Extra! Extra! Instead of wondering how much longer insufferable Odd Squad #Dimorat members can have any Congressional sway after long-term support for Hamas-dominated Palestinians, you can read news about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former college hoopers Boo Ferriss (Mississippi State) and Christy Mathewson (Bucknell) hurled World Series shutouts on this date. Joining Mathewson among ex-hoopers from Pennsylvania colleges making WS news on this date were Monte Irvin (Lincoln), Red Murray (Lock Haven) and Dave Ricketts (Duquesne). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an October 9 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

OCTOBER 9

• C Benny Bengough (Niagara basketball letterman from 1916-17 through 1918-19) secured a hit for third straight 1928 World Series game to help the New York Yankees sweep the St. Louis Cardinals.

• Boston Red Sox LHP Ray Collins (Vermont hoops letterman in 1907 and 1908) started Game 2 of 1912 World Series against the New York Giants when they tied, 6-6, in a contest called after 11 innings.

• Before a crowd of 81,897, CF Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA hoops titlist) contributed first homer of 1948 World Series to spark the Cleveland Indians to a 2-1 victory against the Boston Braves in Game 4.

• Boston Red Sox RHP Boo Ferriss (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1941) hurled a 4-0 shutout against the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 3 of 1946 World Series.

• Cincinnati Reds RHP Ken Hunt (freshman hooper for Brigham Young in 1957-58) hurled a hitless ninth inning of relief in 13-5 Game 5 defeat against the New York Yankees in 1961 World Series, closing out frame by fanning Elston Howard.

• New York Giants LF Monte Irvin (Lincoln PA hooper 1 1/2 years in late 1930s) provided his fourth multiple-hit outing in first five World Series games in 1951 against the New York Yankees.

• New York Giants CF Hank Leiber (Arizona hooper in 1931) contributed two hits, two runs and two RBI in a 7-3 win against the New York Yankees in Game 4 of 1937 World Series.

• In the first World Series utilizing a seven-game format, New York Giants Hall of Fame RHP Christy Mathewson (Bucknell hooper at turn of 20th Century) blanked the Philadelphia Athletics, 3-0, in opener of all-shutout 1905 World Series. Mathewson also tossed whitewashes in Game 3 and Game 5.

• New York Giants OF Red Murray (played hoops for Lock Haven PA in early 1900s) banged out two extra-base hits among his three safeties in a 6-6 tie against the Boston Red Sox in Game 2 of 1912 World Series.

• Pittsburgh Pirates SS Paul Popovich (teammate of Jerry West for West Virginia's 1960 NCAA playoff team) hit safely in all three 1974 NLCS games against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

• Despite yielding only one earned run in 9 2/3 innings in two starts against the St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Browns RHP Nels Potter (leading scorer in early 1930s for Mount Morris IL) lost his lone World Series decision (3-1 in Game 6 in 1944).

• Pittsburgh Pirates 1B Gary Redus (J.C. hooper for Athens AL and father of Centenary/South Alabama guard with same name) went 3-for-3, including two extra-base hits, and scored decisive run in a 3-2 triumph against the Atlanta Braves in Game 3 of 1992 NLCS.

• St. Louis Cardinals C Dave Ricketts (three-year starter led Duquesne in scoring senior season with 17.9 ppg in 1956-57) registered his lone World Series hit with a pinch single off Detroit Tigers P Denny McLain in Game 6 in 1968.

• St. Louis Cardinals RF Wally Roettger (Illinois hoops letterman in 1921-22 and 1922-23) hit safely in all three of 1931 World Series games he started against the Philadelphia Athletics.

• Boston Red Sox RHP Mike Smithson (teammate of Tennessee All-American Ernie Grunfeld averaged 1.9 ppg and 1.6 rpg under coach Ray Mears in 1974-75 and 1975-76) hurled 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief in Game 4 of 1988 ALCS against the Oakland Athletics.

• Cleveland Indians 1B Jim Thome (juco hooper for Illinois Central in 1988-89) clobbered two homers against the New York Yankees in Game 3 of 1998 ALCS.

• CF Bill Virdon (Drury MO hooper in 1949) stroked a two-run single propelling the Pittsburgh Pirates to 3-2 triumph against the New York Yankees in Game 4 of 1960 World Series.

• Washington Senators LHP Tom Zachary (Guilford NC hoops letterman in 1916) hurled a complete-game, 2-1 win against the New York Giants in Game 6 of 1924 World Series. Zachary also won Game 2.

Long before kneeling knuckleheads and multiple anthems, the NCAA Tournament commenced in 1939, which was one year after the NIT triggered national postseason competition. An overlooked "versatile athlete" feat occurring in 1938 likely never to be duplicated took place at Arkansas, where the quarterback for the football squad (Jack Robbins) repeated as an All-SWC first-team basketball selection, leading the Razorbacks (19-3) to the league title. After the season, Robbins became an NFL first-round draft choice by the Chicago Cardinals (5th pick overall) and senior football/basketball teammates Jim Benton (11th pick by Cleveland Rams) and Ray Hamilton (41st pick by Rams) went on to become wide receivers for at least six years in the NFL. Yes, they created a kneeling-in-admiration shatterproof achievement - three do-everything members of a league championship basketball squad who promptly were among the top 41 selections in the same NFL draft.

Two years later, All-SWC first-team hoop selection Howard "Red" Hickey was instrumental in Arkansas reaching the 1941 Final Four before becoming an end for the Cleveland Rams' 1945 NFL titlist. Two-sport college teammate and fellow end O'Neal Adams scored five touchdowns for the New York Giants the first half of the 1940s. Another two-sport Hog who played for the Giants in the mid-1940s was Harry Wynne. An earlier versatile Razorback was Jim Lee Howell, who was an All-SWC first five hoop selection in 1935-36 before becoming a starting end for the Giants' 1938 NFL titlist and Pro Bowl participant the next year. Adams, Benton, Hamilton, Hickey and Howell combined for 77 touchdowns in an 11-year span from 1938 through 1948 when at least one of the ex-Razorback hoopers scored a TD in each of those seasons.

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves on October 8 in football at the professional level (especially in 1967 and ex-hoopers with the Giants and Lions):

OCTOBER 8

• In 1933, Boston Braves RB Cliff Battles (four seasons of varsity hoops for West Virginia Wesleyan) became the first NFL player to rush for 200 yards in a game (215 yards in 16 carries against New York Giants).

• Cleveland Rams E Jim Benton (forward was Arkansas' third-leading scorer in SWC play as senior in 1937-38) had two touchdown receptions in a 35-21 setback against the Chicago Bears in 1939. Bears rookie HB Bob MacLeod (All-EIL choice for Dartmouth league champions in 1937-38 and 1938-39) caught a 21-yard TD pass and returned interception 41 yards for TD.

• Baltimore Colts DE Ordell Braase (first-team All-NCC hoops pick for South Dakota in 1952-53 and 1953-54) returned a fumble recovery nine yards for touchdown in 24-3 win against the Chicago Bears in 1967.

• New York Giants T Victor Carroll (three-year hoops letterman for Nevada-Reno in mid-1930s) returned a blocked punt return 28 yards for touchdown in 22-10 win against the Boston Yanks in 1944.

• New York Giants TB Ed Danowski (Fordham hoops letterman in 1932-33) threw two third-quarter touchdown passes in a 14-7 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1939.

• Kansas City Chiefs QB Len Dawson (Purdue hooper in 1956-57) threw five touchdown passes in a 41-0 win against the Miami Dolphins in 1967. Chiefs FL Otis Taylor (backup small forward for Prairie View A&M) had two first-half TD catches - one for 71 yards. Dolphins QB Archie Roberts (averaged 2.2 ppg and 1.3 rpg in 14 contests as Columbia junior in 1963-64) played in his lone AFL game, completing 5-of-10 passes.

• Detroit Lions TE Darren Fells (led UCI in rebounding each of last three seasons while averaging 10.2 ppg and 6.3 rpg from 2004-05 through 2007-08) caught two fourth-quarter touchdown passes from Matthew Stafford in a 27-24 setback against the Carolina Panthers in 2017.

• Los Angeles Dons rookie WR Len Ford (center for Morgan State's CIAA hoops titlist in 1944) caught two touchdown passes from Glenn Dobbs in a 49-28 AAFC win against the Chicago Rockets in 1948.

• Minnesota Vikings DB Dale Hackbart (averaged 4 ppg and 3.5 rpg in 10 contests for Wisconsin in 1958-59) returned an interception 21 yards for touchdown in 34-24 setback against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1967. Vikings QB Joe Kapp (backup forward averaged 1.8 ppg and 1.2 rpg for California's PCC champions in 1957 and 1958) passed for 281 yards.

• Carolina Panthers WR Donald Hayes (played in two basketball games for Wisconsin in 1995-96 under coach Dick Bennett) opened game's scoring with a 43-yard touchdown pass reception from QB Steve Beuerlein in 26-3 win against the Seattle Seahawks in 2000.

• Philadelphia Eagles QB King Hill (Rice hoops letterman in 1955-56 and 1956-57) punted five times for 238 yards (47.6 average) in a 21-16 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1961.

