On This Date: Former College Hoopers Supplying MLB Headlines on May 3
Extra! Extra! Rather than lose your lunch over loathsome liberal lunatics claiming they support families while allowing Plagiarist Biledumb to get away with his shabby treatment of seventh grandchild (cute Joan Navy Roberts from rural Arkansas), you can read news about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players. Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.
Former NCAA Tournament hoop starters Steve Hamilton (Morehead State) and Rollie Sheldon (Connecticut) became MLB pitchers involved in American League trades on this date during first half of 1960s. Ex-Penn hoopers Fritz Knothe and Tommie Upton also made MLB news on this date. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a May 3 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
MAY 3
En route to hitting safely in 15 of his first 18 MLB starts, Philadelphia Phillies rookie 1B Ed Bouchee (freshman hooper for Washington State in 1951-52) went 4-for-4 in a 9-6 win against the Chicago Cubs in 1957 outing.
In 1977, Chicago Cubs RHP Ray Burris (basketball-baseball standout in Southwestern Oklahoma State Hall of Fame) fired a five-hit shutout against the Houston Astros for his first of five victories in the month.
Pittsburgh Pirates 1B Donn Clendenon (four-sport letterman with Morehouse GA) cracked two-run homers in the 8th and 12th innings in a 5-4 win against the Cincinnati Reds in 1966.
Detroit Tigers C Mickey Cochrane (five-sport athlete with Boston University) collected four hits, including three for extra bases, against the Chicago White Sox in a 1937 contest.
New York Yankees LHP Al Downing (attended Muhlenberg PA on hoops scholarship but left before ever playing) tossed a three-hit shutout in the opener of 1964 doubleheader against the Washington Senators, notching 13 of his A.L.-leading 217 strikeouts.
Boston Red Sox LF Hoot Evers (Illinois hoops starter in 1939-40) scored four runs against the St. Louis Browns in the opener of a 1953 doubleheader.
Washington Senators C Rick Ferrell (played forward for Guilford NC before graduating in 1928) registered four hits against the St. Louis Browns in a 1939 game.
First triumph in 1982 campaign for Baltimore Orioles LHP Mike Flanagan (averaged 13.9 ppg for UMass' freshman squad in 1971-72) was a three-hit shutout against the Seattle Mariners. Seven years later with the Toronto Blue Jays, Flanagan provided the final whitewash of his 18-year career (four-hitter against the Oakland Athletics in 1989).
INF Jake Flowers (member of 1923 "Flying Pentagon" championship hoops squad for Washington College MD) traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the Brooklyn Robins in 1927.
LHP Steve Hamilton (Morehead State's leading scorer and rebounder in 1956-57 and 1957-58) traded by the Cleveland Indians to the Washington Senators in 1962.
In 1998, Cleveland Indians RF David Justice (Thomas More KY assists leader in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg) jacked milestone 200th of his 305 MLB career homers.
Boston Braves 3B Fritz Knothe (member of Penn's freshman hoops squad in 1923-24) knocked a go-ahead, two-run homer in bottom of the eighth inning in 6-4 win against the Cincinnati Reds in 1933.
Teammates OF Irv Noren (hoops player of year for California junior college state champion Pasadena City in 1945) and INF Tommie Upton (led Southeast Missouri State in scoring three years last half of 1940s and was school's career scoring leader upon graduation; while serving in military, Upton was All-EIBL first-team selection with Penn in 1945-46) traded by the Washington Senators to the New York Yankees for promising OF Jackie Jensen and three other players in 1952. Upton never played for the Yanks.
New York Giants RF Dave Robertson (one of two reserves on North Carolina State's first basketball team in 1911) went 4-for-4 and swiped two bases in a 3-2 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1915.
RHP Steve Roser (hoops center for Clarkson NY before passing up senior season after signing professional baseball contract in 1940) purchased from the New York Yankees by the Boston Braves in 1946.
RHP Rollie Sheldon (third-leading scorer as sophomore for Connecticut's 1960 NCAA Tournament team) traded by the New York Yankees to the Kansas City Athletics in 1965.
Chicago Cubs SS Roy Smalley Jr. (one of top scorers for Drury MO in 1942-43 and 1943-44) went 4-for-4 against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1950 contest.
Boston Red Sox 3B Jim Tabor (Alabama hoops letterman in 1936-37) jacked two homers against the St. Louis Browns in a 1940 outing.
St. Louis Cardinals RHP Ray Washburn (Whitworth WA scoring leader in 1958-59 and 1959-60 when named All-Evergreen Conference) tossed a two-hit shutout against the Cincinnati Reds in 1967.
Chicago Cubs RF Bob Will (all-league athlete was hoops captain for Mankato State MN in 1954-55) stroked two doubles in midst of four consecutive two-hit contests in 1960.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Supplying MLB Headlines on May 2
Extra! Extra! If you're still not evaluating NFL draftees or encouraging ugly college protesters to don their diaper masks, you have time to read news about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players. Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.
Graig Nettles, John Wathan and Jim Wilson - former hoopers from San Diego-based universities - supplied significant MLB performances on this date. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a May 2 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
MAY 2
Chicago Cubs 2B Glenn Beckert (three-year basketball letterman for Allegheny PA) contributed three extra-base hits against the Atlanta Braves in a 1972 game.
Baltimore Orioles CF Al Bumbry (Virginia State's runner-up in scoring with 16.7 ppg as freshman in 1964-65) stroked four hits against the Seattle Mariners in a 1979 contest.
Chicago Cubs CF Billy Cowan (hoops co-captain of Utah's 1970 NCAA playoff team) knocked in five runs against the Houston Colt .45s in a 1964 game.
Cincinnati Reds 1B George Crowe (four-year letterman from 1939-40 through 1942-43 for Indiana Central after becoming first high school player named the state's "Mr. Basketball") drove in six runs in a 7-3 victory at St. Louis in 1958.
Boston Red Sox C Gene Desautels (Holy Cross hoops letterman in 1929 and 1930) went 4-for-4 against the Philadelphia Athletics in a 1938 outing.
San Francisco Giants 3B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) homered in both ends of a 1981 doubleheader split against the Philadelphia Phillies.
After winning four straight starts in April, Florida Marlins LHP Mark Hendrickson (two-time All-Pacific-10 Conference selection paced Washington State four straight seasons in rebounding 1992-93 through 1995-96) earned the triumph in a 6-4 verdict over the San Diego Padres in 2008.
Philadelphia Phillies 2B Tommy Herr (hooper with Delaware's freshman team in 1974-75) went 4-for-4 (including three doubles) along with five RBI in a 1990 game against the Houston Astros.
New York Yankees rookie LF Charlie Keller (three-year hoops letterman with Maryland from 1934-35 through 1936-37) scored four runs and chipped in with six RBI against the Detroit Tigers in a 1939 contest.
INF Buddy Myer (hoops letterman for Mississippi State in 1923-24) traded by the Washington Senators to the Boston Red Sox in 1927.
3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) swatted a pinch-hit grand slam for the Atlanta Braves in a 12-4 victory against the Houston Astros in 1987.
RHP Jim Perry (averaged more than 20 ppg in late 1950s for former juco Campbell) traded by the Cleveland Indians to the Minnesota Twins in 1963.
Kansas City Royals LF Lou Piniella (averaged 2.5 ppg and 1.4 rpg for Tampa as freshman in 1961-62) provided three safeties for the third time in a four-game span in 1972.
Philadelphia Phillies RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) struck out 13 Chicago Cubs in a 4-2 triumph in 1957. No Philly infielder had an assist in the contest.
In 1958, Boston Red Sox RHP Dave Sisler (All-Ivy League second-team selection for Princeton's first NCAA Tournament team in 1952) fired his lone MLB shutout (against Detroit Tigers). The next year, Sisler was traded by the Red Sox to the Tigers on this date.
Kansas City Royals C John Wathan (averaged 3.7 ppg in 11 games for San Diego in 1968-69) went 4-for-5 against the Boston Red Sox in 1980.
Chicago Cubs CF Cy Williams (Notre Dame forward in 1909-10) went 4-for-4 with two triples against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1914 game.
First MLB win for RHP Jim Wilson (hoops letterman for San Diego State's 1942 NAIA Tournament participant) was a four-hit shutout for the Boston Red Sox against the Washington Senators in 1945.
Washington Senators 3B Eddie Yost (NYU freshman hooper in 1943-44 under coach Howard Cann) drew four walks in a game for the second time in less than two weeks in 1951.
College Intelligence Agency: Ex-DI Hooper Spearheaded Tracking Terrorist
Do you want to be an authentic hero or a textbook zero resembling petty politicians, press pestilent pundits and big tech termites futilely trying to intimidate resourceful Conservatives? For several years, Fox News aired a riveting two-part program featuring Navy SEAL Team 6 member Robert O'Neill (senior chief petty officer is recipient of two Silver and five Bronze Stars) as "The Man Who Killed Usama Bin Laden." Amid focusing on the 13th anniversary ridding Planet Earth of UBL, it seems we should also be celebrating authentic courage from the college basketball ranks stemming from an individual instrumental in tracking down the terrorist ringleader of 9/11 attack. But the selfless ex-athlete from a Midwest major university hasn't "come out of the closet" for security reasons and might be underground with a fake identification unless, of course, ax-grinding Left Coast Sen. Dianne Feinstein ratted him out under amid her vendettas prior to going six feet under or some sycophant from the old Obama Administration eventually unmasks him via a smut merchant Michelle Wolf monologue while Lurch Kerry exhibits loose lips with the Iranians.
In the documentation about dispatching UBL to hell (equivalent status even if nonsense about satisfying 72 virgins transpired in some towelhead aspirational dream), the White House unveiled a photograph of President Barack Obama and his Cabinet inside the Situation Room, watching the daring commando raid unfold on May 1, 2011. But POTUS (JV player for Occidental CA) apparently wasn't the tallest ex-college hooper in the room. Standing just outside the frame of that famous pic was an anonymous Central Intelligence Agency officer ("CIA John") who pursued UBL as a dogmatic deputy chief and reportedly was also influential as one of the principal proponents of drone deterrence. Two days after the world's most-wanted man was transformed into marine treat when deposited in the North Arabian Sea, "CIA John" accompanied then CIA Director Leon Panetta to Capitol Hill, where the Senate Intelligence Committee received a full briefing on the mission.
According to AP accounts at the time, the meticulous senior intelligence analyst was the first individual to put in writing that a legitimate CIA lead had been assembled on possibly locating UBL. He spearheaded the collection of clues for nearly 10 years, leading the agency to a fortified compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, and its epic counter-terrorism success. Our freedom-loving nation is eternally grateful that his manhunt accuracy as a deep-cover agent in pinpointing UBL's whereabouts stood in stark contrast to his free-throw marksmanship as a deep-bench player (barely over 30%) as a member of multiple NCAA playoff teams.
Sy Hersh muckraking notwithstanding, box-office hit "Zero Dark Thirty" was an inspiring movie focusing on a young female CIA operative allegedly also from flyover country. She exhibited her tenacity, dedication and courage in primarily monitoring a vital courier for al-Qaeda's upper brass. According to Esquire, the shooter who killed UBL (subsequently acknowledged as Butte MT native O'Neill) gave the magazine out of his gun as a souvenir to bloodhound "Maya." While the film doesn't do justice to the male super spy, the patriot is likely to defer anyway to the concept "there is no 'I' in team" insofar as it was a remark his college hoops coach frequently cited. Naturally, Langley issued a perfunctory "no comment" because concern exists about publishing his name and running biographical details might make him a target for Muslim radical retribution.
Over the decades, there have been other notable "Secret Agent Men" in the CIA who were former college hoopsters. In fact, a Final Four player isn't required to hit a decisive basket or be selected Most Outstanding Player to be a hero. He doesn't even need to participate on the court. Bob Ames, a member of the Tom Gola-led La Salle teams in 1954 (national champion) and 1955 (runner-up to San Francisco), never got off the bench at the Final Four those two years although he was the only La Salle player to hit more than three-fourths of his free throws the season the Explorers won the NCAA title.
"Our coach, Ken Loeffler, only used seven guys, and Bob was the eighth man," said Frank Blatcher, a starter for the Explorers each season and their leading scorer with a total of 42 points at the Final Four on the championship team. "He had the talent. He just never got a chance to show it."
Ames, a pre-law major who scored a total of eight points in three NCAA playoff games in 1955, did have an opportunity to show his ability in another more vital endeavor, however. He joined the CIA and worked his way up the chain of command to become the Director of the CIA's Office of Analysis of the Near East and South Asia. "The Spy Who Loved Basketball" worked closely with both the Carter and Reagan administrations.
Regrettably, Ames was killed in Beirut in 1983. A truck loaded with TNT on a suicide mission rammed into the facility where Ames was staying while serving as a liaison trying to allay contacts among the Lebanese, Syrians and Israelis in hopes of calming the escalating discord.
"Here was a guy that turned out to have had a greater influence on our lives than just about any 1,000 other basketball players you can name," Blatcher said. "It just shows you that you don't have to be a star to accomplish something." Something like becoming a genuine American hero.
Elsewhere, the CIA's deputy director under George Bush in 1976 was Hank Knoche, the leading scorer in the Mountain States (Big Seven) Conference with 16.4 points per game for Colorado's 1946 NCAA Tournament team. Knoche, the father of former American University coach Chris Knoche, reputedly was the first player selected in the NBA's first college draft in 1947 after enrolling at Washington and Jefferson (Pa.) to play on a 16-4 team with two of his brothers. But he never appeared in the then-fledgling league, which doesn't have any official draft records prior to 1949. The franchise that selected him, the Pittsburgh Ironmen, folded shortly after the draft, and his rights reverted to the New York Knicks.
"I didn't know I was the first No. 1 pick until a writer from Atlanta called me for a story," Knoche said. "An NBA historian had informed him of my alleged status."
The elder Knoche, who went to live in the Denver area, chose not to play in an uncertain situation for little money. "I never received any contact from the Ironmen," he said. "The Knicks sent a contract offer in the mail, but it was for just $3,500 and that's if I made the team (many NBA standouts earn five times that amount every quarter).
"I chose to play industrial basketball, where I remember playing six times one year against seven-footer Bob Kurland (Oklahoma State three-time first-team All-American who never played in the NBA). That wasn't much fun going against Kurland because I was just a 6-4 center."
Knoche was recalled to the military during the Korean War, where he was assigned to intelligence work for the Navy and later embarked on a civilian career leading to a job with the CIA.
