On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make Mark on June 20 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all 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 small-college hoopers Dick Siebert (Concordia-St. Paul MN/Minnesota) and Bobby Winkles (Illinois Wesleyan/Arizona State) guided major universities to College World Series championships on this date in the 1960s. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 20 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 20
Boston Red Sox 1B Dale Alexander (starting basketball center in mid-1920s for Milligan TN) contributed four hits in a 9-5 win against the Cleveland Indians in 1933.
LF Howie Bedell (averaged 3.5 ppg and 3.5 rpg for West Chester PA in 1955-56) traded by the Milwaukee Braves to the St. Louis Cardinals for P Bobby Tiefenauer in 1963.
Montreal Expos RHP Ray Burris (two-sport standout in Southwestern Oklahoma State Hall of Fame) tossed a three-hit shutout against the Philadelpia Phillies in 1983.
RHP Bob Chlupsa (led Manhattan in rebounding in 1965-66 and 1966-67) traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the San Diego Padres in 1972.
1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in WAC games in 1991-92) clobbered two of Detroit's team-record eight homers in the Tigers' 18-6 victory against the Toronto Blue Jays in 2000.
Hall of Fame C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) collected four of the Philadelphia Athletics' 26 hits in an 18-11 decision over the Chicago White Sox in 1932.
Lone MLB triumph for RHP Paul Edmondson (averaged 12.4 ppg and 6.6 rpg with Cal State Northridge from 1962-63 through 1964-65) came in his debut in 1969 when hurling a two-hitter for the Chicago White Sox against the California Angels.
Detroit Tigers rookie 1B Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoops scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) went 4-for-4 against the Philadelphia Athletics in a 1933 contest.
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) awarded on waivers from the San Francisco Giants to the California Angels in 1980.
Los Angeles Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) homered twice against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1959 game.
Toronto Blue Jays 3B Garth Iorg (juco hooper with College of the Redwoods CA in mid-1970s) went 3-for-3 and scored three runs in a 6-5 win against the Boston Red Sox in 1985.
New York Yankees LF Charlie Keller (three-year hoops letterman with Maryland from 1934-35 through 1936-37) homered in his fourth consecutive contest in 1941. Two years later, Keller connected for a circuit clout in both ends of a 1943 twinbill split against the Washington Senators.
San Francisco Giants OF Harvey Kuenn (played hoops briefly for Wisconsin in 1951-52 after competing on JV squad previous season) collected five hits against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1964 contest.
Chicago Cubs RF Bill Nicholson (Washington College MD hoops guard for two years in mid-1930s) smacked two homers against the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a 1943 doubleheader.
In 1961 outing, Baltimore Orioles rookie RF Earl Robinson (three-time All-PCC second-team selection for California under coach Pete Newell from 1955-56 through 1957-58) ripped first MLB homer, which was among his three hits against the Minnesota Twins.
New York Yankees 3B Red Rolfe (Dartmouth hooper in 1927-28 and 1929-30) registered three extra-base hits against the Chicago White Sox in a 1939 game.
Baltimore Orioles 1B Norm Siebern (member of Southwest Missouri State squads capturing back-to-back NAIA Tournament hoops titles in 1952 and 1953) stroked three extra-base hits and scored four runs against the Washington Senators in a 1965 game.
Eleven-year MLB 1B Dick Siebert (Concordia-St. Paul MN hooper in 1929 and 1930) coached Minnesota to his second of three College World Series championships with the Gophers by outlasting Southern California, 2-1, in 10 innings in 1960.
Chicago Cubs SS Roy Smalley Jr. (one of top scorers for Drury MO in 1942-43 and 1943-44) supplied three extra-base hits off Johnny Sain in a 4-3 triumph against the Boston Braves in a 1950 contest.
RHP Lee Smith (averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg with Northwestern State in 1976-77) preserved the California Angels' 3-2 verdict over the Kansas City Royals in 1995, setting a MLB mark with his 18th save in 18 opportunities (record subsequently broken).
Boston Red Sox 3B Jim Tabor (Alabama hoops letterman in 1936-37) jacked two homers against the Philadelphia Athletics in the opener of a 1943 twinbill.
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 third of three College World Series championships with the Sun Devils by trouncing Tulsa, 10-1, in 1969.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make Mark on June 19 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all 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 small-college hoopers Dale Alexander (Milligan TN) and Larry Biittner (Buena Vista IA) each went 4-for-4 in a MLB game on this date while small-school counterparts Donn Clendenon (Morehouse GA) and Bill White (Hiram OH) both had outstanding offensive outputs as N.L. first basemen. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 19 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 19
Detroit Tigers 1B Dale Alexander (starting basketball center in mid-1920s for Milligan TN) had a 29-game hitting streak snapped by the New York Yankees in 1932. Two years later, Alexander was with the Boston Red Sox when he went 4-for-4 against the Cleveland Indians in the opener of a doubleheader.
Cleveland Indians RHP Jim Bibby (Fayetteville State NC backup hooper and brother of UCLA All-American Henry Bibby) tossed a four-hit shutout against the Detroit Tigers in the nightcap of a 1977 twinbill.
Chicago Cubs 1B Larry Biittner (runner-up in scoring and rebounding for Buena Vista IA in 1966-67) went 4-for-4 in the nightcap of a 1976 doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves.
New York Mets 1B Donn Clendenon (four-sport letterman with Morehouse GA) contributed three extra-base hits against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1971 game.
Philadelphia Athletics LHP Chubby Dean (reserve guard for Duke in 1936) hurled five innings of scoreless relief against the Cleveland Indians in a 1938 contest. Dean won his previous two relief appearances and compiled a 1.72 ERA in five games during the month.
New York Giants OF Hoot Evers (starter for Illinois in 1939-40) climaxed a four-run, ninth-inning rally with a pinch-hit homer against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1954.
Los Angeles Dodgers C Joe Ferguson (hooper in 1967 NCAA playoffs with Pacific) provided a game-winning, pinch homer in the bottom of the 10th inning in a 5-3 win against the Montreal Expos in 1980.
Nine-year MLB INF Jerry Kindall (averaged 6.9 ppg for Minnesota as junior in 1955-56) coached Arizona to his first of three College World Series championships with the Wildcats by upending Eastern Michigan, 7-1, in 1976.
Washington Senators 2B Buddy Myer (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1923-24) notched at least three hits for the fourth time in six-game span in 1935.
San Diego Padres 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) smacked two homers against the San Francisco Giants in a 1986 outing.
Brooklyn Dodgers LF Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) ripped two homers against the Chicago Cubs in a 1954 contest.
Baltimore Orioles RHP Tim Stoddard (starting forward opposite All-American David Thompson for North Carolina State's 1974 NCAA champion) yielded his only run in an 11-game stretch of relief appearances in 1979.
Detroit Tigers C Birdie Tebbetts (Providence hooper in 1932) manufactured three hits for the third time in a four-game span in 1940.
St. Louis Cardinals RHP Ray Washburn (led Whitworth WA in scoring when named All-Evergreen Conference in 1958-59 and 1959-60) hurled a two-hit shutout against the Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a 1966 doubleheader.
St. Louis Cardinals 1B Bill White (two-year hooper for Hiram OH in early 1950s) knocked in five runs in a 1963 contest against the New York Mets.
Men For All Seasons: College Hoopers Dominated Formative Years of CWS
Long before the ping was the electronic thing, college cagers brought their electrifying Hoop Dreams to the eclectic Field of Dreams. For instance, Lowell "Lefty" Davis averaged 19.3 ppg as an All-ACC second-team selection before the lefthander hurled a shutout in the NCAA College World Series for 1955 baseball champion Wake Forest. The next year, hoops regular Jerry Kindall hit for the cycle with eventual kingpin Minnesota against Ole Miss before eventually coaching Arizona to three CWS titles in an 11-year span (1976-80-86).
Among the eventual big leaguers selected to an All-CWS Team after also competing as college hoopers were Sonny Siebert (Missouri in 1958), Bob Garibaldi (Santa Clara in 1962), Gary Holman (Southern California in 1963), Bill Davis (Minnesota in 1964), Gary Sutherland (Southern California in 1964), Dave Winfield (Minnesota in 1973), Lyle Mouton (Louisiana State in 1990 and 1991) and Ryan Minor (Oklahoma in 1994). Siebert, a 12-year MLB pitcher, also played 1B for Mizzou, hitting three triples in six postseason games for CWS runner-up. Mouton smacked two homers for eventual champion LSU in 1991 CWS opener against Florida.
