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:

Active Coach Conference Previous School Present School
Duggar Baucom Southern Virginia Military (2015) The Citadel (since 2016)
Horace Broadnax Mid-Eastern Athletic Bethune-Cookman (1998-2002) Savannah State (since 2006)
Bobby Collins Mid-Eastern Athletic Hampton (2003-06) and Winston-Salem State (2008-10) Maryland-Eastern Shore (since 2015)
Steve Donahue Ivy League Cornell (2001-10) Penn (since 2016)
Cliff Ellis Sun Belt South Alabama (1977-84) Coastal Carolina (since 2017)
John Groce Mid-American Ohio University (2009-12) Akron (since 2018)
Bill Herrion North Atlantic/America East Drexel (1992-99) New Hampshire (since 2007)
Barry Hinson Missouri Valley Missouri State (2000-08) Southern Illinois (since 2013)
Bob Huggins Big 12 Kansas State (2007) West Virginia (since 2013)
Ernie Kent Pacific-10/12 Oregon (1998-2010) Washington State (since 2015)
Cuonzo Martin Southeastern Tennessee (2012-14) Missouri (since 2018)
Porter Moser Missouri Valley Illinois State (2004-07) Loyola of Chicago (since 2012)
Kevin Nickelberry Mid-Eastern Athletic Hampton (2007-10) Howard (since 2011)
Bruce Pearl SEC Tennessee (2006-11) Auburn (since 2015)
Keith Richard Sun Belt Louisiana Tech (1999-2001) Louisiana-Monroe (since 2011)

On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Make Their Mark on June 5 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 Illinois hoopers Lou Boudreau, Hoot Evers and Wally Roettger supplied significant MLB performances on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 5 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

JUNE 5

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

No-No News: Volquez Still Has Way to Go to Match Ex-Hooper Sandy Koufax

In the aftermath of Edinson Volquez's no-hitter for the Miami Marlins, it's time to take a look at former college hoopers who went on to hurl a no-no at the major-league level. Brooklyn native Sandy Koufax attended Cincinnati one year on a combination baseball/basketball scholarship under coach Ed Jucker in both sports before signing a pro baseball contract. Koufax was the third-leading scorer with 9.7 ppg for the Bearcats' 12-2 freshman squad in 1953-54 before hurling no-hitters in four straight seasons the first half of the 1960s.

Two former Bucknell products - Bob Keegan and Christy Mathewson - are among the following ex-college basketball players going on to toss a MLB no-hitter (listed in reverse order):

Date No-Hit Ex-Hooper MLB Team Opponent Score Basketball College
5-14-1977 Jim Colborn Kansas City Royals Texas Rangers 6-0 Whittier CA
8-24-1975 Ed Halicki San Francisco Giants New York Mets 6-0 Monmouth NJ
7-30-1973 Jim Bibby Texas Rangers Oakland A's 6-0 Fayetteville State NC
8-14-1971 Bob Gibson St. Louis Cardinals Pittsburgh Pirates 11-0 Creighton
9-18-1968 Ray Washburn St. Louis Cardinals San Francisco Giants 2-0 Whitworth WA
6-10-1966 Sonny Siebert Cleveland Indians Washington Senators 2-0 Missouri
9-9-1965 Sandy Koufax Los Angeles Dodgers Chicago Cubs 1-0* Cincinnati
6-4-1964 Sandy Koufax Los Angeles Dodgers Philadelphia Phillies 3-0 Cincinnati
5-11-1963 Sandy Koufax Los Angeles Dodgers San Francisco Giants 8-0 Cincinnati
6-30-1962 Sandy Koufax Los Angeles Dodgers New York Mets 5-0 Cincinnati
8-20-1957 Bob Keegan Chicago White Sox Washington Senators 6-0 Bucknell
6-12-1954 Jim Wilson Milwaukee Braves Philadelphia Phillies 2-0 San Diego State
9-3-1947 Bill McCahan Philadelphia Athletics Washington Senators 3-0 Duke
8-21-1926 Ted Lyons Chicago White Sox Boston Red Sox 6-0 Baylor
5-5-1917 Ernie Koob St. Louis Browns Chicago White Sox 1-0 Western Michigan
6-13-1905 Christy Mathewson New York Giants Chicago Cubs 1-0 Bucknell
7-15-1901 Christy Mathewson New York Giants St. Louis Cardinals 5-0 Bucknell

*Perfect game.

On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Make Their Mark on June 4 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 Cincinnati hoopers Ethan Allen and Sandy Koufax provided MLB headlines on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 4 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

JUNE 4

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Swallowing Your Pride: Three Ohio Mid-Majors Add Ex-Power League Coach

Three Ohio mid-major schools (Akron, Cleveland State and Dayton) feature new head coaches previously piloting a power-conference member. Following is an alphabetical list of former power-league mentors - including John Groce (Akron/after stint at Illinois), Dennis Felton (Cleveland State/Georgia) and Anthony Grant (Dayton/Alabama) - swallowing their pride and currently toiling in more obscurity at mid-major level:

Active Head Coach Current Mid-Major School Previous Power League School(s)
Tommy Amaker Harvard (since 2007-08) Seton Hall (1997-98 through 2000-01) and Michigan (2001-02 through 2006-07)
Rod Barnes Cal State Bakersfield (since 2011-12) Mississippi (1998-99 through 2005-06)
Todd Bozeman Morgan State (since 2006-07) California (1992-93 through 1995-96)
Bill Carmody Holy Cross (since 2015-16) Northwestern (2000-01 through 2012-13)
Keno Davis Central Michigan (since 2012-13) Providence (2008-09 through 2010-11)
Kermit Davis Jr. Middle Tennessee State (since 2002-03) Texas A&M* (1990-91)
Mike Davis Texas Southern (since 2012-13) Indiana (2000-01 through 2005-06)
Johnny Dawkins UCF (since 2016-17) Stanford (2008-09 through 2015-16)
Ed DeChellis Navy (since 2011-12) Penn State (2003-04 through 2010-11)
Steve Donahue Penn (since 2015-16) Boston College (2010-11 through 2013-14)
Cliff Ellis Coastal Carolina (since 2007-08) Clemson (1984-85 through 1993-94) and Auburn (1994-95 through 2003-04)
Larry Eustachy Colorado State (since 2012-13) Iowa State (1998-99 through 2002-03)
Dennis Felton Cleveland State (since 2017-18) Georgia (2003-04 to 2008-09)
Tim Floyd Texas-El Paso (since 2010-11) Iowa State (1994-95 through 1997-98) and Southern California (2005-06 through 2008-09)
Travis Ford Saint Louis (since 2016-17) Oklahoma State (2008-09 through 2015-16)
Anthony Grant Dayton (since 2017-18) Alabama (2009-10 through 2014-15)
Brian Gregory South Florida (since 2017-18) Georgia Tech (2011-12 through 2015-16)
John Groce Akron (since 2017-18) Illinois (2012-13 through 2016-17)
Frank Haith Tulsa (since 2014-15) Miami FL (2004-05 through 2010-11) and Missouri (2011-12 through 2013-14)
Jeff Jones Old Dominion (since 2013-14) Virginia (1990-91 through 1997-98)
Jeff Lebo East Carolina (since 2010-11) Auburn (2004-05 through 2009-10)
Bobby McCullum Florida A&M (since 2017-18) South Florida (2003-04 through 2006-07**)
Ritchie McKay Liberty (2007-08, 2008-09 and since 2015-16) Oregon State (2000-01 and 2001-02)
Dan Monson Long Beach State (since 2007-08) Minnesota (1999-00 to 2006-07)
Eddie Payne USC Upstate (since 2002-03) Oregon State (1995-96 through 1999-00)
Rick Ray Southeast Missouri State (since 2015-16) Mississippi State (2012-13 through 2014-15)
Doc Sadler Southern Mississippi (since 2014-15) Nebraska (2006-07 through 2011-12)
Kelvin Sampson Houston (since 2014-15) Washington State (1987-88 through 1993-94), Oklahoma (1994-95 through 2005-06) and Indiana (2006-07 and 2007-08)
Herb Sendek Santa Clara (since 2016-17) North Carolina State (1996-97 through 2005-06) and Arizona State (2006-07 through 2014-15)
Al Skinner Kennesaw State (since 2015-16) Boston College (1997-98 through 2009-10)

*SEC member Texas A&M was in SWC at the time.
**South Florida's inaugural season in Big East Conference was 2006-07.

On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Make Their Mark on June 3 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 Cameron Drew (New Haven) and Dennis Rasmussen (Creighton) were MLB first-round draft selections on this date before eventually reaching the bigs. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 3 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

JUNE 3

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Make Their Mark on June 2 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 Frank Howard (Ohio State), David Justice (Thomas More KY), Danny Litwhiler (Bloomsburg PA), Jerry Martin (Furman) and Graig Nettles (San Diego State) each hammered two homers in a single MLB game on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 2 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

JUNE 2

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Avery Johnson Only Active Coach Posting Winning Career Record in NBA

A total of 13 active NCAA Division I coaches are former NBA bench bosses. Alabama's Avery Johnson is the only individual in this group to post a winning career record in the NBA (254-186 with Dallas Mavericks and New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets). NCAA Tournament titlists John Calipari and Rick Pitino were among the other 12 mentors in this category combining to win fewer than 43% of their NBA regular-season games prior to Slick Rick being cast adrift by Louisville.

This professional downgrade is not a new trend. Former Final Four coaches P.J. Carlesimo, Lou Carnesecca, Ed Jucker, Doggie Julian, Mike Montgomery, Jerry Tarkanian, Butch van Breda Kolff and Tex Winter also compiled sub-.500 worksheets in the NBA/ABA. Mike Dunleavy Sr. (seven), Johnson (four), Calipari (one), Pitino (one) and Terry Porter (one) accounted for the 14 winning records in a total of 54 NBA seasons among the following active DI mentors:

Head Coach Current School Career College Mark NBA Record Winning NBA Years
John Calipari Kentucky 652-191 (.773) 72-112 (.391) 1 of 3
Michael Curry Florida Atlantic 27-64 (.297) 39-43 (.476) 0 of 1
Mike Dunlap Loyola Marymount 365-160 (.695) 21-61 (.256) 0 of 1
Mike Dunleavy Sr. Tulane 6-25 (.194) 613-716 (.461) 7 of 17
Tim Floyd Texas-El Paso 444-248 (.642) 90-231 (.280) 0 of 5
Leonard Hamilton Florida State 504-406 (.554) 19-63 (.232) 0 of 1
Avery Johnson Alabama 37-30 (.552) 254-186 (.577) 4 of 7
Lon Kruger Oklahoma 601-381 (.612) 69-122 (.361) 0 of 3
Larry Krystkowiak Utah 154-105 (.595) 31-69 (.310) 0 of 2
Eric Musselman Nevada 52-21 (.712) 108-138 (.439) 0 of 3
Rick Pitino Louisville 770-269 (.741) 192-220 (.466) 1 of 6
Terry Porter Portland 11-22 (.333) 99-116 (.460) 1 of 3
Reggie Theus Cal State Northridge 88-104 (.458) 44-62 (.415) 0 of 2

On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Make Their Mark on June 1 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 Donn Clendenon (Morehouse GA), Mike Hargrove (Northwestern Oklahoma State), Harvey Hendrick (Vanderbilt) and Ed Morgan (Tulane) manufactured at least four hits in a MLB game on this date as a first baseman. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 1 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

JUNE 1

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Los Angeles Dodgers 2B Davey Lopes (NAIA All-District 15 selection for Iowa Wesleyan averaged 16.9 ppg as freshman in 1964-65 and 12.1 ppg as sophomore in 1965-66 before transferring with his coach to Washburn KS) whacked two homers against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1979 outing.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Make Their Mark on May 31 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.

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

MAY 31

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Pittsburgh Pirates SS Dick Groat (two-time All-American with Duke in 1950-51 and 1951-52 when finishing among nation's top five scorers each season) delivered five hits in a 4-3 victory against the Cincinnati Reds in 1960.

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

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

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

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

  • Los Angeles Dodgers 2B Davey Lopes (NAIA All-District 15 selection for Iowa Wesleyan averaged 16.9 ppg as freshman in 1964-65 and 12.1 ppg as sophomore in 1965-66 before transferring with his coach to Washburn KS) stroked three doubles against the San Francisco Giants in a 1979 outing.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • San Diego Padres OF Will Venable (All-Ivy League first-team selection as junior and second-team choice as senior averaged 9.3 ppg under Princeton coach John Thompson III from 2001-02 through 2004-05) went 4-for-4 in a 4-2 win against the Chicago White Sox in 2014.

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

Stately Procession: Five New Mentors Previously Coached In Same State

Five new mentors - John Groce (Akron), Jim Hayford (Seattle), Kevin Keatts (North Carolina State), Bobby McCullum (Florida A&M) and Paul Weir (New Mexico) - previously coached another NCAA Division I university in the same state. After former Xavier pilot Thad Matta departed from Ohio State, following is an alphabetical list of the 17 active coaches presently a bench boss in same state where they previously coached another DI school:

Head Coach State Current DI School Previous DI School in Same State
Tad Boyle CO Colorado (since 2010-11) Northern Colorado (2006-07 through 2009-10)
Ken Burmeister TX Incarnate Word (since 2006-07) Texas-San Antonio (1986-87 through 1989-90)
Fran Dunphy PA Temple (since 2006-07) Penn (1989-90 through 2005-06)
Cliff Ellis* SC Coastal Carolina (since 2007-08) Clemson (1984-85 through 1993-94)
John Groce OH Akron (since 2017-18) Ohio University (2008-09 through 2011-12)
Leonard Hamilton FL Florida State (since 2002-03) Miami FL (1990-91 through 1999-00)
Jim Hayford WA Seattle (since 2017-18) Eastern Washington (2011-12 through 2016-17)
Jeff Jones VA Old Dominion (since 2013-14) Virginia (1990-91 through 1997-98)
Danny Kaspar TX Texas State (since 2013-14) Stephen F. Austin (2000-01 through 2012-13)
Kevin Keatts NC North Carolina State (since 2017-18) UNC Wilmington (2014-15 through 2016-17)
Bobby McCullum FL Florida A&M (since 2017-18) South Florida (2003-04 through 2006-07)
Porter Moser IL Loyola of Chicago (since 2011-12) Illinois State (2003-04 through 2006-07)
Rick Pitino KY Louisville (since 2001-02) Kentucky (1989-90 through 1996-97)
Keith Richard LA Louisiana-Monroe (since 2010-11) Louisiana Tech (1998-99 through 2006-07)
Paul Weir NM New Mexico (since 2017-18) New Mexico State (2016-17)
Willis Wilson TX Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (since 2011-12) Rice (1992-93 through 2007-08)
Reggie Witherspoon NY Canisius (since 2016-17) Buffalo (1999-00 through 2012-13)

*Ellis also coached two DI schools in Alabama (South Alabama and Auburn).

On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Make Their Mark on May 30 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 St. Joseph's (Ind.) and Oakland City (Ind.) hooper Gil Hodges owned this "doubleheader" date in MLB annals. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a May 30 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

MAY 30

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Pittsburgh Pirates SS Dick Groat (two-time All-American with Duke in 1950-51 and 1951-52 when finishing among nation's top five scorers each season) went 4-for-4 and scored four runs in the nightcap of a 1958 twinbill against the Milwaukee Braves.

