On This Date: Former College Hoopsters Score Big in July MLB Games

Extra! Extra! Read all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players! Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only four percent of active MLB players earned college diplomas.

Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopsters had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a July calendar involving such versatile athletes:

JULY
31 - P Mike Adams (played basketball for Texas A&M-Kingsville in 1996-97) traded by the San Diego Padres to the Texas Rangers in 2011. . . . Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading scorer in 1945-46) belted four homers off four different pitchers plus a double against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1954, setting a MLB record for most total bases in a game (18) that stood until broken by RF Shawn Green in 2002. . . . St. Louis Cardinals CF Taylor Douthit (California letterman from 1922 through 1924) collected five hits in an 18-5 pounding of the Philadelphia Phillies in 1928. . . . P Johnny Gee (captain of Michigan's 16-4 team in 1936-37) absorbed his first defeat since returning to the New York Giants in 1946 after a year's retirement. . . . Cleveland Indians 1B Mike Hargrove (Northwestern Oklahoma State letterman) scored five runs in a 16-11 victory against the Toronto Blue Jays in 1983. . . . Boston Red Sox rookie P Don Schwall (All-Big Seven Conference second-team selection as sophomore in 1956-57 when leading Oklahoma in rebounding) hurled the middle three innings for the A.L., yielding the only run, in a 1-1 tie in the second of two All-Star Games in 1961. . . . Boston Red Sox P Sonny Siebert (team-high 16.7 ppg for Mizzou in 1957-58 as an All-Big Eight Conference second-team selection) hurled a one-hitter at California in 1970. . . . Cincinnati Reds 2B Johnny Temple (played briefly in 1945 for Catawba, NC, before joining U.S. Navy) contributed seven hits in a doubleheader sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1955. . . . Chicago Cubs OF Cy Williams (Notre Dame forward in 1909-10) clobbered a three-run homer to chase New York Giants Hall of Fame P Christy Mathewson (played for Bucknell at turn of 20th Century) in the opener of a 1915 doubleheader.
30 - Texas Rangers P Jim Bibby (Fayetteville State, NC, backup player and brother of UCLA All-American Henry Bibby) fanned 13 batters while hurling a no-hitter against the first-place Oakland A's in 1973. . . . 2B Marv Breeding (played for Samford in mid-1950s) traded by the Washington Senators to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1963. . . . Alvin Dark (letterman for LSU and USL during World War II) fired as manager of the Cleveland Indians in 1971. . . . New York Giants OF Monte Irvin (played for Lincoln, PA, 1 1/2 years in late 1930s) tied a N.L. record by grounding into three double plays against the Milwaukee Braves in 1953. . . . New York Giants P Christy Mathewson (played for Bucknell at turn of 20th Century) had his 13-game winning streak snapped by the Pittsburgh Pirates, 3-1, in 1909. . . . Cleveland Indians RF Ed Morgan (Tulane letterman from 1923-24 through 1925-26) contributed four hits against the Boston Red Sox in 1929. . . . Chicago White Sox P Gary Peters (played for Grove City, PA, in mid-1950s) faced only 29 batters in a 75-pitch, 6-0 shutout of the New York Yankees in 1966. . . . OF Randy Winn (Santa Clara backcourtmate of eventual two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash in 1993-94) traded by the Seattle Mariners to the San Francisco Giants in 2005.
29 - Chicago White Sox OF Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA titlist) knocked in eight runs in a 1956 doubleheader sweep of the Boston Red Sox. . . . OF Hoot Evers (starter for Illinois in 1939-40) awarded on waivers from the New York Giants to the Detroit Tigers in 1954. . . . Chicago White Sox P Joel Horlen, flirting with a no-hitter entering the ninth inning, wound up losing the game, 2-1, when OF Don Lock (led Wichita State in field-goal percentage in 1956-57 and 1957-58) socked a homer for the Washington Senators in 1963. . . . OF Sam Mele (NYU's leading scorer in 1943 NCAA playoffs) awarded on waivers from the Baltimore Orioles to the Boston Red Sox in 1954. . . . Cleveland Indians 1B Ed Morgan (Tulane letterman from 1923-24 through 1925-26) went 5-for-5 and chipped in with five RBI in a 14-7 win against the Detroit Tigers in 1929. . . . P Paul Reuschel (Western Illinois' leading rebounder in 1966-67 with 15.2 per game) posted the save when the Cleveland Indians extended their winning streak to seven games with a 9-6 decision over the Chicago White Sox in 1979.
28 - Cincinnati Reds CF Ethan Allen (Cincinnati letterman in 1924-25 and 1925-26) went 4-for-4 in a 7-5 win against the Brooklyn Robins in the nightcap of a 1929 doubleheader. . . . 1B Donn Clendenon (letterman for Morehouse, GA) set a New York Mets record by knocking in seven runs in a 12-2 rout of the San Francisco Giants in 1970. . . . Toronto Blue Jays P Dave Lemanczyk (averaged 4.5 ppg and 3.5 rpg from 1969-70 through 1971-72 on a couple of NCAA College Division Tournament teams for Hartwick, NY) registered his third shutout in 1979, blanking his former team, the Detroit Tigers, 3-0. . . . OF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling a 35-3 record) traded by the Chicago White Sox to the San Francisco Giants in 2002. . . . Chicago White Sox P Ted Lyons (two-time All-SWC first-team selection for Baylor in early 1920s) tied a MLB record with two doubles in a 10-run second inning en route to a 14-6 decision over the St. Louis Browns in the opener of a 1935 doubleheader. . . . Oakland Athletics CF Billy North (played four games with Central Washington in 1967-68) made an unassisted double play against the Kansas City Royals in 1973. . . . Brooklyn Dodgers iNF Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in PCC both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) went on a 12-for-25 spurt en route to capturing the 1949 N.L. batting title.
