Extra! Extra! Read all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players! Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former San Diego State hoopers Tony Gwynn and Jim Wilson made MLB news on this date. Ditto a couple of small-college hoopers from Georgia - Donn Clendenon (Morehouse) and Coot Veal (Mercer). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 11 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 11

• In the midst of a career-high 20-game hitting streak in 1959, Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) went 4-for-4 against the Cincinnati Reds, homering in his third straight outing.

• Detroit Tigers RHP Elden Auker (All-Big Six Conference first-five selection with Kansas State in 1931-32) hurled his second shutout in a 10-day span in 1934.

• New York Giants RHP Curt Barclay (Oregon's third-leading scorer and rebounder as sophomore in 1950-51) hurled a three-hit, 5-0 shutout against the Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a 1957 doubleheader. It was Barclay's second straight whitewash.

• Chicago Cubs OF Frankie Baumholtz (MVP in 1941 NIT and first player in Ohio University history to score 1,000 career points) furnished his third consecutive contest with three safeties in 1952.

• Texas Rangers RHP Jim Bibby (Fayetteville State NC backup hooper and brother of UCLA All-American Henry Bibby) fired his second shutout against the Detroit Tigers during the 1974 campaign.

• In 1990, Atlanta Braves RHP Marty Clary (Northwestern hoops letterman in 1981-82 and 1982-83) incurred his seventh defeat in as many decisions in a five-week span.

• Pittsburgh Pirates rookie 1B Donn Clendenon (four-sport letterman with Morehouse GA) cracked a grand slam against the Chicago Cubs in a 1962 game.

• C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) delivered a decisive ninth-inning hit to give the win to RHP George Earnshaw (Swarthmore PA player in 1922) in the Philadelphia Athletics' 3-2 decision over the Washington Senators in 1928.

• Gene Desautels (Holy Cross hoops letterman in 1929 and 1930) caught the entire game for the Cleveland Indians without a putout (no strikeouts) in 1942 when they have a 14-inning scoreless tie with the Detroit Tigers.

• 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 in a 7-6 triumph against the Atlanta Braves in 1987. Two years later, Gwynn went 4-for-4 against the Braves in the nightcap of a 1989 doubleheader en route to a league-high 203 hits.

• San Francisco Giants LHP Atlee Hammaker (averaged 5.3 ppg as freshman in 1976-77 and 4.9 as sophomore in 1977-78 under East Tennessee State coach Sonny Smith) fired his final shutout of 12-year MLB career, a five-hitter against the Houston Astros in 1988.

• 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) delivered five hits in a 15-inning game against the Cincinnati Reds in 1968.

• LF Bill Nicholson (hoops guard for Washington College MD two years in mid-1930s) capped off back-to-back-to-back homers by the Chicago Cubs but the three straight round-trippers weren't enough to prevent a 7-5 defeat against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1941.

• In 1945, Chicago Cubs RHP Claude Passeau (hooper for Millsaps MS in late 1920s and early 1930s) restricted the Boston Braves to two hits - both coming with two outs in the eighth inning.

• In 1987, Baltimore Orioles LF Larry Sheets (All-ODAC hoops selection in 1981-82 and 1982-83 with Eastern Mennonite VA) smacked two homers for the third time in his last five games.

• Chicago Cubs 2B Rob Sperring (averaged 8.7 ppg and 2.9 rpg for Pacific from 1968-69 through 1970-71) collected a homer and double in his MLB debut against the San Francisco Giants in 1974.

• In 1959, Detroit Tigers SS Coot Veal (Auburn's scoring leader as sophomore in 1951-52 before transferring to Mercer) connected for his lone homer in 611 MLB career at-bats (against Chicago White Sox).

• Boston Red Sox C Sammy White (All-PCC Northern Division first-five selection for Washington in 1947-48 and 1948-49) provided three hits in both ends of a 1953 twinbill sweep of the Philadelphia Athletics.

• RHP Jim Wilson (hoops letterman for San Diego State's 1942 NAIA Tournament participant) traded by the Cleveland Indians to the Detroit Tigers in 1949.

• New York Giants rookie 1B Babe Young (Fordham hoops letterman in 1935-36) amassed two homers and five RBI against the Philadelphia Phillies in the nightcap of a 1940 doubleheader.

Extra! Extra! Read all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players! Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former LSU hoopers Joe Adcock and Alvin Dark delivered significant National League hitting performances on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 9 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 9

• Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) drilled two homers in an 8-3 setback against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1961.

• Detroit Tigers C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) collected four hits and five RBI against the St. Louis Browns in a 1934 game.

• New York Mets RHP Roger Craig (forward with North Carolina State's 1949-50 freshman hoops team) ended his N.L. record-tying 18-game losing streak by beating the Chicago Cubs, 7-3, thanks to OF Jim Hickman's ninth-inning grand slam off RHP Lindy McDaniel (played for Oklahoma's 1954-55 freshman squad). Craig was on the losing end of a shutout nine times in 1963.

• New York Giants SS Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for LSU and USL during World War II) extended his hitting streak to 17 games in 1951.

• LHP Chubby Dean (reserve guard for Duke in 1936) awarded on waivers to the Cleveland Indians from the Philadelphia Athletics.

• Chicago White Sox RHP Eddie Fisher (played for Oklahoma's 1954-55 freshman hoops squad) tossed a three-hit shutout against the Los Angeles Angels in 1962, igniting a personal streak of five straight triumphs.

• New York Giants 3B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) secured three extra-base hits against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1923 outing. Nine years later as a Cards 2B, Frisch contributed four hits and four runs against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1932 contest.

• St. Louis Cardinals SS Charlie Gelbert (scored at least 125 points each of last three seasons in late 1920s for Lebanon Valley PA) generated four hits against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1932 game.

• Cincinnati Reds 1B Harvey Hendrick (Vanderbilt hoops letterman in 1918) delivered four hits in a 9-8 win against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1932.

• Cleveland Indians DH David Justice (Thomas More KY assists leader in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg) smacked two homers against the Texas Rangers in the nightcap of a 1997 doubleheader.

• 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) set new MLB record by stealing his 32nd consecutive base without being caught in 1975.

• Cleveland Indians 2B Dutch Meyer (TCU hoops letterman in 1934-35 and 1935-36) manufactured four hits in a 3-2 loss against the New York Yankees in 1945.

• RF Bill Nicholson (hooper for Washington College MD in mid-1930s) traded by the Philadelphia Athletics to the Washington Senators in 1938.

• Kansas City Athletics LF Norm Siebern (member of Southwest Missouri squads capturing back-to-back NAIA Tournament titles in 1952 and 1953) homered in both ends of a 1960 twinbill against the Washington Senators. Siebern stroked four hits and scored four runs the previous day against the Senators.

• Boston Braves rookie C Ebba St. Claire (Colgate hoops letterman in 1941-42) tied a N.L. backstop standard by participating in three double plays in a single game in 1951.

• Atlanta Braves LHP George Stone (averaged 14.7 ppg and 6.5 rpg for Louisiana Tech in 1964-65 and 1965-66) hurled a six-hit shutout against the Houston Astros in 1972.

• Detroit Tigers 2B Gary Sutherland (averaged 7.4 ppg with USC in 1963-64) had his sixth straight multiple-hit outing in the midst of a career-high 15-game hitting streak.

• Boston Red Sox rookie 3B Jim Tabor (Alabama hoops letterman in 1936-37) knocked in five runs in a 1938 contest against the Philadelphia Athletics.

• Boston Red Sox 3B Billy Werber (first Duke hoops All-American in 1929-30) went 4-for-4 against the Washington Senators in a 1936 outing.

Extra! Extra! Read all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players! Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former college hoopers Lou Boudreau (Illinois), Joe Ferguson (Pacific) and David Justice (Thomas More KY) hit two homers in a MLB game on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 7 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 7

• Detroit Tigers rookie 1B Dale Alexander (starting basketball center in mid-1920s for Milligan TN) amassed three extra-base hits and six RBI in a 14-4 win against the Cleveland Indians in 1929.

