On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Make Their Mark on June 19 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players! Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.
Small-college hoopers Dale Alexander (Milligan TN) and Larry Biittner (Buena Vista IA) each went 4-for-4 in a MLB game on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 19 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 19
Detroit Tigers 1B Dale Alexander (starting basketball center in mid-1920s for Milligan TN) had a 29-game hitting streak snapped by the New York Yankees in 1932. Two years later, Alexander was with the Boston Red Sox when he went 4-for-4 against the Cleveland Indians in the opener of a doubleheader.
Cleveland Indians RHP Jim Bibby (Fayetteville State NC backup hooper and brother of UCLA All-American Henry Bibby) tossed a four-hit shutout against the Detroit Tigers in the nightcap of a 1977 twinbill.
Chicago Cubs 1B Larry Biittner (runner-up in scoring and rebounding for Buena Vista IA in 1966-67) went 4-for-4 in the nightcap of a 1976 doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves.
New York Mets 1B Donn Clendenon (four-sport letterman with Morehouse GA) contributed three extra-base hits against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1971 game.
New York Giants OF Hoot Evers (starter for Illinois in 1939-40) climaxed a four-run, ninth-inning rally with a pinch-hit homer against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1954.
Los Angeles Dodgers C Joe Ferguson (hooper in 1967 NCAA playoffs with Pacific) provided a game-winning, pinch homer in the bottom of the 10th inning in a 5-3 win against the Montreal Expos in 1980.
Nine-year MLB INF Jerry Kindall (averaged 6.9 ppg for Minnesota as junior in 1955-56) coached Arizona to his first of three College World Series championships with the Wildcats by upending Eastern Michigan, 7-1, in 1976.
Washington Senators 2B Buddy Myer (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1923-24) notched at least three hits for the fourth time in six-game span in 1935.
San Diego Padres 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) smacked two homers against the San Francisco Giants in a 1986 outing.
Brooklyn Dodgers LF Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) ripped two homers against the Chicago Cubs in a 1954 contest.
Baltimore Orioles RHP Tim Stoddard (starting forward opposite All-American David Thompson for North Carolina State's 1974 NCAA champion) yielded his only run in an 11-game stretch of relief appearances in 1979.
Detroit Tigers C Birdie Tebbetts (Providence hooper in 1932) manufactured three hits for the third time in a four-game span in 1940.
St. Louis Cardinals RHP Ray Washburn (led Whitworth WA in scoring when named All-Evergreen Conference in 1958-59 and 1959-60) hurled a two-hit shutout against the Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a 1966 doubleheader.
St. Louis Cardinals 1B Bill White (two-year hooper for Hiram OH in early 1950s) knocked in five runs in a 1963 contest against the New York Mets.
Father's Way: Ranking Premier Dad/Son Combinations Attending Same School
An old adage portends "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree." A challenging dynamic exists when playing for the same school where your dad was a standout. Whether or not it's a fair sampling (majority of dads are better), comparing the following father-son duos might provide a window depicting when the quality of play was superior.
Marques Johnson was the third-leading scorer and fourth-leading rebounder for UCLA's 1975 NCAA champion and son Kris was a backup freshman for the Bruins' 1995 titlist. They are the only father-son duo to capture NCAA crowns for the same institution, propelling them atop the list of premier father-son combinations. Trey Mourning failed to make enough of an impression at Georgetown before transferring to be included with his All-American father (Alonzo), but there is something in the family DNA for the following all-time Top 80 father-son tandems making the most impact for same major university factoring in how long they attended school:
Rank | Family | School | Father's College Career Summary | Son's College Career Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Johnson | UCLA | Marques, the national player of the year as a senior, averaged 14.4 ppg and 7.8 rpg from 1973-74 through 1976-77. | Kris averaged 11.6 ppg and 3.7 rpg from 1994-95 through 1997-98. |
2. | Marble | Iowa | Roy, a three-time All-Big Ten Conference selection and the Hawkeyes' all-time leading scorer (2,116 points), averaged 15.8 ppg and 5 rpg from 1985-86 through 1988-89. | Roy Devyn averaged 12 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.7 apg and 1.3 spg from 2010-11 through 2013-14, ranking among the school's all-time top seven in points, rebounds, assists and steals. |
3. | Burtt | Iona | Steve Sr., a two-time MAAC MVP, became the school's all-time leading scorer with 2,534 points by finishing among nation's top 17 scorers each of his last three seasons from 1981-82 through 1983-84. | Steve Jr., a three-time All-MAAC selection, is school runner-up with 2,034 points from 2002-03 through 2005-06, finishing seventh in country in scoring as a senior. |
4. | Payton | Oregon State | Gary Sr., an NCAA unanimous first-team All-American as a senior in 1989-90, averaged 18.1 ppg and 7.8 apg in his four-year career with Beavers. | Gary II, a juco recruit, emerged as Pac-12 Conference POY candidate in 2015-16. |
5. | Paxson | Dayton | James, a starter for two NIT runner-up teams, averaged 10.9 ppg and 7.6 rpg in three seasons in mid-1950s. | Jim, an All-American as a senior, averaged 18 ppg and 4.5 rpg from 1975-76 through 1978-79. |
6. | Perry | Holy Cross | Ronnie Sr. averaged 13.6 ppg from 1951-52 through 1953-54. | Ronnie Jr., a three-time All-American, averaged 23.2 ppg and 3.9 apg while shooting 88.5% at free-throw line from 1976-77 through 1979-80. |
7. | Hosket | Ohio State | Wilmer Clemens was named to third five on College Humor Magazine A-A in 1932-33 when he was fourth-leading scorer in Big Ten (8 ppg) as member of league co-champion. | Bill, a member of the U.S. Olympic squad after appearing in Final Four as a senior, averaged 19.5 ppg and 12.3 rpg in three seasons from 1965-66 through 1967-68. |
8. | Haws | Brigham Young | Marty, an All-WAC first-team selection as a senior when leading the Cougars in scoring with 18.5 ppg, averaged 10.9 ppg and 4.1 apg from 1986-87 through 1989-90. | Tyler averaged 19.6 ppg and 4.3 rpg, ranking among the nation's top seven scorers his final three seasons (2012-13 through 2014-15). |
9. | Rautins | Syracuse | Leo, who led the Orangemen in rebounds and assists as a senior when he was an All-Big East Conference third-team selection, averaged 12.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg and 5 apg from 1980-81 through 1982-83 after transferring from Minnesota. | Andy, an All-Big East second-team selection as a senior, averaged 8.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.7 apg and 1.4 spg from 2005-06 through 2009-10. |
10. | Brewer | Arkansas | Ron, an All-American as a senior for a 1978 Final Four team, averaged 15.8 ppg and 3.3 rpg after one season at JC level. | Ronnie, a two-time All-SEC selection, averaged 15.7 ppg and 5 rpg from 2003-04 through 2005-06 before declaring early for NBA draft. |
11. | Robinzine | DePaul | William Sr. averaged 15.3 ppg in 1954-55 and 1955-56. | William Jr. averaged 16.6 ppg and 11.4 rpg from 1972-73 through 1974-75, including team highs of 19.4 ppg and 13.5 rpg as a senior. |
12. | Young | Houston | Michael, an All-American as a senior, was top scorer for back-to-back Final Four teams featuring Akeem Olajuwon (1983 and 1984), averaging 18.6 ppg over final two years. | Joseph averaged 14.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg and 2.4 apg in 2011-12 and 2012-13 with UH before transferring to Oregon. |
13. | Warren | North Carolina State | Tony Sr. averaged 9.3 ppg and 4.3 rpg from 1976-77 through 1978-79 under coach Norm Sloan, leading Wolfpack in field-goal percentage as junior. | Tony "T.J." Jr. was an All-American and ACC Player of the Year as sophomore in 2013-14 before declaring early for NBA draft. |
14. | Price | Oklahoma | Dennis averaged 10.9 ppg from 1957-58 through 1959-60. | Brent averaged 18 ppg and 5.8 apg for the Sooners in 1990-91 and 1991-92 after transferring from South Carolina. |
15. | Hummer | Princeton | Edward, a Final Four teammate of All-American Bill Bradley before becoming an All-Ivy League second-team selection, averaged 10.2 ppg and 7 rpg from 1964-65 through 1966-67. | Ian, a three-time All-Ivy League selection, averaged 13.2 ppg and 5.9 rpg from 2009-10 through 2012-13. |
16. | Cox | San Francisco | Chubby, setting stage for first father-son tandem to both be two-time all-conference selection for same school in same league, averaged team-high 5.4 apg in each of his final two seasons in 1976-77 and 1977-78. | John averaged 15.8 ppg and 4.2 rpg from 2001-02 through 2004-05, leading the WCC in scoring as senior. |
17. | Evans | Oklahoma | Eddie averaged 11.9 ppg from 1960-61 through 1962-63, including a team-high 16.4 ppg as a senior. | Terry averaged 11.1 ppg and 5.3 apg from 1989-90 through 1992-93, setting school records in assists (628) and three-point field goals (259). |
18. | Raivio | Portland | Rick, a three-time All-WCAC selection who led the Pilots in FG% all four seasons, finished as their all-time leading rebounder (910/9.4 rpg) while averaging 17.2 ppg before becoming 1980 fifth-round draft choice by L.A. Lakers. | Nik, a J.C. recruit, was an All-WCC selection as a junior in 2008-09 when he averaged 16 ppg and 6.5 rpg before heading overseas to play professionally after concluding his college career with 14.3 ppg and 5.3 rpg. |
19. | Temple | Louisiana State | Collis Jr., the first African-American varsity player in LSU history in 1971-72, averaged 10.1 ppg and 8.1 rpg in three seasons, ranking second in SEC in rebounding (11.1 rpg) and seventh in field-goal shooting (54.9%) as a senior. | Collis III averaged 10.2 ppg from 1999-00 through 2002-03, including career-high 14.3 ppg as sophomore when he scored 30 points in regular-season finale at Tennessee. Garrett was defensive whiz for 2006 Final Four club before becoming an All-SEC second-team pick as senior in 2008-09. |
20. | Valentine | Michigan State | Carlton was the Spartans' leading scorer and rebounder as senior in 1987-88, finishing his career with 8.5 ppg and 4.1 rpg. | Denzel averaged 9.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg and 3.6 apg for NCAA playoff teams from 2013 through 2015 before emerging as a leading national POY candidate in 2016. |
21. | Ainge | Brigham Young | Danny, a three-time All-American who averaged 20.9 ppg, was named national player of the year as senior in 1980-81. | Austin posted personal season highs of 9.5 ppg and 4.1 apg as sophomore in 2004-05 en route to career marks of 6.6 ppg and 3.5 apg. |
22. | Mayes | Florida State | Tharon averaged 16.4 ppg from 1987-88 through 1989-90. | Stepson Xavier Rathan-Mayes averaged 14.9 ppg as academic RS freshman in 2014-15, including game when he scored 30 points in final 4:38 against Miami (Fla.). Also averaged scoring in double figures each of next two campaigns. |
23. | Guokas | St. Joseph's | Matt Sr. was tallest player and an original member of the famed "Mighty Mites" who asserted themselves in the Philly Big Five by winning 54 of 71 games in the late 1930s. | Matt Jr. averaged 15.4 ppg and 4.6 rpg for the Hawks in 1964-65 and 1965-66 after transferring from Miami (Fla.). |
24. | Komives | Bowling Green | Howard averaged 25.8 ppg from 1961-62 through 1963-64, leading nation in scoring as senior All-American with 36.7 ppg. | Shane averaged 10.6 ppg from 1992-93 through 1995-96, including career-high 14.3 ppg as sophomore. |
25. | Childress | Wake Forest | Randolph, an All-American as a senior, averaged 18.4 ppg and 3.9 apg from 1990-91 through 1994-95. | Brandon averaged 6.2 ppg, 2.2 rpg and 2.3 apg as freshman in 2016-17. |
26. | Coffey | Minnesota | Richard averaged 8.2 ppg and 8.3 rpg from 1986-87 through 1989-90. | Amir averaged 12.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.3 apg and 1.3 spg as freshman in 2016-17. |
27. | Ellis | San Francisco | Joe, a three-time All-WCAC first-team selection from 1963-64 through 1965-66, averaged 13.5 ppg and 8.9 rpg. | Kevin averaged 9.1 ppg and 3 rpg his final two seasons in 1988-89 and 1989-90. |
28. | Springer | Iona | Gary Sr., a three-time All-MAAC selection, averaged 15.4 ppg and 8.4 rpg from 1980-81 through 1983-84. | Gary Jr., an All-MAAC third-team selection as a senior in 2008-09, averaged 7.6 ppg and 5.2 rpg. |
29. | Becker | Arizona State | Art, a two-time All-WAC selection, averaged 15.7 ppg and 9 rpg from 1961-62 through 1963-64, ranks among school career leaders in rebound average, FG% (52.4) and FT% (79.7). Teammate of Joe Caldwell had two games with more than 20 points and 20 rebounds as a junior when leading team with 11.2 rpg. | Mark averaged 8.8 ppg and 4.8 rpg from 1986-87 through 1989-90, leading team in rebounding as a sophomore with 5.5 per game. |
30. | Henry | Kansas | Carl, an OCU transfer, averaged 17.1 ppg and 6.4 rpg in 1982-83 and 1983-84 as a two-time All-Big Eight Conference selection. | Xavier, an All-Big 12 Conference Rookie Team choice, averaged 13.4 ppg and 4.4 rpg as freshman in 2009-10 before leaving school early for NBA draft. |
31. | Frederick | South Carolina | Zam Sr. led nation in scoring as a senior in 1980-81 with 28.9 ppg to finish career with 13.7 ppg. | Zam II, an All-SEC second-team selection as a senior, averaged 15.1 ppg with the Gamecocks in 2007-08 and 2008-09 after transferring from Georgia Tech. |
32. | Kornet | Vanderbilt | Frank, an All-SEC second-team selection as senior, averaged 8.8 ppg and 4.5 rpg from 1985-86 through 1988-89 before playing couple of seasons in NBA. | Luke, one of the top outside shooters for a seven-footer, contributed a triple-double in game against Auburn. |
33. | Gatens | Iowa | Mike averaged 3.3 ppg and 2.2 rpg from 1973-74 through 1975-76. | Matt was named to Big Ten Conference All-Freshman Team in 2008-09 before leading Hawkeyes in scoring his final three seasons. |
34. | Cline | Wake Forest | Herb, a two-time All-Southern Conference selection, was team scoring and rebounding leader from 1939-40 through 1941-42. | Mark averaged 10.7 ppg and 3.8 rpg while shooting 81.7% at the FT line from 1983-84 through 1986-87. |
