On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on June 9 MLB Games

Extra! Extra! If spittin' mad regarding COVID-19 season postponement, 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.

New York colleges Fordham (Frankie Frisch), Siena (Gary Holle), NYU (Sam Mele), Hofstra (Ken Singleton) and Columbia (Art Smith) had former hoopers supply significant MLB performances on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 9 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

JUNE 9

  • Chicago Cubs rookie CF George Altman (appeared in 1953 and 1954 NAIA Basketball Tournament with Tennessee State) went 4-for-4 in an 8-4 win against the Cincinnati Reds in 1959.

  • RHP Joe Black (Morgan State hooper in mid-1940s) traded by the Brooklyn Dodgers to Cincinnati Reds for cash and a player to be designated in 1955.

  • New York Giants SS Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for LSU and USL in mid-1940s) whacked two homers in a 1951 outing against the Chicago Cubs, delivering a multiple-hit outing for the first of six times in a seven-game stretch. Three years later, Dark delivered his fourth four-hit performance in the first eight contests of the month in 1954.

  • Detroit Tigers LF Hoot Evers (Illinois hoops starter in 1939-40) went 5-for-5 against the New York Yankees in a 1949 game.

  • Baltimore Orioles LHP Mike Flanagan (averaged 13.9 ppg for UMass' 15-1 freshman basketball squad in 1971-72) shut out the Detroit Tigers in 1984, beating them for the second time in a week.

  • New York Giants 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) supplied four hits against the Chicago Cubs in a 1922 contest. Nine years later with the St. Louis Cardinals, Frisch furnished four safeties against the Brooklyn Dodgers in a 1931 outing.

  • St. Louis Cardinals SS Charlie Gelbert (scored at least 125 points each of last three seasons in late 1920s for Lebanon Valley PA) contributed four hits against the Chicago Cubs in a 1935 game.

  • In 2008, Florida Marlins LHP Mark Hendrickson (two-time All-Pacific-10 Conference selection paced Washington State in rebounding four straight seasons from 1992-93 through 1995-96) yielded the 600th home run of the career of Ken Griffey Jr.

  • The lone MLB safety for 1B Gary Holle (led Siena in scoring and rebounding in 1974-75)) was a pinch-hit double with the Texas Rangers against the Baltimore Orioles in 1979.

  • Atlanta Braves RF David Justice (Thomas More KY assists leader in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg) smacked two homers against the Montreal Expos in a 1991 game. Nine years later with the Cleveland Indians, Justice jacked two round-trippers against the Cincinnati Reds in a 2000 contest.

  • Nine-year MLB INF Jerry Kindall (averaged 6.9 ppg for Minnesota as junior in 1955-56) coached Arizona to his third of three College World Series championships with the Wildcats by overwhelming Florida State, 10-2, in 1986.

  • LF Danny Litwhiler (member of JV hoops squad with Bloomsburg PA in mid-1930s) purchased from the St. Louis Cardinals by the Boston Braves in 1946.

  • Sam Mele (NYU's leading scorer in 1943 NCAA playoffs) replaced as manager of the Minnesota Twins by Cal Ermer in 1967.

  • Los Angeles Dodgers LF Wally Moon (averaged 4.3 ppg with Texas A&M in 1948-49 and 1949-50) homered in his fourth outing of a five-game span in 1960.

  • Chicago Cubs rookie C Cal Neeman (Illinois Wesleyan's leading scorer in 1947-48 and 1948-49) ripped a two-run homer off Harvey Haddix in 4-4 tie with Pittsburgh Pirates in nightcap of 1957 twinbill.

  • Montreal Expos RHP Steve Renko (averaged 9.9 ppg and 5.8 rpg as Kansas sophomore in 1963-64) hurled the first of his two one-hitters in a month in 1971 (against San Francisco Giants and Philadelphia Phillies).

  • In 1955, Philadelphia Phillies RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) fired a three-hit shutout against the St. Louis Cardinals en route to leading the N.L. in wins for the fourth consecutive campaign.

  • Montreal Expos RF Ken Singleton (Hofstra freshman hoops squad in mid-1960s) went 4-for-4 against the Atlanta Braves in the opener of a 1974 doubleheader.

  • Chicago White Sox RHP Art Smith (Columbia two-year hoops letterman graduated in 1931) lost his lone MLB decision when dropping debut as a starter against the Washington Senators in 1932.

  • St. Louis Cardinals 1B Bill White (two-year hooper for Hiram OH in early 1950s) provided three extra-base hits against the Milwaukee Braves in a 1959 game.

  • Chicago White Sox RHP Jim Wilson (letterman for San Diego State's 1942 NAIA Tournament participant) hurled his first of three shutouts in less than a month in 1956.

  • Tampa Bay Devil Rays CF Randy Winn (Santa Clara backcourtmate of eventual two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash in 1993-94) registered four extra-base hits in a 2002 game against the San Diego Padres. In his next two contests against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Winn also manufactured multiple extra-base safeties.

Senioritis: Standouts Failing to Return to All-American Status Their Final Year

Senioritis is a colloquial term referring to an illness described as decreased motivation displayed by students nearing the end of their careers. In basketball lingo, it's a dreaded disease also afflicting All-Americans.

There was no such senior this past season, but the malady lingers even in an era when the majority of premium players bid adieu the first time a pro scout watches one of their games.

Actually, this ailment is rarely a player's fault and seems to mainly infect voters. In one of the greatest injustices in NCAA history, Seton Hall's Nick Werkman averaged 33.2 ppg and 13.8 rpg in 1963-64 but wasn't named an All-American for the second straight season.

Werkman is among 18 players who didn't retain A-A status despite averaging more than 20 points per game as a senior. Following is an alphabetical list of major-college players named All-American as an undergraduate since the late 1940s (after the roster disruption of WWII) but not as a senior when they fell off the honors radar:

Senior Player Pos. School Year(s) as A-A Final Season Summary
*Bruno Boin C Washington 1957 15.2 ppg in 1958-59
Joe Caldwell F Arizona State 1963 21.8 ppg and 12.2 rpg in 1963-64
Isaiah Canaan G Murray State 2012 21.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg and 4.3 apg in 2012-13
Lorenzo Charles F North Carolina State 1984 18.1 ppg and 6.4 rpg in 1984-85
Derrick Chievous F Missouri 1987 23.4 ppg and 8.5 rpg in 1987-88
Bonzie Colson F Notre Dame 2017 19.7 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 1.7 spg, 2.2 bpg and 55.1 FG% despite missing half of 2017-18 because of broken left foot
Bobby Cook F Wisconsin 1947 12.4 ppg in 1947-48
Russ Critchfield G California 1967 22 ppg in 1967-68
John "Hook" Dillon F North Carolina 1946 and 1947 182 points in 1947-48
Bruce Douglas G Illinois 1984 8.8 ppg and 6.2 apg in 1985-86 after 7.9 ppg and 5.7 apg in 1984-85
Erwin Dudley F-C Alabama 2002 14.8 ppg and 9.5 rpg in 2002-03
Louis Dunbar F-G Houston 1974 24.3 ppg and 9.3 rpg in 1974-75
Bill Erickson G Illinois 1949 10.4 ppg in 1949-50
Kenny Fields F UCLA 1983 17.4 ppg and 6.9 rpg in 1983-84
Ryan Gomes F Providence 2004 21.6 ppg and 8.2 rpg in 2004-05
Jimmy Hagan C Tennessee Tech 1959 24.3 ppg and 17.2 rpg in 1959-60
Julius Hodge G-F North Carolina State 2004 17 ppg and 6.6 rpg in 2004-05
Terrell "Tu" Holloway G Xavier 2011 17.5 ppg and 4.9 apg in 2011-12
Frank Howard C-F Ohio State 1957 16.9 ppg and 13.6 rpg in 1957-58
Robbie Hummel F Purdue 2010 16.4 ppg and 7.2 rpg in 2011-12 after missing entire 2010-11 season with reinjured right knee
Thad Jaracz C-F Kentucky 1966 11.3 ppg and 7.1 rpg in 1967-68 after 11.3 ppg and 8.3 rpg in 1966-67
George Kaftan F-C Holy Cross 1947 and 1948 11.6 ppg in 1948-49
Ted Kitchel F Indiana 1982 17.3 ppg and 4.1 rpg in 1982-83
Brandin Knight G Pittsburgh 2002 11.2 ppg and 6.3 apg in 2002-03
Tom Kondla C Minnesota 1967 21 ppg and 9 rpg in 1967-68
John Lucas III G Oklahoma State 2004 17.7 ppg and 4.1 apg in 2004-05
Mark Macon G Temple 1988 22 ppg and 4.9 rpg in 1990-91 after 18.3 ppg and 5.6 rpg in 1988-89 plus 21.9 ppg and 6 rpg in 1989-90
Luke Maye F North Carolina 2018 14.9 ppg and 10.5 rpg in 2018-19
Billy McCaffrey G Vanderbilt 1993 20.6 ppg 4.2 apg in 1993-94
Bill Mlkvy F Temple 1951 17.4 ppg and 15.8 rpg in 1951-52
Lee Nailon C Texas Christian 1998 22.8 ppg and 9.3 rpg in 1998-99
Anthony Peeler G Missouri 1990 and 1991 23.4 ppg and 5.5 rpg in 1991-92
Ronnie Perry G Holy Cross 1977 through 1979 22.9 ppg and 2.9 apg in 1979-80
Chris Porter F Auburn 1999 14.6 ppg and 7.3 rpg in 1999-00
A.J. Price G Connecticut 2008 14.7 ppg and 4.7 apg in 2008-09
Mark Randall F-C Kansas 1990 15 ppg and 6.2 rpg in 1990-91
Pat Riley F Kentucky 1966 17.4 ppg and 7.7 rpg in 1966-67
Lawrence Roberts F-C Mississippi State 2004 16.9 ppg and 11 rpg in 2004-05
Sean Singletary G Virginia 2007 19.8 ppg and 6.1 apg in 2007-08
Chris Smith C Virginia Tech 1960 19.9 ppg and 16.5 rpg in 1960-61
Michael Smith C-F Brigham Young 1988 26.4 ppg and 8.6 rpg in 1988-89
Ken Spain C Houston 1968 14.8 ppg and 11.6 rpg in 1968-69
Hank Stein G Xavier 1958 13.7 ppg in 1958-59
Jordan Taylor G Wisconsin 2011 14.8 ppg and 4.1 apg in 2011-12
Kenny Thomas C New Mexico 1998 17.8 ppg and 10 rpg in 1998-99
Chris Thomforde C Princeton 1967 14.8 ppg and 8.2 rpg in 1968-69 after 12.2 ppg and 8.8 rpg in 1967-68
Monte Towe G North Carolina State 1974 10.4 ppg and 4.1 apg in 1974-75
Jim Tucker C Duquesne 1952 13.4 ppg and 13.6 rpg in 1953-54 after 15.8 ppg and 10.8 rpg in 1952-53
Fred VanVleet G Wichita State 2014 12.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 5.5 apg and 1.8 spg in 2015-16 after 13.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 5.2 apg and 1.9 spg in 2014-15
Clarence Weatherspoon F Southern Mississippi 1991 22.3 ppg and 10.5 rpg in 1991-92
Nick Werkman F Seton Hall 1963 33.2 ppg and 13.8 rpg in 1963-64
Sherman White C Long Island 1950 25.4 ppg in 1950-51
Henry Wilmore F-G Michigan 1971 and 1972 21.8 ppg and 6 rpg in 1972-73
George Wilson C Cincinnati 1963 16.1 ppg and 12.5 rpg in 1963-64
Luke Witte C Ohio State 1972 13.7 ppg and 8.3 rpg in 1972-73

*Boin missed the 1957-58 season after dropping out of school and playing AAU ball.

NOTES: UCLA's Lucius Allen (academic problems in 1968-69) and St. John's Mel Davis (knee injury in 1972-73) and Texas Western's Bobby Joe Hill (injury and grade problems in 1966-67) did not play full or at all in their senior seasons. . . . Canisius' Larry Fogle, an All-American as a sophomore in 1974 when he led the nation in scoring, entered the NBA draft as a hardship case the next year after failing to earn All-American status again. . . . Illinois' Frank Williams, an All-American as a sophomore in 2000-01, declared for the NBA draft as an undergraduate the next year after failing to to earn All-American status again. . . . Austin Peay's Fly Williams, an All-American as a freshman in 1973 when he led the nation in scoring, entered the ABA draft as an undergraduate the next year after failing to earn All-American status again.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on June 8 MLB Games

Extra! Extra! If spittin' mad regarding COVID-19 season postponement, 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 West Chester State PA hoopers Harry Anderson and Howie Bedell made news with the Philadelphia Phillies on this date. Elsewhere, ex-hoopers from several Texas universities - Ray Benge (Sam Houston State), Bill Henry (Houston) and Dutch Meyer (TCU) - extended impressive personal performances. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 8 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

JUNE 8

  • Chicago Cubs RF George Altman (appeared in 1953 and 1954 NAIA Basketball Tournament with Tennessee State) went 4-for-4 in a 4-3 loss against the New York Mets in the opener of a 1962 doubleheader.

  • In the midst of a career-high 13-game hitting streak, Philadelphia Phillies 1B Harry Anderson (averaged 7.7 ppg and 8.9 rpg for West Chester PA in 1951-52) supplied two homers among his four hits in the opener of a 1958 twinbill against the St. Louis Cardinals.

  • Detroit Tigers RHP Elden Auker (All-Big Six Conference first-five selection with Kansas State in 1931-32) tossed a one-hitter against the Philadelphia Athletics in 1937.

  • Posting his lone RBI with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1968, LF Howie Bedell (averaged 3.5 ppg and 3.5 rpg for West Chester PA in 1955-56) lofted a pinch-hit, sacrifice fly with one out in the fifth frame against the Los Angeles Dodgers, breaking RHP Don Drysdale's string of 58 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings.

  • Philadelphia Phillies RHP Ray Benge (multi-year hoops letterman for Sam Houston State first half of 1920s) notched his sixth victory in span of eight starts.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates LF Carson "Skeeter" Bigbee (Oregon hoops letterman in 1915) banged out at least three hits for the sixth time in a 13-game span in 1923.

  • Baltimore Orioles CF Al Bumbry (Virginia State's runner-up in scoring with 16.7 ppg as freshman in 1964-65) collected four hits and five RBI in a 13-8 win against the California Angels in 1980.

  • San Diego Padres 1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in WAC games in 1991-92) smacked a three-run pinch homer off LHP Billy Wagner in the bottom of the eighth inning in an 8-6 triumph against the New York Mets in 2008.

  • Cincinnati Reds CF Harry Craft (four-sport letterman with Mississippi College in early 1930s) went 5-for-5, hitting for the cycle, with six RBI in a 23-2 victory against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1940.

  • Boston Red Sox 1B Walt Dropo (Connecticut's first player ever to average 20 points in single season with 21.7 ppg in 1942-43), en route to becoming 1950 A.L. Rookie of the Year, contributed two homers, seven RBI and five runs scored in a 29-4 romp over the St. Louis Browns in the most lopsided result in the 20th Century.

  • New York Yankees 1B-OF Buddy Hassett (hooper for Manhattan teams winning school-record 17 consecutive games in 1930 and 1931) extended his hit streak to 20 games with a pair of singles against the Cleveland Indians in 1942.

  • San Francisco Giants LHP Bill Henry (hoops letterman for Houston's 1947 NAIA Tournament team featuring co-captain Guy Lewis) earned victory en route to going unscored upon in his first nine relief appearances of 1967 season.

  • RHP Cal Koonce (hoops standout for Campbell in 1960 and 1961 when North Carolina-based school was junior college) purchased from the New York Mets by the Boston Red Sox in 1970.

  • Bonus baby LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman hoops squad in 1953-54) activated from the injury list by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1955. They made room for him by optioning P Tommy Lasorda, who eventually managed them for 21 years from 1976 to 1996.

  • Detroit Tigers SS Harvey Kuenn (played hoops briefly for Wisconsin in 1951-52 after competing on JV squad previous season) collected four hits and four RBI against the New York Yankees in a 1954 contest.

  • In 1945, Cleveland Indians 2B Dutch Meyer (Texas Christian hoops letterman in 1934-35 and 1935-36) supplied his third three-hit outing in a four-game span.

  • LHP Dennis Rasmussen (sixth-man for Creighton averaged 5.1 ppg from 1977-78 through 1979-80) traded by the Cincinnati Reds to the San Diego Padres in 1988.

  • Cincinnati Reds 1B Eddie Shokes (Duke hoops letterman in 1939-40 and 1940-41) supplied a career-high three hits against the Boston Braves in a 1946 contest.

  • Kansas City Athletics 1B Norm Siebern (member of Southwest Missouri State squads capturing back-to-back NAIA Tournament hoops titles in 1952 and 1953) went 4-for-4 against the Chicago White Sox in a 1963 game.

  • Cleveland Indians 3B Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) hit decisive homer in top of ninth inning of an 8-7 win against the Milwaukee Brewers in 1995. Nine years later as Philadelphia Phillies 1B, he collected a pair of homers and six RBI in 2004 game against the Chicago White Sox.

  • Eventual MLB Hall of Fame OF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) fanned 14 Oklahoma batters as RHP in hurling a 1-0 shutout in the Gophers' 1973 College World Series opener.

Hoop Dreams to Field of Dreams: Ex-College Hoopers Selected in MLB Draft

Swingman Pat Connaughton, a two-time runner-up in scoring and rebounding for Notre Dame, was the most notable college basketball player selected six years ago in the 2014 MLB Amateur Draft. Connaughton, a pitcher, was picked in the fourth round by the Baltimore Orioles (121st choice overall) before losing his lone decision in the New York-Penn League (Class A). Concentrating on professional hoops the past four seasons as a backup shooting guard with the Portland Trail Blazers and Milwaukee Bucks, he seemed unlikely to become Baltimore's next Big Ben. Connaughton's prospective Organized Ball career could be fading based on the accuracy he exhibited in ceremonial first pitch at Brewers game where his wayward mid-90s mph fastball reminded observers of wild St. Louis Cardinals lefty Rick Ankiel.

In an era of increased specialization, the Orioles selected former LSU hooper Ben McDonald with the first pick in 1989 draft. McDonald, a part-time starter as a freshman forward under coach Dale Brown in 1986-87, went on to pitch in the starting rotation for the Orioles and Milwaukee Brewers for nine years from 1989 through 1997 before becoming an analyst for ESPN's CWS coverage. Connaughton isn't the first UND hoop standout to pitch at the professional level. Ron Reed, the Irish's top rebounder in 1963-64 and 1964-65, compiled a 146-140 MLB record in 19 seasons from 1966 through 1984 and Bob Arnzen, who averaged 20.3 ppg and 11.5 rpg from 1966-67 through 1968-69, posted a 6-8 minor-league mark in the Montreal Expos' farm system in three years (1969-71-72).

Infielder-outfielder C.J. Henry, the 17th pick overall in the 2005 draft, hit an anemic .222 in four low-minors seasons in the New York Yankees' farm system before the brother of Kansas standout Xavier Henry averaged 3.1 ppg in 13 contests with the Jayhawks in 2009-10. But North Carolina State's Andrew Brackman, who pitched briefly for the Yankees in 2011, is the only DI basketball regular in the 21st Century to become a major leaguer after being selected in the opening round of the amateur draft. Brackman was chosen ahead of supplemental first-rounders Todd Frazier and Justin Jackson. Other notable players picked that year include Brandon Belt (11th round), Zack Cozart (2nd), Lucas Duda (7th), Freddie Freeman (2nd), Matt Harvey (3rd/did not sign), Greg Holland (10th), Craig Kimbrel (33rd/did not sign), Corey Kluber (4th), Jonathan Lucroy (3rd), Anthony Rizzo (6th), Chris Sale (21st/did not sign), Giancarlo Stanton (2nd) and Jordan Zimmerman (2nd).

Numerous universities have featured versatile athletes who played college basketball before going on to major league baseball careers. Connecticut's Scott Burrell, a three-time All-Big East Conference choice under Huskies coach Jim Calhoun, was the first athlete to become a first-round draft pick of two major sports organizations (MLB and NBA). The first-round selection of the Seattle Mariners in 1989 and fifth-round choice by the Toronto Blue Jays in 1990 never reached as high as Double A, compiling a 2-6 Class A pitching record in 14 starts in the Blue Jays' farm system 1990 and 1991. Burrell, a first-round pick by the Charlotte Hornets in 1993, averaged 6.9 ppg and 3.5 rpg with four different NBA franchises in eight seasons from 1993-94 through 2000-01.

In 1989, Burrell was picked ahead of supplemental first-rounder Todd Jones plus the following eventual MLB hurlers: Jerry Dipoto (3rd round), Alan Embree (5th), Scott Erickson (4th), Sterling Hitchcock (9th), Trevor Hoffman (11th), Curt Leskanie (8th), Denny Neagle (3rd), Paul Quantrill (6th), Pat Rapp (15th), Shane Reynolds (3rd), Russ Springer (7th), Mike Trombley (14th) and Tim Worrell (20th). In 1990, Burrell was chosen before eventual MLB pitchers Jason Bere (36th round), Eddie Guardado (21st), Mike Hampton (6th), Dave Mlicki (17th), Troy Percival (6th), Andy Pettitte (22nd), Rick White (15th) and Mike Williams (14th).

Former NCAA Division I hoopers Dave Winfield and Bill Almon were MLB teammates the last six seasons of the 1970s after becoming first-round draft choices by the San Diego Padres in back-to-back years. On the eve of abbreviated 2020 selection process, following is an alphabetical list of major leaguers who were first-round choices in the amateur baseball draft after playing varsity college basketball:

First-Round Choice Position College(s) MLB Team Selector Pick Overall Year
Bill Almon SS Brown San Diego Padres 1st 1974
Andy Benes RHP Evansville San Diego Padres 1st 1988
Andrew Brackman RHP North Carolina State New York Yankees 30th 2007
Tony Clark 1B Arizona/San Diego State Detroit Tigers 2nd 1990
Cameron Drew OF New Haven CT Houston Astros 12th 1985
Atlee Hammaker LHP East Tennessee State Kansas City Royals 21st 1979
Rich Hand RHP Puget Sound WA Cleveland Indians 1st 1969**
Jim Lyttle OF Florida State New York Yankees 10th 1966
Ben McDonald RHP Louisiana State Baltimore Orioles 1st 1989
Dennis Rasmussen LHP Creighton California Angels 17th 1980
Jeff Shaw RHP Rio Grande OH Cleveland Indians 1st 1986**
*Mike Stenhouse OF-1B Harvard Oakland Athletics 26th 1979
Matt Thornton LHP Grand Valley State MI Seattle Mariners 22nd 1998
Dave Winfield OF Minnesota San Diego Padres 4th 1973
John Young 1B Chapman CA Detroit Tigers 16th 1969**

*Did not sign that year.
**January draft/secondary phase.
NOTES: 1B-OF Rick Leach (13th pick in 1979 by Detroit Tigers) was a JV hooper for Michigan and OF Ken Singleton (3rd selection in 1967 by New York Mets) was a freshman hooper for Hofstra. . . . Rasmussen and Stenhouse were compensation for signings of free-agent pitchers Nolan Ryan and Steve Renko, respectively.