Another former college hooper who carved out a CIA career was Pete Sivess, a center for Dickinson PA in 1935-36 before compiling a 7-11 record as a righthanded pitcher with the Philadelphia Phillies in three years from 1936 through 1938. While Moe Berg is the most famous MLB player linked with the CIA, his career as a spy pales in comparison to baseball contemporary Sivess, who is credited with defining CIA policy for handling Eastern Bloc defectors. During the height of the Cold War, Sivess conducted a "first haven" on Maryland's Eastern Shore where defectors were shipped to be debriefed. Probably the highest-profile spy Sivess monitored was "notorious double agent" Nicholas Shadrin, who died on a trip to Vienna in 1975 in a kidnapping attempt by Moscow's counterspies.
In the shadowy world of the CIA, no precise clues exist as to whether a basketball background for "CIA John" contributed to helping POTUS develop a comfort-zone bond with him similar to other ex-college hoopers in his inner circle - Secretary of Education Arne Duncan (Harvard), Attorney General Eric Holder (Columbia), "body man" Reggie Love (Duke) and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen (Navy). But it isn't ridiculous to suggest there might not have been a second inauguration for President Obama if he didn't trust "CIA John."
A vital hurdle approving the raid came when the SEAL Squadron leader briefed Mullen on merits of the mission. According to O'Neill's anonymous interview with Esquire, Vice Admiral William McRaven, head of Joint Special Ops Command, compared the raid and its fighters to the basketball movie Hoosiers in a final briefing with the participants in Operation Neptune's Spear.
A pithy precept occasionally surfaces in basketball trash talking that "some talk a good game and some play a good game." Depending upon your point of view, Time's Person of the Year in 2011 and each subsequent year could have been "CIA John." Surely, ex-Time managing editor Rick Stengel, a backup for Pete Carril-coached Princeton in the mid-1970s, would have encouraged leftist lunatic co-workers to give "CIA John" special consideration after the White House acknowledged him and his colleagues as "unbelievably competent professionals" prior to joining Obama's State Department.
The dumber-than-doorknob Obama Administration admitted doctoring State Department videos. Wanna bet whether "CIA John" was photo-shopped out of the famous Situation Room pic? Perhaps Plagiarist Biledumb of Logan Act lore was involved in similar General Flynn intrigue while donning aviator sunglasses and profanely instruct his German Shepherd (Major) to bite underlings annoying him. In midst of feeling so clever switching from unmasking opponents to masking entire nation, "the big guy's" alleged e-mail pseudonym - Peter Henderson - seems to have been "borrowed" straight from KGB mole in Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan series.
Deserved or not, other ex-college hoopers may get the bulk of the glory ranging from taking credit for UBL's demise to some searing social issue actually paling in comparison. When, if ever, will our nation get the opportunity to pay homage to a genuine hoop hero comparable to Ames, Knoche and Sivess? Heaven only knows we need an authentic hero these days to offset riots in major U.S. cities, lying by eventual Presidential nominee in front of caskets as former server-swiping Secretary of State #ShrillaryRotten, lawless #Demonrat West Wings supported by ideologically-driven lame-stream media, punk politicians peppering opposing views with inane questions plus collegiate academic scandals and athletes treating women as bad as Sharia-Law zealot Islamic radicals. But at the moment, the stirring tale will simply be "The Greatest Hoop Story Never Fully Told."
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Supplying MLB Headlines on May 1
Extra! Extra! As a new season reaches its second full month, you can listen to #Dimorat's Odd Squad placate Hamas-loving college student protesters or read news about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players. Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.
Former New England university hoopers Jim Beattie (Dartmouth) and Rollie Sheldon (Connecticut) hurled MLB shutouts on this date. Small-college hoopers David Justice (Thomas More KY), Norm Siebern (Southwest Missouri State) and Leon Wagner (Tuskegee AL) each smacked a pair of homers on this date in contests involving the Cleveland Indians. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a May 1 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
MAY 1
Seattle Mariners RHP Jim Beattie (Dartmouth's top rebounder in 1974-75 when selected basketball team MVP and honorable mention All-Ivy League) hurled a four-hit shutout against the Boston Red Sox in 1985.
After teammate Bill Parsons walked the first three Oakland A's batters, RHP Jim Colborn (Whittier CA in mid-1960s before studying for master's at Edinburgh where he was All-Scotland in basketball) came in and pitched a complete-game 4-3 victory for the Milwaukee Brewers in 1973.
California Angels RHP Eddie Fisher (hooper for Oklahoma's 1954-55 freshman squad) permitted his lone earned run in first 12 relief appearances in the 1970 campaign.
St. Louis Cardinals 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) furnished three extra-base hits and four RBI against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1927 contest.
Pittsburgh Pirates 3B Lee Handley (Bradley hoops letterman from 1932-33 through 1934-35) banged out four hits against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1941 outing.
St. Louis Cardinals 2B Tommy Herr (hooper with Delaware's freshman team in 1974-75) contributed four hits, three RBI and two stolen bases in a 1984 confrontation against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Cleveland Indians LF David Justice (Thomas More KY assists leader in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg) delivered two homers against the Oakland Athletics in a 1997 game.
In midst of career-high seven-game hitting streak, St. Louis Browns 1B Dick Kauffman (Susquehanna PA multi-sport athlete/class of 1909) opened game's scoring with RBI double in 5-3 win against the Cleveland Indians in 1915.
New York Yankees LF Charlie Keller (three-year hoops letterman with Maryland from 1934-35 through 1936-37) collected seven RBI against the St. Louis Browns in a 1941 contest.
Detroit Tigers RF Rusty Kuntz (J.C. hooper for Cuesta CA) went 3-for-3 with three RBI against the Boston Red Sox in a 1984 outing.
Pittsburgh Pirates SS Johnny Logan (Binghamton hooper in 1948-49) went 4-for-4 in a 4-2 loss against the San Francisco Giants in 1962.
Kansas City Athletics RHP Rollie Sheldon (third-leading scorer as sophomore for Connecticut's 1960 NCAA Tournament team) hurled a three-hit shutout against his original team (New York Yankees) in the opener of 1966 doubleheader.
Kansas City Athletics 1B Norm Siebern (member of Southwest Missouri State squads capturing back-to-back NAIA Tournament hoop titles in 1952 and 1953) smacked two homers against the Cleveland Indians in the opener of a 1960 doubleheader, igniting a streak of five consecutive two-hit contests.
Los Angeles Angels RF Leon Wagner (Tuskegee AL hooper in 1952-53) homered twice in an 8-6 triumph against the Cleveland Indians in 1962.
3B Billy Werber (first Duke hoops All-American in 1929-30) contributed a homer and double for the Cincinnati Reds during their eight-run fourth inning in 1940 when they defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers, 9-2.
A seventh-inning single by Boston Red Sox C Sammy White (All-PCC Northern Division first-five selection for Washington in 1947-48 and 1948-49) represented the only hit Hall of Fame P Bob Feller yielded in a 2-0 win for the Cleveland Indians in the opener of a doubleheader in 1955. It was Feller's MLB-record 12th one-hitter.
Philadelphia Phillies CF Cy Williams (Notre Dame forward in 1909-10) homered twice among his four hits and scored four runs against the Boston Braves in a 1923 game.
INF Dib Williams (Hendrix AR hooper in mid-1920s) purchased from the Philadelphia Athletics by the Boston Red Sox in 1935.
Happy Birthday! May Celebration Dates For A-As and Hall of Fame Coaches
Four Notre Dame players named All-American in 20-year span from 1936 through 1955 were born this month. The Fighting Irish and Kentucky are tied for most A-As born this month with five apiece. May 9 is the day to celebrate the most birthdays this month for former All-Americans. Syracuse (May 10), UK (May 12) and Michigan State (May 18) each had two A-As born on the same day. Birth of Leo Barnhorst (Notre Dame) 100 years ago is among the following birthdates in May for All-Americans and Hall of Fame coaches:
MAY
1: All-Americans Billy Owens (born in 1969/attended Syracuse) and Alan Seiden (1937/St. John's) plus Hall of Fame coach Amory "Slats" Gill (1901/bench boss at Oregon State).
2: All-Americans Troy Murphy (1980/Notre Dame), William "Red" Stroud (1941/Mississippi State) and Keith Wilkes (1953/UCLA).
3: All-Americans Ken Owens (1959/Idaho) and Kelvin Ransey (1958/Ohio State).
4: All-Americans Sam Clancy Jr. (1980/Southern California), Johnathan Motley (1995/Baylor) and Kyle Singler (1988/Duke).
5: All-Americans Alfred "Butch" Beard (1947/Louisville), Bill Buntin (1942/Michigan), Bill Haarlow (1913/Chicago), Paul Hoffman (1925/Purdue), Harold Miner (1971/Southern California), Mike Silliman (1944/Army) and Anthony "P.J." Tucker (1985/Texas).
6: All-American Chris Paul (1985/Wake Forest).
7: All-Americans Ethan Happ (1996/Wisconsin), Jerry Harkness (1940/Loyola of Chicago) and Paul Unruh (1928/Bradley).
8: All-Americans Quentin Grimes (2000/Houston), Juan "Pepe" Sanchez (1977/Temple) and Kemba Walker (1990/Connecticut).
9: All-Americans Ed Beisser (1919/Creighton), Kevin "Yogi" Ferrell (1993/Indiana), Erick Green (1991/Virginia Tech), Howard "Butch" Komives (1941/Bowling Green State), Calvin Murphy (1948/Niagara), Chris Porter (1978/Auburn), Elmore Smith (1949/Kentucky State) and George Wilson (1942/Cincinnati).
10: All-Americans Eddie Finnigan (1911/Western Reserve OH), Malachi Flynn (1998/San Diego State), Rudy Hackett (1953/Syracuse), Mike Maloy (1949/Davidson) and Rony Seikaly (1965/Syracuse) plus Hall of Fame coach Jim Calhoun (1942/Northeastern and Connecticut).
11: All-Americans Leo Barnhorst (1924/Notre Dame), Price Brookfield (1920/West Texas State), Darrell Floyd (1932/Furman), Ed Gayda (1927/Washington State) and Barry Parkhill (1951/Virginia).
12: All-Americans Keith Bogans (1980/Kentucky), Jack Gray (1911/Texas), Kevin Grevey (1953/Kentucky) and Gene Tormohlen (1937/Tennessee) plus Hall of Fame coach Everett Shelton (1898/Wyoming).
13: All-Americans Louis "Bosey" Berger (1910/Maryland), Mike Bibby (1978/Arizona), Wayne Estes (1943/Utah State), Trajan Langdon (1976/Duke) and Dean Meminger (1948/Marquette).
14: All-Americans Jim Ashmore (1935/Mississippi State), Walter Berry (1964/St. John's) and Vern Gardner (1925/Utah).
15: All-Americans Gene Banks (1959/Duke), Don Nelson (1940/Iowa), Freeman Williams (1956/Portland State) and Nate Wolters (1991/South Dakota State).
16: All-Americans Charles "Tub" Bradley (1959/Wyoming) and John Salley (1964/Georgia Tech).
17: All-Americans Winford Boynes (1957/San Francisco), Bill "Pickles" Kennedy (1938/Temple), Jon Koncak (1963/Southern Methodist) and Danny Manning (1966/Kansas).
18: All-Americans Chester "Chet" Aubuchon (1916/Michigan State), Donyell Marshall (1973/Connecticut), Ron Mercer (1976/Kentucky), John "Jack" Stephens (1933/Notre Dame) and Sam Vincent (1963/Michigan State).
19: All-Americans Michael Smith (1965/Brigham Young) and Jarrod Uthoff (1993/Iowa).
20: All-Americans Larry Hennessy (1929/Villanova), Howard Wood (1959/Tennessee) and Julian Wright (1987/Kansas).
21: All-Americans James Bailey (1957/Rutgers), Isaiah Canaan (1991/Murray State), Leo Klier (1923/Notre Dame) and Jack Twyman (1934/Cincinnati) plus Hall of Fame coaches Clarence "Big House" Gaines (1923/Winston-Salem State) and Gene Keady (1936/Western Kentucky and Purdue).
22: All-Americans Lauri Markkanen (1997/Arizona), John Moir (1915/Notre Dame) and Larry Siegfried (1939/Ohio State).
23: All-American Rod Thorn (1941/West Virginia) and Hall of Fame coach Tom Penders (1945/Columbia, Fordham, Rhode Island, Texas, George Washington and Houston).
24: All-Americans Howie Dallmar (1922/Penn), Irwin Dambrot (1928/CCNY) and Mitch Kupchak (1954/North Carolina).
25: All-Americans Chester "Chet" Giermak (1927/William & Mary), Kendall Gill (1968/Illinois), K.C. Jones (1932/San Francisco), Bill Sharman (1926/Southern California) and Derrick Williams (1991/Arizona).
26: All-American Tom McMillen (1952/Maryland).
27: All-Americans David Greenwood (1957/UCLA), George McCloud (1967/Florida State) and Dick Schnittker (1928/Ohio State) plus Hall of Fame coach George "Jud" Heathcote (1927/Montana and Michigan State).
28: All-Americans Bob Brannum (1925/Kentucky), Armon Gilliam (1964/UNLV), Glen Rice Sr. (1967/Michigan), Elwood "Woody" Romney (1911/Brigham Young) and Jerry West (1938/West Virginia) plus Hall of Fame coach Ward "Piggy" Lambert (1888/Purdue).
29: All-Americans Carmelo Anthony (1984/Syracuse), Bob Burrow (1934/Kentucky), Bill Curley (1972/Boston College), Markelle Fultz (1998/Washington), Stanley Johnson (1996/Arizona) and Raef LaFrentz (1976/Kansas).
30: All-Americans Harrison Barnes (1992/North Carolina), Evan Eschmeyer (1975/Northwestern), Morris "Moe" Goldman (1913/CCNY), Bob Mattick (1933/Oklahoma A&M) and Billy McCaffrey (1971/Vanderbilt).
31: All-Americans Ron Bonham (1942/Cincinnati), Bob Ferry (1937/St. Louis), Matt Harpring (1976/Georgia Tech) and Nate Robinson (1984/Washington).
Birthdays in January for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in February for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in March for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in April for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in May for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in June for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in July for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in August for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in September for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in October for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in November for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in December for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Supplying MLB Headlines on April 30
Extra! Extra! Rather than listening to misguided #MessMedia and petty politicians chit chat about nitwit Hamas-supporting protesters donning masks obscuring their stupidity, you can read news about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players. Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.
Former Big Ten Conference hoopers Frank Howard (Ohio State), Harvey Kuenn (Wisconsin) and Dave Winfield (Minnesota) provided significant MLB performances on this date. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an April 30 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
APRIL 30
California Angels 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) contributed four hits against the Boston Red Sox in a 1966 outing.
Detroit Tigers 1B Dale Alexander (starting hoops center for Milligan TN in mid-1920s) supplied his sixth straight multiple-hit game and 10th in last 17 contests to finish the first month of the 1931 season with a .519 batting average.
Philadelphia Phillies CF Ethan Allen (Cincinnati hoops letterman in 1924-25 and 1925-26) went 4-for-4 in a 5-4 win against the Boston Braves in 1934.
