Hall of Fame
James Vida – Florida Southern College (Baseball)
In just two seasons at Florida Southern, James Vida left his mark as one of the top players ever to step on the diamond as a Moccasin baseball player. A two-time first-team All-American, Vida played a key role as Florida Southern advanced to the 1994 NCAA Division II championship game and came back in 1995 to win the eighth of Southern’s nine national championships in baseball. As a junior, Vida earned Most Valuable Player honors in the national championship tournament, despite his team coming up just a little short in the title game. The 1994 SSC Male Athlete of the Year sets the NCAA Division II single-season record with 120 hits, a mark which still stands. His .463 batting average remains a program record. Vida left Florida Southern as the school’s all-time leader in slugging percentage (.695), while also ranking seventh with 27 career home runs and fourth with 181 RBI. Vida was drafted by the Kansas City Royals organization, playing three seasons before retiring due to a shoulder injury in 1997. Vida becomes the sixth player or coach associated with Florida Southern baseball to earn a place in the Sunshine State Conference Hall of Fame.