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

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

  • Washington Senators LF Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection when leading Ohio State in scoring and rebounding in 1956-57 and 1957-58) hammered two homers and chipped in with six RBI against the Kansas City Athletics in the opener of a 1967 twinbill.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Beginner's Luck? Ex-Hofstra Hooper Brant Alyea Homered on 1st MLB At-Bat

How many Paul DeJongs were former college basketball players before making it on the diamond? DeJong (St. Louis Cardinals infielder) became the 118th MLB player hitting a homer in his first at-bat. Among the five ex-college hoopers homering in first at-bat on the following chronological list, Hofstra's Brant Alyea is the only one to go deep on the initial MLB pitch he faced:

Ex-Hooper College First MLB Team Date Opponent Yielding HR MLB Career HRs
Ace Parker Duke Philadelphia Phillies 4-30-37 Boston Red Sox 2
Ted Tappe Washington State Cincinnati Reds 9-14-50 Brooklyn Dodgers 5
Wally Moon Texas A&M St. Louis Cardinals 4-13-54 Chicago Cubs 142
Bill White Hiram (Ohio) New York Giants 5-7-56 St. Louis Cardinals 202
Brant Alyea* Hofstra Washington Senators 9-12-65 California Angels 38

*Alyea, who led Hofstra in scoring and rebounding in 1960-61 under coach Butch van Breda Kolff, is one of 29 players hitting homer on first MLB pitch he faced.

On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Make Their Mark on May 29 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 Liberty WV hooper Joe Niekro was involved in one of the most unusual incidents in MLB annals. The only homer of Niekro's 22-year career came in 1976 and came at the expense of his brother (24-year big leaguer Phil). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a May 29 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

MAY 29

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • OF Curtis Pride (led William & Mary in steals three times and assists twice while averaging 5.6 ppg and 3.1 apg from 1986-87 through 1989-90) pounded a pinch homer for the Atlanta Braves against the Chicago Cubs in 1998.

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

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

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

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

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

Risky Business: Jordan Hired by Butler Despite Losing Record Last Season

At the time, it seemed equivalent to betting everything on a penny stock. But it can turn into a bonanza as evidenced by Duke's Mike Krzyzewski going on to become the all-time winningest major-college mentor after arriving in Durham to homestead Krzyzewskiville on the heels of a season W-L record eight games below .500 with Army.

Could another Special K be in the mix when Derek Kellogg was hired by LIU after posting a losing mark last season with Massachusetts? Ditto at Butler, which summoned alumnus LaVall Jordan back to Indy following an anemic 11-24 ledger in his lone campaign with Milwaukee. Jordan and Kellogg join the following alphabetical list of active coaches hired by their current school despite coming off a season when they posted a losing record:

Active Coach Current School Losing Season Record With Previous School
Rod Barnes Cal State Bakersfield (since 2011-12) 11-18 with Georgia State in 2010-11
Duggar Baucom The Citadel (since 2015-16) 11-19 with Virginia Military in 2014-15
Mike Davis Texas Southern (since 2012-13) 15-16 with UAB in 2011-12
Tommy Dempsey Binghamton (since 2012-13) 13-19 with Rider in 2011-12
Travis Ford Saint Louis (since 2016-17) 12-20 with Oklahoma State in 2015-16
Jeff Jones Old Dominion (since 2013-14) 10-20 with American University in 2012-13
LaVall Jordan Butler (since 2017-18) 11-24 with Milwaukee in 2016-17
Derek Kellogg LIU (since 2017-18) 15-18 with Massachusetts in 2016-17
Mike Krzyzewski Duke (since 1980-81) 9-17 with Army in 1979-80
Jeff Lebo East Carolina (since 2010-11) 15-17 with Auburn in 2009-10
Jim Les UC Davis (since 2011-12) 12-20 with Bradley in 2010-11
Greg McDermott Creighton (since 2010-11) 15-17 with Iowa State in 2009-10
Rick Ray Southeast Missouri State (since 2015-16) 13-19 with Mississippi State in 2014-15

On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Make Their Mark on May 28 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 Frankie Baumholtz (Ohio University), Bob Cerv (Nebraska), David Justice (Thomas More KY), Billy North (Central Washington), Larry Sheets (Eastern Mennonite VA) and Babe Young (Fordham) supplied significant performances as MLB outfielders on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a May 28 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

MAY 28

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Immortality and Honor: College Basketball's Huge Impact on Memorial Day

The fallen didn't have to worry about manipulation of waiting lists and receiving proper medical care from the VA because they didn't make it back home alive. Unless you're an inferiority-complex coward comparable to MSNBC up-tight host Chris Hayes uncomfortable with calling fallen military "heroes" or #ShrillaryRotten lying in front of caskets at Air Force base, a Memorial Day weekend generates sobering reminders of what is really important to our freedom. College basketball ultimate-sacrifice contributions are aplenty.

