Former Varsity College Hoopers Excelling as LDS/LCS Premier Performers

September 29th, 2026 - 21:28

The World Series garners most of the MLB fans' attention, but you must succeed in divisional and championship series outings to get there since 1969. As the MLB playoffs commence, college basketball observers should reflect on former varsity college hoopers who went on to excel in playoff competition prior to the WS. For instance, cousins George Stone (averaged 14.7 ppg and 6.5 rpg with Louisiana Tech in 1964-65 and 1965-66) and Cecil Upshaw (averaged 13.7 ppg and 6 rpg with Centenary from 1961-62 through 1963-64) both pitched in relief for the Atlanta Braves in 1969 NLCS.

If it was easy, versatile athletes would excel at everything all of the time. Hall of Fame reliever Lee Smith was another ex-Pelican State hooper (averaged 3.4 ppg with Northwestern State in 1976-77) but he registered dismal numbers in LDS/LCS competition, posting an 0-2 record and 8.44 ERA in four relief appearances with the Cubs in 1984 and Red Sox in 1988. Additional college hoopers-turned-MLB All-Stars who struggled in playoffs prior to WS included:

MLB All-Star College Hooper Summary of LDS/LCS Struggles
Andy Benes Evansville RHP compiled 1-1 record and 5.47 ERA in 10 ALDS/NLCS/NLDS games with Mariners and Cardinals from 1995 through 2002.
Al Bumbry Virginia State OF hit .156 (5-for-32) in 11 ALCS games for Orioles vs. A's, Angels and White Sox in 1973, 1974, 1979 and 1983.
Tony Clark Arizona/San Diego State 1B hit .135 (5-for-37) in 12 ALDS/ALCS/NLDS/NLCS games with Yankees and Diamondbacks in 2004 and 2007.
Dave Giusti Jr. Syracuse RHP compiled 6.60 ERA in 13 NLCS relief appearances for Pirates from 1970 through 1975.
Ron Reed Notre Dame RHP compiled 0-2 record and 5.96 ERA in seven NLCS/NLDS games with Braves and Phillies in 1969, 1976, 1980, 1981 and 1983.

Chris Young, a two-time All-Ivy League hooper with Princeton, became a RHP who compiled a 1.76 ERA in three NLDS/ALDS/ALCS games, winning Game 7 start with Padres in 2006 before competing with Royals in 2015. But small-college hoopers who became MLB pitchers comprise most of the premier versatile-athlete premium playoff pitchers prior to WS. Consider:

Small-College Hooper School Summary of LDS/LCS Success
Jim Bibby Fayetteville State NC Starting RHP for Pirates in Game 2 of 1979 NLCS vs. Reds (allowed four hits and one run in seven innings).
Ray Burris Southwestern Oklahoma State RHP compiled 1.61 ERA in three starts for Expos in 1981 NLDS (vs. Phillies)/NLCS (Dodgers), tossing five-hit shutout vs. LA in Game 2.
Kevin Gryboski Wilkes (Pa.) RHP compiled a 1.64 ERA in 13 relief appearances for Braves in NLDS from 2002 through 2004 (vs. Giants/Cubs/Astros).
Roger Mason Saginaw Valley State MI RHP was unscored upon in seven NLCS relief appearances with Pirates and Phillies totaling 10 2/3 innings from 1991 through 1993 (earned Game 5 save in 1991 vs. Braves).
Joe Niekro West Liberty State WV RHP twirled 18 shutout innings in two starts with Astros in 1980 and 1981 (vs. Phillies in NLCS and Dodgers in NLDS).
Paul Splittorff Morningside IA LHP compiled 2-0 record and 2.68 ERA in six ALCS games with Royals from 1976 through 1980.
Matt Thornton Grand Valley State MI LHP compiled 1.59 ERA in six relief appearances (three with White Sox in 2008 ALDS and three with Nationals in 2014 NLDS).

Additional MLB All-Stars failing to measure up to their career averages in more than 10 LDS/LCS contests after playing varsity college basketball included:

MLB All-Star College Hooper Summary of LDS/LCS Performance
Tony Gwynn San Diego State OF hit .274 (20-for-73) with Padres in 18 NLCS/NLDS games in 1984, 1996 and 1998.
David Justice Thomas More KY OF-1B smacked 10 homers and hit .234 (64-for-274) with Braves/Indians/Yankees/A's in 70 NLCS/NLDS/ALDS/ALCS games from 1991 through 2002.
Kenny Lofton Arizona OF posted .247 batting average (83-for-336) and stole 25 bases with Indians/Braves/Giants/Cubs/Yankees/Dodgers in 82 ALDS/ALCS/NLDS/NLCS games. He hit safely or scored a run in first 12 A.L. playoff contests with Indians.
Davey Lopes Iowa Wesleyan/Washburn KS 2B-OF hit .264 (24-for-91) with Dodgers, Cubs and Astros in 27 NLDS/NLCS games in 1974, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1984 and 1986.
Arnold "Bake" McBride Westminster MO OF hit .230 (14-for-61) in 16 NLCS/NLDS games with Phillies from 1977 through 1981 (vs. Dodgers/Astros/Expos).
Graig Nettles San Diego State 3B hit .225 (23-for-102) in 29 ALCS/ALDS/NLCS games with Twins, Yankees and Padres in 1969-76-77-78-80-81-84.
Lou Piniella Tampa FL Yankees OF hit .282 (20-for-71) in 22 ALCS/ALDS games from 1976 through 1981.
Dave Winfield Minnesota OF hit .263 (15-for-57) in 14 ALDS/ALCS games with Yankees and Blue Jays in 1981 and 1992.