Chicago White Sox CF Ken Berry (freshman hooper for Wichita in 1959-60) collected four straight singles in a 1968 game against the Washington Senators.
Chicago White Sox rookie 1B Zeke Bonura (best basketball forward for Loyola LA in late 1920s and early 1930s) knocked in five runs in a 20-10 win against the Cleveland Indians in 1934.
New York Giants 2B Pat Crawford (Davidson hoops captain in early 1920s) went 3-for-3 with two extra-base hits in a 1930 game against the Brooklyn Robins.
California Angels 2B Denny Doyle (averaged 2.7 ppg for Morehead State in 1962-63) delivered five hits in a 1974 contest against the Boston Red Sox.
San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-WAC second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) went 5-for-5 against the New York Mets in a 1993 game before adding four safeties against the Mets the next day.
Chicago Cubs LHP Bill Henry (hoops letterman for Houston's 1947 NAIA Tournament team featuring co-captain Guy Lewis) won his first two of N.L.-high 65 relief appearances during 1959 season.
Los Angeles Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN hooper in 1947 and 1948) homered in fifth of last seven games of the month in 1958.
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) closed out the month by homering in three consecutive contests against the Milwaukee Brewers in 1970.
Baltimore Orioles rookie 2B Davey Johnson (averaged 1.7 ppg with Texas A&M in 1961-62) jacked two homers against the Detroit Tigers in a 1966 game. Twelve years later with the Philadelphia Phillies, Johnson whacked a pinch grand slam against the San Diego Padres in 1978.
Chicago Cubs SS Don Kessinger (three-time All-SEC selection for Mississippi from 1961-62 through 1963-64 while finishing among nation's top 45 scorers each year) contributed his 10th multiple-hit outing in April of 1968.
Detroit Tigers SS Harvey Kuenn (played briefly for Wisconsin in 1951-52 after competing on JV squad previous season) went 5-for-5 against the Washington Senators in a 1955 game.
Los Angeles Dodgers 2B Davey Lopes (NAIA All-District 15 selection for Iowa Wesleyan averaged 16.9 ppg as freshman in 1964-65 and 12.1 ppg as sophomore in 1965-66 before transferring with his coach to Washburn KS and becoming All-CIC choice for 1968 NAIA Tournament team) stole four bases against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1978 contest.
In 1937, Philadelphia Athletics INF Clarence "Ace" Parker (Duke hoops letterman in 1935-36) became the first A.L. player to hit a pinch-hit homer in his MLB debut (against Wes Ferrell of Boston Red Sox).
1B Jack Phillips (leading scorer for 14-1 Clarkson NY in 1942-43) traded by the Detroit Tigers to the Boston Red Sox in 1957.
Oakland Athletics OF Tony Phillips (New Mexico Military juco hooper in 1977-78 as teammate of eventual Drake All-American Lewis Lloyd) banged out four hits in a 13-9 victory against the Boston Red Sox in 1999.
Four days removed from his initial MLB victory, Chicago White Sox rookie RHP Charlie Robertson (Austin College TX hooper before joining U.S. Army during WWI) hurled a perfect game in 2-0 decision against Hall of Famer Ty Cobb's Detroit Tigers in 1922. Detroit set an A.L. single-season team record for batting average (.316) the previous year and went on to have six starters finish with marks over .300 this campaign.
RF Richie Scheinblum (averaged 6.1 ppg and 3.6 rpg for C.W. Post NY in 1962-63 and 1963-64) traded by the California Angels to the Kansas City Royals in 1974.
SS Roy Smalley Jr. (one of top hoops scorers for Drury MO in 1942-43 and 1943-44) purchased from the Milwaukee Braves by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1955.
RHP Lee Smith (averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg with Northwestern State in 1976-77) posted saves in his first 12 relief appearances with the Baltimore Orioles in 1994 by failing to permit an earned run in a span covering 10 2/3 innings.
Rookie SS-LF Gary Sutherland (averaged 8.1 ppg and 2.2 rpg for Stanford from 1960-61 through 1962-63) smacked a two-run pinch double in the top of the ninth inning to give the Philadelphia Phillies a 6-4 win against the Atlanta Braves in 1967.
Second homer of the game for LF Leon Wagner (Tuskegee AL hooper in 1952-53), a solo shot in bottom of eighth inning, carried the St. Louis Cardinals to 5-4 triumph against the Chicago Cubs in 1960. Wagner never homered again with the Cards as eventual A.L. All-Star Game MVP hit an anemic .133 in last 28 contests for them. Seven years later with the Cleveland Indians, his ninth-inning round-tripper was the difference in a 2-1 success against the Chicago White Sox in opener of a 1967 doubleheader.
RF Dave Winfield (starting forward with Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972), who was on base at least once in every game this month, tied a MLB record for RBI in April with 29 for the New York Yankees in 1988.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Supplying MLB Headlines on April 29
Extra! Extra! Instead of debating whether petty Plagiarist Biledumb should include cute Arkansas girl hideous Hunter sired with an escort as one of his grandchildren, you can read news all about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players. Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.
Former Notre Dame hoop starters Ron Reed and Cy Williams extended significant MLB streaks on this date. Four ex-hoopers for PA small colleges - Joe Buzas (Bucknell), Lynn Jones (Thiel), Red Murray (Lock Haven) and Gary Peters (Grove City) - also made MLB news. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an April 29 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
APRIL 29
In 1953, Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) launched a homer into the center-field bleachers against the New York Giants at the Polo Grounds, a feat that had never been done before and would only be achieved twice more (by Hank Aaron and Lou Brock).
Detroit Tigers rookie 1B Dale Alexander (starting center for Milligan TN in mid-1920s) hit safely in his first 12 MLB games in 1929 before he was held hitless by the St. Louis Browns.
Cleveland Indians SS Lou Boudreau (leading scorer for Illinois' 1937 Big Ten Conference co-champion) banged out four hits against the St. Louis Browns in a 1948 contest.
New York Yankees SS Joe Buzas (Bucknell hoops letterman from 1938-39 through 1940-41) hit safely in his first 10 MLB games.
CF Taylor Douthit (California hoops letterman from 1922 through 1924) awarded on waivers from the Cincinnati Reds to the Chicago Cubs in 1933.
In 1930, Pittsburgh Pirates LHP Ralph Erickson (Idaho State hooper in mid-1920s) won his lone MLB decision.
Atlanta Braves 3B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) homered twice in a 1989 game against the Montreal Expos.
Houston Astros C Joe Ferguson (played in 1967 NCAA basketball tourney with Pacific) pounded two homers against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 1977 outing.
In his MLB debut, Boston Red Sox RHP Boo Ferriss (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1940-41) hurled a shutout and went 3-for-3 against the Philadelphia Athletics in 1945.
Brooklyn Robins 2B Jake Flowers (member of 1923 "Flying Pentagon" championship squad for Washington College MD) provided four hits, including three doubles, in a 19-15 win against the New York Giants in 1930. It was one of five games that month where he had at least three safeties.
Oakland Athletics rookie 3B Wayne Gross (led Cal Poly Pomona in assists in 1974-75) whacked two homers against the Boston Red Sox in a 1977 game.
Los Angeles Dodgers 1B 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) collected two homers and six RBI against the Chicago Cubs in a 1961 outing.
Philadelphia Phillies 2B Irv Jeffries (posted team-high scoring average of 11.5 ppg for Kentucky in 1927-28) provided three hits for the second game in a row against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1934.
In the midst of a 15-game hitting streak, Chicago Cubs SS Don Kessinger (three-time All-SEC selection for Mississippi from 1961-62 through 1963-64 while finishing among nation's top 45 scorers each year) scored four runs against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1969 contest.
Detroit Tigers rookie CF Lynn Jones (averaged 10.4 ppg for Thiel PA from 1970-71 through 1973-74) finished his first month with a .389 batting average after notching fourth straight two-hit game in 1979.
Toronto Blue Jays RHP Dave Lemanczyk (averaged 4.5 ppg and 3.5 rpg for Hartwick NY teams compiling 51-21 record from 1969-70 through 1971-72) sustained his fifth setback of the month in as many starts in 1978.
San Francisco Giants RHP Frank Linzy (listed on Oklahoma State's freshman hoops roster in 1959-60) toiled five innings for his first of 14 victories as a reliever during the 1969 campaign.
RHP Roger Mason (multiple-year hoops letterman for Saginaw Valley State MI in late 1970s) purchased from the Philadelphia Phillies by the New York Mets in 1994.
2B Dutch Meyer (Texas Christian hoops letterman in 1934-35 and 1935-36) traded by the Detroit Tigers to the Cleveland Indians in 1945.
New York Giants RF Red Murray (played hoops for Lock Haven PA in early 1900s) collected four hits and five RBI in a 7-3 win against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1911. Four years later as a CF, he scored four runs in 1915 contest against the Boston Braves.
In a 17-inning marathon where both starting pitchers went the distance, St. Louis Cardinals RHP Roy Parmelee (Eastern Michigan hoops letterman in 1924-25 and 1925-26) outdueled New York Giants Hall of Famer Carl Hubbell, 2-1, in 1936.
Washington Senators rookie C Les Peden (Texas A&M letterman in 1941-42 and 1942-43) provided his lone MLB homer (against the Chicago White Sox in 1953).
Cleveland tied a MLB record by winning its first 10 games of the 1966 campaign before the Indians lost, 4-1, to Chicago White Sox LHP Gary Peters (Grove City PA hooper in mid-1950s).
In the midst of 11 straight scoreless appearances in 1979, Philadelphia Phillies RHP Ron Reed (Notre Dame's leading rebounder in 1963-64 and 1964-65) won his third successive relief outing.
Chicago White Sox CF Carl Reynolds (Southwestern TX hoops MVP and captain in mid-1920s) homered twice in an 8-6 win against the Detroit Tigers in 1930.
In 1975, LF Champ Summers (team-high scoring averages of 15.7 ppg for Nicholls State in 1964-65 and 22.5 ppg for SIUE in 1969-70) shipped by the Oakland Athletics to the Chicago Cubs to complete a deal made earlier in the month.
Atlanta Braves RHP Cecil Upshaw (led Centenary in scoring as junior while averaging 13.7 ppg and 6 rpg from 1961-62 through 1963-64) earned his sixth save in a row in 1969.
Washington Senators rookie RHP Monte Weaver (hoops center for Emory & Henry VA in mid-1930s) hit safely as lefthanded swinger in his first four starts in 1932.
St. Louis Cardinals CF-1B Bill White (two-year hooper with Hiram OH in early 1950s) contributed four hits for the second time in a six-game span in 1960.
Philadelphia Phillies CF Cy Williams (Notre Dame forward in 1909-10) provided at least three hits in each of his first four contests in 1919.
Breaking Up is Hard to Do: Active NCAA DI Coaches Departing Alma Maters
We don't know if the song "Breaking Up is Hard to Do" was the background music when Mike Krzyzewski chose to leave his alma mater (Army) four decades ago for Duke in the early 1980s. Coach K departed after five campaigns with the Cadets. Five years ago, Mick Cronin left following 13 seasons at Cincinnati - the same tenure recently-retired Keith Dambrot had at Akron before abandoning ship for Duquesne. Pat Conroy (The Citadel) and Thad Matta (Butler) have returned to their alma maters they previously shunned. Following is an alphabetical list of active mentors who voluntarily left their Division I alma maters after Danny Sprinkle departed Montana State for Utah State a year ago prior to promptly moving on to Washington:
| Active Coach | Alma Mater (Coaching Years) | Subsequent Job (Years) |
|---|---|---|
| Mick Cronin | Cincinnati '96 (2006-07 through 2018-19) | UCLA (since 2019-20) |
| Ed DeChellis | Penn State '82 (2003-04 through 2010-11) | Navy (since 2011-12) |
| Bryce Drew | Valparaiso '98 (2011-12 through 2015-16) | Vanderbilt (2016-17 through 2018-19) |
| Joe Golding | Abilene Christian '98 (2011-12 through 2020-21) | Texas-El Paso (since 2021-22) |
| Fred Hoiberg | Iowa State '95 (2010-11 through 2014-15) | NBA's Chicago Bulls (2015-16 to 2018-19) |
| Darrin Horn | Western Kentucky '95 (2003-04 through 2007-08) | South Carolina (2008-09 through 2011-12) |
| Greg McDermott | Northern Iowa '88 (2001-02 through 2005-06) | Iowa State (2006-07 through 2009-10) |
| Nick McDevitt | UNC Asheville '01 (2013-14 through 2017-18) | Middle Tennessee State (since 2018-19) |
| Danny Sprinkle | Montana State (2019-20 through 2022-23 | Utah State (since 2023-24) |
| Wayne Tinkle | Montana '89 (2006-07 through 2013-14) | Oregon State (since 2014-15) |
NOTE: Drew (Grand Canyon), Hoiberg (Nebraska), Horn (Northern Kentucky), McDermott (Creighton) and Sprinkle (Washington) currently coach other colleges.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Supplying MLB Headlines on April 28
Extra! Extra! Instead of debating whether hideous Hunter Biledumb should have been forced to don ankle monitor at Out House Correspondents' Dinner although he blended in fine with majority of #MessMedia misfits, you can read news about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players. Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.
Former Texas A&M hoopers Davey Johnson and Wally Moon delivered significant MLB offensive performances on this date. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an April 28 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
APRIL 28
Oakland Athletics RHP Ray Burris (baseball-basketball standout in Southwestern Oklahoma State Hall of Fame) hurled a four-hit shutout against the Minnesota Twins in 1984.
In 1966, CF Billy Cowan (co-captain of Utah's 1960 NCAA playoff team) traded by the Atlanta Braves to the Chicago Cubs for cash and 3B Bobby Cox, who went on to become one of MLB's all-time winningest managers with the Braves.
Cincinnati Reds 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) collected two homers and five RBI against the Chicago Cubs in a 1956 game.
In 1928, St. Louis Cardinals CF Taylor Douthit (California hoops letterman from 1922 through 1924) collected four hits against the Chicago Cubs, giving him 13 safeties over a four-game span.
California Angels RHP Dave Frost (averaged 10.5 ppg and 4 rpg for Stanford from 1971-72 through 1973-74) fired a six-hit shutout against the Boston Red Sox in 1979.
San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-WAC second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) collected five hits in a 7-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs in 1998, registering the ninth game of at least five hits in his career.
Chicago Cubs 1B Jim Hickman (freshman hooper for Ole Miss in 1955-56) hammered a three-run homer in each of his first two plate appearances in 10-8 win against World Series-bound Cincinnati Reds in 1972.
Baltimore Orioles 2B Davey Johnson (averaged 1.7 ppg with Texas A&M in 1961-62) hit safely in first 17 games of the 1971 campaign (career-high).