While Baylor's football program became Animal House, the school's basketball roster developed a reputation the past several seasons for having some "soft" players who played with the fervor of a man holding his female companion's purse at the mall much of a shopping excursion afternoon. But Baylor is believed to be the only non-service academy in America to have two former athletes go on to win the Congressional Medal of Honor. Both men, Jack Lummus and John "Killer" Kane, earned the nation's highest military honor for heroics in World War II. Lummus played football, basketball and baseball for the Bears from 1938 through 1941. He was an All-Southwest Conference center fielder before signing with the NFL's New York Giants.

After one year of pro football, Lummus joined the U.S. Marines and was a platoon leader in the initial days of fighting on Iwo Jima. While leading a charge on enemy positions, Lummus stepped on a land mine and lost both legs. Despite heavy bleeding, he led his platoon to knock out several pockets of Japanese fire, a vital part of the U.S. victory. Alas, Lummus died of his wounds shortly after the battle.

Kane, who also played football and basketball, was one of the survivors on Baylor's ill-fated 1927 basketball squad that lost 10 of its 21-member traveling party in a bus-train wreck en route to Austin, Tex. As a result of the "Immortal Ten" tragedy, the remainder of the first of coach Ralph Wolf's 15 seasons was cancelled, and the first highway overpass in Texas was constructed.

Kane joined the Army Air Corps in 1932 and soon became a bomber commander of legendary proportions. It was said he was the best pilot and toughest commander in the Air Corps. It was often debated who feared him more - the Germans or his own men.

On August 1, 1943, Kane led what at the time was the deadliest air battle in history - a low-level, long-range bombing raid on Hitler's oil-refining complex in Rumania. The site produced a major portion of the Axis' fuel and was one of the most heavily-guarded locations in history.

Letting freedom ring, the heroism exhibited by ex-hoopers doesn't stop there. Al Brown, Creighton's leading scorer in 1925-26, survived the infamous Bataan Death March in the Philippines. Amid "Taps" playing in the background and issuing kudos to research by baseballsgreatestsacrifice.com, ex-players warranting salutes for making the supreme sacrifice include:

  • All 11 regulars on Pittsburgh's 1941 Final Four team participated in World War II and one of them, guard Bob Artman, was killed in action.

  • Kentucky players who competed multiple years for the Wildcats before they were killed during WWII included Mel Brewer (Army second lieutenant/died in France), Ken England (Army captain of ski troop/Italy), James Goforth (Marine first lieutenant/Marshall Islands) and Jim King (Army second lieutenant and co-pilot/Germany). Brewer, England and King were three of the top seven scorers for UK's first NCAA Tournament and Final Four team in 1942.

  • Bart Avery, an Alabama letterman in 1942 and 1943, was killed in action on April 6, 1945, as a newly-promoted captain aiding final push against the Germans.

  • Archie Buckley, letterman from 1928 to 1930 as a Washington State forward, was a Lieutenant in charge of physical conditioning of Navy pilots aboard the USS Saratoga aircraft carrier on February 21, 1945, when he was among 123 crew members dead or missing after five Kamikaze bomb hits.

  • Young Bussey, a letterman for LSU in the late 1930s, participated in numerous landing assaults in the South Pacific during WWII before dying as head beach-master in early January 1945 in the Philippines.

  • Bob "Ace" Calkins, UCLA's top scorer in the late 1930s before Jackie Robinson arrived, was navigator on an airplane ("The Flying Fortress") gunned down during WWII. He later died in an Italian prison camp from wounds suffered in the crash.

  • John Campbell, a four-year hooper for Dickinson (Pa.), was a Second Lieutenant who failed to return from Army Air Corps sea sweep mission off northeastern Tunisia in late March 1943.

  • Edward Christl, a center and Army team captain for the Cadets' unbeaten squad in 1944, was a first lieutenant during WWII the next year when he was killed in action. Army's arena is named after him.

  • Joe Comer, captain of George Washington's 1940-41 squad, was an Army Lieutenant two years later when he died in a military plane crash.

  • Andy Curlee, Auburn's captain in late 1930s, died on April 6, 1943, when the First Lieutenant was leading his squadron in Tunisia.

  • Francis "Reds" Daly, a Georgetown letterman from 1938 through 1940, was killed in action during the Battle of Iwo Jima on February 22, 1945.

  • George Davison, a Washington State letterman in 1943, was a Second Lieutenant on March 18, 1945, when he was killed in action while his infantry regiment was attacking German Siegfried Line positions south of Zweibrucken.

  • Colorado A&M's Lewis "Dude" Dent, voted the best all-around athlete in the Mountain States Conference in 1943, was an Army lieutenant among forward observers giving firing coordinates on the radio when killed in action in France in August 1944.

  • Edward Drake, who played for Rutgers in 1929-30, died on December 21, 1943, in a plane crash over the Mediterranean Sea shortly after his promotion to Major.

  • Bob Duffey, a backup swingman for Georgetown's 1943 NCAA Tournament runner-up, was killed on November 13, 1944, in European theater combat. Teammate Lloyd Potolicchio, who matched DePaul legend George Mikan's 11-point output in the 1943 national semifinals when the Hoyas eliminated the Blue Demons before bowing to Wyoming in title tilt, joined the Air Force. Potolicchio was boom operator Master Sergeant when killed in a refueling mission on January 17, 1966, in a B-52 crash off the coast of southern Spain. His KC-135 tanker was completely destroyed when its fuel load ignited, resulting in the B-52G breaking apart with B28RI hydrogen weapons falling to earth and plutonium contamination occurring near the fishing village of Palomares. In March 2009, Time magazine identified the Palomares accident as one of the world's "worst nuclear disasters."

