On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on July 10 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! If spittin' mad regarding COVID-19 season postponement and prolonged negotiations commencing campaign, you have time to read news 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 furnished significant MLB performances on this date. Another New York college ex-hooper making MLB news on this date was Ralph Branca (NYU). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a July 10 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JULY 10
Chicago White Sox 2B Jerry Adair (one of Oklahoma State's top three basketball scorers in 1956-57 and 1957-58 while ranking among nation's top 12 free-throw shooters each season) stroked four hits against the Boston Red Sox in the nightcap of a 1966 doubleheader.
Philadelphia Phillies LF Harry Anderson (averaged 7.7 ppg and 8.9 rpg for West Chester PA in 1951-52) knocked in five runs against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1958 game.
RHP Ralph Branca (sixth-leading scorer for NYU in 1943-44), hampered by an off-season pelvic injury, awarded on waivers from the Brooklyn Dodgers to the Detroit Tigers in 1953.
Atlanta Braves 3B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college hoops crown) homered twice in a 4-2 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1973.
St. Louis Cardinals 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) scored three runs, one on a homer off Lefty Gomez, in the 1934 All-Star Game.
Pittsburgh Pirates 2B Lee Handley (Bradley hoops letterman from 1932-33 through 1934-35) had a 17-game hitting streak snapped by the Chicago Cubs in 1937.
In 1963, Philadelphia Phillies OF-1B Mickey Harrington (leading scorer and rebounder for Southern Mississippi as senior in 1954-55) made his lone MLB appearance as a pinch-runner (for Roy Sievers against San Francisco Giants).
RHP Jim Hearn (Georgia Tech hoops letterman in 1941-42) awarded on waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals to the New York Giants in 1950. Hearn goes on to lead the N.L. in shutouts (five) and ERA (2.49).
Brooklyn Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) hammered a two-run homer in 1951 All-Star Game.
Los Angeles Dodgers rookie 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) furnished five RBI against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1960 contest.
Detroit Tigers RF Harvey Kuenn (played hoops briefly for Wisconsin in 1951-52 after competing on JV squad previous season) had his career-high 22-game hitting streak snapped by the Kansas City Athletics in 1959.
Cleveland Indians CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling a 35-3 record) logged four hits and four RBI against the Minnesota Twins in a 1994 game.
OF Jim Lyttle (led Florida State in free-throw shooting in 1965-66 when he averaged 12.4 ppg) purchased from the Kansas City Royals by the Montreal Expos in 1973.
New York Giants RHP Christy Mathewson (Bucknell hooper at turn of 20th Century) extended his streak of consecutive innings without a free pass to 52 but had his nine-game winning streak end with a 3-2 setback against the Chicago Cubs in 1913.
In 1970, Cincinnati Reds SS Woodie Woodward went yard off Atlanta Braves RHP Ron Reed (Notre Dame's leading rebounder in 1963-64 and 1964-65) for Woodward's only homer in a nine-year N.L. career (684 of 880 games/1,672 of 2,187 at-bats).
New York Giants RHP Hal Schumacher (St. Lawrence NY hooper in early 1930s), supported by three hits from OF Hank Leiber (played basketball for Arizona in 1931), notched his 11th straight complete-game victory with a 10-3 verdict over the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1935. Three years later, Leiber launched two homers against the Boston Braves in a 1938 contest.
Champ Summers (led SIUE in scoring in 1969-70 after doing likewise for Nicholls State in 1964-65) cracked a game-tying, pinch two-run homer for the Detroit Tigers in bottom of ninth inning against the Minnesota Twins in 1979.
New York Yankees LHP Matt Thornton (averaged 5.8 ppg and 2.4 rpg from 1995-96 through 1997-98 with Grand Valley State MI) had his streak of 19 straight relief appearances without yielding an earned run come to a halt against the Cleveland Indians in 2014.
San Diego Padres RF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) homered twice against the New York Mets in a 1974 game. Three years later, Winfield whacked a pair of round-trippers in a 5-4 triumph against the Los Angles Dodgers in the nightcap of a 1977 doubleheader.
Cincinnati Reds 1B Babe Young (Fordham hoops letterman in 1935-36) homered in both ends of a 1947 twinbill for the second time in less than week.
San Diego Padres RHP Chris Young (All-Ivy League first-team selection for Princeton in 1999-00) incurred the loss for the N.L. in the 2007 All-Star Game. Young yielded the first inside-the-park homer in All-Star Game history (Ichiro Suzuki in fifth inning).
Shatterproof: Loud and Proud NCAA Standards Never to Be Duplicated (#1)
Nothing is more amazing in NCAA men's basketball history than UCLA's 88-game winning streak. The string ended at Notre Dame, 71-70, on January 19, 1974, when guard Dwight Clay's fall-away jump shot from the right baseline with 29 seconds remaining climaxed a 12-0 spurt in the last three minutes for the Irish.
Bruins All-American center Bill Walton, who had injured his back two weeks earlier, hadn't played in 12 days but still went 12 for 13 from the floor. UCLA coach John Wooden, believing his squad was more prepared, didn't like to call timeouts and five consecutive turnovers by his team let UND back into the game.
UCLA compiled a 149-2 record at Pauley Pavilion under Wooden, but its streak of Pacific-8 Conference victories ended at 50 when the Bruins bowed at Oregon State, 61-57. It was OSU's lone victory over UCLA in a 26-game stretch of their series from 1967 through 1979. The Bruins then succumbed at Oregon, 56-51, to give them back-to-back defeats for the first time since 1966. They seemed to be afflicted somewhat by the dreaded disease known as "senioritis" in coaching circles.
"When you have the same group for three years, they're a little more difficult to work with. They don't mean to be, but they are," Wooden said of the Walton Gang. "I can't find fault with my team, but I failed to motivate them. And I'm not talking about won-lost record. In many games we won, I didn't think we displayed intensity and didn't play up to our potential."
The last undefeated squad was Indiana in 1975-76. These days, it's almost inconceivable a men's basketball program could go 2 1/2 consecutive seasons without a loss. What are other untouchable team and individual standards of excellence that will be almost impossible to duplicate, let alone exceed? Records were made to be broken, but perhaps not always in our lifetime. UCLA dominates the most illustrious of the following assessment of the 10 records most likely never to be broken:
1. UCLA's 88-game winning streak (under coach John Wooden from January 30, 1971, to January 19, 1974).
UCLA sandwiched 88 consecutive victories between January defeats at Notre Dame (89-82 in 1971 and 71-70 in 1974). The streak began inauspiciously when five of the first eight triumphs were by fewer than five points. Then, the Bruins went ballistic and finished the streak with an average margin of victory of 23.4 points, including an NCAA single-season record of 30.3 in 1971-72.
They won 49 home games by 29.6 points per game, 25 road games by 23.4 ppg and 14 neutral contests by 13.6 ppg. Here is a further breakdown of UCLA's winning margins during the streak: 0-10 points - 17 games; 11-20 points - 25 games; 21-30 points - 20 games; 31-40 points - 17 games; 41-50 points - four games, and more than 50 points - five games.
Twelve different UCLA players led the Bruins in scoring during the following streak, including 45 times by All-American center Bill Walton. He joined Larry Farmer, Sidney Wicks and Keith Wilkes as the only players pacing UCLA in scoring on at least four occasions in any six-game span during the lengthy winning streak. Wilkes, not Walton, was their top point producer in last four triumphs during streak. Women's basketball doesn't boast anywhere close to the parity exhibited in the men's game. Following is a men's mark that never will be toppled in a transient era for players:
*Neutral court games.
2. Frank Selvy's 100-point game (for Furman vs. Newberry on Feb. 13, 1954).
3. UCLA's 38-game winning streak in NCAA Tournament (under coach John Wooden from 1964 to 1974).
10. Bill Chambers' 51 rebounds in a single game (for William & Mary vs. Virginia on Feb. 14, 1953.).
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on July 9 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! If spittin' mad regarding COVID-19 season postponement and prolonged negotiations commencing campaign, you have time to read news 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.
Several former small-college hoopers from Pennsylvania - Clyde Barnhart (Shippensburg predecessor Cumberland Valley State), Charlie Gelbert (Lebanon Valley) and Monte Irvin (Lincoln) - made MLB news on this date. Ditto ex-Illinois hoopers Lou Boudreau and Tom Haller, ex-North Carolina State hoopers Roger Craig and Tim Stoddard plus ex-Washington State hoopers Ed Bouchee and Gene Conley. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a July 9 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JULY 9
Detroit Tigers RHP Elden Auker (All-Big Six Conference first-five basketball selection with Kansas State in 1931-32) tossed a four-hit shutout against the Chicago White Sox. The whitewash was one of four complete-game wins for Auker during the month in 1938.
Pittsburgh Pirates LF Clyde Barnhart (hooper for Shippensburg PA predecessor Cumberland Valley State Normal School prior to World War I) banged out four hits in a 12-3 win against the New York Giants in opener of 1925 doubleheader.
Chicago Cubs 1B Ed Bouchee (freshman hooper for Washington State in 1951-52) homered in both ends of a 1961 twinbill sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies.
Cleveland Indians SS Lou Boudreau (leading scorer for Illinois' 1937 Big Ten Conference co-champion) went 2-for-2 in the 1941 All-Star Game.
Philadelphia Phillies RHP Gene Conley (All-PCC first-team selection led North Division in scoring in 1949-50 as Washington State sophomore) hurled his second shutout in a nine-day span in 1959.
California Angels OF Billy Cowan (co-captain of Utah's 1960 NCAA hoops playoff team) tied a MLB record in 1971 by fanning six times against the Oakland A's in longest shutout in A.L. history (1-0 in 20 innings).
Brooklyn Dodgers RHP Roger Craig (forward with North Carolina State's 1949-50 freshman hoops team) relieved in the third inning and hurled 11 scoreless frames en route to a 4-3 win against the Milwaukee Braves in 1959.
Philadelphia Athletics RF Walt French (hoops letterman for Rutgers and Army) furnished four hits against the Chicago White Sox in 1926.
INF Charlie Gelbert (scored at least 125 points each of his last three seasons with Lebanon Valley PA in late 1920s) awarded on waivers from the Cincinnati Reds to Detroit Tigers in 1937.
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) was part of the St. Louis Cardinals' entire N.L. starting infield in the 1963 All-Star Game, including 1B Bill White (played two years with Hiram OH in early 1950s), 2B Julian Javier and 3B Ken Boyer.
Detroit Tigers C Tom Haller (backup forward for Illinois in 1956-57 and 1957-58 under coach Harry Combes) provided a double, triple and decisive ninth-inning homer against the Chicago White Sox in a 1972 outing.
New York Giants RHP Jim Hearn (Georgia Tech hoops letterman in 1941-42) hit two homers at the Polo Grounds in a 10-2 victory against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1955.
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) tied a MLB record with seven strikeouts in a doubleheader split with the Boston Red Sox in 1965. Two years later, Howard hammered two homers against the Cleveland Indians in opener of a 1967 twinbill.
New York Giants LF Monte Irvin (Lincoln PA hooper 1 1/2 years in late 1930s) homered in his fourth consecutive contest in 1954.
Philadelphia Phillies 1B Davey Johnson (averaged 1.7 ppg with Texas A&M in 1961-62) delivered three extra-base hits and five RBI against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 1977 game.
New York Yankees RF Charlie Keller (Maryland three-year hoops letterman from 1934-35 through 1936-37) opened the scoring with a two-run homer off Chicago Cubs RHP Claude Passeau (Millsaps MS hooper in late 1920s and early 1930s) in the first inning as the A.L. blitzed the N.L., 12-0, in the 1946 All-Star Game.
Cleveland Indians CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling a 35-3 record) contributed two hits and two stolen bases for the A.L. in 1996 All-Star Game.
Chicago White Sox RHP Ted Lyons (two-time All-SWC first-team selection for Baylor in early 1920s) blanked the Philadelphia Athletics, 7-0, in the opener of a 1932 twinbill, snapping Hall of Famer Lefty Grove's 11-game winning streak.
OF-1B Len Matuszek (starter for Toledo's 18-7 team in 1975-76) traded by the Toronto Blue Jays to the Los Angeles Dodgers for OF Al Oliver in 1985.
In the midst of a 22-game hitting streak in 1953, Chicago White Sox RF Sam Mele (NYU's leading scorer in 1943 NCAA playoffs) homered in each contest of a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers.
OF Lyle Mouton (starter in LSU's backcourt with All-American Chris Jackson for 1989 NCAA playoff team) traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to Cleveland Indians in 2003.
Cleveland Indians 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) homered in both ends of a 1972 doubleheader against the Kansas City Royals.
Atlanta Braves RHP Ron Reed (Notre Dame's leading rebounder in 1963-64 and 1964-65) got the first two outs in the ninth inning, including whiffing Baltimore Orioles 2B Davey Johnson (averaged 1.7 ppg with Texas A&M in 1961-62), to help the N.L. blank A.L., 1-0, in 1968 All-Star Game.
New York Yankees rookie RHP Steve Roser (Clarkson NY hoops center in late 1930s before bypassing senior season) registered the lone complete game of his MLB career (8-2 win against Detroit Tigers in nightcap of 1944 doubleheader).
New York Yankees rookie RHP Rollie Sheldon (third-leading scorer as sophomore for Connecticut's 1960 NCAA Tournament team) tossed the second of back-to-back shutouts in 1961.
RHP Tim Stoddard (starting forward opposite All-American David Thompson for North Carolina State's 1974 NCAA champion) traded by the San Diego Padres to the New York Yankees for P Ed Whitson in 1986.
Detroit Tigers C Birdie Tebbetts (Providence hooper in 1932) banged out three hits in both ends of a 1939 twinbill against the Chicago White Sox.
Minnesota Twins RF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) went 4-for-4 against the Milwaukee Brewers in 1993 in the midst of homering in back-to-back games three times during the month.
Tampa Bay Devil Rays RF Randy Winn (Santa Clara backcourtmate of eventual two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash in 1993-94) stroked a double for the A.L. off Los Angeles Dodgers P Eric Gagne in 2002 All-Star Game.
Shatterproof: Loud and Proud NCAA Standards Never to Be Duplicated (#2)
What are the school and individual records that will never come close to being matched, let along exceeded? CollegeHoopedia.com has designated the ultimate team and individual standards of excellence. Records were made to be broken, but perhaps not always in our lifetime. Following is #2 in the countdown of most illustrious NCAA DI achievements:
2. Frank Selvy's 100-point major-college game (for Furman vs. Newberry on February 13, 1954).
Selvy scored 100 points vs. Newberry (S.C.) on his way to becoming the first three-year player to reach 2,000 points, finishing with 2,538. Selvy (41.7 ppg) and Furman teammate Darrell Floyd (24.3) combined for 66 points per game during the season and are the highest-scoring duo in major-college history. Selvy, a senior, scored 50 or more in seven games en route to becoming the first player to score 1,000 points in a single season (1,209) and average 30 or more for a career (32.5 ppg). Floyd succeeded his teammate as the nation's leading scorer with 35.9 ppg in 1954-55.
Making Selvy's 100-point outburst even more amazing was the fact his mother, watching her son play for the initial time, was among several hundred fans from his hometown of Corbin, Ky., who made the trip to Greenville, S.C., to watch the game. An early indication that something special was in the offing came less than three minutes into the game when Newberry's Bobby Bailey, who helped hold Selvy to a season-low 25 points two weeks earlier, fouled out.
Selvy's last three field goals in a 41-of-66 shooting performance from the floor came in game's closing 30 seconds and the crowning moment was his final basket. "It (the 100-point game) was something that was just meant to be," Selvy said. "My last basket was from past half-court just before the final buzzer."
