On This Date: Former College Hoopers Supplying MLB Headlines on April 7

April 7th, 2024 - 9:20

Extra! Extra! As a new season concludes its second weekend, you can read news about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players. Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.

Former Hofstra top scorer and rebounder Brant Alyea set a MLB Opening Day RBI record on this date. Ex-juco hoopers Bobby Munoz (Polk FL), Jim Perry (Campbell NC), Tony Phillips (New Mexico Military) and Jim Thome (Illinois Central) also made MLB news on this date. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an April 7 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

APRIL 7

  • Minnesota Twins LF Brant Alyea (Hofstra's leading scorer and rebounder in 1960-61 after finishing runner-up in both categories previous basketball season) amassed seven RBI, a major league record for opening day, against the Chicago White Sox in 1970. Alyea drove in 19 runs in P Jim Perry's first four starts that year.

  • In his MLB debut in 1970, Philadelphia Phillies 2B Denny Doyle (averaged 2.7 ppg for Morehead State in 1962-63) delivered three hits, including a RBI triple in the third inning for the game's first run, in a 2-0 win against the Chicago Cubs.

  • In his MLB debut in 2017, Cincinnati Reds LHP Amir Garrett (averaged 7.4 ppg and 4 rpg for St. John's in 2011-12 and 2012-13 before RS transfer year at Cal State Northridge) hurled six shutout innings to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals.

  • RHP Bobby Humphreys (four-year hoops letterman for Hampden-Sydney VA in mid-1950s) traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the Chicago Cubs in 1965.

  • INF Ralph LaPointe (Vermont hoops letterman during WWII) traded by the Philadelphia Phillies with $30,000 to St. Louis Cardinals for 1B Dick Sisler in 1948.

  • RHP Dave Madison (hoops letterman for Louisiana State from 1939-40 through 1942-43) purchased from the New York Yankees by the St. Louis Browns in 1952.

  • Philadelphia Phillies RHP Bobby Munoz (scored 35 points for Polk Community College FL in game against Palm Beach in mid-November 1986) hurled three innings of scoreless relief against the Colorado Rockies in 1994 appearance for his lone MLB save.

  • Minnesota Twins RHP Jim Perry (averaged more than 20 ppg in late 1950s for former juco Campbell) opened 1970 campaign by shutting out the Chicago White Sox en route to A.L.-leading 24 victories.

  • Detroit Tigers 3B Tony Phillips (New Mexico Military juco hooper in 1977-78 as teammate of eventual Drake All-American Lewis Lloyd) contributed four hits in a 1993 game against the Oakland Athletics.

  • Chicago White Sox DH Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) smacked decisive three-run homer in bottom of the eighth inning of 4-2 win in 2009 season opener.

  • New York Yankees LF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) homered in each of his first three games in 1983.