On This Date: Former College Hoopers Supplying MLB Headlines on June 14
Extra! Extra! Instead of derisive belly-laughing at political correctness running amok as useful idiots in "lower" education remove holiday names from school calendar for "happy day off" and try to provide wide-ranging list for types of genders, you can take time to 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 hoopsters had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.
Upper Midwest small-college hoopers Roy Parmelee (Eastern Michigan), Jeff Shaw (Rio Grande OH), Dick Siebert (Concordia-St. Paul MN) and Eric Stults (Bethel IN) made MLB news on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 14 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 14
LF Babe Barna (West Virginia basketball letterman in 1936 and 1937) traded by the New York Giants to the Boston Red Sox in 1943.
Philadelphia Athletics SS Jack Barry (Holy Cross hoops letterman in 1908) banged out four hits against the Chicago White Sox in a 1914 contest.
1B Zeke Bonura (best basketball forward for Loyola LA in late 1920s and early 1930s) accounted for both of the New York Giants' runs with solo homers in a 2-1 win against the Chicago Cubs in 1939.
Cleveland Indians SS Lou Boudreau (leading scorer for Illinois' 1937 Big Ten Conference co-champion) went 5-for-5 against the Detroit Tigers in the nightcap of a 1944 twinbill.
Philadelphia Athletics C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) collected three extra-base hits and four RBI against the Cleveland Indians in a 1928 game.
SS Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for Louisiana State and Southwestern Louisiana during World War II) traded with three additional players by the New York Giants in 1956 to the St. Louis Cardinals for future Hall of Fame 2B Red Schoendienst and three players.
In his final games with the St. Louis Cardinals, CF Taylor Douthit (California hoops letterman from 1922 through 1924) went 7-for-8 in a 1931 doubleheader sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies before he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds.
2B Denny Doyle (averaged 2.7 ppg for Morehead State in 1962-63) traded by the California Angels to the Boston Red Sox in 1975.
Boston Red Sox LF Dick Gernert (Temple hoops letterman in 1948-49 when averaging 2.7 ppg) delivered three hits and three runs for the second outing in a row against the Cleveland Indians in 1956.
1B Mike Hargrove (Northwestern Oklahoma State hoops letterman) traded by the San Diego Padres to the Cleveland Indians in 1979.
Boston Bees 1B-OF Buddy Hassett (hooper for Manhattan teams winning school-record 17 consecutive games in 1930 and 1931) fouled out late in a game against the Chicago Cubs after hitting safely in 10 straight at-bats over three contests in 1940.
New York Yankees LF Charlie Keller (three-year hoops letterman with Maryland from 1934-35 through 1936-37) went 4-for-4 with two homers against the St. Louis Browns in a 1940 outing.
RHP Clyde King (started two basketball games for North Carolina in December 1944 under coach Ben Carnevale) reclaimed off waivers from the Philadelphia Phillies by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1948.
The Detroit Tigers scored on New York Yankees RHP Jim Konstanty (member of 1937-38 and 1938-39 Syracuse hoops teams) for the only time in his first 13 relief appearances of the month in 1955.
In 1986, Toronto Blue Jays pinch-hitter Rick Leach (averaged 15.5 ppg for Michigan's JV squad in 1975-76) ripped a two-run homer off Detroit Tigers RHP Jack Morris.
First MLB homer for RF Lyle Mouton (starter in LSU's backcourt with All-American Chris Jackson on 1989 NCAA playoff team) came as a pinch-hitter with the Chicago White Sox off Oakland Athletics reliever Rick Honeycutt in 1995.
New York Yankees LF Irv Noren (player of year for California community college state Pasadena City in 1945) pounded two homers against the Detroit Tigers in a 1955 game.
In his MLB debut in 1921, Chicago White Sox pinch-runner Red Ostergard (Southwestern TX hoops letterman in 1919 and 1920) scored game-tying run in seventh inning on bases-loaded walk to eventual Hall of Famer Eddie Collins in an 8-6 win against the Boston Red Sox.
RHP Roy Parmelee (hoops letterman for Eastern Michigan in 1924-25 and 1925-26) purchased from the Philadelphia Athletics by the Boston Red Sox in 1939.
C Hugh Poland (Western Kentucky hoops letterman from 1931-32 through 1933-34) traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to the Cincinnati Reds in 1947.
New York Giants RHP Hal Schumacher (St. Lawrence NY hooper in early 1930s) hurled a five-hit shutout against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1936.
Cincinnati Reds closer Jeff Shaw (freshman hoops guard for 31-5 Rio Grande OH team participating in 1985 NAIA Tournament), entering the game with an 0.97 ERA, yielded five runs on seven hits in the ninth and 10th innings as the Houston Astros rallied to win, 6-3, in 1998.
Eleven-year MLB 1B Dick Siebert (Concordia-St. Paul MN hooper in 1929 and 1930) coached Minnesota to his first of three College World Series championships with the Gophers by drubbing Arizona, 12-1, in 1956.
LHP Jack Spring (freshman hooper for Washington State in 1951-52) purchased from the California Angels by Cleveland Indians in 1965.
Chicago Cubs LF Riggs Stephenson (Alabama hoops letterman in 1920) whacked two homers in a 9-7 victory against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1926.
San Diego Padres LHP Eric Stults (hooper for 1999 NAIA D-II Tournament runner-up and 2000 NCCAA Tournament titlist with Bethel IN) fired a two-hit complete game in a 2-1 triumph against the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2013.
Cleveland Indians 1B Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) smacked a round-tripper in his fifth consecutive contest in 2001. Three years later with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2004, Thome jacked the 400th of his 612 MLB career circuit clouts.
Boston Red Sox 3B Billy Werber (first Duke hoops All-American in 1929-30) amassed two homers and five RBI in a 1935 game against the Detroit Tigers.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Supplying MLB Headlines on June 13
Extra! Extra! Instead of wondering why it's impossible to erase from your mind the feeble ceremonial first pitches by Community Organizer Barry "Mom Jeans" Obama and masked "Mr. Science" deity Dr. Fraudci (might be time for gender-check exam after leftist lunatic mouthpiece/hand-gesture extraordnaire Jenny Sock-it-to-me exhibited better delivery), 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.
After playing hoops against each other in Bedlam rivalry in 1956-57, Jerry Adair (Oklahoma State) and Don Schwall (Oklahoma) made news in the American League on this date. Former juco hoopers Darrell Evans (Pasadena City CA), Jerry Martin (Spartanburg SC) and Larry Wolfe (Sacramento City CA) also generated MLB headlines on this date. Ditto ex-NYU hoopers Sam Mele and Eddie Yost. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 13 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 13
2B Jerry Adair (one of Oklahoma State's three leading basketball scorers in 1956-57 and 1957-58 while ranking among the nation's top 12 free-throw shooters each season) traded by the Baltimore Orioles to the Chicago White Sox in 1966.
1B Dale Alexander (starting hoops center in mid-1920s for Milligan TN) traded by the Detroit Tigers to the Boston Red Sox in 1932.
RHP Jim Bibby (Fayetteville State NC backup hooper and brother of UCLA All-American Henry Bibby) traded by the Texas Rangers to the Cleveland Indians in 1975.
Chicago White Sox 1B Zeke Bonura (best basketball forward for Loyola LA in late 1920s and early 1930s) blasted two homers against the Washington Senators in opener of 1937 doubleheader.
Philadelphia Phillies rookie 1B Ed Bouchee (freshman hooper for Washington State in 1951-52) capped off a career-long 13-game hitting streak with RBI safeties in back-to-back innings in 8-1 decision over the St. Louis Cardinals in 1957 outing.
Philadelphia Athletics C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) manufactured three hits and four RBI for the second time in a four-game span in 1927. Two years later, Cochrane contributed four hits against the Cleveland Indians in a 1929 contest.
Philadelphia Athletics RHP George Earnshaw (Swarthmore PA hooper in 1921-22) contributed four hits at the plate in each of back-to-back games in 1931.
1B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) traded by the Atlanta Braves to the San Francisco Giants in 1976.
St. Louis Browns C Rick Ferrell (played forward for Guilford NC before graduating in 1928) went 3-for-3, including his lone homer in first 216 MLB games, and added four RBI in a 5-4 win against the Washington Senators in 1930.
RHP Eddie Fisher (hooper for Oklahoma's 1954-55 freshman squad) traded by the Chicago White Sox to the Baltimore Orioles in 1966.
Kansas City Royals rookie RHP Rich Gale (led New Hampshire with 7.2 rpg in 1975-76) hurled a one-hit shutout against the Texas Rangers in 1978.
Rookie OF Joe Gallagher (Manhattan varsity hooper in 1934-35) was traded by the New York Yankees to St. Louis Browns in 1939.
In his first game with the Cleveland Indians, SS Billy Hunter (multi-sport athlete for Indiana PA post-WWII) contributed four hits (including pair of doubles) in a 1958 game against the Washington Senators. Hunter was coming off a 4-for-40 slump before going 2-for-4 in his final contest with the Kansas City Athletics. He hit an anemic .173 in his last 72 outings with the Tribe.
In 1962, Los Angeles Dodgers LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman hoops squad in 1953-54) whacked his first MLB homer (off fellow Hall of Fame lefthander Warren Spahn of Milwaukee Braves). Koufax went on to collect one more career round-tripper.
St. Louis Cardinals LF Danny Litwhiler (member of JV hoops squad with Bloomsburg PA in mid-1930s) logged three doubles against the Chicago Cubs in a 1944 outing.
Milwaukee Braves SS Johnny Logan (Binghamton hooper in 1948-49) contributed five RBI in a 12-5 win against the San Francisco Giants in 1960.
In 1979, Los Angeles Dodgers 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 and becoming All-CIC choice for 1968 NAIA Tournament team) hammered a homer in the fifth game of his last seven contests.
Philadelphia Phillies 1B Tony Lupien (Harvard hoops captain in 1938-39) lashed two triples among his four hits against the Boston Braves in the nightcap of a 1944 doubleheader.
A grand slam by rookie CF Jerry Martin (1971 Southern Conference MVP after being Furman's runner-up in scoring in previous season) propelled the Philadelphia Phillies to a 5-1 triumph against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1975.
New York Giants RHP Christy Mathewson (Bucknell hooper at turn of 20th Century) fired a no-hitter against Chicago in a 1-0 win in 1905. Seven years later in 1912, he manufactured milestone 300th of 373 triumphs in his 17-year MLB career.
OF Sam Mele (NYU's leading scorer in 1943 NCAA playoffs) traded by the Boston Red Sox to the Washington Senators in 1949.
New York Yankees SS Gene Michael (Kent State's leading scorer with 14 ppg in 1957-58) pulled hidden-ball trick for the first of two times in a six-week span in 1970.
St. Louis Cardinals LF Rip Repulski (started several hoops games for St. Cloud State MN) stroked two hits in each game of a 1954 doubleheader sweep against the Pittsburgh Pirates, triggering a streak of 10 consecutive contests with two or more safeties.
Philadelphia Phillies Hall of Fame RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) yielded three consecutive triples to INF Danny O'Connell of the Milwaukee Braves in 1956.
Chicago White Sox rookie RHP Charlie Robertson (Austin College TX hooper before joining U.S. Army during WWI) hurled a two-hit shutout against the Boston Red Sox in 1922.
In midst of five straight scoreless relief appearances to start the month in 2024, rookie RHP Chris Roycroft (averaged 2.5 rpg for Aurora IL as freshman in 2015-16) notched his first MLB victory.
Boston Red Sox RHP Don Schwall (All-Big Seven Conference second-team selection led Oklahoma in rebounding in 1956-57) tossed a two-hit shutout against the Baltimore Orioles in 1962.
Cincinnati Reds RHP Jeff Shaw (freshman guard for Rio Grande OH squad compiling 31-5 record and reaching second round of 1985 NAIA Tournament) notched his 19th consecutive relief appearance without yielding an earned run in 1998.
RHP Rollie Sheldon (third-leading scorer as a sophomore for Connecticut's 1960 NCAA Tournament team) traded by the Kansas City Athletics to the Boston Red Sox in a six-player swap in 1966.
INF Gary Sutherland (Southern California's fifth-leading scorer in 1963-64 when averaging 7.4 ppg) purchased from the Montreal Expos by the Houston Astros in 1972.
St. Louis Browns rookie SS Herb Upton (All-EIBL first-team selection with Penn in 1945-46 before pacing Southeast Missouri State in scoring three years last half of 1940s and finishing as SEMO's career scoring leader) provided two triples in a 6-1 win against the Washington Senators in the nightcap of a 1950 doubleheader.
OF Leon Wagner (Tuskegee AL hooper in 1952-53) traded by the Cleveland Indians to Chicago White Sox in 1968.
Boston Red Sox 3B Billy Werber (first Duke All-American in 1929-30) knocked in five runs in a 1934 outing against the Detroit Tigers.
New York Yankees RF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) contributed three extra-base hits in a 1984 game against the Boston Red Sox.
Boston Red Sox 3B Larry Wolfe (juco letterman in 1971-72 and 1972-73 for Sacramento City College CA scored career-high 33 points against Santa Rosa on 12-17-71) whacked two homers in a 1979 game against the Kansas City Royals.
In the midst of receiving at least one free pass in nine consecutive contests, Washington Senators 3B Eddie Yost (NYU freshman hooper in 1943-44 under coach Howard Cann) drew five walks in a 1954 twinbill split against the Baltimore Orioles.
Entertaining College World Series Has Serious Coaching Link to Basketball
The eight-team field is set for 2024 including Florida State. Instead of viewing ransacking of #Dimorat-governed cities by leftist lunatics letting thugs go free and seeking to defund law enforcement, we should watch lefties and righthanders in one of America's most entertaining events - the College World Series. Regrettably, the event was cancelled four years ago because of woke deity Dr. Fraudci and COVID-19 pearl clutching. Mike Martin, in swan song 40th campaign three years ago as Florida State's baseball coach, was denied aspiration of becoming the latest former college basketball player coaching a school to a College World Series championship. The all-time winningest college baseball coach boasted the highest winning percentage among NCAA Division I mentors, winning almost three-fourths of his games. Martin, who guided the Seminoles to the CWS a total of 17 times (1980-86-87-89-91-92-94-95-96-98-99-00-08-10-12-17-19), played basketball for Wingate (NC) in the mid-1960s before the institution became a four-year school. One of his junior college hoop teammates was Morris "Mo" McHone, who went on to coach the San Antonio Spurs in 1983-84. Martin coached basketball for Tallahassee (Fla.) Community College in the early 1970s.
Ex-college hooper Pat Casey (Portland and George Fox OR) retired several years ago after directing Oregon State to its third CWS championship. He is the only coach in NCAA history to survive six elimination games en route to a national title (2006). His second titlist in 2007 was the first unranked team in history to capture NCAA crown. "When you are building (a program), nobody cares," Casey said. "Now, the higher the monkey climbs, the more of his butt you see."
Martin, national runner-up in 1986 and 1999, isn't the only revered coach frustrated by not capturing a national title. Richard "Itchy" Jones, who averaged 8.9 ppg for Southern Illinois' basketball squad in 1956-57, established a baseball dynasty in 21-year coaching career at his alma mater before accepting a similar position with the Illini in Champaign in 1991. Jones compiled a 1,240-752-6 record before retiring in 2005. In 1971, his second year at Southern Illinois, Jones guided the Salukis to within one game of the national title, finishing second at the CWS. In 1974 and 1977, Jones brought SIU back to the CWS, placing third both times. Buoyed by more than 20 eventual major leaguers, he became the 18th coach in NCAA Division I history to win 1,000 games.
Perhaps the most famous basketball coach also serving as baseball bench boss was Frank McGuire, who guided St. John's to 1949 CWS with Lou Carnesecca on his roster as an infielder. Also falling short of baseball title was ex-New Mexico State hooper Gary Ward, who guided Oklahoma State to 16 consecutive Big Eight Conference titles and 10 CWS appearances - including seven in a row and three runner-up finishes (1981-87-90) - in 19 seasons as coach from 1978 through 1996 before accepting a similar position succeeding his son at his alma mater for two years. Ward, who averaged 9.1 ppg and 5.4 rpg for the Aggies in 1960-61 and 1961-62, became only the 24th coach in college baseball history to secure 1,000 career victories, finishing with a 1,022-361-1 mark. Ex-MLB outfielder/first baseman Beau Bell, a Texas A&M hoops letterman in early 1930s, took his alma mater to first CWS appearance in 1951; former MLB infielder Sammy Esposito, a starting guard for Indiana in 1951-52 under bench boss Branch McCracken, coached North Carolina State to a third-place finish in the 1968 CWS, and Clarence "Ace" Parker, a hoops letterman for Duke in 1935-36, coached his alma mater to CWS in 1953 and 1961 after playing both major-league baseball and in the NFL. Former Northeastern State (Okla.) hooper Enos Semore guided Oklahoma to five consecutive CWS appearances from 1972 through 1976; Ownie Carroll, a Holy Cross hoops letterman in 1922, steered Seton Hall to its first two CWS appearances (1964 and 1971); Bill "Dutch" Fehring, John Wooden hoop teammate at Purdue from 1931-32 through 1933-34, coached Stanford in 1967 when it lost to eventual champion Arizona State in CWS semifinals; Paul Gregory, a Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1929-30, directed his alma mater to its first CWS appearance in 1971; Pete Butler, a Northern Colorado hoops letterman, piloted his alma mater to nine CWS appearances in an 11-year span from 1952 through 1962; Walter Rabb, a hoops letterman for North Carolina State in 1936 and 1937, piloted rival North Carolina to CWS in 1960 and 1966, and Bobo Brayton, a Washington State hoops letterman in 1944, guided his alma mater to CWS in 1965 and 1976.