The inaugural MLB draft in 1965 included nine individuals who competed for colleges currently at the NCAA Division I level before they reached the majors - Bob Chlupsa (Manhattan/6th round), Ken Szotkiewicz (Georgia Southern/10th), Steve Arlin (Ohio State/16th), Paul Edmondson (Cal State Northridge/21st), Rick Austin (Washington State freshmen team/22nd out of H.S.), Steve Renko (Kansas/24th), Paul Reuschel (Western Illinois/26th), Rich Hacker (Southern Illinois freshman team/39th out of H.S.) and Dick Such (Elon/40th). Oregon State hoops All-American Jim Jarvis wasn't picked in first MLB draft, but hit .288 as 2B with three minor-league clubs in the Philadelphia Phillies' farm system in 1966. Research to date reveals that at least one MLB selection in every June draft from 1965 through 1998 played college basketball. Brigham Young had three versatile athletes in this category in the 1970s (Danny Ainge, Doug Howard and Vance Law). Believe it or not, Washington State forward Mark Hendrickson, a two-time All-Pacific-10 Conference basketball selection, was chosen in six straight MLB drafts from 1992 through 1997. Unlike Connaughton ever reaching a MLB field as real player, following is an alphabetical list of former MLB non-first round choices in regular amateur draft who wound up as major leaguers after playing varsity hoops for a college currently or formerly at the NCAA DI level:

College Hooper/MLB Player Pos. Current/Former DI University MLB Draft Summary for Non-First Round Selection
Danny Ainge INF-OF Brigham Young 15th round by Toronto Blue Jays out of high school in 1977
Steve Arlin RHP Ohio State 23rd round by Detroit Tigers in 1965 and 1st round by Philadelphia Phillies in 1966 June Draft-Secondary Phase
Rick Austin LHP Washington State 22nd round by Detroit Tigers out of high school in 1965, 7th round by Pittsburgh Pirates in 1967 June secondary phase, 3rd round by St. Louis Cardinals in 1968 January secondary phase and 1st round by Cleveland Indians in 1968 June secondary phase
Mark Bailey C SW Missouri State 6th round by Houston Astros in 1982
Frank Baker INF Southern Mississippi 2nd round by New York Yankees in 1967
Mike Barlow RHP Syracuse 26th round by Baltimore Orioles in 1969 and 4th by Los Angeles Dodgers in January secondary phase in 1970
Chris Beasley RHP Arizona State 6th round by Chicago White Sox in 1982, 27th round by California Angels in 1983 and 9th round by Cleveland Indians in 1984
Jim Beattie RHP Dartmouth 4th round by New York Yankees in 1975
Jerry Bell RHP Belmont 2nd round by Seattle Pilots in 1969
Rob Belloir SS Mercer 8th round by Cleveland Indians in 1969
Bruce Bochte 1B-OF Santa Clara 2nd round by California Angels in 1972
Bob Chlupsa RHP Manhattan 6th round by Philadelphia Phillies in 1965, 2nd round by St. Louis Cardinals in 1966 secondary phase, 5th round by Cardinals in 1967 secondary phase
Marty Clary RHP Northwestern 3rd round by Atlanta Braves in 1983
Vince Colbert RHP East Carolina 11th round by Cleveland Indians in 1968
Paul Edmondson RHP Cal State Northridge 21st round by Chicago White Sox in 1965
Joe Ferguson C-OF Pacific 8th round by Los Angeles Dodgers in 1968
Dan Fife RHP Michigan 21st round by Detroit Tigers out of high school in 1967 and 2nd round by Tigers in 1971 secondary phase
Dave Frost RHP Stanford 18th round by Chicago White Sox in 1974
Rich Gale RHP New Hampshire 5th round by Kansas City Royals in 1975
Amir Garrett LHP St. John's 22nd round by Cincinnati Reds out of high school in 2011
Jim Geddes RHP Ohio State 6th round by Chicago White Sox in 1970
Tony Gwynn OF San Diego State 3rd round by San Diego Padres in 1981
Rich Hacker SS Southern Illinois 39th round by St. Louis Cardinals in 1965 out of high school and 8th round by New York Mets in 1967
Ed Halicki RHP Monmouth 38th round by St. Louis Cardinals out of high school in 1968 and 24th round by San Francisco Giants in 1972
James "Billy" Harris INF UNC Wilmington 62nd round by Houston Astros in 1965 and 27th round by Cleveland Indians in 1966
Paul Hartzell RHP Lehigh 10th round by California Angels in 1975
Mark Hendrickson LHP Washington State 13th round by Atlanta Braves out of high school in 1992, 21st round by San Diego Padres in 1993, 32nd round by Braves in 1994, 16th round by Detroit Tigers in 1995, 19th round by Texas Rangers in 1996 and 20th round by Toronto Blue Jays in 1997
Gary Holle 1B Siena 13th round by Milwaukee Brewers in 1976
Doug Howard 1B-OF Brigham Young 8th round by California Angels in 1970
Keith Kessinger SS Mississippi 36th round by Baltimore Orioles in 1989
Art Kusnyer C Kent State 37th round by Chicago White Sox in 1966
Vance Law INF Brigham Young 39th round by Pittsburgh Pirates in 1978
Kenny Lofton CF Arizona 17th round by Houston Astros in 1988
Terrell Lowery OF Loyola Marymount 2nd round by Texas Rangers in 1991
Tom Lundstedt C Michigan 65th round by Los Angeles Dodgers out of high school in 1967 and 1st round by Chicago Cubs in 1970 secondary phase
Len Matuszek OF-1B Toledo 5th round by Philadelphia Phillies in 1976
Ryan Minor 3B Oklahoma 15th round by Baltimore Orioles out of high school in 1992, 7th round by New York Mets in 1995 and 33rd round by Orioles in 1996
Lyle Mouton OF Louisiana State 54th round by Kansas City Royals in 1990 and 5th round by New York Yankees in 1991
Gary Neibauer RHP Nebraska 8th round by Cleveland Indians in 1966 and 2nd round by Atlanta Braves in 1966 secondary phase
Tim Nordbrook INF Loyola New Orleans 9th round by Baltimore Orioles in 1970
Curtis Pride OF William & Mary 10th round by New York Mets out of high school in 1986
Steve Renko RHP Kansas 24th round by New York Mets in 1965
Paul Reuschel RHP Western Illinois 26th round by Cincinnati Reds out of high school in 1965, 3rd round by Washington Senators in 1967 secondary phase and 4th round by Chicago Cubs in 1968 secondary phase
Lee Smith RHP Northwestern State 2nd round by Chicago Cubs out of high school in 1975
Mike Smithson RHP Tennessee 5th round by Boston Red Sox in 1976
Rob Sperring INF Pacific 5th round by Chicago Cubs in 1971
Tim Stoddard RHP North Carolina State 25th round by Texas Rangers in 1974 and 2nd round by Chicago White Sox in 1975 secondary phase
George Stone LHP Louisiana Tech 5th round by Atlanta Braves in 1966
Dick Such RHP Elon 40th round by New York Yankees in 1965 and 8th round by Washington Senators in 1966 secondary phase
Ken Szotkiewicz SS Georgia Southern 10th round by Philadelphia Phillies out of high school in 1965, 1st round by Minnesota Twins in 1967 secondary phase and 1st round by Detroit Tigers in 1968 secondary phase
Will Venable OF Princeton 15th round by Baltimore Orioles in 2004 and 7th round by San Diego Padres in 2005
Joe Vitko III RHP St. Francis PA 38th round by New York Mets in 1988 out of high school and 24th round by Mets in 1989
John Wathan C San Diego 1st round by Kansas City Royals in January regular phase in 1971
Desi Wilson 1B Fairleigh Dickinson 15th round by Boston Red Sox out of high school in 1987, 87th round by Houston Astros in 1989 and 30th round by Texas Rangers in 1991
Randy Winn OF Santa Clara 3rd round by Florida Marlins in 1995
Chris Young RHP Princeton 3rd round by Pittsburgh Pirates in 2000

NOTE: Pitcher Clair "Bart" Johnson, leading scorer for Brigham Young's 1967-68 freshman squad, was 3rd-round pick by St. Louis Cardinals in 1967 out of high school and 1st-round selection by Chicago White Sox in 1968 June secondary phase.

The first five MLB drafts from 1965 through 1969 had multiple small-college hoopers chosen before they reached the majors (as high as fourth round in 1969 during five-year span). Following is an alphabetical list of former MLB non-first round draft choices who wound up as major leaguers after playing varsity hoops for a small college:

Small-College Hooper/MLB Player Pos. Non-DI School MLB Draft Summary for Non-First Round Selection
Larry Biittner OF-1B Buena Vista IA 10th round by Washington Senators in 1968
Al Bumbry OF Virginia State 11th round by Baltimore Orioles in 1968
Ray Burris RHP Southwestern Oklahoma State 17th round by Chicago Cubs in 1972
Ben Callahan RHP Catawba NC 31st round by New York Yankees in 1980
John Castino INF Rollins FL 3rd round by Minnesota Twins in 1976
Tom Dettore RHP Juniata PA 26th round by Pittsburgh Pirates in 1965 out of high school, 9th round by Pirates in 1967 secondary phase and 3rd round by Pirates in 1968 secondary phase
Ron Diorio RHP New Haven CT 16th round by Philadelphia Phillies in 1969
Darcy Fast LHP Warner Pacific OR 7th round by New York Yankees in 1965 out of high school and 6th round by Chicago Cubs in 1967
Wayne Gross 3B Cal Poly Pomona 9th round by Oakland Athletics in 1973
Kevin Gryboski RHP Wilkes PA 16th round by Cincinnati Reds in 1994 and 16th round by Seattle Mariners in 1995
Mike Hargrove 1B Northwestern Oklahoma State 25th round by Texas Rangers in 1972
Walter "Buddy" Harris RHP Philadelphia Textile 13th round by Atlanta Braves in 1966 out of high school and 1st round by Houston Astros in 1968 secondary phase
Bob Hegman INF St. Cloud State MN 15th round by Kansas City Royals in 1980
Lynn Jones OF Thiel PA 10th round by Cincinnati Reds in 1974
David Justice OF Thomas More KY 4th round by Atlanta Braves in 1985
Dave Lemanczyk RHP Hartwick NY 16th round by Detroit Tigers in 1972
Davey Lopes 2B Washburn KS 8th round by San Francisco Giants in 1967 and 2nd round by Los Angeles Dodgers in 1968 secondary phase
Arnold "Bake" McBride OF Westminster MO 37th round by St. Louis Cardinals in 1970
Jim McKee RHP Otterbein OH 4th round by Pittsburgh Pirates in 1969
Joe Niekro RHP West Liberty State WV 7th round by Cleveland Indians in 1966 and 3rd round by Chicago Cubs in 1966 secondary phase
Billy North CF Central Washington 12th round by Chicago Cubs in 1969
Willie Prall LHP Upsala NJ 3rd round by San Francisco Giants in 1971
Jeff Robinson RHP Azusa Pacific CA 14th round by Detroit Tigers in 1982 and 2nd round by San Francisco Giants in 1983
Bill Sampen RHP MacMurray IL 12th round by Pittsburgh Pirates in 1985
Jeff Shaver RHP SUNY-Fredonia 22nd round by Oakland Athletics in 1985
Larry Sheets DH-OF Eastern Mennonite VA 2nd round by Baltimore Orioles in 1978
Robert "Roe" Skidmore 1B-OF Millikin IL 47th round by Atlanta Braves in 1966
Paul Splittorff LHP Morningside IA 25th round by Kansas City Royals in 1968
Eric Stults LHP Bethel IN 15th round by Los Angeles Dodgers in 2002
Jim Todd RHP Millersville PA 10th round by Chicago Cubs in 1969

Major-college basketball All-Americans selected in MLB draft but never playing Organized Ball or reaching the majors included Alabama's Charles Cleveland (RHP picked in 34th round by Kansas City Royals in 1971 out of high school ahead of 35th-round choice Tom Hume), Virginia Tech's Dell Curry (RHP picked in 37th round by Texas Rangers in 1982 out of high school and 14th round by Baltimore Orioles in 1985 ahead of 15th-round choice Rich DeLucia, 18th-round choice Dennis Cook, 22nd-round choice John Smoltz, 23rd-round choice Scott Kamieniecki, 23rd-round choice Donn Pall, 30th-round choice Chris Nabholz and 36th-round choice Jim Abbott), California's Kevin Johnson (SS picked in 23rd round by Oakland Athletics in 1986 ahead of 27th-round choice John Olerud), Duke's Trajan Langdon (3B picked in 6th round by San Diego Padres in 1994 out of high school ahead of seventh-round choice Russ Branyan, seventh-round choice Geoff Blum, eighth-round choice Ronnie Belliard, 10th-round choice Wes Helms, 11th-round choice Donnie Sadler, 11th-round choice Bubba Trammell, 12th-round choice Wendell Magee, 13th-round choice Ryan Freel, 15th-round choice Daryle Ward, 19th-round choice Placido Polanco, 20th-round choice Dustan Mohr, 20th-round choice J.D. Drew, 25th-round choice Mike Young, 26th-round choice Corey Koskie and 28th-round choice Dave Roberts), North Carolina's Eric Montross (RHP picked in 62nd round by Chicago Cubs in 1994 ahead of 68th-round choice Juan "J.C." Romero and 70th-round choice Jose Santiago), Missouri's Anthony Peeler (LHP picked in 41st round by Texas Rangers in 1988 out of high school ahead of 41st-round choice Chad Ogea and 44th-round choice Scott Erickson), Holy Cross' Ronnie Perry (INF picked in 12th round by Boston Red Sox in 1979 ahead of 19th-round choice Don Mattingly and 3rd round by Chicago White Sox in 1980 ahead of 3rd-round choice Danny Tartabull, 8th-round choice Eric Davis and 16th-round choice Jim Eisenreich) and Long Beach State's Ed Ratleff (RHP picked in 6th round by Pittsburgh Pirates in 1969 out of high school ahead of 8th-round choice Glenn Abbott, 15th-round choice Jim Slaton, 20th-round choice Dick Ruthven and 25th-round choice Andy Hassler).

In the same category are NCAA playoff coaches Paul Cormier (RHP was picked in 25th round by Detroit Tigers in 1972 ahead of 38th-round choice Bob Shirley), Mitch Henderson (OF was picked in 29th round by New York Yankees in 1994 out of high school ahead of 38th-round choice Eric Byrnes, 43rd-round choice Julio Lugo, 49th-round choice Jason Michaels, 54th-round choice Chris Woodward, 57th-round choice Joe Nelson, 61st-round choice Morgan Ensberg and 71st-choice Johnny Estrada), Lon Kruger (RHP was picked in 12th round by Houston Astros in 1970 out of high school ahead of 18th-round choice Dale Murray, 19th-round choice Pat Zachry, 29th-round choice John Denny, 30th-round choice Doc Medich and 32nd-round choice Mike Krukow plus 21st round by St. Louis Cardinals in 1974 ahead of 22nd-round choice Dave Rozema, 25th-round choice Tim Stoddard, 28th-round choice Sammy Stewart, 30th-round choice Al Holland and 36th-round choice Eric Show) plus Tom Penders (INF-OF was picked in 8th round by Cleveland Indians in 1968 January Regular Phase).

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on June 7 MLB Games

Extra! Extra! If spittin' mad regarding COVID-19 season postponement, 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 hoopers from current ACC members Florida State (Jim Lyttle) and North Carolina State (Andrew Brackman) supplied first-round MLB draft choices for the New York Yankees on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 7 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

JUNE 7

  • SS Bill Almon (averaged 2.5 ppg in half a season for Brown's 1972-73 team ending the Bears' streak of 12 straight losing basketball records) selected first overall in 1974 amateur draft featuring 12 of first 13 choices going on to become major leaguers. Almon was chosen by the San Diego Padres ahead of first-rounders/eventual All-Star honorees Dale Murphy, Lance Parrish, Lonnie Smith, Rick Sutcliffe, Garry Templeton and Willie Wilson.

  • Seattle Mariners 1B Bruce Bochte (starting forward for Santa Clara's NCAA playoff team in 1969-70) provided four hits in a 5-4 win against the Cleveland Indians in 1981.

  • RHP Andrew Brackman (averaged 7.5 ppg and 3.5 rpg with North Carolina State in 2004-05 and 2005-06 for pair of NCAA playoff teams) selected in first round (30th pick overall) by the New York Yankees in 2007 amateur draft. Brackman was chosen ahead of supplemental first-rounders Todd Frazier and Justin Jackson. Other notable players picked who signed that year include Brandon Belt (11th round), Zack Cozart (2nd), Lucas Duda (7th), Greg Holland (10th), Freddie Freeman (2nd), Corey Kluber (4th), Jonathan Lucroy (3rd), Anthony Rizzo (6th), Giancarlo Stanton (2nd) and Jordan Zimmerman (2nd).

  • Brooklyn Robins RF Harvey Hendrick (Vanderbilt hoops letterman in 1918) stroked three hits in third consecutive contest in 1927.

  • Philadelphia Phillies CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) logged three hits for the third time in a four-game span in 2005.

  • OF Jim Lyttle (led Florida State in free-throw shooting in 1965-66 when averaging 12.4 ppg) selected in first round (10th pick overall) by the New York Yankees in 1966 amateur draft. Lyttle was chosen ahead of fellow first-rounders John Curtis (did not sign that year), Richie Hebner, Carlos May and Gary Nolan.

  • OF Les Mann (Springfield MA hooper in 1913 and 1914) purchased from the Cincinnati Reds by the Boston Braves in 1924.

  • New York Giants Hall of Fame RHP Christy Mathewson (Bucknell hooper at turn of 20th Century) combined with teammate Joe McGinnity to surrender 11 runs in the opening inning of a 19-0 drubbing by the Chicago Cubs in 1906. It is the worst setback in Giants' history.

  • Len Matuszek (starter for Toledo's 18-7 team in 1975-76) smashed a three-run, pinch-hit homer for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Houston Astros in 1986.

  • RHP Joe Niekro (averaged 8.9 ppg and 3.8 rpg for West Liberty WV from 1963-64 through 1965-66) traded by the New York Yankees to the Minnesota Twins in 1987.

  • In the midst of a 12-game hitting streak, St. Louis Cardinals RF Don Padgett (freshman in 1934 with Lenoir-Rhyne NC excelled in multiple sports) pounded his fourth homer in last six contests.

  • Chicago Cubs RHP Claude Passeau (Millsaps MS hooper in late 1920s and early 1930s) hurled a shutout against the Brooklyn Dodgers and supplied a two-run, game-ending homer in the ninth inning in 1946.

  • Detroit Tigers LF Curtis Pride (led William & Mary in steals three times and assists twice while averaging 5.6 ppg and 3.1 apg from 1986-87 through 1989-90) contributed a career-high four hits and scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning in a 6-5 triumph against the New York Yankees in 1996.

  • Texas Rangers LF Leon Roberts (grabbed one rebound in four basketball games for Michigan in 1970-71 under coach Johnny Orr) stroked three hits in his second straight outing against the Toronto Blue Jays in 1981.

  • Cleveland Indians 3B Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) hit game-winning homer in bottom of 10th inning for 3-2 win against the Detroit Tigers in 1995.

  • Boston Red Sox rookie C Sammy White (All-PCC Northern Division first-five selection for Washington in 1947-48 and 1948-49) went 4-for-4 with three extra-base hits against the Detroit Tigers in a 1952 outing.

  • OF Dave Winfield (starting forward with Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) picked fourth overall by the San Diego Padres in 1973 amateur draft and goes straight to the majors. Twelve years later as a New York Yankees RF, Winfield walloped two homers against the Milwaukee Brewers in a 1985 game.

  • Detroit Tigers 3B Eddie Yost (NYU freshman hooper in 1943-44 under coach Howard Cann) homered twice in a 1959 game against his original team (Washington Senators).

  • 1B Babe Young (Fordham hoops letterman in 1935-36) traded by the New York Giants to the Cincinnati Reds in 1947.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on June 6 MLB Games

Extra! Extra! If spittin' mad regarding COVID-19 season postponement, 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 San Diego State hoopers Tony Clark, Tony Gwynn and Graig Nettles made MLB news on this date. Ditto several ex-hoopers from Texas universities - Mike Adams (Texas A&M-Kingsville), Beau Bell (Texas A&M) and Ray Benge (Sam Houston State). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 6 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

JUNE 6

  • Philadelphia Phillies RHP Mike Adams (played basketball for Texas A&M-Kingsville in 1996-97) notched 14 straight relief appearances without allowing an earned run before going on the disabled list in 2014.

  • RHP Mike Barlow (Syracuse substitute from 1967-68 through 1969-70) traded by the Houston Astros to the California Angels in 1976.

  • Cleveland Indians RF Beau Bell (two-year hoops letterman for Texas A&M in early 1930s) went 4-for-4 in a 5-4 win against the Washington Senators in 1940.

  • Philadelphia Phillies RHP Ray Benge (multi-year hoops letterman for Sam Houston State first half of 1920s) hurled his first of two shutouts during the month in 1929.

  • RHP Jim Bibby (Fayetteville State NC backup hooper and brother of UCLA All-American Henry Bibby) traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the Texas Rangers in 1973.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers rookie RHP Joe Black (Morgan State hooper in mid-1940s) didn't allow an earned run in his first nine relief appearances covering 15 1/3 innings in 1952.

  • Chicago White Sox 1B Zeke Bonura (best basketball forward for Loyola LA in late 1920s and early 1930s) belted two homers in a 10-6 setback against the Boston Red Sox in 1936.

  • Detroit Tigers 1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in WAC games in 1991-92) provided three extra-base hits against the Milwaukee Brewers in a 1998 contest.

  • San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-WAC second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) stroked a ninth-inning single on a 3-0 delivery to end Tom Browning's bid for a perfect game with the Cincinnati Reds in 1988.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) hammered two homers against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1953 outing.

  • Nine-year MLB INF Jerry Kindall (averaged 6.9 ppg for Minnesota as junior in 1955-56) coached Arizona to his second of three College World Series championships with the Wildcats by defeating Hawaii, 5-3, in 1980.

  • LF Danny Litwhiler (member of JV hoops squad with Bloomsburg PA in mid-1930s) notched the only for the Philadelphia Phillies off Johnny Vander Meer of the Cincinnati Reds in a 1941 game three years to the month after Vander Meer became the only MLB hurler to toss back-to-back no-hitters.

  • In 1963, Chicago Cubs RHP Lindy McDaniel (hooper for Oklahoma's 1954-55 freshman squad), entering a contest against the San Francisco Giants as a reliever with the bases loaded and one out in the top of the 10th inning, promptly picked Hall of Fame CF Willie Mays off second base an then fanned C Ed Bailey before leading off the bottom of the frame with a game-winning homer.

  • New York Yankees 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) smacked two homers against the Seattle Mariners in a 1983 contest.

  • Chicago Cubs RF Bill Nicholson (Washington College MD hoops guard for two years in mid-1930s) blasted two homers against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1940 outing.

  • RHP Joe Niekro (averaged 8.9 ppg and 3.8 rpg for West Liberty WV from 1963-64 through 1965-66) traded by the New York Yankees to the Minnesota Twins in 1987.

  • California Angels LF Tony Phillips (New Mexico Military juco hooper in 1977-78 as teammate of eventual Drake All-American Lewis Lloyd) homered twice in a 1995 game against the Boston Red Sox.

  • RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) registered his only victory in 1961 (3-2 at San Francisco). He finished with the worst-ever season record (1-10 in final year with Philadelphia Phillies) for a Hall of Fame hurler.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers LF Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) accounted for four hits in back-to-back games against the Chicago Cubs in 1954.

Zipped Up: Akron No Longer Among Schools With Streaks of 20-Win Seasons

The most ardent college hoops observer probably didn't realize Akron zipped along as one of only four NCAA Division I schools posting more than 20 victories throughout the past decade. After Memphis and Pittsburgh fell off the consecutive 20-win list five seasons ago and Ohio State bowed out four years ago, the Zips posted a losing mark two campaigns ago, leaving Gonzaga and bluebloods Duke and Kansas as the three institutions notching more than 20 triumphs more than 20 seasons in a row (including best and worst campaigns during their streaks):

School Years Coach(es) Best Record (Season) Worst Record (Season)
Kansas 31 Roy Williams and Bill Self 34-2 (1996-97) 23-10 (1998-99)
Duke 24 Mike Krzyzewski 37-2 (1998-99) 22-11 (2006-07)
Gonzaga 23 Dan Monson and Mark Few 36-1 (2016-17) 23-11 (2006-07)

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on June 5 MLB Games

Extra! Extra! If spittin' mad regarding COVID-19 season postponement, 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 Illinois hoopers Lou Boudreau, Hoot Evers and Wally Roettger supplied significant MLB offensive performances on this date. Ditto ex-juco hoopers Mickey Brantley (Columbia-Greene SC), Irv Noren (Pasadena City CA) and Tony Phillips (New Mexico Military). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 5 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

JUNE 5

  • Baltimore Orioles 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) supplied multiple hits in his fifth consecutive contest in 1964.

  • Chicago White Sox rookie 1B Zeke Bonura (best basketball forward for Loyola LA in late 1920s and early 1930s) went 5-for-7 in 1934 doubleheader split with the St. Louis Browns. Bonura was in the midst of having 12 multiple-hit outings in an 18-game span while raising his batting average from .250 to .318 by mid-month.

  • Cleveland Indians SS Lou Boudreau (leading scorer for Illinois' 1937 Big Ten Conference basketball co-champion) went 4-for-4 against the Philadelphia Athletics in a 1943 game.

  • Seattle Mariners DH Mickey Brantley (averaged 10 ppg, 6.8 rpg and 5.4 apg for Columbia-Greene Community College SC in 1979-80) collected three hits and four RBI in a 7-2 victory against the Kansas City Royals in 1987.

  • In his lone MLB at-bat, Philadelphia Phillies bonus-baby C Mack Burk (collected eight points and eight rebounds in 11 basketball games with Texas in 1954-55) stroked a pinch-hit single off Joe Nuxhall of the Cincinnati Redlegs in 1956.

  • Philadelphia Athletics C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) amassed four hits against the St. Louis Browns in a 1926 outing.

  • In the midst of a career-high 19-game hitting streak, Detroit Tigers LF Hoot Evers (Illinois hoops starter in 1939-40) contributed five RBI in a 7-4 win against the Washington Senators in 1950.

  • Boston Red Sox 1B Dick Gernert (Temple hoops letterman in 1948-49 when averaging 2.7 ppg) homered in his third consecutive contest against the Cleveland Indians in 1958.

  • LHP Atlee Hammaker (averaged 5.3 ppg as freshman in 1976-77 and 4.9 ppg as sophomore in 1977-78 under East Tennessee State coach Sonny Smith) selected in first round (21st pick overall) by the Kansas City Royals in 1979 amateur draft.

  • Brooklyn Robins LF Buddy Hassett (hooper for Manhattan teams winning school-record 17 consecutive games in 1930 and 1931) banged out four hits against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 1938 game.

  • INF-OF Harvey Hendrick (Vanderbilt hoops letterman in 1918) purchased from the St. Louis Cardinals by the Cincinnati Reds in 1932.

