On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Ready to Tackle September 9 NFL Gridiron

Long before kneeling knuckleheads and multiple anthems, the NCAA Tournament commenced in 1939, which was one year after the NIT triggered national postseason competition. An overlooked "versatile athlete" feat occurring in 1938 likely never to be duplicated took place at Arkansas, where the quarterback for the football squad (Jack Robbins) repeated as an All-SWC first-team basketball selection, leading the Razorbacks (19-3) to the league title. After the season, Robbins became an NFL first-round draft choice by the Chicago Cardinals (5th pick overall) and senior football/basketball teammates Jim Benton (11th pick by Cleveland Rams) and Ray Hamilton (41st pick by Rams) went on to become wide receivers for at least six years in the NFL. Yes, they created a kneeling-in-admiration shatterproof achievement - three do-everything members of a league championship basketball squad who promptly were among the top 41 selections in the same NFL draft.

Two years later, All-SWC first-team hoop selection Howard "Red" Hickey was instrumental in Arkansas reaching the 1941 Final Four before becoming an end for the Cleveland Rams' 1945 NFL titlist. Two-sport college teammate and fellow end O'Neal Adams scored five touchdowns for the New York Giants the first half of the 1940s. Another two-sport Hog who played for the Giants in the mid-1940s was Harry Wynne. An earlier versatile Razorback was Jim Lee Howell, who was an All-SWC first five hoop selection in 1935-36 before becoming a starting end for the Giants' 1938 NFL titlist and Pro Bowl participant the next year. Adams, Benton, Hamilton, Hickey and Howell combined for 77 touchdowns in an 11-year span from 1938 through 1948 when at least one of the ex-Razorback hoopers scored a TD in each of those seasons.

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves on September 9 in football at the professional level (especially in 2007):

SEPTEMBER 9

  • Kansas City Chiefs LB Bobby Bell (first African-American hooper for Minnesota in 1960-61) provided the game's decisive touchdown by returning an interception 32 yards in 25-20 win against the Houston Oilers in 1967 AFL season opener. Oilers rookie CB Zeke Moore (Lincoln MO hoops letterman in mid-1960s) returned a kickoff 43 yards in his pro debut.

  • Denver Broncos E Don Carothers (averaged 2.5 ppg and 2.7 rpg for Bradley from 1954-55 through 1957-58) caught two passes for 25 yards from QB Frank Tripucka in a 13-10 win against the Boston Patriots in 1960 on grand-opening day for AFL competition.

  • Oakland Raiders WR Ronald Curry (averaged 4.2 ppg, 2.5 rpg and 3 apg for North Carolina in 1998-99 and 2000-01) caught 10 passes for 133 yards in a 36-21 setback against the Detroit Lions in 2007 season opener.

  • San Diego Chargers TE Antonio Gates (second-team All-MAC selection in 2002 when Kent State finished runner-up in South Regional) caught nine passes for 107 yards in a 14-3 win against the Chicago Bears in 2007 season opener.

  • Houston Oilers WR Bill Groman (led Heidelberg OH in scoring average as sophomore and junior while averaging 14.6 ppg and 4.8 rpg from 1954-55 through 1957-58) caught two touchdown passes from George Blanda in a 55-0 win against the Oakland Raiders in 1961 AFL season opener.

  • Houston Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins (played in seven hoop games for Clemson in 2010-11) caught two touchdown passes from Deshaun Watson in a 30-28 setback against the New Orleans Saints in 2019 season opener.

  • Washington Redskins TE Jimmie Johnson (averaged 2.7 ppg and 1.5 rpg for Howard University in 1988-89) caught a touchdown pass from QB Mark Rypien in each of first two games of 1991 season.

  • In 1968 AFL season opener, Kansas City Chiefs DT Ernie Ladd (intended on only playing hoops for Grambling before legendary coach Eddie Robinson got him to play football) intercepted a pass in 26-21 win against the Houston Oilers.

  • Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb (averaged 2.3 points in 18 games for Syracuse in 1995-96 and 1996-97) passed for 312 yards - including two fourth-quarter touchdowns - in a 20-17 setback against the St. Louis Rams in 2001 season opener.

  • Dallas Cowboys WR Terrell Owens (UTC hooper from 1993-94 through 1995-96 started five games) caught two second-half touchdown passes from Tony Romo in a 45-35 win against the New York Giants in 2007 season opener.

  • New York Titans WR Art Powell (averaged 10.5 ppg and 8.2 rpg for San Jose State in 1956-57) caught five passes for 175 yards - including two touchdowns from Lee Grosscup (80 and 64 yards) - in a 28-17 win against the Oakland Raiders in 1962 AFL season opener.

  • Pittsburgh Steelers WR Antwaan Randle El (member of Indiana's 1999 NCAA Tournament team) had five pass receptions for 162 yards in a 16-13 win against the Miami Dolphins in 2007 season opener.

  • Cleveland Browns WR Reggie Rucker (averaged 6.8 ppg and 3.8 rpg for Boston University in 1966-67) caught two touchdown passes from Brian Sipe in a 27-24 win against the Kansas City Chiefs in 1979.

  • Dallas Cowboys QB Roger Staubach (Navy varsity hooper in 1962-63) threw two second-half touchdown passes in a 21-13 win against the San Francisco 49ers in 1979.

  • Los Angeles Dons rookie E Dick Wilkins (leading scorer for Oregon's all-time winningest team in 1944-45) caught a touchdown pass in each of his first two AAFC games in 1949.

On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Generating MLB Headlines on September 9

Extra! Extra! She was more lucid propagandist than Out House successor Ka-ringe "Binder Babe" Jean-Pierre, but media misfit Jenny Sock-it-to-me might generate even lower #MSDNC viewer ratings with her "circle back" programming than fellow former Plagiarist Bile-dumb/Cacklin' Kamala flak Symone Sanders. Rather than debating topic, 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 Kentucky small colleges - "Sweet" Lou Johnson (Kentucky State) and David Justice (Thomas More) - made hitting headlines as National League outfielders on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a September 9 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

SEPTEMBER 9

  • Brooklyn Dodgers RHP Ray Benge (multi-year hoops letterman for Sam Houston State first half of 1920s) hurled a two-hit shutout against the Cincinnati Reds in opener of 1934 twinbill.

  • Chicago Cubs 1B Larry Biittner (runner-up in basketball scoring and rebounding in 1966-67 for Buena Vista IA) stroked four hits in a 15-2 romp over the Philadelphia Phillies in 1979.

  • San Francisco Giants INF Ernie Bowman (East Tennessee State hoops letterman in 1954-55 and 1955-56) drove in the go-ahead run with an eighth-inning triple in 9-6 win against the rival Los Angeles Dodgers in 1961.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates RF Dan Costello (Mount St. Mary's hooper from 1910-11 through 1913-14) went 3-for-3 against the Chicago Cubs in a 1914 game.

  • SS Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for Louisiana State and Southwestern Louisiana during World War II) accounted for all of the New York Giants' offense with two homers in 2-0 victory against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1950 as teammate Sal Maglie hurled a MLB-tying fourth straight shutout.

  • In the midst of a career-high 11-game hitting streak, Washington Senators 3B Frank Ellerbe (Wofford hooper after transferring from Sewanee TN) knocked in decisive run with a double in top of 12th inning of 6-5 triumph against St. Louis Browns in opener of 1920 doubleheader.

  • Los Angeles Dodgers RF Joe Ferguson (hooper in 1967 NCAA playoffs for Pacific) launched a three-run homer, which was the game-winning hit in 5-3 win against the San Diego Padres in 1973.

  • Brooklyn Robins 2B Jake Flowers (member of Washington College MD "Flying Pentagon" hoops squad in 1923) knocked in winning run in the ninth inning in a 3-2 victory against the New York Giants in 1928.

  • Chicago Cubs 3B Howard Freigau (Ohio Wesleyan hooper) supplied four safeties, including three extra-base hits, in a 9-7 triumph against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1925.

  • LHP Steve Hamilton (Morehead State's leading scorer and rebounder in 1956-57 and 1957-58) awarded on waivers from the New York Yankees to the Chicago White Sox in 1970.

  • St. Louis Cardinals rookie 2B Tommy Herr (hooper with Delaware's freshman team in 1974-75) supplied three hits for the third time in an 11-game span in 1980.

  • In 1964, Los Angeles Dodgers 1B-OF Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection when leading Ohio State in scoring and rebounding in 1956-57 and 1957-58) hammered his eighth homer in 20 at-bats against San Francisco Giants P Bob Hendley, including four in a row the previous year (not in same game).

  • RHP Bobby Humphreys (four-year hoops letterman graduated from Hampden-Sydney VA in 1958) won his second game in relief in four days to help the St. Louis Cardinals advance toward 1964 N.L. pennant.

  • Toronto Blue Jays 3B Garth Iorg (juco hooper with College of the Redwoods CA in mid-1970s) delivered a decisive two-run homer in bottom of eighth inning of 5-3 win against the Detroit Tigers in 1985.

  • Atlanta Braves RF David Justice (Thomas More KY assists leader in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg) amassed two homers and five RBI against the San Francisco Giants in a 1991 contest.

  • In 1965, Los Angeles Dodgers LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman hoops squad in 1953-54) hurled his fourth no-hitter in as many years. It was a perfect game against the Chicago Cubs, who yielded a lone safety but incurred their second one-hit setback this season against L.A. LF "Sweet" Lou Johnson (Kentucky State teammate of legendary HBCU coach Davey Whitney averaged 5.7 ppg and 2 rpg in 1951-52) secured the game's only hit and scored the lone run.

  • Minnesota Twins rookie RF Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) homered in his fourth consecutive contest in 1968.

  • INF Tim Nordbrook (Loyola LA hoops letterman in 1968-69) purchased from the Baltimore Orioles by the California Angels in 1976.

  • California Angels 3B Bob Oliver (All-Valley Conference basketball choice for American River Community College CA in 1962) provided two hits for the eighth time in their first nine games of the month in 1973.

  • Boston Red Sox rookie RHP Dick Radatz (center on Michigan State's freshman hoops squad in 1955-56) tossed nine innings of relief in registering a victory against the New York Yankees in 1962. Outing was his 12th relief appearance of season toiling at least three frames.

  • RHP John Stuper (two-time all-conference junior college hooper in mid-1970s for Butler County PA) traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the Cincinnati Reds in 1984.

  • Detroit Tigers 2B Gary Sutherland (averaged 7.4 ppg with Southern California in 1963-64) provided four hits against the New York Yankees in a 1975 outing.

  • Chicago White Sox RF Evar Swanson (played all five positions for Knox IL) went 4-for-4 against the Washington Senators in the opener of a 1934 doubleheader.

  • Detroit Tigers rookie SS Coot Veal (averaged team-high 10.9 ppg as Auburn sophomore in 1951-52 before transferring to Mercer) scored three runs in the first of five two-hit outings in a seven-game span in 1958.

  • Kansas City Athletics 1B-OF Preston Ward (second-leading scorer for Southwest Missouri State in 1946-47 and 1948-49) walloped three homers in a row against the Baltimore Orioles in 1958 game.

  • Philadelphia Phillies RF Cy Williams (Notre Dame forward in 1909-10) whacked homers in his first two at-bats but they weren't enough to prevent a 12-6 reversal against the Brooklyn Robins in 1926.

  • New York Giants 1B Babe Young (Fordham hoops letterman in 1935-36) blasted two homers in a 1941 contest against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Double Dipping: DI All-Conference Hoopers Eventually Transitioning to NFL

Will Mo Alie-Cox (Indianapolis Colts) or George Fant (New York Jets), both in the midst of multi-year contract extensions, become the eighth major-university athlete to achieve NFL Pro Bowl status after earning all-league acclaim as a college hooper? Cox (Virginia Commonwealth) and Fant (Western Kentucky) are the only players in this category since fellow mid-major hoopers Darren Fells (UC Irvine) and Joe Reitz (Western Michigan) in 2008. Fant and Reitz are among 12 individuals earning all-conference acclaim at least three times before competing in the NFL. The only one of the group to be a four-time all-league choice is Kansas' Otto Schnellbacher in the 1940s before leading NFL with 11 interceptions in 1951 for the New York Giants.

It was a far different era at the start of national postseason competition when at least four versatile players were named all-league hoopers each year from 1936 through 1939 prior to entering the NFL. The Big Ten Conference hasn't contributed an athlete in this category in more than 50 years but boasted eight different such individuals from 1936 through 1969 including All-Americans Otto Graham (Northwestern), Vern Huffman (Indiana), Ron Kramer (Michigan) and Max Morris (Northwestern). In deference to the start of a new pro football campaign, following is an alphabetical list of all-conference basketball players from DI leagues who wound up competing in the NFL:

Multi-Sport Athlete NFL Position/Team(s) DI College Basketball All-Conference Honors
Mo Alie-Cox TE (Indianapolis Colts) Virginia Commonwealth Atlantic 10 (3rd team in 2016)
Ermal Allen DB (Cleveland Browns) Kentucky SEC (1st in 1942)
Connie Mack Berry E (Detroit Lions/Green Bay Packers/Cleveland Rams/Chicago Bears/Chicago Rockets) North Carolina State Southern (2nd in 1937 and 1938)
Chuck Carney OL (Columbus Panhandles) Illinois Big Ten (1st in 1920 and 1922)
Rick Casares FB (Chicago Bears/Washington Redskins/Miami Dolphins) Florida SEC (2nd in 1952 and 1953)
Sam Clancy DE (Seattle Seahawks/Cleveland Browns/Indianapolis Colts) Pittsburgh Eastern 8 (1st in 1979 and 1981/2nd in 1980)
Milan Creighton E (Chicago Cardinals) Arkansas SWC (2nd in 1930)
Fred W. Enke QB (Detroit Lions/Philadelphia Eagles/Baltimore Colts) Arizona Border (1st from 1946 through 1948)
Ray Evans TB (Pittsburgh Steelers) Kansas Big Seven (1st in 1942 and 1943)
George Fant OT (Seattle Seahawks/New York Jets) Western Kentucky Sun Belt (3rd in 2013 and 2014)/C-USA (2nd in 2015)
Darren Fells TE (Arizona Cardinals/Detroit Lions/Cleveland Browns/Houston Texans/Tampa Bay Buccaneers) UC Irvine Big West (2nd in 2008)
Antonio Gates TE (San Diego & Los Angeles Chargers) Kent State Mid-American (2nd in 2002/1st in 2003)
Pete Gent E (Dallas Cowboys) Michigan State Big Ten (3rd in 1962 and 1963/2nd in 1964)
Andrew Glover TE (Los Angeles & Oakland Chargers/Minnesota Vikings/New Orleans Saints) Grambling SWAC (2nd in 1991)
Otto Graham QB (Cleveland Browns) Northwestern Big Ten (2nd in 1942/1st in 1943)
Howard "Red" Hickey E (Pittsburgh Steelers/Cleveland & Los Angeles Rams) Arkansas SWC (2nd in 1939 and 1940/1st in 1941)
Percy Howard WR (Dallas Cowboys) Austin Peay Ohio Valley (1975)
Jim Lee Howell E (New York Giants) Arkansas SWC (1st in 1936)
Vern Huffman QB-B (Detroit Lions) Indiana Big Ten (1st in 1936/2nd in 1937)
Ken Johnson OL (Cincinnati Bengals) Indiana Big Ten (2nd in 1969)
Ron Kramer E (Green Bay Packers/Detroit Lions) Michigan Big Ten (2nd in 1955 and 1956/1st in 1957)
Dave Logan WR (Cleveland Browns/Denver Broncos) Colorado Big Eight (2nd in 1974)
Lamar Lundy DE (Los Angeles Rams) Purdue Big Ten (3rd in 1957)
Bob MacLeod B (Chicago Bears) Dartmouth EIBL (2nd in 1938/1st in 1939)
Riley Matheson LB-G (Cleveland & Los Angeles Rams/San Francisco 49ers) Texas-El Paso Border (1st in 1939)
Mickey McCarty TE (Kansas City Chiefs) Texas Christian SWC (1st in 1967 and 1968)
Banks McFadden B (Brooklyn Dodgers) Clemson Southern (1st from 1938 through 1940)
Glen "Max" Morris E (Chicago Rockets/Brooklyn Dodgers) Northwestern Big Ten (1st in 1945 and 1946)
Fran Murray B-E (Philadelphia Eagles) Penn EIBL (1st in 1936 and 1937)
Ernie Nevers FB (Duluth Eskimos/Chicago Cardinals) Stanford PCC (2nd in 1925)
Joe Reitz OG (Indianapolis Colts) Western Michigan Mid-American (2nd in 2006 and 2007/1st in 2008)
Jack Robbins QB (Chicago Cardinals) Arkansas SWC (1st in 1937 and 1938)
Larry Robinson RB (Dallas Cowboys) Tennessee SEC (3rd in 1973)
Stan Rome WR (Kansas City Chiefs) Clemson ACC (2nd in 1977)
Kent "Rip" Ryan HB (Detroit Lions) Utah State Mountain States (1st in 1935 and 1936)
Frank Sachse B (Brooklyn Dodgers & Tigers/Boston & Brooklyn Yanks & Tigers) Texas Tech Border (2nd in 1938)
Saint "S.T." Saffold WR (Cincinnati Bengals) San Jose State WCAC (2nd in 1964/1st in 1965 and 1966)
Otto Schnellbacher DB (New York Yankees & Giants) Kansas Big Six/Big Seven (1st in 1943 and from 1946 through 1948)
Byron "Whizzer" White RB (Pittsburgh Pirates/Detroit Lions) Colorado Rocky Mountain/Mountain States (3rd in 1936/1st in 1937 and 1938)
Ron Widby P (Dallas Cowboys/Green Bay Packers) Tennessee SEC (2nd in 1965 and 1966/1st in 1967)
Dick Wilkins E (Los Angeles Dons/Dallas Texans/New York Giants) Oregon PCC (1st in 1946/2nd in 1948)

NOTE: Casares, Gates, Graham, Kramer, Lundy, Schnellbacher and Widby became NFL Pro Bowlers.