Stanford's Everett Dean, compiling a 3-0 basketball tournament record in 1942, is the only unbeaten coach in NCAA playoff history. He is also the only NCAA basketball championship coach to win a CWS baseball game for the same school as a coach (1953). Four former college cagers who eventually played or managed at the MLB level - Dick Siebert (two with Minnesota), Don Lund (Michigan), Bobby Winkles (three with Arizona State) and Marty Karow (Ohio State) - combined to capture a total of seven CWS championships in the 1960s. Following is an alphabetical list of previous ex-college hoopers who went the extra step and reached the milestone of coaching a CWS titlist:
JOHN "JACK" BARRY, Holy Cross
Infielder, primarily a shortstop, hit .243 with the Philadelphia Athletics and Boston Red Sox in 11 A.L. seasons from 1908 through 1919. Ranked fifth in the league in RBI in 1913 with 85 for the Athletics as a key component of Connie Mack's first dynasty. Participated in five World Series, four with the champion, in a six-year span from 1910 through 1915. Compiled a 90-62 managerial record with the Red Sox in 1917 before winning more than 80% of his games coaching his alma mater for 40 years (including capturing the 1952 College World Series). The 5-9 Barry was a basketball letterman for the Crusaders in 1908.
SAM BARRY, Wisconsin
Basketball Hall of Famer coached USC's 1948 baseball titlist. He is the Trojans' all-time winningest basketball coach.
PAT CASEY, Portland/George Fox (OR)
Retired in fall of 2018 following 24 years as coach of Oregon State's baseball squad, winning NCAA titles in 2006, 2007 and 2018. Directed OSU to seven straight NCAA appearances from 2009 through 2015. As a player, he posted one minor-league season in Class A, AA and AAA where he hit over .300. Tenth-round selection by the San Diego Padres in 1980 (1B-OF played eight years in farm systems of the Padres, Seattle Mariners and Minnesota Twins). Averaged 2.6 ppg for UP in 1978-79 as teammate of eventual NBA guards Darwin Cook and Jose Slaughter. Following Organized Baseball career, he led George Fox in scoring with 17.9 ppg in 1988-89, which was same school year he also coached the former NAIA member's baseball team to first of six consecutive campaigns with more than 20 victories. The Bruins had 12 losing records in a row from 1976 through 1987 before they went 15-14 in his inaugural season at their helm in 1988. His older brother, Chris, was football coach for George Fox.
RAY "PICK" FISHER, Middlebury (VT)
Righthander compiled a 100-94 record and 2.82 ERA with the New York Yankees and Cincinnati Reds in 10 years from 1910 through 1920. Ranked among the A.L. top 10 in ERA and complete games in back-to-back seasons (1914 and 1915). Started one World Series game for the Reds against the Chicago White Sox in 1919. Won 14 Big Ten Conference championships as baseball coach at Michigan for 38 years until the late 1950s (including 1953 College World Series title). Became a spring training pitching instructor for the Detroit Tigers after being blacklisted for almost 40 years because of salary disputes with Cincinnati's owners. Fisher played "class" basketball (1910 graduate) before becoming his alma mater's first full-time salaried member of the Physical Education Department.
MARTIN KAROW, Ohio State
Coach of his alma mater's 1966 College World Series winner after the Buckeyes finished runner-up the previous year. He was a basketball letterman in 1925 before the infielder went 2-for-10 in six games for the Boston Red Sox in 1927.
JERRY KINDALL, Minnesota
Infielder hit .213 in nine seasons (1956 through 1958 and 1960 through 1965) with the Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians and Minnesota Twins. Baseball coach at Arizona for more than 20 years, leading the Wildcats to three College World Series titles (1976, 1980 and 1986). He is the only player to hit for the cycle in the College World Series at Omaha (against Ole Miss on June 11, 1956). Kindall is the only individual to play for and coach CWS champions. The 6-2 1/2, 175-pounder played two seasons of varsity basketball for Minnesota under coach Ozzie Cowles, averaging 1.4 ppg as a sophomore in 1954-55 and 6.9 ppg as a junior in 1955-56. Excerpt from school guide: "Exceptionally quick reflexes and a good eye are his main attributes although he also has tremendous spring making him a good rebounder."
DON LUND, Michigan
Outfielder hit .240 in a seven-year career (1945, 1947 through 1949 and 1952 through 1954) with the Brooklyn Dodgers, St. Louis Browns and Detroit Tigers. His only season as a regular was 1953 when he was the Tigers' right fielder. 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 the 1945 NFL draft. Rejected $100 a game offer from the Bears and never played pro football. He was a 6-0, 200-pound starting guard as a junior for the Wolverines' basketball team and starting center as a senior. Averaged 4.4 ppg in 46 outings. In his history of Michigan basketball, Jeff Mortimer wrote of the 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.
DICK SIEBERT, Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.)
Lefthanded first baseman hit .282 with the Brooklyn Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Athletics in 11 years in 1932 and from 1936 through 1945. All-Star in 1943 finished among the top Seven in the A.L. in batting average in 1941 and 1944. Minnesota's baseball coach for 31 years (753-361-8 record from 1948 through 1978) captured three CWS titles in a nine-year span from 1956 through 1964. His son, Paul, pitched with the Houston Astros, San Diego Padres and New York Mets for five years from 1974 to 1978. Siebert played two years of college basketball in 1929 and 1930. The March 1929 issue of the Concordia Comet mentions that, "Lefty Siebert, despite having never touched a basketball before enrolling at Concordia, was almost as good a basketball player as he was a baseball player."
JOHN "HI" SIMMONS, Northeast Missouri State
Missouri's all-time winningest baseball coach (481-284 record in 34 years) captured the 1954 NCAA title in one of his six College World Series appearances. One of his winning pitchers at the CWS was Norm Stewart, who went on to become Mizzou's all-time winningest basketball coach. School's baseball stadium is named after Simmons. All-conference center was senior captain of 1927-28 basketball squad.
BOBBY WINKLES, Illinois Wesleyan
Coached Arizona State to College World Series titles in 1965, 1967 and 1969 before managing the California Angels in 1973 and through the first 74 games of 1974 (170-213 major league record). Reggie Jackson, Rick Monday and Sal Bando were among the more than 20 future major leaguers he coached at ASU. Winkles led Illinois Wesleyan in scoring as a senior in 1950-51 (12 ppg). The 5-9, 170-pound guard was a first-team selection in the College Conference of Illinois.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Supplying MLB Headlines on June 12
Extra! Extra! Instead of debating ex-Speaker #NannyPathetic's feeble efforts to protect Capitol Hill with National Guard on J6, 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 college hoopers Jackie Robinson (UCLA), Wally Roettger (Illinois) and Preston Ward (Missouri State) each had MLB multiple-hit streaks of at least four games on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 12 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 12
Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) produced four hits against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the nightcap of a 1953 doubleheader. Ten years later with the Cleveland Indians in 1963, Adcock homered for the fourth time in a five-game span.
Eighteen-year-old RHP Ralph Branca (sixth-leading scorer for NYU in 1943-44) made his Brooklyn Dodgers debut, striking out the first three New York Giants batters he faced in 1944.
Chicago Cubs 2B John "Paddy" Driscoll (Northwestern hoops letterman in 1916) stroked a double in his MLB debut in 1917.
A two-run, seventh-inning triple by pinch-hitter Grant Dunlap (Pacific hoops letterman in 1942-43 and 1946-47) proved decisive as the St. Louis Cardinals edged the New York Giants, 3-1, in 1953.
San Francisco Giants 1B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) contributed a double and homer in the fourth inning when they scored all of their runs in an 8-5 win over the Cincinnati Reds in 1983.
LHP Johnny Gee (hoops captain of Michigan's 16-4 team in 1936-37) purchased from the Pittsburgh Pirates by the New York Giants in 1944.
San Francisco Giants RHP Ed Halicki (NAIA All-American third-team choice in 1971-72 when leading Monmouth in scoring with 21 ppg after setting school single-game rebounding record with 40 the previous season) hurled a one-hit shutout against the Montreal Expos in 1978. Nine days later, he spun a three-hit whitewash against the Cincinnati Reds.
Brooklyn Dodgers 3B Harvey Hendrick (Vanderbilt hoops letterman in 1918) stole second, third and home against the Chicago Cubs in the eighth inning in 1928.
Brooklyn Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) hammered a grand slam en route to amassing eight RBI in a 20-7 triumph over the Cincinnati Reds in 1949. Three years later, Hodges homered twice against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1952 contest.
SS Billy Hunter (multi-sport athlete for Indiana PA post-WWII) traded by the Kansas City Athletics to Cleveland Indians in 1958.
California Angels DH Joe Lahoud (New Haven CT hoops letterman in mid-1960s) launched two homers against the Detroit Tigers in a 1975 outing.
St. Louis Cardinals SS Doc Lavan (Hope MI hooper from 1908 through 1910) went 5-for-5 against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1922 game.
Chicago White Sox LHP Thornton Lee (Cal Poly hooper in 1925-26) fanned 13 batters in a three-hit shutout against the Cleveland Indians in 1945.
Milwaukee Brewers RHP Frank Linzy (listed on Oklahoma State's freshman hoops roster in 1959-60) posted his fourth save in as many days en route to earning a save or victory in his first seven relief appearances of the month in 1973.
Mel McGaha (first Arkansas hooper to earn four letters from 1943-44 through 1946-47) named manager of the Kansas City Athletics in 1964.
Washington Senators 3B Buddy Myer (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1923-24) went 4-for-4 with four RBI against the Detroit Tigers in a 1938 contest.
C-OF Don Padgett (participated in multiple sports as freshman for Lenoir-Rhyne NC in 1934) purchased from the Brooklyn Dodgers by the Boston Braves in 1946.
Philadelphia Phillies LHP Eppa Rixey (Virginia hoops letterman in 1912 and 1914) tossed his second of back-to-back shutouts in 1917. Eight years later with the Cincinnati Reds, Rixey fired a shutout amid a streak of seven straight wins in less than a month in 1925.
Brooklyn Dodgers LF Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) registered his seventh straight multiple-hit game in 1953.
In the midst of a career-high 16-game hitting streak in 1928, St. Louis Cardinals rookie LF Wally Roettger (Illinois hoops letterman in 1921-22 and 1922-23) supplied his sixth straight multiple-hit outing.
An inside-the-park homer by Cincinnati Reds OF Champ Summers (led SIUE in scoring in 1969-70 after doing same with Nicholls State in 1964-65) represented his second pinch-hit round-tripper in less than a month in 1977. Three years later with the Detroit Tigers, Summers smashed two homers against the Minnesota Twins in a 1980 game.
Los Angeles Angels LF Leon Wagner (Tuskegee AL hooper in 1952-53) went 4-for-4 with three RBI in a 1963 outing against the Chicago White Sox.
Pittsburgh Pirates 1B Preston Ward (second-leading scorer for Southwest Missouri State in 1946-47 and 1948-49) provided multiple hits in his fourth consecutive contest in 1954, going 11-for-18 in that span.
Detroit Tigers LHP Ed Wells (multi-sport athlete graduated in 1924 from Bethany WV) hurled his third straight shutout en route to six complete-game victories during the month in 1926.
Boston Red Sox C Sammy White (All-PCC Northern Division first-five selection for Washington in 1947-48 and 1948-49) went 4-for-4 against the Detroit Tigers in a 1958 outing.
In 1954, RHP Jim Wilson (letterman for San Diego State's 1942 NAIA Tournament participant) hurled a no-hitter for the Milwaukee Braves in a duel against Hall of Fame RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) and the Philadelphia Phillies.
In perhaps the most amazing game in College World Series history, eventual Hall of Fame OF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) fanned 15 USC batters and yielded only one infield single through eight innings as RHP in 1973 before the defending national champion Trojans overcame a 7-0 deficit with eight runs in the ninth.
Former MLB manager Bobby Winkles (All-College Conference of Illinois first-team selection led Illinois Wesleyan in scoring with 12 ppg as senior in 1950-51) coached Arizona State to his first of three College World Series championships with the Sun Devils by edging Ohio State, 2-1, in 1965.
OF-3B Chuck Workman (All-MIAA selection was leading scorer in inaugural NAIA Tournament won by Central Missouri State in 1937) traded by the Boston Braves to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1946.
Washington Senators LHP Tom Zachary (hoops letterman for Guilford NC in 1916) went 4-for-4 at the plate in 1922 game against the Detroit Tigers.
Professional Grade: Hurley Faced Uphill Battle If He Left UConn For Lakers
Would Dan Hurley, who directed Connecticut to back-to-back NCAA titles, have found out it's a star-crossed crossing over from college to the NBA if he had accepted a position with the Los Angeles Lakers? Would Hurley have been more like Nebraska's Fred Hoiberg, who returned to his old college stomping grounds (previously with Iowa State) following a mediocre NBA stint with the Chicago Bulls, or a rarity such as Larry Brown. Just ask Detroit dumpster-diver director Dick Vitale if it takes more than a fresh or "pretty" face to make a successful transition. Only a handful of NBA coaches boast tenures as long as Hurley's contract offer (six seasons). Brad Stevens, who guided Butler to back-to-back NCAA playoff championship games in 2010 and 2011, compiled a losing NBA playoff record with the Boston Celtics (38-40). Ditto Billy Donovan with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Chicago Bulls (19-27) after piloting Florida to back-to-back NCAA titles in 2006 and 2007.
Brown, one of the first six men to be hired by an NBA team after winning an NCAA championship, is the only individual in this category to compile a winning NBA playoff record. Three other coaches directed teams to the NCAA Final Four and the NBA championship series - Jack Ramsay (St. Joseph's 1961 and Portland Trail Blazers 1977), Fred Schaus (West Virginia 1959 and the Los Angeles Lakers 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966) and Butch van Breda Kolff (Princeton 1965 and the Lakers 1968, 1969). Neither Ramsay (8-11) nor Schaus (6-7) finished their collegiate coaching careers with winning NCAA playoff records, however.
Only Phil Jackson and Pat Riley coached in and won more NBA playoff games than Brown. Following is an alphabetical list summarizing the NBA careers of Brown and 18 additional individuals who aligned with NBA franchises as head coaches (10 of them lasting fewer than four seasons in the pros) after guiding at least one college team to the Final Four:
Coach | NCAA Final Four Team(s) | NBA Years | Regular-Season | Playoff Record |
---|---|---|---|---|
John Beilein | Michigan '13 & '18 | 1 | 14-40 | 0-0 |
Larry Brown | UCLA '80/Kansas '86 & '88 | 27 | 1,098-904 | 100-93 |
John Calipari | Massachusetts '96/Memphis '08/Kentucky '11, '12, '14 & '15 | 3 | 72-112 | 0-3 |
P.J. Carlesimo | Seton Hall '89 | 9 | 239-315 | 6-13 |
Billy Donovan | Florida '06 & '07 | 9 | 399-319 | 19-27 |
*Bob Feerick | Santa Clara '52 | 2 | 63-74 | 0-2 |
Ed Jucker | Cincinnati '61, '62 & '63 | 2 | 80-84 | 0-0 |
Doggie Julian | Holy Cross '47 & '48 | 2 | 47-81 | 0-0 |
Lon Kruger | Florida '94/Oklahoma '16 | 3 | 69-122 | 0-0 |
Frank McGuire | St. John's '52/North Carolina '57 | 1 | 49-31 | 6-6 |
Mike Montgomery | Stanford '98 | 2 | 68-96 | 0-0 |
Harold Olsen | Ohio State '39, '44, '45 & '46 | 3 | 95-63 | 7-11 |
Rick Pitino | PC '87/Kentucky '93, '96 & '97/Louisville '05, '12 & '13 | 6 | 192-220 | 6-7 |
Jack Ramsay | St. Joseph's '61 | 21 | 864-783 | 44-58 |
Fred Schaus | West Virginia '59 | 7 | 315-245 | 23-38 |
Brad Stevens | Butler '10 & '11 | 8 | 354-282 | 38-40 |
Jerry Tarkanian | UNLV '77, '87, '90 & '91 | 1 | 9-11 | 0-0 |
Butch van Breda Kolff | Princeton '65 | 9 | 266-253 | 21-12 |
Tex Winter | Kansas State '58 & '64 | 2 | 51-78 | 0-0 |
*Feerick's NBA record includes one season with the Washington Capitols (1949-50) before he was named coach at Santa Clara.
NOTES: Jucker (Rollins), Julian (Dartmouth), Kruger (UNLV and Oklahoma), McGuire (South Carolina), Olsen (Northwestern), Pitino (Kentucky and Louisville), Schaus (Purdue), Tarkanian (Fresno State), van Breda Kolff (Lafayette and Hofstra) and Winter (Northwestern and Long Beach State) returned to college as head coaches after their stints in the NBA. . . . Ken Loeffler was coach of the St. Louis Bombers and Providence Steamrollers for three seasons (1946-47 through 1948-49) before directing La Salle to back-to-back Final Fours (1954 champion and 1955 runner-up). . . . Phil Woolpert, coach of San Francisco's back-to-back NCAA champions (1955 and 1956), coached the San Francisco Saints for one season in the old American Basketball League.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Supplying MLB Headlines on June 11
Extra! Extra! Instead of bemoaning Plagiarist Biledumb's America where hideous Hunter is "smartest guy I know," males can become pregnant, first graders are indoctrinated about gender, vulnerable minors can get sex changes/abortions without parental notification, illegal aliens receive free cellphones plus middle-of-the-night flights across country and it's easier to secure crack pipe from government gratis than U.S. citizen find monument not defaced by leftist lunatic, 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 power-conference hoopers Dick Radatz (Michigan State), Don Schwall (Oklahoma), Jim Tabor (Alabama) and Sammy White (Washington) provided significant performances for the Boston Red Sox on this date. Also making MLB news on this date were several ex-hoopers from small colleges in Pennsylvania - Clyde Barnhart (Shippensburg), Al Downing (Muhlenberg) and Danny Litwhiler (Bloomsburg). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 11 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 11
In 1927, Pittsburgh Pirates LF Clyde Barnhart (played basketball for Shippensburg PA predecessor Cumberland Valley State Normal School prior to World War I) supplied three extra-base hits against the Brooklyn Robins for his 10th consecutive multiple-hit contest.