RF Jerry Martin (1971 Southern Conference MVP after he was Furman's runner-up in scoring the previous season) accounted for all of the Philadelphia Phillies' offense with a three-run homer in a 3-2 victory against the San Diego Padres in 1978.
In 1960, Los Angeles Dodgers OF Wally Moon (averaged 4.3 ppg with Texas A&M in 1948-49 and 1949-50) manufactured three hits in his third consecutive contest.
INF Tim Nordbrook (hoops letterman in 1968-69 for Loyola LA) traded by the Toronto Blue Jays to the Milwaukee Brewers in 1978.
Cincinnati Reds LF Gary Redus (J.C. hooper for Athens AL and father of Centenary/South Alabama guard with same name) stole four bases in a 1984 game against the San Francisco Giants.
1B-OF Bud Sharpe (Penn State hoops letterman in 1902) traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates to Boston Doves in 1910.
RHP Sonny Siebert (team-high 16.7 ppg for Mizzou in 1957-58 as All-Big Eight Conference second-team selection) defeated the Angels, 2-1, as the Cleveland Indians tied a MLB record by winning their first 10 contests of the 1966 season.
Baltimore Orioles RF Ken Singleton (Hofstra freshman hoops team in mid-1960s) grounded into a double play against the Chicago White Sox to snap his streak of 10 consecutive safeties in 1981.
Utilityman Roe Skidmore (scored 41 points for Millikin IL in game against Illinois College on 1-28-66) shipped by Chicago White Sox to Cincinnati Reds in 1972 to complete a deal made the previous month.
Washington Senators RHP Dick Such (averaged 8.9 ppg and 7.4 rpg in 1964-65 and 10.5 ppg and 6.9 rpg in 1965-66 for Elon) posted his lone MLB victory (against Milwaukee Brewers in 1970).
C-UTL Billy Sullivan Jr. (Portland hoops letterman in 1927-28) purchased from St. Paul (American Association) by the Cincinnati Reds in 1935.
Pittsburgh Pirates LHP Bob Veale (scored 1,160 points for Benedictine KS from 1955-56 through 1957-58) fired his second three-hit shutout of the month in 1965.
New York Yankees rookie RF Sammy Vick (three-sport athlete for Millsaps MS) scored game-winning run in the bottom of 12th inning after his second triple in a 3-2 triumph against the Philadelphia Athletics in 1919.
Toronto Blue Jays DH Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) smacked two homers against the California Angels in a 1992 outing.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Supplying MLB Healines on April 27
Extra! Extra! As a new season shifts into high gear, you can contemplate if Trump haters Stacey Abrams, Alvin Bragg, Chris Christie, Letitia James and Fani Willis are seeking group rate to attend fat farm or read news all about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players! Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.
Former college hoopers Bill Almon (Brown), Lou Boudreau (Illinois), Walt Dropo (Connecticut), Tony Gwynn (San Diego State), Gil Hodges (St. Joseph's IN/Oakland City IN), David Justice (Thomas More KY), Vance Law (Brigham Young), Ken Singleton (Hofstra) and Roy Smalley Jr. (Drury MO) supplied multiple extra-base hits in MLB games on this date. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an April 27 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
APRIL 27
Pittsburgh Pirates SS Bill Almon (averaged 2.5 ppg in half a season for Brown's 1972-73 basketball team ending school's streak of 12 straight losing records) supplied three extra-base hits in a 13-5 victory against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1986.
Cleveland Indians SS Lou Boudreau (leading scorer for Illinois' 1937 Big Ten Conference co-champion) blasted two homers in a 4-2 victory against the Detroit Tigers in 1940 game.
Minnesota Twins 3B John Castino (medical redshirt for Rollins FL in 1973-74 under coach Ed Jucker) contributed four hits and four RBI in 20-11 victory against the Oakland Athletics in 1980.
Two NBA players - Gene Conley of the Boston Celtics and Dave DeBusschere of the New York Knicks - opposed each other as RHPs in 1963. Conley (All-PCC first-team selection led North Division in scoring in 1949-50 as Washington State sophomore) hurled 4-plus innings as starter for the Boston Red Sox while DeBusschere (three-time All-American for Detroit from 1959-60 through 1961-62) relieved for 2/3 of the fourth inning with the Chicago White Sox.
First MLB hit for INF Pat Crawford (Davidson hoops captain in early 1920s) was a pinch homer for the New York Giants in a 1929 game against the Boston Braves.
Chicago White Sox 1B Walt Dropo (first player in Connecticut history to average 20 ppg in single season with 21.7 in 1942-43) homered twice and scored four runs in a 1955 outing against the New York Yankees.
San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-WAC second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) smacked two homers in a 6-4 victory against the San Francisco Giants in 1986.
Baltimore Orioles RHP Dick Hall (averaged 13.5 ppg from 1948-49 through 1950-51 for Swarthmore PA Middle Atlantic States Conference Southern Division champions) hurled a two-hit shutout against the Washington Senators in 1961.
1B Mike Hargrove (Northwestern Oklahoma State hoops letterman) stroked a bases-loaded double in the top of the 19th inning to spark the Cleveland Indians to an 8-4 win over the Detroit Tigers in 1984. Six years earlier with the Texas Rangers, Hargrove homered in his third consecutive contest in 1978.
Minnesota Twins 2B Tommy Herr (hooper with Delaware's freshman team in 1974-75) stroked four singles in a 7-6 win against the Baltimore Orioles in 1988.
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 Philadelphia Phillies in a 1951 outing.
Cleveland Indians DH David Justice (Thomas More KY leader in assists in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg) delivered three extra-base hits against the Chicago White Sox in a 1998 contest.
Minnesota Twins LHP Bill Krueger (led WCAC in free-throw percentage as freshman en route to averaging 5.1 ppg for Portland from 1975-76 through 1979-80) won for the fourth time in as many starts this month in 1992, compiling an 0.84 ERA in first 32 innings.
Montreal Expos 2B Vance Law (averaged 6.8 ppg for Brigham Young from 1974-75 through 1976-77) banged out three extra-base hits against the Chicago Cubs in a 1986 game.
Cleveland Indians RHP Jim Perry (averaged more than 20 ppg in late 1950s for former juco Campbell) fired a four-hit shutout against the California Angels in 1974.
Detroit Tigers LF-2B Tony Phillips (New Mexico Military juco hooper in 1977-78 as teammate of eventual Drake All-American Lewis Lloyd) had a .403 batting average through first 19 contests in 1993 after extending his hitting streak to 12 games in a row.
C Hugh Poland (Western Kentucky hoops letterman from 1931-32 through 1933-34) traded by the New York Giants to the Boston Braves in 1943.
In 1981, Baltimore Orioles RF Ken Singleton (Hofstra freshman hoops squad in mid-1960s) went 4-for-4, including a pair of doubles for the second straight game.
Chicago Cubs SS Roy Smalley Jr. (one of top scorers for Drury MO in 1942-43 and 1943-44) tripled twice and scored three runs against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1949 game.
Cleveland Indians 2B Riggs Stephenson (Alabama hoops letterman in 1920) assembled three straight three-hit games against the Chicago White Sox in 1922.
RHP John Stuper (two-time all-conference junior college hooper in mid-1970s with Butler County PA) tossed his lone complete game with the Cincinnati Reds (two-hit, 2-1 win against San Francisco Giants in 1985).
St. Louis Cardinals RHP Ray Washburn (Whitworth WA scoring leader in 1958-59 and 1959-60 when named All-Evergreen Conference) notched his second shutout and fourth complete-game win in as many starts at the beginning of the 1963 campaign.
Boston Braves rookie RF Chuck Workman (two-time All-MIAA first-five selection was leading scorer in 1937 when Central Missouri won inaugural NAIA Tournament) went 8-for-11 against the New York Giants in his first three games of the 1943 campaign.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Supplying MLB Headlines on April 26
Extra! Extra! As season shifts into high gear, you can dine on Plagiarist Biledumb's tall tales about New Guinea cannibals or read news about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players! Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.
Former college hoopers Joe Adcock (Louisiana State), Lou Boudreau (Illinois), Gil Hodges (St. Joseph's IN/Oakland City IN) and Harvey Kuenn (Wisconsin) supplied significant MLB offensive performances on this date prior to becoming full-time MLB managers. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an April 26 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
APRIL 26
Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) collected two homers and five RBI against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1957 game.
Philadelphia Phillies LF Harry Anderson (averaged 7.7 ppg and 8.9 rpg for West Chester PA in 1951-52) went 4-for-4 against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the nightcap of a 1959 twinbill.
1B Zeke Bonura (best basketball forward for Loyola LA in late 1920s and early 1930s) purchased from the New York Giants by the Washington Senators in 1940.
Cleveland Indians player-manager Lou Boudreau (leading scorer for Illinois' 1937 Big Ten Conference co-champion) banged out five hits, including a pair of doubles and pair of triples, in a 12-11, 14-inning victory against the Chicago White Sox in 1948.
Arizona Diamondbacks 1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in WAC games in 1991-92) cracked two homers for the second time in an eight-game span in 2007.
Pittsburgh Pirates SS Dick Groat (two-time All-American with Duke in 1950-51 and 1951-52 when finishing among nation's top five scorers each season) amassed four hits and five RBI in a 9-2 triumph against the Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a 1959 doubleheader.
Cleveland Indians rookie RHP Wynn Hawkins (Little All-American was all-time leading scorer for Baldwin-Wallace OH upon graduation in 1957) toiled 11 innings in outdueling Jim Bunning in a 2-1 win against the Detroit Tigers in 1960.
Cleveland Indians RHP Oral Hildebrand (Butler hoops All-American in 1928-29 and 1929-30) fired a one-hitter against the St. Louis Browns in 1933, giving him back-to-back shutouts.
Los Angeles Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) contributed five RBI against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1959 game.
Detroit Tigers CF Harvey Kuenn (briefly played hoops for Wisconsin in 1951-52 after competing on JV squad previous season) collected four hits against the Kansas City Athletics in a 1959 contest.
First start of 1947 season for Chicago White Sox LHP Thornton Lee (Cal Poly hooper in 1925-26) was a two-hit shutout against the St. Louis Browns.
Chicago Cubs LF Bill Nicholson (Washington College MD hoops guard for two years in mid-1930s) provided five RBI against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1940 game. Two years later in a 1942 outing, Nicholson amassed two triples and five RBI against the Reds.
First appearance of the 1933 campaign for New York Giants RHP Roy Parmelee (Eastern Michigan hoops letterman in 1924-25 and 1925-26) resulted in a one-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies.
OF Curtis Pride (led William & Mary in steals three times and assists twice from 1986-87 through 1989-90) shipped by the New York Mets to the Boston Red Sox as part of a conditional deal in 2000.
Baltimore Orioles DH Ken Singleton (Hofstra freshman hoops squad in mid-1960s) supplied three extra-base hits in a 1981 game against the Boston Red Sox.
Texas Rangers 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 his second complete-game victory in a week.
Montreal Expos 2B Gary Sutherland (averaged 7.4 ppg with Southern California in 1963-64) went 4-for-4 against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 1969 outing.
RHP Cecil Upshaw (led Centenary in scoring as junior while averaging 13.7 ppg and 6 rpg from 1961-62 through 1963-64) traded by the Cleveland Indians to the New York Yankees in 1974.
In midst of a career-high 14-game hitting streak, Los Angeles Angels RF Leon Wagner (Tuskegee AL hooper in 1952-53) went 5-for-6, including two homers and a double, in 4-3 win against the Baltimore Orioles in 1963. His 13th-inning single knocked in the decisive run.
Detroit Tigers 3B Eddie Yost (NYU freshman hooper in 1943-44 under coach Howard Cann) drew four walks in a 1960 game against the Cleveland Indians en route to A.L.-leading 125 bases on balls.
New York Giants rookie 1B Babe Young (Fordham hoops letterman in 1935-36) manufactured multiple hits in his fifth consecutive contest in 1940.
Gauging Amir Garrett's MLB Influence Among Ex-NCAA DI College Hoopers
Boom or bust? How will history determine the MLB impact of lefthander Amir Garrett? The former St. John's hooper excelled in his first three starts seven 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. Six seasons ago 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 five campaigns ago, compiling a 1.33 ERA through 25 stints following fanning the side against the Milwaukee Brewers in late May. After Garrett was traded to the Kansas City Royals last spring, he didn't allow a hit in first six relief appearances. Last year, he had a 2.08 ERA through his first 10 relief appearances before things unraveled. Now, he's in the Los Angeles Angels' farm system trying to make a comeback.
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 said assignments |
| 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 Supplying MLB Headlines on April 25
Extra! Extra! Instead of listening to lamestream #MessMedia misfits on CNN Sucks and #MSDNC, you can read news all about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players! Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.
Small colleges from seven different Southern states (three from North Carolina) - Campbell NC, Centenary LA, Fayetteville State NC, Guilford NC, Morehouse GA, Spring Hill AL, Thomas More KY, Tuskegee AL, Virginia Union and West Liberty WV - supplied former hoopers making MLB news on this date. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an April 25 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
APRIL 25
New York Yankees P Jim Beattie (Dartmouth's top rebounder in 1974-75 when selected basketball team MVP and honorable mention All-Ivy League) won his MLB debut in 1978 (4-3 against Baltimore Orioles).
Chicago Cubs 2B Glenn Beckert (three-year hoops letterman for Allegheny PA) banged out four hits against the Houston Astros in a 1970 game.
Texas Rangers RHP Jim Bibby (Fayetteville State NC backup player and brother of UCLA All-American Henry Bibby) tossed a four-hit shutout against the Boston Red Sox in 1974.
Detroit Tigers 2B Frank Bolling (averaged 7.3 ppg for Spring Hill AL in 1950-51) collected four hits and four RBI against the Cleveland Indians in a 1954 contest.
In a 1969 game, Montreal Expos 1B Donn Clendenon (four-sport letterman with Morehouse GA) contributed four hits against his original team (Pittsburgh Pirates).
Two weeks after helping the Boston Celtics capture the 1961 NBA title, RHP Gene Conley (All-PCC first-team selection led North Division in scoring in 1949-50 as Washington State sophomore) earned his first A.L. victory (6-1 for Boston Red Sox over Washington Senators).
Cleveland Indians RF Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union team winning 1943 CIAA title) tied MLB record by striking out five times in a single game (at Detroit in 1948).
St. Louis Cardinals 2B Tommy Herr (hooper with Delaware's freshman team in 1974-75) stroked a triple in his fourth consecutive contest in 1981.
LF David Justice (led Thomas More KY in assists in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg) twice went deep for the Cleveland Indians as they hit a team-record eight homers in an 11-4 triumph over the Milwaukee Brewers in 1997.
Los Angeles Dodgers LHP Fred Kipp (two-time all-league selection as four-year hoops letterman for Emporia State KS from 1950 through 1953) won his first MLB start (5-3 against St. Louis Cardinals in 1958).