27 - Brooklyn Dodgers P Roger Craig (forward with North Carolina State's 1949-50 freshman basketball team) hurled one of his four shutouts in 1959. . . . In an 8-0 victory against the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres OF Tony Gwynn (All-WAC second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) secured five hits in a game for the third time in the 1993 campaign. . . . Los Angeles P Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman squad in 1953-54) fanned 16 Philadelphia Phillies in 11 innings before the Dodgers prevailed in 16 frames, 2-1, in 1966. . . . Boston Red Sox OF Joe Lahoud (letterman for New Haven, CT) hammered a two-run homer in the top of the 20th inning in a 5-3 win at Seattle in 1969. . . . OF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling a 35-3 record) traded by the Texas Rangers to the Cleveland Indians in 2007. . . . In the ninth inning against the California Angels, New York Yankees SS Gene Michael (Kent State's leading scorer with 14 ppg in 1957-58) pulled the hidden-ball trick for the second time in six weeks in 1970. . . . OF Greasy Neale (hoopster graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan College in 1915) supplied three of the Cincnnati Reds' eight stolen bases in a 14-5 triumph against the Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a 1918 doubleheader. . . . Chicago Cubs OF Riggs Stephenson (Alabama letterman in 1920) broke his ankle stepping on first base against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1931.
26 - Philadelphia Phillies LF Morrie Arnovich (played for Wisconsin-Superior in early 1930s) went 4-for-4 in a 3-1 setback against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1939. . . . Chicago Cubs 2B Glenn Beckert (three-year letterman for Allegheny, PA) banged out five straight hits in a 7-6 decision over the Atlanta Braves in the nightcap of a 1970 doubleheader. . . . After incurring a 13-3 defeat against the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox P Gene Conley (All-PCC first-team selection led North Division in scoring in 1949-50 as Washington State sophomore) and teammate Pumpsie Green mysteriously disappeared in 1962. Conley wanted to fly to Israel and went to the airport but was denied a ticket because he didn't have a visa. . . . OF Billy Cowan (co-captain of Utah's 1960 NCAA playoff team) purchased from the New York Yankees by the California Angels in 1969. . . . Acting St. Louis Cardinals manager Frankie Frisch (Fordham captain) contributed four hits but they weren't enough to prevent a 6-5 setback at Boston in the nightcap of a 1930 twinbill against the Braves. . . . Pittsburgh Pirates SS Dick Groat (two-time All-Ameican with Duke in 1950-51 and 1951-52 when finishing among nation's top five scorers each season) ended an 0-for-19 slump by going 5-for-5 in a 6-4 win against the Boston Braves in 1952. . . . New York Giants LF Hank Lieber (played for Arizona in 1931) started a fourth-inning triple play with a brilliant catch near the wall in a 5-4 verdict over the Cincinnati Reds in 1936. . . . New York Giants P Christy Mathewson (played for Bucknell at turn of 20th Century) won his 21st consecutive contest from the Cincinnati Reds in 1911. . . . 1B Babe Young (Fordham letterman in 1935-36) traded by the Cincinnati Reds to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1948.
25 - Joey Amalfitano (played for Loyola Marymount in 1952-53) became manager for the Chicago Cubs in 1980. . . . Detroit Tigers 1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in WAC games in 1991-92) homered from each side of the plate for the second time in 1999 season in a 9-1 triumph against the Boston Red Sox. . . . OF David Justice (led Thomas More, KY, in assists in 1984-85) jacked a home run to account for the Atlanta Braves' lone hit and game's only run in a 1-0 victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1992. . . . Cleveland Indians rookie 1B Ed Morgan (Tulane letterman from 1923-24 through 1925-26) supplied five RBI in a 15-5 win against the Boston Red Sox in the nightcap of a 1928 doubleheader. . . . Chicago Cubs INF-OF Riggs Stephenson (Alabama letterman in 1920) contributed four hits in a 9-5 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1930. . . . Boston Red Sox 3B Jim Tabor (Alabama letterman in 1936-37) hit two homers in a 10-6 verdict over the Cleveland Indians in 1941.
24 - Philadelphia Phillies LF Morrie Arnovich (played for Wisconsin-Superior in early 1930s) went 4-for-4 and scored four runs in a 13-11 win against the Cincinnati Reds in 1937. . . . Philadelphia Athletics P Stan Baumgartner (played on Western Conference champion for University of Chicago in 1914) hurled a shutout against the St. Louis Browns in 1924. . . . New York Yankees Hall of Fame OF Earle Combs (three-year captain for Eastern Kentucky) crashed into the wall in St. Louis in 1934, incurring a broken collarbone and fractured skull. . . . Cleveland Indians OF Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA titlist) smashed a decisive 10th-inning, two-run homer at New York in 1954. The blast was Doby's third round-tripper in two days at Yankee Stadium.