35. | Yarbrough | Illinois State | Del averaged 10.7 ppg and 6.8 rpg from 1976-77 through 1979-80, playing for three NIT teams. | SLU transfer Milik was named MVC Newcomer of Year in 2017-18 as all-league first-team selection, averaging 16.6 ppg, 6.7 rpg and 3.9 apg in two seasons. |
36. | Payne | Iowa | Tom was leading the Hawkeyes in scoring and rebounding at end of first semester of junior season (1956-57) when declared academically ineligible. | Michael averaged 9.6 ppg and 7.3 rpg from 1981-82 through 1984-85, pacing team in rebounding his first two seasons. |
37. | Simmons | Evansville | Marty, an Indiana transfer, averaged 24.3 ppg, 6.8 rpg and 3.8 apg as two-time All-MCC first-team selection in 1986-87 and 1987-88. | Blake averaged 7.4 ppg and 2.5 apg from 2013-14 through 2015-16. |
38. | Gordon | Liberty | Eric Sr. averaged 14.1 ppg and 2.8 rpg from 1981-82 through 1983-84, averaged team-high 18.1 ppg as senior. | Evan averaged 13.2 ppg and 3.5 rpg in 2009-10 and 2010-11 before transferring to Arizona State and subsequently Indiana. |
39. | Howard | Brigham Young | Orin was a multi-sport Hall of Famer for the school in the 1920s. | Doug, a second-team All-WAC selection as a junior in 1968-69 (15.4 ppg, 4 rpg, 85.3 FT%) and senior in 1969-70 (18.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 85.3 FT%) led Cougars in scoring his last two years. |
40. | Butler | Richmond | Jeff, a transfer from Robert Morris (Pa.) when it was a junior college, led UR in scoring and rebounding in 1975-76 and 1976-77, averaging 15.2 ppg and 9.6 rpg. | Ryan, a starter much of stint from 2006-07 through 2009-10, finished his career fifth in total steals and three-pointers, averaging 6.6 ppg and 2.8 rpg. |
41. | Stephens | Purdue | Everette averaged 8.8 ppg and 4 apg from 1984-85 through 1987-88. | Kendall led Boilermakers in three-pointers as freshman and sophomore, averaging 7.8 ppg from 2013-14 through 2015-16 before transferring to Sweet 16 team Nevada. |
42. | Ewing | Georgetown | Patrick Sr., the national player of the year as a senior, averaged 15.3 ppg and 9.2 rpg from 1981-82 through 1984-85. | Patrick Jr. averaged 5.1 ppg and 3.1 rpg with the Hoyas in 2006-07 and 2007-08 after transferring from Indiana. |
43. | Stockton | Gonzaga | John, MVP of the WCAC as a senior, averaged 12.5 ppg and 5.2 apg from 1980-81 through 1983-84. | David averaged 4.6 ppg and 2.9 apg for four NCAA playoff teams from 2010-11 through 2013-14. |
44. | Mimlitz | St. Louis | Jack, a two-time All-Missouri Valley Conference selection, averaged 14.2 ppg from 1955-56 through 1957-58. | Ted averaged 7 ppg for SLU in 1985-86 and 1986-87 after transferring from Missouri. |
45. | McKie | South Carolina | BJ, a three-time All-SEC first-team selection, remains school's all-time leading scorer with 2,119 points from 1995-96 through 1998-99. | Justin, a backup guard, averaged 4.2 ppg from 2013-14 through 2016-17. |
46. | Webster/Newman | Mississippi State | Horatio Webster averaged 16.6 ppg and 6.3 rpg in 1996-97 and 1997-98. | Malik Newman averaged 11.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg and 2.2 apg as freshman in 2015-16 before transferring to Kansas. |
47. | Morningstar | Kansas | Roger, runner-up in scoring for a Final Four squad, averaged 11.7 ppg and 4.8 rpg in 1973-74 and 1974-75 after transferring from junior college. | Brady averaged 5.6 ppg, 2.3 rpg and 2.6 apg from 2006-07 through 2010-11. |
48. | Shepherd | Butler | Bill Sr. averaged 5.9 ppg in 1947-48 and 6.6 ppg in 1948-49. | Billy Jr., who scored 49 points in a game at Arizona as a junior, averaged 24.1 ppg from 1969-70 through 1971-72 (career-low senior mark of 19.3 ppg while contributing team-high 5.8 apg). |
49. | Fife | Michigan | Dan averaged 12.6 ppg and 4.9 rpg from 1968-69 through 1970-71. | Dugan, a backup on the last Fab Five Final Four team, averaged 4.6 ppg and 2 rpg from 1992-93 through 1995-96. |
50. | Suttle | Pepperdine | Dane Sr., co-MVP of the WCAC as senior, averaged 16.2 ppg from 1979-80 through 1982-83 before playing briefly in NBA. | Dane Jr. averaged 5.6 ppg from 2009-10 through 2011-12. |
51. | Rose | Houston | Lynden, a J.C. recruit who became co-captain of 1982 Final Four squad, averaged 7.5 ppg and 3.3 apg. | Between stints with Baylor and BYU, L.J. averaged 9 ppg and 5.3 apg for UH in 2013-14 and 2014-15. |
52. | Wilkins | Illinois State | Jeff averaged 16.4 ppg and 9.8 rpg from 1974-75 through 1976-77, leading team in scoring, rebounding and FG% as a senior before becoming an NBA second-round draft choice. | John, a J.C. transfer, averaged 7.1 ppg and 3.8 rpg from 2010-11 through 2012-13. |
53. | Sims | Louisiana State | Wayne averaged 9.5 ppg and 5.2 rpg from 1987-88 through 1990-91 as teammate of Chris Jackson and Shaquille O'Neal. | Wayde averaged 6.8 ppg and 3.9 rpg as freshman in 2016-17. |
54. | Dozier | South Carolina | Perry averaged 2.5 ppg from 1985-86 through 1987-88. | PJ, USC's top freshman recruit in 2015-16, was instrumental in helping the Gamecocks reach the 2017 Final Four. Averaged 9.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.4 apg and 1.3 spg in his two seasons. |
55. | Jones | Houston | Dwight Sr., an All-American, averaged 17.6 ppg and 13.7 rpg in 1971-72 and 1972-73. | Dwight II averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.3 rpg in 2002-03 and 2004-05. |
56. | Whitehead | Louisville | Eddie averaged 5.8 ppg and 5.2 rpg from 1963-64 through 1965-66, finishing runner-up in rebounding behind All-American Wes Unseld as a senior. | Luke averaged 9.1 ppg and 3.8 rpg from 2000-01 through 2003-04, including NCAA playoff squads his final two seasons (leading rebounder and runner-up in scoring as senior). |
57. | Mills | Kentucky | Terry averaged 6.7 ppg for three NCAA Tournament teams from 1968-69 through 1970-71. | Cameron, who averaged 4.3 ppg from 1994-95 through 1996-97, led UK in three-point FG% as a junior when he averaged 11.8 ppg in the NCAA playoffs. |
58. | Sutton | Oklahoma State | Eddie averaged 6.6 ppg and 2.6 rpg while shooting 82.1% from free-throw line in late 1950s. | Sean, pacing the Pokes in assists and three-point shooting both seasons, averaged 11 ppg, 2.5 rpg and 4.4 apg in 1990-91 and 1991-92 for two NCAA playoff teams after transferring from UK. |
59. | Melchionni | Duke | Gary averaged 10.4 ppg and 2.7 rpg from 1970-71 through 1972-73. | Lee averaged 4.5 ppg and 2.2 rpg while shooting 35.9% from beyond the arc from 2002-03 through 2005-06. |
60. | Altenberger | Illinois | Bill averaged 7.7 ppg from 1954-55 through 1956-57. | Doug averaged 9.6 ppg from 1982-83 through 1986-87, including 13.6 ppg as a senior when he was an All-Big Ten third-team selection. |
61. | Selvig | Montana | Doug, a teammate of Larry Krystkowiak under coach Mike Montgomery, averaged 9.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg and 3.5 apg the first half of 1980s. | Derek averaged 7.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg and 2.2 apg from 2008-09 through 2011-12. |
62. | McElwain | Stanford | Les played in early 1930s. | Mal averaged 10.9 ppg and 6.3 rpg as a three-year starting forward in late 1960s. |
63. | Urzetta | St. Bonaventure | Sam, who led the nation in FT% as a sophomore and senior, averaged 6.2 ppg from 1946-47 through 1949-50. | Nick averaged 8.7 ppg in late 1970s. |
64. | Vopicka | Illinois | James was second-leading scorer in 1935-36 and a starter on 1936-37 club tying for Big Ten title. | Jim averaged 5.7 ppg in 1963-64 and 3.8 ppg in 1964-65. |
65. | Christensen | Brigham Young | Harold, a member of 1951 NIT championship team, averaged 7.8 ppg and 4.4 rpg before he was chosen by the Minneapolis Lakers in 1953 NBA draft. | Todd averaged 5.8 ppg in 1995-96, 1998-99 and 1999-00. |
66. | Parkinson | Purdue | Bruce, an All-Big Ten first-team selection as a junior, averaged 10.9 ppg and 4.3 rpg from 1972-73 through 1976-77. | Austin averaged 2.2 ppg and 3.2 apg from 2000-01 through 2003-04. |
67. | Hall | Vanderbilt | Jerry Don averaged 6.3 ppg and 1.7 rpg from 1960-61 through 1962-63. | Dan, who led Vandy in rebounding as a sophomore, averaged 7.1 ppg and 4.7 rpg in 1989-90 and from 1991-92 through 1993-94. |
68. | Chatman | Brigham Young | Jeff remains one of BYU's all-time top 10 scorers after averaging 14.9 ppg and 4.7 rpg from 1984-85 through 1987-88. | Jordan was averaging 2.6 ppg as a freshman in 2015-16. |
69. | Boyd | Southern California | Bob was an All-PCC South Division first-team selection in 1951-52 before coaching his alma mater. | Bill averaged 2.9 ppg and 1.5 rpg from 1972-73 through 1975-76 (missed 1974-75 because of broken foot). |
70. | Grant | Clemson | Harvey averaged 5.1 ppg and 4.5 rpg in 1984-85 before transferring to Oklahoma, where he became an All-American. | Jerari averaged 6.7 ppg and 4.3 rpg from 2007-08 through 2010-11. |
71. | Hammink | Louisiana State | Geert, an All-SEC center as senior, averaged 6.5 ppg and 4.8 rpg from 1988-89 through 1992-93. | Shane averaged 1.6 ppg and 1.4 rpg in 2012-13 and 2013-14 before transferring to Valparaiso. |
72. | Kessler | Georgia | Chad averaged 6.3 ppg and 3.3 rpg from 1983-84 through 1986-87 en route to becoming fifth-round NBA draft choice. | Houston averaged 2.1 ppg and 2.8 rpg as junior in 2015-16 after playing sparingly his first two seasons. |
73. | Lindsey | Baylor | Dennis averaged 7.5 ppg from 1987-88 through 1991-92. | Jake averaged 3.3 ppg and 2.3 apg in 2015-16 and 2016-17. |
74. | Craig | Brigham Young | Robert, a member of 1951 NIT titlist, averaged 3.5 ppg in 1949-50 and 1950-51. | Steve, a teammate of All-American Danny Ainge, averaged 7.2 ppg and 2.5 rpg in 1975-76 and from 1978-79 through 1980-81. |
75. | Lawrence | Miami (Fla.) | Anthony Sr. averaged averaged 5.3 ppg and 3.9 rpg in 1991-92 and 1992-93. | Anthony Jr. averaged 5.4 ppg and 2.7 rpg in 2015-16 and 2016-17. |
76. | Chavez | Santa Clara | Eddie averaged 1.1 ppg in 1949-50 and 1950-51. | Eddie Joe averaged 9.3 ppg and 2.4 rpg from 1974-75 through 1977-78. |
77. | Graham | Maryland | Ernest averaged 13.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg and 2.9 apg from 1977-78 through 1980-81. Still holds school single-game standard for scoring with 44 points. | Penn State transfer Jon averaged 2 ppg and 2.6 rpg in 2013-14 and 2014-15. |
78. | Kessinger | Mississippi | Don averaged 22.2 ppg and 5.4 rpg from 1961-62 through 1963-64. | Keith averaged 2.7 ppg in 1985-86 and 1986-87. |
79. | Nixon | Brigham Young | Kevin averaged 9.5 ppg and 3.1 rpg in 1991-92 and 1992-93. | Dalton averaged 2.1 ppg as freshman in 2014-15. |
80. | Wilfong | Memphis State | Gene averaged 8.8 ppg and 4.2 rpg from 1958-59 through 1960-61. | John averaged 5.3 ppg and 3 apg from 1984-85 through 1986-87. |
On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Make Their Mark on June 18 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players! Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.
Three former MLB players or manager who played college hoops - Marty Karow (Ohio State), Dick Siebert (Minnesota) and Bobby Winkles (Arizona State) - coached schools to College World Series championships on this date in a four-year span in the mid-1960s. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 18 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 18
Philadelphia Phillies rookie LF Harry Anderson (averaged 7.7 ppg and 8.9 rpg for West Chester PA basketball squad in 1951-52) provided the game-winning hit with a fifth-inning grand slam in a 7-6 win against the Chicago Cubs in 1957.
Pittsburgh Pirates RF Clyde Barnhart (hooper for Shippensburg PA predecessor Cumberland Valley State Normal School prior to World War I) contributed five RBI against the Boston Braves in a 1923 game.
Cincinnati Reds rookie RF Frankie Baumholtz (MVP in 1941 NIT and first player in Ohio University history to score 1,000 points in a career) collected four hits and 1B Babe Young (Fordham letterman in 1935-36) contributed a pair of three-run homers to support teammate Ewell Blackwell's no-hitter against the Boston Braves in 1947.
Cincinnati Reds 3B Gene Freese (West Liberty WV hoops captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team) went 7-for-8 in a 1961 doubleheader sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies.
Chicago White Sox RHP Jim Geddes (averaged 2.7 ppg for Ohio State from 1967-68 through 1969-70 under coach Fred Taylor) held the California Angels hitless for 4 2/3 innings but walked six in his 1973 debut. In his next appearance, Geddes held the Texas Rangers scoreless in 4 1/3 innings in the opener of a July 4 doubleheader.
1B Dick Gernert (Temple hoops letterman in 1948-49) whacked the only homer for the Boston Red Sox while tallying 17 runs in the seventh inning of a 23-3 rout of the Detroit Tigers in 1953. C Sammy White (All-PCC Northern Division first-five selection for Washington in 1947-48 and 1948-49) tied a MLB single-inning record by scoring three runs during the explosive frame. White finished the fray with four hits and four runs scored.
Brooklyn Robins 3B Wally Gilbert (hoops captain played for Valparaiso from 1918-19 through 1920-21) went 4-for-4 and scored three runs in an 8-7 win against the New York Giants in the opener of a 1929 doubleheader.
Pittsburgh Pirates 1B Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoops scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) whacked two homers against the New York Giants in a 1947 contest.
In 1963, San Francisco Giants C Tom Haller (backup forward for Illinois in 1956-57 and 1957-58 under coach Harry Combes) homered in his third consecutive contest.
Cleveland Indians RHP Oral Hildebrand (Butler hoops All-American in 1928-29 and 1929-30) hurled back-to-back shutouts in 1933, giving him five whitewash performances in less than a two-month span. Four years later with the St. Louis Browns, Hildebrand hurled a two-hit shutout against the Washington Senators in 1937.
Brooklyn Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) homered twice against the Chicago Cubs in a 1954 game.
Former Boston Red Sox INF Marty Karow (Ohio State hoops letterman in 1925) coached his alma mater to 1966 College World Series championship by defeating Oklahoma State, 8-2.
In 1962, Los Angeles Dodgers LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman hoops squad in 1953-54) outdueled St. Louis Cardinals RHP Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer and rebounder in 1955-56 and 1956-57). It marked the third time Koufax won a game, 1-0, on a Tommy Davis homer.
