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.

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

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.

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.

A theory in some esteemed quarters believes basketball players are the most versatile team-sport athletes in the world. Tennis is also a sport demanding an abundance of speed, strength, stamina, coordination, quickness, jumping ability, timing, guile and creativity. When losing, let's hope they exhibit a mite more touch of court-ship than Her Smugness "Subway" Serena. As the U.S. Open gets serious in Flushing Meadows, N.Y., with many fans coming from crime-ridden subway system, it's time to evaluate the following alphabetical list of tennis standouts who also displayed their athletic prowess in college basketball:

NED CASWELL, Furman
Southern Conference tennis MVP in 1987 when he was an NCAA Championships quarterfinalist. He was a Top 225 Player in the World in 1989. Coached Anderson College's NJCAA national title in 1992. . . . Assists leader on the Paladins' 1984-85 basketball squad with 3.4 apg.

MIKE EIKENBERRY, Virginia
Three-year tennis letterman was an All-ACC selection as senior in 1969 before becoming President of the U.S. Professional Tennis Association from 1984 to 1986. . . . Averaged 3.1 ppg and 2.1 rpg for the Cavaliers' hoop squad in 1967-68.

TARIK EL-BASSIOUNI, Miami (Fla.)
He was in regular rotation of Top 40-ranked tennis team in 2002, winning decisive match in back-to-back days in late March. His father, Hossan, was a member of the 1968 Egyptian Olympic Team as a water polo player. . . . El-Bassiouni collected 10 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in nine basketball games in 1999-00 under coach Leonard Hamilton, playing briefly in South Regional semifinal setback against Tulsa.

JIM FLYNN, Portland
Number one player as a freshman and part of UP's tennis team posting 79 consecutive wins in the mid-1950s. . . . Averaged 2.2 ppg and 1.7 rpg in 1953-54 and 1954-55.

RICH GUGAT, UCLA/San Jose State
Tennis letterman with legendary teammate Arthur Ashe. . . . Member of 1962 Final Four team coached by John Wooden before transferring to SJSU, where he averaged 3.4 ppg and 2 rpg in 1963-64.

TECUMSEH "TEE" HOOPER, The Citadel
Won five Southern Conference tennis crowns (two singles, three doubles). . . . All-Southern Conference second-team selection as a senior forward in 1968-69 when he averaged 17.4 ppg and 8.7 rpg.

ROBERT "BOBBY" JAKE, Northwestern/Vermont
Big Ten Conference singles and doubles champion in 1946. . . . NU hoops letterman in 1942 and 1943 before serving in U.S. Army Air Corps during WWII. He played for Vermont in 1947 before becoming 16th selection overall in BAA draft.

JOHN LUCAS JR., Maryland
Twice won ACC #1 singles championship (1974 and 1976). "When I finished college, I didn't know if I could make more money playing tennis or basketball," Lucas told SI. Played World Team Tennis with the Golden Gaters and New Orleans Nets in 1977 and 1978. . . . NCAA consensus first-team hoops All-American as a junior and senior averaged 18.3 ppg and 4.7 apg from 1972-73 through 1975-76. First pick overall in 1976 NBA draft.

CLIF MAYNE, California
Won the NCAA doubles title in 1952 before finishing national runner-up in doubles in 1953. . . . Mayne collected 16 points and 15 rebounds in 25 games in 1953-54 and 1954-55 under coaches Nibs Price and Pete Newell.

MERLE OGLE, Northern Colorado
Tennis team captain as sophomore/junior/senior, losing only one match during those years as two-time RMC singles' champion. . . . Led basketball squad in scoring as a senior, earning second-team all-league acclaim.

JOHN POWLESS, Murray State
He has been ranked No. 1 in the world in singles and doubles for senior men 55 and older, and served six seasons as captain and coach of the U.S. Junior Davis Cup team. Undefeated in three years of varsity tennis competition and won three Ohio Valley Conference singles and doubles titles. . . . The 6-5, 195-pound forward averaged 6.9 ppg and 5.7 rpg in 81 varsity games in four seasons from 1953-54 through 1956-57. Powless was Wisconsin's head basketball coach for eight seasons from 1968-69 through 1975-76.

DICK RAZZETTI, Georgetown
Competed in the U.S. Open in 1959 and was ranked nationally by the U.S. Tennis Association. Compiled a 17-1 record over his three-year college tennis career. . . . Averaged 1.2 ppg in 11 basketball games for the Hoyas in 1957-58 and 1958-59.

JOHN and RUPE RICKSEN, California
Twins were NCAA quarterfinalists in singles - Rupe in 1951 and John in 1953. As a doubles teandem, they reached the NCAA semifinals in 1951 and the quarters in 1952 and 1953. . . . John (8.8) and Rupe (5.6) combined for 14.4 ppg from 1950-51 through 1952-53. John was a first-team all-conference selection as a senior.

MARTY RIESSEN, Northwestern
Nine times ranked among the top 10 men's singles tennis players in the U.S. Member of five U.S. Davis Cup teams (1963, 1965, 1967, 1973, 1981). . . . A 6-1, 170-pound guard, he averaged 6.5 ppg for Northwestern from 1961-62 through 1963-64. Sketch in school guide: "Reputation as a rugged, poised performer. Cool head makes him a logical floor leader."

OLIVER "BO" RODDEY, Davidson
The Charlotte pediatrician is possibly the greatest tennis player in Davidson history. He played No. 1 four years, and in 1950 as a senior was the Southern Conference singles and doubles champion. His doubles teammate was Whit Cobb, a four-year starter in basketball. In 1975, Roddey became one of the original members of the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame. The first native North Carolinian to be chosen for the Junior Davis Cup team dominated tennis in the state from 1946 until 1952 and was ranked No. 1 in the South. . . . Roddey scored 73 points from 1947-48 through 1949-50.

VIC SEIXAS, North Carolina
Member of Tennis Hall of Fame was Wimbledon champion in 1953. Ranked No. 1 in the U.S. in 1951, 1954 and 1957. Member of U.S. Davis Cup team from 1951 through 1957 shared French and Australian doubles titles with Tony Trabert in 1953. . . . Scored six points in one basketball game for the Tar Heels in 1946-47.