23 - C Mark Bailey (led Southwest Missouri State in rebounding and field-goal shooting in 1980-81) traded by the Houston Astros to the Montreal Expos in 1988. . . . OF Bob Cerv (ranked fourth on school all-time scoring list in 1949-50 when finishing Nebraska career) and C Elston Howard socked back-to-back pinch-hit homers for the New York Yankees in the ninth inning in 1955 but they still lost to the Kansas City Athletics, 8-7, in 11 frames. . . . Utilityman Harvey Hendrick (Vanderbilt letterman in 1918) provided a pinch-hit grand slam in the 11th inning to give the Chicago Cubs a 9-5 win in the opener of a 1933 doubleheader against the Philadelphia Phillies. . . . Chicago White Sox RF Danny Moeller (captain of Millikin IL squad in 1905-06) had a 12-game hitting streak snapped by the Detroit Tigers in 1915. . . . Chicago Cubs OF Bill Nicholson (played for Washington College, MD, in the mid-1930s), after swatting four consecutive homers in two 1944 games (three in the opener of a doubleheader against the New York Giants), received the ultimate compliment. In the nightcap of the twinbill, he is issued an intentional walk forcing in a run. . . . In 1962, Brooklyn Dodgers iNF Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) became the first African-American inductee to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
22 - St. Louis Browns C Benny Bengough (Niagara letterman from 1916-17 through 1918-19) went 4-for-4 against the Washington Senators in 1931. . . . Philadelphia Athletics C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hoopsler in early 1920s) hit for the cycle against the Washington Senators in 1932. . . . P Dallas Green (Delaware's runner-up in scoring and rebounding In 1954-55) purchased from the Philadelphia Phillies by the New York Mets in 1966. Green was returned to Philly three weeks later. . . . In 1999, Cleveland Indians manager Mike Hargrove (Northwestern Oklahoma State letterman) accidentally handed in an incorrect lineup card against the Toronto Blue Jays, forcing the Tribe to forfeit the DH and bat their pitcher in the seventh spot in the batting order. . . . OF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling a 35-3 record) traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Chicago Cubs in 2003.
21 - Brooklyn Dodgers INF-OF Harvey Hendrick (Vanderbilt letterman in 1918) hit a game-winning, three-run homer in the ninth inning of a 9-8 decision over the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a 1930 doubleheader. Hendrick's decisive blast was one of four pinch-hit round-trippers during the twinbill (two for each team). . . . 2B Davey Lopes (NAIA All-District 15 selection for Iowa Wesleyan averaged 16.9 ppg as freshman in 1964-65 and 12.1 ppg as sophomore in 1965-66) traded by the Chicago Cubs to the Houston Astros in 1986. . . . In his first MLB start, Baltimore Orioles P Ben McDonald (started six games as a 6-6 freshman forward for LSU in 1986-87) blanked the Chicago White Sox, 2-0, in 1990. . . . In the midst of a 10-game hitting streak, New York Yankees RF Bud Metheny (letterman for William & Mary from 1935-36 through 1937-38) went 4-for-4 against the St. Louis Browns in 1943. Two years later, he homered in a 12-3 romp over the Chicago White Sox in 1945. . . . In 1960, Philadelphia Phillies P Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) hurled his third career one-hitter.
20 - 3B Gene Freese (captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team for West Liberty WV) traded by the Chicago White Sox to the Houston Astros for P Jim Mahoney and cash in 1966. . . . Cleveland Indians OF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling a 35-3 record) provided five hits in a 6-5 win against the Minnesota Twins in 1996. . . . P Christy Mathewson (played for Bucknell at turn of 20th Century) traded by the New York Giants to the Cincinnati Reds in 1916. . . . Baltimore Orioles P Ben McDonald (started six games as a 6-6 freshman forward for LSU in 1986-87) hurled a one-hit shutout against the Kansas City Royals in 1993.
19 - New York Mets SS Bill Almon (averaged 2.5 ppg in half a season for Brown's 1972-73 team ending school's streak of 12 straight losing records) had four hits and scored four runs in a 13-3 win against the Cincinnati Reds in 1980. . . . Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame C Rick Ferrell (played for Guilford, NC, in mid-1920s) hit a homer off his brother (Wes Ferrell of Cleveland Indians) in 1933. Wes, who whacked a round-tripper in the same inning (fourth), finished his career with 38 HRs in 548 games while Rick had 28 in 1,884 contests. . . . P Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman squad in 1953-54) started a second straight game for the last-place Los Angeles Dodgers in 1958. He was lifted after walking four batters in the first inning the previous day. . . . Chicago White Sox OF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling a 35-3 record) lashed a leadoff homer for the second straight game against the Kansas City Royals in 2002. . . . P Gary Peters (played for Grove City, PA, in mid-1950s) whacked a 13th-inning pinch-hit homer to give the Chicago White Sox a 3-2 win against the Kansas City Athletics in 1964. . . . OF Ted Savage (led Lincoln, MO, in scoring average in 1955-56) knocked in the game-winning run in the 11th inning as the Cincinnati Reds overcame a 9-0 deficit to edge the Houston Astros, 10-9, in 1969. . . . New York Giants P Hal Schumacher (played for St. Lawrence, NY, in early 1930s) hurled a 12-hit shutout against the Cincinnati Reds in 1934. . . . New York Yankees 1B-Of Norm Siebern (member of Southwest Missouri State's back-to-back NAIA Tournament titlists in 1952 and 1953) notched his second five-hit game of the month in 1958 (against the Kansas City Athletics). . . . New York Yankees 1B Bill "Moose" Skowron (scored 18 points in eight games for Purdue in 1949-50) stroked a decisive ninth-inning, bases-loaded double in the ninth inning after previously providing two homers in a 13-11 triumph against the Cleveland Indians in 1960.