• Cleveland Indians SS Lou Boudreau (leading scorer for Illinois' 1937 Big Ten Conference co-champion) collected two homers and six RBI against the Chicago White Sox in a 1940 game.

• St. Louis Cardinals RF Joe Ferguson (hooper in 1967 NCAA playoffs with Pacific) drilled two triples against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1976 contest. Three years later with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Ferguson whacked two homers against the Houston Astros in a 1979 outing.

• Brooklyn Robins LF Buddy Hassett (hooper for Manhattan teams winning school-record 17 consecutive contests in 1930 and 1931) went 4-for-4 against the Cincinnati Reds in the nightcap of a 1938 doubleheader.

• Washington Senators rookie RHP Bucky Jacobs (member of undefeated hoops team in 1935 was among Richmond's top two scorers each of next two seasons) earned his lone MLB victory (against the Detroit Tigers in the nightcap of a 1937 twinbill).

• Atlanta Braves rookie RF David Justice (Thomas More KY assists leader in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg) went 4-for-4 with two homers against the San Diego Padres in the nightcap of a 1990 twinbill. Ten years later as a LF with the New York Yankees, Justice smacked two homers against the Seattle Mariners in a 2000 game.

• Cleveland Indians CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) went 4-for-4 against the Baltimore Orioles in a 1993 contest.

• 2B Dutch Meyer (TCU hoops letterman in 1934-35 and 1935-36) traded by the New York Giants to the Detroit Tigers in 1940.

• St. Louis Cardinals LF Wally Moon (averaged 4.3 ppg with Texas A&M in 1948-49 and 1949-50) went 5-for-5 against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1956 game.

• RHP Joe Niekro (averaged 8.9 ppg and 3.8 rpg for West Liberty WV from 1963-64 through 1965-66) awarded off waivers from the Detroit Tigers to the Atlanta Braves in 1973.

• RF Jim Northrup (second-leading scorer and third-leading rebounder for Alma MI in 1958-59) shipped by the Detroit Tigers to the Montreal Expos as part of a conditional deal in 1974.

• In 1987, Detroit Tigers RHP Jeff Robinson (two-time NAIA All-District 3 hoops honoree in early 1980s left Azusa Pacific CA as its No. 9 all-time scorer) blanked the New York Yankees, 8-0, retiring the last 24 batters in a row.

• Boston Red Sox rookie RHP Don Schwall (All-Big Seven Conference second-team selection led Oklahoma won seventh straight start, improving his record to 13-2 in 1961.

• Cleveland Indians 2B Riggs Stephenson (Alabama hoops letterman in 1920) went 4-for-4 against the New York Yankees in a 1924 contest.

• In 1990, California Angels RF Dave Winfield (starting forward with Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) delivered his 2,500th career hit.

College basketball boasts a significant presence during the Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement weekend in Canton, Ohio. California's Tony Gonzalez likely will join honorees next year after Chattanooga's Terrell Owens took his own TO with customized ceremony in aligning with the following alphabetical list of former college hoopers comprising about 10% of the gridiron HOF members:

DOUG ATKINS, Tennessee
Member of College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame. Eight-time Pro Bowl participant played 17 NFL seasons (1953 through 1969) as a defensive end with the Cleveland Browns, Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints. He was a first-round NFL draft selection (11th pick overall) after competing in two Cotton Bowls and one Sugar Bowl. . . . Atkins originally enrolled on a basketball scholarship at Tennessee, where he played one season of varsity basketball before concentrating on football. The 6-5, 210-pound center averaged 9.9 points per game for the 1950-51 Volunteers, ranking third on the team in scoring. He was selected by the Minneapolis Lakers in the 1953 NBA draft.

MORRIS "RED" BADGRO, Southern California
Member of Pro Football Hall of Fame was an offensive and defensive end with the New York Yankees (1927 and 1928), New York Giants (1930 through 1935) and Brooklyn Dodgers (1936) in a nine-year NFL career that was interrupted by a stint in major league baseball. Hit .257 in two seasons (1929 and 1930) as an outfielder with the St. Louis Browns after becoming a three-time All-Pro with the Giants. . . . Earned varsity basketball letters for the Trojans in 1924-25 and 1926-27. Named to the first five on the All-Pacific Coast Conference team as a forward in 1926-27 when he was USC's MVP.

CLIFF BATTLES, West Virginia Wesleyan College
Halfback became member of College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame. Led the NFL in rushing as a rookie with Boston in 1932 and in his final season with Washington in 1937. First NFL player to rush for 200 yards in a game (215 yards in 16 carries for the Boston Redskins against the New York Giants in 1933). . . . The 6-1, 195-pounder played four seasons of varsity basketball in college.

SAMMY BAUGH, Texas Christian
Member of College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame is considered by many as the finest quarterback in history. Consensus All-American in 1936. Passed for 21,886 yards and 186 touchdowns in 16 years (1937 through 1952) with the Washington Redskins. First-round pick led the NFL in passing five times, in punting five times and in pass interceptions once. Five-time All-Pro participant held almost all of the NFL's passing records when he retired. His 44-yard gallop was the longest run from scrimmage in a 3-2 victory over LSU in the 1936 Sugar Bowl before helping the Horned Frogs defeat Marquette, 16-6, in the 1937 Cotton Bowl. . . . Three-year letterman in basketball at TCU was an honorable mention selection on the All-Southwest Conference team as a senior in 1936-37.

BOBBY BELL, Minnesota
Member of the College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was a consensus All-American choice as a tackle and winner of the Outland Award as the nation's outstanding interior lineman in 1962. Selected in the seventh round of the 1963 AFL draft by the Dallas Texans. As a linebacker, the nine-time All-Pro selection intercepted 25 passes in his 12-year career with the Kansas City Chiefs. Bell played in two Super Bowls (I and IV). . . . He became the first African-American basketball player for Minnesota when he appeared in three games in the 1960-61 season, collecting four points and four rebounds.

JIM BROWN, Syracuse
Movie actor is member of College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame. Earned All-American honors in football and lacrosse. Averaged 6.2 yards per carry as a senior in 1956 and scored 43 points in a game against Colgate. Co-MVP in 1957 Cotton Bowl. The first-round draft choice established NFL career records for yards rushing (12,312), rushing attempts (2,359), rushing average (5.2 per carry), touchdowns (126) and years leading league in rushing (eight) in his nine seasons (1957 through 1965) with the Cleveland Browns. Nine-time Pro Bowl selection. . . . Averaged 14 ppg for the Orangemen basketball team as a sophomore and 11.3 as a junior. He is reluctant to specifically say why he quit the team before his senior season when Syracuse participated in the NCAA Tournament for the first time, but indicated it was because of a racial quota. "Well, they basically didn't want to start more than two blacks (Vinnie Cohen and Manny Breland) although nobody could outrun, outjump or outshoot me," said Brown, who was selected in the ninth round of the 1957 NBA draft by the Syracuse Nationals. "It really was a tragedy the way athletics were handled there at the time," said Cohen, who went on to become a Washington, D.C., lawyer for 40 years. Excerpt from school guide: "Brownie is a powerfully built youth, who helps under the boards, and is an excellent shot as well." His son Jimmy, a two-time All-MEAC first-team selection, played for three NCAA Tournament teams with North Carolina A&T from 1983 through 1985 after transferring from Southern Cal and was the Aggies' leading scorer as a senior with 18.2 ppg.

JUNIOUS "BUCK" BUCHANAN, Grambling
Pro Football Hall of Famer was the first pick overall in the 1962 AFL draft by the Dallas Texans. The 6-7, 285-pound defensive tackle missed only one game because of injury in his 13-year pro career, which included a streak of eight consecutive seasons being named to either the AFL All-Star Team or NFL Pro Bowl. Instrumental in the Kansas City Chiefs' victory over the heavily-favored Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV. . . . Concentrated solely on football after earning a basketball letter as a freshman in 1958-59. Buchanan and teammate Ernie Ladd both intended on only playing basketball for Grambling before legendary coach Eddie Robinson kept both from transferring by allegedly giving them a key to the cafeteria's kitchen so they could go there and eat whenever they were hungry if the pair would come out for the football squad.