New York Giants CF Hank Leiber (Arizona hooper in 1931) supplied five RBI against the Boston Braves in a 1936 contest.
Only 14 games into the 1982 season, New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner fired manager Bob Lemon and replaced him with Gene Michael (Kent State's leading scorer with 14 ppg in 1957-58), the man Lemon succeeded the previous September.
3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) put the Minnesota Twins ahead with a three-run pinch homer in the eighth inning but they wound up losing at Chicago, 6-5, in 1969.
RHP Joe Niekro (averaged 8.9 ppg and 3.8 rpg for West Liberty WV from 1963-64 through 1965-66) traded by the Chicago Cubs to the San Diego Padres in 1969.
Minnesota Twins RHP Jim Perry (averaged more than 20 ppg in late 1950s for former juco Campbell) fired a four-hit shutout against the Boston Red Sox in 1972.
RHP Dick Radatz (center on Michigan State's freshman hoops squad in 1955-56) traded by the Cleveland Indians to the Chicago Cubs for a player to be designated in 1967.
En route to hitting safely in seven of his first nine pinch-hit appearances with the San Diego Padres, utilityman Gary Sutherland (averaged 7.4 ppg with USC in 1963-64) socked a homer against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1977.
Atlanta Braves RHP Cecil Upshaw (Centenary's leading scorer as junior in 1962-63) secured his fifth relief victory in the first month of 1971 campaign.
Los Angeles Angels RF Leon Wagner (Tuskegee AL hooper in 1952-53) homered twice in a 7-5 win against the Detroit Tigers in 1963.
St. Louis Browns LHP Tom Zachary (hoops letterman for Guilford NC in 1916) went 3-for-3 at the plate in 1926 game against the Cleveland Indians.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Supplying MLB Headlines on April 24
Extra! Extra! Unless you're aroused regarding a fossil fool (Plagiarist Biledumb) shaking hands with ghosts while shuffling for reelection, you can read news all about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players. Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.
Former Alabama hoops lettermen Riggs Stephenson and Jim Tabor supplied significant MLB games with their bats on this date. Former in-state hooper Marv Breeding (Samford) also made "offensive" news. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an April 24 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
APRIL 24
San Diego Padres SS Bill Almon (averaged 2.5 ppg in half a season for Brown's 1972-73 basketball team ending school's streak of 12 straight losing records) contributed four hits for the second time in four days in 1978.
Philadelphia Phillies LF Morrie Arnovich (Wisconsin-Superior hooper in early 1930s) went 4-for-4, including three doubles, in a 7-3 win against Brooklyn in 1937.
Cleveland Indians LHP Rick Austin (member of Washington State's freshman basketball team in 1965-66) held opposition scoreless in his first six relief appearances in 1971.
Chicago White Sox 1B Zeke Bonura (best basketball forward for Loyola LA in late 1920s and early 1930s) belted two homers in a 10-4 win against the Detroit Tigers in 1935.
Baltimore Orioles rookie 2B Marv Breeding (Samford hooper in mid-1950s) went hitless for the only time in his first 12 MLB games.
Boston Braves SS Dick Culler (#9 jersey retired by High Point for Little All-American in 1935 and 1936) went 4-for-4 in an 8-6 win against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1945.
Brooklyn Dodgers rookie SS Ben Geraghty (Villanova hoops letterman from 1933-34 through 1935-36) supplied his fourth straight multiple-hit game in 1936.
Oakland Athletics rookie 3B Wayne Gross (led Cal Poly Pomona in assists in 1974-75) went 4-for-4 with four RBI against the Chicago White Sox in the nightcap of a 1977 doubleheader.
Los Angeles Dodgers LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman hoops squad in 1953-54) tied a MLB record by striking out 18 batters in a nine-inning game at Chicago in 1962.
Toronto Blue Jays RHP Dave Lemanczyk (averaged 4.5 ppg and 3.5 rpg for Hartwick NY teams compiling 51-21 record from 1969-70 through 1971-72) tossed a one-hitter against the Texas Rangers. It was one of three shutouts for him in 1979.
San Francisco Giants RHP Frank Linzy (listed on Oklahoma State's freshman hoops roster in 1959-60) posted his third save against the Houston Astros in a 10-day span in 1966.
LF Danny Litwhiler (member of hoops JV team with Bloomsburg PA in mid-1930s) collected four of 22 hits by the Boston Braves and chipped in with four RBI in a 14-5 victory over the New York Giants in 1947. Johnny Mize, who later had a basketball arena named after him at Piedmont College GA, socked three successive homers for the Giants. Five years earlier with the Philadelphia Phillies, Litwhiler went 4-for-4 against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1942.
Kansas City Athletics 2B Jerry Lumpe (member of Southwest Missouri State's 1952 NAIA Tournament hoops championship team) provided his fifth multiple-hit game in as many outings to start the 1960 campaign en route to compiling a .471 average while hitting safely in his first 13 contests of the season.
San Diego Padres RHP Roger Mason (multiple-year hoops letterman in late 1970s for Saginaw Valley State MI) didn't allow an earned run through his first nine relief appearances in 1993.
New York Yankees SS Gene Michael (led Kent State in scoring with 14 ppg in 1957-58) contributed a career-high four RBI against the Minnesota Twins in 1971.
Washington Senators rookie CF Irv Noren (player of year for California community college hoops state champion Pasadena City in 1945) went hitless for the only time in his first 13 MLB starts in 1950.
Oakland Athletics CF Billy North (played hoops briefly for Central Washington in 1967-68) stole three bases against the Chicago White Sox in the nightcap of a 1977 twinbill.
Kansas City Royals 3B Bob Oliver (All-Valley Conference basketball choice for American River Community College CA in 1962) belted two homers for the second time in a four-game span in 1970.
RHP John Pyecha (led Appalachian State in scoring, rebounding and field-goal shooting in 1951-52 and 1954-55) lost his only MLB pitching appearance with the Chicago Cubs in 1954.
New York Yankees 3B Red Rolfe (played hoops briefly with Dartmouth in 1927-28 and 1929-30) ripped two homers against the Philadelphia Athletics in a 1940 game.
New York Giants RHP Hal Schumacher (multiple-sport athlete for St. Lawrence NY in early 1930s) and Hall of Fame teammate Mel Ott each socked two homers against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1934 game. Schumacher, who contributed five RBI in the contest, socked six round-trippers during the season.
Baltimore Orioles RF Ken Singleton (Hofstra freshman hoops squad in mid-1960s) smacked two homers against the California Angels in 1979 in the midst of seven multiple-hit outings in an eight-game span.
Minnesota Twins 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 a four-hit shutout against the Seattle Mariners in 1985.
Chicago Cubs LF Riggs Stephenson (Alabama hoops letterman in 1920) clubbed three doubles for the second time in a six-game span in 1932.
Boston Red Sox rookie 3B Jim Tabor (Alabama hoops letterman in 1936-37) tallied four hits for the first of four times in a 30-game span to early June in 1939.
Chicago White Sox LHP Matt Thornton (averaged 5.8 ppg and 2.4 rpg for Grand Valley State MI from 1995-96 through 1997-98) yielded his only run in 12 relief appearances during the month in 2012.
Pittsburgh Pirates CF Bill Virdon (Drury MO hooper in 1949) went 4-for-4 against the New York Mets in a 1964 game.
Boston Red Sox SS Billy Werber (first Duke hoops All-American in 1929-30) went 4-for-4 against the Washington Senators in a 1934 contest.
San Diego Padres RF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) collected four hits and five RBI against the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 1975 outing.
Hard-Hitting Influence From Ex-College Hoopers on First Round of NFL Draft
Did you know that WR DeAndre Hopkins, a first-round draft selection in 2013, played basketball for Clemson in 2010-11? Hopkins led the NFL in touchdown catches with 13 in 2017 and supplied at least 96 receptions in five of the previous nine seasons and at least 75 catches in eight of first 11 campaigns. Historically, the first 15 NFL drafts from 1936 through 1950 had a former college basketball regular selected among the top 10 picks. Four of the top six choices and five of the top 11 in the 1957 draft were ex-college hoopers. To our knowledge, none of them featured the excess baggage of Jameis "Crab Legs" Winston, the #1 selection several years ago who was also a versatile athlete but in baseball.
Back in 1963 when men were men before social scholar kneeling knuckleheads, commissioner hugging plus all of the ESPC-contrived Sam Who I Am draft-day crying/kissing and diversity sensitivity training (#BringBackOurMen), six of the top 22 picks, including five from schools that have always been or subsequently became members of the Big Ten Conference, were in the same category. Ex-hoopers for Notre Dame provided five top seven NFL draft choices in 23-year span from 1946 through 1968. Baylor, Michigan and Ohio State have had four former hoopers chosen in the opening round of NFL draft.
Six overall #1 choices were former college hoopers (Oregon State's Terry Baker, Syracuse's Ernie Davis, Michigan's Tom Harmon, Rice's King Hill, Notre Dame's Paul Hornung and Tennessee State's Ed "Too Tall" Jones). In the average NFL draft, nearly half of the athletes selected also competed in basketball in high school. Joe Stydahar, a tackle from West Virginia, appears to be the first former hooper selected in the NFL's inaugural draft in 1936 (sixth pick overall by Chicago Bears). Former Michigan State hooper Keon Coleman came close in 2024 as the wide receiver was 33rd pick overall after transferring to Florida State. There might not have been a former college hooper selected in opening round of this year's NFL draft, but following is an alphabetical list of first-round draft choices who played varsity college basketball for a current NCAA Division I university:
| Hooper/1st-Round Choice | Pos. | College | Selected in Draft By | NFL Pick Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Don Allard | QB | Boston College | Washington Redskins | 4th in 1959 |
| Neill Armstrong | OE-DB | Oklahoma A&M | Philadelphia Eagles | 8th in 1947 |
| Doug Atkins | DE | Tennessee | Cleveland Browns | 11th in 1953 |
| Terry Baker | QB-RB | Oregon State | Los Angeles Rams | 1st in 1963 |
| Sammy Baugh | QB | Texas Christian | Boston Redskins | 6th in 1937 |
| *Hub Bechtol | E | Texas Tech/Texas | Pittsburgh Steelers | 5th in 1947 |
| Johnny Bright | RB | Drake | Philadelphia Eagles | 5th in 1952 |
| Jim Brown | RB | Syracuse | Cleveland Browns | 6th in 1957 |
| Ray Buivid | QB | Marquette | Chicago Cardinals | 3rd in 1937 |
| Bob Carey | WR | Michigan State | Los Angeles Rams | 13th in 1952 |
| Fred Carr | LB | Texas Western | Green Bay Packers | 5th in 1968 |
| Shante Carver | DE | Arizona State | Dallas Cowboys | 23rd in 1994 |
| Lynn Chandnois | HB | Michigan State | Pittsburgh Steelers | 8th in 1950 |
| George Connor | OL-DT-LB | Notre Dame | New York Giants | 5th in 1946 |
| Olie Cordill | HB | Rice | Cleveland Browns | 5th in 1940 |
| Ernie Davis | HB | Syracuse | Washington Redskins | 1st in 1962 |
| Glenn Davis | HB | Army | Detroit Lions | 2nd in 1947 |
| Len Dawson | QB | Purdue | Pittsburgh Steelers | 5th in 1957 |
| Joseph "Bill" Dellastatious | B | Missouri | Detroit Lions | 8th in 1946 |
| Mike Ditka | TE | Pittsburgh | Chicago Bears | 5th in 1961 |
| Rickey Dudley | TE | Ohio State | Oakland Raiders | 9th in 1996 |
| Billy Joe Dupree | TE | Michigan State | Dallas Cowboys | 20th in 1973 |
| Ray Evans | TB-DB | Kansas | Chicago Bears | 9th in 1944 |
| James Francis | LB | Baylor | Cincinnati Bengals | 12th in 1990 |
| Reuben Gant | TE | Oklahoma State | Buffalo Bills | 18th in 1974 |
| Tony Gonzalez | TE | California | Kansas City Chiefs | 13th in 1996 |
| Otto Graham | QB | Northwestern | Detroit Lions | 4th in 1944 |
| Harry "Bud" Grant | E | Minnesota | Philadelphia Eagles | 14th in 1950 |
| Bob Griese | QB | Purdue | Miami Dolphins | 4th in 1967 |
| Linus "Parker" Hall | TB-P | Mississippi | Cleveland Rams | 3rd in 1939 |
| Kevin Hardy | DL | Notre Dame | New Orleans Saints | 7th in 1968 |
| Tom Harmon | HB-DB | Michigan | Chicago Bears | 1st in 1941 |
| Napoleon Harris | LB | Northwestern | Oakland Raiders | 23rd in 2002 |
| Todd Heap | TE | Arizona State | Baltimore Ravens | 31st in 2001 |
| King Hill | QB | Rice | Chicago Cardinals | 1st as bonus pick in 1958 |
| Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch | OE | Michigan | Cleveland Rams | 5th in 1945 |
| DeAndre Hopkins | WR | Clemson | Houston Texans | 27th in 2013 |
| Paul Hornung | RB | Notre Dame | Green Bay Packers | 1st as bonus pick in 1957 |
| Jack Jenkins | FB-LB | Vanderbilt | Washington Redskins | 10th in 1943 |
| Ed "Too Tall" Jones | DL | Tennessee State | Dallas Cowboys | 1st in 1974 |
| Matt Jones | E | Arkansas | Jacksonville Jaquars | 21st in 2005 |
| Billy Kilmer | QB | UCLA | San Francisco 49ers | 11th in 1961 |
| Ron Kramer | WR | Michigan | Green Bay Packers | 4th in 1957 |
| Johnny Lattner | HB | Notre Dame | Pittsburgh Steelers | 7th in 1954 |
| Bobby Layne | QB | Texas | Chicago Bears | 3rd in 1948 |
| Marcedes Lewis | TE | UCLA | Jacksonville Jaguars | 28th in 2006 |
| Ronnie Lott | DB | Southern California | San Francisco 49ers | 8th in 1981 |
| Johnny Lujack | QB | Notre Dame | Chicago Bears | 4th in 1946 |
| Don Lund | FB-LB | Michigan | Chicago Bears | 7th in 1945 |
| Bob MacLeod | B | Dartmouth | Brooklyn Dodgers | 5th in 1939 |
| Jim McDonald | B | Ohio State | Philadelphia Eagles | 2nd in 1938 |
| Banks McFadden | HB | Clemson | Brooklyn Dodgers | 3rd in 1940 |
| Rich McGeorge | TE | Elon | Green Bay Packers | 16th in 1970 |
| Donovan McNabb | QB | Syracuse | Philadelphia Eagles | 2nd in 1999 |
| R.W. McQuarters | CB | Oklahoma State | San Francisco 49ers | 28th in 1998 |
| Leonard Mitchell | DE | Houston | Philadelphia Eagles | 27th in 1981 |
| Mack Mitchell | DE | Houston | Cleveland Browns | 5th in 1975 |
| Julius Peppers | DE | North Carolina | Carolina Panthers | 2nd in 2002 |
| Pat Richter | TE | Wisconsin | Washington Redskins | 7th in 1962 |
| Andre Rison | WR | Michigan State | Indianapolis Colts | 22nd in 1989 |
| Jack Robbins | QB | Arkansas | Chicago Cardinals | 5th in 1938 |
| Dave Robinson | LB | Penn State | Green Bay Packers | 14th in 1963 |
| Reggie Rogers | DL | Washington | Detroit Lions | 7th in 1987 |
| Art Schlichter | QB | Ohio State | Baltimore Colts | 4th in 1982 |
| Don Scott | HB | Ohio State | Chicago Bears | 9th in 1941 |
| Del Shofner | E | Baylor | Los Angeles Rams | 11th in 1957 |
| Norm Snead | QB | Wake Forest | Washington Redskins | 2nd in 1961 |
| Joe Stydahar | T | West Virginia | Chicago Bears | 6th in 1936 |
| David Verser | WR-KR | Kansas | Cincinnati Bengals | 10th in 1981 |
| Doak Walker | HB-DB | Southern Methodist | New York Bulldogs | 3rd in 1949 |
| Byron "Whizzer" White | B | Colorado | Pittsburgh Steelers | 4th in 1938 |
| Alfred Williams | DE | Colorado | Cincinnati Bengals | 18th in 1991 |
| Jack Wilson | HB | Baylor | Cleveland Browns | 2nd in 1942 |
| Kendall Wright | WR | Baylor | Tennessee Titans | 20th in 2012 |
*Bechtol played in the AAFC, where he was a second-round pick (9th overall).