Chicago Cubs LF Hank Leiber (Arizona hooper in 1931) smacked two homers against the Brooklyn Dodgers 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) stole four bases against the Montreal Expos in a 1978 game.
Chicago Cubs RF Bill Nicholson (Washington College MD hoops guard for two years in mid-1930s) smashed two homers against the Cincinnati Reds in the nightcap of a 1944 twinbill.
Spoiling the MLB debut of Hall of Fame RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47), the Pittsburgh Pirates edged the Philadelphia Phillies, 2-0, in 1948.
Eleven-year MLB 1B Dick Siebert (Concordia-St. Paul MN hooper in 1929 and 1930) coached Minnesota to his third of three College World Series championships with the Gophers by defeating Missouri, 5-1, in 1964.
Arizona Diamondbacks rookie 2B Junior Spivey (redshirted his only semester at Northwestern Oklahoma State on hoops scholarship before transferring to KS junior college) stroked five hits in a 14-5 thrashing of the Houston Astros in 2001.
In 1986, San Diego Padres RHP Tim Stoddard (starting forward opposite All-American David Thompson for North Carolina State's 1974 NCAA champion) slugged his first and only MLB homer. He appeared in another 128 games but never had another at-bat.
Cincinnati Reds 3B Billy Werber (first Duke hoops All-American in 1929-30) went 5-for-5 against the Boston Braves in the opener of a 1939 doubleheader.
Former MLB manager Bobby Winkles (All-College Conference of Illinois first-team selection led Illinois Wesleyan in scoring with 12 ppg as senior in 1950-51) coached Arizona State to his second of three College World Series championships with the Sun Devils by humbling Houston, 11-2, in 1967.
Hoops Legacy: Celebrating Three Generations of Wall-to-Wall Basketball
"It is much easier to become a father than to be one." - Letters to My Son: Reflections on Becoming a Man
A thorough check of an athlete's pedigree often is illuminating. Undeniably, it is also much easier to talk about becoming a prominent player than putting in the man hours necessary to earn your spurs and have an impact at a single university like the Guokas clan at Saint Joseph's. Matt Sr. and Matt Jr. went on to become the first father-son tandem to win NBA championships as players before Matt III competed four seasons with the Hawks from 1988-89 through 1991-92.
St. Joe's also supplied Vince Kempton, the only Hawks player to make more than 50% of his field goals in both of their Final Four games in 1961. He is the father of former NBA center Tim Kempton Sr., a starter for Notre Dame squads averaging 21 victories annually in the mid-1980s, and grandfather of Tim Kempton Jr., who could become a three-time Patriot League MVP for Lehigh.
Gifted by having a father and grandfather with hoop credentials is not a prerequisite for becoming a competent basketball player. Although some observers might think the last couple of generations in the following hoop families were groomed from birth, on-court excellence is earned not inherited.
Hoosier Hysteria's passion can't be denied when considering Indiana families including All-Americans Steve Alford, Eric Montross and Jack Parkinson plus significant DI contributors with last names like Dakich, Neal, Plumlee, Shepherd and Trice. In deference to Father's Day weekend, following is an alphabetical list of the most accomplished father-son-grandson basketball combinations with at least one of them playing for or coaching a school from a power conference or in national postseason competition:
Grandfather/Father | Father/Son | Grandson(s)/Son(s) |
---|---|---|
Sam Alford (Franklin IN '64) | Steve Alford (Indiana '87) | Kory Alford (UCLA '16) and Bryce Alford (UCLA '17) |
Cleophus Banks (Southern LA '64) | Roman Banks (Northwestern State '92 | Tre'lun Banks (Southern LA '17) |
Gary Bradds (Ohio State '64) | David Bradds (Dayton '91) | Evan Bradds (Belmont '17) |
Tom Dakich (Bowling Green State '56) | Dan Dakich (Indiana '85) | Andrew Dakich (Michigan '17/Ohio State '18) |
Lewis D'Antoni (Concord WV '37) | Dan D'Antoni (Marshall '69) | Nick D'Antoni (William & Mary '05) |
Don Gatens (Notre Dame '46) | Mike Gatens (Iowa '76) | Matt Gatens (Iowa '12) |
Matt Guokas Sr. (St. Joseph's '38) | Matt Guokas Jr. (St. Joseph's '66) | Matt Guokas III (St. Joseph's '92) |
Bill Hosket Sr. (Ohio State '33) | Bill Hosket Jr. (Ohio State '68) | Brad Hosket (Ohio State '00) |
Lake Kelly (Georgia Tech '56) | Brian Kelly (Morehead State '86) | Drew Kelly (Morehead State '14) |
Vince Kempton (St. Joseph's '61) | Tim Kempton Sr. (Notre Dame '86) | Tim Kempton Jr. (Lehigh '17) |
Press Maravich (Davis & Elkins WV '41) | Pete Maravich (Louisiana State '70) | Jaeson Maravich (Alabama, McNeese State and William Carey MS '04) and Josh Maravich (Louisiana State '05) |
Johnny McConathy (Northwestern State '51) | Mike McConathy (Louisiana Tech '77) | Michael McConathy (Northwestern State '10) and Logan McConathy (Northwestern State '11) |
Stan Neal (Ball State '65) | Craig Neal (Georgia Tech '88) | Cullen Neal (New Mexico '17) |
Jim Padgett (Oregon State '52) | Pete Padgett (Nevada '76) | David Padgett (Kansas/Louisville '08) |
Jack Parkinson (Kentucky '48) | Bruce Parkinson (Purdue '77) | Austin Parkinson (Purdue '04) |
Don Parsons (Rutgers '50) | Gary Parsons (Rollins FL '77) | Chandler Parsons (Florida '11) |
Pearl Pollard (Brigham Young '59) | Alan Pollard (Southern California '89) | Josh Pollard (Kansas/Utah Valley '19) |
Pearl Pollard (Brigham Young '59) | Neal Pollard (San Diego State/Utah State) | Jeff Pollard (Washington State '20) and Nate Pollard (Rice/Chaminade '18) |
Dennis Price (Oklahoma '60) | Mark Price (Georgia Tech '86) | Judson Price (Charlotte '18) |
Albert Schultz (Michigan Tech '44) | Perky Plumlee (Tennessee Tech '83) | Miles Plumlee (Duke '12), Mason Plumlee (Duke '13) and Marshall Plumlee (Duke '16) |
Bill Reigel (Duquesne/Duke '53/McNeese State '56) | Ernie Reigel (Davidson '80) | Will Reigel (Davidson '12) |
Danny Schultz (Tennessee '64) | Danny Schultz (Tennessee Tech '84) | Dan Schultz (Tennessee '08) |
Bill Shepherd Sr. (Butler '49) | Billy Shepherd Jr. (Butler '72) | Scott Shepherd (Florida State '96) and Jeff Shepherd (Huntington IN '99) |
John Townsend (Michigan '38) | Scott Montross (Michigan '68) | Eric Montross (North Carolina '94) |
Bob Pritchett (Old Dominion '68) | Travis Trice Sr. (Butler '95) | Travis Trice Jr. (Michigan State '15) |
Gene Wilfong (Memphis State '61) | John Wilfong (Memphis State '87) | Jonathan Wilfong (SMU '17) |
On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Make Their Mark on June 17 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players! Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.
Three current SEC members - Louisiana State (Joe Adcock and Alvin Dark), Mississippi (Don Kessinger) plus Missouri (Sonny Siebert) - 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 17 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 17
Milwaukee Brewers rookie RHP Mike Adams (played basketball for Texas A&M-Kingsville in 1996-97) scored upon for the only time in his first 14 MLB relief appearances in 2004.
Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading scorer in 1945-46) swatted two homers in a 5-4 win against the Brooklyn Dodgers in the opener of a 1956 twinbill.
Eleven-year A.L. INF Jack Barry (Holy Cross hoops letterman in 1908) coached his alma mater to the 1952 College World Series championship by defeating Missouri, 8-4.
Detroit Tigers 1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in WAC games in 1991-92) clobbered two homers against the Minnesota Twins in a 1998 contest.
New York Giants SS Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for LSU and USL during World War II) and C Wes Westrum (hooper for Bemidji State MN one season before serving in military during WWII) each collected four hits in a 1951 game against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Pittsburgh Pirates INF Gene Freese (West Liberty WV hoops captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team) went 4-for-4 against the Milwaukee Braves in a 1957 outing.
Boston Red Sox 1B Dick Gernert (Temple hoops letterman in 1948-49) walloped two homers in a 17-1 romp over the Detroit Tigers in 1953.
San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-WAC second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) went 4-for-4 against the Houston Astros in a 1989 game.
San Francisco Giants 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) tossed a four-hit shutout against the Cincinnati Reds in 1985.
Boston Braves 1B Buddy Hassett (hooper for Manhattan teams winning school-record 17 consecutive games in 1930 and 1931) banged out three hits in both ends of a 1940 doubleheader sweep against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Rookie RHP Wynn Hawkins (all-time leading scorer for Baldwin-Wallace OH upon graduation in 1957) yielded Boston Red Sox Hall of Famer Ted Williams' 500th home run (fourth player in MLB history to reach that plateau) at Cleveland in 1960.
In 1965, Chicago Cubs RHP Bobby Humphreys (four-year hoops letterman graduated from Hampden-Sydney VA in 1958) yielded his only run in last 11 relief appearances of the month.
Chicago White Sox C Duane Josephson (Northern Iowa scoring leader in 1962-63 and 1963-64 under coach Norm Stewart) went 4-for-4 and scored three runs in a 6-3 triumph against the New York Yankees in 1970.
Chicago Cubs SS Don Kessinger (three-time All-SEC selection for Ole Miss from 1961-62 through 1963-64 while finishing among nation's top 45 scorers each year) went 6-for-6 in a 10-inning, 7-6 victory against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1971.
Milwaukee Brewers OF Joe Lahoud (hoops letterman in mid-1960s for New Haven CT) contributed a grand slam en route to six RBI in a 15-5 rout of the Chicago White Sox in 1973.
New York Giants CF Hank Leiber (Arizona hooper in 1931) logged four hits and five RBI against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1938 contest.
Pittsburgh Pirates 1B Gary Redus (J.C. hooper for Athens AL and father of Centenary/South Alabama guard) provided three extra-base hits against the San Diego Padres in a 1991 outing.
Starting RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) scored the winning run in the 15th inning to give the Philadelphia Phillies a 3-2 decision over the St. Louis Cardinals in 1954.
Brooklyn Dodgers 1B Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) left 13 runners stranded in a 1951 doubleheader against the Boston Braves. Three years later as a LF, Robinson provided two doubles and two homers against the Milwaukee Braves in a 1954 game.
Kansas City Athletics 1B Norm Siebern (member of Southwest Missouri hoop squads capturing back-to-back NAIA Tournament titles in 1952 and 1953) smashed two homers against the Minnesota Twins in a 1962 contest.
Cleveland Indians RHP Sonny Siebert (team-high 16.7 ppg for Missouri in 1957-58 as All-Big Eight Conference second-team selection) fanned 15 Washington Senators batters in hurling a three-hit shutout in 1965.
C John Stephenson (scored 1,361 points for William Carey MS in early 1960s) shipped from the New York Mets to the Chicago Cubs in 1967 as the player to be designated, completing an earlier deal that month.
Boston Red Sox 3B Billy Werber (first Duke hoops All-American in 1929-30) banged out three hits in both ends of a 1934 twinbill sweep of the St. Louis Browns.
Back to Old Stomping Grounds: LaVall Jordan Returns to Butler Coaching Roots
LaVall Jordan, an assistant for two Big Ten Conference schools a total of nine seasons before guiding Milwaukee last year, returned to his alma mater (Butler) as head coach after commencing his coaching career as an aide with the Bulldogs for three campaigns. Jordan isn't the only coach to make a good first impression before moving on to another school. He joins the following alphabetical list of active head coaches at a school where they previously served as an assistant before hiring as bench boss after toiling elsewhere:
Active Coach | Current School | Years as Assistant for Same College Before Working Elsewhere |
---|---|---|
Bacari Alexander | Detroit | 2001-02 through 2006-07 under Perry Watson |
Mike Anderson | Arkansas | 1985-86 through 2001-02 under Nolan Richardson |
Chris Beard | Texas Tech | 2001-02 through 2010-11 under Bob Knight and Pat Knight |
Glenn Braica | St. Francis (N.Y.) | 1989-90 through 2003-04 under Ron Ganulin |
Mike Brennan | American University | 2007-08 and 2008-09 under Jeff Jones |
Tim Craft | Gardner-Webb | 2003-04 through 2006-07 under Rick Scruggs |
Mick Cronin | Cincinnati | 1996-97 through 2000-01 under Bob Huggins |
Nathan Davis | Bucknell | 2003-04 through 2007-08 under Pat Flannery |
Steve Donahue | Penn | 1990-91 through 1999-00 under Fran Dunphy |
Mike Dunlap | Loyola Marymount | 1980-81 through 1984-85 under Ed Goorjian |
Jim Engles | Columbia | 2003-04 through 2007-08 under Joe Jones |
Bill Evans | Idaho State | 1984-85 under Wayne Ballard |
Tim Floyd | Texas-El Paso | 1977-78 through 1985-86 under Don Haskins |
Dana Ford | Tennessee State | 2009-10 and 2010-11 under John Cooper |
John Gallagher | Hartford | 2006-07 and 2007-08 under Dan Leibovitz |
Eran Ganot | Hawaii | 2006-07 through 2009-10 under Riley Wallace and Bob Nash |
Bob Huggins | West Virginia | 1977-78 under Joedy Gardner |
George Ivory | Arkansas-Pine Bluff | 2002-03 through 2005-06 under Van Holt |
James Jones | Yale | 1995-96 and 1996-97 under Dick Kuchen |
LaVall Jordan | Butler | 2004-05 through 2006-07 under Todd Lickliter |
Billy Kennedy | Texas A&M | 1990-91 under Kermit Davis Jr. |
Greg Lansing | Indiana State | 1995-96 through 1998-99 under Sherman Dillard and Royce Waltman |
Mike Martin | Brown | 2005-06 under Glen Miller |
Steve Masiello | Manhattan | 2001-02 through 2004-05 under Bobby Gonzalez |
Bob McKillop | Davidson | 1978-79 under Eddie Biedenbach |
Marvin Menzies | UNLV | 2004-05 under Lon Kruger |
Barret Peery | Portland State | 2002-03 under Heath Schroyer |
Mike Rhoades | Virginia Commonwealth | 2009-10 through 2013-14 under Shaka Smart |
Keith Richard | Louisiana-Monroe | 1984-85, 1985-86 and 1989-90 through 1993-94 under Mike Vining |
Kareem Richardson | UMKC | 2007-08 under Matt Brown |
Louis Rowe | James Madison | 2007-08 through 2011-12 under Dean Keener and Matt Brady |
Bill Self | Kansas | 1985-86 under Larry Brown |
Dave Simmons | McNeese State | 1987-88 through 1993-94 under Steve Welch |
Marty Simmons | Evansville | 1997-98 through 2001-02 under Jim Crews |
Roy Williams | North Carolina | 1978-79 through 1987-88 under Dean Smith |
Billy Wright | Western Illinois | 2008-09 through 2012-13 under Jim Molinari |
Jay Wright | Villanova | 1987-88 through 1991-92 under Rollie Massimino |
NOTES: Alexander, Cronin, Dunlap, Huggins, Jordan, Martin, Richard, Rowe, M. Simmons and Williams graduated from the school where they are currently coaching. . . . Lansing returned to Indiana State as an assistant for four seasons until he was promoted in 2010-11.
