The Past Dunce: Basketball Baron MJ Wasn't Professional Baseball Royalty
"The basket is in the same place all the time." - Long-time MLB player/manager/executive Joe Torre on why trying to hit a moving target in professional baseball would be more difficult for Michael Jordan than playing basketball
As entertaining as ESPN's 10 episodes of "The Last Dance" were for five weeks, the documentary couldn't possibly be rated a "10" by majority of versatile athletes boasting experiential knowledge playing basketball and baseball at the collegiate or professional level. The disconcerting departure from Michael Jordan's regal reality in hoopdom was an absurd implication he could have reached the majors in baseball. Please! What baseball skill set was he betting on? Between sniffing hair and incoherent policy messages to the nation on economic intercourse, Vice Plagiarist #BasementJoe might jive-talk say: "He ain't no Daddy Hack, man!"
Yes, an adventurous life includes risk. Just ask self-anointed Ambassador to North Korea Dennis Rodman. But what in the world was NBA GOAT thinking when personally knocking himself off hoops pedestal to become pedestrian baseball player? He was textbook example that even an authentic physical specimen doesn't always possess the aptitude to competently compete, let alone excel, in both basketball and baseball at the highest level. Of course, anyone with a pulse admires Michael's mystical work ethic. Some starry-eyed observers on injured list sans moral compass may even applaud Jordan's extracurricular-activity appetite for betting and bedding. But unless MJ won a wager with actor/director Robert "The Natural" Redford to obtain "Wonderboy" lightning bolt-treated bat, only a fictional-film fan "Airhead" believes "His Airness" was big-league bound as an outfielder.
Numbers don't lie. After his initial retirement, Jordan hit an anemic .202 and scarred his prestigious persona with 30% more strikeouts than base hits (114 to 88) for Double A Birmingham's 1994 Southern League West Division last-place team. He wasn't exactly the South's next Henry Aaron 20 years removed from "Hammerin' Hank" breaking Babe Ruth's MLB career home-run record. None of the Southern League's "44" players with at least 400 at-bats that year registered a lower batting average. In fact, Jordan posted the lowest average in entirety of AA Organized Ball among 180 players with at least 325 ABs (including Eastern League and Texas League). Embracing Jordan's crude Jerry Krause food-consumption lingo, his baseball menu featured more "crumbs" than fine dining. Nonetheless, media leftovers was what eventual MLB veterans Jason Giambi, Doug Glanville, Tony Graffanino, Jason Kendall, Damian Miller, Pokey Reese, Desi Relaford, Alex Rodriguez, Chris Stynes and Chris Widger received in Southern League that season compared to Jordan generating more publicity than all of these genuine baseball players combined.
Anyone with functioning brain realizes Jordan was the Chicago Bulls' centerpiece. But despite Krause assembling rosters including 66 different players for potent teams compiling 11 consecutive winning seasons from 1987-88 through "The Last Dance," Jordan disparaged architect by mooing like a cow when portly executive entered the Bulls' locker room or got on team bus. However, Jordan should currently have at least a little more respect for Krause after an abundance of NBA humble pie served to him in front office as the Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets notched winning campaigns only twice in last 10 years since he became majority owner.
Contrary to anything your father may have told you about athletic endeavors, the single most difficult thing to do in any team sport is soundly striking a quality baseball pitch. In parallel with Joe Torre's incisive quote above, there is a "Greatest Showman" carnival caveat regarding Jordan's celebrity cruise. If he grudgingly consented to become a 31-year-old replacement player during the MLB strike commencing in mid-August 1994 when Torre was managing the St. Louis Cardinals, perhaps an Eddie Gaedel-like "Field of Schemes" freak show in reverse might have unfolded to put a few more fannies in stadium seats.
Partially influenced by legend-building commercial spoon-fed culture, most "Be-Like-Mike" aficionados are unaware the documentary failed to touch all the bases by pointing out North Carolina's two-time consensus All-American wasn't best former college basketball standout performing as an outfielder on the Barons' baseball roster in 1994. The superior teammate on the diamond was Scott Tedder, a 6-4 lefthander who is Ohio Wesleyan's all-time leading scorer with 2,501 points. Tedder, playing about one-fourth of the '94 campaign with Cubs' affiliate Orlando (also in Southern League), hit .281 for the season. Tedder, a three-time All-NCAC first-team selection in basketball and Most Outstanding Player of NCAA Division III Final Four as senior in 1987-88, posted a .261 batting average over five years with the Barons. Another ex-college hooper on roster of White Sox' affiliate that season was Ken Coleman, a utilityman who hit .191. Coleman is New Haven's all-time leader in assists after pacing the Chargers in scoring feeds all four seasons from 1984-85 through 1987-88. Coleman, a two-time All-NECC hoop selection, played seven years in the minors, finishing with a .258 batting mark. If not a better batting average in order to emerge from basement by winning a few more road games, at least Jordan's teammates got a better traveling bus worth $350,000 financed by him out of the deal.