Three of the first four individuals earning the NCAA College World Series Most Outstanding Player award were also basketball players for the school. Following are athletic achievement summaries during the school year in question for this trio plus versatile performers Garibaldi and Winfield in the ultimate hoops regular/CWS MOP category:
| Year | CWS MOP | College | Pos. | School Year Summary for Multi-Sport Athlete |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | Tom Hamilton | Texas | 1B | #2 scorer for 17-7 hoops team before contributing home run and four RBI in CWS title-game victory against Wake Forest |
| 1950 | Ray Van Cleef | Rutgers | OF | averaged 2.8 ppg for 13-15 hoops team before going 7-for-9 in first two CWS outings for eventual 3rd-place finisher |
| 1952 | Jim O'Neill | Holy Cross | P | averaged 6.2 ppg for 24-4 NIT participant before 6-5 righthander tossed three CWS complete-game wins, striking out nine in championship contest |
| 1962 | Bob Garibaldi | Santa Clara | P | #2 scorer/rebounder for 19-6 hoops team before workhorse fanned 38 batters while appearing in five of six CWS games (27 2/3 innings after hurling eight frames in relief in 15-inning final-game loss against Michigan) |
| 1973 | Dave Winfield | Minnesota | OF-P | averaged 10.5 ppg and 6.1 rpg for 21-5 hoops team before eventual HOF outfielder fanned 29 batters in two pitching starts (14 vs. Oklahoma and 15 vs. USC) with club tying for third-place finish; in perhaps the most amazing game in CWS history, Winfield allowed only an infield single through eight innings before defending champion Trojans erased 7-0 deficit with eight runs in ninth frame |
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make Mark on June 18 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all 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.
Three former MLB players or manager who played college hoops - Ohio State's Marty Karow (alma mater), Minnesota's Dick Siebert (Concordia-St. Paul MN) and Arizona State's Bobby Winkles (Illinois Wesleyan) - coached schools to College World Series championships on this date in a four-year span in the mid-1960s. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 18 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 18
Philadelphia Phillies rookie LF Harry Anderson (averaged 7.7 ppg and 8.9 rpg for West Chester PA basketball squad in 1951-52) provided the game-winning hit with a fifth-inning grand slam in a 7-6 win against the Chicago Cubs in 1957.
Pittsburgh Pirates RF Clyde Barnhart (hooper for Shippensburg PA predecessor Cumberland Valley State Normal School prior to World War I) contributed five RBI against the Boston Braves in a 1923 game.
Cincinnati Reds rookie RF Frankie Baumholtz (MVP in 1941 NIT and first player in Ohio University history to score 1,000 points in a career) collected four hits and 1B Babe Young (Fordham letterman in 1935-36) contributed a pair of three-run homers to support teammate Ewell Blackwell's no-hitter against the Boston Braves in 1947.
Cincinnati Reds 3B Gene Freese (West Liberty WV hoops captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team) went 7-for-8 in a 1961 doubleheader sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies.
Chicago White Sox RHP Jim Geddes (averaged 2.7 ppg for Ohio State from 1967-68 through 1969-70 under coach Fred Taylor) held the California Angels hitless for 4 2/3 innings but walked six in his 1973 debut. In his next appearance, Geddes held the Texas Rangers scoreless in 4 1/3 innings in the opener of a July 4 doubleheader.
1B Dick Gernert (Temple hoops letterman in 1948-49) whacked the only homer for the Boston Red Sox while tallying 17 runs in the seventh inning of a 23-3 rout of the Detroit Tigers in 1953. C Sammy White (All-PCC Northern Division first-five selection for Washington in 1947-48 and 1948-49) tied a MLB single-inning record by scoring three runs during the explosive frame. White finished the fray with four hits and four runs scored.
Brooklyn Robins 3B Wally Gilbert (hoops captain played for Valparaiso from 1918-19 through 1920-21) went 4-for-4 and scored three runs in an 8-7 win against the New York Giants in the opener of a 1929 doubleheader.
Pittsburgh Pirates 1B Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoops scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) whacked two homers against the New York Giants in a 1947 contest.
In 1963, San Francisco Giants C Tom Haller (backup forward for Illinois in 1956-57 and 1957-58 under coach Harry Combes) homered in his third consecutive contest.
Cleveland Indians RHP Oral Hildebrand (Butler hoops All-American in 1928-29 and 1929-30) hurled back-to-back shutouts in 1933, giving him five whitewash performances in less than a two-month span. Four years later with the St. Louis Browns, Hildebrand hurled a two-hit shutout against the Washington Senators in 1937.
Brooklyn Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) homered twice against the Chicago Cubs in a 1954 game.
Former Boston Red Sox INF Marty Karow (Ohio State hoops letterman in 1925) coached his alma mater to 1966 College World Series championship by defeating Oklahoma State, 8-2.
In 1962, Los Angeles Dodgers LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman hoops squad in 1953-54) outdueled St. Louis Cardinals RHP Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer and rebounder in 1955-56 and 1956-57). It marked the third time Koufax won a game, 1-0, on a Tommy Davis homer.
Chicago Cubs LF Hank Leiber (Arizona hooper in 1931) smacked two homers against the Brooklyn Dodgers 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) stole four bases against the Montreal Expos in a 1978 game.
Chicago Cubs RF Bill Nicholson (Washington College MD hoops guard for two years in mid-1930s) smashed two homers against the Cincinnati Reds in the nightcap of a 1944 twinbill.
Spoiling the MLB debut of Hall of Fame RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47), the Pittsburgh Pirates edged the Philadelphia Phillies, 2-0, in 1948.
Montreal Expos RHP Bill Sampen (MacMurray IL MVP in 1984-85 when averaging team-high 14.9 ppg) won his fourth straight decision in 1991.
Eleven-year MLB 1B Dick Siebert (Concordia-St. Paul MN hooper in 1929 and 1930) coached Minnesota to his third of three College World Series championships with the Gophers by defeating Missouri, 5-1, in 1964.
Arizona Diamondbacks rookie 2B Junior Spivey (redshirted his only semester at Northwestern Oklahoma State on hoops scholarship before transferring to KS junior college) stroked five hits in a 14-5 thrashing of the Houston Astros in 2001.
In 1986, San Diego Padres RHP Tim Stoddard (starting forward opposite All-American David Thompson for North Carolina State's 1974 NCAA champion) slugged his first and only MLB homer. He appeared in another 128 games but never had another at-bat.
Cincinnati Reds 3B Billy Werber (first Duke hoops All-American in 1929-30) went 5-for-5 against the Boston Braves in the opener of a 1939 doubleheader.
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 second of three College World Series championships with the Sun Devils by humbling Houston, 11-2, in 1967.
Lost That Finger Feeling: Reuter's Transfer to GMU Missed Out on Title Ring
Forward Jarred Reuter missed out on some championship bling because he transferred to George Mason from Virginia following the 2016-17 campaign. A striking number of original Duke recruits are on the following alphabetical list of transfer players such as Reuter denied receiving an NCAA championship ring because they left a school subsequently capturing a national crown:
*Played for a junior college between four-year schools
NOTES: McCaffrey and Palmer played for an NCAA champion with Duke in 1991 and Huertas did with Florida in 2006. . . . King played only one season for Villanova in 2009-10. . . . E. Williams left Memphis after 2009-10 campaign when he declared early for the NBA draft. Likewise for Smith at UNLV following 2013-14 season.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make Mark on June 17 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all 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.
Three current SEC members - Louisiana State (Joe Adcock and Alvin Dark), Mississippi (Don Kessinger) plus Missouri (Sonny Siebert) - 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 17 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 17
Milwaukee Brewers rookie RHP Mike Adams (played basketball for Texas A&M-Kingsville in 1996-97) scored upon for the only time in his first 14 MLB relief appearances in 2004.
Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading scorer in 1945-46) swatted two homers in a 5-4 win against the Brooklyn Dodgers in the opener of a 1956 twinbill.
Eleven-year A.L. INF Jack Barry (Holy Cross hoops letterman in 1908) coached his alma mater to the 1952 College World Series championship by defeating Missouri, 8-4.
Detroit Tigers 1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in WAC games in 1991-92) clobbered two homers against the Minnesota Twins in a 1998 contest.
New York Giants SS Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for LSU and USL during World War II) and C Wes Westrum (hooper for Bemidji State MN one season before serving in military during WWII) each collected four hits in a 1951 game against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Pittsburgh Pirates INF Gene Freese (West Liberty WV hoops captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team) went 4-for-4 against the Milwaukee Braves in a 1957 outing.
Boston Red Sox 1B Dick Gernert (Temple hoops letterman in 1948-49) walloped two homers in a 17-1 romp over the Detroit Tigers in 1953.
San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-WAC second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) went 4-for-4 against the Houston Astros in a 1989 game.
San Francisco Giants 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) tossed a four-hit shutout against the Cincinnati Reds in 1985.