He played every minute of every game during his senior season. Following is the box score for Selvy's 100-point outburst:
| FURMAN (149) | FG | FT-A | PTS. |
|---|---|---|---|
| A.D. Bennett | 0 | 1-1 | 1 |
| Darrell Floyd | 12 | 1-1 | 25 |
| Fred Fraley | 3 | 0-2 | 6 |
| Bob Poole | 0 | 0-0 | 0 |
| Bob Thomas | 5 | 1-1 | 11 |
| Al Kyber | 0 | 0-2 | 0 |
| Charles Ruth | 0 | 0-0 | 0 |
| Brock Gordon | 0 | 0-0 | 0 |
| Frank Selvy | 41-66 | 18-22 | 100 |
| Kenny Deardorff | 1 | 1-1 | 3 |
| Sylvester Wright | 0 | 0-0 | 0 |
| Harry Jones | 0 | 1-1 | 1 |
| Joe Gilreath | 1 | 0-0 | 2 |
| TOTALS | 63 | 23-31 | 149 |
| NEWBERRY (95) | FG | FT-A | PTS. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boland | 0 | 0-0 | 0 |
| Warner | 2 | 0-4 | 4 |
| Leitner | 6 | 4-7 | 16 |
| Bailey | 0 | 1-2 | 1 |
| Blanko | 14 | 7-10 | 35 |
| Cone | 1 | 0-0 | 2 |
| Roth | 0 | 3-4 | 3 |
| McKlven | 1 | 0-0 | 2 |
| Davis | 13 | 6-7 | 32 |
| TOTALS | 37 | 21-34 | 95 |
Halftime: Furman 77-44.
3. UCLA's 38-game winning streak in NCAA Tournament (under coach John Wooden from 1964 to 1974).
10. Bill Chambers' 51 rebounds in a single game (for William & Mary vs. Virginia on Feb. 14, 1953.).
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on July 8 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! If spittin' mad regarding COVID-19 season postponement and prolonged negotiations commencing campaign, you have time to read news 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.
A couple of small-college hoopers from Missouri (Bill Virdon of Drury and Chuck Workman of Central Missouri State), New York (Jack Phillips of Clarkson and Hal Schumacher of St. Lawrence) plus Pennsylvania (Kevin Gryboski of Wilkes and Monte Irvin of Lincoln) supplied significant MLB performances on this date. Ex-Louisiana State hoopers Joe Adcock and Alvin Dark also made MLB news on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a July 8 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JULY 8
Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) whacked two homers against the Chicago Cubs in 1956, igniting streak of five straight outings with a round-tripper.
St. Louis Cardinals C Ferrell Anderson (Kansas hoops letterman in 1936-37 and 1937-38) amassed three hits in a 7-3 win against the Cincinnati Reds in 1953.
Chicago Cubs CF Frankie Baumholtz (MVP in 1941 NIT and first player in Ohio University history to score 1,000 career points) banged out four hits against the Milwaukee Braves in a 1953 game.
Seattle Mariners RHP Jim Beattie (Dartmouth's top rebounder in 1974-75 when selected team MVP and honorable mention All-Ivy League) hurled a four-hit shutout against the Baltimore Orioles in 1983.
Cleveland Indians SS Lou Boudreau (leading scorer for Illinois' 1937 Big Ten Conference co-champion) smacked two homers against the Boston Red Sox in a 1944 contest.
Kansas City Athletics LF Bob Cerv (ranked fourth on Nebraska all-time scoring list in 1949-50 when finishing college career) singled off Hall of Famer Warren Spahn in the opening inning for the A.L. in a 4-3 win against the N.L. in the 1958 All-Star Game. Four years later with the Houston Colt .45s, Cerv smacked the final two homers of his 12-year MLB career (against Cincinnati Reds in 1962).
Jack Coombs (captain and starting hoops center for Colby ME) resigned as manager of the last-place Philadelphia Phillies in 1919.
Boston Braves SS Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for Louisiana State and Southwestern Louisiana during World War II) carried off the field on a stretcher after being knocked unconscious by thrown ball in 1949.
Detroit Tigers DH Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college hoops crown) homered twice in a 1987 game against the Oakland Athletics.
St. Louis Cardinals 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) furnished three hits in both ends of a 1934 twinbill split against the Cincinnati Reds.
California Angels RHP Dave Frost (averaged 10.5 ppg and 4 rpg for Stanford from 1971-72 through 1973-74) fired a five-hit shutout against the Seattle Mariners in 1978.
Atlanta Braves RHP Kevin Gryboski (backup hooper for Wilkes PA in 1991-92 and 1992-93) contributed his 11th consecutive relief appearance without allowing an earned run, reducing his ERA to 1.47 through 27 games in 2005.
OF Monte Irvin (Lincoln PA hooper 1 1/2 years in late 1930s) stroked a three-run double in the first inning and grand slam in the 11th to carry the New York Giants to a 10-7 triumph over the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1953. Starting RHP Jim Hearn (Georgia Tech hoops letterman in 1941-42) failed in a bid to win his 13th straight against the Bucs.
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 Chicago White Sox in the nightcap of a 1956 doubleheader.
Boston Red Sox 1B Tony Lupien (Harvard hoops captain in 1938-39) went 4-for-4 against the St. Louis Browns in a 1943 contest.
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 Cincinnati Reds in a 1961 game.
1B Cotton Nash (three-time All-American averaged 22.7 ppg and 12.3 rpg in Kentucky career from 1961-62 through 1963-64) returned by the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Chicago White Sox after trade three months earlier was voided.
Chicago Cubs RHP Claude Passeau (Millsaps MS hooper in late 1920s and early 1930s) yielded a three-run homer to Hall of Fame Boston Red Sox OF Ted Williams as the A.L. notched a dramatic 7-5 victory in the 1941 All-Star Game.
1B Jack Phillips (leading hoops scorer for Clarkson NY in 1942-43) pounded a pinch-hit grand-slam homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to propel the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 7-6 triumph against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1950.
Cincinnati Reds LHP Eppa Rixey (Virginia hoops letterman in 1912 and 1914) won the 16-inning nightcap of a 1924 twinbill, 2-1, at Cincinnati. It triggered a streak of 31 straight scoreless innings for Rixey.
Brooklyn Dodgers 2B Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in PCC both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) ripped a homer for the N.L. in the 1952 All-Star Game.
Seattle Pilots LHP Garry Roggenburk (Dayton's leading scorer three straight seasons from 1959-60 through 1961-62 grabbed school-record 32 rebounds in third varsity contest) hurled his lone MLB complete game (3-1 win against California Angels in 1969).
New York Giants RHP Hal Schumacher (St. Lawrence NY hooper in early 1930s) fanned five A.L. batters, including all-time standouts Jimmie Foxx, Joe Cronin and Al Simmons, in four innings of relief for the N.L. in the 1935 All-Star Game.
Pittsburgh Pirates CF Bill Virdon (Drury MO hooper in 1949) provided five extra-base hits in a 1960 twinbill against the Philadelphia Phillies.
New York Giants C Wes Westrum (hooper for Bemidji State MN one season before serving in military during WWII) and teammate Daryl Spencer twice smacked back-to-back homers in an 11-1 victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 1956 game.
Boston Braves 3B Chuck Workman (first-five hoops selection for Central Missouri State on All-MIAA team as sophomore and junior in mid-1930s) cracked a homer in both ends of 1945 doubleheader split against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Shatterproof: Loud and Proud NCAA Standards Never to Be Duplicated (#3)
What are the school and individual records that will never come close to being matched, let along exceeded? In ensuing blogs, CollegeHoopedia.com will designate the ultimate team and individual standards of excellence. Records were made to be broken, but perhaps not always in our lifetime. Following is #3 in the countdown of most illustrious NCAA achievements:
3. UCLA's 38-game winning streak in NCAA Tournament (under coach John Wooden from 1964 to 1974).
UCLA's first three outings in this streak were decided by fewer than seven points but the Bruins only had four more decisions in that category in their next 35 playoff assignments. Long Beach State (three), New Mexico State (three) and San Francisco (four) each succumbed at least three times against the Bruins during their streak. USF (eight in 1964) and LBSU (four in 1971) were the only two teams to lead them at halftime during the 38 triumphs. Following is a look at UCLA's NCAA Tournament hit list during the Bruins' wonder years when they won nine national championships from 1964 through 1973 before losing to North Carolina State (80-77 in double overtime) at the 1974 Final Four:
*NCAA Tournament title games.
**Triple overtime.
10. Bill Chambers' 51 rebounds in a single game (for William & Mary vs. Virginia on Feb. 14, 1953.).
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on July 7 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! If spittin' mad regarding COVID-19 seasons postponement and prolonged negotiations commencing campaign, you have time to read news 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 Guilford NC hoopers Rick Ferrell and Tom Zachary made American League news on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a July 7 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JULY 7
RHP Mike Adams (Texas A&M-Kingsville hooper in 1996-97) awarded on waivers from the New York Mets to the Cleveland Indians in 2006.
St. Louis Browns C Benny Bengough (Niagara hoops letterman from 1916-17 through 1918-19) banged out four hits in an 8-2 win against the Boston Red Sox in 1932.
Chicago White Sox 1B Walt Dropo (first player in Connecticut history to average 20 ppg in single season with 21.7 in 1942-43) collected five RBI in a 1955 game against the Detroit Tigers.
Detroit Tigers OF Hoot Evers (hoops starter for Illinois in 1939-40) went 5-for-5 and scored five runs in a 13-3 victory over the Cleveland Indians in 1951.
Boston Red Sox C Rick Ferrell (Guilford NC hoops forward before graduating in 1928) accumulated four hits and five RBI in a 7-6 win against the Philadelphia Athletics in opener of 1935 doubleheader.
Cincinnati Reds 3B Gene Freese (West Liberty WV hoops captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team) homered in both ends of a 1961 twinbill sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
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) homered in both ends of a 1957 doubleheader sweep of the New York Giants.
Washington Senators LF Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection in 1956-57 and 1957-58) whacked two homers against the Cleveland Indians in 1969. The next year, Howard homered in both ends of a 1970 twinbill against the Indians.
Chicago White Sox RHP Bart Johnson (averaged 30.5 ppg for Brigham Young's freshman squad in 1967-68) hurled a two-hit, complete game against the Detroit Tigers in his season debut, posting first of four consecutive victories.
St. Louis Cardinals SS Doc Lavan (Hope MI hooper from 1908 through 1910) went 4-for-4 against the Brooklyn Dodgers in a 1922 game.
St. Louis Cardinals RHP Lindy McDaniel (hooper for Oklahoma's 1954-55 freshman squad) extended his streak of consecutive contests without yielding an earned run to 15 in a row in 1962.
Detroit Tigers RF Jim Northrup (second-leading scorer and third-leading rebounder for Alma MI in 1958-59) blasted two homers against the Boston Red Sox in opener of a 1970 twinbill.
Pittsburgh Pirates 2B Johnny O'Brien (consensus All-American second-team choice as junior and first-team selection as senior averaged 25.8 ppg for Seattle from 1950-51 through 1952-53) went 4-for-4 in a 4-3 setback against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1955.
Philadelphia Phillies OF Gary Redus (J.C. hooper for Athens AL and father of Centenary/South Alabama hoops guard) ripped two homers in a 7-3 triumph over the Atlanta Braves in 1986. Redus registered a double in each of previous four outings against his original team (Cincinnati Reds).
LHP Preacher Roe (Harding AR hooper in late 1930s) hit the lone homer in his Organized Baseball career (against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1953) as the Brooklyn Dodgers established a N.L. record by homering in 21 consecutive contests.
New York Yankees 3B Red Rolfe (played hoops briefly with Dartmouth in 1927-28 and 1929-30) ripped a two-run triple off Hall of Fame P Carl Hubbell of the New York Giants in 1937 All-Star Game.
Milwaukee Brewers LF Ted Savage (Lincoln MO scoring average leader in 1955-56) smacked a game-winning, pinch-hit homer off Chicago White Sox P Wilbur Wood in the bottom of 12th inning in 1970.
Cleveland Indians 2B Riggs Stephenson (Alabama hoops letterman in 1920) collected three doubles and five RBI in a 27-3 rout of the Boston Red Sox in opener of a 1923 doubleheader.
Washington Senators 3B Eddie Yost (NYU freshman hooper in 1943-44 under coach Howard Cann) provided at least three safeties for third time in first seven games of the month in 1950.
LHP Tom Zachary (Guilford NC hoops letterman in 1916) traded by the St. Louis Browns to the Washington Senators in 1927.
Shatterproof: Loud and Proud NCAA Standards Never to Be Duplicated (#4)
What are the school and individual records that will never come close to being matched, let along exceeded? In ensuing blogs, CollegeHoopedia.com will designate the ultimate team and individual standards of excellence. Records were made to be broken, but perhaps not always in our lifetime. Following is #4 in the countdown of most illustrious NCAA achievements:
4. Pete Maravich's career scoring average of 44.2 points per game with a total of 28 contests scoring at least 50 points (for Louisiana State from 1967-68 through 1969-70).
"Pistol Pete" set NCAA single-season records for most points (1,381) and highest average (44.5), finishing his career with NCAA career marks for most points (3,667) and highest average (44.2). He also established an NCAA record for most successful free throws in a game when he converted 30 of 31 foul shots at Oregon State. Maravich, who broke Oscar Robertson's NCAA career scoring mark with 13 regular-season games remaining, is the only player in NCAA Division I history to score more than 1,000 points and average over 40 points per game in each of three seasons.
Maravich's statistics would have been even more staggering if there had been a three-point basket at the time. He had 56 games with at least 40 points in his three-year career, including a school- and SEC-record 69 in a 106-104 post-game brawl-marred defeat at Alabama when he was hampered by leg ailments. No other player has had more than 21 games with a minimum of 40. He averaged more than 50 points per game in a 10-game stretch spanning the last three games of 1968-69 and the first seven games of 1969-70. Incredibly, Maravich improved his field-goal accuracy and assists average each year. Combining scoring and assists, Maravich was responsible for a whopping 59.4% of LSU's offense during his career.
Maravich never scored fewer than 30 points in back-to-back games and tallied under 20 just once (17 at Tennessee as a sophomore) in his three varsity seasons. The son of LSU coach Press Maravich was outscored in just one regular-season game by a teammate.
Maravich tallied more than 50 points in four outings against both SEC power Kentucky and intrastate independent rival Tulane. The Tigers lost all six times to Kentucky by double-digit margins despite his firepower. Here is a breakdown of how he amassed a 44.1-point career scoring average and modest 28-26 record in 54 games against SEC competition:
| SEC Opponent | Average | High | Low | W-L |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 48.8 ppg | 69 | 30 | 4-2 |
| Auburn | 49 ppg | 55 | 44 | 3-3 |
| Florida | 44 ppg | 52 | 32 | 4-2 |
| Georgia | 46 ppg | 58 | 37 | 5-1 |
| Kentucky | 52 ppg | 64 | 44 | 0-6 |
| Mississippi | 42.3 ppg | 53 | 31 | 3-3 |
| Mississippi State | 47.3 ppg | 58 | 33 | 6-0 |
| Tennessee | 23 ppg | 30 | 17 | 1-5 |
| Vanderbilt | 44.7 ppg | 61 | 35 | 2-4 |
NOTE: LSU guard Chris Jackson is the only player to compile single-game scoring outbursts higher than Maravich in SEC competition against Mississippi (55 points), Florida (53) and Tennessee (50).
Best estimates are that Maravich would have averaged eight three-point goals per game if the arc had been around during his college playing days, which would have increased his scoring average to in excess of 50 ppg. Following is a game-by-game summary of Pistol Pete's career showing how his prolific scoring produced so many records prior to missing his final outing because of ankle and hip injuries:
Sophomore (1967-68)/Record: 14-12; 8-10 in SEC
| Date | Opponent | FG-A | FT-A | REB | PTS | LSU-OPP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12-2-67 | Tampa | 20-50 | 8-9 | 16 | 48 | 97-81 |
| 12-4-67 | at Texas | 15-34 | 12-16 | 5 | 42 | 87-74 |
| 12-9-67 | Loyola (New Orleans) | 22-43 | 7-11 | 9 | 51 | 90-56 |
| 12-15-67 | at Wisconsin* | 16-40 | 10-13 | 9 | 42 | 94-96 |
| 12-16-67 | Florida State* | 17-41 | 8-10 | 5 | 42 | 100-130 |
| 12-19-67 | Mississippi | 17-34 | 12-13 | 11 | 46 | 81-68 |
| 12-22-67 | Mississippi State | 22-40 | 14-16 | 8 | 58 | 111-87 |
| 12-30-67 | Alabama | 10-30 | 10-11 | 6 | 30 | 81-70 |
| 1-3-68 | Auburn | 20-38 | 15-17 | 9 | 55 | 76-72 |
| 1-6-68 | at Florida | 9-22 | 14-17 | 10 | 32 | 90-97 |
| 1-8-68 | at Georgia | 14-37 | 14-17 | 11 | 42 | 79-76 |
| 1-11-68 | at Tulane | 20-42 | 12-15 | 5 | 52 | 100-91 |
| 1-24-68 | Clemson | 14-29 | 5-6 | 6 | 33 | 104-81 |
| 1-27-68 | Kentucky | 19-51 | 14-17 | 11 | 52 | 95-121 |
| 1-29-68 | Vanderbilt | 22-57 | 10-15 | 6 | 54 | 91-99 |
| 2-3-68 | at Kentucky | 16-38 | 12-15 | 8 | 44 | 96-109 |
| 2-5-68 | Tennessee | 9-34 | 3-3 | 6 | 21 | 67-87 |
| 2-7-68 | at Auburn | 18-47 | 13-13 | 6 | 49 | 69-74 |
| 2-10-68 | Florida (OT) | 17-48 | 13-15 | 7 | 47 | 93-92 |
| 2-12-68 | Georgia | 20-47 | 11-18 | 4 | 51 | 73-78 |
| 2-17-68 | at Alabama | 24-52 | 11-13 | 12 | 59 | 99-89 |
| 2-19-68 | at Mississippi State | 13-38 | 8-12 | 7 | 34 | 94-83 |
| 2-21-68 | Tulane | 21-47 | 13-15 | 5 | 55 | 99-92 |
| 2-24-68 | at Mississippi | 13-26 | 14-16 | 4 | 40 | 85-87 |
| 3-2-68 | at Tennessee | 7-18 | 3-4 | 3 | 17 | 71-74 |
| 3-4-68 | at Vanderbilt | 17-39 | 8-11 | 6 | 42 | 86-115 |
*Milwaukee Classic.
