On This Date: Former College Hoopers Providing MLB Headlines on June 30
June 30th, 2023 - 8:02
Extra! Extra! Instead of wondering how much pint-sized Fox News funnyman Greg Gutfeld was instrumental in helping get rid of genuine big punk Geraldo Rivera, 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.
Two former hoopers from small colleges in Virginia - Larry Doby (Virginia Union) and Larry Sheets (Eastern Mennonite) - made American League news on this date. Additional former Southern small-college hoopers generating MLB news were John Castino (Rollins FL), Rick Ferrell (Guilford NC), Jake Flowers (Washington College MD) and George Stone (Louisiana Tech). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 30 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 30
Cincinnati Reds LF Morrie Arnovich (Wisconsin-Superior hooper in early 1930s) went 4-for-4 in a 7-6 win against the Chicago Cubs in nightcap of 1940 doubleheader.
Chicago Cubs CF Frankie Baumholtz (MVP in 1941 NIT and first player in Ohio University history to score 1,000 career points) banged out four hits against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1953 game.
In 1960, Detroit Tigers 2B Frank Bolling (averaged 7.3 ppg for Spring Hill AL in 1950-51) had a streak of seven straight two-hit games, with an extra-base safety in all but one of them, halted by going hit-less against the Boston Red Sox.
Cleveland Indians SS Lou Boudreau (leading scorer for Illinois' 1937 Big Ten Conference co-champion) went 4-for-4 against the Chicago White Sox in a 1942 contest.
Minnesota Twins 3B John Castino (medical redshirt for Rollins FL in 1973-74 under coach Ed Jucker) contributed four hits and five RBI in 12-3 win against the Kansas City Royals in 1980.
Philadelphia Athletics C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) went 4-for-4 against the Detroit Tigers in a 1930 game.
In 1978, Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA hoops titlist) became the second black MLB manager, succeeding Bob Lemon as skipper of the Chicago White Sox.
Boston Red Sox C Rick Ferrell (hoop forward for Guilford NC before graduating in 1928) contributed three extra-base hits and four RBI against the Philadelphia Athletics in a 1935 contest.
St. Louis Cardinals 3B Jake Flowers (member of 1923 "Flying Pentagon" championship hoops squad for Washington College MD) capped off the month with five straight multiple-hit games in 1932.
In 1940, Washington Senators SS Charlie Gelbert (scored at least 125 points each of last three seasons in late 1920s for Lebanon Valley PA) closed out the month hitting .474 in 11 games (18-of-38).
En route to hitting .303 in 1970, St. Louis Cardinals RHP Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer and rebounder in 1955-56 and 1956-57) supplied his fifth multiple-hit game of the month while winning seven starts during that span. He contributed 12 such multiple-hit outings by season's end.
San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-WAC second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) and two teammates each socked a three-run homer in a 15-6 rout of the Oakland A's in 1997.
Commencing the game by fanning the side on nine pitches in the opening inning, Los Angeles Dodgers LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman hoops squad in 1953-54) hurled a no-hitter against the New York Mets in 1962.
Minnesota Twins LHP Bill Krueger (led WCAC in free-throw percentage as freshman en route to averaging 5.1 ppg for Portland from 1975-76 through 1979-80) tossed a two-hit shutout against the California Angels in 1992.
In 1938, New York Giants CF Hank Leiber (Arizona hooper in 1931) launched the final homer at Philadelphia's Baker Bowl before the Phillies moved to Shibe Park. Leiber finished the contest with three extra-base hits and five RBI.
Los Angeles Dodgers 2B Davey Lopes (NAIA All-District 15 selection for Iowa Wesleyan averaged 16.9 ppg as freshman in 1964-65 and 12.1 ppg as sophomore in 1965-66 before transferring with his coach to Washburn KS where he became All-CIC choice with 1968 NAIA Tournament team) went 4-for-4 against the San Diego Padres in a 1975 game.
In the midst of a 10-game hitting streak, Philadelphia Athletics C Ed Madjeski (Seton Hall letterman from 1928-29 through 1930-31) manufactured five safeties in a 1933 doubleheader split against the St. Louis Browns.
New York Giants RHP Christy Mathewson (Bucknell hooper at turn of 20th Century) went 3-for-3 at the plate in 1903 outing against the St. Louis Cardinals.
RHP Nels Potter (leading scorer during two years attending Mount Morris IL in early 1930s) purchased from the Philadelphia Athletics by the Boston Red Sox in 1941.
A two-run, inside-the-park homer by RF Dave Robertson (one of two reserves on North Carolina State's first basketball team in 1911) lifted the New York Giants to a 4-3 victory against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1916.
Baltimore Orioles LF Larry Sheets (All-ODAC hoops selection in 1981-82 and 1982-83 with Eastern Mennonite VA) collected four RBI in a 1987 game against the Boston Red Sox, triggering a career-high 10-game hitting streak.
SS Roy Smalley Jr. (one of top scorers for Drury MO in 1942-43 and 1943-44) knocked in all of the Chicago Cubs' runs in a 5-4 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1952.
New York Mets LHP George Stone (averaged 14.7 ppg and 6.5 rpg for Louisiana Tech in 1964-65 and 1965-66) hurled his final MLB complete game when defeating the Chicago Cubs, 5-1, in 1975.
Detroit Tigers C Billy Sullivan Jr. (Portland hoops letterman in 1927-28) provided three hits in both ends of a 1940 twinbill split against the St. Louis Browns.
OF Kite Thomas (averaged 5.1 ppg for Kansas State in 1946-47) awarded on waivers from the Philadelphia Athletics to the Washington Senators in 1953.
DH-1B Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to Baltimore Orioles in 2012.
In 2005, Seattle Mariners LHP Matt Thornton (averaged 5.8 ppg and 2.4 rpg for Grand Valley State MI from 1995-96 through 1997-98) charged with a run for the first time after 14 scoreless relief appearances.
RHP Rusty Yarnall (Vermont hoops letterman in first half of 1920s) lost decision in his lone MLB appearance with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1926.
What Were They Thinking? Low-Scoring Frosh Believe They're NBA Caliber
June 30th, 2023 - 7:50
Haste makes waste. In their brief college academic careers, these scholars must have taken a stimulating course in how to have a healthy self-esteem. After all, the names of Duke centers Harry Giles III and Dereck Lively II sounded as if they were royal centerpieces right out of the English monarchy.
Despite averaging only 3.3 ppg in 2021-22, freshman Peyton Watson (UCLA) felt he was sufficiently talented to make a prompt transition to the NBA. It makes about as much sense as #Dimorat ex-Speaker #NannyPathetic wanting to stimulate the economy by giving hard-earned money from American citizens to illegal aliens. Three players this season - including lottery pick Lively II - joined the following alphabetical list of low-scoring yearlings in this suspect category who were selected in the NBA draft over the past eight years after only one college campaign:
| Freshman | Pos. | College | PPG | Drafted By | Year | Round | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ike Anigbogu | C | UCLA | 4.7 | Indiana Pacers | 2017 | 2nd | 47th |
| Tony Bradley Jr. | C | North Carolina | 7.1 | Los Angeles Lakers | 2017 | 1st | 28th |
| Deyonta Davis | F-C | Michigan State | 7.5 | Boston Celtics | 2016 | 2nd | 31st |
| Cheick Diallo | F-C | Kansas | 3.0 | Los Angeles Clippers | 2016 | 2nd | 33rd |
| Harry Giles III | C | Duke | 3.9 | Portland Trail Blazers | 2017 | 1st | 20th |
| Dereck Lively II | C | Duke | 5.2 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 2023 | 1st | 12th |
| Chris Livingston | F | Kentucky | 6.3 | Milwaukee Bucks | 2023 | 2nd | 58th |
| Josh Minott | F | Memphis | 6.6 | Charlotte Hornets | 2022 | 2nd | 45th |
| Jarred Vanderbilt | F | Kentucky | 5.9 | Orlando Magic | 2018 | 2nd | 41st |
| Jordan Walsh | F | Arkansas | 7.1 | Sacramento Kings | 2023 | 2nd | 38th |
| Peyton Watson | G | UCLA | 3.3 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 2022 | 1st | 30th |
NOTE: None of the players on this list has averaged as much as 8 ppg in an NBA season although Vanderbilt came close in 2022-23.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Providing MLB Headlines on June 29
June 29th, 2023 - 9:06
Extra! Extra! Instead of debating outright stunning fabrication by Plagiarist Biledumb still claiming he knows nothing about con-artist son hideous Hunter's foreign business shenanigans, 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 North Carolina State hoopers Dave Robertson and Tim Stoddard made MLB news on this date while former Mississippi State hoopers Boo Ferriss and Buddy Myer also had significant American League performances. Additional ex-SEC hoopers making MLB news on this date included Joe Adcock (Louisiana State), Andy Cohen (Alabama), Harvey Hendrick (Vanderbilt) and Mike Smithson (Tennessee) plus future SEC member Oklahoma (Lindy McDaniel). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 29 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 29
Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) smashed two homers in a 3-1 win against the Chicago Cubs in the nightcap of 1960 twinbill.
RHP Jim Bibby (Fayetteville State NC backup hooper and brother of UCLA All-American Henry Bibby) secured his first win with the Texas Rangers by hurling a one-hit shutout against the Kansas City Royals in 1973.
New York Giants 2B Andy Cohen (Alabama hoops letterman in 1924 and 1925) had an 11-game hitting streak snapped by the Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a 1929 twinbill.
Boston Red Sox rookie RHP Boo Ferriss (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1941) contributed a run-scoring single and two-run, ninth-inning homer in a 4-2 decision over the Chicago White Sox in 1945.
Washington Senators SS Charlie Gelbert (scored at least 125 points each of last three seasons in late 1920s for Lebanon Valley PA) collected three hits for the third consecutive contest in 1940.
San Francisco Giants rookie LHP Atlee Hammaker (averaged 5.3 ppg as freshman in 1976-77 and 4.9 ppg as sophomore in 1977-78 under East Tennessee State coach Sonny Smith) fired his first MLB shutout, a four-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds in 1982.
Chicago Cubs LF Harvey Hendrick (Vanderbilt hoops letterman in 1918) stroked three extra-base hits against the Brooklyn Dodgers in a 1933 outing.
Brooklyn Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (played for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) smacked two homers against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1956 game.
In the midst of 13 straight scoreless relief appearances covering 21 innings in 1954, Cincinnati Reds RHP Howie Judson (Illinois' third-leading scorer in 1944-45) earned a victory against the St. Louis Cardinals.
OF David Justice (Thomas More KY assists leader in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg), acquired by the New York Yankees from the Cleveland Indians in 2000, went on to become the first player to garner more than 50 RBI in a single season with two different clubs.
OF Charlie Keller (three-year hoops letterman with Maryland from 1934-35 through 1936-37) homered in the nightcap of a 1941 doubleheader sweep of the Washington Senators by the New York Yankees, extending the Bronx Bombers' streak to a MLB-record 25 consecutive contests with a round-tripper.
In 1931, Philadelphia Phillies rookie RF Fred Koster (four-year starting forward from 1923-24 through 1926-27 was Louisville's leading scorer as sophomore and senior) contributed three hits for the second time in three games.
First MLB hit for Cleveland Indians rookie OF Stu Locklin (played one basketball game for Wisconsin in 1947-48 under coach Bud Foster) was his only extra-base safety (pinch-hit double) in a 1955 game against the Kansas City Athletics.
Texas Rangers CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) went 4-for-4 against the Boston Red Sox in a 2007 contest.
St. Louis Cardinals RHP Lindy McDaniel (hooper for Oklahoma's 1954-55 freshman squad) registered his ninth save of the month en route to a league-high 27 in 1960.
Cleveland Indians rookie CF Ed Morgan (Tulane hoops letterman from 1923-24 through 1925-26) manufactured fifth outing of the month with at least three hits in his last 13 games.
On the heels of three consecutive holds, New York Yankees RHP Bobby Munoz (scored 35 points for Polk Community College FL in game against Palm Beach in mid-November 1986) hurled 3 1/3 innings of hitless relief in a 4-3 win against the Detroit Tigers in 1993.
Washington Senators 2B Buddy Myer (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1923-24) provided multiple hits in seven consecutive contests in 1930.
Detroit Tigers RF Jim Northrup (second-leading scorer and third-leading rebounder for Alma MI in 1958-59) set a MLB mark with his third grand slam in a week in 1968. Three years later, Northrup smacked two homers against the Baltimore Orioles in a 1971 outing.
In the midst of a 10-game hitting streak after returning to the Chicago Cubs, 2B Paul Popovich (teammate of Jerry West for West Virginia's 1960 NCAA playoff team) scored four runs against the St. Louis Cardinals in the nightcap of a 1969 twinbill.
Philadelphia Phillies LHP Eppa Rixey (Virginia hoops letterman in 1912 and 1914) fired a four-hit shutout against the New York Giants. The whitewash was one of 11 straight starts in 1916 where Rixey yielded fewer than three earned runs.
Chicago Cubs LF Dave Robertson (one of two reserves on North Carolina State's first basketball team in 1911) went 7-for-10 with seven RBI in 1920 doubleheader split against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Brooklyn Dodgers 2B Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) whacked two homers against the New York Giants in a 1950 outing. Three years earlier as rookie 1B in midst of a 21-game hitting streak, Robinson swiped three of his N.L.-high 29 stolen bases in 1947 twinbill split against the Giants.
Cleveland Indians LHP Joe Shaute (hooper for Mansfield PA in early 1920s) won his seventh straight decision in 1926.
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) yielded only one hit in 8 1/3 innings in a 1-0 triumph against the Chicago White Sox in 1985.
Baltimore Orioles RHP Tim Stoddard (starting forward opposite All-American David Thompson for North Carolina State's 1974 NCAA champion) finished the month in 1982 with 10 consecutive scoreless relief appearances covering 11 1/3 innings. Five years later in 1987 with the New York Yankees, Stoddard allowed his only earned run in a 14-game span until mid-July.
New York Yankees RHP Ralph Terry (juco hooper averaged 22 ppg for Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in mid-1950s) tossed his second shutout in last four starts of the month in 1963.
New York Yankees RF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) collected two homers and six RBI in a 1987 contest against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Bruised Egos: Timme Becomes 1st 3-Time All-American Failing to Be Drafted
June 29th, 2023 - 8:43
There was terrible timing for the "Big Three T's" (Gonzaga's Drew Timme/Kentucky's Oscar Tshiebwe/Arizona's Azuolas Tubelis). The NCAA consensus All-Americans weren't among the chosen few in this year's NBA draft along with fellow A-A guards Antoine Davis (Detroit) and Markquis Nowell (Kansas State) and Final Four Most Outstanding Player Adama Sanogo (Connecticut). K-State's Keyontae Johnson (50th pick overall), Miami's Isaiah Wong (55th) and Indiana's Trayce Jackson-Davis (57th) were All-Americans who barely made it in the draft. Of course, the NBA is a difficult nut to crack. Although this gifted group sported great credentials, there was no guarantee they would be selected this year; primarily because of the continued emphasis on international players and proliferation of largely untested young prospects.
With or without a college diploma in tow, were misguided undergrads thinking with same adeptness as embarrassment-to-village-idiots Jussie Smollett? Were they as delusional as compromised Congressman Adam "Shifty" Schiff exhibiting his impeachment expertise getting punked by Russian prankster? Denied sneaker honorariums during an FBI probe, undrafted scholars may be swayed to join lunatic leftist leeches seeking reparations from NBA "owners" or boycotting "one-percenter" NBA foreigners stealing their jobs. Amid truly smelly progressive puke convulsing after Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death left vacancy on Supreme Court impacting bloodthirsty #PlannedMurderhood obsession with butchering innocent babies in womb, it could blossom into one of those get in line behind the other kneeling mindless "diverse" robot routines and stand by for further "Strzok-out" instruction.
Timme, Tshiebwe and Tubelis increased the number of NCAA consensus All-Americans to go undrafted in a 14-season span to 20. Do you need any more evidence that the quality of play at the collegiate level has diminished in recent years? The NBA draft was reduced to seven rounds in 1985, three rounds in 1988 and to its present two rounds in 1989. Centers Bill Spivey of Kentucky and Sherman White of LIU, All-Americans in the early 1950s, went undrafted by the NBA allegedly because of possible repercussions stemming from a game-fixing scandal. A total of 51 All-Americans, also five in 2011, have gone undrafted by the NBA thus far in the 21st Century. Granted, there were additional rounds but more A-As went undrafted in 2011 and this season than cumulatively in a 30-year span from 1957 through 1986 (four - SMU's Max Williams in 1960/Texas Western's Bobby Joe Hill in 1966/Kentucky's Mike Pratt in 1974/Memphis State's Dexter Reed in 1977).
Sherron Collins (Kansas) and Scottie Reynolds (Villanova) became the initial NCAA consensus first-team All-Americans not to be selected in the NBA draft 12 years before Timme became the first-ever three-time NCAA consensus A-A failing to be chosen. They're not a motley crew as Duke coach Jon Scheyer is among the following alphabetical list of All-Americans who weren't selected in an NBA draft:
| Undrafted All-American | Pos. | School | A-A Year(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlie Bell | G | Michigan State | 2001 |
| Joel Berry II | G | North Carolina | 2018 |
| Trevon Bluiett | G | Xavier | 2018** |
| Melvin Booker | G | Missouri | 1994** |
| Joe Capua | G | Wyoming | 1956 |
| Chris Clemons | G | Campbell | 2019 |
| Kofi Cockburn | F-C | Illinois | 2021** and 2022* |
| Sherron Collins | G | Kansas | 2009** and 2010* |
| Mike Daum | F | South Dakota State | 2019 |
| Antoine Davis | G | Detroit | 2023 |
| Devon Dotson | G | Kansas | 2020** |
| Erwin Dudley | F-C | Alabama | 2002 |
| Melvin Ejim | F | Iowa State | 2014** |
| Perry Ellis | F | Kansas | 2016 |
| Carl "C.J." Fair | F | Syracuse | 2014** |
| Kevin "Yogi" Ferrell | G | Indiana | 2016 |
| Jason Gardner | G | Arizona | 2002 and 2003** |
| Collins Gillespie | G | Villanova | 2021 and 2022 |
| Ben Hansbrough | G | Notre Dame | 2011** |
| Ethan Happ | F | Wisconsin | 2017 and 2019** |
| Udonis Haslem | C | Florida | 2001 and 2002 |
| Bobby Joe Hill | G | Texas Western | 1966 |
| Terrell "Tu" Holloway | G | Xavier | 2011 |
| Kevin Houston | G | Army | 1987 |
| Markus Howard | G | Marquette | 2020* |
| Keith "Mister" Jennings | G | East Tennessee State | 1991** |
| Kevin Jones | F | West Virginia | 2012** |
| Johnny Juzang | G | UCLA | 2022 |
| Sean Kilpatrick | G | Cincinnati | 2014** |
| Brandin Knight | G | Pittsburgh | 2002 |
| Cameron Krutwig | F | Loyola of Chicago | 2021 |
| Jock Landale | C-F | Saint Mary's | 2018** |
| Byron Larkin | G | Xavier | 1988 |
| Dedric Lawson | F | Kansas | 2019 |
| Chris Lofton | G | Tennessee | 2007** and 2008** |
| John Lucas III | G | Oklahoma State | 2004 |
| Billy McCaffrey | G | Vanderbilt | 1993** |
| Jerel McNeal | G | Marquette | 2009 |
| Johnathan Motley | F | Baylor | 2017 |
| DeMarcus Nelson | G-F | Duke | 2008 |
| Markquis Nowell | G | Kansas State | 2023 |
| Kevin Pittsnogle | F | West Virginia | 2006 |
| Myles Powell | G | Seton Hall | 2020* |
| Mike Pratt | F | Kentucky | 1974 |
| Hollis Price | G | Oklahoma | 2003** |
| Jacob Pullen | G | Kansas State | 2011 |
| Allan Ray | G | Villanova | 2006** |
| Dexter Reed | G | Memphis State | 1977 |
| Scottie Reynolds | G | Villanova | 2010* |
| Bill Ridley | G | Illinois | 1956 |
| Juan "Pepe" Sanchez | G | Temple | 2000 |
| Jon Scheyer | G | Duke | 2010** |
| Shea Seals | F-G | Tulsa | 1997 |
| Ron Slay | F | Tennessee | 2003 |
| Charles E. Smith | G | Georgetown | 1989 |
| Jordan Taylor | G | Wisconsin | 2011 |
| Drew Timme | F | Gonzaga | 2021**, 2022** and 2023* |
| Oscar Tshiebwe | F-C | Kentucky | 2022* and 2023** |
| Azuolas Tubelis | F | Arizona | 2023** |
| Seth Tuttle | F-C | Northern Iowa | 2015** |
| Jarrod Uthoff | F | Iowa | 2016 |
| Fred VanVleet | G | Wichita State | 2016 |
| Scottie Wilbekin | G | Florida | 2014 |
| Max Williams | G | Southern Methodist | 1960 |
| Kyle Wiltjer | F | Gonzaga | 2016 |
| Andre Woolridge | G | Iowa | 1997 |
*NCAA consensus first-team All-American.
**NCAA consensus second-team All-American.
NOTE: About half of the players on this list - Bell, Booker, Clemons, Collins, Dotson, Ferrell, Hansbrough, Haslem, Howard, Jennings, Jones, Juzang, Kilpatrick, Landale, Lucas, McNeal, Motley, Powell, Ray, Sanchez, Smith, Uthoff, VanVleet and Wiltjer - went on to play in the NBA after signing as free agents. Pratt played in the ABA.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Providing MLB Headlines on June 28
June 28th, 2023 - 9:51
Extra! Extra! Instead of futile task tracking words deemed off-limits by overreaching oppressive-language police among woke activists in academia and misguided #MessMedia mavens at CNN ("most distrusted name in news") and #MSLSD, 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 Drury MO hoopers Roy Smalley Jr. and Bill Virdon delivered dynamic performances in National League outings on this date. Ditto for ex-hoopers Lee Smith (Northwestern State) and Champ Summers (Nicholls State) from Louisiana colleges in MLB games on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 28 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 28
Chicago Cubs RF George Altman (appeared in 1953 and 1954 NAIA Basketball Tournament with Tennessee State) furnished five extra-base hits, including a homer in each game, in 1961 doubleheader split against the Cincinnati Reds.
Detroit Tigers RHP Elden Auker (All-Big Six Conference first-five selection with Kansas State in 1931-32) won for the fifth time in as many decisions during the month in 1934.
In the midst of a career-high 23-game hitting streak, Pittsburgh Pirates LF Carson "Skeeter" Bigbee (Oregon hoops letterman in 1915) went 7-for-10 against the Chicago Cubs in a 1921 twinbill.
Detroit Tigers 1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in Western Athletic Conference games in 1991-92) homered in his third consecutive contest in 2000.
New York Giants rookie C Paul Florence (Georgetown's leading scorer with 11.3 ppg in 1921-22) opened game's scoring with a fifth-inning homer in 3-2 victory against the Boston Braves in 1926.
Brooklyn Robins 3B Wally Gilbert (hoops captain played for Valparaiso from 1918-19 through 1920-21) supplied four hits in a 10-4 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1931.
First MLB victory for Philadelphia Phillies rookie RHP Dallas Green (Delaware's second-leading scorer and rebounder in 1954-55) was a three-hit shutout against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1960.
Detroit Tigers 1B Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoops scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) blasted three homers in a 1935 doubleheader sweep of the St. Louis Browns.
LHP Steve Hamilton (All-Ohio Valley Conference selection was Morehead State's leading scorer and rebounder in 1956-57 and 1957-58) allowed his only run in first 14 relief appearances with the Chicago Cubs in 1972.
In 1951, New York Giants OF Monte Irvin (Lincoln PA hooper 1 1/2 years in late 1930s) swatted two homers off Brooklyn Dodgers RHP Ralph Branca (sixth-leading scorer for NYU in 1943-44) in same game.
LF "Sweet" Lou Johnson (Kentucky State hoops teammate of legendary HBCU coach Davey Whitney averaged 5.7 ppg and 2 rpg in 1951-52) traded by the Chicago Cubs to the Cleveland Indians in 1968.
Chicago White Sox RHP Howie Judson (Illinois' third-leading scorer in 1944-45) lost his sixth decision of the month in 1949.