Boston Braves 1B Buddy Hassett (hooper for Manhattan teams winning school-record 17 consecutive games in 1930 and 1931) banged out three hits in both ends of a 1940 doubleheader sweep against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Rookie RHP Wynn Hawkins (all-time leading scorer for Baldwin-Wallace OH upon graduation in 1957) yielded Boston Red Sox Hall of Famer Ted Williams' 500th home run (fourth player in MLB history to reach that plateau) at Cleveland in 1960.
In 1965, Chicago Cubs RHP Bobby Humphreys (four-year hoops letterman graduated from Hampden-Sydney VA in 1958) yielded his only run in last 11 relief appearances of the month.
Chicago White Sox C Duane Josephson (Northern Iowa scoring leader in 1962-63 and 1963-64 under coach Norm Stewart) went 4-for-4 and scored three runs in a 6-3 triumph against the New York Yankees in 1970.
Chicago Cubs SS Don Kessinger (three-time All-SEC selection for Ole Miss from 1961-62 through 1963-64 while finishing among nation's top 45 scorers each year) went 6-for-6 in a 10-inning, 7-6 victory against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1971.
Milwaukee Brewers OF Joe Lahoud (hoops letterman in mid-1960s for New Haven CT) contributed a grand slam en route to six RBI in a 15-5 rout of the Chicago White Sox in 1973.
New York Giants CF Hank Leiber (Arizona hooper in 1931) logged four hits and five RBI against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1938 contest.
Pittsburgh Pirates 1B Gary Redus (J.C. hooper for Athens AL and father of Centenary/South Alabama guard) provided three extra-base hits against the San Diego Padres in a 1991 outing.
Starting RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) scored the winning run in the 15th inning to give the Philadelphia Phillies a 3-2 decision over the St. Louis Cardinals in 1954.
Brooklyn Dodgers 1B Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) left 13 runners stranded in a 1951 doubleheader against the Boston Braves. Three years later as a LF, Robinson provided two doubles and two homers against the Milwaukee Braves in a 1954 game.
Kansas City Athletics 1B Norm Siebern (member of Southwest Missouri hoop squads capturing back-to-back NAIA Tournament titles in 1952 and 1953) smashed two homers against the Minnesota Twins in a 1962 contest.
Cleveland Indians RHP Sonny Siebert (team-high 16.7 ppg for Missouri in 1957-58 as All-Big Eight Conference second-team selection) fanned 15 Washington Senators batters in hurling a three-hit shutout in 1965.
C John Stephenson (scored 1,361 points for William Carey MS in early 1960s) shipped from the New York Mets to the Chicago Cubs in 1967 as the player to be designated, completing an earlier deal that month.
Boston Red Sox 3B Billy Werber (first Duke hoops All-American in 1929-30) banged out three hits in both ends of a 1934 twinbill sweep of the St. Louis Browns.
Senioritis: Maye Fails to Return to All-American Status in His Final Season
Senioritis is a colloquial term referring to an illness described as decreased motivation displayed by students nearing the end of their careers. In basketball lingo, it's a dreaded disease that also afflicts All-Americans.
The malady lingers even in an era when the majority of premium players bid adieu the first time a pro scout watches one of their games. This past season, the A-A shunning involved North Carolina's Luke Maye after his scoring average decreased by two points per game.
Actually, this ailment is rarely a player's fault and seems to mainly infect voters. In one of the greatest injustices in NCAA history, Seton Hall's Nick Werkman averaged 33.2 ppg and 13.8 rpg in 1963-64 but wasn't named an All-American for the second straight season.
Werkman is among 18 players who didn't retain A-A status despite averaging more than 20 points per game as a senior. Following is an alphabetical list of major-college players named All-American as an undergraduate since the late 1940s (after the roster disruption of WWII) but not as a senior when they fell off the honors radar:
| Senior Player | Pos. | School | Year(s) as A-A | Final Season Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| *Bruno Boin | C | Washington | 1957 | 15.2 ppg in 1958-59 |
| Joe Caldwell | F | Arizona State | 1963 | 21.8 ppg and 12.2 rpg in 1963-64 |
| Isaiah Canaan | G | Murray State | 2012 | 21.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg and 4.3 apg in 2012-13 |
| Lorenzo Charles | F | North Carolina State | 1984 | 18.1 ppg and 6.4 rpg in 1984-85 |
| Derrick Chievous | F | Missouri | 1987 | 23.4 ppg and 8.5 rpg in 1987-88 |
| Bonzie Colson | F | Notre Dame | 2017 | 19.7 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 1.7 spg, 2.2 bpg and 55.1 FG% despite missing half of 2017-18 because of broken left foot |
| Bobby Cook | F | Wisconsin | 1947 | 12.4 ppg in 1947-48 |
| Russ Critchfield | G | California | 1967 | 22 ppg in 1967-68 |
| John "Hook" Dillon | F | North Carolina | 1946 and 1947 | 182 points in 1947-48 |
| Bruce Douglas | G | Illinois | 1984 | 8.8 ppg and 6.2 apg in 1985-86 after 7.9 ppg and 5.7 apg in 1984-85 |
| Erwin Dudley | F-C | Alabama | 2002 | 14.8 ppg and 9.5 rpg in 2002-03 |
| Louis Dunbar | F-G | Houston | 1974 | 24.3 ppg and 9.3 rpg in 1974-75 |
| Bill Erickson | G | Illinois | 1949 | 10.4 ppg in 1949-50 |
| Kenny Fields | F | UCLA | 1983 | 17.4 ppg and 6.9 rpg in 1983-84 |
| Ryan Gomes | F | Providence | 2004 | 21.6 ppg and 8.2 rpg in 2004-05 |
| Jimmy Hagan | C | Tennessee Tech | 1959 | 24.3 ppg and 17.2 rpg in 1959-60 |
| Julius Hodge | G-F | North Carolina State | 2004 | 17 ppg and 6.6 rpg in 2004-05 |
| Terrell "Tu" Holloway | G | Xavier | 2011 | 17.5 ppg and 4.9 apg in 2011-12 |
| Frank Howard | C-F | Ohio State | 1957 | 16.9 ppg and 13.6 rpg in 1957-58 |
| Robbie Hummel | F | Purdue | 2010 | 16.4 ppg and 7.2 rpg in 2011-12 after missing entire 2010-11 season with reinjured right knee |
| Thad Jaracz | C-F | Kentucky | 1966 | 11.3 ppg and 7.1 rpg in 1967-68 after 11.3 ppg and 8.3 rpg in 1966-67 |
| George Kaftan | F-C | Holy Cross | 1947 and 1948 | 11.6 ppg in 1948-49 |
| Ted Kitchel | F | Indiana | 1982 | 17.3 ppg and 4.1 rpg in 1982-83 |
| Brandin Knight | G | Pittsburgh | 2002 | 11.2 ppg and 6.3 apg in 2002-03 |
| Tom Kondla | C | Minnesota | 1967 | 21 ppg and 9 rpg in 1967-68 |
| John Lucas III | G | Oklahoma State | 2004 | 17.7 ppg and 4.1 apg in 2004-05 |
| Mark Macon | G | Temple | 1988 | 22 ppg and 4.9 rpg in 1990-91 after 18.3 ppg and 5.6 rpg in 1988-89 plus 21.9 ppg and 6 rpg in 1989-90 |
| Luke Maye | F | North Carolina | 2018 | 14.9 ppg and 10.5 rpg in 2018-19 |
| Billy McCaffrey | G | Vanderbilt | 1993 | 20.6 ppg 4.2 apg in 1993-94 |
| Bill Mlkvy | F | Temple | 1951 | 17.4 ppg and 15.8 rpg in 1951-52 |
| Lee Nailon | C | Texas Christian | 1998 | 22.8 ppg and 9.3 rpg in 1998-99 |
| Anthony Peeler | G | Missouri | 1990 and 1991 | 23.4 ppg and 5.5 rpg in 1991-92 |
| Ronnie Perry | G | Holy Cross | 1977 through 1979 | 22.9 ppg and 2.9 apg in 1979-80 |
| Chris Porter | F | Auburn | 1999 | 14.6 ppg and 7.3 rpg in 1999-00 |
| A.J. Price | G | Connecticut | 2008 | 14.7 ppg and 4.7 apg in 2008-09 |
| Mark Randall | F-C | Kansas | 1990 | 15 ppg and 6.2 rpg in 1990-91 |
| Pat Riley | F | Kentucky | 1966 | 17.4 ppg and 7.7 rpg in 1966-67 |
| Lawrence Roberts | F-C | Mississippi State | 2004 | 16.9 ppg and 11 rpg in 2004-05 |
| Sean Singletary | G | Virginia | 2007 | 19.8 ppg and 6.1 apg in 2007-08 |
| Chris Smith | C | Virginia Tech | 1960 | 19.9 ppg and 16.5 rpg in 1960-61 |
| Michael Smith | C-F | Brigham Young | 1988 | 26.4 ppg and 8.6 rpg in 1988-89 |
| Ken Spain | C | Houston | 1968 | 14.8 ppg and 11.6 rpg in 1968-69 |
| Hank Stein | G | Xavier | 1958 | 13.7 ppg in 1958-59 |
| Jordan Taylor | G | Wisconsin | 2011 | 14.8 ppg and 4.1 apg in 2011-12 |
| Kenny Thomas | C | New Mexico | 1998 | 17.8 ppg and 10 rpg in 1998-99 |
| Chris Thomforde | C | Princeton | 1967 | 14.8 ppg and 8.2 rpg in 1968-69 after 12.2 ppg and 8.8 rpg in 1967-68 |
| Monte Towe | G | North Carolina State | 1974 | 10.4 ppg and 4.1 apg in 1974-75 |
| Jim Tucker | C | Duquesne | 1952 | 13.4 ppg and 13.6 rpg in 1953-54 after 15.8 ppg and 10.8 rpg in 1952-53 |
| Fred VanVleet | G | Wichita State | 2014 | 12.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 5.5 apg and 1.8 spg in 2015-16 after 13.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 5.2 apg and 1.9 spg in 2014-15 |
| Clarence Weatherspoon | F | Southern Mississippi | 1991 | 22.3 ppg and 10.5 rpg in 1991-92 |
| Nick Werkman | F | Seton Hall | 1963 | 33.2 ppg and 13.8 rpg in 1963-64 |
| Sherman White | C | Long Island | 1950 | 25.4 ppg in 1950-51 |
| Henry Wilmore | F-G | Michigan | 1971 and 1972 | 21.8 ppg and 6 rpg in 1972-73 |
| George Wilson | C | Cincinnati | 1963 | 16.1 ppg and 12.5 rpg in 1963-64 |
| Luke Witte | C | Ohio State | 1972 | 13.7 ppg and 8.3 rpg in 1972-73 |
*Boin missed the 1957-58 season after dropping out of school and playing AAU ball.