Junior (1968-69)/Record: 13-13; 7-11 in SEC
| Date | Opponent | FG-A | FT-A | REB | PTS | LSU-OPP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12-2-68 | at Loyola (New Orleans) | 22-34 | 8-9 | 7 | 52 | 109-82 |
| 12-7-68 | at Clemson | 10-32 | 18-22 | 4 | 38 | 86-85 |
| 12-14-68 | Tulane (2OT) | 20-48 | 15-20 | 7 | 55 | 99-101 |
| 12-18-68 | Florida (OT) | 17-32 | 11-15 | 8 | 45 | 93-89 |
| 12-21-68 | Georgia | 18-33 | 11-16 | 10 | 47 | 98-89 |
| 12-26-68 | Wyoming** | 14-34 | 17-24 | 6 | 45 | 84-78 |
| 12-28-68 | at Oklahoma City** | 19-36 | 2-5 | 8 | 40 | 101-85 |
| 12-30-68 | Duquesne** | 18-36 | 17-21 | 2 | 53 | 94-91 |
| 1-4-69 | at Alabama | 19-49 | 4-4 | 10 | 42 | 82-85 |
| 1-9-69 | at Vanderbilt | 15-30 | 8-13 | 4 | 38 | 92-94 |
| 1-11-69 | at Auburn | 16-41 | 14-18 | 5 | 46 | 71-90 |
| 1-25-69 | Kentucky | 20-48 | 12-14 | 11 | 52 | 96-108 |
| 1-27-69 | Tennessee | 8-18 | 5-8 | 4 | 21 | 68-81 |
| 1-31-69 | Pittsburgh | 13-34 | 14-18 | 8 | 40 | 120-79 |
| 2-1-69 | Mississippi (OT) | 11-33 | 9-13 | 11 | 31 | 81-84 |
| 2-3-69 | Mississippi State | 14-32 | 5-6 | 11 | 33 | 95-71 |
| 2-8-69 | Alabama | 15-30 | 8-12 | 5 | 38 | 81-75 |
| 2-10-69 | at Tulane | 25-51 | 16-20 | 10 | 66 | 94-110 |
| 2-12-69 | at Florida | 14-41 | 22-27 | 6 | 50 | 79-95 |
| 2-15-69 | Auburn | 20-44 | 14-15 | 3 | 54 | 93-81 |
| 2-17-69 | Vanderbilt | 14-33 | 7-8 | 8 | 35 | 83-85 |
| 2-22-69 | at Kentucky | 21-53 | 3-7 | 5 | 45 | 89-103 |
| 2-24-69 | at Tennessee | 8-18 | 4-8 | 3 | 20 | 63-87 |
| 3-1-69 | at Mississippi | 21-39 | 7-11 | 3 | 49 | 76-78 |
| 3-3-69 | at Mississippi State | 20-49 | 15-19 | 4 | 55 | 99-89 |
| 3-8-69 | at Georgia (2OT) | 21-48 | 16-25 | 6 | 58 | 90-80 |
**All-College Tournament at Oklahoma City.
Senior (1969-70)/Record: 22-10; 13-5 in SEC
| Date | Opponent | FG-A | FT-A | REB | PTS | LSU-OPP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12-4-69 | Oregon State | 14-32 | 15-19 | 5 | 43 | 94-72 |
| 12-9-69 | Loyola (New Orleans) | 17-36 | 9-10 | 6 | 43 | 100-87 |
| 12-11-69 | Vanderbilt | 26-54 | 9-10 | 10 | 61 | 109-86 |
| 12-13-69 | at Tulane | 17-42 | 12-19 | 4 | 46 | 97-91 |
| 12-18-69 | Southern California | 18-43 | 14-16 | 6 | 50 | 98-101 |
| 12-20-69 | at Clemson | 22-30 | 5-8 | 6 | 49 | 111-103 |
| 12-22-69 | at Oregon State | 9-23 | 30-31 | 1 | 48 | 76-68 |
| 12-23-69 | at UCLA | 14-42 | 10-12 | 4 | 38 | 84-133 |
| 12-29-69 | St. John's*** | 20-44 | 13-16 | 8 | 53 | 80-70 |
| 12-30-69 | Yale*** | 13-28 | 8-11 | 5 | 34 | 94-97 |
| 1-3-70 | Alabama | 22-42 | 11-18 | 7 | 55 | 90-83 |
| 1-10-70 | Auburn | 18-46 | 8-11 | 6 | 44 | 70-79 |
| 1-24-70 | at Kentucky | 21-44 | 13-15 | 5 | 55 | 96-109 |
| 1-26-70 | Tennessee | 12-23 | 5-7 | 4 | 29 | 71-59 |
| 1-31-70 | Mississippi | 21-46 | 11-15 | 5 | 53 | 109-86 |
| 2-2-70 | Mississippi State | 21-40 | 7-9 | 3 | 49 | 109-91 |
| 2-4-70 | at Florida | 20-38 | 12-16 | 9 | 52 | 97-75 |
| 2-7-70 | at Alabama | 26-57 | 17-21 | 5 | 69 | 104-106 |
| 2-9-70 | Tulane | 18-45 | 13-15 | 4 | 49 | 127-114 |
| 2-11-70 | Florida | 16-35 | 6-10 | 3 | 38 | 94-85 |
| 2-14-70 | at Vanderbilt | 14-46 | 10-13 | 5 | 38 | 99-89 |
| 2-16-70 | at Auburn | 18-46 | 10-15 | 8 | 46 | 70-64 |
| 2-18-70 | Georgia | 17-34 | 3-6 | 2 | 37 | 88-86 |
| 2-21-70 | Kentucky | 23-42 | 18-22 | 4 | 64 | 105-121 |
| 2-23-70 | at Tennessee | 10-24 | 10-13 | 7 | 30 | 87-88 |
| 2-28-70 | at Mississippi | 13-43 | 9-14 | 9 | 35 | 103-90 |
| 3-2-70 | at Mississippi State | 22-44 | 11-13 | 5 | 55 | 97-87 |
| 3-7-70 | at Georgia | 16-37 | 9-10 | 3 | 41 | 99-88 |
| 3-15-70 | Georgetown (NIT) | 6-16 | 8-12 | 6 | 20 | 83-80 |
| 3-17-70 | Oklahoma (NIT) | 14-33 | 9-13 | 8 | 37 | 97-94 |
| 3-19-70 | Marquette (NIT) | 4-13 | 12-16 | 1 | 20 | 79-101 |
| 3-21-70 | Army (NIT) | DNP | 68-75 |
***Rainbow Classic at Honolulu.
Career Scoring Site-of-Game Breakdown
| Location (Record) | G. | Pts. | Avg. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home (25-12) | 37 | 1667 | 45.1 |
| Neutral (5-3) | 8 | 304 | 38.0 |
| Road (19-19) | 38 | 1696 | 44.6 |
Marks of Ownership
Three different Rhode Island State players in a six-year span set the major-college single-season scoring average record in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Maravich's record of 44.5 ppg in 1969-70 might never be eclipsed. Following is a look at how long players have held the NCAA Division I single-season scoring average standard (through 2017-18):
| Player | School | Years | Record (Season) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hank Luisetti | Stanford | one | 17.1 ppg (1936-37) |
| Chet Jaworski | Rhode Island State | one | 22.6 ppg (1938-39) |
| Stan Modzelewski | Rhode Island State | three | 23.1 ppg (1939-40) |
| George Senesky | St. Joseph's | one | 23.4 ppg (1942-43) |
| Ernie Calverley | Rhode Island State | seven | 26.7 ppg (1943-44) |
| Bill Mlkvy | Temple | two | 29.2 ppg (1950-51) |
| Frank Selvy | Furman | 15 | 41.7 ppg (1953-54) |
| Pete Maravich | Louisiana State | 50 | 44.5 ppg (1969-70) |
10. Bill Chambers' 51 rebounds in a single game (for William & Mary vs. Virginia on Feb. 14, 1953.).
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on July 6 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! If spittin' mad regarding COVID-19 season postponement and prolonged negotiations commencing campaign, you have time to read news 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.
Several small-college hoopers from North Carolina - Jim Bibby (Fayetteville State), Dick Culler (High Point) and Rick Ferrell (Guilford) - supplied significant MLB performances on this date. Ditto ex-juco hoopers Garth Iorg (Redwoods CA), Tony Phillips (New Mexico Military) and Jim Thome (Illinois Central). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a July 6 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JULY 6
San Diego Padres RHP Mike Adams (Texas A&M-Kingsville hooper in 1996-97) fanned the side against the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2008, triggering streak of 12 consecutive relief appearances without yielding a run.
Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading scorer in 1945-46) collected five RBI against the Chicago Cubs in a 1954 game.
San Diego Padres RHP Steve Arlin (played two basketball games for Ohio State in 1964-65 under coach Fred Taylor) surrendered only one hit in 10 shutout innings in a 1972 game they won in 14th against the New York Mets.
Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Jim Bibby (Fayetteville State NC backup hooper and brother of UCLA All-American Henry Bibby) improved his record to 11-1 with three scoreless innings of relief in a 20-inning, 5-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs in 1980.
Seattle Mariners DH 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 in a 5-3 win against the Kansas City Royals in 1980.
Cleveland Indians SS Lou Boudreau (leading scorer for Illinois' 1937 Big Ten Conference co-champion) led off the 1942 All-Star Game with a homer to help the A.L. defeat the N.L., 3-1.
Boston Braves SS Dick Culler (#9 jersey retired by High Point for Little All-American in 1935 and 1936) went 5-for-9 and scored six runs in a 1945 doubleheader sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
New York Giants SS Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for LSU and USL in mid-1940s) homered in the first of five contests in a six-game span in 1954.
CF Taylor Douthit (California hoops letterman from 1922 through 1924) contributed five hits and two walks at Philadelphia to help the St. Louis Cardinals snap an 11-game losing streak with a 28-6 triumph over the Phillies in the nightcap of a 1929 doubleheader.
Washington Senators C Rick Ferrell (Guilford NC hoops forward before graduating in 1928) went 4-for-4, including three doubles, against the Boston Red Sox in the opener of a 1947 twinbill.
A six-hit shutout against the Detroit Tigers was one of six straight complete-game wins in 1977 by Baltimore Orioles LHP Mike Flanagan (averaged 13.9 ppg for UMass' freshman squad in 1971-72). Flanagan also closed out the campaign with six triumphs in a row.
St. Louis Cardinals 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) supplied a homer in 1933 All-Star Game. Eight years earlier in the midst of a 19-game hitting streak with the New York Giants, Frisch furnished four safeties against the Philadelphia Phillies in the nightcap of a 1925 doubleheader.
Detroit Tigers rookie RHP Floyd Giebell (four-year hoops letterman for Salem College WV in mid-1930s) secured his first MLB victory with 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief in a 9-5 verdict over the St. Louis Browns in 1939.
Brooklyn Robins 3B Wally Gilbert (hoops captain for Valparaiso from 1918-19 through 1920-21) went 4-for-4 in a 10-4 win against the Boston Braves in 1930.
California Angels RHP Ed Halicki (NAIA All-American third-team choice in 1971-72 when leading Monmouth in scoring with 21 ppg after setting school single-game rebounding record with 40 previous season) hurled a two-hit shutout against the Milwaukee Brewers in 1980 (infield single in first inning and bloop double in ninth).
San Francisco Giants LHP Atlee Hammaker (averaged 5.3 ppg as freshman in 1976-77 and 4.9 as sophomore in 1977-78 under ETSU coach Sonny Smith) yielded seven earned runs to A.L. in 2/3 of an inning in the third frame of 1983 All-Star Game.
Pittsburgh Pirates 3B Lee Handley (Bradley hoops letterman from 1932-33 through 1934-35) lashed out four hits against the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a 1940 doubleheader.
Mike Hargrove (Northwestern Oklahoma State hoops letterman) replaced John McNamara as Cleveland Indians manager in 1991.
St. Louis Cardinals rookie RHP Jim Hearn (Georgia Tech hoops letterman in 1941-42) tossed his first MLB shutout (three-hitter against Cincinnati Reds in opener of 1947 twinbill).
Washington Senators 1B Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection in 1956-57 and 1957-58) homered in both ends of a 1971 doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles, giving him round-trippers in four straight outings.
Toronto Blue Jays 3B Garth Iorg (juco hooper with College of the Redwoods CA in mid-1970s) supplied three extra-base hits in a 1984 game against the Seattle Mariners.
Toronto Blue Jays DH Tony Johnson (All-VSAC hoops selection in 1976-77 and 1979-80 for LeMoyne-Owen TN) supplied his second 2-for-3 performance in three days in 1982.
In his first MLB start, Brooklyn Dodgers LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman hoops squad in 1953-54) toiled 4 1/3 innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1955, striking out four batters while yielding three hits and eight walks.
Oakland Athletics 2B Davey Lopes (NAIA All-District 15 selection for Iowa Wesleyan averaged 16.9 ppg as freshman in 1964-65 and 12.1 ppg as sophomore in 1965-66 before transferring with his coach to Washburn KS) launched two homers against the Cleveland Indians in a 1982 contest.
Kansas City Athletics 2B Jerry Lumpe (member of Southwest Missouri State's 1952 NAIA Tournament championship hoops team) supplied a double and triple in the second of back-to-back games against the Chicago White Sox in 1961.
Chicago Cubs RHP Claude Passeau (Millsaps MS hooper in late 1920s and early 1930s) fired two innings of scoreless relief for the National League in 1942 All-Star Game.
Oakland Athletics INF Tony Phillips (New Mexico Military juco hooper in 1977-78 as teammate of eventual Drake All-American Lewis Lloyd) scored four runs in a 7-6 triumph against the Milwaukee Brewers in opener of 1984 doubleheader.
Only hit in his four games as a member of New York Yankees for RF Curtis Pride (led William & Mary in steals three times and assists twice while averaging 5.6 ppg and 3.1 apg from 1986-87 through 1989-90) was a homer against the Boston Red Sox in 2003.
Oakland Athletics RHP Jeff Shaver (averaged 2.4 ppg for SUNY-Fredonia in 1983-84 and 1984-85) hurled a hitless inning of relief against the Cleveland Indians in his only MLB appearance in 1988.
Cleveland Indians 1B Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) collected three homers and six RBI in a 2001 game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Five years later as Chicago White Sox DH, Thome contributed two round-trippers and six RBI in 2006 contest against the Baltimore Orioles.
Boston Red Sox 3B Billy Werber (first Duke hoops All-American in 1929-30) banged out four hits and scored five runs against the Philadelphia Athletics in a 1934 outing.
New York Yankees RF Dave Winfield (starting forward with Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) went 3-for-3 as the A.L. smothered the N.L., 13-3, in the 1983 All-Star Game.
Boston Braves 3B Chuck Workman (two-time All-MIAA first-five hoops selection was leading scorer when Central Missouri won inaugural NAIA Tournament in 1937) manufactured four hits against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the nightcap of a 1945 twinbill.