Chicago White Sox 1B Zeke Bonura (best basketball forward for Loyola LA in late 1920s and early 1930s) went 4-for-4 with three extra-base hits, scored four runs and had five RBI in a 14-8 win against the Washington Senators in 1937.
In his final game with the Montreal Expos, 1B Donn Clendenon (four-sport letterman with Morehouse GA) stroked three extra-base hits against the San Diego Padres in a 1969 game.
LHP Al Downing (attended Muhlenberg PA on hoops scholarship but left before ever playing) traded by the Oakland Athletics to the Milwaukee Brewers in 1970.
San Francisco Giants 1B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) delivered two homers and five RBI in a 7-6 win against the Atlanta Braves in 1983.
Hall of Fame C Rick Ferrell (Guilford NC hooper in mid-1920s) traded with his brother (P Wes Ferrell) from the Boston Red Sox to the Washington Senators in 1937.
In the midst of a career-high 12-game hitting streak in 1961, Cincinnati Reds 3B Gene Freese (West Liberty WV captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team) contributed four RBI for the second time in a five-outing span.
St. Louis Cardinals 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) furnished four hits for the first of two times in a four-game span in 1929.
St. Louis Cardinals 2B Tommy Herr (hooper with Delaware's freshman team in 1974-75) supplied three hits in his second consecutive contest in 1984.
INF Jerry Kindall (averaged 6.9 ppg for Minnesota in 1955-56) traded by the Cleveland Indians to the Minnesota Twins in a three-team swap including the Los Angeles Angels in 1964.
Boston Red Sox RF Joe Lahoud (New Haven CT hoops letterman in mid-1960s) smacked three homers against the Minnesota Twins in a 1969 contest.
LF Danny Litwhiler (member of JV hoops squad with Bloomsburg PA in mid-1930s) among three St. Louis Cardinals who lashed back-to-back-to-back sixth-inning homers in the nightcap of a 1944 doubleheader.
Washington Senators 3B Buddy Myer (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1923-24) manufactured two hits in his sixth successive game in 1929.
In 1972, 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) homered for the Cleveland Indians and brother Jim Nettles homered for the Minnesota Twins in the same game. Four years later with the New York Yankees, Graig Nettles collected two homers and five RBI against the Texas Rangers in a 1976 outing.
Third homer for Chicago Cubs RHP Claude Passeau (Millsaps MS hooper in late 1920s and early 1930s) in his last five starts accounted for decisive run in a 3-2 win against the New York Giants in 1941.
Minnesota Twins RHP Jim Perry (averaged more than 20 ppg in late 1950s for former juco Campbell) posted his fourth triumph in span of five relief appearances in 1965.
INF Paul Popovich (averaged 3.3 ppg for West Virginia's 1960 NCAA playoff team) wound up with the Chicago Cubs in 1969 after he was traded twice on the same day (by Los Angeles Dodgers and Montreal Expos). Two years earlier as a Cubs rookie, Popovich went 5-for-9 in a 1967 twinbill sweep of the New York Mets.
Boston Red Sox RHP Dick Radatz (center on Michigan State's freshman hoops squad in 1955-56) secured victory by hurling 8 2/3 innings of scoreless relief while fanning 11 Detroit Tigers batters. Two days earlier, Radatz earned win by tossing six innings of scoreless relief while whiffing 10 Baltimore Orioles batters.
Brooklyn Dodgers rookie 1B Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) went 4-for-4 against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1947 contest. Three days later, Robinson started a 21-game hitting streak.
New York Yankees 3B Red Rolfe (played hoops briefly with Dartmouth in 1927-28 and 1929-30) supplied four extra-base hits against the Detroit Tigers in a 1936 outing.
In 1961, Boston Red Sox RHP Don Schwall (All-Big Seven Conference second-team selection led Oklahoma in rebounding in 1956-57) won his first five MLB starts, compiling a 1.31 ERA in that span.
Philadelphia Phillies rookie SS Gary Sutherland (averaged 7.4 ppg with USC in 1963-64) supplied four hits against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 1967 contest. Nine years later as a 2B in his first game with the Milwaukee Brewers, Sutherland knocked in the go-ahead run against Oakland Athletics P Vida Blue in a 4-2 win in 1976.
Boston Red Sox rookie 3B Jim Tabor (Alabama hoops letterman in 1936-37) banged out two triples against the Chicago White Sox in the nightcap of a 1939 doubleheader.
Boston Red Sox C Sammy White (All-PCC Northern Division first-five hoops selection for Washington in 1947-48 and 1948-49) clobbered a ninth-inning grand slam off Satchel Paige to defeat the St. Louis Browns, 11-9, in 1952. White completed his HR trot by rounding third base and crawling from half-way home and kissing the plate.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Supplying MLB Headlines on June 10
Extra! Extra! Instead of cursing NY Senator Chuck "Schmucky" Schumer for previous screed threatening Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and ex-Speaker Nanny Pathetic for balking at deploying National Guard on J6 plus delaying security bill in House to expand court security, 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 college hoopers Dick Gernert (Temple), Wayne Gross (Cal Poly Pomona), Frank Howard (Ohio State) Vance Law (Brigham Young), Wally Moon (Texas A&M), Graig Nettles (San Diego State), Leon Wagner (Tuskegee AL), Bill White (Hiram OH) and Dave Winfield (Minnesota) each whacked two homers in a MLB game on this date. Ex-NYU hoopers Hank Greenberg and Eddie Yost also supplied significant offensive outputs. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 10 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 10
A pinch-hit single by Houston Colts .45s 2B Joey Amalfitano (played basketball for Loyola Marymount in 1952-53) triggered a 12-game hitting streak for him in 1962.
Pittsburgh Pirates LF Carson "Skeeter" Bigbee (Oregon hoops letterman in 1915) provided four hits for the third time in a 19-game span in 1922.
Boston Braves SS Dick Culler (#9 jersey retired by High Point for Little All-American in 1935 and 1936) contributed four hits in a 10-5 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1946.
New York Giants SS Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for Louisiana State and Southwestern Louisiana in mid-1940s) stroked a double in his fourth consecutive contest in 1950.
Chicago Cubs RHP Mark Freeman (LSU center averaged 3.6 ppg as senior in 1950-51) notched his only MLB complete game with a four-hit, 6-1 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1960.
Chicago White Sox 3B Gene Freese (West Liberty WV hoops captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team) went 4-for-4 against the Boston Red Sox in a 1960 outing.
Boston Red Sox 1B Dick Gernert (Temple hoops letterman in 1948-49 when averaging 2.7 ppg) collected two homers and six RBI against the Kansas City Athletics in a 1957 game.
LHP Joe Gibbon (two-time All-SEC forward for Ole Miss was nation's second-leading scorer as a senior in 1956-57) traded by the San Francisco Giants to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1969.
Detroit Tigers 1B Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoop scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) hammered a homer for the third consecutive contest in 1939.
Oakland Athletics rookie 3B Wayne Gross (Cal Poly Pomona assists leader in 1974-75) swatted two homers against the Detroit Tigers in a 1977 outing.
San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-WAC second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) supplied a double, triple and homer against the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 1993 game.
Boston Braves 1B Buddy Hassett (hooper for Manhattan teams winning school-record 17 consecutive games in 1930 and 1931) went 4-for-4 against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1940 contest.
Cincinnati Reds LHP Bill Henry (hoops letterman for Houston's 1947 NAIA Tournament team featuring co-captain Guy Lewis) notched his 11th consecutive scoreless relief appearance of 1962 season, lowering ERA to 1.08 through 14 outings.
Washington Senators LF Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection in 1956-57 and 1957-58 hammered two homers against the Boston Red Sox in a 1967 outing.
RHP Vern Kennedy (Central Missouri State hooper in mid-1920s) traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to Cincinnati Reds in 1945.
Brooklyn Tip-Tops RHP Ed Lafitte (center for Georgia Tech's first intercollegiate basketball team in 1906) was hitting .371 after 13 games in 1915 upon going 3-for-4 at the plate against the Newark Pepper.
Chicago White Sox 3B Vance Law (averaged 6.8 ppg for Brigham Young from 1974-75 through 1976-77) launched two homers against the Minnesota Twins in a 1984 game.
Philadelphia Phillies CF Jerry Martin (1971 Southern Conference MVP after he was Furman's scoring runner-up previous season) went 4-for-4 in a 7-5 triumph against the Atlanta Braves in 1977.
Recently-acquired RF-1B Sam Mele (NYU's leading scorer in 1943 NCAA playoffs) knocked in six fourth-inning runs (three-run HR and bases-loaded triple) for the Chicago White Sox in a 1952 contest at Philadelphia.
Los Angeles Dodgers LF Wally Moon (averaged 4.3 ppg with Texas A&M in 1948-49 and 1949-50) smashed two homers against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1961 outing.
Boston Braves LF Joe Mowry (Iowa hoops letterman in 1929-30 and 1930-31) went 3-for-3 against the Brooklyn Dodgers in a 1933 game.
San Diego Padres 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) whacked two homers against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1984 contest.
LHP Stan Partenheimer (played varsity hoops for Wooster OH in 1943-44) traded by the Boston Red Sox to St. Louis Cardinals in 1944.
Oakland Athletics RHP Jim Perry (averaged more than 20 ppg in late 1950s for former juco Campbell) fired a one-hit shutout against the Baltimore Orioles in his 17th and final MLB campaign. Perry posted at least one whitewash in 16 of those seasons.
Chicago Cubs SS Paul Popovich (teammate of Jerry West for West Virginia's 1960 NCAA playoff team) homered in back-to-back games against the San Diego Padres in a 1970 outing.
Oakland Athletics RHP Steve Renko (averaged 9.9 ppg and 5.8 rpg as Kansas sophomore in 1963-64) allowed only five earned runs in his first five starts of 1978 campaign covering 30 innings.
RHP Jeff Robinson (two-time NAIA All-District 3 hoops honoree in early 1980s for Azusa Pacific CA) awarded off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Texas Rangers in 1992.
Cleveland Indians RHP Sonny Siebert (team-high 16.7 ppg for Missouri in 1957-58 as All-Big Eight Conference second-team selection) hurled a no-hitter against the Washington Senators in 1966.
2B Junior Spivey (redshirted his only semester at Northwestern Oklahoma State on hoop scholarship before transferring to KS junior college) traded by the Milwaukee Brewers to the Washington Nationals in 2005.
Chicago Cubs rookie 2B Jimmy Stewart (All-VSAC hoops selection for Austin Peay's NCAA DII Tournament teams in 1959-60 and 1960-61) stroked four hits against the New York Mets in a 1964 game.
INF Gary Sutherland (Southern California's fifth-leading scorer in 1963-64 when averaging 7.4 ppg) traded by the Detroit Tigers to the Milwaukee Brewers in 1976.
Los Angeles Angels LF Leon Wagner (Tuskegee AL hooper in 1952-53) homered twice and knocked in four runs in a 10-5 win against the Boston Red Sox in 1961.
St. Louis Cardinals 1B Bill White (two-year hooper for Hiram OH in early 1950s) smacked two homers in a 1965 contest against the Cincinnati Reds.
San Diego Padres RF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) collected two homers and six RBI in a 1978 outing against the Chicago Cubs.
Washington Senators 3B Eddie Yost (NYU freshman hooper in 1943-44 under coach Howard Cann) went 7-for-10 (including four of A.L.-leading 36 doubles) in 1951 doubleheader split against the St. Louis Browns.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Supplying MLB Headlines on June 9
Extra! Extra! Instead of wondering why deviant Hunter Biledumb's laptop language and photos resemble out-of-work porn actor dubbed "smartest person I know" as closest adviser for his hair-sniffing father, 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.
New York colleges Fordham (Frankie Frisch), Siena (Gary Holle), NYU (Sam Mele), Hofstra (Ken Singleton) and Columbia (Art Smith) had former hoopers supply significant MLB performances on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 9 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 9
Chicago Cubs rookie CF George Altman (appeared in 1953 and 1954 NAIA Basketball Tournament with Tennessee State) went 4-for-4 in an 8-4 win against the Cincinnati Reds in 1959.
RHP Joe Black (Morgan State hooper in mid-1940s) traded by the Brooklyn Dodgers to Cincinnati Reds for cash and a player to be designated in 1955.
New York Giants SS Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for Louisiana State and Southwestern Louisiana in mid-1940s) whacked two homers in a 1951 outing against the Chicago Cubs, delivering a multiple-hit outing for the first of six times in a seven-game stretch. Three years later, Dark delivered his fourth four-hit performance in the first eight contests of the month in 1954.
Detroit Tigers LF Hoot Evers (Illinois hoops starter in 1939-40) went 5-for-5 against the New York Yankees in a 1949 game.
Baltimore Orioles LHP Mike Flanagan (averaged 13.9 ppg for UMass' 15-1 freshman basketball squad in 1971-72) shut out the Detroit Tigers in 1984, beating them for the second time in a week.
New York Giants 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) supplied four hits against the Chicago Cubs in a 1922 contest. Nine years later with the St. Louis Cardinals, Frisch furnished four safeties against the Brooklyn Dodgers in a 1931 outing.
St. Louis Cardinals SS Charlie Gelbert (scored at least 125 points each of last three seasons in late 1920s for Lebanon Valley PA) contributed four hits against the Chicago Cubs in a 1935 game.
In 2008, Florida Marlins LHP Mark Hendrickson (two-time All-Pacific-10 Conference selection paced Washington State in rebounding four straight seasons from 1992-93 through 1995-96) yielded the 600th home run of the career of Ken Griffey Jr.
The lone MLB safety for 1B Gary Holle (led Siena in scoring and rebounding in 1974-75)) was a pinch-hit double with the Texas Rangers against the Baltimore Orioles in 1979.
Atlanta Braves RF David Justice (Thomas More KY assists leader in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg) smacked two homers against the Montreal Expos in a 1991 game. Nine years later with the Cleveland Indians, Justice jacked two round-trippers against the Cincinnati Reds in a 2000 contest.
Nine-year MLB INF Jerry Kindall (averaged 6.9 ppg for Minnesota as junior in 1955-56) coached Arizona to his third of three College World Series championships with the Wildcats by overwhelming Florida State, 10-2, in 1986.
RHP Clyde King (started two basketball games for North Carolina in December 1944 under coach Ben Carnevale before ruled ineligible) awarded off waivers from the Brooklyn Dodgers to the Philadelphia Phillies in 1948.
LF Danny Litwhiler (member of JV hoops squad with Bloomsburg PA in mid-1930s) purchased from the St. Louis Cardinals by the Boston Braves in 1946.
Sam Mele (NYU's leading scorer in 1943 NCAA playoffs) replaced as manager of the Minnesota Twins by Cal Ermer in 1967.
Los Angeles Dodgers LF Wally Moon (averaged 4.3 ppg with Texas A&M in 1948-49 and 1949-50) homered in his fourth outing of a five-game span in 1960.
New York Yankees 2B Ray Morehart (Austin College TX hoops letterman in early 1920s) ripped his lone MLB homer in a 1927 game against his original club (Chicago White Sox). Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig went 0-for-4 with the Yanks.
Chicago Cubs rookie C Cal Neeman (Illinois Wesleyan's leading scorer in 1947-48 and 1948-49) ripped a two-run homer off Harvey Haddix in 4-4 tie with Pittsburgh Pirates in nightcap of 1957 twinbill.
Montreal Expos RHP Steve Renko (averaged 9.9 ppg and 5.8 rpg as Kansas sophomore in 1963-64) hurled the first of his two one-hitters in a month in 1971 (against San Francisco Giants and Philadelphia Phillies).
In 1955, Philadelphia Phillies RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) fired a three-hit shutout against the St. Louis Cardinals en route to leading the N.L. in wins for the fourth consecutive campaign.
Montreal Expos RF Ken Singleton (Hofstra freshman hoops squad in mid-1960s) went 4-for-4 against the Atlanta Braves in the opener of a 1974 doubleheader.
Chicago White Sox RHP Art Smith (Columbia two-year hoops letterman graduated in 1931) lost his lone MLB decision when dropping debut as a starter against the Washington Senators in 1932.
Chicago White Sox 3B Billy Sullivan Jr. (Portland hoops letterman in 1927-28) went 4-for-4 against the Washington Senators in a 1932 outing.
St. Louis Cardinals 1B Bill White (two-year hooper for Hiram OH in early 1950s) provided three extra-base hits against the Milwaukee Braves in a 1959 game.
Chicago White Sox RHP Jim Wilson (letterman for San Diego State's 1942 NAIA Tournament participant) hurled his first of three shutouts in less than a month in 1956.
Tampa Bay Devil Rays CF Randy Winn (Santa Clara backcourtmate of eventual two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash in 1993-94) registered four extra-base hits in a 2002 game against the San Diego Padres. In his next two contests against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Winn also manufactured multiple extra-base safeties.
Washington Senators LHP Tom Zachary (hoops letterman for Guilford NC in 1916) capped off a six-game hitting streak with three safeties in 4-2 win against the Chicago White Sox in 1928.