Detroit Tigers CF Harvey Kuenn (played hoops briefly for Wisconsin in 1951-52 after competing on JV squad previous season) provided four hits against the Boston Red Sox in a 1958 game.
Chicago White Sox LHP Thornton Lee (hoops center for Cal Poly in 1925-26) hit safely in all six starts of the month in 1941, extending his hitting streak to eight games in a row for the second straight season.
Toronto Blue Jays RHP Dave Lemanczyk (averaged 4.5 ppg and 3.5 rpg for Hartwick NY teams compiling 51-21 record from 1969-70 through 1971-72) posted his fifth triumph of the month in 1977.
OF Don Lund (two-year hoops starter for Michigan in mid-1940s) awarded on waivers from the Brooklyn Dodgers to the St. Louis Browns in 1948.
St. Louis Cardinals RHP Lindy McDaniel (hooper for Oklahoma's 1954-55 freshman squad) saved both ends of a 1959 doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds, giving him six saves and three victories in his last 12 relief appearances of the month.
New York Yankees SS Gene Michael (Kent State's leading scorer with 14 ppg in 1957-58) pulled hidden-ball trick against the Cleveland Indians in a 1969 contest.
Igniting a career-long 13-game hitting streak, New York Giants RF Red Murray (played hoops for Lock Haven PA in early 1900s) went 5-for-9 in a 1912 doubleheader sweep of the Boston Braves. The next year, he went 4-for-4 in a 1913 outing against the Braves.
Chicago Cubs RF Bill Nicholson (Washington College MD hoops guard for two years in mid-1930s) collected two homers and five RBI against the Brooklyn Dodgers in the opener of a 1944 twinbill.
Cincinnati Reds LF Gary Redus (J.C. hooper for Athens AL and father of Centenary/South Alabama guard with same name) stole three bases in a 1985 game against the San Diego Padres.
OF Carl Reynolds (Southwestern TX hoops MVP and captain in mid-1920s) extended his hitting streak to 16 consecutive contests with the World Series-bound Chicago Cubs in 1938.
St. Louis Cardinals RHP Dick Ricketts (Duquesne's all-time leading scorer was second-team consensus All-American choice as junior in 1953-54 and first-five consensus selection as senior in 1954-55) registered his lone MLB victory (against Cincinnati Reds in 1959).
Cincinnati Reds LHP Eppa Rixey (Virginia hoops letterman in 1912 and 1914) banged out four hits, including a homer and two doubles, in a 5-2 triumph over the St. Louis Cardinals in opener of 1924 doubleheader.
Chicago Cubs SS Roy Smalley Jr. (one of top scorers for Drury MO in 1942-43 and 1943-44) went for the cycle and chipped in with four RBI in a 15-3 romp over the St. Louis Cardinals in 1950.
St. Louis Cardinals RHP Lee Smith (averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg with Northwestern State in 1976-77) posted a save in all 15 relief appearances of the month and 17th in a row in 1993.
In 2014, San Diego Padres LHP Eric Stults (hooper for 1999 NAIA D-II Tournament runner-up and 2000 NCCAA Tournament titlist with Bethel IN) lost for the sixth time in as many starts during the month.
Detroit Tigers RF Champ Summers (led SIU-Edwardsville in scoring in 1969-70 after doing same with Nicholls State in 1964-65) socked a homer in his third consecutive contest in 1979.
Chicago White Sox LHP Matt Thornton (averaged 5.8 ppg and 2.4 rpg for Grand Valley State MI from 1995-96 through 1997-98) posted his third relief victory during a span going unscored upon in last 12 appearances of the month in 2008.
Pittsburgh Pirates CF Bill Virdon (Drury MO hooper in 1949) notched his fifth straight multiple-hit outing in 1963.
Curse of the Lottery: Biggest Busts Among First Half of NBA First-Round Picks
June 27th, 2023 - 20:23
The big winner stemming from the NBA draft are fans after they can stop mocking the mock drafts, put ESPN's contemporaneous gab fest (featuring never-ending wingspans and manhood-testing Berlitz language course) behind them plus stop enduring the perfunctory day-after winners/losers analysis.
Player ratings projecting future results as a professional are virtually worthless. Does the name Renardo Sidney when he was a high school phenom mean anything to you? Enough said on that topic! Wouldn't you love the Worldwide Leader (in Liberal Lunacy) to replay its glowing comments over the years about platinum pro prospects who subsequently became little more than spare parts sold for "Sanford and Son" scrap?
All hands were on deck for ESPN's draft raft attempting to generate interest comparable to its NFL cruise liner. At least journalistic jewel Jalen Rose didn't label any Duke draftee as an "Uncle Tom" as part of his Fraud Five routine (no Big Ten Conference crown) before the network finally issued hipster a pink slip the next week. On the other hand, Rose could have previously had legitimate reasons to dump on the Dookies, who were beset with more than their share of lottery-pick underachievers in a 14-year span from 1993 through 2006 (William Avery, Bobby Hurley, Trajan Langdon, Cherokee Parks and Shelden Williams).
Of course, the talent level required to compete for an extended period in the NBA is off the chart. Despite ESPN's hype regarding the NBA draft, no one should have wasted his time watching the inconsequential second round unless you are a family member. Since the NBA draft went to two rounds in 1989, only about one-third of the second-round picks eventually played in three or more seasons in the league.
Amid the pedestrian post-draft dogma from ESPN's First Take and FS1's Undisputed occasionally is a disgusting manufactured smearing of American-born white centers unworthy of their draft status because of skin color. Do the know-it-alls really believe Chris Andersen, Nick Collison, Michael Doleac, Matt Geiger, Kris Humphries, Joe Kleine, Jon Koncak, Meyers Leonard, Will Perdue, Mason Plumlee, Joel Przybilla, Joe Wolf, etc., survived so long in the NBA as honkey backups because of some sort of racial quota? Debating Humphries' intellect regarding divorce drama with kinky Kim Kardashian is quite another matter. Did the cable networks' staggering show prep convince them that aforementioned whiteys had less impact on the league than previous top six picks such as William Bedford, Robert "Tractor" Traylor, Hasheem Thabeet, Ekpe Udoh, Chris Washburn; let alone Williams? At times, it seems as if former partners Skip Baseless and Screamin' A. Stiff, plus their sanctimonious sidekicks with respective networks, are more impressed by formerly incarcerated Bedford, who was known as "Willie B" - as in "Will he be at practice?" Bedford was picked by Phoenix in 1986 ahead of Ron Harper Sr. and Dell Curry. That monumental miscue was almost as bad as the Suns' international insult in 2016 selecting Dragan Bender (Croatia) over Buddy Hield and Jamal Murray plus subsequently-traded Georgios Papagiannis (Greece) over Caris LeVert and Pascal Siakam.
Naturally, front-office executives make mistakes. But do you trust professional scouts who've evaluated prospects countless times to meet specific franchise needs or ill-equipped commentators? ESPN's occasional tasteless crew, sorely in need of a 12-step program to cure race baiting, viewed the collegians a handful of times with one eye on the nearest mirror but think they absorbed just enough information to spew racial garbage comparable to WNBA wizard Natasha Cloud.
Baseless, likely still receiving therapy from being blindsided by former colleague Rose about his Oklahoma high school playing credentials, and Stiff, a self-proclaimed expert apparently because he briefly sat on the end of coach Big House Gaines' bench at Winston-Salem State, along with their colleagues, have stereotypically tried to cite every first-round Caucasian big man who failed to become an All-Star. Meanwhile, the delusional dolts conveniently overlook a striking number of African-American frontcourt busts; many of whom didn't boast the academic credentials to be on a college campus in the first place.
The NBA draft lottery was introduced in 1985 when Wake Forest felon forward Kenny Green became the inaugural lottery-pick flop (selected ahead of Karl Malone, Joe Dumars, A.C. Green and Terry Porter). As lousy as Chris Washburn's selection was at #3 the following year by Golden State, the biggest blunder by the Warriors involving a North Carolina State frontcourter was 10 years later in 1996 when they chose Todd Fuller ahead of eventual MVPs Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash. Yikes! Golden State officials should have a self-imposed banishment for life from setting foot in Raleigh, N.C., arena.
Any dialogue regarding dreadful draft decisions should be based on a fair share of context and facts; not a superficial color-coding perspective resembling an ambulance chaser. Taking up the slack for cable TV's inane social engineering, following are the biggest NBA flops - yes, there are some Caucasians - among the top 14 picks in lottery-era drafts:
No. 1 pick - UNLV's Anthony Bennett (2013 - one choice ahead of Victor Oladipo and nine choices ahead of CJ McCollum/averaged 4.4 ppg and 3.1 rpg while shooting 39.2% from the floor in four NBA seasons)
No. 2 - Connecticut's Hasheem Thabeet (2009 - one choice ahead of James Harden, five choices ahead of Stephen Curry and seven ahead of DeMar DeRozan/2.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg and 0.8 bpg in five seasons)
No. 3 - Gonzaga's Adam Morrison (2006 - five choices ahead of Rudy Gay/7.5 ppg and 2.1 rpg while shooting 37.3% from the floor in three seasons) and North Carolina State's Chris Washburn (1986 - one choice ahead of Chuck Person and five choices ahead of Ron Harper Sr./3.1 ppg, 2.4 rpg and 0.2 bpg in two seasons)
No. 4 - Croatia's Dragan Bender (2016 - two choices ahead of Buddy Hield and three ahead of Jamal Murray/5.4 ppg while shooting 39.9% from the floor in four seasons)
No. 5 - Australia's Dante Exum (2014 - one choice ahead of Marcus Smart and two choices ahead of Julius Randle/5.7 ppg and 1.8 rpg while shooting 40.7% from the floor in six seasons); Croatia's Mario Hezonja (2015 - six choices ahead of Myles Turner/6.9 ppg and 3.1 rpg while shooting 41.7% from the floor in five seasons); Kansas' Thomas Robinson (2012 - one choice ahead of Damian Lillard and two choices ahead of Harrison Barnes/4.9 ppg and 4.8 rpg in five seasons), and Duke's Shelden Williams (2006 - three choices ahead of Rudy Gay and six ahead of J.J. Redick/4.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg and 0.5 bpg in six seasons)
No. 6 - Memphis State's William Bedford (1986 - two choices ahead of Ron Harper Sr. and nine ahead of Dell Curry/4.1 ppg, 2.4 rpg and 0.5 bpg while shooting 41.6% from the floor in six seasons); Texas Tech's Jarrett Culver (2019 - seven choices ahead of Tyler Herro/6.5 ppg and 2.8 rpg while shooting 40.1% from the floor in first four seasons); Cincinnati's DerMarr Johnson (2000 - two choices ahead of Jamal Crawford/6.2 ppg and 2.2 rpg while shooting 41.1% from the floor in seven seasons); Oklahoma's Stacey King (1989 - five choices ahead of Nick Anderson and six ahead of Mookie Blaylock/6.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg and 0.5 bpg in eight seasons); Michigan's Robert "Tractor" Traylor (1998 - three choices ahead of Dirk Nowitzki and four ahead of Paul Pierce/4.8 ppg and 3.7 rpg in seven seasons); Baylor's Ekpe Udoh (2010 - three choices ahead of Gordon Hayward and four ahead of Paul George/3.5 ppg and 2.9 rpg in seven seasons), and Czech Republic's Jan Vesely (2011 - three choices ahead of Kemba Walker and five ahead of Klay Thompson/3.6 ppg and 3.5 rpg in three seasons)
No. 7 - Duke's Bobby Hurley (1993 - three choices ahead of Lindsey Hunter and four ahead of Allan Houston/3.8 ppg and 3.3 apg while shooting 35.3% from the floor in five seasons)
No. 8 - West Virginia's Joe Alexander (2008 - one choice ahead of D.J. Augustin and two choices ahead of Brook Lopez/4.2 ppg and 1.8 rpg while shooting 41% from the floor in two seasons); BYU's Rafael Araujo (2004 - one choice ahead of Andre Iguodala/2.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg and 0.1 bpg while shooting 40.5% from the floor in three seasons); Arizona's Stanley Johnson Jr. (2015 - five choices ahead of Devin Booker/6.2 ppg and 3.1 rpg while shooting 39.1% from the floor in first eight seasons); Loyola Marymount's Gregory "Bo" Kimble (1990 - three choices ahead of Tyrone Hill/5.5 ppg, 1.5 rpg and 0.9 apg while shooting 38.6% from the floor in three seasons); France's Frank Ntilikina (2017 - five choices ahead of Donovan Mitchell and six ahead of Edrice "Bam" Adebayo/4.8 ppg and 2.2 apg while shooting 37.1% from the floor in first six seasons); Michigan State's Shawn Respert (1995 - two choices ahead of Kurt Thomas and 13 ahead of Michael Finley/4.9 ppg and 1 apg while shooting 41.4% from the floor in four seasons), and Michigan's Nik Stauskas (2014 - five choices ahead of Zach LaVine and 17 ahead of Clint Capela/6.7 ppg and 1.5 apg while shooting 38.9% from the floor in six seasons)
No. 9 - Arizona State's Ike Diogu (2005 - 12 choices ahead of Nate Robinson and 13 ahead of Jarrett Jack/6 ppg and 3.1 rpg in six seasons); North Carolina's Eric Montross (1994 - one choice ahead of Eddie Jones and four choices ahead of Jalen Rose/4.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg and 0.6 bpg in eight seasons); UCLA's Ed O'Bannon Jr. (1995 - one choice ahead of Kurt Thomas and 12 choices ahead of Michael Finley/5 ppg and 2.5 rpg while shooting 36.7% from the floor in two seasons); Bradley's Patrick O'Bryant (2006 - two choices ahead of J.J. Redick and 12 ahead of Rajon Rondo/2.1 ppg, 1.4 rpg and 0.4 bpg in four seasons); Georgetown's Michael Sweetney (2003 - nine choices ahead of David West and 12 ahead of Boris Diaw/6.5 ppg and 4.5 rpg in four seasons), and Indiana's Noah Vonleh (2014 - four choices ahead of Zach LaVine/4.7 ppg and 4.9 rpg in eight seasons)
No. 10 - BYU's James "Jimmer" Fredette (2011 - one choice ahead of Klay Thompson and five choices ahead of Kawhi Leonard/6 ppg and 1.4 apg in six seasons); Oregon's Luke Jackson (2004 - five choices ahead of Al Jefferson and seven ahead of Josh Smith/3.5 ppg and 1.2 rpg while shooting 35.7% from the floor in four seasons), and Sudan's Thon Maker (2016 - one choice ahead of Domantas Sabonis/4.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg and 0.7 bpg in five seasons)
No. 11 - Kansas' Cole Aldrich (2010 - seven choices ahead of Eric Bledsoe/3.1 ppg and 3.3 rpg in eight seasons); Connecticut's James Bouknight (2021 - two choices ahead of Chris Duarte, four ahead of Corey Kispert, five ahead of Alperen Sengun and six ahead of Trey Murphy III/5.1 ppg and 1 apg while shooting 35.3% from the floor in first two seasons); North Carolina State's Todd Fuller (1996 - two choices ahead of Kobe Bryant and four ahead of Steve Nash/3.7 ppg, 3 rpg and 0.3 bpg while shooting 42.2% from the floor in five seasons); Duke's Trajan Langdon (1999 - two choices ahead of Corey Maggette, five ahead of Ron Artest and seven ahead of James Posey/5.4 ppg, 1.3 rpg and 1.3 apg while shooting 41.6% from the floor in three seasons); Texas A&M's Acie Law IV (2007 - one choice ahead of Thaddeus Young and 37 choices ahead of Marc Gasol/3.9 ppg and 1.6 apg while shooting 41.3% from the floor in four seasons), and UCLA's Jerome Moiso (2000 - five choices ahead of Hedo Turkoglu/2.7 ppg and 2.7 rpg in five seasons)
No. 12 - Connecticut's Hilton Armstrong Jr. (2006 - nine choices ahead of Rajon Rondo and 12 ahead of Kyle Lowry/3 ppg and 2.6 rpg and 0.5 bpg in six seasons); Wake Forest's Kenny Green (1985 - one choice ahead of Karl Malone, six choices ahead of Joe Dumars, 11 ahead of A.C. Green and 12 ahead of Terry Porter/4.4 ppg and 1.7 rpg while shooting 41.2% from the floor in two seasons); Kansas' Xavier Henry (2010 - seven choices ahead of Avery Bradley/5.7 ppg and 1.9 rpg while shooting 40.6% from the floor in five seasons); Georgia's Alec Kessler (1990 - seven choices ahead of Dee Brown and 15 ahead of Elden Campbell/5.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg and 0.3 bpg in four seasons); Russia's Yaroslav Korolev (2005 - nine choices ahead of Nate Robinson and 10 ahead of Jarrett Jack/1.1 ppg while shooting 28.3% from the floor in two seasons); Duke's Cherokee Parks (1995 - one choice ahead of Corliss Williamson, two choices ahead of Eric Williams, three ahead of Brent Barry, four ahead of Alan Henderson, five ahead of Bob Sura and six ahead of Theo Ratliff/4.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg and 0.6 bpg in nine seasons), and Alabama's Joshua Primo (2021 - one choice ahead of Chris Duarte, three choices ahead of Corey Kispert, four ahead of Alperen Sengun and five ahead of Trey Murphy III/5.9 ppg, 2.3 rpg and 1.8 apg while shooting 37.2% from the floor in first two seasons)
No. 13 - Tennessee's Marcus Haislip (2002 - 10 choices ahead of Tayshaun Prince and 22 ahead of Carlos Boozer/3.5 ppg and 1.5 rpg in four seasons); Alabama's Kira Lewis Jr. (2020 - two choices ahead of Cole Anthony, six ahead of Saddiq Bey and eight ahead of Tyrese Maxey/5.8 ppg and 1.9 apg while shooting 40.1% from the floor in first three seasons); North Carolina's Kendall Marshall (2012 - seven choices ahead of Evan Fournier/5 ppg while shooting 39.9% from the floor in four seasons); Greece's Georgios Papagiannis (2016 - seven choices ahead of Caris LeVert and 14 ahead of Pascal Siakam/4.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg and 0.6 bpg in two seasons); Boston College's Jerome Robinson (2018 - one choice ahead of Michael Porter Jr. and six choices ahead of Kevin Huerter/4.5 ppg and 1.8 rpg while shooting 36.3% from the floor in three seasons); BYU's Michael Smith (1989 - one choice ahead of Tim Hardaway and four ahead of Shawn Kemp/5 ppg and 1.5 rpg in three seasons), and Kansas' Julian Wright (2007 - one choice ahead of Al Thornton, two choices ahead of Rodney Stuckey and three ahead of Nick Young/3.9 ppg and 2.3 rpg in four seasons)
No. 14 - Duke's William Avery Jr. (1999 - two choices ahead of Ron Artest and four ahead of James Posey/2.7 ppg and 1.4 apg while shooting 33% from the floor in three seasons); Louisville's Earl Clark (2009 - three choices ahead of Jrue Holiday/4.4 ppg and 3 rpg in six seasons); Michigan State's Mateen Cleaves (2000 - two choices ahead of Hedo Turkoglu, three ahead of Desmond Mason and four ahead of Quentin Richardson/3.6 ppg and 1.9 apg while shooting 38.9% from the floor in six seasons); George Washington's Yinka Dare (1994 - one choice ahead of Eric Piatkowski, three choices ahead of Aaron McKie and nine ahead of Wesley Person/2.1 ppg, 2.6 rpg and 0.6 bpg in four seasons); Oregon State's Scott Haskin (1993 - 10 choices ahead of Sam Cassell/2 ppg, 2 rpg and 0.6 bpg in one season); Nebraska's Rich King (1991 - 10 choices ahead of Rick Fox/1.9 ppg, 1 rpg and 0.1 bpg in four seasons); Indiana's Romeo Langford (2019 - 14 choices ahead of Jordan Poole/4.6 ppg and 2.1 rpg in first four seasons), and Arkansas' Moses Moody (2021 - two choices ahead of Alperen Sengun and three ahead of Trey Murphy III/4.6 ppg and 1.6 rpg in first two seasons)
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Providing MLB Headlines on June 27
June 27th, 2023 - 9:53
Extra! Extra! Instead of still trying to discern why #MessMedia failed to adequately push back on demigod Dr. Fraudci wannabe junk-science protocol declaring North Carolina State out of College World Series two years ago because of COVID-19 testing including already-vaccinated players (a/k/a useless NCAA's new woke version of "political" science), 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 Graig Nettles supplied significant MLB hitting performances on this date. Ditto ex-juco hoopers Darrell Evans (Pasadena City CA), Jerry Martin (Spartanburg SC) and Jim Thome (Illinois Central) in outstanding American League offensive outings plus ex-Washington State freshman team hoopers Rick Austin and Jack Spring in pristine MLB pitching performances. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 27 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 27
In first starting assignment, Cleveland Indians rookie LHP Rick Austin (member of Washington State's freshman basketball team in 1965-66) hurled his lone MLB complete game and shutout (3-0 win against Detroit Tigers in 1970).
INF Jack Barry (basketball letterman for Holy Cross in 1908) traded by the Boston Red Sox to the Philadelphia Athletics in 1919.
San Diego Padres RHP Andy Benes (joined Evansville's shorthanded basketball squad in 1985-86 under coach Jim Crews) fanned 10 batters and allowed only one hit in seven innings in a 1993 game against the Cincinnati Reds.
Seattle Mariners 1B Bruce Bochte (starting forward for Santa Clara's NCAA playoff team in 1969-70) supplied his ninth multiple-hit outing during an 11-game hitting streak in 1979.
2B Marv Breeding (hooper for Samford in mid-1950s) traded by the Houston Astros to the Chicago Cubs in 1967.
Oakland Athletics RHP Ben Callahan (two-time All-Carolinas Conference selection for Catawba NC averaged 16.7 ppg from 1976-77 through 1978-79) bagged his lone MLB victory, 7-1, by restricting the Kansas City Royals to three hits and one run over six innings in 1983.
Detroit Tigers 1B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) registered his 2,000th career hit with a first-inning, two-run homer against the Baltimore Orioles in 1987.
St. Louis Cardinals 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) stroked three doubles against the Brooklyn Dodgers in nightcap of a 1931 doubleheader.
San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-WAC second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) went 3-for-4 against the Atlanta Braves, raising his batting average in 1987 to .387 en route to finishing at .370.
LHP Mark Hendrickson (two-time All-Pacific-10 Conference selection paced Washington State four straight seasons in rebounding from 1992-93 through 1995-96) traded by the Tampa Devil Rays to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a five-player swap in 2006.
LHP Bill Henry (hoops letterman for Houston's 1947 NAIA Tournament team featuring co-captain Guy Lewis) purchased from the San Francisco Giants by Pittsburgh Pirates in 1968.
Brooklyn Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) smacked two homers against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1954 game.
New York Mets C Jay Kleven (averaged 2.4 ppg for California State-Hayward in 1968-69) stroked a two-run, pinch-hit single off Chicago Cubs reliever Bruce Sutter in a 1976 game. It was Kleven's lone MLB safety.
St. Louis Cardinals LF Danny Litwhiler (member of JV hoops squad with Bloomsburg PA in mid-1930s) cracked two homers in a 3-2 win against the Chicago Cubs in opener of a 1943 twinbill.
Chicago White Sox RHP Ted Lyons (two-time All-SWC first-team selection for Baylor in early 1920s) notched his eighth consecutive complete-game victory in 1939.
In the midst of a career-high 14-game hitting streak, Chicago Cubs CF Jerry Martin (1971 Southern Conference MVP after finishing as Furman's scoring runner-up in previous season) smashed a homer in fourth consecutive contest in 1979.
Cleveland Indians 2B Dutch Meyer (Texas Christian hoops letterman in 1934-35 and 1935-36) collected four hits against the Philadelphia Athletics in a 1945 contest.
3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) belted a 14th-inning, two-run homer to give the New York Yankees a 6-4 victory against the Boston Red Sox in 1978. Two years earlier, Nettles went 4-for-4 with two homers and five RBI against the Milwaukee Brewers in a 1976 game.
Chicago Cubs RF Bill Nicholson (Washington College MD hoops guard for two years in mid-1930s) provided his seventh straight two-hit game in 1942.