On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Ready to Tackle September 8 NFL Gridiron

Long before kneeling knuckleheads, the NCAA Tournament commenced in 1939, which was one year after the NIT triggered national postseason competition. An overlooked "versatile athlete" feat occurring in 1938 likely never to be duplicated took place at Arkansas, where the quarterback for the football squad (Jack Robbins) repeated as an All-SWC first-team basketball selection, leading the Razorbacks (19-3) to the league title. After the season, Robbins became an NFL first-round draft choice by the Chicago Cardinals (5th pick overall) and senior football/basketball teammates Jim Benton (11th pick by Cleveland Rams) and Ray Hamilton (41st pick by Rams) went on to become wide receivers for at least six years in the NFL. Yes, they created a kneeling-in-admiration shatterproof achievement - three do-everything members of a league championship basketball squad who promptly were among the top 41 selections in the same NFL draft.

Two years later, All-SWC first-team hoop selection Howard "Red" Hickey was instrumental in Arkansas reaching the 1941 Final Four before becoming an end for the Cleveland Rams' 1945 NFL titlist. Two-sport college teammate and fellow end O'Neal Adams scored five touchdowns for the New York Giants the first half of the 1940s. Another two-sport Hog who played for the Giants in the mid-1940s was Harry Wynne. An earlier versatile Razorback was Jim Lee Howell, who was an All-SWC first five hoop selection in 1935-36 before becoming a starting end for the Giants' 1938 NFL titlist and Pro Bowl participant the next year. Adams, Benton, Hamilton, Hickey and Howell combined for 77 touchdowns in an 11-year span from 1938 through 1948 when at least one of the ex-Razorback hoopers scored a TD in each of those seasons.

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves on September 8 in football at the professional level (especially ex-Florida State hoopers Brad Johnson and Tommy Polley in 2002 season openers):

SEPTEMBER 8

  • New England Patriots LB Don Blackmon (collected 42 points and 32 rebounds in 12 games for Tulsa in 1977-78) registered three sacks in a 26-20 win against the Green Bay Packers in 1985 season opener.

  • Cleveland Browns TE Jordan Cameron (redshirt freshman forward for BYU in 2006-07 before playing briefly for Southern California in 2008-09 under coach Tim Floyd) had nine pass receptions for 108 yards in a 23-10 setback against the Miami Dolphins in 2013 season opener.

  • Oakland Raiders TE Rickey Dudley (averaged 13.3 ppg and 7.5 rpg as senior in 1994-95 when leading Ohio State in rebounding and finishing third in scoring) caught two third-quarter touchdown passes from Jeff George in a 28-27 setback against the Kansas City Chiefs in 1997. Chiefs WR Andre Rison (backup hoops guard for Michigan State in 1987-88) had eight pass receptions for 162 yards.

  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Vincent Jackson (Northern Colorado's leading scorer with 13.6 ppg in 2003-04 while also contributing 5.6 rpg and 3.1 apg) caught seven passes for 154 yards in an 18-17 setback against the New York Jets in 2013 season opener.

  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Brad Johnson (part-time starting forward for Florida State as freshman in 1987-88 when averaging 5.9 ppg and shooting 89.1% from free-throw line) threw two second-half touchdown passes in a 26-20 setback against the New Orleans Saints in 2002 season opener. The next year, Johnson threw two second-half TD passes in a season-opening 17-0 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 2003.

  • Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb (averaged 2.3 points in 18 games for Syracuse in 1995-96 and 1996-97) threw three first-half touchdown passes in a 27-24 setback against the Tennessee Titans in 2002 season opener.

  • St. Louis Rams LB Tommy Polley (played in one basketball game for Florida State in 1996-97 under coach Pat Kennedy) had nine solo tackles in a 23-16 setback against the Denver Broncos in 2002 season opener.

  • In 1985 season opener, Oakland Raiders LB Brad Van Pelt (averaged 4.5 ppg and 2.9 rpg while shooting 61.7% from floor as Michigan State sophomore in 1970-71) had two sacks in a 31-0 win against the New York Jets.

  • In pro debut, New England Patriots WR Derwin Williams (New Mexico hooper in 1979-80) had NFL-career highs with five pass receptions and 94 receiving yards in a season-opening 26-20 win against the Green Bay Packers in 1985.

On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Generating MLB Headlines on September 8

Extra! Extra! Instead of mocking intellectual constipation of #Dimorat numbskulls spearheaded by Plagiarist Bile-dumb "laser focused" on mask hysteria, walking across border and climate-change cabal while equating patriotism with racism and allowing ex-Gitmo detainees to flourish in interim Afghan government, you can read news about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former San Diego State hoopers Tony Clark and Tony Gwynn supplied significant National League hitting performances on this date. Ditto ex-NYU hoopers Hank Greenberg and Eddie Yost in the American League. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a September 8 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

SEPTEMBER 8

  • New York Yankees RHP Jim Beattie (Dartmouth's top basketball rebounder in 1974-75 when he was selected team MVP and honorable mention All-Ivy League) secured a 13-2 win in 1978 when the Boston Red Sox committed seven errors.

  • Philadelphia Phillies RHP Ray Benge (multi-year hoops letterman for Sam Houston State first half of 1920s) hurled a three-hit shutout against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1932. He was in the midst of six complete-game victories in less than two months.

  • Cleveland Indians SS Lou Boudreau (leading scorer for Illinois' 1937 Big Ten Conference co-champion) collected four hits and scored four runs against the Chicago White Sox in a 1942 game.

  • Oakland Athletics CF Glenn Burke (averaged 16.3 ppg in six basketball games with Nevada-Reno in 1974-75) went 3-for-3 in a 1978 contest against the Texas Rangers.

  • Detroit Tigers 1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in [WAC](conferences/western-athletic-conference after transferring from Arizona) games in 1991-92) homered in his third consecutive contest in 1999. Six years later with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Clark collected two homers and five RBI against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 2005 outing.

  • First MLB start for Brooklyn Dodgers RHP Bill Crouch (Eastern Michigan hoops captain in 1927-28) was a complete-game victory, 11-2, against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1939. Crouch closed out the month with two more complete-game wins.

  • After hitting only one homer in his first 269 MLB games, St. Louis Browns C Rick Ferrell (played forward for Guilford NC before graduating in 1928) smacked a round-tripper in back-to-back contests against the Detroit Tigers in 1931.

  • New York Giants 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham captain) went 4-for-4 against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1923 game.

  • Detroit Tigers LF Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoops scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) contributed five RBI against the New York Yankees in a 1945 contest. Eight years earlier, Greenberg belted two dingers in the nightcap of a 1937 twinbill against the Cleveland Indians.

  • Baltimore Orioles 3B Wayne Gross (Cal Poly Pomona assists leader in 1974-75) walloped two homers against the Milwaukee Brewers in a 1984 outing.

  • San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-Western Athletic Conference second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) supplied five hits in a 16-inning setback against the San Francisco Giants in 1992.

  • Cleveland Indians RHP Oral Hildebrand (Butler hoops All-American in 1928-29 and 1929-30) won his MLB debut with 3 1/3 innings of two-hit relief against the Chicago White Sox in the opener of a 1931 doubleheader.

  • In 1973, Detroit Tigers DH Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection when leading Ohio State in scoring and rebounding in 1956-57 and 1957-58) hammered his final of 382 MLB career homers.

  • Washington Senators 2B Morley Jennings (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1911) fanned all three MLB plate appearances in his lone start in a 1913 game against the New York Yankees.

  • Chicago White Sox 1B Deacon Jones (leading scorer for Ithaca College NY midway through 1953-54) stroked a pinch-hit single in his first MLB at-bat in 1962 (against the Washington Senators).

  • San Francisco Giants RHP Frank Linzy (listed on Oklahoma State's freshman hoops roster in 1959-60) allowed his only earned run in final 15 relief appearances of the 1968 campaign (in fifth inning of work in 11th frame against World Series-bound St. Louis Cardinals).

  • Cleveland Indians CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) went 4-for-4 against the Minnesota Twins in a 1993 game.

  • Bake McBride (averaged 12.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg in 21 games with Westminster MO in 1968-69 and 1969-70) handled 11 chances for the Philadelphia Phillies in a 5-3 victory at Chicago in 1978, tying the N.L. mark for right fielders.

  • Cleveland Indians 2B Dutch Meyer (Texas Christian hoops letterman in 1934-35 and 1935-36) delivered three safeties for the second time in three contests during a career-high 16-game hitting streak in 1945.

  • Gene Michael (Kent State's leading scorer with 14 ppg in 1957-58) fired as Chicago Cubs manager in 1987.

  • New York Giants RF Red Murray (played hoops for Lock Haven PA in early 1900s) stole three bases in the opener of a 1909 doubleheader against the Brooklyn Superbas.

  • Kansas City Royals 1B Bob Oliver (All-Valley Conference basketball choice for American River Community College CA in 1962) went 4-for-4 with three runs scored against the California Angels in 1970.

  • First MLB homer for rookie LF Carl Reynolds (Southwestern TX hoops MVP and captain in mid-1920s) catapulted the Chicago White Sox to a 4-3 win against the Washington Senators in 1927. Five years later as a RF with the Senators, he went 4-for-4 and scored three runs in a 1932 game against the St. Louis Browns.

  • Baltimore Orioles LF Ken Singleton (played for Hofstra freshman hoops team in mid-1960s) went 4-for-4 against the Boston Red Sox in a 1979 outing.

  • Philadelphia Phillies RF Cy Williams (Notre Dame forward in 1909-10) whacked a decisive grand slam in 8-4 triumph against the Brooklyn Robins in 1926.

  • Washington Senators 3B Eddie Yost (NYU freshman hooper in 1943-44 under coach Howard Cann) contributed three extra-base hits (two doubles and one triple) in opener of 1948 twinbill against the Philadelphia Athletics.

On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Ready to Tackle September 7 NFL Gridiron

Long before kneeling knuckleheads, the NCAA Tournament commenced in 1939, which was one year after the NIT triggered national postseason competition. An overlooked "versatile athlete" feat occurring in 1938 likely never to be duplicated took place at Arkansas, where the quarterback for the football squad (Jack Robbins) repeated as an All-SWC first-team basketball selection, leading the Razorbacks (19-3) to the league title. After the season, Robbins became an NFL first-round draft choice by the Chicago Cardinals (5th pick overall) and senior football/basketball teammates Jim Benton (11th pick by Cleveland Rams) and Ray Hamilton (41st pick by Rams) went on to become wide receivers for at least six years in the NFL. Yes, they created a kneeling-in-admiration shatterproof achievement - three do-everything members of a league championship basketball squad who promptly were among the top 41 selections in the same NFL draft.

Two years later, All-SWC first-team hoop selection Howard "Red" Hickey was instrumental in Arkansas reaching the 1941 Final Four before becoming an end for the Cleveland Rams' 1945 NFL titlist. Two-sport college teammate and fellow end O'Neal Adams scored five touchdowns for the New York Giants the first half of the 1940s. Another two-sport Hog who played for the Giants in the mid-1940s was Harry Wynne. An earlier versatile Razorback was Jim Lee Howell, who was an All-SWC first five hoop selection in 1935-36 before becoming a starting end for the Giants' 1938 NFL titlist and Pro Bowl participant the next year. Adams, Benton, Hamilton, Hickey and Howell combined for 77 touchdowns in an 11-year span from 1938 through 1948 when at least one of the ex-Razorback hoopers scored a TD in each of those seasons.

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves on September 7 in football at the professional level (especially defensive performances by Don Blackmon and Ronnie Lott in 1986 season openers):

SEPTEMBER 7

  • New England Patriots LB Don Blackmon (collected 42 points and 32 rebounds in 12 games for Tulsa in 1977-78) registered three sacks in a 33-3 win against the Indianapolis Colts in 1986 season opener.

  • Tennessee Titans rookie WR Tyrone Calico (played one basketball game for Middle Tennessee State in 1998-99) scored team's first touchdown in 2003 on an 11-yard pass reception from QB Steve McNair in 25-20 season-opening win against the Oakland Raiders.

  • Miami Dolphins rookie WR Chris Chambers (played hoops briefly for Wisconsin under coach Dick Bennett in 1997-98) caught two second-quarter touchdown passes (57 and 21 yards) in a 21-20 setback against the Houston Texans in 2003 season opener.

  • Kansas City Chiefs QB Len Dawson (Purdue hooper in 1956-57) threw four touchdown passes - including 81-yarder to Frank Jackson - in a 59-7 win against the Denver Broncos in 1963.

  • TE Demetrius Harris (led Milwaukee in FG% and rebounding as senior in 2012-13) opened the Kansas City Chiefs' scoring with a touchdown reception from Alex Smith in 42-27 win against the defending champion New England Patriots in 2017 season opener.

  • SS Rodney Harrison (averaged 7.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3 apg and 1.6 spg for Western Illinois in 1992-93) opened the San Diego Chargers' scoring by recovering a fumble in end zone for touchdown in 20-6 win against the New Orleans Saints in 1997.

  • WR DeAndre Hopkins (played in seven hoop games for Clemson in 2010-11) opened the Houston Texans' scoring with a 76-yard touchdown catch in 17-6 win against the Washington Redskins in 2014 season opener.

  • Minnesota Vikings QB Brad Johnson (part-time starting forward for Florida State as freshman in 1987-88 when averaging 5.9 ppg and shooting 89.1% from free-throw line) threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes in a 27-24 win against the Chicago Bears in 1997.

  • San Francisco 49ers DB Ronnie Lott (Southern California hooper as junior in 1979-80) had two interceptions in a 31-7 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1986 season opener.

  • Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb (averaged 2.3 points in 18 games for Syracuse in 1995-96 and 1996-97) passed for 361 yards - including three first-half touchdowns - in a 38-3 win against the St. Louis Rams in 2008 season opener.

  • Oakland Raiders WR Art Powell (averaged 10.5 ppg and 8.2 rpg for San Jose State in 1956-57) caught seven passes for 181 yards in a 24-13 win against the Houston Oilers in 1963 AFL season opener.

  • Denver Broncos TE Gene Prebola (Boston University hooper in 1957-58) had a career-high seven pass receptions in 30-21 win against the San Diego Chargers in 1962 AFL season opener.

