On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Make Their Mark on September 3 MLB Games

September 3rd, 2016 - 7:14

Extra! Extra! Read 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 hoopsters had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

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) 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.

  • 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).

  • Philadelphia Phillies LHP Lefty Hoerst (four-year 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 letterman from 1934-35 through 1936-37) lashed three extra-base hits against the Philadelphia Athletics in the nightcap of a 1945 twinbill.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers rookie LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman 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.

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

  • LF Jimmy Moore (Union TN standout in late 1920s), making his Philadelphia Athletics debut in 1930, collected a double, homer and four RBI in an 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 (led Lincoln MO in scoring average 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 letterman in 1920) went 4-for-4 against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1933 outing.

  • 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.