NOTES: UCLA's Lucius Allen (academic problems in 1968-69) and St. John's Mel Davis (knee injury in 1972-73) and Texas Western's Bobby Joe Hill (injury and grade problems in 1966-67) did not play full or at all in their senior seasons. . . . Canisius' Larry Fogle, an All-American as a sophomore in 1974 when he led the nation in scoring, entered the NBA draft as a hardship case the next year after failing to earn All-American status again. . . . Illinois' Frank Williams, an All-American as a sophomore in 2000-01, declared for the NBA draft as an undergraduate the next year after failing to to earn All-American status again. . . . Austin Peay's Fly Williams, an All-American as a freshman in 1973 when he led the nation in scoring, entered the ABA draft as an undergraduate the next year after failing to earn All-American status again.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make Mark on June 16 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all 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 Minnesota hoopers Jerry Kindall and Dave Winfield smacked vital homers in American League games on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 16 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 16
Philadelphia Phillies LF Ethan Allen (Cincinnati basketball letterman in 1924-25 and 1925-26) contributed four hits in an 8-3 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1934.
In the midst of a 17-game hitting streak, St. Louis Cardinals RF George Altman (appeared in 1953 and 1954 NAIA Tournament with Tennessee State) went 5-for-7 in a 1963 doubleheader split against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
C Ferrell Anderson (Kansas hoops letterman in 1936-37 and 1937-38) purchased from the Philadelphia Phillies by the St. Louis Browns in 1951.
In the midst of a career-high 15-game hitting streak, Chicago Cubs LF Larry Biittner (runner-up in scoring and rebounding for Buena Vista IA in 1966-67) had four safeties in a 13-inning, 7-6 win against the Houston Astros in 1978.
Seattle Mariners CF Mickey Brantley (averaged 10 ppg, 6.8 rpg and 5.4 apg for Columbia-Greene Community College SC in 1979-80) went 3-for-3 with five RBI in an 8-6 victory against the Chicago White Sox in 1987.
Detroit Tigers 1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in WAC games in 1991-92) homered in his fourth consecutive contest in 2001.
Hitting an anemic .128 entering the contest, Detroit Tigers LF Hoot Evers (Illinois hoops starter in 1939-40) started a streak of seven straight multiple-hit games in 1951.
Boston Red Sox rookie RHP Boo Ferriss (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1941) lost against the New York Yankees, 3-2, in 1945 after starting his career with eight victories (four of them shutouts).
Ten-year MLB RHP Ray "Pick" Fisher (Michigan "class" hooper) coached his alma mater to the 1953 College World Series championship by defeating Texas, 7-5.
New York Giants INF Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) collected five hits against the Chicago Cubs in a 1921 contest. Fourteen years later with the St. Louis Cardinals, Frisch furnished four hits against the Giants in a 1935 outing.
Baltimore Orioles 3B Wayne Gross (Cal Poly Pomona assists leader in 1974-75) whacked two homers for the second time in first 13 games of the month in 1985.
Pittsburgh Pirates 3B Lee Handley (Bradley hoops letterman from 1932-33 through 1934-35) banged out three hits in both ends of a 1946 doubleheader split against the Philadelphia Phillies.
1B Gary Holman (USC hoops letterman in 1962-63) hammered a two-run homer for the Trojans in 5-2 victory against Arizona in the 1963 CWS national championship game.
Philadelphia Phillies RHP Andy Karl (Manhattan hoops letterman from 1933 through 1935) surrendered his first run after blanking opponents in previous eight relief appearances in 1946.
Light-hitting INF Jerry Kindall (averaged 6.9 ppg for Minnesota in 1955-56) connected for a game-winning two-run homer in the ninth inning to give the Cleveland Indians a 10-9 win over the New York Yankees in 1962.
New York Giants CF Hank Leiber (Arizona hooper in 1931) launched two homers against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1935 contest.
Seven-year MLB OF Don Lund (Michigan hoops starter in 1943-44 and 1944-45) coached his alma mater to 1962 College World Series championship by outlasting Santa Clara, 5-4, in 15 innings.
Cleveland Indians rookie 3B Ed Morgan (Tulane hoops letterman from 1923-24 through 1925-26) stroked four extra-base hits in a 9-2 win against the Philadelphia Athletics in 1928.
Cleveland Indians 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) went 5-for-5 as leadoff hitter against the Minnesota Twins in a 1971 contest.
Detroit Tigers OF Jim Northrup (second-leading scorer and third-leading rebounder for Alma MI in 1958-59) provided three extra-base hits against the Boston Red Sox in a 1966 outing.
Kansas City Royals rookie RF Bob Oliver (All-Valley Conference basketball choice for American River Community College CA in 1962) belted a homer in both ends of 1969 doubleheader split against the Oakland Athletics.
New York Yankees 3B Red Rolfe (played hoops briefly with Dartmouth in 1927-28 and 1929-30) smacked three doubles against the St. Louis Browns in the opener of a 1940 twinbill.
New York Yankees RF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) whacked two homers against the Baltimore Orioles in a 1987 game.
Seattle Mariners RHP Chris Young (All-Ivy League first-team selection as Princeton's leading scorer and rebounder in 1999-00) hurled six shutout frames against the San Diego Padres in the first of his six straight starts allowing fewer hits than innings pitched in 2014. The next year with the Kansas City Royals, Young didn't allow an earned run for the fifth time in his first eight starts in the 2015 campaign.
Biographical Basketball: Celebrating Three Generations of Hoops Legacy
"It is much easier to become a father than to be one." - Letters to My Son: Reflections on Becoming a Man
A thorough check of an athlete's pedigree during Father's Day weekend often is illuminating. Undeniably, it is also much easier to talk about becoming a prominent player than putting in the man hours necessary to earn your spurs and have an impact at a single university like the Guokas clan at Saint Joseph's. Matt Sr. and Matt Jr. went on to become the first father-son tandem to win NBA championships as players before Matt III competed four seasons with the Hawks from 1988-89 through 1991-92. Three-generation contributions from same lineage for single prominent university have also occurred at Ohio State (Bill Sr., Bill Jr. and Brad Hosket) and Vanderbilt (Ed, Ray and Drew Maddux).
St. Joe's also supplied Vince Kempton, the only Hawks player to make more than 50% of his field goals in both of their Final Four games in 1961. He is the father of former NBA center Tim Kempton Sr., a starter for Notre Dame squads averaging 21 victories annually in the mid-1980s, and grandfather of Tim Kempton Jr., a two-time Patriot League MVP for Lehigh.