S.L. SHOFNER, Central Oklahoma
Capped his college tennis career with a 22-2 senior season in 1954 that included the NAIA national singles championship. . . . Member of three OIC titlists averaged 16.8 ppg as a sophomore and 20.2 ppg as a senior.

TONY TRABERT, Cincinnati
Member of International Tennis Hall of Fame won NCAA singles title in 1951 before winning singles titles in French (1954 and 1955), United States (1955) and Wimbledon (1955) tournaments. Ranked the No. 1 men's player in the world by the London Daily Telegraph in 1953 and 1955. . . . Played two seasons of varsity basketball for the Bearcats in a college career interrupted by military service. Averaged 6.9 points in 22 games in 1950-51 and scored 11 points in four games in 1953-54. Starting guard as a 6-0 sophomore for the '51 team that played in the NIT and had an 18-4 record. Sketch in school guide: "Great surprise in early basketball drills. His improvement has been rapid and he should be a great help to the club."

MARTY WOLF, Xavier
Held school tennis record for most victories with 100 for decades. . . . Averaged 4.4 ppg and 1.8 rpg for the Muskeeters from 1975-76 through 1977-78.

"It is better to be looked over than overlooked." - Mae West

Recently-deceased Pete Carril never earned acclaim as national coach of the year by a major award (AP/NABC/Naismith/USBWA). Carril isn't the only prominent mentor nationally shunned by the voting class. Maryland named its court after Gary Williams, the school's all-time winningest coach who guided the Terrapins to the 2002 NCAA title during a span when he became the only mentor ever to defeat the nation's top-ranked team in four straight seasons (2000-01 through 2003-04). Surprisingly, Williams never was courted as national coach of the year by one of the major awards, joining other NCAA championship coaches such as Denny Crum, Billy Donovan, Joe B. Hall, Don Haskins, Rollie Massimino and Jim Valvano "shorted" by this dubious distinction.

Does this blemish exist because of smug power-league coaches or is the media more of a mess than even its fiercest critics believe? A stunning total of individuals received honor as national COY despite never reaching an NCAA playoff regional final - including Rod Barnes, Perry Clark, Jim Crews, Keno Davis, Matt Doherty, Cliff Ellis, Eddie Fogler, Frank Haith, Marv Harshman, Todd Lickliter, George Raveling, Al Skinner, Charlie Spoonhour and Dick Versace. Unless Steve Harvey announced the "beauty-contest" results, following is an alphabetical list of high-profile retired coaches never receiving one of the five major national coach of the year awards since 1955 despite their significant achievements:

Dave Bliss - Compiled a total of 14 20-win seasons with three different schools.

Dale Brown - Led LSU to 15 consecutive postseason tournaments (1979 through 1993) en route to becoming the second-winningest coach in SEC history at the time (behind Adolph Rupp) in both overall and SEC games.

Vic Bubas - Guided Duke to NCAA Tournament Final Four appearances three times in a four-year span from 1963 through 1966.

Pete Carril - Never incurred a losing record in 29 seasons with Princeton from 1968 through 1996.

Gale Catlett - Went his first 23 seasons without a losing record with Cincinnati and West Virginia; participated in nine consecutive national postseason tournaments in the 1980s.

Denny Crum - Won 15 regular-season conference championships in the Missouri Valley and Metro in his first 23 seasons with Louisville; only coach to twice win conference and NCAA tournaments in the same year (1980 and 1986).

Don DeVoe - Compiled a total of 12 20-win seasons with three different schools.

Don Donoher - One of first 10 coaches to take his first three teams to the NCAA playoffs guided his first seven Dayton clubs to national postseason competition; posted double digits in victories all 25 seasons.

Billy Donovan - Two-time national championship coach (2006 and 2007) became Florida's all-time winningest mentor.

Lefty Driesell - One of only three different coaches to guide four different schools to the NCAA playoffs; captured conference tournament titles in four different leagues; only coach to win more than 100 games for four different schools en route to total of 786 victories; had 14 final Top 20 rankings.

Hugh Durham - One of only three coaches in NCAA history to win at least 225 games for two Division I schools, directing both Florida State and Georgia to the Final Four.

Bill C. Foster - Only six losing records in 25 seasons at the Division I level with UNC Charlotte, Clemson, Miami (FL) and Virginia Tech.

Jack Gardner - Only coach to direct two different schools to the Final Four at least twice apiece.

Pete Gillen - Remarkable run with Xavier (winning five Midwestern Collegiate Conference Tournament titles in six-year span from 1986 through 1991) before posting 20-win seasons with Providence in the Big East and Virginia in the ACC.

Joe B. Hall - Averaged 23 victories annually in 13 seasons with Kentucky, reaching championship game in either NCAA Tournament or NIT three times in a four-year span from 1975 through 1978.

Don Haskins - Captured four Western Athletic Conference Tournament championships with Texas-El Paso in a seven-year span from 1984 through 1990 while winning more than 20 games each of those seasons; compiled a total of 17 20-win campaigns.

Lou Henson - Compiled only one losing record in his last 22 years with Illinois and New Mexico State; finished in first division of the Big Ten Conference nine straight seasons.

Terry Holland - Averaged 20 victories annually in 21 seasons with Davidson and Virginia.

Lon Kruger - Guided five different schools to the NCAA Tournament - Kansas State, Florida, Illinois, UNLV and Oklahoma.

Harry Litwack - Finished third with Temple in three consecutive national postseason tournaments (1956 and 1958 in NCAA and 1957 in NIT). Posted only one losing record in 21 seasons with the Owls through 1973.

Rollie Massimino - Averaged more than 20 victories annually in the 1980s; participated in 14 consecutive national postseason tournaments with Villanova and UNLV before coaching at small-school level in Florida.

Ray Mears - Finished lower than third place in SEC standings with Tennessee just once in his final 14 seasons from 1964 through 1977.

Shelby Metcalf - Averaged 18.6 victories annually with Texas A&M in an 18-year span from 1971-72 through 1988-89.