On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Make Their Mark on June 16 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players! Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.
Former Minnesota hoopers Jerry Kindall and Dave Winfield smacked vital homers in American League games on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 16 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 16
Philadelphia Phillies LF Ethan Allen (Cincinnati basketball letterman in 1924-25 and 1925-26) contributed four hits in an 8-3 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1934.
In the midst of a 17-game hitting streak, St. Louis Cardinals RF George Altman (appeared in 1953 and 1954 NAIA Tournament with Tennessee State) went 5-for-7 in a 1963 doubleheader split against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
C Ferrell Anderson (Kansas hoops letterman in 1936-37 and 1937-38) purchased from the Philadelphia Phillies by the St. Louis Browns in 1951.
In the midst of a career-high 15-game hitting streak, Chicago Cubs LF Larry Biittner (runner-up in scoring and rebounding for Buena Vista IA in 1966-67) had four safeties in a 13-inning, 7-6 win against the Houston Astros in 1978.
Detroit Tigers 1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in WAC games in 1991-92) homered in his fourth consecutive contest in 2001.
Hitting an anemic .128 entering the contest, Detroit Tigers LF Hoot Evers (Illinois hoops starter in 1939-40) started a streak of seven straight multiple-hit games in 1951.
Boston Red Sox rookie RHP Boo Ferriss (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1941) lost against the New York Yankees, 3-2, in 1945 after starting his career with eight victories (four of them shutouts).
Ten-year MLB RHP Ray "Pick" Fisher (Michigan "class" hooper) coached his alma mater to the 1953 College World Series championship by defeating Texas, 7-5.
New York Giants INF Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) collected five hits against the Chicago Cubs in a 1921 contest. Fourteen years later with the St. Louis Cardinals, Frisch furnished four hits against the Giants in a 1935 outing.
Baltimore Orioles 3B Wayne Gross (Cal Poly Pomona assists leader in 1974-75) whacked two homers for the second time in first 13 games of the month in 1985.
Pittsburgh Pirates 3B Lee Handley (Bradley hoops letterman from 1932-33 through 1934-35) banged out three hits in both ends of a 1946 doubleheader split against the Philadelphia Phillies.
1B Gary Holman (USC hoops letterman in 1962-63) hammered a two-run homer for the Trojans in a 5-2 victory against Arizona in the 1963 CWS national championship game.
Philadelphia Phillies RHP Andy Karl (Manhattan hoops letterman from 1933 through 1935) surrendered his first run after blanking opponents in previous eight relief appearances in 1946.
Light-hitting INF Jerry Kindall (averaged 6.9 ppg for Minnesota in 1955-56) connected for a game-winning two-run homer in the ninth inning to give the Cleveland Indians a 10-9 win over the New York Yankees in 1962.
New York Giants CF Hank Leiber (Arizona hooper in 1931) launched two homers against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1935 contest.
Seven-year MLB OF Don Lund (Michigan hoops starter in 1943-44 and 1944-45) coached his alma mater to 1962 College World Series championship by outlasting Santa Clara, 5-4, in 15 innings.
Cleveland Indians rookie 3B Ed Morgan (Tulane hoops letterman from 1923-24 through 1925-26) stroked four extra-base hits in a 9-2 win against the Philadelphia Athletics in 1928.
Cleveland Indians 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) went 5-for-5 as leadoff hitter against the Minnesota Twins in a 1971 contest.
Detroit Tigers OF Jim Northrup (second-leading scorer and third-leading rebounder for Alma MI in 1958-59) provided three extra-base hits against the Boston Red Sox in a 1966 outing.
New York Yankees 3B Red Rolfe (played hoops briefly with Dartmouth in 1927-28 and 1929-30) smacked three doubles against the St. Louis Browns in the opener of a 1940 twinbill.
New York Yankees RF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) whacked two homers against the Baltimore Orioles in a 1987 game.
Seattle Mariners RHP Chris Young (All-Ivy League first-team selection as Princeton's leading scorer and rebounder in 1999-00) hurled six shutout frames against the San Diego Padres in the first of his six straight starts allowing fewer hits than innings pitched in 2014. The next year with the Kansas City Royals, Young didn't allow an earned run for the fifth time in his first eight starts in the 2015 campaign.
Pitino Place: Pompous Pilot Slick Rick Should Have Title Tattoo Removed
Whether or not vacating a national title is in the offing, a normal cut-and-paste NCAA Committee of Infractions summary can cure insomnia. But not Louisville's ethical flunking-out report card including unusually harsh descriptive phrases such as "disgraceful and repugnant. . . . threatened and seriously undermined integrity. . . . deep betrayal of trust." Upon closely reading the latest COI report from pages 24 through 29, it's abundantly clear UL's program has a dignity shelf life barely lasting 15 seconds while aspiring to convince everyone their show-them-a-good-time hookers were not very expensive. The Cardinals' sordid stance leaves the white suit coach Rick Pitino occasionally dons a drunk-on-power symbol for anything but purity.
There was little doubt an earlier self-imposed one-year postseason competition ban and future scholarship/recruiting reductions (a/k/a preemptive plea bargain) implied the Cardinals faced more significant sanctions down the road such as NCAA prohibiting appealing Pitino from wearing said white suit or being forced to have his commemorative title tattoo removed. Looking on the bright side, at least UL's upper brass didn't don Mexican garb for the "trick-or-treat" meeting with NCAA Infractions Committee and doesn't seem to buy stock into dimwitted deflection tactics blaming book publishing company owned by Indiana's largest-ever donor with law school named after him. However, it still seems probable Pitino will have an opportunity to cowardly boycott or conduct a Cam Newton-like walkout, departing hand gesture or not, at any final victim-hood press briefing regarding Strippergate sanctions.
Amid full-figure female fallout from fact-filled tell-all tale (Breaking Cardinal Rules), pretentious Pitino said: “There's only one good thing about being 63 (now older) – you don't care what people think anymore.” The reprehensible regaling all sounded vaguely familiar. After all, it seems as if thin-skinned Pompous Pilot didn't care when he was in his 50s (restaurant affair with staffer's soon-to-be spouse), 40s (quit in mid-season after lured by $50 million to try to become reincarnation of Red Auerbach rather than next Adolph Rupp), 30s (BU Revue) and 20s (Hawaii infractions)?
Essentially, a tawdry timeline stems from philosophy of do as I say; not as I do. One of Pitino's books lecturing everyone else discusses how the past can haunt you. As an assistant at Hawaii, Pitino was implicated in eight of 64 violations leading to the Rainbows' two-year probation stint in the late 1970s. Nonetheless, the narcissist didn't care upon setting foot in Kentucky years ago as his one-day contract stump speech unfolded prior to incessant recycling. Was there any Pitino-linked symbolism when probation-bound Hawaii earned a berth in the NCAA playoffs while UL was banished?
“I think it's a positive because I know exactly what can go on the wrong way,” Pitino smugly self-assessed about suspect hoop activities in the Paradise of the Pacific shortly before he was hired by UK in the late 1980s. “There's no one in this business with more integrity (than me). It didn't happen in Hawaii as far as I'm concerned. I didn't make any mistakes, I don't care what anybody says. I'm not going to comment on it anymore because I don't have to.”
Need more I-don't-give-a-rip integrity? The alternate-reality program wallowed in self-absorption when Louisville failed to care about providing anything but a lame spin-tour remark stemming from an inquiry regarding an anecdote in the incisive book Raw Recruits written by dying-breed respected journalists Alexander Wolff and Armen Keteyian (more on media later). With apologies to “dictator” Dick Vitale's personal library, Season on the Brink (written by John Feinstein) and Raw Recruits rank 1-2 or vice versa as the all-time most compelling behind-the-scenes books on college basketball. After a big win for Pitino-coached Boston University at Rhode Island in the early 1980s, Raw Recruits alleged he rewarded the Terriers by having their bus stop at a jiggle joint on the way back to campus and hand out dollar bills to players so they might tuck them into G-strings.
Thirty years later, a ridiculous red-light district response from condescending UL about the book's sewer snippet was the famished BU brigade innocently walked in to get food, presumably thinking neon lights and all were essentials for a lively restaurant, but promptly bailed with hands covering their eyes. How many times have you heard about a booby bar being confused with fast food unless it is difficult to differentiate between excessive makeup on a Dancin' Girl and same for Ronald McDonald? Of course, there's not much happy-deal difference between unwrapped buns “having a good day” at the Golden Arches and gold jewelry near strategic arches on naked bodies. Maybe the classy New England establishment was simply a topless diner for roadie academic tutors, unbeknownst to coach, keeping GPA (Great Party Atmosphere) of squad members up by cramming for anatomy class on trek home.
Dwelling a little more on distinguishing between day-of-reckoning dignity and depravity, how low can you sink when self-proclaimed Elvis Presley (ex-UL All-American Terrence “Why Would I Pay Anybody for Anything” Williams) was a credibility reference for Hookergate scoring considering his checkered past? It may be the equivalent of Pitino vouching for former UK guard Richie "He Can Do No Wrong" Farmer when he ran afoul of the law. Unless, of course, you're a basketball bozo believing Slick Rick ran a completely squeaky-clean program at UK before abruptly changing stripes in same state and becoming vile cheater at the Ville.
ESPN's budget cuts are really taking a toll. Beyond Jay Bilas failing to have a backdrop of former players supporting Pitino reminiscent of Roy Williams interview at North Carolina, here is what genuinely "doesn't make any sense at all" for someone who is kind of a big deal. Pitino, boasting a master-puppeteer reputation, has a penchant for "can't-find-one-person" pap not knowing what the hell is going on around him even if it is a relatively minor thing such as six-year UL assistant coach Steve Masiello failing to complete requirements for a diploma during and after his ex-Knicks ball-boy playing for him at UK before immersed in an academic controversy as Manhattan's coach.
Understandably, the contrived Sgt. “I know nothing” Schultz routine regarding the "we have a different way we recruit" rot really has gotten old. One of Pitino's books also honed in on when it's best not to delegate. Pitino, saying he was “still trying to understand the motive,” treats his former player/assistant coach Andre McGee as if aspiring to explain a Shakespearean production ("Et tu, Brutus?"). Actually, it would be helpful to know when fall-guy target McGee was first exposed to this scurrilous stagecraft before dormitory operation director was thrown under the intellectually-and-morally bankrupt bus. The bluster bus is driven by "over-monitoring" Pitino, who said: "We have the most compliant coaches in the NCAA, no matter what you hear." We presume his assessment includes former graduate assistant Brandon Williams, who failed to cooperate in the NCAA's probe. If relevant at all, did we hear if this commendable credential predated McGee as a player and/or coach or kicked in after McGee departed for UMKC and subsequently working as a driver for car service Uber? Pitino proclaimed he delegated the monitoring of McGee's activities to his upper-level assistant coaches. However, the "compliant" aides interviewed by the NCAA were unaware of this duty. Wow! Contagious Sgt. Schultz "I Know Nothing" virus goes viral when scandal stench surrounds scalawags similar to flies on excrement.
Do Pitino's longstanding don't-care comments credibly pass a sincere threshold to where the nation should deluge him with speedy-recovery well wishes to help mend his broken heart? As most ardent hoop observers are aware, the BU rock-star sojourn wasn't the only time Mr. Self-Righteous mistook a restaurant for adult entertainment. Amplifying on the toxic topic via common sense, it is inconceivable to accept no-compulsion premise there was nothing abnormal maneuvering from normal sensual behavior to chance stop-on-a-dime meeting with extortion-bound stranger on an upscale restaurant table. Just wondering, but did the fine-diner owner leave keys thinking the hangers-on were going to sweep the floor and clean the dishes exercising 15 seconds of shame? Do normal humans with moral compass conduct their business, including spreading adultery wings, in this tawdry porn-star tryout fashion? Perhaps they were waiting on UL football coach Bobby Petrino and hoop sage Bo Ryan to compare notes about exploits on and off the court.
Seems as if there was lack of credibility everywhere one turned. In the wake of such boorish behavior, should we bother to contemplate what went on to relieve stress at higher-stakes citadels such as New York (Knicks) and college cage capital (Lexington, KY)? It almost makes a Client 9-curious individual want to enlist the services of a PI to rummage through little black book of whomever the Manhattan Madam happened to be in late 1980s before conducting survey of coeds attending UK the first half of 1990s about any love lodge or perhaps big and blue van featuring tinted windows. First step learning about "good times" equipment might be giving amnesia antidote or truth serum to gatekeeper/chauffeur. Winston Bennett, an assistant under Pitino with UK and the Boston Celtics, may also be able to offer some insight based on the former All-SEC second-team selection admitting he "slept with 90 women a month" despite stature as the ultimate NBA scrub and firing in late November 2017 from his state government job after only 10 weeks amid reports of questionable emails he sent to female colleagues. UK All-Americans Ron Mercer and Antoine Walker also rejoined Pitino with the Celtics before subsequent involvement in shady off-the-court activity. Wouldn't you like to have been a fly on the wall during UK recruiting visits for impressionable teenagers Bennett, Mercer and Walker to discern any transgressions remotely similar to the thrill in the Ville?
What transpired at UL is precisely why a control freak orchestrated construction of a basketball dormitory (named for his brother-in-law who tragically died in 9/11 attack) to monitor his roster and keep them from becoming salacious scholars. Instead, what repeatedly resulted was a classic example of lack of institutional control frequently manipulating minors. So what if Pitino wasn't the whore-dorm booking agent or could pass a lie-detector test on a well-crafted question skirting the predatory activity. Doesn't his pact with UL have provision about “diligently supervise compliance of assistant coaches and any other employees for which he is administratively responsible”?
“I'm totally saddened to the point of disbelief over the incidents,” Pitino said during one of his incredible sulks. “We've built a very strong culture here of discipline and doing the right things.” You've got to be kidding! If so, did a single well-disciplined student-athlete exhibit sufficient strength to do the right thing, go to him and describe detestable culture infecting Club Minardi? If not, why are his family-atmosphere players more loyal to a subordinate than head coach? Pleading with the Hoop Gods and school counter-suit belatedly labeling Pitino "active wrongdoer," please don't eventually put public through the traditional "plausible-deniability" focus on disgruntled former "employees" defense or fired unfairly ploy.
Whether or not it was a byproduct of culture or karma, the Pitino brand a couple of years ago also faced a sex-lies-and-videotape scandal involving his son's recruits at Minnesota, which featured more suspended players than Big Ten Conference victories. Any video that year involving Gopher players, on or off hardwood, probably is filth and should be erased. Amid the disturbing credibility gap, it's probably time to shift gears and sarcastically add to the sad state of affairs with the following pointless plot lines for entertaining episodes on HBO's soon-to-be-announced Pitino Place show:
- Jilted Karen, after escaping confinement by having sex with prison security guard boasting slick black hair, undergoes race-and-name change becoming Katina and trying to extort main character Slick Rick again before going on the cover of Vanity Fair and “earning” some sort of ESPY courage award for her copious copulation commentary.
