On This Date: Former College Hoopers Providing MLB Headlines on October 13

October 13th, 2025 - 8:49

Extra! Extra! Instead of debating whether Democrats have sufficient dignity to give President Trump credit for return of Israeli hostages as Odd Squad whack jobs stay silent, 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 hoopers from current Atlantic Coast Conference members - Dave Giusti (Syracuse), Jim Lyttle (Florida State), Eppa Rixey (Virginia), Dave Robertson (North Carolina State) and Tim Stoddard (North Carolina State) - made MLB news on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an October 13 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

OCTOBER 13

  • Los Angeles Dodgers RF Joe Ferguson (hooper for Pacific's 1967 NCAA playoff basketball team) smacked a homer off Oakland Athletics P Vida Blue, accounting for game-winning hit in 3-2 triumph in Game 2 of 1974 World Series.

  • Unscored upon in all seven postseason relief appearances covering 9 2/3 innings, Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Dave Giusti (made 6-of-10 field-goal attempts in two games for Syracuse in 1959-60) earned a save in Game 4 of 1971 World Series against the Baltimore Orioles.

  • 1B Gail Hopkins (averaged 2.5 ppg for Pepperdine in 1963-64) traded by the Chicago White Sox to the Kansas City Royals in 1970.

  • Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection when leading Ohio State in scoring and rebounding in 1956-57 and 1957-58) fired as San Diego Padres manager in 1981.

  • Atlanta Braves RF David Justice (Thomas More KY assists leader in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg) jacked two homers against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Game 6 of 1992 NLCS.

  • OF Jim Lyttle (Florida State free-throw shooting leader in 1965-66 when averaging 12.4 ppg) traded by the New York Yankees to the Chicago White Sox in 1971.

  • Los Angeles Dodgers 1B-OF Len Matuszek (Toledo starter for hoops squad compiling 18-7 record in 1975-76) collected his lone postseason hit, a pinch single against the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 4 of 1985 NLCS.

  • 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) hit a three-run, first-inning double to spark the New York Yankees to a 3-1 victory against the Oakland A's in the 1981 ALCS opener. Nettles' spectacular defense highlighted a 5-1 triumph for the Yankees against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 3 of 1978 World Series. Nettles whacked two homers in Game 4 of 1976 ALCS for the Yankees but they weren't enough to prevent a 7-4 loss against the Kansas City Royals.

  • Philadelphia Phillies LHP Eppa Rixey (Virginia hoops letterman in 1912 and 1914) allowed two homers in 6 2/3 innings in a 5-4 defeat against the Boston Red Sox in Game 5 of 1915 World Series.

  • New York Giants RF Dave Robertson (one of two reserves on North Carolina State's first basketball team in 1911) contributed three safeties in an 8-5 setback against the Chicago White Sox in Game 5 of 1917 World Series.

  • Baltimore Orioles RHP Tim Stoddard (starting forward opposite All-American David Thompson for North Carolina State's 1974 NCAA champion) won Game 4 with three scoreless innings of relief against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1979 World Series. He also became the only player with a WS RBI in his first big league at-bat by singling in eighth inning.

  • In his final MLB and only World Series at-bat, San Diego Padres OF Champ Summers (led SIUE in scoring in 1969-70 after doing same with Nicholls State in 1964-65) fanned as a pinch-hitter against former teammate (Jack Morris of Detroit Tigers) in Game 4 of 1984 WS.

  • New York Yankees RHP Ralph Terry (juco hooper averaged 22 ppg for Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in mid-1950s) yielded dramatic home run to 2B Bill Mazerowski in bottom of the ninth inning, giving the Pittsburgh Pirates a 10-9 win in decisive Game 7 of 1960 World Series.

  • CF Bill Virdon (Drury MO hooper in 1949) smacked a two-run single to help the Pittsburgh Pirates outlast the New York Yankees, 10-9, in Game 7 of 1960 World Series.