American Idle: Schilling Returns to Head-Coaching Status After 21 Seasons
Forget Easter-important three days. It was significantly more than three years for their head-coaching resurrections. Ed Schilling was in NCAA Division I head-coaching mothballs 21 seasons until hired by Pepperdine. In the "Star Wars" of college hoopdom, he was almost frozen in carbonite like Han Solo as long as Alvin Brooks, who returned as Lamar's bench boss in 2021-22 after 23 seasons sans such designation. Brooks and Schilling join Kevin Johnson and Rob Lanier as the four active head coaches serving in non-college head coaching capacities at least 14 seasons before returning to the DI level as a head pilot:
Active Coach | Current School (Years Away) | Previous DI Position (Seasons) |
---|---|---|
Alvin Brooks Jr. | Lamar (23) | Houston (1993-94 through 1997-98) |
Ed Schilling | Pepperdine (21) | Wright State (1997-98 through 2002-03) |
Kevin Johnson | Southern (18) | Centenary (1999-00 through 2004-05) |
Rob Lanier | Rice (14) | Siena (2001-02 through 2004-05) before hiring by Georgia State and subsequently Southern Methodist |
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Supplying MLB Headlines on June 8
Extra! Extra! Instead of wondering how many transgender players there will eventually be in WNBA to satisfy zealots in gender identity police, 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 West Chester State PA hoopers Harry Anderson and Howie Bedell made news with the Philadelphia Phillies on this date while former Mississippi College hoopers Harry Craft and Hal Lee generated N.L. hitting headlines. Elsewhere, ex-hoopers from several Texas universities - Ray Benge (Sam Houston State), Bill Henry (Houston) and Dutch Meyer (TCU) - extended impressive personal performances. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 8 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 8
Chicago Cubs RF George Altman (appeared in 1953 and 1954 NAIA Basketball Tournament with Tennessee State) went 4-for-4 in a 4-3 loss against the New York Mets in opener of 1962 doubleheader.
In the midst of a career-high 13-game hitting streak, Philadelphia Phillies 1B Harry Anderson (averaged 7.7 ppg and 8.9 rpg for West Chester PA in 1951-52) supplied two homers among his four hits in the opener of a 1958 twinbill against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Detroit Tigers RHP Elden Auker (All-Big Six Conference first-five selection with Kansas State in 1931-32) tossed a one-hitter against the Philadelphia Athletics in 1937.
Posting his lone RBI with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1968, LF Howie Bedell (averaged 3.5 ppg and 3.5 rpg for West Chester PA in 1955-56) lofted a pinch-hit, sacrifice fly with one out in the fifth frame against the Los Angeles Dodgers, breaking RHP Don Drysdale's string of 58 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings.
Philadelphia Phillies RHP Ray Benge (multi-year hoops letterman for Sam Houston State first half of 1920s) notched his sixth victory in span of eight starts.
Pittsburgh Pirates LF Carson "Skeeter" Bigbee (Oregon hoops letterman in 1915) banged out at least three hits for the sixth time in a 13-game span in 1923.
Baltimore Orioles CF Al Bumbry (Virginia State's runner-up in scoring with 16.7 ppg as freshman in 1964-65) collected four hits and five RBI in a 13-8 win against the California Angels in 1980.
San Diego Padres 1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in WAC games in 1991-92) smacked a three-run pinch homer off LHP Billy Wagner in the bottom of the eighth inning in an 8-6 triumph against the New York Mets in 2008.
Cincinnati Reds CF Harry Craft (four-sport letterman with Mississippi College in early 1930s) went 5-for-5, hitting for the cycle, with six RBI in a 23-2 victory against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1940.
Boston Red Sox 1B Walt Dropo (Connecticut's first player ever to average 20 points in single season with 21.7 ppg in 1942-43), en route to becoming 1950 A.L. Rookie of the Year, contributed two homers, seven RBI and five runs scored in a 29-4 romp over the St. Louis Browns in the most lopsided result in the 20th Century.
New York Yankees 1B-OF Buddy Hassett (hooper for Manhattan teams winning school-record 17 consecutive games in 1930 and 1931) extended his hit streak to 20 games with a pair of singles against the Cleveland Indians in 1942.
San Francisco Giants LHP Bill Henry (hoops letterman for Houston's 1947 NAIA Tournament team featuring co-captain Guy Lewis) earned victory en route to going unscored upon in his first nine relief appearances of 1967 season.
RHP Cal Koonce (hoops standout for Campbell in 1960 and 1961 when North Carolina-based school was junior college) purchased from the New York Mets by the Boston Red Sox in 1970.
Bonus baby LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman hoops squad in 1953-54) activated from the injury list by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1955. They made room for him by optioning P Tommy Lasorda, who eventually managed them for 21 years from 1976 to 1996.
Detroit Tigers SS Harvey Kuenn (played hoops briefly for Wisconsin in 1951-52 after competing on JV squad previous season) collected four hits and four RBI against the New York Yankees in a 1954 contest.
Philadelphia Phillies LF Hal Lee (Mississippi College hooper in mid-1920s before coaching basketball at Auburn and Louisiana Tech the first half of the 1930s) contributed his fifth consecutive contest with at least two hits in 1932.
In 1945, Cleveland Indians 2B Dutch Meyer (Texas Christian hoops letterman in 1934-35 and 1935-36) supplied his third three-hit outing in a four-game span.
LHP Dennis Rasmussen (sixth-man for Creighton averaged 5.1 ppg from 1977-78 through 1979-80) traded by the Cincinnati Reds to the San Diego Padres in 1988.
Cincinnati Reds 1B Eddie Shokes (Duke hoops letterman in 1939-40 and 1940-41) supplied a career-high three hits against the Boston Braves in a 1946 contest.
Kansas City Athletics 1B Norm Siebern (member of Southwest Missouri State squads capturing back-to-back NAIA Tournament hoops titles in 1952 and 1953) went 4-for-4 against the Chicago White Sox in a 1963 outing.
Cleveland Indians 3B Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) hit decisive homer in top of ninth inning of an 8-7 win against the Milwaukee Brewers in 1995. Nine years later as a Philadelphia Phillies 1B, he collected a pair of homers and six RBI in 2004 game against the Chicago White Sox en route to 15 round-trippers during the month.
Eventual MLB Hall of Fame OF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) fanned 14 Oklahoma batters as RHP in hurling a 1-0 shutout in the Gophers' 1973 College World Series opener.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Supplying MLB Headlines on June 7
Extra! Extra! Instead of wasting brain cells trying to discern what Plagiarist Biledumb was trying to do in Normandy and why #MSLSD misfits compare Antifa to American Patriots and why they don't understand BLM stands for Buy Luxury Mansions, 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 ACC members Florida State (Jim Lyttle) and North Carolina State (Andrew Brackman) supplied first-round MLB draft choices for the New York Yankees on this date. Ex-Millsaps MS hoopers Claude Passeau and Sammy Vick also made MLB news on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 7 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 7
SS Bill Almon (averaged 2.5 ppg in half a season for Brown's 1972-73 team ending the Bears' streak of 12 straight losing basketball records) selected first overall in 1974 amateur draft featuring 12 of first 13 choices going on to become major leaguers. Almon was chosen by the San Diego Padres ahead of first-rounders/eventual All-Star honorees Dale Murphy, Lance Parrish, Lonnie Smith, Rick Sutcliffe, Garry Templeton and Willie Wilson.
Seattle Mariners 1B Bruce Bochte (starting forward for Santa Clara's NCAA playoff team in 1969-70) provided four hits in a 5-4 win against the Cleveland Indians in 1981.
RHP Andrew Brackman (averaged 7.5 ppg and 3.5 rpg with North Carolina State in 2004-05 and 2005-06 for pair of NCAA playoff teams) selected in first round (30th pick overall) by the New York Yankees in 2007 amateur draft. Brackman was chosen ahead of supplemental first-rounders Todd Frazier and Justin Jackson. Other notable players picked who signed that year include Brandon Belt (11th round), Zack Cozart (2nd), Lucas Duda (7th), Greg Holland (10th), Freddie Freeman (2nd), Corey Kluber (4th), Jonathan Lucroy (3rd), Anthony Rizzo (6th), Giancarlo Stanton (2nd) and Jordan Zimmerman (2nd).
In 1966, St. Louis Cardinals RHP Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer and rebounder in 1955-56) incurred his lone setback in span of nine starts but fanned four Pittsburgh Pirates in single inning (fourth).
Brooklyn Robins RF Harvey Hendrick (Vanderbilt hoops letterman in 1918) stroked three hits in third consecutive contest in 1927.
Boston Braves LF Hal Lee (Mississippi College hooper in mid-1920s before coaching basketball at Auburn and Louisiana Tech the first half of the 1930s) contributed three extra-base hits and five RBI in an 8-3 triumph against the Cincinnati Reds in 1936. Lee stroked two triples against the Reds the previous day in the nightcap of a doubleheader.
Philadelphia Phillies CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) logged three hits for the third time in a four-game span in 2005.
OF Jim Lyttle (led Florida State in free-throw shooting in 1965-66 when averaging 12.4 ppg) selected in first round (10th pick overall) by the New York Yankees in 1966 amateur draft. Lyttle was chosen ahead of fellow first-rounders John Curtis (did not sign that year), Richie Hebner, Carlos May and Gary Nolan.
OF Les Mann (Springfield MA hooper in 1913 and 1914) purchased from the Cincinnati Reds by the Boston Braves in 1924.
New York Giants Hall of Fame RHP Christy Mathewson (Bucknell hooper at turn of 20th Century) combined with teammate Joe McGinnity to surrender 11 runs in the opening inning of a 19-0 drubbing by the Chicago Cubs in 1906. It is the worst setback in Giants' history. One year earlier, this date marked Mathewson hitting safely in his first 10 starts of 1905 campaign.
Len Matuszek (starter for Toledo's 18-7 team in 1975-76) smashed a three-run, pinch-hit homer for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Houston Astros in 1986.
RHP Joe Niekro (averaged 8.9 ppg and 3.8 rpg for West Liberty WV from 1963-64 through 1965-66) traded by the New York Yankees to the Minnesota Twins in 1987.
In the midst of a 12-game hitting streak, St. Louis Cardinals RF Don Padgett (freshman in 1934 with Lenoir-Rhyne NC excelled in multiple sports) pounded his fourth homer in last six contests.
Chicago Cubs RHP Claude Passeau (Millsaps MS hooper in late 1920s and early 1930s) hurled a shutout against the Brooklyn Dodgers and supplied a two-run, game-ending homer in the ninth inning in 1946.
Detroit Tigers LF Curtis Pride (led William & Mary in steals three times and assists twice while averaging 5.6 ppg and 3.1 apg from 1986-87 through 1989-90) contributed a career-high four hits and scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning in a 6-5 triumph against the New York Yankees in 1996.
Chicago White Sox CF Gary Redus (J.C. hooper for Athens AL and father of Centenary/South Alabama guard with same name) stole a base in his sixth consecutive contest.
Texas Rangers LF Leon Roberts (grabbed one rebound in four basketball games for Michigan in 1970-71 under coach Johnny Orr) stroked three hits in his second straight outing against the Toronto Blue Jays in 1981.
Cleveland Indians LHP Joe Shaute (hooper for Mansfield PA in early 1920s) hurled his second shutout in a 10-day span in 1924.
Cleveland Indians 3B Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) hit game-winning homer in bottom of 10th inning for 3-2 win against the Detroit Tigers in 1995.
New York Yankees rookie RF Sammy Vick (three-sport athlete for Millsaps MS) secured multiple hits in his fourth consecutive contest in 1919. Two years later with the Boston Red Sox, Vick supplied a two-run, pinch-hit single in 7-6 win against the St. Louis Browns in 1921.
Boston Red Sox rookie C Sammy White (All-PCC Northern Division first-five selection for Washington in 1947-48 and 1948-49) went 4-for-4 with three extra-base hits against the Detroit Tigers in a 1952 outing.
OF Dave Winfield (starting forward with Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) picked fourth overall by the San Diego Padres in 1973 amateur draft and goes straight to the majors. Twelve years later as a New York Yankees RF, Winfield walloped two homers against the Milwaukee Brewers in a 1985 game.
Detroit Tigers 3B Eddie Yost (NYU freshman hooper in 1943-44 under coach Howard Cann) homered twice in a 1959 game against his original team (Washington Senators).
1B Babe Young (Fordham hoops letterman in 1935-36) traded by the New York Giants to the Cincinnati Reds in 1947.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Supplying MLB Headlines on June 6
Extra! Extra! Instead of chuckling at Decency Diva week from hell for cover girl "Dr." Jill babysitting hideous Hunter and Plagiarist Biledumb, 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 San Diego State hoopers Tony Clark, Tony Gwynn and Graig Nettles made MLB news on this date. Ditto several ex-hoopers from Texas universities - Mike Adams (Texas A&M-Kingsville), Beau Bell (Texas A&M) and Ray Benge (Sam Houston State). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 6 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 6
Philadelphia Phillies RHP Mike Adams (played basketball for Texas A&M-Kingsville in 1996-97) notched 14 straight relief appearances without allowing an earned run before going on the disabled list in 2014.
RHP Mike Barlow (Syracuse substitute from 1967-68 through 1969-70) traded by the Houston Astros to the California Angels in 1976.
Cleveland Indians RF Beau Bell (two-year hoops letterman for Texas A&M in early 1930s) went 4-for-4 in a 5-4 win against the Washington Senators in 1940.
Philadelphia Phillies RHP Ray Benge (multi-year hoops letterman for Sam Houston State first half of 1920s) hurled his first of two shutouts during the month in 1929.
RHP Jim Bibby (Fayetteville State NC backup hooper and brother of UCLA All-American Henry Bibby) traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the Texas Rangers in 1973.
Brooklyn Dodgers rookie RHP Joe Black (Morgan State hooper in mid-1940s) didn't allow an earned run in his first nine relief appearances covering 15 1/3 innings in 1952.
Chicago White Sox 1B Zeke Bonura (best basketball forward for Loyola LA in late 1920s and early 1930s) belted two homers in a 10-6 setback against the Boston Red Sox in 1936.
Detroit Tigers 1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in WAC games in 1991-92) provided three extra-base hits against the Milwaukee Brewers in a 1998 contest.
San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-Western Athletic Conference second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) stroked a ninth-inning single on a 3-0 delivery to end Tom Browning's bid for a perfect game with the Cincinnati Reds in 1988.
Brooklyn Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) hammered two homers against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1953 outing.
Nine-year MLB INF Jerry Kindall (averaged 6.9 ppg for Minnesota as junior in 1955-56) coached Arizona to his second of three College World Series championships with the Wildcats by defeating Hawaii, 5-3, in 1980.
LF Danny Litwhiler (member of JV hoops squad with Bloomsburg PA in mid-1930s) notched the only for the Philadelphia Phillies off Johnny Vander Meer of the Cincinnati Reds in a 1941 game three years to the month after Vander Meer became the only MLB hurler to toss back-to-back no-hitters.
In 1963, Chicago Cubs RHP Lindy McDaniel (hooper for Oklahoma's 1954-55 freshman squad), entering a contest against the San Francisco Giants as a reliever with the bases loaded and one out in the top of the 10th inning, promptly picked Hall of Fame CF Willie Mays off second base an then fanned C Ed Bailey before leading off the bottom of the frame with a game-winning homer.
New York Yankees 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) smacked two homers against the Seattle Mariners in a 1983 contest.
Chicago Cubs RF Bill Nicholson (Washington College MD hoops guard for two years in mid-1930s) blasted two homers against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1940 outing.
RHP Joe Niekro (averaged 8.9 ppg and 3.8 rpg for West Liberty WV from 1963-64 through 1965-66) traded by the New York Yankees to the Minnesota Twins in 1987.
California Angels LF Tony Phillips (New Mexico Military juco hooper in 1977-78 as teammate of eventual Drake All-American Lewis Lloyd) homered twice in a 1995 game against the Boston Red Sox.
RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) registered his only victory in 1961 (3-2 at San Francisco). He finished with the worst-ever season record (1-10 in final year with Philadelphia Phillies) for a Hall of Fame hurler.
Brooklyn Dodgers LF Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) accounted for four hits in back-to-back games against the Chicago Cubs in 1954.
OF Art Ruble (Maryville College TN hooper in early 1920s) purchased from Charlotte (South Atlantic) by the Detroit Tigers in 1925.
San Francisco Giants LF Leon Wagner (Tuskegee AL hooper in 1952-53) whacked a three-run, first-inning homer en route to scoring four runs in a 13-3 romp over the Cincinnati Reds in 1959.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Supplying MLB Headlines on June 5
Extra! Extra! Instead of wasting brain cells on drivel from hideous Hunter's creepy father (Plagiarist Biledumb) and Odd Squad rooftop-dancing bartender Sandy Eeyore (a/k/a AOC), 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 Illinois hoopers Lou Boudreau, Hoot Evers and Wally Roettger supplied significant MLB offensive performances on this date. Ditto ex-juco hoopers Mickey Brantley (Columbia-Greene SC), Irv Noren (Pasadena City CA), Tony Phillips (New Mexico Military), Ken Retzer (Jefferson City MO) and Jim Thome (Illinois Central) along with sterling pitching effort by ex-juco hooper Ralph Terry (Northeastern Oklahoma A&M). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 5 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 5
Baltimore Orioles 2B Jerry Adair (one of Oklahoma State's top three basketball scorers in 1956-57 and 1957-58 while ranking among nation's top 12 free-throw shooters each season) supplied multiple hits in his fifth consecutive contest in 1964.
Chicago White Sox rookie 1B Zeke Bonura (best basketball forward for Loyola LA in late 1920s and early 1930s) went 5-for-7 in 1934 doubleheader split with the St. Louis Browns. Bonura was in the midst of having 12 multiple-hit outings in an 18-game span while raising his batting average from .250 to .318 by mid-month.
Cleveland Indians SS Lou Boudreau (leading scorer for Illinois' 1937 Big Ten Conference basketball co-champion) went 4-for-4 against the Philadelphia Athletics in a 1943 game.
Seattle Mariners DH Mickey Brantley (averaged 10 ppg, 6.8 rpg and 5.4 apg for Columbia-Greene Community College SC in 1979-80) collected three hits and four RBI in a 7-2 victory against the Kansas City Royals in 1987.
In his lone MLB at-bat, Philadelphia Phillies bonus-baby C Mack Burk (collected eight points and eight rebounds in 11 basketball games with Texas in 1954-55) stroked a pinch-hit single off Joe Nuxhall of the Cincinnati Redlegs in 1956.
Philadelphia Athletics C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) amassed four hits against the St. Louis Browns in a 1926 outing.