- In a what-might-have-been dream, Slick Rick learns in a confession booth about an innocent baby boy named Rowe Vee Wade if Catholic principles really meant more than abortion creating new definition for “health care” money. Rowe Vee Wade would have been a blue-chip playmaking prospect who played for half-brother and averaged more assists per game in college career than his look-alike estranged father (5.6 apg). Upon waking up from Rip Van Winkle slumber and media-hailed three-point shooting at summer Seniors Tournament in Florida, Slick Rick decides to become a sperm donor to try to clone Mr. Nifty Jr. (donor's college nickname).
- Slick Rick groupie Vinny, moonlighting as an NCAA enforcement agent, taught boss to hold the tail during horse breeding and told tales about anything dealing with human breeding. But the aloof horse owner already was a thoroughbred Breeders' Cup Secretariat wannabee and only had eyes for what was under some of those gaudy race-track hats. Vinny, who was actually a double agent, eventually spilled his good-times guts to authorities when he was supposed to be conducting opposition research on rival Coach Pay-pal Cal including going through trash in Memphis trying to unearth any Slick Rick-like transgressions or rookie salary-cap violations he could possibly find to help prevent ninth defeat in last 10 confrontations.
- Slick Rick blames Sick “You Better Put Some Ice On It” Willie for infecting him with some unnamed pants-dropping defect in front of stranger after shaking Bubba's cigar-stained hand before introducing President Stainmaker, still basking in the glow of an Arkansas title, at a campaign rally on the eve of the 1996 election. Finishing “expensive” speech on humility to Wall Street executives and meeting filing deadline for book on success, he had to take a rain check regarding cheerleader-recruiting/saxophone-lesson trip with Shrillary's Secret Weapon and equally frail contemptible Clintonista cronies to “Orgy Island.” Bubba's backup plan to reconnect with Slick was to become his boss as school Prez insofar as he has vast experience in such an overpaid category via $16.46 million over five years as honorary chancellor of Laureate University. And if disgraced Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel can be appointed President of his alma mater (Youngstown State), then Pitino is qualified for happy ending sitting at helm of UMass, where UK nemesis Coach Cal oversaw minuteman-by-minuteman sterling academic progress of his roster there.
- Intervention for Slick Rick unfolds to stop drinking bourbon named after him. Becoming delusional as much as Kanye is in debt, he claimed his new Kanye West/adidas shoes helped him win a dunking contest as college freshman decades ago against varsity standout Julius Erving in 1970-71 before Dr. J became a professional basketball highlight reel. Boasting super-human strength capable of reeling in mammoth marlin, Slick Rick claimed he won a home-run derby against Mike Flanagan in 1971-72 when the eventual 18-year MLB pitcher averaged 13.9 ppg for the same school's frosh squad. In a bizarre rant by Slick Rick after pain killer wore off from getting a title tattoo, the egomaniac thought he should receive Bill Cosby's Presidential Medal of Freedom if award is stripped from the widely-condemned comic. Meanwhile, Kanye ($53 million in debt) makes guest star appearance begging Taylor Swift for 53 cents for his "Famous" ideas so he can impress fashionable Kim by having more "rep" cred than 50 Cent with music endorsement by Slick Rick linked to any affiliated dorm dance.
All silly-season sarcasm aside, the bottom-line drivel is what do you expect from a program where the coach with an advanced diploma in hairsplitting can't control himself? Prior to his passing away, Louisville's most famous native, Muhammad Ali, issued his support while trying to recall which of his offspring went with which mother and delusional AD Tom Jurich, apparently an abortion advocate, said Pitino “has a perfect track record.” We presume Jurich's perfection testimonial isn't hampered by Parkinson's and includes Pitino settling for more than $2,500 to get rid of evidence. Maybe some of these unprincipled folks would show a shred of humanity if a female member of their immediate family was affected more than mysteriously receiving brand manager's job from blockbuster benefactor.
Just like the majority of scandals, follow the money trail of a plot that may have had its genesis in a Barbershop sequel of sorts. Whatever the amount spent by McGee for physical activity by saving gas money moving party venue closer to home, it's virtually impossible to believe the bank-bundled funds came entirely from his personal account. Pitino, responding as if he was kneed in the groin by some unknown assailant, had Olympian gall telling McGee “to step up” after skating around issue crying “Why?” way more than truly-aggrieved Nancy Kerrigan.
Of course, the most disgusting “why” involved fathers/guardians tagging along for a recruiting ride to LarryFlyntVille when not busy helping prospects with their studies. In employing a perverted version of father-son bonding, why was there the incentive way horsing around driving it homeboy rather than “a dolt” just having fond memory of playing horse against his boy in the family driveway. What would the party-planner incentive be if the recruit actually helped UL reach a Final Four?
Pitino, who said bump-and-grind allegations made him “sick to my stomach,” can always cure chronic tummy tumult via some dessert delicacy at his favorite upscale restaurant. Actually, frequent health references simply raise suspicion about his mid-season walking-out-through-the-door “flight” to Cleveland Clinic in 2003-04 three years after the "wounded tiger" quit the Celtics because Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish weren't walking back through their door.
An inalienable right exists to be stupid like Apple protecting phone of Islamic terrorist, but we saw the outline of a clever problem-solving act just when problem-child guard Chris Jones was dismissed. You've got the comedy-relief brains of a doorknob if you believed Louisville's shedding of a little light via a door-opening salvo explaining life-without-Jones stemmed primarily from a 9 p.m. curfew violation. It's unclear whether Pitino, exhibiting a theatrical flop reminiscent of Jones' chin-rubbing charade in a match-up with cross-state rival Kentucky, includes himself in refuting any bad acting. Certainly wasn't a surprise Jones issued a virtual carbon-copy quote of Pitino by proclaiming "I'm not worried about anything that anybody has to say about me."
Jones, described by Pitino as “type of guy who always has his hands in the cookie jar,” dropped out of school to defend himself as rigorously as the ACC's leader in steals average defended opponents. Wouldn't you like an insider to drop some knowledge regarding the rigorous classes the scholar took and stack them up against North Carolina's no-show way or the intellectually-stimulating spring-semester coursework for the one-and-done crowd? Depending upon your perspective, didn't the culture Pitino portrayed “steal” a scholarship from perhaps an authentic student-athlete? Some viewers may want to be assured they can't catch a STD from TV and seek to promptly take a shower after watching UL these days.
The shameless local and national media covering UL also are to blame, but they had a laser-like fixation on touchy-feely timing of ban rather than incalculable more vital issues such as academic integrity and power-structure lack of accountability of coaching staffs for revenue-producing sports. There should be a one-year ban on reading or watching the presstitutes because of their failure to live up to news-gathering obligations by allowing an Escort Queen to “(hard)cover” the program better than they did. How in the name of Edmund R. Murrow did Katina discern more about what was going on than Pitino, university officials and a seemingly enabling press stripped naked by her firsthand research?
Pitino claimed he didn't read Powell's expose but said “people will do anything for money.” Does the same assessment apply to Sextino regarding his series of what now seem like tainted hypocritical volumes (Success is a Choice, How to Add Value to Every Minute of Your Life, Lead to Succeed, Rebound Rules, etc.)? Taking the power of positive thinking to an extreme, he has had additional exposure to a couple of bullet points in his 10-step plan – thriving on pressure and learning from adversity.
Collateral damage caught in the middle of mess created by others, do you think chattel-graduate transfers Damion Lee (Drexel) and Trey Lewis (Cleveland State) were credibly “recruited” with emphasis on prospect of participating in NCAA playoffs? Lee said: "If we buy into the system and what coach Pitino preaches, then we can be successful." Standing O from UL fans notwithstanding, the betrayed duo "tabled" by Preacher Pitino's program should have sued the system - coaching staff and school - for fraud after enduring the pressure connected to this adversity. Mercenaries Lee and Lewis were wronged, but they triggered the wrongdoing and suffered the consequences by wrongly choosing to attend UL.
Meanwhile, self-described “soldier-in-this-army” Pitino asked: “If I resign, would people feel better about it?” Answer: Well, yes, if anyone credible amid the Get-Your-Fill-in-the-Ville debris remains boasting a moral compass rather than emphasizing morale-building comp-a__. Securing generous dose of humility upon receiving relatively modest five-game suspension, author Pitino can take an adult education refresher course ruminating on his own following words in "The One-Day Contract":
- "The egotistical coach, the arrogant athlete, they are stereotypes that too often ring true."
- "The longer I live and the more I experience, the more I believe that humility is the quality essential to sustained success, and a lack of it is the major stumbling block for those who find success for a time, then lose it."
- "There's no question when you coach at Kentucky, you fall into a trap of thinking you're much better than you really are, because of the adulation and attention. It is constant and seems to come in a never-ending supply. I did not know it in the midst of it, but that arrogance, that thinking of yourself as the best, is one of the biggest reasons successful people stumble and fail."
- "The consequences of not learning humility can be tragic. If we don't always see these consequences in our own lives, we should be able to recognize them all around us. Not learning humility is, for one, an expensive lesson."
- "Self-aggrandizement, alienation of friends, family, or teammates, a tragic tendency to overestimate one's talent that leads to overreaching, they all are traits of people who lack humility. This also is a story that is not new. The ancient Greeks had a word for this very situation: hubris."
- "The same cycle (of self-destruction) can be seen in many fields. The list of those for whom humility not only might have saved a fortune, but their future, is long and star-studded."
- "The decadent lifestyle, the entourages, the unrealistic expectation of stature and longevity - all this leads to poor choices and reckless decision making."
- "With humility, you are better able to enjoy and understand success, and you are better able to examine and handle failure."
- "Humble people always handle adversity so much better because they understand who they are. So many come to disappointing ends and wonder why it happened. Most often, it was a lack of humility, leading to arrogance, leading to the mistakes they made. They think they are more significant than they are and it makes them gamble with their lives and their professions. Then, when things go wrong, they lash out and blame others. Arrogant people spread around their failure with blame."
- "Not only is humility the key to finding lasting success, but it is the key to lasting happiness. Go back through history, literature, spiritual books, and this cycle is repeated throughout generations and cultures: arrogance, fall, acceptance, humility, healing. We're no different from people who came before us. I can't state enough how important a lesson this is to learn, and the importance of learning it before life forces you to."
Any observer with a moral compass has lost faith in Pitino and whatever he stood for the past 35 years. The NCAA going out of its high-and-mighty way to embrace "disgraceful and repugnant" characterization should force some important self-reflection somewhere in red-faced Louisville. Just stay out of upscale restaurant when striving to relieve stress unless, of course, you're raking in 98% of a side deal.
On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Make Their Mark on June 15 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players! Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopsters had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.
Darrell Evans, a former J.C. hooper for Hall of Fame coach Jerry Tarkanian, owned this date in MLB games with the Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants and Detroit Tigers. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 15 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 15
Los Angeles Angels 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) homered in his fourth consecutive contest in 1964.
LF-1B Harry Anderson (averaged 7.7 ppg and 8.9 rpg for West Chester PA in 1951-52) traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to the Cincinnati Reds in 1960.
LF Morrie Arnovich (Wisconsin-Superior hooper in early 1930s) traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to the Cincinnati Reds in 1940.
OF Frankie Baumholtz (MVP in 1941 NIT and first player in Ohio University history to score 1,000 points in career) traded by the Cincinnati Reds to the Chicago Cubs in 1949.
In 1935, Cleveland Indians 2B Bosey Berger (Maryland's first hoops All-American led Southern Conference in scoring in league competition in 1930-31) provided two extra-base hits, triggering a 16-game hitting streak.
Cleveland Indians SS Lou Boudreau (leading scorer for Illinois' 1937 Big Ten Conference co-champion) supplied three extra-base hits against the St. Louis Browns in 1945. Two years later in the midst of his career-high 19-game hitting streak, Boudreau doubled in fourth consecutive contest in 1947.
1B Donn Clendenon (four-sport letterman for Morehouse GA) traded by the Montreal Expos to the New York Mets in 1969. Four years earlier with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Clendenon hammered two homers against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1965 outing.
Philadelphia Athletics C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) manufactured four hits against the Detroit Tigers in a 1930 contest.
Cleveland Indians RHP Vince Colbert (averaged 14.3 ppg and 7.3 rpg for East Carolina in 1966-67 and 1967-68) tossed a five-hit shutout against the California Angels in 1972.
Boston Red Sox RHP Gene Conley (All-PCC first-team selection led North Division in scoring in 1949-50 as Washington State sophomore) fired a six-hit shutout against the Detroit Tigers in 1962.
In 1931, the St. Louis Cardinals, in a move making room for Pepper Martin, traded CF Taylor Douthit (California hoops letterman from 1922 through 1924) to the Cincinnati Reds for OF Wally Roettger (Illinois hoops letterman in 1921-22 and 1922-23) in a swap one day after Douthit stroked seven straight hits in a doubleheader sweep over the Philadelphia Phillies.
San Francisco Giants 1B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) socked three homers for six RBI in a 7-1 triumph against the Houston Astros in 1983. Two years later in a 1985 outing with the Detroit Tigers, Evans went 5-for-5 against the New York Yankees. In 1973 as an Atlanta Braves 3B, Evans homered in his third consecutive contest.
Detroit Tigers OF Hoot Evers (hoops starter for Illinois in 1939-40) had his 19-game hitting streak snapped by the Philadelphia Athletics in 1950.
C-OF Joe Ferguson (hooper for Pacific's 1967 NCAA playoff team) traded by the Los Angeles Dodgers to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1976.
Boston Red Sox rookie RHP Boo Ferriss (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1941) toiled 14 innings to improve his mark to 9-1 in 1945.
INF Jake Flowers (hooper for 1923 "Flying Pentagon" championship squad for Washington College MD) awarded on waivers from the Brooklyn Robins to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1931.
Boston Red Sox rookie 1B Dick Gernert (Temple hoops letterman in 1948-49 when averaging 2.7 ppg) launched a decisive homer in a 3-2 triumph against the Chicago White Sox in the nightcap of a 1952 twinbill.
Cleveland Indians 1B Mike Hargrove (Northwestern Oklahoma State hoops letterman) stroked three doubles against the Minnesota Twins in a 1980 game.
1B Gary Holle (Siena's scoring and rebounding leader in 1974-75 and 1975-76) traded by the Texas Rangers to the Chicago White Sox in 1979.
Atlanta Braves RF David Justice (Thomas More KY assists leader in 1984-85) jacked two homers against the Colorado Rockies in a 1994 contest.
In 1969, Chicago Cubs SS Don Kessinger (three-time All-SEC selection for Ole Miss from 1961-62 through 1963-64 while finishing among the nation's top 45 scorers each year) established a N.L. record with his 54th consecutive errorless game to start a season.
Cleveland Indians 1B Ray Knode (hooper for Maryland in 1918-19) contributed four hits against the Philadelphia Athletics in a 1925 outing.
OF Joe Lahoud (New Haven CT hoops letterman in mid-1960s) purchased from the California Angels by the Texas Rangers in 1976.
SS Johnny Logan (Binghamton hooper in 1948-49) traded by the Milwaukee Braves to the Pittsburgh Pirates for OF Gino Cimoli in 1961.
Oakland Athletics 2B Davey Lopes (NAIA All-District 15 selection for Iowa Wesleyan averaged 16.9 ppg as freshman in 1964-65 and 12.1 ppg as sophomore in 1965-66 before transferring with his coach to Washburn KS) collected three extra-base hits and seven RBI against the Toronto Blue Jays in a 1983 contest.