• Houston Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins (played in seven hoop games for Clemson in 2010-11) had career-high 11 pass receptions in a 27-20 setback against the Indianapolis Colts in 2015. It was his third of four consecutive contests with at least eight pass receptions for more than 100 receiving yards. Two years later, Hopkins caught three touchdown passes from Deshaun Watson in a 42-34 setback against the Kansas City Chiefs in 2017.

• Green Bay Packers RB Paul Hornung (teammate of All-American Jack Stephens averaged 6.1 ppg in 10 contests for Notre Dame in 1954-55) scored four touchdowns - including 54-yard run from scrimmage opening game's scoring - in a 45-7 win against the Baltimore Colts in 1961.

• Miami Dolphins RB Terry Kirby (averaged 3.4 ppg as Virginia freshman in 1989-90 and 2.1 as sophomore in 1990-91) rushed for two first-half touchdowns in a 27-24 setback against the Indianapolis Colts in 1995.

• Detroit Lions QB Bobby Layne (Texas hooper in 1944-45) threw two second-half touchdown passes in a 24-7 win against the San Francisco 49ers in 1950. The next year, Layne threw three TD passes - two to HB Doak Walker (SMU hoops letterman as freshman in 1945-46) - in a 37-10 win against the New York Yanks in 1951.

• Chicago Bears QB Johnny Lujack (averaged 3.4 ppg as starting guard for Notre Dame in 1943-44) rushed for two second-quarter touchdowns in a 27-6 win against the Chicago Cardinals in 1950.

• Baltimore Ravens WR Vince Mayle (averaged 8 ppg for Shasta CC in 2009-10) opened game's scoring with a rushing touchdown in 30-17 win against the Oakland Raiders in 2017.

• Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb (averaged 2.3 points in 18 games for Syracuse in 1995-96 and 1996-97) passed for 354 yards - including two second-half touchdowns - in a 38-24 win against the Dallas Cowboys in 2006.

• Green Bay Packers DE Dan Orlich (Nevada-Reno hoops letterman in 1947-48 and 1948-49) returned a fumble recovery 15 yards for touchdown in 44-31 setback against the New York Yanks in 1950. Yanks QB George Ratterman (third-leading scorer with 11.7 ppg for Notre Dame in 1944-45) threw three of his NFL-high 22 TD passes.

• San Francisco 49ers WR Terrell Owens (UTC hooper from 1993-94 through 1995-96 started five games) caught 12 passes for 176 yards - including two touchdowns from Jeff Garcia - in a 34-28 setback against the Oakland Raiders in 2000.

• St. Louis Rams rookie LB Tommy Polley (played in one basketball game for Florida State in 1996-97 under coach Pat Kennedy) had 10 solo tackles in a 35-0 win against the Detroit Lions in 2001.

• Oakland Raiders WR Art Powell (averaged 10.5 ppg and 8.2 rpg for San Jose State in 1956-57) caught 11 passes for 206 yards - including two touchdowns from Tom Flores - in a 24-10 AFL win against the Boston Patriots in 1965.

• WR Sonny Randle (scoreless in seven basketball games in Virginia's third season in ACC in 1955-56) caught fourth-quarter touchdown pass from QB John Brodie to give the San Francisco 49ers a 27-24 win against the Los Angeles Rams in 1967.

• Chicago Cardinals TB Jack Robbins (repeated as All-SWC first-team selection in 1938 for Arkansas) threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes in a 27-20 setback against the Green Bay Packers in 1939.

• Pittsburgh Steelers DB Johnny Sample (freshman hooper for UMES) had three interceptions in a 21-16 setback against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1961.

• New York Giants QB Norm Snead (averaged 7.8 ppg in four Wake Forest games as senior in 1960-61) threw three touchdown passes in a 45-21 win against the New Orleans Saints in 1972. Eleven years earlier, WR Tom Osborne (scored 1,291 points for Hastings NE during last half of 1950s) accounted for the Washington Redskins' only TD by catching a pass from Snead in 31-7 setback against the Cleveland Browns in 1961.

• Dallas Cowboys QB Roger Staubach (Navy varsity hooper in 1962-63) threw three touchdown passes in a 24-3 win against the New York Giants in 1978.

• Jacksonville Jaguars WR Cedric Tillman (averaged 4.3 ppg and 2.6 rpg while serving as part-time starter for Alcorn State in 1990-91) opened game's scoring with a touchdown catch from Mark Brunell in 20-16 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1995.

Long before kneeling knuckleheads and multiple anthems, the NCAA Tournament commenced in 1939, which was one year after the NIT triggered national postseason competition. An overlooked "versatile athlete" feat occurring in 1938 likely never to be duplicated took place at Arkansas, where the quarterback for the football squad (Jack Robbins) repeated as an All-SWC first-team basketball selection, leading the Razorbacks (19-3) to the league title. After the season, Robbins became an NFL first-round draft choice by the Chicago Cardinals (5th pick overall) and senior football/basketball teammates Jim Benton (11th pick by Cleveland Rams) and Ray Hamilton (41st pick by Rams) went on to become wide receivers for at least six years in the NFL. Yes, they created a kneeling-in-admiration shatterproof achievement - three do-everything members of a league championship basketball squad who promptly were among the top 41 selections in the same NFL draft.

Two years later, All-SWC first-team hoop selection Howard "Red" Hickey was instrumental in Arkansas reaching the 1941 Final Four before becoming an end for the Cleveland Rams' 1945 NFL titlist. Two-sport college teammate and fellow end O'Neal Adams scored five touchdowns for the New York Giants the first half of the 1940s. Another two-sport Hog who played for the Giants in the mid-1940s was Harry Wynne. An earlier versatile Razorback was Jim Lee Howell, who was an All-SWC first five hoop selection in 1935-36 before becoming a starting end for the Giants' 1938 NFL titlist and Pro Bowl participant the next year. Adams, Benton, Hamilton, Hickey and Howell combined for 77 touchdowns in an 11-year span from 1938 through 1948 when at least one of the ex-Razorback hoopers scored a TD in each of those seasons.

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves on October 7 football at the professional level (especially in 2001 and a couple of Browns receivers having exceptional games):

OCTOBER 7

• Chicago Bears FB Rick Casares (Florida's scoring and rebounding leader both seasons as All-SEC second-team selection in 1951-52 and 1952-53) rushed for two touchdowns in a 37-21 win against the Green Bay Packers in 1956.

• Pittsburgh Steelers HB Lynn Chandnois (forward scored 15 points in 11 games for Michigan State in 1946-47 and 1947-48) scored two second-quarter touchdowns - one receiving/one rushing - in a 35-33 setback against the Green Bay Packers in 1951. Steelers DB Jim Finks (led Tulsa with 8.9 ppg as sophomore in 1946-47) returned an interception 25 yards for TD.

• Los Angeles Rams RB Glenn Davis (Army hooper in 1944-45 and 1945-46) scored two second-half touchdowns (one rushing/one receiving) in a 38-23 setback against the Cleveland Browns in 1951.

• Dallas Texans QB Len Dawson (Purdue hooper in 1956-57) threw three touchdown passes for the third consecutive AFL contest in 1962.

• Chicago Cardinals B-PK John "Paddy" Driscoll (Northwestern hoops letterman in 1916) accounted for 27 points with four touchdowns and three extra points in a 60-0 win against the Rochester Jeffersons in 1923.

• Houston Texans TE Darren Fells (led UCI in rebounding each of last three seasons while averaging 10.2 ppg and 6.3 rpg from 2004-05 through 2007-08) caught two second-half touchdown passes from Deshaun Watson in 53-32 win against the Atlanta Falcons in 2019.

• Green Bay Packers FB Ted Fritsch Sr. (Wisconsin-Stevens Point hoops letterman in 1940-41 and 1941-42) returned an interception 69 yards for touchdown in 57-21 win against the Detroit Lions in 1945.

• Kansas City Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez (averaged 6.4 ppg and 4.3 rpg for California from 1994-95 through 1996-97) caught eight passes for 129 yards in a 20-6 setback against the Denver Broncos in 2001. Eleven years later with the Atlanta Falcons, Gonzalez caught 13 passes in a 24-17 win against the Washington Redskins in 2012.

• Miami Dolphins QB Bob Griese (sophomore guard for Purdue in 1964-65) threw three touchdown passes in a 31-3 win against the New York Jets in 1973.

• Los Angeles Rams E Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch (starting center for Michigan in 1944) caught two second-half touchdown passes in a 33-30 setback against the San Francisco 49ers in 1956.

• Houston Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins (played in seven hoop games for Clemson in 2010-11) caught nine passes for 151 yards in a 19-16 win against the Dallas Cowboys in 2018. First NFL reception for Cowboys TE Rico Gathers (two-time All-Big 12 Conference selection averaged 8.6 ppg and 8 rpg for Baylor from 2012-13 through 2015-16) was a 32-yard pass from Dak Prescott.