  • Buffalo Bills TE Robert Royal (collected 10 points and six rebounds in five Louisiana State basketball games in 2000-01) registered a career-high six pass receptions in 2008 season opener against the Seattle Seahawks.

  • Denver Broncos TE Julius Thomas (averaged 6.8 ppg and 4.3 rpg while shooting 66.3% from floor with Portland State from 2006-07 through 2009-10) caught three second-quarter touchdown passes from Peyton Manning in a 31-24 win against the Indianapolis Colts in 2014 season opener.

On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Generating MLB Headlines on September 7

Extra! Extra! Instead of debating whether first week in January should be remembered politically more for alleged coordinated "Insurrection Day" or unmasking #Demonrats orchestrating Obama Administration meeting in 2017 when indifferent Plagiarist Bile-dumb was involved with #DirtyRice of Domestic Policy and FBI in weaponizing Logan Act to entrap Gen. Michael Flynn, 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.

Four former Big Ten Conference hoopers - Sammy Esposito (Indiana), Hoot Evers (Illinois), Johnny Gee (Michigan) and Dave Winfield (Minnesota) - made MLB news on this date. Ditto ex-NYU hoopers Hank Greenberg and Eddie Yost with outstanding offensive performances in the American League. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a September 7 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

SEPTEMBER 7

  • In 1966, California Angels 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) jacked his final of 336 MLB homers.

  • Igniting a streak of nine consecutive contests with at least one RBI, LF Brant Alyea (Hofstra's leading basketball scorer and rebounder in 1960-61 after being runner-up in both categories previous season) drove in all of the Minnesota Twins' runs with two homers in a 7-6 win against the Milwaukee Brewers in opener of 1970 doubleheader.

  • Philadelphia Phillies RHP Ray Benge (multi-year hoops letterman for Sam Houston State first half of 1920s) hurled a complete game without yielding an earned run against the Boston Braves for the second time the first week of month in 1928.

  • Seattle Mariners LF Bruce Bochte (starting forward for Santa Clara's NCAA playoff team in 1969-70 averaged 7.4 ppg and 4 rpg) went 4-for-4 in a 5-2 victory against the Kansas City Royals in 1982.

  • Baltimore Orioles LF Al Bumbry (Virginia State's runner-up in scoring with 16.7 ppg as freshman in 1964-65) stroked four hits against the Cleveland Indians in a 1981 game.

  • Detroit Tigers C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) went 6-for-7 and scored five runs in a 1935 doubleheader sweep of his original team (Philadelphia Athletics).

  • Ending a personal six-game losing streak, Philadelphia Phillies RHP Gene Conley (All-PCC first-team selection led North Division in scoring in 1949-50 as Washington State sophomore) hurled a four-hit shutout against the Chicago Cubs in 1960.

  • Cleveland Indians CF Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA hoops titlist) supplied a pair of homers in a 6-0 verdict over the Baltimore Orioles in 1955.

  • Boston Red Sox 1B Walt Dropo (first player in Connecticut history to average 20 ppg in single season with 21.7 in 1942-43) homered twice in a 10-8 triumph against the New York Yankees in 1950.

  • Sammy Esposito (averaged 7 ppg as Indiana hoops starter in 1951-52) started in place of Chicago White Sox 2B Nellie Fox in 1960, ending Fox's consecutive-game streak at 798.

  • Detroit Tigers LF Hoot Evers (hoops starter for Illinois in 1939-40) went for the cycle, adding another triple, and amassing six RBI in a 13-13, 10-inning tie with the Cleveland Indians in 1950.

  • New York Giants 3B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) furnished six hits in a 1921 doubleheader sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies.

  • Rookie LHP Johnny Gee (Michigan captain was Big Ten Conference's sixth-leading scorer in 1936-37) didn't allow an earned run in eight innings in his MLB debut but committed one of eight errors by the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 7-3 setback against the Philadelphia Phillies in opener of 1939 twinbill.

  • Detroit Tigers 1B Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoops scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) collected three extra-base hits, including two homers (199th and 200th of his career), against the Cleveland Indians in a 1939 contest.

  • New York Giants RHP Jim Hearn (Georgia Tech hoops letterman in 1941-42) had a 12-game winning streak against the Pittsburgh Pirates snapped in 1953.

  • Los Angeles Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City in 1947 and 1948) homered twice against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1958 outing.

  • New York Giants LF Monte Irvin (Lincoln PA hooper 1 1/2 years in late 1930s) ripped a 500-foot homer in a 7-3 nod over the Boston Braves in 1951.

  • Kansas City Royals RF Lynn Jones (averaged 10.4 ppg for Thiel PA from 1970-71 through 1973-74) contributed his fourth three-hit game in less than a month in 1984.

  • Philadelphia Phillies rookie 2B Moon Mullen (backup guard for Oregon's legendary "Tall Firs" team winning inaugural NCAA tourney in 1939) stroked four singles in a 7-5 win against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1944 game.

  • Minnesota Twins rookie RF Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) smacked two homers against the Detroit Tigers in 1968. Six years later as a New York Yankees 3B, Nettles homered in both ends of a 1974 doubleheader against the Tigers. In 1981, whacked two round-trippers for the Yanks in a contest against the Milwaukee Brewers.

  • Detroit Tigers RF Jim Northrup (second-leading scorer and third-leading rebounder for Alma MI in 1958-59) went 5-for-5 with two homers in a 3-2, 11-inning victory against the Washington Senators in 1971.

  • St. Louis Browns RHP Jim Park (hooper for Kentucky in 1911-12 and 1913-14) won his MLB debut in 1915 when he didn't allow an earned run in 11 innings of a 4-1 win against the Cleveland Indians.

  • New York Giants rookie RHP Roy Parmelee (Eastern Michigan hoops letterman in 1924-25 and 1925-26) hurled his second straight four-hit, complete-game triumph in 1931.

  • OF Carl Reynolds (Southwestern TX hoops MVP and captain in mid-1920s) was purchased from Minneapolis (American Association) by the Chicago Cubs in 1937.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers LHP Preacher Roe (Harding AR hooper in late 1930s) walked six Philadelphia Phillies batters but raised his record to 19-2 in 1951 with an 11-6 decision over RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47).

  • LHP Garry Roggenburk (led Dayton in scoring all three seasons from 1959-60 through 1961-62 and grabbed school-record 32 rebounds in third varsity game en route to pacing Flyers in rebounding first two years) purchased from the Minnesota Twins by the Boston Red Sox in 1966.

  • Philadelphia Phillies CF Cy Williams (Notre Dame forward in 1909-10) homered in both ends of a 1921 twinbill against the New York Giants.

  • New York Yankees RF Dave Winfield (starting forward with Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) got hung up in a rundown between third base and home plate following a pitchout but escaped to score decisive run in 3-2 triumph against the Oakland A's in 1985.

  • Washington Senators 3B Eddie Yost (NYU freshman hooper in 1943-44 under coach Howard Cann) reached base nine times (five hits and four walks) in a 1953 doubleheader sweep of the Philadelphia Athletics. Six years later with the Detroit Tigers, Yost homered twice in opener of 1959 twinbill against the Cleveland Indians.

  • New York Giants 1B Babe Young (Fordham hoops letterman in 1935-36) blasted a grand slam in a 4-1 victory against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1940.

  • San Diego Padres RHP Chris Young (All-Ivy League first-team selection for Princeton in 1999-00) retired the first 23 Milwaukee Brewers batters en route to a two-hitter in 2008. It was Young's lone MLB complete game.

On This Date: Ex-College Hooper Ready to Tackle September 6 NFL Gridiron

Long before kneeling knuckleheads, the NCAA Tournament commenced in 1939, which was one year after the NIT triggered national postseason competition. An overlooked "versatile athlete" feat occurring in 1938 likely never to be duplicated took place at Arkansas, where the quarterback for the football squad (Jack Robbins) repeated as an All-SWC first-team basketball selection, leading the Razorbacks (19-3) to the league title. After the season, Robbins became an NFL first-round draft choice by the Chicago Cardinals (5th pick overall) and senior football/basketball teammates Jim Benton (11th pick by Cleveland Rams) and Ray Hamilton (41st pick by Rams) went on to become wide receivers for at least six years in the NFL. Yes, they created a kneeling-in-admiration shatterproof achievement - three do-everything members of a league championship basketball squad who promptly were among the top 41 selections in the same NFL draft.

Two years later, All-SWC first-team hoop selection Howard "Red" Hickey was instrumental in Arkansas reaching the 1941 Final Four before becoming an end for the Cleveland Rams' 1945 NFL titlist. Two-sport college teammate and fellow end O'Neal Adams scored five touchdowns for the New York Giants the first half of the 1940s. Another two-sport Hog who played for the Giants in the mid-1940s was Harry Wynne. An earlier versatile Razorback was Jim Lee Howell, who was an All-SWC first five hoop selection in 1935-36 before becoming a starting end for the Giants' 1938 NFL titlist and Pro Bowl participant the next year. Adams, Benton, Hamilton, Hickey and Howell combined for 77 touchdowns in an 11-year span from 1938 through 1948 when at least one of the ex-Razorback hoopers scored a TD in each of those seasons.

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball player Brad Johnson making a name for himself on September 6 in football at the professional level:

SEPTEMBER 6

  • Dallas Cowboys TE Billy Joe Dupree (scored four points in total of four basketball games for Michigan State in 1971-72) opened game's scoring with a 33-yard touchdown reception in 26-10 win against the Washington Redskins in 1981 season opener.

  • Minnesota Vikings QB Brad Johnson (part-time starting forward for Florida State as freshman in 1987-88 when averaging 5.9 ppg and shooting 89.1% from free-throw line) threw four touchdown passes in a 31-7 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1998 season opener.

On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Generating MLB Headlines on September 6

Extra! Extra! Instead of triggering storm clouds reminiscent of tornado (word isn't said any longer according to scholarly divider-in-chief Plagiarist Bile-dumb) debating contrast where #PlannedMurderhood's bloodthirsty my body-my choice abortions (of innocent babies with autonomously beating hearts) differ from vaccinations for our bodies is some buffoonish bureaucrat's choice, 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.

Several former hoopers from North Carolina colleges - Vince Colbert (East Carolina), Dick Groat (Duke) and Don Padgett (Lenoir-Rhyne) - made MLB news on this date. Ex-jucos like Colbert (Eastern Utah) doing likewise included Garth Iorg (College of the Redwoods CA), Ken Retzer (Jefferson City MO), Carl Reynolds (Lon Morris TX) and Jim Thome (Illinois Central). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a September 6 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

SEPTEMBER 6

  • RHP Andy Benes (briefly played basketball for Evansville in 1985-86) defeated his brother, Alan, when the St. Louis Cardinals erupted for 11 third-inning runs in an 11-2 nod over the Chicago Cubs in 2002.

  • Chicago White Sox CF Ken Berry (freshman hooper for Wichita in 1959-60) went 3-for-3 (including double and homer) before scoring his third run, the game-winning tally off a wild pitch in bottom of ninth inning of 4-3 nod over the California Angels in nightcap of 1965 doubleheader.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates LF Carson "Skeeter" Bigbee (Oregon hoops letterman in 1915) collected four hits and four runs against the Chicago Cubs in a 1919 game.

  • In the midst of five two-hit outings in a seven-game span in 1964, rookie 2B Ron Campbell (Tennessee Wesleyan hooper) connected for his lone MLB homer (off Ray Sadecki of eventual World Series winner St. Louis Cardinals).

  • Philadelphia Athletics C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) clobbered a two-run homer in the 10th inning in 3-1 verdict over the Boston Red Sox, giving Lefty Grove his 25th triumph in 1930.

  • RHP Vince Colbert (averaged 14.3 ppg and 7.3 rpg for East Carolina in 1966-67 and 1967-68) didn't allow a run in eight innings of a 1-0 triumph against the Baltimore Orioles in nightcap of doubleheader. Colbert supplied two complete-game victories the remainder of month to finish as the Cleveland Indians' only winning hurler (7-6) with 10 or more starts in 1971.

  • Los Angeles Dodgers C Joe Ferguson (hooper in 1967 NCAA playoffs with Pacific) provided three extra-base hits and four RBI against the San Francisco Giants in a 1978 contest.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates SS Dick Groat (two-time All-American with Duke in 1950-51 and 1951-52 when finishing among nation's top five scorers each season) suffered a broken wrist in 1960.

  • Oakland Athletics 3B Wayne Gross (Cal Poly Pomona assists leader in 1974-75) whacked two homers against the Chicago White Sox in a 1983 game.

  • St. Louis Cardinals 2B Tommy Herr (hooper with Delaware's freshman team in 1974-75) supplied four hits in a 1986 game against the Houston Astros.

  • Washington Senators 1B Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection when leading Ohio State in scoring and rebounding in 1956-57 and 1957-58) hammered two homers among his five hits against the Detroit Tigers in a 1970 contest.

  • Toronto Blue Jays 3B Garth Iorg (juco hooper with College of the Redwoods CA in mid-1970s) smacked a three-run double in the top of ninth inning in a 4-0 win against the Chicago White Sox in 1986.

  • New York Yankees LF Charlie Keller (Maryland hoops letterman from 1934-35 through 1936-37) knocked in five runs against the Detroit Tigers in opener of a 1945 twinbill.

  • Chicago White Sox RHP Ted Lyons (two-time All-SWC first-team selection for Baylor in early 1920s) knocked in the decisive run with a triple as he reached the 20-win plateau in 1930 with 2-1 decision over the Cleveland Indians, snapping Wes Ferrell's 13-game winning streak.

  • New York Giants RHP Christy Mathewson (Bucknell hooper at turn of 20th Century) fanned 14 Brooklyn batters in a 6-2 triumph in 1906.

  • Gene Michael (Kent State's leading scorer with 14 ppg in 1957-58) fired as New York Yankees manager in 1981 despite winning the first-half pennant.

  • New York Giants RF Red Murray (played hoops for Lock Haven PA in early 1900s) went 3-for-3 with three runs scored, two doubles and two RBI in a 1910 outing against the Boston Doves.

  • In 1968, Minnesota Twins rookie RF Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) whacked his first of 390 MLB career homers. The round-tripper, off 31-game winner Denny McLain of the Detroit Tigers, ignited a power surge of five dingers for him in a four-game span.

  • Chicago Cubs RF Bill Nicholson (hoops guard for Washington College MD two years in mid-1930s) belted two homers against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 1947 game.

  • St. Louis Cardinals rookie RF Don Padgett (freshman in 1934 with Lenoir-Rhyne NC excelled in multiple sports) went 4-for-4 against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the nightcap of a 1937 twinbill to trigger 12-game hitting streak.

  • C Ken Retzer (fourth-leading juco scorer with 184 points for Jefferson City MO in 1953-54) traded by the Cleveland Indians to Washington Senators in 1961.

  • Chicago White Sox LF Carl Reynolds (Southwestern TX hoops MVP and captain in mid-1920s) went 4-for-4 in the opener of a 1930 doubleheader against the Cleveland Indians.

  • In the midst of closing out the 1952 campaign with eight consecutive complete-game wins, Philadelphia Phillies RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) went the distance in a 17-inning, 7-6 victory against the Boston Braves in 1952.

  • In 1948, Boston Braves Hall of Fame LHP Warren Spahn twice picked off Brooklyn Dodgers INF Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41).

  • Brooklyn Dodgers LHP Preacher Roe (Harding AR hooper in late 1930s) won his 10th straight decision in 1953.

  • Chicago White Sox DH Jim Thome (juco hooper for Illinois Central in 1988-89) went 4-for-4 and scored three runs in 2006 game against the Boston Red Sox.

  • Bill Virdon (Drury MO hooper in 1949) fired as Pittsburgh Pirates manager in 1973. Virdon is replaced by Danny Murtaugh, who assumed control of the club for fourth and final time.

  • Philadelphia Phillies CF Cy Williams (Notre Dame forward in 1909-10) went 5-for-5 and scored four runs against the New York Giants in nightcap of a 1924 twinbill.

Double Majors: Extensive Drought for Hoop All-Americans Competing in NFL

America's Team, the Dallas Cowboys, warrants recognition as the last NFL franchise to give versatile college basketball All-Americans (Utah State's Cornell Green and Tennessee's Ron Widby in mid-1970s) an opportunity to labor as authentic NFL players.

