On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Providing MLB Headlines on October 18

Extra! Extra! Instead of debating whether self-absorbed former Congressional representatives Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger should be permanently drummed out of GOP for aligning with Russian-deejay duped #SackofSchiff, Urkel Nadler and farting Eric "Chinese Check-Her-Out" Swalwell regarding #Dimorat allegations of Trump-inspired J6 insurrection, you can read news about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players! Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former college hoopers Jim Bibby (Fayetteville State NC) and Bruce Hurst (Dixie UT J.C.) made news as MLB pitchers on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an October 18 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

OCTOBER 18

• RHP Jim Bibby (Fayetteville State NC backup basketball player and brother of UCLA All-American Henry Bibby) traded by the New York Mets to the St. Louis Cardinals in an eight-player swap in 1971.

• Boston Red Sox LHP Bruce Hurst (J.C. hooper for Dixie UT in mid-1970s) notched a 1-0 victory against the New York Mets in 1986 World Series opener.