In the midst of a career-high 19-game hitting streak, Detroit Tigers LF Hoot Evers (Illinois hoops starter in 1939-40) contributed five RBI in a 7-4 win against the Washington Senators in 1950.
Boston Red Sox 1B Dick Gernert (Temple hoops letterman in 1948-49 when averaging 2.7 ppg) homered in his third consecutive contest against the Cleveland Indians in 1958.
LHP Atlee Hammaker (averaged 5.3 ppg as freshman in 1976-77 and 4.9 ppg as sophomore in 1977-78 under East Tennessee State coach Sonny Smith) selected in first round (21st pick overall) by the Kansas City Royals in 1979 amateur draft.
Brooklyn Robins LF Buddy Hassett (hooper for Manhattan teams winning school-record 17 consecutive games in 1930 and 1931) banged out four hits against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 1938 game.
INF-OF Harvey Hendrick (Vanderbilt hoops letterman in 1918) purchased from the St. Louis Cardinals by the Cincinnati Reds in 1932.
Chicago Cubs 1B Jim Hickman (freshman hooper for Ole Miss in 1955-56), in midst of a career-high 17-game hitting streak, went 4-for-5 and scored four runs in 12-8 win against the San Francisco Giants in 1970.
A three-run, pinch-hit homer by Gail Hopkins (averaged 2.5 ppg with Pepperdine in 1963-64) sparked the Kansas City Royals to an 11-7 triumph against the New York Yankees in 1971.
Cleveland Indians 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 Milwaukee Brewers in a 2000 game.
Detroit Tigers RHP Vern Kennedy (Central Missouri State hooper in mid-1920s) won his first nine decisions in 1938.
Cleveland Indians CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) launched two homers against the Detroit Tigers in a 1995 outing.
Milwaukee Braves SS Johnny Logan (Binghamton hooper in 1948-49) logged four hits in a 7-0 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1954.
St. Louis Cardinals RHP Lindy McDaniel (hooper for Oklahoma's 1954-55 freshman squad) notched his fifth complete-game victory in a five-week span in 1957.
RHP Ben McDonald (started six games as 6-6 freshman forward for Louisiana State in 1986-87) picked first overall by the Baltimore Orioles in the 1989 amateur draft. RHP Scott Burrell (three-time All-Big East Conference selection from 1990-91 through 1992-93 for Connecticut under coach Jim Calhoun) was the final choice in the opening round (26th by Seattle Mariners). Burrell was picked ahead of eventual MLB hurlers Jerry Dipoto, Alan Embree, Scott Erickson, Sterling Hitchcock, Trevor Hoffman, Todd Jones, Curt Leskanie, Denny Neagle, Paul Quantrill, Pat Rapp, Shane Reynolds, Russ Springer, Mike Trombley and Tim Worrell.
Philadelphia Phillies C Cal Neeman (Illinois Wesleyan's leading scorer in 1947-48 and 1948-49) smacked a decisive three-run homer in bottom of seventh inning of 4-1 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates in nightcap of 1960 twinbill.
Washington Senators rookie CF Irv Noren (hoops player of year for California community college state champion Pasadena City in 1945) went 4-for-4 against the Detroit Tigers in a 1950 outing.
Extending his hitting streak to 15 games, St. Louis Browns LF Ray Pepper (Alabama hoops letterman in 1926-27) provided four safeties in a 10-5 win against the Chicago White Sox in the nightcap of a 1934 doubleheader.
Detroit Tigers LF Tony Phillips (New Mexico Military juco hooper in 1977-78 as teammate of eventual Drake All-American Lewis Lloyd) homered twice in a 1994 contest against the Minnesota Twins.
Washington Senators rookie C Ken Retzer (fourth-leading juco scorer with 184 points for Jefferson City MO in 1953-54) ripped two homers in a 1962 outing against the Baltimore Orioles.
Cincinnati Reds RF Wally Roettger (Illinois hoops letterman in 1921-22 and 1922-23) registered two triples among his four hits against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1931 game.
RHP Lee Smith (averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg with Northwestern State in 1976-77) fanned four of the last five Pittsburgh Pirates batters to earn a save for the Chicago Cubs in a 3-1 victory in 1983.
Kansas City Athletics RHP Ralph Terry (juco hooper averaged 22 ppg for Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in mid-1950s) tossed a 13-inning shutout against the Washington Senators in 1958.
Washington Senators 2B Wayne Terwilliger (two-year hoops letterman for Western Michigan averaged 5.6 ppg in final season in 1947-48) smacked a grand slam in an 8-4 win against the Chicago White Sox in 1953.
In 2002, Cleveland Indians 1B Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) jacked the 300th of his 612 MLB career homers.
New York Yankees RF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) delivered five hits for the second time in a three-game span in 1984. Three years later, Winfield manufactured three extra-base safeties against the Milwaukee Brewers in a 1987 contest.
OF Corky Withrow (averaged more than 22 ppg for Georgetown College KY in 1957-58 and 1958-59) shipped by the St. Louis Cardinals to Chicago Cubs as player to be designated to complete deal made three days earlier in 1964.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Supplying MLB Headlines on June 4
Extra! Extra! Instead of wondering if stumbling-and-bumbling Plagiarist Biledumb's predator/racial jungle Senatorial speeches and mid-1990s crime law legislation contributed to his definition of systemic racism highlighted by First Son Hideous Hunter's racial-slur texts, 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 Cincinnati hoopers Ethan Allen and Sandy Koufax provided MLB headlines on this date. Ditto ex-juco hoopers Darrell Evans (Pasadena City CA), Jim Perry (Campbell NC), Gary Redus (Athens AL) and Jim Thome (Illinois Central). Ex-SEC hoopers Joe Gibbon (Mississippi), Harvey Hendrick (Vanderbilt) and Riggs Stephenson (Alabama) also supplied significant MLB performances on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 4 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 4
Chicago Cubs LF Ethan Allen (Cincinnati basketball letterman in 1924-25 and 1925-26) went 4-for-4 in an 8-5 win against the New York Giants in 1936.
Chicago Cubs RF George Altman (hooper appeared in 1953 and 1954 NAIA Tournament with Tennessee State) notched his sixth straight multiple-hit game in 1961.
RHP Elden Auker (All-Big Six Conference first five selection with Kansas State in 1931-32), supported by an inside-the-park homer from player/manager Mickey Cochrane (Boston University player in early 1920s) during a 10-run third inning, earned the triumph in an 18-9 decision over the Philadelphia Athletics.
Seattle Mariners RHP Jim Beattie (Dartmouth's top rebounder in 1974-75 when selected team MVP and honorable mention All-Ivy League) tossed a two-hit shutout against the Detroit Tigers in 1982.
Chicago White Sox 1B Zeke Bonura (best basketball forward for Loyola LA in late 1920s and early 1930s) scored four runs and banged out three hits for the second of three times in a five-game span in 1936.
1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in WAC hoops games in 1991-92) selected by the Detroit Tigers in first round (2nd pick overall) in 1990 amateur draft. Sixteen years later with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Clark cracked two homers among his four hits against the Atlanta Braves in a 2006 contest.
Cleveland Indians CF Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA hoops titlist) hit for the cycle against the Boston Red Sox in a 1952 outing.
St. Louis Browns 3B Frank Ellerbe (Wofford hooper after transferring from Sewanee TN) went 4-for-4 in a 1921 game against eventual A.L. champion New York Yankees.
Atlanta Braves 3B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) knocked in five runs in a 9-3 win against the New York Mets in 1972.
St. Louis Cardinals 3B Howard Freigau (Ohio Wesleyan hooper) collected four hits, four stolen bases and five RBI in a 12-5 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1924.
Pittsburgh Pirates LHP Joe Gibbon (two-time All-SEC forward for Ole Miss was nation's second-leading scorer as a senior in 1956-57) hurled his final MLB shutout (four-hitter against New York Mets in opener of 1967 twinbill).
Pinch-hitter Harvey Hendrick (Vanderbilt hoops letterman in 1918) hammered a two-out, bases-loaded triple in the ninth inning to spark the Cleveland Indians to an 11-10 verdict over the St. Louis Browns in 1925. Four years later after having his career-high 25-game hitting streak snapped in the final contest of May, 1B Hendrick collected two homers and six RBI for the Brooklyn Robins in an 11-8 victory against the St. Louis Cardinals in the nightcap of a 1929 doubleheader.
RHP Jim Konstanty (Syracuse hooper in late 1930s) signed by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1956 after he was released by the New York Yankees.
Los Angeles Dodgers LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman squad in 1953-54) became the fourth hurler to toss three no-hitters, blanking the N.L.-leading Philadelphia Phillies, 3-0, in 1964.
Los Angeles Dodgers 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 became an All-CIC choice for 1968 NAIA Tournament team) collected three hits and three stolen bases against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 1974 game.
Cleveland Indians 1B Ed Morgan (Tulane hoops letterman from 1923-24 through 1925-26) manufactured four hits in a 10-2 win against the Boston Red Sox in 1931.
Minnesota Twins RHP Jim Perry (averaged more than 20 ppg in late 1950s for former juco Campbell) fired a four-hit shutout against the Kansas City Athletics in 1963 en route to five winning starts this month.
Chicago White Sox OF Gary Redus (J.C. hooper for Athens AL and father of Centenary/South Alabama guard with same name) ripped a game-winning grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Texas Rangers in 1988.
New York Giants RHP Hal Schumacher (multiple-sport athlete for St. Lawrence NY in early 1930s) secured his fourth shutout in less than a month en route to a total of seven whitewashes in 1933.
Cleveland Indians 3B Riggs Stephenson (Alabama hoops letterman in 1920) went 4-for-4 against the Detroit Tigers in a 1922 contest. Eight years later as a Chicago Cubs LF, Stephenson amassed five hits, four runs and four RBI against the Boston Braves in a 1930 outing.
Cleveland Indians 1B Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) smacked a pair of homers for the second time in five-game span in 2002.
1B-OF Preston Ward (second-leading scorer for Southwest Missouri State in 1946-47 and 1948-49) traded by the Chicago Cubs to the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 10-player swap in 1953.
California Angels 3B John Werhas (Southern California's leading scorer in 1958-59 and 1959-60) whacked a pinch-hit homer against the Minnesota Twins in a 1967 game.
In 1986, New York Yankees RF Dave Winfield (starting forward with Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) homered twice in an 11-0 victory over the California Angels in support of RHP Joe Niekro (averaged 8.9 ppg and 3.8 rpg for West Liberty WV from 1963-64 through 1965-66), who hurled a no-hitter for 7 2/3 innings before yielding a safety.
In the midst of five consecutive complete-game triumphs, St. Louis Browns LHP Tom Zachary (Guilford NC hoops letterman in 1916) tossed a five-hit shutout against the Chicago White Sox in 1926.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Supplying MLB Headlines on June 3
Extra! Extra! Instead of wondering how liberal poster boys Mario Cuomo and Dr. Fraudci sleep at night as #Dimorat deity profits from misery books, 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 college hoopers Cameron Drew (New Haven) and Dennis Rasmussen (Creighton) were MLB first-round draft selections on this date before eventually reaching the bigs. Ex-juco hoopers Darrell Evans (Pasadena City CA), Jim Thome (Illinois Central) and Larry Wolfe (Sacramento City CA) each homered twice in an American League game on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 3 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 3
Chicago Cubs 2B Glenn Beckert (three-year basketball letterman for Allegeny PA) drove in P Ken Holtzman with the only run of the game in Holtzman's no-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds in 1971. The next year, Beckert banged out four hits against the San Diego Padres in a 1972 contest.
New York Giants SS Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for Louisiana State and Southwestern Louisiana during World War II) went 4-for-4 and scored five runs in a 13-8 victory against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1954.
New York Yankees LHP Al Downing (attended Muhlenberg PA on hoops scholarship but left before ever playing) won his sixth straight start in 1966.
OF Cameron Drew (NECC first-team selection in 1984-85 when leading New Haven CT in scoring and rebounding) selected by Houston Astros in first round (12th pick overall) in 1985 amateur draft. Drew was chosen ahead of fellow first-rounders Joey Cora, Gregg Jefferies, Joe Magrane, Brian McRae and Rafael Palmeiro.
1B Walt Dropo (Connecticut's first hooper averaging 20 points in single season with 21.7 ppg in 1942-43) traded by the Boston Red Sox to the Detroit Tigers in a nine-player swap in 1952.
Overweight RHP George Earnshaw (Swarthmore PA hooper in 1922) fined by Philadelphia Athletics owner/manager Connie Mack in 1933.
Detroit Tigers 1B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) homered twice in a 1985 game against the Seattle Mariners.
OF Hoot Evers (hoops starter for Illinois in 1939-40) traded by the Detroit Tigers to the Boston Red Sox in a nine-player swap in 1952.
Chicago White Sox RHP Eddie Fisher (hooper for Oklahoma's 1954-55 freshman squad) tossed a four-hit shutout against the Los Angeles Angels in 1963.
New York Giants rookie C Paul Florence (Georgetown's leading scorer with 11.3 ppg in 1921-22) furnished a career-high three hits in a 10-5 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1926.
In 1983, George Bamberger stepped down as manager of the New York Mets and was succeeded by 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).
In 1978, Philadelphia Phillies 2B Davey Johnson (averaged 1.7 ppg with Texas A&M in 1961-62) became the first MLB player to smack two pinch-hit grand slams in a single season.
Chicago Cubs 3B Vance Law (averaged 6.8 ppg for Brigham Young from 1974-75 through 1976-77) logged four hits against the New York Mets in a 1988 outing. Law added three more safeties the next day.
San Francisco Giants RF Rick Leach (averaged 15.5 ppg for Michigan's JV hoops squad in 1975-76) registered four hits against the Houston Astros in a 1990 game.
RHP Dave Lemanczyk (hooper in NCAA Division II Tournament in 1970 and 1971 with Hartwick NY) traded by the Toronto Blue Jays to the California Angels in 1980.
LHP Dennis Rasmussen (sixth-man for Creighton averaged 5.1 ppg in three seasons from 1977-78 through 1979-80) selected in first round (17th pick overall) by the California Angels in 1980 amateur draft. Rasmussen was compensation for signing of free-agent P Nolan Ryan.
Chicago White Sox CF Carl Reynolds (Southwestern TX hoops MVP and captain in mid-1920s) contributed four hits and five RBI in a 1930 game against the New York Yankees. Output was among four of first five contests of month where he provided at least three safeties.
Cleveland Indians 3B Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) hit two taters in a 1997 game against the Chicago White Sox. He also homered in four of his next five outings.
Boston Red Sox RF Sammy Vick (three-sport athlete for Millsaps MS) supplied a game-winning, pinch-hit single in bottom of the ninth inning for 7-6 success against the Cleveland Indians in 1921.
New York Yankees RF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) went 4-for-4 against the Oakland Athletics in a 1985 contest.
Minnesota Twins 3B Larry Wolfe (scored career-high 33 points for Sacramento City College in juco game against Santa Rosa on 12-17-71) collected two homers and five RBI in 9-2 win against the Detroit Tigers in 1978.
Washington Senators 3B Eddie Yost (NYU freshman hooper in 1943-44 under coach Howard Cann) homered in his third consecutive contest against the St. Louis Browns in 1949.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Supplying MLB Headlines on June 2
Extra! Extra! Instead of wondering why WNBA hasn't forcefully ceased mean-girl, cheap-shot assaults on Caitlin Clark, 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 college hoopers Frank Howard (Ohio State), David Justice (Thomas More KY), Danny Litwhiler (Bloomsburg PA), Jerry Martin (Furman), Graig Nettles (San Diego State) and Jim Thome (Illinois Central) each hammered two homers in a single MLB game on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 2 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 2
2B Jerry Adair (one of Oklahoma State's top three basketball scorers in 1956-57 and 1957-58 under coach Hank Iba while ranking among nation's top 12 free-throw shooters each season) traded by the Chicago White Sox to the Boston Red Sox for reliever Don McMahon in 1967 and wound up playing in the World Series later that year against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Cleveland Indians SS Lou Boudreau (leading scorer for Illinois' 1937 Big Ten Conference co-champion) scored six runs in a 1940 doubleheader split against the Philadelphia Athletics.
Philadelphia Athletics rookie C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) collected five RBI against the Boston Red Sox in a 1925 game.
Arizona Diamondbacks LHP Patrick Corbin (hooper for Mohawk Valley Community College NY in 2007-08) won his first nine decisions in 2013 (including all five starts in month of May).
In 1951, 1B Walt Dropo (Connecticut's first player ever to average 20 points for a single season with 21.7 ppg in 1942-43) demoted by the Boston Red Sox to the minors to regain his form after he was A.L. Rookie of the Year the previous campaign.
Pittsburgh Pirates 3B Lee Handley (Bradley hoops letterman from 1932-33 through 1934-35) banged out four hits against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1945 contest.
Kansas City Royals DH Gail Hopkins (averaged 2.5 ppg with Pepperdine in 1963-64) went 4-for-4 against the Cleveland Indians in a 1973 outing.
Washington Senators LF Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection in 1956-57 and 1957-58 when leading Ohio State in scoring and rebounding) hammered two homers against the California Angels in the opener of a 1965 twinbill.
New York Yankees DH David Justice (Thomas More KY assists leader in 1984-85) jacked two homers against the Cleveland Indians in a 2001 game.
Philadelphia Phillies LF Danny Litwhiler (JV hooper with Bloomsburg PA in mid-1930s) launched two homers against the Chicago Cubs in a 1941 contest.
Los Angeles Dodgers 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 choice with 1968 NAIA Tournament team) tied a MLB mark by committing three errors in the first inning of a 6-3 setback against the Montreal Expos in 1973.
Chicago White Sox RHP Ted Lyons (two-time All-SWC first-team selection for Baylor in early 1920s) tossed a shutout against the Boston Red Sox in the opener of a 1940 doubleheader, notching his 225th career victory.
