On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Generating MLB Headlines on August 14

August 14th, 2022 - 8:42

Extra! Extra! One year after withdrawal debacle, instead of wondering if demented #Dimorat politicians specializing in bail funds for "righteous" rioters arranged any mechanism for freeing at-risk Afghani translators after goofball government officials in both countries were outfoxed by Taliban thugs, you can read news about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former Creighton hoopers Bob Gibson and Dennis Rasmussen registered personal pitching performance milestones during their MLB careers in National League games on this date. Ex-San Diego State hoopers Tony Clark and Tony Gwynn supplied outstanding offensive outputs in MLB games on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 14 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 14

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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