There are pros and cons about earn-your-spurs hazing of self-absorbed rookies. But former minor-league pitcher Scott Burrell, a Chicago Bulls teammate in MJ's final Bulls season (1997-98) and current hoops bench boss for Southern Connecticut State, was treated like a rented mule by five-time MVP in excessive competitive repartee heaped on a veteran. Odds are UConn product Burrell, the first athlete to become a first-round draft pick of two major sports organizations (MLB/Seattle Mariners in 1989 and NBA/Charlotte Hornets in 1993), missed out on a potential hefty bonus when failing to respond to Jordan by challenging him to a one-on-one baseball gamble. Insofar as Jordan appeared in 127 games with the Barons, how about a symbolic "I love to bet" home-run derby with him facing 127 strikes from Burrell in Comiskey Park or Las Vegas to see if MJ might swat more than the three round-trippers he did with the Barons? Trash-talking Jordan could have condescendingly distributed a diet pill for each Big Fly to competition director if event was "managed" by talent evaluator Krause, who worked as scout for four different MLB franchises (Indians/Athletics/Mariners/White Sox). Naturally, the hoops legend would also emerge as "the best (actor) there ever was" in baseball if resembling Roy Hobbs by knocking cover off Burrell delivery in front of his sons. Parked in first row of stadium, equally-versatile film director-producer-writer-actor Spike Lee/Mars Blackmon would proclaim: "It's gotta be the news (headline)!"
At any rate, never underestimate Jordan's penchant for rising to the occasion and three-time All-Big East Conference hoops selection Burrell failed to reach as high as Double A, compiling a 2-6 Class A pitching record in 14 starts in the Toronto Blue Jays' farm system in 1990 and 1991. In 1989, promising righthander Burrell was picked ahead of supplemental first-rounder Todd Jones plus the following eventual MLB hurlers: Jerry Dipoto (3rd round), Shane Reynolds (3rd), Denny Neagle (3rd), Scott Erickson (4th), Alan Embree (5th), Paul Quantrill (6th), Russ Springer (7th), Curt Leskanie (8th), Sterling Hitchcock (9th), Trevor Hoffman (11th), Mike Trombley (14th), Pat Rapp (15th) and Tim Worrell (20th). In 1990 as a fifth-round selection by Toronto, Burrell was chosen before eventual MLB pitchers Mike Hampton (6th round), Troy Percival (6th), Mike Williams (14th), Rick White (15th), Dave Mlicki (17th), Eddie Guardado (21st), Andy Pettitte (22nd) and Jason Bere (36th).
Baseball Hall of Fame hurlers Bob Gibson (Creighton), Ted Lyons (Baylor), Eppa Rixey Jr. (Virginia) and Robin Roberts (Michigan State) also were standout basketball players for major universities. But hoopers-turned-pitchers such as the HOFers plus Gene Conley (Washington State) and Steve Hamilton (Morehead State) should be exempt from any basketball-to-baseball comparison equation assessing an everyday performer such as Jordan. Conley is the only individual in history to win both MLB (Milwaukee Braves in 1957) and NBA titles (member of three consecutive Celtics championship teams from 1959 through 1961). Hamilton is only athlete to play in World Series (1963 and 1964 with New York Yankees) and NBA Finals (rookie in 1959 when Lakers were swept by Celtics) after participating in NCAA playoffs (averaged 18.5 points in four tourney games in 1956 and 1957).
A hoops-to-MLB transition has been achieved more often than the average fan knows. Jordan was incapable, but former NCAA Division I basketball standouts Tony Clark (San Diego State), Terrell Lowery (Loyola Marymount), Lyle Mouton (Louisiana State) and Desi Wilson (Fairleigh Dickinson) competed in Double A baseball in 1994 - collaborating for .288 batting average - en route to reaching the majors. No matter how much sweat equity is dispensed, you either have "it" (multiple-sport skills) or you don't. Truth be told in evaluating what could be depicted as Jordan's "The Past Dunce," we probably should defer to short-lived uniform #45 during brief career in Organized Ball. Fitting like a glove in baseball infinitely more than MJ's iconic NBA jersey #23, following is an alphabetical list of 45 major-college varsity basketball regulars who went on to enjoy non-pitcher MLB careers of at least six seasons (same number as Jordan's NBA titles) since the start of national postseason competition in late 1930s:
| Two-Way Athlete | Summary of Major-College Hoops Career | Summary of Non-Pitcher's MLB Career |
|---|---|---|
| Jerry Adair | Played two seasons of varsity basketball under legendary coach Hank Iba with Oklahoma State (third-leading scorer with 9.7 ppg in 1956-57 and second-leading scorer with 11.9 ppg in 1957-58). Adair ranked among the nation's top 12 free-throw shooters both seasons when one of his teammates was recently-deceased HOF coach Eddie Sutton. | Hit .254 in 1,165 games in 13 seasons from 1958 through 1970 with the Orioles, White Sox, Red Sox and Athletics before playing one year in Japan. Adair set MLB records for highest fielding average (.994) and fewest errors (five) by 2B in single season in 1964 and for consecutive errorless games by 2B (89 in 1964 and 1965). He participated in 1967 World Series with the Red Sox after being traded by White Sox for reliever Don McMahon. |