EARL "DUTCH" CLARK, Colorado College
Member of College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame. Halfback and quarterback was named to All-NFL team in six of his seven seasons with Portsmouth (1931 and 1932) and Detroit (1934 through 1938). Led the NFL in scoring in 1932, 1935 and 1936. Player-coach of Detroit in 1937 and 1938) and head coach of Cleveland Rams from 1939 through 1942. First-team QB on the 1928 AP All-American team. Scored at least one touchdown in 21 consecutive college football games. . . . The 6-0, 180-pounder was an All-Rocky Mountain Conference choice in basketball all four seasons (first team as a freshman and senior, second team as a junior and third team as a sophomore). Sketch in Spalding Official Guide: "There isn't a man who could match Clark as a floor guard. The best dribbler ever to bounce a ball in the conference."

GEORGE CONNOR, Holy Cross/Notre Dame
Member of College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame was Outland Trophy winner (outstanding interior lineman) as a tackle on Notre Dame's 1946 national championship team. Consensus All-American football choice in 1946 and 1947. Earned All-America honors as a tackle at Holy Cross in 1943 before transferring to Notre Dame. First-round draft choice by the New York Giants in 1946 (5th pick overall). Played offensive/defensive tackle and linebacker with the Chicago Bears for eight years from 1948 through 1955, earning All-NFL first-team honors from 1949 through 1953. . . . Averaged 2.5 points per game as a 6-3, 225-pound center on the Irish's 1946-47 basketball team. Basketball letterman with Holy Cross in 1943 and 1944.

LEN DAWSON, Purdue
Member of Pro Football Hall of Fame completed 2,136 passes for 28,731 yards and 239 touchdowns in 19 seasons (1957 through 1975) with the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Texans and Kansas City Chiefs. First-round draft choice of the Pittsburgh Steelers went on to become a seven-time All-Pro. Quarterbacked the Chiefs to victory over Minnesota in Super Bowl following 1969 season. . . . Played in two games as a 6-0, 180-pound guard for Purdue's basketball team in the 1956-57 campaign.

MIKE DITKA, Pittsburgh
Member of College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame. The tight end caught 427 passes for 5,812 yards and 43 touchdowns in 12 NFL seasons (1961 through 1972) with the Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys. The first-round draft choice participated in two Super Bowls with Dallas (V and VI) after playing five Pro Bowls with the Bears (1962 through 1966). Coached Super Bowl winner in 1985 season when the Bears compiled an 18-1 overall record. Registered a 112-68 mark in 11 years (1982-92) as coach of the Bears. Coached the New Orleans Saints in the late 1990s between stints as a network analyst. . . . The 6-2, 205-pound forward averaged 2.8 points and 2.6 rebounds per game in two seasons with the Panthers (1958-59 and 1959-60) after playing in high school under Press Maravich, the father of Pete Maravich, the NCAA's all-time leading scorer. Sketch in school basketball guide: "A natural athlete who never quits. If Pitt wins a few games, there is a good chance he will be in the thick of things."

WILBUR "WEEB" EWBANK, Miami (Ohio)
Member of Pro Football Hall of Fame is the only head coach to win championships in both the NFL (Baltimore Colts in 1958 and 1959) and AFL (New York Jets in 1968). . . . Two-year basketball letterman for Miami (1926-27 and 1927-28) compiled a 5-13 record as head basketball coach at his alma mater in 1938-39 and an 8-12 mark as Brown's head basketball coach in 1946-47.

OTTO GRAHAM, Northwestern
Member of College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame. Quarterback earned All-American honors and finished third in Heisman Trophy voting as a senior in 1943. First-round draft choice of the Detroit Lions in 1944 (4th pick overall). Played 10 seasons (1946 through 1955) with the Cleveland Browns and quarterbacked team to championship game each year (All-America Football Conference from 1946 through 1949 and NFL from 1950 through 1955). Compiled a 105-17-4 playing record in regular-season pro competition, completing 1,464 of 2,626 passes for 23,584 yards and 174 touchdowns. Five-time Pro Bowl selection (1951 through 1955). Compiled a 17-22-3 record as coach of the Washington Redskins in three years from 1966 through 1968. . . . Played three seasons of varsity basketball, finishing second in the Big Ten Conference in scoring as a sophomore (13.1 ppg) and as a junior (15.8). The 6-0 forward earned second-team All-Big Ten honors in 1941-42 and first five honors in 1942-43. Also played for Colgate as a senior. NCAA consensus first-team All-American in 1944 and second-team All-American in 1943. Left Northwestern with the highest scoring total in school history with more than 600 points. Played one season with the Rochester Royals in the National Basketball League, averaging 5.2 points per game for the 1945-46 squad that won the NBL title.

HARRY "BUD" GRANT, Minnesota
Former NFL and CFL end and coach. First-round choice by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1950 NFL draft. Played with Philadelphia in 1951 and 1952 and Winnipeg of the CFL from 1953 through 1956. Caught 272 passes for 4,197 yards and 20 touchdowns in six pro seasons, leading the CFL in pass receptions in 1953 (with 68), 1954 (49) and 1956 (63). Coached Winnipeg in the CFL (1957-66) and Minnesota in the NFL (1967-85). Coach of four CFL champions and four NFL Super Bowl teams. . . . Third-leading scorer for the Gophers' basketball squad in 1948-49 (8.5 ppg) after being named team MVP the previous season over first-team All-American Jim McIntyre. Finished 13th in the Big Ten Conference in scoring in 1946-47 with a 9.3 average. Played two seasons in the NBA, including a rookie year when he was a member of the Lakers' 1950 championship team.

GEORGE HALAS, Illinois
Member of Pro Football Hall of Fame compiled a 324-151-31 record as an NFL coach, guiding the Chicago Bears to seven NFL titles. His 40-year NFL coaching career also included stints with the Decatur/Chicago Staleys. MVP of the 1919 Rose Bowl as an end for Great Lakes. . . . The 6-0, 175-pound Halas, known for his gritty defense, was a starting guard for the Illini team that won the Big Ten Conference basketball title in 1916-17 with a 10-2 record. He was captain of the squad the next season before entering the armed forces in mid-January. He was also an outfielder in 12 games for the New York Yankees in 1919.

MEL HEIN, Washington State
Hall of Fame charter member played with the New York Giants for 15 years from 1931 through 1945. In 1994, Hein was named to the NFL's all-time 75-year anniversary team. Eight-time All-NFL center scored a touchdown in 1938 when he was named the league's MVP. In college, he intercepted eight passes in a game against Idaho. . . . The 6-2, 220-pounder was a basketball letterman in 1930 after leading WSU to a Rose Bowl bid. He was supervisor of officials for the American Football Conference of the NFL until his retirement.

ELROY "CRAZY LEGS" HIRSCH, Wisconsin/Michigan
Member of College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame. First-round draft choice by Cleveland in 1945 (5th pick overall). Played halfback, defensive back and offensive end as a pro with the Chicago Rockets of the All-America Football Conference from 1946 through 1948 and Los Angeles Rams of the NFL from 1949 through 1957. Caught 387 passes and scored 66 touchdowns as a pro. Played in four NFL championship games. Held the Rams' team record for most touchdown receptions for almost 40 years until it was broken by Isaac Bruce in 2001. . . . Starting center for the Wolverines' basketball team in 1944 while undergoing military training there. Sketch in Michigan guide: "Naval transfer from Wisconsin was a big aid, chiefly through his flaming competitive spirit."