Shatterproof: Loud and Proud NCAA Standards Never to Be Duplicated (#5)
What are the school and individual records that will never come close to being matched, let along exceeded? In ensuing blogs, CollegeHoopedia.com will designate the ultimate team and individual standards of excellence. Records were made to be broken, but perhaps not always in our lifetime. Following is #5 in the countdown of most illustrious NCAA achievements:
5. Bill Walton's NCAA Tournament championship game field-goal accuracy of 95.5% (21 of 22 for UCLA vs. Memphis State in 1973).
Walton, aided by Greg Lee's tourney-high 14 assists, erupted for a championship game-record 44 points in an 87-66 triumph over Memphis State in the 1973 NCAA Tournament final at St. Louis. Walton's 21 baskets were two more by himself than what Connecticut managed en route to winning the 2011 NCAA final against Butler. Walton had been outscored by fellow center Steve Downing, 26-14, in UCLA's 70-59 victory against Indiana in the national semifinals. Following is the box score of the game:
| UCLA (87) | Min. | FG-A | FT-A | Reb. | A. | PF | Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keith Wilkes | 39 | 8-14 | 0-0 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 16 |
| Larry Farmer | 33 | 1-4 | 0-0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Bill Walton | 33 | 21-22 | 2-5 | 13 | 2 | 4 | 44 |
| Greg Lee | 34 | 1-1 | 3-3 | 3 | 14 | 2 | 5 |
| Larry Hollyfield | 30 | 4-7 | 0-0 | 3 | 9 | 4 | 8 |
| Tommy Curtis | 11 | 1-4 | 2-2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Dave Meyers | 10 | 2-7 | 0-0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Swen Nater | 7 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Gary Franklin | 1 | 1-2 | 0-1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Vince Carson | 1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Webb | 1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 200 | 40-62 | 7-11 | 40 | 26 | 18 | 87 |
FG% - .645. FT% - .636. Blocks - 5. Turnovers - 17 (Walton 6, Wilkes 4). Steals - 2. Team Rebounds - 2.
| Memphis State (66) | Min. | FG-A | FT-A | Reb. | A. | PF | Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billy Buford | 38 | 3-7 | 1-2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| Larry Kenon | 34 | 8-16 | 4-4 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 20 |
| Ronnie Robinson | 33 | 3-6 | 0-1 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 6 |
| Bill Laurie | 21 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Larry Finch | 38 | 9-21 | 11-13 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 29 |
| Wes Westfall | 10 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Bill Cook | 18 | 1-4 | 2-2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Doug McKinney | 1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Clarence Jones | 4 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jerry Tetzlaff | 1 | 0-0 | 0-2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Jim Liss | 1 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ken Andrews | 1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 200 | 24-57 | 18-24 | 21 | 11 | 17 | 66 |
FG% - .421. FT% - .750. Blocks - 1. Turnovers - 8. Steals - 0. Team Rebounds - 2.
Halftime: Tied 39-39.
10. Bill Chambers' 51 rebounds in a single game (for William & Mary vs. Virginia on Feb. 14, 1953.).
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on July 5 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! If spittin' mad regarding COVID-19 season postponement and prolonged negotiations commencing campaign, you have time to read news 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 Creighton hoopers Bob Gibson and Dennis Rasmussen delivered memorable moments in their MLB pitching careers on this date. Ditto for ex-college hoopers Jack Coombs (Colby ME) and Chubby Dean (Duke) connected as coach and player with the Blue Devils in 1936. Coombs and Dean each contributed significant performances for the Philadelphia Athletics against the Washington Senators on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a July 5 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JULY 5
California Angels 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) homered in his third consecutive contest in 1966.
In his MLB debut, Philadelphia Athletics RHP Jack Coombs (captain and starting hoops center for Colby ME) hurled a shutout against the Washington Senators in 1906.
1B Chubby Dean (reserve guard for Duke in 1936) stroked two doubles and scored both of the Philadelphia Athletics' runs, including one with two outs in the bottom of the ninth of an 11-inning, 2-2 tie against the Washington Senators, in the nightcap of a 1937 doubleheader.
Cleveland Indians OF Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA hoops titlist) became the first African-American player in the American League, striking out as a pinch-hitter against the Chicago White Sox in 1947.
San Francisco Giants 3B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college hoops crown) furnished three extra-base hits in a 1979 game against the Atlanta Braves.
Boston Red Sox C Rick Ferrell (hoops forward for Guilford NC before graduating in 1928) amassed four hits against the Philadelphia Athletics in a 1936 game.
St. Louis Cardinals 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) tied a N.L. record with 16 chances in a 6-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds in 1930.
St. Louis Cardinals RHP Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer and rebounder in 1955-56 and 1956-57) belted his first of 24 MLB career homers (off Los Angeles Dodgers' Johnny Podres in 1961).
Detroit Tigers 1B Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoops scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) went 4-for-4, including four runs, two homers and five RBI, against the St. Louis Browns in a 1935 contest.
Baltimore Orioles RHP Dick Hall (averaged 13.5 ppg from 1948-49 through 1950-51 for Swarthmore PA Southern Division champions in Middle Atlantic States Conference) hurled a four-hit shutout against the Washington Senators in 1961.
In 1965, New York Yankees LHP Steve Hamilton (All-OVC hoops selection was Morehead State's leading scorer and rebounder in 1956-57 and 1957-58) yielded his only earned run in a span of 21 relief appearances from the end of May to late July.
Cleveland Indians RHP Oral Hildebrand (Butler hoops All-American in 1928-29 and 1929-30) hurled a shutout against the Chicago White Sox for one of his five victories this month in 1934.
Washington Senators LF Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection in 1956-57 and 1957-58) hammered two homers against the Boston Red Sox in the opener of a 1969 doubleheader.
New York Yankees LF Charlie Keller (Maryland three-year hoops letterman from 1934-35 through 1936-37) cracked two homers against the Philadelphia Athletics in a 1941 game.
Detroit Tigers SS Harvey Kuenn (played five hoops games for Wisconsin in 1951-52) provided the game's only tally with an 11th-inning homer against the Cleveland Indians in the nightcap of a 1954 twinbill.
Chicago Cubs LF Les Mann (Springfield MA hooper in 1913 and 1914) cracked two triples against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 1919 game.
Philadelphia Athletics LHP Pete Naktenis (Duke hoops letterman in 1934-35), yielding 10 earned runs in first 1 2/3 innings, lost his lone MLB decision (16-2 rout by Boston Red Sox in opener of 1936 doubleheader).
New York Yankees CF Irv Noren (hoops player of year for California community college state champion Pasadena City in 1945) collected a pair of homers and five RBI against the Philadelphia Athletics in the nightcap of a 1954 twinbill.
New York Yankees RHP Cecil Perkins (All-WVIAC hoops selection in 1961-62 with Salem International WV) lost his lone MLB decision and start (against Minnesota Twins in 1967).
In the midst of winning seven straight decisions in 1986, New York Yankees LHP Dennis Rasmussen (sixth-man for Creighton averaged 5.1 ppg from 1977-78 through 1979-80) tossed a three-hit shutout against the Chicago White Sox.
In 1953, Philadelphia Phillies RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) blanked the Pittsburgh Pirates, 2-0, for his 28th consecutive complete game.
Chicago Cubs RHP Lee Smith (averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg for Northwestern State in 1976-77) lost fourth straight game as a starter in 1982 before making his final 927 MLB appearances as a reliever.
Detroit Tigers RF Champ Summers (led SIUE in scoring in 1969-70 after doing same for Nicholls State in 1964-65) socked a decisive homer in the bottom of the eighth inning of a 3-2 win against the Toronto Blue Jays in 1979.
In 1969, Montreal Expos 2B Gary Sutherland (averaged 7.4 ppg with USC in 1963-64) stroked four hits in an outing against his original team (Philadelphia Phillies).
Cincinnati Reds CF Evar Swanson (played all five hoops positions for Knox IL) supplied four hits against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1930 contest.
Pittsburgh Pirates LHP Bob Veale (scored 1,160 points for Benedictine KS from 1955-56 through 1957-58) won his fifth straight start with a two-hit shutout against the Chicago Cubs in 1968. The whitewash capped off a streak of seven starts where Veale allowed fewer than three earned runs.
St. Louis Cardinals 1B Bill White (two-year Hiram OH hooper in early 1950s) collected three homers and a double in 1961 game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Boston Red Sox C Sammy White (All-PCC Northern Division first-five selection for Washington in 1947-48 and 1948-49) knocked in five runs against the Baltimore Orioles in the opener of a 1959 twinbill.
In 1998, Tampa Bay Devil Rays LF Randy Winn (Santa Clara backcourtmate of eventual two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash in 1993-94) became the 3,000th career strikeout victim of Roger Clemens.
Shatterproof: Loud and Proud NCAA Standards Never to Be Duplicated (#6)
What are the school and individual records that will never come close to being matched, let along exceeded? In ensuing blogs, CollegeHoopedia.com will designate the ultimate team and individual standards of excellence. Records were made to be broken, but perhaps not always in our lifetime. Following is #6 in the countdown of most illustrious NCAA achievements:
6. UCLA's streak of 13 consecutive "undisputed" conference championships in a power league (from 1966-67 through 1978-79 in Pacific-8/Pacific-10).
The key factor in this equation is "undisputed." Coach Bill Self assembled an impressive run of 14 consecutive Big 12 Conference regular-season championships with Kansas, but the streak included four ties prior to ending last season. The Bruins' composite conference record while capturing 13 straight "undisputed" regular-season league titles was an amazing 171-15 (.919). They were undefeated in conference competition five times in the first seven years of that streak. UCLA had three different coaches during the last five seasons of its domination.
Oregon, was the only school to win a home-and-home series against the Bruins during this streak (under coach Dick Harter in 1976-77). UCLA's league losses during the 13 seasons came against the Ducks (five), Washington (three), Oregon State (two), Southern California (two), Stanford (two) and Arizona (one).
| Season | League Mark | UCLA's Head Coach | Scoring Leader | Rebounding Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1966-67 | 14-0 | John Wooden | Lew Alcindor (29 ppg) | Lew Alcindor (15.5) |
| 1967-68 | 14-0 | John Wooden | Lew Alcindor (26.2) | Lew Alcindor (16.5) |
| 1968-69 | 13-1 | John Wooden | Lew Alcindor (24) | Lew Alcindor (14.6) |
| 1969-70 | 12-2 | John Wooden | Sidney Wicks (18.6) | Sidney Wicks (11.9) |
| 1970-71 | 14-0 | John Wooden | Sidney Wicks (21.3) | Sidney Wicks (12.8) |
| 1971-72 | 14-0 | John Wooden | Bill Walton (21.1) | Bill Walton (15.5) |
| 1972-73 | 14-0 | John Wooden | Bill Walton (20.4) | Bill Walton (16.9) |
| 1973-74 | 12-2 | John Wooden | Bill Walton (19.3) | Bill Walton (14.7) |
| 1974-75 | 12-2 | John Wooden | David Meyers (18.3) | David Meyers (7.9) |
| 1975-76 | 12-2 | Gene Bartow | Richard Washington (20.1) | Marques Johnson (9.4) |
| 1976-77 | 11-3 | Gene Bartow | Marques Johnson (21.4) | Marques Johnson (11.1) |
| 1977-78 | 14-0 | Gary Cunningham | David Greenwood (17.5) | David Greenwood (11.4) |
| 1978-79 | 15-3 | Gary Cunningham | David Greenwood (19.9) | David Greenwood (10.3) |
10. Bill Chambers' 51 rebounds in a single game (for William & Mary vs. Virginia on Feb. 14, 1953.).
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on July 4 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! If spittin' mad regarding COVID-19 season postponement and prolonged negotiations commencing campaign, you have time to read news 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 Maryland hoopers Bosey Berger and Charlie Keller provided the fireworks by manufacturing significant American League performances on this date. Ex-juco hoopers Darrell Evans (Pasadena City CA), Bob Oliver (American River CA), Tony Phillips (New Mexico Military) and Carl Reynolds (Lon Morris TX) also had outstanding offensive outings. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a July 4 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JULY 4
Cleveland Indians 2B Bosey Berger (Maryland's first basketball All-American led Southern Conference in scoring in league competition in 1930-31) banged out four hits against the Detroit Tigers in the opener of a 1935 doubleheader.
1B-OF Larry Biittner (runner-up in scoring and rebounding for Buena Vista IA in 1966-67) hurled the final 1 1/3 innings for the Chicago Cubs in the opener of a 1977 doubleheader against the Montreal Expos.
Cleveland Indians SS Lou Boudreau (leading scorer for Illinois' 1937 Big Ten Conference co-champion) contributed four hits against the Detroit Tigers in nightcap of a 1946 twinbill.
Pittsburgh Pirates 1B Donn Clendenon (four-sport letterman with Morehouse GA) cracked two homers against the Chicago Cubs in nightcap of a 1966 doubleheader. Clendenon also homered each of next two days against the Cubs.
Philadelphia Athletics C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) went 4-for-4, including three doubles and a homer, against the Boston Red Sox in the opener of a 1929 doubleheader. Six years later with the Detroit Tigers, Cochrane stroked four hits for the second time in a four-game span in 1935.
RHP Jack Coombs (captain and starting hoops center for Colby ME) overcame seven Brooklyn Dodgers errors to nip the New York Giants, 4-3, in the nightcap of a 1918 twinbill. Coombs scored the winning run after drilling a 10th-inning triple (his third hit of contest).
In 1957, Cincinnati Reds 1B George Crowe (four-year letterman from 1939-40 through 1942-43 for Indiana Central after becoming first high schooler named state's "Mr. Basketball") went 5-for-5, driving in six runs, but it wasn't enough to prevent a 10-7 loss against his original team (Milwaukee Braves).
New York Giants SS Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for LSU and USL during World War II) homered in each end of a 1950 doubleheader split with the Brooklyn Dodgers, extending his streak of games with a round-tripper to four in a row.
St. Louis Cardinals CF Taylor Douthit (California hoops letterman from 1922 through 1924) went 5-for-7 and scored five runs in a 1928 twinbill split against the Chicago Cubs.
Baltimore Orioles 1B Walt Dropo (first player in Connecticut history to average 20 ppg in single season with 21.7 in 1942-43) homered twice in a 1959 game against the Boston Red Sox.
Washington Senators LHP Joe Engel (hooper for Mount St. Mary's in 1910-11 and 1911-12) hurled a complete game but lost, 1-0, against the Boston Red Sox on an unearned run in the opener of a 1914 doubleheader.
Detroit Tigers 1B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college hoops crown) homered in his third consecutive contest for the second time in less than two weeks in 1987.
Chicago Cubs LHP Darcy Fast (all-conference hooper for Warner Pacific OR in 1965-66 and 1966-67) lost his lone MLB decision (7-4 against Philadelphia Phillies in nightcap of 1968 twinbill).
Boston Red Sox C Rick Ferrell (hoops forward for Guilford NC before graduating in 1928) went 4-for-4 against the Philadelphia Athletics in the nightcap of a 1933 doubleheader.
RHP Bob Garibaldi (starting forward for Santa Clara in 1961-62 when averaging 10.6 ppg and 5.6 rpg) signed with the San Francisco Giants for a $150,000 bonus in 1962 after receiving award as College World Series Most Outstanding Player.
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) provided three hits in each game of a 1956 twinbill split against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Cincinnati Reds RHP Jay Hook (Northwestern's third-leading scorer as sophomore in 1955-56) hurled a four-hit shutout against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1960.
Los Angeles Dodgers RF Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection in 1956-57 and 1957-58) furnished five RBI against the Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a 1962 twinbill.
Atlanta Braves 2B Davey Johnson (averaged 1.7 ppg with Texas A&M in 1961-62) laced two homers against the Houston Astros in the nightcap of a 1973 doubleheader.
New York Yankees RF Charlie Keller (Maryland three-year hoops letterman from 1934-35 through 1936-37) clobbered two homers against the Boston Red Sox in the opener of a 1940 twinbill.
Cleveland Indians SS Jerry Kindall (averaged 6.9 ppg for Minnesota as junior in 1955-56) cracked a homer in both ends of a 1963 doubleheader sweep against the Boston Red Sox. Kindall collected a walk-off round-tripper in the bottom of the 14th inning in the opener.
Chicago Cubs OF Hank Leiber (Arizona hooper in 1931) hammered three homers against the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a 1939 twinbill.