LHP Garry Roggenburk (Dayton scoring leader from 1959-60 through 1961-62 grabbed school-record 32 rebounds in his third varsity game en route to pacing Flyers in rebounding first two years) won his Seattle Pilots debut in 1969 by yielding only four hits and one run in 5 2/3 innings of relief against the California Angels.
Montreal Expos RHP Bill Sampen (MacMurray IL MVP in 1984-85 when averaging team-high 14.9 ppg) supplied his seventh straight scoreless relief appearance covering 11 1/3 innings in 1992.
Cleveland Indians LHP Jack Spring (freshman hooper for Washington State in 1951-52) earned a victory by hurling five innings of scoreless relief against the Kansas City Athletics in opener of 1965 doubleheader.
Cleveland Indians 1B Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) went 4-for-4 with two doubles, two homers and four RBI in a 2000 game against the Kansas City Royals.
LHP Matt Thornton (averaged 5.8 ppg and 2.4 rpg for Grand Valley State MI from 1995-96 through 1997-98) made his MLB debut in 2004, toiling four scoreless innings of relief with the Seattle Mariners against the San Diego Padres.
Philadelphia Phillies CF Cy Williams (Notre Dame forward in 1909-10) went 4-for-4 against the New York Giants in a 1921 contest.
Senior Instability: Belmont/KU/OR Boast 2 Sr. 1st-Rounders in Last 7 Years
June 26th, 2023 - 16:46
The 2023 NBA draft marked the fourth time in last seven years no senior was among lottery picks although there were more than three seniors chosen in opening round for only time in that span. No more than five seniors were selected in opening round in any of last 12 drafts.
Oklahoma's Buddy Hield (6th overall choice in 2016) and Wisconsin's Frank Kaminsky (9th in 2015) are the only single-digit draftees among seniors in the last 17 years. The last college senior using all four years of eligibility to be the first overall pick in the NBA draft was Cincinnati center Kenyon Martin Sr. in 2000. Twenty years later, exemplifying how times changed, his son with the same name was one of a dozen NBA draftees (including foreigners) who never attended a four-year American university.
Belmont (Dylan Windler in 2019 and Ben Sheppard in 2023), reaching the 20-win plateau for the 13th consecutive campaign, is the only school other than Kansas (Udoka Azubike in 2020 and Ochai Agbaji in 2022) and Oregon (Payton Pritchard in 2020 and Chris Duarte in 2021) to have more than one senior picked in opening round of NBA draft in the last seven years. By contrast, Kentucky - in the final year prior to lottery picks - contributed two seniors among the top six selections in 1984 (Sam Bowie and Melvin Turpin). Insofar as the second round is virtually meaningless, following is a look at seniors selected in the first round in last dozen years:
| Year | # of 1st-Round Seniors Picked | Summary of Senior Selections in NBA Draft Opening Round Last 12 Years |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | four | North Carolina's Tyler Zeller (17th pick overall), St. Bonaventure's Andrew Nicholson (19th), Duke's Miles Plumlee (26th) and Vanderbilt's Festus Ezell (30th) |
| 2013 | three | Lehigh's CJ McCollum (10th), Duke's Mason Plumlee (22nd) and Arizona's Solomon Hill (23rd) |
| 2014 | five | Creighton's Doug McDermott (11th), Michigan State's Adreian Payne (15th), Connecticut's Shabazz Napier (24th), Washington's C.J. Wilcox (28th) and Stanford's Josh Huestis (29th) |
| 2015 | four | Wisconsin's Frank Kaminsky (9th), Notre Dame's Jerian Grant (19th), Utah's Delon Wright (20th) and Wyoming's Larry Nance Jr. (27th) |
| 2016 | five | Oklahoma's Buddy Hield (6th), Baylor's Taurean Prince (12th), Michigan State's Denzel Valentine (14th), Michigan's Caris LeVert (20th) and North Carolina's Brice Johnson (25th) |
| 2017 | two | Colorado's Derrick White (29th) and Villanova's Josh Hart (30th) |
| 2018 | two | Duke's Grayson Allen (21st) and Boise State's Chandler Hutchison (22nd) |
| 2019 | three | North Carolina's Cameron Johnson (11th), Washington's Matisse Thybulle (20th) and Belmont's Dylan Windler (26th) |
| 2020 | three | Oregon's Payton Pritchard (26th), Kansas' Udoka Azubike (27th) and Texas Christian's Desmond Bane (30th) |
| 2021 | two | Oregon's Chris Duarte (13th) and Gonzaga's Corey Kispert (15th) |
| 2022 | one | Kansas' Ochai Agbaji (14th) |
| 2023 | four | UCLA's Jaime Jaquez Jr. (18th), Houston's Marcus Sasser (25th), Belmont's Ben Sheppard (26th) and Missouri's Kobe Brown (30th) |
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Providing MLB Headlines on June 26
June 26th, 2023 - 8:13
Extra! Extra! Instead of displaying half-a-peace sign to sarcastically "salute" bloodthirsty leftists so desensitized supporting #PlannedMurderhood's abortions, FBI/DOJ unequal-justice probes of innocent Conservatives and Ivy Leaguer Gen. Mark Milley's progressive-professor tryout babbling on spewing leftist white-rage dogma regarding domestic-extremism training, you can read news about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.
Former college hoopers Joe Ferguson (Pacific), Frank Howard (Ohio State) and Jackie Robinson (UCLA) went deep in a big way for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers on this date. Darrell Evans, a juco hooper for Pasadena City CA just like Robinson, also went downtown on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 26 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 26
En route to securing at least 16 hits for the third season in a five-year span, Cincinnati Reds RHP Ownie Carroll (Holy Cross hoops letterman in 1922) went 3-for-3 in a 1932 game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
OF Bob Cerv (ranked fourth on Nebraska basketball career scoring list in 1949-50 when finishing his career) purchased from the New York Yankees by the Houston Colt .45's in 1962.
Pittsburgh Pirates 1B Donn Clendenon (four-sport letterman with Morehouse GA) collected four hits against the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 1965 contest.
A pinch-hit homer in the bottom of ninth inning by Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) propelled the San Francisco Giants to a 6-5 victory against the Atlanta Braves in 1979.
Los Angeles Dodgers C Joe Ferguson (hooper in 1967 NCAA playoffs with Pacific) pounded two homers, including a game-tying blast in the bottom of the ninth inning, in a 5-4 win against the Atlanta Braves in 1974.
Brooklyn Robins 2B Jake Flowers (member of 1923 "Flying Pentagon" championship hoops squad for Washington College MD) contributed four hits against the Boston Braves in the opener of a 1928 doubleheader.
St. Louis Cardinals RHP Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer and rebounder in 1955-56 and 1956-57) hurled his fifth consecutive shutout (3-0 against the Pittsburgh Pirates) in the opener of a 1968 twinbill.
San Francisco Giants RHP Ed Halicki (NAIA All-American third-team choice in 1971-72 when leading Monmouth in scoring with 21 ppg after setting school single-game rebounding record with 40 the previous season) hurled a five-hit shutout against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1975. Two years later, Halicki spun his second shutout of the month that season.
In 1983, San Francisco Giants LHP Atlee Hammaker (averaged 5.3 ppg as freshman in 1976-77 and 4.9 ppg as sophomore in 1977-78 under East Tennessee State coach Sonny Smith) fired a four-hit shutout while fanning 12 San Diego Padres batters.
California Angels RHP Paul Hartzell (averaged 5.9 ppg and 3.4 rpg for Lehigh in 1972-73) won both ends of 1977 doubleheader as reliever against the Texas Rangers.
Los Angeles Dodgers rookie RF Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection in 1956-57 and 1957-58 when leading Ohio State in scoring and rebounding) whacked two homers against the Milwaukee Braves in a 1960 contest.
In 1966, Los Angeles Dodgers LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman hoops squad in 1953-54) matched his N.L. record of seven straight strikeouts in back-to-back nine-inning appearances en route to a 2-1 victory at Atlanta.
Detroit Tigers 1B-OF Rick Leach (averaged 15.5 ppg for Michigan's JV hoops squad in 1975-76), mired in a 3-for-35 nosedive, broke up a no-hit bid by Baltimore's Storm Davis with a ninth-inning homer in 1983.
Milwaukee Braves SS Johnny Logan (Binghamton hooper in 1948-49) assembled his second 14-game hitting streak of the 1958 campaign.
In 1982, New York Yankees 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) launched milestone 300th of his 390 MLB career homers.
Oakland Athletics CF Billy North (played hoops briefly for Central Washington in 1967-68) supplied three of his league-high 54 stolen bases against the California Angels in a 1974 contest, triggering a streak of six consecutive contests with a theft.
San Diego Padres LHP Dennis Rasmussen (sixth-man for Creighton averaged 5.1 ppg from 1977-78 through 1979-80) tossed a shutout against the Houston Astros before losing nine of his next 10 decisions in the following two months of the 1990 campaign.
RHP Paul Reuschel (Western Illinois' leading rebounder in 1966-67 with 15.2 per game) traded by the Chicago Cubs to the Cleveland Indians in 1978.
Chicago White Sox LF Carl Reynolds (Southwestern TX hoops MVP and captain in mid-1920s) tripled twice in a 1929 game against the Detroit Tigers.
New York Giants RF Dave Robertson (one of two reserves on North Carolina State's first basketball team in 1911) went 4-for-4 in opener of a 1916 twinbill against the Brooklyn Robins.
Brooklyn Dodgers 1B Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) launched two homers against the Chicago Cubs in a 1956 game.
Boston Red Sox RHP Sonny Siebert (All-Big Eight Conference second-team selection in 1957-58 as Missouri's leading scorer with 16.7 ppg) knocked in five runs in a 1971 game against the Baltimore Orioles.
Men For All Seasons: College Hoopers Flourished in Formative Years of CWS
June 25th, 2023 - 8:56
Long before cancel-culture mob and the ping was the electronic thing, college cagers brought their electrifying Hoop Dreams to the eclectic Field of Dreams in Omaha. For instance, Lowell "Lefty" Davis averaged 19.3 ppg as an All-ACC basketball selection for the second of three times before the lefthander hurled a shutout in the NCAA College World Series for 1955 baseball champion Wake Forest. The next year, hoops regular Jerry Kindall hit for the cycle with eventual kingpin Minnesota against Ole Miss before eventually coaching Arizona to three CWS titles in an 11-year span (1976-80-86). In 1959, CF Doug Hoffman became an All-CWS choice as Clemson's leader in triples (5), homers (4) and walks (33) after finishing runner-up for the Tigers' basketball squad in scoring for the second straight season. In 1973, Southern California hoops backup Jeff Reinke retired the final 11 Arizona State batters as lefthanded reliever earned a save in 4-3 title-tilt win.
Among the eventual big leaguers selected to an All-CWS Team (started in 1958) after also competing as college hoopers were Sonny Siebert (Missouri in 1958), Bob Garibaldi (Santa Clara in 1962), Gary Holman (Southern California in 1963), Bill Davis (Minnesota in 1964), Gary Sutherland (Southern California in 1964), Steve Arlin (Ohio State in 1965 and 1966), Dave Winfield (Minnesota in 1973), Lyle Mouton (Louisiana State in 1990 and 1991) and Ryan Minor (Oklahoma in 1994). Siebert, a 12-year MLB pitcher, also played 1B for Mizzou, hitting three triples in six postseason games for CWS runner-up. Holman hammered homer in title tilt against Arizona and Mouton smacked two round-trippers for eventual champion LSU in 1991 CWS opener against Florida.
Siebert (16.7 ppg) and 1B Minor (23.6 ppg in 1995) were team-leading scorers for basketball squad before reaching CWS the same year. A striking number of individuals on CWS rosters joined them in this exclusive category from non-titlist teams - 11 in a 10-year span from 1949 through 1958 - including Arizona State P Chris Beasley (18.3 in 1984), Washington State P Gene Conley (13.3 in 1950), Lafayette P Preston Denby (16.9 in 1965), Northern Colorado's Fred Diehl (16.2 in 1957), Massachusetts INF Ray Ellerbrook (18 in 1969), Ole Miss P Joe Gibbon (22.1 in 1956), Maine 1B Gordon "John" Gillette (18.6 in 1964), Duke SS Dick Groat (26 in 1952), Texas 1B Tom Hamilton (15.1 in 1950), Oklahoma 1B Bobby Jack (16.5 in 1972), Princeton's Michael Kearns (13.7 in 1951), Ole Miss SS Don Kessinger (23.5 in 1964), Rollins (Fla.) 1B Bob MacHardy (14 in 1954), New Hampshire INF Frances "Frank" McLaughlin (19.9 in 1956), Missouri INF Bob Price (19.6 in 1964), Arizona 1B Hadie Redd (13.6 in 1955), Southern California OF-3B Bill Sharman (15.9 in 1949), Iowa State SS Gary Thompson (20.7 in 1957) and Southern California INF John Werhas (14.8 in 1960).
Hamilton is among three of the first four individuals earning the NCAA College World Series Most Outstanding Player award who were also basketball players for the school. Following are athletic achievement summaries during the school year in question for this trio plus versatile performers Garibaldi and Winfield in the ultimate hoops regular/CWS MOP category:
| Year | CWS MOP | College | Pos. | School Year Summary for Multi-Sport Athlete |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | Tom Hamilton | Texas | 1B | #2 scorer for 17-7 hoops team before contributing home run and four RBI in CWS title-game victory against Wake Forest |
| 1950 | Ray Van Cleef | Rutgers | OF | averaged 2.8 ppg for 13-15 hoops team before going 7-for-9 in first two CWS outings for eventual 3rd-place finisher |
| 1952 | Jim O'Neill | Holy Cross | P | averaged 6.2 ppg for 24-4 NIT participant before 6-5 righthander tossed three CWS complete-game wins, striking out nine in championship contest |
| 1962 | Bob Garibaldi | Santa Clara | P | #2 scorer/rebounder for 19-6 hoops team before workhorse fanned 38 batters while appearing in five of six CWS games (27 2/3 innings after hurling eight frames in relief in 15-inning final-game loss against Michigan) |
| 1973 | Dave Winfield | Minnesota | OF-P | averaged 10.5 ppg and 6.1 rpg for 21-5 hoops team before eventual HOF outfielder fanned 29 batters in two pitching starts (14 vs. Oklahoma and 15 vs. USC) with club tying for third-place finish; in perhaps the most amazing game in CWS history, Winfield allowed only an infield single through eight innings before defending champion Trojans erased 7-0 deficit with eight runs in ninth frame |
Lefthander Cal Emery, MOP for Penn State's 1957 runner-up, played in three basketball games with the Nittany Lions in 1957-58. Arlin, described as the "greatest one-man show ever seen in the CWS," was MOP in 1966 but didn't play basketball that year. Joining him, B. Davis, L. Davis, Hamilton, Holman, Kindall, Minor, Mouton, O'Neill, Reinke and Sutherland among former major-college hooper members of CWS champions were INF Brett Casey (Oregon State '06/RS and '07), CF Archie Clark (Minnesota '64), SS Roger Detter (Arizona '67 and '69), OF Alan Druskin (Minnesota '64), INF Don Eaddy (Michigan '53), C Lloyd Elmore (Missouri '54), P Brian Heublein (Southern California '73), P Pete Hillman (Southern California '63), P Phil Mendelson (Wichita State '89), 1B Ray Pavichevich (Michigan '53), P Ron Perry Sr. (Holy Cross '52), CF Charley Pugsley (Oklahoma '51), P Kendall Rhine Jr. (Georgia '90), SS Earl Robinson (California '57), INF Bob Schoonmaker (Missouri '54), OF Bernie Simpson (California '57), P Dick Soergel (Oklahoma State '59), P George Sterling (California '57), P Norm Stewart (Missouri '54), C Lew Wade (Oklahoma State '59), Werhas (Southern California '58) and LF Frank Womack (Texas '49 and '50).
Minor, a third baseman with the Baltimore Orioles when replacing Cal Ripken Jr. in lineup on September 20, 1998, ending Hall of Famer's MLB record of 2,632 consecutive contests, isn't the last hooper of significance to also be on roster of a College World Series team in the same school year. That individual is Rice's Derek Michaelis, a backup 1B who went 4-for-11 in six games in 1999 after the 6-7 lefthander averaged 6.7 ppg and 5.4 rpg as a sophomore for the Owls' basketball squad. Michaelis became a 15th-round MLB draft pick in 2000 prior to hitting .249 with 51 homers and 237 RBI as a Los Angeles Dodgers' farmhand in six minor-league seasons, playing briefly at Triple A level with Las Vegas in 2004 and 2005.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Providing MLB Headlines on June 25
June 25th, 2023 - 8:48
Extra! Extra! Instead of shaking your head in disgust at hypocritical #Dimorats obscuring their overt racism via little more than a peep about Gov. Blackface, Sen. WhiteClub, revered Klansman Robert Byrd and foolhardy First Son Hunter Biledumb's vile language plus #Demonrat diva Margaret Sanger's BLM emphasis (butchering innocent black babies), 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 Missouri State hoopers Mark Bailey and Norm Siebern each hit two homers as MLB rookies on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 25 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 25
Oakland A's rookie RHP Mark Acre (played basketball in 1990 NCAA Tournament with New Mexico State) earned his third relief victory in 11 days in 1994.
Houston Astros rookie C Mark Bailey (Southwest Missouri State rebounding and field-goal shooting leader in 1980-81) blasted two homers in an 8-5 win against the Atlanta Braves in 1984.
Baltimore Orioles rookie LF Al Bumbry (Virginia State's runner-up in scoring with 16.7 ppg as freshman in 1964-65) banged out five hits and scored the go-ahead run in the top of the 12th inning of a 4-3 victory against the Milwaukee Brewers in 1973.
New York Giants 2B Andy Cohen (Alabama hoops letterman in 1924 and 1925) contributed four hits and scored three runs in a 12-4 triumph against the Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a 1928 doubleheader.
Chicago White Sox 3B Gene Freese (West Liberty WV hoops captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team) manufactured four hits against the Boston Red Sox in a 1960 game.
New York Giants 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) collected four hits, four runs and three stolen bases against the Philadelphia Phillies in the nightcap of a 1921 twinbill. Eleven years later with the St. Louis Cardinals, Frisch furnished four hits against the Chicago Cubs in a 1932 contest.
Brooklyn Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) went for the cycle (including two homers) in a 17-10 triumph at Pittsburgh in 1949.
Philadelphia Phillies CF Don Lock (led Wichita State in field-goal percentage in 1956-57 and 1957-58 under coach Ralph Miller) went 6-for-8, homering in both ends of a 1967 twinbill sweep against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Pittsburgh Pirates SS Johnny Logan (Binghamton hooper in 1948-49) went 4-for-4 in a 5-4 loss against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1963.
Rookie RF Bill Nicholson (two-year hoops guard for Washington College MD in mid-1930s) purchased from the Washington Senators by the Chicago Cubs for $35,000 in 1939.
Montreal Expos RHP Steve Renko (averaged 9.9 ppg and 5.8 rpg as Kansas sophomore in 1963-64) tossed a one-hit shutout against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1974.
Chicago White Sox RHP Johnny Rigney (top hoops center for St. Thomas MN in mid-1930s) hurled a 13-inning shutout against the Washington Senators in 1941.
Montreal Expos RHP Bill Sampen (MacMurray IL MVP in 1984-85 when averaging team-high 14.9 ppg) posted his first MLB save, lowering rookie's ERA to 1.65 through 26 appearances.
Chicago Cubs RHP Al Shealy (Newberry College SC hooper in early 1920s) had a 16.88 ERA through his first eight relief appearances covering eight innings in 1930.
Baltimore Orioles DH Larry Sheets (All-ODAC hoops selection in 1981-82 and 1982-83 with Eastern Mennonite VA) hammered two homers against the California Angels in a 1989 contest.
New York Yankees rookie LF Norm Siebern (member of Southwest Missouri State squads capturing back-to-back NAIA Tournament hoop titles in 1952 and 1953) socked two homers against the Kansas City Athletics in a 1956 game.
In 1995, RHP Lee Smith (averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg with Northwestern State in 1976-77) posted a save in 19 straight relief appearances and was scoreless in his first 20 outings for the California Angels.
Los Angeles Dodgers LHP Eric Stults (hooper for 1999 NAIA D-II Tournament runner-up and 2000 NCCAA Tournament titlist with Bethel IN) fired a four-hit shutout against the Chicago White Sox in 2008.
Pittsburgh Pirates rookie LHP Bob Veale (scored 1,160 points with Benedictine KS from 1955-56 through 1957-58) didn't allow a run in his first 17 relief appearances in 1963.
In the midst of a career-high eight-game hitting streak, New York Yankees rookie RF Sammy Vick (three-sport athlete for Millsaps MS) went 3-for-4 in a 4-3 win against the Philadelphia Athletics in 1919.
New York Yankees RF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) stroked five singles and chipped in with four RBI against the Detroit Tigers in 1984. It was one of three five-hit games for Winfield this month, tying a mark set by legendary Ty Cobb. Two years earlier in 1982 as a LF, Winfield went 4-for-4 against the Cleveland Indians. In 1980 as a San Diego Padres RF, Winfield knocked in five runs in a 7-3 win against the San Francisco Giants.
One and Done: First 13 NBA Picks Were Freshmen and Non-College Players
June 24th, 2023 - 10:10
Potential hero today, prospect gone tomorrow. We barely got to know you. The newcomers are the latest not to give themselves sufficient time at the college level to amass one-for-the-books or one-for-the-ages career records. A year ago, eventual Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero (Duke) was the 14th freshman in a 16-year span to become first overall choice in NBA draft. But be careful out there with any focus on freshman fascination despite eight yearlings and five non-college players becoming first 13 picks this year! Greg Oden, the first pick in the 2007 NBA draft, scored a grand total of 30 playoff points in three injury-plagued campaigns compared to Kevin Durant, the second selection in the 2007 draft, dominating a couple NBA Finals and becoming all-time leading scorer for U.S. Olympic Team. Washington's Markelle Fultz, the first overall pick five years ago before inexplicably misplacing his shooting touch, averaged only 7.1 ppg in 14 contests as a rookie with the Philadelphia 76ers. The Sacramento Kings are among the franchises collecting the most "one-and-done" draft selections but the underaged pros haven't helped them appear in NBA playoffs since 2006.
Incredibly, coach John Calipari's first 31 frosh defectors (4 with Memphis and 27 with Kentucky) became first-round picks in the NBA draft until UK forward Kahlil Whitney went undrafted three years ago. Perhaps it stems solely from the volume. But believe it or not, the Wildcats' one-and-done freshmen frequently have been underestimated by NBA scouting gurus. It seems absurd that Bam Adebayo (14th), Eric Bledsoe (18th), Devin Booker (13th), Tyler Herro (13th) and Tyrese Maxey (21st) weren't Top 10 selections in various drafts from 2010 through 2020.