Chicago White Sox RHP Ted Lyons (two-time All-SWC first-team selection for Baylor in early 1920s) notched his ninth straight complete-game victory in 1927. Lyons' two-run triple in the eighth inning broke a 4-4 deadlock against the Philadelphia Athletics.
OF Bake McBride (averaged 12.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg in 21 games with Westminster MO in 1968-69 and 1969-70) traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the Philadelphia Phillies in 1977. McBride went on to hit .339 the remainder of the season for Philly.
Chicago White Sox RF Danny Moeller (captain of Millikin IL hoops squad in 1905-06) delivered four hits against the Cleveland Indians in a 1914 game.
Chicago Cubs RF Bill Nicholson (Washington College MD hoops guard for two years in mid-1930s) stroked two triples against the Boston Braves in a 1940 contest.
INF Johnny O'Brien (two-time All-American with Seattle was first college player to crack 1,000-point plateau in a single season when scoring 1,051 in 37 games in 1951-52) traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates with 3B Gene Freese (hoops captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team for West Liberty WV) to the St. Louis Cardinals for SS Dick Schofield and cash in 1958.
LHP Joe Ostrowski (led Scranton in scoring with 15.1 ppg in 1942-43) traded by the St. Louis Browns to the New York Yankees in 1950.
RHP Steve Renko (averaged 9.9 ppg and 5.8 rpg as Kansas sophomore in 1963-64) traded by the New York Mets to the Montreal Expos in 1969.
Detroit Tigers RHP Jeff Robinson (two-time NAIA All-District 3 honoree in early 1980s left Azusa Pacific CA as school's No. 9 all-time scorer) won his seventh straight decision with a five-hit shutout against the Baltimore Orioles in 1988.
Minnesota Twins rookie LHP Garry Roggenburk (Dayton scoring leader all three seasons from 1959-60 through 1961-62 grabbed school-record 32 rebounds in his third varsity game en route to pacing Flyers in rebounding first two years) lost his first MLB start in 1963 after going scoreless in previous eight outings as a reliever.
OF Richie Scheinblum (averaged 6.1 ppg and 3.6 rpg in 1962-63 and 1963-64 with LIU-C.W. Post) traded by the Cincinnati Reds to the California Angels for two players to be designated in 1973.
RHP Don Schwall (All-Big Seven Conference second-team selection as sophomore in 1956-57 when leading Oklahoma in rebounding) traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Atlanta Braves for P Billy O'Dell in 1966.
In 1959, Detroit Tigers RHP Dave Sisler (All-Ivy League second-team selection for Princeton's first NCAA Tournament team in 1952) posted his fourth save in as many relief appearances in a nine-day span.
2B Wayne Terwilliger (two-year letterman for Western Michigan averaged 5.6 ppg in his final season in 1947-48) traded by the Chicago Cubs to the Brooklyn Dodgers in an eight-player swap in 1951.
1B-OF Preston Ward (second-leading scorer for Southwest Missouri State in 1946-47 and 1948-49) traded by the Cleveland Indians to the Kansas City Athletics in 1958.
C Sammy White (All-PCC Northern Division first-five selection for Washington in 1947-48) purchased from the Boston Red Sox by the Milwaukee Braves in 1961.
Familiar Surroundings: LaVall Jordan Returns to Alma Mater as Butler's Coach
Hiring by a power-conference member with NCAA playoff potential out of the Big East didn't appear to be on the horizon. But LaVall Jordan, a former small forward and assistant coach for Butler, returned to his alma mater as head coach following one sub-par season guiding Milwaukee to a last-place finish in the Horizon League.
A total of 22 NCAA Division I coaches in the past five years were put in charge of their alma mater's basketball fortunes. Roy Williams of 2017 NCAA champion North Carolina and Louisville interim pilot David Padgett are among the following alphabetical list of active head coaches serving as bench boss of their alma mater:
On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Make Their Mark on June 14 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players! Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopsters had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.
Upper Midwest small-college hoopers Roy Parmelee (Eastern Michigan), Jeff Shaw (Rio Grande OH), Dick Siebert (Concordia-St. Paul) and Eric Stults (Bethel IN) made MLB news on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 14 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 14
LF Babe Barna (West Virginia basketball letterman in 1936 and 1937) traded by the New York Giants to the Boston Red Sox in 1943.
Philadelphia Athletics SS Jack Barry (Holy Cross hoops letterman in 1908) banged out four hits against the Chicago White Sox in a 1914 contest.
Cleveland Indians SS Lou Boudreau (leading scorer for Illinois' 1937 Big Ten Conference co-champion) went 5-for-5 against the Detroit Tigers in the nightcap of a 1944 twinbill.
Philadelphia Athletics C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) collected three extra-base hits and four RBI against the Cleveland Indians in a 1928 game.
SS Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for LSU and USL during World War II) traded with three additional players by the New York Giants in 1956 to the St. Louis Cardinals for future Hall of Fame 2B Red Schoendienst and three players.
In his final games with the St. Louis Cardinals, CF Taylor Douthit (California hoops letterman from 1922 through 1924) went 7-for-8 in a 1931 doubleheader sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies before he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds.
2B Denny Doyle (averaged 2.7 ppg for Morehead State in 1962-63) traded by the California Angels to the Boston Red Sox in 1975.
Boston Red Sox LF Dick Gernert (Temple hoops letterman in 1948-49 when averaging 2.7 ppg) delivered three hits and three runs for the second outing in a row against the Cleveland Indians in 1956.
1B Mike Hargrove (Northwestern Oklahoma State hoops letterman) traded by the San Diego Padres to the Cleveland Indians in 1979.
Boston Bees 1B-OF Buddy Hassett (hooper for Manhattan teams winning school-record 17 consecutive games in 1930 and 1931) fouled out late in a game against the Chicago Cubs after hitting safely in 10 straight at-bats over three contests in 1940.
New York Yankees LF Charlie Keller (three-year hoops letterman with Maryland from 1934-35 through 1936-37) went 4-for-4 with two homers against the St. Louis Browns in a 1940 outing.
The Detroit Tigers scored on New York Yankees RHP Jim Konstanty (member of 1937-38 and 1938-39 Syracuse hoops teams) for the only time in his first 13 relief appearances of the month in 1955.
In 1986, Toronto Blue Jays pinch-hitter Rick Leach (averaged 15.5 ppg for Michigan's JV squad in 1975-76) ripped a two-run homer off Detroit Tigers RHP Jack Morris.
First MLB homer for RF Lyle Mouton (starter in LSU's backcourt with All-American Chris Jackson on 1989 NCAA playoff team) came as a pinch-hitter with the Chicago White Sox off Oakland Athletics reliever Rick Honeycutt in 1995.
New York Yankees LF Irv Noren (player of year for California community college state Pasadena City in 1945) pounded two homers against the Detroit Tigers in a 1955 game.
RHP Roy Parmelee (hoops letterman for Eastern Michigan in 1924-25 and 1925-26) purchased from the Philadelphia Athletics by the Boston Red Sox in 1939.
C Hugh Poland (Western Kentucky hoops letterman from 1931-32 through 1933-34) traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to the Cincinnati Reds in 1947.
New York Giants RHP Hal Schumacher (St. Lawrence NY hooper in early 1930s) hurled a five-hit shutout against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1936.
Cincinnati Reds closer Jeff Shaw (freshman hoops guard for 31-5 Rio Grande OH team participating in 1985 NAIA Tournament), entering the game with an 0.97 ERA, yielded five runs on seven hits in the ninth and 10th innings as the Houston Astros rallied to win, 6-3, in 1998.
Eleven-year MLB 1B Dick Siebert (Concordia-St. Paul MN hooper in 1929 and 1930) coached Minnesota to his first of three College World Series championships with the Gophers by drubbing Arizona, 12-1, in 1956.
Chicago Cubs LF Riggs Stephenson (Alabama hoops letterman in 1920) whacked two homers in a 9-7 victory against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1926.
San Diego Padres LHP Eric Stults (hooper for 1999 NAIA D-II Tournament runner-up and 2000 NCCAA Tournament titlist with Bethel IN) fired a two-hit complete game in a 2-1 triumph against the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2013.
Boston Red Sox 3B Billy Werber (first Duke hoops All-American in 1929-30) amassed two homers and five RBI in a 1935 game against the Detroit Tigers.
On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Make Their Mark on June 13 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players! Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.
Jerry Adair (Oklahoma State) and Don Schwall (Oklahoma), who played hoops against each other in Bedlam rivalry in 1956-57, made news in the American League on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 13 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 13
2B Jerry Adair (one of Oklahoma State's three leading basketball scorers in 1956-57 and 1957-58 while ranking among the nation's top 12 free-throw shooters each season) traded by the Baltimore Orioles to the Chicago White Sox in 1966.
1B Dale Alexander (starting hoops center in mid-1920s for Milligan TN) traded by the Detroit Tigers to the Boston Red Sox in 1932.
RHP Jim Bibby (Fayetteville State NC backup hooper and brother of UCLA All-American Henry Bibby) traded by the Texas Rangers to the Cleveland Indians in 1975.
Philadelphia Athletics C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) manufactured three hits and four RBI for the second time in a four-game span in 1927. Two years later, Cochrane contributed four hits against the Cleveland Indians in a 1929 contest.
1B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) traded by the Atlanta Braves to the San Francisco Giants in 1976.
St. Louis Browns C Rick Ferrell (played forward for Guilford NC before graduating in 1928) went 3-for-3, including his lone homer in first 216 MLB games, and added four RBI in a 5-4 win against the Washington Senators in 1930.
RHP Eddie Fisher (hooper for Oklahoma's 1954-55 freshman squad) traded by the Chicago White Sox to the Baltimore Orioles in 1966.
Kansas City Royals rookie RHP Rich Gale (led New Hampshire with 7.2 rpg in 1975-76) hurled a one-hit shutout against the Texas Rangers in 1978.
In 1962, Los Angeles Dodgers LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman hoops squad in 1953-54) whacked his first MLB homer (off fellow Hall of Fame lefthander Warren Spahn of Milwaukee Braves). Koufax went on to collect one more career round-tripper.
St. Louis Cardinals LF Danny Litwhiler (member of JV hoops squad with Bloomsburg PA in mid-1930s) logged three doubles against the Chicago Cubs in a 1944 outing.
Milwaukee Braves SS Johnny Logan (Binghamton hooper in 1948-49) contributed five RBI in a 12-5 win against the San Francisco Giants in 1960.
In 1979, 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) hammered a homer in the fifth game of his last seven contests.
Philadelphia Phillies 1B Tony Lupien (Harvard hoops captain in 1938-39) lashed two triples among his four hits against the Boston Braves in the nightcap of a 1944 doubleheader.
A grand slam by rookie CF Jerry Martin (1971 Southern Conference MVP after being Furman's runner-up in scoring in previous season) propelled the Philadelphia Phillies to a 5-1 triumph against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1975.
New York Giants RHP Christy Mathewson (Bucknell hooper at turn of 20th Century) fired a no-hitter against Chicago in a 1-0 win in 1905.
OF Sam Mele (NYU's leading scorer in 1943 NCAA playoffs) traded by the Boston Red Sox to the Washington Senators in 1949.
New York Yankees SS Gene Michael (Kent State's leading scorer with 14 ppg in 1957-58) pulled hidden-ball trick for the first of two times in a six-week span in 1970.
St. Louis Cardinals LF Rip Repulski (started several hoops games for St. Cloud State MN) stroked two hits in each game of a 1954 doubleheader sweep against the Pittsburgh Pirates, triggering a streak of 10 consecutive contests with two or more safeties.
Philadelphia Phillies Hall of Fame RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) yielded three consecutive triples to INF Danny O'Connell of the Milwaukee Braves in 1956.
Boston Red Sox RHP Don Schwall (All-Big Seven Conference second-team selection led Oklahoma in rebounding in 1956-57) tossed a two-hit shutout against the Baltimore Orioles in 1962.
Cincinnati Reds RHP Jeff Shaw (freshman guard for Rio Grande OH squad compiling 31-5 record and reaching second round of 1985 NAIA Tournament) notched his 19th consecutive relief appearance without yielding an earned run in 1998.
RHP Rollie Sheldon (third-leading scorer as a sophomore for Connecticut's 1960 NCAA Tournament team) traded by the Kansas City Athletics to the Boston Red Sox in a six-player swap in 1966.
INF Gary Sutherland (Southern California's fifth-leading scorer in 1963-64 when averaging 7.4 ppg) purchased from the Montreal Expos by the Houston Astros in 1972.
St. Louis Browns rookie SS Herb Upton (All-EIBL first-team selection with Penn in 1945-46 before pacing Southeast Missouri State in scoring three years last half of 1940s and finishing as SEMO's career scoring leader) provided two triples in a 6-1 win against the Washington Senators in the nightcap of a 1950 doubleheader.
Boston Red Sox 3B Billy Werber (first Duke All-American in 1929-30) knocked in five runs in a 1934 outing against the Detroit Tigers.
New York Yankees RF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) contributed three extra-base hits in a 1984 game against the Boston Red Sox.
CWS Coaching Hoop Scoop: Take Them (Cagers) Out of Arena to Ball Game
Florida State's Mike Martin, reaching the College World Series for first time since 2012, has the possibility of becoming the latest former college basketball player to coach a school to a CWS championship. One of the all-time five winningest college baseball coaches, he boasts the highest winning percentage among NCAA Division I mentors, winning almost three-fourths of his games. Martin has guided the Seminoles to the CWS a total of 16 times (1980-86-87-89-91-92-94-95-96-98-99-00-08-10-12-17), 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.
FSU advanced to a Super Regional for the 16th time in 19 seasons - 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.
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.
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: Ex-College Hoopers Make Their Mark on June 12 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players! Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.
Former college hoopers Jackie Robinson (UCLA), Wally Roettger (Illinois) and Preston Ward (Missouri State) each had MLB multiple-hit streaks of at least four games on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 12 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 12
Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) produced four hits against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the nightcap of a 1953 doubleheader. Ten years later with the Cleveland Indians in 1963, Adcock homered for the fourth time in a five-game span.
Eighteen-year-old RHP Ralph Branca (sixth-leading scorer for NYU in 1943-44) made his Brooklyn Dodgers debut, striking out the first three New York Giants batters he faced in 1944.
A two-run, seventh-inning triple by pinch-hitter Grant Dunlap (Pacific hoops letterman in 1942-43 and 1946-47) proved decisive as the St. Louis Cardinals edged the New York Giants, 3-1, in 1953.
San Francisco Giants 1B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) contributed a double and homer in the fourth inning when they scored all of their runs in an 8-5 win over the Cincinnati Reds in 1983.
LHP Johnny Gee (hoops captain of Michigan's 16-4 team in 1936-37) purchased from the Pittsburgh Pirates by the New York Giants in 1944.
San Francisco Giants RHP Ed Halicki (NAIA All-American third-team choice in 1971-72 when leading Monmouth in scoring with 21 ppg after setting school single-game rebounding record with 40 the previous season) hurled a one-hit shutout against the Montreal Expos in 1978. Nine days later, he spun a three-hit whitewash against the Cincinnati Reds.
Brooklyn Dodgers 3B Harvey Hendrick (Vanderbilt hoops letterman in 1918) stole second, third and home against the Chicago Cubs in the eighth inning in 1928.
Brooklyn Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) hammered a grand slam en route to amassing eight RBI in a 20-7 triumph over the Cincinnati Reds in 1949. Three years later, Hodges homered twice against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1952 contest.