PAUL HORNUNG, Notre Dame
Member of College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame earned All-American honors as a quarterback in 1955 and 1956. Only Heisman Trophy winner to play for a losing team (2-8 as a senior). First pick overall in the NFL draft as a bonus selection. Played nine seasons as a halfback/placekicker with the Green Bay Packers, leading the NFL in scoring in 1959, 1960 and 1961. He rushed for 3,711 yards and 50 touchdowns and caught 130 passes for 1,480 yards and 12 touchdowns. Played in five NFL championship games and two Pro Bowls (1960 and 1961). . . . Played varsity basketball for the Irish as a sophomore, averaging 6.1 points per game in 10 contests. Wrote Hornung in his autobiography Golden Boy: "(Coach Johnny) Jordan liked to tip a few, and sometimes, on the road, he'd take me out drinking with him. He could do that because I wasn't on basketball scholarship."

MARV LEVY, Coe (Iowa)
Hall of Famer (elected in 2001) compiled a 143-112 record as coach of the Kansas City Chiefs (1978-82) and Buffalo Bills (1986-97). He had a 17-5 mark against Don Shula, the winningest coach in NFL history. Posted an 11-8 postseason mark with the Bills en route to becoming the only NFL coach to win four consecutive league or conference championships. But he lost four straight Super Bowls. He was special teams coach of the Washington Redskins' 1972 Super Bowl entrant. Also served as head coach for three colleges--New Mexico (14-6 record in two years in 1958 and 1959), California (8-29-3 record in four years from 1960 through 1963) and William & Mary (23-25-2 in five years from 1964 through 1968). . . . Coached basketball one season for his alma mater in 1955-56. The team compiled a 20-5 record, won the Midwest Collegiate Conference with a 14-2 mark and lost to Stephen F. Austin, 74-62, in the first round of the NAIA Tournament. Levy earned a basketball letter with the 1949-50 Coe squad that posted a 3-14 mark.

RONNIE LOTT, Southern California
Unanimous All-American defensive back played 15 seasons in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Raiders, New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs (1981 through 1995). Intercepted 14 passes for the Trojans (two for touchdowns) before intercepting 63 passes in regular-season NFL competition and nine in the postseason. First-round draft choice played in 10 Pro Bowl games and four Super Bowls. . . . Collected nine assists, four points and three rebounds in six games for the Trojans' basketball squad as a junior in 1979-80.

JOHN MACKEY, Syracuse
Three-time All-Pro tight end became an NFL Hall of Famer after being a second-round draft choice by the Baltimore Colts in 1963. The 6-2, 220-pounder caught 331 passes for 5,236 yards and 38 touchdowns in 10 seasons. Six of his nine TD catches in 1966 came on plays of more than 50 yards. He grabbed a deflected pass from Johnny Unitas for a 75-yard TD in Super Bowl V after having three pass receptions in Super Bowl III. . . . Mackey collected 28 points and 28 rebounds in six basketball games with the Orangemen in 1960-61.

GEORGE MUSSO, Millikin (Ill.)
Member of Pro Football Hall of Fame played for seven divisional winners and four NFL title teams. The 6-2, 270-pound guard and tackle played for 12 seasons (1933 through 1944) with the Chicago Bears. As a collegian, he played against future President Ronald Reagan, who attended Eureka. As a member of the Bears in 1935, Musso played against future President Gerald Ford in the Bears-College All-Star Game in Chicago. . . . Three-year basketball letterman in college.

EARLE "GREASY" NEALE, West Virginia Wesleyan College
Pro Football Hall of Famer compiled a 63-43 record as coach of the Philadelphia Eagles for 10 years from 1941 through 1950, winning back-to-back NFL titles by shutting out their opponents in championship games in 1948 and 1949. Guided Washington and Jefferson (Pa.) to the 1922 Rose Bowl before coaching Virginia and West Virginia. He starred as an end on Jim Thorpe's pre-World War I Canton Bulldogs. Also played as a major league outfielder with the Cincinnati Reds for eight years from 1916 to 1924, hitting .357 in the infamous "Black Sox" 1919 World Series. . . . Class of 1915 at WVWC.

ERNIE NEVERS, Stanford
Member of College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame. He was a consensus All-American selection as a senior fullback in 1925 before rushing for 37 touchdowns in five NFL seasons with the Duluth Eskimos (1926 and 1927) and Chicago Cardinals (1929 through 1931). Set NFL record with a 40-point game against the Chicago Bears in 1929. Co-MVP of the 1925 Rose Bowl. . . . Compiled a 6-12 pitching record in three seasons (1926 through 1928) with the St. Louis Browns. He yielded two of Babe Ruth's record-tying 60 home runs in 1927. . . . Lettered in basketball for Stanford as a sophomore and junior. Named to the All-Pacific Coast Conference second five as a junior in 1924-25. Historians say he was a fine shooter, an excellent dribbler, tough on defense, and generally a terrifying figure for the opposition. The Spalding Basketball Guide said: "He is almost as good a basketball player as he is a football star. With his speed, weight and general all-around ability, he was a stellar performer."

TERRELL OWENS, Tennessee-Chattanooga
Caught 592 passes for 8,572 yards and 81 touchdowns in eight NFL seasons with the San Francisco 49ers after being their third-round draft choice in 1996. Heir apparent to Hall of Fame-bound Jerry Rice as the 49ers' go-to wide receiver after catching 15 touchdown passes in 1998, including at least one in each of the last eight regular-season games. Owens' dramatic 25-yard touchdown catch from Steve Young with three seconds remaining lifted the 49ers to a 30-27 victory against the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers in an NFC wild-card game following the 1998 season. Owens set an NFL single-game record with 20 receptions against the Chicago Bears in 2000, the first of three consecutive years when he caught more than 90 passes. His first year with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2004 resulted in him participating in the Super Bowl. Later, he set a Cowboys single-game record with four TD catches against the Washington Redskins. Including one-year stints with the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals, the six-time Pro Bowler amassed 1,078 receptions for 15,934 yards and 153 TDs (all-time runner-up to Rice) through 2010, leading the league in TD receptions three times (2001, 2002 and 2006). Played in the Senior Bowl after becoming UTC's all-time leading receiver (143 catches for 2,320 yards and 19 TDs). . . . Collected 57 points and 49 rebounds in 38 games (five starts) for UTC's basketball squad in three seasons from 1993-94 through 1995-96. In his only NCAA playoff game, he was scoreless in one minute against No. 2 seed Connecticut in the 1995 West Regional after hitting 11 of 17 field-goal attempts during the regular season.

CLARENCE "ACE" PARKER, Duke
College Hall of Famer led the Blue Devils to a three-year record of 24-5 in the mid-1930s, serving as team captain in his final season in 1936 when they went 9-1. After playing a variety of positions (quarterback, tailback, defensive back and punter), was a second-round choice in the 1937 NFL draft (13th overall). Passed for 3,935 yards and 22 touchdowns, rushed for 1,108 yards and 10 TDs and punted for a 39.5-yard average with the Brooklyn Dodgers/Boston Yanks in six years from 1937 through 1941 and 1945. Three-time consensus All-Pro led the NFL in passing yards in 1938 with 865. He paced the league with six interceptions in 1940 when he was named NFL Most Valuable Player. . . . Basketball letterman for the Blue Devils in 1935-36. Also played major league baseball with the Philadelphia Athletics.

ART SHELL, Maryland-Eastern Shore
Member of Pro Football Hall of Fame was head coach of the Los Angeles Raiders for six years from 1989 through 1994. Offensive tackle for the Raiders from 1968 through 1982 played in eight Pro Bowls (1973 through 1979 and 1981) after being picked in the third round. Participated in Super Bowls XI and XV. . . . Two-year basketball letterman as a 6-5, 265-pound center at school that was then known as Maryland State College. Sketch from school guide: "Pure muscle. Amazing agility. Uncompromising under the boards, nobody pushes big Art without a battle."

ROGER STAUBACH, Navy
Member of College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame won Heisman Trophy in 1963. Passed for 3,571 yards and rushed for 682 in his career at Navy (1962 through 1964). Quarterback in four Super Bowls during his 11 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. Six-time Pro Bowl selection passed for 22,700 yards and 153 touchdowns after being a 10th-round draft choice in 1964. . . . Averaged 9.3 ppg for the 1961-62 Navy plebe (freshman) basketball team. The 6-2, 190-pound forward scored five points in four games for Midshipmen varsity squad the next season.