Versatile athletes are becoming an endangered species although Rico Gathers, Baylor's all-time leading rebounder (fourth in nation as junior in 2014-15), was retained by the Cowboys as fourth tight end several years ago to avoid losing him to waivers. Promptly after Labor Day is when majority of college basketball annuals hit the newsstands about same time NFL regular season kicks off into high gear. In an era of specialization, the odds are staggering against any of the projected college hoop All-Americans in the magazines enjoying a genuine NFL career such as the following alphabetical list of seven well-rounded athletes including two from Utah State:

Hoops All-American College Hoops Position (A-A Year) Summary of NFL Career
Otto Graham Northwestern F (1943 and 1944) Five-time All-Pro QB played 10 seasons (1946 through 1955) with the Cleveland Browns and led team to championship game each year (All-America Football Conference from 1946 through 1949 and NFL from 1950 through 1955). Fourth pick overall in 1944 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions.
Cornell Green Utah State F (1962) Five-time Pro Bowler intercepted 34 passes in 13 years as a DB with the Dallas Cowboys (1962 through 1974).
Vern Huffman Indiana G (1936) QB-DB passed for 484 yards and rushed for 368 yards with the Detroit Lions in 1937 and 1938. Third-round selection in 1937 NFL draft (27th pick overall).
Ron Kramer Michigan C (1957) WR for 10 seasons (1957 and 1959 through 1967) with the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions. First-round draft choice caught 229 passes for 3,272 yards and 16 TDs. Pro Bowl selection in 1963.
Banks McFadden Clemson C (1939) Selected by the Brooklyn Dodgers in the first round (third pick overall) of the 1940 NFL draft. Finished fourth in rushing in the NFL in his only pro season, averaging 6.3 yards per carry.
Kent "Rip" Ryan Utah State F-C (1936) Halfback with the Detroit Lions for three seasons from 1938 through 1940.
Ron Widby Tennessee F (1967) Punter appeared in the Pro Bowl following the 1971 campaign. Averaged 42 yards per punt in six seasons (1968 through 1973) with the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers. First selection in fourth round of 1967 NFL draft by the New Orleans Saints (81st pick overall).

NOTE: Hoops All-American Glen Max Morris (Northwestern) was selected as a B by the Chicago Bears in 26th round of 1947 NFL draft. . . . All-American Wallace "Wah Wah" Jones (Kentucky) was selected as an E by the Bears in 7th round of 1949 NFL draft. . . . All-American K.C. Jones (San Francisco) was selected as an E by the Los Angeles Rams in 30th round of 1955 NFL draft. . . . All-American John Havlicek (Ohio State) was selected as a WR by the Cleveland Browns in 7th round of 1962 NFL draft. . . . All-American Pat Riley (Kentucky) was selected as a FL by the Cowboys in 11th round of 1967 NFL draft. . . . All-American Jimmy Walker (Providence) was selected as a WR by the New Orleans Saints as final pick of the 17th and final round of 1967 NFL draft. . . . All-American Ron "Fritz" Williams (West Virginia) was selected as a DB by the Cowboys in 18th round of 1968 NFL draft. . . . All-American Quinn Buckner (Indiana) was selected as a DB by the Washington Redskins in 14th round of 1976 NFL draft. . . . All-American Al Green (Louisiana State) was selected as a DB by the San Diego Chargers in 10th round of 1979 NFL draft.

On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Ready to Tackle September 5 NFL Gridiron

Long before kneeling knuckleheads, the NCAA Tournament commenced in 1939, which was one year after the NIT triggered national postseason competition. An overlooked "versatile athlete" feat occurring in 1938 likely never to be duplicated took place at Arkansas, where the quarterback for the football squad (Jack Robbins) repeated as an All-SWC first-team basketball selection, leading the Razorbacks (19-3) to the league title. After the season, Robbins became an NFL first-round draft choice by the Chicago Cardinals (5th pick overall) and senior football/basketball teammates Jim Benton (11th pick by Cleveland Rams) and Ray Hamilton (41st pick by Rams) went on to become wide receivers for at least six years in the NFL. Yes, they created a kneeling-in-admiration shatterproof achievement - three do-everything members of a league championship basketball squad who promptly were among the top 41 selections in the same NFL draft.

Two years later, All-SWC first-team hoop selection Howard "Red" Hickey was instrumental in Arkansas reaching the 1941 Final Four before becoming an end for the Cleveland Rams' 1945 NFL titlist. Two-sport college teammate and fellow end O'Neal Adams scored five touchdowns for the New York Giants the first half of the 1940s. Another two-sport Hog who played for the Giants in the mid-1940s was Harry Wynne. An earlier versatile Razorback was Jim Lee Howell, who was an All-SWC first five hoop selection in 1935-36 before becoming a starting end for the Giants' 1938 NFL titlist and Pro Bowl participant the next year. Adams, Benton, Hamilton, Hickey and Howell combined for 77 touchdowns in an 11-year span from 1938 through 1948 when at least one of the ex-Razorback hoopers scored a TD in each of those seasons.

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves on September 5 in football at the professional level (especially in 1949 and 1993):

SEPTEMBER 5

  • Green Bay Packers TE Jimmy Graham (part-time starter for Miami FL averaged 4.2 ppg and 4.2 rpg from 2005-06 through 2008-09) accounted for the game's lone touchdown with a pass reception from Aaron Rodgers in 10-3 win against the Chicago Bears in 2019 season opener.

  • Cleveland Browns QB Otto Graham (Big Ten Conference runner-up in scoring as Northwestern sophomore in 1941-42 and junior in 1942-43) threw four touchdown passes - three of them in fourth quarter - in a 28-28 tie against the Buffalo Bills in 1949 AAFC season opener. Bills QB George Ratterman (third-leading scorer with 11.7 ppg for Notre Dame in 1944-45) had two third-quarter rushing TDs.

  • Baltimore Colts B John North (Vanderbilt hoops letterman in 1943) caught an 80-yard touchdown pass from Y.A. Tittle in 45-28 win against the New York Yankees in 1948.

  • In his NFL debut, Cincinnati Bengals WR Patrick Robinson (starting guard for Tennessee State in 1990-91 when averaging 6.7 ppg and 2.9 apg) returned five punts for 70 yards and three kickoffs for 74 yards in a 27-14 setback against the Cleveland Browns in 1993 season opener. Robinson finished his rookie campaign with a league-high 43 punt returns.

  • Denver Broncos TE Julius Thomas (averaged 6.8 ppg and 4.3 rpg while shooting 66.3% from floor with Portland State from 2006-07 through 2009-10) caught two second-quarter touchdown passes from Peyton Manning in a 49-27 win against the Baltimore Ravens in 2013 season opener.

  • Denver Broncos WR Cedric Tillman (averaged 4.3 ppg and 2.6 rpg while serving as part-time starter for Alcorn State in 1990-91) caught a go-ahead touchdown pass from John Elway in 26-20 win against the New York Jets in 1993 season opener.

On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Generating MLB Headlines on September 5

Extra! Extra! Will Russia ban Bernie Sanders and his spouse from country for their second honeymoon? Instead of debating theorem that if you go Bozo Bernie (a/k/a Dr. Emmett Brown) climate-change woke you're gonna get burned completely broke, you can read news about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former NYU hoopers Ralph Branca, Hank Greenberg and John Simmons supplied significant MLB performances on this date. Ditto fellow ex-Big Apple hooper Babe Young (Fordham). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a September 5 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

SEPTEMBER 5

  • RHP Ralph Branca (sixth-leading basketball scorer for NYU in 1943-44) earned the victory as Brooklyn Dodgers teammate Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) hammered a grand slam in 5-2 verdict over the Philadelphia Phillies in 1951.

  • Minnesota Twins rookie 3B John Castino (medical redshirt for Rollins FL in 1973-74 under coach Ed Jucker) went 4-for-4 in an 8-3 win against the Kansas City Royals in 1979.

  • Los Angeles Dodgers RHP Roger Craig (forward with North Carolina State's 1949-50 freshman team) won his sixth straight decision in 1960.

  • New York Giants SS Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for Louisiana State and Southwestern Louisiana in mid-1940s) provided three extra-base hits in a 1953 game against the Brooklyn Dodgers.

  • Cleveland Indians CF Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA hoops titlist) homered in both ends of a 1955 twinbill split against the Kansas City Athletics.

  • Philadelphia Athletics RHP George Earnshaw (Swarthmore PA hooper in 1922) tossed a one-hitter against the Boston Red Sox in 1931.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates rookie 3B Gene Freese (West Liberty WV hoops captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team) homered twice against the New York Giants in opener of a 1955 doubleheader.

  • Boston Red Sox 1B Dick Gernert (Temple hoops letterman in 1948-49 when averaging 2.7 ppg) collected four hits and three runs against the Baltimore Orioles in a 1958 game.

  • Detroit Tigers 1B Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoops scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) launched a homer for the third consecutive contest in 1939.

  • Baltimore Orioles 2B Davey Johnson (averaged 1.7 ppg for Texas A&M in 1961-62) knocked in five runs in an 8-4 win against the Detroit Tigers in 1969.

  • Chicago White Sox rookie RF Lyle Mouton (starter in LSU's backcourt with All-American Chris Jackson for 1989 NCAA playoff team) went 6-for-7 with three doubles in first two contests of a four-game series against the Texas Rangers in 1995.

  • Boston Red Sox 3B Buddy Myer (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1923-24) doubled before scoring the winning run in the 18th inning of a 12-11 decision over the New York Yankees in the opener of 1927 doubleheader.

  • Washington Senators OF John Simmons (starting guard averaged 8.7 ppg for NYU's NCAA Tournament team in 1943) secured a pinch-hit single in both ends of 1949 twinbill against the Boston Red Sox.

  • Atlanta Braves RHP Cecil Upshaw (Centenary's leading scorer as junior in 1962-63) notched four saves and a victory in five-game span of relief appearances in the midst of holding opponents scoreless in last 13 outings of 1972 campaign.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates CF Bill Virdon (Drury MO hooper in 1949) accounted for the game's only run when he blasted a 10th-inning homer against the Milwaukee Braves in 1958.

  • Philadelphia Phillies CF Cy Williams (Notre Dame forward in 1909-10) collected two homers and five RBI against the Brooklyn Dodgers in the opener of a 1922 doubleheader.

  • New York Yankees LF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) delivered two homers and double in a 1982 contest against the Kansas City Royals.

  • New York Giants CF Babe Young (Fordham hoops letterman in 1935-36) knocked in five runs in a 1942 outing against the Brooklyn Dodgers.

On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Ready to Tackle September 4 NFL Gridiron

Long before kneeling knuckleheads, the NCAA Tournament commenced in 1939, which was one year after the NIT triggered national postseason competition. An overlooked "versatile athlete" feat occurring in 1938 likely never to be duplicated took place at Arkansas, where the quarterback for the football squad (Jack Robbins) repeated as an All-SWC first-team basketball selection, leading the Razorbacks (19-3) to the league title. After the season, Robbins became an NFL first-round draft choice by the Chicago Cardinals (5th pick overall) and senior football/basketball teammates Jim Benton (11th pick by Cleveland Rams) and Ray Hamilton (41st pick by Rams) went on to become wide receivers for at least six years in the NFL. Yes, they created a kneeling-in-admiration shatterproof achievement - three do-everything members of a league championship basketball squad who promptly were among the top 41 selections in the same NFL draft.

Two years later, All-SWC first-team hoop selection Howard "Red" Hickey was instrumental in Arkansas reaching the 1941 Final Four before becoming an end for the Cleveland Rams' 1945 NFL titlist. Two-sport college teammate and fellow end O'Neal Adams scored five touchdowns for the New York Giants the first half of the 1940s. Another two-sport Hog who played for the Giants in the mid-1940s was Harry Wynne. An earlier versatile Razorback was Jim Lee Howell, who was an All-SWC first five hoop selection in 1935-36 before becoming a starting end for the Giants' 1938 NFL titlist and Pro Bowl participant the next year. Adams, Benton, Hamilton, Hickey and Howell combined for 77 touchdowns in an 11-year span from 1938 through 1948 when at least one of the ex-Razorback hoopers scored a TD in each of those seasons.

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves on September 4 in football at the professional level (especially in 1994):

SEPTEMBER 4

  • Washington Redskins LB London Fletcher (started two games for St. Francis PA as freshman in 1993-94 before transferring to John Carroll OH) had 12 tackles in a 16-7 setback against the New York Giants in 2008 season opener.

  • Minnesota Vikings DE James Harris (Temple hooper in 1988-89 under coach John Chaney) scored a touchdown on 17-yard fumble recovery return in 16-10 setback against the Green Bay Packers in 1994 season opener.

  • Atlanta Falcons WR Andre Rison (backup hoops guard for Michigan State in 1987-88 under coach Jud Heathcote) had 14 pass receptions for 193 yards - including two second-half touchdowns from Jeff George (one for 69 yards) - in a 31-28 setback against the Detroit Lions in 1994 season opener.

  • Dallas Cowboys QB Roger Staubach (Navy varsity hooper in 1962-63) threw four touchdown passes - including 91-yarder to Tony Dorsett - in a 38-0 win against the Baltimore Colts in 1978 season opener.

  • New York Jets DE Marvin Washington (played in 1985 NCAA Tournament with UTEP under coach Don Haskins before averaging 2.9 ppg and 5.7 rpg for Idaho under Tim Floyd in 1987-88) had two sacks in a 23-3 season-opening win against the Buffalo Bills in 1994.

On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Generating MLB Headlines on September 4

Extra! Extra! Unless you're wondering why extraordinary-success jackal Plagiarist "Out of Patience" Bile-dumb, after perpetually-perplexed pretend Gold Star father crowed about jumping-jack Afghan Army purportedly 300,000 incredibly well-equipped strong, left behind $90 billion worth of weapons arming "businesslike and professional" Taliban jackbooted thugs while red-light district dolt seeks to hit progressive-puke jackpot restricting gun ownership/Second Amendment rights for law-abiding U.S. citizens, 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.

Several former hoopers from Big Apple universities - Joe Gallagher (Manhattan), Hank Greenberg (NYU), Andy Karl (Manhattan) and Marius Russo (LIU) - made MLB news on this date. Ditto several ex-hoopers from small Illinois colleges - Geoff Hartlieb (Quincy), Cal Neeman (Illinois Wesleyan) and Jim Thome (Illinois Central). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a September 4 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

SEPTEMBER 4

  • Los Angeles Angels 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) cracked two homers against the Baltimore Orioles in a 1964 game.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Jim Bibby (Fayetteville State NC backup hooper and brother of UCLA All-American Henry Bibby) fired a three-hit shutout against the New York Mets in nightcap of 1978 twinbill.

  • Philadelphia Athletics LF Lyle Bigbee (hoops letterman with his brother for Oregon in 1915) smacked his lone MLB homer.

  • Boston Red Sox C Gene Desautels (Holy Cross hoops letterman in 1929 and 1930) went 4-for-4 against the Philadelphia Athletics in the opener of a 1938 doubleheader.

  • The Boston Braves started a streak of nine consecutive doubleheaders in 1928 by losing the opener, 3-2, to Brooklyn on a 10th-inning homer by 2B Jake Flowers (hooper for Washington College MD "Flying Pentagon" squad in 1923).

  • St. Louis Browns rookie LF Joe Gallagher (Manhattan varsity hooper in 1934-35) went 5-for-7 in a 1939 twinbill against the Detroit Tigers.

  • Detroit Tigers rookie 1B Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoops scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) collected five RBI against the Chicago White Sox in a 1933 contest.

  • Chicago White Sox rookie RHP Paul Gregory (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1929-30) didn't allow an earned run in a complete-game, 5-1 win against the St. Louis Browns in nightcap of 1932 doubleheader.

  • 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 Philadelphia Phillies in a 1996 game.

  • RHP Geoff Hartlieb (averaged 1.8 ppg and 1.1 rpg for Quincy IL in 2012-13 before transferring to Lindenwood MO to concentrate on baseball) awarded off waivers from the New York Mets to Boston Red Sox in 2021.