• RB-K Paul Hornung (teammate of All-American Jack Stephens averaged 6.1 ppg in 10 contests for Notre Dame in 1954-55) accounted for all of the Green Bay Packers' scoring by kicking three field goals in a 9-7 win against the Detroit Lions in 1962.

• New York Giants' Dave Jennings (forward averaged 5.9 ppg for St. Lawrence NY in 1972-73 and 1973-74) punted eight times for 48.9-yard average in a 17-14 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1979.

• B Wild Bill Kelly (two-year Montana hoops letterman in mid-1920s) supplied the New York Yankees' lone touchdown with a 15-yard rush in 9-7 setback against the Pottsville Maroons in 1928.

• San Francisco 49ers B Billy Kilmer (hooper under legendary UCLA coach John Wooden in 1959-60) rushed for two touchdowns for the second straight game in 1962.

• Cleveland Browns WR Dave Logan (averaged 14.1 ppg and 6.3 rpg for Colorado in mid-1970s) caught two fourth-quarter touchdown passes from Brian Sipe in a 51-35 setback against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1979.

• Chicago Bears QB Johnny Lujack (averaged 3.4 ppg as starting guard for Notre Dame in 1943-44) threw two second-half touchdown passes in a 28-14 setback against the Chicago Cardinals in 1951.

• Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb (averaged 2.3 points in 18 games for Syracuse in 1995-96 and 1996-97) threw two first-half touchdown passes in a 21-20 setback against the Arizona Cardinals in 2001.

• Frankfort Yellow Jackets B Ken Mercer (three-year hoops letterman as Simpson IA forward) threw a fourth-quarter, go-ahead touchdown pass in 10-6 win against the Providence Steam Roller in 1928.

• Cleveland Browns WR Jordan Norwood (collected one rebound and one assist in four basketball games for Penn State in 2006-07) had a career-high nine pass receptions in 41-27 setback against the New York Giants in 2012.

• San Francisco 49ers WR Terrell Owens (UTC hooper from 1993-94 through 1995-96 started five games) caught two third-quarter touchdown passes from Jeff Garcia in a 24-14 win against the Carolina Panthers in 2001.

• The second of two second-half touchdown catches by WR Andre Rison (backup hoops guard for Michigan State in 1987-88) gave the Atlanta Falcons a 28-27 win against the New Orleans Saints in 1990.

• New York Giants CB Jason Sehorn (averaged 12.5 ppg and 6 rpg for Shasta Community College CA in 1990-91) had two interceptions - returning one 34 yards for touchdown - in a 23-9 win against the Washington Redskins in 2001.

• Washington Redskins QB Norm Snead (averaged 7.8 ppg in four Wake Forest games as senior in 1960-61) threw two first-half touchdown passes in a 20-14 win against the Los Angeles Rams in 1962.

• Denver Broncos rookie WR Courtland Sutton (collected three points and two rebounds in three SMU basketball games in 2015-16 when Larry Brown was coach) opened game's scoring with a touchdown reception from Case Keenum in 34-16 setback against the New York Jets in 2018.

• Miami Dolphins DE Jason Taylor (averaged 8 ppg and 5.4 rpg for Akron in 1994-95) recovered a fumble for touchdown in 30-10 win against the New England Patriots in 2001.

• Buffalo All-Americans E Luke Urban (player-coach for Boston College's hoops squad from 1918-19 through 1920-21) returned an interception for touchdown in 1923 game against the Akron Pros.

• Tennessee Titans rookie WR Kendall Wright (Baylor hooper as freshman in 2008-09) caught nine passes in a 30-7 setback against the Minnesota Vikings in 2012.

As Israel mourns the one-year mark after Hamas' horrific terrorist attack, nation can take its mind off despair and increased anti-semitism by focusing on basketball superiority. How few quality basketball players originated from majority of Middle East and Arab League (Afghanistan/Algeria/Bahrain/Egypt/Iran/Iraq/Jordan/Kuwait/Lebanon/Libya/Morocco/Oman/Palestine/Qatar/Saudi Arabia/Somalia/Syria/Yemen)? Meanwhile, Connecticut (bolstered by Big East Conference honorees Nadav Henefeld and Doron Sheffer) has been the biggest beneficiary from the following long list of premier Israelis playing for NCAA Division I universities:

Extra! Extra! Rather than cursing hideous happy-hooker honcho Hunter's demented Delaware beach-shuffling daddy telling God-fearing parents how to raise their kids via suspect jabs, Dr. Fraudci multiple masks, vocabulary-teaching phonographs, scam artistry, sky-is-falling climate-change culture, creepy hair sniffing, big-guy skinny dipping in view of female Secret Service agents, $5.5 trillion-equals-zero math, et al, you can read news about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Two former small-college hoopers from Pennsylvania - George Earnshaw (Swarthmore) and Joe Ostrowski (Scranton) - supplied significant World Series pitching performances for American League teams on this date. Ditto small-school hoopers from Louisiana - Lee Smith (Northwestern State) and Cecil Upshaw (Centenary) - as relievers in Championship Series competition. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an October 6 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

OCTOBER 6

• Detroit Tigers RHP Elden Auker (All-Big Six Conference first-five basketball selection with Kansas State in 1931-32) went the distance in whipping the St. Louis Cardinals, 10-4, in Game 4 of the 1934 World Series.

• Philadelphia Phillies rookie LHP Stan Baumgartner (hooper for University of Chicago's Big Ten Conference champion in 1913-14) closed out the 1914 campaign with a seven-inning shutout against the New York Giants.

• Philadelphia Athletics C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) went 4-for-4 against the New York Yankees in a 1929 game.

• St. Louis Cardinals CF Taylor Douthit (California hoops letterman from 1922 through 1924) collided with a teammate in Game 4 and was sidelined for the remainder of the 1926 World Series against the New York Yankees.

• New York Giants RHP Louis Drucke (Texas Christian hoops letterman in 1909) went 6-for-11 at the plate and scored six runs in his last four starts of 1910 campaign.

• RHP George Earnshaw (Swarthmore PA hooper in 1922) squared the 1931 World Series with a two-hit, 3-0 shutout for the Philadelphia Athletics against the St. Louis Cardinals. The previous year, Earnshaw combined Hall of Famer Lefty Grove for a three-hit shutout against the Cardinals in Game 5 of 1930 World Series.

• St. Louis Cardinals RHP Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer in 1955-56 and 1956-57) hurled a five-hitter in 10-1 triumph against the Detroit Tigers in Game 4 of 1968 World Series.

• Detroit Tigers 1B Hank Greenberg (attended NYU briefly on hoops scholarship in late 1920s) accumulated two doubles among his four hits in a 10-4 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 4 of 1934 World Series. Six years later, Greenberg's three-run homer opened the scoring in an 8-0 victory against the Cincinnati Reds in Game 5 of the 1940 WS.

• 3B Wayne Gross (Cal Poly Pomona assists leader in 1974-75) whacked a three-run homer to power the Oakland Athletics to a 4-0 triumph against the Kansas City Royals in Game 1 of the 1981 ALDS.

• In 2001, San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-Western Athletic Conference second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81 who twice led league in assists) registered the final of his 3,141 MLB career hits (double against the Colorado Rockies).

• Despite walking eight batters, New York Giants RHP Jim Hearn (Georgia Tech hoops letterman in 1941-42) won his only World Series start (6-2 against New York Yankees in Game 3 in 1951).

• LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman hoops squad in 1953-54) outdueled fellow lefthander Whitey Ford as the Los Angeles Dodgers swept the 1963 World Series from the New York Yankees. RF 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) contributed both of L.A.'s safeties off Ford, including a long homer in the fifth inning.

• Davey Johnson (averaged 1.7 ppg with Texas A&M in 1961-62) fired as Los Angeles Dodgers manager in 2000.

• Milwaukee Braves SS Johnny Logan (Binghamton hooper in 1948-49) doubled home the tying run in the bottom of the 10th inning and scored on Eddie Mathews' game-winning homer in a 7-5 decision over the New York Yankees in Game 4 of the 1957 World Series. Yankees 3B Jerry Lumpe (hooper in 1952 NAIA Tournament final for Southwest Missouri State's championship team) hit safely in third consecutive WS outing.

• Chicago White Sox rookie RHP Ted Lyons (two-time All-SWC first-team selection for Baylor in early 1920s) secured his first two of 260 MLB victories by winning both ends of a 1923 doubleheader in relief against the Cleveland Indians.

• Billy Martin (Georgetown's runner-up in scoring as sophomore in 1910-11) appeared in his only MLB game, starting at SS for the Boston Braves in nightcap of 1914 twinbill.

• St. Louis Cardinals LHP Jim Mooney (hooper for East Tennessee State) hurled one inning of scoreless relief in Game 4 against the Detroit Tigers in the 1934 World Series.

• RHP Joe Niekro (averaged 8.9 ppg and 3.8 rpg for West Liberty WV from 1963-64 through 1965-66) posted his 20th triumph of the 1980 season (7-1 against Los Angeles Dodgers in one-game playoff) to propel the Houston Astros to postseason competition for the first time since the franchise started in 1962.