Manute Bol (Bridgeport CT) and Bol Bol (Oregon) represent the only father-son combination in this first-year category. An all-time record 16 first-round choices in 2017 are among the following alphabetical list of 255 freshmen and G-Men (at least three from G League each of last three years), Alabama's Brandon Miller only the 37th hanging around long enough to become an All-American (five in 2017), leaving universities since troubled Dontonio Wingfield became the first major-college "one 'n done" frosh upon departing from Cincinnati in 1994:
| Freshman Draftee | Pos. | College | NBA Team Drafted By | Year | Round | Overall Pick |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shareef Abdur-Rahim | F-C | California | Vancouver Grizzlies | 1996 | 1st | 3rd |
| Precious Achiuwa | F | Memphis | Miami Heat | 2020 | 1st | 20th |
| Steven Adams | F | Pittsburgh | Oklahoma City Thunder | 2013 | 1st | 12th |
| Edrice "Bam" Adebayo | F | Kentucky | Miami Heat | 2017 | 1st | 14th |
| Jarrett Allen | C | Texas | Brooklyn Nets | 2017 | 1st | 22nd |
| Ike Anigbogu | C | UCLA | Indiana Pacers | 2017 | 2nd | 47th |
| Kostas Antekokounmpo | F-C | Dayton | Philadelphia 76ers | 2018 | 2nd | 60th |
| Carmelo Anthony | F | Syracuse | Denver Nuggets | 2003 | 1st | 3rd |
| Cole Anthony | G | North Carolina | Orlando Magic | 2020 | 1st | 15th |
| Trevor Ariza | F | UCLA | New York Knicks | 2004 | 2nd | 43rd |
| Deandre Ayton | C | Arizona | Phoenix Suns | 2018 | 1st | 1st |
| Marvin Bagley III | F-C | Duke | Sacramento Kings | 2018 | 1st | 2nd |
| Amari Bailey | G | UCLA | Charlotte Hornets | 2023 | 2nd | 41st |
| Patrick Baldwin Jr. | F | Milwaukee | Golden State Warriors | 2022 | 1st | 28th |
| Lonzo Ball | G | UCLA | Los Angeles Lakers | 2017 | 1st | 2nd |
| Mohamed Bamba | C | Texas | Orlando Magic | 2018 | 1st | 6th |
| Paolo Banchero | F | Duke | Orlando Magic | 2022 | 1st | 1st |
| Scottie Barnes | F | Florida State | Toronto Raptors | 2021 | 1st | 4th |
| R.J. Barrett | G | Duke | New York Knicks | 2019 | 1st | 3rd |
| Jerryd Bayless | G | Arizona | Indiana Pacers | 2008 | 1st | 11th |
| Bradley Beal | G-F | Florida | Washington Wizards | 2012 | 1st | 3rd |
| Malik Beasley | G | Florida State | Denver Nuggets | 2016 | 1st | 19th |
| Michael Beasley | F | Kansas State | Miami Heat | 2008 | 1st | 2nd |
| MarJon Beauchamp | G-F | G League | Milwaukee Bucks | 2022 | 1st | 24th |
| Anthony Bennett | F | UNLV | Cleveland Cavaliers | 2013 | 1st | 1st |
| Anthony Black | G | Arkansas | Orlando Magic | 2023 | 1st | 6th |
| Eric Bledsoe | G | Kentucky | Oklahoma City Thunder | 2010 | 1st | 18th |
| Bol Bol | C | Oregon | Miami Heat | 2019 | 2nd | 44th |
| Devin Booker | G | Kentucky | Phoenix Suns | 2015 | 1st | 13th |
| Chris Bosh | F | Georgia Tech | Toronto Raptors | 2003 | 1st | 4th |
| Brandon "B.J." Boston Jr. | G | Kentucky | Los Angeles Clippers | 2021 | 2nd | 51st |
| Avery Bradley | G | Texas | Boston Celtics | 2010 | 1st | 19th |
| Tony Bradley | C | North Carolina | Los Angeles Lakers | 2017 | 1st | 28th |
| Malaki Branham | F-G | Ohio State | San Antonio Spurs | 2022 | 1st | 20th |
| Iggy Brazdeikis | F | Michigan | Sacramento Kings | 2019 | 2nd | 47th |
| Greg Brown III | F | Texas | Portland Trail Blazers | 2021 | 2nd | 43rd |
| Jaylen Brown | F | California | Boston Celtics | 2016 | 1st | 3rd |
| Kendall Brown | F | Baylor | Minnesota Timberwolves | 2022 | 2nd | 48th |
| Troy Brown Jr. | G | Oregon | Washington Wizards | 2018 | 1st | 15th |
| Vernon Carey Jr. | F | Duke | Charlotte Hornets | 2020 | 2nd | 32nd |
| Wendell Carter Jr. | F-C | Duke | Chicago Bulls | 2018 | 1st | 7th |
| Kennedy Chandler | G | Tennessee | San Antonio Spurs | 2022 | 2nd | 38th |
| Marquese Chriss | F | Washington | Sacramento Kings | 2016 | 1st | 8th |
| Max Christie | G | Michigan State | Los Angeles Lakers | 2022 | 2nd | 35th |
| Josh Christopher | G | Arizona State | Houston Rockets | 2021 | 1st | 24th |
| Sidy Cissoko | G-F | G League | San Antonio Spurs | 2023 | 2nd | 44th |
| Noah Clowney | F | Alabama | Brooklyn Nets | 2023 | 1st | 21st |
| Zach Collins | F-C | Gonzaga | Sacramento Kings | 2017 | 1st | 10th |
| Mike Conley Jr. | G | Ohio State | Memphis Grizzlies | 2007 | 1st | 4th |
| Daequan Cook | G | Ohio State | Philadelphia 76ers | 2007 | 1st | 21st |
| Omar Cook | G | St. John's | Orlando Magic | 2001 | 2nd | 32nd |
| Sharife Cooper | G | Auburn | Atlanta Hawks | 2021 | 2nd | 48th |
| Jamal Crawford | G | Michigan | Cleveland Cavaliers | 2000 | 1st | 8th |
| Javaris Crittenton | G | Georgia Tech | Los Angeles Lakers | 2007 | 1st | 19th |
| Cade Cunningham | G | Oklahoma State | Detroit Pistons | 2021 | 1st | 1st |
| Dyson Daniels | G | G League | New Orleans Pelicans | 2022 | 1st | 8th |
| Anthony Davis | C | Kentucky | New Orleans Hornets | 2012 | 1st | 1st |
| Deyonta Davis | F-C | Michigan State | Boston Celtics | 2016 | 2nd | 31st |
| Ricky Davis | F | Iowa | Charlotte Hornets | 1998 | 1st | 21st |
| JD Davison | G | Alabama | Boston Celtics | 2022 | 2nd | 53rd |
| Luol Deng | F | Duke | Phoenix Suns | 2004 | 1st | 7th |
| DeMar DeRozan | F | Southern California | Toronto Raptors | 2009 | 1st | 9th |
| Moussa Diabate | F | Michigan | Los Angeles Clippers | 2022 | 2nd | 43rd |
| Cheick Diallo | F-C | Kansas | Los Angeles Clippers | 2016 | 2nd | 33rd |
| Hamidou Diallo | G | Kentucky | Brooklyn Nets | 2018 | 2nd | 45th |
| Gradey Dick | F | Kansas | Toronto Raptors | 2023 | 1st | 13th |
| Andre Drummond | C | Connecticut | Detroit Pistons | 2012 | 1st | 9th |
| Kevin Durant | F | Texas | Seattle SuperSonics | 2007 | 1st | 2nd |
| Jalen Duren | C | Memphis | Charlotte Hornets | 2022 | 1st | 13th |
| Tari Eason | F | Louisiana State | Houston Rockets | 2022 | 1st | 17th |
| Anthony Edwards | G-F | Georgia | Minnesota Timberwolves | 2020 | 1st | 1st |
| Henry Ellenson | F | Marquette | Detroit Pistons | 2016 | 1st | 18th |
| Joel Embiid | C | Kansas | Philadelphia 76ers | 2014 | 1st | 3rd |
| Tyler Ennis | G | Syracuse | Phoenix Suns | 2014 | 1st | 18th |
| Tyreke Evans | G | Memphis | Sacramento Kings | 2009 | 1st | 4th |
| Derrick Favors | F | Georgia Tech | New Jersey Nets | 2010 | 1st | 3rd |
| Alton Ford | F | Houston | Phoenix Suns | 2001 | 2nd | 51st |
| De'Aaron Fox | G | Kentucky | Sacramento Kings | 2017 | 1st | 5th |
| Markelle Fultz | G | Washington | Philadelphia 76ers | 2017 | 1st | 1st |
| Keith "Tiny" Gallon | C | Oklahoma | Milwaukee Bucks | 2010 | 2nd | 47th |
| Darius Garland | G | Vanderbilt | Cleveland Cavaliers | 2019 | 1st | 5th |
| Keyonte George | G | Baylor | Utah Jazz | 2023 | 1st | 16th |
| Harry Giles | C | Duke | Portland Trail Blazers | 2017 | 1st | 20th |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | G | Kentucky | Charlotte Hornets | 2018 | 1st | 11th |
| Dion Glover | G | Georgia Tech | Atlanta Hawks | 1999 | 1st | 20th |
| Archie Goodwin | G-F | Kentucky | Oklahoma City Thunder | 2013 | 1st | 29th |
| Aaron Gordon | F | Arizona | Orlando Magic | 2014 | 1st | 4th |
| Eric Gordon | G | Indiana | Los Angeles Clippers | 2008 | 1st | 7th |
| Jalen Green | G | G League | Houston Rockets | 2021 | 1st | 2nd |
| Josh Green | G | Arizona | Dallas Mavericks | 2020 | 1st | 18th |
| Donte Greene | F | Syracuse | Memphis Grizzlies | 2008 | 1st | 28th |
| AJ Griffin | F | Duke | Atlanta Hawks | 2022 | 1st | 16th |
| Eddie Griffin | F | Seton Hall | New Jersey Nets | 2001 | 1st | 7th |
| Jaden Hardy | G | G League | Sacramento Kings | 2022 | 2nd | 37th |
| Maurice Harkless | F | St. John's | Philadelphia 76ers | 2012 | 1st | 15th |
| Tobias Harris | F | Tennessee | Charlotte Bobcats | 2011 | 1st | 19th |
| Donnell Harvey | F | Florida | New York Knicks | 2000 | 1st | 22nd |
| Spencer Hawes | C | Washington | Sacramento Kings | 2007 | 1st | 10th |
| Jaxson Hayes | C | Texas | Atlanta Hawks | 2019 | 1st | 8th |
| Sterling "Scoot" Henderson | G | G League | Portland Trail Blazers | 2023 | 1st | 3rd |
| Taylor Hendricks | F | UCF | Utah Jazz | 2023 | 1st | 9th |
| Xavier Henry | G | Kansas | Memphis Grizzlies | 2010 | 1st | 12th |
| Tyler Herro | G | Kentucky | Miami Heat | 2019 | 1st | 13th |
| J.J. Hickson | F | North Carolina State | Cleveland Cavaliers | 2008 | 1st | 19th |
| Jrue Holiday | G | UCLA | Philadelphia 76ers | 2009 | 1st | 17th |
| Chet Holmgren | F-C | Gonzaga | Oklahoma City Thunder | 2022 | 1st | 2nd |
| Jalen Hood-Schifino | G | Indiana | Los Angeles Lakers | 2023 | 1st | 17th |
| Talen Horton-Tucker | G | Iowa State | Orlando Magic | 2019 | 2nd | 46th |
| Caleb Houstan | F | Michigan | Orlando Magic | 2022 | 2nd | 32nd |
| Jett Howard | F | Michigan | Orlando Magic | 2023 | 1st | 11th |
| Larry Hughes | G | Saint Louis | Philadelphia 76ers | 1998 | 1st | 8th |
| Kris Humphries | F | Minnesota | Utah Jazz | 2004 | 1st | 14th |
| Brandon Ingram | F | Duke | Los Angeles Lakers | 2016 | 1st | 2nd |
| Jonathan Isaac | F-C | Florida State | Orlando Magic | 2017 | 1st | 6th |
| Frank Jackson | G | Duke | Charlotte Hornets | 2017 | 2nd | 31st |
| Gregory "GG" Jackson | F | South Carolina | Memphis Grizzlies | 2023 | 2nd | 45th |
| Isaiah Jackson | F | Kentucky | Indiana Pacers | 2021 | 1st | 22nd |
| Jaren Jackson | F | Michigan State | Memphis Grizzlies | 2018 | 1st | 4th |
| Josh Jackson | G-F | Kansas | Phoenix Suns | 2017 | 1st | 4th |
| Grant Jerrett | F | Arizona | Portland Trail Blazers | 2013 | 2nd | 40th |
| DerMarr Johnson | G | Cincinnati | Atlanta Hawks | 2000 | 1st | 6th |
| Jalen Johnson | F | Duke | Atlanta Hawks | 2021 | 1st | 20th |
| Keldon Johnson | G-F | Kentucky | San Antonio Spurs | 2019 | 1st | 29th |
| Keon Johnson | G | Tennessee | Los Angeles Clippers | 2021 | 1st | 21st |
| Stanley Johnson | G | Arizona | Detroit Pistons | 2015 | 1st | 8th |
| Tyus Jones | G | Duke | Cleveland Cavaliers | 2015 | 1st | 24th |
| DeAndre Jordan | C | Texas A&M | Los Angeles Clippers | 2008 | 2nd | 35th |
| Cory Joseph | G | Texas | San Antonio Spurs | 2011 | 1st | 29th |
| Trevor Keels | G | Duke | New York Knicks | 2022 | 2nd | 42nd |
| Michael Kidd-Gilchrist | F | Kentucky | Charlotte Bobcats | 2012 | 1st | 2nd |
| Mojave King | G | G League | Los Angeles Lakers | 2023 | 2nd | 47th |
| Brandon Knight | G | Kentucky | Detroit Pistons | 2011 | 1st | 8th |
| Kevin Knox | F | Kentucky | New York Knicks | 2018 | 1st | 9th |
| Kosta Koufos | C | Ohio State | Utah Jazz | 2008 | 1st | 23rd |
| Jonathan Kuminga | F | G League | Golden State Warriors | 2021 | 1st | 7th |
| Skal Labissiere | F-C | Kentucky | Phoenix Suns | 2016 | 1st | 28th |
| Romeo Langford | G | Indiana | Boston Celtics | 2019 | 1st | 14th |
| Zach LaVine | G | UCLA | Minnesota Timberwolves | 2014 | 1st | 13th |
| TJ Leaf | F | UCLA | Indiana Pacers | 2017 | 1st | 18th |
| Ricky Ledo | G | Providence | Milwaukee Bucks | 2013 | 2nd | 43rd |
| Nassir Little | F | North Carolina | Portland Trail Blazers | 2019 | 1st | 25th |
| Dereck Lively II | C | Duke | Oklahoma City Thunder | 2023 | 1st | 12th |
| Chris Livingston | F | Kentucky | Milwaukee Bucks | 2023 | 2nd | 58th |
| Kevon Looney | F | UCLA | Golden State Warriors | 2015 | 1st | 30th |
| Kevin Love | F | UCLA | Memphis Grizzlies | 2008 | 1st | 5th |
| Trey Lyles | F | Kentucky | Utah Jazz | 2015 | 1st | 12th |
| Corey Maggette | F | Duke | Seattle SuperSonics | 1999 | 1st | 13th |
| Nico Mannion | G | Arizona | Golden State Warriors | 2020 | 2nd | 48th |
| Stephon Marbury | G | Georgia Tech | Milwaukee Bucks | 1996 | 1st | 4th |
| Lauri Markkanen | F | Arizona | Minnesota Timberwolves | 2017 | 1st | 7th |
| Tyrese Maxey | G | Kentucky | Philadelphia 76ers | 2020 | 1st | 21st |
| O.J. Mayo | G | Southern California | Minnesota Timberwolves | 2008 | 1st | 3rd |
| Chris McCullough | F | Syracuse | New Jersey Nets | 2015 | 1st | 29th |
| Jaden McDaniels | F | Washington | Los Angeles Lakers | 2020 | 1st | 28th |
| Bryce McGowens | F-G | Nebraska | Minnesota Timberwolves | 2022 | 2nd | 40th |
| Ben McLemore | G-F | Kansas | Sacramento Kings | 2013 | 1st | 7th |
| Brandon Miller | F | Alabama | Charlotte Hornets | 2023 | 1st | 2nd |
| Leonard Miller | F | G League | San Antonio Spurs | 2023 | 2nd | 33rd |
| Quincy Miller | F | Baylor | Denver Nuggets | 2012 | 2nd | 38th |
| Josh Minott | F | Memphis | Charlotte Hornets | 2022 | 2nd | 45th |
| Evan Mobley | C | Southern California | Cleveland Cavaliers | 2021 | 1st | 3rd |
| Malik Monk | G | Kentucky | Charlotte Hornets | 2017 | 1st | 11th |
| Moses Moody | G | Arkansas | Golden State Warriors | 2021 | 1st | 14th |
| Shabazz Muhammad | G | UCLA | Utah Jazz | 2013 | 1st | 14th |
| B.J. Mullens | C | Ohio State | Dallas Mavericks | 2009 | 1st | 24th |
| Dejounte Murray | G | Washington | San Antonio Spurs | 2016 | 1st | 29th |
| Jamal Murray | G | Kentucky | Denver Nuggets | 2016 | 1st | 7th |
| Zeke Nnaji | F | Arizona | Denver Nuggets | 2020 | 1st | 22nd |
| Nerlens Noel | C | Kentucky | New Orleans Pelicans | 2013 | 1st | 6th |
| Greg Oden | C | Ohio State | Portland Trail Blazers | 2007 | 1st | 1st |
| Jahlil Okafor | C | Duke | Philadelphia 76ers | 2015 | 1st | 3rd |
| Onyeka Okongwu | C | Southern California | Atlanta Hawks | 2020 | 1st | 6th |
| Isaac Okoro | F | Auburn | Cleveland Cavaliers | 2020 | 1st | 5th |
| Daniel Orton | C-F | Kentucky | Orlando Magic | 2010 | 1st | 29th |
| Kelly Oubre | F | Kansas | Atlanta Hawks | 2015 | 1st | 15th |
| Jabari Parker | F | Duke | Milwaukee Bucks | 2014 | 1st | 2nd |
| Justin Patton | C | Creighton | Chicago Bulls | 2017 | 1st | 16th |
| Julian Phillips | F | Tennessee | Boston Celtics | 2023 | 2nd | 35th |
| Kevin Porter Jr. | G | Southern California | Milwaukee Bucks | 2019 | 1st | 30th |
| Michael Porter Jr. | F | Missouri | Denver Nuggets | 2018 | 1st | 14th |
| Joshua Primo | G | Alabama | San Antonio Spurs | 2021 | 1st | 12th |
| Jahmi'us Ramsey | G | Texas Tech | Sacramento Kings | 2020 | 2nd | 43rd |
| Julius Randle | F | Kentucky | Los Angeles Lakers | 2014 | 1st | 7th |
| Anthony Randolph | F | Louisiana State | Golden State Warriors | 2008 | 1st | 14th |
| Zach Randolph | C | Michigan State | Portland Trail Blazers | 2001 | 1st | 19th |
| Cam Reddish | G | Duke | Atlanta Hawks | 2019 | 1st | 10th |
| Malachi Richardson | G | Syracuse | Charlotte Hornets | 2016 | 1st | 22nd |
| Austin Rivers | G | Duke | New Orleans Hornets | 2012 | 1st | 10th |
| Mitchell Robinson | C | Western Kentucky | New York Knicks | 2018 | 2nd | 36th |
| Derrick Rose | G | Memphis | Chicago Bulls | 2008 | 1st | 1st |
| D'Angelo Russell | G | Ohio State | Los Angeles Lakers | 2015 | 1st | 2nd |
| Jamal Sampson | F-C | California | Utah Jazz | 2002 | 2nd | 47th |
| Josh Selby | G | Kansas | Memphis Grizzlies | 2011 | 2nd | 49th |
| Brice Sensabaugh | F | Ohio State | Utah Jazz | 2023 | 1st | 28th |
| Collin Sexton | G | Alabama | Cleveland Cavaliers | 2018 | 1st | 8th |
| Day'Ron Sharpe | C-F | North Carolina | Brooklyn Nets | 2021 | 1st | 29th |
| Shaedon Sharpe | G | Kentucky | Portland Trail Blazers | 2022 | 1st | 7th |
| Ben Simmons | F | Louisiana State | Philadelphia 76ers | 2016 | 1st | 1st |
| Dennis Smith Jr. | G | North Carolina State | Dallas Mavericks | 2017 | 1st | 9th |
| Jabari Smith Jr. | F | Auburn | Houston Rockets | 2022 | 1st | 3rd |
| Nick Smith Jr. | G | Arkansas | Charlotte Hornets | 2023 | 1st | 27th |
| Zhaire Smith | F | Texas Tech | Phoenix Suns | 2018 | 1st | 16th |
| Jeremy Sochan | F | Baylor | San Antonio Spurs | 2022 | 1st | 9th |
| Omari Spellman | F | Villanova | Atlanta Hawks | 2018 | 1st | 30th |
| Jaden Springer | G | Tennessee | Philadelphia 76ers | 2021 | 1st | 28th |
| Cassius Stanley | G | Duke | Indiana Pacers | 2020 | 2nd | 54th |
| Lance Stephenson | F | Cincinnati | Indiana Pacers | 2010 | 2nd | 40th |
| Isaiah Stewart | F | Washington | Portland Trail Blazers | 2020 | 1st | 16th |
| Diamond Stone | C | Maryland | New Orleans Pelicans | 2016 | 2nd | 40th |
| Jalen Suggs | G | Gonzaga | Orlando Magic | 2021 | 1st | 5th |
| Jayson Tatum | F | Duke | Boston Celtics | 2017 | 1st | 3rd |
| Marquis Teague | G | Kentucky | Chicago Bulls | 2012 | 1st | 29th |
| Tyrell Terry | G | Stanford | Dallas Mavericks | 2020 | 2nd | 31st |
| Cameron Thomas | G | Louisiana State | Brooklyn Nets | 2021 | 1st | 27th |
| Tim Thomas | F | Villanova | New Jersey Nets | 1997 | 1st | 7th |
| Tyrus Thomas | F | Louisiana State | Portland Trail Blazers | 2006 | 1st | 4th |
| Tristan Thompson | F | Texas | Cleveland Cavaliers | 2011 | 1st | 4th |
| J.T. Thor | F | Auburn | Detroit Pistons | 2021 | 2nd | 37th |
| Isaiah Todd | F | G League | Washington Wizards | 2021 | 2nd | 31st |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | C | Kentucky | Minnesota Timberwolves | 2015 | 1st | 1st |
| Gary Trent Jr. | G-F | Duke | Sacramento Kings | 2018 | 2nd | 37th |
| Myles Turner | C | Texas | Indiana Pacers | 2015 | 1st | 11th |
| Jarred Vanderbilt | F | Kentucky | Orlando Magic | 2018 | 2nd | 41st |
| Rashad Vaughn | G | UNLV | Milwaukee Bucks | 2015 | 1st | 17th |
| Noah Vonleh | F | Indiana | Charlotte Bobcats | 2014 | 1st | 9th |
| Dajuan Wagner | G | Memphis | Cleveland Cavaliers | 2002 | 1st | 6th |
| Bill Walker | F | Kansas State | Washington Wizards | 2008 | 2nd | 47th |
| Jarace Walker | F | Houston | Washington Wizards | 2023 | 1st | 8th |
| Lonnie Walker | G | Miami (Fla.) | San Antonio Spurs | 2018 | 1st | 18th |
| John Wall | G | Kentucky | Washington Wizards | 2010 | 1st | 1st |
| Cason Wallace | G | Kentucky | Dallas Mavericks | 2023 | 1st | 10th |
| Gerald Wallace | F | Alabama | Sacramento Kings | 2001 | 1st | 25th |
| Jordan Walsh | F | Arkansas | Sacramento Kings | 2023 | 2nd | 38th |
| TyTy Washington | G | Kentucky | Memphis Grizzlies | 2022 | 1st | 29th |
| Peyton Watson | F | UCLA | Oklahoma City Thunder | 2022 | 1st | 30th |
| Blake Wesley | G | Notre Dame | San Antonio Spurs | 2022 | 1st | 25th |
| Coby White | G | North Carolina | Chicago Bulls | 2019 | 1st | 7th |
| Rodney White | F | Charlotte | Detroit Pistons | 2001 | 1st | 9th |
| Dariq Whitehead | F | Duke | Brooklyn Nets | 2023 | 1st | 22nd |
| Hassan Whiteside | C | Marshall | Sacramento Kings | 2010 | 2nd | 33rd |
| Cam Whitmore | F | Villanova | Houston Rockets | 2023 | 1st | 20th |
| Andrew Wiggins | G-F | Kansas | Cleveland Cavaliers | 2014 | 1st | 1st |
| Marvin Williams | F | North Carolina | Atlanta Hawks | 2005 | 1st | 2nd |
| Patrick Williams | F | Florida State | Chicago Bulls | 2020 | 1st | 4th |
| Shawne Williams | F | Memphis | Indiana Pacers | 2006 | 1st | 17th |
| Ziaire Williams | F | Stanford | New Orleans Pelicans | 2021 | 1st | 10th |
| Zion Williamson | F | Duke | New Orleans Pelicans | 2019 | 1st | 1st |
| Dontonio Wingfield | F | Cincinnati | Seattle SuperSonics | 1994 | 2nd | 37th |
| Justice Winslow | G-F | Duke | Miami Heat | 2015 | 1st | 10th |
| James Wiseman | C | Memphis | Golden State Warriors | 2020 | 1st | 2nd |
| Brandan Wright | F | North Carolina | Charlotte Hornets | 2007 | 1st | 8th |
| Tony Wroten Jr. | G | Washington | Memphis Grizzlies | 2012 | 1st | 25th |
| James Young | G-F | Kentucky | Boston Celtics | 2014 | 1st | 17th |
| Thaddeus Young | F | Georgia Tech | Philadelphia 76ers | 2007 | 1st | 12th |
| Trae Young | G | Oklahoma | Atlanta Hawks | 2018 | 1st | 5th |
| Stephen Zimmerman | F | UNLV | Orlando Magic | 2016 | 2nd | 41st |
NOTE: Manute Bol (DII Bridgeport in 1985) and Shawn Kemp (JC Trinity Valley in 1989) were the first two non-NCAA DI players selected as freshmen. Ledo did not play with PC for academic reasons.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Providing MLB Headlines on June 24
June 24th, 2023 - 9:00
Extra! Extra! Instead of focusing on metal straw-painter artist/energy-expert extraordinaire Hunter "Hideous" Biledumb seeking female cousin's "non-yellow" escort contacts and using creepy daddy (codename Celtic) account to pay Russian prostitute plus why overwhelming majority of bloodthirsty #PlannedMurderhood advocates are so ugly, 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 Morehead State hoopers Steve Hamilton and Denny Doyle made MLB news on this date. Ditto ex-hoopers from Commonwealth of Virginia universities Leo Burke (Virginia Tech), Bud Metheny (William & Mary) and Eppa Rixey (Virginia). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 24 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 24
INF-OF Leo Burke (averaged 9.2 ppg for Virginia Tech basketball teams in 1952-53 and 1953-54) traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the Chicago Cubs for knuckle-ball reliever Barney Schultz in 1963.