JOE STYDAHAR, West Virginia
Member of College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame. Earned All-American honors as a 6-4, 230-pound tackle in 1935. Played nine seasons (1936 through 1942, 1945, and 1946) with the Chicago Bears after being their first-round pick in the first NFL draft. Named to All-NFL team four times from 1937 through 1940. Coached Los Angeles Rams (1950-51) and Chicago Cardinals (1953-54), leading Rams to 1951 NFL title. In 1934, he he set a school record with seven blocked punts, including three for touchdowns. Participated in both the East-West Shrine Game and College Football All-Star Game in Chicago. . . . Three-year basketball letterman was captain of the Mountaineers' 1934-35 team that compiled a 16-6 record. Selected as a center to the first five on West Virginia's Pre-World War II team that was named as part of the university's all-time basketball squad.

JASON TAYLOR, Akron
All-Pro defensive end was a third-round draft choice of the Miami Dolphins in 1997 (73rd pick overall) after the first-team All-Mid-American Conference linebacker was named North Defensive MVP at the Senior Bowl. He managed more sacks than anyone in a six-year span from 2000 through 2007, including a league-high 18.5 in 2002. His five fumble returns for touchdowns is a Dolphins' team record. Also returned three interceptions for TDs. Also played with the Washington Redskins and New York Jets. Through 2010, he had 132.5 sacks and 387 individual tackles. . . . The 6-6, 250-pounder played 22 basketball games for the Zips in 1994-95, averaging 8 ppg and 5.4 rpg while shooting 46.8% percent from the floor.

EMLEN TUNNELL, Toledo
Member of Pro Football Hall of Fame played in nine Pro Bowl games (1951 through 1958 and 1960). Defensive back established career records for interceptions (79), yards gained on interceptions (1,282) and yards gained on punt returns (2,209) in 14 seasons (1948 through 1961) with the New York Giants and Green Bay Packers. . . . The 6-1, 180-pound forward was a top reserve for the 1942-43 Toledo basketball team compiling a 22-4 record and finishing second in the NIT.

DOAK WALKER, Southern Methodist
Member of both the College Football and Pro Football Hall of Fame. SMU legend was a three-time All-American halfback and the school's only Heisman Trophy winner (as a junior in 1948). Finished third in Heisman voting in 1947 and 1949. Scored 38 touchdowns in his four-year SMU career, including two kickoff returns in 1947. Walker rushed for 1,928 yards in college, passed for 1,654, caught passes for 454 and returned eight interceptions for 176. He was also a punter and placekicker for the Mustangs. Co-MVP in back-to-back Cotton Bowls (1948 and 1949). First-round choice by the New York Bulldogs in the 1949 NFL draft (3rd pick overall). Walker rushed for 1,520 yards and 12 touchdowns in six years with the Detroit Lions (1950 through 1955), leading the NFL in scoring as a rookie (128 points) and in his final season (96). Member of NFL championship teams in 1952 and 1953 scored on a 62-yard run in the '52 title game. Five-time Pro Bowl selection (1951-52-54-55-56). . . . Walker was a basketball letterman in 1945-46 with SMU as a freshman.

LARRY RAYFIELD WRIGHT, Fort Valley State (Ga.)
Seventh-round draft choice played with the Dallas Cowboys for 13 years from 1967 through 1979. All-Pro offensive tackle six straight seasons from 1971 through 1976. Caught a touchdown pass as a tight end in 1968. Played in five Super Bowls (following 1970, 1971, 1975, 1977 and 1978 campaigns). . . . The 6-6, 245-pounder, an All-SIAC basketball player, averaged 17 ppg and 15 rpg as a junior and 21 ppg and 17.4 rpg as a senior.

Extra! Extra! Read all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players! Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former Minnesota hoopers Jerry Kindall and Dave Winfield made MLB news on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 4 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 4

• Cincinnati Reds CF Ethan Allen (Cincinnati basketball letterman in 1924-25 and 1925-26) went 7-for-9 in a 1928 doubleheader against the New York Giants.

• In 1961, Chicago Cubs OF George Altman (hooper appearing in 1953 and 1954 NAIA Tournament with Tennessee State) became the first player ever to hit two homers in a single game off Los Angeles Dodgers Hall of Fame LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman squad in 1953-54).

• Chicago Cubs 2B Glenn Beckert (three-year hoops letterman for Allegheny PA) banged out five hits against the Houston Astros in a 1969 game.

• California Angels LF Bruce Bochte (starting forward for Santa Clara's NCAA playoff team in 1969-70 averaged 7.4 ppg and 4 rpg) collected four hits and four runs in a 9-6 win against the Texas Rangers in 1976.

• Philadelphia Athletics RHP Jack Coombs (captain and starting hoops center for Colby ME) went the distance in a 16-inning duel against the Chicago White Sox ending in a scoreless tie.

• Atlanta Braves 3B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA hoops club winning 1967 state community college crown) homered in his third consecutive contest in 1975.

• In 1971, St. Louis Cardinals RHP Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer and rebounder in 1955-56 and 1956-57) posted his 200th career victory.

• San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-WAC second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81), securing at least five hits in a game for the fourth time in the 1993 season, stroked six safeties in an 11-10 triumph against the San Francisco Giants.

• Brooklyn Robins 1B Buddy Hassett (hooper for Manhattan teams winning school-record 17 consecutive games in 1930 and 1931) delivered four hits against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 1937 contest.

• 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 in a 1969 outing against the Houston Astros.

• A pinch-hit homer in the bottom of the ninth inning by INF Jerry Kindall (averaged 6.9 ppg for Minnesota as junior in 1955-56) tied the score for the Minnesota Twins en route to a 4-3 win against the Washington Senators in 1965.

• Los Angeles Dodgers 2B Davey Lopes (NAIA All-District 15 selection for Iowa Wesleyan averaged 16.9 ppg as freshman in 1964-65 and 12.1 ppg as sophomore in 1965-66 before transferring with his coach to Washburn KS) stole four bases against the Houston Astros in a 1974 game.

• In a stunning relief performance, New York Yankees RHP Lindy McDaniel (played for Oklahoma's 1954-55 freshman hoops squad) permitted only one run in 13 innings to earn a 3-2 win against the Detroit Tigers. It was one of five triumphs for McDaniel in less than three weeks in 1973.

• Los Angeles Dodgers 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 a 1961 contest.

• St. Louis Browns RHP Ernie Nevers (All-PCC second-five choice in 1924-25 for Stanford) hurled his first complete game, defeating the Philadelphia Athletics, 3-1, in 1926.

• Oakland Athletics CF Billy North (played hoops briefly for Central Washington in 1967-68) stole three bases against the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 1979 game.

• New York Yankees 3B Red Rolfe (played hoops briefly with Dartmouth in 1927-28 and 1929-30) went 5-for-5, including three extra-base hits, against the Washington Senators in a 1935 outing.

• New York Mets 3B Ted Schreiber (played hoops briefly for St. John's in 1957-58 under coach Joe Lapchick) supplied a career-high two hits when he singled in both at-bats against the Milwaukee Braves in 1963 before giving way to pinch-hitter Duke Snider.

• St. Louis Cardinals rookie RHP Ray Washburn (Whitworth WA scoring leader when named All-Evergreen Conference in 1958-59 and 1959-60) fired a four-hit shutout against the Houston Colt .45s in 1962.

• While warming up prior to the fifth inning in a 1983 game at Toronto, New York Yankees CF Dave Winfield (starting forward with Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) accidentally killed a seagull with a thrown ball.

• New York Yankees LHP Tom Zachary (Guilford NC hoops letterman in 1916) notched his seventh straight win with a shutout against the Cleveland Indians in the opener of a 1929 doubleheader.

Extra! Extra! Read all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players! Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former Fordham hoopers Frankie Frisch and Babe Young delivered dynamic National League doubleheader performances on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 2 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 2

• New York Yankees LF Bob Cerv (ranked fourth on Nebraska's all-time scoring list in 1949-50 when finishing his basketball career) led off the bottom of the 10th inning with a pinch-hit, game-winning homer in a 3-2 triumph against the Detroit Tigers in 1960.

