Extra! Extra! Two years after Plagiarist Biledumb's withdrawal debacle, instead of wondering if demented #Dimorat politicians specializing in bail funds for "righteous" rioters arranged any mechanism for freeing at-risk Afghani translators after goofball government officials in both countries were outfoxed by Taliban thugs, 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 Creighton hoopers Bob Gibson and Dennis Rasmussen registered personal pitching performance milestones during their MLB careers in National League games on this date. Ex-San Diego State hoopers Tony Clark, Tony Gwynn and Graig Nettles supplied noteworthy offensive outputs in MLB games on this date. Joining Gibson and Gwynn as ex-DI college hoopers contributing noteworthy MLB achievements on this date en route to Hall of Fame induction were Lou Boudreau (Illinois), Lee Smith (Northwestern State) and Dave Winfield (Minnesota). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 14 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 14

• Detroit Tigers RHP Elden Auker (All-Big Six Conference first-five basketball selection with Kansas State in 1931-32) chipped in with two homers and five RBI while tossing a four-hitter in 16-1 drubbing of the St. Louis Browns in opener of 1937 twinbill.

• Philadelphia Phillies RHP Ray Benge (multi-year hoops letterman for Sam Houston State in first half of 1920s) went 4-for-4 at the plate in 1931 outing against the Chicago Cubs.

• Philadelphia Phillies 1B Ed Bouchee (freshman hooper for Washington State in 1951-52) went 4-for-5 in opener of a 1959 doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds.

• Cleveland Indians SS Lou Boudreau (leading scorer for Illinois' 1937 Big Ten Conference co-champion) suffered a broken right ankle in collision at second base in 1945. The next year, Boudreau supplied four hits against the Detroit Tigers in a 1946 game.

• RHP Ralph Branca (sixth-leading scorer for NYU in 1943-44) won his first and only decision with the New York Yankees (3-1 over Boston Red Sox in 1954).

• Detroit Tigers 1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in Western Athletic Conference competition in 1991-92) homered in his third consecutive contest in 1999.

• Pittsburgh Pirates rookie 1B Donn Clendenon (four-sport letterman with Morehouse GA) went 5-for-5 with four extra-base hits in a 1964 doubleheader split against the Chicago Cubs.

• Cincinnati Reds CF Harry Craft (four-sport letterman with Mississippi College in early 1930s) contributed three extra-base hits (double, triple and homer) against the St. Louis Cardinals in opener of a 1938 twinbill.

• St. Louis Cardinals RHP Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer in 1955-56 and 1956-57) hurled a no-hitter at Pittsburgh in 1971.

• San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-Western Athletic Conference second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81 who twice led league in assists) went 4-for-4 against the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 1993 contest.

• Texas Rangers 1B Mike Hargrove (Northwestern Oklahoma State hoops letterman) supplied a leadoff homer for the second straight game in 1977.

• Philadelphia Phillies 3B Chuck Harmon (second-leading scorer for Toledo in 1946-47 and 1947-48) went 4-for-4 against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 1957 outing.

• RHP Dave Madison (hoops letterman for Louisiana State from 1939-40 through 1942-43) traded by the St. Louis Browns to the Detroit Tigers in an eight-player swap in 1952.

• In 1973, New York Yankees 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) whacked milestone 100th of 390 homers in his MLB career.

• San Diego Padres LHP Dennis Rasmussen (sixth-man for Creighton averaged 5.1 ppg from 1977-78 through 1979-80) defeated the Houston Astros, 4-1, ending a personal losing streak of nine straight starts in 1991.

• Chicago White Sox RHP Johnny Rigney (top hoops center for St. Thomas MN in mid-1930s) secured a 5-2 victory against the St. Louis Browns in first night game played at Windy City's Comiskey Park in 1939.

• In 1991, St. Louis Cardinals RHP Lee Smith (averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg with Northwestern State in 1976-77) reached the 30-save plateau for the sixth time en route to leading N.L. in category with 47.

• New York Mets RHP Darrell Sutherland (averaged 8.1 ppg and 2.2 rpg for Stanford from 1960-61 through 1962-63 under coach Howie Dallmar) tripled and hurled four innings of hitless relief in posting his first MLB victory (1-0 in 10 frames against Houston Astros in 1965).

• Birdie Tebbetts (Providence hooper in 1932) resigned as Cincinnati Reds manager in 1958.

• Detroit Tigers rookie SS Coot Veal (averaged team-high 10.9 ppg as Auburn sophomore in 1951-52 before transferring to Mercer) contributed three safeties against the Cleveland Indians, triggering a 13-game hitting streak in 1958.

• St. Louis Cardinals 1B Bill White (two-year hooper with Hiram OH in early 1950s) hit for the cycle in opener of a 1960 doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

• In 1991, California Angels RF-DH Dave Winfield (starting forward with Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) slugged the 400th of 465 homers in his MLB career.

• Tampa Bay Devil Rays rookie CF Randy Winn (Santa Clara backcourtmate of eventual two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash in 1993-94) stroked two triples in a 1998 contest against the Kansas City Royals.

College basketball fans wish reference was just a conditioning drill ("suicide") involving sprinting different lengths of the court. But we can't be conditioned to walk away from a different reality. It was suicide taking their own life.

In most instances, we'll never truly know why individuals good enough to compete at major-university level stooped to languishing level committing suicide. Naturally, we really don't need to speculate about the seeds of destruction. Following is an alphabetical list of former major-college players, including several this year, tormented by personal demons before dying by their own hand:

Earl Badu, Maryland (coached by Gary Williams) - Walk-on member of 2002 NCAA titlist was in legal and financial trouble in the years preceding his suicide in late September 2012 (booster filed a $300,000 civil lawsuit against him to retrieve investment). All-American Juan Dixon's best friend jumped from an eastern Baltimore overpass after slashing his throat with a kitchen knife.

Ricky Berry, Oregon State (Ralph Miller)/San Jose State (Bill Berry) - Three-time All-Big West Conference first-team selection died just two weeks before his 25th birthday from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the right temple at his home in mid-August after his rookie season with the Sacramento Kings in 1988-89. First-round selection in NBA draft (18th pick overall) pulled the trigger less than an hour after heated argument with his wife, who left and spent the night at a friend's house. He had eloped without his parents' blessing.

Lance Blanks, Virginia (Terry Holland)/Texas (Tom Penders) - As reported in a heart-wrenching column shared by his daughter for ESPN, long-time NBA executive died by suicide at the age of 56 in early May 2023. First-round pick in 1990 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons averaged 1.7 ppg for UVa in 1985-86 and 1986-87 before transferring to Texas, where he averaged 20 ppg, 5 rpg, 3.7 apg and 3 spg in 1988-89 and 1989-90 for a pair of NCAA tourney teams.

Justin "Spider" Burns, Cal State Fullerton (Bob Burton) - Committed suicide (suffocation by strangulation) at the age of 39 in June of 2023 in prison where he was serving a sentence for the murder of his ex-girlfriend in Las Vegas in 2010 (strangulation before taking her body to desert, setting it on fire and burying under rocks). Juco recruit averaged 7.9 ppg and 5.4 rpg from 2004-05 through 2006-07.

Terrence Butler, Drexel (Zach Spiker) - Died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his on-campus apartment in early August 2023. Forward appeared in eight games in his two seasons with the Dragons while struggling with injuries.

Harry Coe III, Florida (John Mauer) - Circuit judge amassed thousands of dollars in gambling debts and used re-election campaign funds, among money from other outside sources, to pay them off before committing suicide on July 13, 2000, at the age of 68 (shot himself under an expressway). Coe, who played hoops for the Gators in 1951-52 and 1952-53, was an All-SEC baseball pitcher.

Gary Custick, Connecticut (Dee Rowe) - Took his life at the age of 38 in late August 1990 while unattended in a hospital that was overcrowded and understaffed. He averaged 12.7 ppg and 6.8 rpg from 1971-72 through 1973-74, leading the Huskies in scoring as a sophomore.

Matt Derenbecker, Louisiana State (Trent Johnson)/Dayton (Archie Miller)/New Orleans (Mark Slessinger) - Committed suicide in late summer of 2014 after a battle with bipolar disorder. He was found floating in a pool with gunshot wound to the head at his friend's house. Part-time starter as a freshman with LSU in 2010-11 (6.5 ppg and 2.1 rpg) before averaging 4.5 ppg for UD in 2012-13 and 10.5 ppg plus 5.6 rpg with UNO prior to leaving the Privateers' squad in midseason of 2013-14.

Jim Dinwiddie, Kentucky (Adolph Rupp) - Attorney and divorced father of four was found dead at the age of 63 in early February 2012 of a self-inflicted gun shot. Dinwiddie's secretary found him in the bedroom above his law office, which was in a former hotel building he owned. He averaged 3.8 ppg and 2.5 rpg for three UK NCAA tourney teams from 1968-69 through 1970-71.

Bob Doll, Colorado (Frosty Cox) - After vanishing on Labor Day, he was found shot to death at the age of 40 in mid-September 1959 in the Rocky Mountains. A .45 caliber pistol he owned was discovered near his body. NIT Most Valuable Player in 1940 as a sophomore was an All-American two years later.

Lafayette Dorsey Jr., Pacific (Damon Stoudamire) and Nicholls State (Austin Claunch) - Redshirt transfer committed suicide by hanging in garage in first week of August 2020 at the age of 23. Son of former Pepperdine guard averaged 9.1 ppg and 2.7 rpg with UOP in 2017-18 and 2018-19.

Dan Ducich, Utah State (Joe Whitesides) - Shot himself to death at the age of 28 in mid-June 1954 with a .22-caliber automatic pistol, leaving a note in room at Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas that he was heavily in debt. Juco recruit had asked his ex-wife of four years (actress Elaine Mahnken) for money after running into gambling trouble and claiming the mob was after him. Mahnken, known as Elaine Devry, was the fourth of actor Mickey Rooney's eight wives. Ducich, after averaging 2.6 ppg for the Aggies in 1949-50, was convicted of armed robbery in Los Angeles and was placed on five years' probation following guilty plea to stealing almost $6,000 in a series of thefts.

Kent Durrant, Brigham Young (Floyd Millet) - Committed suicide in 1957 at the age of 28 via carbon monoxide poisoning by putting hose leading from pipe into truck cab. Averaged 6.2 ppg as a sophomore in 1948-49.

Nathan Eisert, Western Kentucky (Dennis Felton) - Guard was found dead of a single self-inflicted wound in his dormitory room from a .38-caliber handgun in June 2002 following dismissal from WKU's team after playing in 16 games in two seasons.

Tom Emma, Duke (Bill Foster and Mike Krzyzewski) - Plunged from the 12th floor of New York Athletic Club in Manhattan in June 2011 to his death at the age of 49. He was senior captain for the Blue Devils in 1982-83, finishing his careering with 6.9 ppg, 1.8 rpg and 2.2 apg.

Billy Feeney, Portland State (Joel Sobotka)/New Mexico (Ritchie McKay) - In late August 2003, forward committed suicide by hanging from a light pole in downtown Albuquerque at 5:15 a.m. outside an apartment complex. Redshirt transfer was intoxicated and reportedly despondent about a breakup with his girlfriend. Feeney averaged 8.5 ppg and 3.6 rpg with PSU in 2001-02.

Dave Fleming, Iowa State (Glen Anderson) - School Superintendent, a focal point of community criticism for advocating concept of outcome based education (OBE), died from carbon monoxide poisoning in late June 1993 at the age of 49. Fleming's body was discovered by two horseback riders near a ski lodge. Senior captain averaged 7.9 ppg and 5.8 rpg from 1964-65 through 1966-67.

James "Jed" Frost, Missouri (Norm Stewart - Shot and killed his wife and himself in November 2022 inside the Dallas County medical examiner's office six months after she filed for divorce. Frost was a member of Mizzou's 1994 regional finalist team as a senior.