  • Texas' Pete Edmond died on October 11, 1918, charging a German machine-gun position in the battle of the Argonne Forest, one of the bloodiest campaigns in the history of American warfare.

  • Charles "Herb" Fash averaged 7.2 points per game for Saint Louis from 1933-34 through 1935-36. On January 21, 1945, the Lieutenant was one of 52 sailors killed when a torpedo bomber, returning from a South Pacific sortie, made a routine landing on the USS Hancock, taxied and disintegrated in an explosion as one of its 500-pound bombs detonated on the aircraft carrier.

  • Bob Fischer, letterman in 1941 and 1942 as a Notre Dame guard, was serving with an Army squadron on November 17, 1944, when he was killed while bailing out of his fighter plane as it went down in flames over Italy.

  • William Gamber, a hooper for Tri-State (Ind.), was a pilot who died with three aspiring Army Air Corps fliers on November 18, 1942, on a routine training mission after leaving Mather Field in Sacramento. In 1947, it was determined their plane crashed hundreds of miles off course into 13,841-foot-high Mount Darwin in Kings Canyon National Park after a hiker initially discovered some of the wreckage on a glacier. Sixty-three years later, climbers discovered his body entombed in ice.

  • Bob Gary, captain for Washington & Lee (Va.), was a navigator on a routine training flight in early February 1944 when his bomber crashed Southeast of El Paso.

  • Montana State's Cyrus Gatton, a pilot with the 11th Aero Squadron, was killed in action in Europe the first week in November 1918, a week before the Armistice was signed ending World War I.

  • James Gillespie, Georgia letterman in 1939, served in the Navy when killed in action.

  • Eddie Grant, who played basketball for Harvard at the turn of the 20th Century before becoming an infielder for 10 years in the majors, died from shelling on October 5, 1918, in the Argonne Forest, France, during WWI while in charge of his battalion after his commanding officer was killed.

  • Frank Haggerty, St. John's senior co-captain in 1939-40 who averaged 5 points per game in his three-year career under legendary coach Joe Lapchick, was a Second Lieutenant in Air Force. Haggerty was killed instantly on training mission in fall of 1942 when his plane crashed into the Catawba River in Charlotte area.

  • Ernie Holbrook was a three-year letterman as USC forward and hero of 1935 PCC playoff series against Oregon State. He died in mid-December 1944 during opening salvos of the Ardennes offensive in Luxembourg during the Battle of the Bulge.

  • Bob Holmes was a forward who helped guide Central Methodist (Mo.) to MCAU title in 1942-43. In the Marines invasion of Iwo Jima in mid-February 1945, he was mortally wounded while spraying the enemy with machine gun fire. Holmes subsequently was buried at sea.

  • Thomas P. Hunter, a three-year letterman who was a sophomore member of Kansas' 1940 runner-up, was killed in action against the Japanese on Guam, July 21, 1944, while fighting with the Ninth Marines as a first lieutenant. Hunter was elected posthumously as captain of the Jayhawks' 1945-46 squad that compiled a 19-2 record.

  • Nile Kinnick, Iowa's Heisman Trophy winner as a quarterback-halfback in 1939, played basketball for the Hawkeyes during his sophomore year, averaging 6.1 ppg to finish as their second-leading scorer. After bypassing pro football to attend law school, he was killed in a plane crash on June 2, 1943, on a routine training flight from the aircraft carrier USS Lexington off the coast of Venezuela while serving in the Navy. Kinnick's body never was recovered after his attempt to land in the water following a serious oil leak.

  • George Lenc, a four-year letterman for Augustana (Ill.) in the late 1930s, was completing his cadet training as a bombardier and navigator in mid-November 1942 when his bomber crashed near Pasco, Wash.

  • Felix Little, a player for Catawba (N.C.) in the late 1930s, was a Navy bomber pilot among nine crew and passengers who perished when a port engine exploded and plane crashed while leaving runway.

  • James Loenshal, a Dickinson (Pa.) hooper, was co-pilot on a mission to bomb an oil refinery near Vienna when the Lieutenant in Army Air Force's aircraft disintegrated in mid-air upon receiving a direct hit from enemy anti-aircraft artillery.

  • Walter "Whitey" Loos, an EIBC honorable mention selection as a Carnegie Tech (Pa.) center, died as a navigator in a B-24 plane crash in Brazil in mid-January 1944 on the final leg of a journey to Europe.

  • Center Bill Menke, the third-leading scorer for Indiana's 1940 NCAA champion who supplied a team-high 10 points in the Hoosiers' national semifinal victory over Duquesne, later became a Navy pilot and served in World War II. In January 1945, he was declared missing in action (and presumed dead) when he didn't return from a flight in the Caribbean.

  • John Messina, a member of coach Frank Keaney's innovative fast-break system at Rhode Island State in the mid-1930s, was a paratrooper when killed on July 13, 1943, during the invasion of Sicily.