Chicago Cubs CF Jerry Martin (1971 Southern Conference MVP after he was Furman's runner-up in scoring the previous season) whacked two homers against the San Francisco Giants in a 1979 outing. Two years later as a member of the Giants, Martin capped off a nine-run, fourth-inning outburst with a grand slam against the Houston Astros in 1981.
C Cal Neeman (Illinois Wesleyan's leading scorer in 1947-48 and 1948-49) purchased from the St. Louis Cardinals by the Cleveland Indians in 1963.
Cleveland Indians 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) launched two homers against the Milwaukee Brewers in the nightcap of a 1970 twinbill.
San Francisco Giants CF Billy North (played hoops briefly for Central Washington in 1967-68) went 3-for-3 with three steals in an 8-6 win against the Chicago Cubs in 1979.
RHP Dick Radatz (center on Michigan State's freshman hoops squad in 1955-56) traded by the Boston Red Sox to the Cleveland Indians in 1966.
Pittsburgh Pirates LF Wally Roettger (Illinois hoops letterman in 1921-22 and 1922-23) knocked in five runs in the nightcap of a 1934 doubleheader against his original team (St. Louis Cardinals).
Baltimore Orioles LF Larry Sheets (All-ODAC hoops selection in 1981-82 and 1982-83 with Eastern Mennonite VA) homered in his third consecutive contest in 1987.
Atlanta Braves LHP George Stone (averaged 14.7 ppg and 6.5 rpg for Louisiana Tech in 1964-65 and 1965-66) won his first six decisions in 1969.
New York Yankees rookie RHP Ralph Terry (juco hooper averaged 22 ppg for Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in mid-1950s) tossed a three-hit shutout against the Baltimore Orioles in 1957.
Cleveland Indians 1B Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) stroked three extra-base hits (one double/two homers) in 2001 game against the New York Yankees.
LHP Matt Thornton (averaged 5.8 ppg and 2.4 rpg for Grand Valley State MI from 1995-96 through 1997-98) selected by Seattle Mariners in first round (22nd pick overall) in 1998 amateur draft.
Chicago Cubs RF Bob Will (all-league athlete was Mankato State MN hoops captain in 1954-55) clobbered his third homer in a four-game span in 1960.
Power Danger: Diebler Faces Daunting Task as 1st-Year Coach at Ohio State
There was no grooming comparable to most coaches working their way up the ladder from the bush leagues. Despite boasting zero college head-coaching experience, Jon Scheyer (Duke) and Jerome Tang (Kansas State) each won at least 26 games two years ago after hired to be in charge of a power-conference member. Meanwhile, Kenny Payne (Louisville) endured a painful campaign (4-28) and was dismissed after last season.
There is no rhyme or reason regarding first-year results. But if Ohio State's Jake Diebler assembles an average inaugural campaign, the interim promoted to head coach faces an overall record of 19-14 with losing league mark. Just ask dearly-departed Payne plus Mike Boynton, Mike Hopkins, Jerry Stackhouse and Tony Stubblefield if first-year worksheets for mentors in this category usually generate positive headlines. For instance, all three newcomers in the Big Ten Conference three years ago registered losing league marks. In the previous 10 years, newcomer power-league mentors combined for an average record of 15-17 overall and 6-12 in league competition. Only eight active coaches on the following alphabetical list compiled a winning power-league ledger in his inaugural season sans benefit of toiling as a full-time college bench boss:
Active Head Coach | Current School | 1st Full Season Guiding Power-League Member | Overall | League |
---|---|---|---|---|
Tommy Amaker | Harvard | Seton Hall (1997-98/Big East) | 15-15 | 9-9 |
Adrian Autry | Syracuse | Syracuse (2023-24/ACC) | 20-12 | 11-9 |
Rod Barnes | Cal State Bakersfield | Mississippi (1998-99/SEC) | 20-13 | 8-8 |
Tony Bennett | Virginia | Washington State (2006-07/Pacific-10) | 26-8 | 13-5 |
Chris Collins | Northwestern | Northwestern (2013-14/Big Ten) | 14-19 | 6-12 |
Hubert Davis | North Carolina | North Carolina (2021-22/ACC) | 29-10 | 15-5 |
Johnny Dawkins | UCF | Stanford (2008-09/Pacific-10) | 20-14 | 6-12 |
Jake Diebler | Ohio State | Ohio State (2024-25) | TBD | TBD |
Jamie Dixon | Texas Christian | Pittsburgh (2003-04/Big East) | 31-5 | 13-3 |
Leonard Hamilton | Florida State | Oklahoma State (1986-87/Big Eight) | 8-20 | 4-10 |
Tom Izzo | Michigan State | Michigan State (1995-96/Big Ten) | 16-16 | 9-9 |
Ben Johnson | Minnesota | Minnesota (2021-22/Big Ten) | 13-17 | 4-16 |
Tommy Lloyd | Arizona | Arizona (2021-22/Pacific-12) | 33-4 | 18-2 |
Frank Martin | Massachusetts | Kansas State (2007-08/Big 12) | 21-12 | 10-6 |
Jon Scheyer | Duke | Duke (2022-23/ACC) | 27-9 | 14-6 |
Micah Shrewsberry | Notre Dame | Penn State (2021-22/Big Ten) | 14-17 | 7-13 |
Travis Steele | Miami (Ohio) | Xavier (2018-19/Big East) | 19-16 | 9-9 |
Jerome Tang | Kansas State | Kansas State (2022-23/Big 12) | 26-10 | 11-7 |
Mike Woodson | Indiana | Indiana (2021-22/Big Ten) | 21-14 | 9-11 |
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Supplying MLB Headlines on June 1
Extra! Extra! After duplicating bicycle and stair-climbing ability by falling down at Air Force graduation ceremony, instead of wondering when fossil fool Plagiarist Biledumb will take another tumble due to TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome), 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 college hoopers Donn Clendenon (Morehouse GA), Mike Hargrove (Northwestern Oklahoma State), Harvey Hendrick (Vanderbilt) and Ed Morgan (Tulane) each manufactured at least four hits in a MLB game on this date as a first baseman. A pair of ex-hoopers from Kansas small colleges - Bob Veale (Benedictine) and Zip Zabel (Baker) - each tossed a shutout on this date in games involving the Pittsburgh Pirates. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 1 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 1
Pittsburgh Pirates 1B Donn Clendenon (four-sport letterman including basketball with Morehouse GA) contributed four hits against the New York Mets in a 1963 game.
Chicago White Sox CF Guy Curtright (two-time All-MIAA selection led Northeast Missouri State in scoring each of four seasons in early 1930s) scored four runs in an 11-9 win against the Washington Senators in 1945.
Brooklyn Robins 3B Wally Gilbert (Valparaiso hoops captain from 1918-19 through 1920-21) stroked four hits in a 10-2 victory against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1930.
Cleveland Indians 1B Mike Hargrove (Northwestern Oklahoma State hoops letterman) went 4-for-4 against the Seattle Mariners in a 1983 contest.
Cincinnati Reds 1B Harvey Hendrick (Vanderbilt hoops letterman in 1918) went 5-for-5, including three doubles, against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1931 outing. The previous day against the Cards, Hendrick secured four hits in the opener of a doubleheader.
New York Mets CF Jim Hickman (freshman hooper for Ole Miss in 1955-56) homered twice in a 1965 contest against the Chicago Cubs.
Detroit Tigers RF Lynn Jones (averaged 10.4 ppg for Thiel PA from 1970-71 through 1973-74) supplied his second four-hit game against the Milwaukee Brewers in a span of eight days in 1981.
LF Danny Litwhiler (JV hooper with Bloomsburg PA in mid-1930s) traded by Philadelphia Phillies to St. Louis Cardinals in 1943.
Los Angeles Dodgers 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 All-CIC choice for 1968 NAIA Tournament team) whacked two homers against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1979 outing.
Philadelphia Phillies 1B Len Matuszek (starter for Toledo's 18-7 team in 1975-76) failed to notch a putout in a 12-3 defeat against the Chicago Cubs in 1984.
St. Louis Cardinals LF Wally Moon (averaged 4.3 ppg with Texas A&M in 1948-49 and 1949-50) had his 24-game hitting streak end against the Milwaukee Braves in 1957.
Boston Red Sox 1B Ed Morgan (Tulane hoops letterman from 1923-24 through 1925-26) collected four hits and four RBI in a 13-1 win against the Washington Senators in 1934.
OF Lyle Mouton (starter in Louisiana State's backcourt with All-American Chris Jackson for 1989 NCAA playoff team) traded by the Baltimore Orioles to the Milwaukee Brewers in 1999.
In 1962, Washington Senators RHP Ray Rippelmeyer (led SIU in scoring and rebounding in 1952-53 before transferring and pacing SEMO in scoring in 1953-54 and 1954-55 as All-MIAA first-team choice each year) registered his lone MLB victory (as reliever against Minnesota Twins).
New York Giants RF Wally Roettger (Illinois hoops letterman in 1921-22 and 1922-23) went 4-for-4 against the Boston Braves in the opener of a 1930 twinbill.
Boston Red Sox rookie 3B Jim Tabor (Alabama hoops letterman in 1936-37) amassed five doubles over a two-game span in 1939.
Kansas City Athletics RHP Dave Thies (two-time all-conference selection finished St. Mary's MN career in 1959 as school's all-time leading scorer) lost his lone MLB decision (against Washington Senators in 1963).
LHP Bob Veale (scored 1,160 points with Benedictine KS from 1955-56 through 1957-58) amassed 16 strikeouts in shutting out the Philadelphia Phillies, 4-0, for the Pittsburgh Pirates' 12th consecutive victory in 1965. Veale also tossed a five-hit shutout in his second start of the month.
San Diego Padres RF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) whacked two homers against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 1979 contest.
Chicago Cubs RHP Zip Zabel (premier hooper for Baker KS from 1913 to 1915) hurled a two-hit shutout against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1915.
Happy Birthday! June Celebration Dates for A-As and Hall of Fame Coaches
June 9 is the day to celebrate the most birthdays this month for former All-Americans. Duke had multiple All-Americans born on two separate days this month (24th and 28th) en route to tying ACC rival North Carolina for most A-As born in June with seven apiece. Following are birthdates this month for All-American players and Hall of Fame coaches:
JUNE
1: All-Americans Don Burness (born in 1919/Stanford), Jerel McNeal (1987/Marquette) and Sam Young (1985/Pittsburgh).
2: All-Americans Paul Huston (1925/Ohio State) and Al Wood (1958/North Carolina).
3: All-Americans Billy Cunningham (1943/North Carolina), Al Horford (1986/Florida), Otto Porter (1993/Georgetown) and Jalen Suggs (2001/Gonzaga).
4: All-Americans R. "Gale" Bishop (1922/Washington State), Bill Hanson (1940/Washington), Xavier McDaniel (1963/Wichita State), Greg Monroe (1990/Georgetown) and Gary Thompson (1935/Iowa State).
5: All-American Joe Reiff (1911/Northwestern) and Hall of Fame coach Frank Keaney (1886/Rhode Island State).
6: All-Americans Tommy Amaker (1965/Duke) and John Rudometkin (1940/Southern California).
7: All-Americans Howie Carl (1938/DePaul), George Glamack (1919/North Carolina), Allen Iverson (1975/Georgetown) and Cazzie Russell (1944/Michigan).
8: All-Americans Bill Erickson (1928/Illinois), Mark McNamara (1959/California) and Bryant Reeves (1973/Oklahoma State).
9: All-Americans Udonis Haslem (1980/Florida), Billy Knight (1952/Pittsburgh), E. "Branch" McCracken (1908/Indiana), Bill Stauffer (1930/Missouri), Brian Taylor (1951/Princeton) and Wayman Tisdale (1964/Oklahoma).
10: All-Americans John Gianelli (1950/Pacific), Ralph Hamilton (1921/Indiana) and Jeff Teague (1988/Wake Forest) plus Hall of Fame coach Johnny Orr (1927/Massachusetts, Michigan and Iowa State).
11: All-American Joey Graham (1982/Oklahoma State).
12: All-Americans Bobby Joe Hill (1943/Texas Western), Antawn Jamison (1976/North Carolina), Kerry Kittles (1974/Villanova) and Lee Mayberry (1970/Arkansas).
13: All-Americans Fred Boyd (1950/Oregon State), Arvis "A.W." Davis (1943/Tennessee), Chris Duarte (1997/Oregon) and Bill Kinner (1914/Utah).
14: All-Americans Rowan "RJ" Barrett (2000/Duke), Eric Murdock (1968/Providence) and Sam Perkins (1961/North Carolina).
15: All-American Charles Black (1921/Kansas).
16: All-Americans Gus Broberg (1920/Dartmouth), Darrell Griffith (1958/Louisville), Angelo "Hank" Luisetti (1916/Stanford) and Wayne "Tree" Rollins (1955/Clemson).
17: All-Americans Nick Fazekas (1985/Nevada), Georges Niang (1993/Iowa State), Allan Ray (1984/Villanova), Marion "Odie" Spears (1924/Western Kentucky) and Maurice Stokes (1933/St. Francis PA).
18: All-Americans Rod Griffin (1956/Wake Forest), George Mikan (1924/DePaul) and Evan Mobley (2001/Southern California).
19: All-American Bennedict Mathurin (2002/Arizona).
20: All-Americans Josh Childress (1983/Stanford), Rodney Rogers (1971/Wake Forest) and William "Carlyle" Towery (1920/Western Kentucky) plus Hall of Fame coach Herb Magee (1941/Philadelphia Textile).
21: All-Americans Derrick Coleman (1967/Syracuse), Dale Hall (1924/Army), Sam Ranzino (1927/North Carolina State) and Jimmy Rayl (1941/Indiana) plus Hall of Fame coach Everett Case (1900/North Carolina State).
22: All-Americans Clyde Drexler (1962/Houston), Milo Komenich (1920/Wyoming), Pete Maravich (1947/Louisiana State), Johnny Oldham (1923/Western Kentucky) and Charles "Hawkeye" Whitney (1957/North Carolina State).
23: All-American Walter Dukes (1930/Seton Hall).
24: All-Americans Art Heyman (1941/Duke), Luke Kennard (1996/Duke), Ron Kramer (1935/Michigan) and Jonathan "J.J." Redick (1984/Duke).
25: All-Americans Wardell "Dell" Curry (1964/Virginia Tech), Michael Dickerson (1975/Arizona), Collin Gillespie (1999/Villanova), Reggie Johnson (1957/Tennessee), Dikembe Mutombo (1966/Georgetown) and Forest "Aggie" Sale (1911/Kentucky).
26: All-Americans Raymond Felton (1984/North Carolina), Quincy Lewis (1977/Minnesota) and Deron Williams (1984/Illinois).
27: All-Americans Russ Critchfield (1946/California), Kevin Joyce (1951/South Carolina) and Brice Johnson (1994/North Carolina).
28: All-Americans Bobby Hurley (1971/Duke), Jeff Malone (1961/Mississippi State), Chuck Person (1964/Auburn), Jim Spanarkel (1957/Duke) and Terrence Williams (1987/Louisville).
29: All-Americans Wes Fesler (1908/Ohio State), Kawhi Leonard (1991/San Diego State) and Ron Slay (1981/Tennessee).
30: All-American Mitch Richmond (1965/Kansas State).
Birthdays in January for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in February for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in March for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in April for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in May for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in June for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in July for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in August for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in September for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in October for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in November for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in December for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Supplying MLB Headlines on May 31
Extra! Extra! Instead of expressing indignation that U.S. judicial system is an obese shakedown Lizzo mess with Fat Alvin Bragg, Large Letitia James and Big Fani Willis involved, 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.
Current and future SEC members Louisiana State (Joe Adcock and Lyle Mouton), Mississippi (Joe Gibbon and Hub Walker), Mississippi State (Boo Ferriss), Missouri (Sonny Siebert), Oklahoma (Don Schwall) plus Texas A&M (Beau Bell) featured former hoopers providing significant MLB performances on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a May 31 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
MAY 31
Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) collected two homers and five RBI against the Chicago Cubs in a 1956 contest.
St. Louis Browns RHP Elden Auker (All-Big Six Conference first-five selection with Kansas State in 1931-32) registered his fifth straight win during the month in 1942. All of the victories were complete games.
St. Louis Browns RF Beau Bell (two-year hoops letterman for Texas A&M in early 1930s) banged out four hits in an 11-10 triumph against the Detroit Tigers in 1936.
In 1979, Seattle Mariners 1B Bruce Bochte (starting forward for Santa Clara's NCAA playoff team in 1969-70) amassed three hits, three runs and five RBI in a 12-10 win against his original club (California Angels).
Kansas City Athletics LF Bob Cerv (ranked fourth on Nebraska's career scoring list in 1949-50 when finishing his career) clobbered a homer in back-to-back games for the third time this month in 1958.
RHP Casey Cox (juco recruit averaged 1.7 ppg and 1.2 rpg for Cal State Los Angeles in 1961-62) awarded off waivers from the Cleveland Indians to Washington Senators as first-year waiver pick in 1963.
3B Frank Ellerbe (Wofford hooper after transferring from Sewanee TN) traded by the Washington Senators to St. Louis Browns in 1921.
San Francisco Giants 1B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) homered in his third consecutive contest in 1983.
Boston Red Sox rookie RHP Boo Ferriss (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1941) secured his sixth complete-game victory of the month in 1945.
Philadelphia Phillies 3B Gene Freese (captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team for West Liberty WV) whacked his fifth pinch homer of the 1959 season. Two years later with the Cincinnati Reds, Freese smashed two round-trippers in an 8-7 triumph against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1961.
Buttressed by nine doubles from Pittsburgh Pirates teammates, LHP Joe Gibbon (two-time All-SEC forward for Ole Miss was the nation's second-leading scorer as a senior in 1956-57) hurled a complete-game, 9-1 victory against the Atlanta Braves in 1961.
Pittsburgh Pirates SS Dick Groat (two-time All-American with Duke in 1950-51 and 1951-52 when finishing among nation's top five scorers each season) delivered five hits in a 4-3 victory against the Cincinnati Reds in 1960.