Gifted by having a father and grandfather with hoop credentials is not a prerequisite for becoming a competent basketball player. Although some observers might think the last couple of generations in the following hoop families were groomed from birth, on-court excellence such as the Sherod clan for three different DI schools in Virginia is earned; not inherited.
Hoosier Hysteria's passion can't be denied when considering Indiana families including All-Americans Steve Alford, Eric Montross, Rick Mount and Jack Parkinson plus significant DI contributors with last names such as Dakich, Neal, Plumlee, Sexson, Shepherd and Trice. In deference to Father's Day weekend while wondering if #ShrillaryRotten will encourage hardwood humidor connoisseur #SickWillie to accept Dannye Williams' plea to take a paternity test, following is an alphabetical list of the most accomplished father-son-grandson basketball combinations with at least one of them playing for or coaching a school from a power conference or in national postseason competition:
| Grandfather/Father | Father/Son | Grandson(s)/Son(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Lee Abrahamson (Coe IA) | Ken Abrahamson (Northern Iowa '91) | Kale Abrahamson (Northwestern/Drake/Duquesne '17) |
| Sam Alford (Franklin IN '64) | Steve Alford (Indiana '87) | Kory Alford (UCLA '16) and Bryce Alford (UCLA '17) |
| Cleophus Banks (Southern LA '64) | Roman Banks (Northwestern State '92) | Tre'lun Banks (Southern LA '17) |
| Henry Bibby (UCLA '72) | Mike Bibby Sr. (Arizona '98) | Mike Bibby Jr. (South Florida/Appalachian State '20) |
| Gary Bradds (Ohio State '64) | David Bradds (Dayton '91) | Evan Bradds (Belmont '17) |
| Wayne Chapman (Western Kentucky '68) | Rex Chapman (Kentucky '88) | Zeke Chapman (Ball State) |
| Tom Dakich (Bowling Green State '56) | Dan Dakich (Indiana '85) | Andrew Dakich (Michigan/Ohio State '18) |
| Lewis D'Antoni (Concord WV '37) | Dan D'Antoni (Marshall '69) | Nick D'Antoni (William & Mary '05) |
| Don Gatens (Notre Dame '46) | Mike Gatens (Iowa '76) | Matt Gatens (Iowa '12) |
| Charles Patterson Sr. (Oregon '36) | Harvey Giddens (Clark Atlanta) | Daniel Giddens (Ohio State/Alabama '20) |
| Matt Guokas Sr. (St. Joseph's '38) | Matt Guokas Jr. (St. Joseph's '66) | Matt Guokas III (St. Joseph's '92) |
| Bill Hosket Sr. (Ohio State '33) | Bill Hosket Jr. (Ohio State '68) | Brad Hosket (Ohio State '00) |
| Marques Johnson (UCLA '77) | Kris Johnson (UCLA '98) | Will Johnson (Oregon '19) |
| Lake Kelly (Georgia Tech '56) | Brian Kelly (Morehead State '86) | Drew Kelly (Morehead State '14) |
| Vince Kempton (St. Joseph's '61) | Tim Kempton Sr. (Notre Dame '86) | Tim Kempton Jr. (Lehigh '17) |
| Rudolph Kreklow (Wisconsin-Whitewater) | Wayne Kreklow (Drake '79) | Ricky Kreklow (Missouri/California/Creighton '15) and Ryan Kreklow (Missouri State '19) |
| Nick Macarchuk Jr. (Fairfield '63) | Nick Macarchuk III (Canisius '88) | Nick Macarchuk IV (American University '18) |
| Ed Maddux (Vanderbilt '43) | Ray Maddux (Vanderbilt '73) | Drew Maddux (Vanderbilt '98) |
| Ed Manning (Jackson State '67) | Danny Manning (Kansas '88) | Evan Manning (Kansas '16) |
| Jack Mannion (Utah/Brigham Young '61) | Pace Mannion (Utah '83) | Nico Mannion (Arizona '20) |
| Press Maravich (Davis & Elkins WV '41) | Pete Maravich (Louisiana State '70) | Jaeson Maravich (Alabama, McNeese State/William Carey MS '04) and Josh Maravich (Louisiana State '05) |
| Johnny McConathy (Northwestern State '51) | Mike McConathy (Louisiana Tech '77) | Michael McConathy (Northwestern State '10) and Logan McConathy (Northwestern State '11) |
| John Townsend (Michigan '38) | Scott Montross (Michigan '68) | Eric Montross (North Carolina '94) |
| Pete Mount (Army vet rejected offers from IU and Purdue before playing in NBL '47) | Rick Mount (Purdue '70) | Rich Mount (Purdue/Virginia Commonwealth '93) |
| Stan Neal (Ball State '65) | Craig Neal (Georgia Tech '88) | Cullen Neal (Mississippi/New Mexico/Saint Mary's '18) |
| Pete Newell Sr. (Loyola CA '40) | Tom Newell (Hawaii '71) | Chris Newell (UC Santa Barbara '02) |
| Ron Norman Sr. (Iowa State '48) | Tom Norman (Iowa '79) | Luke Norman (Eastern Illinois '16) |
| Houston Nutt Sr. (Oklahoma State '56) | Dickey Nutt (Oklahoma State '81) | Logan Nutt (Arkansas State/Mississippi/Southeast Missouri State '12) and Lucas Nutt (Southeast Missouri State '14) |
| Jim Padgett (Oregon State '52) | Pete Padgett (Nevada '76) | David Padgett (Kansas/Louisville '08) |
| Jack Parkinson (Kentucky '48) | Bruce Parkinson (Purdue '77) | Austin Parkinson (Purdue '04) |
| Don Parsons (Rutgers '50) | Gary Parsons (Rollins FL '77) | Chandler Parsons (Florida '11) |
| Walt Piatkowski (Bowling Green State '68) | Eric Piatkowski (Nebraska '94) | Jace Piatkowski (Nebraska '20) |
| Albert Schultz (Michigan Tech '44) | Perky Plumlee (Tennessee Tech '83) | Miles Plumlee (Duke '12), Mason Plumlee (Duke '13) and Marshall Plumlee (Duke '16) |
| Pearl Pollard (Brigham Young '59) | Alan Pollard (Southern California '89) | Josh Pollard (Kansas/Utah Valley '19) |
| Pearl Pollard (Brigham Young '59) | Neal Pollard (San Diego State/Utah State) | Jeff Pollard (Washington State '20) and Nate Pollard (Rice/Chaminade '18) |
| Dennis Price (Oklahoma '60) | Mark Price (Georgia Tech '86) | Judson Price (Charlotte '18) |
| Bill Reigel (Duquesne/Duke '53/McNeese State '56) | Ernie Reigel (Davidson '80) | Will Reigel (Davidson '12) |
| Adolph Rupp Sr. (Kansas '23) | Adolph "Herky" Rupp Jr. (Kentucky '62) | Adolph "Chip" Rupp III (Vanderbilt '87) |
| Louis Sandbothe (Central Missouri '60) | Mike Sandbothe (Missouri '89) | Garrett Sandbothe (Central Missouri '16) |
| Danny Schultz (Tennessee '64) | Danny Schultz (Tennessee Tech '84) | Dan Schultz (Tennessee '08) |
| Joe Sexson (Purdue '56) | Rick Sexson (Butler '76) | Ryan Sexson (Valparaiso/SIUE '00/Purdue Northwest) |
| Bill Shepherd Sr. (Butler '49) | Billy Shepherd Jr. (Butler '72) | Scott Shepherd (Florida State '96) and Jeff Shepherd (Huntington IN '99) |
| Edmund Sherod (Virginia Commonwealth '81) | E.J. Sherod (Old Dominion '97) | Nick Sherod (Richmond '19) |
| Fred "Lucky" Smith (Utah State '67/Hawaii '68) | John Smith (UNLV '88/Dominican CA '94) | Jamal Smith (Cal State Fullerton/Cal Poly '20) |
| Bob Pritchett (Old Dominion '68) | Travis Trice Sr. (Purdue/Butler '95) | Travis Trice Jr. (Michigan State '15) and D'Miktrik Trice (Wisconsin '21) |
| Ed "Skeets" Tuohy Jr. (Loyola NO '55) | Sean Tuohy Sr. (Mississippi '82) | Sean Tuohy Jr. (Loyola MD '16) |
| Stanley "Whitey" Von Nieda (Penn State '43) | John Von Nieda (Drexel '82) | Tristan Von Nieda (South Dakota School of Mines '20) |
| Gene Wilfong (Memphis State '61) | John Wilfong (Memphis State '87) | Jonathan Wilfong (SMU '17) |
| Charley Wolf (Notre Dame '47) | Marty Wolf (Xavier '78) | Johnny Wolf (Xavier/UNCW '10) and Nick Wolf (Rollins FL '11) |
| Herbert Wright (Mississippi '76) | Lorenzen Wright Sr. (Memphis '96) | Lorenzen Wright Jr. (Robert Morris/Tennessee-Martin '18) |
| Carroll Youngkin (Duke '61) | Glenn Youngkin (Rice '89) | Grant Youngkin (Rice '20) |
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make Mark on June 15 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all 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.