Eldon Miller - Won more than 20 games with three different DI schools (Western Michigan, Ohio State and Northern Iowa).

Joe Mullaney - Reached the 20-win plateau nine straight seasons from 1958-59 through 1966-67, directing Providence to the NIT semifinals four times in the first five years of that stretch; won more than two-thirds of his games with the Friars decided by fewer than five points.

C.M. Newton - Posted at least 22 victories with Alabama six times in the last seven seasons of the 1970s.

Dave Odom - Won 20 or more games 10 times in a 14-year span from 1992-93 through 2005-06 with Wake Forest and South Carolina.

Ted Owens - Finished first or second in Big Eight Conference standings each of his first seven seasons with Kansas from 1965 through 1971.

Tom Penders - Won at least 20 games with three different schools (Rhode Island, Texas and George Washington) a total of 10 times in a 13-year span from 1987 through 1999 before winning more than 20 games three times in six seasons with Houston.

Jack Ramsay - Worst record in 11 seasons with St. Joseph's was an 18-10 mark.

Bo Ryan - Wisconsin's all-time winningest coach never finished lower than fourth in Big Ten Conference standings in 14 full seasons with the Badgers from 2001-02 through 2014-15.

Wimp Sanderson - Won five SEC Tournament titles with Alabama, including three in a row from 1989 through 1991.

Fred Schaus - Won Southern Conference Tournament championships each of his six seasons with West Virginia from 1955 through 1960 before posting winning records in Big Ten competition all six years with Purdue.

Roy Skinner - Compiled only one losing record in 16 seasons with Vanderbilt.

Billy Tubbs - Directed Oklahoma to 12 consecutive 20-win seasons, a Big Eight Conference best; took the Sooners to national postseason play his last 13 years with them before moving on to TCU and Lamar.

Jim Valvano - Guided Iona to a school-record 29 victories in 1979-80 before winning at least 18 games each of his last nine seasons with North Carolina State from 1982 through 1990.

Gary Williams - All-time winningest coach for Maryland directed 13 teams to Top 20 finishes in final polls, including a couple of them with Boston College.

Ned Wulk - All-time winningest coach for Arizona State finished atop conference standings in six of his first seven seasons with the Sun Devils.

Former Louisville coach Bobby Petrino, after returning to The Ville as the Cardinals' football coach and overseeing the program's ACC entrance and Top 20 rankings prior to dismissal several seasons ago, is accustomed to controversy such as subject use of timeout and accepting soap-opera challenges (remember departures from the Atlanta Falcons and Arkansas Razorbacks). If new U of L basketball coach Kenny Payne doesn't pan out for some reason, Petrino boasted a background making him capable of motorcycling back over to fill in for Payne reminiscent of two-sport college coaches in the middle of the 20th Century who wouldn't have been fazed by a virus. Petrino, who scored 1,145 points in four years of basketball for Carroll (Mont.) in the early 1980s, was an All-Frontier Conference first-team hoop selection as a senior.

Petrino, now at Missouri State, isn't the first ex-Louisville football coach with a link to college hoops. Frank Camp Jr., the school's all-time winningest coach (118-95-2), was captain of the Transylvania (Ky.) basketball squad before coaching such standouts as Johnny Unitas, Lenny Lyles and Doug Buffone. Petrino is far from being the first marquee college football coach with a college hoops connection. It might not be delivered to you on a "Hog" motorcycle with statuesque blond hanging on tight as college gridiron campaign commences this weekend, but he is with regular "bowler" David Shaw of Stanford among the following alphabetical list of versatile ex-college hoopers who guided major universities to multiple major bowl games:

EARL "RED" BLAIK, Miami (Ohio)/Army
College Football Hall of Fame coach, boasting six undefeated teams, compiled a 121-33-10 record at Dartmouth (1934 through 1940) and Army (1941 through 1958). . . . After graduating from Miami, he enrolled at Army and became the first Cadet to compete against Navy in three sports in one season (football, basketball and baseball).

FRANK BROYLES, Georgia Tech
Retired Arkansas athletic director compiled a 149-62-6 record in 20 seasons as head football coach at Missouri (1957) and Arkansas (1958 through 1976). Guided 10 teams to bowl games, winning the AP and UPI national title in 1964. Quarterback was SEC Player of the Year in 1944. Third-round selection by the Chicago Bears in 1946 NFL draft (19th pick overall). He threw for a career-high 304 yards against Tulsa in the 1945 Orange Bowl. . . . Four-year starting guard in basketball for Georgia Tech. Three-time second-five selection on SEC All-Tournament team. Second-leading scorer for the Yellow Jackets with a 10.4-point average as a senior in 1946-47.

HERBERT "FRITZ" CRISLER, University of Chicago
Member of College Football Hall of Fame compiled a 116-32-9 record in 18 seasons as football coach at Minnesota (1930 and 1931), Princeton (1932 through 1937) and Michigan (1938 through 1947). The only team he coached with a losing record was in his first year. His last seven Michigan teams finished in the top 10 in the final Associated Press Poll. The 1947 Wolverines had a 10-0 record, defeated Southern Cal in the Rose Bowl (49-0) and finished second in the final AP poll behind Notre Dame. . . . Named to third five on All-Big Ten Conference basketball team in 1919-20 when the University of Chicago was a member of the league.

DAN DEVINE, Minnesota-Duluth
College Football Hall of Famer coached Notre Dame to a national champinship in 1977 after directing the Green Bay Packers to the NFC Central Division title five years earlier. Guided the Fighting Irish to a 53-16-1 mark in six seasons from 1975 through 1980. Also coached Missouri to six bowl games in the 1960s (92-38-7 record in 13 years from 1958 through 1970). . . . Played guard for Duluth's basketball squad in 1942-43 and 1945-46. Captained the Bulldogs as a senior and paced the club in scoring that season. He was a quarterback for the school's football team.

BOBBY DODD, Tennessee
Compiled a 165-64-8 coaching record with Georgia Tech in 22 years from 1945 through 1966. Won his first eight of 13 bowl games with the Yellow Jackets. . . . All-SEC second-team selection in basketball as a junior in 1929-30. He was captain of the team as a senior.