Cleveland Indians RHP Dutch Levsen (Iowa State hoops letterman in 1918-19) tossed a two-hit shutout against the Chicago White Sox in the opener of a 1927 doubleheader.
Chicago White Sox 1B Tony Lupien (Harvard hoops captain in 1938-39) went 7-for-10 in a 1948 doubleheader split against the Detroit Tigers.
Cleveland Indians rookie CF Ed Morgan (Tulane hoops letterman from 1923-24 through 1925-26), raising his batting average to .378, manufactured four hits against the Detroit Tigers in the opener of a 1928 twinbill.
Chicago Cubs RF Bill Nicholson (Washington College MD hoops guard for two years in mid-1930s) whacked two homers against the Boston Braves in the nightcap of a 1945 doubleheader.
Oakland Athletics CF Billy North (played hoops briefly for Central Washington in 1967-68) stole three bases against the California Angels in a 1973 game.
Detroit Tigers RF Jim Northrup (second-leading scorer and third-leading rebounder for Alma MI in 1958-59) collected two homers, a triple and five RBI in a 13-10 victory over the California Angels in 1968.
Rookie 3B Bob Oliver (All-Valley Conference basketball choice for American River Community College CA in 1962) supplied the expansion Kansas City Royals' first grand slam in franchise history in the opener of a 1969 twinbill (off Jim Bouton of Seattle Pilots).
Chicago White Sox RF Carl Reynolds (Southwestern TX hoops MVP and captain in mid-1920s) went 5-for-5 in the opener of a 1929 doubleheader against the Cleveland Indians. It was the second straight contest for Reynolds with three doubles.
LHP Preacher Roe (Harding AR hooper in late 1930s) and RHP Ralph Branca (sixth-leading scorer for NYU in 1943-44) are the winning hurlers as the Brooklyn Dodgers sweep a 1951 twinbill against the New York Giants.
RHP Jeff Shaw (freshman guard for 31-5 Rio Grande OH team participating in 1985 NAIA Tournament) traded by the Cincinnati Reds to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1968. He became the first reliever in MLB history to lead two different clubs in saves in the same season (23 with Reds and 25 with Dodgers).
New York Yankees LF Norm Siebern (member of Southwest Missouri State squads capturing back-to-back NAIA Tournament hoops titles in 1952 and 1953) went 5-for-5 against the Washington Senators in the nightcap of a 1958 doubleheader.
Boston Red Sox rookie 3B Jim Tabor (Alabama hoops letterman in 1936-37) socked four homers in a 1939 twinbill against the Philadelphia Athletics, collecting 19 total bases and 11 RBI. Three of Tabor's round-trippers came in the nightcap, including a record-tying two grand slams in back-to-back innings.
Pittsburgh Pirates CF Bill Virdon (Drury MO hooper in 1949) doubled and homered in both ends of a 1958 doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds.
New York Yankees LHP Ed Wells (multi-sport athlete graduated in 1924 from Bethany WV) incurred his lone defeat in the midst of 10 victories from the end of May to early August in 1930.
Philadelphia Phillies 1B Bill White (two-year Hiram OH hooper in early 1950s) stroked two triples in the opener of a 1966 twinbill against the New York Mets.
Boston Braves LF Ab Wright (Oklahoma A&M hoops etterman in 1928-29) went hitless for the only time in a 14-game span in 1944.
Washington Senators 3B Eddie Yost (NYU freshman hooper in 1943-44 under coach Howard Cann) homered in both ends of a 1953 doubleheader split against the Boston Red Sox.
Shatterproof: Loud and Proud NCAA Standards Never to Be Duplicated (#7)
What are the school and individual records that will never come close to being matched, let along exceeded? In ensuing blogs, CollegeHoopedia.com will designate the ultimate team and individual standards of excellence. Records were made to be broken, but perhaps not always in our lifetime. Following is #7 in the countdown of most illustrious NCAA achievements:
7. Artis Gilmore's career rebounding average of 22.7 per game (for Jacksonville in 1969-70 and 1970-71) while also averaging more than 22 points per contest.
Gilmore, a junior college transfer, led NCAA Division I in rebounding in 1969-70 and 1970-71 en route to becoming the only player in major-college history to average more than 22 points and 22 rebounds per game in his career (minimum of two seasons). He finished with 24.3 points and 22.7 rebounds per outing in powering the Dolphins to a 49-6 record during his tenure.
The only time when Gilmore retrieved fewer than 10 missed shots for JU was in New Orleans against Loyola (La.) at the end of a streak of four consecutive road games in his junior season. He averaged 19.4 rpg in a total of 17 contests against schools currently members in power conferences. Marshall's recently-deceased Charlie Slack averaged 23.8 rpg from 1953-54 through 1955-56 while chipping in with 18.7 ppg. Kermit Washington, two years after Gilmore's eligibility expired, became the last major-college player to average more than 20 rebounds per game in a single season (20.4 rpg for American University in 1972-73). Following is a game-by-game summary of Gilmore's scoring and rebounding totals:
Junior (27-2 in 1969-70)
| Date | Opponent | Pts. | Reb. |
|---|---|---|---|
| D. 1 | East Tennessee State | 35 | 18 |
| D. 2 | Morehead State | 31 | 26 |
| D. 9 | Mercer | 34 | 32 |
| D. 13 | Biscayne (Fla.) | 24 | 30 |
| D. 18 | Georgetown* | 11 | 21 |
| D. 22 | Harvard | 29 | 26 |
| D. 26 | vs. Arizona | 32 | 17 |
| D. 27 | at Evansville | 37 | 22 |
| J. 2 | at Hawaii | 23 | 28 |
| J. 5 | at Hawaii | 13 | 21 |
| J. 9 | Richmond | 38 | 29 |
| J. 10 | Miami (Fla.) | 13 | 23 |
| J. 16 | Virgin Islands | 18 | 26 |
| J. 27 | at Florida State | 21 | 19 |
| J. 30 | St. Peter's | 46 | 30 |
| F. 2 | Iona | 29 | 26 |
| F. 5 | at East Carolina | 27 | 19 |
| F. 6 | at Richmond | 27 | 21 |
| F. 13 | at Oklahoma City | 27 | 15 |
| F. 14 | at Loyola (La.) | 16 | 8 |
| F. 18 | Florida State | 19 | 21 |
| F. 24 | Oklahoma City | 25 | 18 |
| F. 26 | at Georgia Tech | 27 | 10 |
| M. 4 | at Miami (Fla.) | 19 | 10 |
| M. 7 | vs. Western Kentucky | 30 | 19 |
| M. 12 | vs. Iowa | 30 | 17 |
| M. 14 | vs. Kentucky | 24 | 20 |
| M. 19 | vs. St. Bonaventure | 29 | 21 |
| M. 21 | vs. UCLA | 19 | 16 |
*Forfeit at 1:26 of first half.
Senior (22-4 in 1970-71)
| Date | Opponent | Pts. | Reb. |
|---|---|---|---|
| D. 1 | Biscayne (Fla.) | 50 | 29 |
| D. 3 | at St. Peter's | 28 | 34 |
| D. 7 | George Washington | 40 | 29 |
| D. 8 | Florida State | 31 | 26 |
| D. 12 | at Richmond | 28 | 19 |
| D. 23 | at Western Kentucky | 29 | 18 |
| D. 29 | vs. Creighton | 15 | 23 |
| D. 30 | vs. Wake Forest | 13 | 21 |
| J. 9 | Miami (Fla.) | 21 | 22 |
| J. 11 | Oklahoma City | 15 | 17 |
| J. 13 | Manhattan | 12 | 16 |
| J. 20 | Furman | 18 | 18 |
| J. 23 | at Mercer | 19 | 20 |
| J. 25 | South Alabama | 15 | 19 |
| J. 27 | Florida State | 15 | 28 |
| F. 4 | at South Alabama | 25 | 17 |
| F. 6 | at Oklahoma City | 18 | 19 |
| F. 8 | Loyola (La.) | 24 | 28 |
| F. 11 | at William & Mary | 2 | 14 |
| F. 13 | at Bradley | 24 | 20 |
| F. 15 | at Florida State | 22 | 25 |
| F. 20 | Valdosta (Ga.) State | 26 | 24 |
| F. 22 | East Carolina | 25 | 28 |
| F. 27 | at Houston | 22 | 15 |
| M. 2 | at Miami (Fla.) | 21 | 10 |
| M. 13 | vs. Western Kentucky | 12 | 22 |
10. Bill Chambers' 51 rebounds in a single game (for William & Mary vs. Virginia on Feb. 14, 1953).
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on July 3 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! If spittin' mad regarding COVID-19 season postponement and prolonged negotiations commencing campaign, you have time to read news 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.
A couple of small-college players from Michigan - Roger Mason (Saginaw Valley State) and Jim Northrup (Alma) - made MLB news on this date. Ditto ex-SEC hoopers Ray Blemker (Georgia Tech), Harvey Hendrick (Vanderbilt), Mike Smithson (Tennessee) and Riggs Stephenson (Alabama). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a July 3 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JULY 3
In 1960, LHP Ray Blemker (two-time All-SEC second-team guard led Georgia Tech in scoring each basketball season from 1956-57 through 1958-59) made his lone MLB appearance with the Kansas City Athletics.
Kansas City Athletics LF Bob Cerv (ranked fourth on Nebraska's career scoring list in 1949-50 when finishing his career) cracked a grand slam before P Herb Score settled down and fanned 14 in the Cleveland Indians' 8-4 triumph in 1959.
In 1994, the Cleveland Indians retired the uniform number of OF Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA hoops titlist). Doby broke the A.L. color barrier in 1947.
Detroit Tigers 1B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) homered in third consecutive contest in 1986.
California Angels RHP Dave Frost (averaged 10.5 ppg and 4 rpg for Stanford from 1971-72 through 1973-74) tossed a four-hit shutout against the Oakland Athletics in 1979.
Cincinnati Reds 1B Harvey Hendrick (Vanderbilt hoops letterman in 1918) went 4-for-4 in a 4-2 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1932.
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 Minnesota Twins in a 1994 game.
Boston Braves rookie CF Les Mann (Springfield MA hooper in 1913 and 1914) went 5-for-5 against the Brooklyn Superbas in a 1913 game.
RHP Roger Mason (multiple-year hoops letterman for Saginaw Valley State MI in late 1970s) traded by the San Diego Padres to the Philadelphia Phillies in 1993.
In the midst of smacking six homers in a six-game span in 1974, Detroit Tigers RF Jim Northrup (second-leading scorer and third-leading rebounder for Alma MI in 1958-59) deposited two balls over the outfield fence against the New York Yankees.
In 1956, Pittsburgh Pirates 2B Johnny O'Brien (two-time All-American with Seattle was first college player to crack 1,000-point plateau in single season by scoring 1,051 in 37 games in 1951-52) became the last N.L. position player in the 20th Century to earn a victory on the mound.
Philadelphia Phillies RHP Ron Reed (Notre Dame's leading rebounder in 1963-64 and 1964-65) permitted an earned run for the only time in a span of 14 relief appearances in 1976.
In 1949, Philadelphia Phillies RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) tossed his third shutout in less than a month.
Montreal Expos RF Ken Singleton (Hofstra freshman hoops squad in mid-1960s) knocked in five runs in a 1973 game against his original team (New York Mets).
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 five-hit shutout against the Cleveland Indians in 1985. It was the first of five victories in as many decisions for him in July of this year.
Chicago Cubs LF Riggs Stephenson (Alabama hoops letterman in 1920) contributed five RBI against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1928 contest. The next day, Stephenson supplied five hits against the Cards in the nightcap of a doubleheader.
Cleveland Indians 1B Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) clobbered a homer in his seventh consecutive contest in 2002. Eight years later as DH for the Minnesota Twins, he smacked two round-trippers in 2010 game against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Boston Red Sox rookie RHP Jim Wilson (hoops letterman for San Diego State's 1942 NAIA Tournament participant) tossed a five-hit shutout against the Detroit Tigers. The whitewash was first of four complete games for him during the month in 1945 when yielding fewer than two earned runs.
Tampa Devil Rays rookie OF Randy Winn (Santa Clara backcourtmate of eventual two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash in 1993-94) went 4-for-4 against the Toronto Blue Jays in 1998. Eleven years later with the San Francisco Giants, Winn registered his sixth two-hit outing in a seven-game span in 2009.
Shatterproof: Loud and Proud NCAA Standards Never to Be Duplicated (#8)
What are the school and individual records that will never come close to being matched, let along exceeded? In ensuing blogs, CollegeHoopedia.com will designate the ultimate team and individual standards of excellence. Records were made to be broken, but perhaps not always in our lifetime. Following is #8 in the countdown of most illustrious NCAA achievements:
8. Robert Parish finished among nation's top five in rebounding all four seasons with more than 15 rpg each year.
Parish, attending Centenary College in his hometown of Shreveport, La., finished his career (1972-73 through 1975-76) as the only Division I player ever to rank among the national top five in rebounding for four seasons. He averaged more than 15 rpg each campaign, a figure no one has surpassed since 1979-80 when Alcorn State's Larry "Mr. Mean" Smith led the country with 15.1 rpg.
How in the name of James Naismith did no outlet acknowledge Parish as a first-team All-American? He had 33 games grabbing a minimum of 20 rebounds en route to retrieving an average of 16.9 missed shots per contest. Centenary de-emphasized its program early last decade but Parish's prolific performances won't be forgotten despite the NCAA overlooking them as part of probation sanctions against the Gentlemen. Following is a list of Parish's eight contests with at least 25 rebounds and his game-by-game totals:
33 -- vs. Southern Mississippi (January 27, 1973)
30 -- at Lamar (December 22, 1972)
29 -- vs. Texas-Arlington (February 5, 1973)
27 -- vs. Lamar (February 7, 1973)
27 -- vs. Northwestern State (December 9, 1974)
27 -- at Northeast Louisiana (January 15, 1976)
26 -- vs. Houston (January 17, 1974)
25 -- vs. LSU-New Orleans (January 15, 1973)
1972-73 (Freshman/18.7 rpg)
| Game | Opponent | Reb. |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Southwestern TX | 21 |
| 2. | *Houston Baptist | 8 |
| 3. | *Louisiana Tech | 15 |
| 4. | East Texas Baptist | 7 |
| 5. | Indiana State | 8 |
| 6. | Northern Colorado | 20 |
| 7. | at Lamar | 30 |
| 8. | at Arkansas | 21 |
| 9. | Texas | 16 |
| 10. | at Southern Mississippi | 16 |
| 11. | at Northwestern State | 22 |
| 12. | LSU-New Orleans | 25 |
| 13. | at Texas-Arlington | 9 |
| 14. | Virginia Commonwealth | 12 |
| 15. | at Indiana State | 16 |
| 16. | Southern Mississippi | 33 |
| 17. | at Houston | 22 |
| 18. | Arkansas State | 20 |
| 19. | Texas-Arlington | 29 |
| 20. | Lamar | 27 |
| 21. | at Arizona State | 20 |
| 22. | at Hawaii | 23 |
| 23. | at Hawaii | 14 |
| 24. | at Arkansas State | 23 |
| 25. | at LSU-New Orleans | 17 |
| 26. | Northwestern State | 14 |
| 27. | Houston | 17 |
*Sports Foundation Tournament.