• Philadelphia Athletics C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) hit for the cycle against the New York Yankees in a 1933 game.

• Milwaukee Braves RHP Gene Conley (All-PCC first-team selection led North Division in scoring in 1949-50 as Washington State sophomore) fired a four-hit shutout against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1957.

• INF Tim Cullen (starting guard for Santa Clara in 1962-63 when averaging 10 ppg) traded by the Chicago White Sox to the Washington Senators for SS Ron Hansen in 1968.

• Cleveland Indians CF Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA hoops titlist) hammered three homers in an 11-0 victory against the Washington Senators in 1950.

• St. Louis Cardinals 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) stroked three hits in both ends of a 1936 doubleheader sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies.

• Brooklyn Robins rookie 1B Buddy Hassett (hooper for Manhattan teams winning school-record 17 consecutive games in 1930 and 1931) went 4-for-4 against the Cincinnati Reds in the opener of a 1936 doubleheader.

• RHP Cal Koonce (hoops standout for Campbell in 1960 and 1961 when North Carolina-based school was junior college) purchased from the Chicago Cubs by the New York Mets in 1967.

• Cleveland Indians CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) logged four hits and four RBI against the Detroit Tigers in a 1994 contest.

• OF Les Mann (Springfield MA hooper in 1913 and 1914) traded by the Chicago Cubs to the Boston Braves in 1919.

• RHP Christy Mathewson (Bucknell hooper at turn of 20th Century) yielded 15 singles but the New York Giants still defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates, 8-4, in 1911.

• New York Yankees 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) homered in both ends of 1983 twinbill against the Toronto Blue Jays.

• Oakland Athletics CF Billy North (played hoops briefly for Central Washington in 1967-68) collected three hits and three stolen bases in a 3-2 win against the Chicago White Sox in 1974.

• Philadelphia Phillies LF Gary Redus (J.C. hooper for Athens AL and father of Centenary/South Alabama guard with same name) smacked two triples against the Chicago Cubs in a 1986 game.

• Milwaukee Braves 2B Mel Roach (averaged 9.3 ppg for Virginia in 1952-53) ripped homer in back-to-back games against the San Francisco Giants in 1958.

• St. Louis Cardinals RHP Lee Smith (averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg with Northwestern State in 1976-77) notched a save in his seventh straight relief appearance in 1990, capping off 16 consecutive contests covering 24 1/3 innings without allowing an earned run.

• 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 two-hit shutout against the Oakland Athletics in 1986.

• Bill Virdon (Drury MO hooper in 1949) fired as manager of the New York Yankees and succeeded by Billy Martin in 1975.

• New York Giants rookie 1B Babe Young (Fordham hoops letterman in 1935-36) belted two homers against the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a 1940 twinbill.

Extra! Extra! Read all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players! Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former LSU hoopers Joe Adcock and Alvin Dark supplied outstanding National League offensive outputs on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a July 31 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

JULY 31

• RHP Mike Adams (played basketball for Texas A&M-Kingsville in 1996-97) traded by the San Diego Padres to the Texas Rangers in 2011.

• Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading scorer in 1945-46) belted four homers off four different pitchers plus a double against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1954, setting a MLB record for most total bases in a game (18) standing until broken by RF Shawn Green in 2002.

• Chicago Cubs 2B Glenn Beckert (three-year hoops letterman for Allegheny PA) contributed seven hits against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1970 twinbill sweep.

• Pittsburgh Pirates LF Carson "Skeeter" Bigbee (Oregon hoops letterman in 1915) banged out four hits against the New York Giants in the opener of a 1917 doubleheader.

• St. Louis Cardinals SS Alvin Dark (LSU and USL hoops letterman in mid-1940s) went 4-for-4 against the New York Giants in a 1957 contest.

• St. Louis Cardinals CF Taylor Douthit (California hoops letterman from 1922 through 1924) collected five hits and scored four runs in an 18-5 pounding of the Philadelphia Phillies in 1928.

• In the midst of eight straight scoreless relief appearances, Baltimore Orioles LHP Mike Flanagan (averaged 13.9 ppg for UMass' freshman squad in 1971-72) notched the final of his 167 MLB wins. Earlier in the 1991 campaign, Flanagan amassed 10 consecutive contests where he failed to yield an earned run.

• Houston Astros INF Gene Freese (West Liberty WV hoops captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team) stroked a pinch single against the Cincinnati Reds in 1966 before going 0-for-21 during the last two months of his 12-year MLB career.

• LHP Johnny Gee (captain of Michigan's 16-4 hoops team in 1936-37) absorbed his first defeat since returning to the New York Giants in 1946 after a year's retirement.

• Cleveland Indians 1B Mike Hargrove (Northwestern Oklahoma State hoops letterman) scored five runs in a 16-11 victory against the Toronto Blue Jays in 1983.

• Chicago Cubs LF Monte Irvin (Lincoln PA hooper 1 1/2 years in late 1930s) manufactured four hits and five RBI against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1956 game.

• 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 season) closed out the month with five consecutive multiple-hit contests in 1970.

• San Diego Padres LHP Dennis Rasmussen (sixth-man for Creighton averaged 5.1 ppg from 1977-78 through 1979-80) yielded more than three runs for the only time in his last 15 starts of the 1988 campaign.

• Chicago White Sox LF Gary Redus (J.C. hooper for Athens AL and father of Centenary/South Alabama guard with same name) registered two hits in his fifth consecutive contest in 1987.

• Boston Red Sox rookie RHP Don Schwall (All-Big Seven Conference second-team selection as sophomore in 1956-57 when leading Oklahoma in rebounding) hurled the middle three innings for the A.L., yielding the only run, in a 1-1 tie in the second of two All-Star Games in 1961. St. Louis Cardinals 1B Bill White (played two years with Hiram OH in early 1950s) of the N.L. and Detroit Tigers RF Al Kaline of the A.L. were the only All-Stars with two safeties. Five years later with the Philadelphia Phillies, White went 5-for-5, including four extra-base hits, and chipped in with five RBI in the opener of a 1966 doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

• Securing his fifth victory of the month, Boston Red Sox RHP Sonny Siebert (team-high 16.7 ppg for Mizzou in 1957-58 as All-Big Eight Conference second-team selection) hurled a one-hitter at California in 1970.

• Washington Senators rookie RHP Monte Weaver (hoops center for Emory & Henry VA in mid-1920s) secured his eighth victory of the month in 1932.

• Chicago Cubs OF Cy Williams (Notre Dame forward in 1909-10) clobbered a three-run homer to chase New York Giants Hall of Fame RHP Christy Mathewson (played for Bucknell at turn of 20th Century) in the opener of a 1915 doubleheader.

• San Diego Padres RF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) went 5-for-5 with four RBI and scored four runs in a 1979 outing against the Atlanta Braves.

• Boston Braves 3B Chuck Workman (All-MIAA first-five hoops selection for Central Missouri State as sophomore and junior in mid-1930s) blasted two homers against the New York Giants in the nightcap of a 1945 twinbill.

• Washington Senators LHP Tom Zachary (Guilford NC hoops letterman in 1916) tossed a three-hit shutout against the Detroit Tigers in 1924.

Extra! Extra! Read all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players! Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former NYU hoopers Hank Greenberg and Sam Mele made MLB news on this date. Ditto a pair of ex-small college hoopers from Washington - Billy North (Central Washington) and Ray Washburn (Whitworth). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a July 29 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

JULY 29

• Philadelphia Athletics RHP Jack Coombs (captain and starting basketball center for Colby ME) posted his 10th victory of the month in 1910.

• Los Angeles Dodgers RHP Roger Craig (forward with North Carolina State's 1949-50 freshman hoops team) secured his second shutout in a nine-day span in 1959. Three years later with the New York Mets, Craig lost his sixth straight decision during the month in 1962.