• New York Yankees LHP Joe Ostrowski (led Scranton PA in scoring with 15.1 ppg in 1942-43) tossed two scoreless innings of relief in Game 3 of 1951 World Series against the New York Giants.

• Los Angeles Dodgers OF Rip Repulski (part-time hoops starter for St. Cloud State MN) received an intentional walk in Game 5 in his only at-bat in the 1959 World Series against the Chicago White Sox.

• Brooklyn Dodgers LHP Preacher Roe (Harding AR hooper in late 1930s) tossed a shutout against the New York Yankees in Game 2 of the 1949 World Series. The contest's only RBI was supplied by 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948), who drove in 2B Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in PCC both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41).

• New York Yankees 3B Red Rolfe (played hoops briefly with Dartmouth in 1927-28 and 1929-30) registered his fourth multiple-hit game in the 1936 World Series against the New York Giants. Rolfe hit .400 in six contests.

• Closer Lee Smith (averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg with Northwestern State in 1976-77) lost Game 4 with the Chicago Cubs in the 1984 NLCS and Game 2 with the Boston Red Sox in the 1988 ALCS.

• Atlanta Braves RHP Cecil Upshaw (Centenary's leader in scoring average with 15.4 ppg as junior in 1962-63) relieved in each of the first three games against the New York Mets in the 1969 NLCS.

• Washington Senators RHP Monte Weaver (hoops center for Emory & Henry VA in mid-1920s) toiled 10 1/3 innings before losing, 2-1, against the New York Giants in Game 4 of the 1933 World Series.

Extra! Extra! Instead of wondering if Plagiarist Biledumb's cartoon character Mr. Magoo "malarkey" has anything left in tank for take-behind-gym challenge via a push-up contest, energy to sniff little girls' hair or issue clear weather report for hideous Hunter during foreign business meeting, you can read news about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Two former hoopers from Kentucky small colleges - "Sweet" Lou Johnson (Kentucky State) and David Justice (Thomas More) - made MLB postseason competition news on this date. Ditto for a pair of ex-hoopers from Pennsylvania small colleges - Charlie Gelbert (Lebanon Valley) and Monte Irvin (Lincoln) - in World Series play. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an October 5 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

OCTOBER 5

• RHP Ralph Branca (sixth-leading basketball scorer for NYU in 1943-44) won Game 6 of the 1947 World Series for the Brooklyn Dodgers when he was helped by Al Gionfriddo's famous catch of New York Yankees Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio's long drive to left field.

• Minnesota Twins INF John Castino (medical redshirt for Rollins FL in 1973-74 under coach Ed Jucker) closed out 1980 campaign by hitting safely in 13th of last 14 contests.

• Milwaukee Braves OF John DeMerit (Wisconsin hoops letterman in 1956-57) served as a pinch-runner in Game 3 of the 1957 World Series.

• New York Giants 3B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) went 4-for-4 against the New York Yankees in the opener of the 1921 World Series.

• St. Louis Cardinals SS Charlie Gelbert (scored at least 125 points each of last three seasons in late 1920s with Lebanon Valley PA) hit safely in first four World Series games against the Philadelphia Athletics in 1930.

• New York Giants INF Eddie Grant (paced Harvard's freshman hoops squad in scoring in 1902 and played varsity as sophomore before declared ineligible for receiving money in independent summer baseball league) died from German shelling in 1918 in the Argonne Forest, France, during WWI while in charge of his battalion after his commanding officer was killed.

• Los Angeles Dodgers LHP Mark Hendrickson (two-time All-Pacific-10 Conference selection was Washington State's leading rebounder each season from 1992-93 through 1995-96) allowed his only hit in three scoreless relief appearances against the New York Mets in the 2006 NLDS.

• 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) went 3-for-3, including a two-run double putting the Brooklyn Dodgers ahead for good, in a 13-8 win against the New York Yankees in Game 2 of the 1956 World Series. Three years later in the 1959 WS, Hodges' homer in the bottom of the eighth inning gave the Dodgers a 5-4 triumph against the Chicago White Sox in Game 4.

• New York Giants LF Monte Irvin (Lincoln PA hooper 1 1/2 years in late 1930s) hit safely seven straight times in the 1951 World Series against the New York Yankees.

• Baltimore Orioles 2B Davey Johnson (averaged 1.7 ppg in 1961-62 with Texas A&M) homered in back-to-back 1970 ALCS games against the Minnesota Twins.

• Los Angeles Dodgers RF "Sweet" Lou Johnson (Kentucky State teammate of legendary coach Davey Whitney averaged 5.7 ppg and 2 rpg in 1951-52), blanked by Dave McNally and Moe Drabowsky of the Baltimore Orioles in the 1966 opener, went hitless for the only time in his last nine World Series contests.

• DH David Justice (Thomas More KY assists leader in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg) homered off Dwight Gooden to help the Cleveland Indians square their 1997 ALDS at two games apiece with the New York Yankees.

• New York Yankees LF Charlie Keller (Maryland three-year hoops letterman from 1934-35 through 1936-37) contributed four hits, including a go-ahead, two-run double in the ninth inning, in a 7-4 victory against the Brooklyn Dodgers in Game 4 of the 1941 World Series.

• Los Angeles Dodgers 2B Davey Lopes (NAIA All-District 15 selection for Iowa Wesleyan averaged 16.9 ppg as All-Iowa Conference freshman selection in 1964-65 and 12.1 as sophomore in 1965-66 before transferring with his coach to Washburn KS) contributed a homer and triple while knocking in three runs in a 4-0 decision over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 2 of 1978 NLCS.

• CF Bake McBride (averaged 12.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg in 21 games with Westminster MO in 1968-69 and 1969-70) accounted for the Philadelphia Phillies' lone run with a homer in a 7-1 setback against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 2 of the 1977 NLCS.

• 2B Buddy Myer (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1923-24) manufactured three hits, scored the Washington Senators' first run and drove in their last two runs in a 4-0 win against the New York Giants in Game 3 of the 1933 World Series.

• Atlanta Braves rookie RHP Gary Neibauer (collected 13 points and 9 rebounds in 16 games for Nebraska in 1964-65 under coach Joe Cipriano) hurled a scoreless ninth inning in Game 2 of 1969 NLCS against the New York Mets.

• Chicago Cubs RHP Claude Passeau (hoops letterman with Millsaps MS in late 1920s and early 1930s) hurled a one-hit shutout against the Detroit Tigers in Game 3 of the 1945 World Series.

• RHP Nels Potter (leading scorer during two years he attended Mount Morris IL in early 1930s) selected from the St. Louis Cardinals by the Philadelphia Athletics in 1937 Rule 5 draft.

• Philadelphia Phillies RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) lost Game 2 of the 1950 World Series against the New York Yankees, 2-1, on Joe DiMaggio's leadoff homer in the 10th inning.

• New York Giants RHP Hal Schumacher (St. Lawrence NY hooper in early 1930s) notched the victory in Game 5 of the 1936 World Series against the New York Yankees. Schumacher lost Game 2 three days earlier.

• Kansas City Royals LHP Paul Splittorff (runner-up in scoring and rebounding for Morningside IA in 1967-68) yielded only one hit in combining with Rich Gale (led New Hampshire with 7.2 rpg in 1975-76) for a 4-0 triumph against the Minnesota Twins in 1980.

• St. Louis Cardinals RHP Ray Washburn (Whitworth WA scoring leader named All-Evergreen Conference in 1958-59 and 1959-60) won Game 3 of the 1968 World Series against the Detroit Tigers.

• In 1985, RF Dave Winfield (starting forward with Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) became the first New York Yankee to collect 100 RBI and score 100 runs in a single season since Joe DiMaggio in 1942.

• Chicago Cubs starting RHP Zip Zabel (premier hooper for Baker KS from 1913 through 1915) hurled five scoreless innings in his MLB debut, earning victory in a 5-1 decision over the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1913. The next year, he won his last three decisions, compiling a 1.83 ERA in 13 outings covering 54 innings from beginning of August to end of 1914 campaign.

Extra! Extra! Instead of wondering on the second anniversary of "Let's Go Brandon" chant why anyone with functioning brain expected aviator sunglasses-donning Plagiarist Biledumb to stand up to Odd Squad radicals and rape-fantasy socialist essaying Bozo Bernie after incoherent divider-in-chief failed to forcefully deal with Taliban thugs and flood of border-crossing illegal aliens, you can read news about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former hoopers from four New York colleges - Hank Greenberg (NYU), Jim Konstanty (Syracuse), Marius Russo (LIU) and Hal Schumacher (St. Lawrence) - supplied significant World Series performances on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an October 4 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

OCTOBER 4

• RHP Elden Auker (All-Big Six Conference first-five basketball selection with Kansas State in 1931-32) helped the Detroit Tigers capture their first World Series in 1935, starting Game 3 against the Chicago Cubs and allowing two earned runs in six innings in a contest Detroit won in extra frames.

• In a one-game playoff for the 1948 A.L. pennant, Cleveland Indians player-manager Lou Boudreau (leading scorer for Illinois' 1937 Big Ten Conference co-champion) banged out four hits, including two homers, in an 8-3 win at Boston. Boudreau finished the year with only nine strikeouts, the lowest number by any regular since 1922.