  • A three-run, pinch-hit homer by Gail Hopkins (averaged 2.5 ppg with Pepperdine in 1963-64) sparked the Kansas City Royals to an 11-7 triumph against the New York Yankees in 1971.

  • Cleveland Indians RF David Justice (Thomas More KY assists leader in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg) jacked two homers against the Milwaukee Brewers in a 2000 game.

  • Cleveland Indians CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) launched two homers against the Detroit Tigers in a 1995 outing.

  • Milwaukee Braves SS Johnny Logan (Binghamton hooper in 1948-49) logged four hits in a 7-0 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1954.

  • St. Louis Cardinals RHP Lindy McDaniel (hooper for Oklahoma's 1954-55 freshman squad) notched his fifth complete-game victory in a five-week span in 1957.

  • RHP Ben McDonald (started six games as 6-6 freshman forward for Louisiana State in 1986-87) picked first overall by the Baltimore Orioles in the 1989 amateur draft. RHP Scott Burrell (three-time All-Big East Conference selection from 1990-91 through 1992-93 for Connecticut under coach Jim Calhoun) was the final choice in the opening round (26th by Seattle Mariners). Burrell was picked ahead of eventual MLB hurlers Jerry Dipoto, Alan Embree, Scott Erickson, Sterling Hitchcock, Trevor Hoffman, Todd Jones, Curt Leskanie, Denny Neagle, Paul Quantrill, Pat Rapp, Shane Reynolds, Russ Springer, Mike Trombley and Tim Worrell.

  • Philadelphia Phillies C Cal Neeman (Illinois Wesleyan's leading scorer in 1947-48 and 1948-49) smacked decisive three-run homer in bottom of seventh inning of 4-1 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates in nightcap of 1960 twinbill.

  • Washington Senators rookie CF Irv Noren (hoops player of year for California community college state champion Pasadena City in 1945) went 4-for-4 against the Detroit Tigers in a 1950 outing.

  • Extending his hitting streak to 15 games, St. Louis Browns LF Ray Pepper (Alabama hoops letterman in 1926-27) provided four safeties in a 10-5 win against the Chicago White Sox in the nightcap of a 1934 doubleheader.

  • Detroit Tigers LF Tony Phillips (New Mexico Military juco hooper in 1977-78 as teammate of eventual Drake All-American Lewis Lloyd) homered twice in a 1994 contest against the Minnesota Twins.

  • Cincinnati Reds RF Wally Roettger (Illinois hoops letterman in 1921-22 and 1922-23) registered two triples among his four hits against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1931 game.

  • RHP Lee Smith (averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg with Northwestern State in 1976-77) fanned four of the last five Pittsburgh Pirates batters to earn a save for the Chicago Cubs in a 3-1 victory in 1983.

  • Washington Senators 2B Wayne Terwilliger (two-year hoops letterman for Western Michigan averaged 5.6 ppg in final season in 1947-48) smacked a grand slam in an 8-4 win against the Chicago White Sox in 1953.

  • New York Yankees RF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) delivered five hits for the second time in a three-game span in 1984. Three years later, Winfield manufactured three extra-base safeties against the Milwaukee Brewers in a 1987 contest.

Missing CWS: Entertaining College World Series Boasts Links to Basketball

Instead of viewing ransacking of American cities by leftist lunatics seeking to defund law enforcement, we should be watching lefties and righthanders in one of America's most entertaining events - the College World Series. Regrettably, the event was cancelled this year because of COVID-19 pearl clutching. Mike Martin, in swan song 40th campaign last year as Florida State's baseball coach, was denied aspiration of becoming the latest former college basketball player coaching a school to a College World Series championship. The all-time winningest college baseball coach boasted the highest winning percentage among NCAA Division I mentors, winning almost three-fourths of his games. Martin, who guided the Seminoles to the CWS a total of 17 times (1980-86-87-89-91-92-94-95-96-98-99-00-08-10-12-17-19), played basketball for Wingate (NC) in the mid-1960s before the institution became a four-year school. One of his junior college hoop teammates was Morris "Mo" McHone, who went on to coach the San Antonio Spurs in 1983-84. Martin coached basketball for Tallahassee (Fla.) Community College in the early 1970s.

Ex-college hooper Pat Casey (Portland and George Fox OR) retired a couple of years ago after directing Oregon State to its third CWS championship. He is the only coach in NCAA history to survive six elimination games en route to a national title (2006). His second titlist in 2007 was the first unranked team in history to capture NCAA crown. "When you are building (a program), nobody cares," Casey said. "Now, the higher the monkey climbs, the more of his butt you see." Casey resumed monkey mooning by contemplating coming out of retirement after OSU was eliminated in the 2019 NCAA playoffs via losing two games at home.

FSU advanced to a Super Regional for the 17th time in 21 seasons last season - the most for any school since the format was introduced. Martin, national runner-up in 1986 and 1999, isn't the only revered coach frustrated by not capturing a national title. Richard "Itchy" Jones, who averaged 8.9 ppg for Southern Illinois' basketball squad in 1956-57, established a baseball dynasty in 21-year coaching career at his alma mater before accepting a similar position with the Illini in Champaign in 1991. Jones compiled a 1,240-752-6 record before retiring in 2005. In 1971, his second year at Southern Illinois, Jones guided the Salukis to within one game of the national title, finishing second at the CWS. In 1974 and 1977, Jones brought SIU back to the CWS, placing third both times. Buoyed by more than 20 eventual major leaguers, he became the 18th coach in NCAA Division I history to win 1,000 games. Also falling short was ex-New Mexico State hooper Gary Ward, who guided Oklahoma State to 16 consecutive Big Eight Conference titles and 10 CWS appearances - including seven in a row and three runner-up finishes (1981-87-90) - in 19 seasons as coach from 1978 through 1996 before accepting a similar position succeeding his son at his alma mater for two years. Ward, who averaged 9.1 ppg and 5.4 rpg for the Aggies in 1960-61 and 1961-62, became only the 24th coach in college baseball history to secure 1,000 career victories, finishing with a 1,022-361-1 mark. Sammy Esposito, a starting guard for Indiana in 1951-52 under bench boss Branch McCracken, coached North Carolina State to a third-place finish in the 1968 CWS and Clarence "Ace" Parker, a hoops letterman for Duke in 1935-36, coached his alma mater to CWS in 1953 and 1961 after playing both major-league baseball and in the NFL. Former Northeastern State (Okla.) hooper Enos Semore guided Oklahoma to five consecutive CWS appearances from 1972 through 1976 and Bill "Dutch" Fehring, John Wooden hoop teammate at Purdue from 1931-32 through 1933-34, coached Stanford in 1967 when it lost to eventual champion Arizona State in CWS semifinals.

Stanford's Everett Dean, compiling a 3-0 basketball tournament record in 1942, is the only unbeaten coach in NCAA playoff history. He is also the only NCAA basketball championship coach to win a CWS baseball game for the same school as a coach (1953). Four former college cagers who eventually played or managed at the MLB level - Dick Siebert (2 with Minnesota), Don Lund (Michigan), Bobby Winkles (3 with Arizona State) and Marty Karow (Ohio State) - combined to capture a total of seven CWS championships in the 1960s. Following is an alphabetical list of previous ex-college hoopers who went the extra step and reached the milestone of coaching a CWS titlist:

JOHN "JACK" BARRY, Holy Cross
Infielder, primarily a shortstop, hit .243 with the Philadelphia Athletics and Boston Red Sox in 11 A.L. seasons from 1908 through 1919. Ranked fifth in the league in RBI in 1913 with 85 for the Athletics as a key component of Connie Mack's first dynasty. Participated in five World Series, four with the champion, in a six-year span from 1910 through 1915. Compiled a 90-62 managerial record with the Red Sox in 1917 before winning more than 80% of his games coaching his alma mater for 40 years (including capturing the 1952 College World Series). The 5-9 Barry was a basketball letterman for the Crusaders in 1908.

SAM BARRY, Wisconsin
Basketball Hall of Famer coached USC's 1948 baseball titlist. He is the Trojans' all-time winningest basketball coach.

PAT CASEY, Portland/George Fox (OR)
Retired in fall of 2018 following 24 years as coach of Oregon State's baseball squad, winning NCAA titles in 2006, 2007 and 2018. Directed OSU to seven straight NCAA appearances from 2009 through 2015. As a player, he posted one minor-league season in Class A, AA and AAA where he hit over .300. Tenth-round selection by the San Diego Padres in 1980 (1B-OF played eight years in farm systems of the Padres, Seattle Mariners and Minnesota Twins). Averaged 2.6 ppg for UP in 1978-79 as teammate of eventual NBA guards Darwin Cook and Jose Slaughter. Following Organized Baseball career, he led George Fox in scoring with 17.9 ppg in 1988-89, which was same school year he also coached the former NAIA member's baseball team to first of six consecutive campaigns with more than 20 victories. The Bruins had 12 losing records in a row from 1976 through 1987 before they went 15-14 in his inaugural season at their helm in 1988. His older brother, Chris, was football coach for George Fox.

RAY "PICK" FISHER, Middlebury (VT)
Righthander compiled a 100-94 record and 2.82 ERA with the New York Yankees and Cincinnati Reds in 10 years from 1910 through 1920. Ranked among the A.L. top 10 in ERA and complete games in back-to-back seasons (1914 and 1915). Started one World Series game for the Reds against the Chicago White Sox in 1919. Won 14 Big Ten Conference championships as baseball coach at Michigan for 38 years until the late 1950s (including 1953 College World Series title). Became a spring training pitching instructor for the Detroit Tigers after being blacklisted for almost 40 years because of salary disputes with Cincinnati's owners. Fisher played "class" basketball (1910 graduate) before becoming his alma mater's first full-time salaried member of the Physical Education Department.

MARTIN KAROW, Ohio State
Coach of his alma mater's 1966 College World Series winner after the Buckeyes finished runner-up the previous year. He was a basketball letterman in 1925 before the infielder went 2-for-10 in six games for the Boston Red Sox in 1927.

JERRY KINDALL, Minnesota
Infielder hit .213 in nine seasons (1956 through 1958 and 1960 through 1965) with the Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians and Minnesota Twins. Baseball coach at Arizona for more than 20 years, leading the Wildcats to three College World Series titles (1976, 1980 and 1986). He is the only player to hit for the cycle in the College World Series at Omaha (against Ole Miss on June 11, 1956). Kindall is the only individual to play for and coach CWS champions. The 6-2 1/2, 175-pounder played two seasons of varsity basketball for Minnesota under coach Ozzie Cowles, averaging 1.4 ppg as a sophomore in 1954-55 and 6.9 ppg as a junior in 1955-56. Excerpt from school guide: "Exceptionally quick reflexes and a good eye are his main attributes although he also has tremendous spring making him a good rebounder."

DON LUND, Michigan
Outfielder hit .240 in a seven-year career (1945, 1947 through 1949 and 1952 through 1954) with the Brooklyn Dodgers, St. Louis Browns and Detroit Tigers. His only season as a regular was 1953 when he was the Tigers' right fielder. Coached baseball at his alma mater, winning the national championship in 1962, before running the Tigers' farm system until 1970. First-round selection as a fullback/linebacker by the Chicago Bears in the 1945 NFL draft. Rejected $100 a game offer from the Bears and never played pro football. He was a 6-0, 200-pound starting guard as a junior for the Wolverines' basketball team and starting center as a senior. Averaged 4.4 ppg in 46 outings. In his history of Michigan basketball, Jeff Mortimer wrote of the school's World War II squads: "Lund, rejected for military service because of a trick knee, was the mainstay of these teams." Following his playing career, he served as baseball coach for his alma mater (won 1962 College World Series), farm system director for the Tigers and associate athletic director at his alma mater.

DICK SIEBERT, Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.)
Lefthanded first baseman hit .282 with the Brooklyn Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Athletics in 11 years in 1932 and from 1936 through 1945. All-Star in 1943 finished among the top Seven in the A.L. in batting average in 1941 and 1944. Minnesota's baseball coach for 31 years (753-361-8 record from 1948 through 1978) captured three CWS titles in a nine-year span from 1956 through 1964. His son, Paul, pitched with the Houston Astros, San Diego Padres and New York Mets for five years from 1974 to 1978. Siebert played two years of college basketball in 1929 and 1930. The March 1929 issue of the Concordia Comet mentions that, "Lefty Siebert, despite having never touched a basketball before enrolling at Concordia, was almost as good a basketball player as he was a baseball player."

JOHN "HI" SIMMONS, Northeast Missouri State
Missouri's all-time winningest baseball coach (481-284 record in 34 years) captured the 1954 NCAA title in one of his six College World Series appearances. One of his winning pitchers at the CWS was Norm Stewart, who went on to become Mizzou's all-time winningest basketball coach. School's baseball stadium is named after Simmons. All-conference center was senior captain of 1927-28 basketball squad.

BOBBY WINKLES, Illinois Wesleyan
Coached Arizona State to College World Series titles in 1965, 1967 and 1969 before managing the California Angels in 1973 and through the first 74 games of 1974 (170-213 major league record). Reggie Jackson, Rick Monday and Sal Bando were among the more than 20 future major leaguers he coached at ASU. Winkles led Illinois Wesleyan in scoring as a senior in 1950-51 (12 ppg). The 5-9, 170-pound guard was a first-team selection in the College Conference of Illinois.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on June 4 MLB Games

Extra! Extra! If spittin' mad regarding COVID-19 season postponement, 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 Cincinnati hoopers Ethan Allen and Sandy Koufax provided MLB headlines on this date. Ex-SEC hoopers Joe Gibbon (Mississippi), Harvey Hendrick (Vanderbilt) and Riggs Stephenson (Alabama) also supplied significant MLB performances on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 4 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

JUNE 4

  • Chicago Cubs LF Ethan Allen (Cincinnati basketball letterman in 1924-25 and 1925-26) went 4-for-4 in an 8-5 win against the New York Giants in 1936.

  • Chicago Cubs RF George Altman (hooper appeared in 1953 and 1954 NAIA Tournament with Tennessee State) notched his sixth straight multiple-hit game in 1961.

  • RHP Elden Auker (All-Big Six Conference first five selection with Kansas State in 1931-32), supported by an inside-the-park homer from player/manager Mickey Cochrane (Boston University player in early 1920s) during a 10-run third inning, earned the triumph in an 18-9 decision over the Philadelphia Athletics.

  • Seattle Mariners RHP Jim Beattie (Dartmouth's top rebounder in 1974-75 when selected team MVP and honorable mention All-Ivy League) tossed a two-hit shutout against the Detroit Tigers in 1982.

  • Chicago White Sox 1B Zeke Bonura (best basketball forward for Loyola LA in late 1920s and early 1930s) scored four runs and banged out three hits for the second of three times in a five-game span in 1936.

  • 1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in WAC hoops games in 1991-92) selected by the Detroit Tigers in first round (2nd pick overall) in 1990 amateur draft. Sixteen years later with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Clark cracked two homers among his four hits against the Atlanta Braves in a 2006 contest.

  • Cleveland Indians CF Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA hoops titlist) hit for the cycle against the Boston Red Sox in a 1952 outing.

  • Atlanta Braves 3B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) knocked in five runs in a 9-3 win against the New York Mets in 1972.

  • St. Louis Cardinals 3B Howard Freigau (Ohio Wesleyan hooper) collected four hits, four stolen bases and five RBI in a 12-5 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1924.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates LHP Joe Gibbon (two-time All-SEC forward for Ole Miss was nation's second-leading scorer as a senior in 1956-57) hurled his final MLB shutout (four-hitter against New York Mets in opener of 1967 twinbill).

  • Pinch-hitter Harvey Hendrick (Vanderbilt hoops letterman in 1918) hammered a two-out, bases-loaded triple in the ninth inning to spark the Cleveland Indians to an 11-10 verdict over the St. Louis Browns in 1925. Four years later after having his career-high 25-game hitting streak snapped in the final contest of May, 1B Hendrick collected two homers and six RBI for the Brooklyn Robins in an 11-8 victory against the St. Louis Cardinals in the nightcap of a 1929 doubleheader.

  • RHP Jim Konstanty (Syracuse hooper in late 1930s) signed by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1956 after he was released by the New York Yankees.

  • Los Angeles Dodgers LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman squad in 1953-54) became the fourth hurler to toss three no-hitters, blanking the N.L.-leading Philadelphia Phillies, 3-0, in 1964.

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

  • Cleveland Indians 1B Ed Morgan (Tulane hoops letterman from 1923-24 through 1925-26) manufactured four hits in a 10-2 win against the Boston Red Sox in 1931.

  • Chicago White Sox OF Gary Redus (J.C. hooper for Athens AL and father of Centenary/South Alabama guard with same name) ripped a game-winning grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Texas Rangers in 1988.

  • New York Giants RHP Hal Schumacher (multiple-sport athlete for St. Lawrence NY in early 1930s) secured his fourth shutout in less than a month en route to a total of seven whitewashes in 1933.

  • Cleveland Indians 3B Riggs Stephenson (Alabama hoops letterman in 1920) went 4-for-4 against the Detroit Tigers in a 1922 contest. Eight years later as a Chicago Cubs LF, Stephenson amassed five hits, four runs and four RBI against the Boston Braves in a 1930 outing.

  • Cleveland Indians 1B Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) smacked a pair of homers for the second time in five-game span in 2002.

  • 1B-OF Preston Ward (second-leading scorer for Southwest Missouri State in 1946-47 and 1948-49) traded by the Chicago Cubs to the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 10-player swap in 1953.

  • California Angels 3B John Werhas (Southern California's leading scorer in 1958-59 and 1959-60) whacked a pinch-hit homer against the Minnesota Twins in a 1967 game.

  • In 1986, New York Yankees RF Dave Winfield (starting forward with Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) homered twice in an 11-0 victory over the California Angels in support of RHP Joe Niekro (averaged 8.9 ppg and 3.8 rpg for West Liberty WV from 1963-64 through 1965-66), who hurled a no-hitter for 7 2/3 innings before yielding a safety.

  • In the midst of five consecutive complete-game triumphs, St. Louis Browns LHP Tom Zachary (Guilford NC hoops letterman in 1916) tossed a five-hit shutout against the Chicago White Sox in 1926.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on June 3 MLB Games

Extra! Extra! If spittin' mad regarding COVID-19 season postponement, 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 Cameron Drew (New Haven) and Dennis Rasmussen (Creighton) were MLB first-round draft selections on this date before eventually reaching the bigs. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 3 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

JUNE 3

  • Chicago Cubs 2B Glenn Beckert (three-year basketball letterman for Allegeny PA) drove in P Ken Holtzman with the only run of the game in Holtzman's no-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds in 1971. The next year, Beckert banged out four hits against the San Diego Padres in a 1972 contest.

  • New York Giants SS Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for LSU and USL during World War II) went 4-for-4 and scored five runs in a 13-8 victory against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1954.

  • New York Yankees LHP Al Downing (attended Muhlenberg PA on hoops scholarship but left before ever playing) won his sixth straight start in 1966.

  • OF Cameron Drew (NECC first-team selection in 1984-85 when leading New Haven CT in scoring and rebounding) selected by Houston Astros in first round (12th pick overall) in 1985 amateur draft. Drew was chosen ahead of fellow first-rounders Joey Cora, Gregg Jefferies, Joe Magrane, Brian McRae and Rafael Palmeiro.

  • 1B Walt Dropo (Connecticut's first hooper averaging 20 points in single season with 21.7 ppg in 1942-43) traded by the Boston Red Sox to the Detroit Tigers in a nine-player swap in 1952.

  • Overweight RHP George Earnshaw (Swarthmore PA hooper in 1922) fined by Philadelphia Athletics owner/manager Connie Mack in 1933.

  • Detroit Tigers 1B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) homered twice in a 1985 game against the Seattle Mariners.

  • OF Hoot Evers (hoops starter for Illinois in 1939-40) traded by the Detroit Tigers to the Boston Red Sox in a nine-player swap in 1952.

  • Chicago White Sox RHP Eddie Fisher (hooper for Oklahoma's 1954-55 freshman squad) tossed a four-hit shutout against the Los Angeles Angels in 1963.

  • New York Giants C Paul Florence (Georgetown hoops letterman from 1920-21 through 1922-23) furnished a career-high three hits in a 10-5 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1926.

  • In 1983, George Bamberger stepped down as manager of the New York Mets and was succeeded by Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection when leading Ohio State in scoring and rebounding in 1956-57 and 1957-58).

  • In 1978, Philadelphia Phillies 2B Davey Johnson (averaged 1.7 ppg with Texas A&M in 1961-62) became the first MLB player to smack two pinch-hit grand slams in a single season.

  • Chicago Cubs 3B Vance Law (averaged 6.8 ppg for Brigham Young from 1974-75 through 1976-77) logged four hits against the New York Mets in a 1988 outing. Law added three more safeties the next day.

  • San Francisco Giants RF Rick Leach (averaged 15.5 ppg for Michigan's JV hoops squad in 1975-76) registered four hits against the Houston Astros in a 1990 game.

  • RHP Dave Lemanczyk (hooper in NCAA Division II Tournament in 1970 and 1971 with Hartwick NY) traded by the Toronto Blue Jays to the California Angels in 1980.

  • LHP Dennis Rasmussen (sixth-man for Creighton averaged 5.1 ppg in three seasons from 1977-78 through 1979-80) selected in first round (17th pick overall) by the California Angels in 1980 amateur draft. Rasmussen was compensation for signing of free-agent P Nolan Ryan.

  • Cleveland Indians 3B Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) hit two taters in a 1997 game against the Chicago White Sox. He also homered in four of his next five outings.

  • New York Yankees RF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) went 4-for-4 against the Oakland Athletics in a 1985 contest.

  • Minnesota Twins 3B Larry Wolfe (scored career-high 33 points for Sacramento City College in juco game against Santa Rosa on 12-17-71) collected two homers and five RBI in 9-2 win against the Detroit Tigers in 1978.

  • Washington Senators 3B Eddie Yost (NYU freshman hooper in 1943-44 under coach Howard Cann) homered in his third consecutive contest against the St. Louis Browns in 1949.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on June 2 MLB Games

Extra! Extra! If spittin' mad regarding COVID-19 season postponement, 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 Frank Howard (Ohio State), David Justice (Thomas More KY), Danny Litwhiler (Bloomsburg PA), Jerry Martin (Furman) and Graig Nettles (San Diego State) each hammered two homers in a single MLB game on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 2 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

JUNE 2

  • 2B Jerry Adair (one of Oklahoma State's top three basketball scorers in 1956-57 and 1957-58 under coach Hank Iba while ranking among nation's top 12 free-throw shooters each season) traded by the Chicago White Sox to the Boston Red Sox for reliever Don McMahon in 1967 and wound up playing in the World Series later that year against the St. Louis Cardinals.

  • Cleveland Indians SS Lou Boudreau (leading scorer for Illinois' 1937 Big Ten Conference co-champion) scored six runs in a 1940 doubleheader split against the Philadelphia Athletics.

  • Philadelphia Athletics rookie C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) collected five RBI against the Boston Red Sox in a 1925 game.

  • In 1951, 1B Walt Dropo (Connecticut's first player ever to average 20 points for a single season with 21.7 ppg in 1942-43) demoted by the Boston Red Sox to the minors to regain his form after he was A.L. Rookie of the Year the previous campaign.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates 3B Lee Handley (Bradley hoops letterman from 1932-33 through 1934-35) banged out four hits against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1945 contest.

  • Kansas City Royals DH Gail Hopkins (averaged 2.5 ppg with Pepperdine in 1963-64) went 4-for-4 against the Cleveland Indians in a 1973 outing.

  • Washington Senators LF Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection in 1956-57 and 1957-58 when leading Ohio State in scoring and rebounding) hammered two homers against the California Angels in the opener of a 1965 twinbill.

  • New York Yankees DH David Justice (Thomas More KY assists leader in 1984-85) jacked two homers against the Cleveland Indians in a 2001 game.

  • Philadelphia Phillies LF Danny Litwhiler (JV hooper with Bloomsburg PA in mid-1930s) launched two homers against the Chicago Cubs in a 1941 contest.

  • Los Angeles Dodgers 2B Davey Lopes (NAIA All-District 15 selection for Iowa Wesleyan averaged 16.9 ppg as freshman in 1964-65 and 12.1 ppg as sophomore in 1965-66 before transferring with his coach to Washburn KS) tied a MLB mark by committing three errors in the first inning of a 6-3 setback against the Montreal Expos in 1973.

  • Chicago White Sox RHP Ted Lyons (two-time All-SWC first-team selection for Baylor in early 1920s) tossed a shutout against the Boston Red Sox in the opener of a 1940 doubleheader, notching his 225th career victory.

  • Chicago Cubs CF Jerry Martin (1971 Southern Conference MVP after he was Furman's runner-up in scoring the previous season) whacked two homers against the San Francisco Giants in a 1979 outing. Two years later as a member of the Giants, Martin capped off a nine-run, fourth-inning outburst with a grand slam against the Houston Astros in 1981.

  • C Cal Neeman (Illinois Wesleyan's leading scorer in 1947-48 and 1948-49) purchased from the St. Louis Cardinals by the Cleveland Indians in 1963.