Detroit Tigers RHP Ownie Carroll (Holy Cross hoops letterman in 1922), hurling his second and final shutout of season and career, allowed a total of four earned runs in his first eight victories of the 1928 campaign en route to leading the team with 16 triumphs.
Boston Braves SS Dick Culler (#9 jersey retired by High Point for Little All-American in 1935 and 1936) went 6-for-7 in a 1945 doubleheader split against the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Philadelphia Phillies 2B Denny Doyle (averaged 2.7 ppg for Morehead State in 1962-63) delivered his third three-hit outing in a 12-game span in 1972.
1B Walt Dropo (Connecticut's first hooper ever to average 20 points in single season with 21.7 ppg in 1942-43) awarded on waivers from the Chicago White Sox to the Cincinnati Reds in 1958.
Houston Astros C Joe Ferguson (hooper in 1967 NCAA playoffs with Pacific) walked five times, including three intentional bases on balls, against the San Diego Padres in a 1978 game.
RHP Eddie Fisher (hooper for Oklahoma's 1954-55 freshman squad) surrendered his only run in first 12 relief appearances with the Baltimore Orioles in 1966.
New York Giants 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) went 5-for-5 and scored four runs against the Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a 1926 doubleheader.
St. Louis Cardinals RHP Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer and rebounder in 1955-56 and 1956-57) ended a personal five-game losing streak with his final of 56 career shutouts (four-hitter against Pittsburgh Pirates in nightcap of 1974 twinbill).
Atlanta Braves rookie RHP Kevin Gryboski (backup hooper for Wilkes PA in 1991-92 and 1992-93) collected his second relief victory in four-day span, lowering his ERA to 1.19 through 28 appearances in 2002.
New York Yankees LHP Steve Hamilton (Morehead State's leading scorer and rebounder in 1956-57 and 1957-58) struck out Cleveland Indians 1B Tony Horton with a couple of "Folly Floaters" as a reliever in the nightcap of a 1970 doubleheader.
Philadelphia Athletics 1B Tom Hamilton (member of Texas' 1947 Final Four team was SWC's leading scorer in league competition in 1949-50) supplied a career-high two hits in a 6-3 setback against the Detroit Tigers in 1953.
Brooklyn Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) homered three times in a 1951 doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Seven years later, Hodges hammered a round-tripper in both ends of a 1958 twinbill sweep of the Cincinnati Reds.
St. Louis Browns SS Billy Hunter (multi-sport athlete for Indiana PA post-WWII) went 4-for-4 in a 1953 game against the Washington Senators.
In 1944, Cincinnati Reds rookie RHP Jim Konstanty (member of 1937-38 and 1938-39 Syracuse hoop teams) tossed a shutout in his second MLB start (1-0 against Chicago Cubs).
In 1958, New York Yankees INF Jerry Lumpe (member of Southwest Missouri State's 1952 NAIA Tournament championship hoops team) smacked his first MLB homer (at Chicago off Early Wynn of White Sox).
New York Yankees RF Bud Metheny (William & Mary hoops letterman from 1935-36 through 1937-38) amassed two homers and six RBI in a 13-5 win against the Philadelphia Athletics in the opener of a 1945 twinbill.
Detroit Tigers RF Jim Northrup (second-leading scorer and third-leading rebounder for Alma MI in 1958-59) powered a grand slam in back-to-back innings (fifth and sixth) against the Cleveland Indians in 1968.
Cincinnati Reds LHP Eppa Rixey (Virginia hoops letterman in 1911-12 and 1913-14) went into the eighth inning with a perfect game but wound up losing to the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-3, in 1924.
In 1947, Brooklyn Dodgers 1B Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in PCC both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) swiped home in the fifth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates. It was the first of 19 times in Robinson's career he pilfered home. The next year, he went 7-for-9 in a 1948 doubleheader sweep of the Pirates.
Brooklyn Dodgers LHP Preacher Roe (Harding AR hooper in late 1930s) twirled a shutout against the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a 1952 twinbill, giving him 30 victories in his last 33 decisions going back to the end of the 1950 campaign.
LHP Jack Spring (freshman hooper for Washington State in 1951-52) traded by the Boston Red Sox to Cleveland Indians in 1958. He was returned to Red Sox the next month. Four years later with the Los Angeles Angels, Spring notched a victory via eighth straight relief appearance without yielding earned run, lowering his ERA to 1.94 through 32 games.
New York Giants C Wes Westrum (hooper for Bemidji State MN one season before serving in military) contributed a career game, hitting three homers plus a triple and scoring five runs in a 12-2 triumph against the Cincinnati Reds in 1950.
In 1991, California Angels RF-DH Dave Winfield (starting forward with Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) went 5-for-5 with three extra-base hits against the Kansas City Royals to become the oldest player in MLB history to go for the cycle (39).
Better Early Than Never: UK Has 44 Undergrad Picks in Last 14 NBA Drafts
June 23rd, 2023 - 10:05
With two selections this year, Kentucky has a stunning 44 undergraduates selected in the NBA draft in the last 14 seasons under coach John Calipari. As a means of comparison, in-state rival Louisville had only 11 such undergrad picks in the last 50 years after Montrezl Harrell, David Johnson, Donovan Mitchell, Jordan Nwora, Chinanu Onuaku and Ray Spalding bolted early for the pros over past nine campaigns.
On the opposite end of the spectrum from Kentucky is Northwestern, which is the lone power-league member never having an undergraduate selection after Penn State's Tony Carr was chosen in the second round four years ago. UK, despite failing to have an undergrad selected in 16-year span from 1972 through 1987, is expected to increase its lead over runner-up Duke in this "defector" category in 2024 when the Wildcats should have multiple players leave school with eligibility remaining for the 15th straight season to declare for the NBA draft. It is debatable whether the undergrads should have returned to school for additional seasoning or even taken up classroom space in the first place. The following list of 13 schools have at least 15 early-defector draftees since the introduction of hardship cases in 1971:
Kentucky (52) - Tom Payne (1971), Rex Chapman (1988), Jamal Mashburn (1993), Antoine Walker (1996), Ron Mercer (1997), Nazr Mohammed (1998), Rajon Rondo (2006), Jodie Meeks (2009), Eric Bledsoe (2010), DeMarcus Cousins (2010), Daniel Orton (2010), Patrick Patterson (2010), John Wall (2010), Brandon Knight (2011), DeAndre Liggins (2011), Anthony Davis (2012), Terrence Jones (2012), Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (2012), Doron Lamb (2012), Marquis Teague (2012), Archie Goodwin (2013), Nerlens Noel (2013), Julius Randle (2014), James Young (2014), Devin Booker (2015), Willie Cauley-Stein (2015), Andrew Harrison (2015), Dakari Johnson (2015), Trey Lyles (2015), Karl-Anthony Towns (2015), Skal Labissiere (2016), Jamal Murray (2016), Tyler Ulis (2016), Bam Adebayo (2017), De'Aaron Fox (2017), Malik Monk (2017), Hamidou Diallo (2018), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2018), Kevin Knox (2018), Jarred Vanderbilt (2018), Tyler Herro (2019), Keldon Johnson (2019), P.J. Washington (2019), Tyrese Maxey (2020), Immanuel Quickley (2020), Nick Richards (2020), B.J. Boston (2021), Isaiah Jackson (2021), Shaedon Sharpe (2022), TyTy Washington (2022), Chris Livingston (2023), Cason Wallace (2023)
Duke (39) - William Avery (1999), Elton Brand (1999), Corey Maggette (1999), Carlos Boozer (2002), Mike Dunleavy Jr. (2002), Jay Williams (2002), Luol Deng (2004), Josh McRoberts (2007), Gerald Henderson (2009), Kyrie Irving (2011), Austin Rivers (2012), Rodney Hood (2014), Jabari Parker (2014), Tyus Jones (2015), Jahlil Okafor (2015), Justise Winslow (2015), Brandon Ingram (2016), Harry Giles (2017), Frank Jackson (2017), Luke Kennard (2017), Jayson Tatum (2017), Marvin Bagley III (2018), Wendell Carter (2018), Gary Trent Jr. (2018), R.J. Barrett (2019), Cam Reddish (2019), Zion Williamson (2019), Vernon Carey Jr. (2020), Tre Jones (2020), Cassius Stanley (2020), Matthew Hurt (2021), Jalen Johnson (2021), Paolo Banchero (2022), AJ Griffin (2022), Trevor Keels (2022), Wendell Moore Jr. (2022), Mark Williams (2022), Dereck Lively II (2023), Dariq Whitehead (2023)
North Carolina (30) - Bob McAdoo (1972), James Worthy (1982), Michael Jordan (1984), J.R. Reid (1989), Jerry Stackhouse (1995), Rasheed Wallace (1995), Jeff McInnis (1996), Antawn Jamison (1998), Vince Carter (1998), Joseph Forte (2001), Raymond Felton (2005), Sean May (2005), Rashad McCants (2005), Marvin Williams (2005), Brandan Wright (2007), Wayne Ellington (2009), Ty Lawson (2009), Ed Davis (2010), Harrison Barnes (2012), John Henson (2012), Kendall Marshall (2012), Reggie Bullock (2013), P.J. Hairston (2014), J.P. Tokoto (2015), Tony Bradley (2017), Justin Jackson (2017), Nassir Little (2019), Coby White (2019), Cole Anthony (2020), Day'Ron Sharpe (2021)
UCLA (28) - Richard Washington (1976), Stuart Gray (1984), Tracy Murray (1992), Jelani McCoy (1998), Baron Davis (1999), Jerome Moiso (2000), Trevor Ariza (2004), Jordan Farmar (2006), Arron Afflalo (2007), Kevin Love (2008), Luc Mbah a Moute (2008), Russell Westbrook (2008), Jrue Holiday (2009), Tyler Honeycutt (2011), Malcolm Lee (2011), Shabazz Muhammad (2013), Jordan Adams (2014), Kyle Anderson (2014), Zach LaVine (2014), Kevon Looney (2015), Ike Anigbogu (2017), Lonzo Ball (2017), TJ Leaf (2017), Aaron Holiday (2018), Jaylen Hands (2019), Peyton Watson (2022), Amari Bailey (2023), Jaylen Clark (2023)
Arizona (24) - Eric Money (1974), Coniel Norman (1974), Brian Williams (1991), Mike Bibby (1998), Gilbert Arenas (2001), Richard Jefferson (2001), Michael Wright (2001), Andre Iguodala (2004), Marcus Williams (2006), Jerryd Bayless (2008), Derrick Williams (2011), Grant Jerrett (2013), Aaron Gordon (2014), Nick Johnson (2014), Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (2015), Stanley Johnson (2015), Lauri Markkanen (2017), Deandre Ayton (2018), Josh Green (2020), Nico Mannion (2020), Zeke Nnaji (2020), Christian Koloko (2022), Bennedict Mathurin (2022), Dalen Terry (2022)
Kansas (24) - Norm Cook (1976), Darrin Hancock (1994), Paul Pierce (1998), Drew Gooden (2002), Julian Wright (2007), Darrell Arthur (2008), Mario Chalmers (2008), Brandon Rush (2008), Cole Aldrich (2010), Xavier Henry (2010), Marcus Morris (2011), Markieff Morris (2011), Josh Shelby (2011), Thomas Robinson (2012), Ben McLemore (2013), Joel Embiid (2014), Andrew Wiggins (2014), Kelly Oubre (2015), Cheick Diallo (2016), Josh Jackson (2017), Billy Preston (2018), Christian Braun (2022), Gradey Dick (2023), Jalen Wilson (2023)
Michigan (24) - Campy Russell (1974), Tim McCormick (1984), Sean Higgins (1990), Chris Webber (1993), Jalen Rose (1994), Juwan Howard (1994), Maurice Taylor (1997), Robert Traylor (1998), Jamal Crawford (2000), Darius Morris (2011), Trey Burke (2013), Tim Hardaway Jr. (2013), Mitch McGary (2014), Glenn Robinson III (2014), Nik Stauskas (2014), D.J. Wilson (2017), Moe Wagner (2018), Iggy Brazdeikis (2019), Jordan Poole (2019), Franz Wagner (2021), Moussa Diabate (2022), Caleb Houstan (2022), Kobe Bufkin (2023), Jett Howard (2023)
Louisiana State (21) - DeWayne Scales (1980), Jerry Reynolds (1985), John Williams (1986), Chris Jackson (1990), Stanley Roberts (1991), Shaquille O'Neal (1992), Ronnie Henderson (1996), Randy Livingston (1996), Stromile Swift (2000), Brandon Bass (2005), Tyrus Thomas (2006), Glen Davis (2007), Anthony Randolph (2008), Justin Hamilton (2012), Johnny O'Bryant (2014), Jarell Martin (2015), Jordan Mickey (2015), Ben Simmons (2016), Tremont Waters (2019), Cameron Thomas (2021), Tari Eason (2022)
Connecticut (20) - Donyell Marshall (1994), Ray Allen (1996), Richard Hamilton (1999), Khalid El-Amin (2000), Caron Butler (2002), Ben Gordon (2004), Emeka Okafor (2004), Charlie Villanueva (2005), Josh Boone (2006), Rudy Gay (2006), Marcus Williams (2006), Hasheem Thabeet (2009), Kemba Walker (2011), Andre Drummond (2012), Jeremy Lamb (2012), DeAndre Daniels (2014), Daniel Hamilton (2016), James Bouknight (2021), Jordan Hawkins (2023), Andre Jackson (2023)
Texas (18) - LaSalle Thompson (1982), Chris Mihm (2000), T.J. Ford (2003), LaMarcus Aldridge (2006), Daniel Gibson (2006), P.J. Tucker (2006), Kevin Durant (2007), D.J. Augustin (2008), Avery Bradley (2010), Jordan Hamilton (2011), Cory Joseph (2011), Tristan Thompson (2011), Myles Turner (2015), Jarrett Allen (2017), Mohamed Bamba (2018), Jaxson Hayes (2019), Greg Brown III (2021), Kai Jones (2021)
Memphis (17) - Larry Kenon (1973), William Bedford (1986), Vincent Askew (1987), Sylvester Gray (1988), Penny Hardaway (1993), David Vaughn III (1995), Lorenzen Wright (1996), Dajuan Wagner (2002), Shawne Williams (2006), Chris Douglas-Roberts (2008), Derrick Rose (2008), Elliot Williams (2010), Will Barton (2012), Precious Achiuwa (2020), James Wiseman (2020), Jalen Duren (2022), Josh Minott (2022)
Ohio State (16) - Clark Kellogg (1982), Jim Jackson (1992), Michael Redd (2000), Mike Conley Jr. (2007), Daequan Cook (2007), Greg Oden (2007), Kosta Koufos (2008), B.J. Mullens (2009), Evan Turner (2010), Jared Sullinger (2012), Deshaun Thomas (2013), D'Angelo Russell (2015), Keita Bates-Diop (2018), Malaki Branham (2022), E.J. Liddell (2022), Brice Sensabaugh (2023)
Syracuse (15) - Pearl Washington (1986), Billy Owens (1991), Carmelo Anthony (2003), Donte Greene (2008), Johnny Flynn (2009), Wesley Johnson (2010), Fab Melo (2012), Dion Waiters (2012), Michael Carter-Williams (2013), Tyler Ennis (2014), Jerami Grant (2014), Chris McCullough (2015), Malachi Richardson (2016), Tyler Lydon (2017), Elijah Hughes (2020)
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Providing MLB Headlines on June 23
June 23rd, 2023 - 9:19
Extra! Extra! Instead of cursing inane woke policies from anal governmental administrations igniting arrests of concerned parents at school board meetings plus DOJ/FBI scrutiny of pro-lifer protecting his young son from pro-baby butcher, 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.
Current SEC members Alabama (Jim Tabor), Louisiana State (Al Dark), Texas A&M (Beau Bell) and Vanderbilt (Harvey Hendrick) had former hoopers provide significant MLB performances on this date. Ditto ex-Delaware hoopers Dallas Green and Tommy Herr plus ex-juco hoopers Darrell Evans (Pasadena City CA), Rusty Kuntz (Cuesta CA) and Jim Thome (Illinois Central). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 23 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 23
Pittsburgh Pirates RF Clyde Barnhart (played basketball for Shippensburg PA predecessor Cumberland Valley State Normal School prior to World War I) went 4-for-4 against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1923 game.
St. Louis Browns RF Beau Bell (two-year hoops letterman for Texas A&M in early 1930s) banged out four hits in a 6-3 win against the New York Yankees in 1937.
St. Louis Cardinals RHP Andy Benes (joined Evansville's shorthanded basketball squad in 1985-86 under coach Jim Crews) fanned 10 batters in his third straight start in 2000.
In 1975, Chicago Cubs RHP Ray Burris (two-sport standout in Southwestern Oklahoma State Hall of Fame) tossed his first MLB shutout (against Montreal Expos).
Cincinnati Reds 1B George Crowe (four-year letterman from 1939-40 through 1942-43 for Indiana Central after becoming first high school player named state's Mr. Basketball) went 4-for-4 with four RBI in a 5-3 victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the opener of a 1957 doubleheader.
SS Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for Louisiana State and Southwestern Louisiana during World War II) traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to the Milwaukee Braves in 1960.
OF Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA hoops titlist), retired from the Cleveland Indians, joined P Don Newcombe in 1962 as the first former MLB players to compete for a Japanese team. Doby's season batting average overseas will be a modest .225.
1B Walt Dropo (Connecticut's first player ever to average 20 points in season with 21.7 ppg in 1942-43) and C Sammy White (All-PCC Northern Division first-five selection for Washington in 1947-48 and 1948-49) each homered when 12 consecutive Boston Red Sox players reached base in an 11-run, fourth-inning outburst at Detroit in 1952. Seven years later, Dropo was traded by the Cincinnati Reds to the Baltimore Orioles in 1959.
San Francisco Giants 1B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) homered in both ends of a 1976 doubleheader sweep against the San Diego Padres.
INF Howard Freigau (Ohio Wesleyan hooper) purchased from the Brooklyn Robins by the Boston Braves in 1928.
St. Louis Cardinals SS Charlie Gelbert (scored at least 125 points each of last three seasons in late 1920s for Lebanon Valley PA) went 5-for-5 against the Boston Braves in a 1930 game.
New York Mets OF Jimmy Piersall celebrated by running around the bases backwards in 1963 after the free spirit pounded the 100th homer of his MLB career and only one in the N.L. The round-tripper was yielded by Philadelphia Phillies RHP Dallas Green (Delaware's second-leading scorer and rebounder in 1954-55).
Cleveland Indians rookie 2B Jack Hammond (four-year hoops letterman for Colgate from 1909-10 through 1912-13) supplied a career-high three hits against the Chicago White Sox in the nightcap of a 1915 doubleheader.
Boston Red Sox rookie RHP Herb Hash (three-year letterman averaged 6.4 ppg as junior center for Richmond's undefeated team in 1934-35) hurled his lone MLB shutout (2-0 against Cleveland Indians in 1940).
Chicago Cubs INF-OF Harvey Hendrick (Vanderbilt hoops letterman in 1918) hammered a game-winning, pinch-hit grand slam in the 10th inning against the Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a 1933 doubleheader.
St. Louis Cardinals 2B Tommy Herr (hooper with Delaware's freshman team in 1974-75) went 5-for-5 and drove in both of the Cards' run in an 11-inning, 2-1 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1986.
Brooklyn Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) homered twice against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1956 contest.
LHP Bill Krueger (led WCAC in free-throw percentage as Portland freshman in 1975-76) traded by the Oakland Athletics to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1987.
In the midst of hitting safely in six of first eight contests with the Minnesota Twins in 1983, CF Rusty Kuntz (played J.C. hoops for Cuesta CA) led off the game against his original team (Chicago White Sox) with first MLB homer.
OF Sam Mele (NYU's leading scorer in 1943 NCAA playoffs) purchased from the Boston Red Sox by the Cincinnati Reds in 1955. Six years later, Mele became manager of the Minnesota Twins.
Boston Red Sox 1B Ed Morgan (Tulane hoops letterman from 1923-24 through 1925-26) collected three hits and scored four runs in a 10-2 win against the Chicago White Sox in 1934.
Jim Riggleman (two-year hoops letterman for Frostburg State MD averaged 7.2 ppg in early 1970s) resigned as Washington Nationals manager in 2011 on the heels of them winning 11 of 12 games when the franchise failed to give him a contract extension.
LHP Garry Roggenburk (Dayton scoring leader from 1959-60 through 1961-62 grabbed school-record 32 rebounds in third varsity game en route to pacing Flyers in rebounding his first two years) purchased from the Boston Red Sox by the Seattle Pilots in 1969.
Boston Red Sox 3B Jim Tabor (Alabama hoops letterman in 1936-37) blasted two homers against the Cleveland Indians in the nightcap of a 1940 twinbill.
Cleveland Indians 3B Jim Thome (played junior college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) jacked two taters in a 1997 game contest against the Minnesota Twins. Fifteen years later, he smacked a game-winning, pinch-hit homer in bottom of ninth inning to give the Philadelphia Phillies a 7-6 win against the Tampa Bay Rays in 2012.
Washington Senators 3B Eddie Yost (NYU freshman hooper in 1943-44 under coach Howard Cann) scored four runs in a 1956 game against the Cleveland Indians.