• Baltimore Orioles CF Al Bumbry (Virginia State's runner-up in scoring with 16.7 ppg as freshman in 1964-65) collected three hits, two runs and two stolen bases in a 9-8 triumph against the California Angels in Game 2 of the 1979 ALCS.

• Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Bud Culloton (Fordham hoops letterman from 1919 through 1921) started and yielded only one earned run in five innings but dropped his lone MLB decision (4-1 in nightcap of 1925 doubleheader).

• New York Giants SS Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for LSU and USL during World War II) delivered a three-run homer against New York Yankees P Allie Reynolds in the opener of the 1951 World Series. Thirteen years later, Dark was dismissed as San Francisco Giants manager in 1964.

• In 1930, St. Louis Cardinals CF Taylor Douthit (California hoops letterman from 1922 through 1924), who hit an anemic .140 in 13 career World Series contests, broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning by smacking his lone postseason homer in a 5-0 victory against the Philadelphia Athletics in Game 3.

• California Angels RHP Dave Frost (averaged 10.5 ppg and 4 rpg for Stanford from 1971-72 through 1973-74) lost his lone postseason start (against Baltimore Orioles in Game 2 of 1979 ALCS).

• INF Charlie Gelbert (scored at least 125 points each of his last three seasons with Lebanon Valley PA in late 1920s) selected by the Washington Senators from the St. Louis Browns in 1938 Rule 5 draft.

• In the opener of the 1967 World Series, St. Louis Cardinals RHP Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer in 1955-56 and 1956-57) fanned 10 Boston batters in a 2-1 triumph. Red Sox OF Norm Siebern (member of Southwest Missouri State squads capturing back-to-back NAIA Tournament titles in 1952 and 1953) led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a pinch single off Gibson but his pinch-runner was left stranded.

• Detroit Tigers LF Hank Greenberg (attended NYU briefly on hoops scholarship in 1929) whacked a decisive three-run homer in a 4-1 Game 2 victory against the Chicago Cubs in the 1945 World Series.

• In the opening game of 1951 World Series, LF Monte Irvin (Lincoln PA hooper 1 1/2 years in late 1930s) stole home and collected four hits to spark the New York Giants to a 5-1 victory against the New York Yankees.

• New York Yankees LF Charlie Keller (Maryland three-year hoops letterman from 1934-35 through 1936-37) launched his second homer of the 1942 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals.

• RHP Jim Konstanty (Syracuse hooper in late 1930s), after making 133 straight relief appearances for the Philadelphia Phillies, started Game 1 of the 1950 World Series but lost against the New York Yankees, 1-0.

• Cleveland Indians CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) swiped three bases against the Baltimore Orioles in Game 3 of the 1996 ALDS. Nine years later, Lofton collected three hits and four RBI against the New York Yankees in the 2007 ALDS opener.

• Philadelphia Phillies OF Jerry Martin (1971 Southern Conference Tournament MVP after he was Furman's runner-up in scoring previous season) smacked a pinch homer against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the opener of the 1978 NLCS.

• St. Francisco Giants RHP Roger Mason (multiple-year hoops letterman in late 1970s for Saginaw Valley State MI) tossed his lone MLB shutout (four-hitter with 10 strikeouts against Atlanta Braves in 1985).

• Minnesota Twins 2B Dan Monzon (played hoops briefly for Buena Vista IA in 1964-65) scored four runs against the Chicago White Sox in a 1972 contest.

• In 1930, Chicago White Sox rookie OF Jimmy Moore (Union TN hoops standout in late 1920s) stroked a pinch-hit single in his first World Series at-bat in Game 3 against the St. Louis Cardinals.

• New York Giants RF Red Murray (played hoops for Lock Haven PA in early 1900s) stole three bases in a 1912 game against the Brooklyn Dodgers.

• RF Bill Nicholson (hooper for Washington College MD in mid-1930s) traded by the Chicago Cubs to the Philadelphia Phillies for former N.L. batting champion Harry Walker in 1948.

• RHP Roy Parmelee (hoops letterman for Eastern Michigan in 1924-25 and 1925-26) selected from the Boston Red Sox by the Philadelphia Athletics in 1938 Rule 5 draft.

• RHP Cotton Pippen (Texas Western hoops letterman in 1929-30) selected from the St. Louis Cardinals by the Philadelphia Athletics in 1938 Rule 5 draft.

• Jim Riggleman (two-year hoops letterman for Frostburg State MD averaged 7.2 ppg in early 1970s) fired as Chicago Cubs manager in 1999.

• New York Yankees LHP Marius Russo (member of LIU teams compiling a 50-2 record in 1934-35 and 1935-36 under legendary coach Clair Bee) hurled a four-hitter in a 2-1 verdict over the Brooklyn Dodgers in Game 3 of the 1941 World Series. In the seventh inning of a scoreless tie, Russo broke P Fred Fitzsimmons' knee with a line drive.

• New York Giants RHP Hal Schumacher (St. Lawrence NY hooper in early 1930s) tossed a five-hitter in 6-1 victory in Game 2 of the 1933 World Series against the Washington Senators.

• Baltimore Orioles RHP Tim Stoddard (starting forward opposite All-American David Thompson for North Carolina State's 1974 NCAA champion) yielded a run in final relief appearance of 1980 campaign after holding the opposition scoreless in previous 14-game span during the month when he recorded seven saves.

• Rookie 3B Jim Thome (juco hooper for Illinois Central in 1988-89) jacked his first of 612 MLB homers - a two-out, two-run clout in top of ninth inning - to give the Cleveland Indians a 3-2 win against the New York Yankees in 1991.

• Cincinnati Reds 3B Billy Werber (Duke's first hoops All-American in 1929-30) contributed three hits in a 7-4 setback against the Detroit Tigers in Game 3 of 1940 World Series.

Extra! Extra! Rather than wonder if Cacklin' Commie-la's "masculine" hubby (according to MSNBC misfit Jenny Sock-it-to-me) is more interested in knocking nanny up or knocking female out on her fanny, you can read news about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former hoopers from eight universities reaching Final Four at some point in their history - Jim Beattie (Dartmouth), Ralph Branca (NYU), Alvin Dark (Louisiana State), Buddy Myer (Mississippi State), Steve Renko (Kansas), Dave Robertson (North Carolina State), Moose Skowron (Purdue) and Randy Winn (Santa Clara) - made MLB news on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an October 3 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

OCTOBER 3

• New York Yankees rookie RHP Jim Beattie (Dartmouth's top rebounder in 1974-75 when selected team MVP and honorable mention All-Ivy League) won opener of 1978 ALCS against the Kansas City Royals, yielding only two hits in 5 1/3 innings.

• Brooklyn Dodgers RHP Ralph Branca (sixth-leading scorer for NYU in 1943-44) sustained his sixth setback of 1951 season against the New York Giants when Bobby Thomson hit "shot heard round the world" (three-run homer in bottom of ninth inning) to decide N.L. playoff. A single by SS Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for Louisiana State and Southwestern Louisiana during World War II) started the rally climaxed by Thomson's historic blast.

• 1B George Crowe (four-year letterman from 1939-40 through 1942-43 for Indiana Central after becoming first high school player named state's "Mr. Basketball") traded by the Cincinnati Reds to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1958.

• New York Yankees LHP Al Downing (attended Muhlenberg PA on basketball scholarship before leaving school for Organized Ball) stroked a single in eight of his last nine starts of 1964 campaign.

• Jim Fanning (Buena Vista IA hooper in late 1940s) resigned as Montreal Expos manager in 1982.

• Detroit Tigers LF Hank Greenberg (attended NYU briefly on hoops scholarship in 1929) smacked a homer off Dizzy Dean in an 8-3 setback against the St. Louis Cardinals in opener of 1934 World Series.

• Baltimore Orioles RHP Dick Hall (averaged 12.8 ppg from 1948-49 through 1950-51 with Swarthmore PA for three Southern Division champions in MASC) earned the win with 4 2/3 innings of one-hit relief against the Minnesota Twins in opener of 1970 ALCS. Six years earlier, Hall improved his record to 9-1 by closing out the 1964 campaign with his 13th straight scoreless relief appearance.

• Cleveland Indians LF David Justice (Thomas More KY assists leader in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg) collected two doubles, including a two-run safety in eighth inning, in 2-1 win against the Boston Red Sox in Game 4 to clinch 1998 ALDS.

• LHP Bill Krueger (led West Coast Athletic Conference in free-throw percentage as a Portland freshman in 1975-76) traded by the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1988.

• Chicago White Sox LHP Thornton Lee (Cal Poly hooper in 1925-26) tossed an 11-inning shutout against the St. Louis Browns in opener of 1937 twinbill.

• Milwaukee Braves SS Johnny Logan (Binghamton hooper in 1948-49) smacked the first homer of 1957 World Series (third inning of Game 2 against New York Yankees).

• In 1904, New York Giants RHP Christy Mathewson (Bucknell hooper at turn of 20th Century) fanned 16 St. Louis Cardinals in a 3-1 triumph.