VINCE DOOLEY, Auburn
Auburn MVP in 1954 Gator Bowl. Coached Georgia to the 1980 national championship and six SEC titles. Compiled a 201-66-10 record as 20 teams played in bowl games in his 25 seasons from 1964 through 1988. . . . Averaged 6.3 ppg as a starting guard in 1951-52 in his only season of varsity basketball with Auburn before concentrating on football.

PETE "BUMP" ELLIOTT, Michigan
Executive director of the Pro Football Hall of Fame earned All-American honors as a quarterback for the Wolverines' 1948 national champion. Big Ten Conference MVP led Michigan to a 49-0 victory over USC in the 1948 Rose Bowl. Former head coach at Nebraska (4-6 record in 1956), California (10-21 from 1957 through 1959) and Illinois (1960 through 1966) led Cal and the Illini to Rose Bowl berths. . . . A four-year starter as a 6-0, 190-pound guard on Michigan teams from 1945-46 through 1948-49. Captain of squad as a sophomore and member of Big Ten Conference championship team in 1947-48. First-team all-conference choice as a junior and second-team selection as a senior. Second-team pick on Helms All-American team in 1947-48 when he scored a team-high 15 points in the Wolverines' first NCAA Tournament victory, a 66-49 decision over Columbia in Eastern Regional third-place game. Excerpt from school guide: "At times his defensive work was almost uncanny as he held high-scoring opposition practically scoreless in several games. Outstanding at recovering rebounds."

DON FAUROT, Missouri
Hall of Famer spent 19 years as head football coach (100-80-10 record from 1935 through 1956) and 30 years as athletic director for Mizzou. Alma mater's all-time winningest coach guided the Tigers to four bowl games in the 1940s. Faurot is best known as the inventor of the Split T formation. In 1972, the Tigers' football stadium was named in his honor (Faurot Field). . . . Captained the Tigers' basketball team as an undergraduate.

WAYNE HARDIN, Pacific
Head football coach at U.S. Naval Academy (38-22-2 record from 1959 through 1964) and Temple (80-50-3 from 1970 through 1982) directed both schools to bowl games. Coached Heisman Trophy winner Roger Staubach in 1963 when Navy finished second in the nation in the final AP poll with a 9-2 record. . . . Letterman on four Pacific basketball teams scored a total of 78 points in his last two seasons in 1947-48 and 1948-49.

RALPH "SHUG" JORDAN, Auburn
Compiled a 176-83-6 record as head football coach for his alma mater from 1951-75. Led Auburn to berths in 12 bowl games and an AP national title in 1957 with a 10-0 record. . . . Three-year basketball letterman was captain of the team his junior season (1930-31). Coached Auburn basketball squad to a 95-75 record (.559) in 10 years from 1933-34 through 1941-42 and 1945-46 before assuming the same post at Georgia and compiling a 41-28 mark (.594) in four campaigns from 1946-47 to 1949-50.

ELMER LAYDEN, Notre Dame
Member of College Football Hall of Fame was a fullback in the famed Four Horseman backfield of the 1920s. The 5-11, 180-pounder was a consensus All-American selection in 1924. Head football coach of the Irish from 1934 through 1940, compiling a 47-12-2 record. His 1938 Notre Dame team was named national champion by the Dickinson System. NFL commissioner from 1941 to 1946. . . . Scored seven points in 10 games for the 1922-23 Notre Dame basketball squad.

EDWIN "JIM" LOOKABAUGH, Oklahoma A&M
Compiled a 58-41-6 record coaching his alma mater for 11 years from 1939 through 1949. Guided the Aggies to victories in Cotton Bowl (following 1944 season) and Sugar Bowl (#5 AP ranking with perfect season in 1945) plus appearance in Delta Bowl (following 1948 campaign). . . . All-SWC hooper in 1925.

HOMER HILL NORTON, Birmingham-Southern
Compiled a 143-75-18 coaching record in 25 seasons from 1919 through 1947 with Centenary (11) and Texas A&M (14). Won the Sugar Bowl and Cotton Bowl with the Aggies in back-to-back years (1939 and 1940). . . . Played four sports in college, including basketball. Also coached basketball for Centenary in the early 1920s.

HOUSTON NUTT, Arkansas/Oklahoma State
Arkansas football coach for 10 years from 1998 through 2007 (75-48 record) after serving in a similar capacity at Murray State (31-16 from 1993 through 1996) and Boise State (5-6 in 1997). Aligned with Ole Miss in 2008, taking the Rebels to a bowl game in his first year with them (only team to defeat national champ Florida). Quarterback at Arkansas under Frank Broyles and Lou Holtz before transferring to Oklahoma State under Jimmy Johnson. . . . Collected six points and three rebounds in 1976-77 as a freshman under coach Eddie Sutton on Arkansas team featuring Sidney Moncrief and Ron Brewer before playing a couple of years with OSU under Paul Hansen.

BENNIE OOSTERBAAN, Michigan
Member of College Football Hall of Fame coached Michigan's football team to a 63-33-4 record in 11 seasons (1948 through 1958). His first team finished with a 9-0 record and was voted national champion in the AP poll. He won Big Ten Conference titles in 1948, 1949 and 1950. . . . In 1943, the Helms Athletic Foundation named him to its 10-man All-American basketball teams it selected for the 1926-27 and 1927-28 seasons. Finished third in Western Conference (forerunner of Big Ten) scoring in 1926-27 (9.3 ppg) and led league as a senior the next year (10.8 ppg).

TOM OSBORNE, Hastings (Neb.)
Compiled a 255-49-2 record as Nebraska coach while winning 13 conference crown in 25 years from 1973 through 1997. Lost seven straight bowl games prior to having undefeated clubs capture national championships in three of his final four campaigns (1994-95-97). Selected in 19th round of 1959 NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers before catching 29 passes for 343 yards and two touchdowns for the Washington Redskins in 1960 and 1961. . . . Attending college in his hometown, he scored 1,291 points for Hastings during the last half of 1950s, leading the team in scoring (17.7 ppg) and rebounding (9.1 rpg) as a sophomore in 1956-57.