• Chicago White Sox CF Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA hoops titlist) homered twice in the opener en route to knocking in eight runs in a 1956 doubleheader sweep of the Boston Red Sox.

• OF Hoot Evers (hoops starter for Illinois in 1939-40) awarded on waivers from the New York Giants to the Detroit Tigers in 1954.

• Philadelphia Phillies 3B Gene Freese (West Liberty WV hoops captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team) homered in his third consecutive contest in 1959.

• Detroit Tigers 1B Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoops scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) banged out four hits against the New York Yankees in 1937. the next year, Greenberg blasted two homers for the third time in a four-game span in 1938.

• San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-WAC second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) stroked three doubles against the New York Mets in a 1998 game.

• New York Yankees LHP Steve Hamilton (All-OVC selection was Morehead State's leading scorer and rebounder in 1956-57 and 1957-58) notched a hold against the California Angels as he went unscored upon two months in a row covering 12 relief appearances in 1970.

• Cleveland Indians 1B Mike Hargrove (Northwestern Oklahoma State hoops letterman) homered twice against the Seattle Mariners in a 1980 contest.

• Brooklyn Robins rookie 1B Buddy Hassett (hooper for Manhattan team winning school-record 17 consecutive games in 1930 and 1931) collected four runs, two triples and five RBI against the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a 1936 doubleheader.

• Los Angeles Dodgers RF Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection when leading Ohio State in scoring and rebounding in 1956-57 and 1957-58) homered in all five games of series against the San Francisco Giants closing out the month in 1962.

• Detroit Tigers SS Harvey Kuenn (played hoops briefly for Wisconsin in 1951-52 after competing on JV squad previous season) contributed four hits against the Philadelphia Athletics in the nightcap of a 1954 twinbill.

• Chicago Cubs 3B Vance Law (averaged 6.8 ppg for Brigham Young from 1974-75 through 1976-77) smacked two homers against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1988 game.

• Cincinnati Reds RF Danny Litwhiler (member of JV hoops squad with Bloomsburg PA in mid-1930s) went 4-for-4 for the second time in an eight-game span in 1948.

• Chicago White Sox P Joel Horlen, flirting with a no-hitter entering the ninth inning, wound up losing the game, 2-1, when OF Don Lock (Wichita State field-goal percentage leader in 1956-57 and 1957-58 under coach Ralph Miller) socked a homer for the Washington Senators in 1963. LF Chuck Hinton (played multiple sports for Shaw NC) broke up the no-hit bid with a one-out single in the ninth. The next year, Lock knocked in all of the Senators' runs with two homers in a 4-1 win against the Cleveland Indians.

• St. Louis Cardinals rookie CF Bake McBride (averaged 12.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg in 21 games with Westminster MO in 1968-69 and 1969-70) posted his third three-hit game in a row in series against the Chicago Cubs in 1974.

• OF Sam Mele (NYU's leading scorer in 1943 NCAA playoffs) awarded on waivers from the Baltimore Orioles to the Boston Red Sox in 1954.

• Cleveland Indians 1B Ed Morgan (Tulane hoops letterman from 1923-24 through 1925-26) went 5-for-5 and chipped in with five RBI in a 14-7 win against the Detroit Tigers in 1929.

• Oakland Athletics CF Billy North (played hoops briefly for Central Washington in 1967-68) collected four RBI in an 11-9 victory against the Chicago White Sox in 1974.

• RHP Paul Reuschel (Western Illinois' leading rebounder in 1966-67 with 15.2 per game) posted the save when the Cleveland Indians extended their winning streak to seven games with a 9-6 decision over the Chicago White Sox in 1979.

• In 1963, Minnesota Twins rookie LHP Garry Roggenburk (Dayton's leading scorer three straight seasons from 1959-60 through 1961-62 grabbed school-record 32 rebounds in third varsity game) didn't allow an earned run in his first eight relief appearances of the month until the Red Sox tallied one earned run 4 2/3 innings against him.

• Philadelphia Phillies SS Roy Smalley Jr. (one of top scorers for Drury MO in 1942-43 and 1943-44) snapped a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the eighth inning with his second of two triples against the Milwaukee Braves in a 1956 game.

• St. Louis Cardinals RHP Ray Washburn (Whitworth WA leading scorer as All-Evergreen Conference pick in 1958-59 and 1959-60) won his seventh straight decision in 1968 with fifth victory of the month while compiling a 0.90 ERA over those last five starts.

• Boston Red Sox C Sammy White (All-PCC Northern Division first-five selection for Washington in 1947-48 and 1948-49) went 4-for-4 in a 1959 contest against the Cleveland Indians.

• Philadelphia Phillies CF Cy Williams (Notre Dame hoops forward in 1909-10) homered twice against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1923 outing.

• In 2005, LF Randy Winn (Santa Clara backcourtmate of eventual two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash in 1993-94) manufactured four hits in his final game with the Seattle Mariners.

Extra! Extra! Read all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players! Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former college hoopers Frankie Frisch (Fordham), Wally Moon (Texas A&M) and Ray Washburn (Whitworth WA) supplied significant MLB performances on this date for the St. Louis Cardinals. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a July 27 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

JULY 27

• Chicago Cubs RHP Ray Burris (basketball standout in Southwestern Oklahoma State Hall of Fame) capped off a streak of six straight winning starts in 1976 with his second shutout in that span.

• Brooklyn Dodgers RHP Roger Craig (forward with North Carolina State's 1949-50 freshman hoops team) hurled one of his four shutouts in 1959.

• St. Louis Cardinals 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) contributed four hits against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1933 contest.

• In an 8-0 victory 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) secured five hits in a game for the third time in the 1993 campaign.

• Los Angeles LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman hoops squad in 1953-54) fanned 16 Philadelphia Phillies in 11 innings before the Dodgers prevailed in 16 frames, 2-1, in 1966.

• Boston Red Sox rookie OF Joe Lahoud (hoops letterman for New Haven CT) hammered a two-run homer in the top of the 20th inning in a 5-3 win at Seattle in 1969.

• Toronto Blue Jays DH Rick Leach (averaged 15.5 ppg for Michigan's junior varsity team in 1975-76) singled in the go-ahead run in a 10-8 triumph against the Boston Red Sox in 1987.

• Washington Senators CF Don Lock (Wichita State field-goal percentage leader in 1956-57 and 1957-58 under coach Ralph Miller) launched back-to-back homers and had five RBI in an 8-4 victory against the Detroit Tigers in 1963.

• CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling a 35-3 record) traded by the Texas Rangers to the Cleveland Indians in 2007.

• Cleveland Indians RF Bake McBride (averaged 12.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg in 21 games with Westminster MO in 1968-69 and 1969-70) went 4-for-4 against the Kansas City Royals in a 1983 game.

• In the ninth inning against the California Angels, New York Yankees SS Gene Michael (Kent State's leading scorer with 14 ppg in 1957-58) pulled the hidden-ball trick for the second time in six weeks in 1970.

• St. Louis Cardinals rookie CF Wally Moon (averaged 4.3 ppg with Texas A&M in 1948-49 and 1949-50) manufactured four hits for the third time in a 17-game span in 1954.

• LF Greasy Neale (hooper graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan College in 1915) supplied three of the Cincinnati Reds' eight stolen bases in a 14-5 triumph against the Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a 1918 doubleheader.

• Chicago Cubs LF Riggs Stephenson (Alabama hoops letterman in 1920) incurred a season-ending broken ankle stepping on first base against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1931.

• St. Louis Cardinals RHP Ray Washburn (Whitworth WA leading scorer as All-Evergreen Conference pick in 1958-59 and 1959-60) won for the fifth time in as many starts during the month in 1966.

• Chicago White Sox 2B Frank Whitman (one of leading scorers with Eureka IL as freshman in 1942-43) stroked a single for his lone MLB hit (against New York Yankees in 1946).

• New York Yankees RF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) collected two homers and five RBI for the second time in a five-game span in 1988.