• Washington Senators 2B Buddy Myer (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1923-24) committed three errors in opener of 1933 World Series against the New York Giants.

• RF Bill Nicholson (hooper for Washington College MD in mid-1930s) provided a two-run triple to fuel a four-run, first-inning outburst sparking the Chicago Cubs to 9-0 win against the Detroit Tigers in opener of 1945 World Series.

• St. Louis Cardinals RHP Gil Paulsen (one of state's top hoopers in 1923 for Cornell College IA) made his lone big-league appearance, hurling two innings of scoreless relief against the Chicago Cubs in 1925.

• Chicago White Sox OF Gary Redus (J.C. hooper for Athens AL and father of Centenary/South Alabama guard with same name) collected five RBI against the Oakland Athletics in a 1987 game.

• Despite striking out seven consecutive New York Mets hitters, Montreal Expos RHP Steve Renko (averaged 9.9 ppg and 5.8 rpg as Kansas sophomore in 1963-64) had his record fall to 1-10 with a 5-2 defeat against Hall of Famer Tom Seaver in opener of 1972 doubleheader.

• New York Giants RF Dave Robertson (one of two reserves on North Carolina State's first basketball team in 1911) went 4-for-4 in 1916 game against the Brooklyn Robins.

• Brooklyn Dodgers LHP Preacher Roe (Harding AR hooper in late 1930s) registered a complete-game victory against the New York Yankees in Game 3 of 1952 World Series.

• New York Yankees 1B Bill "Moose" Skowron (scored 18 points in eight games for Purdue in 1949-50) smashed three-run, first-inning homer to ignite a 5-1 Game 6 win against the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1955 World Series.

• Chicago Cubs RHP Lee Smith (averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg with Northwestern State in 1976-77) secured a save against the San Diego Padres in Game 2 of 1984 NLCS.

• Tampa Bay Devil Rays CF Randy Winn (Santa Clara backcourtmate of eventual two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash in 1993-94) ripped a grand slam in 6-2 triumph against the New York Yankees in 1999.

Extra! Extra! Instead of cursing at pathological liar Plagiarist Biledumb's latest tall tale, hard-of-hearing VP candidate Tampon Tim's bike-riding excursion to Communist China, DOJ AG Merrick "Don't Recollect" Garland or #Dimorat tax plan calling for IRS financial snooping on bank accounts while arming army of agents against everyday Americans, you can read news about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Ex-hoopers from five current and former Big East Conference members - Danny Coombs (Seton Hall), Walt Dropo (Connecticut), Bob Gibson (Creighton), Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati) and Birdie Tebbetts (Providence) - made MLB news on this date. Ex-Pasadena City Community College CA hoopers Darrell Evans and Jackie Robinson supplied notable offensive outputs on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an October 2 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

OCTOBER 2

• Chicago Cubs RHP Dale Alderson (All-Iowa Conference basketball selection for Upper Iowa in 1938-39 and 1939-40) lost his lone MLB decision (2-0 against Boston Braves in 1943).

• Philadelphia Athletics LHP Stan Baumgartner (hooper for University of Chicago's Big Ten Conference champion in 1913-14) hurled a six-hit shutout against the New York Yankees in 1925, holding both Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig hitless.

• RHP Ralph Branca (sixth-leading scorer for NYU in 1943-44) yielded the first pinch-hit homer in World Series history (by Yogi Berra of New York Yankees in 1947) but the Brooklyn Dodgers still prevailed in Game 3, 9-8. Two days earlier, Branca lost Game 1 when he was knocked out in the fifth inning.

• Detroit Tigers C Arlo Brunsberg (hooper for Concordia College MN in late 1950s and early 1960s) belted a double - his lone MLB safety - in game against the Kansas City Athletics in 1966.

• Los Angeles Dodgers CF Glenn Burke (averaged 16.3 ppg in six basketball games with Nevada-Reno in 1974-75) was credited with creating "the high five" by raising his hand over his head and having teammate Dusty Baker slap it after they belted back-to-back homers off Houston Astros ace J.R. Richard in 1977 regular-season finale.

• New York Yankees OF Bob Cerv (ranked fourth on Nebraska's career scoring list in 1949-50 when finishing his career) pounded a pinch homer off the Brooklyn Dodgers' winning rookie RHP Roger Craig (forward with North Carolina State's 1949-50 freshman hoops team) in Game 5 of 1955 World Series.

• Philadelphia Athletics C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) contributed both of his homers in 31 World Series contests in the first two outings against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1930.

• CF Earle Combs (three-year hoops captain for Eastern Kentucky) clubbed a homer and scored four runs as the New York Yankees swept 1932 World Series by crushing the Chicago Cubs, 13-6. It was the Bronx Bombers' 12th straight WS game win.

• In 1964, Houston Colt .45s LHP Danny Coombs (Seton Hall's third-leading scorer and rebounder as sophomore in 1961-62) notched his first MLB victory, holding the Los Angeles Dodgers scoreless over five innings as a starter.

• Brooklyn Dodgers RHP Jack Coombs (hoops captain and starting center for Colby ME) tossed a shutout, beating the New York Giants for sixth time in as many decisions in 1916.

• SS Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for Louisiana State and Southwestern Louisiana in mid-1940s) extended his World Series competition hitting streak to 12 in a row with three safeties in Game 4 as the New York Giants finished their sweep of the Cleveland Indians in 1954.

• CF Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA hoops titlist) contributed four hits as the Cleveland Indians assure themselves of a tie for 1948 A.L. title with an 8-0 triumph against the Detroit Tigers.

• In 1950, Boston Red Sox 1B Walt Dropo (Connecticut's first player ever to average 20 points for season with 21.7 in 1942-43) became the first player to surpass 100 with more RBI (144) than games played (136).

• Detroit Tigers 1B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) hammered his MLB-leading 40th homer in 1985, becoming the first player to reach such a plateau in each league (41 round-trippers for Atlanta Braves in 1973).

• In the opener of the 1968 World Series, St. Louis Cardinals RHP Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer in 1955-56 and 1956-57) outdueled 30-game winner Denny McLain, 4-0, and established a WS record by fanning 17 Detroit Tigers.

• Cleveland Indians 1B Mike Hargrove (Northwestern Oklahoma State hoops letterman) went 4-for-4 against the Seattle Mariners in a 1985 contest.

• 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) fired as New York Mets manager in 1983.

• INF Irv Jeffries (posted team-high scoring average of 11.5 ppg for Kentucky in 1927-28) selected from St. Paul (American Association) by Cincinnati Reds in 1933 Rule 5 draft.

• In 1966, Los Angeles Dodgers LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman hoops squad in 1953-54) concluded his final season with career bests of 27 victories and 1.73 ERA. The previous year, Koufax finished with a single-season MLB-mark 382 strikeouts after fanning 13 Milwaukee Braves batters. In 1963 World Series opener, the first five batters he faced whiffed en route to 15 strikeouts in a 5-2 win against the New York Yankees.

• San Francisco Giants RHP Frank Linzy (listed on Oklahoma State's freshman hoops roster in 1959-60) concluded his rookie campaign in 1965 amassing 15 straight relief appearances without yielding an earned run (covering 24 2/3 innings).

• CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling a 35-3 record) supplied a homer to help the Cleveland Indians edge the New York Yankees, 4-3, in Game 3 of their 1998 A.L. playoff series.

• Rookie RF Bud Metheny (hoops letterman for William & Mary from 1935-36 through 1937-38) belted a first-game homer against the St. Louis Browns to help power the New York Yankees to their 14th sweep of doubleheader in 1943.

• New York Yankees rookie RHP Zach Monroe (played hoops briefly for Bradley in 1950-51) hurled one inning of relief against the Milwaukee Braves in Game 2 of 1958 World Series.

• In 1960 season finale, Cleveland Indians RHP Jim Perry (averaged more than 20 ppg in late 1950s for former juco Campbell) posted his A.L.-leading fourth shutout (five-hitter against the Chicago White Sox) to notch league-high 18th victory.

• 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 a postseason career-high three hits in 3-2 win against the New York Yankees in Game 3 of 1953 World Series.

• New York Yankees 3B Red Rolfe (Dartmouth varsity hooper in 1929-30) scored three runs in an 18-4 rout of the New York Giants in Game 2 of 1936 World Series.

• Chicago Cubs LF Riggs Stephenson (Alabama hoops letterman in 1920) stroked four hits against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1929 contest.

• Detroit Tigers C Birdie Tebbetts (Providence hooper in 1932) closed out the 1938 campaign with four multiple-hit games in a row.

• C Wes Westrum (Bemidji State MN hooper one season before serving in military during WWII) supplied two sacrifice flies for the New York Giants to help them defeat the Cleveland Indians, 7-4, in Game 4 and sweep 1954 World Series.

