On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Supplying MLB Headlines on October 28

October 28th, 2024 - 8:58

Extra! Extra! Instead of belly laughing at #Dimorats distraught about Donald Trump's rally at Madison Square Garden, 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 top hoops scorer Bob Gibson of the St. Louis Cardinals captured the Cy Young Award on this date. Seven years later on same date, former Ole Miss top scorer Don Kessinger was traded to the Cards. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an October 28 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

OCTOBER 28

  • St. Louis Cardinals RHP Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading basketball scorer and rebounder in 1955-56 and 1956-57) captured the Cy Young Award in 1968 after posting a microscopic 1.12 ERA. Incredibly, Gibson's 13 shutouts and 28 complete games that year were almost as many as the entire National League in 2021 (18 and 29, respectively).

  • A lead-off homer in bottom of sixth inning by Atlanta Braves RF David Justice (led Thomas More KY in assists in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg) against the Cleveland Indians accounted for only run in Game 6 of 1995 World Series as the Braves became first franchise to win championships representing three different cities (previously Boston and Milwaukee).

  • SS Don Kessinger (three-time All-Southeastern Conference selection for Mississippi from 1961-62 through 1963-64 while finishing among nation's top 45 scorers each year) traded by the Chicago Cubs to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1975.

  • In Game 6 of World Series, 2B Davey Lopes (NAIA All-District 15 selection for Iowa Wesleyan averaged 16.9 ppg as All-Iowa Conference freshman selection in 1964-65 and 12.1 as sophomore in 1965-66 before transferring with his coach to Washburn KS where he was All-CIC choice for 1968 NAIA Tournament team) posted his 10th stolen base in as many attempts during the Los Angeles Dodgers' 1981 championship-winning postseason.

  • OF Randy Winn (Santa Clara backcourtmate of eventual two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash in 1993-94) traded by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to the Seattle Mariners in 2002 for managerial rights of Lou Piniella (averaged 2.5 ppg and 1.4 rpg for Tampa as a freshman in 1961-62) and a player.