Eddie Griffin, Seton Hall (Tommy Amaker) - All-Big East Conference second-team selection as a freshman in 2000-01 died at the age of 25 in a fiery car crash about 1:30 a.m. in mid-August 2007. He ignored a railroad warning and his Nissan SUV collided with a moving Union Pacific freight train. It took four days for authorities to identify his body from dental records. Friends and family disputed suicide, but it was not ruled out as there was nothing to indicate an attempt to avoid a collision. Griffin was charged in November 2003 with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after a woman claiming to be his girlfriend accused him of punching her in the face and shooting a pistol at her car as she drove away. Earlier in the year, he had been arrested for possession of marijuana. He had been expelled before the end of his senior year in high school for fighting with a teammate over a card game and punched college teammate Ty Shine in the locker room amid a midseason defeat in his lone season with the Pirates. In spring of 2003, he was arrested on marijuana possession charges. Checked into Betty Ford Center in 2004 to get six weeks of treatment for alcohol abuse. Pounded on the hotel door of a bride and groom whose wedding he crashed at a North Jersey hotel. Pleaded guilty to inattentive driving early in the 2005-06 season (drunk and watching pornography in a DVD player mounted on dashboard when crashing his Cadillac Escalade while masturbating in parking lot of grocery store) before being suspended by the NBA for violating the anti-drug program in mid-January 2007.

Phil Hankinson, Penn (Dick Harter and Chuck Daly) - Two-time All-Ivy League first-team selection (1971-72 and 1972-73), suffering from depression after his pro basketball career ended because of a knee injury, committed suicide in mid-November 1996 in Shelby County, Ky., with a single shot to the right temple from a semi-automatic handgun.

James Hardy III, Indiana (Mike Davis) - County coroner ruled second-round selection as a wide receiver by the Buffalo Bills in 2008 NFL draft killed himself at the age of 31 in mid-summer 2017 after he was found by a water filtration plant employee conducting his regular rounds in a logjam at a dam along the Maumee River. Hardy was arrested in Los Angeles for resisting arrest in a confrontation with police in 2014, but a judge later ruled he was not mentally competent to stand trial. Hardy averaged 1.7 ppg and 1.8 rpg for IU as a freshman hooper in 2004-05.

Henry Harris, Auburn (Bill Lynn) - All-SEC third-team selection in 1971-72 and the Tigers' first black athlete took his own life in the spring of 1974 by jumping from a dormitory window at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he'd been a JV coach and intramural supervisor. He averaged 11.9 ppg, 6.7 rpg and 2.5 apg in his three-year varsity career. Standout defensive player was senior captain before becoming an eighth-round choice by the Houston Rockets in the 1972 NBA draft.

Tony Harris, Washington State (Kelvin Sampson) - Harris' body was found just before Thanksgiving, 2007, slumped against a tree in a dense thicket at a sprawling army training ground near the town of Formosa, Brazil. Police said he most likely committed suicide since the shoelace from one of his sneakers was wrapped around his neck. Harris, who averaged 12.4 ppg and 4.3 rpg for WSU in the mid-1990s before playing professionally overseas, had a history of paranoid behavior and just lost a job as a counselor at a juvenile rehabilitation facility in Seattle. His wife was pregnant with their first child.

Harvey "Gink" Hendrick, Vanderbilt (Ralph Palmer) - Basketball letterman for the Commodores in 1918 shot himself in his Covington, Tenn., home in late October 1941 at the age of 43. Lefthanded-hitting utilityman notched a .308 batting average with seven different MLB franchises in 11 seasons from 1923 through 1934.

Zach Hollywood, Ball State (James Whitford) - Redshirt freshman forward died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at an off-campus apartment in mid-August 2017 shortly after the one-year anniversary of his mother's death.

Baskerville Holmes, Memphis State (Dana Kirk) - A starting forward who averaged 9.6 ppg and 5.9 rpg for the Tigers' 1985 Final Four team, he was arrested twice for domestic violence. Later, Holmes, an out-of-work truck driver, and his girlfriend were found shot to death March 18, 1997 in an apparent murder-suicide. He was 32.

Tyler Honeycutt, UCLA (Ben Howland) - All-conference selection in Pac-10 in 2010-11 committed suicide with gunshot to his head at age 27 in mid-July 2017 following a shootout with police lasting about nine hours. His mother told police that, before dying, he had been "sucking laughing gas (nitrous oxide) for six months overseas and I think it scrambled his brain." Honeycutt's mother later sued the LAPD, saying it failed to de-escalate the situation and get him medical care. He averaged 10.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 2.8 apg and 1.2 spg in two seasons for the Bruins.

Jumoke Horton, Saint Mary's (Ernie Kent) - Sitting in his Chevrolet Silverado extended-cab truck and using his own .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun, he killed himself in Oakland in late 2009 at the age of 35. After playing for Alaskan high school with Duke All-American Trajan Langdon, the 6-9 Horton became a two-time All-WCC first-team selection, averaging 9.1 ppg and 5.1 rpg from 1992-93 through 1995-96.

Hugh Jones Jr., Tennessee (Emmett Lowery) - Navy veteran and older brother of Kentucky All-American Wallace "Wah Wah" Jones was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in January 1966. Both brothers were All-SEC selections in 1948-49. Hugh averaged 10.6 ppg from 1947-48 through 1949-50.

Ben Jordan, Kentucky (John Calipari) - Walk-on from baseball squad died in early 2021 at the age of 22. The 6-9 pitcher joined the iconic basketball program in 2019-20 when it faced a shortage of players. The righthander pitched sparingly in 2019 after redshirting his freshman season while recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Rev. John Kilzer, Memphis State (Wayne Yates) - Committed suicide (by hanging) in mid-March 2019 at the age of 62. Kilzer, a rock singer who struggled with alcohol addiction, served as an associate pastor for recovery ministries at a Methodist church in Memphis until his death. He averaged 3.2 ppg and 2 rpg from 1975-76 through 1978-79.

Billy Knight, UCLA (Steve Lavin) - The Bruins' second-leading scorer as a senior in 2001-02 (14.1 ppg) committed suicide at age 39 one month following arrest in June 2018 on six felony molestation charges reportedly involving the nine-year-old daughter of his ex-girlfriend. Firefighters found him on a roadway near downtown Phoenix after he jumped from a building. He took his own life, leaving a cryptic, six-minute video titled "I am Sorry Lord" in which he acknowledged living "a life of sin."

Fessor Leonard, Furman (Joe Williams) - Three-time All-Southern Conference first-team selection from 1972-73 through 1974-75 was found dead in his Switzerland apartment in mid-February 1978. According to police, the Columbus, Ga., native allegedly was involved in the beating of a 64-year-old woman on Christmas Eve in 1977 although her criminal complaint later was withdrawn. Pilloried in the Swiss press, the 24-year-old seven-footer collected the unflattering stories in a pile with centerfolds of nudes ripped from American magazines, set fire to them and took what proved to be a fatal dose of tranquilizers in conjunction with possible asphyxiation.

Sean Locke, Delaware (Monte Ross) - Suffering from depression, he took his own life in mid-July of 2018 at the age of 23. Guard played 24 games for the Blue Hens from 2013-14 through 2015-16.

Dan Pippin, Missouri (George Edwards and Sparky Stalcup) - Three-time All-Big Seven Conference selection committed suicide in 1965 at the age of 38. Captain of 1952 U.S. Olympic team was found dead in his car at a vacant farmhouse garage where a hose extended from the exhaust pipe through a window.

Bob Presley, California (Rene Herrerias and Jim Padgett) - Juco recruit killed himself at age 29 in 1975 by jumping off bridge into the Willamette River in Portland area and drowning. After Detroit product failed to earn a spot on NBA roster, 11th-round pick in 1969 draft tried to kill himself by cutting his wrists in a marijuana-and-sleeping-pills haze. When sadomasochistic Presley got violent at home, his wife left him. All-conference second-team selection in AAWU as a junior averaged 16.1 ppg and 12.8 rpg in 1967-68 and 1968-69, leading the Bears in rebounding both seasons.

Bryan Randall, Dartmouth (Paul Cormier) - Facing a pending divorce, All-Ivy League selection in 1986-87 and 1987-88 dropped his two youngest children in the murky waters of an Orlando-area office park lake in mid-September 2003 (two-year-old girl drowned and four-year-old boy saved only by fate's hand and a passing fisherman) before loading his two older sons into the family's Dodge Durango and intentionally swerving in front of an oncoming semitrailer slicing his SUV nearly in two on the interstate (killing him and the one son bearing his name). In a suicide letter found in the wreckage, jobless-and-despondent Randall, who led conference in assists as a senior, wrote he wanted to kill himself and his children because he didn't approve of how his estranged wife was caring for them. Randall, slapped with a restraining order hinging on sordid charges of sexual humiliation and blackmail, had discovered her infidelity by tapping their home's phone. In the late 1990s, he filed for bankruptcy and had bank foreclose on his condominium in Silver Spring, Md., prior to accepting a job with WorldCom before the telecom giant collapsed.

Anthony Robinson, North Carolina State (Les Robinson) - Committed suicide with a gunshot to the head early in 1992-93 season after frontcourter played in both of the Wolfpack's NCAA playoff games two years earlier as a freshman.

Bill Robinzine, DePaul (Ray Meyer) - In the NBA offseason (fall of 1982), he committed suicide at the age of 29 in a storage place in Kansas City. He died in his car due to carbon monoxide poisoning. In a letter he wrote to his wife the day he died as it appeared his NBA career was ending, he cited financial pressures as a reason for his unhappiness. He was a first-round selection (10th pick overall) by the Kansas City Kings in 1975 NBA draft after averaging 16.6 ppg and 11.4 rpg with the Blue Demons in three seasons.

Carl Shaeffer, Alabama (Hank Crisp and Floyd Burdette) - All-SEC second-team selection in 1945-46 was a tavern owner in Indiana when committing suicide by shooting himself on his 50th birthday in 1974. Army veteran was a German POW during WWII.

Anthony Sherrod, Georgia Tech (Bobby Cremins) - Beset by a manic-depressive illness, he committed suicide with a .357 Magnum revolver in April 1991 in a suburb of Atlanta. Part-time starter as a senior was arrested for driving under the influence in 1988-89 after forward averaged a career-high 7.7 ppg the previous season when he was the Yellow Jackets' top substitute.

Al Smith, Bradley (Joe Stowell) - Died from a self-inflicted gunshot at the age of 75 in late 2022 after shooting his live-in girlfriend in Florida. Smith, a two-time All-Missouri Valley Conference selection who averaged 17.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg and 3.2 apg in 1966-67, 1967-68 and 1970-71, served in the Army during the Vietnam War.

Jimmy Smith, North Carolina (Dean Smith)/Florida State (Hugh Durham) - Ex-Clemson assistant coach, who averaged 3.9 ppg and 3.1 rpg for FSU from 1975-76 through 1977-78, committed suicide at the age of 29 in the fall of 1984. He ignored the pleas of a friend and jumped to his death from a highway overpass. Smith played in eight games for UNC as a freshman in 1973-74.

Brett Studdard, Wyoming (Benny Dees) - J.C. recruit who averaged 4.3 ppg for the Cowboys in 1991-92 and 1992-93 shot his former girlfriend to death (once in the back and once in the head) and then committed suicide in the fall of 2003 in Cobb County (Ga.). The altercation occurred two days after a permanent restraining order was issued prohibiting him from contacting the pharmacist.

Melvin Turpin, Kentucky (Joe B. Hall) - Security guard died by self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest in mid-summer 2010 at the age of 49. Diabetic was sixth pick overall in 1984 NBA draft. He averaged 12.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg and 1.8 bpg while shooting 59.1% from the floor with UK from 1980-81 through 1983-84. All-American as a senior when the Wildcats reached the Final Four.

Rudy Waterman, Dayton (Don Donoher) - Following a marriage breakup and drug problem, the third-leading scorer for the Flyers' 1967 NCAA Tournament runner-up shot himself in a suicide attempt, fell into a coma upon developing bacterial meningitis while hospitalized and soon died at 34 in mid-February 1981. He averaged 8.1 ppg and 2.9 rpg from 1965-66 to 1967-68. Late in his senior season, Waterman complained of discrimination at a campus symposium titled "Black Student Views of UD" that he wasn't given a fair opportunity to start. A local media personality filming an episode of his new TV program (The Phil Donahue Show) sought out Waterman to capture some of the discussion about race.

Mike Whitmarsh, San Diego (Jim Brovelli) - The Toreros' leading scorer in 1982-83 (15.3 ppg) and 1983-84 (18.8 ppg) committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning at the age of 46 in 2009 after inhaling car-exhaust fumes in the garage of a friend's home. Two-time All-WCAC selection scored a team-high 17 points in NCAA playoff defeat against Princeton in 1984 West Regional opener.