| Joe Adcock | Played three seasons from 1944-45 through 1946-47 for Louisiana State as 6-4, 190-pound center. Leading scorer with 18.6 ppg for 1945-46 Tigers team compiling an 18-3 record. All-league second-team selection set SEC Tournament record with 15 field goals in game against Tulane in 1946 (subsequently broken). | 1B hit .277 with 336 homers and 1,122 RBI in 17 seasons from 1950 through 1966 with four different teams. He hit four homers and double for the Braves against Brooklyn Dodgers on 7-31-54, setting MLB record for most total bases in game (18) that stood until broken by Shawn Green in 2002. Adcock was the Braves' regular first baseman on 1957 and 1958 N.L. champions. Adcock, who blasted career-high 38 homers in 1956 between injury-plagued seasons, was an All-Star in 1960 and managed the Indians in 1967. |
| Frankie Baumholtz | First player in Ohio University history to score 1,000 points in career led school to three-year record of 49-18. His high game was 29 points against Dayton. Capped college career by earning MVP honors in 1941 NIT when leading tourney in scoring with 53 points in three games for second-place Bobcats, including game-high 19 in final. | OF hit .290 in 1,019 games in 10 N.L. seasons (1947 through 1949 and 1951 through 1957) with the Cubs, Reds and Phillies. Baumholtz, who finished fifth in inaugural Rookie of Year voting, hit under .283 in only two of his nine full seasons. He hit .325 in 1952, finishing second to Stan Musial in batting championship race. Lefthander led N.L. in pinch hits in 1955 and 1956. |
| Bruce Bochte | Starting 6-3 forward for Santa Clara in 1969-70 when averaging 7.4 ppg and 4 rpg under coach Dick Garibaldi. Collected eight rebounds in loss against Utah State and 10 points in victory against Jerry Tarkanian-coached Long Beach State in 1970 NCAA playoffs. One of Bochte's teammates was All-American center Dennis Awtrey, who went on to play 12 NBA seasons with six different franchises. | 1B-OF hit .282 with the Angels, Indians, Mariners and A's in 12 A.L. seasons from 1974 through 1986 (boycotted 1983 as a personal protest over rising player salaries). Lefthander was A.L. All-Star with Seattle in 1979 when finishing 10th in batting average (career-high .316) and eighth in doubles (career-high 38) along with career-high 100 RBI. Representing the Mariners the only time Seattle has hosted the Midsummer Classic, Bochte knocked in run with single off Gaylord Perry. Named team MVP the next year. In post-playing days, the avowed agnostic worked to "save the Mother Earth from humankind's destructive ways." |
| Leo Burke | Averaged 9.2 ppg for Virginia Tech in 1952-53 and 1953-54. | Utilityman hit .239 with the Orioles, Angels, Cardinals and Cubs in seven years from 1958 through 1965. Traded by St. Louis to the Cubs in mid-1963 for knuckleballer Barney Schultz, a key reliever for the Cards in their 1964 pennant-winning season. |
| Bob Cerv | The 6-0, 200-pounder averaged 6.2 ppg for Nebraska from 1946-47 through 1949-50, ranking fourth on the school's career scoring list when finishing his eligibility. | OF hit .276 in 12 seasons from 1951 through 1962 with the Yankees, Athletics, Angels and Colt .45s. Cerv played in 1955, 1956 and 1960 World Series with the Yankees. He slugged homer in 1955 WS against the Dodgers and hit .357 in 1960 WS against the Pirates. In 1958, he batted .305 (sixth in A.L.) with 38 homers (fourth) and 104 RBI (fourth) for Kansas City and was chosen over Ted Williams as All-Star LF in year of Boston legend's final batting title. Finished among A.L. top 10 in batting average and RBI in back-to-back years (1958 and 1959). |
| Tony Clark | Played in only five games his freshman season for Arizona in 1990-91 under coach Lute Olson before transferring home to San Diego State. The swingman averaged 11.6 ppg and 4.6 rpg for the Aztecs as sophomore in 1991-92, leading them in scoring in WAC games. | 1B averaged 31 homers per season in four-year span from 1996 through 1999 with the Tigers. Finished sixth in A.L. with 117 RBI in 1997. Tallest switch-hitter (6-7) in major-league history was second pick overall in 1990 amateur draft. Traded to Red Sox following All-Star campaign in 2001. Hit .262 with 251 homers and 824 RBI in 15 seasons from 1995 through 2009 with the Tigers, Red Sox, Mets, Yankees, Diamondbacks and Padres. In 2014, became first former player named executive director of MLB Players Association. |
| Billy Cowan | The 6-0 guard was Utah letterman from 1957-58 through 1959-60 under coach Jack Gardner. Co-captain of Utes as senior when teammate of All-American Billy McGill scored 25 points in three NCAA playoff games. | OF hit .236 with the Cubs, Mets, Braves, Phillies, Yankees and Angels in eight seasons (1963 through 1965, 1967 and 1969 through 1972). PCL MVP in 1963 with the Salt Lake City Bees. His only year as regular was 1964 when posting career highs of 16 doubles, 19 homers and 50 RBI as the Cubs CF ranked among N.L. top nine in stolen bases with 12. Traded by the Cubs to Mets for George Altman on 1-1-65. |
| Tim Cullen | Starting guard for Santa Clara in 1962-63 when averaging 10 ppg and 3.4 rpg in Dick Garibaldi's first season as coach. Averaged 3.7 ppg and 2.4 rpg in nine games the previous year when one of his teammates was Bob Garibaldi, who pitched briefly for the Giants. | Infielder, primarily a second baseman, hit .220 with the Senators, White Sox and A's in seven seasons from 1966 through 1972. Led A.L. second basemen in fielding percentage in 1970 one year after committing three errors in one inning on 8-30-69. Traded by the White Sox to Senators for Ron Hansen on 8-2-68. Played in ALCS in his final major-league campaign. |