18 - P Mike Adams (played for Texas A&M-Kingsville in 1996-97) traded by the Cleveland Indians to the San Diego Padres in 2006. . . . Philadelphia Phillies LF Ethan Allen (Cincinnati letterman in 1924-25 and 1925-26) had four hits and four RBI in a 9-8 loss against the Cincinnati Reds in 1934. The next year, he stroked three doubles in an 11-3 defeat against the Chicago Cubs. . . . Cincinnati Reds CF Frankie Baumholtz (MVP in 1941 NIT and first player in Ohio University history to score 1,000 career points) went 4-for-4 against the New York Giants in the opener of a 1948 doubleheader. . . . Brooklyn Dodgers P Ralph Branca (sixth-leading scorer for NYU in 1943-44) hurled a one-hitter in a 7-0 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1947. . . . Los Angeles Dodgers C-OF Joe Ferguson (member of Pacific's 1967 NCAA playoff team) broke up a no-hit bid by Luke Walker of the Pittsburgh Pirates with a ninth-inning homer in the nightcap of a 1971 twinbill. . . . St. Louis Cardinals 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham captain) hit two homers but they were in vain in an 8-7 setback against the New York Giants in 1930. . . . All-time hits leader Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds hit the only grand slam of his career with the homer yielded in 1964 by Philadelphia Phillies P Dallas Green (Delaware's second-leading scorer and rebounder in 1954-55). . . . OF Jim Lyttle (led Florida State in free-throw shooting in 1965-66 when he averaged 12.4 ppg) purchased from the Chicago White Sox by the Montreal Expos in 1975. . . . New York Giants P Christy Mathewson (played for Bucknell at turn of 20th Century) blanked the St. Louis Cardinals, 5-0, in the nightcap of a 1913 doubleheader but his record string of 68 walkless innings came to a halt. . . . OF Sam Mele (NYU's leading scorer in 1943 NCAA playoffs) managed the only hit for the Baltimore Orioles against Boston Red Sox P Russ Kemmerer in the opener of a 1954 doubleheader. . . . After speaking out against racial discrimination testifying in front of the House Un-American Activities Committee, Brooklyn Dodgers INF Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) scored twice, once on a steal of home in the sixth inning, in a 3-0 triumph against the Chicago Cubs in 1949. . . . St. Louis Cardinals 1B Bill White (played two years with Hiram, OH, in early 1950s) went 3-for-4 in each end of a twinbill sweep of the Chicago Cubs in 1961. White tied Ty Cobb's 49-year-old record of 14 hits in back-to-back doubleheaders.
17 - Cincinnati Reds LF Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading scorer in 1945-46) went 4-for-4 and threw out a runner at home plate in the ninth inning in a 9-8 victory against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1951. . . . 1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in WAC games in 1991-92) traded by the San Diego Padres to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2008. . . . Legendary Babe Ruth drew his 2,000th career base on balls in 1934 at Cleveland off P Oral Hildebrand (All-American for Butler in 1928-29 and 1929-30). . . . In 1964, Baltimore Orioles P Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) hurled a 5-0 shutout against the Detroit Tigers despite yielding 11 hits. . . . Boston Red Sox 3B Billy Werber (first Duke All-American in 1929-30) became the first A.L. player to hit four consecutive doubles in one game (opener of 1935 doubleheader against the Cleveland Indians). . . . St. Louis Cardinals 1B Bill White (played two years with Hiram, OH, in early 1950s) went 8-for-10 in a twinbill sweep of the Chicago Cubs in 1961.
16 - Pittsburgh Pirates LF Clyde Barnhart (played for Shippensburg PA predecessor Cumberland Valley State Normal School prior to World War I) had four hits, including three doubles, against the Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a 1927 doubleheader. . . . Chicago Cubs 2B Glenn Beckert (three-year basketball letterman for Allegheny, PA) stretched his hitting streak to 21 games with a decisive 12th-inning double in a 4-3 victory against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1968. . . . CF Harry Craft (four-sport letterman with Mississippi College in early 1930s) traded by the Cincinnati Reds to the New York Yankees in 1942 although he never played for the Yanks. . . . Detroit Tigers 1B Walt Dropo (Connecticut's first player ever to average 20 points for a season with 21.7 ppg in 1942-43) delivered two more hits, giving him an A.L. record-tying 15 safeties over a four-game span in 1952. . . . After 16 scoreless innings, New York Giants 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham captain) stroked a bases-loaded triple to ignite a 7-0 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1920. . . . Los Angeles Dodgers manager Davey Johnson (averaged 1.7 ppg with Texas A&M in 1961-62) hospitalized in 2000 after experiencing dizziness as a result of an irregular heartbeat.
15 - In 1939, a dispute4d home run down the LF foul line into the upper deck at the Polo Grounds by Cincinnati Reds CF Harry Craft (four-sport letterman with Mississippi College in early 1930s) hastened the advent of foul pole screens. . . . Detroit Tigers 1B Walt Dropo (Connecticut's first player ever to average 20 points for a season with 21.7 ppg in 1942-43) tied a MLB record with 12 consecutive hits before his streak was snapped in the nightcap of a doubleheader against the Washington Senators in 1952. . . . P George Earnshaw (Swarthmore, PA, basketball participant in 1922) traded by the Brooklyn Dodgers to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1936. . . . A line drive by Pittsburgh Pirates RF Roberto Clemente broke the leg of St. Louis Cardinals P Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer in 1955-56 and 1956-57). But Gibson returned from the injury to lead the Cards to the 1967 World Series championship. . . . New York Giants P Christy Mathewson (played for Bucknell at turn of 20th Century) hurled a no-hitter against St. Louis with a 5-0 win in 1901. Twelve years later, he used only 70 pitches to outduel Cincinnati Reds P Three Finger Brown, 4-2, extending Mathewson's streak of innings without issuing a walk to 61. . . . 1B Cotton Nash (three-time All-American averaged 22.7 ppg and 12.3 rpg in Kentucky career from 1961-62 through 1963-64) traded by the Chicago White Sox to the Minnesota Twins in 1969. . . . 1B-OF Norm Siebern (member of Southwest Missouri State's back-to-back NAIA Tournament titlists in 1952 and 1953) purchased from the San Francisco Giants by the Boston Red Sox in 1967. . . . In 1997, the Montreal Expos announced the retirement of closer Lee Smith (averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg with Northwestern State in 1976-77).