Extra! Extra! Instead of wondering if #Dimorat-dominated New York Senate chamber liberally applauds bus arrival of illegal aliens to sanctuary city and victim-blaming Lov Gov Kinky Cuomo's gaslighting departure more than its rousing Standing O for measure supporting butchering innocent babies via late-term abortions by #PlannedMurderhood, 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 San Diego State hoopers Tony Gwynn and Jim Wilson made MLB news on this date. Ditto a couple of small-college hoopers from schools in Georgia - Donn Clendenon (Morehouse) and Coot Veal (Mercer). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 11 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 11

• In the midst of a career-high 20-game hitting streak in 1959, Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) went 4-for-4 against the Cincinnati Reds, homering in his third straight outing.

• Detroit Tigers RHP Elden Auker (All-Big Six Conference first-five selection with Kansas State in 1931-32) hurled his second shutout in a 10-day span in 1934.

• New York Giants RHP Curt Barclay (Oregon's third-leading scorer and rebounder as sophomore in 1950-51) hurled a three-hit, 5-0 shutout against the Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a 1957 doubleheader. It was Barclay's second straight whitewash.

• Chicago Cubs OF Frankie Baumholtz (MVP in 1941 NIT and first player in Ohio University history to score 1,000 career points) furnished his third consecutive contest with three safeties in 1952.

• Chicago White Sox CF Ken Berry (freshman hooper for Wichita in 1959-60) banged out three safeties for the second time in a three-game span in 1969.

• Texas Rangers RHP Jim Bibby (Fayetteville State NC backup hooper and brother of UCLA All-American Henry Bibby) fired his second shutout against the Detroit Tigers during the 1974 campaign.

• In 1990, Atlanta Braves RHP Marty Clary (Northwestern hoops letterman in 1981-82 and 1982-83) incurred his seventh defeat in as many decisions in a five-week span.

• Pittsburgh Pirates rookie 1B Donn Clendenon (four-sport letterman with Morehouse GA) cracked a grand slam against the Chicago Cubs in a 1962 game.

• C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) delivered a decisive ninth-inning hit to give the win to RHP George Earnshaw (Swarthmore PA player in 1922) in the Philadelphia Athletics' 3-2 decision over the Washington Senators in 1928.

• Gene Desautels (Holy Cross hoops letterman in 1929 and 1930) caught the entire game for the Cleveland Indians without a putout (no strikeouts) in 1942 when they have a 14-inning scoreless tie with the Detroit Tigers.

• San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-WAC second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81 who twice led league in assists) went 5-for-5 and scored four runs in a 7-6 triumph against the Atlanta Braves in 1987. Two years later, Gwynn went 4-for-4 against the Braves in the nightcap of a 1989 doubleheader en route to a league-high 203 hits.

• San Francisco Giants LHP Atlee Hammaker (averaged 5.3 ppg as freshman in 1976-77 and 4.9 as sophomore in 1977-78 under East Tennessee State coach Sonny Smith) fired his final shutout of 12-year MLB career, a five-hitter against the Houston Astros in 1988.

• Chicago Cubs SS Don Kessinger (three-time All-SEC selection for Mississippi from 1961-62 through 1963-64 while finishing among nation's top 45 scorers each year) delivered five hits in a 15-inning game against the Cincinnati Reds in 1968.

• LF Bill Nicholson (hoops guard for Washington College MD two years in mid-1930s) capped off back-to-back-to-back homers by the Chicago Cubs but the three straight round-trippers weren't enough to prevent a 7-5 defeat against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1941.

• Chicago Cubs LF Carl Reynolds (Southwestern TX hoops MVP and captain in mid-1920s) went 5-for-7 with three doubles in a 1938 contest against the Cincinnati Reds.

• In 1945, Chicago Cubs RHP Claude Passeau (hooper for Millsaps MS in late 1920s and early 1930s) restricted the Boston Braves to two hits - both coming with two outs in the eighth inning.

• Chicago White Sox rookie LHP Gary Peters (Grove City PA hooper from 1955-57) contributed a game-high three hits, including homer off Frank Lary in bottom of seventh inning to knot the score, in a 3-2 win against the Detroit Tigers in 1963.

• In 1987, Baltimore Orioles LF Larry Sheets (All-ODAC hoops selection in 1981-82 and 1982-83 with Eastern Mennonite VA) smacked two homers for the third time in his last five games.

• Chicago Cubs 2B Rob Sperring (averaged 8.7 ppg and 2.9 rpg for Pacific from 1968-69 through 1970-71) collected a homer and double in his MLB debut in 1974 (against San Francisco Giants).

• Philadelphia Phillies 1B Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) smacked two homers in a 2004 game against the Colorado Rockies.

• In 1959, Detroit Tigers SS Coot Veal (Auburn's scoring leader as sophomore in 1951-52 before transferring to Mercer) connected for his lone homer in 611 MLB career at-bats (against Chicago White Sox).

• Boston Red Sox C Sammy White (All-PCC Northern Division first-five selection for Washington in 1947-48 and 1948-49) provided three hits in both ends of a 1953 twinbill sweep of the Philadelphia Athletics.

• RHP Jim Wilson (hoops letterman for San Diego State's 1942 NAIA Tournament participant) traded by the Cleveland Indians to the Detroit Tigers in 1949.

• New York Giants rookie 1B Babe Young (Fordham hoops letterman in 1935-36) amassed two homers and five RBI against the Philadelphia Phillies in the nightcap of a 1940 doubleheader.

If the "Left Coast" thought outlook was bleak when Southern California (103 seasons) and UCLA (97) announced their intention last year to leave the Pac-12 Conference for the Big Ten at conclusion of 2023-24 campaign, it really took a turn for the worst this year when Oregon (104) and Washington (109) did likewise. They boast the four longest stints in an intact coalition before departing. The breakup of the SWC in mid-1990s dismantled the longest tradition. Following are the NCAA Division I schools departing for a different alliance after more than six decades years in a league:

School	Longstanding League Member (Seasons)	Next Conference (First Season)
Washington	109 years in PCC/AAWU/Pac-8/Pac-10/Pac-12 (1916-24)	Big Ten (2025)
Oregon	104 years in PCC/AAWU/Pac-8/Pac-10/Pac-12 (1916-24 except for 1960-64)	Big Ten (2025)
Southern California	103 years in PCC/AAWU/Pac-8/Pac-10/Pac-12 (1922-2024)	Big Ten (2025)
UCLA	97 years in PCC/AAWU/Pac-8/Pac-10/Pac-12 (1928-2024)	Big Ten (2025)
Baylor	82 years in SWC (1915-96)	Big 12 (1997)
Rice	82 years in SWC (1915-96)	WAC (1997)
Texas	82 years in SWC (1915-96)	Big 12 (1997)
Texas A&M	82 years in SWC (1915-96)	Big 12 (1997)
Southern Methodist	78 years in SWC (1919-96)	Western Athletic (1997)
Virginia Military	78 years in Southern (1926-2003)	Big South (2004)
Murray State	73 years in Ohio Valley (1949-2022 except for 1962)	Missouri Valley (2023)
Texas Christian	73 years in SWC (1924-96)	Western Athletic (1997)
Wichita State	72 years in Missouri Valley (1946-2017)	American Athletic (2018)
Arkansas	68 years in SWC (1924-91)	SEC (1992)
Iowa State	68 years in Big Eight (1929-96)	Big 12 (1997)
Kansas	68 years in Big Eight (1929-96)	Big 12 (1997)
Kansas State	68 years in Big Eight (1929-96)	Big 12 (1997)
Missouri	68 years in Big Eight (1929-96)	Big 12 (1997)
Nebraska	68 years in Big Eight (1929-96)	Big 12 (1997)
Maryland	61 years in ACC (1954-2014)	Big Ten (2015)

Extra! Extra! Instead of wondering if lengthy lineup of "let's get after it" lustful Cuomosexual press pestilence previously promoting Love Gov realize they resemble journalistic jackal from Time magazine offering oral sex to Sick Willie for keeping abortion legal and press puke futilely trying to rehabilitate Plagiarist Biledumb's imploding administration hell-bent on unjustified FBI raids/setups, 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 Fordham hoopers Frankie Frisch and Babe Young supplied significant National League hitting performances on this date. Ex-Duke hoopers Chubby Dean and Billy Werber combined to account for the winning run in bottom of ninth inning with the Philadelphia Athletics in a 1937 contest. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 8 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 8

• Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) launched two homers against the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a 1956 twinbill.

• Detroit Tigers rookie 1B Dale Alexander (starting hoops center in mid-1920s for Milligan TN) went 5-for-5 in a 9-6 win against the Cleveland Indians in 1929. Two years later, Alexander contributed four hits in a 7-1 victory against the Indians.

• Chicago Cubs 2B Joey Amalfitano (Loyola Marymount hooper in 1952-53) contributed a career-high four hits in a 14-10 triumph against the New York Mets in 1965.

• Chicago Cubs CF Frankie Baumholtz (MVP in 1941 NIT and first player in Ohio University history to score 1,000 career points) had career-high 16-game hitting streak snapped by his original team (the Cincinnati Reds) in the nightcap of a 1951 doubleheader.

• Chicago Cubs 2B Glenn Beckert (three-year hoops letterman for Allegheny PA) collected seven hits against the San Francisco Giants in a 1971 twinbill split.

• Chicago White Sox CF Ken Berry (freshman hooper for Wichita in 1959-60) went 4-for-4 in a 1970 game against the California Angels.

• Boston Red Sox RHP Gene Conley (All-PCC first-team selection led North Division in scoring in 1949-50 as Washington State sophomore) tossed a four-hit shutout against the Cleveland Indians in 1962.

• Philadelphia Athletics 1B Chubby Dean (reserve guard for Duke in 1936) scored the game-winning run on a double by Billy Werber (first Duke hoops All-American in 1929-30) in the bottom of ninth inning of a 5-4 verdict over the St. Louis Browns in 1937. Six years later as a LHP with the Cleveland Indians, Dean allowed only two hits in five innings of scoreless relief before knocking in the winning run in bottom of 14th of a 6-5 triumph against the Browns in opener of 1943 doubleheader.

• St. Louis Cardinals 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) furnished four hits against the Chicago Cubs in a 1931 game.

• Kansas City Royals RHP Rich Gale (led New Hampshire with 7.2 rpg in 1975-76) hurled a four-hit shutout against the Toronto Blue Jays in 1980.

• Kansas City Royals 2B Bob Hegman (four-year starting point guard for St. Cloud State MN averaged 9.4 ppg and 2.9 rpg from 1976-77 through 1979-80) made his only MLB appearance as a defensive replacement in top of ninth inning in opener of 1985 twinbill against Chicago White Sox. He replaced 3B George Brett in lineup with teammate Greg Pryor shifting from 2B to 3B.

• St. Louis Cardinals 2B Tommy Herr (hooper with Delaware's freshman team in 1974-75) stroked three extra-base hits (two doubles and homer) among four safeties in a 9-5 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1987.

• Brooklyn Dodgers rookie 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) amassed two homers and five RBI against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1948 contest.

• Kansas City Royals 1B Gail Hopkins (averaged 2.5 ppg with Pepperdine in 1963-64) went 4-for-4 against the Milwaukee Brewers in a 1971 outing.

• Atlanta Braves rookie RF David Justice (Thomas More KY assists leader in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg) jacked two homers against the San Diego Padres for the second game in a row in 1990.

• New York Yankees LF Charlie Keller (Maryland hoops letterman from 1934-35 through 1936-37) went 4-for-4 with three doubles against the Philadelphia Athletics in a 1941 game.

• SS Gene Michael (Kent State's leading scorer with 14 ppg in 1957-58) stroked a two-out single in the ninth inning to give the New York Yankees a 3-2 victory against the Texas Rangers in 1973.

• RF Bill Nicholson (hooper for Washington College MD in mid-1930s) pounded an 11th-inning homer to propel the Chicago Cubs to a 2-1 triumph against the Cincinnati Reds in 1947.

• Minnesota Twins RHP Jim Perry (averaged more than 20 ppg in late 1950s for former juco Campbell) fired a two-hit shutout against the Boston Red Sox in 1965.

• Atlanta Braves RHP Ron Reed (Notre Dame's leading rebounder in 1963-64 and 1964-65) fired a 10-inning shutout against the New York Mets, triggering a streak where he won nine of his final 11 starts of the 1969 campaign.

