Contributed by Mark Stillwell
The Mahaffeys are a baseball family.
Professional career paths for family members have focused primarily on dentistry and medicine, but, make no mistake about it. The Mahaffeys are a baseball family.
And so it is that Dr. Brian Mahaffey, a star baseball player for Missouri State University and then a team physician for 16 years for MSU Athletics, is now a team physician for the St. Louis Cardinals, and enjoying the best of both worlds. In fact, his extraordinary work in the medical field is why the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame is proud to induct Mahaffey during the 2018 Enshrinement presented by Killian Construction.
The ceremonies are Sunday, Jan. 28, with an 11 a.m. reception presented by Meek’s at the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame and a 4 p.m. reception at the University Plaza Convention Center, followed by a 5 p.m. dinner and ceremony. (For tickets, call 417-889-3100.)
Mahaffey’s time treating MSU student-athletes came during his successful primary care sports medicine practice with Mercy Sports Medicine, Springfield. Mahaffey also worked with the Mercy team providing sports medicine care for the St. Louis Cardinals’ Double-A team in Springfield.
That long stretch in Springfield, working near his family, saw a quick and pleasant change when Mercy Health Systems became the medical provider for the St. Louis Cardinals organization.
“In 2012, Donn Sorensen with Mercy asked us to present our sports medicine program to the Cardinals,” Mahaffey said. “We were honored to partner with them, and, within a month early in 2013, I was in Jupiter, Florida, in the Cardinals spring training. I realized I had reached my dream of making the major leagues, even though it wasn’t quite how I had envisioned it when I was younger.”
Baseball started early for Mahaffey, who said, “My first memory is swinging a bat and my love of the game never left.”
His playing days at Kickapoo High School and American Legion included league and district titles with KHS and two state Legion runner-up teams. He then signed to play at MSU.
At MSU, Mahaffey was a four-year starting first baseman and DH for coach Keith Guttin. Mahaffey was a three-time all-conference first teamer, three-time academic All-America, and Mid-Continent co-MVP as a senior. He played for four straight conference champs. The Bears made their first NCAA Division I tournament appearance in the 1987 Tempe Regional.
“It was a thrill for our team to break through many barriers to play in the tournament,” Mahaffey said. “We helped bridge the success from our Division II years into what MSU baseball has become.”
Mahaffey’s MSU career included nine single-season and career records, including 21 home runs as a senior. He finished with a .349 batting average, 42 homers and 175 RBI in 174 games. He was inducted into the MSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005 and the inaugural class of the MSU Athletic Academic Hall of Fame in 2014.
“At MSU, we worked hard to build on the success from the initial team to where the program is today,” Mahaffey said. “It has been anchored by Missouri Sports Legend Bill Rowe and Missouri Sports Hall of Famer Keith Guttin. I am blessed to have this as my foundation.”
Dr. Mahaffey graduated in 1993 from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine and entered the Family Medicine Department as a resident. Exposed to sports medicine for the first time, it was an easy choice to do his Primary Care Sports Medicine there. In 1998, Mahaffey returned to Springfield to help with MSU sports medicine and at Mercy Sports Medicine.
To have the opportunity to care for MSU student-athletes came from a program envisioned by Dr. Rick Seagrave and Dr. Marion Wolf from Mercy and MSU head athletic trainer Ivan Milton.
“Those three are all Missouri Sports Hall of Famers and I was proud to help build on the foundation they set in place,” Mahaffey observes.
The Mahaffey Baseball Family included brother Darren pitching four years for William Jewell College while brother Alan pitched at the University of Arkansas and then spent seven seasons in the Minnesota Twins organization, reaching Triple-A.
Brian met Sandy, his wife of 29 years, at the Bears’ home field of Meador Park.
“Sandy and our daughters, Lauren and Samantha, have sacrificed much during my career,” says Mahaffey. “I could not have lived my dreams without them, period.”
His work as a Cardinals team physician includes coordination of care from the major league club to the Dominican academy teams.
“Our performance department, including our physicians, athletic trainers, physical therapists, and strength coaches is second to none,” Mahaffey said. “Being called ‘Doc’ when you come into the clubhouse means you are part of the team.”
And now Mahaffey joins the team who helped get him to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. Congratulations, Doc!
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Missouri Sports Hall of Fame’s 2018 Enshrinement Ceremonies presented by Killian Construction
When: Sunday, January 28
Morning reception: 11 a.m., presented by Meek’s The Builder’s Choice, at the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, 3861 E. Stan Musial Drive in Springfield.
Afternoon festivities: 4 p.m. reception, 5 p.m. dinner & ceremony at University Plaza Hotel & Convention Center, Springfield
Class of 2018: Mike Garrett (Kansas City Chiefs), Lee Smith (St. Louis Cardinals), Howard Richards (University of Missouri football), Jim Otis (St. Louis Football Cardinals & Kansas City Chiefs), Martin MacDonald (Conservationist, Outdoorsman, Runner), football coach Gary Barnett (Northwestern University & University of Colorado), softball coach Holly Hesse (Missouri State University), Doug Elgin (Missouri Valley Conference Commissioner), Dr. Brian Mahaffey (Missouri State University, St. Louis Cardinals), shot putter Christian Cantwell (Eldon High School/University of Missouri/Olympics), basketball standout Kerensa Barr Cassis (West Plains High School/Mizzou), Dan Lucy (KOLR 10 TV Sports Director), Rockhurst High School football coach Tony Severino, basketball coach Steve Tappmeyer (Northwest Missouri State University, UMSL), Rick Grayson (PGA teaching professional), Learfield, the Lamar High School Football Program, Springfield-Greene County Park Board, Independent Printing – John Q. Hammons Founders Award, Rick Todd of Herschend Family Entertainment – President’s Award.
Sponsorship opportunities: Tables of 10 are $1,500 and include an autographed poster (a rendering by renowned artist Dayne Dudley), recognition in the printed program and at the table. Individual tickets are $150. Numerous other sponsorships are available, including congratulatory ads, trading cards and 20-month calendars.
Call the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame: 417-889-3100.