1973-74 (Sophomore/15.3 rpg)
| Game | Opponent | Reb. |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | McNeese State | 17 |
| 2. | Louisiana Tech | 8 |
| 3. | Dallas Baptist TX | 10 |
| 4. | Henderson State AR | 21 |
| 5. | Northwestern State | 23 |
| 6. | at Texas | 14 |
| 7. | at Arkansas | 16 |
| 8. | at Southern Mississippi | 23 |
| 9. | Northeast Louisiana | 8 |
| 10. | at Northwestern State | 16 |
| 11. | Houston | 26 |
| 12. | at Lamar | 11 |
| 13. | at Virginia Commonwealth | 12 |
| 14. | Southern Mississippi | 16 |
| 15. | at Hardin-Simmons TX | 14 |
| 16. | at Arizona | 14 |
| 17. | at Indiana State | 18 |
| 18. | at Southern Illinois | 10 |
| 19. | Portland | 15 |
| 20. | at Loyola of Chicago | 13 |
| 21. | Houston Baptist | 13 |
| 22. | Lamar | 13 |
| 23. | at Houston | 13 |
| 24. | at Houston Baptist | 18 |
| 25. | Hardin-Simmons TX | 20 |
1974-75 (Junior/15.4 rpg)
| Game | Opponent | Reb. |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | *UNC Charlotte | 16 |
| 2. | *Dartmouth | 18 |
| 3. | at Lamar | 17 |
| 4. | Texas | 10 |
| 5. | Northwestern State | 27 |
| 6. | McNeese State | 19 |
| 7. | at Virginia Commonwealth | 15 |
| 8. | &Pacific | 21 |
| 9. | &North Texas State | 15 |
| 10. | &Oklahoma City | 10 |
| 11. | Wabash College IN | 9 |
| 12. | East Texas Baptist | 13 |
| 13. | Arkansas | 17 |
| 14. | Hawaii | 19 |
| 15. | Lamar | 14 |
| 16. | at Southern Mississippi | 8 |
| 17. | at Indiana State | 16 |
| 18. | at Houston Baptist | 16 |
| 19. | Virginia Commonwealth | 16 |
| 20. | Southern Mississippi | 17 |
| 21. | at Northwestern State | 21 |
| 22. | Houston Baptist | 18 |
| 23. | at Hardin-Simmons TX | 9 |
| 24. | Indiana State | 15 |
| 25. | Southern Illinois | 20 |
| 26. | at Hawaii-Hilo | 16 |
| 27. | at Hawaii | 15 |
| 28. | at Hawaii | 11 |
| 29. | Hardin-Simmons TX | 9 |
*Hall of Fame Tournament.
&All-College Tournament.
1975-76 (Senior/18.0 rpg)
| Game | Opponent | Reb. |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | at South Alabama | 19 |
| 2. | Northwestern State | 21 |
| 3. | at McNeese State | 23 |
| 4. | at Southwestern Louisiana | 14 |
| 5. | South Alabama | 12 |
| 6. | Texas | 19 |
| 7. | Virginia Commonwealth | 19 |
| 8. | at Northern Illinois | 24 |
| 9. | at Illinois State | 15 |
| 10. | *Bowling Green State | 14 |
| 11. | *Utah State | 14 |
| 12. | *Long Island | 21 |
| 13. | at Texas | 14 |
| 14. | UNC Charlotte | 19 |
| 15. | Hawaii | 19 |
| 16. | Louisiana Tech | 23 |
| 17. | at Northeast Louisiana | 27 |
| 18. | at Northwestern State | 14 |
| 19. | East Texas Baptist | 23 |
| 20. | at Houston Baptist | 6 |
| 21. | Hardin-Simmons TX | 19 |
| 22. | Southern Mississippi | 20 |
| 23. | at Nevada-Las Vegas | 11 |
| 24. | at Hardin-Simmons TX | 22 |
| 25. | Houston Baptist | 17 |
| 26. | at UNC Charlotte | 17 |
| 27. | at Virginia Commonwealth | 20 |
*All-College Tournament.
10. Bill Chambers' 51 rebounds in a single game (for William & Mary vs. Virginia on Feb. 14, 1953).
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on July 2 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! If spittin' mad regarding COVID-19 season postponement and prolonged negotiations commencing campaign, you have time to read news 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 Dale Alexander (Milligan TN) and Dave Winfield (Minnesota) each hit two homers in a single American League game on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a July 2 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JULY 2
Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) homered in his fourth consecutive contest in 1955.
Detroit Tigers rookie 1B Dale Alexander (starting hoops center in mid-1920s for Milligan TN) collected two homers and six RBI in a 10-4 win against the St. Louis Browns in 1929.
St. Louis Browns rookie RF Red Badgro (first-five hoops pick on All-Pacific Coast Conference team in 1926-27 as USC's MVP) went hitless for the only time in an 18-game game span from mid-June to mid-July in 1929.
INF Jack Barry (hoops letterman for Holy Cross in 1908) purchased from the Philadelphia Athletics by the Boston Red Sox in 1915.
Brooklyn Dodgers RHP Ray Benge (multi-year hoops letterman for Sam Houston State first half of 1920s) hurled a three-hit shutout against the Boston Braves in 1935.
Pittsburgh Pirates 1B Donn Clendenon (four-sport letterman with Morehouse GA) went 4-for-4 against the San Francisco Giants in a 1964 game.
OF Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA hoops titlist) signed with the Cleveland Indians in 1947, becoming the first black player in the A.L. and second in MLB history.
New York Yankees rookie LHP Al Downing (attended Muhlenberg PA on hoops scholarship but left before ever playing) hurled a one-hit shutout against the Chicago White Sox in 1963. Downing won his first four starts of the month, fanning at least 10 batters in each contest.
Montreal Expos rookie SS Rich Hacker (member of Southern Illinois' freshman basketball squad in 1965-66) stroked his lone MLB extra-base hit (double off Woodie Fryman) in nightcap of a 1971 doubleheader against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Texas Rangers rookie 1B Mike Hargrove (Northwestern Oklahoma State hoops letterman) went 4-for-4 against the Minnesota Twins in a 1974 contest.
LF Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection when he led Ohio State in scoring and rebounding in 1956-57 and 1957-58), CF Don Lock (led Wichita State in field-goal percentage in 1956-57 and 1957-58) and teammate Ken McMullen hit back-to-back-to-back homers in the sixth inning to power the Washington Senators to a 10-4 victory over the New York Yankees in 1966. Lock went 5-for-5.
SS Keith Kessinger (averaged 2.7 ppg for Mississippi in 1985-86 and 1986-87) purchased from the Baltimore Orioles by Cincinnati Reds in 1991.
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) delivered a game-winning homer in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Montreal Expos in 1986.
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 Pittsburgh Pirates in a 1960 game.
A two-run pinch homer by RF Bill Nicholson (Washington College MD hoops guard for two years in mid-1930s) propelled the Philadelphia Phillies to a 2-1 win against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1952.
Detroit Tigers RHP Joe Niekro (averaged 8.9 ppg and 3.8 rpg for West Liberty WV from 1963-64 through 1965-66) had his no-hit bid ended in the ninth inning in a 5-0 triumph against the New York Yankees in 1970. Fifteen years later, Niekro posted his 200th career victory when the Houston Astros edged the San Diego Padres.
New York Giants RHP Roy Parmelee (hoops letterman for Eastern Michigan in 1924-25 and 1925-26) tossed a 1-0 shutout to beat the St. Louis Cardinals' Dizzy Dean in nightcap of 1933 doubleheader. Teammate Carl Hubbell hurled an 18-inning whitewash for the Giants in the opener.
Boston Red Sox LHP Gary Peters (Grove City PA hooper in mid-1950s) fired the second of back-to-back shutouts in 1970.
Anaheim Angels LF 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 1997 contest against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
In 1983, OF Gary Redus (J.C. hooper for Athens AL and father of Centenary/South Alabama guard) ripped a leadoff homer for the second consecutive game against the Atlanta Braves. Seven years later as a Pittsburgh Pirates 1B, Redus extended his career-high hitting streak to 12 straight outings in 1990.
Chicago White Sox LF Carl Reynolds (Southwestern TX hoops MVP and captain in mid-1920s) manufactured five hits (including three homers), eight RBI and four runs scored in the nightcap of a 1930 twinbill.
Chicago White Sox C Leo Tankersley (Texas Christian hoops letterman in 1922-23 and 1923-24) appeared in his lone MLB game (against St. Louis Browns in 1925).
San Diego Padres OF Will Venable (All-Ivy League first-team selection as junior and second-team choice as senior averaged 9.3 ppg under Princeton coach John Thompson III from 2001-02 through 2004-05) whacked a decisive two-run pinch homer against the St. Louis Cardinals in the top of the 11th inning in 2015.
Fourth safety for LF John Wathan (averaged 3.7 ppg in 11 games for San Diego in 1968-69) knocked in the game-winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning of a 4-3 win against the Minnesota Twins in 1980.
San Diego Padres RF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) went 5-for-5 with four RBI against the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 1980 contest. Two years later as a New York Yankees LF, Winfield smacked two homers against the Cleveland Indians, igniting a streak of six round-trippers in a six-game span in 1982.
Shatterproof: Loud and Proud NCAA Standards Never to Be Duplicated (#9)
What are the school and individual records that will never come close to being matched, let along exceeded? In ensuing blogs, CollegeHoopedia.com will designate the ultimate team and individual standards of excellence. Records were made to be broken, but perhaps not always in our lifetime. Following is #9 in the countdown of most illustrious NCAA achievements:
9. Kentucky's 129-game homecourt winning streak (under coach Adolph Rupp from January 4, 1943, to January 8, 1955).
Kentucky, two nights after losing to Ohio State, 45-40, in its first game in calendar year 1943, started a streak that went 11 years without dropping a homecourt game until bowing to Georgia Tech, 59-58, on January 8, 1954. Tech had dropped its previous 10 outings at UK during the streak by an average margin of 35.2 points. The setback also snapped a 70-game winning streak in SEC competition. The first 84 of the Wildcats' 129 consecutive homecourt victories were in Alumni Gym. The remainder were in Memorial Coliseum.
UK's average margin of victory during the streak was 31 points. Vanderbilt was involved in two of the three closest games - one-point loss in '43 and four-point setback in '50. The only other contest settled by fewer than five points during the streak was a 38-35 verdict against DePauw (Ind.) in 1944.
| Date/Home Game | UK | Visiting Team | Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. 4, 1943 | 64 | Ft. Knox | 43 |
| Jan. 26, 1943 | 39 | Vanderbilt | 38 |
| Feb. 6, 1943 | 67 | Alabama | 41 |
| Feb. 8, 1943 | 48 | Xavier | 36 |
| Feb. 13, 1943 | 53 | Tennessee | 29 |
| Feb. 15, 1943 | 58 | Georgia Tech | 31 |
| Dec. 1, 1943 | 51 | Ft. Knox | 18 |
| Dec. 4, 1943 | 54 | Berea (Naval V-12) | 40 |
| Dec. 18, 1943 | 58 | Cincinnati | 30 |
| Jan. 15, 1944 | 61 | Wright Field | 28 |
| Jan. 31, 1944 | 76 | Ft. Knox A.R.C. | 48 |
| Feb. 5, 1944 | 38 | DePauw (Ind.) | 35 |
| Feb. 7, 1944 | 51 | Illinois | 40 |
| Feb. 26, 1944 | 51 | Ohio University | 35 |
| Dec. 2, 1944 | 56 | Ft. Knox | 23 |
| Dec. 4, 1944 | 56 | Berea (Ky.) | 32 |
| Dec. 9, 1944 | 66 | Cincinnati | 24 |
| Dec. 23, 1944 | 53 | Ohio State | 48 |
| Jan. 6, 1945 | 59 | Ohio University | 46 |
| Jan. 8, 1945 | 75 | Arkansas State | 6 |
| Jan. 13, 1945 | 66 | Michigan State | 35 |
| Jan. 29, 1945 | 73 | Georgia | 37 |
| Feb. 3, 1945 | 51 | Georgia Tech | 32 |
| Feb. 17, 1945 | 40 | Tennessee | 34 |
| Dec. 1, 1945 | 59 | Ft. Knox | 36 |
| Dec. 7, 1945 | 51 | Western Ontario | 42 |
| Dec. 8, 1945 | 71 | Western Ontario | 28 |
| Dec. 15, 1945 | 67 | Cincinnati | 31 |
| Dec. 18, 1945 | 67 | Arkansas | 42 |
| Dec. 21, 1945 | 43 | Oklahoma | 33 |
| Jan. 5, 1946 | 57 | Ohio University | 48 |
| Jan. 7, 1946 | 81 | Ft. Benning | 25 |
| Jan. 28, 1946 | 54 | Georgia Tech | 26 |
| Feb. 5, 1946 | 59 | Michigan State | 51 |
| Feb. 16, 1946 | 54 | Tennessee | 34 |
| Feb. 23, 1946 | 83 | Xavier | 40 |
| Nov. 28, 1946 | 78 | Indiana Central | 36 |
| Nov. 30, 1946 | 64 | Tulane | 35 |
| Dec. 2, 1946 | 68 | Ft. Knox | 31 |
| Dec. 9, 1946 | 65 | Idaho | 35 |
| Dec. 14, 1946 | 83 | Texas A&M | 18 |
| Dec. 16, 1946 | 62 | Miami (Ohio) | 49 |
| Dec. 23, 1946 | 75 | Baylor | 34 |
| Dec. 28, 1946 | 96 | Wabash (Ohio) | 24 |
| Jan. 4, 1947 | 46 | Ohio University | 36 |
| Jan. 11, 1947 | 70 | Dayton | 29 |
| Jan. 25, 1947 | 71 | Xavier | 34 |
| Jan. 27, 1947 | 86 | Michigan State | 36 |
| Feb. 10, 1947 | 81 | Georgia | 40 |
| Feb. 15, 1947 | 61 | Tennessee | 46 |
| Feb. 17, 1947 | 63 | Alabama | 33 |
| Feb. 22, 1947 | 83 | Georgia Tech | 46 |
| Nov. 9, 1947 | 80 | Indiana Central | 41 |
| Dec. 1, 1947 | 80 | Ft. Knox | 41 |
| Dec. 5, 1947 | 72 | Tulsa | 18 |
| Dec. 6, 1947 | 71 | Tulsa | 22 |
| Dec. 17, 1947 | 79 | Xavier | 37 |
| Jan. 3, 1948 | 98 | Western Ontario | 41 |
| Jan. 24, 1948 | 70 | Cincinnati | 43 |
| Feb. 14, 1948 | 69 | Tennessee | 42 |
| Feb. 16, 1948 | 63 | Alabama | 33 |
| Feb. 20, 1948 | 79 | Vanderbilt | 43 |
| Feb. 21, 1948 | 78 | Georgia Tech | 54 |
| Nov. 29, 1948 | 74 | Indiana Central | 38 |
| Dec. 10, 1948 | 81 | Tulsa | 27 |
| Dec. 13, 1948 | 76 | Arkansas | 39 |
| Feb. 8, 1949 | 71 | Tennessee | 56 |
| Feb. 12, 1949 | 96 | Xavier | 50 |
| Feb. 14, 1949 | 74 | Alabama | 32 |
| Feb. 16, 1949 | 85 | Mississippi | 31 |
| Feb. 19, 1949 | 78 | Georgia Tech | 32 |
| Feb. 21, 1949 | 95 | Georgia | 40 |
| Feb. 26, 1949 | 70 | Vanderbilt | 37 |
| Dec. 3, 1949 | 84 | Indiana Central | 61 |
| Dec. 10, 1949 | 90 | Western Ontario | 18 |
| Jan. 9, 1950 | 83 | North Carolina | 44 |
| Jan. 28, 1950 | 88 | Georgia | 56 |
| Feb. 11, 1950 | 79 | Tennessee | 52 |
| Feb. 13, 1950 | 77 | Alabama | 57 |
| Feb. 15, 1950 | 90 | Mississippi | 50 |
| Feb. 18, 1950 | 97 | Georgia Tech | 62 |
| Feb. 23, 1950 | 58 | Xavier | 53 |
| Feb. 25, 1950 | 70 | Vanderbilt | 66 |
| Dec. 1, 1950 | 73 | West Texas State | 43 |
| Dec. 9, 1950 | 70 | Purdue | 52 |
| Dec. 14, 1950 | 85 | Florida | 37 |
| Dec. 16, 1950 | 68 | Kansas | 39 |
| Jan. 5, 1951 | 79 | Auburn | 35 |
| Jan. 8, 1951 | 63 | DePaul | 55 |
| Jan. 13, 1951 | 65 | Alabama | 48 |
| Jan. 15, 1951 | 69 | Notre Dame | 44 |
| Feb. 9, 1951 | 75 | Georgia Tech | 42 |
| Feb. 13, 1951 | 78 | Xavier | 51 |
| Feb. 17, 1951 | 86 | Tennessee | 61 |
| Feb. 23, 1951 | 88 | Georgia | 41 |
| Feb. 24, 1951 | 89 | Vanderbilt | 57 |
| Mar. 13, 1951 | 97 | Loyola of Chicago | 61 |
| Dec. 8, 1951 | 96 | Washington & Lee (Va.) | 46 |
| Dec. 17, 1951 | 81 | St. John's | 40 |
| Dec. 20, 1951 | 98 | DePaul | 60 |
| Dec. 26, 1951 | 84 | UCLA | 53 |
| Jan. 5, 1952 | 57 | Louisiana State | 47 |
| Jan. 7, 1952 | 83 | Xavier | 50 |
| Jan. 12, 1952 | 99 | Florida | 52 |
| Feb. 4, 1952 | 103 | Tulane | 54 |
| Feb. 6, 1952 | 81 | Mississippi | 61 |
| Feb. 9, 1952 | 93 | Georgia Tech | 42 |
| Feb. 11, 1952 | 110 | Mississippi State | 66 |
| Feb. 16, 1952 | 95 | Tennessee | 40 |
| Feb. 21, 1952 | 75 | Vanderbilt | 45 |
| Dec. 5, 1952 | 86 | Temple | 59 |
| Dec. 14, 1952 | 101 | Wake Forest | 69 |
| Dec. 21, 1952 | 85 | Duke | 69 |
| Dec. 22, 1952 | 73 | La Salle | 60 |
| Dec. 28, 1952 | 74 | Minnesota | 59 |
| Jan. 4, 1953 | 77 | Xavier | 71 |
| Jan. 9, 1953 | 105 | Georgia Tech | 53 |
| Jan. 11, 1953 | 81 | DePaul | 63 |
| Jan. 16, 1953 | 94 | Tulane | 43 |
| Feb. 4, 1953 | 106 | Georgia | 55 |
| Feb. 13, 1953 | 88 | Mississippi | 62 |
| Feb. 15, 1953 | 81 | Mississippi State | 49 |
| Feb. 18, 1953 | 90 | Tennessee | 63 |
| Feb. 22, 1953 | 100 | Vanderbilt | 64 |
| Dec. 4, 1953 | 74 | Louisiana State | 58 |
| Dec. 18, 1953 | 79 | Temple | 61 |
| Dec. 21, 1953 | 70 | Utah | 65 |
| Dec. 22, 1953 | 63 | La Salle | 54 |
| Dec. 30, 1953 | 82 | St. Louis | 65 |
NOTE: Kentucky was barred from playing competitive basketball during the 1952-53 season because of NCAA probation.
