Don Brandon left Cullman as an 18-year old with high hopes and big dreams.

Now 42 years later, a glance back at what turned into a long and bountiful journey simply leaves Brandon in awe.

A 1959 graduate of Cullman High, Brandon made the long trek to Indiana after graduation, where he played baseball, football and basketball for Anderson College — now known as Anderson University.

What Brandon found at Anderson was unexpected. Life was so good, the Vinemont native never returned.

But why would he? The career path he chose turned out to be fruitful.

After starring on Anderson’s baseball team as an undergraduate, Brandon eventually moved into the coaching ranks, where he put together a resume with the Ravens that landed in three different halls of fame.

Well, go ahead and make that four. Brandon will be inducted into the Cullman County Sports Hall of Fame with its 2011 class Saturday night.

Brandon has already been inducted into the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame, the NAIA Hall of Fame and the Anderson University Hall of Fame. He will join the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in January of 2012.

“But getting selected for the Cullman County Sports Hall of Fame is very special to me because that’s my home,” Brandon said from his home in Anderson.

After enjoying a successful playing career at Anderson, Brandon took over for his mentor, former Ravens coach and Brooklyn Dodgers great Carl Erskine, in 1972 before taking the helm permanently in 1974.

During his 87-year stint with Anderson, Brandon won 14 conference titles, 12 NAIA District 21 championships, made five World Series appearances (1984, ’87, ’93, ’98 and ’03) and led the Ravens to the 1991 National Christian College Athletic Association national title.

 “I was fortunate to have been able to coach for so long,” said Brandon, whom Anderson’s baseball field is named after. “I’m very thankful for being blessed with good health and not getting burned out.”

Brandon, who has been nicknamed ‘Coach Bama,’ made lots of memories during his long and illustrious coaching career. All the Ravens coach did is win.

That’s exactly how the longtime coach went out, too.

In his final game at Anderson, the Ravens won the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference championship, helping Brandon reach one final milestone in the process — his 1,100th career victory.

“The team had senior day last week and the some of the seniors from that team were asked what their fondest memories were,” said Brandon. “I was told some of them said winning number 1,100 for Coach Bama and winning the conference championship.

“That was really special.”

‰ Justin Graves can be reached by phone at 734-2131, ext. 257 or by email at jgraves@cullmantimes.com