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Supplying MLB Headlines on April 23
Extra! Extra! As a new season shifts into high gear, you can wait for petty Plagiarist Biledumb to conduct an authentic news conference or read news all about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players! Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.
Former Illinois Wesleyan hoopers Bill Conroy and Cal Neeman contributed significant performances as MLB catchers on this date. Ex-Wisconsin hoopers John DeMerit and Harvey Kuenn plus ex-Mississippi hoopers Joe Gibbon and Jim Hickman also made MLB news on this date. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an April 23 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
APRIL 23
New York Giants LF Ethan Allen (Cincinnati basketball letterman in 1924-25 and 1925-26) went 4-for-4 in a 7-2 loss against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1932.
Milwaukee Braves rookie LF Howie Bedell (averaged 3.5 ppg and 3.5 rpg for West Chester PA in 1955-56) banged out a career-high three safeties against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1962. Bedell hit safely in his first eight MLB games earlier in the month.
Seattle Mariners LF Bruce Bochte (starting forward for Santa Clara's NCAA playoff team in 1969-70) went 4-for-4 against the Minnesota Twins in a 1982 contest.
Boston Red Sox C Bill Conroy (Illinois Wesleyan hooper in early 1930s) collected a career-high three hits in a 1942 game against the Washington Senators.
In a celebrated fracas, New York Giants SS Alvin Dark (letterman for LSU and USL during World War II) confronted Jackie Robinson (Pacific Coast Conference leading scorer both seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) after the Brooklyn Dodgers' INF bowled over a Giants pitcher covering first base on a bunt in 1955. The previous year, Robinson swiped second, third and home in the sixth inning before doubling in the winning run in the 13th in a 6-5 decision over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Two years earlier, Dark delivered three extra-base hits against the Pirates in 1953.
Philadelphia Athletics LHP Chubby Dean (reserve guard for Duke in 1936) hurled a four-hit shutout against the New York Yankees in 1940.
Milwaukee Braves RF John DeMerit (Wisconsin letterman in 1956-57 when averaging 2.2 ppg and 2.1 rpg) contributed a career-high three hits in a 3-1 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1961.
A pinch-hit homer in the bottom of the 10th inning by Dick Gernert (Temple letterman in 1948-49 when averaging 2.7 ppg) tied the score for the Detroit Tigers in an eventual 3-2 victory against the Los Angeles Angels in 1961.
In 1960, Pittsburgh Pirates rookie LHP Joe Gibbon (two-time All-SEC forward for Ole Miss was nation's second-leading scorer as senior in 1956-57) won his first two MLB appearances.
San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-WAC second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) went 5-for-5 and scored four runs against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1994 outing.
In 1983, San Francisco Giants P 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) hurled his second of back-to-back shutouts en route to pacing the N.L. in ERA (2.25).
In 1958, Los Angeles Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) hammered milestone 300th of his 370 MLB career homers.
RHP Jay Hook (Northwestern's third-leading scorer as a sophomore with 10.7 ppg in 1955-56) posted the expansion New York Mets' first-ever victory (9-1 at Pittsburgh in 1962) after they dropped their initial nine contests.
Detroit Tigers rookie SS Harvey Kuenn (played briefly for Wisconsin in 1951-52 after competing on JV squad previous season) supplied his fourth three-hit game in first nine outings of the 1953 campaign.
St. Louis Cardinals SS Doc Lavan (Hope MI hooper from 1908 through 1910) delivered four hits against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1922 contest.
3B Vance Law (averaged 6.8 ppg for Brigham Young from 1974-75 through 1976-77) hit safely in his first 16 games with the Chicago Cubs in 1988.
St. Louis Cardinals rookie CF Wally Moon (averaged 4.3 ppg with Texas A&M in 1948-49 and 1949-50) went 5-for-5 but the Milwaukee Braves won, 7-5, in 14 innings in 1954 when Hank Aaron hammered his first of 755 MLB homers.
First MLB homer for rookie C Cal Neeman (Illinois Wesleyan's leading scorer in 1947-48 and 1948-49), a 10th-inning blast off the Milwaukee Braves' Lew Burdette, was the difference in a 3-2 win for the Chicago Cubs in 1957.
OF Ted Savage (led Lincoln MO in scoring average in 1955-56) involved in four-player swap going from the Chicago Cubs to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1968 in exchange for OF-1B Jim Hickman (freshman hooper for Ole Miss in 1955-56).
Los Angeles Angels RHP Jack Spring (freshman hooper for Washington State in 1951-52) earned victory on his way to going unscored upon in six relief appearance during the month.
Chicago Cubs LF Riggs Stephenson (Alabama hoops letterman in 1920) went 4-for-4 against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1929 contest.
LHP Matt Thornton (averaged 5.8 ppg and 2.4 rpg for Grand Valley State MI from 1995-96 through 1997-98) held opponents scoreless in his first 25 relief appearances with the Washington Nationals until yielding a run against the St. Louis Cardinals in 2015.
St. Louis Cardinals 1B Bill White (two-year hooper with Hiram OH in early 1950s) went 4-for-4 against the Houston Colt .45's in a 1963 game.
New York Yankees RF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) smacked two homers against the Cleveland Indians in a 1987 contest.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Supplying MLB Headlines on April 22
Extra! Extra! Unless you're celebrating Earth Day from a zealous climate-change claptrap perspective or protesting on behalf of Hamas like some coddled Ivy Leaguer, you can instead read news all about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players. Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.
Former San Diego State hoopers Tony Gwynn and Graig Nettles each went 4-for-4 in a MLB game on this date. Ex-hoopers from three Louisiana colleges - Zeke Bonura (Loyola New Orleans), Lyle Mouton (Louisiana State) and Cecil Upshaw (Centenary) - also made MLB news on this date. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an April 22 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
APRIL 22
Cincinnati Reds OF Ethan Allen (Cincinnati basketball letterman in 1924-25 and 1925-26) provided four hits in a 9-4 triumph against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1929.
Seattle Mariners 1B Bruce Bochte (starting forward for Santa Clara's NCAA playoff team in 1969-70) hit safely in first 14 games of 1979 campaign until his streak was snapped by the Minnesota Twins.
1B Zeke Bonura (best basketball forward for Loyola LA in late 1920s and early 1930s) belted two homers and drove in all five runs for the Chicago White Sox in a 6-5 setback against the St. Louis Browns in 1935.
Chicago Cubs SS Leon Brinkopf (Southeast Missouri State basketball letterman in 1944-45) scored his lone MLB run in a 1952 game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Oakland Athletics LF Glenn Burke (averaged 16.3 ppg in six basketball games with Nevada-Reno in 1974-75) scored three runs in a 7-6 win against the California Angels in 1979.
Kansas City Athletics LF Bob Cerv (ranked fourth on Nebraska's career scoring list in 1949-50 when finishing college career) clubbed two homers against the Cleveland Indians in a 1958 game.
Milwaukee Braves 2B Jack Dittmer (Iowa hooper in 1949-50) jacked a homer in his third consecutive contest in 1953.
New York Giants 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) furnished four hits against the Brooklyn Dodgers in a 1923 outing.
Houston Astros RHP Dave Giusti (Syracuse hooper in 1959-60) went 3-for-3 at the plate while hurling a shutout against the San Francisco Giants in 1966. A little over seven weeks later, he also went 3-for-3 against the Chicago Cubs.
San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-WAC second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81 who twice led league in assists) went 4-for-4 against the San Francisco Giants in a 1991 game. It came on the third anniversary of milestone 1,000th of 3,141 MLB career hits (single off Hall of Fame Houston Astros RHP Nolan Ryan).
In 1953, New York Giants RHP Jim Hearn (Georgia Tech hoops letterman in 1941-42) posted his 12th consecutive win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
2B Tommy Herr (hooper with Delaware's freshman team in 1974-75) traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to Minnesota Twins in 1988.
Kansas City Athletics SS Billy Hunter (multi-sport athlete for Indiana PA post-WWII) hammered a three-run homer for the second time in three games in 1958.
Chicago Cubs SS Don Kessinger (three-time All-SEC selection for Mississippi from 1961-62 through 1963-64 while finishing among nation's top 45 scorers each year) contributed three hits, including an inside-the-park homer, in a 7-5 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in 1970, snapping P Mike Torrez's 11-game winning streak dating back to previous season.
Chicago Cubs CF Jerry Martin (1971 Southern Conference MVP after he was Furman's runner-up in scoring the previous season) scored four runs in a 16-12 triumph against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1980.
OF Lyle Mouton (starter in Louisiana State's backcourt with All-American Chris Jackson for 1989 NCAA playoff team) shipped by the New York Yankees to the Chicago White Sox in 1995 to complete an earlier deal involving P Jack McDowell.
New York Yankees 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) went 4-for-4 against the Texas Rangers in a 1979 contest.
Reliever Cecil Upshaw (led Centenary in scoring as junior while averaging 13.7 ppg and 6 rpg from 1961-62 through 1963-64) traded by the Atlanta Braves to the Houston Astros in 1973.
Brooklyn Dodgers rookie 1B Preston Ward (second-leading scorer for Southwest Missouri State in 1946-47 and 1948-49) went 2-for-5 against the New York Giants in each of his first three MLB games in 1948.
Kansas City Royals C John Wathan (averaged 3.7 ppg in 11 games for San Diego in 1968-69) went 4-for-4 with three RBI in 7-2 win against the Toronto Blue Jays in 1980.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Supplying MLB Headlines on April 21
Extra! Extra! As left-leaning online outlets and legacy #MessMedia careen into bankruptcy with all the dignity of IndyStar sports columnist Gregg Doyel interviewing Caitlan Clark, you can read news all about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players. Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.
Former hoops All-Americans Ernie Andres (Indiana) and Billy Werber (Duke) made news as infielders for the Boston Red Sox on this date. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an April 21 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
APRIL 21
Lone MLB RBI for 3B Ernie Andres (NCAA consensus first-team basketball All-American with Indiana in 1939) helped the Boston Red Sox outlast the Philadelphia Athletics, 12-11, in the opener of a 1946 doubleheader.
St. Louis Browns rookie RF Beau Bell (two-year hoops letterman for Texas A&M in early 1930s) contributed four hits and four RBI against the Chicago White Sox in a 1935 game.
Chicago White Sox RF Ken Berry (freshman hooper for Wichita in 1959-60) contributed multiple hits in his sixth straight game in 1967. He assembled a career-long 20-game hitting streak later in the campaign.
Chicago White Sox 1B Zeke Bonura (best basketball forward for Loyola LA in late 1920s and early 1930s) banged out four hits against the St. Louis Browns in 1937 season opener.
Baltimore Orioles CF Al Bumbry (Virginia State's runner-up in scoring with 16.7 ppg as freshman in 1964-65) supplied four hits against the Boston Red Sox in a 1982 contest.
Washington Senators RHP Casey Cox (juco recruit averaged 1.7 ppg and 1.2 rpg for Cal State Los Angeles in 1961-62) won his first three starts in 1970.
Pittsburgh Pirates INF Gene Freese (West Liberty WV hoops captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team) pinch-hitting for Willie Stargell, delivered a decisive three-run homer in the top of the ninth inning for an 8-5 win against the Chicago Cubs in 1964.
In his MLB debut, Philadelphia Phillies RHP Bob Greenwood (St. Mary's hoops letterman second half of 1940s) tossed 4 2/3 innings of scoreless relief against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1954. His first strikeout victim was All-Star CF Duke Snider.
LHP Steve Hamilton (All-Ohio Valley Conference selection was Morehead State's leading scorer and rebounder in 1956-57 and 1957-58) traded by the Washington Senators to the New York Yankees for P Jim Coates in 1963.
New York Mets CF Jim Hickman (freshman hooper for Ole Miss in 1955-56) homered in both ends of a 1963 twinbill against the Milwaukee Braves. A grand slam helped him secure five RBI in the opener.
Chicago White Sox RHP Howie Judson (Illinois' third-leading scorer with 8.5 ppg as sophomore in 1944-45) won his 1949 season debut (5-2 against Detroit Tigers) before dropping next 14 decisions through August.
California Angels C Art Kusnyer (led Kent State in field-goal percentage in 1965-66 as team's third-leading scorer and rebounder) contributed a career-high three hits against the Texas Rangers in a 1972 outing.
Cleveland Indians CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's hoops leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) collected three hits and three stolen bases against the Minnesota Twins in a 1994 contest.
St. Louis Cardinals LF Wally Moon (averaged 4.3 ppg with Texas A&M in 1948-49 and 1949-50) went 4-for-4 against the Chicago Cubs in the nightcap of a 1957 doubleheader.
Oakland Athletics CF Billy North (played hoops briefly for Central Washington in 1967-68) went 4-for-4 against the Detroit Tigers in a 1976 game.
Cleveland Indians LF Leon Wagner (Tuskegee AL hooper in 1952-53) homered twice, including game-winning blast in bottom of the 10th inning, in a 6-5 win against the California Angels in 1965.