Caught in NBA Draft: 23 Current DI Coaches Were Picked in First Two Rounds
June 22nd, 2023 - 18:14
Did you know that the New York Knicks chose four current NCAA Division I head coaches in opening round of an NBA draft in 13-year span from 1980 through 1992? New Georgia Tech mentor Damon Stoudamire, an assistant coach for the Boston Celtics the past two seasons, was a first-round selection by the Toronto Raptors in 1995. A striking number of DI bench bosses probably were a mite more interested in the NBA draft than their counterparts this week if only because they were selected themselves. Following is an alphabetical list of the 30 active DI mentors - eight at helm of their alma mater - picked in an NBA draft (including total of 23 in rounds 1 and 2):
| Division I Coach | Current School | Alma Mater | NBA Team | Draft Year | Round |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Alford | Nevada | Indiana | Dallas Mavericks | 1987 | 2nd |
| Tommy Amaker | Harvard | Duke | Seattle SuperSonics | 1987 | 3rd |
| Tony Bennett | Virginia | Wisconsin-Green Bay | Charlotte Hornets | 1992 | 2nd |
| Alvin Brooks | Lamar | Lamar | San Antonio Spurs | 1981 | 10th |
| Craig "Speedy" Claxton | Hofstra | Hofstra | Philadelphia 76ers | 2000 | 1st |
| Hubert Davis | North Carolina | North Carolina | New York Knicks | 1992 | 1st |
| Mike Davis | Detroit | Alabama | Milwaukee Bucks | 1983 | 2nd |
| Johnny Dawkins | UCF | Duke | San Antonio Spurs | 1986 | 1st |
| Jamie Dixon | Texas Christian | Texas Christian | Washington Bullets | 1987 | 7th |
| Bryce Drew | Grand Canyon | Valparaiso | Houston Rockets | 1998 | 1st |
| Kim English | Providence | Missouri | Detroit Pistons | 2012 | 2nd |
| Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway | Memphis | Memphis State | Golden State Warriors | 1993 | 1st |
| Steve Henson | Texas-San Antonio | Kansas State | Milwaukee Bucks | 1990 | 2nd |
| Fred Hoiberg | Nebraska | Iowa State | Indiana Pacers | 1995 | 2nd |
| Juwan Howard | Michigan | Michigan | Washington Bullets | 1994 | 1st |
| Bobby Hurley Jr. | Arizona State | Duke | Sacramento Kings | 1993 | 1st |
| Jeff Jones | Old Dominion | Virginia | Indiana Pacers | 1982 | 4th |
| Jim Larranaga | Miami (Fla.) | Providence | Detroit Pistons | 1971 | 6th |
| Jim Les | UC Davis | Bradley | Atlanta Hawks | 1986 | 3rd |
| Mark Madsen | California | Stanford | Los Angeles Lakers | 2000 | 1st |
| Kenny Payne | Louisville | Louisville | Philadelphia 76ers | 1989 | 1st |
| Mark Pope | Brigham Young | Kentucky | Indiana Pacers | 1996 | 2nd |
| Lorenzo Romar | Pepperdine | Washington | Golden State Warriors | 1980 | 7th |
| Jerry Stackhouse | Vanderbilt | North Carolina | Philadelphia 76ers | 1995 | 1st |
| Damon Stoudamire | Georgia Tech | Arizona | Toronto Raptors | 1995 | 1st |
| Rod Strickland | Long Island | DePaul | New York Knicks | 1988 | 1st |
| Reggie Theus | Bethune-Cookman | UNLV | Chicago Bulls | 1978 | 1st |
| Darrell Walker | UALR | Arkansas | New York Knicks | 1983 | 1st |
| Maurice "Mo" Williams | Jackson State | Alabama | Utah Jazz | 2003 | 2nd |
| Mike Woodson | Indiana | Indiana | New York Knicks | 1980 | 1st |
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Providing MLB Headlines on June 22
June 22nd, 2023 - 10:39
Extra! Extra! Instead of listening to loathsome leftist such as pencil-necked #SackofSchiff (CA-Democrat) lecturing everybody at House of Representatives hearing on Durham Report about dealings with foreign entities when Unintelligence Committee member was punked himself like the fool he is by a Russian deejay offering fake salaciousness on #TheDonald, 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 Guilford NC hoopers Rick Ferrell and Tom Zachary supplied significant MLB games on this date. Ditto ex-Duke hoop teammates Dick Groat and Dick "Footer" Johnson, ex-Illinois hoopers Lou Boudreau and Tom Haller plus ex-Minnesota hoopers Jerry Kindall and Dave Winfield. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 22 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 22
San Diego Padres RHP Mike Adams (played basketball for Texas A&M-Kingsville in 1996-97) surrendered his only run (against Tampa Bay Rays) in a span of 20 relief appearances from mid-May to early July in 2010.
Philadelphia Phillies 1B-LF Harry Anderson (averaged 7.7 ppg and 8.9 rpg for West Chester PA in 1951-52) homered in both ends of a 1958 doubleheader against the San Francisco Giants.
Brooklyn Dodgers RHP Ray Benge (multi-year hoops letterman for Sam Houston State first half of 1920s) hurled a four-hit shutout against the Chicago Cubs in 1933. Whitewash was one of his six complete-game victories during the month.
Cleveland Indians SS Lou Boudreau (leading scorer for Illinois' 1937 Big Ten Conference co-champion) banged out four hits against the Boston Red Sox in a 1940 contest.
Minnesota Twins 3B John Castino (medical redshirt for Rollins FL in 1973-74 under coach Ed Jucker) contributed multiple hits for fourth time in five-game span in 1980.
OF Billy Cowan (hoops co-captain for Utah's 1960 NCAA playoff team) traded by the Chicago Cubs to the Philadelphia Phillies in 1966.
Cleveland Indians OF Larry Doby (reserve hoops guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA titlist) homered in both ends of a 1953 doubleheader against the Washington Senators.
St. Louis Browns C Rick Ferrell (forward for Guilford NC before graduating in 1928) furnished four hits and four RBI against the New York Yankees in a 1931 game.
San Francisco Giants RHP Eddie Fisher (hooper for Oklahoma's 1954-55 freshman squad) won his MLB debut by allowing only three hits and one run in seven innings in a 4-1 victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1959.
St. Louis Cardinals 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) stroked three extra-base hits against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1933 outing. The next year, Frisch went 5-for-5 against the Brooklyn Dodgers in a 1934 contest.
SS Dick Groat (NCAA unanimous first-team All-American for Duke in 1951-52 when national runner-up in scoring) purchased from the Philadelphia Phillies by the San Francisco Giants in 1967.
Los Angeles Dodgers C Tom Haller (backup forward for Illinois in 1956-57 and 1957-58 under coach Harry Combes) collected four hits against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1969 contest.
Pittsburgh Pirates 3B Lee Handley (Bradley hoops letterman from 1932-33 through 1934-35) provided four hits against the New York Giants in a 1939 game.
In 2003, LHP Mark Hendrickson (two-time All-Pacific-10 Conference selection paced Washington State four straight seasons in rebounding from 1992-93 through 1995-96) became the first Toronto Blue Jays hurler to hit a home run (against Montreal Expos).
Chicago Cubs rookie OF/1B Dick "Footer" Johnson (averaged 3.4 ppg for Duke in 1950-51 and 1951-52 under coach Harold Bradley) scored his only MLB tally as pinch-runner in a 1958 game against the Cincinnati Reds.
In the midst of a career-high 11-game hitting streak, Chicago Cubs 2B Jerry Kindall (averaged 6.9 ppg for Minnesota as junior in 1955-56) contributed two doubles against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1960 contest.
Setting a new record for a night game, Los Angeles Dodgers LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman hoops squad in 1953-54) fanned 16 Philadelphia Phillies in a 6-2 triumph in 1959.
RHP Dave Leonhard (averaged 4.8 ppg with Johns Hopkins MD in 1961-62), joining the Baltimore Orioles on a weekend leave from the National Guard, tossed a three-hit shutout against the Cleveland Indians in the nightcap of a 1969 doubleheader.
Cincinnati Reds CF Greasy Neale (hooper graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan College in 1915) provided three hits in both ends of a 1918 twinbill split against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Pittsburgh Pirates rookie 2B Johnny O'Brien (consensus All-American second-team choice as junior and consensus first-team selection as senior averaged 25.8 ppg for Seattle from 1950-51 through 1952-53) manufactured back-to-back three-hit outings to cap off a nine-game hitting streak in 1953.
In 1971, Atlanta Braves RHP Ron Reed (Notre Dame's leading rebounder in 1963-64 and 1964-65) spun a three-hit shutout against the Montreal Expos, igniting a streak where he permitted more than two earned runs only once in a span of nine starts to early August.
Philadelphia Phillies RHP Robin Roberts (finished among Michigan State's top three scorers each season from 1944-45 through 1946-47) went 3-for-3 at the plate including a pair of doubles and scored two runs in contest against the St. Louis Cardinals.
RHP Charlie Robertson (Austin College TX hooper before joining U.S. Army during WWI) purchased from the Boston Braves by Dallas (Texas League) in 1928.
In 1944, Pittsburgh Pirates INF Al Rubeling (Towson hooper in early 1930s) ripped his second pinch-hit homer in a four-game span.
Montreal Expos rookie RHP Bill Sampen (MacMurray IL MVP in 1984-85 when averaging team-high 14.9 ppg) won his first six decisions in 1990 en route to leading team in victories with 12 despite starting only four times in 59 games.
In 1982, St. Louis Cardinals RHP John Stuper (two-time all-conference junior college hooper in mid-1970s for Butler County PA) surrendered Pete Rose's 3,772nd career hit. The third-inning double moved Rose past Hank Aaron into second place on MLB's all-time list.
Chicago White Sox RF Evar Swanson (five-position hooper for Knox IL) collected four hits against the Boston Red Sox in a 1934 game.
Cleveland Indians 3B Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) hit two homers in a 1994 game against the Detroit Tigers. Twelve years later as DH, the Chicago White Sox's only hit off Anthony Reyes of the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1-0 victory was seventh-inning round-tripper by Thome in 2006.
C Luke Urban (player-coach for Boston College's hoops squad from 1918-19 through 1920-21) traded by the Boston Braves to Buffalo (International) in 1928.
Toronto Blue Jays DH Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) knocked in five runs in a 1992 outing against the Texas Rangers.
In 1969, Chicago White Sox rookie RHP Billy Wynne (one of prime Pfeiffer NC hoopers in mid-1960s) hurled his lone MLB shutout (1-0 against California Angels).
Washington Senators 3B Eddie Yost (NYU freshman hooper in 1943-44 under coach Howard Cann) stroked a triple in his third consecutive contest in 1948.
Washington Senators LHP Tom Zachary (Guilford NC hoops letterman in 1916) notched his first of eight consecutive complete games in 1920.
Bush Leaguers: Five NCAA DI Bench Bosses Coached Three Small Colleges
June 22nd, 2023 - 9:31
Five active NCAA Division I bench bosses previously guided three small schools prior to reaching the big time. Lipscomb's Lennie Acuff and Iona's Tobin Anderson were small-college mentors for more than 20 seasons in the "bush leagues." Following is an alphabetical list of head coaches for multiple small four-year colleges prior to earning a current opportunity at DI level (number of years as small-college head coach in parentheses):
| Active Head Coach | DI University | Multiple Stints as Small-College Mentor |
|---|---|---|
| Lennie Acuff (27) | Lipscomb | Belhaven MS in 1990-91 and 1991-92)/Berry College GA from 1993-94 through 1996-97/Alabama-Huntsville from 1997-98 through 2018-19 |
| Tobin Anderson (21) | Iona | Clarkson NY from 1999-00 through 2003-04/Hamilton College NY from 2004-05 through 2010-11/St. Thomas Aquinas NY from 2013-14 through 2021-22 |
| Chris Beard (3) | Mississippi | McMurry College TX in 2012-13/Angelo State TX in 2013-14 and 2014-15 |
| Keith Dambrot (4) | Duquesne | Tiffin OH in 1984-85 and 1985-86/Ashland OH in 1989-90 and 1990-91 |
| Jim Ferry (4) | Maryland-Baltimore County | Plymouth State NH in 1998-99/Adelphi NY from 1999-00 through 2001-02 |
| Geno Ford (3) | Stony Brook | Shawnee State OH in 2001-02/Muskingum OH in 2005-06 and 2006-07 |
| Ray Harper (12) | Jacksonville State | Kentucky Wesleyan from 1996-97 through 2004-05/Oklahoma City 2005-06 through 2007-08 |
| Donte Jackson (7) | Grambling State | Central State OH from 2010-11 through 2013-14/Stillman College AL from 2014-15 through 2016-17 |
| Matt Logie (12) | Montana State | Whitworth WA from 2011-12 through 2018-19/Point Loma Nazarene CA from 2019-20 through 2022-23 |
| Ryan Looney (15) | Idaho State | Eastern Oregon from 2004-05 through 2008-09/Seattle Pacific from 2009-10 through 2015-16/Point Loma Nazarene CA from 2016-17 through 2018-19 |
| Greg McDermott (7) | Creighton | Wayne State NE from 1994-95 through 1999-00/North Dakota State in 2000-01 |
| Tim Miles (12) | San Jose State | Mayville State ND in 1995-96 and 1996-97/Southwest Minnesota State from 1997-98 through 2000-01/North Dakota State from 2001-02 through 2006-07 |
| Dave Paulsen (14) | Holy Cross | St. Lawrence NY from 1994-95 through 1996-97/LeMoyne NY from 1997-98 through 1999-00/Williams MA from 2000-01 through 2007-08 |
| Paul Sather (14) | North Dakota | Black Hills State SD from 2005-06 through 2009-10/Northern State SD from 2010-11 through 2018-19 |
NOTE: North Dakota State subsequently moved up to NCAA DI level after coached by McDermott and Miles.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Providing MLB Headlines on June 21
June 21st, 2023 - 9:22
Extra! Extra! Instead of debating equal justice under the law regarding hideous Hunter Biledumb's slap on the wrist for his various crimes and ghoulish critiquing wealthy individuals passing away while exploring bottom-of-the-ocean wreckage of Titantic, 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 Alabama hoopers Riggs Stephenson (Chicago Cubs) and Jim Tabor (Boston Red Sox) turned the tide by delivering significant MLB outings on this date. Ex-Penn hoopers Walt Huntzinger and Fritz Knothe plus ex-juco hoopers Rusty Kuntz (Cuesta CA), Irv Noren (Pasadena City CA), Ken Retzer (Jefferson City MO) and Jim Thome (Illinois Central) also made MLB news on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 21 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 21
Pittsburgh Pirates 3B Clyde Barnhart (played basketball for Shippensburg PA predecessor Cumberland Valley State Normal School prior to World War I) and LF Carson Bigbee (hoops letterman with his brother on Oregon's squad in 1915) combined for nine hits against the Brooklyn Robins in a 1922 contest.
Detroit Tigers 1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in WAC games in 1991-92) collected five RBI against the Boston Red Sox in a 1997 outing. Two years later, Clark cracked three extra-base hits against the Oakland Athletics in a 1999 outing.
Chicago Cubs 3B Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for Louisiana State and Louisiana-Lafayette in mid-1940s) posted his third four-hit outing in a five-game span in 1958.
Detroit Tigers 1B Walt Dropo (first player in Connecticut history to average 20 ppg in single season with 21.7 in 1942-43) homered in both ends of a 1953 twinbill against the New York Yankees.
After registering five saves in less than a month, Cincinnati Reds LHP Joe Gibbon (two-time All-SEC forward for Ole Miss was nation's second-leading scorer as senior in 1956-57) notched his 11th straight scoreless relief appearance.
St. Louis Cardinals RHP Bob Gibson (first Creighton hooper to average more than 20 ppg in career with 20.2 from 1954-55 through 1956-57) ripped a three-run homer en route to passing Jesse Haines (210 victories) and becoming the franchise's all-time winningest hurler.
Cincinnati Reds RHP Ken Hunt (freshman hooper for Brigham Young in 1957-58) tossed his third complete-game triumph in less than a month in 1961.
RHP Walt Huntzinger (All-EIBL second-five selection in 1921-22 with Penn) awarded on waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals to the Chicago Cubs in 1926.
Philadelphia Phillies 3B Fritz Knothe (member of Penn's freshman hoops squad in 1923-24) went 4-for-4 with three RBI in a 10-8 win against the Cincinnati Reds in 1933.
OF Rusty Kuntz (J.C. hooper for Cuesta CA) traded by the Chicago White Sox to the Minnesota Twins in 1983.
Washington Senators CF Don Lock (led Wichita State in field-goal percentage in 1956-57 and 1957-58 under coach Ralph Miller) smashed two homers against the Kansas City Athletics in the opener of a 1964 doubleheader.
Chicago White Sox RHP Ted Lyons (two-time All-SWC first-team selection for Baylor in early 1920s) notched his 250th career win in 1942. Lyons finished the season hurling complete games in all 20 starts, led the A.L. with a 2.10 ERA, and then entered the U.S. Marine Corps at age 42.
Washington Senators rookie CF Irv Noren (hoops player of year for California community college state champion Pasadena City in 1945) knocked in five runs against the Detroit Tigers in a 1950 contest.
Detroit Tigers RF Jim Northrup (second-leading scorer and third-leading rebounder for Alma MI in 1958-59) amassed two homers and five RBI against the Cleveland Indians in the nightcap of a 1970 twinbill.
Washington Senators rookie C Ken Retzer (fourth-leading juco scorer with 184 points for Jefferson City MO in 1953-54) capped off his career-high nine-game hitting streak with three safeties in a 1962 outing against the Detroit Tigers.
Brooklyn Dodgers LHP Preacher Roe (Harding AR hooper in late 1930s) won his first 10 decisions in 1951.
New York Yankees 3B Red Rolfe (played hoops briefly with Dartmouth in 1927-28 and 1929-30) provided five hits against the Detroit Tigers in a 1940 outing.
As a pinch-hitter, New York Mets C John Stephenson (scored 1,361 points for William Carey MS in early 1960s) was the final out of P Jim Bunning's perfect game for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1964.
Chicago Cubs LF Riggs Stephenson (Alabama hoops letterman in 1920) supplied four hits against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1932 contest.
Boston Red Sox 3B Jim Tabor (Alabama hoops letterman in 1936-37) knocked in five runs in a 1941 outing against the St. Louis Browns.
Cleveland Indians 1B Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) whacked two homers in a 2000 game against the Chicago White Sox. Three years later with the Philadelphia Phillies, he smacked a pair of round-trippers against the Boston Red Sox.
In 1973, San Diego Padres rookie LF Dave Winfield (starting forward with Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) whacked his first of 465 MLB homers (off Ken Forsch of Houston Astros).
St. Louis Browns LHP Tom Zachary (hoops letterman for Guilford NC in 1916) amassed multiple safeties in his third straight start in 1926.
Before Their Time: Remembering "Only Good Die Young" Among DI Hoopers
June 20th, 2023 - 20:23
We'll never know what could have happened on the hardwood. Evansville's initial year at the NCAA Division I level ended in tragedy when first-year coach Bobby Watson and 13 members of his Purple Aces squad perished in a plane crash moments after taking off en route to their fifth game of the 1977-78 season. Someone forgot to remove the rudder lock, which combined with improper weight distribution caused the tail of the plane to spin out of control. The DC3 charter out of Indianapolis was slated to transport Notre Dame back to South Bend after a game at Indiana before inclement weather modified schedules.
The Aces' lone victory in their first four outings was a 90-83 verdict over Pittsburgh, which finished the season with a winning record (16-11) and tied for third place in the Eastern 8. Watson, a Vietnam veteran with five Purple Hearts, was hired after former Evansville All-American Jerry Sloan, who went on to a distinguished coaching career with the Utah Jazz, had been named coach of the Purple Aces before abruptly changing his mind. Mike Duff, hailed as Evansville's most promising player, was among those who died. Duff signed with Missouri but changed his mind and was able to immediately attend Evansville because the Aces weren't affiliated with the national letter of intent. One UE player who did not make the flight - David Furr - was working as a statistician after suffering an ankle sprain so severe doctors said it was better off broken. Two weeks later, Furr died in an auto accident with his younger brother.
Oklahoma State was also impacted by a tragic plane crash in late January 2001 when redshirt reserves Nate Fleming (freshman) and Dan Lawson Jr. (juco recruit), flying with broadcasters and several athletic department officials separate from starters on a jet, perished in an 11-seat, twin-engine Beechcraft that crashed shortly after takeoff following a defeat at Colorado. Lawson's relatives from Detroit area eventually were awarded a $1.6 million settlement.
Decades earlier, Baylor's ill-fated 1927 basketball squad lost 10 of its 21-member traveling party in a bus-train wreck en route to Austin, Tex. As a result of the "Immortal Ten" tragedy, the remainder of the first of coach Ralph Wolf's 15 seasons was cancelled, and the first highway overpass in Texas was constructed.