| Alvin Dark | Louisiana State letterman in 1942-43 before entering military service (Marine Corps V-12 program) during World War II. | Three-time All-Star INF hit .289 in 14 years (1946 and 1948 through 1960) with the Braves, Giants, Cardinals, Cubs and Phillies. Hit career-high .322 with the Braves in 1948 when earning Rookie of Year award. Dark led N.L. in doubles with the Giants with 41 in 1951 and paced league's shortstops three times in putouts and double plays. Ranked among N.L. top 10 in hits seven times in 10-year stretch from 1948 through 1957. Hit .323 in three World Series ('48 with Braves; '51 and '54 with Giants). Dark compiled 994-954 record in 13 years (1961-64, 1966-71, 1974, 1975, 1977) as manager of the Giants, A's, Indians and Padres. Won 1962 N.L. pennant with San Francisco and 1974 WS with Oakland. |
| Walt Dropo | The 6-5, 220-pounder averaged 21.7 ppg in 1942-43, 21 ppg in 1945-46 and 19.7 ppg in 1946-47 in Connecticut career interrupted by World War II. First player in UConn history to average 20 points for a season has second-highest scoring average in school annals (20.7). He didn't play pro basketball despite being the Providence Steamrollers' top draft choice in 1947. | 1B hit .270 with 152 homers and 704 RBI in 13 seasons from 1949 through 1961 with the Red Sox, Tigers, White Sox, Reds and Orioles. Named A.L. Rookie of Year in 1950 when All-Star pick hit .322 (8th in league) with 34 homers (runner-up) and league-leading 144 RBI for Boston. Also ranked 6th in RBI in 1952 and 9th in 1953. Tied MLB record with 12 consecutive hits in 1952, including 7-for-7 effort in twinbill against the Senators. |
| Sammy Esposito | Scored 81 points in Chicago high school game. He played one season (1951-52) of varsity basketball for Indiana before signing a pro baseball contract, averaging 7 ppg as starting guard under coach Branch McCracken. Assistant basketball coach at North Carolina State for 14 years, including 1974 NCAA champion. | Utility INF hit .207 in 560 games during 10-year career (1952 and 1955 through 1963) with the White Sox and Athletics. Saw action in two World Series games in 1959 with White Sox. On 9-7-60, he started in place of 2B Nellie Fox, ending Fox's consecutive-game streak at 798. Esposito was baseball coach at North Carolina State from 1967 through 1987, leading Wolfpack to third-place finish in 1968 College World Series. |
| Hoot Evers | The 6-2 Evers was starter for Illinois in 1939-40 under coach Doug Mills. | Two-time All-Star OF hit .278 with the Tigers, Red Sox, Giants, Orioles and Indians in 12 seasons in 1941 and from 1946 through 1956. His best season was in 1950 when leading A.L. in triples (11) and ranked third in slugging percentage (.551), fourth in doubles (35), sixth in extra-base hits (67), seventh in batting average (.323), ninth in on-base percentage (.408), ninth in RBI (103) and ninth in total bases (290). Red Sox LF while Hall of Famer Ted Williams served in U.S. military hit for cycle on 9-7-50 with Tigers. |
| Dick Groat | Named College Basketball Player of Year by Helms Foundation in 1950-51. Nation's fifth-leading scorer as junior (25.2 ppg) and runner-up as senior (26 ppg). Scored career-high 48 points for Duke against North Carolina on 2-29-52. Played 26 games in NBA, averaging 11.9 ppg for Fort Wayne Pistons in 1952-53. In 1951, Virginia coach Gus Tebell said Groat is "the finest player I've seen in the South in my 27 years of coaching." | SS hit .286 in 1,929 games in 14 N.L. seasons (1952 and 1955 through 1967) with the Pirates, Cardinals, Phillies and Giants. Eight-time All-Star started on World Series championship teams with Pirates in 1960 and Cardinals in 1964. N.L. MVP in 1960 when pacing league in batting average (.325). Ranked among N.L. top four in hits in 1960, 1962 and 1963 (led league in doubles with 43). |
| Tony Gwynn | Averaged 8.6 ppg, 2 rpg and 5.5 apg with San Diego State from 1977-78 through 1980-81. The 5-11, 170-pound guard was named second-team All-WAC as both junior and senior. Set school DI record with 18 assists vs. UNLV on 2-5-80. Led WAC in assists as sophomore and junior before finishing third as senior. Paced the Aztecs in steals each of his last three seasons. | Padres OF hit .338 in 20 seasons (1982 through 2001), winning eight N.L. batting titles (1984-87-88-89-94-95-96-97). Played in 15th All-Star Game in 1999 before topping the 3,000-hit plateau later in the year. Holds N.L. record for most years leading league in singles (seven). Paced N.L. in runs in 1986 (107) and on-base percentage in 1994 (.454). Gold Glove winner five times (1986-87-89-90-91). He hit .368 in 1984 NLCS to help San Diego reach World Series against the Tigers. Also participated in 1998 WS against the Yankees. |