Boston Red Sox LHP Bill Henry (hoops letterman for Houston's 1947 NAIA Tournament team featuring co-captain Guy Lewis) hurled his second of two MLB shutouts (nightcap of 1954 doubleheader against Philadelphia Athletics) before becoming a reliever majority of career.
Boston Red Sox RHP Tom Herrin (Louisiana Tech hoops letterman in 1947-48 and 1948-49) notched his lone MLB victory (20-10 decision over the Philadelphia Athletics in 1954).
St. Louis Browns SS Billy Hunter (multi-sport athlete for Indiana PA post-WWII) went 7-for-9 in a 1953 doubleheader split against the Chicago White Sox.
First victory of the 1957 campaign for Chicago White Sox RHP Bob Keegan (Bucknell hoops letterman in 1941-42 and 1942-43) was a four-hit shutout against the Detroit Tigers.
New York Yankees LF Charlie Keller (three-year hoops letterman with Maryland from 1934-35 through 1936-37) accumulated two homers and five RBI against the Cleveland Indians in a 1947 outing.
First MLB homer for Boston Braves rookie 3B Fritz Knothe (member of Penn's freshman hoops squad in 1923-24) was a three-run blast off New York Giants RHP Hal Schumacher (St. Lawrence NY hooper in early 1930s) in 1932.
Pittsburgh Pirates CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling a 35-3 record) had his 26-game hitting streak end in 2003, falling one contest short of the franchise record.
Los Angeles Dodgers 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 became All-CIC choice with 1968 NAIA Tournament participant) stroked three doubles against the San Francisco Giants in a 1979 outing.
Boston Red Sox 1B Tony Lupien (Harvard hoops captain in 1938-39) provided four hits against the St. Louis Browns in the nightcap of a 1943 twinbill. Five years later with the Chicago White Sox, Lupien went 6-for-8 in a 1948 doubleheader split against the Detroit Tigers.
Chicago White Sox RHP Ted Lyons (two-time All-SWC first-team selection for Baylor in the early 1920s) notched his fifth consecutive complete-game victory during the month in 1926.
Chicago White Sox RF Sam Mele (NYU's leading scorer in 1943 NCAA playoffs) smacked two homers against the Boston Red Sox in a 1952 game.
OF Lyle Mouton (starter in Louisiana State's backcourt with All-American Chris Jackson for 1989 NCAA playoff team) mashed two homers for eventual NCAA champion in 1991 College World Series opener against Florida.
Washington Senators RHP Curly Ogden (Swarthmore PA hoops center from 1919 to 1922) twirled a shutout against the Boston Red Sox in 1924. He also commenced a streak hitting safely in nine of 12 starts until late August.
New York Giants RF Dave Robertson (one of two reserves on North Carolina State's first basketball team in 1911) went 5-for-7 in 1915 twinbill split against the Brooklyn Robins.
Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Don Schwall (All-Big Seven Conference second-team selection led Oklahoma in rebounding in 1956-57) tossed his second shutout of the month in 1963.
Baltimore Orioles LF Larry Sheets (All-ODAC hoops selection in 1981-82 and 1982-83 with Eastern Mennonite VA) supplied three doubles among his four hits against the Seattle Mariners in a 1988 contest.
St. Louis Cardinals RHP Sonny Siebert (team-high 16.7 ppg for Missouri in 1957-58 as All-Big Eight Conference second-team selection) hurled his second of back-to-back five-hit shutouts in 1974.
San Diego Padres OF 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) went 4-for-4 in a 4-2 win against the Chicago White Sox in 2014.
Cleveland Indians LF Leon Wagner (Tuskegee AL hooper in 1952-53) homered in both ends of a 1964 doubleheader sweep of the Washington Senators, triggering streak of smacking a round-tripper in four consecutive contests.
Cincinnati Reds LF Hub Walker (Ole Miss hooper in 1927 and 1929) stroked two triples against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the opener of a 1937 doubleheader.
RF John Wathan (averaged 3.7 ppg in 11 games for San Diego in 1968-69) put the Kansas City Royals in front to stay with a three-run, inside-the-park homer in a 6-4 win against the Chicago White Sox in 1980.
Washington Senators RHP Monte Weaver (hoops center for Emory & Henry VA in mid-1920s) posted his fifth triumph of the month en route to eight straight victories in 1934.
Chicago Cubs RHP Zip Zabel (premier hooper for Baker KS from 1913 to 1915) hurled a five-hit, complete-game victory against the St. Louis Cardinals. He was in midst of compiling a 0.95 ERA in eight-game span covering 47 1/3 innings following his 1914 season debut.
Washington Senators LHP Tom Zachary (hoops letterman for Guilford NC in 1916) went 4-for-4 at the plate in 1921 contest against the New York Yankees.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Supplying MLB Headlines on May 30
Extra! Extra! Instead of hoping ex-Speaker of House #NannyPathetic, while seeking another Capitol Hill officer embrace from tattooed Iranian boy toy, fines herself for unmasking exposing extensive plastic surgery again and for ignoring questions about drunk husband's driving plus greeting of weirdo strangers, 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 St. Joseph's (Ind.) and Oakland City (Ind.) hooper Gil Hodges owned this "doubleheader" date in MLB annals as much, if not more, as Indiana coach/baseball fan Bob Knight "owned" the Hoosier State last quarter of 20th Century. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a May 30 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
MAY 30
Boston Red Sox 1B Dale Alexander (starting basketball center for Milligan TN in mid-1920s) suffered a career-ending injury in 1933 (therapy for twisted knee sliding into home plate led to third-degree burns, gangrene and near loss of his leg). Four years earlier as a Detroit Tigers rookie, he launched a homer in both ends of a 1929 doubleheader split against the St. Louis Browns.
Pittsburgh Pirates LF Clyde Barnhart (hooper for Shippensburg PA predecessor Cumberland Valley State Normal School prior to World War I) collected four hits, four runs scored and five RBI against the St. Louis Cardinals in the nightcap of a 1925 doubleheader.
Philadelphia Phillies RHP Ray Benge (multi-year hoops letterman for Sam Houston State first half of 1920s) twirled a four-hit shutout against the Boston Braves in opener of a 1931 twinbill. Whitewash was his third complete-game victory during the month.
Detroit Tigers 2B Frank Bolling (averaged 7.3 ppg for Spring Hill AL in 1950-51) blasted two homers in a 3-2 win against the Kansas City Athletics in the nightcap of a 1957 doubleheader.
Chicago White Sox 1B Zeke Bonura (best basketball forward for Loyola LA in late 1920s and early 1930s) supplied five RBI in a 9-6 win against the Cleveland Indians in 1937. Three years later with the Washington Senators, Bonura knocked in five runs in a 14-2 triumph against the Philadelphia Athletics in nightcap of 1940 twinbill.
RHP Ownie Carroll (Holy Cross hoops letterman in 1922) traded with Harry Rice by the Detroit Tigers in 1930 to the New York Yankees for two members of the legendary 1927 squad featuring Murderers' Row (P Waite Hoyt and SS Mark Koenig).
In 1955, Milwaukee Braves 1B George Crowe (four-year letterman from 1939-40 through 1942-43 for Indiana Central after becoming first high school player named state's Mr. Basketball) closed out the month with five multiple-hit games, homering in three of the contests.
San Francisco Giants 1B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college hoops crown) homered twice against the San Diego Padres in the opener of a 1977 doubleheader.
3B Gene Freese (hoops captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team for West Liberty WV) whacked two homers, powering the Cincinnati Reds to a 1961 twinbill sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
New York Yankees rookie 3B Mike Gazella (premier hooper for undefeated Mansfield PA hoops squad in 1918) hit .333 in his first 19 MLB games after reaching base in 17 of those contests in May of 1926.
Brooklyn Robins/Dodgers 3B Wally Gilbert (Valparaiso hoops captain in early 1920s) supplied six straight safeties in a doubleheader sweep of the New York Giants in 1931.
Detroit Tigers 1B Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoops scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) went 5-for-5, including four runs, two homers and five RBI, against the St. Louis Browns in a 1937 game.
Pittsburgh Pirates SS Dick Groat (two-time All-American with Duke in 1950-51 and 1951-52 when finishing among nation's top five scorers each season) went 4-for-4 and scored four runs in the nightcap of a 1958 twinbill against the Milwaukee Braves.
C Frank Grube (starting hoops guard for Lafayette as senior in 1926-27), two teammates and Chicago White Sox manager Lew Fonseca involved in a fight with an umpire under the stands after a doubleheader loss at Cleveland in 1932.
Brooklyn Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) knocked in eight runs against the Boston Braves in a 1952 doubleheader sweep. The next year, Hodges homered twice against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the opener of a 1953 twinbill. In 1958 after the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles, Hodges homered in both ends of a doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs. Four years later, Hodges homered three times in a 1962 twinbill against the New York Mets.
Washington Senators LF 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) hammered two homers and chipped in with six RBI against the Kansas City Athletics in the opener of a 1967 twinbill.
New York Yankees LF Charlie Keller (three-year hoops letterman with Maryland from 1934-35 through 1936-37) went 4-for-4 against the Philadelphia Athletics in the nightcap of a 1946 doubleheader.
RHP Cal Koonce (Campbell standout in 1960 and 1961 when North Carolina-based school was junior college), after helping the New York Mets sweep a twinbill against the Pittsburgh Pirates, didn't allow a run in his first 13 relief appearances in 1968.
St. Louis Cardinals SS Doc Lavan (Hope MI hooper from 1908 through 1910) had six hits in a 1921 twinbill sweep of the Cincinnati Reds.
In opener of a 1935 doubleheader against the Philadelphia Phillies, Hal Lee (Mississippi College hooper in mid-1920s before coaching basketball at Auburn and Louisiana Tech the first half of the 1930s) replaced Babe Ruth as LF for the Boston Braves in what would be the legendary Bambino's final game. Lee hit .322 the remainder of the campaign including stroking four singles the next day in the nightcap of a twinbill against the New York Giants.
Chicago White Sox LHP Thornton Lee (Cal Poly hooper in 1925-26) hurled his fifth complete-game victory of the month in 1945.
Baltimore Orioles rookie RHP Dave Leonhard (averaged 4.8 ppg with Johns Hopkins MD in 1961-62) tossed his second shutout of the month in 1968 (two-hitter after earlier one-hitter).
RF Sam Mele (NYU's leading scorer in 1943 NCAA playoffs) traded by the Washington Senators to the Chicago White Sox in 1952.
Cleveland Indians 1B Ed Morgan (Tulane hoops letterman from 1923-24 through 1925-26) contributed five RBI in a 12-6 win against the Chicago White Sox in the opener of a 1932 doubleheader.
Washington Senators 3B Buddy Myer (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1923-24) hit safely in all 22 games of the month and 24 in a row overall in 1929.
Chicago Cubs rookie C Cal Neeman (Illinois Wesleyan's leading scorer in 1947-48 and 1948-49) hit safely in last 11 contests of the month in 1957. It was a career-long hitting streak for him.
The Chicago Cubs went 32 games in 1943 before hitting a homer prior to RF Bill Nicholson (hoops guard for Washington College MD two years in mid-1930s) knocking a couple of balls beyond the outfield barrier in a 5-1 victory over the Braves. His first of a pair of two-run blasts came in the team's 1,120th at-bat of the season.
California Angels 1B Bob Oliver (All-Valley Conference basketball choice for American River Community College CA in 1962), in the midst of a career-high 10-game hitting streak, opened the contest's scoring with a first-inning, three-run homer off Stan Bahnsen in 6-0 win against Chicago White Sox in 1972.
Washington Senators rookie C Ken Retzer (fourth-leading juco scorer with 184 points for Jefferson City MO in 1953-54) went 3-for-4 with four RBI against the Kansas City Athletics in opener of a 1962 twinbill.
New York Giants LF Dave Robertson (one of two reserves on North Carolina State's first basketball team in 1911) stroked two doubles in nightcap of 1917 twinbill against the Philadelphia Phillies to ignite his career-high 15-game hitting streak. Three years later as a Chicago Cubs LF, Robertson went 3-for-3 with four RBI in 1920 game against the St. Louis Cardinals.
1B Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) ripped a 13th-inning homer to give the Brooklyn Dodgers a 2-1 win over the New York Giants in the opener of a 1949 doubleheader.
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) was hitting .500 (6-for-12) after his first six appearances in sixth and final MLB campaign in 1962. He finished his six-year MLB playing career with a .207 batting average.
In midst of career-high 16-game hitting streak, Cleveland Indians 1B Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) supplied three extra-base hits (two doubles/one homer) in a 1998 game against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Cleveland Indians LF Preston Ward (second-leading scorer for Southwest Missouri State in 1946-47 and 1948-49) walloped two homers against the Chicago White Sox in the nightcap of a 1956 twinbill.
St. Louis Cardinals 1B Bill White (two-year hooper with Hiram OH in early 1950s) supplied two homers and six RBI against the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 1960 game.
San Diego Padres RF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) knocked in five runs against the Atlanta Braves in a 1979 contest.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Supplying MLB Headlines on May 29
Extra! Extra! Rather than trying to determine which fossil-fool #Dimorat is oldest (Plagiarist Biledumb, Robert De Niro, Nanny Pathetic, #MadMaxine or Schmucky Schumer), 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 West Liberty WV hooper Joe Niekro was involved in one of the most unusual incidents in MLB annals. The only homer of Niekro's 22-year career occurred in 1976 and came at the expense of his brother (24-year big leaguer Phil). Also making news on this date were ex-Virginia college hoopers Larry Doby (Virginia Union), Curtis Pride (William & Mary), Eppa Rixey (Virginia) and Larry Sheets (Eastern Mennonite). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a May 29 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
MAY 29
Rookie RHP Mark Acre (played in 1990 NCAA Basketball Tournament with New Mexico State) allowed his only run through 10 relief appearances to early June 1994 with the Oakland A's (0.82 ERA in first 3 1/2 weeks).
SS Bill Almon (averaged 2.5 ppg in half a season for Brown's 1972-73 team ending the Bears' streak of 12 straight losing records) traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates to the New York Mets in 1987.
In 1955, Cleveland Indians RF Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA hoops titlist) launched the first MLB homer over the outer wall at Kansas City's Municipal Stadium.
In 1971, Atlanta Braves 3B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) launched his first of 414 MLB career homers. The blast came off St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame RHP Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer in 1955-56 and 1956-57).
Boston Red Sox RHP Boo Ferriss (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1941) hurled his third shutout of the month in 1946.
In the midst of a 20-game hitting streak, New York Yankees 1B-OF Buddy Hassett (hooper for Manhattan teams winning school-record 17 consecutive games in 1930 and 1931) contributed four hits in a 16-1 rout of Washington in 1942.
LF "Sweet" Lou Johnson (Kentucky State teammate of legendary HBCU coach Davey Whitney averaged 5.7 ppg and 2 rpg in 1951-52) swatted two homers in a 5-3 triumph against the Milwaukee Braves in 1965.
Chicago White Sox RHP Howie Judson (Illinois' third-leading scorer in 1944-45) ended a personal streak of 15 straight defeats with a 12-8 relief victory over the St. Louis Browns in 1950.
OF Jim Lyttle (led Florida State in free-throw shooting in 1965-66 when averaging 12.4 ppg) purchased from the Montreal Expos by the New York Mets in 1974.
RHP Christy Mathewson (Bucknell hooper at turn of 20th Century) notched a 3-0 shutout over the Boston Braves in 1916, sparking the New York Giants to their 17th triumph in a row (all on road).
In MLB debut as reliever, New York Yankees RHP Bobby Munoz (scored 35 points for Polk Community College FL in game against Palm Beach in mid-November 1986) struck out first two batters he faced in hurling a 1-2-3 ninth inning in 8-2 win against the Chicago White Sox in 1993.
New York Yankees 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) socked two homers against the Oakland Athletics in a 1973 game.
Philadelphia Phillies RF Bill Nicholson (Washington College MD hoops guard for two years in mid-1930s) provided his third consecutive three-hit contest in 1953. Nicholson supplied only one more safety in the final 40 at-bats of his 16-year MLB career.
Houston Astros RHP Joe Niekro (averaged 8.9 ppg and 3.8 rpg for West Liberty WV from 1963-64 through 1965-66) belted the only homer of his 22-year career in 1976. The round-tripper against the Atlanta Braves came at the expense of his brother (Phil).
RHP Claude Passeau (Millsaps MS hooper in late 1920s and early 1930s) traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to the Chicago Cubs in 1939.
LF Ray Pepper (Alabama hoops letterman in 1926-27) banged out five hits, including two homers, and drove in five runs to boost the St. Louis Browns to a 12-7 victory over the Detroit Tigers in 1934.
Detroit Tigers RHP Clarence "Red" Phillips (East Central OK hooper from 1927-28 through 1930-31) hurled a 10-inning, complete-game triumph (4-3) against the Chicago White Sox in 1936.
OF Curtis Pride (led William & Mary in steals three times and assists twice while averaging 5.6 ppg and 3.1 apg from 1986-87 through 1989-90) pounded a pinch homer for the Atlanta Braves against the Chicago Cubs in 1998.
Philadelphia Phillies LHP Eppa Rixey (Virginia hoops letterman in 1912 and 1914) yielded a ninth-inning inside-the-park homer but held on for a 4-3, 13-inning victory against Pittsburgh. It is the only homer Rixey allowed in 301 innings pitched.
Chicago Cubs rookie RHP Wayne Schurr (Hillsdale College MI hooper in late 1950s) hurled 5 1/3 innings of scoreless relief in a contest against the Milwaukee Braves in 1964.
Baltimore Orioles DH Larry Sheets (All-ODAC hoops selection in 1981-82 and 1982-83 with Eastern Mennonite VA) smacked two homers in an 8-6 win against the Oakland Athletics in 1986. Three years later, Sheets socked a round-tripper in his third of last four outings.