  • Joe Minsavage appeared in 12 games for Syracuse before joining the Navy. On June 19, 1943, he was on board the Henry Knox in the Indian Ocean when it was torpedoed by a Japanese ship.

  • Army Air Force Lieutenant Ralph Nutter, who played for McNeese State's first basketball team when the school was a junior college, died in a plane crash in June 1943.

  • Mortimer "Whitey" O'Connell, who played a couple of seasons for Rutgers in the early 1930s, died on March 15, 1945, in a hospital in France.

  • Kenneth Omley, who played for Rutgers in the late 1930s and early 1940s, died while in England on November 25, 1944, as a result of wounds received in a plane crash.

  • Harry "Porky" O'Neill paced Gettysburg (Pa.) to two Eastern Pennsylvania Conference championships in the late 1930s and caught one game for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1939. After surviving the worst of the horrific fighting at Iwo Jima, the Marine first lieutenant was killed instantly on March 6, 1945, by a sniper's bullet piercing his throat and severing his spinal cord as he prepared to bed down on a starlit night. Gettysburg teammate Gerst Buyer, a First Lieutenant, had died on May 25, 1944, in Italy amid heavy Armored Division tank losses.

  • Captain Scott Pace, who played for Army in 2002-03, died in Afghanistan on June 6, 2012, when the helicopter he was piloting crashed after being hit by Taliban fire.

  • Charles "Stubbie" Pearson, captain of Dartmouth's 1942 national runner-up and valedictorian of his class the same year, was killed in action on March 30, 1945, while dive-bombing a Japanese ship off the Palau Islands. Pearson, who also served as captain of the school's football squad, was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

  • Four-sport letterman Tommy Peters, who averaged 17.5 ppg to lead the Southern Conference in scoring in 1942-43, died during WWII after only one season with Davidson.

  • San Diego State's Milton "Milky" Phelps, the NAIA Tournament's first bona fide standout when he sparked the Aztecs to the 1941 title after two runner-up finishes, gave his life for his country during WWII in the crash of a Navy torpedo bomber.

  • Curtis Popham, Texas' co-captain in 1943, was killed during WWII.

  • Robert Roach, a member of Omaha's squad before entering the military, was a second lieutenant in the Army Air Forces in July 1945 when he died in the crash of his plane in Arizona, where he was an instructor.

  • Jim Robertson was an All-Northwest Conference selection for Willamette (Ore.) in 1941-42. The Marine Corps airman's bomber, damaged by Japanese anti-aircraft fire in the South Pacific, overshot an island runway attempting a landing in heavy rain and crashed into a lagoon.

  • Glenn Sanford, who enrolled at Hillsdale (Mich.) in the late 1930s, was an Army Second Lieutenant stationed in Oakland area in early November 1943 when his plane spiraled into the ocean on a routine patrol along the coast.

  • Wilmeth Sidat-Singh, Syracuse's first African-American athlete in the late 1930s, became a fighter pilot in a unit known as the Tuskegee Airmen. On May 9, 1943, Sidat-Singh was on a training run over Lake Huron when he radioed his engine was on fire. He ejected from the plane but, upon striking the water, Sidat-Singh's parachute pulled him down and caused drowning.

  • Carleton (MN) forward Wayne Sparks, a "Little All-American" in 1936-37, died in a bomber crash during WWII.

  • Len Supulski, a standout end who also played basketball for Dickinson (Pa.), died in the crash of a B-17 bomber during a routine Army Air Corps training flight near Kearney, Neb., in late August 1943.

  • Charles Taggart, who played in 39 games for Syracuse in the early 1930s, was in the Navy on board the USS Frederick C. Davis on April 24, 1945, when the destroyer escort was torpedoed by a German U-boat.

  • Ed Tuttle, a forward for Lenior-Rhyne (N.C.), was an Air Cadet in the spring of 1942 when his plane collided head-on with another during training in Florida.

  • Jimmy Walker was an All-SEC Tournament selection in 1934 and 1935 as an Alabama forward. While on duty as first lieutenant with the Navy, he was seriously wounded in an accident and died in mid-December 1943 in Brazil.

  • Four-time All-MCAU forward Eugene "Peaches" Westover, class of '38 for Drury (MO), was killed December 12, 1944, at the Battle of the Bulge while private first class served in Armored Division.

  • Gene Ziesel, who also played football for Creighton, was the co-pilot on a bomber shot down by the Germans at high altitude on January 11, 1943, over Italy. Previously, he was a POW in Turkey after his plane was grounded there, but this time he did not survive.

Numerous standout players had their college playing careers sidetracked by WWII. Following is a list of All-Americans who had their college days interrupted in the mid-1940s while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces:

Air Force - Charles Black (Kansas) and Jack Parkinson (Kentucky).

Army - Don Barksdale (UCLA), Lew Beck (Oregon State), A.L. Bennett (Oklahoma A&M), Gale Bishop (Washington State), Vince Boryla (Notre Dame/Denver), Harry Boykoff (St. John's), Bob Brannum (Kentucky), Arnie Ferrin (Utah), Alex Groza (Kentucky), Ralph Hamilton (Indiana), Walt Kirk (Illinois), Allie Paine (Oklahoma), Don Rehfeldt (Wisconsin), Jack Smiley (Illinois), Odie Spears (Western Kentucky) and Gerry Tucker (Oklahoma).