Darrell Evans, a former J.C. hooper for Hall of Fame coach Jerry Tarkanian, owned this date in MLB games with the Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants and Detroit Tigers. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 15 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 15
Los Angeles Angels 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) homered in his fourth consecutive contest in 1964.
LF-1B Harry Anderson (averaged 7.7 ppg and 8.9 rpg for West Chester PA in 1951-52) traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to the Cincinnati Reds in 1960.
LF Morrie Arnovich (Wisconsin-Superior hooper in early 1930s) traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to the Cincinnati Reds in 1940.
OF Frankie Baumholtz (MVP in 1941 NIT and first player in Ohio University history to score 1,000 points in career) traded by the Cincinnati Reds to the Chicago Cubs in 1949.
In 1935, Cleveland Indians 2B Bosey Berger (Maryland's first hoops All-American led Southern Conference in scoring in league competition in 1930-31) provided two extra-base hits, triggering a 16-game hitting streak.
Cleveland Indians SS Lou Boudreau (leading scorer for Illinois' 1937 Big Ten Conference co-champion) supplied three extra-base hits against the St. Louis Browns in 1945. Two years later in the midst of his career-high 19-game hitting streak, Boudreau doubled in fourth consecutive contest in 1947.
RHP Ben Callahan (two-time All-Carolinas Conference selection for Catawba NC averaged 16.7 ppg from 1976-77 through 1978-79) traded by New York Yankees to Oakland Athletics in 1983.
1B Donn Clendenon (four-sport letterman for Morehouse GA) traded by the Montreal Expos to the New York Mets in 1969. Four years earlier with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Clendenon hammered two homers against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1965 outing.
Philadelphia Athletics C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) manufactured four hits against the Detroit Tigers in a 1930 contest.
Cleveland Indians RHP Vince Colbert (averaged 14.3 ppg and 7.3 rpg for East Carolina in 1966-67 and 1967-68) tossed a five-hit shutout against the California Angels in 1972.
Boston Red Sox RHP Gene Conley (All-PCC first-team selection led North Division in scoring in 1949-50 as Washington State sophomore) fired a six-hit shutout against the Detroit Tigers in 1962.
In 1931, the St. Louis Cardinals, in a move making room for Pepper Martin, traded CF Taylor Douthit (California hoops letterman from 1922 through 1924) to the Cincinnati Reds for OF Wally Roettger (Illinois hoops letterman in 1921-22 and 1922-23) in a swap one day after Douthit stroked seven straight hits in a doubleheader sweep over the Philadelphia Phillies.
San Francisco Giants 1B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) socked three homers for six RBI in a 7-1 triumph against the Houston Astros in 1983. Two years later in a 1985 outing with the Detroit Tigers, Evans went 5-for-5 against the New York Yankees. In 1973 as an Atlanta Braves 3B, Evans homered in his third consecutive contest.
Detroit Tigers OF Hoot Evers (hoops starter for Illinois in 1939-40) had his 19-game hitting streak snapped by the Philadelphia Athletics in 1950.
C-OF Joe Ferguson (hooper for Pacific's 1967 NCAA playoff team) traded by the Los Angeles Dodgers to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1976.
Boston Red Sox rookie RHP Boo Ferriss (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1941) toiled 14 innings to improve his mark to 9-1 in 1945.
INF Jake Flowers (hooper for 1923 "Flying Pentagon" championship squad for Washington College MD) awarded on waivers from the Brooklyn Robins to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1931.
Boston Red Sox rookie 1B Dick Gernert (Temple hoops letterman in 1948-49 when averaging 2.7 ppg) launched a decisive homer in a 3-2 triumph against the Chicago White Sox in the nightcap of a 1952 twinbill.
Cleveland Indians 1B Mike Hargrove (Northwestern Oklahoma State hoops letterman) stroked three doubles against the Minnesota Twins in a 1980 game.
1B Gary Holle (Siena's scoring and rebounding leader in 1974-75 and 1975-76) traded by the Texas Rangers to the Chicago White Sox in 1979.
Atlanta Braves RF David Justice (Thomas More KY assists leader in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg) jacked two homers against the Colorado Rockies in a 1994 contest.
In 1969, Chicago Cubs SS Don Kessinger (three-time All-SEC selection for Ole Miss from 1961-62 through 1963-64 while finishing among the nation's top 45 scorers each year) established a N.L. record with his 54th consecutive errorless game to start a season.
Cleveland Indians 1B Ray Knode (hooper for Maryland in 1918-19) contributed four hits against the Philadelphia Athletics in a 1925 outing.
OF Joe Lahoud (New Haven CT hoops letterman in mid-1960s) purchased from the California Angels by the Texas Rangers in 1976.
SS Johnny Logan (Binghamton hooper in 1948-49) traded by the Milwaukee Braves to the Pittsburgh Pirates for OF Gino Cimoli in 1961.
Oakland Athletics 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) collected three extra-base hits and seven RBI against the Toronto Blue Jays in a 1983 contest.
Chicago White Sox RHP Ted Lyons (two-time All-SWC first-team selection for Baylor in early 1920s) notched his ninth straight complete-game victory in 1927. Lyons' two-run triple in the eighth inning broke a 4-4 deadlock against the Philadelphia Athletics.
OF Bake McBride (averaged 12.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg in 21 games with Westminster MO in 1968-69 and 1969-70) traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the Philadelphia Phillies in 1977. McBride went on to hit .339 the remainder of the season for Philly.
Chicago White Sox RF Danny Moeller (captain of Millikin IL hoops squad in 1905-06) delivered four hits against the Cleveland Indians in a 1914 game.
RHP Gary Neibauer (collected 13 points and 9 rebounds in 16 games for Nebraska in 1964-65 under coach Joe Cipriano) traded by the Atlanta Braves to Philadelphia Phillies in 1972.
Chicago Cubs RF Bill Nicholson (Washington College MD hoops guard for two years in mid-1930s) stroked two triples against the Boston Braves in a 1940 contest.
INF Johnny O'Brien (two-time All-American with Seattle was first college player to crack 1,000-point plateau in a single season when scoring 1,051 in 37 games in 1951-52) traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates with 3B Gene Freese (hoops captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team for West Liberty WV) to the St. Louis Cardinals for SS Dick Schofield and cash in 1958.
LHP Joe Ostrowski (led Scranton PA in scoring with 15.1 ppg in 1942-43) traded by the St. Louis Browns to the New York Yankees in 1950.
RHP Steve Renko (averaged 9.9 ppg and 5.8 rpg as Kansas sophomore in 1963-64) traded by the New York Mets to the Montreal Expos in 1969.
Detroit Tigers RHP Jeff Robinson (two-time NAIA All-District 3 honoree in early 1980s left Azusa Pacific CA as school's No. 9 all-time scorer) won his seventh straight decision with a five-hit shutout against the Baltimore Orioles in 1988.
Minnesota Twins rookie LHP Garry Roggenburk (Dayton scoring leader all three seasons from 1959-60 through 1961-62 grabbed school-record 32 rebounds in his third varsity game en route to pacing Flyers in rebounding first two years) lost his first MLB start in 1963 after going scoreless in previous eight outings as a reliever.
OF Richie Scheinblum (averaged 6.1 ppg and 3.6 rpg in 1962-63 and 1963-64 with LIU-C.W. Post) traded by the Cincinnati Reds to the California Angels for two players to be designated in 1973.
RHP Don Schwall (All-Big Seven Conference second-team selection as sophomore in 1956-57 when leading Oklahoma in rebounding) traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Atlanta Braves for P Billy O'Dell in 1966.
In 1959, Detroit Tigers RHP Dave Sisler (All-Ivy League second-team selection for Princeton's first NCAA Tournament team in 1952) posted his fourth save in as many relief appearances in a nine-day span.
2B Wayne Terwilliger (two-year letterman for Western Michigan averaged 5.6 ppg in his final season in 1947-48) traded by the Chicago Cubs to the Brooklyn Dodgers in an eight-player swap in 1951.
1B-OF Preston Ward (second-leading scorer for Southwest Missouri State in 1946-47 and 1948-49) traded by the Cleveland Indians to the Kansas City Athletics in 1958.