| Frank Howard | Two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection averaged 17.4 ppg and 13.9 rpg from 1955-56 through 1957-58, leading Ohio State in both scoring and rebounding as junior (20.1 ppg/15.3 rpg) and senior (16.9 ppg/13.6 rpg). The 6-5, 220-pounder grabbed still existing school-record 32 rebounds in game against BYU. It was one of 10 times he retrieved 20 or more missed shots. Howard, who was 54th in country in scoring as junior, finished his college career as Buckeyes' third-leading career scorer and leading rebounder. Howard was first-team All-American selection by USBWA/Look Magazine, Converse and NEA as junior when ranking 8th in nation in rebounding. He was third-round choice of Philadelphia Warriors in 1958 NBA draft. | OF/1B for 16 seasons from 1958 through 1973 with the Dodgers, Senators/Rangers and Tigers. In 1,902 major league games, he hit .273 with 382 homers and 1,119 RBI. N.L. Rookie of Year in 1960. Capped off string of four straight years finishing among A.L. top five in RBI with a league-high 126 in 1970. Howard led A.L. in homers with 44 in both 1968 and 1970 and was runner-up in 1969 with 48. Eight of his round-trippers came in a five-game stretch in 1968 to set MLB record. Four-time All-Star homered in Game 4 of 1963 World Series to help Dodgers sweep the Yankees. |
| Ron Jackson | Second-team All-Mid-American Conference choice from 1951-52 through 1953-54. The 6-7 center led Western Michigan in scoring and rebounding as junior (15.5 ppg/12.3 rpg) and senior (19.7 ppg/10.9 rpg). | Bonus baby 1B hit .245 in seven seasons from 1954 through 1960 with the White Sox and Red Sox. Never lived up to promising rookie campaign when hitting .280 in 40 games. |
| Davey Johnson | Averaged 1.7 ppg in only varsity season (1961-62) with Texas A&M before signing pro baseball contract. One of his fellow sophomore opponents that year was Rice center Kendall Rhine Sr., an All-SWC second-team selection who had 6-7 son with same name selected by Houston Astros in first round of 1992 MLB June amateur draft (37th pick overall). | A.L. Manager of Year in 1997 with the Orioles directed the Mets to victory over Baltimore in 1986 World Series. His managerial record in 14 seasons with the Reds, Mets, Orioles and Dodgers was 1,148-888 (.564) before leaving the Nationals' front office in middle of 2011 campaign to become their manager. Johnson finished first or second 11 times in his first 15 seasons as big league skipper. Four-time All-Star hit .261 as INF in 13-year career (1965 through 1975, 1977 and 1978) with the Orioles, Braves, Phillies and Cubs. Earned three straight A.L. Gold Gloves as 2B with Orioles from 1969 through 1971. Slugged 43 (N.L. runner-up) of his 136 career homers for the Braves in 1973 after appearing in four World Series with Orioles (1966-69-70-71). Owns distinction of being only player to have hit behind both Hank Aaron and Japan's all-time home-run king (Sadaharu Oh). |
| Don Kessinger | Selected to 10-man All-SEC team each season from 1961-62 through 1963-64 while finishing among nation's top 45 scorers. In scoring for all games, ranked third in league as sophomore (21.4 ppg), second as junior (21.8 ppg) and second as senior (23.5 ppg). Scored 49 points for Mississippi on 22-of-28 field-goal shooting against Tulane on 2-2-63, and exploded for 48 at Tennessee 10 nights later. | SS hit .252 in 16 seasons from 1964 through 1979 with the Cubs, Cardinals and White Sox. Managed the White Sox in 1979 before becoming coach at his alma mater. Led N.L. shortstops in putouts three times, assists four times and double plays four times. The 6-1, 170-pound switch-hitter played in six All-Star Games in seven-year span from 1968 through 1974. His best season was 1969 when scoring 109 runs (fourth in N.L.), had 181 hits (seventh), stroked 38 doubles (runner-up) and earned one of his two Gold Gloves. |
| Jerry Kindall | The 6-2 1/2, 175-pounder played two seasons for Minnesota under coach Ozzie Cowles, averaging 1.4 ppg as sophomore in 1954-55 and 6.9 ppg as junior in 1955-56. | INF hit .213 in nine seasons (1956 through 1958 and 1960 through 1965) with the Cubs, Indians and Twins. Baseball coach at Arizona for more than 20 years, leading the Wildcats to three College World Series titles (1976-80-86). He was only player to hit for cycle in CWS at Omaha (against Ole Miss on 6-1-56). Kindall is only individual to play for and coach CWS champions. |
| Art Kusnyer | The 6-2 Kusnyer led Kent State in field-goal percentage (44.5%) in 1965-66 when he was Golden Flashes' third-leading scorer and rebounder (10.5 ppg and 4 rpg). | Backup C hit .176 with the White Sox, Angels, Brewers and Royals in six A.L. seasons (1970 through 1973, 1976 and 1978). Involved in nine-player deal between Angels and Brewers on 10-22-73. |
| Vance Law | The 6-2, 185-pounder averaged 6.8 ppg for Brigham Young from 1974-75 through 1976-77. Played for BYU with his brother (Veryl). | INF hit .256 with the Pirates, White Sox, Expos, Cubs and A's in 11 years from 1980 through 1991. He posted career-high .293 batting average (eighth in N.L.) with Cubs in 1988 when named an All-Star. Appeared in at least 130 games in six of seven seasons from 1983 through 1989, including 25-inning marathon on May 8-9, 1984, against the Brewers. Participated in league championship series with White Sox in 1983 and Cubs in 1989. Son of RHP Vern Law also pitched in seven big-league games. |
| Don Lock | The 6-2 Lock was starting guard for Wichita as junior in 1956-57 (7 ppg) and senior in 1957-58 (10.1 ppg), leading the Shockers in FG% both seasons under coach Ralph Miller. | OF hit .238 with 122 homers for the Senators, Phillies and Red Sox in eight seasons from 1962 through 1969. Ranked among A.L. top 10 in homers in 1963 (27) and 1964 (28). Homered in his debut but was plagued by strikeouts, averaging more than 105 whiffs annually in five-year span from 1963 through 1967. Traded by the Yankees to Senators for Dale Long on 7-11-62 and by Senators to Phillies for P Darold Knowles plus cash on 11-30-66. |