ARA PARSEGHIAN, Miami (Ohio)
Member of College Football Hall of Fame compiled a 170-58-6 record as coach at Miami of Ohio (1951 through 1955), Northwestern (1956 through 1963) and Notre Dame (1964 through 1974). Guided Notre Dame to three national football titles (1964, 1966 and 1973). Directed the Fighting Irish to five bowl games during the first half of the 1970s. Rookie halfback on Cleveland Browns team that won All-America Football Conference title in 1948. Selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 13th round of 1947 NFL draft. . . . Played for Miami basketball squads in 1946-47 and 1947-48 (34 points, 31.3 FG%, 44.4 FT%). Teammate of future Tennessee coach Ray Mears.

JOE PATERNO, Brown
Penn State's head coach from 1966 to 2011 guided the Nittany Lions to national championships in 1982 and 1986, five undefeated/untied seasons (1968-69-73-86-94) and 29 finishes in Top 10 national rankings. Only major-college coach ever to reach the 400-win plateau (409-136-3 record) was 24-12-1 in bowl games. Paterno was fired by school trustees in mid-season 2011 after the arrest of his long-time assistant, Jerry Sandusky, on child sexual abuse charges. . . . Paterno earned varsity basketball letters at Brown in 1947-48 and 1948-49. His 7.3-points-per-game scoring average in 1947-48 was second highest on the team.

DAVID SHAW, Stanford
Alma mater's all-time winningest coach compiled an 86-34 record while guiding school to a bowl game each year in his first eight seasons from 2011 through 2018 before posting losing mark in 2019. Wide receiver caught 57 passes for 664 yards and five touchdowns from 1991 through 1994 under coaches Dennis Green and Bill Walsh. . . . Roommate of Cardinal hoops starter Brent Williams grabbed one rebound in 1 1/2 minutes of playing time in only game against Oregon State in 1993-94.

BOB ZUPPKE, Wisconsin
Member of College Football Hall of Fame compiled a 131-81-13 record as head football coach at Illinois from 1913 through 1941. Directed the Illini to four national titles (1914, 1919, 1923 and 1927) and seven Big Ten championships. . . . Two-year letterman on Wisconsin's basketball team. The seven-man 1904-05 squad was called the "Western intercollegiate champions" by Spalding's Official Basketball Guide.

Extra! Extra! Instead of wondering why soft-on-crime #Dimorats shun best and brightest while focusing on the least whitest other than deity Dr. Fraudci, 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 SEC hoopers Joe Adcock (Louisiana State), Don Kessinger (Mississippi) and Jim Tabor (Alabama) delivered significant MLB performances on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 23 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 23

• Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) provided four hits against the Chicago Cubs in the opener of a 1953 twinbill.

• At the Polo Grounds in 1962, San Francisco Giants INF Ernie Bowman (East Tennessee State hoops letterman in 1954-55 and 1955-56) belted his lone MLB homer. Five frames later, he banged out the game-winning single in extra innings to give the Giants a 2-1 win against the expansion New York Mets.

• In 1989, Atlanta Braves RHP Marty Clary (Northwestern hoops letterman in 1981-82 and 1982-83) notched his lone MLB shutout (3-0 against St. Louis Cardinals).

• Philadelphia Athletics C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) manufactured two homers among his four hits and chipped with five RBI against the Chicago White Sox in a 1932 game.

• In the midst of a career-high 10-game hitting streak, Cincinnati Reds 2B Pat Crawford (Davidson hoops captain in early 1920s) stroked an inside-the-park homer in nightcap of 1930 doubleheader against the Brooklyn Robins.

• Philadelphia Phillies 2B Denny Doyle (averaged 2.7 ppg for Morehead State in 1962-63) delivered his third consecutive three-hit outing against the Atlanta Braves in 1972.

• Atlanta Braves 3B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) homered in his fourth contest of a five-game span in 1974.

• 3B Gene Freese (hoops captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team for West Liberty WV) purchased from the Pittsburgh Pirates by the Chicago White Sox in 1965.

• In the midst of a career-high 23-game hitting streak, St. Louis Cardinals 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) furnished nine consecutive multiple-hit contests in 1931.

• 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) knocked in the winning run in the 11th inning of the nightcap of a 1959 doubleheader against the Los Angeles Dodgers to give reliever Elroy Face his 16th victory without a loss.

• St. Louis Cardinals 2B Tommy Herr (hooper with Delaware's freshman team in 1974-75) supplied four hits and three RBI in a 1984 game against the Houston Astros.

• Los Angeles Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) hammered his 14th career grand slam to set a new N.L. record. It was the first grand slam in the history of the franchise on the West Coast.

• 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) supplied a multiple-safety outing for the seventh time in eight-game span in 1972.

• Detroit Tigers RF Harvey Kuenn (played hoops briefly for Wisconsin in 1951-52 after competing on JV squad previous season) went 5-for-5 against the Baltimore Orioles in a 1959 contest.

• Chicago White Sox LHP Thornton Lee (Cal Poly hooper in 1925-26) lashed his fourth homer of season in a 2 1/2-month span in 1938.

• New York Yankees rookie RF Jim Lyttle (Florida State free-throw shooting leader in 1965-66 when averaging 12.4 ppg) went 4-for-4 with three RBI in a 7-5 win against the Chicago White Sox in the nightcap of a 1970 twinbill.

• Philadelphia Phillies CF Bake McBride (averaged 12.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg in 21 games with Westminster MO in 1968-69 and 1969-70) amassed three hits and three stolen bases against the Atlanta Braves in a 1977 game.

• Cleveland Indians rookie RHP Jim Perry (averaged more than 20 ppg in late 1950s for former juco Campbell) fired a three-hit shutout against the Boston Red Sox in 1959.

• Utilityman Jimmy Stewart (All-Volunteer State Athletic Conference hoops selection for Austin Peay State in 1959-60 and 1960-61) slugged a three-run, pinch-hit homer off Hall of Famer Tom Seaver to spark the Cincinnati Reds to a 7-5 triumph against the New York Mets in 1970.