C Sammy White (All-PCC Northern Division first-five selection for Washington in 1947-48) purchased from the Boston Red Sox by the Milwaukee Braves in 1961.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make Mark on June 14 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all 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 LSU and USL 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Make Mark on June 13 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all 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.
Jerry Adair (Oklahoma State) and Don Schwall (Oklahoma), who played hoops against each other in Bedlam rivalry in 1956-57, made news in the American League on this date. 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 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.
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.
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) 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.
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.
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.
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 1979 game against the Kansas City Royals.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make Mark on June 12 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all 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.
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.
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.
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.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make Mark on June 11 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all 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 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 for 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.
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.
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.
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 Make Mark on June 10 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all 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), Bill White (Hiram OH) and Dave Winfield (Minnesota) each whacked two homers in a MLB game on this date. 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 LSU and USL 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make Mark on June 9 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all 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.
New York Giants SS Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for LSU and USL 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.
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.
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.
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.
Jenkins Tags Along With Head Coach T.J. Otzelberger From SDSU to UNLV
Tagging along with new UNLV coach T.J. Otzelberger, South Dakota State outside marksman David Jenkins joined the following alphabetical list of prominent players who transferred from one major college to another with the same head coach although he wasn't his biological father:
Player Pos. Head Coach First School Second School Mike Aaman F Dan Hurley Wagner Rhode Island 13 Brent Arrington G Sean Woods Mississippi Valley State 12 Morehead State 14 Pasha Bains G Larry Shyatt Wyoming 99 Clemson 2000 Bill Brigham F Mike Jarvis Boston University 89-90 George Washington 92-93 C.J. Bryce G Kevin Keatts UNC Wilmington 16-17 North Carolina State 19-20 Anthony Buford G Bob Huggins Akron 88-90 Cincinnati 92 Joe Bunn F Jeff Capel Jr. North Carolina A&T 94 Old Dominion 96 Keon Clergeot G Tubby Smith Texas Tech Memphis 17 Adrian Crawford G Steve Robinson Tulsa 97 Florida State 99-01 Greg Davis F Dave Bliss New Mexico 98-99 Baylor 01-02 Tavian Dunn-Martin G Keith Dambrot Akron 17 Duquesne 19-20 *Nate Erdmann G Kelvin Sampson Washington State 94 Oklahoma 96-97 Marcus Evans G Mike Rhoades Rice 16-17 Virginia Commonwealth 19-20 Shannon Evans G Bobby Hurley Buffalo 14-15 Arizona State 17-18 Josh Fisher G Lorenzo Romar Pepperdine Saint Louis 01-04 Prince Fowler G Billy Tubbs Oklahoma 95 Texas Christian 97-99 John David Gardner G Brad Brownell UNC Wilmington 05 Wright State 08-10 Jasen Gast G Danny Kaspar Incarnate Word TX 00 Stephen F. Austin 02-04 Gerald Glass F Ed Murphy Delta State MS 86 Mississippi 89-90 Torian Graham G Bobby Hurley Buffalo 15 Arizona State 17 Juan'ya Green G Joe Mihalich Niagara 12-13 Hofstra 15-16 R.T. Guinn C Dave Bliss New Mexico 00 Baylor 02 Kevin Henry G Dave Bliss New Mexico 98-00 Baylor 02 Denard Holmes F Abe Lemons Texas 82 Oklahoma City 85 Jason Holmes F Sean Woods Mississippi Valley State 10-11 Morehead State 13 Gary Hooker F Ron Greene Mississippi State 76-78 Murray State 80 Mike Hughes C Keith Dambrot Akron 17 Duquesne 19-20 Shawn James C Ron Everhart Northeastern 05-06 Duquesne 08 David Jenkins G T.J. Otzelberger South Dakota State 18-19 UNLV 21 LeDarion Jones F Larry Shyatt Clemson 96-97 Wyoming 99-00 Thomas Kilgore G Ben Braun Eastern Michigan California 98-99 Lavon Long F Jimmy Patsos Loyola MD Siena 14-17 Mark Lyons G Sean Miller Xavier 09 Arizona 13 Tevin Mack G Shaka Smart Virginia Commonwealth Texas 16-17 Daquein McNeil G Richard Pitino Florida International Minnesota 14-15 Mike Mitchell F Boyd Grant Fresno State 86-88 Colorado State 90 Nic Moore G Tim Jankovich Illinois State 12 Southern Methodist 14 Danny Moses C Carl Tacy Marshall Wake Forest 73 Maurice O'Field G Bobby Hurley Buffalo Arizona State 16-17 Anthony Pendleton G George Raveling Iowa Southern California 88-89 Scoonie Penn G Jim O'Brien Boston College 96-97 Ohio State 99-00 Merle Rousey G Hank Iba Colorado 34 Oklahoma A&M 36-37 Todd Schrotenboer F Jay Smith Grand Valley State MI 96-97 Central Michigan 00-01 Gregg Smith C Ray Giacoletti North Dakota State 00 Eastern Washington 02-04 Malik Smith G Richard Pitino Florida International 13 Minnesota 14 Matt Smith F Tod Kowalczyk Green Bay 10 Toledo 12-14 Ameen Tanksley G-F Joe Mihalich Niagara 12-13 Hofstra 15-16 Robert Vaden G-F Mike Davis Indiana 05-06 UAB 08 Ross Varner F Lorenzo Romar Pepperdine Saint Louis 02 Pax Whitehead G-F Jan van Breda Kolff Cornell 93 Vanderbilt 95-97 Sean Wightman F Bob Donewald Illinois State 89 Western Michigan 91-93 Jason Williams G Billy Donovan Marshall 95-96 Florida 98 Dedric Willoughby G Tim Floyd New Orleans 93-94 Iowa State 96-97 Jack Worthington G Abe Lemons Texas 82-83 Oklahoma City 85-86 Marquis Wright G Jimmy Patsos Loyola MD Siena 14-17 Kyle Young F Chris Holtmann Butler signee Ohio State 18-20
*Erdmann played for a junior college between four-year school stints.
NOTES: Aaman committed to Wagner before choosing to enroll with Hurley at Rhode Island, Fisher signed with Pepperdine but never played there before choosing to follow Romar to SLU, Kilgore never played for EMU after transferring there from Central Michigan, Lyons was an academic partial qualifier in 2008-09 and Pendleton signed with Iowa but never played for the Hawkeyes because of scholastic shortcomings. . . . Mitchell played two seasons at Fresno State under Grant's successor (Ron Adams). . . . Varner went on an LDS Mormon mission for two years between stints at Pepperdine and Saint Louis.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make Mark on June 8 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all 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 MLB news with the Philadelphia Phillies on this date. 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 the opener of a 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.
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.
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.
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 game.
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.
How Will Garrett Be Gauged as MLB Pitcher Following College Cage Career?
Boom or bust? How will history determine the early impact of lefthander Amir Garrett on the Cincinnati Reds? The former St. John's hooper excelled in his first three starts two years ago with 1.83 ERA before struggling mightily majority of next nine starts, leaving him with an ERA of 7.41 two months later in mid-June. Last season as a reliever, Garrett got off to a grand beginning again, notching a 1.35 ERA through his first 21 appearances prior to coming back to Earth. Ditto this campaign, compiling a 1.33 ERA through 25 stints following fanning the side against the Milwaukee Brewers in late May.
Sandy Koufax, perhaps the finest lefty in MLB history, was a freshman basketball player with the University of Cincinnati in 1953-54 prior to walking 12 opponents in first four relief appearances covering 9 2/3 innings for Brooklyn Dodgers in 1955. The greatest beginning of a MLB pitching career by an ex-college hooper was assembled by Mississippi State's David "Boo" Ferriss, who hurled 22 scoreless innings and won his his first eight starts with the Boston Red Sox in 1945.