• Chicago White Sox CF Carl Reynolds (Southwestern TX hoops MVP and captain in mid-1920s) went 4-for-4 in the nightcap of a 1929 twinbill against the St. Louis Browns.

• Philadelphia Phillies RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) won his eighth straight decision and fourth game in 10 days in 1956.

• Baltimore Orioles LF Larry Sheets (All-ODAC hoops selection in 1981-82 and 1982-83 with Eastern Mennonite VA) socked two homers in each of back-to-back games against the Texas Rangers in 1987.

• St. Louis Browns RHP Rollie Stiles (played hoops for Southeastern State OK in 1926-27) registered his third victory in as many decisions in a six-week span in 1931.

• Baltimore Orioles RHP Tim Stoddard (starting forward opposite All-American David Thompson for North Carolina State's 1974 NCAA champion) notched his fourth save in as many relief appearances during a 12-game scoreless stretch in 1980.

• Detroit Tigers RF-1B Champ Summers (led SIUE in scoring in 1969-70 after doing same with Nicholls State in 1964-65) knocked in five runs against the Texas Rangers in the opener of a 1979 doubleheader.

• New York Yankees RF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) collected two homers and six RBI against the Cleveland Indians in opener of a 1985 twinbill.

• Washington Senators 3B Eddie Yost (NYU freshman hooper in 1943-44 under coach Howard Cann) homered and drew four walks in a 1957 game against the New York Yankees.

• New York Giants 1B Babe Young (Fordham hoops letterman in 1935-36) homered in his fourth consecutive contest in 1941.

Extra! Extra! Unless you're wondering if hideous Hunter's favorite stepmother - cover girl/puppeteer "Dr." Jill - lifted some of kinky Cuomo's "Emmy-worthy warm" prepared video remarks to put on "Me Too" notecard for Plagiarist Biledumb to squint read if asked again about creepy little-girl hair-sniffing, swimming naked as VP in front of female Secret Service agents, inappropriate showers with daughter described in her diary and Tara Reade's predator accusation, 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 hoopers from several Deep South small colleges beginning with letter "M" - Dale Alexander (Milligan TN), Donn Clendenon (Morehouse GA) and Harry Craft (Mississippi College) - made MLB news on this date. Joining Craft among ex-hoopers eventually becoming MLB managers after supplying major-league news on this date were Mickey Cochrane (Boston University), Al Dark (Southwestern Louisiana/Louisiana State), Frankie Frisch (Fordham), Frank Howard (Ohio State), Davey Johnson (Texas A&M) and Bill Virdon (Drury MO). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 6 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 6

• In a 1932 game, 1B Dale Alexander (starting basketball center for Milligan TN in mid-1920s) provided a single for the Boston Red Sox' lone safety off Wes Ferrell of the Cleveland Indians.

• Pittsburgh Pirates 1B Donn Clendenon (four-sport letterman with Morehouse GA) went 4-for-4 against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1966 contest.

• Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) fired as Detroit Tigers manager in 1938.

• Cincinnati Reds rookie CF Harry Craft (four-sport letterman with Mississippi College in early 1930s) cracked a grand slam in an 11-6 triumph against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1938.

• New York Giants SS Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for Louisiana State and Southwestern Louisiana in mid-1940s) whacked two homers in a 1954 game against the Milwaukee Braves.

• New York Giants 3B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) provided four hits against the Cincinnati Reds in the opener of a 1923 twinbill. Thirteen years later as a St. Louis Cardinals 2B, Frisch collected four hits against the Chicago Cubs in a 1936 outing.

• Houston Astros RHP Dave Giusti (Syracuse hooper in 1959-60) went 3-for-3 at the plate in a 1968 contest against the New York Mets.

• San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-WAC second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) went 4-for-5 in a 12-10 win against the Montreal Expos in 1999, posting the 3,000th hit of his 20-year MLB career. It was the sixth anniversary of him securing milestone 2,000th of 3,141 safeties.

• LHP Mark Hendrickson (two time All-Pacific-10 Conference selection paced Washington State in rebounding four straight seasons from 1992-93 through 1995-96) made his MLB debut with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2002.

• Los Angeles Dodgers LF Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection when leading Ohio State in scoring and rebounding in 1956-57 and 1957-58) delivered three extra-base hits against the Chicago Cubs in a 1961 game.

• INF Davey Johnson (averaged 1.7 ppg with Texas A&M in 1961-62) traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to the Chicago Cubs in 1978.

• San Francisco Giants 1B-OF Rick Leach (averaged 15.5 ppg for Michigan's JV hoops team in 1975-76) suspended for 60 days in 1990 following a positive drug test.

• Chicago White Sox LHP Thornton Lee (Cal Poly hooper in 1925-26) tossed his second straight two-hitter in 1940.

• New York Yankees RHP Lindy McDaniel (played for Oklahoma's 1954-55 freshman hoops squad) posted his eighth save in last 10 relief appearances en route to 12 straight scoreless games in 1970.

• Cleveland Indians RF Ed Morgan (Tulane hoops letterman from 1923-24 through 1925-26) raised his batting average to .372 with back-to-back three-hit games.

• Washington Senators 2B Buddy Myer (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1923-24) contributed three doubles among his four hits in a 13-11 victory against the New York Yankees in the opener of 1929 doubleheader.

• Detroit Tigers CF Jim Northrup (second-leading scorer and third-leading rebounder for Alma MI in 1958-59) went 4-for-4 against the Cleveland Indians in the opener of a 1972 twinbill.

• 1B Jack Phillips (leading scorer for 14-1 Clarkson NY in 1942-43) purchased from the New York Yankees by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1949.

• New York Mets OF Tony Phillips (New Mexico Military juco hooper in 1977-78 as teammate of eventual Drake All-American Lewis Lloyd) banged out four hits in a 1998 contest against the San Francisco Giants.

• RHP Ralph Terry (juco hooper averaged 22 ppg for Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in mid-1950s) purchased from the Kansas City Athletics by the New York Mets in 1966.

• Pittsburgh Pirates CF Bill Virdon (Drury MO hooper in 1949) knocked in five runs against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1959 game.

• Detroit Tigers LHP Ed Wells (multi-sport athlete for Bethany WV in early 1920s) went 4-for-4 at the plate off Waite Hoyt in 1925 game against the New York Yankees.

• San Francisco Giants RF Randy Winn (Santa Clara backcourtmate of eventual two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash in 1993-94) went 4-for-4 against the Atlanta Braves in a 2008 contest.

Dominoes seem to fall every time a school seeks greener pastures. The Ivy League is only Division I conference to remain intact since the late 1980s.

They didn't stay at "home," but did return there. Colorado, triggering a Pac-12 Conference mass exodus, has gone full circle and returned to league (Big 12) where the Buffaloes previously roamed as member. They are among the following institutions re-enlisting with a conference after leaving for various durations:

School	DI Conference (Membership Tenure)	School Status During Interim
Abilene Christian	Southland (1969-73 and since 2014)	Lone Star
Boise State	Big West (1997-2001 and since 2014)	WAC (2002-11) and Mountain West (2012 and 2013)
Campbell	Big South (1986-94 and since 2012)	TAAC/Atlantic Sun (1995-2011)
Charlotte	Conference USA (1996-2005 and since 2014)	Atlantic 10 (2006-13)
Colorado	Big Seven/Eight and Big 12 (1948-2011 and since 2024-25)	Pac-12 (2012-24)
Connecticut	Big East (1980-2013 and since 2021)	American Athletic (2014-20)
Creighton	Missouri Valley (1929-48 and 1977-2013)	Independent
Davidson	Southern (1937-88 and since 1993)	Big South (1991 and 1992)
Drake	Missouri Valley (1908-51 and since 1957)	Independent
Duquesne	Eastern 8/Atlantic 10 (since 1977 except for 1993)	Midwestern Collegiate (1993)
Georgia State	Sun Belt (1977-81 and since 2014)	TAAC/Atlantic Sun (1985-2005) and CAA (2006-13)
Harvard	EIBL/Ivy League (1902-09 and since 1934)	Independent
Lamar	Southland (1969-87, 1999-2021 and since 2023)	American South (1988-91), Sun Belt (1992-98) and WAC (2022)
Murray State	Ohio Valley (1949 through 2022 except for 1962 before leaving for Missouri Valley)	Independent
New Orleans	Sun Belt (1977-80 and 1992-2010)	Independent and American South (1988-91)
Northern Illinois	Mid-American (1976-86 and since 1998)	Mid-Continent (1991-94) and Midwestern Collegiate (1995-97)
Oregon	Pacific Coast (1916-59 and since 1965)	Independent
Oregon State	Pacific Coast (1916-59 and since 1965)	Independent
Pacific	WCAC/West Coast (1953-71 and since 2014)	PCAA/Big West (1972-2013)
Penn State	Eastern 8/Atlantic 10 (1977-79 and 1983-91)	Independent
Prairie View A&M	SWAC (since 1921 except for 1991)	Discontinued program one season
Texas-Arlington	Western Athletic (2013 and since 2023)	Southland (1969-2013 except for 1987) and Sun Belt (2014-22)
Virginia Military	Southern (1926-2003 and since 2015)	Big South (2004-14)
Washington State	Pacific Coast/Pac-12 (1917-59 and since 1964)	Independent

College basketball boasts a significant presence during the Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement weekend in Canton, Ohio. It could really be big next year as 2024 first-time HOF nominees include former NCAA Tournament hoopers Antonio Gates (Kent State) and Julius Peppers (North Carolina). Following is an alphabetical list of former college hoopers comprising about 12 1/2% of the gridiron HOF members:

DOUG ATKINS, Tennessee
Member of College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame. Eight-time Pro Bowl participant played 17 NFL seasons (1953 through 1969) as a defensive end with the Cleveland Browns, Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints. He was a first-round NFL draft selection (11th pick overall) after competing in two Cotton Bowls and one Sugar Bowl. . . . Atkins originally enrolled on a basketball scholarship at Tennessee, where he played one season of varsity basketball before concentrating on football. The 6-5, 210-pound center averaged 9.9 points per game for the 1950-51 Volunteers, ranking third on the team in scoring. He was selected by the Minneapolis Lakers in 1953 NBA draft.

MORRIS "RED" BADGRO, Southern California
Member of Pro Football Hall of Fame was an offensive and defensive end with the New York Yankees (1927 and 1928), New York Giants (1930 through 1935) and Brooklyn Dodgers (1936) in a nine-year NFL career that was interrupted by a stint in major league baseball. Hit .257 in two seasons (1929 and 1930) as an outfielder with the St. Louis Browns after becoming a three-time All-Pro with the Giants. . . . Earned varsity basketball letters for the Trojans in 1924-25 and 1926-27. Named to the first five on the All-Pacific Coast Conference team as a forward in 1926-27 when he was USC's MVP.

CLIFF BATTLES, West Virginia Wesleyan College
Halfback became member of College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame. Led the NFL in rushing as a rookie with Boston in 1932 and in his final season with Washington in 1937. First NFL player to rush for 200 yards in a game (215 yards in 16 carries for the Boston Redskins against the New York Giants in 1933). . . . The 6-1, 195-pounder played four seasons of varsity basketball in college.

SAMMY BAUGH, Texas Christian
Member of College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame is considered by many as the finest quarterback in history. Consensus All-American in 1936. Passed for 21,886 yards and 186 touchdowns in 16 years (1937 through 1952) with the Washington Redskins. First-round pick led the NFL in passing five times, in punting five times and in pass interceptions once. Five-time All-Pro participant held almost all of the NFL's passing records when he retired. His 44-yard gallop was the longest run from scrimmage in a 3-2 victory over LSU in the 1936 Sugar Bowl before helping the Horned Frogs defeat Marquette, 16-6, in the 1937 Cotton Bowl. . . . Three-year letterman in basketball at TCU was an honorable mention selection on the All-Southwest Conference team as a senior in 1936-37.

BOBBY BELL, Minnesota
Member of the College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was a consensus All-American choice as a tackle and winner of the Outland Award as the nation's outstanding interior lineman in 1962. Selected in the seventh round of the 1963 AFL draft by the Dallas Texans. As a linebacker, the nine-time All-Pro selection intercepted 25 passes in his 12-year career with the Kansas City Chiefs. Bell played in two Super Bowls (I and IV). . . . He became the first African-American basketball player for Minnesota when appearing in three games in 1960-61 season, collecting four points and four rebounds.