14 - Cleveland Indians player-manager Lou Boudreau (leading scorer for Illinois' 1937 Big Ten Conference co-champion) banged out five extra-base hits - four doubles and a homer - but it wasn't enough to prevent an 11-10 defeat in the opening game of a 1946 doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox, which got three homers for eight RBI from Hall of Fame OF Ted Williams. . . . Detroit Tigers 1B Walt Dropo (Connecticut's first player ever to average 20 points for a season with 21.7 ppg in 1942-43) stroked five singles in an 8-2 win over the New York Yankees in 1952. . . . San Diego Padres Of Tony Gwynn (All-WAC second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) extended his hitting streak to 19 games with three safeties against the San Francisco Giants in 1977, raising his batting average to .402. . . . In a MLB first, Tom Haller (backup forward for Illinois in 1956-57 and 1957-58 under coach Harry Combes) was the Detroit Tigers' catcher in 1972 when his brother, Bill, umpired behind the plate. . . . Philadelphia Phillies P Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) started the 1953 All-Star Game as the N.L. beat the A.L., 5-1, at Cincinnati's Crosley Field. . . . New York Yankees 1B Bill "Moose" Skowron (scored 18 points in eight games for Purdue in 1949-50) socked his second pinch-hit grand slam of the 1957 season. . . . OF Dave Winfield (starting forward with Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) walloped two homers for the California Angels in an 8-7 triumph against the Toronto Blue Jays in 1990.
13 - Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading scorer in 1945-46) clobbered two homers, one a grand slam, in a 1956 doubleheader sweep of the Brooklyn Dodgers. . . . Chicago Cubs 2B Glenn Beckert (three-year basketball letterman for Allegheny, PA), stretching his hitting streak to 18 games, supplied a decisive single in the 11th inning in a 2-1 victory against the New York Mets in 1968. . . . In 1964, P Carl Bouldin (starting guard and co-captain for Cincinnati's 1961 NCAA champion) traded with 1B Bill "Moose" Skowron (scored 18 points in eight games for Purdue in 1949-50) by the Washington Senators to the Chicago White Sox for 1B Joe Cunningham and a player to be designated (P Frank Kreutzer). But Bouldin never pitched for the White Sox. . . . OF Hoot Evers (starter for Illinois in 1939-40) traded by the Baltimore Orioles to the Cleveland Indians in 1955. . . . P Andy Karl (Manhattan letterman from 1933 through 1935), the N.L. leader in appearances (67) and saves (15) in 1945, registered one of his saves in an 11-9 win for the Philadelphia Phillies against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the resumption of a previously-suspended contest. . . . Chicago Cubs rookie P Cal Koonce (standout for Campbell in 1960 and 1961 when the North Carolina-based school was a junior college) hurled a one-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds in 1962. . . . Montreal Expos OF Jim Lyttle (led Florida State in free-throw shooting in 1965-66 when he averaged 12.4 ppg) stroked a pinch-hit homer against the Atlanta Braves in 1973. . . . New York Giants P Christy Mathewson (played for Bucknell at turn of 20th Century) tossed an 11-hit shutout in a 4-0 verdict against the Cincinnati Reds in 1907. . . . San Diego Padres P Joe Niekro (averaged 8.9 ppg and 3.8 rpg for West Liberty, WV, from 1963-64 through 1965-66) outdueled his brother, Phil Niekro of the Atlanta Braves, 1-0, in 1969. . . . Boston Red Sox P Steve Renko (averaged 9.9 ppg and 5.8 rpg as a Kansas sophomore in 1963-64) had a no-hitter with one out in the ninth inning against the Oakland A's in 1979 before yielding a safety to Rickey Henderson. . . . New York Giants C Wes Westrum (played for Bemidji State, MN, one season before serving in military during WWII) whacked a grand slam against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1951.
12 - In the 1955 All-Star Game in Milwaukee, Braves P Gene Conley (All-Pacific Coast Conference first-team selection led the North Division in scoring in 1949-50 as a Washington State sophomore) struck out the side in the top of the 12th inning, earning the victory (6-5) when Stan Musial of the St. Louis Cardinals homered in the bottom of the frame. . . . In 1949, Cleveland Indians OF Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA titlist) and Brooklyn Dodgers INF Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in PCC both of his season with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) are among the first four black players in an All-Star Game. . . . In 1905, Chicago's Three Fingered Brown hurled a two-hitter as he notched the first of nine consecutive victories over Hall of Fame New York Giants P Christy Mathewson (played basketball for Bucknell at turn of 20th Century). . . . Cleveland Indians 1B Ed Morgan (Tulane letterman from 1923-24 through 1925-26) had four hits against the Chicago White Sox in the opener of a 1931 doubleheader. . . . An eighth-inning single by Philadelphia Athletics 1B Dick Siebert (played for Concordia-St. Paul in 1929 and 1930) deprived Cleveland Indians P Bob Feller of a no-hitter in 1940. . . . P Matt Thornton (averaged 5.8 ppg and 2.4 rpg for Grand Valley State, MI, from 1995-96 through 1997-98) traded by the Chicago White Sox with cash to the Boston Red Sox in 2013. . . . San Diego Padres OF Will Venable (All-Ivy League first-team selection as a junior and second-team choice as a senior averaged 9.3 ppg under Princeton coach John Thompson III from 2001-02 through 2004-05) notched his first MLB four-hit game (against the San Francisco Giants in 2009).
11 - Chicago Cubs OF George Altman (appeared in 1953 and 1954 NAIA Tournament with Tennessee State) slugged an eight-inning, pinch-hit homer for the N.L. in the first of two All-Star Games in 1961. . . . Cleveland Indians OF Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA titlist) and New York OF Mickey Mantle each propel blasts in the 500-foot range to the RF upper deck at Yankee Stadium in 1953. . . . OF Don Lock (led Wichita State in field-goal percentage in 1956-57 and 1957-58) traded by the New York Yankees to the Washington Senators for 1B Dale Long in 1962. . . . Detroit Tigers RF Jim Northrup (second-leading scorer and third-leading rebounder for Alma, MI, in 1958-59) batted leadoff in 1973 when he drove in eight runs in a 14-2 triumph over the Texas Rangers. . . . P Ray Rippelmeyer (led Southern Illinois in scoring and rebounding as a sophomore in 1952-53 before transferring and becoming a two-time All-MIAA first-team selection by pacing Southeast Missouri State in scoring in 1953-54 and 1954-55) returned by the Washington Senators to the Cincinnati Reds in 1962 (earlier rule 5 draft selection).