Following is a comprehensive summary of early rookie performances by other MLB pitchers who played varsity basketball for a school presently or formerly at the NCAA Division I level:
| College Hooper | Current/Former DI School | Summary of Early MLB Pitching Career |
|---|---|---|
| Mark Acre | New Mexico State | held foes scoreless in first five games as Athletics reliever in 1994 and yielded only one ER in first 10 appearances (0.82 ERA) |
| Elden Auker | Kansas State | 8.07 ERA through first 10 games (including four starts) with Tigers in 1933 |
| Curt Barclay | Oregon | 5.01 ERA in first three starts with New York Giants in 1957 |
| Mike Barlow | Syracuse | allowed four earned runs covering three innings in his first two relief appearances with St. Louis Cardinals in 1975 |
| Stan Baumgartner | University of Chicago | 4.82 ERA in first nine games with Philadelphia Phillies in 1914 |
| Jim Beattie | Dartmouth | 4.70 ERA in first five starts with New York Yankees in 1978 |
| Carl Bouldin | Cincinnati | 15.43 ERA in first six games with Washington Senators in 1961 and 1962 |
| Ralph Branca | NYU | 8.41 ERA in first nine games with Brooklyn Dodgers in 1944 |
| Ownie Carroll | Holy Cross | 0-2 mark in first three starts with Tigers in 1925, allowing 19 runs in 17 innings |
| Marty Clary | Northwestern | 6.14 ERA in seven games after September call-up by Atlanta Braves in 1987 |
| Vince Colbert | East Carolina | 10.02 ERA in first 16 relief appearances with Cleveland Indians in 1970 |
| Gene Conley | Washington State | lost first two starts with Boston Braves, surrendering 10 earned runs in 7 1/3 innings in 1952 |
| Danny Coombs | Seton Hall | 8.74 ERA in first six games with Houston Colt .45's in 1963 and 1964 |
| Bill Crouch | Eastern Michigan | won all four verdicts in September and compiled 2.58 ERA in six games with Brooklyn Dodgers in 1939 |
| Dave "Boo" Ferriss | Mississippi State | won first eight decisions, including four shutouts, while manufacturing microscopic 0.74 ERA with Boston Red Sox in 1945 |
| Dave Frost | Stanford | 2.68 ERA in 15 games with Chicago White Sox and California Angels in 1977 and 1978 |
| Rich Gale | New Hampshire | won 13 of first 16 decisions while compiling 2.59 ERA in first 21 starts with Kansas City Royals in 1978 |
| Johnny Gee | Michigan | lost four of five decisions while posting 4.67 ERA in first six outings with Pittsburgh Pirates in 1939 and 1941 |
| Joe Gibbon | Mississippi | won first two relief appearances with Pirates covering five innings in 1960 |
| Bob Gibson | Creighton | yielded HR to first batter he faced in 1959 en route to allowing five hits and three earned runs in 2 1/3 innings in first two relief appearances with St. Louis Cardinals |
| Dave Giusti | Syracuse | lost first three starts and compiled 7.49 ERA in first eight games with Houston Colt .45's in 1962 |
| Dallas Green | Delaware | 5.45 ERA in first five starts with Phillies, allowing 35 hits and 18 walks in 34 2/3 innings |
| Paul Gregory | Mississippi State | unscored upon in first four relief appearances covering 6 1/3 innings with Chicago White Sox in 1932 |
| Ed Halicki | Monmouth (N.J.) | lost eight of nine decisions as San Francisco Giants rookie in 1974 |
| Steve Hamilton | Morehead State | 2.94 ERA in first 15 games covering 33 2/3 innings with Cleveland Indians and Washington Senators in 1961 and 1962 |
| Atlee Hammaker | East Tennessee State | 5.68 ERA in first nine games with Kansas City Royals in 1981 |
| Paul Hartzell | Lehigh | after dismal debut with California Angels in early 1976, yielded only one earned run in seven-game span covering 23 1/3 innings |
| Jim Hearn | Georgia Tech | lowered ERA to 2.44 after hurling first MLB shutout in 16th appearance with St. Louis Cardinals in 1947 |
| Mark Hendrickson | Washington State | 5.91 ERA in 12 relief appearances with Toronto Blue Jays in 2002 before lowering mark to 2.45 at season's end by winning three of four September starts |
| Bill Henry | Houston | won first four starts with Boston Red Sox in 1952, hurling complete games in last three of them |
| Oral Hildebrand | Butler | 8.38 ERA covering 9 2/3 innings in first three relief appearances with Cleveland Indians in September 1931 |
| Jay Hook | Northwestern | 6.23 ERA covering 13 innings with Cincinnati Reds in 1957 and 1958 |
| Walt Huntzinger | Penn | 5.13 ERA covering 40 1/3 innings with New York Giants in 1923 and 1924 |
| Andy Karl | Manhattan | 1.37 ERA in first eight relief appearances with Boston Red Sox in 1943 |
| Bob Keegan | Bucknell | 6.59 ERA in first seven games with Chicago White Sox in 1953 |
| Jim Konstanty | Syracuse | 2.17 ERA in first 10 games, including seven starts, with Cincinnati Reds in 1944 |
| Bill Krueger | Portland | 2.54 ERA in first seven starts with Oakland Athletics in 1983 |
| Ted Lyons | Baylor | eventual Hall of Famer posted 10.12 ERA in first five games as Chicago White Sox reliever in 1923 |
| Dave Madison | Louisiana State | yielded two earned runs in three innings in debut with New York Yankees in 1950 before going scoreless in first eight relief appearances covering 14 innings with St. Louis Browns in 1952 |
| Bill McCahan | Duke | 1.23 ERA in first five games with Philadelphia Athletics in 1946 and 1947 |
| Ben McDonald | Louisiana State | won first six decisions while notching 2.52 ERA in first 17 games covering 53 2/3 innings with Baltimore Orioles in 1989 and 1990 |
| Jim Mooney | East Tennessee State | won first six decisions while posting 1.13 ERA in first eight games, including five complete games, with New York Giants in 1931 |
| Roy Parmelee | Eastern Michigan | 9.32 ERA in 13 games with New York Giants in 1929 and 1930 |
| Dennis Rasmussen | Creighton | 1.27 ERA in first five games covering 21 2/3 innings with San Diego Padres and New York Yankees in 1983 and 1984 |
| Ron Reed | Notre Dame | won first six starts in initial full season with Atlanta Braves in 1968 |
| Paul Reuschel | Western Illinois | 2.22 ERA in first 20 relief appearances with Chicago Cubs in 1975 |
| Denny Riddleberger | Old Dominion | 0.82 ERA in first 10 relief appearances covering 11 innings with Washington Senators in 1970 and 1971 |
| Eppa Rixey | Virginia | eventual Hall of Famer registered 2.50 ERA in 23 games (including 20 starts) with Philadelphia Phillies in 1912 |
| Robin Roberts | Michigan State | eventual Hall of Famer registered 2.50 ERA in first 15 starts with Philadelphia Phillies in 1948 |
| Garry Roggenburk | Dayton | 1.44 ERA in 34 relief appearances with Minnesota Twins in 1963 (also lost two starts) |
| Marius Russo | NYU | won last eight starts of rookie season while compiling 2.41 ERA in 21 games covering 116 innings with New York Yankees in 1939 |
| Don Schwall | Oklahoma | All-Star as rookie posted 1.31 ERA in winning first five starts with Boston Red Sox in 1961 |
| Rollie Sheldon | Connecticut | 2.28 ERA in first 18 games upon winning six straight decisions after firing back-to-back shutouts with New York Yankees in 1961 |
| Sonny Siebert | Missouri | 5.67 ERA in first 12 games with Cleveland Indians in 1964 |
| Lee Smith | Northwestern State | 1.26 ERA in first 12 relief appearances with Chicago Cubs in 1980 |
| Mike Smithson | Tennessee | 5.01 ERA in eight starts as Texas Rangers rookie in 1982 |
| Dave Stenhouse | Rhode Island | All-Star as Senators rookie compiled 0.88 ERA in seven games after winning first three starts in 1962 |
| Tim Stoddard | North Carolina State | 8.78 ERA in first eight relief appearances with Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles in 1975 and 1978 |
| George Stone | Louisiana Tech | 2.85 ERA in first 11 games covering 41 innings with Atlanta Braves in 1967 and 1968 |
| Darrell Sutherland | Southern California | 9.15 ERA in first eight games covering 20 2/3 innings with New York Mets in 1964 |
| Cecil Upshaw | Centenary | 1.95 ERA covering 37 1/3 innings in first 24 relief appearances with Atlanta Braves in 1966 and 1967 |
| Jim Wilson | San Diego State | 2.08 ERA in first six games covering 30 1/3 innings with Boston Red Sox in 1945 |
| Chris Young | Princeton | 5.85 ERA in first four starts with Texas Rangers in 2004 |
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make Mark on June 7 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all 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. 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).
Brooklyn Robins RF Harvey Hendrick (Vanderbilt hoops letterman in 1918) stroked three hits in third consecutive contest in 1927.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Make Mark on June 6 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all 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. 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.
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.
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-WAC 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.
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.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make Mark on June 5 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all 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 performances on this date. 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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make Mark on June 4 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all 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. 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.
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) 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.
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.
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 Make Mark on June 3 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all 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. 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 LSU and USL 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 C Paul Florence (Georgetown hoops letterman from 1920-21 through 1922-23) 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.
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 (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) collected two homers and five RBI in a 9-2 win against the Detroit Tigers in 1978.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make Mark on June 2 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all 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) and Graig Nettles (San Diego State) 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.
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) 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.
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.
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.
Pages