  • Cleveland Indians rookie LF Jerad Head (Washburn KS leader in assists and three-field field-goal shooting in 2004-05 for MIAA regular-season co-champion) had his lone MLB extra-base hit and RBI with a run-scoring double against the Kansas City Royals in a 2011 contest.

  • RHP Jim Hearn (Georgia Tech hoops letterman in 1941-42) and New York Giants teammate Sal Maglie each hurled a shutout in 1950 twinbill against the Philadelphia Phillies.

  • RHP Andy Karl (Manhattan hoops letterman in mid-1930s) traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to the Chicago Cubs in 1943. Karl refused to report to his new team the following spring.

  • In his lone MLB appearance, Merritt "Mem" Lovett (freshman hooper for University of Chicago in 1931-32) popped out as a Chicago White Sox pinch-hitter for final out in opener of 1933 doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers.

  • C Cal Neeman (Illinois Wesleyan's leading scorer in 1947-48 and 1948-49), appearing in 121 of the Chicago Cubs' first 133 games in 1957, was on course to break MLB record for most contests caught by a rookie before fracturing little finger of his right hand.

  • 1B Jack Phillips (leading scorer for 14-1 Clarkson NY in 1942-43) traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Chicago White Sox in 1954.

  • New York Yankees DH Lou Piniella (averaged 2.5 ppg and 1.4 rpg with Tampa as freshman in 1961-62) went 4-for-4 in a 3-2 win against the Kansas City Royals in 1982.

  • St. Louis Cardinals rookie C Dave Ricketts (three-year starter led Duquesne in scoring senior season with 17.9 ppg in 1956-57) ripped his lone MLB homer (against Pittsburgh Pirates in opener of 1967 twinbill).

  • New York Yankees rookie LHP Marius Russo (member of LIU teams compiling 50-2 record in 1934-35 and 1935-36 under legendary coach Clair Bee) hurled his second shutout in less than three weeks in 1939.

  • Kansas City Royals LHP Paul Splittorff (runner-up in scoring and rebounding for Morningside IA in 1967-68) twirled the second of back-to-back shutouts in 1975.

  • Chicago White Sox 1B Billy Sullivan Jr. (Portland hoops letterman in 1927-28) went 5-for-5 against the St. Louis Browns in the nightcap of a 1932 doubleheader.

  • Cleveland Indians 1B Jim Thome (juco hooper for Illinois Central in 1988-89) smacked two homers in a 2001 game against the Boston Red Sox. Nine years later as DH for the Minnesota Twins, he whacked a pair of round-trippers in 2010 outing against the Texas Rangers in the first of four consecutive contests in which Thome went downtown.

  • Philadelphia Athletics 3B Billy Werber (first Duke hoops All-American in 1929-30) banged out three hits in both ends of a 1937 twinbill against the Boston Red Sox.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers LHP Frank Wurm (acknowledged as best hooper for Middlebury VT in 1945-46) walked five batters in 1/3 of an inning in his lone MLB appearance (start against Boston Braves in nightcap of 1944 doubleheader).

On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Ready to Tackle September 3 NFL Gridiron

Long before kneeling knuckleheads, the NCAA Tournament commenced in 1939, which was one year after the NIT triggered national postseason competition. An overlooked "versatile athlete" feat occurring in 1938 likely never to be duplicated took place at Arkansas, where the quarterback for the football squad (Jack Robbins) repeated as an All-SWC first-team basketball selection, leading the Razorbacks (19-3) to the league title. After the season, Robbins became an NFL first-round draft choice by the Chicago Cardinals (5th pick overall) and senior football/basketball teammates Jim Benton (11th pick by Cleveland Rams) and Ray Hamilton (41st pick by Rams) went on to become wide receivers for at least six years in the NFL. Yes, they created a kneeling-in-admiration shatterproof achievement - three do-everything members of a league championship basketball squad who promptly were among the top 41 selections in the same NFL draft.

Two years later, All-SWC first-team hoop selection Howard "Red" Hickey was instrumental in Arkansas reaching the 1941 Final Four before becoming an end for the Cleveland Rams' 1945 NFL titlist. Two-sport college teammate and fellow end O'Neal Adams scored five touchdowns for the New York Giants the first half of the 1940s. Another two-sport Hog who played for the Giants in the mid-1940s was Harry Wynne. An earlier versatile Razorback was Jim Lee Howell, who was an All-SWC first five hoop selection in 1935-36 before becoming a starting end for the Giants' 1938 NFL titlist and Pro Bowl participant the next year. Adams, Benton, Hamilton, Hickey and Howell combined for 77 touchdowns in an 11-year span from 1938 through 1948 when at least one of the ex-Razorback hoopers scored a TD in each of those seasons.

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players making a name for themselves in September 3 football games at the professional level (especially unbeaten Cleveland Browns teammates Otto Graham and Ara Parseghian hooking up for touchdown pass in 1948 before they became coaches of prominent gridiron enterprises):

SEPTEMBER 3

  • Boston Patriots WR Art Graham (collected one point and three rebounds in two basketball games with Boston College in 1961-62) posted a 1967 AFL-long touchdown reception of 79 yards in 26-21 setback against the Denver Broncos in season opener.

  • Cleveland Browns rookie HB Ara Parseghian (Miami of Ohio hooper in 1946-47 and 1947-48) caught a 17-yard touchdown pass from QB Otto Graham (Big Ten Conference runner-up in scoring as Northwestern sophomore in 1941-42 and junior in 1942-43) in 19-14 win against the Los Angeles Dons in 1948 AAFC season opener.

  • Cleveland Browns WR Reggie Rucker (averaged 6.8 ppg and 3.8 rpg for Boston University in 1966-67) registered three pass receptions for 113 yards in a 24-7 win against the San Francisco 49ers in 1978 season opener.

  • Arizona Cardinals DL Mao Tosi (averaged 4.1 ppg and 5.5 rpg with Idaho in 1997-98) had a career-high seven solo tackles in 21-16 setback against the New York Giants in his NFL debut in 2000 season opener.

On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Generating MLB Headlines on September 3

Extra! Extra! Instead of discussing kinder-and-gentler Taliban militants (according to "most distrusted name in news" CNN) chanting "Death to America!" when religious scholars aren't Pope-like tackling tenets of climate change with as much arranged-marriage vigor as fear-mongering Plagiarist Bile-dumb (a/k/a Pedo-Peter by hideous Hunter), Cacklin' Kamala, Lurch Kerry, Odd Squad rooftop-dancing bartender AOC and Fake Squaw #Liesalot Warren, 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.

Tony Clark and Kenny Lofton, a pair of former hoopers who played at Arizona under Hall of Fame coach Lute Olson, supplied significant performances with American League teams on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a September 3 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

SEPTEMBER 3

  • Detroit Tigers 1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in WAC basketball games in 1991-92 after transferring from Arizona) contributed five RBI against the Atlanta Braves in a 1997 game.

  • In the midst of hitting safely in all 13 games he played this month, Philadelphia Phillies 2B Denny Doyle (averaged 2.7 ppg for Morehead State in 1962-63) delivered four safeties in the nightcap of a 1973 twinbill against the New York Mets.

  • Detroit Tigers 1B Walt Dropo (first player in Connecticut history to average at least 20 ppg in single season with 21.7 ppg in 1942-43) homered twice in an 11-8 triumph against the Cleveland Indians in 1952.

  • Baltimore Orioles LHP Mike Flanagan (averaged 13.9 ppg for Massachusetts' 15-1 freshman squad in 1971-72) became MLB's first 20-game winner in the 1979 season.

  • In his final MLB appearance in 1975, St. Louis Cardinals RHP Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer in 1955-56 and 1956-57) allowed a pinch-hit grand slam to the Chicago Cubs' Pete LaCock before retiring SS Don Kessinger (three-time All-SEC selection for Mississippi from 1961-62 through 1963-64 while finishing among nation's top 45 scorers each year).

  • New York Mets 1B-LF Jim Hickman (freshman hooper for Ole Miss in 1955-56) hammered three homers against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1965 game.

  • Philadelphia Phillies LHP Lefty Hoerst (four-year hoops letterman for La Salle in late 1930s) hurled his first complete game (4-1 win against Brooklyn Dodgers in nightcap of 1941 doubleheader).

  • New York Yankees LF Charlie Keller (Maryland hoops letterman from 1934-35 through 1936-37) lashed three extra-base hits against the Philadelphia Athletics in nightcap of a 1945 twinbill.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers rookie LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman hoops squad in 1953-54) hurled his second straight shutout in 1955 (4-0 against Pittsburgh Pirates).

  • Cleveland Indians CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling a 35-3 record) tied a MLB record by scoring in his 18th straight game, stole five bases and supplied five hits, including a walk-off homer in the 13th inning, in a 12-11 victory against the Baltimore Orioles in 2000. Teammate Jim Thome (juco hooper for Illinois Central in 1988-89) contributed five RBI as DH.

  • Philadelphia Athletics rookie RHP Bill McCahan (three-year Duke hoops letterman named to All-Southern Conference Tournament team in 1942) hurled a no-hitter against Washington in 1947.

  • LF Jimmy Moore (Union TN hoops standout in late 1920s), making his Philadelphia Athletics debut in 1930, collected a double, homer and four RBI in 11-4 win against the Boston Red Sox.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates LHP Preacher Roe (Harding AR hooper in late 1930s) fanned 11 St. Louis Cardinals batters en route to an N.L.-leading 148 whiffs in 1945.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates OF Ted Savage (Lincoln MO scoring average leader in 1955-56) stroked a pinch-hit, three-run homer against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1963 contest.

  • Chicago Cubs LF Riggs Stephenson (Alabama hoops letterman in 1920) went 4-for-4 against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1933 outing.

  • Only MLB decision for Philadelphia Phillies LHP Lefty Taber (hooper from class of '25 for Dubuque IA) came in his lone start, a 12-2 setback against the Boston Braves in 1927.

  • San Francisco Giants CF Randy Winn (Santa Clara backcourtmate of eventual two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash in 1993-94) whacked two homers against the Arizona Diamondbacks in a 2005 game.

On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Ready to Tackle September 2 NFL Gridiron

Long before kneeling knuckleheads, the NCAA Tournament commenced in 1939, which was one year after the NIT triggered national postseason competition. An overlooked "versatile athlete" feat occurring in 1938 likely never to be duplicated took place at Arkansas, where the quarterback for the football squad (Jack Robbins) repeated as an All-SWC first-team basketball selection, leading the Razorbacks (19-3) to the league title. After the season, Robbins became an NFL first-round draft choice by the Chicago Cardinals (5th pick overall) and senior football/basketball teammates Jim Benton (11th pick by Cleveland Rams) and Ray Hamilton (41st pick by Rams) went on to become wide receivers for at least six years in the NFL. Yes, they created a kneeling-in-admiration shatterproof achievement - three do-everything members of a league championship basketball squad who promptly were among the top 41 selections in the same NFL draft.

Two years later, All-SWC first-team hoop selection Howard "Red" Hickey was instrumental in Arkansas reaching the 1941 Final Four before becoming an end for the Cleveland Rams' 1945 NFL titlist. Two-sport college teammate and fellow end O'Neal Adams scored five touchdowns for the New York Giants the first half of the 1940s. Another two-sport Hog who played for the Giants in the mid-1940s was Harry Wynne. An earlier versatile Razorback was Jim Lee Howell, who was an All-SWC first five hoop selection in 1935-36 before becoming a starting end for the Giants' 1938 NFL titlist and Pro Bowl participant the next year. Adams, Benton, Hamilton, Hickey and Howell combined for 77 touchdowns in an 11-year span from 1938 through 1948 when at least one of the ex-Razorback hoopers scored a TD in each of those seasons.

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves in football on September 2 at the professional level (especially in 1979):

SEPTEMBER 2

  • Philadelphia Eagles WR Harold Carmichael (basketball starter two seasons for Southern LA averaged 9.8 ppg and 10.6 rpg in 1969-70) caught two second-quarter touchdown passes from Ron Jaworski in a 23-17 win against the New York Giants in 1979 season opener.

  • Washington Redskins TE Jean Fugett (leading scorer and rebounder for Amherst MA as junior in 1970-71) caught two touchdown passes from Joe Theismann in a 29-27 setback against the Houston Oilers in 1979 season opener.

On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Generating MLB Headlines on September 2

Extra! Extra! Instead of wondering if misguided #MessMedia will return to asking gaffe-prone Plagiarist Bile-dumb about ice cream while many Americans don't believe creepy stranderer-in-chief will complete his first term if he can't complete a cogent thought, 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.

Multiple Show-Me State colleges - Central Missouri, Drury, Mizzou, Missouri State and Washington University - had former hoopers "show" significant MLB performances on this date. Ditto three ex-community college hoopers from California (Irv Noren, Bob Oliver and Larry Wolfe). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a September 2 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

SEPTEMBER 2

  • Bonus baby 2B Jerry Adair (one of Oklahoma State's top three basketball scorers in 1956-57 and 1957-58 while ranking among nation's top 12 free-throw shooters each season) made his MLB debut with the Baltimore Orioles in 1958.

  • 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading scorer in 1945-46) pounded a pinch-hit, two-run homer off RHP Bobby Humphreys (four-year hoops letterman graduated from Hampden-Sydney VA in 1958) to give the California Angels a 6-5 win against the Washington Senators in 1966.

  • In 1981, RHP Jim Beattie (Dartmouth's top rebounder in 1974-75 when selected team MVP and honorable mention All-Ivy League) toiled 10 innings against the Baltimore Orioles en route to setting a Seattle Mariners record for a starter by pitching 19 straight scoreless innings.

  • Philadelphia Athletics rookie RHP Bill Beckmann (hooper in late 1920s for Washington MO) hurled his second straight shutout in 1939.

  • INF Bosey Berger (NCAA consensus All-American first-team hoops selection in 1932 for Maryland) combined with Chicago White Sox teammate Mike Kreevich to hit homers as the first two batters in a game for the second time in the 1937 campaign.

  • New York Mets 1B Donn Clendenon (four-sport letterman with Morehouse GA) clobbered two homers against the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 1969 contest.

  • After sitting out almost a month because of a broken rib, New York Giants SS Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for LSU and USL during World War II) fell and broke his shoulder in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1955.

  • Boston Red Sox RHP Boo Ferriss (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1941) won his 12th straight contest for victory No. 24 in the opener of a 1946 twinbill against the New York Yankees.

  • In 1983, Baltimore Orioles LHP Mike Flanagan (averaged 13.9 ppg for Massachusetts' 15-1 freshman squad in 1971-72) posted his 13th consecutive triumph over the Minnesota Twins when teammate Ken Singleton (played for Hofstra's freshman hoops team in mid-1960s) broke up a scoreless duel with a ninth-inning homer.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates 3B Gene Freese (West Liberty WV hoops captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team) accumulated a total of nine hits in back-to-back 1957 twinbills the first two days of the month.

  • St. Louis Cardinals RHP Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer and rebounder in 1955-56 and 1956-57) hurled his 12th shutout in span of 18 starts covering less than three months in 1968.

  • Detroit Tigers 1B Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoops scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) collected two homers and a triple in 9-8 nod over the Washington Senators. His second round-tripper was a walk-off in the bottom of the 10th inning.

  • 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 previous season) fanned 12 opposing batters for the third game in a three-week span in 1975.

  • Brooklyn Robins 1B Buddy Hassett (hooper for Manhattan teams winning school-record 17 consecutive contests in 1930 and 1931) banged out four hits against the Chicago Cubs in a 1937 game. Five years later, Hassett duplicated the feat for the New York Yankees against the St. Louis Browns in nightcap of a 1942 twinbill.

  • In midst of closing out 1961 campaign with 10 consecutive scoreless relief appearances, Cincinnati Reds LHP Bill Henry (hoops letterman for Houston's 1947 NAIA Tournament team featuring co-captain Guy Lewis) posted his 16th save (tied Jim Brosnan for team high in category).

  • Philadelphia Phillies LHP Lefty Hoerst (four-year hoops letterman for La Salle in late 1930s) yielded only two hits but managed to lose by walking four batters in the eighth inning in 1942.

  • Washington Senators slugging 1B-OF Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection when leading Ohio State in scoring and rebounding in 1956-57 and 1957-58) received intentional passes his first three plate appearances, twice leading off an inning, against the Cleveland Indians in a 1970 contest.