10 - Chicago White Sox 2B Jerry Adair (one of Oklahoma State's top three scorers in 1956-57 and 1957-58 while ranking among nation's top 12 free-throw shooters each season) stroked four hits against the Boston Red Sox in the nightcap of a 1966 doubleheader. . . . P Ralph Branca (sixth-leading scorer for NYU in 1943-44), hampered by an off-season pelvic injury, awarded on waivers from the Brooklyn Dodgers to the Detroit Tigers in 1953. . . . P Jim Hearn (Georgia Tech letterman in 1941-42) awarded on waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals to the New York Giants in 1950. Hearn goes on to lead the N.L. in shutouts (five) and ERA (2.49). . . . OF Jim Lyttle (led Florida State in free-throw shooting in 1965-66 when he averaged 12.4 ppg) purchased from the Kansas City Royals by the Montreal Expos in 1973. . . . New York Giants P Christy Mathewson (played basketball for Bucknell at turn of 20th Century) extended his streak of consecutive innings without a free pass to 52 but had his nine-game winning streak end with a 3-2 setback against the Chicago Cubs in 1913. . . . In 1970, Cincinnati Reds SS Woodie Woodward went yard off Atlanta Braves P Ron Reed (Notre Dame's leading rebounder in 1963-64 and 1964-65) for Woodward's only homer in a nine-year N.L. career (684 of 880 games/1,672 of 2,187 at-bats). . . . New York Giants P Hal Schumacher (played for St. Lawrence, NY, in early 1930s), supported by three hits from OF Hank Lieber (played for Arizona in 1931), won his 11th straight game with a 10-3 verdict over the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1935. . . . San Diego Padres P Chris Young (All-Ivy League first-team selection for Princeton in 1999-00) incurred the loss for the N.L. in the 2007 All-Star Game. He yielded the first inside-the-park homer in All-Star Game history (Ichiro Suzuki in fifth inning).
9 - Pittsburgh Pirates LF Clyde Barnhart (played for Shippensburg PA predecessor Cumberland Valley State Normal School prior to World War I) had four hits in a 12-3 win against the New York Giants in the opener of a 1925 doubleheader. . . . California Angels OF Billy Cowan (co-captain of Utah's 1960 NCAA playoff team) tied a MLB record in 1971 by fanning six times against the Oakland A's in the longest shutout in A.L. history (1-0 in 20 innings). . . . Brooklyn Dodgers P Roger Craig (forward with North Carolina State's 1949-50 freshman basketball team) relieved in the third inning and hurled 11 scoreless frames en route to a 4-3 win against the Milwaukee Braves in 1959. . . . INF Charlie Gelbert (scored at least 125 points each of his last three seasons with Lebanon Valley, PA, in late 1920s) awarded on waivers from the Cincinnati Reds to the Detroit Tigers in 1937. . . . SS Dick Groat (two-time All-American with Duke in 1950-51 and 1951-52 when finishing among the nation's top five scorers each season) was part of the St. Louis Cardinals' entire N.L. starting infield in the 1963 All-Star Game, including 1B Bill White (played two years with Hiram, OH, in early 1950s), 2B Julian Javier and 3B Ken Boyer. . . . New York Giants P Jim Hearn (Georgia Tech letterman in 1941-42) hit two homers at the Polo Grounds in a 10-2 victory against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1955. . . . Washington Senators LF Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection when he led Ohio State in scoring and rebounding in 1956-57 and 1957-58) tied a MLB record with seven strikeouts in a doubleheader split with the Boston Red Sox in 1965. . . . Chicago White Sox P Ted Lyons (two-time All-SWC first-team selection for Baylor in early 1920s) blanked the Philadelphia Athletics, 7-0, in the opener of a 1932 twinbill, snapping Hall of Famer Lefty Grove's 11-game winning streak. . . . OF-1B Len Matuszek (starter for Toledo's 18-7 team in 1975-76) traded by the Toronto Blue Jays to the Los Angeles Dodgers for OF Al Oliver in 1985. . . . OF Lyle Mouton (starter in LSU's backcourt with All-American Chris Jackson for 1989 NCAA playoff team) traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to the Cleveland Indians in 2003. . . . Atlanta Braves P Ron Reed (Notre Dame's leading rebounder in 1963-64 and 1964-65) got the first two outs in the ninth inning to help the N.L. blank the A.L., 1-0, in the 1968 All-Star Game at Houston's Astrodome. . . . P Tim Stoddard (starting forward opposite All-American David Thompson for North Carolina State's 1974 NCAA champion) traded by the San Diego Padres to the New York Yankees for P Ed Whitson in 1986.