JIM BROWN, Syracuse
Movie actor is member of College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame. Earned All-American honors in football and lacrosse. Averaged 6.2 yards per carry as a senior in 1956 and scored 43 points in a game against Colgate. Co-MVP in 1957 Cotton Bowl. The first-round draft choice established NFL career records for yards rushing (12,312), rushing attempts (2,359), rushing average (5.2 per carry), touchdowns (126) and years leading league in rushing (eight) in his nine seasons (1957 through 1965) with the Cleveland Browns. Nine-time Pro Bowl selection. . . . Averaged 14 ppg for the Orangemen basketball team as a sophomore and 11.3 as a junior. He is reluctant to specifically say why he quit the team before his senior season when Syracuse participated in the NCAA Tournament for the first time, but indicated it was because of a racial quota. "Well, they basically didn't want to start more than two blacks (Vinnie Cohen and Manny Breland) although nobody could outrun, outjump or outshoot me," said Brown, who was selected in the ninth round of the 1957 NBA draft by the Syracuse Nationals. "It really was a tragedy the way athletics were handled there at the time," said Cohen, who went on to become a Washington, D.C., lawyer for 40 years. Excerpt from school guide: "Brownie is a powerfully built youth, who helps under the boards, and is an excellent shot as well." His son Jimmy, a two-time All-MEAC first-team selection, played for three NCAA Tournament teams with North Carolina A&T from 1983 through 1985 after transferring from Southern Cal and was the Aggies' leading scorer as a senior with 18.2 ppg.

JUNIOUS "BUCK" BUCHANAN, Grambling
Pro Football Hall of Famer was the first pick overall in the 1962 AFL draft by the Dallas Texans. The 6-7, 285-pound defensive tackle missed only one game because of injury in his 13-year pro career, which included a streak of eight consecutive seasons being named to either the AFL All-Star Team or NFL Pro Bowl. Instrumental in the Kansas City Chiefs' victory over the heavily-favored Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV. . . . Concentrated solely on football after earning a basketball letter as a freshman in 1958-59. Buchanan and teammate Ernie Ladd both intended on only playing basketball for Grambling before legendary coach Eddie Robinson kept both from transferring by allegedly giving them a key to the cafeteria's kitchen so they could go there and eat whenever they were hungry if the pair would come out for the football squad.

HAROLD CARMICHAEL, Southern (La.)
Wide receiver caught 590 passes for 8,985 yards and 79 touchdowns in his 14-year career with the Philadelphia Eagles (1971 through 1983) and Dallas Cowboys (1984). He was a seventh-round draft choice. Four-time Pro Bowl participant established an NFL record for most consecutive games with a pass reception (127). Participated in Super Bowl XV. Inducted into Hall of Fame in 2020. . . . Former Southern basketball coach Dick Mack said the 6-8 Carmichael was a starter his last two seasons with the Jaguars and one of their top rebounders. He averaged 9.8 ppg and 10.6 rpg in 11 games in 1969-70.

EARL "DUTCH" CLARK, Colorado College
Member of College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame. Halfback and quarterback was named to All-NFL team in six of his seven seasons with Portsmouth (1931 and 1932) and Detroit (1934 through 1938). Led the NFL in scoring in 1932, 1935 and 1936. Player-coach of Detroit in 1937 and 1938) and head coach of Cleveland Rams from 1939 through 1942. First-team QB on the 1928 AP All-American team. Scored at least one touchdown in 21 consecutive college football games. . . . The 6-0, 180-pounder was an All-Rocky Mountain Conference choice in basketball all four seasons (first team as a freshman and senior, second team as a junior and third team as a sophomore). Sketch in Spalding Official Guide: "There isn't a man who could match Clark as a floor guard. The best dribbler ever to bounce a ball in the conference."

GEORGE CONNOR, Holy Cross/Notre Dame
Member of College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame was Outland Trophy winner (outstanding interior lineman) as a tackle on Notre Dame's 1946 national championship team. Consensus All-American football choice in 1946 and 1947. Earned All-America honors as a tackle at Holy Cross in 1943 before transferring to Notre Dame. First-round draft choice by the New York Giants in 1946 (5th pick overall). Played offensive/defensive tackle and linebacker with the Chicago Bears for eight years from 1948 through 1955, earning All-NFL first-team honors from 1949 through 1953. . . . Averaged 2.5 points per game as a 6-3, 225-pound center on the Irish's 1946-47 basketball team. Basketball letterman with Holy Cross in 1943 and 1944.

LEN DAWSON, Purdue
Member of Pro Football Hall of Fame completed 2,136 passes for 28,731 yards and 239 touchdowns in 19 seasons (1957 through 1975) with the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Texans and Kansas City Chiefs. First-round draft choice of the Pittsburgh Steelers went on to become a seven-time All-Pro. Quarterbacked the Chiefs to victory over Minnesota in Super Bowl following 1969 season. . . . Played in two games as a 6-0, 180-pound guard for Purdue's basketball team in the 1956-57 campaign.

MIKE DITKA, Pittsburgh
Member of College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame. The tight end caught 427 passes for 5,812 yards and 43 touchdowns in 12 NFL seasons (1961 through 1972) with the Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys. The first-round draft choice participated in two Super Bowls with Dallas (V and VI) after playing five Pro Bowls with the Bears (1962 through 1966). Coached Super Bowl winner in 1985 season when the Bears compiled an 18-1 overall record. Registered a 112-68 mark in 11 years (1982-92) as coach of the Bears. Coached the New Orleans Saints in the late 1990s between stints as a network analyst. . . . The 6-2, 205-pound forward averaged 2.8 points and 2.6 rebounds per game in two seasons with the Panthers (1958-59 and 1959-60) after playing in high school under Press Maravich, the father of Pete Maravich, the NCAA's all-time leading scorer. Sketch in school basketball guide: "A natural athlete who never quits. If Pitt wins a few games, there is a good chance he will be in the thick of things."

JOHN "PADDY" DRISCOLL, Northwestern
Five-time first-team All-Pro back/drop-kicker passed for 16 touchdowns, rushed for 25, caught four TD passes and kicked 51 field goals with the Chicago Cardinals and Bears through the entire 1920s. Hall of Famer compiled a 31-17-5 pro coaching record (17-8-4 with Cardinals from 1920 through 1922 and 14-9-1 with Bears in 1956 and 1957), losing to New York Giants in 1956 championship game. He also coached Marquette to a 10-23-1 mark in four years from 1937 through 1940. . . . The 5-11, 160-pounder was a basketball letterman in 1916. He also was an MLB player as an infielder with the Chicago Cubs in 1917.

WILBUR "WEEB" EWBANK, Miami (Ohio)
Member of Pro Football Hall of Fame is the only head coach to win championships in both the NFL (Baltimore Colts in 1958 and 1959) and AFL (New York Jets in 1968). . . . Two-year basketball letterman for Miami (1926-27 and 1927-28) compiled a 5-13 record as head basketball coach at his alma mater in 1938-39 and an 8-12 mark as Brown's head basketball coach in 1946-47.

RAY FLAHERTY, Gonzaga
End caught 20 touchdown passes with the New York Yankees/Giants in nine seasons from 1927 through 1935 (coached his alma mater in 1930). Helped the Giants advance to the NFL championship game three straight seasons from 1933 through 1935. Compiled an 80-37-5 record as coach of the Boston/Washington Redskins, New York Yankees and Chicago Hornets. Coached the Redskins to two NFL titles and four divisional crowns. Pro Football Hall of Famer (inducted in 1976) is credited with inventing the screen pass (introduced in 1937 title game). . . . Four-sport athlete including basketball (class of '26).

LEN FORD, Morgan State
Hall of Fame defensive end (inducted in 1976) was an NFL Pro Bowler four years in a row from 1951 through 1954 after catching 67 passes for 1,175 yards and eight touchdowns with the AAFC's Los Angeles Dons in 1948 and 1949. Converted receiver recovered 20 fumbles for the Cleveland Browns and Green Bay Packers in nine years from 1950 through 1958. . . . The 6-5 Ford was a center for Morgan State's CIAA hoops titlist in 1944 before joining the U.S. Navy near the end of WWII and subsequently transferring to Michigan.

TONY GONZALEZ, California
After catching 53 passes for 768 yards and five touchdowns as a junior in 1996 for Cal's Aloha Bowl squad, the first-team All-America tight end declared for the NFL draft and was selected in the first round by the Kansas City Chiefs. Became the Chiefs' all-time leader in pass receptions by a tight end midway through the 2000 season en route to a league-best 1,069 for 12,463 yards and 88 TDs through 2010. In 2006, he became their all-time leader in yards from scrimmage before going to the Atlanta Falcons. Caught 70 or more passes 11 times in 12 years from 1999 through 2010, including a career-high 102 in 2004. . . . Gonzalez, who averaged 6.4 ppg and 4.3 rpg from 1994-95 through 1996-97, scored a career-high 29 points vs. Washington State en route to setting school freshman record by shooting 64% from the floor. He averaged 18 points and shot 61% from the floor in the Bears' first two NCAA Tournament games in 1997.

OTTO GRAHAM, Northwestern
Member of College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame. Quarterback earned All-American honors and finished third in Heisman Trophy voting as a senior in 1943. First-round draft choice of the Detroit Lions in 1944 (4th pick overall). Played 10 seasons (1946 through 1955) with the Cleveland Browns and quarterbacked team to championship game each year (All-America Football Conference from 1946 through 1949 and NFL from 1950 through 1955). Compiled a 105-17-4 playing record in regular-season pro competition, completing 1,464 of 2,626 passes for 23,584 yards and 174 touchdowns. Five-time Pro Bowl selection (1951 through 1955). Compiled a 17-22-3 record as coach of the Washington Redskins in three years from 1966 through 1968. . . . Played three seasons of varsity basketball, finishing second in the Big Ten Conference in scoring as a sophomore (13.1 ppg) and as a junior (15.8). The 6-0 forward earned second-team All-Big Ten honors in 1941-42 and first five honors in 1942-43. Also played for Colgate as a senior. NCAA consensus first-team All-American in 1944 and second-team All-American in 1943. Left Northwestern with the highest scoring total in school history with more than 600 points. Played one season with the Rochester Royals in the National Basketball League, averaging 5.2 points per game for the 1945-46 squad that won the NBL title.

HARRY "BUD" GRANT, Minnesota
Former NFL and CFL end and coach. First-round choice by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1950 NFL draft. Played with Philadelphia in 1951 and 1952 and Winnipeg of the CFL from 1953 through 1956. Caught 272 passes for 4,197 yards and 20 touchdowns in six pro seasons, leading the CFL in pass receptions in 1953 (with 68), 1954 (49) and 1956 (63). Coached Winnipeg in the CFL (1957-66) and Minnesota in the NFL (1967-85). Coach of four CFL champions and four NFL Super Bowl teams. . . . Third-leading scorer for the Gophers' basketball squad in 1948-49 (8.5 ppg) after being named team MVP the previous season over first-team All-American Jim McIntyre. Finished 13th in the Big Ten Conference in scoring in 1946-47 with a 9.3 average. Played two seasons in the NBA, including a rookie year when he was a member of the Lakers' 1950 championship team.

GEORGE HALAS, Illinois
Member of Pro Football Hall of Fame compiled a 324-151-31 record as an NFL coach, guiding the Chicago Bears to seven NFL titles. His 40-year NFL coaching career also included stints with the Decatur/Chicago Staleys. MVP of the 1919 Rose Bowl as an end for Great Lakes. . . . The 6-0, 175-pound Halas, known for his gritty defense, was a starting guard for the Illini team that won the Big Ten Conference basketball title in 1916-17 with a 10-2 record. He was captain of the squad the next season before entering the armed forces in mid-January. He was also an outfielder in 12 games for the New York Yankees in 1919.

MEL HEIN, Washington State
Hall of Fame charter member played with the New York Giants for 15 years from 1931 through 1945. In 1994, Hein was named to the NFL's all-time 75-year anniversary team. Eight-time All-NFL center scored a touchdown in 1938 when he was named the league's MVP. In college, he intercepted eight passes in a game against Idaho. . . . The 6-2, 220-pounder was a basketball letterman in 1930 after leading WSU to a Rose Bowl bid. He was supervisor of officials for the American Football Conference of the NFL until his retirement.