| Kenny Lofton | Averaged 4.8 ppg and 2.6 apg for Arizona from 1985-86 through 1988-89 under coach Lute Olson. Set school records for steals in season (67 as senior) and career (200). Leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record. | Lefthander hit .299 and stole 622 bases in 17 seasons from 1991 through 2007 with the Astros, Indians, Braves, White Sox, Giants, Pirates, Cubs, Yankees, Phillies, Dodgers and Rangers. Four-time Gold Glove CF led Indians with .325 batting mark (fourth in A.L.) and paced majors with 70 stolen bases in 1993. After traded to Cleveland, he hit .285 for the Indians in 1992 and led A.L. in SBs with 66, a record for A.L. rookie. Six-time All-Star led A.L. in SBs five consecutive years from 1992 through 1996, hitting career-high .349 in 1994. Paced A.L. with 13 triples in 1995 before stealing six bases in World Series against the Braves. Returned to WS in 2002 with the Giants. Tied major-league record by scoring at least one run in 18 consecutive contests. |
| Don Lund | Starting guard as junior for Michigan and starting center as senior. Averaged 4.4 ppg in 46 outings. In his history of UM basketball, Jeff Mortimer wrote of school's World War II squads: "Lund, rejected for military service because of a trick knee, was the mainstay of these teams." Following his playing career, he served as baseball coach for his alma mater (won 1962 College World Series), farm system director for the Tigers and associate athletic director at his alma mater. | OF hit .240 in seven-year career (1945, 1947 through 1949 and 1952 through 1954) with the Dodgers, Browns and Tigers. His only season as regular was 1953 when serving as Tigers' RF. Coached baseball at his alma mater, winning the national championship in 1962, before running the Tigers' farm system until 1970. First-round selection as a fullback/linebacker by the Chicago Bears in 1945 NFL draft. |
| Tony Lupien | The 5-10, 185-pound guard was captain of 1938-39 Harvard squad. The previous season, he was school's second-leading scorer in conference competition with 5.4 ppg. | Lefthanded 1B hit .268 in six seasons (1940, 1942 through 1945 and 1948) with the Red Sox, Phillies and White Sox. Ranked sixth in triples with nine in A.L. and N.L. in back-to-back seasons (1943 and 1944). Former baseball coach at Dartmouth (313-305-3 record in 21 years from 1957 through 1977) was co-author of book "The Imperfect Diamond: The Story of Baseball's Reserve Clause and the Men Who Fought to Change It." |
| Jim Lyttle | Point guard led Florida State in free-throw shooting in 1965-66 (75.9%) when averaging 12.4 ppg. | Backup OF, a first-round pick in 1966 amateur draft, hit .248 with the Yankees, White Sox, Expos and Dodgers in eight years from 1969 through 1976. The lefthanded swinger's best season was 1970 when hitting .310 with the Yanks. |
| Jerry Martin | Juco transfer was Furman's second-leading scorer as junior in 1969-70 (16 ppg) under coach Frank Selvy and third-leading scorer as senior in 1970-71 (12.7 ppg) under coach Joe Williams. The 6-1, 195-pound guard was named MVP in 1971 Southern Conference Tournament after leading Paladins to title with 22-, 36- and 19-point performances to pace tourney in scoring. He collected five points and two rebounds as starter for them in their inaugural NCAA Tournament game, a 105-74 defeat against Digger Phelps-coached Fordham in 1971 East Regional. | OF hit .251 in 11 years from 1974 through 1984 with the Phillies, Cubs, Giants, Royals and Mets. Valuable backup hit three pinch homers for Phillies in 1978 in his last year with three consecutive divisional champions. The next two seasons as regular with Cubs, Martin collected 42 homers and 146 RBI. His 34 doubles in 1979 ranked ninth in N.L. His father, Barney Martin, pitched in one game for the Reds in 1953. The free-swinger, suspended in 1984 for involvement with drugs, served three-month sentence in Fort Worth Correctional Institute with Royals teammate Willie Wilson. |
| Len Matuszek | Two-year letterman was starter for Toledo's 1975-76 squad compiling 18-7 record. The 6-2, 190-pounder averaged 5.4 ppg in three-year career under coach Bob Nichols. | Lefthanded swinger hit .234 in seven seasons from 1981 through 1987 with the Phillies, Blue Jays and Dodgers. Appeared in 1985 NLCS with the Dodgers. Backup OF assumed first-base duties from Pete Rose in 1984 after all-time hits leader left Phillies. |
| Sam Mele | Guard played two seasons with NYU before entering U.S. military. Named to first five on All-Metropolitan New York team as sophomore in 1942-43 when he was the Violets' leading scorer in NCAA Tournament (losses against Georgetown and Dartmouth). | OF for 10 years from 1947 through 1956 and manager of the Twins for seven years from 1961 through 1967. Hit .267 in 1,046 games with the Red Sox, Senators, White Sox, Orioles, Reds and Indians. Played for two different teams in single season four times in seven-year span from 1949 through 1955. Led A.L. with 36 doubles for the Senators in 1951 and drove in six runs in one inning in 1952 game for the White Sox. Compiled 524-436 managerial record from 1961 through 1967 with the Twins, winning 1965 A.L. title with 102-60 mark. |