Marine Corps - Aud Brindley (Dartmouth), John Hargis (Texas), Mickey Marty (Loras), Andy Phillip (Illinois), Gene Rock (southern California) and Kenny Sailors (Wyoming).

Navy - Bobby Cook (Wisconsin), Howie Dallmar (Stanford/Penn), Dick Dickey (North Carolina State), Bob Faught (Notre Dame), Harold Gensichen (Western Michigan), Wyndol Gray (Bowling Green State), Hal Haskins (Hamline), Leo Klier (Notre Dame), Dick McGuire (St. John's) and John Oldham (Western Kentucky).

In an incredible achievement, Phillip and Tucker returned to first-team All-American status in 1946-47 after missing three seasons while serving in the military. Black and Sailors also returned to All-American acclaim after missing two seasons. Meanwhile, Whitey Skoog served in the U.S. Navy before becoming a three-time All-American with Minnesota in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

Gus Broberg, an aviator with the Marines after being named an NCAA consensus first-team All-American for Dartmouth in 1940 and 1941, lost his right arm in a plane crash. He went on to study law and become a respected judge in Florida. Eventual Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas Maurice Britt was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor after suffering numerous wounds, including one causing his right arm to be amputated. In an intense fire fight during WWII, Britt personally killed five and wounded an unknown number of Germans, wiped out one enemy machine gun crew, fired five clips of carbine and an undetermined amount of M1 rifle ammunition plus threw 32 fragmentation grenades.

Fallen heroes also emerged post-WWII. Gene Berger, who started 43 games for Syracuse from 1939-40 through 1941-42, was 41 while serving on the USS Lexington stationed in San Diego in mid-September 1961 when his plane crashed into the ocean shortly after takeoff during maneuvers. Don Holleder, who averaged 9.3 ppg as a junior and 6.8 ppg as a senior for Army in the mid-1950s, was a major during the Vietnam War in October, 1967, when he was killed by a sniper's bullet in an ambush 40 miles from Saigon as he hurled himself into enemy fire attempting to rescue wounded comrades. Three months earlier, Don Steinbrunner, who averaged 3.9 ppg for Washington State in 1951-52 before playing with the NFL's Cleveland Browns, was an Air Force navigator shot down and killed over Vietnam.

We honor and remember after they went from the playing field to battlefield! For instance, former Dayton standout Bucky Buckhorn had older brothers killed in WWII and the Korean War. That's why right-thinking Americans are disgusted when a Democratic-controlled Senate several years ago had time for signing a letter encouraging the NFL to have the Washington Redskins change their "bigoted" nickname but wasn't "big" enough or sufficiently honorable to prevent stalling of a three-page veterans health bill. Petty politicians, transitioning from Tear Down This Wall to Tear Down This Stall, may forget their "sacred obligation" similar to previous POTUS' lame emphasis on climate change rather than military salutes at a Coast Guard ceremony. However, the remainder of us will be "Rolling Thunder" and not forget genuine heroes.

On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Make Their Mark on May 27 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 Santa Clara basketball guards Tim Cullen and Randy Winn each had MLB-career defining games on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a May 27 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

MAY 27

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wiley is 5th Small-School Transfer This Century to Become DI League MVP

Despite what you might read elsewhere, a striking number of major-college standouts started their careers playing for a four-year small college before transferring. Of course, the most prominent player in this category is all-time great Elgin Baylor. After leaving College of Idaho, Baylor became an NCAA unanimous first-team All-American with Seattle in 1957-58. This season, Eastern Washington forward Jake Wiley (transfer from Lewis-Clark State ID) became the fifth player in the 21st Century to earn MVP honors in a DI league after transferring from a small college.

Wiley joined Alabama coach Avery Johnson on the following chronological list of 11 mid-major conference POY selections since the NCAA playoffs expanded to at least 64 teams in 1985 after previously playing for non-Division I four-year schools during their college careers:

Season League Player of Year Pos. Division I School Conference Four-Year Small College
1986-87 Bob McCann C Morehead State Ohio Valley Upsala (N.J.)
1987-88 Avery Johnson G Southern (La.) SWAC Cameron (Okla.)
1987-88 Larry Jones F Boston University ECAC North Atlantic C.W. Post (N.Y.)
1990-91 Marcus Kennedy F-C Eastern Michigan Mid-American Ferris State (Mich.)
1993-94 Tucker Neale G Colgate Patriot League Ashland (Ohio)
1996-97 Johnny Taylor F UT-Chattanooga Southern Knoxville (Tenn.)
2000-01 Demond Stewart G Niagara Metro Atlantic Mercyhurst (Pa.)
2003-04 Miah Davis G Pacific Big West Cal State Stanislaus
2004-05 Yemi Nicholson C Denver Sun Belt Fort Lewis (Colo.)
2013-14 Davion Berry G-F Weber State Big Sky Cal State Monterey Bay
2016-17 Jacob Wiley F Eastern Washington Big Sky Lewis-Clark State (Idaho)

On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Make Their Mark on May 26 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.

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

MAY 26

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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