ELROY "CRAZY LEGS" HIRSCH, Wisconsin/Michigan
Member of College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame. First-round draft choice by Cleveland in 1945 (5th pick overall). Played halfback, defensive back and offensive end as a pro with the Chicago Rockets of the All-America Football Conference from 1946 through 1948 and Los Angeles Rams of the NFL from 1949 through 1957. Caught 387 passes and scored 66 touchdowns as a pro. Played in four NFL championship games. Held the Rams' team record for most touchdown receptions for almost 40 years until it was broken by Isaac Bruce in 2001. . . . Starting center for the Wolverines' basketball team in 1944 while undergoing military training there. Sketch in Michigan guide: "Naval transfer from Wisconsin was a big aid, chiefly through his flaming competitive spirit."

PAUL HORNUNG, Notre Dame
Member of College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame earned All-American honors as a quarterback in 1955 and 1956. Only Heisman Trophy winner to play for a losing team (2-8 as a senior). First pick overall in the NFL draft as a bonus selection. Played nine seasons as a halfback/placekicker with the Green Bay Packers, leading the NFL in scoring in 1959, 1960 and 1961. He rushed for 3,711 yards and 50 touchdowns and caught 130 passes for 1,480 yards and 12 touchdowns. Played in five NFL championship games and two Pro Bowls (1960 and 1961). . . . Played varsity basketball for the Irish as a sophomore, averaging 6.1 points per game in 10 contests. Wrote Hornung in his autobiography Golden Boy: "(Coach Johnny) Jordan liked to tip a few, and sometimes, on the road, he'd take me out drinking with him. He could do that because I wasn't on basketball scholarship."

JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, Saint Mary's
Hall of Famer (inducted in 1987) was 2nd-round choice of Pittsburgh Steelers in 1953 NFL draft (18th pick overall). Four-time Pro Bowler after earning award as CFL MVP. Rushed 1,571 times for 6,803 yards and 48 touchdowns while catching 186 passes for 1,478 yards and seven TDs with the San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions and Steelers in 13 years from 1954 through 1966. Transferred to Arizona State after SMC eliminated its football program. . . . Made 5-of-8 FGAs in five SMC basketball games in 1950-51.

BOBBY LAYNE, Texas
Six-time All-Pro quarterback passed for 26,768 yards and 196 touchdowns with the Chicago Bears, New York Bulldogs, Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers in 15 years from 1948 through 1962. Led the NFL in passing yardage in back-to-back seasons in 1950 and 1951, pacing the league in passing TDs with 26 in 1951. First-round draft choice in 1948 (3rd pick overall) helped the Lions capture three NFL championships (1952-53-57). Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967. Co-MVP of the 1946 Cotton Bowl before being named MVP of the 1948 Sugar Bowl. Finished among the top eight in Heisman Trophy voting in 1946 and 1947. . . . The 6-1, 200-pound backup hoopster for the Longhorns in 1944-45 scored eight points in an annual charity game against Bergstrom Army Air Field.

ALPHONSE "TUFFY" LEEMANS, Oregon/George Washington
Seven-time All-Pro was a second-round draft choice of the New York Giants in 1936 (18th pick overall). He passed for 25 touchdowns, rushed for 17 TDs and had three TD receptions in eight years through 1943. Leemans led the NFL in rushing as a rookie with 830 yards. The 6-0, 195-pounder also returned kicks and intercepted four passes. Inducted into Hall of Fame in 1978. . . . He was a three-year basketball letterman for GWU in the mid-1930s.

MARV LEVY, Coe (Iowa)
Hall of Famer (elected in 2001) compiled a 143-112 record as coach of the Kansas City Chiefs (1978-82) and Buffalo Bills (1986-97). He had a 17-5 mark against Don Shula, the winningest coach in NFL history. Posted an 11-8 postseason mark with the Bills en route to becoming the only NFL coach to win four consecutive league or conference championships. But he lost four straight Super Bowls. He was special teams coach of the Washington Redskins' 1972 Super Bowl entrant. Also served as head coach for three colleges--New Mexico (14-6 record in two years in 1958 and 1959), California (8-29-3 record in four years from 1960 through 1963) and William & Mary (23-25-2 in five years from 1964 through 1968). . . . Coached basketball one season for his alma mater in 1955-56. The team compiled a 20-5 record, won the Midwest Collegiate Conference with a 14-2 mark and lost to Stephen F. Austin, 74-62, in the first round of the NAIA Tournament. Levy earned a basketball letter with the 1949-50 Coe squad that posted a 3-14 mark.

RONNIE LOTT, Southern California
Unanimous All-American defensive back played 15 seasons in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Raiders, New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs (1981 through 1995). Intercepted 14 passes for the Trojans (two for touchdowns) before intercepting 63 passes in regular-season NFL competition and nine in the postseason. First-round draft choice played in 10 Pro Bowl games and four Super Bowls. . . . Collected nine assists, four points and three rebounds in six games for the Trojans' basketball squad as a junior in 1979-80.

JOHN MACKEY, Syracuse
Three-time All-Pro tight end became an NFL Hall of Famer after being a second-round draft choice by the Baltimore Colts in 1963. The 6-2, 220-pounder caught 331 passes for 5,236 yards and 38 touchdowns in 10 seasons. Six of his nine TD catches in 1966 came on plays of more than 50 yards. He grabbed a deflected pass from Johnny Unitas for a 75-yard TD in Super Bowl V after having three pass receptions in Super Bowl III. . . . Mackey collected 28 points and 28 rebounds in six basketball games with the Orangemen in 1960-61.

GEORGE MUSSO, Millikin (Ill.)
Member of Pro Football Hall of Fame played for seven divisional winners and four NFL title teams. The 6-2, 270-pound guard and tackle played for 12 seasons (1933 through 1944) with the Chicago Bears. As a collegian, he played against future President Ronald Reagan, who attended Eureka. As a member of the Bears in 1935, Musso played against future President Gerald Ford in the Bears-College All-Star Game in Chicago. . . . Three-year basketball letterman in college.

EARLE "GREASY" NEALE, West Virginia Wesleyan College
Pro Football Hall of Famer compiled a 63-43 record as coach of the Philadelphia Eagles for 10 years from 1941 through 1950, winning back-to-back NFL titles by shutting out their opponents in championship games in 1948 and 1949. Guided Washington and Jefferson (Pa.) to the 1922 Rose Bowl before coaching Virginia and West Virginia. He starred as an end on Jim Thorpe's pre-World War I Canton Bulldogs. Also played as a major league outfielder with the Cincinnati Reds for eight years from 1916 to 1924, hitting .357 in the infamous "Black Sox" 1919 World Series. . . . Class of 1915 at WVWC.

ERNIE NEVERS, Stanford
Member of College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame. He was a consensus All-American selection as a senior fullback in 1925 before rushing for 37 touchdowns in five NFL seasons with the Duluth Eskimos (1926 and 1927) and Chicago Cardinals (1929 through 1931). Set NFL record with a 40-point game against the Chicago Bears in 1929. Co-MVP of the 1925 Rose Bowl. . . . Compiled a 6-12 pitching record in three seasons (1926 through 1928) with the St. Louis Browns. He yielded two of Babe Ruth's record-tying 60 home runs in 1927. . . . Lettered in basketball for Stanford as a sophomore and junior. Named to the All-Pacific Coast Conference second five as a junior in 1924-25. Historians say he was a fine shooter, an excellent dribbler, tough on defense, and generally a terrifying figure for the opposition. The Spalding Basketball Guide said: "He is almost as good a basketball player as he is a football star. With his speed, weight and general all-around ability, he was a stellar performer."

TERRELL OWENS, Tennessee-Chattanooga
Caught 592 passes for 8,572 yards and 81 touchdowns in eight NFL seasons with the San Francisco 49ers after being their third-round draft choice in 1996. Heir apparent to Hall of Fame-bound Jerry Rice as the 49ers' go-to wide receiver after catching 15 touchdown passes in 1998, including at least one in each of the last eight regular-season games. Owens' dramatic 25-yard touchdown catch from Steve Young with three seconds remaining lifted the 49ers to a 30-27 victory against the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers in an NFC wild-card game following the 1998 season. Owens set an NFL single-game record with 20 receptions against the Chicago Bears in 2000, the first of three consecutive years when he caught more than 90 passes. His first year with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2004 resulted in him participating in the Super Bowl. Later, he set a Cowboys single-game record with four TD catches against the Washington Redskins. Including one-year stints with the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals, the six-time Pro Bowler amassed 1,078 receptions for 15,934 yards and 153 TDs (all-time runner-up to Rice) through 2010, leading the league in TD receptions three times (2001, 2002 and 2006). Played in the Senior Bowl after becoming UTC's all-time leading receiver (143 catches for 2,320 yards and 19 TDs). . . . Collected 57 points and 49 rebounds in 38 games (five starts) for UTC's basketball squad in three seasons from 1993-94 through 1995-96. In his only NCAA playoff game, he was scoreless in one minute against No. 2 seed Connecticut in 1995 West Regional after hitting 11 of 17 field-goal attempts during the regular season.

CLARENCE "ACE" PARKER, Duke
College Hall of Famer led the Blue Devils to a three-year record of 24-5 in the mid-1930s, serving as team captain in his final season in 1936 when they went 9-1. After playing a variety of positions (quarterback, tailback, defensive back and punter), was a second-round choice in the 1937 NFL draft (13th overall). Passed for 3,935 yards and 22 touchdowns, rushed for 1,108 yards and 10 TDs and punted for a 39.5-yard average with the Brooklyn Dodgers/Boston Yanks in six years from 1937 through 1941 and 1945. Three-time consensus All-Pro led the NFL in passing yards in 1938 with 865. He paced the league with six interceptions in 1940 when he was named NFL Most Valuable Player. . . . Basketball letterman for the Blue Devils in 1935-36. Also played major league baseball with the Philadelphia Athletics.

DAVE ROBINSON, Penn State
Three-time Pro Bowl linebacker had 27 interceptions with the Green Bay Packers and Washington Redskins in 12 seasons from 1963 through 1974. First-round selection (14th pick overall) participated in first two Super Bowls. He caught 23 passes for 305 yards as wide receiver with the Nittany Lions from 1960 through 1962. . . . The 6-3 Robinson made two free throws and grabbed five rebounds in two basketball games with the Nittany Lions in 1960-61.

ART SHELL, Maryland-Eastern Shore
Member of Pro Football Hall of Fame was head coach of the Los Angeles Raiders for six years from 1989 through 1994. Offensive tackle for the Raiders from 1968 through 1982 played in eight Pro Bowls (1973 through 1979 and 1981) after being picked in the third round. Participated in Super Bowls XI and XV. . . . Two-year basketball letterman as a 6-5, 265-pound center at school that was then known as Maryland State College. Sketch from school guide: "Pure muscle. Amazing agility. Uncompromising under the boards, nobody pushes big Art without a battle."

ED SPRINKLE, Hardin-Simmons (Tex.)
Nicknamed "The Claw" for his use of forearms against Chicago Bear opponents during his 12 years with them from 1944 through 1955. One of the original "Monsters of the Midway" was considered the first true pass rusher in the NFL. Four-time Pro Bowl defensive end appeared in inaugural event in 1950. In addition to four interceptions, he also caught seven touchdown passes as a Bears tight end. Named to 75th Anniversary All-Sun Bowl Team. Inducted into Hall of Fame in 2020. . . . Two-year hoops letterman in early 1940s before transferring to Navy after Hardin-Simmons' athletic program was disbanded for a year due to WWII.

ROGER STAUBACH, Navy
Member of College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame won Heisman Trophy in 1963. Passed for 3,571 yards and rushed for 682 in his career at Navy (1962 through 1964). Quarterback in four Super Bowls during his 11 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. Six-time Pro Bowl selection passed for 22,700 yards and 153 touchdowns after being a 10th-round draft choice in 1964. . . . Averaged 9.3 ppg for the 1961-62 Navy plebe (freshman) basketball team. The 6-2, 190-pound forward scored five points in four games for Midshipmen varsity squad the next season.