• Chicago Cubs rookie OF Champ Summers (led SIUE in scoring in 1969-70 after doing same with Nicholls State in 1964-65) smacked his first MLB homer, a pinch grand slam, against the Houston Astros in 1975.

• Boston Red Sox 3B Jim Tabor (Alabama hoops letterman in 1936-37) went 4-for-4 in a 1939 game against the St. Louis Browns.

• Pittsburgh Pirates CF Bill Virdon (Drury MO hooper in 1949) went 7-for-8 in a 1959 doubleheader sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

• St. Louis Cardinals 1B Bill White (two-year hooper with Hiram OH in early 1950s) went 4-for-4 against the Houston Colt .45s in a 1963 contest.

• LHP Tom Zachary (Guilford NC hoops letterman in 1916) awarded on waivers from the Washington Senators to the New York Yankees in 1928.

There was no grooming comparable to most coaches working their way up the ladder from the bush leagues. Despite boasting zero college head-coaching experience, Jon Scheyer (Duke), Jerome Tang (Kansas State) and Kenny Payne (Louisville) were hired to be in charge of a power-conference member. They are among 27 active head coaches (some subsequently moving on) for power-league members getting their starts as bench boss without serving as head coach for another college.

There is no rhyme or reason regarding first-year results. But if Scheyer, Tang and Payne assemble an average inaugural campaign, the novice head coaches face an overall record of 19-14 with losing league mark. First-year worksheets for mentors in this category usually don't generate headlines. For instance, all three newcomers in the Big Ten Conference last year registering losing league marks. In the previous nine years, newcomer power-league mentors combined for an average record of 15-17 overall and 6-12 in league competition. Only seven active coaches on the following alphabetical list compiled a winning power-league ledger in his inaugural season sans benefit of toiling as a full-time college bench boss:

Extra! Extra! Instead of mocking debacle where wokeness weakens U.S. via indefensible institutional-elite Big Tech policy decision allowing "over-the-rainbow" Taliban savages on Twitter but not meanie #TheDonald and callous contrary conservatives, 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 Southwest Missouri State hoopers Mark Bailey, Jerry Lumpe and Preston Ward provided significant MLB performances on this date. Ex-college hoopers Bob Cerv (Nebraska) and Davey Lopes (Iowa Wesleyan/Washburn KS) each hit three homers in a game on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 20 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 20

• Boston Red Sox INF 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) went 3-for-3 in opener and jacked decisive homer in nightcap of 1967 twinbill sweep of the California Angels.

• Houston Astros C Mark Bailey (led Southwest Missouri State basketball team in rebounding and field-goal percentage in 1980-81) collected three hits, four runs and four RBI in a 17-2 romp over the St. Louis Cardinals in 1985.

• Detroit Tigers 2B Frank Bolling (averaged 7.3 ppg in 1950-51 for Spring Hill AL) collected two homers and five RBI against the New York Yankees in a 1959 game.

• In the midst of a career-high 17-game hitting streak, Kansas City Athletics LF Bob Cerv (ranked fourth on Nebraska's career scoring list in 1949-50 when finishing hoop career) collected three homers and six RBI in an 11-10 defeat against the Boston Red Sox in 1959.

• RHP Bill Connors (averaged 6 ppg and 2.3 rpg for Syracuse in 1960-61) purchased from the Chicago Cubs by the New York Mets in 1967.

• Baltimore Orioles LHP Mike Flanagan (averaged 13.9 ppg for UMass' freshman hoops squad in 1971-72) fired his fifth shutout of the 1979 campaign - a three-hitter against the Texas Rangers - in the midst of him winning eight straight starts en route to an A.L.-high 23 triumphs.

• Brooklyn Dodgers SS Jake Flowers (member of Washington College MD "Flying Pentagon" championship hoops squad in 1923) contributed four hits against the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a 1933 doubleheader.

• Chicago White Sox RHP Bob Keegan (Bucknell hoops letterman in 1941-42 and 1942-43), utilizing a new slow delivery, hurled a 6-0 no-hitter against the Washington Senators in 1957.

• 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) traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the Chicago White Sox in 1977.

• Philadelphia Phillies rookie SS Ralph LaPointe (Vermont hoops letterman during WWII) went 7-for-12 at conclusion of three-game series against the Chicago Cubs in 1947.

• Cleveland Indians CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) logged two homers and six RBI against the Seattle Mariners in a 2000 contest.

• 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) set a Los Angeles Dodgers record with 15 total bases in an 18-8 rout of the Chicago Cubs in 1974 (three homers, double and single).

• Kansas City Athletics 2B Jerry Lumpe (member of Southwest Missouri State's 1952 NAIA Tournament championship hoops club) went 7-for-10 in a 1963 doubleheader sweep of the Washington Senators.

• St. Louis Cardinals CF Bake McBride (averaged 12.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg in 21 games with Westminster MO in 1968-69 and 1969-70) belted two homers against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1975 game.

• 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 4-1 win against the Cincinnati Reds in 1944 outing.

• Texas Rangers RF Gary Redus (J.C. hooper for Athens AL and father of Centenary/South Alabama guard with same name) ripped two homers against the Baltimore Orioles in a 1993 contest.

• St. Louis Cardinals RHP Ron Reed (Notre Dame's leading rebounder in 1963-64 and 1964-65) tossed a four-hit shutout against the Cincinnati Reds in 1975. Reed yielded fewer than two earned runs in nine of his first 16 starts for the Cards.

• Chicago White Sox RHP Johnny Rigney (top hoops center for St. Thomas MN in mid-1930s) hurled his second of back-to-back three-hit shutouts in 1941.

• Philadelphia Phillies RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) had his 15-game winning streak against the Pittsburgh Pirates snapped in 1953.

• In 1945, Brooklyn Dodgers SS Tommy Brown (17 years old) became the youngest player to hit a MLB homer when connecting off Pittsburgh Pirates LHP Preacher Roe (Harding AR hooper in late 1930s).

