Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2015
- Class:
- 1957
Davis was an outstanding two-sport standout who achieved at the highest level in both baseball and track and field and is considered by many from the era as one of the best all-around athletes to ever play for Mizzou. He was a 1st-team baseball all-American as a senior in 1957, when he hit for an eye-popping .437 average. His career batting average of .399 still stands as the all-time Mizzou record and might well never be broken. He was an all-conference selection in baseball all three years he played (1955-56-57) and was an all-district pick as well in 1957 on his way to being the only Big Seven player that year to be named an all-American. In track, he was a standout sprinter and hurdler who at one time held Mizzou records in both the 60-yard dash and the 60-yard low hurdles. He won a Big Seven championship in the 60-yard low hurdles and finished second one year in the Big Seven 60-yard dash. He once ran the 70-yard low hurdles in 7.7 seconds at the 1956 Iowa Duals, a time which bettered the American record of 7.8 seconds at the time. He was drafted by and signed a professional contract with the New York Yankees after his days at Mizzou and spent several years with their Triple-A affiliate.