In 1926, Cleveland Indians 2B Freddy Spurgeon (Kalamazoo MI hooper in 1921-22) extended his hitting streak to 11 games in a row with eighth contest of the month boasting at least three safeties.
Chicago White Sox DH Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) whacked two taters in a 2006 game against the Cleveland Indians.
Chicago Cubs OF Bob Will (all-league athlete was Mankato State MN hoops captain in 1954-55) slugged his second pinch-hit homer in an eight-game span in 1962.
Second homer of game by CF Randy Winn (Santa Clara backcourtmate of eventual two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash in 1993-94) provided decisive tally for the San Francisco Giants in a 4-3 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2008. Winn homered from both sides of the plate.
Bill Walton Ranks Fourth Among Greatest Collegiate Players in NCAA History
One takes the risk of making some colossal blunders by rating players who had the most impact while in college? An observer could assemble a compelling argument that recently-deceased Bill Walton certainly is among the five greatest collegians of all time. At first glance, the prospect of not including him among the top five to 10 basketball collegians in history is as ridiculous as his chances of overcoming a speech impediment to become a long-time commentator.
Extended impact is a vital factor in the elite player equation. In order to whittle the illustrious field to a manageable number, candidates for most influential had to play a minimum of three major-college seasons to be included among the Top 10.
Michael Jordan is the greatest hooper of all time if you include a collegian's pro career. But from an all-time great perspective, he averaged a modest 17.7 points, 5 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game with North Carolina.
Walton compiled an 11-1 NCAA playoff record during an era when a stunning number of UCLA All-Americans posted comparable tourney marks - Lew Alcindor (12-0), Henry Bibby (12-0), Dave Meyers (12-1), Curtis Rowe (12-0), Richard Washington (12-1), Sidney Wicks (12-0) and Keith Wilkes (11-1). Walton ranks fourth on the following Top Ten list of most influential college basketball players while they were in school (minimum of three varsity seasons):
1. Lew Alcindor, C, UCLA (88-2 team record, .978; 26.4 ppg, 15.5 rpg, 63.9 FG%)
The only individual selected the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player three times averaged 25.7 points and 18.8 rebounds and shot 64.1 percent from the floor in six Final Four games from 1967 through 1969. Alcindor, who later changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, is the only player to couple three unanimous first-team All-American seasons with three NCAA titles. Of the 10 different individuals to average more than 23 points per game for a national champion a total of 12 times, Alcindor achieved the feat all three of his seasons with the Bruins. He is also the only player to hit better than 70 percent of his field-goal attempts in two NCAA title games. UCLA '67, the first varsity season for Alcindor, set the record for largest average margin of victory for a champion when the Bruins started a dazzling streak of 10 consecutive Final Four appearances. They won their 12 NCAA playoff games with Alcindor manning the middle by an average margin of 21.5 points. The three Alcindor-led UCLA teams rank among the seven NCAA champions with average margins of victory in a tournament of more than 19 points per game. He led the nation in field-goal percentage in 1967 and 1969 and finished fourth in 1968. Ranked among the nation's leading scorers in 1967 (2nd), 1968 (12th) and 1969 (29th). Ranked among the nation's leading rebounders in 1967 (4th), 1968 (9th) and 1969 (16th). Both of UCLA's defeats with Alcindor manning the middle were by two points. It's no wonder a perceptive scribe wrote that the acronym NCAA took on a new meaning during the Alcindor Era--"No Chance Against Alcindor." A player that graces the sport once in a lifetime also lost only one of 117 high school games for Power Memorial in New York.
2. Oscar Robertson, F-G, Cincinnati (79-9, .898; 33.8 ppg, 15.2 rpg, 53.5 FG%, 78 FT%)
Averaged at least 29 points and 10 rebounds per game each of his three years in the NCAA tourney. Led the country in scoring all three varsity seasons. First player to lead the nation's scorers in both his sophomore and junior seasons. Ranked among the nation's top 20 in rebound percentage and field-goal percentage all three seasons. The textbook definition of an all-around player also ranked among the leaders in free-throw percentage in 1958 (33rd) and 1959 (35th). Had six games of at least 50 points, including a school-record 62 against North Texas State and 56 when he personally outscored Seton Hall (118-54). Amassed 33 consecutive double-doubles (double figures in scoring and rebounding).
3. Pete Maravich, G, Louisiana State (49-35, .583; 44.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 5.1 apg)
All-time leading male scorer in Division I holds NCAA records for most 50-point games (10) and most 40-point games (56). Dazzling ballhandler never scored fewer than 30 points in back-to-back games and tallied under 20 just once (17 at Tennessee as a sophomore) in his three varsity seasons. The son of LSU coach Press Maravich was outscored by a teammate in just one regular-season game en route to three consecutive national scoring titles. "Pistol Pete" scored an amazing 48.2 percent of LSU's points in his three-year career en route to setting a bevy of NCAA scoring records. The three-time SEC Player of the Year likely would have averaged more than 50 ppg if there had been a three-point arc at the time. The most disconcerting things about his career were failing to participate in the NCAA playoffs, an anemic 7-13 mark during his career in contests decided by fewer than four points and SEC setbacks each year against bottom-feeder teams--ninth-place Ole Miss as a sophomore, tenth-place Alabama as a junior and ninth-place Alabama as a senior. But when doubts creep in, just watch some old video of him and you'll be forced to acknowledge that his off-the-chart creativity revolutionized the game.
4. Bill Walton, C, UCLA (86-4, .956; 20.3 ppg, 15.7 rpg, 65.1 FG%)
Averaged 28.8 points and 17.8 rebounds per game at the Final Four in 1972 and 1973. His championship game-record 44 points against Memphis State in 1973 when he hit 21 of 22 field-goal attempts will probably never be duplicated. Ranked among the nation's top four in field-goal percentage in 1972 (4th), 1973 (2nd) and 1974 (2nd). Ranked among the nation's top 10 rebounders all three seasons. He joined Oscar Robertson (Cincinnati '58) as the only players in history during the freshman team era to be named national player of the year in their first season of varsity competition. Walton was headliner of the first major-college team in history to compile back-to-back perfect-record seasons. Walton, who paced three consecutive league champions in scoring and rebounding, is the only player to be a three-time first-team NCAA unanimous All-American and first-team Academic All-American. He shot an NCAA Tournament-record 68.6 percent from the floor in 12 playoff games (11-1 record).
5. Jerry Lucas, C, Ohio State (78-6, .929; 24.3 ppg, 17.2 rpg, 62.4 FG%)
Final Four Most Outstanding Player in 1960 and 1961. Three-time Big Ten Conference MVP led the nation in field-goal percentage all three seasons from 1960 through 1962. Paced the country in rebounding in 1961 and 1962 after finishing 11th in 1960. Ranked among the nation's leading scorers in 1960 (8th), 1961 (11th) and 1962 (38th) and 43rd in free-throw percentage in 1962. Lucas departed with the three best single-season rebounding totals in Big Ten history. He became the first player ever to gain five individual national statistical titles in a career (two for rebounding and three for shooting). He had 20 games with at least 20 rebounds and managed streaks of 38 and 24 consecutive double-doubles (double figures in scoring and rebounding).
6. Larry Bird, F, Indiana State (81-13, .862; 30.3 ppg, 13.3 rpg, 53.3 FG%, 82.2 FT%)
Indiana transfer ranked among the nation's top three scorers in 1977 (3rd), 1978 (2nd) and 1979 (2nd). Two-time MVC Player of the Year ranked among the nation's top seven rebounders in 1977 and 1979. Had eight games with at least 44 points, including a school-record 49 against Wichita State. How good would the Hoosiers have been in the '70s if Bird had stayed put?
7. David Thompson, F, North Carolina State (79-7, .919; 26.8 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 55.3 FG%)
Three-time ACC Player of the Year ranked among the nation's leading scorers in 1973 (17th), 1974 (5th) and 1975 (3rd). Incredible leaper ranked 19th in the nation in field-goal percentage in 1973. He had a total of 33 30-point games, including a school-record 57 against Buffalo State. You had to see him to believe his high-wire act.
8. Bill Russell, C, San Francisco (71-8, .899; 20.7 ppg, 20.3 rpg, 51.6 FG%)
Grabbed an incredible 50 rebounds at the 1956 Final Four (23 against SMU in the semifinals and 27 against Iowa in the championship game). No other player has retrieved more than 41 missed shots in two Final Four games or more than 21 in the final. One of six players to average more than 20 points and 20 rebounds per game in his career. Ranked among the nation's leading rebounders in 1954 (7th), 1955 (4th) and 1956 (4th). Ranked among the nation's leaders in field-goal percentage in 1954 (15th), 1955 (7th) and 1956 (9th).
9. Bill Bradley, F, Princeton (62-21, .747; 30.2 ppg, 12.1 rpg, 51.3 FG%, 87.6 FT%)
The former U.S. Senator (D-N.J.) and presidential candidate for 2000 holds the record for most points in a single Final Four game (58 against Wichita State in 1965 national third-place game). He scored 39 points in the second half of the consolation game. The Rhodes Scholar was the only player to have a double-digit season scoring average (30.5 points per game) for Princeton's Final Four team. Bradley also holds the career playoff record for highest free-throw percentage (minimum of 50 attempts). He was 89 of 96 from the foul line (90.6 percent) from 1963 through 1965. In five of his nine playoff games, Bradley made at least 10 free throws while missing no more than one attempt from the charity stripe. He made 16 of 16 free throws against St. Joseph's in the first round of the 1963 East Regional and 13 of 13 foul shots against Providence in the 1965 East Regional final to become the only player to twice convert more than 12 free throws without a miss in playoff games. He led the nation in free-throw percentage in 1965 after finishing 2nd in 1963 and 14th in 1964. Ranked among the nation's top five scorers in 1963 (5th), 1964 (4th) and 1965 (3rd). Set a mark for most points in an Ivy League contest when he poured in 51 against Harvard. He is the only Princeton player to score 40 or more points in a game, a feat he achieved 11 times. Bradley led three consecutive Ivy League champions in scoring and rebounding.
10. Elvin Hayes, F-C, Houston (81-12, .871; 31 ppg, 17.2 rpg, 53.6 FG%)
He is the only player to lead an NCAA tournament in scoring by more than 60 points (167 points in five games in 1968). Hayes became the only player in tournament history to collect more than 40 points and 25 rebounds in the same game when he amassed 49 points and 27 rebounds in a 94-76 decision over Loyola of Chicago in the first round of the '68 Midwest Regional. He holds the records for most rebounds in a playoff series (97 in five games as a senior in 1968) and career (222 in 13 games). He had five tourney games with at least 24 rebounds, including the first three playoff contests in 1968, before being held to five in a 101-69 national semifinal loss against UCLA. Hayes also holds the record for most playoff field goals in a career with 152. Ranked among the nation's top six rebounders in 1966 (5th), 1967 (6th) and 1968 (3rd). Ranked among the nation's leading scorers in 1966 (11th), 1967 (4th) and 1968 (3rd). Accrued 52 games with at least 30 points and 25 contests with a minimum of least 20 rebounds.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Supplying MLB Headlines on May 28
Extra! Extra! If still double masked to muffle cursing at Plagiarist Biledumb's Oval Office failure to discern Chinese origin of COVID-19 or spending time seeking reparations from every weapons-grade dummy who voted for hair-sniffing fossil fool, 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 college hoopers Frankie Baumholtz (Ohio University), Mickey Brantley (Columbia-Greene Community College SC), Bob Cerv (Nebraska), David Justice (Thomas More KY), Billy North (Central Washington), Larry Sheets (Eastern Mennonite VA) and Babe Young (Fordham) supplied significant performances as MLB outfielders on this date. Ex-NYU hoopers Hank Greenberg and Eddie Yost made American League news with their offensive outputs on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a May 28 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
MAY 28
In a 1954 game, Chicago Cubs CF Frankie Baumholtz (MVP in 1941 NIT and first player in Ohio University basketball history to score 1,000 career points) stroked four hits against his original team (Cincinnati Reds).
Cincinnati Reds 2B Jim Begley (played hoops for San Francisco during first half of 1920s) went 1-for-5 and scored one run in 1924 doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals in his only MLB action.
In midst of hitting safely in 25 of 26 games (raising batting average 100 points from .211 to .311), Seattle Mariners LF Mickey Brantley (averaged 10 ppg, 6.8 rpg and 5.4 apg for Columbia-Greene Community College SC in 1979-80) collected four RBI in a 6-1 victory against the New York Yankees in 1988.
New York Yankees LF Bob Cerv (ranked fourth on Nebraska's career scoring list in 1949-50 whacked a pinch grand slam against the Chicago White Sox in a 1961 contest.
RHP George Earnshaw (Swarthmore PA hooper in 1922) acquired by the Philadelphia Athletics from Baltimore in 1928.
Detroit Tigers 1B Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoops scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) smacked two homers in an 8-3 win against the New York Yankees in 1935.
Chicago Cubs 1B Jim Hickman (freshman hooper for Ole Miss in 1955-56) homered twice, including game-winning blast in the bottom of ninth inning, in an 8-7 victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1970.
RF David Justice (Thomas More KY assists leader in 1984-85) provided a two-run single to spark a ninth-inning rally propelling the Atlanta Braves past the San Diego Padres, 8-6, in 1991.
San Francisco Giants CF Billy North (played hoops briefly for Central Washington in 1967-68) stole three bases in a game as a 33-year-old for the third time this month in 1981.
RHP Ron Reed (Notre Dame's leading rebounder in 1963-64 and 1964-65) traded by the Atlanta Braves to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1975.
Baltimore Orioles LF Larry Sheets (All-ODAC hoops selection in 1981-82 and 1982-83 with Eastern Mennonite VA) socked two homers against the California Angels in a 1987 outing.
Boston Red Sox RHP Sonny Siebert (team-high 16.7 ppg for Missouri in 1957-58 as All-Big Eight Conference second-team selection) won his first nine decisions in the 1971 campaign, posting a 1.77 ERA in April and May.
Entering the game with a .177 batting average, Washington Senators 2B Wayne Terwilliger (two-year hoops letterman for Western Michigan averaged 5.6 ppg in final season in 1947-48) went 3-for-3 and homered for the first of three consecutive contests in 1954 (all of his round-trippers for season in 106 outings).
As a substitute in a 17-inning tie, Los Angeles Dodgers rookie 3B John Werhas (USC's leading scorer in 1958-59 and 1959-60) collected a career-high three hits against the Cincinnati Reds in 1964.
In 1994, Minnesota Twins DH Dave Winfield (starting forward with Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) collected his 3,054th MLB hit, surpassing former Twin Rod Carew into 15th place on the all-time list.
Detroit Tigers 3B Eddie Yost (NYU freshman hooper in 1943-44 under coach Howard Cann) drew four walks in a 1960 game against the Cleveland Indians. He was in midst of receiving at least one free pass in last nine contests of the month en route to pacing A.L. in on-base percentage for second of back-to-back seasons.
New York Giants CF Babe Young (Fordham hoops letterman in 1935-36) went 4-for-4 against the Brooklyn Dodgers in a 1946 game.
I'll Be Back: Colorado Buffaloes Return to Big 12 Following Rocky Pac 12 Stint
Dominoes seem to fall every time a school seeks greener pastures. The Ivy League is only Division I conference to remain intact since the late 1980s.
They didn't stay at "home," but did return there. Colorado went full circle and returned to the Big 12 Conference as a member. The Buffaloes joined the following institutions re-enlisting with a conference after leaving for various durations:
School | DI Conference (Membership Tenure) | School Status During Interim |
---|---|---|
Abilene Christian | Southland (1969-73 and since 2014) | Lone Star |
Boise State | Big West (1997-2001 and since 2014) | WAC (2002-11) and Mountain West (2012 and 2013) |
Campbell | Big South (1986-94 and since 2012) | TAAC/Atlantic Sun (1995-2011) |
Charlotte | Conference USA (1996-2005 and since 2014) | Atlantic 10 (2006-13) |
Colorado | Big 12 (1997-2011 and since 2025) | Pac 12 (2012-24) |
Connecticut | Big East (1980-2013 and since 2021) | American Athletic (2014-20) |
Creighton | Missouri Valley (1929-48 and 1977-2013) | Independent |
Davidson | Southern (1937-88 and since 1993) | Big South (1991 and 1992) |
Drake | Missouri Valley (1908-51 and since 1957) | Independent |
Duquesne | Eastern 8/Atlantic 10 (since 1977 except for 1993) | Midwestern Collegiate (1993) |
Georgia State | Sun Belt (1977-81 and since 2014) | TAAC/Atlantic Sun (1985-2005) and CAA (2006-13) |
Harvard | EIBL/Ivy League (1902-09 and since 1934) | Independent |
Lamar | Southland (1969-87, 1999-2021 and since 2023) | American South (1988-91), Sun Belt (1992-98) and WAC (2022) |
Murray State | Ohio Valley (1949 through 2022 except for 1962 before leaving for Missouri Valley) | Independent |
New Orleans | Sun Belt (1977-80 and 1992-2010) | Independent and American South (1988-91) |
Northern Illinois | Mid-American (1976-86 and since 1998) | Mid-Continent (1991-94) and Midwestern Collegiate (1995-97) |
Oregon | Pacific Coast (1916-59 and since 1965) | Independent |
Oregon State | Pacific Coast (1916-59 and since 1965) | Independent |
Pacific | WCAC/West Coast (1953-71 and since 2014) | PCAA/Big West (1972-2013) |
Penn State | Eastern 8/Atlantic 10 (1977-79 and 1983-91) | Independent |
Prairie View A&M | SWAC (since 1921 except for 1991) | Discontinued program one season |
Texas-Arlington | Western Athletic (2013 and since 2023) | Southland (1969-2013 except for 1987) and Sun Belt (2014-22) |
Virginia Military | Southern (1926-2003 and since 2015) | Big South (2004-14) |
Washington State | Pacific Coast/Pac-12 (1917-59 and since 1964) | Independent |