JOE STYDAHAR, West Virginia
Member of College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame. Earned All-American honors as a 6-4, 230-pound tackle in 1935. Played nine seasons (1936 through 1942, 1945, and 1946) with the Chicago Bears after being their first-round pick in the first NFL draft. Named to All-NFL team four times from 1937 through 1940. Coached Los Angeles Rams (1950-51) and Chicago Cardinals (1953-54), leading Rams to 1951 NFL title. In 1934, he he set a school record with seven blocked punts, including three for touchdowns. Participated in both the East-West Shrine Game and College Football All-Star Game in Chicago. . . . Three-year basketball letterman was captain of the Mountaineers' 1934-35 team compiling a 16-6 record. Selected as a center to the first five on West Virginia's Pre-World War II team that was named as part of university's all-time basketball squad.

JASON TAYLOR, Akron
All-Pro defensive end was a third-round draft choice of the Miami Dolphins in 1997 (73rd pick overall) after the first-team All-Mid-American Conference linebacker was named North Defensive MVP at the Senior Bowl. He managed more sacks than anyone in a six-year span from 2000 through 2007, including a league-high 18.5 in 2002. His five fumble returns for touchdowns is a Dolphins' team record. Also returned three interceptions for TDs. Also played with the Washington Redskins and New York Jets. Through 2010, he had 132.5 sacks and 387 individual tackles. . . . The 6-6, 250-pounder played 22 basketball games for the Zips in 1994-95, averaging 8 ppg and 5.4 rpg while shooting 46.8% percent from the floor.

EMLEN TUNNELL, Toledo
Member of Pro Football Hall of Fame played in nine Pro Bowl games (1951 through 1958 and 1960). Defensive back established career records for interceptions (79), yards gained on interceptions (1,282) and yards gained on punt returns (2,209) in 14 seasons (1948 through 1961) with the New York Giants and Green Bay Packers. . . . The 6-1, 180-pound forward was a top reserve for 1942-43 Toledo basketball team compiling 22-4 record and finishing runner-up in NIT.

DOAK WALKER, Southern Methodist
Member of both the College Football and Pro Football Hall of Fame. SMU legend was a three-time All-American halfback and the school's only Heisman Trophy winner (as a junior in 1948). Finished third in Heisman voting in 1947 and 1949. Scored 38 touchdowns in his four-year SMU career, including two kickoff returns in 1947. Walker rushed for 1,928 yards in college, passed for 1,654, caught passes for 454 and returned eight interceptions for 176. He was also a punter and placekicker for the Mustangs. Co-MVP in back-to-back Cotton Bowls (1948 and 1949). First-round choice by the New York Bulldogs in the 1949 NFL draft (3rd pick overall). Walker rushed for 1,520 yards and 12 touchdowns in six years with the Detroit Lions (1950 through 1955), leading the NFL in scoring as a rookie (128 points) and in his final season (96). Member of NFL championship teams in 1952 and 1953 scored on a 62-yard run in the '52 title game. Five-time Pro Bowl selection (1951-52-54-55-56). . . . Walker was a basketball letterman in 1945-46 with SMU as a freshman.

LARRY RAYFIELD WRIGHT, Fort Valley State (Ga.)
Seventh-round draft choice played with the Dallas Cowboys for 13 years from 1967 through 1979. All-Pro offensive tackle six straight seasons from 1971 through 1976. Caught a touchdown pass as a tight end in 1968. Played in five Super Bowls (following 1970, 1971, 1975, 1977 and 1978 campaigns). . . . The 6-6, 245-pounder, an All-SIAC basketball player, averaged 17 ppg and 15 rpg as a junior and 21 ppg and 17.4 rpg as a senior.

Extra! Extra! Instead of guffawing at Plagiarist Biledumb's Out House hypocrisy from "America Last" mis-spokesperson Ka-ringe "Binder Babe" Jean-Pierre on fear-mongering COVID/Monkeypox outbreak info, gender pronouns, supporting drag queens, coddling of criminals in numerous #Dimorat-dominated municipalities, illegal alien shelter abuse of minors, redefining recession, dispensing crack pipes, mob-mentality Cancel Culture (a/k/a big tech lynching), First Son Hunter's hideous artwork (blowing rather than sniffing through straw) and administration approval numbers going down toilet, 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 Fordham hoopers Frankie Frisch and Babe Young delivered dynamic National League doubleheader performances on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 2 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 2

• California Angels CF Ken Berry (freshman hooper for Wichita in 1959-60) contributed four singles and scored three runs in a 1972 game against his original team (Chicago White Sox).

• Chicago White Sox 1B Zeke Bonura (best basketball forward for Loyola LA in late 1920s and early 1930s) went 6-for-8 in a 1936 doubleheader sweep of the Boston Red Sox. Bonura supplied four hits in a contest for the third time in 15-game span.

• New York Yankees LF Bob Cerv (ranked fourth on Nebraska's all-time scoring list in 1949-50 when finishing his basketball career) led off the bottom of 10th inning with a pinch-hit, game-winning homer in 3-2 triumph against the Detroit Tigers in 1960.

• Philadelphia Athletics C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) hit for the cycle against the New York Yankees in a 1933 game.

• Milwaukee Braves RHP Gene Conley (All-PCC first-team selection led North Division in scoring in 1949-50 as Washington State sophomore) fired a four-hit shutout against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1957.

• INF Tim Cullen (starting guard for Santa Clara in 1962-63 when averaging 10 ppg) traded by the Chicago White Sox to the Washington Senators for SS Ron Hansen in 1968.

• Cleveland Indians CF Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA hoops titlist) hammered three homers in an 11-0 victory against the Washington Senators in 1950.

• St. Louis Cardinals 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) stroked three hits in both ends of a 1936 doubleheader sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies.

• Brooklyn Robins rookie 1B Buddy Hassett (hooper for Manhattan teams winning school-record 17 consecutive games in 1930 and 1931) went 4-for-4 against the Cincinnati Reds in the opener of a 1936 doubleheader.

• St. Louis Cardinals 2B Tommy Herr (hooper with Delaware's freshman team in 1974-75) provided five hits in a 17-inning marathon against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1982.

• RHP Cal Koonce (hoops standout for Campbell in 1960 and 1961 when North Carolina-based school was junior college) purchased from the Chicago Cubs by the New York Mets in 1967.

• Cleveland Indians CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) logged four hits and four RBI against the Detroit Tigers in a 1994 contest.

• OF Les Mann (Springfield MA hooper in 1913 and 1914) traded by the Chicago Cubs to the Boston Braves in 1919.

• RHP Christy Mathewson (Bucknell hooper at turn of 20th Century) yielded 15 singles but the New York Giants still defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates, 8-4, in 1911.

• Chicago Cubs rookie C Cal Neeman (Illinois Wesleyan's leading scorer in 1947-48 and 1948-49) hit game-winning, three-run homer off Vern Law in bottom of the eighth inning in 1957 after 3B Gene Freese (captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team at West Liberty State WV) put the Pittsburgh Pirates ahead, 4-3, in top of the frame.

• New York Yankees 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) homered in both ends of 1983 twinbill against the Toronto Blue Jays.

• Oakland Athletics CF Billy North (played hoops briefly for Central Washington in 1967-68) collected three hits and three of his league-high 54 stolen bases in a 3-2 win against the Chicago White Sox in 1974.

• Philadelphia Phillies LF Gary Redus (J.C. hooper for Athens AL and father of Centenary/South Alabama guard with same name) smacked two triples against the Chicago Cubs in a 1986 game.

• Milwaukee Braves 2B Mel Roach (averaged 9.3 ppg for Virginia in 1952-53) ripped homer in back-to-back games against the San Francisco Giants in 1958.

• St. Louis Cardinals RHP Lee Smith (averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg with Northwestern State in 1976-77) notched a save in his seventh straight relief appearance in 1990, capping off 16 consecutive contests covering 24 1/3 innings without allowing an earned run.

• Minnesota Twins RHP Mike Smithson (teammate of Tennessee All-American Ernie Grunfeld averaged 1.9 ppg and 1.6 rpg under coach Ray Mears in 1974-75 and 1975-76) hurled a two-hit shutout against the Oakland Athletics in 1986.

• Bill Virdon (Drury MO hooper in 1949) fired as manager of the New York Yankees and succeeded by Billy Martin in 1975.

• New York Giants rookie 1B Babe Young (Fordham hoops letterman in 1935-36) belted two homers against the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a 1940 twinbill.

Extra! Extra! Unless you're debating national embarrassments such as Biledumb father/son business corruption, redefining "recession," foolishly claiming men can give birth, cartel-controlled porous Southern border, clinging-to-plane Afghan departure or "delta" scariant mask mandate mass hysteria-induced mental illness reminiscent of three-century long witch burning in Europe from 1450 to 1750, 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 San Diego State hoopers Tony Clark and Graig Nettles generated American League headlines on this date. Ex-Michigan college hoopers Don Eaddy (Michigan), Jim Northrup (Alma) and Robin Roberts (Michigan State) also made MLB news on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 1 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 1

• Chicago Cubs RF Frankie Baumholtz (MVP in 1941 NIT and first basketball player in Ohio University history to score 1,000 career points) banged out four hits against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 1953 game.

• Cleveland Indians 2B Bosey Berger (Maryland's first hoops All-American led Southern Conference in scoring in league competition in 1930-31) provided four hits, including three doubles, against the Chicago White Sox in a 1935 contest.

• Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Jim Bibby (Fayetteville State NC backup hooper and brother of UCLA All-American Henry Bibby) incurred his only defeat (1-0 against San Diego Padres) in 11 decisions from early June to mid-August en route to leading the N.L. in winning percentage in 1980.

• Milwaukee Braves 2B Frank Bolling (averaged 7.3 ppg in 1950-51 for Spring Hill AL) went 3-for-4 in both ends of a 1965 twinbill sweep of the San Francisco Giants.

• Detroit Tigers 1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in WAC games in 1991-92) clobbered two homers for the second time in a six-game span in 1998.

• Boston Red Sox 2B Denny Doyle (averaged 2.7 ppg for Morehead State in 1962-63) delivered four hits in a 1976 game against the New York Yankees.

• Chicago Cubs INF Don Eaddy (averaged team-high 13.8 in Big Ten Conference competition as Michigan sophomore in 1952-53) fanned in his lone MLB plate appearance in 1959.

• Atlanta Braves 3B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) homered for the fourth straight day in 1973.

• Los Angeles Dodgers C Joe Ferguson (hooper in 1967 NCAA playoffs with Pacific) jacked a game-winning homer in the bottom of the 10th inning in a 2-1 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1980.

• Philadelphia Athletics rookie 2B Gene Handley (Bradley hoops letterman in 1932-33 and 1933-34) manufactured four hits against the Chicago White Sox in a 1946 outing.

• In 1957, 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) hit his 13th career grand slam to set a new N.L. record. It was the final grand slam in the history of the Brooklyn franchise before the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles.

• Atlanta Braves 2B Davey Johnson (averaged 1.7 ppg with Texas A&M in 1961-62) drilled two homers against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1973 game.

• In his 11th straight scoreless relief appearance, Boston Red Sox LHP Vic Johnson (Wisconsin-Eau Claire hoops letterman in 1942-43) allowed only one hit over six innings to earn a 7-5 triumph against the New York Yankees in 1945.

• St. Louis Cardinals CF Les Mann (Springfield MA hooper in 1913 and 1914) went 4-for-4 with three doubles against the Brooklyn Robins in a 1921 outing.

• In 1913, New York Giants RHP Christy Mathewson (Bucknell hooper at turn of 20th Century) reached the 20-win plateau for the 11th consecutive season.

• Cleveland Indians 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) had his 19-game hitting streak snapped by the Oakland Athletics in 1971.

• Hitless in his first six at-bats, RF Jim Northrup (second-leading scorer and third-leading rebounder for Alma MI in 1958-59) homered in the 16th inning to give the Detroit Tigers a 4-3 victory against the California Angels in 1971.

• Cleveland Indians RHP Jim Perry (averaged more than 20 ppg in late 1950s for former juco Campbell), igniting a string of four straight winning starts this month in 1960, fired a five-hit shutout against the Washington Senators.

• Philadelphia Phillies RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) posted his 200th triumph with a three-hit, 3-1 success at Chicago in 1958.

• Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Don Schwall (All-Big Seven Conference second-team selection led Oklahoma saved both ends of a 1965 doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs with three innings of scoreless relief in each contest.