• Baltimore Orioles RF Ken Singleton (hooper for Hofstra freshman team in mid-1960s) went 4-for-4 against the Minnesota Twins in a 1977 game.

• Boston Red Sox RHP Lee Smith (averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg with Northwestern State in 1976-77) supplied his seventh straight hitless relief appearance in 1988. Smith fanned 15 batters during span covering nine innings.

• St. Louis Cardinals RHP John Stuper (two-time all-conference junior college player in mid-1970s with Butler County PA) hurled his lone MLB shutout (five-hitter against the Houston Astros in 1983).

• Birdie Tebbetts (Providence hooper in 1932) resigned as Cleveland Indians manager in 1966.

• In the midst of winning five straight starts during the month, Pittsburgh Pirates LHP Bob Veale (scored 1,160 points for Benedictine KS from 1955-56 through 1957-58) tossed a four-hit shutout against the Houston Astros in 1969.

• Pittsburgh Pirates 1B Preston Ward (second-leading scorer for Southwest Missouri State in 1946-47 and 1948-49) provided three extra-base hits in a 1955 game against the New York Giants.

• Pinch two-run single by 1B Bill White (two-year hooper for Hiram OH in early 1950s) sparked the San Francisco Giants to a 4-3 win against the Cincinnati Reds in 1958.

• In 1986, New York Yankees RF Dave Winfield (starting forward with Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) walloped the 300th of his 465 MLB career homers.

Extra! Extra! Instead of wondering if Plagiarist Bidumb's Administration realizes "Tally-bon" goons releasing ISIS and Al Qaeda operatives generated Afghani chaos comparable to #Dimorat mayors/judges/DAs allowing felons out of jail to roam our streets, 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 Southwest Missouri State hoopers Norm Siebern and Preston Ward supplied significant MLB performances on this date. Ditto ex-juco hoopers Garth Iorg (College of Redwoods CA), Gary Redus (Athens AL) and Jim Thome (Illinois Central). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 19 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 19

• Chicago Cubs 1B George Altman (hooper appeared in 1953 and 1954 NAIA Basketball Tournament with Tennessee State) amassed four hits in a 4-3 win against the Houston Colt .45s in 1962.

• Pittsburgh Pirates LF Clyde Barnhart (hooper for Shippensburg PA predecessor Cumberland Valley State Normal School prior to World War I) went 4-for-4 and chipped in with five RBI against the Brooklyn Robins in 1925.

• Philadelphia Phillies 1B Ed Bouchee (freshman hooper for Washington State in 1951-52) went 3-for-3 with double and triple in a 1958 game against the St. Louis Cardinals.

• 2B Marv Breeding (hooper for Samford in mid-1950s) purchased from the Los Angeles Dodgers by the Baltimore Orioles in 1964.

• Detroit Tigers rookie RHP Ownie Carroll (Holy Cross hoops letterman in 1922) hurled his third complete-game victory of the month in 1927.

• Detroit Tigers 1B Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoops scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) collected three homers and eight RBI in a 1938 doubleheader sweep of the St. Louis Browns.

• California Angels RHP Paul Hartzell (averaged 5.9 ppg and 3.4 rpg for Lehigh in 1972-73) hurled his fourth complete game in a 22-day span in 1978.

• Grand-slam homer from CF Jim Hickman (freshman hooper for Ole Miss in 1955-56) off Vern Law powered the New York Mets to a 4-2 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1964. Six years later as a 1B with the Chicago Cubs, Hickman homered twice and knocked in five runs in 1970 outing against the San Diego Padres.

• Toronto Blue Jays 3B Garth Iorg (juco hooper with College of the Redwoods CA in mid-1970s) supplied three extra-base hits (two doubles and homer) plus three RBI in an 8-7 win against the Boston Red Sox in 1983.

• New York Yankees LF David Justice (Thomas More KY assists leader in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg) jacked two homers against the Anaheim Angels in a 2000 contest.

• Philadelphia Phillies RHP Andy Karl (Manhattan hoops letterman from 1933 through 1935) saved Hall of Fame slugger Jimmie Foxx's only MLB pitching decision in 1945 (6-2 win against Cincinnati Reds).

• New York Yankees LF Charlie Keller (Maryland hoops letterman from 1934-35 through 1936-37) homered in both ends of a 1942 twinbill split against the Boston Red Sox.

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

• New York Giants RHP Christy Mathewson (Bucknell hooper at turn of 20th Century) had his 22-game winning streak against the Cincinnati Reds snapped in 1911.

• Detroit Tigers LF Curtis Pride (led William & Mary in steals three times and assists twice while averaging 5.6 ppg and 3.1 apg from 1986-87 through 1989-90) smacked a pinch-hit, three-run homer against the Chicago White Sox in 1996.

• OF Gary Redus (J.C. hooper for Athens AL and father of Centenary/South Alabama guard with same name) traded by the Chicago White Sox to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1988.

• Pittsburgh Pirates RF Dave Robertson (one of two reserves on North Carolina State's first basketball team in 1911) registered three extra-base hits (including pair of homers) and eight RBI in opener of 1921 doubleheader against the Philadelphia Phillies.

• 1B-OF Norm Siebern (member of Southwest Missouri State's back-to-back NAIA Tournament hoop titlists in 1952 and 1953) supplied a pinch-hit, bases-loaded triple to help the Boston Red Sox outlasted the California Angels, 12-11, in 1967.

• Philadelphia Phillies rookie SS Gary Sutherland (averaged 7.4 ppg with USC in 1963-64) went 3-for-3, including his first MLB homer, against the Chicago Cubs in 1967.

• Boston Red Sox 3B Jim Tabor (Alabama hoops letterman in 1936-37) smacked two homers against the New York Yankees in opener of a 1942 twinbill.

• Philadelphia Phillies 1B Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) swatted a homer in his fourth consecutive contest in 2003.

• Detroit Tigers rookie SS Coot Veal (averaged team-high 10.9 ppg as Auburn sophomore in 1951-52 before transferring to Mercer) posted his second three-hit outing in the midst of a career-high 13-game hitting streak.