  • Cleveland Indians 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) launched two homers against the Milwaukee Brewers in the nightcap of a 1970 twinbill.

  • San Francisco Giants CF Billy North (played hoops briefly for Central Washington in 1967-68) went 3-for-3 with three steals in an 8-6 win against the Chicago Cubs in 1979.

  • RHP Dick Radatz (center on Michigan State's freshman hoops squad in 1955-56) traded by the Boston Red Sox to the Cleveland Indians in 1966.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates LF Wally Roettger (Illinois hoops letterman in 1921-22 and 1922-23) knocked in five runs in the nightcap of a 1934 doubleheader against his original team (St. Louis Cardinals).

  • Baltimore Orioles LF Larry Sheets (All-ODAC hoops selection in 1981-82 and 1982-83 with Eastern Mennonite VA) homered in his third consecutive contest in 1987.

  • Atlanta Braves LHP George Stone (averaged 14.7 ppg and 6.5 rpg for Louisiana Tech in 1964-65 and 1965-66) won his first six decisions in 1969.

  • Cleveland Indians 1B Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) stroked three extra-base hits (one double/two homers) in 2001 game against the New York Yankees.

  • LHP Matt Thornton (averaged 5.8 ppg and 2.4 rpg for Grand Valley State MI from 1995-96 through 1997-98) selected by Seattle Mariners in first round (22nd pick overall) in 1998 amateur draft.

  • Chicago Cubs RF Bob Will (all-league athlete was Mankato State MN hoops captain in 1954-55) clobbered his third homer in a four-game span in 1960.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on June 1 MLB Games

Extra! Extra! If spittin' mad regarding COVID-19 season postponement, 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 Donn Clendenon (Morehouse GA), Mike Hargrove (Northwestern Oklahoma State), Harvey Hendrick (Vanderbilt) and Ed Morgan (Tulane) manufactured at least four hits in a MLB game on this date as a first baseman. A pair of ex-hoopers from Kansas small colleges - Bob Veale (Benedictine) and Zip Zabel (Baker) - each tossed a shutout on this date in games involving the Pittsburgh Pirates. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 1 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

JUNE 1

  • Pittsburgh Pirates 1B Donn Clendenon (four-sport letterman including basketball with Morehouse GA) contributed four hits against the New York Mets in a 1963 game.

  • Chicago White Sox CF Guy Curtright (two-time All-MIAA selection led Northeast Missouri State in scoring each of four seasons in early 1930s) scored four runs in an 11-9 win against the Washington Senators in 1945.

  • Brooklyn Robins 3B Wally Gilbert (Valparaiso hoops captain from 1918-19 through 1920-21) stroked four hits in a 10-2 victory against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1930.

  • Cleveland Indians 1B Mike Hargrove (Northwestern Oklahoma State hoops letterman) went 4-for-4 against the Seattle Mariners in a 1983 contest.

  • Cincinnati Reds 1B Harvey Hendrick (Vanderbilt hoops letterman in 1918) went 5-for-5, including three doubles, against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1931 outing. The previous day against the Cards, Hendrick secured four hits in the opener of a doubleheader.

  • Detroit Tigers RF Lynn Jones (averaged 10.4 ppg for Thiel PA from 1970-71 through 1973-74) supplied his second four-hit game against the Milwaukee Brewers in a span of eight days in 1981.

  • LF Danny Litwhiler (JV hooper with Bloomsburg PA in mid-1930s) traded by Philadelphia Phillies to St. Louis Cardinals in 1943.

  • 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) whacked two homers against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1979 outing.

  • Philadelphia Phillies 1B Len Matuszek (starter for Toledo's 18-7 team in 1975-76) failed to notch a putout in a 12-3 defeat against the Chicago Cubs in 1984.

  • St. Louis Cardinals LF Wally Moon (averaged 4.3 ppg with Texas A&M in 1948-49 and 1949-50) had his 24-game hitting streak end against the Milwaukee Braves in 1957.

  • Boston Red Sox 1B Ed Morgan (Tulane hoops letterman from 1923-24 through 1925-26) collected four hits and four RBI in a 13-1 win against the Washington Senators in 1934.

  • OF Lyle Mouton (starter in LSU's backcourt with All-American Chris Jackson for 1989 NCAA playoff team) traded by the Baltimore Orioles to the Milwaukee Brewers in 1999.

  • In 1962, Washington Senators RHP Ray Rippelmeyer (led SIU in scoring and rebounding in 1952-53 before transferring and pacing SEMO in scoring in 1953-54 and 1954-55 as All-MIAA first-team choice each year) registered his lone MLB victory (as reliever against Minnesota Twins).

  • New York Giants RF Wally Roettger (Illinois hoops letterman in 1921-22 and 1922-23) went 4-for-4 against the Boston Braves in the opener of a 1930 twinbill.

  • Boston Red Sox rookie 3B Jim Tabor (Alabama hoops letterman in 1936-37) amassed five doubles over a two-game span in 1939.

  • Kansas City Athletics RHP Dave Thies (two-time all-conference selection finished St. Mary's MN career in 1959 as school's all-time leading scorer) lost his lone MLB decision (against Washington Senators in 1963).

  • LHP Bob Veale (scored 1,160 points with Benedictine KS from 1955-56 through 1957-58) amassed 16 strikeouts in shutting out the Philadelphia Phillies, 4-0, for the Pittsburgh Pirates' 12th consecutive victory in 1965. Veale also tossed a five-hit shutout in his second start of the month.

  • San Diego Padres RF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) whacked two homers against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 1979 contest.

  • Chicago Cubs RHP Zip Zabel (premier hooper for Baker KS from 1913 to 1915) hurled a two-hit shutout against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1915.

Happy Birthday! June Celebration Dates for All-Americans and HOF Coaches

June 9 is the day to celebrate the most birthdays this month for former All-Americans. Duke had multiple All-Americans born on two separate days this month (24th and 28th) en route to tying rival North Carolina for most A-As born in June with seven apiece. Following are birth dates in June for All-American players and Hall of Fame coaches:

JUNE

1: All-Americans Don Burness (born in 1919/Stanford), Jerel McNeal (1987/Marquette) and Sam Young (1985/Pittsburgh).
2: All-Americans Paul Huston (1925/Ohio State) and Al Wood (1958/North Carolina).
3: All-Americans Billy Cunningham (1943/North Carolina), Al Horford (1986/Florida), Otto Porter (1993/Georgetown) and Jalen Suggs (2001/Gonzaga).
4: All-Americans Gale Bishop (1922/Washington State), Bill Hanson (1940/Washington), Xavier McDaniel (1963/Wichita State), Greg Monroe (1990/Georgetown) and Gary Thompson (1935/Iowa State).
5: All-American Joe Reiff (1911/Northwestern) and Hall of Fame coach Frank Keaney (1886/Rhode Island State).
6: All-Americans Tommy Amaker (1965/Duke) and John Rudometkin (1940/Southern California).
7: All-Americans Howie Carl (1938/DePaul), George Glamack (1919/North Carolina), Allen Iverson (1975/Georgetown) and Cazzie Russell (1944/Michigan).
8: All-Americans Bill Erickson (1928/Illinois), Mark McNamara (1959/California) and Bryant Reeves (1973/Oklahoma State).
9: All-Americans Udonis Haslem (1980/Florida), Billy Knight (1952/Pittsburgh), E. "Branch" McCracken (1908/Indiana), Bill Stauffer (1930/Missouri), Brian Taylor (1951/Princeton) and Wayman Tisdale (1964/Oklahoma).
10: All-Americans John Gianelli (1950/Pacific), Ralph Hamilton (1921/Indiana) and Jeff Teague (1988/Wake Forest) plus Hall of Fame coach Johnny Orr (1927/Massachusetts, Michigan and Iowa State).
11: All-American Joey Graham (1982/Oklahoma State).
12: All-Americans Bobby Joe Hill (1943/Texas Western), Antawn Jamison (1976/North Carolina), Kerry Kittles (1974/Villanova) and Lee Mayberry (1970/Arkansas).
13: All-Americans Fred Boyd (1950/Oregon State), Arvis "A.W." Davis (1943/Tennessee) and Bill Kinner (1914/Utah).
14: All-Americans RJ Barrett (2000/Duke), Eric Murdock (1968/Providence) and Sam Perkins (1961/North Carolina).
15: All-American Charles Black (1921/Kansas).
16: All-Americans Gus Broberg (1920/Dartmouth), Darrell Griffith (1958/Louisville), Forrest "Fordy" Hamilton (1930/Southwest Missouri State), Angelo "Hank" Luisetti (1916/Stanford) and Wayne "Tree" Rollins (1955/Clemson).
17: All-Americans Nick Fazekas (1985/Nevada), Georges Niang (1993/Iowa State), Allan Ray (1984/Villanova), Marion "Odie" Spears (1924/Western Kentucky) and Maurice Stokes (1933/St. Francis PA).
18: All-Americans Rod Griffin (1956/Wake Forest), George Mikan (1924/DePaul) and Evan Mobley (2001/Southern California).
19: All-American Bennedict Mathurin (2002/Arizona).
20: All-Americans Josh Childress (1983/Stanford), Rodney Rogers (1971/Wake Forest) and William "Carlyle" Towery (1920/Western Kentucky) plus Hall of Fame coach Herb Magee (1941/Philadelphia Textile).
21: All-Americans Derrick Coleman (1967/Syracuse), Dale Hall (1924/Army), Sam Ranzino (1927/North Carolina State) and Jimmy Rayl (1941/Indiana) plus Hall of Fame coach Everett Case (1900/North Carolina State).
22: All-Americans Clyde Drexler (1962/Houston), Milo Komenich (1920/Wyoming), Pete Maravich (1947/Louisiana State), Johnny Oldham (1923/Western Kentucky) and Charles "Hawkeye" Whitney (1957/North Carolina State).
23: All-American Walter Dukes (1930/Seton Hall).
24: All-Americans Art Heyman (1941/Duke), Luke Kennard (1996/Duke), Ron Kramer (1935/Michigan) and Jonathan "J.J." Redick (1984/Duke).
25: All-Americans Wardell "Dell" Curry (1964/Virginia Tech), Michael Dickerson (1975/Arizona), Collin Gillespie (1999/Villanova), Reggie Johnson (1957/Tennessee), Dikembe Mutombo (1966/Georgetown) and Forest "Aggie" Sale (1911/Kentucky).
26: All-Americans Raymond Felton (1984/North Carolina), Quincy Lewis (1977/Minnesota) and Deron Williams (1984/Illinois).
27: All-Americans Russ Critchfield (1946/California), Kevin Joyce (1951/South Carolina) and Brice Johnson (1994/North Carolina).
28: All-Americans Bobby Hurley (1971/Duke), Jeff Malone (1961/Mississippi State), Chuck Person (1964/Auburn), Jim Spanarkel (1957/Duke) and Terrence Williams (1987/Louisville).
29: All-Americans Wes Fesler (1908/Ohio State), Kawhi Leonard (1991/San Diego State) and Ron Slay (1981/Tennessee).
30: All-American Mitch Richmond (1965/Kansas State).

Birthdays in April for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in May for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on May 31 MLB Games

Extra! Extra! If spittin' mad regarding COVID-19 season postponement, 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.

Current SEC members Louisiana State (Joe Adcock and Lyle Mouton), Mississippi (Joe Gibbon), Mississippi State (Boo Ferriss), Missouri (Sonny Siebert) plus Texas A&M (Beau Bell) featured former hoopers providing significant MLB performances on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a May 31 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

MAY 31

  • Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) collected two homers and five RBI against the Chicago Cubs in a 1956 contest.

  • St. Louis Browns RHP Elden Auker (All-Big Six Conference first-five selection with Kansas State in 1931-32) registered his fifth straight win during the month in 1942. All of the victories were complete games.

  • St. Louis Browns RF Beau Bell (two-year hoops letterman for Texas A&M in early 1930s) banged out four hits in an 11-10 triumph against the Detroit Tigers in 1936.

  • In 1979, Seattle Mariners 1B Bruce Bochte (starting forward for Santa Clara's NCAA playoff team in 1969-70) amassed three hits, three runs and five RBI in a 12-10 win against his original club (California Angels).

  • Kansas City Athletics LF Bob Cerv (ranked fourth on Nebraska's career scoring list in 1949-50 when finishing his career) clobbered a homer in back-to-back games for the third time this month in 1958.

  • San Francisco Giants 1B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) homered in his third consecutive contest in 1983.

  • Boston Red Sox rookie RHP Boo Ferriss (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1941) secured his sixth complete-game victory of the month in 1945.

  • Philadelphia Phillies 3B Gene Freese (captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team for West Liberty WV) whacked his fifth pinch homer of the 1959 season. Two years later with the Cincinnati Reds, Freese smashed two round-trippers in an 8-7 triumph against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1961.

  • Buttressed by nine doubles from Pittsburgh Pirates teammates, LHP Joe Gibbon (two-time All-SEC forward for Ole Miss was the nation's second-leading scorer as a senior in 1956-57) hurled a complete-game, 9-1 victory against the Atlanta Braves in 1961.

  • 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) delivered five hits in a 4-3 victory against the Cincinnati Reds in 1960.

  • Boston Red Sox LHP Bill Henry (hoops letterman for Houston's 1947 NAIA Tournament team featuring co-captain Guy Lewis) hurled his second of two MLB shutouts (nightcap of 1954 doubleheader against Philadelphia Athletics) before becoming a reliever majority of career.

  • Boston Red Sox RHP Tom Herrin (Louisiana Tech hoops letterman in 1947-48 and 1948-49) notched his lone MLB victory (20-10 decision over the Philadelphia Athletics in 1954).

  • St. Louis Browns SS Billy Hunter (multi-sport athlete for Indiana PA post-WWII) went 7-for-9 in a 1953 doubleheader split against the Chicago White Sox.

  • First victory of the 1957 campaign for Chicago White Sox RHP Bob Keegan (Bucknell hoops letterman in 1941-42 and 1942-43) was a four-hit shutout against the Detroit Tigers.

  • New York Yankees LF Charlie Keller (three-year hoops letterman with Maryland from 1934-35 through 1936-37) accumulated two homers and five RBI against the Cleveland Indians in a 1947 outing.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling a 35-3 record) had his 26-game hitting streak end in 2003, falling one contest short of the franchise record.

  • 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) stroked three doubles against the San Francisco Giants in a 1979 outing.

  • Boston Red Sox 1B Tony Lupien (Harvard hoops captain in 1938-39) provided four hits against the St. Louis Browns in the nightcap of a 1943 twinbill. Five years later with the Chicago White Sox, Lupien went 6-for-8 in a 1948 doubleheader split against the Detroit Tigers.

  • Chicago White Sox RHP Ted Lyons (two-time All-SWC first-team selection for Baylor in the early 1920s) notched his fifth consecutive complete-game victory during the month in 1926.

  • Chicago White Sox RF Sam Mele (NYU's leading scorer in 1943 NCAA playoffs) smacked two homers against the Boston Red Sox in a 1952 game.

  • OF Lyle Mouton (starter in Louisiana State's backcourt with All-American Chris Jackson for 1989 NCAA playoff team) mashed two homers for eventual NCAA champion in 1991 College World Series opener against Florida.

  • New York Giants RF Dave Robertson (one of two reserves on North Carolina State's first basketball team in 1911) went 5-for-7 in 1915 twinbill split against the Brooklyn Robins.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Don Schwall (All-Big Seven Conference second-team selection led Oklahoma in rebounding in 1956-57) tossed his second shutout of the month in 1963.

  • Baltimore Orioles LF Larry Sheets (All-ODAC hoops selection in 1981-82 and 1982-83 with Eastern Mennonite VA) supplied three doubles among his four hits against the Seattle Mariners in a 1988 contest.

  • St. Louis Cardinals RHP Sonny Siebert (team-high 16.7 ppg for Missouri in 1957-58 as All-Big Eight Conference second-team selection) hurled his second of back-to-back five-hit shutouts in 1974.

  • 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) went 4-for-4 in a 4-2 win against the Chicago White Sox in 2014.

  • RF John Wathan (averaged 3.7 ppg in 11 games for San Diego in 1968-69) put the Kansas City Royals in front to stay with a three-run, inside-the-park homer in a 6-4 win against the Chicago White Sox in 1980.

  • Washington Senators RHP Monte Weaver (hoops center for Emory & Henry VA in mid-1920s) posted his fifth triumph of the month en route to eight straight victories in 1934.

  • Chicago Cubs RHP Zip Zabel (premier hooper for Baker KS from 1913 to 1915) hurled a five-hit, complete-game victory against the St. Louis Cardinals. He was in midst of compiling a 0.95 ERA in eight-game span covering 47 1/3 innings following his 1914 season debut.

Hands Off, Don't Loot! Get Grades/Get Job/Get Tired/Get Good Night's Sleep

This mess is Minnesota's sickening stomping on Ohio State in 1971-72 times 270-plus vandalized businesses. If wayward basketball players such as Stephen Jackson and Royce White are among principal "protest" spokesmen, then Minnesota is in deep spit. If Israeli brother-hating Keith Ellison is your attorney general and consultant/brother-loving Ilhan Omar is a Congressional representative, then your riotous state is beyond repair, anyway. #MessMedia strives to box in #TheDonald as if he was supposed to have super pooper scooper capable of cleaning up all of DC dung in last 3 1/2 years. Meanwhile, Antifa-enabling #Dimorat Senators/Congressmen Joe Biden, Dick Durbin, Dianne Feinstein, Steny Hoyer, Patrick Leahy, Patty Murray, Jerry Nadler, #NannyPathetic, Jack Reed, Chuck Schumer and #MadMaxine Waters each have "served themselves" an average of more than 33 years. What in the hell did these pretentious politicians do to improve lot of oppressed over their prolonged self-absorbed tenures?

Another longstanding charlatan, a farce with which to be reckoned, won't show up for funerals of TV journalists and policemen after their assassinations. But as Rev. Sharpnado, creator of the Tawana Brawley hoax among countless other frauds, descended upon another shakedown town devouring donations via mentally-stimulating intimidation tactics, it's time to acknowledge the "protester" chaos in blunt Donald Trump-like fashion. Backbone, not thumb-sucking mayor, is required to promptly end Minneapolis mess and accompanying hoodlum outbreaks across country showing law enforcement how we can all get along. It's a Ferguson do-over. Based on checkered selective-outrage track record, our nation of cowards can't rest easy because "color-brave" ex-Attorney General Eric Holder put the cart before horse. Upon being dispatched by a community-organizing sociopath, they immersed themselves in the Michael Brown shooting death in Ferguson, Mo., including ordering an additional autopsy probably because the first one didn't measure up to their audience's #BlackLiesMatter preconceived shot-in-the-back execution narrative.

Perhaps we would have been spared if only the wizards from Starbucks tackled race relations years ago, listened to liberal lunatic Joe Lockhart about NFL signing washed-up QB to defuse demonstrations or if African-Americans held their community to a standard at least a fraction of what they expect from law enforcement. Deeply-personal, raced-obsessed Holder, receiving support from the #AudacityofHype and fellow JV leftists comparable to humiliated Huma (#ShrillaryRotten II) standing by perverted Carlos Danger after the weiner's he-man online dialogue with a progressive activist from the Midwest, showed as much legal expertise on a wide variety of issues as he did as a Columbia hooper (missing all four field-goal attempts for the Lions' 1969-70 freshman squad). Scrawny surrogate Huma was too busy to provide authorities requested documents while helping/humanizing Hellary as the anointed one exhibits her brilliance battling a fax machine and wiping a server (with cloth or BleachBit).

While seeking reparations from NFL for foisting flag-hating QB Colon Krapernick's "out-of-control spirals" upon our senses, the political prowess certainly doesn't end with Clinton's claptrap worthy of inclusion in MTV series Jackass. Led by completely inept scripted rush-to-judgment former Gov. Jay Nixon (Dem.), a lynch mob-like Saturday afternoon travesty of a press conference in a church chock full of apostates exhibited decorum akin to an inmate shouting match/battle of wits featuring energized hooked-on-ebonics scholars in a federal penitentiary. Similar to Minneapolis mouse Jacob Frey, Nixon displayed the ultimate dereliction of duty when unavailable for consultation with Ferguson's mayor in the aftermath of the county prosecutor's no-indictment announcement. In the wake of having the National Guard stand down as Ferguson businesses burned, this was another Nixon who should be impeached/recalled. Equally disgusting to Nixon's inaction was New York's mayor siding with protesters more than policemen before a couple of NYPD police families were left fatherless by assassinations the week before Christmas. Eight times as many white Union soldiers as blacks died during the Civil War. Shouldn't blacks be paying reparations to descendants of those deceased whites?

De-fund mindless #Dimorats! Just as With(Holder) stepped down from his lofty position, the rioting and violence erupted in Baltimore amid flailing leadership of mayor and incompetent local prosecutor Marilyn Mosby. We saw a comparable tired act in the Trayvon Martin shooting and subsequently got a similar fairytale from journalistic lemons such as aptly-named Don "Bite Me" Lemon of CNN (Contemptible News Network promoting departure of local police chief) playing judge and jury by portraying Brown on his way to Grandma's house in the hood as if he was Gentle Ben Walking Hood trying to avoid the wolf in sheep's clothes (unprincipled and ill-informed parroting pap about perpetually pestilent police targeted for pinata pelting). Many in the media such as NBC dim bulb Lisa Bloom, virtually provoking a nasty response at nearly every turn, were as naive as state highway patrol official Ron Johnson planning for peace more than savagery and five members of best-and-brightest St. Louis Rams' receiving corps boasting collective knowledge comparable to the rioters' ruins. Hope the NFL pass catchers study their routes in playbook more than they did in generating passing grades amplifying on ample evidence in the Ferguson case.

Apparently incapable of comprehending the difference between a road and sidewalk or just needing a wider swath, Brown lumbered through middle of the street following his heavyweight pre-fight intimidation tactics involving a convenience-store dwarf. Even if Fundraiser Extraordinaire Barry was in one of his 57 states too busy on a golf course to join them or assemble a strategy to combat ISIS while the thugs conducted a pool party at U.S. embassy in Libya, it won't be long before ignorance-is-bliss mental midgets will march in middle of night seeking to have the public right-of-way named after the deceased to honor his larger-than-life contributions in Mr. Brown's Neighborhood. In the meantime, know-it-all petty politicians and non-essential workers in #MessMedia supporting #ShrillaryRotten such as Dimorat Air Claire McCaskill, spotlighting side issues and exacerbating tensions, tried to rev up the intellectually-challenged base with baseless insinuations of voting restrictions. The answer is pretty clear when it comes to Holder, Lemon, Obama and Sharpton, but how much do "Blue Lives Matter" to misguided petty politicos?

Dwyane Wade and his former hypersensitive Miami Heat teammates discerned how to don hoodies in their self-appointed roles as victimization humanitarians but he couldn't explain the Martin verdict declaring George Zimmerman not guilty. "What do I tell my kids?" Wade tweeted, opening a lane for a mocking layup. Wade, rather than brushing up on facts concerning the Zimmerman case, exploited his sons as hoodie-donning props on an Ebony magazine cover. No word if another cerebral cover shot was contemplated by Wade when his cousin was murdered transporting her infant baby in stroller down sidewalk in certifiably-chaotic Chicago just weeks after signing with the Bulls. In conjunction with ambulance-chasing attorney Benjamin Crump's college-bound crumbs to enhance "racial spoils" budding settlement value, similar celebrities predictably racially soiled the scene in the Brown case. King (LeBron) James, Wade's former teammate with Miami, turned up the heat without citing many pertinent facts as he has enough to do trying to steer the Los Angeles Lakers in the right direction; let alone the entire country. Meanwhile, Brown's grieving family reportedly brawled over cashing in on the selling of "what-can-Brown-do-to-you" merchandise such as T-shirts and went on swagger-speaking circuit, giving torturous justice speeches before forums such as U.N. in Switzerland and #Democrap Convention, mixed in with step-dad weighing in via incendiary "burn this bitch down" remarks after announcement there would be no indictment. Of course, we're supposed to believe the deceased never was exposed to any mob-like mentality.

Isn't it about time to exhibit a mite more integrity than duplicating the zero-credibility leadership stemming from Big Brother Barack, disgusting Dr. Huxtable, Washington's Marion Barry, Baltimore's battery of bozos, Lawless in Seattle story and Minneapolis' MIA mayor? "Leaders" could have emphasized cooperation with, not condemnation of, cops in an effort to possibly start upgrading community standards. Instead, the cringe-worthy double-digit IQ crowd seeking to add a third digit after midnight is convinced it's the fault of the untrustworthy police, yadda, yadda, yadda, via rare wayward Minneapolis cop following myth-making template about a prowling renegade bigoted white cop with no disciplinary history extemporaneously seeking to gun down Gentle Ben in cold blood or failing to treat drug dealer Freddie Gray with kid gloves. His Earness, ESPN's NCAA playoff prognosticator pre-COVID-19, certainly implied as much "justice" with funeral representation and pandering pap to the otherwise "numbers-don't-lie" daytime audience for the sports cable network while most of America is working (and paying for their free goodies and "40 or so" FBI-agent invasion plus biased far-left ideologue DOJ flaks overdosing on secular-progressive politics "racing" to probe a single death).