• In 1973, New York Mets LHP George Stone (averaged 14.7 ppg and 6.5 rpg for Louisiana Tech in 1964-65 and 1965-66) hit safely in his ninth of last 10 starts.

• Chicago White Sox rookie 3B Billy Sullivan Jr. (Portland hoops letterman in 1927-28) contributed two triples against the Detroit Tigers in a 1931 outing.

• Atlanta Braves RHP Cecil Upshaw (Centenary's leading scorer as junior in 1962-63) tossed nine innings of four-hit, scoreless relief to secure a 4-2 win against the New York Mets in 1968.

• Boston Braves rookie RF Chuck Workman (two-time All-MIAA first-five hoops selection was leading scorer when Central Missouri won inaugural NAIA Tournament in 1937) went 4-for-4 against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the opener of a 1943 twinbill.

Extra! Extra! Instead of futile attempt separating herd immunity from herd stupidity as legacy #MessMedia and inept recession-redefining politicians remain as confusing in their fear-porn messaging as "science-based" climate-change claptrap from John "Lurch" Kerry plus CDC guidance (tainted by input from toxic teacher unions spearheaded by reprehensible Randi Weingarten), 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 Louisiana State hoopers Joe Adcock and Alvin Dark supplied outstanding National League offensive outputs on this date. Adcock's extra-base bonanza is one of the most impressive in history. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a July 31 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

JULY 31

• RHP 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 MLB record for most total bases in a single game (18) standing until broken by RF Shawn Green in 2002.

• Chicago Cubs 2B Glenn Beckert (three-year hoops letterman for Allegheny PA) contributed seven hits against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1970 twinbill sweep.

• RHP Andy Benes (joined Evansville's shorthanded basketball squad in 1985-86 under coach Jim Crews) traded by the San Diego Padres to Seattle Mariners in 1995.

• Pittsburgh Pirates LF Carson "Skeeter" Bigbee (Oregon hoops letterman in 1915) banged out four hits against the New York Giants in the opener of a 1917 doubleheader.

• St. Louis Cardinals SS Alvin Dark (Louisiana State and Southwestern Louisiana hoops letterman in mid-1940s) went 4-for-4 against the New York Giants in a 1957 contest.

• St. Louis Cardinals CF Taylor Douthit (California hoops letterman from 1922 through 1924) collected five hits and scored four runs in an 18-5 pounding of the Philadelphia Phillies in 1928.

• In the midst of eight straight scoreless relief appearances, Baltimore Orioles LHP Mike Flanagan (averaged 13.9 ppg for UMass' freshman squad in 1971-72) notched the final of his 167 MLB wins. Earlier in the 1991 campaign, Flanagan amassed 10 consecutive contests where he failed to yield an earned run.

• Houston Astros INF Gene Freese (West Liberty WV hoops captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team) stroked a pinch single against the Cincinnati Reds in 1966 before going 0-for-21 during the last two months of his 12-year MLB career.

• LHP Johnny Gee (captain of Michigan's 16-4 hoops team in 1936-37) absorbed his first defeat since returning to the New York Giants in 1946 after a year's retirement.

• Philadelphia Phillies rookie RHP Bob Greenwood (St. Mary's hoops letterman second half of 1940s) posted his lone MLB victory by hurling eight innings as starter against the St. Louis Cardinals in nightcap of 1954 doubleheader.

• Cleveland Indians 1B Mike Hargrove (Northwestern Oklahoma State hoops letterman) scored five runs in a 16-11 victory against the Toronto Blue Jays in 1983.

• Chicago Cubs LF Monte Irvin (Lincoln PA hooper 1 1/2 years in late 1930s) manufactured four hits and five RBI against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1956 game.

• Chicago Cubs SS Don Kessinger (three-time All-SEC selection for Mississippi from 1961-62 through 1963-64 while finishing among nation's top 45 scorers each season) closed out the month with five consecutive multiple-hit contests in 1970.

• INF-OF Tony Phillips (New Mexico Military juco hooper in 1977-78 as teammate of eventual Drake All-American Lewis Lloyd) traded by the Toronto Blue Jays to the New York Mets in 1998.

• San Diego Padres LHP Dennis Rasmussen (sixth-man for Creighton averaged 5.1 ppg from 1977-78 through 1979-80) yielded more than three runs for the only time in his last 15 starts of the 1988 campaign.

• Chicago White Sox LF Gary Redus (J.C. hooper for Athens AL and father of Centenary/South Alabama guard with same name) registered two hits in his fifth consecutive contest in 1987.

• Boston Red Sox rookie RHP 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. St. Louis Cardinals 1B Bill White (played two years with Hiram OH in early 1950s) of the N.L. and Detroit Tigers RF Al Kaline of the A.L. were the only All-Stars with two safeties. Five years later with the Philadelphia Phillies, White went 5-for-5, including four extra-base hits, and chipped in with five RBI in the opener of a 1966 doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

• Securing his fifth victory of the month, Boston Red Sox RHP Sonny Siebert (team-high 16.7 ppg for Mizzou in 1957-58 as All-Big Eight Conference second-team selection) hurled a one-hitter at California in 1970.

• Washington Senators rookie RHP Monte Weaver (hoops center for Emory & Henry VA in mid-1920s) secured his eighth victory of the month in 1932.

• Chicago Cubs OF Cy Williams (Notre Dame forward in 1909-10) clobbered a three-run homer to chase New York Giants Hall of Fame RHP Christy Mathewson (played for Bucknell at turn of 20th Century) in the opener of a 1915 doubleheader.

• San Diego Padres RF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) went 5-for-5 with four RBI and scored four runs in a 1979 outing against the Atlanta Braves.

• Boston Braves 3B Chuck Workman (All-MIAA first-five hoops selection for Central Missouri State as sophomore and junior in mid-1930s) blasted two homers against the New York Giants in the nightcap of a 1945 twinbill.

• Washington Senators LHP Tom Zachary (Guilford NC hoops letterman in 1916) tossed a three-hit shutout against the Detroit Tigers in 1924.

Extra! Extra! Rather than waste brain cells trying to figure out leftist-lunatic "thinking" there should be widespread distribution of puberty blockers, transitioning males allowed to compete athletically against authentic females, access to abortion up until delivery, intrusive COVID passports, Plagiarist Biledumb serving as little more than a weatherman in discussions with hideous Hunter's corrupt business partners and free iphones/ID cards for illegal aliens but not "suppressive" soft-bigotry-of-low-expectations voter ID, 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 NYU hoopers Hank Greenberg and Sam Mele made MLB news on this date. Ditto a pair of ex-small college hoopers from Washington - Billy North (Central Washington) and Ray Washburn (Whitworth). Former small-school hoopers providing powerful performances for the Philadelphia Phillies included Ray Benge (Sam Houston State), Gene Freese (West Liberty WV) and Roy Smalley Jr. (Drury MO). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a July 29 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

JULY 29

• Philadelphia Phillies RHP Ray Benge (multi-year hoops letterman for Sam Houston State first half of 1920s) hurled a five-hit shutout against the Chicago Cubs in 1931. It was his first of four complete-game victories in a three-week span.

• Chicago White Sox rookie 1B Zeke Bonura (best basketball forward for Loyola LA in late 1920s and early 1930s) belted two homers in a 16-15 setback against the Detroit Tigers in 1934.

• Minnesota Twins 2B John Castino (medical redshirt for Rollins FL in 1973-74 under coach Ed Jucker) contributed four hits, including decisive homer in bottom of eighth inning, in 4-3 win against the Seattle Mariners in 1983.

• Philadelphia Athletics RHP Jack Coombs (captain and starting basketball center for Colby ME) posted his 10th victory of the month in 1910.

• Los Angeles Dodgers RHP Roger Craig (forward with North Carolina State's 1949-50 freshman hoops team) secured his second shutout in a nine-day span in 1959. Three years later with the New York Mets, Craig lost his sixth straight decision during the month in 1962.

• Chicago White Sox CF Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA hoops titlist) homered twice in the opener en route to knocking in eight runs in a 1956 doubleheader sweep of the Boston Red Sox.

• OF Hoot Evers (hoops starter for Illinois in 1939-40) awarded on waivers from the New York Giants to the Detroit Tigers in 1954.

• Philadelphia Phillies 3B Gene Freese (West Liberty WV hoops captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team) homered in his third consecutive contest in 1959.

• Detroit Tigers 1B Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoops scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) banged out four hits against the New York Yankees in 1937. the next year, Greenberg blasted two homers for the third time in a four-game span in 1938.

• San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-Western Athletic Conference second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) stroked three doubles against the New York Mets in a 1998 game.

• New York Yankees LHP Steve Hamilton (All-OVC selection was Morehead State's leading scorer and rebounder in 1956-57 and 1957-58) notched a hold against the California Angels as he went unscored upon two months in a row covering 12 relief appearances in 1970.

• Cleveland Indians 1B Mike Hargrove (Northwestern Oklahoma State hoops letterman) homered twice against the Seattle Mariners in a 1980 contest.

• Brooklyn Robins rookie 1B Buddy Hassett (hooper for Manhattan team winning school-record 17 consecutive games in 1930 and 1931) collected four runs, two triples and five RBI against the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a 1936 doubleheader.

• St. Louis Cardinals 2B Tommy Herr (hooper with Delaware's freshman team in 1974-75) went 4-for-4 in a 1987 outing against the New York Mets.

• Los Angeles Dodgers RF Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection when leading Ohio State in scoring and rebounding in 1956-57 and 1957-58) homered in all five games of series against the San Francisco Giants closing out the month in 1962.

• Detroit Tigers SS Harvey Kuenn (played hoops briefly for Wisconsin in 1951-52 after competing on JV squad previous season) contributed four hits against the Philadelphia Athletics in the nightcap of a 1954 twinbill.

• Chicago Cubs 3B Vance Law (averaged 6.8 ppg for Brigham Young from 1974-75 through 1976-77) smacked two homers against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1988 game.

• Cincinnati Reds RF Danny Litwhiler (member of JV hoops squad with Bloomsburg PA in mid-1930s) went 4-for-4 for the second time in an eight-game span in 1948.

• 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 (Wichita State field-goal percentage leader in 1956-57 and 1957-58 under coach Ralph Miller) socked a homer for the Washington Senators in 1963. LF Chuck Hinton (played multiple sports for Shaw NC) broke up the no-hit bid with a one-out single in the ninth. The next year, Lock knocked in all of the Senators' runs with two homers in a 4-1 win against the Cleveland Indians.

• St. Louis Cardinals rookie CF Bake McBride (averaged 12.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg in 21 games with Westminster MO in 1968-69 and 1969-70) posted his third three-hit game in a row in series against the Chicago Cubs in 1974.

• 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 hoops 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.

• Oakland Athletics CF Billy North (played hoops briefly for Central Washington in 1967-68) collected four RBI in an 11-9 victory against the Chicago White Sox in 1974.

• Kansas City Royals LF Lou Piniella (averaged 2.5 ppg and 1.4 rpg for Tampa as freshman in 1961-62) climaxed a career-high 18-game hitting streak with three safeties in 1971 contest against the Detroit Tigers.

• RHP 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.

• In 1963, Minnesota Twins rookie LHP Garry Roggenburk (Dayton's leading scorer three straight seasons from 1959-60 through 1961-62 grabbed school-record 32 rebounds in third varsity game) didn't allow an earned run in his first eight relief appearances of the month until the Red Sox tallied one earned run 4 2/3 innings against him.

• Philadelphia Phillies SS Roy Smalley Jr. (one of top scorers for Drury MO in 1942-43 and 1943-44) snapped a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the eighth inning with his second of two triples against the Milwaukee Braves in a 1956 game.

• St. Louis Cardinals RHP Ray Washburn (Whitworth WA leading scorer as All-Evergreen Conference pick in 1958-59 and 1959-60) won his seventh straight decision in 1968 with fifth victory of the month while compiling a 0.90 ERA over those last five starts.

• Boston Red Sox C Sammy White (All-PCC Northern Division first-five selection for Washington in 1947-48 and 1948-49) went 4-for-4 in a 1959 contest against the Cleveland Indians.

• Philadelphia Phillies CF Cy Williams (Notre Dame hoops forward in 1909-10) homered twice against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1923 outing.

• In 2005, LF Randy Winn (Santa Clara backcourtmate of eventual two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash in 1993-94) manufactured four hits in his final game with the Seattle Mariners.