California Angels DH Joe Lahoud (New Haven CT hoops letterman in mid-1960s) launched two homers against the Detroit Tigers in a 1975 outing.
St. Louis Cardinals SS Doc Lavan (Hope MI hooper from 1908 through 1910) went 5-for-5 against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1922 game.
Mel McGaha (first Arkansas hooper to earn four letters from 1943-44 through 1946-47) named manager of the Kansas City Athletics in 1964.
Washington Senators 3B Buddy Myer (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1923-24) went 4-for-4 with four RBI against the Detroit Tigers in a 1938 contest.
C-OF Don Padgett (participated in multiple sports as freshman for Lenoir-Rhyne NC in 1934) purchased from the Brooklyn Dodgers by the Boston Braves in 1946.
Philadelphia Phillies LHP Eppa Rixey (Virginia hoops letterman in 1912 and 1914) tossed his second of back-to-back shutouts in 1917. Eight years later with the Cincinnati Reds, Rixey fired a shutout amid a streak of seven straight wins in less than a month in 1925.
Brooklyn Dodgers LF Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) registered his seventh straight multiple-hit game in 1953.
In the midst of a career-high 16-game hitting streak in 1928, St. Louis Cardinals rookie LF Wally Roettger (Illinois hoops letterman in 1921-22 and 1922-23) supplied his sixth straight multiple-hit outing.
An inside-the-park homer by Cincinnati Reds OF Champ Summers (led SIUE in scoring in 1969-70 after doing same with Nicholls State in 1964-65) represented his second pinch-hit round-tripper in less than a month in 1977. Three years later with the Detroit Tigers, Summers smashed two homers against the Minnesota Twins in a 1980 game.
Pittsburgh Pirates 1B Preston Ward (second-leading scorer for Southwest Missouri State in 1946-47 and 1948-49) provided multiple hits in his fourth consecutive contest in 1954, going 11-for-18 in that span.
Detroit Tigers LHP Ed Wells (multi-sport athlete graduated in 1924 from Bethany WV) hurled his third straight shutout en route to six complete-game victories during the month in 1926.
Boston Red Sox C Sammy White (All-PCC Northern Division first-five selection for Washington in 1947-48 and 1948-49) went 4-for-4 against the Detroit Tigers in a 1958 outing.
In 1954, RHP Jim Wilson (letterman for San Diego State's 1942 NAIA Tournament participant) hurled a no-hitter for the Milwaukee Braves in a duel against Hall of Fame RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) and the Philadelphia Phillies.
In perhaps the most amazing game in College World Series history, eventual Hall of Fame OF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) fanned 15 USC batters and yielded only one infield single through eight innings as RHP in 1973 before the defending national champion Trojans overcame a 7-0 deficit with eight runs in the ninth.
Former MLB manager Bobby Winkles (All-College Conference of Illinois first-team selection led Illinois Wesleyan in scoring with 12 ppg as senior in 1950-51) coached Arizona State to his first of three College World Series championships with the Sun Devils by edging Ohio State, 2-1, in 1965.
OF-3B Chuck Workman (All-MIAA selection was leading scorer in inaugural NAIA Tournament won by Central Missouri State in 1937) traded by the Boston Braves to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1946.
Power Danger: Coaching Newbies Ewing & Hopkins Bound For Modest Marks
There was no grooming comparable to most coaches working their way up the ladder from the bush leagues. Despite boasting zero head-coaching experience, Patrick Ewing (Georgetown) and Mike Hopkins (Washington) were hired to be in charge of power-conference members. They join Louisville interim mentor David Padgett among more than 20 active head coaches for power-league members getting their starts as bench boss without serving as head coach for another college.
Ranging from regal (Pitt's Jamie Dixon) to repulsive (St. John's Chris Mullin), there is no rhyme or reason regarding first-year results. But if Ewing and Hopkins assemble average inaugural campaigns, the novice head coaches face an overall record of 18-14 with losing league mark. First-year worksheets for mentors in this category have dramatically gone downhill this decade. In the previous five years, the five latest newcomer power-league coaches - Rick Ray, Kevin Ollie, Chris Collins, Steve Wojciechowski and Mullin - combined for an average record of 13-19 overall and 5-13 in league competition. Only six active coaches on the following alphabetical list compiled a winning league ledger in his inaugural season:
*Bozeman was named interim coach in mid-season the previous year when he replaced Lou Campanelli.
On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Make Their Mark on June 11 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players! Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.
Former power-conference hoopers Don Schwall (Oklahoma), Jim Tabor (Alabama) and Sammy White (Washington) provided significant performances for the Boston Red Sox on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 11 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 11
In 1927, Pittsburgh Pirates LF Clyde Barnhart (played basketball for Shippensburg PA predecessor Cumberland Valley State Normal School prior to World War I) supplied three extra-base hits against the Brooklyn Robins for his 10th consecutive multiple-hit contest.
In his final game with the Montreal Expos, 1B Donn Clendenon (four-sport letterman with Morehouse GA) stroked three extra-base hits against the San Diego Padres in a 1969 game.
LHP Al Downing (attended Muhlenberg PA on hoops scholarship but left before ever playing) traded by the Oakland Athletics to the Milwaukee Brewers in 1970.
San Francisco Giants 1B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) delivered two homers and five RBI in a 7-6 win against the Atlanta Braves in 1983.
Hall of Fame C Rick Ferrell (Guilford NC hooper in mid-1920s) traded with his brother (P Wes Ferrell) from the Boston Red Sox to the Washington Senators in 1937.
In the midst of a career-high 12-game hitting streak in 1961, Cincinnati Reds 3B Gene Freese (West Liberty WV captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team) contributed four RBI for the second time in a five-outing span.
St. Louis Cardinals 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) furnished four hits for the first of two times in a four-game span in 1929.
INF Jerry Kindall (averaged 6.9 ppg for Minnesota in 1955-56) traded by the Cleveland Indians to the Minnesota Twins in a three-team swap including the Los Angeles Angels in 1964.
Boston Red Sox RF Joe Lahoud (New Haven CT hoops letterman in mid-1960s) smacked three homers against the Minnesota Twins in a 1969 contest.
LF Danny Litwhiler (member of JV hoops squad with Bloomsburg PA in mid-1930s) among three St. Louis Cardinals who lashed back-to-back-to-back sixth-inning homers in the nightcap of a 1944 doubleheader.
Washington Senators 3B Buddy Myer (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1923-24) manufactured two hits in his sixth successive game in 1929.
In 1972, 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) homered for the Cleveland Indians and brother Jim Nettles homered for the Minnesota Twins in the same game. Four years later with the New York Yankees, Graig Nettles collected two homers and five RBI against the Texas Rangers in a 1976 outing.
INF Paul Popovich (averaged 3.3 ppg for West Virginia's 1960 NCAA playoff team) wound up with the Chicago Cubs in 1969 after he was traded twice on the same day (by Los Angeles Dodgers and Montreal Expos). Two years earlier as a Cubs rookie, Popovich went 5-for-9 in a 1967 twinbill sweep of the New York Mets.
Brooklyn Dodgers rookie 1B Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) went 4-for-4 against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1947 contest. Three days later, Robinson started a 21-game hitting streak.
New York Yankees 3B Red Rolfe (played hoops briefly with Dartmouth in 1927-28 and 1929-30) supplied four extra-base hits against the Detroit Tigers in a 1936 outing.
In 1961, Boston Red Sox RHP Don Schwall (All-Big Seven Conference second-team selection led Oklahoma in rebounding in 1956-57) won his first five MLB starts, compiling a 1.31 ERA in that span.
Philadelphia Phillies rookie SS Gary Sutherland (averaged 7.4 ppg with USC in 1963-64) supplied four hits against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 1967 contest. Nine years later as a 2B in his first game with the Milwaukee Brewers, Sutherland knocked in the go-ahead run against Oakland Athletics P Vida Blue in a 4-2 win in 1976.
Boston Red Sox rookie 3B Jim Tabor (Alabama hoops letterman in 1936-37) banged out two triples against the Chicago White Sox in the nightcap of a 1939 doubleheader.
Boston Red Sox C Sammy White (All-PCC Northern Division first-five hoops selection for Washington in 1947-48 and 1948-49) clobbered a ninth-inning grand slam off Satchel Paige to defeat the St. Louis Browns, 11-9, in 1952. White completed his HR trot by rounding third base and crawling from half-way home and kissing the plate.
Hoop Dreams to Field of Dreams: Can Connaughton Become Next Big Ben?
Swingman Pat Connaughton, a two-time runner-up in scoring and rebounding for Notre Dame, was the most notable college basketball player selected three 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 two seasons as a backup shooting guard with the Portland Trail Blazers, he seemed unlikely to become Baltimore's next Big Ben. But there are rumblings Connaughton could be back on the diamond in the not-too-distant future seeing where his mid-90s mph fastball can take him in Organized Ball.
In an era of increased specialization, the Orioles selected former LSU hooper Ben McDonald with the first pick in the 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.
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 the 2017 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 player for Michigan and OF Ken Singleton (3rd selection in 1967 by New York Mets) was a freshman player for Hofstra. . . . Rasmussen and Stenhouse were compensation for signings of free-agent pitchers Nolan Ryan and Steve Renko, respectively.
On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Make Their Mark on June 10 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players! Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.
Former college hoopers Dick Gernert (Temple), Wayne Gross (Cal Poly Pomona), Frank Howard (Ohio State) Vance Law (Brigham Young), Wally Moon (Texas A&M), Graig Nettles (San Diego State), Bill White (Hiram OH) and Dave Winfield (Minnesota) each whacked two homers in a MLB game on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 10 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 10
A pinch-hit single by Houston Colts .45s 2B Joey Amalfitano (played basketball for Loyola Marymount in 1952-53) triggered a 12-game hitting streak for him in 1962.
Pittsburgh Pirates LF Carson "Skeeter" Bigbee (Oregon hoops letterman in 1915) provided four hits for the third time in a 19-game span in 1922.
Boston Braves SS Dick Culler (#9 jersey retired by High Point for Little All-American in 1935 and 1936) contributed four hits in a 10-5 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1946.
New York Giants SS Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for LSU and USL in mid-1940s) stroked a double in his fourth consecutive contest in 1950.
Chicago Cubs RHP Mark Freeman (LSU center averaged 3.6 ppg as senior in 1950-51) notched his only MLB complete game with a four-hit, 6-1 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1960.
Chicago White Sox 3B Gene Freese (West Liberty WV hoops captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team) went 4-for-4 against the Boston Red Sox in a 1960 outing.
Boston Red Sox 1B Dick Gernert (Temple hoops letterman in 1948-49 when averaging 2.7 ppg) collected two homers and six RBI against the Kansas City Athletics in a 1957 game.
LHP Joe Gibbon (two-time All-SEC forward for Ole Miss was nation's second-leading scorer as a senior in 1956-57) traded by the San Francisco Giants to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1969.
Detroit Tigers 1B Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoop scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) hammered a homer for the third consecutive contest in 1939.
Oakland Athletics rookie 3B Wayne Gross (Cal Poly Pomona assists leader in 1974-75) swatted two homers against the Detroit Tigers in a 1977 outing.
San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-WAC second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) supplied a double, triple and homer against the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 1993 game.
Boston Braves 1B Buddy Hassett (hooper for Manhattan teams winning school-record 17 consecutive games in 1930 and 1931) went 4-for-4 against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1940 contest.
Washington Senators LF Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection in 1956-57 and 1957-58 hammered two homers against the Boston Red Sox in a 1967 outing.
Chicago White Sox 3B Vance Law (averaged 6.8 ppg for Brigham Young from 1974-75 through 1976-77) launched two homers against the Minnesota Twins in a 1984 game.
Philadelphia Phillies CF Jerry Martin (1971 Southern Conference MVP after he was Furman's scoring runner-up previous season) went 4-for-4 in a 7-5 triumph against the Atlanta Braves in 1977.
Recently-acquired RF-1B Sam Mele (NYU's leading scorer in 1943 NCAA playoffs) knocked in six fourth-inning runs (three-run HR and bases-loaded triple) for the Chicago White Sox in a 1952 contest at Philadelphia.
Los Angeles Dodgers LF Wally Moon (averaged 4.3 ppg with Texas A&M in 1948-49 and 1949-50) smashed two homers against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1961 outing.
Boston Braves LF Joe Mowry (Iowa hoops letterman in 1929-30 and 1930-31) went 3-for-3 against the Brooklyn Dodgers in a 1933 game.
San Diego Padres 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) whacked two homers against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1984 contest.
Chicago Cubs SS Paul Popovich (teammate of Jerry West for West Virginia's 1960 NCAA playoff team) homered in back-to-back games against the San Diego Padres in a 1970 outing.
Oakland Athletics RHP Steve Renko (averaged 9.9 ppg and 5.8 rpg as Kansas sophomore in 1963-64) allowed only five earned runs in his first five starts of 1978 campaign covering 30 innings.
RHP Jeff Robinson (two-time NAIA All-District 3 hoops honoree in early 1980s for Azusa Pacific CA) awarded off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Texas Rangers in 1992.
Cleveland Indians RHP Sonny Siebert (team-high 16.7 ppg for Missouri in 1957-58 as All-Big Eight Conference second-team selection) hurled a no-hitter against the Washington Senators in 1966.
2B Junior Spivey (redshirted his only semester at Northwestern Oklahoma State on hoop scholarship before transferring to KS junior college) traded by the Milwaukee Brewers to the Washington Nationals in 2005.
Chicago Cubs rookie 2B Jimmy Stewart (All-VSAC hoops selection for Austin Peay's NCAA DII Tournament teams in 1959-60 and 1960-61) stroked four hits against the New York Mets in a 1964 game.
INF Gary Sutherland (Southern California's fifth-leading scorer in 1963-64 when averaging 7.4 ppg) traded by the Detroit Tigers to the Milwaukee Brewers in 1976.
St. Louis Cardinals 1B Bill White (two-year hooper for Hiram OH in early 1950s) smacked two homers in a 1965 contest against the Cincinnati Reds.
San Diego Padres RF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) collected two homers and six RBI in a 1978 outing against the Chicago Cubs.