Whether or not they are purchased or stolen, it won't be long before denials will surface about Swisher Sweets being sliced open and swapping all or a portion of tobacco with marijuana for a gentle high or bullish rush. The quality of players for some schools might be more like Holder than Wade, but college basketball would benefit enormously if there was an influx of sanity stemming from enforcing more common-sense roster control and higher academic standards. After all, "black lies matter." Turning the "national-conversation" heat high while unsure of the quality of classes Wade took under coach Tom Crean at Marquette, following are dos and don'ts (a/k/a "affirmative action") do-gooder Dwyane and other minority fathers (if they're around) should tell their sons so they wade in wise, not wayward, waters by adhering to a series of elusive community-healing guidelines:

  • Don't show any confidence in an elitist mess media reporting the news fully, accurately and fairly if an incident doesn't fit their liberal narrative (see sexy domestic terrorist Rolling Stone cover as classic example plus phantom Virginia fraternity rape). It's time to step up to the plate and offer more adroit commentary than MSLSD misfit Joyless Reid, who continuously offers so much misguided drivel it seems she must be the trans-racial lovechild of Joy Behar and Harry Reid. Also, maybe we missed the politically-correct police memo, but is it now OK to deploy the word "boy" with such regularity or is it reserved solely for excuse-filled leftists similar to other intemperate terms? Similarly, why is the great-and-wonderful #AudacityofHype able to throw around the "N" word?

  • Unlike having majority of Jackie Robinson West players outside Little League boundaries, pull your pants up and do the right thing like the courageous IT director even if you get fired by a fluffy Florida state attorney for sharing all of the trial evidence. Tell the whole truth unlike the putrid press, dishonorable state attorney who filed a misleading affidavit in the Martin case and changing-story Brown accomplice/scholar with checkered past propped up by his attorney/ex-St. Louis mayor. Naturally, one-sided CNN and MSLSD, the Ebola of journalism, don't tell the whole truth by at least acknowledging the honorable mayor's suspect legal expertise. The lame-stream media doesn't give a "smidgeon" of an effort to try to tell a balanced entire story and it's left up to a citizen journalist to try to unearth juvenile record.

  • Don't impair your education by conducting yourself in such a manner you get kicked out of your home and/or school. Remember: Only about half of black males graduate from high school. In your academic pursuits, don't fall for pap such as the former hooper-in-chief claiming that raising the debt ceiling does not increase the nation's debt or ObamaCare is a first-rate online venture. Rather than lamely explaining away the fact a disproportionate number of lawbreakers are angelic young black males, provide a cogent response why resembling some repulsive rapper from the wrong side of the hood might make you look like a real or wannabee "knockout" criminal. For instance, former New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets minority owner Jay Z said dealing drugs helped shape his business skills long before inspiring our nation by becoming comrade cozy in Communist Cuba with wife Beyoncé for their anniversary vacation before reportedly bail bankrolling protesters in Ferguson and Baltimore similar to what #Hollyweird is doing now. Set your rapt on correcting the gap between graduation ratios for white and black athletes.

  • Do become an authentic "national action" leader such as Congressman Allen West (FL), Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, economist Thomas Sowell, Senator Tim Scott (SC), Milwaukee Sheriff David Clarke and Dr. Ben Carson while rejecting the predictable pandering poison from retread race-baiting hustlers, aspiring to be relevant through their all-dark rainbow prism, directed at the low-information sheep mob prior to passing their donations cap. You need a "lifetime of resistance" from affiliating with half-baked reverends wallowing in the grievance industry of shakedown selective civil rights such as their sainthood of aging Anita Hill. Rather than resembling CNN's Van Jones, MSLSD's hyphenated ex-weekend agitator and knucklehead Spike Lee doing more harm to blacks than David Duke and George Wallace combined by always playing the "battered race syndrome" card from the bottom of a decadent deck, it might be a mite more prudent to focus on paying your taxes, explaining to your son how to handle campaign money and mistress plus encouraging your level-headed daughter not to sue a municipality for $5 million stemming from a sprained ankle caused by less-than-level street before she hiked up a mountain in Bali on vacation.

  • Don't spend cerebral currency as parasite smoking weed and getting involved with drugs unless it helps prevent you from becoming a nanny-state social engineer fantasizing in the "could've-been-me" world of dismissive and derisive phony scandals. Let me be clear! Phony is telling glaring untruths from the "bullying" pulpit about retaining your existing healthcare or standing in front of caskets and hiding behind a hyped video while meandering to get to the bottom of patriotic, not languishing, Americans being murdered and belittling folks who deserve straight answers. Lacking credibility and courage, you're also a chip-on-your-shoulder phony who will always be left behind like a slug if you can't exercise deductive reasoning and comprehend straight-answer facts staring smear merchants flush in their anti-police, high-tech lynching faces.

  • Do steer clear of Antifa a_hole street thuggery attacks and the low-pants Gangsta culture in every way. Spend more time like blustery Big O keeping an inventory of how items such as jewelry, not Skittles or cigarillos, came in your possession. Then you might be able to concentrate on "a spiritual union" with a partner (Mr. Oprah) or keep a keen watch on the "racist" Swiss. The devastation of fatherless boys caused by liberal welfare policies is a factor in the Centers for Disease Control reporting that young black men are 14 times more likely to commit murder than young white men. Here is how you can "improve relations" with cops. Don't commit a crime! Help cops rid your neighborhood of gang members and castigate liberal politicians obsessed with nonsensical revenue-generating ploys to enhance their budgets.

  • Don't use the creepy term "Cracka" (offensive to Wheat Thins) when describing a Hispanic; let alone a wily White-Spanic or full-fledged caustic Caucasian. Although you might have a female friend claiming you "wanted to be a basketball player," that dialogue similar to homegrown ISIS fighter Douglas McCain won't get you a passing grade in Trash Talking 101. Let your standards resonate a mite higher than rolling the dice like an AAU team from Atlanta donning "I AM TRAYVON" shirts before and after games in a Las Vegas tournament or the grandstanding Alabama State marching band spelling out his name for some sort of symbolic gesture at halftime of a football game. Liberalism truly is a mental illness. Please get an injection of brain cells! You can do better than this drivel! Let's see if Alabama State's bereaved band can spell the name of any "Cracka" victim stemming from the Navy Yard rampage in the District of Columbia or executed NYPD officer.

  • Do be sufficiently discriminating not to be a peer-pressure slave to liberal racism resulting in 90% of tunnel-vision blacks going exclusively one way. A conservative "thinker" can't breathe among the dumb mass of voters. Compare the percentage of blacks who voted for McCain/Romney/Trump in three previous presidential elections to percentage of whites who voted for Obama and then be honest with yourself asking which ethnic group immerses themselves in tarnished practice of bigoted racial profiling to deal with never-forgotten white privilege. An I-have-a-dream struggle does continue trying to overcome prejudiced one-way voting expression. Enhance your independent-thinking credibility by making sure you develop enough remedial initiative to secure simplistic voter ID to exhibit such dynamic diversity. If the biased balloting ceased, the emancipation could be profiled online at www.blackpeoplefeat.com rather than wasting energy stalking Paula Deen. With respect to stark percentages, check out the Department of Justice's annual Victimization Report showing blacks committing more than half of the violent crimes against whites while whites commit only a few percent of the violent crimes against blacks. Among the 20 to 25 cities with the highest murder rates annually, the overwhelming majority are governed by Democrats. If IQ tests with minimum allowable score were given before anyone could vote, the Democratic Party would cease to exist. Instead of helping raise scholastic standards and emphasize textbook student-athletes, the NABC (National Association of Basketball Coaches), infected by cancel culture, seeks to eliminate ACT and SAT results as part of eligibility process.

  • Don't become "a terrible husband" like many promiscuous NBA players or infatuated with 72 virgins via Islamic martyrdom no matter how many condoms you can freely secure from a public school to mingle with a two-bit twerker. After all, "A Father First" divorce settlement in the "War on Women" can cost you in excess of $5 million. Data-driven records are made to be broken but don't secure a spot on the dead-beat "BabyDaddies" team of multiple illegitimate children with irresponsible Kenny Anderson, Willie Anderson, Jason Caffey, Dwight Howard, Larry Johnson, Shawn Kemp, Calvin Murphy, Clifford Rozier, Latrell Sprewell, Royce White, etc. The Sperminators squad full of faulty fatherhood would be coached by Scott Skiles. Moreover, don't be as shamelessly reality-show shallow as Lamar Odom, a Heat teammate in 2003-04 when Wade was a rookie, and marry, however briefly, a no-talent Left Coast celebrity only a month after meeting her Kardashian can and/or clan.

  • Do show respect for the opposite sex and sanctity of life by not contributing to more than 70% unwed mothers in the black community. Examine why FBI crime statistics show blacks raping several thousand white women annually while white-on-black rapes number between "0.0" and "sample based on 10 or fewer" (see Chapter 11 of "Mugged"). And if you say you're pro-little guy (such as highly-motivated work force seeking to double wages in their "career" at McDonalds); then "choose" to support the ultimate little guy (baby in womb). If not black-on-black crime, where are the marches to curtail the barbaric ISIS-like #PlannedMurderhood genocide of nearly 1,900 black baby abortions per day? A precise definition of blind-eye targeting is when 13% of the nation's population look like the serial-killer nurse from Houston undergoing 35% of all abhorrent abortions. How low can we sink as a society if the remainder of the country ever becomes like New York City where more black babies are killed by abortion than are born there? Incredibly, the New York Slimes was hailed by lib-nut bloodthirsty bloggers when Wade's teammate, Udonis Haslem, and his wife were depicted as courageous for challenging the "persistent abortion stigma that's deeply ingrained in our society." Upon following NFL tight end Ben Watson's leadership and rectifying "redlining" atrocity of Planned Murder in the Hood, then you can credibly lecture everyone about black lives matter. Incredibly, BLM features a convicted terrorist among its fundraising board.

  • Don't besmirch Charles Barkley for failing to toe the solidarity line and don't associate extensively with "We Be New School People" who can't read cursive or speak English properly (eloquent to MSLSD's not-so-sharp ton of tampon-earring misfits who believe children belong to communities rather than households, pundits ill-equipped to handle prankster and "clever" editing). Unless, of course, you've undergone PC sensitivity training and helping someone with a genuine learning disability (whether or not they're a homophobic perjurer). Naturally, embrace a father figure with more integrity than "I Spy" credentials giving an entirely new connotation for reasons to spike women's drinks.

  • Do stand your moral ground following these ethical principles so your personal responsibility will significantly decrease the odds you'll end up with a suspect legacy like slain boy scouts Martin and Brown or the chronic whiners exploiting tragedy on dopey ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, liberal mouthpiece MSLSD (Mentally Stunted Landfill of Shameless Dolts) and NPR (National Puke Radio). Always "doing stupid stuff," many of the so-called experts should be featured among the lunatic lineup of MSLSD's weekend "Lockup" brain trust. They are not only a disgrace to their own "kind," but also a disgrace to humankind by supporting an arsonist. Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt such as "retraining white brains and souls" and striving to change name of UK's Rupp Arena.

Wade was superior at playing on both ends of the court until knee problems left him incapable of being a lockup defender and he just exerted effort primarily on one side (offensively); symbolic of the African-American political effort when it comes to sizing up the entirety of an issue. Thus he could play both sides of the lecture fence comparable to lunatic liberal activists condemning demented #Demorat sexual escapades after the same enablers staunchly defended Sick Willie, the self-styled first black POTUS, for similar political-theatre bozo behavior. At the very least, any perceived problem could be blamed by genuine racial rodeo clowns on George Dubya, global warming, the Australian catcher for East Central (Okla.) murdered by human debris when shot in the back by hate-crime valueless scum while jogging or the white student "justifiably" assaulted on a Florida bus by three black teens for alleged drug ratting. Hopefully, Wade's World won't also take up the mantle of the "stop snitchin'" movement reminiscent of Syracuse All-American Carmelo Anthony, who appeared to do just that in an underground DVD circulated in his hometown of Baltimore in 2004 encouraging those individuals questioned by the police to refuse to "snitch" on drug dealers and other criminals. It's the code-of-silence equivalent of failing to allow anyone to openly display any support for the Ferguson police officer.

Lunatic leftists seek to defund law enforcement. When in trouble, who are they going to call? Ghostbusters! Never let facts get in the way of a get-me-on-TV protest. It's a byproduct of failing to read bills before voting on them and failing to review evidence in crime cases prior to weighing in on them with alleged expertise. Encumbered by loathsome leftist leaders, we see low-life decay from sea (fatally shooting baby in a stroller in coastal GA, 14-year-old murdering his MA math teacher with a box cutter and slaughtering civilians at a Navy complex in nation's capitol) to dying sea (beating WWII veteran to death with flashlight in Washington state after he survived Okinawa). The so-called leaders with a deficit in character content more than 50 years removed from MLK mooch off vet Shorty's sacrifice but probably never would mention him unless it was for gun-control purposes if he had tried to defend his "welfare" with a weapon. There is infinitely more evidence of a longstanding absence of authentic leaders in and for communities such as Ferguson across the nation than anything nefarious about Officer Darren Wilson's career actions.

Where are the facts-challenged arrogant activists when it comes to excessive black-on-black crime? Are the black thrill killers in Oklahoma, Beltway snipers, Virginia TV journalist executioner, DC mansion torturer/murderer or hammering Bosnian man to death in St. Louis also going to be portrayed as possible bored sons of former POTUS? Would Aaron Alexis, Brown, Vester Flanagan, Gray, Christopher Harper-Mercer, Micah Johnson, Gavin Long, Lee Boyd Malvo, Martin, Jesse Matthew, Shannon Miles, Alton Nolten and Daron Wint have been in a healthier state of mind if they simply drank more water, ate more organic food and participated regularly in "Let's Move" exercises? Did wise Wade or any of the race-card charlatans show solidarity with a Melbourne mom by having him and his sons don a catcher's mask for a magazine cover shot or express condolences to families of cops assassinated by human debris or math flash cards supporting the young MA math teacher or Naval gear honoring the D.C. deceased? Integrity questions to ponder after shedding authentic "Be Like Mike" mementos and trying to learn how to put on a "Hands Off, Don't Loot" hoodie (not made from white sheets contrary to rumors stemming from legal meal-ticket vultures descending upon Brown household like repugnant Rev. Sharpnado and his never-ending defining-moment ilk).

Finally, here's a novel all-lives-matter thought modifying a genuine culture of corruption: How about not protesting a modest late-night curfew by simply getting a good night's sleep to either function better the next day as a student or parent or employee? Unless, of course, none of those objectives mean as much to you as a contrived definition of assassinating character after a "Mikey Beats Anything" (especially pint-sized store owner and cop) surveillance video clearly defines an individual exhibiting his authentic "character." Following the crowd like trained animals, the carcasses of integrity and intellect were left abandoned in the stereotypical shallow streets by so many victimization sellouts much longer than any 4 1/2 hours in plain view. It's really not that difficult and can be summarized somewhere between 4 1/2 seconds and 4 1/2 minutes. In regard to college hoops although the one-sided sports media won't acknowledge it, coaches should discard efforts to be a hipster rubbing shoulders with "respectable" rappers to reel in regal recruits and simply preach these time-tested basics: Get grades! Get job! Get tired! Get to bed! Rather than simpleton reparations repartee, can I hear an Amen regarding four-step plan to changing a hell-hole culture? These basics are remedial rules Mr. Brown, Mr. Gray and their pigs-in-a-blanket belligerent boosters fail to comprehend as freak-show protesters listen to their respective parents less than did the slain stoned-before-noon sons. Shouldn't there be infinitely more investment of time, energy, emotion and devotion to supporting nine-year-old murder victim Jamyla Bolden, who was truly innocent, and latest disturbing incident involving George Floyd? Alas, many foaming-at-the-mouth coaches, athletes and #MessMedia weighing in on issue sound as if they have as much fentanyl, morphine and meth in their system. Want to bet some counterfeit money on who was most responsible for demise? There is incontrovertible evidence of self-administered drug overdose where a non-compliant Floyd had more than three times the potentially lethal dose of fentanyl in his bloodstream when arriving unresponsive at hospital.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on May 30 MLB Games

Extra! Extra! If spittin' mad regarding COVID-19 season postponement, 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 St. Joseph's (Ind.) and Oakland City (Ind.) hooper Gil Hodges owned this "doubleheader" date in MLB annals as much as Indiana coach/baseball fan Bob Knight "owned" the Hoosier State the last quarter of the 20th Century. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a May 30 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

MAY 30

  • Boston Red Sox 1B Dale Alexander (starting basketball center for Milligan TN in mid-1920s) suffered a career-ending injury in 1933 (therapy for twisted knee sliding into home plate led to third-degree burns, gangrene and near loss of his leg). Four years earlier as a Detroit Tigers rookie, he launched a homer in both ends of a 1929 doubleheader split against the St. Louis Browns.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates LF Clyde Barnhart (hooper for Shippensburg PA predecessor Cumberland Valley State Normal School prior to World War I) collected four hits, four runs scored and five RBI against the St. Louis Cardinals in the nightcap of a 1925 doubleheader.

  • Philadelphia Phillies RHP Ray Benge (multi-year hoops letterman for Sam Houston State first half of 1920s) twirled a four-hit shutout against the Boston Braves in opener of a 1931 twinbill. Whitewash was his third complete-game victory during the month.

  • Detroit Tigers 2B Frank Bolling (averaged 7.3 ppg for Spring Hill AL in 1950-51) blasted two homers in a 3-2 win against the Kansas City Athletics in the nightcap of a 1957 doubleheader.

  • Chicago White Sox 1B Zeke Bonura (best basketball forward for Loyola LA in late 1920s and early 1930s) supplied five RBI in a 9-6 win against the Cleveland Indians in 1937. Three years later with the Washington Senators, Bonura knocked in five runs in a 14-2 triumph against the Philadelphia Athletics in nightcap of 1940 twinbill.

  • RHP Ownie Carroll (Holy Cross hoops letterman in 1922) traded with Harry Rice by the Detroit Tigers in 1930 to the New York Yankees for two members of the legendary 1927 squad featuring Murderers' Row (P Waite Hoyt and SS Mark Koenig).

  • In 1955, Milwaukee Braves 1B George Crowe (four-year letterman from 1939-40 through 1942-43 for Indiana Central after becoming first high school player named state's Mr. Basketball) closed out the month with five multiple-hit games, homering in three of the contests.

  • San Francisco Giants 1B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college hoops crown) homered twice against the San Diego Padres in the opener of a 1977 doubleheader.

  • 3B Gene Freese (hoops captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team for West Liberty WV) whacked two homers, powering the Cincinnati Reds to a 1961 twinbill sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

  • Brooklyn Robins/Dodgers 3B Wally Gilbert (Valparaiso hoops captain in early 1920s) supplied six straight safeties in a doubleheader sweep of the New York Giants in 1931.

  • Detroit Tigers 1B Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoops scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) went 5-for-5, including four runs, two homers and five RBI, against the St. Louis Browns in a 1937 game.

  • 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) went 4-for-4 and scored four runs in the nightcap of a 1958 twinbill against the Milwaukee Braves.

  • C Frank Grube (starting hoops guard for Lafayette as senior in 1926-27), two teammates and Chicago White Sox manager Lew Fonseca involved in a fight with an umpire under the stands after a doubleheader loss at Cleveland in 1932.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) knocked in eight runs against the Boston Braves in a 1952 doubleheader sweep. The next year, Hodges homered twice against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the opener of a 1953 twinbill. In 1958 after the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles, Hodges homered in both ends of a doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs. Four years later, Hodges homered three times in a 1962 twinbill against the New York Mets.

  • 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) hammered two homers and chipped in with six RBI against the Kansas City Athletics in the opener of a 1967 twinbill.

  • New York Yankees LF Charlie Keller (three-year hoops letterman with Maryland from 1934-35 through 1936-37) went 4-for-4 against the Philadelphia Athletics in the nightcap of a 1946 doubleheader.

  • RHP Cal Koonce (Campbell standout in 1960 and 1961 when North Carolina-based school was junior college), after helping the New York Mets sweep a twinbill against the Pittsburgh Pirates, didn't allow a run in his first 13 relief appearances in 1968.

  • St. Louis Cardinals SS Doc Lavan (Hope MI hooper from 1908 through 1910) had six hits in a 1921 twinbill sweep of the Cincinnati Reds.

  • Baltimore Orioles rookie RHP Dave Leonhard (averaged 4.8 ppg with Johns Hopkins MD in 1961-62) tossed his second shutout of the month in 1968 (two-hitter after earlier one-hitter).

  • RF Sam Mele (NYU's leading scorer in 1943 NCAA playoffs) traded by the Washington Senators to the Chicago White Sox in 1952.

  • Cleveland Indians 1B Ed Morgan (Tulane hoops letterman from 1923-24 through 1925-26) contributed five RBI in a 12-6 win against the Chicago White Sox in the opener of a 1932 doubleheader.

  • Washington Senators 3B Buddy Myer (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1923-24) hit safely in all 22 games of the month and 24 in a row overall in 1929.

  • Chicago Cubs rookie C Cal Neeman (Illinois Wesleyan's leading scorer in 1947-48 and 1948-49) hit safely in last 11 contests of the month in 1957.

  • The Chicago Cubs went 32 games in 1943 before hitting a homer prior to RF Bill Nicholson (hoops guard for Washington College MD two years in mid-1930s) knocking a couple of balls beyond the outfield barrier in a 5-1 victory over the Braves. His first of a pair of two-run blasts came in the team's 1,120th at-bat of the season.

  • California Angels 1B Bob Oliver (All-Valley Conference basketball choice for American River Community College CA in 1962), in the midst of a career-high 10-game hitting streak, opened the contest's scoring with a first-inning, three-run homer off Stan Bahnsen in 6-0 win against Chicago White Sox in 1972.

  • New York Giants LF Dave Robertson (one of two reserves on North Carolina State's first basketball team in 1911) stroked two doubles in nightcap of 1917 twinbill against the Philadelphia Phillies to ignite his career-high 15-game hitting streak. Three years later as a Chicago Cubs LF, Robertson went 3-for-3 with four RBI in 1920 game against the St. Louis Cardinals.

  • 1B Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) ripped a 13th-inning homer to give the Brooklyn Dodgers a 2-1 win over the New York Giants in the opener of a 1949 doubleheader.

  • In midst of career-high 16-game hitting streak, Cleveland Indians 1B Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) supplied three extra-base hits (two doubles/one homer) in a 1998 game against the Toronto Blue Jays.

  • Cleveland Indians LF Preston Ward (second-leading scorer for Southwest Missouri State in 1946-47 and 1948-49) walloped two homers against the Chicago White Sox in the nightcap of a 1956 twinbill.

  • St. Louis Cardinals 1B Bill White (two-year hooper with Hiram OH in early 1950s) supplied two homers and six RBI against the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 1960 game.

  • San Diego Padres RF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) knocked in five runs against the Atlanta Braves in a 1979 contest.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on May 29 MLB Games

Extra! Extra! If spittin' mad about COVID-19 season postponement, 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 West Liberty WV hooper Joe Niekro was involved in one of the most unusual incidents in MLB annals. The only homer of Niekro's 22-year career occurred in 1976 and came at the expense of his brother (24-year big leaguer Phil). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a May 29 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

MAY 29

  • Rookie RHP Mark Acre (played in 1990 NCAA Basketball Tournament with New Mexico State) allowed his only run through 10 relief appearances to early June 1994 with the Oakland A's (0.82 ERA in first 3 1/2 weeks).

  • SS Bill Almon (averaged 2.5 ppg in half a season for Brown's 1972-73 team ending the Bears' streak of 12 straight losing records) traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates to the New York Mets in 1987.

  • In 1955, Cleveland Indians RF Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA hoops titlist) launched the first MLB homer over the outer wall at Kansas City's Municipal Stadium.

  • Boston Red Sox RHP Boo Ferriss (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1941) hurled his third shutout of the month in 1946.

  • In the midst of a 20-game hitting streak, New York Yankees 1B-OF Buddy Hassett (hooper for Manhattan teams winning school-record 17 consecutive games in 1930 and 1931) contributed four hits in a 16-1 rout of Washington in 1942.

  • LF "Sweet" Lou Johnson (Kentucky State teammate of legendary HBCU coach Davey Whitney averaged 5.7 ppg and 2 rpg in 1951-52) swatted two homers in a 5-3 triumph against the Milwaukee Braves in 1965.

  • Chicago White Sox RHP Howie Judson (Illinois' third-leading scorer in 1944-45) ended a personal streak of 15 straight defeats with a 12-8 relief victory over the St. Louis Browns in 1950.

  • OF Jim Lyttle (led Florida State in free-throw shooting in 1965-66 when averaging 12.4 ppg) purchased from the Montreal Expos by the New York Mets in 1974.

  • RHP Christy Mathewson (Bucknell hooper at turn of 20th Century) notched a 3-0 shutout over the Boston Braves in 1916, sparking the New York Giants to their 17th triumph in a row (all on road).

  • In MLB debut as reliever, New York Yankees RHP Bobby Munoz (scored 35 points for Polk Community College FL in game against Palm Beach in mid-November 1986) struck out first two batters he faced in hurling a 1-2-3 ninth inning in 8-2 win against the Chicago White Sox in 1993.