  • Atlanta Braves 1B Davey Johnson (averaged 1.7 ppg for Texas A&M in 1961-62) homered in both ends of a 1974 doubleheader sweep of the San Diego Padres.

  • In 2002, Oakland Athletics LF David Justice (Thomas More KY assists leader in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg) jacked his final of 305 MLB career homers.

  • 3B Fritz Knothe (member of Penn's freshman hoops squad in 1923-24) shipped by Philadelphia Phillies to Albany (International League) to complete a deal made the previous month in 1933.

  • St. Louis Browns SS Doc Lavan (Hope MI hooper from 1908 through 1910) went 4-for-4 against the Cleveland Indians in a 1916 outing.

  • Chicago Cubs INF Vance Law (averaged 6.8 ppg for Brigham Young from 1974-75 through 1976-77) accounted for the game's only run with a ninth-inning homer off the Los Angeles Dodgers' Bob Welch in 1986.

  • Philadelphia Phillies rookie OF Danny Litwhiler (member of JV hoops squad with Bloomsburg PA in mid-1930s), en route to a 21-game hitting streak, collected six safeties and eight RBI in a 1940 doubleheader sweep of the New York Giants.

  • 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 was All-CIC selection for 1968 NAIA Tournament team) stroked a game-winning grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning off Chicago Cubs closer Bruce Sutter in 1979.

  • New York Yankees rookie RHP Zach Monroe (played hoops briefly for Bradley in 1950-51) hurled his lone MLB complete game, defeating the Boston Red Sox, 6-1, in 1958.

  • In his first start for the St. Louis Cardinals, RF Irv Noren (hooper of year for California community college state champion Pasadena City in 1945) stroked three extra-base hits against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1957 contest.

  • California Angels 1B Bob Oliver (All-Valley Conference basketball choice for American River Community College CA in 1962) accounted for the game's only tallies with a first-inning, two-run homer off Jim Palmer against the Baltimore Orioles in 1972.

  • Cleveland Indians RHP Jim Perry (averaged more than 20 ppg in late 1950s for former juco Campbell) fired a four-hit shutout against the Baltimore Orioles in 1961.

  • Atlanta Braves RHP Ron Reed (Notre Dame's leading rebounder in 1963-64 and 1964-65) spun his second three-hit shutout in less than a month in 1974.

  • A two-hit shutout by Chicago White Sox RHP Johnny Rigney (top hoops center for St. Thomas MN in mid-1930s) against the Detroit Tigers was one of 11 consecutive triumphs for him in 1939. The next year, he also tossed a two-hit whitewash against the Tigers in 1940.

  • OF Larry Sheets (All-ODAC hoops selection for Eastern Mennonite VA in 1981-82 and 1982-83) shipped by the Milwaukee Brewers to the Seattle Mariners as part of a conditional deal in 1993.

  • Boston Red Sox RHP Sonny Siebert (team-high 16.7 ppg for Missouri in 1957-58 as All-Big Eight Conference second-team selection) hurled a one-hitter and socked two homers in a 3-0 triumph against the Baltimore Orioles in 1971. He had six round-trippers during the season.

  • Boston Red Sox RHP Dave Sisler (All-Ivy League second-team selection for Princeton's first NCAA Tournament team in 1952) surrendered back-to-back homers to Hall of Famers Yogi Berra and Mickey Mantle in 1958. It was one of 12 times the New York Yankees' duo whack back-to-back round-trippers. They homered in the same game 50 times.

  • SS Roy Smalley Jr. (one of top scorers for Drury MO in 1942-43 and 1943-44) drilled a pinch two-run double in the bottom of the eighth inning to propel the Philadelphia Phillies to a 5-3 win against the New York Giants in 1955.

  • In the midst of winning his final seven decisions in 1977, Kansas City Royals LHP Paul Splittorff (runner-up in scoring and rebounding for Morningside IA in 1967-68) tossed a one-hit shutout against the Milwaukee Brewers in the nightcap of a twinbill.

  • LHP Bob Veale (scored 1,160 points for Benedictine KS from 1955-56 through 1957-58) purchased from the Pittsburgh Pirates by the Boston Red Sox in 1972.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates 1B Preston Ward (second-leading scorer for Southwest Missouri State in 1946-47 and 1948-49) knocked in six runs in an 8-1 victory against the Chicago Cubs in 1953.

  • St. Louis Browns OF Hal Warnock (Arizona hoops letterman from 1931-32 through 1933-34) contributed a pinch-hit double in his first MLB plate appearance in the nightcap of a 1935 doubleheader against the Cleveland Indians.

  • Boston Red Sox 3B Larry Wolfe (juco letterman in 1971-72 and 1972-73 for Sacramento City College CA scored career-high 33 points against Santa Rosa on 12-17-71) whacked a pinch-hit homer in 1980 game against the California Angels.

  • Boston Braves 3B Chuck Workman (two-time All-MIAA first-five hoops selection was leading scorer when Central Missouri won inaugural NAIA Tournament in 1937) whacked two homers in the opener of a 1945 twinbill against the Philadelphia Phillies.

On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Generating MLB Headlines on September 1

Extra! Extra! Instead of wondering if Secret Service or hideous Hunter-hammered "Dr." Jill is responsible for bringing Plagiarist Bile-dumb's bed pan along when "the big guy" futilely tries to give coherent speech with satanic background, 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 American League performances on this date. Ex-LSU hoopers Joe Adcock and Alvin Dark did likewise in National League contests. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a September 1 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

SEPTEMBER 1

  • Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) swatted two homers against the Chicago Cubs in a 1960 game.

  • Chicago Cubs LF Ethan Allen (Cincinnati hoops letterman in 1924-25 and 1925-26) supplied four hits against the New York Giants in a 1936 contest.

  • Chicago White Sox CF Ken Berry (freshman hooper for Wichita in 1959-60) went 4-for-4 in a 1966 game against the Detroit Tigers.

  • Baltimore Orioles LF Al Bumbry (Virginia State's runner-up in scoring with 16.7 ppg as freshman in 1964-65) banged out four hits against the Kansas City Royals in a 1974 outing.

  • Arizona Diamondbacks 1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in WAC competition in 1991-92) collected five RBI against the Colorado Rockies in a 2007 game.

  • Philadelphia Athletics rookie RHP Jack Coombs (hoops captain and starting center for Colby ME) went the distance in a 24-inning, 4-1 win against the Washington Senators in 1906. Coombs tossed two more complete-game victories in the next 10 days.

  • New York Giants SS Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for Louisiana State and Southwestern Louisiana in mid-1940s) manufactured four hits in his second game in a row against the Chicago Cubs in 1953.

  • Milwaukee Braves 2B Jack Dittmer (Iowa hooper in 1949-50), entering the game with a .180 batting average, started a streak of six consecutive multiple-hit contests in 1954. Dittmer homered in three of the tilts.

  • Closing in on the conclusion of an 18-year Hall of Fame career, Washington Senators C Rick Ferrell (hoops forward for Guilford NC before graduating in 1928) furnished four hits against the Philadelphia Athletics in a 1947 contest.

  • In 1976, Baltimore Orioles rookie LHP Mike Flanagan (averaged 13.9 ppg for UMass' freshman squad in 1971-72) registered his first of 167 MLB career victories (six-hit, 7-1 nod over Kansas City Royals).

  • Pittsburgh Pirates rookie 3B Gene Freese (West Liberty WV hoops captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team) stroked four hits against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1955 outing.

  • SS Dick Groat (two-time All-American with Duke in 1950-51 and 1951-52 when finishing among nation's top five scorers each season) received bases-loaded walk in the 21st inning to give the San Francisco Giants a 1-0 victory at Cincinnati in 1967.

  • 2B Tommy Herr (hooper with Delaware's freshman team in 1974-75) homered in his first game with the New York Mets in a 6-5 verdict over the San Francisco Giants in 1990.

  • Chicago Cubs SS Don Kessinger (three-time All-SEC selection for Mississippi from 1961-62 through 1963-64 while finishing among nation's top 45 scorers each year) went 4-for-4 against the Houston Astros in a 1968 game.

  • Detroit Tigers RF Harvey Kuenn (hooper played briefly for Wisconsin in 1951-52 after competing on JV squad previous season) contributed four hits against the Chicago White Sox in a 1959 contest.

  • Washington Senators SS Doc Lavan (Hope MI hooper from 1908 through 1910) went 4-for-4 against the New York Yankees in a 1918 outing.

  • In 1931, New York Giants rookie LHP Jim Mooney (played for East Tennessee State) notched his fourth win and second shutout since being summoned from the minors three weeks earlier.

  • Washington Senators rookie SS Buddy Myer (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1923-24) went 4-for-5 for the second time in an eight-game span in 1926.

  • Cincinnati Reds CF Greasy Neale (hooper graduated in 1915 from West Virginia Wesleyan) went 5-for-5 against the St. Louis Cardinals in the nightcap of a 1918 doubleheader.

  • OF-1B John Poff (member of Duke's freshman basketball squad in 1970-71) awarded off waivers from the Philadelphia Phillies to the Milwaukee Brewers in 1980.

  • In the final month of his 10-year MLB career, Brooklyn Dodgers 3B Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) swiped three bases in nightcap of 1956 doubleheader against the New York Giants.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers LHP Preacher Roe (Harding AR hooper in late 1930s) yielded five solo homers but the St. Louis Cardinals still were soundly defeated, 12-5, in 1953. Five years earlier, Roe tossed his second of back-to-back shutouts in 1948.

  • New York Yankees rookie LHP Marius Russo (member of LIU teams compiling 50-2 record in 1934-35 and 1935-36 under legendary coach Clair Bee) earned a save against the Cleveland Indians in the midst of seven straight complete-game victories to close out 1939 campaign.

  • Baltimore Orioles RF Ken Singleton (played for Hofstra freshman hoops team in mid-1960s) homered twice against the Seattle Mariners in a 1980 contest.

  • Cleveland Indians 2B Riggs Stephenson (Alabama hoops letterman in 1920) collected two homers and six RBI against the St. Louis Browns in the nightcap of a 1924 twinbill.

  • Philadelphia Phillies RHP Kent Tekulve (freshman hooper for Marietta OH in mid-1960s) won his sixth game as reliever in span of a month in 1986.

  • New York Yankees RHP Ralph Terry (juco hooper averaged 22 ppg for Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in mid-1950s) went 3-for-3 at the plate in a 1962 game against the Kansas City Athletics.

  • LHP Bob Veale (scored 1,160 points from 1955-56 through 1957-58 with Benedictine KS) made relief appearance for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1971 when they started what is believed to be the first all-black lineup (including several Latinos) in MLB history (against Philadelphia Phillies).

  • Pittsburgh Pirates CF Bill Virdon (Drury MO hooper in 1949) belted a two-out, game-ending grand slam in 6-4 verdict over the Cincinnati Reds in 1963.

  • New York Yankees LHP Tom Zachary (Guilford NC letterman in 1916) yielded his most earned runs of the year (four against Boston Red Sox) en route to a 12-0 worksheet in 1929.

Happy Birthday! Celebration Dates in September For A-As and HOF Coaches

Georgetown championship coach John Thompson Jr. is among three Providence All-Americans born the first four days of September. The day celebrating the most birthdays this month for former All-Americans is September 7 with 10. Gonzaga (16th) and North Carolina (23rd and 25th) each had two All-Americans born on the same day this month. Kansas (seven) and Carolina (six) boast the most A-As born this month. Following are birthdates in September for All-American players and Hall of Fame coaches:

SEPTEMBER

1: All-Americans Kofi Cockburn (born in 1999/Illinois), Ryan Gomes (1982/Providence), Tim Hardaway Sr. (1966/Texas-El Paso), Vinnie Johnson (1956/Baylor), Bernie Opper (1915/Kentucky) and Guy Rodgers (1935/Temple).
2: All-Americans Ed Conlin (1933/Fordham), Bob Faught (1921/Notre Dame), Frank Groves (1913/Kansas State), Marcus Morris (1989/Kansas) and John Thompson Jr. (1941/Providence) plus Hall of Fame coaches Adolph Rupp (1901/Kentucky) and Thompson (Georgetown).
3: All-Americans Al Green (1953/Louisiana State), Walt Kirk (1924/Illinois), Steve Scheffler (1967/Purdue) and Damon Stoudamire (1973/Arizona).
4: All-Americans Clarence "Bevo" Francis (1932/Rio Grande OH), Kevin Stacom (1951/Providence) and Roger Strickland (1940/Jacksonville).
5: All-Americans Davion Mitchell (1998/Baylor), Ken Norman (1964/Illinois), Dennis Scott (1968/Georgia Tech), Seth Tuttle (1992/Northern Iowa) and Anthony "T.J." Warren Jr. (1993/North Carolina State).
6: All-Americans Thomas Guerrero (1919/UC Santa Barbara), Sean Singletary (1985/Virginia) and John Wall (1990/Kentucky).
7: All-Americans Cliff Anderson (1944/St. Joseph's), Mateen Cleaves (1977/Michigan State), Charlie Davis (1949/Wake Forest), Ralph Davis (1938/Cincinnati), Wilbert Kautz (1915/Loyola of Chicago), George Lacy (1912/Richmond), Kevin Love (1988/UCLA), Clyde Lovellette (1929/Kansas), Dick O'Neal (1935/Texas Christian) and Bob Verga (1945/Duke) plus Hall of Fame coach Al McGuire (1928/Marquette).
8: All-Americans Jim Krebs (1935/Southern Methodist), Tom Meschery (1938/St. Mary's) and Clarence Weatherspoon (1970/Southern Mississippi).
9: All-Americans Shane Battier (1978/Duke), Steve Downing (1950/Indiana) and Drew Timme (2000/Gonzaga).
10: All-Americans Bob Lanier (1948/St. Bonaventure), Jordan Nwora (1998/Louisville), Willie Sojourner (1948/Weber State), Ray Tolbert (1958/Indiana) and Jason Williams (1981/Duke plus Hall of Fame coach Dave Robbins (1942/Virginia Union).
11: All-Americans Ike Diogu (1983/Arizona State), Joe Hassett (1955/Providence) and Johnny Neumann (1950/Mississippi) plus Hall of Fame coach Harold Anderson (1902/Toledo and Bowling Green).
12: All-Americans Terry Dehere (1971/Seton Hall) and Ernie Vandeweghe (1928/Colgate).
13: All-Americans Jim Cleamons (1949/Ohio State), Brian Evans (1973/Indiana), Carl "C.J." Fair (1991/Syracuse), Charles Hardnett (1938/Grambling) and Willie Murrell (1941/Kansas State).
14: All-Americans Jevon Carter (1995/West Virginia), Tom Chilton (1938/East Tennessee State) and Perry Ellis (1993/Kansas) plus Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown (1940/UCLA, Kansas and Southern Methodist).
15: All-Americans Marvin Delph (1956/Arkansas), Sherman Douglas (1966/Syracuse), Mike Dunleavy Jr. (1980/Duke), Jason Terry (1977/Arizona) and Tony Yates (1937/Cincinnati).
16: All-Americans Elgin Baylor (1934/Seattle), Ron Brewer (1955/Arkansas), Dan Dickau (1978/Gonzaga), Bob Kinney (1920/Rice), Billy McGill (1939/Utah) and Nigel Williams-Goss (1994/Gonzaga).
17: All-Americans Udoka Azubuike (1999/Kansas), Ulysses "Junior" Bridgeman (1953/Louisville), Lester Conner (1959/Oregon State), Greg Kelser (1957/Michigan State), Doug Smith (1969/Missouri), Rasheed Wallace (1974/North Carolina) and Kermit Washington (1951/American University).
18: All-American Bill Kotsores (1924/St. John's) and Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino (1952/Boston University, Providence, Kentucky, Louisville and Iona).
19: All-Americans Brandon Clarke (1996/Gonzaga), Sidney Wicks (1949/UCLA) and Trae Young (1998/Oklahoma).
20: All-Americans Kyle Anderson (1993/UCLA) and John Townsend (1916/Michigan) plus Hall of Fame coach Harry Litwack (1907/Temple).
21: All-Americans Randolph Childress (1972/Wake Forest), Artis Gilmore (1949/Jacksonville), Jack Givens (1956/Kentucky), Doug Moe (1938/North Carolina), Sidney Moncrief (1957/Arkansas) and Ron Sobiesczyk (1934/DePaul) plus Hall of Fame coach Bob Huggins (1953/Akron, Cincinnati, Kansas State and West Virginia).
22: Hall of Fame coach Robert "Lute" Olson (1934/Long Beach State, Iowa and Arizona).
23: All-Americans Ray Blume (1958/Oregon State), Pete Brennan (1936/North Carolina), Dean Kelley (1931/Kansas), Eric Montross (1971/North Carolina) and Frank Ward (1904/Montana State).
24: All-Americans Randy Foye (1983/Villanova), Drew Gooden (1981/Kansas) and Ron "Fritz" Williams (1944/West Virginia).
25: All-Americans Chauncey Billups (1976/Colorado), Cade Cunningham (2001/Oklahoma State), Jimmy Darrow (1937/Bowling Green State), Ron Haigler (1953/Penn), Bob McAdoo (1951/North Carolina), Rashad McCants (1984/North Carolina) and Harv Schmidt (1935/Illinois).
26: All-Americans Lucius Allen (1947/UCLA), Cliff Crandall (1925/Oregon State), Mike Farmer (1936/San Francisco), Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (1993/Kentucky) and John Roche (1949/South Carolina).
27: All-Americans Ed Gray (1975/California), Steve Kerr (1965/Arizona) and Monte Towe (1953/North Carolina State).
28: All-Americans Johnny Dawkins (1963/Duke), Keith Edmonson (1960/Purdue), Emeka Okafor (1982/Connecticut) and Bonzi Wells (1976/Ball State).
29: All-Americans Chuck Cooper (1926/Duquesne), Kevin Durant (1988/Texas), Darington Hobson (1987/New Mexico), Hersey Hawkins (1966/Bradley), John Paxson (1960/Notre Dame), Eddie Phillips (1961/Alabama) and Jesse "Cab" Renick (1917/Oklahoma A&M) plus Hall of Fame coach Homer Drew (1944/Valparaiso).
30: All-Americans Mark Randall (1967/Kansas), Jordan Taylor (1989/Wisconsin) and Jerome Whitehead (1956/Marquette).