8 - St. Louis Cardinals C Ferrell Anderson (Kansas letterman in 1936-37 and 1937-38) had three hits in a 7-3 win against the Cincinnati Reds in 1953. . . . Chicago Cubs CF Frankie Baumholtz (MVP in 1941 NIT and first player in Ohio University history to score 1,000 career points) had four hits against the Milwaukee Braves in 1953. . . . Seattle Mariners P Jim Beattie (Dartmouth's top rebounder in 1974-75 when selected team MVP and honorable mention All-Ivy League) hurled a four-hit shutout against the Baltimore Orioles in 1983. . . . Boston Braves SS Alvin Dark (letterman for LSU and USL during World War II) carried off the field on a stretcher after being knocked unconscious by a thrown ball in 1949. . . . OF Monte Irvin (played basketball for Lincoln, PA, 1 1/2 years in late 1930s) hit a three-run double in the first inning and grand slam in the 11th to carry the New York Giants to a 10-7 triumph over the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1953. Starting P Jim Hearn (Georgia Tech letterman in 1941-42) failed in a bid to win his 13th straight against the Bucs. . . . 1B Cotton Nash (three-time All-American averaged 22.7 ppg and 12.3 rpg in Kentucky career from 1961-62 through 1963-64) returned by the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Chicago White Sox after trade three months earlier was voided. . . . Chicago Cubs P Claude Passeau (played for Millsaps, MS, in late 1920s and early 1930s) yielded a three-run lhomer to Hall of Fame Boston Red Sox OF Ted Williams as the A.L. notched a dramatic 7-5 victory in the 1941 All-Star Game. . . . Cincinnati Reds P Eppa Rixey (Virginia letterman in 1912 and 1914) won the 16-inning nightcap of a 1924 twinbill, 2-1, at Cincinnati. It triggered a streak of 31 straight scoreless innings for Rixey. . . . New York Giants C Wes Westrum (played for Bemidji State, MN, one season before serving in military during WWII) and teammate Daryl Spencer twice hit back-to-back homers in an 11-1 victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1956.
7 - P Mike Adams (played for Texas A&M-Kingsville in 1996-97) awarded on waivers from the New York Mets to the Cleveland Indians in 2006. . . . St. Louis Browns C Benny Bengough (Niagara letterman from 1916-17 through 1918-19) had four hits in an 8-2 win against the Boston Red Sox in 1932. . . . Detroit Tigers OF Hoot Evers (starter for Illinois in 1939-40) went 5-for-5 and scored five runs in a 13-3 victory over the Cleveland Indians in 1951. . . . Philadelphia Phillies OF Gary Redus (J.C. player for Athens, AL, and father of Centenary/South Alabama hoopster) ripped two homers in a 7-3 triumph over the Atlanta Braves in 1986. . . . P Preacher Roe (played for Harding, AR, in late 1930s) hit the lone homer in his Organized Baseball career (against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1953) as the Brooklyn Dodgers established a N.L. record by homering in 21 consecutive contests. . . . P Tom Zachary (Guilford, NC, letterman in 1916) traded by the St. Louis Browns to the Washington Senators in 1927.
6 - San Diego Padres P Mike Adams (played for Texas A&M-Kingsville in 1996-97) fanned the side against the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2008, triggering a streak of 12 consecutive relief appearances without yielding a run. . . . Pittsburgh Pirates P Jim Bibby (Fayetteville State, NC, backup player and brother of UCLA All-American Henry Bibby) improved his record to 11-1 with three scoreless innings of relief in a 20-inning, 5-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs in 1980. . . . Cleveland Indians SS Lou Boudreau (leading scorer for Illinois' 1937 Big Ten Conference co-champion) hit a first-inning homer to help the A.L. defeat the N.L., 3-1, in the 1942 All-Star Game. . . . CF Taylor Douthit (California letterman from 1922 through 1924) contributed five hits and two walks at Philadelphia to help the St. Louis Cardinals snap an 11-game losing streak with a 28-6 triumph over the Phillies in the nightcap of a 1929 doubleheader. . . . California Angels P Ed Halicki (NAIA All-American third-team choice in 1971-72 when he led Monmouth in scoring with 21 ppg after setting a school single-game rebounding record with 40 the previous season) hurled a two-hit shutout against the Milwaukee Brewers in 1980 (infield single in first inning and bloop double in ninth). . . . Mike Hargrove (Northwestern Oklahoma State letterman) replaced John McNamara as Cleveland Indians manager in 1991. . . . In his first MLB start, Brooklyn Dodgers P Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman squad in 1953-54) toiled 4 1/3 innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1955, striking out four batters while yielding three hits and eight walks.
5 - Cleveland Indians OF Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA titlist) became the first African-American player in the A.L., striking out as a pinch-hitter against the Chicago White Sox in 1947. . . . St. Louis Cardinals 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham captain) tied a N.L. record with 16 chances in a 6-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds in 1930. . . . Detroit Tigers SS Harvey Kuenn (played five games for Wisconsin in 1951-52) provided the game's only tally with an 11th-inning homer against the Cleveland Indians in the nightcap of a 1954 twinbill. . . . Philadelphia Athletics P Pete Naktenis (Duke letterman in 1934-35), yielding 10 earned runs in first 1 2/3 innings, lost his lone MLB decision (16-2 rout by the Boston Red Sox in the opener of a 1936 doubleheader). . . . New York Yankees CF Irv Noren (player of the year For California junior college state champion Pasadena City in 1945) collected a pair of homers and five RBI against the Philadelphia Athletics in the nightcap of a 1954 doubleheader. . . . In 1953, Philadelphia Phillies P Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) blanked the Pittsburgh Pirates, 2-0, for his 28th consecutive complete game. . . . In 1998, Tampa Bay Devil Rays LF Randy Winn (Santa Clara backcourtmate of eventual two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash in 1993-94) became the 3,000th career strikeout victim of Roger Clemens.