  • New York Yankees 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) socked two homers against the Oakland Athletics in a 1973 game.

  • Philadelphia Phillies RF Bill Nicholson (Washington College MD hoops guard for two years in mid-1930s) provided his third consecutive three-hit contest in 1953. Nicholson supplied only one more safety in the final 40 at-bats of his 16-year MLB career.

  • Houston Astros RHP Joe Niekro (averaged 8.9 ppg and 3.8 rpg for West Liberty WV from 1963-64 through 1965-66) belted the only homer of his 22-year career in 1976. The round-tripper against the Atlanta Braves came at the expense of his brother (Phil).

  • RHP Claude Passeau (Millsaps MS hooper in late 1920s and early 1930s) traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to the Chicago Cubs in 1939.

  • LF Ray Pepper (Alabama hoops letterman in 1926-27) banged out five hits, including two homers, and drove in five runs to boost the St. Louis Browns to a 12-7 victory over the Detroit Tigers in 1934.

  • OF 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) pounded a pinch homer for the Atlanta Braves against the Chicago Cubs in 1998.

  • Philadelphia Phillies LHP Eppa Rixey (Virginia hoops letterman in 1912 and 1914) yielded a ninth-inning inside-the-park homer but held on for a 4-3, 13-inning victory against Pittsburgh. It is the only homer Rixey allowed in 301 innings pitched.

  • Baltimore Orioles DH Larry Sheets (All-ODAC hoops selection in 1981-82 and 1982-83 with Eastern Mennonite VA) smacked two homers in an 8-6 win against the Oakland Athletics in 1986. Three years later, Sheets socked a round-tripper in his third of last four outings.

  • In 1926, Cleveland Indians 2B Freddy Spurgeon (Kalamazoo MI hooper in 1921-22) extended his hitting streak to 11 games in a row with eighth contest of the month boasting at least three safeties.

  • Chicago White Sox DH Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) whacked two taters in a 2006 game against the Cleveland Indians.

  • Chicago Cubs OF Bob Will (all-league athlete was Mankato State MN hoops captain in 1954-55) slugged his second pinch-hit homer in an eight-game span in 1962.

  • Second homer of game by CF Randy Winn (Santa Clara backcourtmate of eventual two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash in 1993-94) provided the decisive tally for the San Francisco Giants in a 4-3 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2008.

Twin Peaks: AZ Needs Lithuanian Brothers to Flourish to Return to Tourney

Two seasons ago, twins Caleb and Cody Martin propelled Nevada to a national ranking by combining for more than 33 ppg after transferring from North Carolina State? Caleb became Mountain West Conference player and newcomer of the year while Cody was named league defensive player of the year before making colossal contributions in Nevada setting an NCAA playoff-record comeback (erasing 22-point second-half deficit against Cincinnati). Arizona supporters hope Lithuanian twins Zauolas and Tautvilas Tubelis duplicate similar success next year.

The Martins are among following Top 15 most influential sets of twins at the same school: 1. Van Arsdale (Indiana); 2. O'Brien (Seattle); 3. Lopez (Stanford); 4. Morris (Kansas); 5. Collins (Stanford); 6. Graham (UCF/Oklahoma State); 7. Martin (North Carolina State/Nevada); 8. Hughes (Wisconsin); 9. Holmes (VMI); 10. Hayes (Western Carolina/Georgia); 11. Williams (VMI); 12. Kerr (Colorado State); 13. Stanley (Texas A&M); 14. Nelson (Duquesne); 15. Harrison (Kentucky).

Arizona's foreign duo could be bound to crack the following chronological list of nation's 40 most outstanding sets of twins who played together at least one season on the same team:

  • George and Francis Coakley were members of Clemson's 1939 Southern Conference Tournament championship team. It is the Tigers' only league tourney title.
  • Howie and Lenny Rader competed for LIU in 1941-42. Howie was a starter but served in the U.S. Army the next year. Each of them went on to play multiple seasons in the NBL.
  • Clifford and Beauford Minx combined for 10.9 ppg for Missouri's 1944 NCAA Tournament team.
  • Forwards John and Rupe Ricksen combined to average 9.7 ppg for California in 1950-51, 15.9 ppg in 1951-52 and 18.4 ppg in 1952-53. The Bears won at least 16 games each of their seasons together. They were co-captains as seniors when Cal captured the PCC South Division title and John earned first-team all-conference status.
  • Bantam-sized Johnny and Eddie O'Brien were the top two scorers for Seattle (26-3 record) when it reached the 1953 NCAA Tournament in the Chieftains' first season at the major-college level. They also were infielders for the Pittsburgh Pirates the same year. Johnny O'Brien, a 5-8 unanimous first-team All-American who played center on offense, is the only player to score more than 40 points in his first NCAA Tournament game (42 in an 88-77 victory against Idaho State). Eddie contributed 21 in the same playoff contest.
  • Bob (8.6 ppg in 63 games) and Bill (7.5 ppg in 40 games) Gaines played together for Furman from 1954-55 through 1956-57. Each of them averaged 10.3 ppg as a senior.
  • Don and Pat Stanley combined for 17.3 ppg and 10.2 rpg in 1959-60 and 24.8 ppg and 11.7 rpg in 1960-61 for Texas A&M. They earlier played at Kilgore when it won a national J.C. title.
  • Don and Doug Clemetson combined for 9.5 ppg with Stanford in 1960-61 and 11 ppg in 1961-62. The 16-6 Cardinal finished AAWU runner-up to UCLA, which wound up at the 1962 Final Four.
  • Tom and Dick Van Arsdale ranked sixth and seventh on Indiana's list of all-time leading scorers when they graduated in 1965. They were among the nation's top 60 point producers as juniors in 1963-64 and combined for 76 points in a 108-102 neutral court victory against Notre Dame. The Hoosiers went 19-5 their senior campaign. They each played 12 seasons in the NBA, where they both scored more than 14,200 points.
  • Lloyd and Floyd Kerr were swingmen who combined to average 25.3 ppg and 10.7 rpg for Colorado State from 1966-67 through 1968-69. Brothers Kerr each scored more than 10 points in all three NCAA playoff games when the Rams reached the Midwest Regional final their senior season (17-7 record) before becoming NBA third-round draft choices.
  • Barry and Garry Nelson combined for 21.7 ppg and 16.9 rpg for Duquesne teams compiling a 59-16 record from 1968-69 through 1970-71. Garry led the team in field-goal percentage all three seasons and in rebounding as a sophomore and junior.
  • In 1974, seniors Kim and Kerry Hughes carried Wisconsin to its only winning record in Big Ten Conference competition (8-6; 16-8 overall) in a 34-year span from 1963 through 1996. Kim was the Badgers' top rebounder as a sophomore. The 6-11 identical twins combined for 27 ppg and 22 rpg in their junior season and 26 ppg and 20.3 rpg in their final year. Kerry had 21 points and Kim contributed 20 in a home game versus Northwestern their senior year.
  • Billy and Bobby Martin excelled for UNC-Wilmington in 1976-77 and 1977-78 after transferring from junior college. Bobby and Billy still rank among the school's all-time leaders in assists.
  • Harvey and Horace Grant combined for 16.4 ppg and 11.1 rpg as sophomores for Clemson's 16-13 NIT team in 1984-85. Harvey transferred after the season to a junior college before enrolling at Oklahoma. Each of them had long NBA careers.
  • Wichita State's Dwayne and Dwight Praylow combined for 16.3 ppg in 1987-88 (20-10 record) and 20.1 ppg and 8.8 rpg in 1988-89 (19-11 record).
  • Victor and Vincent Lee played for Northeast Louisiana from 1986-87 through 1988-89. Their best season was 1988-89 when they were juniors (9.1 ppg and 4.7 rpg).
  • Terry and Perry Dozier combined for 9.1 ppg and 3.5 rpg with South Carolina from 1986-87 through 1988-89.
  • Damon and Ramon Williams combined for 28.9 ppg in their four-year VMI careers from 1986-87 through 1989-90. They were All-Southern Conference Tournament first-team selections as sophomores in 1988. Ramon was an all-league first-team pick as a junior and Damon achieved the feat as a senior. They rank among the school's all-time top scorers.
  • Carl and Charles Thomas were among the top 40 scorers in Eastern Michigan history when they finished their careers following the 1990-91 campaign. They combined to average 16.9 ppg and 7.2 rpg in college before making brief stints in the NBA.
  • Sean and Shawn Wightman played together with Western Michigan for three years (1990-91 through 1992-93) after transferring from Illinois State. They combined for 17.9 ppg as juniors. Sean was the nation's top three-point marksman as a junior and led the Mid-American Conference in free-throw shooting as a senior.
  • Joe and Jon Ross played together with Notre Dame from 1990-91 through 1993-94. They combined for more than eight rebounds per game their last two seasons.
  • Sammie and Simeon Haley combined for 12.5 ppg and 8.8 rpg with Missouri's NCAA Tournament team in 1994-95 (20-9 record) and 14.6 ppg and 9.2 rpg for an NIT team in 1995-96 (18-15 record) after transferring from junior college.
  • Jim and David Jackson combined for 7.7 ppg and 3.6 rpg with Virginia Tech's NCAA Tournament team in 1995-96 (23-6 record) and 13.4 ppg and 4.8 rpg in 1996-97 (15-16).
  • Bill and Bob Jenkins combined for 14.9 ppg and 12.5 rpg with Valparaiso's NCAA playoff Sweet 16 team in 1997-98 (23-10 record).
  • Stanford's Jarron and Jason Collins combined for 19.3 ppg and 12.6 rpg in 1999-2000 before powering the Cardinal to a 31-3 record in 2000-01 with 27.3 ppg and 14.5 rpg.
  • Jarvis and Jonas Hayes combined for 25.1 ppg as freshmen with Western Carolina in 1999-2000. They transferred to Georgia after Jarvis led the Southern Conference in scoring with 17.1 ppg. With the Bulldogs, the twins teamed for 25.8 ppg and 10.3 rpg in 2001-02 and 25 ppg and 8.8 rpg in 2002-03.
  • Joey and Stevie Graham combined for 25.3 ppg and 9.5 rpg as sophomores with Central Florida in 2001-02 before transferring to Oklahoma State. They collaborated for 15.2 ppg and 6.6 rpg in 2003-04 and 24.2 ppg and 9.4 rpg in 2004-05 for two OSU NCAA playoff teams.
  • Errick and Derrick Craven combined for 17.6 ppg and 7.5 rpg with Southern California in 2002-03, 17.2 ppg and 5.2 rpg in 2003-04 and 10.4 ppg and 4.5 rpg in 2004-05.
  • Yale swingmen Caleb and Nick Holmes combined for 12.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg and 3.2 apg from 2004-05 through 2007-08.
  • Travis and Chavis Holmes combined for 18.7 ppg with VMI in 2005-06, 34.2 ppg in 2006-07 and 34 ppg in 2007-08. They colloborated for 57 points in a 156-95 victory against Virginia Intermont in 2006-07 when they each ranked among the nation's top five in steals (placed 1-2 in the Big South Conference). Finished 1-2 nationally in thefts their senior season.
  • Centers Brook and Robin Lopez combined for 20.2 ppg, 11.5 rpg and 4.1 bpg with Stanford as freshmen in 2006-07 and 29.4 ppg, 13.8 rpg and 4.4 bpg as sophomores in 2007-08 before they both left school early and became NBA first-round draft choices.
  • La Salle's Jerrell and Terrell Williams combined for 12.3 ppg and 8.5 rpg from 2007-08 to 2009-10.
  • Charles and Philip Tabet combined for 7.2 ppg and 3 rpg with South Alabama in 2008-09 before falling off to 2.8 ppg with 4.5 rpg in 2009-10.
  • Philadelphia natives Markieff and Marcus Morris combined for 12 ppg and 9.2 rpg with Kansas in 2008-09, 19.5 ppg and 11.4 rpg in 2009-10 and 30.8 ppg and 15.9 rpg as All-Big 12 Conference selections in 2010-11 before they both left school early and became NBA first-round draft choices. Marcus was KU's leading scorer (17.2) and Markieff its leading rebounder (8.3) for the Jayhawks' 2011 Big 12 champion.
  • David and Travis Wear combined for 6.5 ppg and 3.8 rpg as freshmen for North Carolina in 2009-10 before transferring to UCLA, where they collaborated for 18 ppg and 10.2 rpg in 2012-13 and 13.8 ppg and 7 rpg in 2013-14.
  • Charlie (freshman RS in 2009-10) and Colin Reddick combined for 7.7 ppg and 6.1 rpg with Furman in 2010-11, 14.8 ppg and 8.1 rpg in 2011-12 and 22.1 ppg and 11.5 rpg in 2012-13.
  • Aaron and Andrew Harrison combined for 24.6 ppg as freshmen in 2013-14 and 20.3 ppg as sophomores on a couple of Kentucky Final Four squads.
  • Marcus and Michael Weathers combined for 26.4 ppg and 10.2 rpg with Miami OH in 2016-17 before transferring to different schools.
  • Jacob and Kalob Ledoux combined for 19.5 ppg and 5.6 rpg for McNeese State in 2016-17 and 2017-18 before transferring.

NOTE: Triplets Kameron (Brown)/Kendall/Kyle Chones started college in 2003-04. Kendall and Kyle combined for 14.7 ppg and 8 rpg with Colgate in that initial season and from 2005-06 through 2007-08.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on May 28 MLB Games

Extra! Extra! If spittin' mad regarding COVID-19 season postponement, 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 Frankie Baumholtz (Ohio University), Mickey Brantley (Columbia-Greene Community College SC), Bob Cerv (Nebraska), David Justice (Thomas More KY), Billy North (Central Washington), Larry Sheets (Eastern Mennonite VA) and Babe Young (Fordham) supplied significant performances as MLB outfielders on this date. Ex-NYU hoopers Hank Greenberg and Eddie Yost made American League news with their offensive outputs on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a May 28 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

MAY 28

  • In a 1954 game, Chicago Cubs CF Frankie Baumholtz (MVP in 1941 NIT and first player in Ohio University basketball history to score 1,000 career points) stroked four hits against his original team (Cincinnati Reds).

  • Cincinnati Reds 2B Jim Begley (played hoops for San Francisco during first half of 1920s) went 1-for-5 and scored one run in 1924 doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals in his only MLB action.

  • In midst of hitting safely in 25 of 26 games (raising batting average 100 points from .211 to .311), Seattle Mariners LF Mickey Brantley (averaged 10 ppg, 6.8 rpg and 5.4 apg for Columbia-Greene Community College SC in 1979-80) collected four RBI in a 6-1 victory against the New York Yankees in 1988.

  • New York Yankees LF Bob Cerv (ranked fourth on Nebraska's career scoring list in 1949-50 whacked a pinch grand slam against the Chicago White Sox in a 1961 contest.

  • RHP George Earnshaw (Swarthmore PA hooper in 1922) acquired by the Philadelphia Athletics from Baltimore in 1928.

  • Detroit Tigers 1B Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoops scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) smacked two homers in an 8-3 win against the New York Yankees in 1935.

  • RF David Justice (Thomas More KY assists leader in 1984-85) provided a two-run single to spark a ninth-inning rally propelling the Atlanta Braves past the San Diego Padres, 8-6, in 1991.

  • San Francisco Giants CF Billy North (played hoops briefly for Central Washington in 1967-68) stole three bases in a game for the third time this month in 1981.

  • RHP Ron Reed (Notre Dame's leading rebounder in 1963-64 and 1964-65) traded by the Atlanta Braves to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1975.

  • Baltimore Orioles LF Larry Sheets (All-ODAC hoops selection in 1981-82 and 1982-83 with Eastern Mennonite VA) socked two homers against the California Angels in a 1987 outing.

  • Boston Red Sox RHP Sonny Siebert (team-high 16.7 ppg for Missouri in 1957-58 as All-Big Eight Conference second-team selection) won his first nine decisions in the 1971 campaign, posting a 1.77 ERA in April and May.

  • Entering the game with a .177 batting average, Washington Senators 2B Wayne Terwilliger (two-year hoops letterman for Western Michigan averaged 5.6 ppg in final season in 1947-48) went 3-for-3 and homered for the first of three consecutive contests in 1954 (all of his round-trippers for season in 106 outings).

  • As a substitute in a 17-inning tie, Los Angeles Dodgers rookie 3B John Werhas (USC's leading scorer in 1958-59 and 1959-60) collected a career-high three hits against the Cincinnati Reds in 1964.

  • In 1994, Minnesota Twins DH Dave Winfield (starting forward with Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) collected his 3,054th MLB hit, surpassing former Twin Rod Carew into 15th place on the all-time list.

  • Detroit Tigers 3B Eddie Yost (NYU freshman hooper in 1943-44 under coach Howard Cann) drew four walks in a 1960 game against the Cleveland Indians. He was in midst of receiving at least one free pass in last nine contests of the month en route to pacing A.L. in on-base percentage for second of back-to-back seasons.

  • New York Giants CF Babe Young (Fordham hoops letterman in 1935-36) went 4-for-4 against the Brooklyn Dodgers in a 1946 game.

Walking Tall: 21st Century Featured Five of Nine DI Players Taller Than 7-4

Sky-is-the-limit expectations face the two tallest transfers eligible next season - 7-3 Matt Haarms (Purdue to Brigham Young) and 7-3 Connor Vanover (California to Arkansas). It will be a tall order, but these twin towers likely will determine whether or not BYU and Arkansas reach Top 25 ranking and participate in the NCAA tourney. Believe it or not, there has previously been a striking number of towering players with higher points of view.

Who have been the tallest players in major-college history? Five of nine NCAA Division I players taller than 7-4 have impacted major-college hoops this century and could literally look down upon national Player of Year winners Lew Alcindor (7-2/UCLA), Anthony Davis (7-0/Kentucky), Patrick Ewing (7-0/Georgetown) and Shaquille O'Neal (7-1/Louisiana State) plus two-time All-Americans Artis Gilmore (7-2/Jacksonville) and Hakeem Olajuwon (7-0/Houston). The following list of skyscrapers are taller than Haarms and Vanover:

Tallest DI Players Ht. School(s) Summary of NCAA Division I Career
Neil Fingleton 7-7 1/2 North Carolina/Holy Cross Missed both of his field-goal attempts in one game with Carolina in 2001-02 before averaging 2.7 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 0.7 bpg and 45.2 FG% for Holy Cross in 2002-03 and 2003-04
Tacko Fall 7-7 UCF 10.1 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 2.4 bpg and 74 FG% from 2015-16 through 2018-19
Kenny George 7-7 UNC Asheville 9.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.7 bpg and 71.6 FG% in 2006-07 and 2007-08 before having part of his right foot amputated because of staph infection
Shawn Bradley 7-6 Brigham Young 14.8 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 5.2 bpg and 51.8 FG% in 1990-91
John Hollinden 7-6 Oral Roberts 1.2 ppg and 1.1 rpg in 1976-77 and 1977-78 before transferring to Indiana State-Evansville
Mike Lanier 7-6 Hardin-Simmons/UCLA Averaged 5.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 0.8 bpg and 45.2 FG% for Hardin-Simmons in 1988-89 and 1989-90 before averaging 1.3 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 0.1 bpg and 32.4 FG% with UCLA in 1991-92 and 1992-93.
Mamadou Ndiaye 7-6 UC Irvine 10.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 2.5 bpg and 67.6 FG% from 2013-14 through 2015-16
Sim Bhullar 7-5 New Mexico State 10.2 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 2.9 bpg and 63.3 FG% in 2012-13 and 2013-14
Chuck Nevitt 7-5 North Carolina State 3 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1 bpg and 58 FG% from 1978-79 through 1981-82
Alan Bannister 7-4 Oklahoma State/Arkansas State 6.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.6 bpg and 45.9 FG% with OSU in 1985-86 and 1987-88 before averaging 2 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 0.8 bpg and 45.2 FG% with ASU in 1989-90
Lonnie Boeckman 7-4 Oklahoma State 1.8 ppg, 1.4 rpg and 35.8 FG% from 1973-74 through 1976-77
Tom Burleson 7-4 North Carolina State 19 ppg, 12.7 rpg and 51.6 FG% from 1971-72 through 1973-74
Mark Eaton 7-4 UCLA 1.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 0.9 bpg and 44.9 FG% in 1980-81 and 1981-82
Christ Koumadje 7-4 Florida State 4.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.2 bpg and 62.2 FG% from 2015-16 through 2018-19
Rolf Mayr 7-4 Duquesne 1.2 ppg, 1.2 rpg and 42.9 FG% in 1987-88
Ralph Sampson 7-4 Virginia 16.9 ppg, 11.4 rpg, 3.5 bpg and 56.8 FG% from 1979-80 through 1982-83
Rik Smits 7-4 Marist 18.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 3.2 bpg and 60.9 FG% from 1984-85 through 1987-88
Steve Turner 7-4 Vanderbilt 8.1 ppg, 6.7 rpg and 50.2 FG% from 1969-70 through 1972-73

NOTES: George Bell (7-8/Morris Brown GA, UC Riverside and Biola CA), Paul Sturgess (7-7/Florida Tech and Mountain State WV), Manute Bol (7-6/Bridgeport CT) and Priest Lauderdale (7-4/Central State OH) played for non-DI colleges. . . . Homesick Gunther Behnke (7-4/Kentucky) left UK before start of 1984-85 season to return to his native West Germany.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on May 27 MLB Games

Extra! Extra! If spittin' mad about COVID-19 season postponement, 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 Santa Clara basketball guards Tim Cullen and Randy Winn each supplied MLB-career defining games on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a May 27 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

MAY 27

  • CF Ethan Allen (Cincinnati basketball letterman in 1924-25 and 1925-26) traded by the Cincinnati Reds to the New York Giants in 1930. Five years later, Allen was with the Philadelphia Phillies when he stroked four hits in a 4-2 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

  • Philadelphia Athletics C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) whacked two homers against the Detroit Tigers in a 1933 game.

  • INF Pat Crawford (Davidson hoops captain in early 1920s) traded by the New York Giants to Cincinnati Reds in 1930.

  • Washington Senators 2B Tim Cullen (starting guard for Santa Clara in 1962-63 when averaging 10 ppg and 3.4 rpg) contributed four hits in an 8-1 victory against the Detroit Tigers in 1967.

  • Boston Red Sox rookie RHP Boo Ferriss (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1941) tossed his fourth shutout in first six starts in 1945.

  • Baltimore Orioles 3B Wayne Gross (led Cal Poly Pomona in assists in 1974-75) cracked a grand slam against the California Angels in a 1984 outing.

  • Cleveland Indians 1B Mike Hargrove (Northwestern Oklahoma State hoops letterman) provided at least three hits in fourth consecutive contest in 1981.

  • Los Angeles Dodgers RF Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection when leading Ohio State in scoring and rebounding in 1956-57 and 1957-58) went 4-for-4 against the Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a 1962 doubleheader.

  • RHP Andy Karl (Manhattan hoops letterman in mid-1930s) traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to the Boston Braves in 1947.

  • Cleveland Indians CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) went 3-for-3 with three stolen bases against the Oakland Athletics in a 1994 game.

  • Chicago Cubs LF Les Mann (Springfield MA hooper in 1913 and 1914) went 4-for-4 against the New York Giants in a 1918 game.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers LHP Preacher Roe (Harding AR hooper in late 1930s) fired the second of back-to-back shutouts in 1949.

  • Closer Lee Smith (averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg with Northwestern State in 1976-77) traded by the California Angels to the Cincinnati Reds in 1996.

  • Chicago Cubs LF Riggs Stephenson (Alabama hoops letterman in 1920) provided three straight three-hit games in 1927. Four years later in 1931, Stephenson went 4-for-4, including three extra-base hits, against the Cincinnati Reds. In a 1932 contest, he went 4-for-4 again against the Reds.

  • In 1975, Oakland Athletics RHP Jim Todd (averaged 16 ppg for Millersville PA in 1968-69 after transferring from Parsons IA) didn't allow an earned run in nine straight relief appearances in the month until doing so against the Baltimore Orioles.

  • Seattle Mariners LF Randy Winn (Santa Clara backcourtmate of eventual two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash in 1993-94) went 5-for-5 in a 15-7 triumph against the Kansas City Royals in 2003.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on May 26 MLB Games

Extra! Extra! If spittin' mad about COVID-19 season postponement, 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.

In a five-year span, Duke's first basketball All-American Billy Werber supplied significant MLB performances in each league on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a May 26 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

MAY 26

  • RHP Mike Adams (played basketball for Texas A&M-Kingsville in 1996-97) traded by the Milwaukee Brewers to the New York Mets in 2006.

  • Lefthander Harvey Haddix of the Pittsburgh Pirates spun a perfect game for 12 innings in 1959 before Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading scorer in 1945-46) swatted a game-winning homer in the 13th (credited with double because of base-running snafu).

  • Pittsburgh Pirates LF Clyde Barnhart (hooper for Shippensburg PA predecessor Cumberland Valley State Normal School prior to World War I) had his 25-game hitting streak snapped by the Chicago Cubs in 1925.

  • St. Louis Browns RF Beau Bell (two-year hoops letterman for Texas A&M in early 1930s) collected two homers and five RBI against the Boston Red Sox in a 1937 game.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates LF Carson "Skeeter" Bigbee (Oregon hoops letterman in 1915) went 4-for-4 including three doubles against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1923 contest.