Birthdays in January for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in February for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in March for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in April for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in May for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in June for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in July for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in August for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in September for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in October for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in November for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in December for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches

On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Generating MLB Headlines on August 31

Extra! Extra! Instead of cursing "eye-rolling" empty-suit aviator Plagiarist "F-15" Bidumb and "the big guy's" awful morally-bankrupt administration seeking a "big f-ing deal" war-participation trophy from #MessMedia misfits despite inept evacuation and civilized-world 90% sullying of stranding God-knows-how-many American citizens/allies/Christians a year ago to be brutalized by "Tally-bon" cockroaches, 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.

Ed Morgan (Tulane), Lyle Mouton (Louisiana State) and Lee Smith (Northwestern State) - former major-college hoopers from Pelican State universities - supplied significant moments in their MLB careers on this date. Ditto ex-Pasadena City CA community college hoopers Darrell Evans and Irv Noren and multiple former small-college hoopers from PA schools (Allegheny's Glenn Beckert/Lafayette's Frank Grube/Grove City's Gary Peters/Mansfield's Joe Shaute). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 31 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 31

  • New York Giants LF Babe Barna (West Virginia basketball letterman in 1936 and 1937) provided a career-high four hits in 7-6 win against the Chicago Cubs in 1942.

  • Chicago Cubs 2B Glenn Beckert (three-year hoops letterman for Allegheny PA) supplied four safeties against the Atlanta Braves in a 1969 game.

  • California Angels rookie LF Bruce Bochte (starting forward for Santa Clara's NCAA playoff team in 1970 averaged 7.4 ppg and 4 rpg) belted two homers against the Milwaukee Brewers in a 1974 contest.

  • In 1954, Milwaukee Braves rookie RHP Gene Conley (All-PCC first-team selection led North Division in scoring in 1949-50 as Washington State sophomore) hurled a three-hit shutout against the Brooklyn Dodgers. The whitewash was Conley's fifth win of the month.

  • Milwaukee Braves 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) smacked two homers against the Brooklyn Dodgers in a 1955 outing.

  • Boston Braves SS Dick Culler (#9 jersey retired by High Point for hoops Little All-American in 1935 and 1936) contributed four hits against the Philadelphia Phillies in nightcap of a 1946 doubleheader.

  • In the midst of five straight seasons amassing a minimum of 20 hits, Detroit Tigers RHP Jean Dubuc (forward for Saint Michael's VT in 1905-06 and 1906-07 before starting with Notre Dame in 1907-08) went 3-for-3 at the plate against the Chicago White Sox in a 1915 contest.

  • San Francisco Giants LF Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) went 4-for-4 against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 1977 outing.

  • Los Angeles Dodgers C Joe Ferguson (hooper in 1967 NCAA playoffs with Pacific) launched two homers against the Montreal Expos in a 1980 game.

  • LHP Mike Flanagan (averaged 13.9 ppg for Massachusetts' 15-1 freshman squad in 1971-72) traded by the Baltimore Orioles to the Toronto Blue Jays in 1987. Toronto released knuckleballer Phil Niekro to make room on roster for Flanagan.

  • Minnesota Twins rookie RHP Bob Gebhard (Iowa backup hooper during first half of 1960s) posted his lone MLB victory when hurling two innings of relief against the Chicago White Sox in 1971.

  • 1B-OF Dick Gernert (Temple letterman in 1948-49 when averaging 2.7 ppg) purchased from the Chicago Cubs by the Detroit Tigers in 1960.

  • 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) belted his second homer of the month in 1965.

  • Dallas Green (Delaware's second-leading scorer and rebounder in 1954-55) named Philadelphia Phillies manager in 1979.

  • In 1934, St. Louis Browns C Frank Grube (Lafayette starting hoops guard as senior in 1926-27) closed out the month with his seventh multiple-hit contest in an eight-game span.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) swatted four homers, accounting for nine RBI, in a 19-3 romp over the Boston Braves in 1950. Seven years later, Hodges homered in his fifth of final six games of the month in 1957.

  • 1B-OF Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection when leading Ohio State in scoring and rebounding in 1956-57 and 1957-58) purchased from the Texas Rangers by the Detroit Tigers in 1972.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates LHP Herb Kelly (hooper for Notre Dame from 1911-12 through 1913-14) notched his lone MLB victory (against Brooklyn Robins in 1915).

  • Chicago Cubs SS Don Kessinger (three-time All-SEC selection for Mississippi from 1961-62 through 1963-64 while finishing among nation's top 45 scorers each year) collected five hits against the Montreal Expos in the opener of a 1971 doubleheader.

  • Philadelphia Phillies RHP Jim Konstanty (member of 1937-38 and 1938-39 Syracuse hoop teams) hurled a three-hit shutout against the Boston Braves in the nightcap of a 1952 twinbill.

  • LHP Bill Krueger (led WCAC in free-throw percentage in 1975-76 with Portland) traded by the Minnesota Twins to Montreal Expos in 1992. It is one of four seasons Krueger split time between the A.L. and N.L. during his career.

  • 2B Davey Lopes (NAIA All-District 15 selection for Iowa Wesleyan averaged 16.9 ppg as freshman in 1964-65 and 12.1 as sophomore in 1965-66 before transferring with his coach to Washburn KS where he was All-CIC selection for 1968 NAIA Tournament team) shipped by the Oakland Athletics to the Chicago Cubs in 1984 to complete an earlier deal.

  • Chicago White Sox RHP Ted Lyons (two-time All-SWC first-team selection for Baylor in early 1920s) lifted after seven innings and 15 hits opposing the St. Louis Browns in 1941. It is Lyons' final incomplete MLB game as he finished three subsequent starts in 1941, all 20 in 1942 and all five in 1946 (after serving in U.S. military during World War II).

  • SS Gene Michael (Kent State's leading scorer with 14 ppg in 1957-58) banged out a career-high four of the New York Yankees' 25 hits in an 18-6 romp over the Chicago White Sox in 1974.

  • A three-run, ninth-inning homer by RF Wally Moon (averaged 4.3 ppg with Texas A&M in 1948-49 and 1949-50) gave the Los Angeles Dodgers a 5-2 victory against the San Francisco Giants in 1959 when teammate Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman squad in 1953-54) broke Dizzy Dean's N.L. mark and tied Bob Feller's MLB record of 18 strikeouts in a single game.

  • In the midst of a career-high 12-game hitting streak, Chicago White Sox rookie 2B Ray Morehart (Austin College TX hoops letterman in early 1920s) went 9-for-10 with eight RBI in a 1926 doubleheader split against the Detroit Tigers.

  • In 1930, Cleveland Indians 1B Ed Morgan (Tulane hoops letterman from 1923-24 through 1925-26) collected four hits and four RBI for the second time in last four games of the month.

  • In the midst of a 10-game hitting streak, Chicago White Sox rookie OF Lyle Mouton (starter in Louisiana State's backcourt with All-American Chris Jackson for 1989 NCAA playoff team) went 4-for-4 against the Detroit Tigers in a 1995 contest. Six years later, Mouton was shipped by the Tigers to the Houston Astros as part of a conditional deal in 2001.

  • 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) belted two homers to power the New York Yankees to a 5-4 victory against Seattle in 1977.

  • Chicago Cubs RF Bill Nicholson (hoops guard for Washington College MD two years in mid-1930s) had his 21-game hitting streak snapped by the Cincinnati Reds in 1943.

  • OF Irv Noren (hooper of year for California junior college state champion Pasadena City in 1945) awarded off waivers from the Kansas City Athletics to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1957. Two years earlier with the New York Yankees, Noren went 3-for-3 and scored four runs against the Athletics in a 1955 contest.

  • Chicago White Sox LHP Gary Peters (Grove City PA hooper in mid-1950s) allowed fewer than three runs in his eighth straight start en route to pacing the A.L. with a 1.98 ERA in 1966.

  • INF-OF Tony Phillips (New Mexico Military juco hooper in 1977-78 as teammate of eventual Drake All-American Lewis Lloyd) traded by the Montreal Expos with cash to the San Diego Padres in 1980.

  • LHP Denny Riddleberger (averaged 5.7 ppg and 2.5 rpg for Old Dominion in 1965-66) traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates with cash to the Washington Senators for P George Brunet in 1970.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers LHP Joe Shaute (hooper for Mansfield PA in early 1920s) secured his third save in a five-days span in 1932.

  • RHP Lee Smith (averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg with Northwestern State in 1976-77) traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the New York Yankees in 1993.

  • Philadelphia Phillies 3B Jim Tabor (Alabama hoops letterman in 1936-37) provided three extra-base hits and five RBI against the Boston Braves in the opener of a 1946 twinbill.

  • DH Jim Thome (juco hooper for Illinois Central in 1988-89) traded by the Chicago White Sox with cash to Los Angeles Dodgers in 2009.

  • New York Yankees LHP Ed Wells (multi-sport athlete graduated in 1924 from Bethany WV) hurled a one-hit shutout against the Washington Senators in the opener of a 1929 doubleheader.

  • Boston Red Sox rookie 3B Billy Werber (first Duke hoops All-American in 1929-30) knocked in five runs against the New York Yankees in a 1933 outing.

  • Chicago Cubs RF Bob Will (all-league athlete was hoops captain for Mankato State MN in 1954-55) contributed two safeties in both ends of a 1960 twinbill against the Milwaukee Braves. He had 11 multiple-hit games during the month.

  • DH Dave Winfield (starting forward with Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) purchased from the Minnesota Twins by the Cleveland Indians in 1994.

On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Generating MLB Headlines on August 30

Extra! Extra! Instead of mocking wretched watch-checking Plagiarist Bidumb although hideous Hunter's enabling daddy wasn't totally undignified a year ago disrespecting grieving parents by inquiring whether "son always had balls size of cue balls" comparable to what Sleepy and Creepy Joe callously remarked at Dover AFB 10 years ago when flag-draped coffin of deceased Navy SEAL returned from U.S. consulate in Benghazi, 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 Santa Clara hoop guards Tim Cullen and Randy Winn made significant MLB news on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 30 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 30

  • Texas Rangers RF Larry Biittner (runner-up in basketball scoring and rebounding in 1966-67 for Buena Vista IA) banged out four hits against the Minnesota Twins in a 1973 game.

  • Philadelphia Athletics SS John Chapman (multiple-season hooper for Mount St. Mary's) chipped in with a career-high three hits against the Boston Red Sox in opener of 1924 doubleheader.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers RHP Jack Coombs (captain and starting hoops center for Colby ME) announced his retirement following a 1-0 setback against the New York Giants in game lasting only 57 minutes.

  • Tim Cullen (starting guard for Santa Clara in 1962-63 when he averaged 10 ppg) tied a MLB single-inning record with three errors in the eighth frame for the Washington Senators against the Oakland A's in 1969 one year before he led A.L. second basemen in fielding percentage. Washington 1B-OF Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection when he led Ohio State in scoring and rebounding in 1956-57 and 1957-58) contributed four hits in the Senators' 11-3 victory.

  • 2B Jack Dittmer (Iowa hooper in 1949-50) socked one of the Milwaukee Braves' eight homers in a 19-4 romp over the Pittsburgh Pirates in opener of 1953 doubleheader.

  • Boston Red Sox 2B Denny Doyle (averaged 2.7 ppg for Morehead State in 1962-63) went 4-for-4 against the Oakland Athletics in a 1977 outing.

  • Detroit Tigers 1B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) homered twice in a 1986 game against the California Angels.

  • St. Louis Cardinals 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) provided four hits against the New York Giants in a 1933 contest.

  • New York Yankees C Mike Garbark (hoops letterman for Villanova's 25-5 squad in 1937-38 under coach Alex Severance) furnished four hits in a 9-7 win against the Boston Red Sox in 1944.

  • 2B Tommy Herr (hooper with Delaware's freshman team in 1974-75) traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to New York Mets in 1990.

  • Boston Braves rookie 3B Fritz Knothe (member of Penn's freshman hoops squad in 1923-24) went 4-for-6 and scored four runs in 1932 doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

  • Milwaukee Braves SS Johnny Logan (Binghamton hooper in 1948-49) homered in both ends of a 1953 doubleheader sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

  • INF Tim Nordbrook (hoops letterman for Loyola LA in 1968-69) purchased from the Chicago White Sox by the Toronto Blue Jays in 1977.

  • In 1953, 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) supplied three contests with three hits and chipped in with a four-RBI outing in his last seven games of the month.

  • New York Yankees LF Lou Piniella (averaged 2.5 ppg and 1.4 rpg with Tampa as freshman in 1961-62) provided at least three safeties for fifth time in 10-day span in 1980, raising his batting average 40 points to .304.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates RF Dave Robertson (one of two reserves on North Carolina State's first basketball team in 1911) hit for the cycle in 1921 game against the Brooklyn Robins.

  • Cleveland Indians LHP Joe Shaute (hooper for Mansfield PA in early 1920s) became first A.L. hurler to reach 20-win plateau in 1924 by registering his eighth triumph in a little more than one month.

  • Montreal Expos RF Ken Singleton (Hofstra freshman hoops team in mid-1960s) went 4-for-4 and scored four runs against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1974 outing.

  • St. Louis Cardinals RHP Lee Smith (averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg with Northwestern State in 1976-77) posted his 12th save of the month in 1992.

  • Cleveland Indians 3B Jim Thome (juco hooper for Illinois Central in 1988-89) smacked a homer in his fourth consecutive contest in 1996.

  • Bill Virdon (Drury MO hooper in 1949) fired as Montreal Expos manager in 1984.

  • San Francisco Giants RF Randy Winn (Santa Clara backcourtmate of eventual two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash in 1993-94) homered from both sides of the plate in a 2008 game against the Cincinnati Reds.

  • Detroit Tigers 3B Eddie Yost (NYU freshman hooper in 1943-44 under coach Howard Cann) drew four walks in a game for second time this month en route to A.L.-leading 135 bases on balls in 1959.