4 - Cleveland Indians 2B Bosey Berger (Maryland's first All-American led Southern Conference in scoring in league play in 1930-31) had four hits against the Detroit Tigers in the opener of a 1935 doubleheader. . . . 1B-OF Larry Biittner (runner-up in scoring and rebounding for Buena Vista, IA, in 1966-67) hurled the final 1 1/3 innings for the Chicago Cubs in the opener of a 1977 doubleheader against the Montreal Expos. . . . Cincinnati Reds 1B George Crowe (four-year letterman from 1939-40 through 1942-43 for Indiana Central after becoming first high schooler named state's "Mr. Basketball") went 5-for-5, driving in six runs, but it wasn't enough to prevent a 10-7 loss against the Milwaukee Braves in 1957. . . . New York Giants SS Alvin Dark (letterman for LSU and USL during World War II) hit a homer in each end of a 1950 doubleheader split with the Brooklyn Dodgers. . . . P Bob Garibaldi (starting forward for Santa Clara in 1961-62 when he averaged 10.6 ppg and 5.6 rpg) signed with the San Francisco Giants for a $150,000 bonus in 1962 after being named College World Series Most Outstanding Player. . . . Chicago Cubs OF Hank Lieber (played for Arizona in 1931) clobbered three homers against the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a 1939 twin bill. . . . Cleveland Indians rookie CF Ed Morgan (Tulane letterman from 1923-24 through 1925-26), raising his batting average to .378, had four hits against the Detroit Tigers in the opener of a 1928 twinbill. . . . Detroit Tigers RF Jim Northrup (second-leading scorer and third-leading rebounder for Alma, MI, in 1958-59) collected two homers, a triple and five RBI in a 13-10 victory over the California Angels in 1968. . . . Preacher Roe (played for Harding, AR, in late 1930s) and Ralph Branca (sixth-leading scorer for NYU in 1943-44) are the winning pitchers as the Brooklyn Dodgers sweep a 1951 doubleheader against the New York Giants. . . . Jeff Shaw (freshman guard for 31-5 Rio Grande, OH, team participating in 1985 NAIA Tournament) traded by the Cincinnati Reds to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1968. He became the first pitcher in MLB history to lead two different clubs in saves in the same season (23 with the Reds and 25 with the Dodgers). . . . Boston Red Sox 3B Jim Tabor (Alabama letterman in 1936-37) socked four homers in a 1939 doubleheader against the Philadelphia Athletics, collecting 19 total bases and 11 RBI. Three of his round-trippers came in the nightcap, including a record-tying two grand slams in back-to-back innings.
3 - Kansas City Athletics LF Bob Cerv (ranked fourth on Nebraska's career scoring list in 1949-50 when finishing his career) hit a grand slam before P Herb Score settled down and fanned 14 in the Cleveland Indians' 8-4 triumph in 1959. . . . In 1994, the Cleveland Indians retired the uniform number of OF Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA titlist). Doby broke the A.L. color barrier in 1947. . . . P Roger Mason (multiple-year letterman for Saginaw Valley State, MI, in late 1970s) traded by the San Diego Padres to the Philadelphia Phillies in 1993. . . . In 1956, Pittsburgh Pirates 2B Johnny O'Brien (two-time All-American with Seattle was first college player to crack 1,000-point plateau in a season when he scored 1,051 in 37 games in 1951-52) became the last N.L. position player in the 20th Century to earn a victory on the mound.
2 - Detroit Tigers rookie 1B Dale Alexander (starting center in mid-1920s for Milligan TN) collected two homers and six RBI in a 10-4 win against the St. Louis Browns in 1929. . . . St. Louis Browns rookie RF Red Badgro (first-five pick on All-Pacific Coast Conference team in 1926-27 as USC's MVP) went hitless for the only time in an 18-game game span from mid-June to mid-July in 1929. . . . INF Jack Barry (letterman for Holy Cross in 1908) purchased from the Philadelphia Athletics by the Boston Red Sox in 1915. . . . OF Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA titlist) signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Indians in 1947. . . . OF Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection when he led Ohio State in scoring and rebounding in 1956-57 and 1957-58), OF Don Lock (led Wichita State in field-goal percentage in 1956-57 and 1957-58) and teammate Ken McMullen hit back-to-back-to-back homers in the sixth inning to power the Washington Senators to a 10-4 victory over the New York Yankees in 1966. . . . Detroit Tigers P Joe Niekro (played for West Liberty WV in mid-1960s) had his no-hit bid ended in the ninth inning in a 5-0 triumph against the New York Yankees in 1970. Fifteen years later, he posted his 200th career victory when the Houston Astros edged the San Diego Padres. . . . New York Giants P Roy Parmelee (letterman for Eastern Michigan in 1924-25 and 1925-26) tossed a 1-0 shutout to beat the St. Louis Cardinals' Dizzy Dean in the nightcap of a 1933 doubleheader. Teammate Carl Hubbell hurled an 18-inning whitewash for the Giants in the opener. . . . In 1983, OF Gary Redus (J.C. player for Athens, AL, and father of Centenary/South Alabama performer) ripped a leadoff homer for the second consecutive game against the Atlanta Braves.
1 - In 1943, Chicago White Sox OF Guy Curtright (two-time All-MIAA selection led Northeast Missouri State in scoring each of his four seasons in early 1930s) set a MLB rookie record (subsequently broken) with a 26-game hitting streak as a 30-year-old newcomer in his only season as a regular. . . . Cleveland Indians OF Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA titlist) walked five times in a 19-inning, 4-3 victory over the St. Louis Browns in 1952. . . . C-OF Joe Ferguson (member of Pacific's 1967 NCAA playoff team) traded by the Houston Astros with cash to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1978. . . . Washington Senators CF Irvin Noren (player of the year for California junior college state champion Pasadena City in 1945) collected a homer and two doubles but his output wasn't enough to prevent a 1951 doubleheader loss against the Philadelphia Athletics. . . . P Elmer Ponder (Oklahoma letterman in 1914 and 1916) traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Chicago Cubs in 1921. . . . P Paul Splittorff (runner-up in scoring and rebounding for Morningside, IA, in 1967-68) retired in 1984. His 166 victories in 13 seasons are the most in Kansas City Royals history.

MLB achievements/highlights in June by former college basketball players

MLB achievements/highlights in May by former college basketball players

MLB achievements/highlights in April by former college basketball players