On October 23, 2021, Swainsboro High graduate Sammy Daniels was inducted into the Columbus State College Athletic Hall of Fame.
Sammy became the first African American Cougar baseball player to earn All-American honors in 1979 after helping the team to the NCAA South Atlantic Regional. A two-year starter, Daniels hit .363 with 12 home runs and 51 RBIs in his junior season before posting a .371 average in 1980. Daniels was an All-South Atlantic Conference selection in 1979.
One of the most memorable games in Sammy’s career and Columbus State baseball history occurred in 1979. Columbus State was playing the University of Georgia led by Buck Belue and Jeff Pyburn. Sammy had already hit a home run and a double before coming to bat in the bottom of the 10th inning with the game tied. Sammy hit a single to drive in the winning run as Columbus State defeated the University of Georgia.
During his induction speech, Sammy thanked his parents, Pauline and Cornell Daniels Sr, his sister Mary and his brothers Carl and Cornell Jr. Sammy talked about how he got started in baseball in Swainsboro during the early ’70s. He recalled watching men like his dad, Furman Daniels, C. Scott, Levi Hughes, and others play the
game. Sammy also spoke about being introduced to organized baseball in the recreation league after integration occurred in Swainsboro. He recalled a time at 13 years of age when he almost quit but he was talked into staying by his recreation coach Woody Nasworthy. Sammy spoke about how instrumental the recreation league was in the development of his baseball career.
Former Swainsboro recreation directors Billy Carmichael and Ronnie Womack were both in attendance for his induction. During the closing of his induction speech, Sammy spoke about a 13-year-old young man who played on a youth recreation team he coached. This young man did not have a glove. During practice, he always asked Sammy if he could borrow his glove. Sammy said he gladly obliged.
The glove Sammy allowed the young man to use was the glove given to him by his coach at Columbus College in 1979. Sammy said he wanted to continue giving back to young baseball players as Columbus College had done for him. Sammy then performed a gesture that brought an emotional response from many in the audience. He presented the glove to the young 13- year-old player who was in attendance. Sammy demonstrated the humble and selflessness that has always been his trademark. On a day that was dedicated to him, Sammy was still giving to others.
Sammy was an outstanding baseball and football player at SHS from 1972-1976. In 2018, he was inducted into the SHS Athletic Hall of fame.