10. Bill Chambers' 51 rebounds in a single game (for William & Mary vs. Virginia on Feb. 14, 1953).
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on July 1 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! If spittin' mad regarding COVID-19 season postponement and prolonged negotiations commencing campaign, you have to read news all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.
Former hoopers Frank Howard (Ohio State), Buddy Myer (Mississippi State) and Irv Noren (Pasadena City Community College) each supplied multiple extra-base hits in a single game for the Washington Senators on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a July 1 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JULY 1
Chicago Cubs rookie 2B Glenn Beckert (three-year basketball letterman for Allegheny PA) belted two homers against the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 1965 game.
Pittsburgh Pirates LF Carson "Skeeter" Bigbee (Oregon hoops letterman in 1915) collected four hits against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1919 contest.
Brooklyn Dodgers RHP Roger Craig (forward with North Carolina State's 1949-50 freshman hoops team) collected his sixth straight win in 1956 (4-1 nod over Philadelphia Phillies).
In 1943, Chicago White Sox LF Guy Curtright (two-time All-MIAA selection led Northeast Missouri State in scoring each of four seasons in early 1930s) set a MLB rookie record (subsequently broken) with a 26-game hitting streak as a 30-year-old newcomer in his only season as a regular.
Boston Red Sox C Gene Desautels (Holy Cross hoops letterman in 1929 and 1930) contributed three hits and four runs against the Philadelphia Athletics in a 1938 game.
Cleveland Indians CF Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA hoops titlist) walked five times in a 19-inning, 4-3 victory against the St. Louis Browns in 1952.
C-OF Joe Ferguson (hooper for Pacific's 1967 NCAA playoff team) traded by the Houston Astros with cash to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1978.
St. Louis Cardinals 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) scored four runs for the first of two times in a three-game span in 1930.
In his first game back following four years serving in the U.S. military during WWII, Detroit Tigers LF Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoops scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) pounded a homer against the Philadelphia Athletics in a 1945 contest.
2B Howdy Groskloss (five-sport participant voted most outstanding Amherst MA athlete of first half of 20th Century) scored the Pittsburgh Pirates' first run in a 4-1 win against the Boston Braves in 1931 but had his only hitless outing in a 12-game span from June 27 to July 11.
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) homered in both ends of a 1969 doubleheader sweep of the Detroit Tigers.
Cleveland Indians LF "Sweet" Lou Johnson (Kentucky State hoops teammate of legendary coach Davey Whitney averaged 5.7 ppg and 2 rpg in 1951-52) whacked back-to-back homers against the Minnesota Twins in 1968.
Cleveland Indians CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) provided three hits and three stolen bases against the Milwaukee Brewers in a 1998 game.
Boston Red Sox 3B Buddy Myer (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1923-24) supplied multiple hits in seventh consecutive contest, including three extra-base safeties in the opener of a 1928 twinbill against the Washington Senators. Eleven years later as a 2B with the Senators, Myer went 4-for-4 against the Philadelphia Athletics in a 1939 contest.
Atlanta Braves rookie RHP Gary Neibauer (collected 13 points and 9 rebounds in 16 games for Nebraska in 1964-65 under coach Joe Cipriano) won his first MLB decision after hurling a 1-2-3 top of the 10th inning against the Cincinnati Reds in 1969.
Washington Senators CF Irv Noren (hooper of year for California community college state champion Pasadena City in 1945) collected a homer and two doubles but his output wasn't enough to prevent a 1951 doubleheader loss against the Philadelphia Athletics. The extra-base hits triggered a streak of four games in a row with three safeties.
RHP Elmer Ponder (Oklahoma hoops letterman in 1914 and 1916) traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Chicago Cubs in 1921.
St. Louis Cardinals rookie C Dave Ricketts (three-year starter led Duquesne in scoring senior season with 17.9 ppg in 1956-57) contributed a career-high three hits against the New York Mets in a 1967 game.
OF Dave Robertson (one of two reserves on North Carolina State's first basketball team in 1911) traded by the Chicago Cubs to Pittsburgh Pirates in 1921.
Montreal Expos RF Ken Singleton (Hofstra freshman hoops squad in mid-1960s) homered in both ends of a 1973 doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
LHP Paul Splittorff (runner-up in scoring and rebounding for Morningside IA in 1967-68) retired in 1984. His 166 victories in 13 seasons are the most in Kansas City Royals history.
Shatterproof: Loud and Proud NCAA Standards Never to Be Duplicated (#10)
The NCAA Tournament commenced in 1939, which was one year after the NIT triggered national postseason competition. An overlooked "versatile athlete" feat occurring in 1938 that never will be duplicated took place at Arkansas, where the quarterback for the football squad (Jack Robbins) repeated as an All-SWC first-team basketball selection, leading the Razorbacks (19-3) to the SWC title. After the season, Robbins became an NFL first-round draft choice by the Chicago Cardinals (5th pick overall) and senior football/basketball teammates Jim Benton (11th pick) and Ray Hamilton (41st pick) went on to become wide receivers for at least six years in the NFL. Yes, three members of a league championship basketball squad promptly were among the top 41 selections in the NFL draft.
What are other school and individual records that will never come close to being matched, let along exceeded? CollegeHoopedia.com is acknowledging an "Untouchables" list regarding the ultimate team and individual standards of excellence. Records were made to be broken, but perhaps not always in our lifetime. Following is #10 in the countdown of most illustrious NCAA achievements:
10. Bill Chambers' 51 rebounds in a single game (for William & Mary vs. Virginia on February 14, 1953).
Chambers, standing a mere 6-4, grabbed an NCAA-record 51 rebounds for William & Mary in a 105-84 victory against Virginia on Valentine's Day. He finished third in the nation in 1952-53 in retrieving missed shots with 21.8 rpg, finishing behind Fordham's Ed Conlin (23.5 rpg) and Seton Hall's Walter Dukes (22.2 rpg). Chambers, who passed away earlier this decade, later became his alma mater's all-time winningest coach in a nine-year coaching career with the Tribe from 1957-58 through 1965-66 (modest win total could be surpassed in 2012-13).
No individual has grabbed more than 35 rebounds in a single NCAA Division I game since Pacific's Keith Swagerty (39 vs. UC Santa Barbara) and East Tennessee State's Tommy Woods (38 vs. Middle Tennessee State) in 1964-65. The last 37 teams leading the nation in rebounding margin averaged 42 rebounds per contest. Following is the line score of Chambers' performance:
WILLIAM & MARY (105): Mahoney 5 6-11 16, Savage 0 0-4 0, Berry 1 1-2 3, Harris 10 0-1 20, Chambers 16 5-6 37 51, Hume 6 4-7 16, Drake 0 0-0 0, Hoitsma 4 5-6 13. Team 42 21-37 (.568) 105.
VIRGINIA (84): Roach 2 2-5 6, Burlage 1 3-4 5, Cooke 2 1-1 5, Esckilsen 6 1-5 13, Gamble 2 5-6 9, Wilkinson 10 8-8 28, Dohner 7 2-2 16, Casey 1 0-0 2. Team 31 22-31 (.710) 84.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on June 30 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! If spittin' mad regarding COVID-19 season postponement and prolonged negotiations commencing campaign, you have time to read news 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.
Two former hoopers from small colleges in Virginia - Larry Doby (Virginia Union) and Larry Sheets (Eastern Mennonite) - made American League news on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 30 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 30
Cincinnati Reds LF Morrie Arnovich (Wisconsin-Superior hooper in early 1930s) went 4-for-4 in a 7-6 win against the Chicago Cubs in nightcap of 1940 doubleheader.
Chicago Cubs CF Frankie Baumholtz (MVP in 1941 NIT and first player in Ohio University history to score 1,000 career points) banged out four hits against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1953 game.
In 1960, Detroit Tigers 2B Frank Bolling (averaged 7.3 ppg for Spring Hill AL in 1950-51) had a streak of seven straight two-hit games, with an extra-base safety in all but one of them, halted by going hit-less against the Boston Red Sox.
Cleveland Indians SS Lou Boudreau (leading scorer for Illinois' 1937 Big Ten Conference co-champion) went 4-for-4 against the Chicago White Sox in a 1942 contest.
Minnesota Twins 3B John Castino (medical redshirt for Rollins FL in 1973-74 under coach Ed Jucker) contributed four hits and five RBI in 12-3 win against the Kansas City Royals in 1980.
Philadelphia Athletics C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) went 4-for-4 against the Detroit Tigers in a 1930 game.
In 1978, Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA hoops titlist) became the second black MLB manager, succeeding Bob Lemon as skipper of the Chicago White Sox.
Boston Red Sox C Rick Ferrell (hoop forward for Guilford NC before graduating in 1928) contributed three extra-base hits and four RBI against the Philadelphia Athletics in a 1935 contest.
St. Louis Cardinals 3B Jake Flowers (member of 1923 "Flying Pentagon" championship hoops squad for Washington College MD) capped off the month with five straight multiple-hit games in 1932.
In 1940, Washington Senators SS Charlie Gelbert (scored at least 125 points each of last three seasons in late 1920s for Lebanon Valley PA) closed out the month hitting .474 in 11 games (18-of-38).
En route to hitting .303 in 1970, St. Louis Cardinals RHP Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer and rebounder in 1955-56 and 1956-57) supplied his fifth multiple-hit game of the month while winning seven starts during that span.
San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-WAC second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) and two teammates each socked a three-run homer in a 15-6 rout of the Oakland A's in 1997.
Commencing the game by fanning the side on nine pitches in the opening inning, Los Angeles Dodgers LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman hoops squad in 1953-54) hurled a no-hitter against the New York Mets in 1962.
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) tossed a two-hit shutout against the California Angels in 1992.
In 1938, New York Giants CF Hank Leiber (Arizona hooper in 1931) launched the final homer at Philadelphia's Baker Bowl before the Phillies moved to Shibe Park. Leiber finished the contest with three extra-base hits and five RBI.
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) went 4-for-4 against the San Diego Padres in a 1975 game.
In the midst of a 10-game hitting streak, Philadelphia Athletics C Ed Madjeski (Seton Hall letterman from 1928-29 through 1930-31) manufactured five safeties in a 1933 doubleheader split against the St. Louis Browns.
RHP Nels Potter (leading scorer during two years attending Mount Morris IL in early 1930s) purchased from the Philadelphia Athletics by the Boston Red Sox in 1941.
A two-run, inside-the-park homer by RF Dave Robertson (one of two reserves on North Carolina State's first basketball team in 1911) lifted the New York Giants to a 4-3 victory against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1916.
Baltimore Orioles LF Larry Sheets (All-ODAC hoops selection in 1981-82 and 1982-83 with Eastern Mennonite VA) collected four RBI in a 1987 game against the Boston Red Sox, triggering a career-high 10-game hitting streak.
SS Roy Smalley Jr. (one of top scorers for Drury MO in 1942-43 and 1943-44) knocked in all of the Chicago Cubs' runs in a 5-4 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1952.
New York Mets LHP George Stone (averaged 14.7 ppg and 6.5 rpg for Louisiana Tech in 1964-65 and 1965-66) hurled his final MLB complete game when defeating the Chicago Cubs, 5-1, in 1975.
OF Kite Thomas (averaged 5.1 ppg for Kansas State in 1946-47) awarded on waivers from the Philadelphia Athletics to the Washington Senators in 1953.
DH-1B Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to Baltimore Orioles in 2012.
In 2005, Seattle Mariners LHP Matt Thornton (averaged 5.8 ppg and 2.4 rpg for Grand Valley State MI from 1995-96 through 1997-98) charged with a run for the first time after 14 scoreless relief appearances.
RHP Rusty Yarnall (Vermont hoops letterman in first half of 1920s) lost decision in his lone MLB appearance with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1926.
Happy Birthday! July Celebration Dates for All-Americans and HOF Coaches
July 11 is the day to celebrate the most birthdays this month for former All-Americans. Two Indiana All-Americans were born on the same day this month (17th) but Oklahoma and UCLA have the most A-As born in July with four apiece. Following are birth dates in July for All-American players and Hall of Fame coaches:
JULY
1: All-Americans George Bon Salle (born in 1935/Illinois), Lee Guttero (1913/Southern California) and Art Quimby (1933/Connecticut).
2: All-Americans Bob Dille (1917/Valparaiso), Clark Kellogg (1961/Ohio State), Curtis Rowe (1949/UCLA) and Jon Sundvold (1961/Missouri).
3: All-Americans Derrick Chievous (1967/Missouri) and Charlie Sitton (1962/Oregon State) plus Hall of Fame coach John Kundla (1916/Minnesota).
4: All-Americans Harvey Grant (1965/Oklahoma), Horace Grant (1965/Clemson), Tony Guy (1959/Kansas) and Ed Koffenberger (1926/Duke) plus Hall of Fame coaches Henry "Doc" Carlson (1894/Pittsburgh), Howard Hobson (1903/Oregon and Yale) and Arad McCutchan (1912/Evansville).
5: All-American Eddie Miles (1940/Seattle).
6: All-Americans Jae Crowder (1990/Marquette) and Zion Williamson (2000/Duke).
7: All-Americans Myles Powell (1997/Seton Hall), Brandon Rush (1985/Kansas) and Ralph Sampson (1960/Virginia).
8: All-Americans Dave Sorenson (1948/Ohio State) and Hakim Warrick (1982/Syracuse).
9: All-Americans Jim Paxson (1957/Dayton) and Urgel "Slim" Wintermute (1917/Oregon).
10: All-Americans Chuck Chuckovits (1912/Toledo), Jared Dudley (1985/Boston College), Cliff Meely (1947/Colorado) and Kevin O'Shea (1925/Notre Dame) plus Hall of Fame coach Pete Carril (1930/Lehigh and Princeton).
11: All-Americans Lou Hudson (1944/Minnesota), Wesley Johnson (1987/Syracuse), Tony Lavelli (1926/Yale), Eduardo Najera (1976/Oklahoma), John Pilch (1925/Wyoming) and Rod Strickland (1966/DePaul).
12: All-American Paul Silas (1943/Creighton).
13: All-Americans Bob Kauffman (1946/Guilford NC), Frank Ramsey (1931/Kentucky) and David Thompson (1954/North Carolina State).
14: All-Americans Wallace "Wah Wah" Jones (1926/Kentucky), Shabazz Napier (1991/Connecticut), Lou Roe (1972/Massachusetts) and Bernard Toone (1956/Marquette).
15: All-Americans Damian Lillard (1990/Weber State), Allen Murphy (1952/Louisville), Khalid Reeves (1972/Arizona) and Richard Washington (1955/UCLA).
