On This Date: Former College Hoopers Providing MLB Headlines on July 21

July 21st, 2023 - 9:18

Extra! Extra! Instead of debating whether blathering Plagiarist Biledumb is conversant on "code red" climate change less than asthma-ridden hair-sniffer admits knowing about cancer-causing windshield wipers, COVID-preventing vaccinations/masks and "smartest guy I know" son hideous happy-to-be-with hooker Hunter's foreign business shenanigans an IRS whistleblower estimated to be worth $17 million, 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 major-college hoopers Frankie Frisch (Fordham), Bob Gibson (Creighton), Hank Greenberg (NYU), Robin Roberts (Michigan State) and Jackie Robinson (UCLA) supplied significant MLB performances on this date en route to becoming Hall of Famers. Also making MLB news on this date were the following ex-hoopers from PA small colleges: Glenn Beckert (Allegheny), Kevin Gryboski (Wilkes), Dick Hall (Swarthmore) and Red Murray (Lock Haven). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a July 21 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

JULY 21

  • Chicago Cubs 2B Glenn Beckert (three-year basketball letterman for Allegheny PA) contributed four safeties for the second time during a career-high 27-game hitting streak in 1968.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Jim Bibby (Fayetteville State NC backup hooper and brother of UCLA All-American Henry Bibby) tossed a six-hit shutout against the San Francisco Giants in 1978.

  • St. Louis Cardinals 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) homered in both ends of a 1930 doubleheader split against the Brooklyn Robins.

  • St. Louis Cardinals RHP Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer and rebounder in 1955-56 and 1956-57) smacked his fourth homer in a span of nine starts in 1972. The round-tripper accounted for decisive run in a 2-1 verdict over the Atlanta Braves to earn his 11th consecutive triumph.

  • Detroit Tigers 1B Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoop scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) went 4-for-4, including three extra-base hits, against the Philadelphia Athletics in a 1934 contest.

  • RHP Kevin Gryboski (backup hooper for Wilkes PA in 1991-92 and 1992-93) traded by the Atlanta Braves to Texas Rangers in 2005.

  • Baltimore Orioles RHP Dick Hall (averaged 13.5 ppg from 1948-49 through 1950-51 for Swarthmore PA Southern Division champions in Middle Atlantic States Conference) fanned three of four Minnesota Twins batters he faced in his 11th straight scoreless relief appearances in 1962.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers INF-OF Harvey Hendrick (Vanderbilt hoops letterman in 1918) hammered a game-winning, three-run homer in the ninth inning of a 9-8 decision over the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a 1930 doubleheader. Hendrick's decisive blast was one of four pinch-hit round-trippers during the twinbill (two for each team).

  • In 2003, Toronto Blue Jays LHP Mark Hendrickson (two-time All-Pacific-10 Conference selection paced Washington State in rebounding four straight seasons from 1992-93 through 1995-96) hurled his first MLB shutout (against New York Yankees).

  • Chicago White Sox RHP Bart Johnson (averaged 30.5 ppg for Brigham Young's freshman squad in 1967-68) tossed his second shutout of the month in 1976, winning for sixth time in span of seven starts.

  • Cleveland Indians RHP Dutch Levsen (Iowa State hoops letterman in 1918-19) hurled the second of back-to-back shutouts in 1926.

  • Milwaukee Braves SS Johnny Logan (Binghamton hooper in 1948-49) went 5-for-5 in a 7-4 win against the New York Giants in the nightcap of a 1957 doubleheader.

  • 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 an All-CIC selection with 1968 NAIA Tournament team) traded by the Chicago Cubs to the Houston Astros in 1986.

  • Philadelphia Phillies RF Jerry Martin (1971 Southern Conference Tournament MVP after finishing as Furman's runner-up in scoring previous season), pinch-hitting for Bake McBride (averaged 12.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg in 21 games with Westminster MO in 1968-69 and 1969-70), manufactured the game-winning hit with a bases-loaded triple in a 9-6 verdict over the San Francisco Giants in 1977.

  • St. Louis Cardinals RHP Lindy McDaniel (freshman team hooper for Oklahoma in 1954-55) banged out four hits at the plate, including a pair of doubles, in 11-2 pounding of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1957.

  • In his first MLB start, Baltimore Orioles RHP Ben McDonald (started six games as 6-6 freshman forward for LSU in 1986-87 under coach Dale Brown) blanked the Chicago White Sox, 2-0, in 1990.

  • In the midst of a 10-game hitting streak, New York Yankees RF Bud Metheny (hoops letterman for William & Mary from 1935-36 through 1937-38) went 4-for-4 against the St. Louis Browns in a 1943 game. Two years later, Metheny homered in a 12-3 romp over the Chicago White Sox in 1945.

  • New York Giants RF Red Murray (played hoops for Lock Haven PA in early 1900s) stole three bases in a 1909 contests against the St. Louis Cardinals.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates bonus-baby rookie SS Eddie O'Brien (third-team All-American selection as Seattle senior in 1952-53 when finishing second in nation in field-goal percentage) went 3-for-4 in the midst of a seven-game hitting streak in 1953.

  • Philadelphia Athletics RHP Cotton Pippen (Texas Western hoops letterman in 1929-30) posted his second complete-game victory in less than a month in 1939.

  • In the midst of 11 consecutive scoreless relief appearances in 1963, Boston Red Sox RHP Dick Radatz (center on Michigan State's freshman hoops squad in 1955-56) improved his won-loss record to 12-1.

  • In 1960, Philadelphia Phillies RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) hurled his third career one-hitter.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers 2B Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in PCC both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) went 4-for-4 against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1951 outing.

  • Chicago Cubs C El Tappe (two-time All-Pioneer Conference first-team selection scored 921 points for Quincy College IL from 1946-47 through 1949-50) contributed a career-high three hits in 1960 game against the Cincinnati Reds.