On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Generating MLB Headlines on August 29

Extra! Extra! Instead of debating whether political blame-thrower Plagiarist Bidumb should have abandoned Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan without informing new commander pre-Kabul evacuation (setting stage for Middle East Christian Genocide II comparable to what hair sniffer helped preside over in 2011 in conjunction with #AudacityofHype Barry Hussein Obama), 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 Big Ten Conference hoopers Hoot Evers (Illinois), Frank Howard (Ohio State), Don Lund (Michigan) and Robin Roberts (Michigan State) supplied significant MLB performances on this date. Ditto ex-NYU hoopers Hank Greenberg and Eddie Yost with outstanding offensive outputs in the American League. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 29 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 29

  • In 1959, Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) homered in his third consecutive contest for the second time this month.

  • Cincinnati Reds rookie CF Ethan Allen (Cincinnati hoops letterman in 1924-25 and 1925-26) amassed four hits and scored three runs in a 6-5 win against the Boston Braves in nightcap of a 1927 doubleheader.

  • St. Louis Browns RHP Elden Auker (All-Big Six Conference first-five selection with Kansas State in 1931-32) notched his fourth consecutive complete-game triumph the last half of month in 1941.

  • In midst of winning 10 straight decisions in 1991, San Diego Padres RHP Andy Benes (joined Evansville's shorthanded basketball squad in 1985-86 under coach Jim Crews) hurled a two-hit shutout against the St. Louis Cardinals.

  • Detroit Tigers CF Hoot Evers (Illinois hoops starter in 1939-40) contributed four hits against the New York Yankees in nightcap of a 1948 twinbill.

  • RHP Eddie Fisher (played for Oklahoma's 1954-55 freshman hoops squad) purchased from the Chicago White Sox by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1973.

  • Detroit Tigers LF Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoops scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) supplied four hits against the Washington Senators in opener of a 1940 doubleheader.

  • Atlanta Braves RHP Kevin Gryboski (backup hooper for Wilkes PA in 1991-92 and 1992-93) secured his 15th straight scoreless relief appearance in 2004.

  • In 1951, New York Giants RHP Jim Hearn (Georgia Tech hoops letterman in 1941-42) defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates for eighth straight time.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) drove in seven runs and whacked two homers in a 13-1 victory against the Cincinnati Reds in 1951.

  • Washington Senators LF Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection when leading Ohio State in scoring and rebounding in 1956-57 and 1957-58) smacked three extra-base hits against the Kansas City Royals in a 1970 game.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates pinch-runner Mel Ingram (three-year hoops letterman with Gonzaga in second half of 1920s) scored game-tying run in bottom of eighth inning in a 7-6 win against the Chicago Cubs in nightcap of 1929 twinbill.

  • Boston Red Sox LHP Vic Johnson (Wisconsin-Eau Claire hoops letterman in 1942-43) tossed a four-hit shutout against the New York Yankees in 1945.

  • Atlanta Braves RF David Justice (Thomas More KY assists leader in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg) jacked two homers against the Houston Astros in a 1995 contest.

  • New York Mets RHP Cal Koonce (Campbell hoops standout in 1960 and 1961 when North Carolina-based school was junior college) hurled a five-hit shutout against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1967.

  • Kansas City Athletics 2B Jerry Lumpe (member of Southwest Missouri State's 1952 NAIA Tournament championship hoops team) went 4-for-4 against the Boston Red Sox in a 1961 outing.

  • St. Louis Browns RF Don Lund (Michigan hoops starter in 1943-44 and 1944-45) registered five RBI in a 12-4 win against the Boston Red Sox in the nightcap of a 1948 doubleheader.

  • Chicago White Sox rookie LHP Gary Peters (Grove City PA hooper in mid-1950s) won his 11th straight decision in 1963.

  • Boston Red Sox 3B Pinky Pittenger (set Toledo's single-game scoring standard with 49 points in 1918-19) went 4-for-4 against the Philadelphia Athletics in a 1922 game.

  • In 1966, Chicago Cubs RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) registered the final of his 286 triumphs during 19-year Hall of Fame career.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers 2B Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) hit for the cycle against the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a 1948 twinbill.

  • New York Yankees LHP Marius Russo (member of LIU teams compiling 50-2 record in 1934-35 and 1935-36 under legendary coach Clair Bee) registered his fifth complete-game victory of the month in 1940.

  • RHP Bill Sampen (MacMurray IL MVP in 1984-85 when averaging team-high 14.9 ppg) traded by the Montreal Expos to Kansas City Royals in 1992.

  • New York Giants RHP Hal Schumacher (multiple-sport athlete for St. Lawrence NY in early 1930s) fired his second three-hit shutout in just over a month in 1942.

  • Montreal Expos LF Ken Singleton (Hofstra freshman hoops team in mid-1960s) socked two homers against the Atlanta Braves in a 1972 contest.

  • Chicago Cubs RHP Lee Smith (averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg for Northwestern State in 1976-77) notched a perfect three-inning save against the Atlanta Braves in 1983.

  • Chicago Cubs rookie 2B Jimmy Stewart (two-time All-VSAC hoops selection was Austin Peay's third-leading scorer in 1959-60 and 1960-61 when participating in NCAA DII Tournament) supplied back-to-back games with three hits against the New York Mets in 1964.

  • San Diego Padres CF Will Venable (All-Ivy League first-team selection as a junior and second-team choice as a senior averaged 9.3 ppg under Princeton coach John Thompson III from 2001-02 through 2004-05) tripled in his first MLB at-bat in 2008.

  • St. Louis Cardinals RHP Ray Washburn (Whitworth WA scoring leader when All-Evergreen Conference selection in 1958-59 and 1959-60) tossed a shutout against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1968 after hurling two 10-inning no-decisions yielding no earned runs earlier in the month.

  • Detroit Tigers LHP Ed Wells (multi-sport athlete graduated in 1924 from Bethany WV) won his fifth straight decision of the month in 1925.

  • Washington Senators 3B Eddie Yost (NYU freshman hooper in 1943-44 under coach Howard Cann) went 4-for-4 against the Chicago White Sox in a 1951 game. He went 17-for-35 (.486) the final eight contests of month. Two years later, Yost notched three hits in his third straight outing against the Detroit Tigers in 1953.

On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Generating MLB Headlines on August 28

Extra! Extra! Instead of debating whether Plagiarist Bidumb's brain and soul boast cognitive bandwidth of a fungus gnat while hideous Hunter's daddy spews the "semi-f-word" amid treating U.S. treasure and personnel trashy comparable to his sordid sin(atorial) spree taunting Tara Reade like "Tally-bon" sex slave, 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 Jerad Head (Washburn KS), Thornton Lee (Cal Poly), Dutch Levsen (Iowa State), Kenny Lofton (Arizona) and Jim Thome (Illinois Central) supplied significant performances on this date with the Cleveland Indians (now Guardians because of progressive puke word police). Ditto ex-hoopers Walt French (Rutgers/Army), Rollie Sheldon (Connecticut) and Norm Siebern (Southwest Missouri) for the Philadelphia/Kansas City Athletics. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 28 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 28

  • Seattle Mariners RF Mickey Brantley (averaged 10 ppg, 6.8 rpg and 5.4 apg for Columbia-Greene Community College SC in 1979-80) went 3-for-4 with four RBI in a 10-4 triumph against the New York Yankees in 1987.

  • New York Yankees 1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in Western Athletic Conference basketball games in 1991-92) slugged three homers in an 18-6 trouncing of the Toronto Blue Jays in 2004.

  • New York Giants SS Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for Louisiana State and Southwestern Louisiana in mid-1940s) provided three hits for the third straight outing in a series against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1952.

  • St. Louis Browns 3B Frank Ellerbe (Wofford hooper after transferring from Sewanee TN) completed a three-game series going 9-for-15 against the Philadelphia Athletics in 1921.

  • In 1927, Philadelphia Athletics RF Walt French (hoops letterman for Rutgers and Army) furnished his fourth three-hit game in an eight-day span.

  • Boston Red Sox LF Dick Gernert (Temple letterman in 1948-49 when averaging 2.7 ppg) delivered a walk-off, two-run homer in the 10th inning of a 6-4 win against the Baltimore Orioles in 1959.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates 3B Lee Handley (Bradley hoops letterman from 1932-33 through 1934-35) provided four hits, including a two-run safety in the ninth inning, in a 3-2 victory against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1941.

  • Boston Braves 1B Buddy Hassett (hooper for Manhattan teams winning school-record 17 consecutive contests in 1930 and 1931) banged out four hits in a 10-5 triumph against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1939.

  • Cleveland Indians LF Jerad Head (Washburn KS leader in assists and three-field field-goal shooting in 2004-05 for MIAA regular-season co-champion) singled in his first MLB plate appearance in a 2011 game against the Kansas City Royals.

  • Chicago White Sox RHP Bart Johnson (averaged 30.5 ppg for Brigham Young's freshman squad in 1967-68) hurled his second of back-to-back shutouts at end of month in 1974.

  • Cleveland Indians LHP Thornton Lee (Cal Poly hooper in 1925-26) tossed his first of 14 MLB career shutouts (four-hitter against the Boston Red Sox in opener of 1935 twinbill). Six years later with the Chicago White Sox, Lee's four-hit whitewash against the Washington Senators was his fifth complete-game victory of the month.

  • Cleveland Indians RHP Dutch Levsen (Iowa State hoops letterman in 1918-19) became the last MLB hurler to register a complete-game win in both ends of a doubleheader with a pair of four-hitters against the Boston Red Sox in 1926.

  • Cleveland Indians CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) went 4-for-4 against the Toronto Blue Jays in a 1995 contest.

  • Chicago Cubs RF Bill Nicholson (hoops guard for Washington College MD two years in mid-1930s) belted two homers against the Brooklyn Dodgers in a 1947 game.

  • Detroit Tigers RF Jim Northrup (second-leading scorer and third-leading rebounder for Alma MI in 1958-59) went 6-for-6 with two homers against the Oakland A's in 1969. Northrup's 13th-inning blast over the roof won the game, 5-3.

  • Washington Senators LHP Denny Riddleberger (averaged 5.7 ppg and 2.5 rpg for Old Dominion in 1965-66) yielded his only earned run in a 15-game span of relief appearances during the 1971 campaign.

  • RHP Jeff Shaw (freshman guard for Rio Grande OH hoops squad compiling 31-5 record and reaching second round of 1985 NAIA Tournament) traded by the Montreal Expos to the Chicago White Sox in 1995.

  • In 1965, Kansas City Athletics RHP Rollie Sheldon (third-leading scorer as sophomore for Connecticut's 1960 NCAA Tournament team) hurled a three-hit shutout against his original team (New York Yankees).

  • Kansas City Athletics 1B Norm Siebern (member of Southwest Missouri squads capturing back-to-back NAIA Tournament hoop titles in 1952 and 1953) homered twice and drove in five runs against the Los Angeles Angels in a 1962 contest.

  • Boston Red Sox C Birdie Tebbetts (Providence hooper in 1932) registered his eighth multiple-hit outing in a 14-game span in 1947.

  • Cleveland Indians 1B Jim Thome (juco hooper for Illinois Central in 1988-89) went 3-for-3 (double and two homers) in a 2002 tilt against the Detroit Tigers.

On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Generating MLB Headlines on August 27

Extra! Extra! Instead of wondering why petty Plagiarist Bidumb attacks Republican governors in Florida and Texas plus in excess of 70 million MAGA voters more than Mr. Clarity does "Tally-bon" knocking-on-your-door thugs who must be arranging for Afghani girls to have hair sniffed by squinting stranderer-in-chief in exchange for dolt incompetently creating "Kabul Kill Zone" and inexplicably giving barbarians a biometric hit list, 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.

Several former hoopers from small colleges in Pennsylvania - Christy Mathewson (Bucknell), Jack Ogden (Swarthmore) and Gary Peters (Grove City) - made MLB news on this date. Ditto three ex-hoopers from universities in Louisiana - Joe Adcock (LSU), Zeke Bonura (Loyola) and Lee Smith (Northwestern State). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 27 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 27

  • In 1964, California Angels 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) became the 23rd player to reach 300-homer plateau when he went yard by connecting at Kansas City.

  • Philadelphia Athletics LHP Stan Baumgartner (hooper for Big Ten Conference champion for University of Chicago in 1914) posted his third straight complete-game victory closing out the month in 1924.

  • Washington Senators 1B Zeke Bonura (best basketball forward for Loyola LA in late 1920s and early 1930s) banged out four hits for the third time in an eight-game span in 1938.

  • Starting on two days rest, Brooklyn Dodgers RHP Ralph Branca (sixth-leading scorer for NYU in 1943-44) spun a two-hit shutout against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1951, entering the ninth inning with a no-hitter.

  • Montreal Expos RHP Ray Burris (two-sport standout in Southwestern Oklahoma State Hall of Fame) surrendered only one hit in eight innings against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1981 outing.

  • St. Louis Cardinals RHP Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer and rebounder in 1955-56 and 1956-57) won all six starts during the month in 1970 en route to an N.L.-leading 23 triumphs.

  • Chicago Cubs 1B Harvey Hendrick (Vanderbilt hoops letterman in 1918) went 4-for-4 in a 2-0 win against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1933.

  • In his second MLB start, Brooklyn Dodgers LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman hoops squad in 1953-54) fanned 14 Cincinnati Reds in a 7-0 two-hit shutout in 1955.

  • Hall of Fame RHP Christy Mathewson (Bucknell hooper at turn of 20th Century) resigned as Cincinnati Reds manager in 1918 to accept a commission as a captain in the chemical warfare branch of the Army during World War I.

  • Philadelphia Phillies RF Bake McBride (averaged 12.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg in 21 games with Westminster MO in 1968-69 and 1969-70) banged out four hits and scored four runs against the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 1978 game.

  • St. Louis Browns rookie RHP Jack Ogden (Swarthmore PA hooper in 1918), posting his third straight complete-game victory, hurled a four-hit shutout against the Boston Red Sox in the nightcap of a 1928 twinbill.

  • Chicago White Sox LHP Gary Peters (Grove City PA hooper in mid-1950s) hurled an 11-inning shutout against the Boston Red Sox in the nightcap of a 1967 doubleheader.

  • St. Louis Browns RHP Bob Poser (Wisconsin hoops letterman from 1929-30 through 1931-32) posted his lone MLB victory (against Washington Senators in opener of 1935 twinbill).

  • Detroit Tigers rookie 3B Nolen Richardson (Georgia hoops captain in 1925-26 as member of All-Southern Conference Tournament team) went 3-for-3 in a 9-4 win against the Chicago White Sox in 1931.

  • RF Leon Roberts (grabbed one rebound in four basketball games for Michigan in 1970-71 under coach Johnny Orr) knocked in the Texas Rangers' last four runs with a double and homer in 5-1 win against the Milwaukee Brewers in 1981.

  • Baltimore Orioles DH Ken Singleton (Hofstra freshman hoops team in mid-1960s) homered in both ends of a 1982 doubleheader against the Texas Rangers.

  • St. Louis Cardinals RHP Lee Smith (averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg with Northwestern State in 1976-77) logged a save in his ninth consecutive contest in 1991.

  • Pinch-hitter Jimmy Stewart (All-Volunteer State Athletic Conference hoops selection for Austin Peay State in 1959-60 and 1960-61) stroked a bases-loaded triple to spur the Cincinnati Reds to an 8-7 victory against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1971.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Kent Tekulve (freshman hooper for Marietta OH in mid-1960s) tallied eighth save in last 10 relief appearances of the month in 1978.

  • New York Yankees RHP Ralph Terry (juco hooper averaged 22 ppg for Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in mid-1950s) tossed his third shutout with at least nine strikeouts during 1962 campaign en route to leading A.L. with 23 victories.

  • Cleveland Indians 3B Jim Thome (juco hooper for Illinois Central in 1988-89) contributed three extra-base hits (two doubles and one homer) in a 1993 game against the New York Yankees.

  • After replacing Joe Torre as catcher, Sammy White (All-PCC Northern Division first-five selection for Washington in 1947-48 and 1948-49) supplied an RBI double in the 12th inning to give the Milwaukee Braves an 11-10 triumph against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1961 contest.

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