16: All-American Chris Mihm (1979/Texas).
17: All-Americans Calbert Cheaney (1971/Indiana), Johnny "Red" Kerr (1932/Illinois), Bob "Slick" Leonard (1932/Indiana) and Nick Werkman (1942/Seton Hall).
18: All-Americans Jerry Chambers (1943/Utah), Donnie Freeman (1944/Illinois), Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway (1971/Memphis State), York Larese (1938/North Carolina) and Wally Walker (1954/Virginia).
19: All-Americans Alvan Adams (1954/Oklahoma), LaMarcus Aldridge (1985/Texas), Alfredrick Hughes (1962/Loyola of Chicago) and Adam Morrison (1984/Gonzaga).
20: All-Americans Ray Allen (1975/Connecticut), Mel Daniels (1944/New Mexico), Roy Hamilton (1957/UCLA), Ron Johnson (1938/Minnesota) and Ben Simmons (1996/Louisiana State) plus Hall of Fame coach Chuck Daly (1930/Boston College and Penn).
21: All-American Fred Hetzel (1942/Davidson).
22: All-Americans Alva "Allie" Paine (1919/Oklahoma), Bobby Rascoe (1940/Western Kentucky), Alvin Robertson (1962/Arkansas) and Bryan Warrick (1959/St. Joseph's).
23: All-Americans Deandre Ayton (1998/Arizona), Antoine Carr (1961/Wichita State), Chris Clemons (1997/Campbell), Gary Payton (1968/Oregon State) and Brandon Roy (1984/Washington).
24: All-Americans Walt Bellamy (1939/Indiana), Harry Boykoff (1922/St. John's), Joe Barry Carroll (1958/Purdue), Karl Malone (1963/Louisiana Tech) and Charles "Cotton" Nash (1942/Kentucky).
25: All-Americans Nolan Smith (1988/Duke), Kenny Thomas (1977/New Mexico) and Nate Thurmond (1941/Bowling Green State).
26: All-Americans Gary Bradds (1942/Ohio State), Walker Kessler (2001/Auburn), Todd Mitchell (1966/Purdue), Joe Smith (1975/Maryland), Earl Tatum (1953/Marquette) and Delonte West (1983/St. Joseph's).
27: All-Americans Marvin Barnes (1952/Providence) and James Ray (1957/Jacksonville).
28: All-Americans Bill Bradley (1943/Princeton) and Doug Collins (1951/Illinois State).
29: All-Americans Dick Boushka (1934/St. Louis), Arnie Ferrin (1925/Utah), Mike McGee (1959/Michigan), Ansu Sesay (1976/Mississippi) and Neal Walk (1948/Florida).
30: All-Americans Bill Cartwright (1957/San Francisco), John Green (1940/UCLA), Chris Mullin (1963/St. John's) and Kevin Pittsnogle (1984/West Virginia).
31: All-American Walt Torrence (1937/UCLA).
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
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on June 29 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! If spittin' mad regarding COVID-19 season postponement and prolonged negotiations commencing campaign, you have time to read news 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 North Carolina State hoopers Dave Robertson and Tim Stoddard made MLB news on this date. Former Mississippi State hoopers Boo Ferriss and Buddy Myer also had significant American League performances on this date. Additional ex-SEC hoopers making MLB news on this date included Joe Adcock (LSU), Andy Cohen (Alabama), Harvey Hendrick (Vanderbilt) and Mike Smithson (Tennessee). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 29 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 29
Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) smashed two homers in a 3-1 win against the Chicago Cubs in the nightcap of 1960 twinbill.
RHP Jim Bibby (Fayetteville State NC backup hooper and brother of UCLA All-American Henry Bibby) secured his first win with the Texas Rangers by hurling a one-hit shutout against the Kansas City Royals in 1973.
New York Giants 2B Andy Cohen (Alabama hoops letterman in 1924 and 1925) had an 11-game hitting streak snapped by the Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a 1929 twinbill.
Boston Red Sox rookie RHP Boo Ferriss (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1941) contributed a run-scoring single and two-run, ninth-inning homer in a 4-2 decision over the Chicago White Sox in 1945.
Washington Senators SS Charlie Gelbert (scored at least 125 points each of last three seasons in late 1920s for Lebanon Valley PA) collected three hits for the third consecutive contest in 1940.
San Francisco Giants rookie LHP Atlee Hammaker (averaged 5.3 ppg as freshman in 1976-77 and 4.9 ppg as sophomore in 1977-78 under East Tennessee State coach Sonny Smith) fired his first MLB shutout, a four-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds in 1982.
Chicago Cubs LF Harvey Hendrick (Vanderbilt hoops letterman in 1918) stroked three extra-base hits against the Brooklyn Dodgers in a 1933 outing.
Brooklyn Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (played for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) smacked two homers against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1956 game.
In the midst of 13 straight scoreless relief appearances covering 21 innings in 1954, Cincinnati Reds RHP Howie Judson (Illinois' third-leading scorer in 1944-45) earned a victory against the St. Louis Cardinals.
OF David Justice (Thomas More KY assists leader in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg), acquired by the New York Yankees from the Cleveland Indians in 2000, went on to become the first player to garner more than 50 RBI in a single season with two different clubs.
OF Charlie Keller (three-year hoops letterman with Maryland from 1934-35 through 1936-37) homered in the nightcap of a 1941 doubleheader sweep of the Washington Senators by the New York Yankees, extending the Bronx Bombers' streak to a MLB-record 25 consecutive contests with a round-tripper.
In 1931, Philadelphia Phillies rookie RF Fred Koster (four-year starting forward from 1923-24 through 1926-27 was Louisville's leading scorer as sophomore and senior) contributed three hits for the second time in three games.
First MLB hit for Cleveland Indians rookie OF Stu Locklin (played one basketball game for Wisconsin in 1947-48 under coach Bud Foster) was his only extra-base safety (pinch-hit double) in a 1955 game against the Kansas City Athletics.
Texas Rangers CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) went 4-for-4 against the Boston Red Sox in a 2007 contest.
St. Louis Cardinals RHP Lindy McDaniel (hooper for Oklahoma's 1954-55 freshman squad) registered his ninth save of the month en route to a league-high 27 in 1960.
Cleveland Indians rookie CF Ed Morgan (Tulane hoops letterman from 1923-24 through 1925-26) manufactured fifth outing of the month with at least three hits in his last 13 games.
On the heels of three consecutive holds, New York Yankees RHP Bobby Munoz (scored 35 points for Polk Community College FL in game against Palm Beach in mid-November 1986) hurled 3 1/3 innings of hitless relief in a 4-3 win against the Detroit Tigers in 1993.
Washington Senators 2B Buddy Myer (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1923-24) provided multiple hits in seven consecutive contests in 1930.
Detroit Tigers RF Jim Northrup (second-leading scorer and third-leading rebounder for Alma MI in 1958-59) set a MLB mark with his third grand slam in a week in 1968. Three years later, Northrup smacked two homers against the Baltimore Orioles in a 1971 outing.
In the midst of a 10-game hitting streak after returning to the Chicago Cubs, 2B Paul Popovich (teammate of Jerry West for West Virginia's 1960 NCAA playoff team) scored four runs against the St. Louis Cardinals in the nightcap of a 1969 twinbill.
Philadelphia Phillies LHP Eppa Rixey (Virginia hoops letterman in 1912 and 1914) fired a four-hit shutout against the New York Giants. The whitewash was one of 11 straight starts in 1916 where Rixey yielded fewer than three earned runs.
Chicago Cubs LF Dave Robertson (one of two reserves on North Carolina State's first basketball team in 1911) went 7-for-10 with seven RBI in 1920 doubleheader split against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Brooklyn Dodgers 2B Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) whacked two homers against the New York Giants in a 1950 game.
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) yielded only one hit in 8 1/3 innings in a 1-0 triumph against the Chicago White Sox in 1985.
Baltimore Orioles RHP Tim Stoddard (starting forward opposite All-American David Thompson for North Carolina State's 1974 NCAA champion) finished the month with 10 consecutive scoreless relief appearances. Five years later in 1987 with the New York Yankees, Stoddard allowed his only earned run in a 14-game span until mid-July.
New York Yankees RF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) collected two homers and six RBI in a 1987 contest against the Toronto Blue Jays.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on June 28 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! If spittin' mad regarding COVID-19 season postponement and prolonged negotiations commencing campaign, you have time to read news 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 Drury MO hoopers Roy Smalley Jr. and Bill Virdon delivered dynamic MLB performances on this date. Ditto for ex-hoopers Lee Smith (Northwestern State) and Champ Summers (Nicholls State) from Louisiana colleges. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 28 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 28
Chicago Cubs RF George Altman (appeared in 1953 and 1954 NAIA Basketball Tournament with Tennessee State) furnished five extra-base hits, including a homer in each game, in 1961 doubleheader split against the Cincinnati Reds.
Detroit Tigers RHP Elden Auker (All-Big Six Conference first-five selection with Kansas State in 1931-32) won for the fifth time in as many decisions during the month in 1934.
In the midst of a career-high 23-game hitting streak, Pittsburgh Pirates LF Carson "Skeeter" Bigbee (Oregon hoops letterman in 1915) went 7-for-10 against the Chicago Cubs in a 1921 twinbill.
Detroit Tigers 1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in WAC games in 1991-92) homered in his third consecutive contest in 2000.
Brooklyn Robins 3B Wally Gilbert (hoops captain played for Valparaiso from 1918-19 through 1920-21) supplied four hits in a 10-4 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1931.
First MLB victory for Philadelphia Phillies rookie RHP Dallas Green (Delaware's second-leading scorer and rebounder in 1954-55) was a three-hit shutout against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1960.
Detroit Tigers 1B Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoops scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) blasted three homers in a 1935 doubleheader sweep of the St. Louis Browns.
LHP Steve Hamilton (All-OVC selection was Morehead State's leading scorer and rebounder in 1956-57 and 1957-58) allowed his only run in first 14 relief appearances with the Chicago Cubs in 1972.
In 1951, New York Giants OF Monte Irvin (Lincoln PA hooper 1 1/2 years in late 1930s) swatted two homers off Brooklyn Dodgers RHP Ralph Branca (sixth-leading scorer for NYU in 1943-44) in same game.
LF "Sweet" Lou Johnson (Kentucky State hoops teammate of legendary HBCU coach Davey Whitney averaged 5.7 ppg and 2 rpg in 1951-52) traded by the Chicago Cubs to the Cleveland Indians in 1968.
Chicago White Sox RHP Howie Judson (Illinois' third-leading scorer in 1944-45) lost his sixth decision of the month in 1949.
Detroit Tigers CF Harvey Kuenn (played hoops briefly for Wisconsin in 1951-52 after competing on JV squad previous season) provided four hits against the Boston Red Sox in a 1958 game.
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) posted his fifth triumph of the month in 1977.
OF Don Lund (two-year hoops starter for Michigan in mid-1940s) awarded on waivers from the Brooklyn Dodgers to the St. Louis Browns in 1948.
St. Louis Cardinals RHP Lindy McDaniel (hooper for Oklahoma's 1954-55 freshman squad) saved both ends of a 1959 doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds, giving him six saves and three victories in his last 12 relief appearances of the month.
New York Yankees SS Gene Michael (Kent State's leading scorer with 14 ppg in 1957-58) pulled hidden-ball trick against the Cleveland Indians in a 1969 contest.
Igniting a career-long 13-game hitting streak, New York Giants RF Red Murray (played hoops for Lock Haven PA in early 1900s) went 5-for-9 in a 1912 doubleheader sweep of the Boston Braves. The next year, he went 4-for-4 in a 1913 outing against the Braves.
Chicago Cubs RF Bill Nicholson (Washington College MD hoops guard for two years in mid-1930s) collected two homers and five RBI against the Brooklyn Dodgers in the opener of a 1944 twinbill.
St. Louis Cardinals RHP Dick Ricketts (Duquesne's all-time leading scorer was second-team consensus All-American choice as junior in 1953-54 and first-five consensus selection as senior in 1954-55) registered his lone MLB victory (against Cincinnati Reds in 1959).
Cincinnati Reds LHP Eppa Rixey (Virginia hoops letterman in 1912 and 1914) banged out four hits, including a homer and two doubles, in a 5-2 triumph over the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a 1924 doubleheader.
Chicago Cubs SS Roy Smalley Jr. (one of top scorers for Drury MO in 1942-43 and 1943-44) went for the cycle and chipped in with four RBI in a 15-3 romp over the St. Louis Cardinals in 1950.
St. Louis Cardinals RHP Lee Smith (averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg with Northwestern State in 1976-77) posted a save in all 15 relief appearances of the month and 17th in a row in 1993.
In 2014, San Diego Padres LHP Eric Stults (hooper for 1999 NAIA D-II Tournament runner-up and 2000 NCCAA Tournament titlist with Bethel IN) lost for the sixth time in as many starts during the month.
Detroit Tigers RF Champ Summers (led SIUE in scoring in 1969-70 after doing same with Nicholls State in 1964-65) socked a homer in his third consecutive contest in 1979.
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) posted his third relief victory during a span going unscored upon in last 12 appearances of the month in 2008.
Pittsburgh Pirates CF Bill Virdon (Drury MO hooper in 1949) notched his fifth straight multiple-hit outing in 1963.
Thankless Task: Who Succeeded "M Boys" (Maravich, Mount and Murphy)?
The 2019-20 season marked the 50th anniversary of perhaps the most dominant senior class in college basketball history. In 1969-70, Bob Lanier (St. Bonaventure), Mike Maloy (Davidson), Pete Maravich (Louisiana State), Jim McMillian (Columbia), Rick Mount (Purdue), Calvin Murphy Sr. (Niagara) and Charlie Scott (North Carolina) concluded their careers as three-time All-Americans. Two-time first-team All-American Dan Issel (Kentucky) was among the following sterling senior crop supplementing the seven three-time All-Americans: Tiny Archibald (Texas-El Paso), Dennis Awtrey (Santa Clara), Jimmy Collins (New Mexico State), Dave Cowens (Florida State), John Johnson (Iowa), Sam Lacey (New Mexico State), Geoff Petrie (Princeton), Dave Sorenson (Ohio State) and Rudy Tomjanovich (Michigan).
There has never been anything close to the marvelous perimeter showmanship of the "M Boys" - guards Maravich, Mount and Murphy. The combination of their influences dictated that college hoops would never be the same again. It's staggering to contemplate how many points Maravich (career scoring average of 44.2 ppg), Mount (32.3 ppg) and Murphy (33.1 ppg) would have scored if there had been a three-point arc during their college days. Incredibly, the explosive trio still boasts three of the seven top career scoring averages in NCAA Division I history.
We had an idea of what was in store at the varsity level after their freshman team scoring averages in 1966-67: Maravich (43.6 ppg), Mount (35 ppg) and Murphy (48.9 ppg). We didn't know what was ahead for their respective team successors.
Fifty years ago, who were the individuals under the microscope facing thankless task of moving up from 1969-70 freshman squads to try to fill gigantic shoes of "M Boys" in 1970-71? Despite significant contributions as sophomores, their long-forgotten names were Gary Simpson, Dennis Gamauf and Al Williams.
Simpson, after averaging 34.6 ppg for LSU's freshman team, averaged 14.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg and 4 apg in 1970-71 before hitch in U.S. Army in wake of encountering grade problems and losing his 2S draft deferment. Simpson, a native of Granite City, Ill., returned to St. Louis Metro East area but was a shell of himself, averaging 4.1 ppg for St. Louis in 1974-75 before dying of cancer at age 29 in 1980. In 1970-71, Purdue's Gamauf averaged 6.4 ppg and 2.3 rpg while Niagara's Williams averaged 12.1 ppg and 4.9 rpg.
Years later, sons of the "M Boys" had infinitely more difficulty evoking memories of legendary fathers at their alma maters. Josh Maravich scored four points in 13 games for LSU from 2002-03 through 2004-05. Rich Mount scored 14 points in 19 games for Purdue in 1989-90 and 1990-91 before transferring and scoring 14 points in 10 games for Virginia Commonwealth in 1992-93. Calvin Murphy Jr. scored 128 points in 28 games for Niagara in 1996-97 before transferring and scoring 16 points in 14 games for Houston in 1999-00 and 2000-01.
For pure entertainment, watch old college-game videos of Maravich, Mount and Murphy. Amid one-and-done era, there never will be anything like this threesome again over a three-year period.
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