Boston Red Sox SS Billy Werber (first Duke hoops All-American in 1929-30) registered multiple extra-base hits in his third consecutive contest in 1934.
St. Louis Cardinals 1B Bill White (two-year hooper with Hiram OH in early 1950s) supplied multiple hits in five of his first seven games in 1962.
Chicago White Sox RHP Jim Wilson (hoops letterman for San Diego State's 1942 NAIA Tournament participant) opened the 1957 campaign with a 10-inning shutout against the Kansas City Athletics.
New York Yankees DH Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) smacked two homers against the Texas Rangers in a 1990 game.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Supplying MLB Headlines on April 20
Extra! Extra! As a new season shifts into high gear, you can shake your head in disgust regarding Plagiarist "Pedo Pete" Biledumb tinkering with Title IX or read news all about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players! Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.
Former college hoopers Joe Adcock (Louisiana State), Dick Gernert (Temple) and Bill Nicholson (Washington College MD) belted multiple homers in MLB games on this date. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an April 20 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
APRIL 20
Cincinnati Reds LF Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) jacked two homers against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the nightcap of a 1952 twinbill.
Cincinnati Reds RF Frankie Baumholtz (MVP in 1941 NIT and first player in Ohio University history to score 1,000 career points) contributed four hits against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1948 game.
Philadelphia Phillies rookie 1B Ed Bouchee (freshman hooper for Washington State in 1951-52) went 4-for-4 with three runs scored in a 6-5 win against the New York Giants in 1957 contest. His seventh-inning homer provided decisive tally.
In his first appearance in 1956, Brooklyn Dodgers RHP Roger Craig (forward with North Carolina State's 1949-50 freshman hoops team) fired a four-hit shutout against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Boston Red Sox 1B Dick Gernert (Temple hoops letterman in 1948-49) smashed three homers in a doubleheader sweep of the Washington Senators in 1953.
In his MLB debut in 1923, pinch-runner Hinky Haines (Penn State hoops letterman in 1919-20 and 1920-21) scored the tying tally on Babe Ruth's ninth-inning, game-winning two-run double in the New York Yankees' 4-3 win against the Boston Red Sox.
St. Louis Cardinals 2B Tommy Herr (hooper with Delaware's freshman team in 1974-75) went 4-for-4 and scored three runs in a 7-4 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1982.
Washington Senators RF Chuck Hinton (played multiple sports for Shaw NC before serving two years in U.S. Army in mid-1950s) went 4-for-4 against the New York Yankees in a 1963 contest.
Philadelphia Phillies rookie RHP Harry Hoch (member of sophomore hoops squad for Dickinson PA in 1911) hurled his second of two complete-game victories in his first two MLB starts in 1908.
New York Giants RHP Walt Huntzinger (All-Ivy League forward with Penn in 1921-22) didn't allow an earned run in 8 1/3 innings en route to registering his first MLB victory (2-1 against the Boston Braves in 1924).
Chicago Cubs 3B Davey Lopes (NAIA All-District 15 selection for Iowa Wesleyan averaged 16.9 ppg as freshman in 1964-65 and 12.1 ppg as sophomore in 1965-66 before transferring with his coach to Washburn KS where he became an All-CIC choice for 1968 NAIA Tournament team) went 5-for-5 and walked twice in a 17-inning game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1986.
A single by Kansas City Royals RF Jerry Martin (Furman's second-leading scorer in 1969-70 and third-leading scorer in 1970-71) was the only hit Detroit Tigers P Milt Wilcox surrendered in an 8-0 shutout in 1982.
In 1981, Philadelphia Phillies RF Bake McBride (averaged 12.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg in 21 games for Westminster MO in 1968-69 and 1969-70) provided his third two-double outing in a six-game span.
Chicago Cubs RF Bill Nicholson (Washington College MD hooper in mid-1930s) blasted two homers, including a grand slam, and supplied six RBI in a 7-4 win at St. Louis in 1947.
In 1961, 2B Mel Roach (averaged 9.3 ppg for Virginia in 1952-53) tied the score with the Philadelphia Phillies by ripping a two-out, three-run pinch-hit homer in the ninth inning and the Milwaukee Braves went on to prevail, 7-6, in 11 frames.
Minnesota Twins 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) won his first three starts in 1987.
Cleveland Indians rookie 2B Riggs Stephenson (Alabama hoops letterman in 1920) accounted for multiple hits in each of first six MLB outings in 1921.
RHP Kent Tekulve (freshman hooper for Marietta OH in mid-1960s) traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Philadelphia Phillies in 1985. Two years earlier, Tekulve permitted his only earned run in first 17 relief appearances of the 1983 campaign.
2B Wayne Terwilliger (two-year letterman for Western Michigan averaged 5.6 ppg in his final season in 1947-48) collected an eighth-inning single for the Washington Senators' lone safety in a 7-0 loss against the Philadelphia Athletics in 1954.
Boston Red Sox C Sammy White (All-PCC Northern Division first-five selection for Washington in 1947-48 and 1948-49) stroked three doubles against the Washington Senators in the nightcap of a 1953 doubleheader.
New York Yankees RF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) doubled in his fifth straight game in 1986.
Tampa Bay Devil Rays CF Randy Winn (Santa Clara backcourtmate of eventual two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash in 1993-94) supplied an extra-base safety in his sixth consecutive contest in the midst of eight multiple-hit outings in a 10-game span in 2002.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Supplying MLB Headlines on April 19
Extra! Extra! As a new season shifts into high gear, you can chuckle at Congressional remarks ridiculing regular CNN Sucks/#MSDNC guest California Dimorat Eric Swalwell doing the dirty with Chinese spy "Fang Fang" or read news all about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players! Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.
Former hoops All-Americans Danny Ainge (Brigham Young) and Bosey Berger (Maryland) made MLB news on this date. Ditto ex-CA juco hoopers Steve Barber (Riverside City), Garth Iorg (Redwoods) and Jackie Robinson (Pasadena City) plus other J.C. hoopers Tony Phillips (New Mexico Military) and Carl Reynolds (Lon Morris TX). Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an April 19 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
APRIL 19
Toronto Blue Jays LF Danny Ainge (three-time Brigham Young basketball All-American and national player of year as senior in 1980-81) went 3-for-3 in an 8-1 setback against the Cleveland Indians in 1980.
Only MLB decision for RHP Steve Barber (J.C. starter under coach Jerry Tarkanian before attending La Verne CA) was a 9-8 victory for the Minnesota Twins against the Kansas City Royals in 1971.
San Diego Padres RHP Andy Benes (joined Evansville's shorthanded basketball squad in 1985-86 under coach Jim Crews) allowed only one earned run in his first three starts in 1992 covering 23 1/3 innings.
3B Bosey Berger (Maryland's first hoops All-American in 1931-32) awarded on waivers from the Cleveland Indians to the Chicago White Sox in 1937.
Pittsburgh Pirates 1B Donn Clendenon (four-sport letterman with Morehouse GA) provided four hits against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1966 game.
Washington Senators RHP Mark Filley (Williams MA hooper in early 1930s) made his lone MLB appearance, hurling one-third of an inning in relief against the Boston Red Sox in 1934.
In 2017 in his third MLB start, Amir Garrett (averaged 7.4 ppg and 4 rpg for St. John's under coach Steve Lavin in 2011-12 and 2012-13 before RS transfer year at Cal State Northridge) tied a Cincinnati Reds record for a rookie LHP by fanning 12 Baltimore Orioles batters.
Cincinnati Reds RHP Ken Hunt (freshman hooper for Brigham Young in 1957-58) won his first MLB start (4-2 against the San Francisco Giants in 1961), fanning Felipe Alou and Willie McCovey.
St. Louis Cardinals RHP Walt Huntzinger (All-Ivy League forward with Penn in 1921-22) toiled 14 innings but lost, 5-4, against the Chicago Cubs in 1926. He was waived to the Cubbies two months later.
Toronto Blue Jays 3B Garth Iorg (juco hooper with College of the Redwoods CA in mid-1970s) went 4-for-4, including a game-winning triple in bottom of the ninth inning, in 2-1 win against the Baltimore Orioles in 1984.
New York Giants 1B Monte Irvin (Lincoln PA hooper 1 1/2 years in late 1930s) collected six RBI against the Boston Braves in the nightcap of a 1951 doubleheader.
St. Louis Cardinals 1B George Kernek (Oklahoma hoops letterman in 1959-60 and 1960-61) contributed three hits for the second time in four games in 1966.
Five hits by CF Bake McBride (averaged 12.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg in 21 games for Westminster MO in 1968-69 and 1969-70) were in vain as the St. Louis Cardinals incurred a 17-inning, 4-3 loss against the New York Mets in 1976.
In a 1961 contest, Los Angeles Dodgers LF Wally Moon (averaged 4.3 ppg with Texas A&M in 1948-49 and 1949-50) supplied two homers and five RBI against his original team (St. Louis Cardinals).
In 1942, Chicago Cubs RHP Claude Passeau (Millsaps MS hooper in late 1920s and early 1930s) didn't yield a hit until there was one out in the eighth inning when CF Harry Craft (Mississippi College hooper first half of 1930s) singled for the Cincinnati Reds.
Chicago White Sox LHP Gary Peters (Grove City PA hooper from 1955-57) drilled two doubles good for four RBI in first three innings of a 1964 contest against the Boston Red Sox.
Oakland Athletics INF Tony Phillips (New Mexico Military juco hooper in 1977-78 as teammate of eventual Drake All-American Lewis Lloyd) banged out four hits in a 1986 game against the Seattle Mariners. The next day, he collected three safeties and scored three runs against Seattle.
Boston Red Sox CF Carl Reynolds (Southwestern TX hoops MVP and captain in mid-1920s) went 4-for-4 (including two triples) in the nightcap of a 1934 twinbill against the Washington Senators.
Brooklyn Dodgers LF 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 Philadelphia Phillies in 1954.
RHP Sonny Siebert (team-high 16.7 ppg for Missouri in 1957-58 as All-Big Eight Conference second-team selection) traded by the Cleveland Indians to the Boston Red Sox in a six-player swap in 1969.
Five New NCAA DI Mentors Coached Previously For School in Same State
Fran Dunphy is bench boss for his third different school in Philadelphia at La Salle following long stints with Penn (1989-90 through 2005-06) and Temple (2006-07 through 2018-19). Billy Gillispie (Tarleton) is coaching his fourth different university in Texas. He previously was mentor at Texas-El Paso (2002-03 and 2003-04), Texas A&M (2004-05 through 2006-07) and Texas Tech (2011-12). But Dunphy and Gillispie aren't the only individuals in multiple-schools-in-same-state category. They are joined by the following alphabetical list of other active NCAA DI coaches presently serving as bench boss in same state (six in Texas) where they previously piloted another DI school:
| Head Coach | State | Current DI School | Previous DI School in Same State |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casey Alexander | TN | Belmont (since 2019-20) | Lipscomb (2013-14 through 2018-19) |
| Tad Boyle | CO | Colorado (since 2010-11) | Northern Colorado (2006-07 through 2009-10) |
| Alvin Brooks Jr. | TX | Lamar (since 2021-22) | Houston (1993-94 through 1997-98) |
| Tim Craft | NC | Western Carolina (since 2024-25) | Gardner-Webb (2013-14 through 2023-24) |
| Joe Golding | TX | Texas-El Paso (since 2021-22) | Abilene Christian (2011-12 through 2020-21) |
| John Groce | OH | Akron (since 2017-18) | Ohio University (2008-09 through 2011-12) |
| Leonard Hamilton | FL | Florida State (since 2002-03) | Miami FL (1990-91 through 1999-00) |
| Shaheen Holloway | NJ | Seton Hall (since 2022-23) | Saint Peter's (2018-19 through 2021-22) |
| Darrin Horn | KY | Northern Kentucky (since 2019-20) | Western Kentucky (2003-04 through 2007-08) |
| Kevin Johnson | LA | Southern (since 2023-24) | Centenary (1999-00 through 2004-05) |
| Donnie Jones | FL | Stetson (since 2019-20) | UCF (2010-11 through 2015-16) |
| Johnny Jones | TX | Texas Southern (since 2018-19) | North Texas (2001-02 through 2011-12) |
| Kevin Keatts | NC | North Carolina State (since 2017-18) | UNC Wilmington (2014-15 through 2016-17) |
| Rob Lanier | TX | Rice (since 2024-25) | Southern Methodist (2022-23 and 2023-24) |
| Steve Lavin | CA | San Diego (since 2022-23) | UCLA (1996-97 through 2002-03) |
| Cuonzo Martin | MO | Missouri State (2008-09 through 2010-11 and since 2024-25) | Missouri (2017-18 through 2021-22) |
| Grant McCasland | TX | Texas Tech (since 2023-24) | North Texas (2017-18 through 2022-23) |
| Dan Monson | WA | Eastern Washington (since 2024-25) | Gonzaga (1997-98 and 1998-99) |
| Rick Pitino | NY | St. John's (since 2023-24) | Iona (2020-21 through 2022-23) |
| Keith Richard | LA | Louisiana-Monroe (since 2010-11) | Louisiana Tech (1998-99 through 2006-07) |
| Joe Scott | CO | Air Force (2000-01 through 2003-04 and since 2020-21) | Denver (2007-08 through 2015-16) |
| Marty Simmons | IL | Eastern Illinois (since 2021-22) | SIU-Edwardsville (2002-03 through 2006-07) |
| Craig Smith | UT | Utah (since 2021-22) | Utah State (2018-19 through 2020-21) |
| Kyle Smith | CA | Stanford (since 2024-25) | San Francisco (2016-17 through 2018-19) |
| Travis Steele | OH | Miami of Ohio (since 2022-23) | Xavier (2018-19 through 2021-22) |
| Rodney Terry | TX | Texas (since 2022-23) | Texas-El Paso (2018-19 through 2020-21) |
| Will Wade | LA | McNeese State (since 2023-24) | Louisiana State (2017-18 through 2021-22) |
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Supplying MLB Headlines on April 18
Extra! Extra! As a new season shifts into high gear, you can listen to how self-absorbed New York City #Dimorat Mayor Eric Adams is more concerned about his plant-based diet and destination demographics for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's migrant busing than encouraging attorneys Large Letitia and Bozo Bragg to fight excessive crime or read news about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players. Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.
Arizona, Cincinnati, Duke, Kansas, Michigan State, Oklahoma State, Syracuse and UCLA - NCAA playoff kingpins at some point in their respective histories - had former hoopers make MLB news on this date. Ditto five ex-hoopers from Pennsylvania small colleges - Albright, Grove City, Mansfield, Susquehanna and Wilkes - before they became MLB pitchers. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an April 18 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
APRIL 18
Chicago White Sox rookie 1B Zeke Bonura (best basketball forward for Loyola LA in late 1920s and early 1930s) belted two homers against the Detroit Tigers in 1934 in his second MLB game. Four years later with the Washington Senators, Bonura contributed three hits and four RBI in a 12-8 win against the Philadelphia Athletics in 1938 season opener.