Chicago product Ben Wilson, named the top player at the Nike/AFBE Camp in Princeton, N.J., entered his senior season of high school generally regarded as the premier recruit in the nation because of his Magic Johnson-like skills. Just a few days prior to the first game of his senior campaign (1984-85), Wilson was slain by gunshots within a block of Simeon High's campus after bumping into two gang members while walking down the street on his school lunch break. Excluding military service, following is an alphabetical list of players and signees (including impacting eight different major colleges in Texas) who died with eligibility remaining or shortly after senior season and before possibly signing with a professional team (like Maryland's Len Bias):
| Deceased NCAA DI Player | School | Description of Player's Demise While Still in College |
|---|---|---|
| DeAndre Adams | Winthrop | Pint-sized point guard died in spring of 2007 when sustaining head injuries in an auto accident after trying to avoid a fallen tree in road during a thunderstorm. He averaged 1.7 ppg and 2.4 apg in his two seasons with Gregg Marshall-coached NCAA Tournament teams. |
| Rotimi Alakija | Indiana State | Juco transfer died late in 1987-88 season after frontcourter collapsed during practice. Nigerian native averaged 8.8 ppg and team-high 5.4 rpg. |
| Guy Alang-Ntang | Wichita State | Signee from Cameroon collapsed and died during workout at forward's New Hampshire prep school in spring of 2007. |
| Mark Alcorn | Louisiana State | Transfer from St. Louis (father's alma mater) died of cancer at age of 23 in early 1982. His illness was detected in late 1980 when the Tigers competed in Great Alaska Shootout after he played in 10 games for them the previous season. |
| Calistas Anyichie | Binghamton | Nigerian native drowned at a state park in summer of 2019 after averaging 1.9 ppg and 2.1 rpg during his freshman year. |
| Jonathan Bailey | Rice | Backup guard was stabbed to death in spring of 2007 after confrontation at a bar following his lone season when he competed in only four games. |
| Gary Bancroft | Purdue | Died after suffering a broken neck in tragic trampoline accident following freshman season in 1965-66 when he scored 21 points in freshman-varsity game. |
| Jerode "Smokie" Banks | Baylor | Forward, the SWC freshman of year in 1993-94 (9.8 ppg and 5 rpg), died before the start of next season in a one-car accident on interstate at roughly 3 a.m. |
| Tikoyo Barnett | Georgia State | Juco recruit died in auto accident following 2004-05 season after going home for the Easter weekend. Forward averaged 5.9 ppg and 3.5 rpg in his lone campaign. |
| Clifford Baumbach | Purdue | Christian Scientist died after refusing medication for blood poisoning. He averaged 1.1 ppg as a sophomore in 1934-35. |
| Micheal Blackshear | Temple | Shot in the back of head shortly before 2:30 a.m. in late summer of 2005. Blackshear averaged a team-high 5.9 rpg with the Owls as a sophomore in 2003-04 under coach John Chaney before he was suspended prior to the start of 2004-05 campaign and transferred to Cheyney State PA, where his father played for Chaney. |
| Kevin Brophy | Georgia | Australian died in a car crash in summer of 2006 while driving toward home after participating in a basketball clinic. He started eight games as a freshman in 2004-05 when averaging 3.8 ppg under coach Dennis Felton. |
| Arturo Brown | Boston University | Senior forward died of a heart attack in fall of 1982 during a pickup game. He averaged 12 ppg and 6 rpg in three years under coach Rick Pitino, leading BU in scoring his final season with 14.7 ppg. |
| Mike Brown | Virginia Commonwealth | Senior forward collapsed during a morning team practice midway through 1988-89 season and died a short time later in hospital emergency room. He was a member of VCU's NIT team the previous campaign. |
| Jibri Bryan | Mercer | Graduate student, sitting in driver's seat of a Chevrolet Monte Carlo, was shot in the head in a gas station parking lot in a drug transaction gone bad in early February 2016. Guard averaged 5 ppg and 2.8 rpg during his career (grabbing three rebounds in four minutes of play in school's first NCAA Tournament victory/78-71 over Duke in 2014 Midwest Regional). |
| Pat Burke | Fairfield | Co-captain and leader in scoring average with 20.3 ppg in 1964-65 freaked out in mid-February 1966 when hearing a 4 a.m. knock on the door at motel where he and friends were partying. He went out a back door and began to run but fell down a steep embankment at the rear of the inn, striking his head on a jagged rock (sustaining a skull fracture and hemorrhaging to death). |
| Terrence Butler | Drexel | Junior-to-be died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his on-campus apartment in early August of 2023. Forward appeared in eight games in his two seasons with the Dragons while struggling with injuries. |
| Devin Butts | North Carolina Central | Transfer forward from Mississippi State via Louisiana-Lafayette died in early May of 2023 after collapsing while working out with NCCU teammates. Juco recruit averaged 5.3 ppg as a junior. |
| Eric Chambers | Mercer | Junior-to-be forward collapsed and died during a pickup game in mid-August of 1985. An autopsy revealed heat stroke as the apparent cause of death. He averaged 3.7 ppg as a sophomore when playing in NCAA tourney game against Mark Price-led Georgia Tech. |
| Haris Charalambous | Toledo | Backup junior center died in fall of 2006 after collapsing during a conditioning workout. He averaged 1 ppg in two seasons. |
| Charles Christopher | Arizona State | Averaged 12.9 ppg in his lone season (1954-55) before dying in late February from complications during surgery to repair a broken wrist. |
| Terrence Clarke | Kentucky | Guard died following a car crash in L.A. in mid-April 2021 while preparing for the NBA draft. Failing to wear his seat belt properly, Boston native was the only occupant in a new Hyundai Genesis running a red light at a very high rate of speed (80 mph in 45-mph zone) before clipping front of a truck and slamming into light pole. He missed much of his freshman season in 2020-21 with an ankle injury, averaging 9.6 ppg, 2.6 rpg and 2 apg in eight contests (seven in non-conference competition) for coach John Calipari. |
| Leroy Cobb | Southern California | Forward died of an embolism in summer of 1971 while undergoing open-heart surgery only months after playing under coach Bob Boyd. Cobb averaged 2.2 ppg in two seasons for the Trojans. |
| Tyrek Coger | Oklahoma State | Forward collapsed and died following team workout. High school recruit for coach Brad Underwood had just arrived on campus after July 4. |
| Chad Cooke | College of Charleston | Walk-on guard died of undetected heart condition two days before Christmas in 2014 while playing basketball with his brother and friends in a Chicago suburb. He was on the Cougars' roster for two seasons. |
| Seth Coy | East Tennessee State | Center died in a car crash in summer of 2009 while traveling home to Indiana after averaging 2.9 ppg and 2 rpg in his lone season. |
| Chris Daniels | Dayton | Frontcourter, finishing 1995-96 season as the nation's leader in field-goal shooting (68.3%), went into convulsions in off-campus student neighborhood in middle of the night in early February and died because of a heart ailment. He finished his four-year career with averages of 6.1 ppg and 3.4 rpg. His brother, Antonio, hit a layup in the closing seconds to give Bowling Green a 72-70 victory over Eastern Michigan in Antonio's first game after his sibling's death. |
| Patrick Dennehy | Baylor | New Mexico transfer was shot in the head and murdered by teammate Carlton Dotson in mid-June 2003, putting into motion firing of Bears coach Dave Bliss by the world's largest Baptist school before reports surfaced he was directly involved in a coverup attempting to hide drug use and NCAA violations within his program by encouraging an assistant coach and players to depict the slain center as a drug dealer. "I liken Bliss to a child molester," said Brian Brabazon, Dennehy's stepfather, to USA Today. "He may not physically molest kids, but he molests their minds. What a callous, cold-hearted person he is. |
| Dick Derby | Yale | Killed in early September 1962 in an automobile accident after averaging 4.3 ppg and 3.3 rpg as a sophomore for the Bulldogs' NCAA playoff team coached by Joe Vancisin. |
| Kellen Dixon | UC Riverside | Guard was killed in a multi-car accident on I-15 in mid-September 2003. He averaged 1.3 ppg and 1.3 rpg in two seasons with UCR. |
| Lafayette Dorsey Jr. | Pacific/Nicholls State | Transfer redshirt guard committed suicide by hanging in a garage the first week of August 2020. Son of former Pepperdine guard averaged 9.1 ppg and 2.7 rpg with UOP in 2017-18 and 2018-19. |
| Ralph Elliott | Texas | Sophomore forward was killed in early April 1971 along with two other individuals in a two-car accident near his hometown of Denison, Tex. He averaged 3.4 ppg and 2.7 rpg in his lone season. |
| Ken Eshleman | Kent State | Died in early December 1953 as a result of a blow on the head (cerebral basal hemorrhage after opposing player grabbed a rebound, whirled to make outlet pass and inadvertently struck him in face with his elbow) in game against Bowling Green. Reserve missed all nine of his field-goal attempts in 21 games. |
| Wayne Estes | Utah State | En route back and forth to his off-campus apartment and then a restaurant, Estes was with teammate Delano Lyons and another friend on February 8, 1965, when they passed three times the scene of an auto accident killing a USU student. The group stopped and inspected the scene briefly. They were returning to their car when Lyons, who is 6-2, noticed a live high-voltage wire dangling in front of him after being dislodged when the victim's car hit a utility pole. Lyons ducked and hollered "Watch it!" to the 6-6 Estes, who was walking behind him. But Estes didn't react quickly enough and the wire carrying 2,700 volts of electricity brushed against his forehead, killing the Montana native instantly. As a senior, the two-time All-American ranked second in the nation in scoring (33.7 ppg) and fourth in free-throw shooting (87.8%). |
| Billy Feeney | New Mexico | After averaging 8.5 ppg and 3.6 rpg with Portland State as a freshman in 2001-02, transfer forward commited suicide in late August 2003. He was found hanging from a light pole in downtown Albuquerque at 5:15 a.m. outside an apartment complex. Feeney was intoxicated and reportedly despondent about a breakup with his girlfriend. |
| Jeff Foster | Boise State | Juco recruit was killed in a traffic accident prior to the 1987-88 campaign. The 6-10 center averaged 3.8 ppg and 2.5 rpg in his only season. |
| Ryan Francis | Southern California | Victim of homicide by gunshot in 2006 while in backseat of vehicle during visit to his hometown of Baton Rouge, La., for Mother's Day. The point guard averaged 7.1 ppg, 2.7 rpg and team-high 3.7 apg as a freshman under coach Tim Floyd. |
| Oscar Frayer | Grand Canyon | Senior died in highway crash in Northern California three days after playing in NCAA Tournament against Iowa. He averaged 8 ppg and 4.3 rpg in his four-year career. |
| Mike Frick | Virginia Military | Cadet, visiting his Pennsylvania home over spring furlough, was abducted and killed in late March of 1968. He averaged 1 ppg in each of two seasons. |
| Eric "Hank" Gathers | Loyola Marymount | The most tragic moment in history of any league tourney occurred in semifinals of 1990 West Coast Conference Tournament when the league's all-time scoring leader and a two-time tourney MVP collapsed on his homecourt during the Lions' game with Portland. Two-time All-American died later that evening of a heart ailment and the tournament was suspended. USC transfer averaged 28 ppg and 11.1 rpg in three seasons with LMU. |
| Jim Griffin | Samford | Died in his sleep in fall of 2009 from a heart ailment that never had been detected. The 6-7 Griffin averaged 1.8 ppg, 1.9 rpg and 1.3 apg in three seasons. |
| John Gunn | Memphis State | Junior center died midway through the 1976-77 season due to complications of a rare disease (Stevens-Johnson Syndrome). He was the Tigers' runner-up in rebounding each of his first two campaigns, posting three-year career averages of 11.1 ppg and 8.7 rpg. |
| Ernie Hall | Northeastern | Forward was stabbed to death in his hometown of Washington, D.C., in late summer of 1987. Averaging 2.2 ppg and 2 rpg in his career, junior-to-be appeared in back-to-back NCAA tourneys with teammate Reggie Lewis. |
| Mark Anthony Hall | UC Riverside | Recruit died in mid-September 2006 car crash after swerving to avoid hitting a stalled auto on the highway and rolling several times just before 2 a.m. |
| Dean Harris | Kansas State | Forward died in auto accident near his hometown of East St. Louis in spring of 1974 after Lon Kruger's teammate averaged 7.4 ppg and 6.5 rpg (runner-up on team) as a freshman under coach Jack Hartman. |
| Larry "Deacon" Harris | West Virginia | On the heels of being declared academically ineligible for the second semester, forward was killed instantly in auto accident in 1972 when losing control of his Corvair and striking a bridge abutment. Teammate Sam Oglesby survived but was rendered a paraplegic. As a sophomore, Harris was runner-up on the team to juco recruit Oglesby in rebounding (7.1 rpg). |
| Dick Hartmann | Creighton | One of the nation's top rebounders the previous year with 15.1 per game died in a traffic accident prior to the start of his senior campaign in 1960-61. |
| Michael Haynes | Iona | Chicago recruit, slated to go to college the next week, was fatally shot in late July 2012 when trying to intervene during a dispute over gold necklace. |
| Mike Heck | Creighton | Two days after the best game of center's college career (24 points/9 rebounds), seven-footer died at dormitory in his sleep the first week of December 1974 from a cardiac disorder. Heck averaged 8.4 ppg and 4.3 rpg for Midwest Regional third-place finisher the previous season in Eddie Sutton's final year as coach of the Bluejays before heading to Arkansas. |
| Nick Herrmann | Cal State Northridge | Oral commitment died in August 2022 after guard's second bout with bone cancer. |
| Josh Hill | Yale | Senior was killed in a single-car accident in late May of 2004 about 3:30 a.m. The 6-7 center missed majority of 2002-03 season and all of 2003-04 because of a hernia but planned on returning to the squad. As a sophomore, Hill played a vital role for the Elis' NIT team in 2001-02, averaging 4.8 ppg and 3.1 rpg. |
| Zach Hollywood | Ball State | 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. |
| Michael Isenhour | Georgia Tech | Air Force transfer died because of acute leukemia in the spring of 2002 after participating in 2001 NCAA playoffs. |
| Jamal Jackson | Cleveland State | Forward was fatally stabbed by his girlfriend's cousin in Boston hometown in late summer of 1995 in middle of night hours before he was due back on campus. As a sophomore, All-Midwestern Collegiate Conference second-team selection posted team-highs of 16.4 ppg and 8.1 rpg. |
| Ashley "A.J." James | Missouri State | Oral commitment died in spring of 2020 in an accidental shooting in apartment near military academy in Virginia the shooting guard attended. |
| Bobby James | Southern Methodist | The Mustangs' leading scorer (16 ppg) and rebounder (10 rpg) in 1958-59 died in a fire while All-SWC first-team selection visited his family in Ruston, La. He was SMU's top rebounder (9.4 rpg) and runner-up in scoring (13.1 ppg) the previous season as a sophomore under coach Doc Hayes. |
| George Jefferson | Saint Peter's | Senior-to-be died in his sleep of a heart attack in his dormitory room in mid-June 2005 while taking summer classes. Guard averaged 4 ppg and 1.5 rpg in his three seasons. |
| James Jenkins | San Jose State | Projected as a probable starter after averaging 1.8 ppg and 1.5 rpg as a freshman, forward was found dead in spring of 2002 after becoming separated from his father on a recreational hiking trip. |
| Ben Johnson Jr. | Fairleigh Dickinson | Freshman forward was killed in middle of 1975-76 season when the car he was driving crashed into a utility pole. Johnson and two teammates were on their way home following a loss at Iona when the auto skidded on an icy highway just after midnight. Johnson, a teammate of eventual DI coach and ESPN analyst Seth Greenberg, was the Knights' second-leading scorer at the time with 12 ppg. |
| Tommy Johnson | Kansas | School's first All-American didn't complete his eligibility with the Jayhawks after becoming ill because of tuberculosis. He missed the 1910-11 season and later died on November 24, 1911. |
| Herb Jones | Montana | Forward was killed in a head-on car accident in early September 1985 after teammate of Larry Krystkowiak averaged 2.2 ppg and 2.4 rpg as a freshman under coach Mike Montgomery. |
| Richard Jones | Canisius | Junior forward died suddenly following a workout in spring of 2004 because of a genetically-enlarged heart. He averaged 5.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg and 1.6 apg in his three seasons, finishing runner-up in team rebounding as a sophomore. |
| Mike Keck | Oregon State | Starting guard was averaging 14.1 ppg, 4.9 rpg and 2.7 apg midway through the 1970-71 season (first for Ralph Miller as OSU's coach) when Keck was killed in an auto accident on a visit to Nevada. |
| Harry Kersenbrock | Kansas | Seven-foot transfer from Doane (Neb.) for coach Phog Allen died in summer of 1928 when a canoe overturned along the Blue River. |
| Earnest Killum | Oregon State | Choosing to play despite a blood-clotting disorder, sophomore guard died less than a day following the finest game of his brief career (13-point performance against USC in 1991-92). |
| Jerome "Jerry" Lademan | Fairfield | Died in an auto accident on a mountain road in Italy while touring with a Stags assistant coach in summer of 1973 after averaging 1.8 ppg and 1.4 rpg as a sophomore guard under bench boss Fred Barakat. |
| Bruce Lee | Oklahoma | Possible starter in 1983-84 for coach Billy Tubbs died from complications following a routine tonsillectomy in spring of 1983. Teammate of Wayman Tisdale when junior swingman appeared that year in NCAA playoffs. |
| John Lemmond | Furman | Collapsed during a brief intermission following a practice drill in mid-November 1962 and was pronounced dead at the age of 20 shortly after his arrival at local hospital in an ambulance. Starting center much of his sophomore season in 1961-62 when averaging 4.3 ppg and 4.7 rpg under coach Lyles Alley. |
| Robert Liburd | Temple | Native of Trinidad, a 7-2 recruit who never got a chance to commence his collegiate career under coach John Chaney because of Marfan's Syndrome, was found dead in his dormitory room in late May of 1987. |
| Greg Lords | Boise State | Guard died in summer of 1994 when jumping 150 feet off a bridge while boating with his family. He had played in NCAA Tournament that year as a freshman against Denny Crum-coached Louisville. |
| Chad Maclies | Centenary | Leading scorer and rebounder as a Mid-Continent Conference all-league second-team selection died of natural causes in his dorm room after the 2004-05 season while senior chatted on the computer with his girlfriend. |
| Mike Mason | Texas-San Antonio | Guard was killed in a traffic accident at around 1:20 a.m. in fall of 1990. Beginning to exit his auto following a minor traffic accident, he and his car were struck from behind by another vehicle with the impact throwing him 60 feet. Juco transfer averaged 13.9 ppg, 2.8 apg and 1.8 spg. |
| Rodrick McClure | Eastern Washington | Starting point guard was killed by drunken driver in a two-car accident while driving to the airport to catch a post-Christmas flight back to rejoin teammates during 1996-97 season. Juco transfer was averaging 7.7 ppg, 3.2 rpg and 5.3 apg. |
| Steve McElvene | Dayton | Center collapsed at his home in Fort Wayne, Ind., and died in mid-May of 2016 after averaging 6.1 ppg and 5.6 rpg plus team-highs of 1.7 bpg and 61% field-goal shooting as a freshman under coach Archie Miller. McElvene grabbed team-high six rebounds in NCAA playoff setback against Syracuse. |
| John "Jackie" McLaughlin | St. Louis | Died during the Billikens' NIT season in 1955-56 while hitching a ride home to the Bronx during Christmas break. Coach Eddie Hickey pupil was killed when the car in which he rode collided with a truck not too far from the university. |
| Kevin Mormin | Pittsburgh (scholarship offer) | The 7-2 junior from a N.Y. private school died when one of two vans transporting his prep team to out-of-state competition rolled over outside Charlotte, N.C., in late 2003. |
| Bradley Mosley | South Florida | Juco transfer guard who averaged 14.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg and 3.3 apg in 2003-04 died in late October of 2005 following a year-long battle with cancer. |
| Jeff Muriel Jr. | Texas A&M-Corpus Christi | Point guard died in late summer 2005 at around 2 a.m. when a Chevrolet Caprice he was driving was struck head-on by a pickup truck traveling the wrong way due to intoxication. He averaged 1.1 ppg as a freshman under coach Ronnie Arrow. |
| Tobi Oyedeji | Texas A&M | Power forward recruited by coach Mark Turgeon died in a head-on collision on prom night in spring of 2010. According to police report details, Oyedeji's Toyota left its lane just past 6:00 a.m., crossed over a grassy median and into oncoming traffic. |
| Carmen Palmiero | Penn State | Promising sophomore died in Pennsylvania Turnpike auto accident driving home for Christmas vacation during the 1956-57 season (averaged 8 ppg in four contests). |
| Chris Patton | Maryland | Undetected Marfan's syndrome triggered death in spring of 1976 during a pickup game. Center averaged 4.2 ppg and 2.7 rpg in two seasons under coach Lefty Driesell, appearing in all three of the Terps' NCAA playoff contests as a freshman. |
| Deshean Porchea | Alabama State | Guard collapsed and died after playing in pickup game on campus in spring of 2008. He averaged 2.5 ppg in two seasons. |
| Lawrence Raphael | Princeton | Hoops newcomer was shot in the head by a robber in summer of 1982 while sitting in a car in his girlfriend's circular driveway after they went out for ice cream cones. |
| Anthony Robinson | North Carolina State | Frontcourter committed suicide with a gunshot to the head early in 1992-93 season after playing in both of the Wolfpack's NCAA playoff games two years earlier as a freshman. |
| Gregory Ross | Bethune-Cookman | Walking down a street in spring of 1984 when murdered by a single gunshot from a handgun fired out the window of a passing car after center led the Wildcats in rebounding as a sophomore with 7 per game. |
| Danny Rumph | Western Kentucky | Starting guard collapsed and died in 2005 from sudden cardiac arrest during a summer pickup game at rec center in his hometown of Philadelphia. He was coming off a junior season averaging 9.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg and 3 apg (team runner-up) for an NIT participant. |
| Wayde Sims | Louisiana State | Son of LSU forward Wayne Sims, a SEC All-Freshman team selection in 1987-88, was shot and killed at 12:30 a.m. near the campus of another college in Baton Rouge (Southern) in the fall of 2018 following an altercation near a Subway restaurant. The Tigers were slated to have their season-opening practice at 6:30 a.m. Wayde, a forward, averaged 6 ppg and 3.3 rpg his first two campaigns. |
| Matt Skalsky | Maryland-Baltimore County | Sophomore guard died from irregular beating of an enlarged heart after collapsing at a New Year's Eve party during 1995-96 season. He averaged 6 ppg, 2.1 rpg and 1.3 apg in 20 contests over two campaigns. |
| Theo Smalling | Hampton | Senior-to-be forward died from an accidental gunshot wound outside a nightclub before start of the 2009-10 season. He averaged 3.4 ppg and 5.2 rpg in three campaigns, leading the Pirates in rebounding as a sophomore and junior. |
| Brad Snyder | Northern Arizona | NAU's leader in scoring average (14.1 ppg) and free-throw shooting (88.1%) under coach Ben Howland, not wearing a seat belt, was killed in a one-vehicle accident late in the 1994-95 season when junior forward's car flipped twice on an interstate at about 2:45 a.m. Snyder averaged 10.7 ppg, 3.2 rpg and 1.5 apg in three seasons. |
| Jon Speaks | North Carolina State | Senior captain was killed in an auto accident in spring of 1963. Guard averaged 11.2 ppg and 3.2 rpg in three seasons under coach Everett Case, leading the Wolfpack in scoring each of his last two years. |
| Paul Stewart | Cleveland State | Boston native collapsed and died of an apparent heart attack in a pickup game in late April 1986 after averaging 4.7 ppg and 3.5 rpg in his only season. In East Regional, forward contributed six points and three rebounds in upset win against Steve Alford-led Indiana plus seven points and three boards in one-point setback vs. David Robinson-led Navy. |
| Chris Street | Iowa | Tom Davis-coached Hawkeyes boasted a legitimate shot at the 1993 Big Ten Conference title until their leading rebounder with 9.5 per game died instantly in midseason in a collision between a car the forward was driving and county dumptruck/snowplow. The previous season as a sophomore, he paced their NCAA Tournament team with 8.2 rpg. |
| Jeff Taggart | Canisius | Junior suffered a heart seizure while on the bench in 1987-88 game in early March against Niagara and died in ambulance on his way to a hospital. He averaged 6.4 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 1.5 apg and 1 spg in three seasons. |
| Jeremiah Tate | Wofford | Backup junior-to-be guard drowned in the summer of 2015 after YMCA Camp counselor dove off a bridge into lake for swim at 2 a.m. |
| Kevin Thompson | Indiana State | Hometown recruit, diagnosed with cancer prior to his freshman season of 1980-81, died midway through 1981-82 campaign. He never played a game in college. |
| Andre Tooks | Georgia State | Juco recruit center died of chest and head injuries in late October of 2001 after a car ran a red light and struck his Toyota truck while he was on his way to practice. Tooks was less than 50 yards from the arena. |
| Guy Lee Turner | Alabama | Southern Illinois native nicknamed "Elegant Elephant" died at the age of 21 in mid-June of 1967 about two hours following an injury incurred when senior-to-be dove into shallow end of an off-campus apartment swimming pool. He was runner-up in scoring average both of his seasons with the Crimson Tide. |
| Walter Turner | Florida Atlantic | The 6-8 freshman collapsed during stretching exercises at practice in fall of 1997 and died. |
| Greg Wallace | Stephen F. Austin | Army transfer frontcourter collapsed and died during a practice midway through redshirt season in 2003-04. |
| Marcus Watson | Grambling State | Guard died in the fall of 2005 in a one-vehicle, alcohol-related accident at 3:10 a.m. after averaging 4.5 ppg, 1.3 rpg and 1.7 apg as a freshman. |
| Marvin Webster Jr. | Temple | Projected as a starter for Owls coach John Chaney, academic freshman redshirt died of heart attack in summer of 1997 two days after stricken while riding in a car with a friend. Webster's father was a two-time All-American center for Morgan State and third pick overall in 1975 NBA draft. |
| Fedonta "J.B." White | New Mexico | Local commitment was slain in 2020 after the 6-8 wing got into a physical altercation during a summer party at around 3:30 a.m. The defendant said the fatal shot was fired over his shoulder ("to stop him") while running away from fist fight. |
| Henry White | Grambling State | Juco recruit died from heat exhaustion at a mid-August, preseason practice in 2009. Forced to complete a 4 1/2-mile, timed, discipline run ("The Tiger Mix" monitored by assistant coach from a golf cart) in 95-degree heat, the Milwaukee native passed away nearly two weeks later as guard's liver and kidneys were ravaged to the point of total failure. A majority of the coaching staff was fired that fall. |
| Ishan White | New Mexico State | Juco recruit passed away in mid-February 2022 after attending NMSU in the fall of 2021 but never playing a game for the Aggies upon being "medically disqualified." |
| Ronald White | Idaho | Transfer was killed in mid-day automobile accident in mid-December 1945 before the Vandals won PCC North Division championship. |
| Herman Williams | Louisiana-Lafayette | On precipice of attending second summer school session, signee from Florida died after combo guard collapsed while scrimmaging on a church court in mid-June 2016. |
| Ryse Williams | Loyola Marymount | Signee died of a rare and aggressive form of kidney cancer in 2017 one day before his high school graduation and a little more than a week after shooting guard fell ill. |
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Providing MLB Headlines on June 20
June 20th, 2023 - 9:22
Extra! Extra! Instead of debating if hideous Hunter Biledumb really is so corrupt he tried to imply revealing laptop wasn't owned by him and if vastly improving fatherhood figures in African-American community by shaming "sperminators" would vastly improve race relations, 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 small-college hoopers Dick Siebert (Concordia-St. Paul MN/Minnesota) and Bobby Winkles (Illinois Wesleyan/Arizona State) guided major universities to College World Series championships on this date in the 1960s. Ex-NYU hoopers Hank Greenberg and Eddie Yost supplied significant American League performances on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 20 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 20
Boston Red Sox 1B Dale Alexander (starting basketball center in mid-1920s for Milligan TN) contributed four hits in a 9-5 win against the Cleveland Indians in 1933.
SS Gair Allie (freshman hooper for Wake Forest in 1950-51) whacked a three-run homer off Bob Buhl to help catapult the Pittsburgh Pirates to 6-3 decision over the Milwaukee Braves in opener of 1954 doubleheader.