Extra! Extra! Read all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players! Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former Alabama hoopers Riggs Stephenson and Jim Tabor each contributed four hits in a MLB game on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a July 25 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

JULY 25

• Joey Amalfitano (Loyola Marymount hooper in 1952-53) became manager of the Chicago Cubs in 1980.

• In his second MLB start, California Angels 1B Bruce Bochte (starting forward for Santa Clara's NCAA playoff team in 1969-70 when averaging 7.4 ppg and 4 rpg) banged out four hits against the Kansas City Royals in a 1974 game.

• Detroit Tigers 1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in WAC games in 1991-92) homered from each side of the plate for the second time in 1999 season in a 9-1 triumph against the Boston Red Sox.

• Los Angeles Dodgers RF Joe Ferguson (hooper in 1967 NCAA playoffs with Pacific) knocked in five runs against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1979 contest.

• Philadelphia Athletics RF Walt French (hoops letterman for Rutgers and Army) supplied four hits against the Detroit Tigers in a 1927 outing.

• St. Louis Cardinals rookie SS Charlie Gelbert (scored at least 125 points each of last three seasons in late 1920s for Lebanon Valley PA) went 4-for-4 against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1929 game.

• RF David Justice (Thomas More KY assists leader in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg) jacked a home run to account for the Atlanta Braves' lone hit and game's only run in a 1-0 victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1992.

• Boston Red Sox 1B Tony Lupien (Harvard hoops captain in 1938-39) went 5-for-6, including three extra-base hits, in a 9-8 win against the Louis Browns in 1942.

• Cleveland Indians rookie 1B Ed Morgan (Tulane hoops letterman from 1923-24 through 1925-26) manufactured five RBI in a 15-5 win against the Boston Red Sox in the nightcap of a 1928 doubleheader.

• Detroit Tigers RF Jim Northrup (second-leading scorer and third-leading rebounder for Alma MI in 1958-59) launched two homers against the Washington Senators in a 1968 contest.

• New York Yankees rookie LHP Dennis Rasmussen (sixth-man for Creighton averaged 5.1 ppg from 1977-78 through 1979-80) blanked the Milwaukee Brewers over seven innings en route to one of his six straight winning decisions in 1984.

• Philadelphia Phillies RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) fired the second of back-to-back shutouts in 1951.

• Cleveland Indians 2B Freddy Spurgeon (Kalamazoo MI hooper in 1921-22) stroked four hits against the St. Louis Browns in 1926. The next year, Spurgeon extended his career-high hitting streak to 14 games in a row.

• Chicago Cubs INF-OF Riggs Stephenson (Alabama hoops letterman in 1920) contributed four hits in a 9-5 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1930.

• Cincinnati Reds rookie LF Evar Swanson (played all five positions for Knox IL) went 5-for-6 against the Boston Braves in a 1929 outing.

• Boston Red Sox 3B Jim Tabor (Alabama hoops letterman in 1936-37) blasted two homers against the Chicago White in a 1940 game and the Cleveland Indians in a 1941 contest. In a 1944 outing, Tabor went 4-for-4 against the Detroit Tigers.

Extra! Extra! Read all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players! Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former Southwest Missouri State hoopers Mark Bailey, Jerry Lumpe and Norm Siebern manufactured meaningful moments in their MLB careers on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a July 23 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

JULY 23

• Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) contributed four hits against the Brooklyn Dodgers in a 1955 game.

• C Mark Bailey (led Southwest Missouri State in rebounding and field-goal shooting in 1980-81) traded by the Houston Astros to the Montreal Expos in 1988.

• Washington Senators RHP Whitey Campbell (Alabama forward was hoops letterman from 1927 through 1929) made his lone MLB appearance (one inning with no earned runs against Detroit Tigers in 1933).

• OF Bob Cerv (ranked fourth on school all-time scoring list in 1949-50 when finishing Nebraska career) and C Elston Howard socked back-to-back pinch-hit homers for the New York Yankees in the ninth inning in 1955 but they still lost to the Kansas City Athletics, 8-7, in 11 frames.

• Los Angeles Dodgers RHP Roger Craig (forward with North Carolina State's 1949-50 freshman hoops team) fired a three-hit shutout against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1960.

• Boston Braves rookie SS Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for LSU and USL in mid-1940s) manufactured four safeties to cap off a nine-game hitting streak in 1948 after having his career-high 23-game hitting skein end in the opener of a July 15 doubleheader.

• Boston Red Sox LF Hoot Evers (Illinois hoops starter in 1939-40) supplied three extra-base hits in a 4-3 victory against the Chicago White Sox in 1953. Two years later, Evers' two-run, pinch-hit homer powered the Cleveland Indians to a 3-2 triumph against the Baltimore Orioles, who had traded him earlier in the month.

• New York Giants 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) went 4-for-4 against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1943 contest.

• Pittsburgh Pirates LHP Johnny Gee (Michigan captain was Big Ten Conference's sixth-leading scorer in 1936-37) yielded only two hits in seven innings of scoreless relief to notch a 3-2 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1943.

• Pittsburgh Pirates SS Dick Groat (two-time All-American with Duke in 1950-51 and 1951-52 went 4-for-4 against the Chicago Cubs in a 1955 outing.

• Utilityman Harvey Hendrick (Vanderbilt hoops letterman in 1918) provided a pinch-hit grand slam in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Chicago Cubs a 9-5 win in the opener of a 1933 doubleheader against the Philadelphia Phillies.

• Washington Senators LF Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection when leading Ohio State in scoring and rebounding in 1956-57 and 1957-58) homered for the A.L. off Philadelphia Phillies P Steve Carlton in the 1969 All-Star Game.

• 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) smacked a triple off Oakland A's P Rollie Fingers in the 1974 All-Star Game.

• Brooklyn Dodgers 2B Barney Koch (Oregon hoops letterman in 1943-44) contributed a career-high three hits in his MLB debut in the opener of a 1944 twinbill against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

• Detroit Tigers RF Harvey Kuenn (played hoops briefly for Wisconsin in 1951-52 after competing on JV squad previous season) went 4-for-4 and scored four runs against the Washington Senators in a 1959 game.

• New York Yankees 3B Jerry Lumpe (member of Southwest Missouri State's 1952 NAIA Tournament championship hoops team) logged his third consecutive contest with three hits in 1958.

• Chicago White Sox RF Danny Moeller (Millikin IL hoops captain in 1905-06) had a 12-game hitting streak snapped by the Detroit Tigers in 1915.

• Chicago Cubs RF Bill Nicholson (hooper for Washington College MD in mid-1930s), after swatting four consecutive homers in two 1944 games (three in opener of doubleheader against New York Giants), received the ultimate compliment. In the nightcap of the twinbill, Nicholson is issued an intentional walk forcing in a run.

• In 1962, Brooklyn Dodgers iNF Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) became the first African-American inductee to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

• In the midst of nine multiple-hit outings in a 10-game span, New York Yankees 3B Red Rolfe (played hoops briefly with Dartmouth in 1927-28 and 1929-30) provided two of his A.L.-leading 15 triples in a 1936 contest.

• Philadelphia Athletics rookie 3B Al Rubeling (Towson hooper in early 1930s) went hitless for the only time in a 19-game span in 1940.

• Kansas City Athletics 1B Norm Siebern (member of Southwest Missouri State squads capturing back-to-back NAIA Tournament titles in 1952 and 1953) went 8-for-12 in a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers in 1961.

• Cleveland Indians 2B Riggs Stephenson (Alabama hoops letterman in 1920) went 4-for-4 against the Boston Red Sox in a 1924 contest. Eight years later as a Chicago Cubs LF, Stephenson contributed four hits against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 1932 outing.

• Pittsburgh Pirates CF Bill Virdon (Drury MO hooper in 1949) scored four runs against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the opener of a 1958 twinbill. Ten years later in 1968, Virdon's two-run pinch homer in the bottom of the ninth inning was his final MLB hit (after activated from coaching staff).

• Philadelphia Athletics 3B Billy Werber (first Duke hoops All-American in 1929-30) provided at least three hits for the fourth time in a seven-game span in 1937.