JACKSON — Bob Braddy was a legendary figure in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, and now he’s about to become one on the national level as well.

Braddy, who won 824 games in 28 seasons as Jackson State’s baseball coach, was elected to the National College Baseball Hall of Fame on Wednesday.

Braddy is only the second coach from the SWAC to be elected. Grambling State’s Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones was inducted in 2011.

“This is unbelievable when they called me two weeks ago to tell me I was being considered,” Braddy said in a release from the school. “Then they called me a few days ago and said congratulations you are being inducted.”

Braddy was one of seven players and coaches selected for the 2016 Hall of Fame class. The others are coaches Augie Garrido (Texas) and Tommy Thomas (Valdosta State); and former players J.D. Drew (Florida State), Rick Monday (Arizona State), Tom Paciorek (Houston) and Matt DeSalvo (Marietta College).

The Class of 2016 will be inducted at a ceremony in July in Lubbock, Texas.

Braddy is the winningest coach in SWAC history and was the league’s Coach of the Year 12 times. Between 1973 and 2001 his teams won 12 conference championships, more than any other coach in league history. He led the Tigers to three NCAA Tournament appearances, two NCAA play-in games and four NAIA Tournaments.

Fifty-two of his players reached the professional level, including first-round draft picks David Clark (1983) and Earl Sanders (1986).

In 1978 his Tigers posted a 52-12 record, which is a SWAC and school record. Braddy also played baseball for the Tigers and was an All-Conference selection in 1962 and 1963 as a pitcher.

In addition to being a player and coach, Braddy has previously served as JSU’s athletic director and the school’s baseball field is named after him.

In 2003, Braddy became the first African American to be inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the JSU Sports Hall of Fame in 1985 and the SWAC Hall of Fame in 2005.

“Jackson State University has been so great to me,” Braddy said. “To think that in 1973 a country boy was chosen as Jackson State’s first head coach and now this. I had no idea this would be the end result.”