Philadelphia Phillies INF Gene Freese (West Liberty WV basketball captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team) smacked a pinch grand slam against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1959 game.
Atlanta Braves RHP Kevin Gryboski (backup hooper for Wilkes PA in 1991-92 and 1992-93) surrendered his only run in first 17 relief appearances of 2004 campaign.
San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-WAC second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) went 5-for-5 against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1993 contest.
Texas Rangers 1B Mike Hargrove (Northwestern Oklahoma State hoops letterman) collected four hits and five RBI against the Milwaukee Brewers in the opener of a 1976 doubleheader.
St. Louis Browns 1B Dick Kauffman (Susquehanna PA multi-sport athlete/class of 1909) contributed a career-high three hits - two for extra bases - in game against the Cleveland Indians in 1915.
RHP Jim Konstanty (Syracuse hooper in late 1930s) traded by the Cincinnati Reds with cash to the Boston Braves in 1946.
Los Angeles Dodgers LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman hoops squad in 1953-54) threw the second of two immaculate innings in his career when he struck out the side on nine pitches against the Cincinnati Reds in third frame in 1964.
St. Louis Cardinals RHP Frank Linzy (listed on Oklahoma State's freshman hoops roster in 1959-60) posted his third save in a week in 1971.
Atlanta Braves CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) provided a homer among his five hits in a 14-0 romp over the Colorado Rockies in 1997. Five years later with the Chicago White Sox, Lofton delivered multiple safeties seven times in a span of eight games while raising his batting average from .250 to .426 in 2002.
Davey Lopes (NAIA All-District 15 selection for Iowa Wesleyan averaged 16.9 ppg and 3.4 rpg as freshman in 1964-65 and 12.1 ppg as sophomore in 1965-66 before transferring with his coach to Washburn KS and becoming All-CIC choice for 1968 NAIA Tournament team) fired as manager of the Milwaukee Brewers in 2002.
San Francisco Giants CF Billy North (played hoops briefly for Central Washington in 1967-68) stole three bases against the Atlanta Braves in a 1981 contest.
Chicago White Sox LHP Gary Peters (Grove City PA hooper from 1955-57) knocked in four runs with a pair of doubles in 1964 game against the Boston Red Sox.
Montreal Expos RHP Steve Renko (averaged 9.9 ppg and 5.8 rpg as Kansas sophomore in 1963-64) won his first start of season against the New York Mets before dropping last 10 decisions of the 1972 campaign.
St. Louis Cardinals LF Rip Repulski (occasional hoops starter for St. Cloud State MN in 1946-47) went 4-for-4 in a 1955 outing against the Cincinnati Redlegs.
Hall of Fame RHP Robin Roberts (one of Michigan State's top three scorers each season from 1944-45 through 1946-47) surrendered the first hit on artificial turf in 1966 when Los Angeles Dodgers SS Maury Wills singled to center at Houston's Astrodome.
1B Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) ripped his first homer for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947 (against New York Giants). The blast was Robinson's lone round-tripper in his first 30 MLB games.
Cleveland Indians LHP Joe Shaute (hooper for Mansfield PA in early 1920s) allowed only one earned run in tossing complete-game victories in his first two appearances of 1928 campaign.
New York Yankees RHP Roy Sherid (Albright PA hoops center in 1926-27 and 1927-28) toiled 15 innings but lost, 5-4, against the Boston Red Sox in 1931.
Chicago White Sox DH Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) swatted two homers in 2007 game against the Texas Rangers.
RHP Cecil Upshaw (led Centenary in scoring as junior while averaging 13.7 ppg and 6 rpg from 1961-62 through 1963-64) registered his fourth victory hurling at least three innings of relief in the Atlanta Braves' first 11 games of the 1971 season.
Philadelphia Athletics 3B Billy Werber (first Duke hoops All-American in 1929-30) provided four safeties in season opener en route to seven multiple-hit games in his first 11 outings of the 1938 campaign. Ellis also coached two DI schools in Alabama (South Alabama and Auburn).
Humble Backgrounds: Small-College Grads Piloting Power-League Members
In a caste-like era separating the haves from the have-nots, imperial universities are seeking mega-conferences and, perhaps in the near future, a restrictive upper division. But the socially elite won't ever be able to exclude small schools from making a big impact among power-conference members.
Smaller colleges, many of them in the hinterlands, have supplied a striking number of the biggest names in coaching. From 1995 through 2000, five of the six NCAA Tournament championship coaches (Jim Calhoun, Jim Harrick, Tom Izzo, Lute Olson and Tubby Smith) graduated from obscure colleges with smaller enrollments. In fact, it is a rarity for a Final Four not to feature at least one coach who graduated from a non-NCAA Division I school.
New Arkansas bench boss Hog John Calipari, a graduate of Clarion (Pa.) State, guided Kentucky to the 2012 national championship before Michigan's John Beilein (Wheeling Jesuit NY) and Wichita State's Gregg Marshall (Randolph-Macon VA) directed teams to the Final Four the second half of the previous decade. After nine such bench bosses were hired in the last two years, following is an alphabetical list of fraternity of active power-league mentors working their way up the ladder after graduating from a small school:
Current Head Coach Power-League Member Small-College Alma Mater Dana Altman Oregon Eastern New Mexico '80 Rick Barnes Tennessee Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) '76 Brad Brownell Clemson DePauw (Ind.) '91 John Calipari Arkansas Clarion (Pa.) State '82 Ed Cooley Georgetown Stonehill (Mass.) '94 Andy Enfield Southern Methodist Johns Hopkins (Md.) '91 Steve Forbes Wake Forest Southern Arkansas '88 Greg Gard Wisconsin Wisconsin-Platteville '95 Earl Grant Boston College Georgia College '00 Leonard Hamilton Florida State Tennessee-Martin '71 Chris Holtmann DePaul Taylor (Ind.) '94 Tom Izzo Michigan State Northern Michigan '77 Chris Jans Mississippi State Loras College (Iowa) '91 Kevin Keatts North Carolina State Ferrum (Va.) '95 Tommy Lloyd Arizona Whitman College (Wash.) '98 Steve Lutz Oklahoma State Texas Lutheran '95 Nate Oats Alabama Maranatha Baptist (Wis.) '97 T.J. Otzelberger Iowa State Wisconsin-Whitewater '01 Lamont Paris South Carolina College of Wooster (Ohio) '96 Mike Rhoades Penn State Lebanon Valley (Pa.) '95 Micah Shrewsberry Notre Dame Hanover College (Ind.) '99 Shaka Smart Marquette Kenyon (Ohio) '99 Craig Smith Utah North Dakota '96 Kyle Smith Stanford Hamilton (N.Y.) College '92 Jerome Tang Kansas State North Central Bible College (Minn.) Rodney Terry Texas St. Edward's (Tex.) '90 Brent "Buzz" Williams Texas A&M Oklahoma City '94 Kevin Young Brigham Young Clayton State (Ga.) '04 Mike Young Virginia Tech Emory & Henry (Va.) '86 NOTE: North Dakota and Tennessee-Martin subsequently were classified as NCAA DI universities. OCU previously was designated as a major college.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Supplying MLB Headlines on April 17
Extra! Extra! As new season swings into high gear, you can curse political windbags immersed in lawfare, Plagiarist Biledumb fabricating story about Uncle Bosey devoured by cannibals and Hamas supporters protesting by blocking traffic or read news about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players! Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.
Former college hoopers Joe Adcock (Louisiana State), Frank Bolling (Spring Hill AL) and Johnny Logan (Binghamton) supplied significant offensive performances for the Milwaukee Braves on this date while ex-Oklahoma hoopers Eddie Fisher and Elmer Ponder provided sterling pitching performances and ex-Mississippi College hoopers Harry Craft and Hal Lee contributed N.L. hitting headlines. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an April 17 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
APRIL 17
Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) contributed four hits against the Cincinnati Reds in the nightcap of a 1955 twinbill.
Philadelphia Phillies LF Harry Anderson (averaged 7.7 ppg and 8.9 rpg for West Chester PA in 1951-52) hammered two homers against the Milwaukee Braves in a 1960 game.
Milwaukee Braves 2B Frank Bolling (averaged 7.3 ppg for Spring Hill AL in 1950-51) smacked two homers in a 5-2 win against the Houston Colt .45s in 1964.
Baltimore Orioles CF Al Bumbry (Virginia State's runner-up in scoring with 16.7 ppg as freshman in 1964-65) stroked four hits against the Kansas City Royals in 1981.
Detroit Tigers 1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in Western Athletic Conference games in 1991-92) homered in his third consecutive contest in 1997.
Arizona Diamondbacks LHP Patrick Corbin (hooper for Mohawk Valley Community College NY in 2007-08) tossed a one-hit shutout against the San Francisco Giants in 2018.
Cincinnati Reds CF Harry Craft (four-sport hoops letterman with Mississippi College in early 1930s) accumulated four hits and five RBI in a 7-6 setback against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1941.
Chicago White Sox RHP Eddie Fisher (hooper for Oklahoma's 1954-55 freshman squad) hurled his first complete game in 10 years. Fisher also won his next three starts by yielding only one earned run covering 18 innings.
Kansas City Royals RHP Dave Frost (averaged 10.5 ppg and 4 rpg for Stanford from 1971-72 through 1973-74) registered his third relief victory in four games early in 1982.
Pittsburgh Pirates LHP Joe Gibbon (two-time All-SEC forward for Ole Miss was the nation's second-leading scorer as a senior in 1956-57), making his MLB debut in the nightcap of a doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds in 1960, threw two scoreless innings of relief and emerged as the winner when the Bucs erupted for six runs in the ninth.
Utilityman Chuck Harmon (freshman starter was Toledo's second-leading scorer for 1943 NIT runner-up) became the second black player for the Cincinnati Reds when pinch-hitting against the Milwaukee Braves in a 1954 contest.
Boston Red Sox LHP Bill Henry (hoops letterman for Houston's 1947 NAIA Tournament team featuring co-captain Guy Lewis) won his MLB debut, yielding only five hits in eight innings of 9-2 triumph against the Washington Senators in 1952.
Baltimore Orioles 2B Davey Johnson (averaged 1.7 ppg with Texas A&M in 1961-62) provided back-to-back four-hit games against the Boston Red Sox in 1969.
Chicago White Sox RHP Bob Keegan (Bucknell hoops letterman in 1941-42 and 1942-43) toiled at least eight innings for the first of 10 straight starts in 1954, including a pair of shutouts.
Detroit Tigers SS Harvey Kuenn (played briefly for Wisconsin in 1951-52 after competing on JV hoops squad previous season) stroked three doubles among his four hits against the Kansas City Athletics in a 1955 game.
Boston Braves 2B Hal Lee (Mississippi College hooper in mid-1920s before coaching basketball at Auburn and Louisiana Tech the first half of the 1930s) went 3-for-3 with two extra-base hits in 1934 season opener against the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Milwaukee Braves SS Johnny Logan (Binghamton hooper in 1948-49) jacked two homers in a 5-1 win against the Cincinnati Reds in 1954.
Chicago White Sox RHP Ted Lyons (two-time All-SWC first-team selection for Baylor in early 1920s) hurled a shutout against the Cleveland Indians in his season debut. The 41-year-old Lyons went the distance in all 20 starts during the 1942 campaign en route to posting an A.L.-best 2.10 ERA.
Philadelphia Phillies RF Bake McBride (averaged 12.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg in 21 games for Westminster MO in 1968-69 and 1969-70) collected two homers and five RBI against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 1979 contest.
California Angels 3B Bob Oliver (All-Valley Conference basketball choice for American River Community College CA in 1962) smacked two homers in a 5-3 win against the Minnesota Twins in 1974.
Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Elmer Ponder (Oklahoma hoops letterman in 1913-14 and 1915-16) tossed a 13-inning shutout against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1920.
New York Giants RF Dave Robertson (one of two reserves on North Carolina State's first basketball team in 1911) contributed three hits and five RBI in an 8-3 triumph against the Brooklyn Robins in 1917.
Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) secured his first safety with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. It was one of his 19 bunt hits as a rookie.
Cleveland Indians LHP Joe Shaute (hooper for Mansfield PA in early 1920s) twirled a four-hit shutout against the St. Louis Browns in 1925.
Chicago Cubs LF Riggs Stephenson (Alabama hoops letterman in 1920) supplied three extra-base hits, including a homer, in a six-inning, 3-0 victory against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1930.
Detroit Tigers RF Champ Summers (led SIU-Edwardsville in scoring in 1969-70 after doing same with Nicholls State in 1964-65) collected four hits against the Boston Red Sox, igniting a career-high 17-game hitting streak in 1980.
In 1989, Cincinnati Reds RHP Kent Tekulve (freshman hooper in mid-1960s for Marietta OH) passed Hoyt Wilhelm as MLB's all-time leader in relief appearances.
Kansas City Royals 1B John Wathan (averaged 3.7 ppg in 11 games for San Diego in 1968-69) hit safely in his first eight games of the 1983 campaign.
Burnout: Coaching NCAA Championship Club Took Toll On More Than Wright
Much of media was abuzz about Jay Wright stepping down as Villanova's coach at the age of 60 a couple of years ago after capturing NCAA Tournament crowns with the Wildcats in 2016 and 2018. But a total of 13 title bench bosses bowed out of coaching when they were younger than Wright. Following is a list of NCAA DI championship coaches who departed profession as college head coach by the age of 60 (including five of the first six titlists from 1939 through 1944):
| Championship Coach | Age | Title Team | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pete Newell | 44 | California | 1959 |
| Jim Valvano | 44 | North Carolina State | 1983 |
| Kevin Ollie | 47 | Connecticut | 2014 |
| Al McGuire | 48 | Marquette | 1977 |
| Fred Taylor | 51 | Ohio State | 1960 |
| Harold "Bud" Foster | 52 | Wisconsin | 1941 |
| Howard Hobson | 52 | Oregon | 1939 |
| Everett Dean | 53 | Stanford | 1942 |
| Phil Woolpert | 53 | San Francisco | 1955 and 1956 |
| Ken Loeffler | 54 | La Salle | 1954 |
| Joe B. Hall | 56 | Kentucky | 1978 |
| E. "Branch" McCracken | 56 | Indiana | 1940 and 1953 |
| John Thompson Jr. | 57 | Georgetown | 1984 |
| Vadal Peterson | 60 | Utah | 1944 |
| Ed Jucker | 60 | Cincinnati | 1961 and 1962 |
| Nolan Richardson Jr. | 60 | Arkansas | 1994 |
| Jay Wright | 60 | Villanova | 2016 and 2018 |
NOTE: Billy Donovan was 49 when he left Florida (2006 and 2007) for the NBA.
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