LF Howie Bedell (averaged 3.5 ppg and 3.5 rpg for West Chester PA in 1955-56) traded by the Milwaukee Braves to the St. Louis Cardinals for P Bobby Tiefenauer in 1963.
Montreal Expos RHP Ray Burris (two-sport standout in Southwestern Oklahoma State Hall of Fame) tossed a three-hit shutout against the Philadelpia Phillies in 1983.
RHP Bob Chlupsa (led Manhattan in rebounding in 1965-66 and 1966-67) traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the San Diego Padres in 1972.
1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in WAC games in 1991-92) clobbered two of Detroit's team-record eight homers in the Tigers' 18-6 victory against the Toronto Blue Jays in 2000.
Hall of Fame C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) collected four of the Philadelphia Athletics' 26 hits in an 18-11 decision over the Chicago White Sox in 1932.
Lone MLB triumph for RHP Paul Edmondson (averaged 12.4 ppg and 6.6 rpg with Cal State Northridge from 1962-63 through 1964-65) came in his debut in 1969 when hurling a two-hitter for the Chicago White Sox against the California Angels.
Detroit Tigers rookie 1B Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoops scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) went 4-for-4 against the Philadelphia Athletics in a 1933 contest.
RHP Ed Halicki (NAIA All-American third-team choice in 1971-72 when leading Monmouth in scoring with 21 ppg after setting school single-game rebounding record with 40 the previous season) awarded on waivers from the San Francisco Giants to the California Angels in 1980.
Los Angeles Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) homered twice against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1959 game.
Toronto Blue Jays 3B Garth Iorg (juco hooper with College of the Redwoods CA in mid-1970s) went 3-for-3 and scored three runs in a 6-5 win against the Boston Red Sox in 1985.
New York Yankees LF Charlie Keller (three-year hoops letterman with Maryland from 1934-35 through 1936-37) homered in his fourth consecutive contest in 1941. Two years later, Keller connected for a circuit clout in both ends of a 1943 twinbill split against the Washington Senators.
San Francisco Giants OF Harvey Kuenn (played hoops briefly for Wisconsin in 1951-52 after competing on JV squad previous season) collected five hits against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1964 contest.
Chicago Cubs RF Bill Nicholson (Washington College MD hoops guard for two years in mid-1930s) smacked two homers against the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a 1943 doubleheader.
Chicago White Sox RHP Johnny Rigney (top hoops center for St. Thomas MN in mid-1930s) tossed an 11-inning, 1-0 shutout against the New York Yankees in 1940. On the flip side, it was a season when he incurred 12 one-run defeats.
In 1961 outing, Baltimore Orioles rookie RF Earl Robinson (three-time All-PCC second-team selection for California under coach Pete Newell from 1955-56 through 1957-58) ripped first MLB homer, which was among his three hits against the Minnesota Twins.
New York Yankees 3B Red Rolfe (Dartmouth hooper in 1927-28 and 1929-30) registered three extra-base hits against the Chicago White Sox in a 1939 game.
Baltimore Orioles 1B Norm Siebern (member of Southwest Missouri State squads capturing back-to-back NAIA Tournament hoops titles in 1952 and 1953) stroked three extra-base hits and scored four runs against the Washington Senators in a 1965 game.
Eleven-year MLB 1B Dick Siebert (Concordia-St. Paul MN hooper in 1929 and 1930) coached Minnesota to his second of three College World Series championships with the Gophers by outlasting Southern California, 2-1, in 10 innings in 1960.
Chicago Cubs SS Roy Smalley Jr. (one of top scorers for Drury MO in 1942-43 and 1943-44) supplied three extra-base hits off Johnny Sain in a 4-3 triumph against the Boston Braves in a 1950 contest.
RHP Lee Smith (averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg with Northwestern State in 1976-77) preserved the California Angels' 3-2 verdict over the Kansas City Royals in 1995, setting a MLB mark with his 18th save in 18 opportunities (record subsequently broken).
Boston Red Sox 3B Jim Tabor (Alabama hoops letterman in 1936-37) jacked two homers against the Philadelphia Athletics in the opener of a 1943 twinbill.
Philadelphia Phillies 1B Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) contributed a pair of homers and five RBI in a 2004 game against the Kansas City Royals. He smacked 15 round-trippers during the month.
Former MLB manager Bobby Winkles (All-College Conference of Illinois first-team selection led Illinois Wesleyan in scoring with 12 ppg as senior in 1950-51) coached Arizona State to his third of three College World Series championships with the Sun Devils by trouncing Tulsa, 10-1, in 1969.
Washington Senators 3B Eddie Yost (NYU freshman hooper in 1943-44 under coach Howard Cann) hammered a crucial two-run homer in 4-2 decision over the Detroit Tigers in 1950. It was his lone outing in a 14-game span when failing to be issued at least one walk.
Resume Building: Job Titles Aren't Always Linked to Executive Remuneration
June 20th, 2023 - 8:45
Assistant coaches for NBA teams and power-conference members frequently are paid significantly more than head coaches for mid-major colleges. Just ask Villanova aide Baker Dunleavy (left Quinnipiac) and Virginia counterpart Ron Sanchez (Charlotte). They are among nine such coaches in the last five years in this category. David Patrick reportedly doubled his salary three years ago when forsaking head-coaching responsibilities with UC Riverside to become chief assistant at Arkansas. Billy Donlon, joining Clemson's staff as an aide last season, became the second UMKC mentor this century joining the following alphabetical list of NCAA Division I head coaches who had years remaining on their contract when they departed to become an assistant for a power-conference member or NBA franchise:
| Head-to-Assistant Coach | Mid-Major College (Tenure) | Power-League Member/NBA Team |
|---|---|---|
| Ben Betts Jr. | South Carolina State (2003-04 through 2005-06) | Oklahoma |
| Donny Daniels | Cal State Fullerton (2000-01 through 2002-03) | UCLA |
| Dean Demopoulos | Missouri-Kansas City (2000-01) | Seattle Sonics |
| Billy Donlon | Kansas City (2019-20 through 2021-22) | Clemson |
| Baker Dunleavy | Quinnipiac (2017-18 through 2022-23) | Villanova |
| Orlando Early | Louisiana-Monroe (2005-06 through 2009-10) | South Carolina |
| Dane Fife | IPFW (2005-06 through 2010-11) | Michigan State |
| Kevin McKenna | Indiana State (2007-08 through 2009-10) | Oregon |
| Jack Murphy | Northern Arizona (2012-13 through 2018-19) | Arizona |
| Bill Musselman | South Alabama (1995-96 and 1996-97) | Portland Trail Blazers |
| Dave Odom | East Carolina (1979-80 through 1981-82) | Virginia |
| Chris Ogden | Texas-Arlington (2018-19 through 2020-21) | Texas |
| Kevin O'Neill | Northwestern (1997-98 through 1999-00) | New York Knicks |
| Matt Painter | Southern Illinois (2003-04) | Purdue |
| David Patrick | UC Riverside (2018-19 and 2019-20) | Arkansas |
| Robert "Buzz" Peterson | Coastal Carolina (2005-06 and 2006-07) | Charlotte Bobcats |
| Kenneth "Doc" Sadler | Southern Mississippi (2014-15 through 2018-19) | Nebraska |
| Ron Sanchez | Charlotte (2018-19 through 2022-23) | Virginia |
| Heath Schroyer | UT Martin (2014-15 and 2015-16) | North Carolina State |
| Damon Stoudamire | Pacific (2016-17 through 2020-21) | Boston Celtics |
| Rodney Terry | Texas-El Paso (2018-19 through 2020-21) | Texas |
| Ralph Willard | Holy Cross (1999-00 through 2008-09) | Louisville |
| Brent "Buzz" Williams | New Orleans (2006-07) | Marquette |
NOTE: Painter and Williams were head-coaches-in-waiting. Stoudamire (Georgia Tech) and Terry (Texas) are now power-conference head coaches.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Providing MLB Headlines on June 19
June 19th, 2023 - 12:01
Extra! Extra! Instead of wondering on Juneteenth why so-called educators aren't theoretically racing toward more critical thinking in general than contrived CRT curriculum enabling BLM Mansion Mommas while ignoring historical fact Demorats were bigger supporters of slavery and segregation than Republicans, 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 small-college hoopers Dale Alexander (Milligan TN) and Larry Biittner (Buena Vista IA) each went 4-for-4 in a MLB game on this date while small-school counterparts Donn Clendenon (Morehouse GA) and Bill White (Hiram OH) both had outstanding offensive outputs as N.L. first basemen. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 19 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 19
Detroit Tigers 1B Dale Alexander (starting basketball center in mid-1920s for Milligan TN) had a 29-game hitting streak snapped by the New York Yankees in 1932. Two years later, Alexander was with the Boston Red Sox when he went 4-for-4 against the Cleveland Indians in the opener of a doubleheader.
Cleveland Indians RHP Jim Bibby (Fayetteville State NC backup hooper and brother of UCLA All-American Henry Bibby) tossed a four-hit shutout against the Detroit Tigers in the nightcap of a 1977 twinbill.
Chicago Cubs 1B Larry Biittner (runner-up in scoring and rebounding for Buena Vista IA in 1966-67) went 4-for-4 in the nightcap of a 1976 doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves.
New York Mets 1B Donn Clendenon (four-sport letterman with Morehouse GA) contributed three extra-base hits against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1971 game.
Philadelphia Athletics LHP Chubby Dean (reserve guard for Duke in 1936) hurled five innings of scoreless relief against the Cleveland Indians in a 1938 contest. Dean won his previous two relief appearances and compiled a 1.72 ERA in five games during the month.
New York Giants OF Hoot Evers (starter for Illinois in 1939-40) climaxed a four-run, ninth-inning rally with a pinch-hit homer against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1954.
Los Angeles Dodgers C Joe Ferguson (hooper in 1967 NCAA playoffs with Pacific) provided a game-winning, pinch homer in the bottom of the 10th inning in a 5-3 win against the Montreal Expos in 1980.
Nine-year MLB INF Jerry Kindall (averaged 6.9 ppg for Minnesota as junior in 1955-56) coached Arizona to his first of three College World Series championships with the Wildcats by upending Eastern Michigan, 7-1, in 1976.
Philadelphia Phillies RHP Bobby Munoz (juco hooper for Polk FL in 1986-87) went 3-for-4 at the plate and scored two runs in 13-0 mauling of the Montreal Expos in 1994.
Washington Senators 2B Buddy Myer (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1923-24) notched at least three hits for the fourth time in six-game span in 1935.
San Diego Padres 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) smacked two homers against the San Francisco Giants in a 1986 outing.
New York Yankees RF Lou Piniella (averaged 2.5 ppg and 1.4 rpg with Tampa as freshman in 1961-62) knocked in five runs in an 8-3 win against the Milwaukee Brewers in 1983.
Brooklyn Dodgers LF Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) ripped two homers against the Chicago Cubs in a 1954 contest.
Baltimore Orioles RHP Tim Stoddard (starting forward opposite All-American David Thompson for North Carolina State's 1974 NCAA champion) yielded his only run in an 11-game stretch of relief appearances in 1979.
Detroit Tigers C Birdie Tebbetts (Providence hooper in 1932) manufactured three hits for the third time in a four-game span in 1940.
Cleveland Indians RHP Ralph Terry (juco hooper averaged 22 ppg for Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in mid-1950s) tossed a three-hit shutout in winning his first of four consecutive starts in 1965 during which he posted a 1.14 ERA.
St. Louis Cardinals RHP Ray Washburn (led Whitworth WA in scoring when named All-Evergreen Conference in 1958-59 and 1959-60) hurled a two-hit shutout against the Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a 1966 doubleheader.
St. Louis Cardinals 1B Bill White (two-year hooper for Hiram OH in early 1950s) knocked in five runs in a 1963 contest against the New York Mets.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Providing MLB Headlines on June 18
June 18th, 2023 - 14:40
Extra! Extra! Instead of shaking head in disgust about Plagiarist "Delaware Beach Weekend" Biledumb failing to boast bike-riding ability better than Lurch Kerry, courage or mental-gymnastics cognition to deal with Southern border, crime, gas prices and economy plus combat Russian President Vladimir Putin, 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.
Three former MLB players or manager who played college hoops - Ohio State's Marty Karow (alma mater), Minnesota's Dick Siebert (Concordia-St. Paul MN) and Arizona State's Bobby Winkles (Illinois Wesleyan) - coached schools to College World Series championships on this date in a four-year span in the mid-1960s. Meanwhile, ex-OSU hoopers Steve Arlin and Jim Geddes each were in midst of impressive MLB pitching performances on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 18 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 18
Philadelphia Phillies rookie LF Harry Anderson (averaged 7.7 ppg and 8.9 rpg for West Chester PA basketball squad in 1951-52) provided the game-winning hit with a fifth-inning grand slam in a 7-6 win against the Chicago Cubs in 1957.
San Diego Padres RHP Steve Arlin (played two basketball games for Ohio State in 1964-65 under coach Fred Taylor) fired a two-hit shutout against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1972. In his next start five days later, Arlin tossed a one-hitter in 4-1 decision over the San Francisco Giants.
Pittsburgh Pirates RF Clyde Barnhart (hooper for Shippensburg PA predecessor Cumberland Valley State Normal School prior to World War I) contributed five RBI against the Boston Braves in a 1923 game.
Cincinnati Reds rookie RF Frankie Baumholtz (MVP in 1941 NIT and first player in Ohio University history to score 1,000 points in a career) collected four hits and 1B Babe Young (Fordham letterman in 1935-36) contributed a pair of three-run homers to support teammate Ewell Blackwell's no-hitter against the Boston Braves in 1947.
Cincinnati Reds 3B Gene Freese (West Liberty WV hoops captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team) went 7-for-8 in a 1961 doubleheader sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies.
Chicago White Sox RHP Jim Geddes (averaged 2.7 ppg for Ohio State from 1967-68 through 1969-70 under coach Fred Taylor) held the California Angels hitless for 4 2/3 innings but walked six in his 1973 debut. In his next appearance, Geddes held the Texas Rangers scoreless in 4 1/3 innings in the opener of a July 4 doubleheader.
1B Dick Gernert (Temple hoops letterman in 1948-49) whacked the only homer for the Boston Red Sox while tallying 17 runs in the seventh inning of a 23-3 rout of the Detroit Tigers in 1953. C Sammy White (All-PCC Northern Division first-five selection for Washington in 1947-48 and 1948-49) tied a MLB single-inning record by scoring three runs during the explosive frame. White finished the fray with four hits and four runs scored.
Brooklyn Robins 3B Wally Gilbert (hoops captain played for Valparaiso from 1918-19 through 1920-21) went 4-for-4 and scored three runs in an 8-7 win against the New York Giants in the opener of a 1929 doubleheader.
Pittsburgh Pirates 1B Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoops scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) whacked two homers against the New York Giants in a 1947 contest.
In 1963, San Francisco Giants C Tom Haller (backup forward for Illinois in 1956-57 and 1957-58 under coach Harry Combes) homered in his third consecutive contest.
Cleveland Indians RHP Oral Hildebrand (Butler hoops All-American in 1928-29 and 1929-30) hurled back-to-back shutouts in 1933, giving him five whitewash performances in less than a two-month span. Four years later with the St. Louis Browns, Hildebrand hurled a two-hit shutout against the Washington Senators in 1937.
Brooklyn Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) homered twice against the Chicago Cubs in a 1954 game. Blasts came on the seventh anniversary of his first of 370 MLB round-trippers.
Former Boston Red Sox INF Marty Karow (Ohio State hoops letterman in 1925) coached his alma mater to 1966 College World Series championship by defeating Oklahoma State, 8-2.
Brooklyn Dodgers RHP Clyde King (started two basketball games for North Carolina in December 1944 under coach Ben Carnevale collected his fourth victory as a reliever in fewer than three weeks in 1945.
In 1962, Los Angeles Dodgers LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman hoops squad in 1953-54) outdueled St. Louis Cardinals RHP Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer and rebounder in 1955-56 and 1956-57). It marked the third time Koufax won a game, 1-0, on a Tommy Davis homer.
Chicago White Sox LHP Thornton Lee (Cal Poly hooper in 1925-26) hurled his seventh straight complete game allowing fewer than four earned runs.
Chicago Cubs LF Hank Leiber (Arizona hooper in 1931) smacked two homers against the Brooklyn Dodgers in a 1941 contest.
Los Angeles Dodgers 2B Davey Lopes (NAIA All-District 15 selection for Iowa Wesleyan averaged 16.9 ppg as freshman in 1964-65 and 12.1 ppg as sophomore in 1965-66 before transferring with his coach to Washburn KS where he became All-CIC choice for 1968 NAIA Tournament team) stole four bases against the Montreal Expos in a 1978 game.
Chicago Cubs RF Bill Nicholson (Washington College MD hoops guard for two years in mid-1930s) smashed two homers against the Cincinnati Reds in the nightcap of a 1944 twinbill.
Cleveland Indians RHP Jim Perry (averaged more than 20 ppg in late 1950s for former juco Campbell) won his first four starts of the month although he finished 1961 season seven games below .500.
Washington Senators RF Carl Reynolds (Southwestern TX hoops MVP and captain in mid-1920s) homered twice and knocked in five runs in a 1932 game against the Detroit Tigers.
Spoiling the MLB debut of Hall of Fame RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47), the Pittsburgh Pirates edged the Philadelphia Phillies, 2-0, in 1948.
Brooklyn Dodgers 2B Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) stole his third base of contest before scoring game-winning run in bottom of 10th inning in 1952 game against the Chicago Cubs.
Montreal Expos RHP Bill Sampen (MacMurray IL MVP in 1984-85 when averaging team-high 14.9 ppg) won his fourth straight decision in 1991.
Eleven-year MLB 1B Dick Siebert (Concordia-St. Paul MN hooper in 1929 and 1930) coached Minnesota to his third of three College World Series championships with the Gophers by defeating Missouri, 5-1, in 1964.
Arizona Diamondbacks rookie 2B Junior Spivey (redshirted his only semester at Northwestern Oklahoma State on hoops scholarship before transferring to KS junior college) stroked five hits in a 14-5 thrashing of the Houston Astros in 2001.
In 1986, San Diego Padres RHP Tim Stoddard (starting forward opposite All-American David Thompson for North Carolina State's 1974 NCAA champion) slugged his first and only MLB homer. He appeared in another 128 games but never had another at-bat.
Cincinnati Reds 3B Billy Werber (first Duke hoops All-American in 1929-30) went 5-for-5 against the Boston Braves in the opener of a 1939 doubleheader.
Former MLB manager Bobby Winkles (All-College Conference of Illinois first-team selection led Illinois Wesleyan in scoring with 12 ppg as senior in 1950-51) coached Arizona State to his second of three College World Series championships with the Sun Devils by humbling Houston, 11-2, in 1967.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Providing MLB Headlines on June 17
June 17th, 2023 - 7:21
Extra! Extra! Instead of trying to understand doltish Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) or reading excerpts from Ashley Biden's diary found in halfway house recalling showers with her plagiarist father (probably as inappropriate as having hideous Hunter serve as advisor), 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.
Three current SEC members - Louisiana State (Joe Adcock and Alvin Dark), Mississippi (Don Kessinger) plus Missouri (Sonny Siebert) - had former hoopers supply significant MLB performances on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 17 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 17
Milwaukee Brewers rookie RHP Mike Adams (played basketball for Texas A&M-Kingsville in 1996-97) scored upon for the only time in his first 14 MLB relief appearances in 2004.
Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading scorer in 1945-46) swatted two homers in a 5-4 win against the Brooklyn Dodgers in opener of 1956 twinbill.
Eleven-year A.L. INF Jack Barry (Holy Cross hoops letterman in 1908) coached his alma mater to the 1952 College World Series championship by defeating Missouri, 8-4.
Detroit Tigers 1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in Western Athletic Conference games in 1991-92) clobbered two homers against the Minnesota Twins in a 1998 contest.
New York Giants SS Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for Louisiana State and Southwestern Louisiana during World War II) and C Wes Westrum (hooper for Bemidji State MN one season before serving in military during WWII) each collected four hits in a 1951 game against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Pittsburgh Pirates INF Gene Freese (West Liberty WV hoops captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team) went 4-for-4 against the Milwaukee Braves in a 1957 outing.
Boston Red Sox 1B Dick Gernert (Temple hoops letterman in 1948-49) walloped two homers in a 17-1 romp over the Detroit Tigers in 1953.
San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-WAC second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) went 4-for-4 against the Houston Astros in a 1989 game.
San Francisco Giants LHP Atlee Hammaker (averaged 5.3 ppg as freshman in 1976-77 and 4.9 ppg as sophomore in 1977-78 under East Tennessee State coach Sonny Smith) tossed a four-hit shutout against the Cincinnati Reds in 1985.
Boston Braves 1B Buddy Hassett (hooper for Manhattan teams winning school-record 17 consecutive games in 1930 and 1931) banged out three hits in both ends of a 1940 doubleheader sweep against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Rookie RHP Wynn Hawkins (all-time leading scorer for Baldwin-Wallace OH upon graduation in 1957) yielded Boston Red Sox Hall of Famer Ted Williams' 500th home run (fourth player in MLB history to reach that plateau) at Cleveland in 1960.
In 1965, Chicago Cubs RHP Bobby Humphreys (four-year hoops letterman graduated from Hampden-Sydney VA in 1958) yielded his only run in last 11 relief appearances of the month.
Chicago White Sox C Duane Josephson (Northern Iowa scoring leader in 1962-63 and 1963-64 under coach Norm Stewart) went 4-for-4 and scored three runs in a 6-3 triumph against the New York Yankees in 1970.
Chicago Cubs SS Don Kessinger (three-time All-SEC selection for Ole Miss from 1961-62 through 1963-64 while finishing among nation's top 45 scorers each year) went 6-for-6 in a 10-inning, 7-6 victory against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1971.
Milwaukee Brewers OF Joe Lahoud (hoops letterman in mid-1960s for New Haven CT) contributed a grand slam en route to six RBI in 15-5 rout of the Chicago White Sox in 1973.
New York Giants CF Hank Leiber (Arizona hooper in 1931) logged four hits and five RBI against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1938 contest.
C Cal Neeman (Illinois Wesleyan's leading scorer in 1947-48 and 1948-49) stroked a three-run, inside-the-park homer off Harvey Haddix with two outs in bottom of eighth inning to lift the Chicago Cubs to 5-2 triumph over the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1959. Inside-the-park HR went unmatched by another Cubbies backstop until 2008. Haddix was making his fourth start after hurling a perfect game for 12 innings against the Milwaukee Braves before losing the no-hitter and historic contest in the 13th.
Pittsburgh Pirates 1B Gary Redus (J.C. hooper for Athens AL and father of Centenary/South Alabama guard with same name) provided three extra-base hits against the San Diego Padres in a 1991 outing.
Starting RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) scored the winning run in the 15th inning to give the Philadelphia Phillies a 3-2 decision over the St. Louis Cardinals in 1954.
Brooklyn Dodgers 1B Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) left 13 runners stranded in a 1951 doubleheader against the Boston Braves. Three years later as a LF, Robinson provided two doubles and two homers against the Milwaukee Braves in a 1954 game.
Kansas City Athletics 1B Norm Siebern (member of Southwest Missouri hoop squads capturing back-to-back NAIA Tournament titles in 1952 and 1953) smashed two homers against the Minnesota Twins in a 1962 contest.
Cleveland Indians RHP Sonny Siebert (team-high 16.7 ppg for Missouri in 1957-58 as All-Big Eight Conference second-team selection) fanned 15 Washington Senators batters in hurling a three-hit shutout in 1965.
C John Stephenson (scored 1,361 points for William Carey MS in early 1960s) shipped from the New York Mets to the Chicago Cubs in 1967 as the player to be designated, completing an earlier deal that month.
Boston Red Sox 3B Billy Werber (first Duke hoops All-American in 1929-30) banged out three hits in both ends of a 1934 twinbill sweep of the St. Louis Browns.
Chicago Cubs RHP Zip Zabel (premier hooper for Baker KS from 1913 to 1915), entering game with two outs in top of first inning when starter Bert Humphries exited after line drive struck him on pitching hand, hurled a MLB-record 18 1/3 innings of relief against the Brooklyn Robins in 1915.
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