championship in 1980, the boys basketball state championship in 1980 and 1981, and the state outdoor track and field championship in 1981.

In 1980, he was the state AA High Jump Champ, and in 1981, broke the state record in the 100 meter dash, the 200 meter dash, the 400 meter dash, the high jump and was part of the 4x200 meter relay team.

As a baseball player, Devereaux helped the Casper Oilers win the Wyoming Legion Baseball State Championship 3 straight years, from 1979-1981, and was a finalist for the Milward-Simpson award in 1981.

Baseball ended up being the sport he loved most and in 1982 he helped Mesa Community College in Arizona, place 3rd at the Junior College World Series.

He eventually worked his way over to Arizona State, and helped the Sun Devils place 3rd and the NCAA College World Series in 1984.

He was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1985 and made his debut with them in September 1987.

The Dodgers won the World Series in 1988, giving Devereaux the first of 2 rings.

After bouncing to various MLB teams, he helped the Atlanta Braves win the World Series in 1995.

That season, he was also named the National League Championship Series MVP.

His last MLB game was in 1998, and Devereaux would finish his career with a lifetime batting average of .254, hitting 105 home runs, 3 grand slams, and had 490 RBI's.

Currently he is the batting coach for the Colorado Rockies Single-A team in Asheville, North Carolina.

He says baseball may the sport that gives an athlete the most number of opportunities, to deal with a problem that athletes have to face constantly.

"It's a game of learning how to deal with failure and if you can handle that and be able to succeed from that, then you can be successful. Never quit, as long as they allow you to wear a uniform, if you love this game, as long as they allow you to wear a uniform, continue to play, because not like football or basketball, this game, you can learn more the older you get and I've learned that in my life."

Joining Devereaux in the 2014 NFHS HOF induction, is former pro basketball star Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway, and former Cleveland Brown football player Ozzie Newsome.