| Gene Michael | The 6-2, 180-pounder led Kent State in scoring with 14 ppg in 1957-58. He also chipped in with 4.9 rpg. | Former Yankees general manager was switch-hitting SS who hit .229 in 10 seasons from 1966 through 1975 with the Pirates, Dodgers, Yanks and Tigers. Nicknamed "Stick," he was master of hidden-ball trick, pulling it off five times in MLB career. Michael compiled 206-200 record in four-year managerial career with the Yankees (1981 and 1982) and Cubs (1986 and 1987). |
| Wally Moon | The 5-11 Moon averaged 4.3 ppg with Texas A&M in 1948-49 and 1949-50. | Two-time All-Star OF-1B hit .289 with the Cardinals and Dodgers in 12 N.L. seasons from 1954 through 1965. Lefthanded swinger homered in first at-bat en route to earning N.L. Rookie of Year acclaim over Hank Aaron in 1954 when Moon led league in plate appearances (716) and ranked among top six in hits (193), triples (9), runs (106) and stolen bases (18). Paced N.L. in triples in 1959 with 11. Gold Glove LF in 1960 between appearing in two World Series with Dodgers (1959 and 1965). Finished fourth in 1959 MVP voting ahead of Willie Mays (6th), Frank Robinson (9th) and Ken Boyer (10th). |
| Lyle Mouton | The 6-3 Mouton averaged 8.2 ppg and 3.2 rpg as sophomore in 1988-89 before dropping off LSU coach Dale Brown's team to concentrate on baseball. Started in the Tigers' backcourt with All-American Chris Jackson when they lost to Texas-El Paso in West Regional of NCAA playoffs. | OF hit .280 for the White Sox, Orioles, Brewers and Marlins in seven seasons from 1995 through 2001. Also played in Japan. Named to 1990 College World Series All-Tournament Team. |
| Johnny O'Brien | The 5-9, 160-pound guard scored 2,733 points for Seattle from 1950-51 through 1952-53, averaging 20.7 ppg as sophomore, 28.4 as junior and 28.6 as senior (third among major-college players). Scored 51 points against Gonzaga on 2-15-53. NCAA consensus All-American second-team choice as junior and consensus first-team selection as senior. Averaged 32 ppg in three NCAA playoff contests in 1953. Became first college player to crack 1,000-point plateau in single season when scoring 1,051 in 37 games in 1951-52. | Bonus baby INF/P played six seasons (1953 and 1955 through 1959) with the Pirates, Cardinals and Braves. Hit .250 and compiled 1-3 pitching record in 339 games. As 2B for the Pirates on 4-3-56, he became last N.L. position player to earn victory on the mound until catcher Brent Mayne achieved the feat for the Rockies against Atlanta in August 2000. Traded by the Pirates with Gene Freese to Cardinals for Dick Schofield and cash. Twin brother of former major leaguer Eddie O'Brien, a teammate with Seattle. |
| Paul Popovich | Averaged 3.3 ppg in reserve role in one season of varsity basketball with West Virginia (1959-60) before signing pro baseball contract. Led freshman team in scoring with 18.8 ppg. Teammate of All-American Jerry West on squad compiling 26-5 record and playing in NCAA Tournament under coach Fred Schaus. Popovich sank 5-of-6 field-goal attempts in second-round 82-81 loss against NYU. | INF hit .233 in 11 N.L. seasons (1964 and 1966 through 1975) with the Cubs, Dodgers and Pirates. Traded by the Dodgers with Ron Fairly to the Expos for Maury Wills and Manny Mota on 6-11-69, before immediately being traded to the Cubs. Switch-hitter went 3-for-3 in pinch-hitting appearances for the Pirates in 1974 NLCS. |
| Curtis Pride | Averaged 5.6 ppg and 3.1 apg with William & Mary from [1986-87](seasons/1986-870 through 1989-90. The 6-0, 185-pound guard led Tribe in season steals three times and assists twice. Dished out 10 assists vs. ECU on 2-24-88. Named to Colonial Athletic Association All-Rookie team as freshman and to league All-Defensive team as sophomore and junior. | Born with 95% hearing disability, he was one of few deaf athletes to ever play in MLB. OF made debut with Expos in 1993 and hit .444 in 10 games. His best season was in 1996 when collecting 17 doubles and 10 homers while hitting .300 for the Tigers. Lefthanded swinger hit .250 in 11 seasons to 2006 with six franchises (Expos, Tigers, Red Sox, Braves, Yankees and Angels). Appeared in 2004 A.L. Divisional Series with Angels. |
| Dave Ricketts | The 6-2, 190-pound guard was three-year starter who led Duquesne in scoring with 17.9 ppg as senior in 1956-57, finishing fourth in nation in free-throw percentage (86.2%). Sophomore member of team compiling 22-4 record and finishing sixth in final AP poll after winning NIT. He converted school-record 42 consecutive free-throw attempts. | C hit .249 in six seasons (1962, 1965 and 1967 through 1970) with the Cardinals and Pirates. Switch-hitter played with the Cardinals in 1967 and 1968 World Series. Long-time coach, instructor and minor league manager in the Cards' organization. |
| Mel Roach | The 6-1, 190-pounder earned basketball letter by averaging 9.3 ppg in 1952-53 in Virginia's final season prior to joining the ACC before receiving substantial MLB bonus from Milwaukee Braves. | Bonus baby utilityman hit .238 in eight years (1953, 1954 and 1957 through 1962) with the Braves, Cubs and Phillies. The longtime backup to Red Schoendienst hit .309 in 44 games in 1958 and .300 in 48 games in 1960 for the Braves, who traded him to Cubs for Frank Thomas on 5-9-61. |
