On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Make News in October 9 MLB Games

October 9th, 2020 - 8:35

Extra! Extra! Unless you're a cardboard cut-out, you can read news all 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 Boo Ferriss (Mississippi State) and Christy Mathewson (Bucknell) hurled World Series shutouts on this date. Joining Mathewson among ex-hoopers from Pennsylvania colleges making WS news on this date were Monte Irvin (Lincoln), Red Murray (Lock Haven) and Dave Ricketts (Duquesne). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an October 9 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

OCTOBER 9

  • C Benny Bengough (Niagara basketball letterman from 1916-17 through 1918-19) secured a hit for third straight 1928 World Series game to help the New York Yankees sweep the St. Louis Cardinals.

  • Boston Red Sox LHP Ray Collins (Vermont hoops letterman in 1907 and 1908) started Game 2 of 1912 World Series against the New York Giants when they tied, 6-6, in a contest called after 11 innings.

  • Before a crowd of 81,897, CF Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA hoops titlist) contributed first homer of 1948 World Series to spark the Cleveland Indians to a 2-1 victory against the Boston Braves in Game 4.

  • Boston Red Sox RHP Boo Ferriss (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1941) hurled a 4-0 shutout against the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 3 of 1946 World Series.

  • Cincinnati Reds RHP Ken Hunt (freshman hooper for Brigham Young in 1957-58) hurled a hitless ninth inning of relief in 13-5 Game 5 defeat against the New York Yankees in 1961 World Series, closing out frame by fanning Elston Howard.

  • New York Giants LF Monte Irvin (Lincoln PA hooper 1 1/2 years in late 1930s) provided his fourth multiple-hit outing in first five World Series games in 1951 against the New York Yankees.

  • New York Giants CF Hank Leiber (Arizona hooper in 1931) contributed two hits, two runs and two RBI in a 7-3 win against the New York Yankees in Game 4 of 1937 World Series.

  • In the first World Series utilizing a seven-game format, New York Giants Hall of Fame RHP Christy Mathewson (Bucknell hooper at turn of 20th Century) blanked the Philadelphia Athletics, 3-0, in opener of all-shutout 1905 World Series. Mathewson also tossed whitewashes in Game 3 and Game 5.

  • New York Giants OF Red Murray (played hoops for Lock Haven PA in early 1900s) banged out two extra-base hits among his three safeties in a 6-6 tie against the Boston Red Sox in Game 2 of 1912 World Series.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates SS Paul Popovich (teammate of Jerry West for West Virginia's 1960 NCAA playoff team) hit safely in all three 1974 NLCS games against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

  • Despite yielding only one earned run in 9 2/3 innings in two starts against the St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Browns RHP Nels Potter (leading scorer in early 1930s for Mount Morris IL) lost his lone World Series decision (3-1 in Game 6 in 1944).

  • Pittsburgh Pirates 1B Gary Redus (J.C. hooper for Athens AL and father of Centenary/South Alabama guard with same name) went 3-for-3, including two extra-base hits, and scored decisive run in a 3-2 triumph against the Atlanta Braves in Game 3 of 1992 NLCS.

  • St. Louis Cardinals C Dave Ricketts (three-year starter led Duquesne in scoring senior season with 17.9 ppg in 1956-57) registered his lone World Series hit with a pinch single off Detroit Tigers P Denny McLain in Game 6 in 1968.

  • St. Louis Cardinals RF Wally Roettger (Illinois hoops letterman in 1921-22 and 1922-23) hit safely in all three of 1931 World Series games he started against the Philadelphia Athletics.

  • Boston Red Sox RHP Mike Smithson (teammate of Tennessee All-American Ernie Grunfeld averaged 1.9 ppg and 1.6 rpg under coach Ray Mears in 1974-75 and 1975-76) hurled 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief in Game 4 of 1988 ALCS against the Oakland Athletics.

  • CF Bill Virdon (Drury MO hooper in 1949) stroked a two-run single propelling the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 3-2 triumph against the New York Yankees in Game 4 of 1960 World Series.

  • Washington Senators LHP Tom Zachary (Guilford NC hoops letterman in 1916) hurled a complete-game, 2-1 win against the New York Giants in Game 6 of 1924 World Series. Zachary also won Game 2.