  • Baltimore Orioles CF Al Bumbry (Virginia State's runner-up in scoring with 16.7 ppg as freshman in 1964-65) contributed five hits in a 16-inning marathon against the Detroit Tigers in 1979.

  • Philadelphia Athletics C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) went 5-for-5 against the Washington Senators in a 1929 outing.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers RHP Roger Craig (forward with North Carolina State's 1949-50 freshman hoops team) tossed a three-hit shutout against the New York Giants in 1956.

  • Second MLB hit for INF Pat Crawford (Davidson hoops captain in early 1920s) was a pinch grand slam for the New York Giants in a 1929 game against the Boston Braves.

  • St. Louis Cardinals CF Taylor Douthit (California hoops letterman from 1922 through 1924) went 7-for-10 in a 1929 twinbill against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

  • In the midst of a career-high 14-game hitting streak, Los Angeles Dodgers C Joe Ferguson (hooper in 1967 NCAA playoffs with Pacific) furnished four hits against the San Francisco Giants in a 1974 contest.

  • Boston Red Sox RHP Boo Ferriss (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1941) hurled a one-hitter against the Chicago White Sox in the opener of a 1946 doubleheader.

  • In a 1970 outing, Los Angeles Dodgers C Tom Haller (backup forward for Illinois in 1956-57 and 1957-58 under coach Harry Combes) banged out four hits against his original team (San Francisco Giants).

  • Boston Braves 1B Buddy Hassett (hooper for Manhattan teams winning school-record 17 consecutive games in 1930 and 1931) banged out four hits in a 10-8 loss against the New York Giants in 1940.

  • Los Angeles Dodgers LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman hoops squad in 1953-54) fanned 16 Philadelphia Phillies batters in a 1962 game.

  • Detroit Tigers SS Harvey Kuenn (played hoops briefly for Wisconsin in 1951-52 after competing on JV squad previous season) collected four hits against the Kansas City Athletics in a 1956 contest.

  • Texas Rangers DH Rick Leach (averaged 15.5 ppg for Michigan's JV squad in 1975-76) went 3-for-3 in a 5-3 victory against the Minnesota Twins in 1989.

  • INF Jerry Lumpe (member of Southwest Missouri State's 1952 NAIA Tournament championship hoops team) traded by the New York Yankees to the Kansas City Athletics in 1959 in a swap involving Ralph Terry, who pitched in five straight World Series for the Yanks.

  • San Diego Padres 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) homered in his fourth consecutive contest in 1986.

  • Starting LHP Gary Peters (Grove City PA hooper in mid-1950s) batted sixth in the starting lineup for the Chicago White Sox in a 5-1 loss against the New York Yankees in the opener of a 1968 doubleheader.

  • Detroit Tigers 3B 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 9-4 win against the Boston Red Sox in 1991.

  • St. Louis Browns RHP Nels Potter (leading scorer during two years attending Mount Morris IL in early 1930s) retired the first 23 Boston Red Sox batters he faced in 1944 game.

  • Boston Red Sox C Birdie Tebbetts (Providence hooper in 1932) went 4-for-4 against the St. Louis Browns in a 1949 outing.

  • Boston Red Sox 3B Billy Werber (first Duke hoops All-American in 1929-30) went 4-for-4 against the St. Louis Browns in a 1935 game. Four years later with the Cincinnati Reds, Werber scored four of his N.L.-leading 115 runs in a 7-5 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1939.

  • St. Louis Cardinals 1B Bill White (two-year hooper for Hiram OH in early 1950s) went 4-for-4 against the New York Mets in the opener of a 1963 twinbill.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on May 25 MLB Games

Extra! Extra! If spittin' made about COVID-19 season postponement, 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 hoopers from small Southern colleges Fayetteville State NC (Jim Bibby), Morehouse GA (Donn Clendenon), Guilford NC (Rick Ferrell), Hampden-Sydney VA (Bobby Humphreys), William Carey MS (John Stephenson) and Nicholls State LA (Champ Summers) made MLB news on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a May 25 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

MAY 25

  • RHP Jim Bibby (Fayetteville State NC backup basketball player and brother of UCLA All-American Henry Bibby) and Pittsburgh Pirates teammate Jim Winn tied a MLB record by combining to walk seven consecutive batters in the third inning of a 1983 game against the Atlanta Braves.

  • New York Yankees LF Bob Cerv (ranked fourth on Nebraska's career scoring list in 1949-50 when finishing career) cracked a grand slam against the Baltimore Orioles in a 1956 game.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates 1B Donn Clendenon (four-sport letterman with Morehouse GA) capped a streak of five multiple-hit games in succession with four safeties against the Chicago Cubs in a 1965 contest.

  • Hall of Fame C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s), after socking a third-inning homer for the Detroit Tigers against the New York Yankees in his final official at-bat, incurred a skull fracture in three places when beaned by a 3-1 pitch in the fifth in 1937. The player-manager never returned to active duty as a player. In 1950, Cochrane was named general manager of the Philadelphia Athletics.

  • In 1960, St. Louis Cardinals 1B George Crowe (four-year letterman from 1939-40 through 1942-43 for Indiana Central after becoming the first high school player named the state's "Mr. Basketball") clobbered a MLB career-record 11th pinch-hit homer.

  • In 1928, St. Louis Cardinals CF Taylor Douthit (California hoops letterman from 1922 through 1924) endured his only hitless contest in a 28-game span to early June.

  • California Angels 2B Denny Doyle (averaged 2.7 ppg for Morehead State in 1962-63) delivered his fifth three-hit performance of the month in 1974.

  • Boston Red Sox 1B Walt Dropo (Connecticut's first player ever to average 20 points for a season with 21.7 in 1942-43), en route to becoming 1950 A.L. Rookie of the Year, drove in six runs (four with grand slam) in a 15-12 verdict over the St. Louis Browns.

  • Washington Senators C Rick Ferrell (forward for Guilford NC before graduating in 1928) stroked three doubles against the St. Louis Browns in a 1938 outing.

  • St. Louis Cardinals RHP Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer and rebounder in 1955-56 and 1956-57) hurled his third shutout of the month in 1969.

  • Detroit Tigers 1B Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoops scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) went 4-for-4, including two homers, against the New York Yankees in a 1938 game.

  • Los Angeles Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) homered twice off the San Francisco Giants' Mike McCormick in a 1959 contest.

  • Washington Senators RHP Bobby Humphreys (four-year hoops letterman graduated from Hampden-Sydney VA in 1958) had his streak of eight straight scoreless relief appearances come to an end in 1969.

  • 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) lashed the last of seven homers for the Los Angeles Dodgers on a 3-0 delivery in a 17-6 whipping of the Cincinnati Reds in 1979. In Lopes' next at-bat, he was decked on four straight pitches, precipitating a brawl. Six years earlier as a rookie, Lopes notched his eighth multiple-hit contest in a 10-game span in 1973.

  • Chicago White Sox RHP Ted Lyons (two-time All-SWC first-team selection for Baylor in early 1920s) notched his sixth consecutive complete-game victory during the month in 1930.

  • St. Louis Cardinals rookie CF Wally Moon (averaged 4.3 ppg with Texas A&M in 1948-49 and 1949-50) swiped four bases in a 9-4 decision over the Chicago Cubs in 1954.

  • Detroit Tigers OF Jim Northrup (second-leading scorer and third-leading rebounder for Alma MI in 1958-59) contributed five RBI against the Boston Red Sox in a 1967 outing.

  • New York Yankees 3B Red Rolfe (played hoops briefly with Dartmouth in 1927-28 and 1929-30) went 5-for-5 against the Detroit Tigers in a 1938 game.

  • Boston Red Sox RHP Mike Smithson (teammate of Tennessee All-American Ernie Grunfeld averaged 1.9 ppg and 1.6 rpg under coach Ray Mears in 1974-75 and 1975-76) twirled a shutout against the Seattle Mariners in 1989.

  • In 1971, California Angels C John Stephenson (scored 1,361 points for William Carey MS in early 1960s) hit safely in his first 15 games of the month until he was held hitless by the Oakland Athletics.

  • OF Champ Summers (team-high scoring averages of 15.7 ppg for Nicholls State in 1964-65 and 22.5 ppg for SIUE in 1969-70) traded by the Cincinnati Reds to the Detroit Tigers in 1979.

The Past Dunce: Basketball Baron MJ Wasn't Professional Baseball Royalty

"The basket is in the same place all the time." - Long-time MLB player/manager/executive Joe Torre on why trying to hit a moving target in professional baseball would be more difficult for Michael Jordan than playing basketball

As entertaining as ESPN's 10 episodes of "The Last Dance" were for five weeks, the documentary couldn't possibly be rated a "10" by majority of versatile athletes boasting experiential knowledge playing basketball and baseball at the collegiate or professional level. The disconcerting departure from Michael Jordan's regal reality in hoopdom was an absurd implication he could have reached the majors in baseball. Please! What baseball skill set was he betting on? Between sniffing hair and incoherent policy messages to the nation on economic intercourse, Vice Plagiarist #BasementJoe might jive-talk say: "He ain't no Daddy Hack, man!"

Yes, an adventurous life includes risk. Just ask self-anointed Ambassador to North Korea Dennis Rodman. But what in the world was NBA GOAT thinking when personally knocking himself off hoops pedestal to become pedestrian baseball player? He was textbook example that even an authentic physical specimen doesn't always possess the aptitude to competently compete, let alone excel, in both basketball and baseball at the highest level. Of course, anyone with a pulse admires Michael's mystical work ethic. Some starry-eyed observers on injured list sans moral compass may even applaud Jordan's extracurricular-activity appetite for betting and bedding. But unless MJ won a wager with actor/director Robert "The Natural" Redford to obtain "Wonderboy" lightning bolt-treated bat, only a fictional-film fan "Airhead" believes "His Airness" was big-league bound as an outfielder.

Numbers don't lie. After his initial retirement, Jordan hit an anemic .202 and scarred his prestigious persona with 30% more strikeouts than base hits (114 to 88) for Double A Birmingham's 1994 Southern League West Division last-place team. He wasn't exactly the South's next Henry Aaron 20 years removed from "Hammerin' Hank" breaking Babe Ruth's MLB career home-run record. None of the Southern League's "44" players with at least 400 at-bats that year registered a lower batting average. In fact, Jordan posted the lowest average in entirety of AA Organized Ball among 180 players with at least 325 ABs (including Eastern League and Texas League). Embracing Jordan's crude Jerry Krause food-consumption lingo, his baseball menu featured more "crumbs" than fine dining. Nonetheless, media leftovers was what eventual MLB veterans Jason Giambi, Doug Glanville, Tony Graffanino, Jason Kendall, Damian Miller, Pokey Reese, Desi Relaford, Alex Rodriguez, Chris Stynes and Chris Widger received in Southern League that season compared to Jordan generating more publicity than all of these genuine baseball players combined.

Anyone with functioning brain realizes Jordan was the Chicago Bulls' centerpiece. But despite Krause assembling rosters including 66 different players for potent teams compiling 11 consecutive winning seasons from 1987-88 through "The Last Dance," Jordan disparaged architect by mooing like a cow when portly executive entered the Bulls' locker room or got on team bus. However, Jordan should currently have at least a little more respect for Krause after an abundance of NBA humble pie served to him in front office as the Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets notched winning campaigns only twice in last 10 years since he became majority owner.

Contrary to anything your father may have told you about athletic endeavors, the single most difficult thing to do in any team sport is soundly striking a quality baseball pitch. In parallel with Joe Torre's incisive quote above, there is a "Greatest Showman" carnival caveat regarding Jordan's celebrity cruise. If he grudgingly consented to become a 31-year-old replacement player during the MLB strike commencing in mid-August 1994 when Torre was managing the St. Louis Cardinals, perhaps an Eddie Gaedel-like "Field of Schemes" freak show in reverse might have unfolded to put a few more fannies in stadium seats.

Partially influenced by legend-building commercial spoon-fed culture, most "Be-Like-Mike" aficionados are unaware the documentary failed to touch all the bases by pointing out North Carolina's two-time consensus All-American wasn't best former college basketball standout performing as an outfielder on the Barons' baseball roster in 1994. The superior teammate on the diamond was Scott Tedder, a 6-4 lefthander who is Ohio Wesleyan's all-time leading scorer with 2,501 points. Tedder, playing about one-fourth of the '94 campaign with Cubs' affiliate Orlando (also in Southern League), hit .281 for the season. Tedder, a three-time All-NCAC first-team selection in basketball and Most Outstanding Player of NCAA Division III Final Four as senior in 1987-88, posted a .261 batting average over five years with the Barons. Another ex-college hooper on roster of White Sox' affiliate that season was Ken Coleman, a utilityman who hit .191. Coleman is New Haven's all-time leader in assists after pacing the Chargers in scoring feeds all four seasons from 1984-85 through 1987-88. Coleman, a two-time All-NECC hoop selection, played seven years in the minors, finishing with a .258 batting mark. If not a better batting average in order to emerge from basement by winning a few more road games, at least Jordan's teammates got a better traveling bus worth $350,000 financed by him out of the deal.

There are pros and cons about earn-your-spurs hazing of self-absorbed rookies. But former minor-league pitcher Scott Burrell, a Chicago Bulls teammate in MJ's final Bulls season (1997-98) and current hoops bench boss for Southern Connecticut State, was treated like a rented mule by five-time MVP in excessive competitive repartee heaped on a veteran. Odds are UConn product Burrell, the first athlete to become a first-round draft pick of two major sports organizations (MLB/Seattle Mariners in 1989 and NBA/Charlotte Hornets in 1993), missed out on a potential hefty bonus when failing to respond to Jordan by challenging him to a one-on-one baseball gamble. Insofar as Jordan appeared in 127 games with the Barons, how about a symbolic "I love to bet" home-run derby with him facing 127 strikes from Burrell in Comiskey Park or Las Vegas to see if MJ might swat more than the three round-trippers he did with the Barons? Trash-talking Jordan could have condescendingly distributed a diet pill for each Big Fly to competition director if event was "managed" by talent evaluator Krause, who worked as scout for four different MLB franchises (Indians/Athletics/Mariners/White Sox). Naturally, the hoops legend would also emerge as "the best (actor) there ever was" in baseball if resembling Roy Hobbs by knocking cover off Burrell delivery in front of his sons. Parked in first row of stadium, equally-versatile film director-producer-writer-actor Spike Lee/Mars Blackmon would proclaim: "It's gotta be the news (headline)!"

At any rate, never underestimate Jordan's penchant for rising to the occasion and three-time All-Big East Conference hoops selection Burrell failed to reach as high as Double A, compiling a 2-6 Class A pitching record in 14 starts in the Toronto Blue Jays' farm system in 1990 and 1991. In 1989, promising righthander Burrell was picked ahead of supplemental first-rounder Todd Jones plus the following eventual MLB hurlers: Jerry Dipoto (3rd round), Shane Reynolds (3rd), Denny Neagle (3rd), Scott Erickson (4th), Alan Embree (5th), Paul Quantrill (6th), Russ Springer (7th), Curt Leskanie (8th), Sterling Hitchcock (9th), Trevor Hoffman (11th), Mike Trombley (14th), Pat Rapp (15th) and Tim Worrell (20th). In 1990 as a fifth-round selection by Toronto, Burrell was chosen before eventual MLB pitchers Mike Hampton (6th round), Troy Percival (6th), Mike Williams (14th), Rick White (15th), Dave Mlicki (17th), Eddie Guardado (21st), Andy Pettitte (22nd) and Jason Bere (36th).

Baseball Hall of Fame hurlers Bob Gibson (Creighton), Ted Lyons (Baylor), Eppa Rixey Jr. (Virginia) and Robin Roberts (Michigan State) also were standout basketball players for major universities. But hoopers-turned-pitchers such as the HOFers plus Gene Conley (Washington State) and Steve Hamilton (Morehead State) should be exempt from any basketball-to-baseball comparison equation assessing an everyday performer such as Jordan. Conley is the only individual in history to win both MLB (Milwaukee Braves in 1957) and NBA titles (member of three consecutive Celtics championship teams from 1959 through 1961). Hamilton is only athlete to play in World Series (1963 and 1964 with New York Yankees) and NBA Finals (rookie in 1959 when Lakers were swept by Celtics) after participating in NCAA playoffs (averaged 18.5 points in four tourney games in 1956 and 1957).

A hoops-to-MLB transition has been achieved more often than the average fan knows. Jordan was incapable, but former NCAA Division I basketball standouts Tony Clark (San Diego State), Terrell Lowery (Loyola Marymount), Lyle Mouton (Louisiana State) and Desi Wilson (Fairleigh Dickinson) competed in Double A baseball in 1994 - collaborating for .288 batting average - en route to reaching the majors. No matter how much sweat equity is dispensed, you either have "it" (multiple-sport skills) or you don't. Truth be told in evaluating what could be depicted as Jordan's "The Past Dunce," we probably should defer to short-lived uniform #45 during brief career in Organized Ball. Fitting like a glove in baseball infinitely more than MJ's iconic NBA jersey #23, following is an alphabetical list of 45 major-college varsity basketball regulars who went on to enjoy non-pitcher MLB careers of at least six seasons (same number as Jordan's NBA titles) since the start of national postseason competition in late 1930s:

Two-Way Athlete Summary of Major-College Hoops Career Summary of Non-Pitcher's MLB Career
Jerry Adair Played two seasons of varsity basketball under legendary coach Hank Iba with Oklahoma State (third-leading scorer with 9.7 ppg in 1956-57 and second-leading scorer with 11.9 ppg in 1957-58). Adair ranked among the nation's top 12 free-throw shooters both seasons when one of his teammates was recently-deceased HOF coach Eddie Sutton. Hit .254 in 1,165 games in 13 seasons from 1958 through 1970 with the Orioles, White Sox, Red Sox and Athletics before playing one year in Japan. Adair set MLB records for highest fielding average (.994) and fewest errors (five) by 2B in single season in 1964 and for consecutive errorless games by 2B (89 in 1964 and 1965). He participated in 1967 World Series with the Red Sox after being traded by White Sox for reliever Don McMahon.
Joe Adcock Played three seasons from 1944-45 through 1946-47 for Louisiana State as 6-4, 190-pound center. Leading scorer with 18.6 ppg for 1945-46 Tigers team compiling an 18-3 record. All-league second-team selection set SEC Tournament record with 15 field goals in game against Tulane in 1946 (subsequently broken). 1B hit .277 with 336 homers and 1,122 RBI in 17 seasons from 1950 through 1966 with four different teams. He hit four homers and double for the Braves against Brooklyn Dodgers on 7-31-54, setting MLB record for most total bases in game (18) that stood until broken by Shawn Green in 2002. Adcock was the Braves' regular first baseman on 1957 and 1958 N.L. champions. Adcock, who blasted career-high 38 homers in 1956 between injury-plagued seasons, was an All-Star in 1960 and managed the Indians in 1967.
Frankie Baumholtz First player in Ohio University history to score 1,000 points in career led school to three-year record of 49-18. His high game was 29 points against Dayton. Capped college career by earning MVP honors in 1941 NIT when leading tourney in scoring with 53 points in three games for second-place Bobcats, including game-high 19 in final. OF hit .290 in 1,019 games in 10 N.L. seasons (1947 through 1949 and 1951 through 1957) with the Cubs, Reds and Phillies. Baumholtz, who finished fifth in inaugural Rookie of Year voting, hit under .283 in only two of his nine full seasons. He hit .325 in 1952, finishing second to Stan Musial in batting championship race. Lefthander led N.L. in pinch hits in 1955 and 1956.
Bruce Bochte Starting 6-3 forward for Santa Clara in 1969-70 when averaging 7.4 ppg and 4 rpg under coach Dick Garibaldi. Collected eight rebounds in loss against Utah State and 10 points in victory against Jerry Tarkanian-coached Long Beach State in 1970 NCAA playoffs. One of Bochte's teammates was All-American center Dennis Awtrey, who went on to play 12 NBA seasons with six different franchises. 1B-OF hit .282 with the Angels, Indians, Mariners and A's in 12 A.L. seasons from 1974 through 1986 (boycotted 1983 as a personal protest over rising player salaries). Lefthander was A.L. All-Star with Seattle in 1979 when finishing 10th in batting average (career-high .316) and eighth in doubles (career-high 38) along with career-high 100 RBI. Representing the Mariners the only time Seattle has hosted the Midsummer Classic, Bochte knocked in run with single off Gaylord Perry. Named team MVP the next year. In post-playing days, the avowed agnostic worked to "save the Mother Earth from humankind's destructive ways."
Leo Burke Averaged 9.2 ppg for Virginia Tech in 1952-53 and 1953-54. Utilityman hit .239 with the Orioles, Angels, Cardinals and Cubs in seven years from 1958 through 1965. Traded by St. Louis to the Cubs in mid-1963 for knuckleballer Barney Schultz, a key reliever for the Cards in their 1964 pennant-winning season.
Bob Cerv The 6-0, 200-pounder averaged 6.2 ppg for Nebraska from 1946-47 through 1949-50, ranking fourth on the school's career scoring list when finishing his eligibility. OF hit .276 in 12 seasons from 1951 through 1962 with the Yankees, Athletics, Angels and Colt .45s. Cerv played in 1955, 1956 and 1960 World Series with the Yankees. He slugged homer in 1955 WS against the Dodgers and hit .357 in 1960 WS against the Pirates. In 1958, he batted .305 (sixth in A.L.) with 38 homers (fourth) and 104 RBI (fourth) for Kansas City and was chosen over Ted Williams as All-Star LF in year of Boston legend's final batting title. Finished among A.L. top 10 in batting average and RBI in back-to-back years (1958 and 1959).
Tony Clark Played in only five games his freshman season for Arizona in 1990-91 under coach Lute Olson before transferring home to San Diego State. The swingman averaged 11.6 ppg and 4.6 rpg for the Aztecs as sophomore in 1991-92, leading them in scoring in WAC games. 1B averaged 31 homers per season in four-year span from 1996 through 1999 with the Tigers. Finished sixth in A.L. with 117 RBI in 1997. Tallest switch-hitter (6-7) in major-league history was second pick overall in 1990 amateur draft. Traded to Red Sox following All-Star campaign in 2001. Hit .262 with 251 homers and 824 RBI in 15 seasons from 1995 through 2009 with the Tigers, Red Sox, Mets, Yankees, Diamondbacks and Padres. In 2014, became first former player named executive director of MLB Players Association.
Billy Cowan The 6-0 guard was Utah letterman from 1957-58 through 1959-60 under coach Jack Gardner. Co-captain of Utes as senior when teammate of All-American Billy McGill scored 25 points in three NCAA playoff games. OF hit .236 with the Cubs, Mets, Braves, Phillies, Yankees and Angels in eight seasons (1963 through 1965, 1967 and 1969 through 1972). PCL MVP in 1963 with the Salt Lake City Bees. His only year as regular was 1964 when posting career highs of 16 doubles, 19 homers and 50 RBI as the Cubs CF ranked among N.L. top nine in stolen bases with 12. Traded by the Cubs to Mets for George Altman on 1-1-65.
Tim Cullen Starting guard for Santa Clara in 1962-63 when averaging 10 ppg and 3.4 rpg in Dick Garibaldi's first season as coach. Averaged 3.7 ppg and 2.4 rpg in nine games the previous year when one of his teammates was Bob Garibaldi, who pitched briefly for the Giants. Infielder, primarily a second baseman, hit .220 with the Senators, White Sox and A's in seven seasons from 1966 through 1972. Led A.L. second basemen in fielding percentage in 1970 one year after committing three errors in one inning on 8-30-69. Traded by the White Sox to Senators for Ron Hansen on 8-2-68. Played in ALCS in his final major-league campaign.
Alvin Dark Louisiana State letterman in 1942-43 before entering military service (Marine Corps V-12 program) during World War II. Three-time All-Star INF hit .289 in 14 years (1946 and 1948 through 1960) with the Braves, Giants, Cardinals, Cubs and Phillies. Hit career-high .322 with the Braves in 1948 when earning Rookie of Year award. Dark led N.L. in doubles with the Giants with 41 in 1951 and paced league's shortstops three times in putouts and double plays. Ranked among N.L. top 10 in hits seven times in 10-year stretch from 1948 through 1957. Hit .323 in three World Series ('48 with Braves; '51 and '54 with Giants). Dark compiled 994-954 record in 13 years (1961-64, 1966-71, 1974, 1975, 1977) as manager of the Giants, A's, Indians and Padres. Won 1962 N.L. pennant with San Francisco and 1974 WS with Oakland.
Walt Dropo The 6-5, 220-pounder averaged 21.7 ppg in 1942-43, 21 ppg in 1945-46 and 19.7 ppg in 1946-47 in Connecticut career interrupted by World War II. First player in UConn history to average 20 points for a season has second-highest scoring average in school annals (20.7). He didn't play pro basketball despite being the Providence Steamrollers' top draft choice in 1947. 1B hit .270 with 152 homers and 704 RBI in 13 seasons from 1949 through 1961 with the Red Sox, Tigers, White Sox, Reds and Orioles. Named A.L. Rookie of Year in 1950 when All-Star pick hit .322 (8th in league) with 34 homers (runner-up) and league-leading 144 RBI for Boston. Also ranked 6th in RBI in 1952 and 9th in 1953. Tied MLB record with 12 consecutive hits in 1952, including 7-for-7 effort in twinbill against the Senators.
Sammy Esposito Scored 81 points in Chicago high school game. He played one season (1951-52) of varsity basketball for Indiana before signing a pro baseball contract, averaging 7 ppg as starting guard under coach Branch McCracken. Assistant basketball coach at North Carolina State for 14 years, including 1974 NCAA champion. Utility INF hit .207 in 560 games during 10-year career (1952 and 1955 through 1963) with the White Sox and Athletics. Saw action in two World Series games in 1959 with White Sox. On 9-7-60, he started in place of 2B Nellie Fox, ending Fox's consecutive-game streak at 798. Esposito was baseball coach at North Carolina State from 1967 through 1987, leading Wolfpack to third-place finish in 1968 College World Series.
Hoot Evers The 6-2 Evers was starter for Illinois in 1939-40 under coach Doug Mills. Two-time All-Star OF hit .278 with the Tigers, Red Sox, Giants, Orioles and Indians in 12 seasons in 1941 and from 1946 through 1956. His best season was in 1950 when leading A.L. in triples (11) and ranked third in slugging percentage (.551), fourth in doubles (35), sixth in extra-base hits (67), seventh in batting average (.323), ninth in on-base percentage (.408), ninth in RBI (103) and ninth in total bases (290). Red Sox LF while Hall of Famer Ted Williams served in U.S. military hit for cycle on 9-7-50 with Tigers.
Dick Groat Named College Basketball Player of Year by Helms Foundation in 1950-51. Nation's fifth-leading scorer as junior (25.2 ppg) and runner-up as senior (26 ppg). Scored career-high 48 points for Duke against North Carolina on 2-29-52. Played 26 games in NBA, averaging 11.9 ppg for Fort Wayne Pistons in 1952-53. In 1951, Virginia coach Gus Tebell said Groat is "the finest player I've seen in the South in my 27 years of coaching." SS hit .286 in 1,929 games in 14 N.L. seasons (1952 and 1955 through 1967) with the Pirates, Cardinals, Phillies and Giants. Eight-time All-Star started on World Series championship teams with Pirates in 1960 and Cardinals in 1964. N.L. MVP in 1960 when pacing league in batting average (.325). Ranked among N.L. top four in hits in 1960, 1962 and 1963 (led league in doubles with 43).
Tony Gwynn Averaged 8.6 ppg, 2 rpg and 5.5 apg with San Diego State from 1977-78 through 1980-81. The 5-11, 170-pound guard was named second-team All-WAC as both junior and senior. Set school DI record with 18 assists vs. UNLV on 2-5-80. Led WAC in assists as sophomore and junior before finishing third as senior. Paced the Aztecs in steals each of his last three seasons. Padres OF hit .338 in 20 seasons (1982 through 2001), winning eight N.L. batting titles (1984-87-88-89-94-95-96-97). Played in 15th All-Star Game in 1999 before topping the 3,000-hit plateau later in the year. Holds N.L. record for most years leading league in singles (seven). Paced N.L. in runs in 1986 (107) and on-base percentage in 1994 (.454). Gold Glove winner five times (1986-87-89-90-91). He hit .368 in 1984 NLCS to help San Diego reach World Series against the Tigers. Also participated in 1998 WS against the Yankees.
Frank Howard Two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection averaged 17.4 ppg and 13.9 rpg from 1955-56 through 1957-58, leading Ohio State in both scoring and rebounding as junior (20.1 ppg/15.3 rpg) and senior (16.9 ppg/13.6 rpg). The 6-5, 220-pounder grabbed still existing school-record 32 rebounds in game against BYU. It was one of 10 times he retrieved 20 or more missed shots. Howard, who was 54th in country in scoring as junior, finished his college career as Buckeyes' third-leading career scorer and leading rebounder. Howard was first-team All-American selection by USBWA/Look Magazine, Converse and NEA as junior when ranking 8th in nation in rebounding. He was third-round choice of Philadelphia Warriors in 1958 NBA draft. OF/1B for 16 seasons from 1958 through 1973 with the Dodgers, Senators/Rangers and Tigers. In 1,902 major league games, he hit .273 with 382 homers and 1,119 RBI. N.L. Rookie of Year in 1960. Capped off string of four straight years finishing among A.L. top five in RBI with a league-high 126 in 1970. Howard led A.L. in homers with 44 in both 1968 and 1970 and was runner-up in 1969 with 48. Eight of his round-trippers came in a five-game stretch in 1968 to set MLB record. Four-time All-Star homered in Game 4 of 1963 World Series to help Dodgers sweep the Yankees.
Ron Jackson Second-team All-Mid-American Conference choice from 1951-52 through 1953-54. The 6-7 center led Western Michigan in scoring and rebounding as junior (15.5 ppg/12.3 rpg) and senior (19.7 ppg/10.9 rpg). Bonus baby 1B hit .245 in seven seasons from 1954 through 1960 with the White Sox and Red Sox. Never lived up to promising rookie campaign when hitting .280 in 40 games.
Davey Johnson Averaged 1.7 ppg in only varsity season (1961-62) with Texas A&M before signing pro baseball contract. One of his fellow sophomore opponents that year was Rice center Kendall Rhine Sr., an All-SWC second-team selection who had 6-7 son with same name selected by Houston Astros in first round of 1992 MLB June amateur draft (37th pick overall). A.L. Manager of Year in 1997 with the Orioles directed the Mets to victory over Baltimore in 1986 World Series. His managerial record in 14 seasons with the Reds, Mets, Orioles and Dodgers was 1,148-888 (.564) before leaving the Nationals' front office in middle of 2011 campaign to become their manager. Johnson finished first or second 11 times in his first 15 seasons as big league skipper. Four-time All-Star hit .261 as INF in 13-year career (1965 through 1975, 1977 and 1978) with the Orioles, Braves, Phillies and Cubs. Earned three straight A.L. Gold Gloves as 2B with Orioles from 1969 through 1971. Slugged 43 (N.L. runner-up) of his 136 career homers for the Braves in 1973 after appearing in four World Series with Orioles (1966-69-70-71). Owns distinction of being only player to have hit behind both Hank Aaron and Japan's all-time home-run king (Sadaharu Oh).
Don Kessinger Selected to 10-man All-SEC team each season from 1961-62 through 1963-64 while finishing among nation's top 45 scorers. In scoring for all games, ranked third in league as sophomore (21.4 ppg), second as junior (21.8 ppg) and second as senior (23.5 ppg). Scored 49 points for Mississippi on 22-of-28 field-goal shooting against Tulane on 2-2-63, and exploded for 48 at Tennessee 10 nights later. SS hit .252 in 16 seasons from 1964 through 1979 with the Cubs, Cardinals and White Sox. Managed the White Sox in 1979 before becoming coach at his alma mater. Led N.L. shortstops in putouts three times, assists four times and double plays four times. The 6-1, 170-pound switch-hitter played in six All-Star Games in seven-year span from 1968 through 1974. His best season was 1969 when scoring 109 runs (fourth in N.L.), had 181 hits (seventh), stroked 38 doubles (runner-up) and earned one of his two Gold Gloves.
Jerry Kindall The 6-2 1/2, 175-pounder played two seasons for Minnesota under coach Ozzie Cowles, averaging 1.4 ppg as sophomore in 1954-55 and 6.9 ppg as junior in 1955-56. INF hit .213 in nine seasons (1956 through 1958 and 1960 through 1965) with the Cubs, Indians and Twins. Baseball coach at Arizona for more than 20 years, leading the Wildcats to three College World Series titles (1976-80-86). He was only player to hit for cycle in CWS at Omaha (against Ole Miss on 6-1-56). Kindall is only individual to play for and coach CWS champions.
Art Kusnyer The 6-2 Kusnyer led Kent State in field-goal percentage (44.5%) in 1965-66 when he was Golden Flashes' third-leading scorer and rebounder (10.5 ppg and 4 rpg). Backup C hit .176 with the White Sox, Angels, Brewers and Royals in six A.L. seasons (1970 through 1973, 1976 and 1978). Involved in nine-player deal between Angels and Brewers on 10-22-73.
Vance Law The 6-2, 185-pounder averaged 6.8 ppg for Brigham Young from 1974-75 through 1976-77. Played for BYU with his brother (Veryl). INF hit .256 with the Pirates, White Sox, Expos, Cubs and A's in 11 years from 1980 through 1991. He posted career-high .293 batting average (eighth in N.L.) with Cubs in 1988 when named an All-Star. Appeared in at least 130 games in six of seven seasons from 1983 through 1989, including 25-inning marathon on May 8-9, 1984, against the Brewers. Participated in league championship series with White Sox in 1983 and Cubs in 1989. Son of RHP Vern Law also pitched in seven big-league games.
Don Lock The 6-2 Lock was starting guard for Wichita as junior in 1956-57 (7 ppg) and senior in 1957-58 (10.1 ppg), leading the Shockers in FG% both seasons under coach Ralph Miller. OF hit .238 with 122 homers for the Senators, Phillies and Red Sox in eight seasons from 1962 through 1969. Ranked among A.L. top 10 in homers in 1963 (27) and 1964 (28). Homered in his debut but was plagued by strikeouts, averaging more than 105 whiffs annually in five-year span from 1963 through 1967. Traded by the Yankees to Senators for Dale Long on 7-11-62 and by Senators to Phillies for P Darold Knowles plus cash on 11-30-66.
Kenny Lofton Averaged 4.8 ppg and 2.6 apg for Arizona from 1985-86 through 1988-89 under coach Lute Olson. Set school records for steals in season (67 as senior) and career (200). Leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record. Lefthander hit .299 and stole 622 bases in 17 seasons from 1991 through 2007 with the Astros, Indians, Braves, White Sox, Giants, Pirates, Cubs, Yankees, Phillies, Dodgers and Rangers. Four-time Gold Glove CF led Indians with .325 batting mark (fourth in A.L.) and paced majors with 70 stolen bases in 1993. After traded to Cleveland, he hit .285 for the Indians in 1992 and led A.L. in SBs with 66, a record for A.L. rookie. Six-time All-Star led A.L. in SBs five consecutive years from 1992 through 1996, hitting career-high .349 in 1994. Paced A.L. with 13 triples in 1995 before stealing six bases in World Series against the Braves. Returned to WS in 2002 with the Giants. Tied major-league record by scoring at least one run in 18 consecutive contests.
Don Lund Starting guard as junior for Michigan and starting center as senior. Averaged 4.4 ppg in 46 outings. In his history of UM basketball, Jeff Mortimer wrote of school's World War II squads: "Lund, rejected for military service because of a trick knee, was the mainstay of these teams." Following his playing career, he served as baseball coach for his alma mater (won 1962 College World Series), farm system director for the Tigers and associate athletic director at his alma mater. OF hit .240 in seven-year career (1945, 1947 through 1949 and 1952 through 1954) with the Dodgers, Browns and Tigers. His only season as regular was 1953 when serving as Tigers' RF. Coached baseball at his alma mater, winning the national championship in 1962, before running the Tigers' farm system until 1970. First-round selection as a fullback/linebacker by the Chicago Bears in 1945 NFL draft.
Tony Lupien The 5-10, 185-pound guard was captain of 1938-39 Harvard squad. The previous season, he was school's second-leading scorer in conference competition with 5.4 ppg. Lefthanded 1B hit .268 in six seasons (1940, 1942 through 1945 and 1948) with the Red Sox, Phillies and White Sox. Ranked sixth in triples with nine in A.L. and N.L. in back-to-back seasons (1943 and 1944). Former baseball coach at Dartmouth (313-305-3 record in 21 years from 1957 through 1977) was co-author of book "The Imperfect Diamond: The Story of Baseball's Reserve Clause and the Men Who Fought to Change It."
Jim Lyttle Point guard led Florida State in free-throw shooting in 1965-66 (75.9%) when averaging 12.4 ppg. Backup OF, a first-round pick in 1966 amateur draft, hit .248 with the Yankees, White Sox, Expos and Dodgers in eight years from 1969 through 1976. The lefthanded swinger's best season was 1970 when hitting .310 with the Yanks.
Jerry Martin Juco transfer was Furman's second-leading scorer as junior in 1969-70 (16 ppg) under coach Frank Selvy and third-leading scorer as senior in 1970-71 (12.7 ppg) under coach Joe Williams. The 6-1, 195-pound guard was named MVP in 1971 Southern Conference Tournament after leading Paladins to title with 22-, 36- and 19-point performances to pace tourney in scoring. He collected five points and two rebounds as starter for them in their inaugural NCAA Tournament game, a 105-74 defeat against Digger Phelps-coached Fordham in 1971 East Regional. OF hit .251 in 11 years from 1974 through 1984 with the Phillies, Cubs, Giants, Royals and Mets. Valuable backup hit three pinch homers for Phillies in 1978 in his last year with three consecutive divisional champions. The next two seasons as regular with Cubs, Martin collected 42 homers and 146 RBI. His 34 doubles in 1979 ranked ninth in N.L. His father, Barney Martin, pitched in one game for the Reds in 1953. The free-swinger, suspended in 1984 for involvement with drugs, served three-month sentence in Fort Worth Correctional Institute with Royals teammate Willie Wilson.
Len Matuszek Two-year letterman was starter for Toledo's 1975-76 squad compiling 18-7 record. The 6-2, 190-pounder averaged 5.4 ppg in three-year career under coach Bob Nichols. Lefthanded swinger hit .234 in seven seasons from 1981 through 1987 with the Phillies, Blue Jays and Dodgers. Appeared in 1985 NLCS with the Dodgers. Backup OF assumed first-base duties from Pete Rose in 1984 after all-time hits leader left Phillies.
Sam Mele Guard played two seasons with NYU before entering U.S. military. Named to first five on All-Metropolitan New York team as sophomore in 1942-43 when he was the Violets' leading scorer in NCAA Tournament (losses against Georgetown and Dartmouth). OF for 10 years from 1947 through 1956 and manager of the Twins for seven years from 1961 through 1967. Hit .267 in 1,046 games with the Red Sox, Senators, White Sox, Orioles, Reds and Indians. Played for two different teams in single season four times in seven-year span from 1949 through 1955. Led A.L. with 36 doubles for the Senators in 1951 and drove in six runs in one inning in 1952 game for the White Sox. Compiled 524-436 managerial record from 1961 through 1967 with the Twins, winning 1965 A.L. title with 102-60 mark.
Gene Michael The 6-2, 180-pounder led Kent State in scoring with 14 ppg in 1957-58. He also chipped in with 4.9 rpg. Former Yankees general manager was switch-hitting SS who hit .229 in 10 seasons from 1966 through 1975 with the Pirates, Dodgers, Yanks and Tigers. Nicknamed "Stick," he was master of hidden-ball trick, pulling it off five times in MLB career. Michael compiled 206-200 record in four-year managerial career with the Yankees (1981 and 1982) and Cubs (1986 and 1987).
Wally Moon The 5-11 Moon averaged 4.3 ppg with Texas A&M in 1948-49 and 1949-50. Two-time All-Star OF-1B hit .289 with the Cardinals and Dodgers in 12 N.L. seasons from 1954 through 1965. Lefthanded swinger homered in first at-bat en route to earning N.L. Rookie of Year acclaim over Hank Aaron in 1954 when Moon led league in plate appearances (716) and ranked among top six in hits (193), triples (9), runs (106) and stolen bases (18). Paced N.L. in triples in 1959 with 11. Gold Glove LF in 1960 between appearing in two World Series with Dodgers (1959 and 1965). Finished fourth in 1959 MVP voting ahead of Willie Mays (6th), Frank Robinson (9th) and Ken Boyer (10th).
Lyle Mouton The 6-3 Mouton averaged 8.2 ppg and 3.2 rpg as sophomore in 1988-89 before dropping off LSU coach Dale Brown's team to concentrate on baseball. Started in the Tigers' backcourt with All-American Chris Jackson when they lost to Texas-El Paso in West Regional of NCAA playoffs. OF hit .280 for the White Sox, Orioles, Brewers and Marlins in seven seasons from 1995 through 2001. Also played in Japan. Named to 1990 College World Series All-Tournament Team.
Johnny O'Brien The 5-9, 160-pound guard scored 2,733 points for Seattle from 1950-51 through 1952-53, averaging 20.7 ppg as sophomore, 28.4 as junior and 28.6 as senior (third among major-college players). Scored 51 points against Gonzaga on 2-15-53. NCAA consensus All-American second-team choice as junior and consensus first-team selection as senior. Averaged 32 ppg in three NCAA playoff contests in 1953. Became first college player to crack 1,000-point plateau in single season when scoring 1,051 in 37 games in 1951-52. Bonus baby INF/P played six seasons (1953 and 1955 through 1959) with the Pirates, Cardinals and Braves. Hit .250 and compiled 1-3 pitching record in 339 games. As 2B for the Pirates on 4-3-56, he became last N.L. position player to earn victory on the mound until catcher Brent Mayne achieved the feat for the Rockies against Atlanta in August 2000. Traded by the Pirates with Gene Freese to Cardinals for Dick Schofield and cash. Twin brother of former major leaguer Eddie O'Brien, a teammate with Seattle.
Paul Popovich Averaged 3.3 ppg in reserve role in one season of varsity basketball with West Virginia (1959-60) before signing pro baseball contract. Led freshman team in scoring with 18.8 ppg. Teammate of All-American Jerry West on squad compiling 26-5 record and playing in NCAA Tournament under coach Fred Schaus. Popovich sank 5-of-6 field-goal attempts in second-round 82-81 loss against NYU. INF hit .233 in 11 N.L. seasons (1964 and 1966 through 1975) with the Cubs, Dodgers and Pirates. Traded by the Dodgers with Ron Fairly to the Expos for Maury Wills and Manny Mota on 6-11-69, before immediately being traded to the Cubs. Switch-hitter went 3-for-3 in pinch-hitting appearances for the Pirates in 1974 NLCS.
Curtis Pride Averaged 5.6 ppg and 3.1 apg with William & Mary from [1986-87](seasons/1986-870 through 1989-90. The 6-0, 185-pound guard led Tribe in season steals three times and assists twice. Dished out 10 assists vs. ECU on 2-24-88. Named to Colonial Athletic Association All-Rookie team as freshman and to league All-Defensive team as sophomore and junior. Born with 95% hearing disability, he was one of few deaf athletes to ever play in MLB. OF made debut with Expos in 1993 and hit .444 in 10 games. His best season was in 1996 when collecting 17 doubles and 10 homers while hitting .300 for the Tigers. Lefthanded swinger hit .250 in 11 seasons to 2006 with six franchises (Expos, Tigers, Red Sox, Braves, Yankees and Angels). Appeared in 2004 A.L. Divisional Series with Angels.
Dave Ricketts The 6-2, 190-pound guard was three-year starter who led Duquesne in scoring with 17.9 ppg as senior in 1956-57, finishing fourth in nation in free-throw percentage (86.2%). Sophomore member of team compiling 22-4 record and finishing sixth in final AP poll after winning NIT. He converted school-record 42 consecutive free-throw attempts. C hit .249 in six seasons (1962, 1965 and 1967 through 1970) with the Cardinals and Pirates. Switch-hitter played with the Cardinals in 1967 and 1968 World Series. Long-time coach, instructor and minor league manager in the Cards' organization.
Mel Roach The 6-1, 190-pounder earned basketball letter by averaging 9.3 ppg in 1952-53 in Virginia's final season prior to joining the ACC before receiving substantial MLB bonus from Milwaukee Braves. Bonus baby utilityman hit .238 in eight years (1953, 1954 and 1957 through 1962) with the Braves, Cubs and Phillies. The longtime backup to Red Schoendienst hit .309 in 44 games in 1958 and .300 in 48 games in 1960 for the Braves, who traded him to Cubs for Frank Thomas on 5-9-61.
Jackie Robinson Football, basketball and track standout at Pasadena City College in 1937-38 and 1938-39. Named to All-Southern California Junior College Conference Western Division all-star basketball team both years, a span during which UCLA was winless in league competition. First athlete in Bruins history to letter in football, basketball, baseball and track. The 5-11 forward compiled highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA (12.3 ppg in league play in 1939-40 as all-league second-team selection and 11.1 in 1940-41). In his final athletic outing for Bruins, he accounted for more than half of their output with 20 points in 52-37 loss to USC. Hall of Fame INF hit .311 with 137 homers as regular on six N.L. pennant winners with the Dodgers in 10 seasons from 1947 through 1956. After becoming Rookie of Year in 1947, Robinson was named MVP in 1949 when leading N.L. with .342 batting average and 37 stolen bases. Also finished runner-up in batting average in 1950, third in 1951 and fourth in 1952. Ranked among N.L. top nine in runs scored seven times and top seven in SBs on nine occasions. The six-time All-Star homered in 1952 All-Star Game. He had two homers and seven doubles in World Series competition.
Gary Sutherland The 6-0, 175-pound guard was USC's fifth-leading scorer in 1963-64 when averaging 7.4 ppg as shortest man on coach Forrest Twogood's roster. Utilityman hit .243 in 13 seasons from 1966 through 1978 with seven teams (Phillies, Expos, Astros, Tigers, Brewers, Padres and Cardinals). Selected by Montreal in expansion draft, brother of four-year MLB pitcher Darrell Sutherland, a Stanford hooper, had more than 500 at-bats in one season with the Expos (1969) and two with the Tigers (1974 and 1975). Ranked fourth in A.L. in singles in 1974 with 131.
Wayne Terwilliger The 5-11, 165-pounder was two-year letterman for Western Michigan's team, averaging 5.6 ppg in his final season in 1947-48. 2B hit .240 in nine seasons (1949 through 1951, 1953 through 1956, 1959 and 1960) with the Cubs, Dodgers, Senators, Giants and Athletics. He collected eight consecutive hits for the Cubs as rookie. Minor league manager for 15 seasons in farm systems of the Yankees, Senators and Rangers (1961-68, 1973 and 1975-80). Served as major league coach with the Senators, Rangers and Twins (1969-71, 1972 and 1981-94).
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. Scored team-high 16 points and contributed game highs of 8 rebounds and 3 steals in 2004 NCAA tourney setback against Texas. Lefthanded OF hit .249 with the Padres, Rangers and Dodgers in nine seasons from 2008 through 2016. Venable, who didn't play baseball his freshman year in college, finished among N.L. top 10 in triples (8th with 7) and stolen bases (9th with 29) in 2010. He had career-high 22 homers in 2013. Son of 12-year MLB OF Max Venable was the Padres' seventh-round choice in 2005 amateur draft.
Sammy White Averaged 10.1 ppg as 6-3, 195-pound forward with Washington from 1946-47 through 1948-49. Named to first five on All-Pacific Coast Conference Northern Division team as junior and senior. C hit .262 in 11 seasons with the Red Sox (1951 through 1959), Braves (1961) and Phillies (1962). All-Star in 1953 hit over .280 three times with Boston. Ranked among A.L. top 10 in doubles three straight years (1953 through 1955). Scored three runs in one inning (7th) on 6-18-53 when Red Sox tallied 17 against the Tigers.
Dave Winfield Played two seasons as 6-6, 220-pound forward with Minnesota, averaging 6.9 ppg and 5.4 rpg as junior in 1971-72 and 10.5 ppg and 6.1 rpg as senior in 1972-73. He played entire game, collecting 8 points and 8 rebounds against eventual Final Four participant Florida State, in Gophers' initial NCAA Tournament appearance in 1972 under coach Bill Musselman. Selected by Atlanta Hawks in fifth round of 1973 NBA draft and Utah Stars in sixth round of 1973 ABA draft. Didn't play college football, but was chosen in 17th round of 1973 NFL draft by Minnesota Vikings. Hall of Fame OF, a first-round pick in 1973 amateur draft (fourth choice overall), hit .283 with 465 homers, 1,833 RBI and 3,110 hits in 22 seasons (1973 through 1988 and 1990 through 1995) with the Padres, Yankees, Angels, Blue Jays, Twins and Indians. Led N.L. in total bases in 1979 with 333 before ranking among A.L. top four in batting average in 1984 (.340) and 1988 (.322). Seven-time Gold Glover appeared in 12 All-Star Games after never playing in minors. Participated in World Series with the Yankees (1981) and Blue Jays (1992).
Randy Winn The 6-2 backcourtmate of eventual two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash averaged 1.4 ppg in 17 games for Santa Clara in 1993-94. A.L. All-Star OF in 2002 was one of most consistent switch-hitters in MLB, hitting .284 and stealing 215 bases in 13 seasons from 1998 through 2010. When retiring, Winn was active player with most games (1,717) without appearing in postseason after playing for the Yankees and Cardinals in 2010. Ranked among A.L. top three in triples in 1998 and 2002 and top eight in stolen bases three straight years from 2002 through 2004. In 2005 with the Mariners and Giants, he fell one SB shy of becoming first switch-hitter ever with at least 45 doubles, 20 homers and 20 steals in single season. His 51-hit effort in September 2005 marked most safeties by Giants player in any single month in 30 years. Selected by Tampa Bay in 3rd round of expansion draft before making his big league debut.

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