| Jackie Robinson | Football, basketball and track standout at Pasadena City College in 1937-38 and 1938-39. Named to All-Southern California Junior College Conference Western Division all-star basketball team both years, a span during which UCLA was winless in league competition. First athlete in Bruins history to letter in football, basketball, baseball and track. The 5-11 forward compiled highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA (12.3 ppg in league play in 1939-40 as all-league second-team selection and 11.1 in 1940-41). In his final athletic outing for Bruins, he accounted for more than half of their output with 20 points in 52-37 loss to USC. | Hall of Fame INF hit .311 with 137 homers as regular on six N.L. pennant winners with the Dodgers in 10 seasons from 1947 through 1956. After becoming Rookie of Year in 1947, Robinson was named MVP in 1949 when leading N.L. with .342 batting average and 37 stolen bases. Also finished runner-up in batting average in 1950, third in 1951 and fourth in 1952. Ranked among N.L. top nine in runs scored seven times and top seven in SBs on nine occasions. The six-time All-Star homered in 1952 All-Star Game. He had two homers and seven doubles in World Series competition. |
| Gary Sutherland | The 6-0, 175-pound guard was USC's fifth-leading scorer in 1963-64 when averaging 7.4 ppg as shortest man on coach Forrest Twogood's roster. | Utilityman hit .243 in 13 seasons from 1966 through 1978 with seven teams (Phillies, Expos, Astros, Tigers, Brewers, Padres and Cardinals). Selected by Montreal in expansion draft, brother of four-year MLB pitcher Darrell Sutherland, a Stanford hooper, had more than 500 at-bats in one season with the Expos (1969) and two with the Tigers (1974 and 1975). Ranked fourth in A.L. in singles in 1974 with 131. |
| Wayne Terwilliger | The 5-11, 165-pounder was two-year letterman for Western Michigan's team, averaging 5.6 ppg in his final season in 1947-48. | 2B hit .240 in nine seasons (1949 through 1951, 1953 through 1956, 1959 and 1960) with the Cubs, Dodgers, Senators, Giants and Athletics. He collected eight consecutive hits for the Cubs as rookie. Minor league manager for 15 seasons in farm systems of the Yankees, Senators and Rangers (1961-68, 1973 and 1975-80). Served as major league coach with the Senators, Rangers and Twins (1969-71, 1972 and 1981-94). |
| Will Venable | All-Ivy League first-team selection as junior and second-team choice as senior averaged 9.3 ppg under Princeton coach John Thompson III from 2001-02 through 2004-05. Scored team-high 16 points and contributed game highs of 8 rebounds and 3 steals in 2004 NCAA tourney setback against Texas. | Lefthanded OF hit .249 with the Padres, Rangers and Dodgers in nine seasons from 2008 through 2016. Venable, who didn't play baseball his freshman year in college, finished among N.L. top 10 in triples (8th with 7) and stolen bases (9th with 29) in 2010. He had career-high 22 homers in 2013. Son of 12-year MLB OF Max Venable was the Padres' seventh-round choice in 2005 amateur draft. |
| Sammy White | Averaged 10.1 ppg as 6-3, 195-pound forward with Washington from 1946-47 through 1948-49. Named to first five on All-Pacific Coast Conference Northern Division team as junior and senior. | C hit .262 in 11 seasons with the Red Sox (1951 through 1959), Braves (1961) and Phillies (1962). All-Star in 1953 hit over .280 three times with Boston. Ranked among A.L. top 10 in doubles three straight years (1953 through 1955). Scored three runs in one inning (7th) on 6-18-53 when Red Sox tallied 17 against the Tigers. |
| Dave Winfield | Played two seasons as 6-6, 220-pound forward with Minnesota, averaging 6.9 ppg and 5.4 rpg as junior in 1971-72 and 10.5 ppg and 6.1 rpg as senior in 1972-73. He played entire game, collecting 8 points and 8 rebounds against eventual Final Four participant Florida State, in Gophers' initial NCAA Tournament appearance in 1972 under coach Bill Musselman. Selected by Atlanta Hawks in fifth round of 1973 NBA draft and Utah Stars in sixth round of 1973 ABA draft. Didn't play college football, but was chosen in 17th round of 1973 NFL draft by Minnesota Vikings. | Hall of Fame OF, a first-round pick in 1973 amateur draft (fourth choice overall), hit .283 with 465 homers, 1,833 RBI and 3,110 hits in 22 seasons (1973 through 1988 and 1990 through 1995) with the Padres, Yankees, Angels, Blue Jays, Twins and Indians. Led N.L. in total bases in 1979 with 333 before ranking among A.L. top four in batting average in 1984 (.340) and 1988 (.322). Seven-time Gold Glover appeared in 12 All-Star Games after never playing in minors. Participated in World Series with the Yankees (1981) and Blue Jays (1992). |
| Randy Winn | The 6-2 backcourtmate of eventual two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash averaged 1.4 ppg in 17 games for Santa Clara in 1993-94. | A.L. All-Star OF in 2002 was one of most consistent switch-hitters in MLB, hitting .284 and stealing 215 bases in 13 seasons from 1998 through 2010. When retiring, Winn was active player with most games (1,717) without appearing in postseason after playing for the Yankees and Cardinals in 2010. Ranked among A.L. top three in triples in 1998 and 2002 and top eight in stolen bases three straight years from 2002 through 2004. In 2005 with the Mariners and Giants, he fell one SB shy of becoming first switch-hitter ever with at least 45 doubles, 20 homers and 20 steals in single season. His 51-hit effort in September 2005 marked most safeties by Giants player in any single month in 30 years. Selected by Tampa Bay in 3rd round of expansion draft before making his big league debut. |