Long before kneeling knuckleheads and multiple anthems, the NCAA Tournament commenced in 1939, which was one year after the NIT triggered national postseason competition. An overlooked "versatile athlete" feat occurring in 1938 likely never to be duplicated took place at Arkansas, where the quarterback for the football squad (Jack Robbins) repeated as an All-SWC first-team basketball selection, leading the Razorbacks (19-3) to the league title. After the season, Robbins became an NFL first-round draft choice by the Chicago Cardinals (5th pick overall) and senior football/basketball teammates Jim Benton (11th pick by Cleveland Rams) and Ray Hamilton (41st pick by Rams) went on to become wide receivers for at least six years in the NFL. Yes, they created a kneeling-in-admiration shatterproof achievement - three do-everything members of a league championship basketball squad who promptly were among the top 41 selections in the same NFL draft.

Two years later, All-SWC first-team hoop selection Howard "Red" Hickey was instrumental in Arkansas reaching the 1941 Final Four before becoming an end for the Cleveland Rams' 1945 NFL titlist. Two-sport college teammate and fellow end O'Neal Adams scored five touchdowns for the New York Giants the first half of the 1940s. Another two-sport Hog who played for the Giants in the mid-1940s was Harry Wynne. An earlier versatile Razorback was Jim Lee Howell, who was an All-SWC first five hoop selection in 1935-36 before becoming a starting end for the Giants' 1938 NFL titlist and Pro Bowl participant the next year. Adams, Benton, Hamilton, Hickey and Howell combined for 77 touchdowns in an 11-year span from 1938 through 1948 when at least one of the ex-Razorback hoopers scored a TD in each of those seasons.

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves on October 1 in football at the professional level (especially in 1961 and 1972 plus ex-hoopers with the Packers and Redskins):

OCTOBER 1

• Cincinnati Bengals rookie LB James Francis (averaged 3 ppg and 3.6 rpg for Baylor basketball in 1986-87 and 1987-88) furnished two sacks for the second straight game in 1990.

• Washington Redskins DB Dale Hackbart (averaged 4 ppg and 3.5 rpg in 10 contests for Wisconsin in 1958-59) returned an interception 48 yards for touchdown in 24-21 setback against the New York Giants in 1961. Redskins rookie QB Norm Snead (averaged 7.8 ppg in four Wake Forest games as senior in 1960-61) threw two first-quarter TD passes. Six years later with the Philadelphia Eagles, Snead threw four TD passes in a 34-24 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1967.

• TE Todd Heap (grabbed 14 rebounds in 11 games for Arizona State in 1999-00) caught touchdown pass with 34 seconds remaining to give the Baltimore Ravens a 16-13 win against the San Diego Chargers in 2006.

• Houston Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins (played in seven hoop games for Clemson in 2010-11) had 10 pass receptions in a 57-14 win against the Tennessee Titans in 2017.

• Washington Redskins QB Billy Kilmer (hooper under legendary UCLA coach John Wooden in 1959-60) threw three of his league-high 19 touchdown passes in a 24-23 setback against the New England Patriots in 1972.

• Detroit Lions QB Bobby Layne (Texas hooper in 1944-45) threw two first-half touchdown passes in a 28-13 setback against the Baltimore Colts in 1955.

• New York Giants DE George Martin (Oregon hoops teammate of freshman sensation Ron Lee in 1972-73) returned a blocked field goal 83 yards for touchdown in 23-20 setback against the Atlanta Falcons in 1978.

• New York Jets rookie RB Elijah McGuire (collected 10 points and 13 rebounds in 16 basketball games for Louisiana-Lafayette in 2015-16) rushed for NFL career-high 93 yards - including 69-yarder for go-ahead touchdown in third quarter - in 23-20 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2017.

• Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb (averaged 2.3 points in 18 games for Syracuse in 1995-96 and 1996-97) passed for 311 yards - including two second-half touchdowns - in a 38-10 win against the Atlanta Falcons in 2000.

• Baltimore Colts TE Tom Mitchell (averaged 6.1 ppg and 9.4 rpg in 10 basketball games for Bucknell in 1963-64) opened game's scoring with a 27-yard touchdown pass from Johnny Unitas in 17-0 win against the Buffalo Bills in 1972.

• Carolina Panthers DE Julius Peppers (averaged 5.7 ppg and 3.7 rpg while shooting 60.7% from floor for North Carolina in 1999-00 and 2000-01) had two sacks in a 33-30 win against the New England Patriots in 2017.

• Minnesota Vikings DB Dick Pesonen (two-year Minnesota-Duluth hoops letterman was starting guard in 1959-60) returned an interception 28 yards in 34-33 setback against the Baltimore Colts in 1961. Vikings E A.D. Williams (Pacific hoops letterman in mid-1950s) caught a seven-yard touchdown pass.

• Denver Broncos WR Rod Smith (swingman was Missouri Southern State hoops letterman as sophomore in 1990-91) caught 13 passes for 160 yards in a 28-19 setback against the New England Patriots in 2000.

• Green Bay Packers rookie DB Rebel Steiner (three-year hoops letterman for Alabama in late 1940s) returned an interception 94 yards for touchdown in 31-21 win against the Chicago Bears in 1950.

• Miami Dolphins DE Jason Taylor (averaged 8 ppg and 5.4 rpg for Akron in 1994-95) returned a fumble recovery 29 yards for touchdown in 31-16 win against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2000.

• Green Bay Packers P Ron Widby (three-time All-SEC selection for Tennessee averaged 18.1 ppg and 8.4 rpg from 1964-65 through 1966-67) punted six times for 288 yards (48.0 average) in a 16-13 win against the Dallas Cowboys in 1972. Teammate Vernon Vanoy (averaged 6.1 ppg and 4.9 rpg in 1966-67 and 1967-68 as Kansas teammate of Jo Jo White under coach Ted Owens), in his first start as DT, registered two sacks, got partial credit for a third and nearly got a fourth.

• B Doug Wycoff (Georgia Tech hoops letterman in 1926) provided the Staten Island Stapletons' lone score with a 64-yard touchdown pass in fourth quarter in 7-7 tie with the Newark Tornadoes in 1930.

October is a special birth month for power-conference members from the state of Indiana (IU/Notre Dame/Purdue). The day celebrating the most birthdays this month for former All-Americans is October 7. Maryland (Keith Booth and Juan Dixon on 9th) plus Purdue (Dave Schellhase and John Wooden on 14th) each had two All-Americans born on the same day this month. Indiana (six) boasts the most A-As born this month. Following are birthdates in October (including 100th of Ohio State's Arnie Risen) for All-American players and Hall of Fame coaches:

OCTOBER

1: All-Americans Ralph Bishop (born in 1915/Washington), Dedric Lawson (1997/Kansas) and Dick Nemelka (1943/Brigham Young).
2: All-Americans Dick Barnett (1936/Tennessee State), Erwin Dudley (1981/Alabama), Matt Freije (1981/Vanderbilt) and Shane Larkin (1992/Miami FL).
3: All-Americans John Mandic (1919/Oregon State), Arnold Short (1932/Oklahoma City) and John Vallely (1948/UCLA).
4: All-Americans A.C. Green (1963/Oregon State), Steve Green (1953/Indiana), Derrick Rose (1988/Memphis), Hubert "Hub" Reed (1936/Oklahoma City), Eddie Riska (1919/Notre Dame) and Kurt Thomas (1972/Texas Christian) plus Hall of Fame coach Marv Harshman (1917/Washington State and Washington).
5: All-Americans Omar "Bud" Browning (1911/Oklahoma), Rex Chapman (1967/Kentucky), Grant Hill (1972/Duke), Bob Lloyd (1945/Rutgers), Eddie Oram (1914/Southern California) and Cody Zeller (1992/Indiana).
6: All-Americans Jordan Hamilton (1990/Texas), Herbert Jones (1998/Alabama), Tommy Kearns (1936/North Carolina) and Ken Spain (1946/Houston).
7: All-Americans Frank Baumholtz (1918/Ohio University), Bill Ebben (1935/Detroit), Alex Groza (1926/Kentucky), Damion James (1987/Texas), Hal Lee (1910/Washington), Willie Naulls (1934/UCLA), Anthony Jordan "A.J." Price (1986/Connecticut), Bobby Speight (1930/North Carolina State) and Nik Stauskas (1993/Michigan).
8: All-Americans Grayson Allen (1995/Duke) and Sid Tanenbaum (1925/NYU).
9: All-Americans Kenny Anderson (1970/Georgia Tech), Keith Booth (1974/Maryland), Juan Dixon (1978/Maryland), Jerian Grant (1992/Notre Dame), Arnie Risen (1924/Ohio State) and Andy Zimmer (1919/Indiana) plus Hall of Fame coach Danny Miles (1945/Oregon Tech).
10: All-Americans Reggie Carter (1957/St. John's), Rod Foster (1960/UCLA), Derrick McKey (1966/Alabama), H.L. "Ike" Poole (1915/Arkansas), Scottie Reynolds (1987/Villanova), Martin Rolek (1915/Minnesota) and Gus Williams (1953/Southern California).
11: All-Americans Dwight Davis (1949/Houston), Darrall Imhoff (1938/California) and Salim Stoudamire (1982/Arizona) plus Hall of Fame coach Howard Cann (1895/NYU).
12: All-American Jack Marin (1944/Duke).
13: All-Americans Derek Harper (1961/Illinois), Paul Pierce (1977/Kansas), Glenn "Doc" Rivers (1961/Marquette) and Bob "Zeke" Zawoluk (1930/St. John's).
14: All-Americans John Azary (1929/Columbia), Jules "Skip" Harlicka (1946/South Carolina), Jim Jackson (1970/Ohio State), Dave Schellhase (1944/Purdue) and DeJuan Wheat (1973/Louisville) plus All-American (1910/Purdue)/Hall of Fame coach John Wooden (Indiana State and UCLA).
15: All-Americans Arron Afflalo (1985/UCLA), Steve Harris (1963/Tulsa) and Jakob Poltl (1995/Utah).
16: All-Americans Mel Counts (1941/Oregon State), Dave DeBusschere (1940/Detroit), Bill Menke (1918/Indiana), Roger Phegley (1956/Bradley) and Mike Sojourner (1953/Utah).
17: All-American Danny Ferry (1966/Duke).
18: All-Americans Terry Furlow (1954/Michigan State), John Johnson (1947/Iowa) and Don Smith (1910/Pittsburgh).
19: All-Americans Brad Daugherty (1965/North Carolina), Lionel Hollins (1953/Arizona State), Bill Melchionni (1944/Villanova) and Luke Witte (1950/Ohio State).
20: All-Americans Devin Durrant (1960/Brigham Young), Tony Hanson (1955/Connecticut), Jerald Honeycutt (1974/Tulane), Lawrence Roberts (1982/Mississippi State) and Kyle Wiltjer (1992/Gonzaga).
21: All-Americans Damon Bailey (1971/Indiana), R.J. Davis (2001/North Carolina), Gene Englund (1917/Wisconsin), Billy Hassett (1921/Notre Dame), Vern Mikkelsen (1928/Hamline MN) and Shelden Williams (1983/Duke).
22: All-American Jim Bredar (1931/Illinois).
23: All-American Keith Van Horn (1975/Utah).
25: All-Americans Zelmo Beaty (1939/Prairie View A&M), Dave Cowens (1948/Florida State), Dan Issel (1948/Kentucky), Jock Landale (1995/Saint Mary's) and Michael Sweetney (1982/Georgetown) plus Hall of Fame coach Bob Knight (1940/Army, Indiana and Texas Tech).
26: All-Americans Howard Carter (1961/Louisiana State), Nick Collison (1980/Kansas), Dick Dickey (1926/North Carolina State), "Hot" Rod Hundley (1934/West Virginia), Joe C. Meriweather (1953/Southern Illinois) and Willie Smith (1953/Missouri) plus Hall of Fame coach Hugh Durham (1937/Florida State, Georgia and Jacksonville).
27: All-Americans Lonzo Ball (1997/UCLA) and Evan Turner (1988/Ohio State).
28: All-Americans Charles Bassey (2000/Western Kentucky), Dave Downey (1941/Illinois), Lenny Wilkens (1937/Providence) and Randy Wittman (1959/Indiana).
29: All-Americans Dick Garmaker (1932/Minnesota), Hal Haskins (Hamline MN), Hollis Price (1979/Oklahoma), John Stroud (1957/Mississippi) and Danny Vranes (1958/Utah).
30: All-Americans Mike Daum (1995/South Dakota State), Don Meineke (1930/Dayton) and Keith Swagerty (1945/Pacific) plus Hall of Fame coach Ben Carnevale (1915/North Carolina and Navy).
31: All-Americans Cole Aldrich (1988/Kansas), John Lucas II (1953/Maryland) and Clifford Rozier (1972/Louisville) plus Hall of Fame coach Dale Brown (1935/Louisiana State).

Birthdays in January for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in February for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in March for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in April for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in May for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in June for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in July for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in August for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in September for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in October for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in November for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in December for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches

Extra! Extra! No joke! Instead of assessing worthiness of a public-school education after more than 81 million "suspicious activity" Americans had petty Plagiarist Biledumb "on top of mind" by voting for incoherent "big guy" (excess of 15 million more votes than orator Obama in Bathhouse Barry's first term in Oral Office), you can read news about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former hoopers for three different Big Apple universities - Hank Greenberg (NYU), Buddy Hassett (Manhattan) and Joe Zapustas (Fordham) - plus two IL small four-year colleges (Bill Conroy of Illinois Wesleyan and Roe Skidmore of Millikin) and two Pasadena City Community College alums (Irv Noren and Jackie Robinson) made MLB news on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a September 30 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

SEPTEMBER 30

• Detroit Tigers RHP Elden Auker (All-Big Six first-five basketball selection with Kansas State in 1931-32) closed out his 1933 rookie campaign with a four-hit shutout against the Cleveland Indians.

• RHP Mike Barlow (Syracuse substitute from 1967-68 through 1969-70) shipped by the St. Louis Cardinals to the Houston Astros in 1975 to complete an earlier deal.

• Pittsburgh Pirates 1B Donn Clendenon (four-sport letterman with Morehouse GA) collected four hits against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1961 game.

• C Bill Conroy (Illinois Wesleyan hooper in early 1930s) selected by Boston Red Sox in 1941 Rule 5 draft.

• In 1967, Houston Astros LHP Danny Coombs (Seton Hall's third-leading scorer and rebounder as sophomore in 1961-62) posted his third relief victory in as many decisions in a 19-day span.

• Roger Craig (forward with North Carolina State's 1949-50 freshman hoops team) fired as San Diego Padres manager in 1979.

• LF Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoops scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) smacked a ninth-inning grand slam against the St. Louis Browns on final day of 1945 campaign to clinch A.L. pennant for the Detroit Tigers.

• New York Yankees 1B Buddy Hassett (hooper for Manhattan teams winning school-record 17 consecutive games in 1930 and 1931) twice knocked in Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio with safeties in a 7-4 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in opener of 1942 World Series.

• In 1975, 1B-OF Doug Howard (All-WAC second-team selection with Brigham Young in 1968-69 and 1969-70) shipped by the St. Louis Cardinals to the Cleveland Indians to complete an earlier deal.

• OF-1B Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection when leading Ohio State in scoring and rebounding in 1956-57 and 1957-58) hammered a homer against the New York Yankees in the Senators' final game in Washington in 1971.

• Chicago Cubs RF Bill Nicholson (hoops guard for Washington College MD two years in mid-1930s) tripled twice against the Boston Braves in a 1943 contest.

• OF Irv Noren (hooper of year for California junior college state champion Pasadena City in 1945) purchased from the Brooklyn Dodgers by the Washington Senators for $50,000 in 1949.

• OF Curtis Pride (led William & Mary in steals three seasons and in assists twice from 1986-87 through 1989-90) smacked a pinch, two-run homer for the Montreal Expos in the top of ninth inning in 1993. Pride's blast was the difference in a 5-3 win against the Florida Marlins.

• Setting the stage for a 1951 playoff with the New York Giants, INF Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in PCC both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) ripped an upper-deck homer in the 14th inning off Philadelphia Phillies Hall of Fame RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47), giving the Brooklyn Dodgers a 9-8 victory. Five years later, New York Giants rookie 1B Bill White (played two years with Hiram OH in early 1950s) whacked two homers off Roberts in the opener of a 1956 twinbill while Robinson homered in his final MLB game.

• New York Mets RF Ken Singleton (Hofstra freshman hoops team in mid-1960s) homered twice in the 1971 season finale against the St. Louis Cardinals.

• Utilityman Roe Skidmore (scored 41 points for Millikin IL in game against Illinois College on 1-28-66) shipped by Cincinnati Reds to St. Louis Cardinals in 1973 to complete a deal made two months earlier.

• Chicago White Sox DH Jim Thome (juco hooper for Illinois Central in 1988-89) accounted for the game's lone tally with solo homer in 2008 season finale against the Minnesota Twins.

• Pittsburgh Pirates LHP Bob Veale (scored 1,160 points from 1955-56 through 1957-58 with Benedictine KS) amassed 16 strikeouts and eight walks in 12 1/3 innings against the Cincinnati Reds in 1964.

• St. Louis Cardinals rookie RHP Ray Washburn (Whitworth WA scoring leader in 1958-59 and 1959-60 when named All-Evergreen Conference) earned his first MLB victory with a five-hit, complete-game 12-2 decision over the Philadelphia Phillies in 1961.

• INF Whitey Wietelmann (hoops captain for Muskingum OH in mid-1940s) traded by the Boston Braves to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1946.

• Philadelphia Phillies OF Cy Williams (Notre Dame forward in 1909-10) contributed two of his NL-leading 41 homers in a 6-4 win against the Brooklyn Robins in 1923.

• San Francisco Giants CF Randy Winn (Santa Clara backcourtmate of eventual two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash in 1993-94) went 4-for-4 with two homers against the Arizona Diamondbacks in a 2005 game.

• Philadelphia Athletics LF Joe Zapustas (Fordham hoops letterman in 1932-33) secured his lone MLB hit (single against Boston Red Sox in nightcap of 1933 doubleheader).