• San Diego Padres CF Clint Venable (two-time All-Ivy League selection averaged 9.3 ppg under Princeton coach John Thompson III from 2001-02 through 2004-05) went hitless for the only time in his first 25 games of the month in 2013.

• Bill Virdon (Drury MO hooper in 1949) hired as Houston Astros manager in 1975.

• Pittsburgh Pirates RF Preston Ward (second-leading scorer for Southwest Missouri State in 1946-47 and 1948-49) provided fourth three-hit outing in a six-game span in 1954.

• New York Yankees RF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) went 4-for-4 in a 1984 game against the Oakland Athletics.

Extra! Extra! Instead of mocking smug Ivy Leaguer Gen. "Way Off" Mark Milley's quest to understand white rage, allowing women in ground combat, force vaccines promoted by colossally-confused CDC and be transgender inclusive more than creating cogent plan to withdraw from Kabul in semi-orderly fashion a year ago, 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 Ron Allen (Youngstown State), Gene Freese (West Liberty WV) and Frankie Frisch (Fordham) smacked homers for the St. Louis Cardinals in MLB games on this date. Ex-East Tennessee State hoopers Ernie Bowman and Jim Mooney plus ex-PA small-college hoopers Dick Hall (Swarthmore), Billy Hunter (IUP) and Christy Mathewson (Bucknell) also made MLB news on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 17 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 17

• San Diego Padres RHP Mike Adams (Texas A&M-Kingsville hooper in 1996-97) surrendered his only earned run (against Chicago Cubs) in last 34 relief appearances in 2009.

• 1B Ron Allen (Youngstown State's scoring and rebounding leader as a sophomore in 1961-62) secured his only MLB hit, a ninth-inning homer at San Diego in 1972, after the brother of standout 1B Dick Allen replaced ejected St. Louis Cardinals teammate Joe Torre.

• San Diego Padres SS Bill Almon (averaged 2.5 ppg in half a season for Brown's 1972-73 team ending school streak of 12 straight losing records) collected three hits and five RBI in a 7-4 win against the Cincinnati Reds in 1977.

• Milwaukee Brewers CF Ken Berry (freshman hooper for Wichita in 1959-60) went 4-for-4 in a 4-2 win against the California Angels in 1974.

• San Francisco Giants INF Ernie Bowman (East Tennessee State hoops letterman in 1954-55 and 1955-56) hit safely in ninth contest during 11-game span in 1963.

• OF Billy Cowan (Utah letterman from 1957-58 through 1959-60 was co-captain of NCAA playoff team as senior) clubbed a two-run, pinch homer off Juan Pizzaro in the eighth inning to give the California Angels a 7-6 victory against the Cleveland Indians in 1969.

• Bing Devine (Washington MO hoops letterman in mid-1930s) fired as general manager of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1964 before they go on to win the World Series against the New York Yankees.

• RHP Eddie Fisher (played for Oklahoma's 1954-55 freshman hoops squad) traded by the California Angels to the Chicago White Sox in 1972.

• CF Curt Flood and 3B Gene Freese (hoops captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team for West Liberty WV), the first two St. Louis Cardinals batters, hammered back-to-back homers off Los Angeles Dodgers LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman hoops squad in 1953-54) in the opener of a 1958 doubleheader.

• Philadelphia Athletics RF Walt French (hoops letterman for Rutgers and Army) went 4-for-4 against the Cleveland Indians in the opener of a 1926 twinbill.

• St. Louis Cardinals 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) homered in both ends of a 1929 doubleheader split against the New York Giants.

• Baltimore Orioles RHP Dick Hall (averaged 12.8 ppg from 1948-49 through 1950-51 for three Swarthmore PA Southern Division champions in Middle Atlantic States Conference) provided a perfect inning of relief against the Kansas City Athletics in 1963, giving him 28 consecutive batters retired in a span of five appearances. Four years later with the Philadelphia Phillies, Hall notched his 11th straight game in relief without allowing an earned run in 1967.

• Cleveland Indians LF Mike Hargrove (Northwestern Oklahoma State hoops letterman) homered twice against the Oakland Athletics in a 1979 game.

• In 2008, Florida Marlins LHP Mark Hendrickson (two-time All-Pacific-10 Conference selection was Washington State's leading rebounder each season from 1992-93 through 1995-96) allowed his only run in nine relief appearances during the month.

• In his last three plate appearances, Kansas City Athletics SS Billy Hunter (multi-sport athlete for Indiana PA post-WWII) belted a pair of solo homers and stroke game-winning, bases-loaded single in bottom of the ninth inning for 4-3 triumph against the Cleveland Indians in 1957.

• In 1985, Reggie Jackson of the New York Yankees, moving past Willie McCovey and Ted Williams on the all-time homer list, swatted his 522nd career round-tripper off Oakland A's LHP Bill Krueger (led WCAC in free-throw percentage in 1975-76 with Portland).

• New York Giants RHP Christy Mathewson (Bucknell hooper at turn of 20th Century) hurled his second straight three-hit shutout against Chicago in 1905.

• New York Giants LHP Jim Mooney (hooper for East Tennessee State) tossed a four-hit shutout against the Cincinnati Reds in 1932.

• Cincinnati Reds rookie RF Greasy Neale (hooper graduated in 1915 from West Virginia Wesleyan) had his 12-game hitting streak snapped by the Chicago Cubs in 1920.

• In the midst of homering in six consecutive contests, San Diego Padres 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) cracked two round-trippers against the Montreal Expos in a 1984 contest.

• Los Angeles Dodgers CF Billy North (played hoops briefly for Central Washington in 1967-68) stole three bases against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1978 game.

• Cleveland Indians RHP Jim Perry (averaged more than 20 ppg in late 1950s for former juco Campbell) fired a four-hit shutout against the Texas Rangers to post his eighth victory in span of nine decisions in 16th MLB season (1974).

• Boston Braves rookie C Ebba St. Claire (Colgate letterman in 1941-42) had an 11-game hitting streak snapped by the Brooklyn Dodgers' Carl Erskine in the opener of a 1951 doubleheader.