Length of Pact Doesn't Mean Squat to Numerous Coaches Such As Holtmann
Deal or no deal? The length of contracts doesn't seem to carry any weight as a factor in the equation as long as your brain cells or ethical standards don't put any stock into length of an existing pact. For instance, Virginia Commonwealth has had three coaches in the last 12 campaigns abandon ship with six or more seasons remaining on their contracts. Chris Holtmann, departing for Ohio State despite having eight years remaining on his Butler deal, joined the following alphabetical list detailing mentors reportedly still boasting contractual obligations of more than five seasons when they left a school for greener pastures during their coaching careers:
- Steve Alford (10 years remaining on contract) - left New Mexico (following 2012-13 season)/hired by UCLA
- Rick Barnes (6) - Clemson (1997-98)/Texas
- John Beilein (6) - Richmond (2001-02)/West Virginia
- Tony Bennett (6) - Washington State (2008-09)/Virginia
- Dave Bliss (6) - New Mexico (1998-99)/Baylor
- Mike Brey (7) - Delaware (1999-00)/Notre Dame
- John Calipari (10) - Massachusetts (1995-96)/New Jersey Nets
- Jeff Capel III (6) - Virginia Commonwealth (2005-06)/Oklahoma
- Tom Crean (9) - Marquette (2007-08)/Indiana
- Keith Dambrot (6) - Akron (2016-17)/Duquesne
- Jamie Dixon (7) - Pittsburgh (2015-16)/Texas Christian
- Matt Doherty (6) - Florida Atlantic (2005-06)/Southern Methodist
- Bryce Drew (7) - Valparaiso (2015-16)/Vanderbilt
- Larry Eustachy (6) - Utah State (1997-98)/Iowa State
- Dennis Felton (6) - Western Kentucky (2002-03)/Georgia
- Tim Floyd (6) - New Orleans (1993-94)/Iowa State
- Tim Floyd (8) - Iowa State (1997-98)/Chicago Bulls
- Travis Ford (7) - Massachusetts (2007-08)/Oklahoma State
- Billy Gillispie (8) - Texas A&M (2006-07)/Kentucky
- Brian Gregory (7) - Dayton (2010-11)/Georgia Tech
- Leonard Hamilton (7) - Miami (Fla.) (1999-00)/Washington Wizards
- Fred Hoiberg (8) - Iowa State (2014-15)/Chicago Bulls
- Chris Holtmann (8) - Butler (2016-17)/Ohio State
- Ben Howland (6) - Pittsburgh (2002-03)/UCLA
- Jeff Lebo (8) - Chattanooga (2003-04)/Auburn
- Gregg Marshall (8) - Winthrop (2006-07)/Wichita State
- Thad Matta (9) - Xavier (2003-04)/Ohio State
- Fran McCaffery (7) - Siena (2009-10)/Iowa
- Sean Miller (9) - Xavier (2008-09)/Arizona
- Dan Monson (10) - Gonzaga (1998-99)/Minnesota
- Lute Olson (7) - Iowa (1982-83)/Arizona
- Buzz Peterson (9) - Appalachian State (1999-00)/Tulsa
- Skip Prosser (6) - Xavier (2000-01)/Wake Forest
- Oliver Purnell (6) - Clemson (2009-10)/DePaul
- Mike Rice Jr. (7) - Robert Morris (2009-10)/Rutgers
- Steve Robinson (7) - Tulsa (1996-97)/Florida State
- Kelvin Sampson (6) - Washington State (1993-94)/Oklahoma
- Shaka Smart (8) - Virginia Commonwealth (2014-15)/Texas
- Tubby Smith (6) - Georgia (1996-97)/Kentucky
- Mark Turgeon (9) - Wichita State (2006-07)/Texas A&M
- Brad Underwood (6) - Stephen F. Austin (2015-16)/Oklahoma State
- Will Wade (7) - Virginia Commonwealth (2016-17)/Louisiana State
On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Make Their Mark on June 9 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players! Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.
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.
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) 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.
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.
Transfer Talk: Johnson Remains in ACC Switching From Pitt to Carolina
Since they frequently can't trust their counterparts, forbidding intra-conference player transfers such as Cam Johnson going from Pittsburgh to North Carolina usually is on the agenda for coaches and ADs. On the other hand, there is little mention of the double standard whereby coaches aren't denied a right to do the same thing. We don't recall coach Bo Ryan raising a stink about intra-conference transfers when Sharif Chambliss led Wisconsin in assists and three-pointers in nearly guiding the Badgers to the 2005 Final Four in his lone season with them after leaving Penn State. But Ryan, clearly perturbed when Jarrod Uthoff left UW and wound up at Iowa, likely would still be on the Badgers sideline gunning for another top four finish in the Big Ten Conference if Uthoff had remained in Madison. Instead, Uthoff joined John Lucas III (Baylor to Oklahoma State in Big 12) as the only players in NCAA history to become an All-American after transferring within a league.
In regard to priorities, there is virtually no word on coaches and conferences wanting the NCAA to introduce guidelines to determine a penalty to enforce if a player is caught doing drugs, committing domestic violence or taking no-show classes. At any rate, CollegeHoopedia.com is unaware of the following players, including Xavier coach Chris Mack, causing extensive trouble because they transferred within a league:
Transfer Player Pos. Conference Two League Members Played For Al Akins ? Pacific Coast Washington State 42-43/Washington 44 Spike Albrecht G Big Ten Michigan 13-16/Purdue 17 Carvell Ammons F Big Ten Northwestern 97/Illinois 99 Alex Anderson G Ohio Valley Jacksonville State 13/UT-Martin 15-16 DeMario Anderson G Northeast Central Connecticut State 04-05/Quinnipiac 07-08 Luke Axtell F-G Big 12 Texas 98/Kansas 00-01 Twany Beckham G SEC Mississippi State 09-10/Kentucky 12-13 Max Bielfeldt F Big Ten Michigan 13-15/Indiana 16 Lamarquis Blake G SWAC Arkansas-Pine Bluff 02-03/Alabama State 05-06 Quincy Bowens G Midwestern Collegiate Butler 93/Detroit 95 Jalen Bradley G Summit League Nebraska-Omaha 14/Oral Roberts 16-17 Mel Braxton F PCAA New Mexico State 85/Long Beach State 87 Josh Bright G MEAC Morgan State 07/Maryland-Eastern Shore 08-11 Chris Carter C SWAC Texas Southern 94/Grambling 97-98 Jason Carter F Southeastern Alabama 11/Mississippi 13 Sharif Chambliss G Big Ten Penn State 01-03/Wisconsin 05 Matt Chastain G-F Missouri Valley Loyola of Chicago 17/Illinois State 19-21 Patrick Cole G MEAC Coppin State 13/North Carolina Central 16-17 Corban Collins G SEC Louisiana State 13/Alabama 17 Richard Congo F East Coast Lafayette 80/Drexel 82-84 Andrew Dakich G Big Ten Michigan 14-16/Ohio State 18 Kevin Degnan C-F MAAC Fairfield 15-16/Siena 18 Riley Didion G Atlantic Sun Jacksonville 03-04/North Florida 06 Thomas Dodd C-F SWAC Texas Southern 95-96/Grambling 98-99 Charles Dorsey G Midwestern Collegiate Loyola of Chicago 81-82/Oral Roberts 84-85 Terrance Duncan F SWAC Grambling 95/Arkansas-Pine Bluff 99 Gary Ervin G Southeastern Mississippi State 04-05/Arkansas 07-08 Brenden Floyd G Northeast St. Francis (N.Y.) 96/Central Connecticut State 98-99 Cedric Foster G SWAC Alcorn State 94-95/Mississippi Valley State 97-98 Josh Fox F Big West UC Riverside 13/UC Davis 15-16 Lawrence Funderburke F Big Ten Indiana 90/Ohio State 92-94 Antonio Gates F Mid-American Eastern Michigan 00/Kent State 02-03 Michael Gbinije G-F Atlantic Coast Duke 12/Syracuse 14-16 Deremy Geiger G Western Athletic Utah State 09/Idaho 11-12 John Gordon G America East Maine 96-97/Delaware 99-00 Derick Grubb C West Coast Pepperdine 03-06/Loyola Marymount 07 Jason Grunkemeyer G Mid-American Ohio University 97/Miami (OH) 99-01 P.J. Hardwick G Sun Belt North Texas 13/Arkansas State 15-16 Damontre Harris C Southeastern South Carolina 11-12/Florida 14 Jovan Harris G West Coast Saint Mary's 00-01/San Francisco 03-04 Jason Hernandez G America East New Hampshire 97/Hofstra 99-01 Derek Holcomb C Big Ten Indiana 77/Illinois 79-81 Randy Holcomb F WAC/Mountain West Fresno State 99/San Diego State 01-02 David Huertas G Southeastern Florida 05-06/Mississippi 08 Lindsey Hunter G SWAC Alcorn State 89/Jackson State 91-93 Derek Jackson G Mid-American Central Michigan 11-12/Kent State 14-15 Avery Johnson Jr. G SEC Texas A&M 15/Alabama 16-17 Ben Johnson G Big Ten Northwestern 00-01/Minnesota 03 Cam Johnson G-F ACC Pittsburgh 16-17/North Carolina 18-19 Napoleon Johnson C SWAC Texas Southern 80-81/Grambling 83-84 Trey Johnson G SWAC Alcorn State 04/Jackson State 06-07 Yondarius Johnson G SWAC Grambling 11/Southern LA 13-14 Rob Jones F West Coast San Diego 08-09/Saint Mary's 11-12 Pierre Jordan G ACC Florida State 09-11/Georgia Tech 12-13 Oggie Kapetanovic C Ivy League Brown 97-98/Penn 00-01 Willy Kouassi C SEC Auburn 12/Arkansas 16 John Lucas III G Big 12 Baylor 02-03/Oklahoma State 04 Chris Mack G Midwestern Collegiate Evansville 89-90/Xavier 93 Derick Malone F SWAC Prairie View 96/Texas Southern 98-00 Royal Maxwell F SWAC Grambling 98-99/Jackson State 01-02 Eric McGill G Missouri Valley Southeast Missouri 16/Southern Illinois 18 Darrick McGriff G SWAC Prairie View 93-94/Alabama State 96-97 Horace "Bones" McKinney C Southern North Carolina State 41-42/North Carolina 46 Clay McKnight G Big West UC Irvine 96/Pacific 98-00 Dominique McKoy F Atlantic 10 Rhode Island 12/Duquesne 14-15 Jamar Miles F SWAC Alabama A&M 99/Prairie View 01-03 Hunter Miller G Atlantic Sun Florida Gulf Coast 10-11/Stetson 13-14 Torrey Mills F Mid-American Central Michigan 93-94/Eastern Michigan 96-97 Charles Mitchell F ACC Maryland 13-14/Georgia Tech 15-16 Tim Morris G Pacific-10 Stanford 05-06/Washington 08 Ross Neltner F-C Southeastern Louisiana State 04-05/Vanderbilt 07-08 Tyrone O'Garro F Northeast Monmouth 13 | Fairleigh Dickinson 16-17 Sam Okey F Big Ten Wisconsin 96-97/Iowa 99 Kevin Olekaibe G Mountain West Fresno State 13/UNLV 14 Marvin Owens G-F Midwestern Collegiate Oklahoma City 84-85/Detroit 87-88 Jason Parker F Southeastern Kentucky 01/South Carolina 03 Fenorris Pearson F Mid-American Central Michigan 89-90/Eastern Michigan 91-93 Sam Pearson G Ohio Valley UT-Martin 08/Southeast Missouri 10 Carl Pierce F WCAC Santa Clara 76-77/Gonzaga 80 Marquis Poole G Big Sky Eastern Washington 01/Idaho State 03-04 Franklin Porter G West Coast Saint Mary's 16/Portland 18-20 Micah Potter F Big Ten Ohio State 17-18/Wisconsin 20 Charles Price F SWAC Grambling 86-87/Texas Southern 89-90 Mark Price G Metro Atlantic Fairfield 00/Siena 02 C.J. Prince G Mid-Eastern Athletic Maryland-Eastern Shore 06/Howard University 09-10 Jim Ray F SEC Georgia Tech 46/Mississippi State 48-49 Luke Recker G-F Big Ten Indiana 98-99/Iowa 01 Eric Rhodes G-F Southland Stephen F. Austin 88/Sam Houston State 91 Ben Rishwain G Big West UC Irvine 90/Pacific 92-94 Nican Robinson G Pac-10 UCLA 06/California 08-09 Kirk Rocheleau G Big Sky Montana State 74/Montana 76-77 Jason Rogers G Southland Texas State 06/Stephen F. Austin 08 Earnest Ross F SEC Auburn 10-11/Missouri 13-14 Steve Ross G West Coast San Diego 99/Santa Clara 01-02 Andres Sandoval G Atlantic 10 Richmond 05/Dayton 07-08 Nate Schindewolf G Mid-American Miami (Ohio) 97/Akron 99-01 Brian Schmall G Big South Augusta 89-90/Radford 92-93 Rodney Scott G PCAA UC Irvine 85/San Jose State 87-88 Bo Segeberg C Big Sky Sacramento State 00/Montana State 02-03 Glen Selbo G Big Ten Wisconsin 44 & 47/Michigan 46 Brad Sellers F Big Ten Wisconsin 82-83/Ohio State 85-86 Frank Sillmon F SWAC Alabama State 85-86/Alabama A&M 88-89 Trant Simpson G SWAC Alabama A&M 07-09/Prairie View 11 Jason Smeathers F Summit League IUPUI 09/IPFW 11-12 Adam Smith G ACC Virginia Tech 14-15/Georgia Tech 16 Vinson Smith G Mid-Continent Youngstown State 93/UMKC 97 Marcus Stewart F Big South Coastal Carolina 98-99/Winthrop 01-02 Curtis Stuckey G Missouri Valley Drake 88/Bradley 90-91 Rashaan Surles G SWAC Prairie View 14/Mississippi Valley State 16-17 Kenny Taylor G Big 12 Baylor 02-03/Texas 04 Michael Taylor G Big Sky Eastern Washington 07/Montana 09-10 Charles Terrell G Big West San Jose State 90-91/Pacific 93-94 Derryck Thornton G ACC Duke 16/Boston College 20 Cory Underwood F Northeast St. Francis (N.Y.) 00/Wagner 02 Jarrod Uthoff F Big Ten Wisconsin 12 (RS)/Iowa 14-16 Eloy Vargas C Southeastern Florida 09/Kentucky 11-12 Jason Walberg G West Coast Saint Mary's 05/Pepperdine 07-08 Damion Walker C-F WAC Texas Christian 96-97/New Mexico 99-00 Ryan Wall G Mountain West New Mexico 04-05/Texas Christian 07-08 Blake Wallace F West Coast Pepperdine 07/San Francisco 09-10 Bubba Walther G Mid-American Akron 05-06/Ohio University 07-08 Marcus Watkins G Big 12 Texas A&M 03-04/Missouri 05-06 David Wear Sr. C PCAA Fresno State 77-78/Cal State Fullerton 81 David Weaver F Ivy League Princeton 94/Harvard 96-97 Malcolm White F Southeastern Mississippi 08-09/Louisiana State 11-12 Trent Whiting G Mountain West Utah 00/Brigham Young 01 Jacob Wiley F Big Sky Montana 13/Eastern Washington 17 LeRon Williams F Southeastern Florida 95-96/South Carolina 98-99 Josh Wittensoldner G Mid-American Bowling Green 96/Akron 98
On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Make Their Mark on June 8 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players! Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.
Former West Chester State PA hoopers Harry Anderson and Howie Bedell made MLB news with the Philadelphia Phillies on this date. 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.
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.
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 the last four games.
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 1946.
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.
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.
On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Make Their Mark on June 7 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players! Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.
Former 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.
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.
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.
1B Babe Young (Fordham hoops letterman in 1935-36) traded by the New York Giants to the Cincinnati Reds in 1947.
On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Make Their Mark on June 6 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players! Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.
Former San Diego State hoopers Tony Clark, Tony Gwynn and Graig Nettles made MLB news on this date. 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.
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.
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.
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.
Been Around the Block: All Roads in MEAC Appear to Lead to Hampton
Former Hampton coach Byron Samuels left Florida A&M but two other ex-Hampton mentors (Maryland-Eastern Shore's Bobby Collins and Howard's Kevin Nickelberry) remain in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. New Duquesne bench boss Keith Dambrot departed the Mid-American Conference (Central Michigan and Akron) and also exited the following alphabetical list of active coaches who were bench bosses of two different schools in the same league: