On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Make Their Mark on April 18 MLB Games

April 18th, 2017 - 6:38

Extra! Extra! Read all about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players! Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.

Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an April 18 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

APRIL 18

  • Philadelphia Phillies INF Gene Freese (West Liberty WV basketball captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team) smacked a pinch grand slam against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1959 game.

  • San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-WAC second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) went 5-for-5 against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1993 contest.

  • Texas Rangers 1B Mike Hargrove (Northwestern Oklahoma State hoops letterman) collected four hits and five RBI against the Milwaukee Brewers in the opener of a 1976 doubleheader.

  • RHP Jim Konstanty (Syracuse hooper in late 1930s) traded by the Cincinnati Reds with cash to the Boston Braves in 1946.

  • Los Angeles Dodgers LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman hoops squad in 1953-54) threw the second of two immaculate innings in his career when he struck out the side on nine pitches against the Cincinnati Reds in third frame in 1964.

  • Atlanta Braves CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) provided a homer among his five hits in a 14-0 romp over the Colorado Rockies in 1997. Five years later with the Chicago White Sox, Lofton delivered multiple safeties seven times in a span of eight games while raising his batting average from .250 to .426 in 2002.

  • Davey Lopes (NAIA All-District 15 selection for Iowa Wesleyan averaged 16.9 ppg and 3.4 rpg as freshman in 1964-65 and 12.1 ppg as sophomore in 1965-66 before transferring with his coach to Washburn KS) fired as manager of the Milwaukee Brewers in 2002.

  • San Francisco Giants CF Billy North (played hoops briefly for Central Washington in 1967-68) stole three bases against the Atlanta Braves in 1981.

  • Montreal Expos RHP Steve Renko (averaged 9.9 ppg and 5.8 rpg as Kansas sophomore in 1963-64) won his first start of season against the New York Mets before dropping last 10 decisions of the 1972 campaign.

  • Hall of Fame RHP Robin Roberts (one of Michigan State's top three scorers each season from 1944-45 through 1946-47) surrendered the first hit on artificial turf in 1966 when Los Angeles Dodgers SS Maury Wills singled to center at Houston's Astrodome.

  • 1B Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) ripped his first homer for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947 (against New York Giants). The blast was Robinson's lone round-tripper in his first 30 MLB games.

  • New York Yankees RHP Roy Sherid (Albright PA hoops center in 1926-27 and 1927-28) toiled 15 innings but lost, 5-4, against the Boston Red Sox in 1931.

  • RHP Cecil Upshaw (led Centenary in scoring as junior while averaging 13.7 ppg and 6 rpg from 1961-62 through 1963-64) registered his fourth victory hurling at least three innings of relief in the Atlanta Braves' first 11 games of the 1971 season.

  • Philadelphia Athletics 3B Billy Werber (first Duke hoops All-American in 1929-30) provided four safeties in season opener en route to seven multiple-hit games in his first 11 outings of the 1938 campaign.

On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Make Their Mark on April 17 MLB Games

April 17th, 2017 - 7:12

Extra! Extra! Read all about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players! Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.

Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an April 17 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

APRIL 17

  • Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) contributed four hits against the Cincinnati Reds in the nightcap of a 1955 twinbill.

  • Philadelphia Phillies LF Harry Anderson (averaged 7.7 ppg and 8.9 rpg for West Chester PA in 1951-52) hammered two homers against the Milwaukee Braves in a 1960 game.

  • Milwaukee Braves 2B Frank Bolling (averaged 7.3 ppg for Spring Hill AL in 1950-51) smacked two homers in a 5-2 win against the Houston Colt .45s in 1964.

  • Baltimore Orioles CF Al Bumbry (Virginia State's runner-up in scoring with 16.7 ppg as freshman in 1964-65) stroked four hits against the Kansas City Royals in 1981.

  • Detroit Tigers 1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in WAC games in 1991-92) homered in his third consecutive contest in 1997.

  • Cincinnati Reds CF Harry Craft (four-sport hoops letterman with Mississippi College in early 1930s) accumulated four hits and five RBI in a 7-6 setback against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1941.

  • Chicago White Sox RHP Eddie Fisher (hooper for Oklahoma's 1954-55 freshman squad) hurled his first complete game in 10 years. Fisher also won his next three starts by yielding only one earned run covering 18 innings.

  • Kansas City Royals RHP Dave Frost (averaged 10.5 ppg and 4 rpg for Stanford from 1971-72 through 1973-74) registered his third relief victory in four games early in 1982.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates LHP Joe Gibbon (two-time All-SEC forward for Ole Miss was the nation's second-leading scorer as a senior in 1956-57), making his MLB debut in the nightcap of a doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds in 1960, threw two scoreless innings of relief and emerged as the winner when the Bucs erupted for six runs in the ninth.

  • Utilityman Chuck Harmon (freshman starter was Toledo's second-leading scorer for 1943 NIT runner-up) became the second black player for the Cincinnati Reds when pinch-hitting against the Milwaukee Braves in a 1954 contest.

  • Baltimore Orioles 2B Davey Johnson (averaged 1.7 ppg with Texas A&M in 1961-62) provided back-to-back four-hit games against the Boston Red Sox in 1969.

  • Chicago White Sox RHP Bob Keegan (Bucknell hoops letterman in 1941-42 and 1942-43) toiled at least eight innings for the first of 10 straight starts in 1954, including a pair of shutouts.

  • Detroit Tigers SS Harvey Kuenn (played briefly for Wisconsin in 1951-52 after competing on JV hoops squad previous season) stroked three doubles among his four hits against the Kansas City Athletics in a 1955 game.

  • Milwaukee Braves SS Johnny Logan (Binghamton hooper in 1948-49) jacked two homers in a 5-1 win against the Cincinnati Reds in 1954.

  • Chicago White Sox RHP Ted Lyons (two-time All-SWC first-team selection for Baylor in early 1920s) hurled a shutout against the Cleveland Indians in his season debut. The 41-year-old Lyons went the distance in all 20 starts during the 1942 campaign en route to posting an A.L.-best 2.10 ERA.

  • Philadelphia Phillies RF Bake McBride (averaged 12.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg in 21 games for Westminster MO in 1968-69 and 1969-70) collected two homers and five RBI against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 1979 contest.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Elmer Ponder (Oklahoma hoops letterman in 1913-14 and 1915-16) tossed a 13-inning shutout against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1920.

  • Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) secured his first safety with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. It was one of his 19 bunt hits as a rookie.

  • Chicago Cubs LF Riggs Stephenson (Alabama hoops letterman in 1920) supplied three extra-base hits, including a homer, in a six-inning, 3-0 victory against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1930.

  • Detroit Tigers RF Champ Summers (led SIUE in scoring in 1969-70 after doing same with Nicholls State in 1964-65) collected four hits against the Boston Red Sox, igniting a career-high 17-game hitting streak in 1980.

  • In 1989, Cincinnati Reds RHP Kent Tekulve (freshman hooper in mid-1960s for Marietta OH) passed Hoyt Wilhelm as MLB's all-time leader in relief appearances.

Small-Town Value: Numerous A-As Came From Smaller Outposts Than Happ

April 16th, 2017 - 21:08

Wisconsin All-American Ethan Happ came from an obscure hometown (Milan, IL) with small population (5,100). But there are a striking number of major-college All-Americans who came from significantly smaller outposts. Flyover-country hamlets offering little more than a part-time post office and gas station supplied the following standouts from municipalities with populations fewer than 1,000:

All-American Pos. Major College A-A Year(s) Hometown Population
James Anderson G Oklahoma State 2010 Junction City, AR 705
Forrest "Whitey" Baccus G Southern Methodist 1935 Estelline, TX 190
Frankie Baumholtz F Ohio University 1941 Midvale, OH 655
R. Gale Bishop F-C Washington State 1943 Sumas, WA 710
Tom Burleson C North Carolina State 1973 and 1974 Newland, NC 720
Bob Burrow C Kentucky 1955 and 1956 Wells, TX 925
A.W. Davis F Tennessee 1965 Rutledge, TN 830
Evan Eschmeyer C Northwestern 1999 New Knoxville, OH 760
Pat Garrity F Notre Dame 1998 Monument, CO 690
Joe Gibbon F Mississippi 1957 Hickory, MS 670
Gary Gray G Oklahoma City 1967 Fort Cobb, OK 760
Jimmy Hagan C Tennessee Tech 1959 Glendale, KY 300
Charles Halbert C West Texas State 1942 House, NM 120
Bob Harris C Oklahoma A&M 1949 Linden, TN 750
Kirk Haston F-C Indiana 2001 Lobelville, TN 915
Don Hennon G Pittsburgh 1958 and 1959 Wampum, PA 665
Bailey Howell F-C Mississippi State 1958 and 1959 Middleton, TN 595
Dick Ives F Iowa 1945 Diagonal, IA 360
Paul Judson G Illinois 1956 Hebron, IL 785
Dean Kelley G Kansas 1953 McCune, KS 530
Henry "Bud" Koper F-G Oklahoma City 1964 Rocky, OK 240
Paul Lindemann C Washington State 1941 Cowiche, WA 425
Karl Malone F Louisiana Tech 1985 Summerfield, LA 370
E. "Branch" McCracken F Indiana 1930 Monrovia, IN 860
Ryan Minor F Oklahoma 1995 and 1996 Hammon, OK 865
Phillip "Red" Murrell F Drake 1958 Linneus, MO 420
Willie Murrell F Kansas State 1964 Taft, OK 490
Otto Porter Jr. F Georgetown 2013 Morley, MO 697
Bryant Reeves C Oklahoma State 1994 and 1995 Gans, OK 345
Jack Smiley G Illinois 1943 Waterman, IL 945
Ray Steiner G St. Louis 1952 Bland, MO 660
John Stroud F Mississippi 1980 Myrtle, MS 400
Terry Teagle G-F Baylor 1982 Broaddus, TX 190
Gary Thompson G Iowa State 1957 Roland, IA 710
Jack Tingle F Kentucky 1947 Bedford, KY 835
Gene Tormohlen C Tennessee 1959 Holland, IN 685
Carlyle "Blackie" Towery C Western Kentucky 1940 and 1941 Shady Grove, KY 100
Kenny Walker F Kentucky 1985 and 1986 Roberta, GA 860
Waldo Wegner C Iowa State 1935 Everly, IA 350
Murray Wier G-F Iowa 1948 Grandview, IA 475
Win Wilfong F Memphis State 1957 Puxico, MO 830

On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Make Their Mark on April 16 MLB Games

April 16th, 2017 - 6:07

Extra! Extra! Read all about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players! Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.

Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an April 16 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

APRIL 16

  • Detroit Tigers 2B Frank Bolling (averaged 7.3 ppg for Spring Hill AL basketball team in 1950-51), en route to hitting .632 through first five games of the 1958 campaign, banged out four hits in a 5-4 win against the Chicago White Sox.

  • Kansas City Athletics LF Bob Cerv (ranked fourth on Nebraska's career scoring list in 1949-50 when finishing college career) collected three extra-base hits and five RBI in a 9-4 triumph against the Cleveland Indians in 1958.

  • 1B Kerby Farrell (key hooper for couple of strong Freed-Hardeman TN squads in mid-1930s) purchased from the Boston Braves by the Chicago White Sox in 1945.

  • Houston Astros C Joe Ferguson (played in 1967 NCAA playoffs with Pacific) furnished three extra-base hits against the Atlanta Braves in a 1977 game.

  • Philadelphia Athletics RF Walt French (hoops letterman for Rutgers and Army) furnished four hits against the Washington Senators in a 1926 contest.

  • Debut with San Francisco Giants for RHP Rich Gale (led New Hampshire with 7.2 rpg in 1975-76) was a success, hurling a three-hit, 6-1 victory against the Cincinnati Reds in 1982.

  • St. Louis Cardinals RHP Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer and rebounder in 1955-56 and 1956-57) and Philadelphia Phillies P Cal McLish both fail to finish the first inning when each starter allowed six runs in the Cards' 12-6 win at Philly in 1962.

  • Chicago White Sox C Frank Grube (Lafayette starting hoops guard as senior in 1926-27) went 4-for-4 against the Cleveland Indians in a 1932 game.

  • San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-WAC second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) went 5-for-5 against the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 1987 contest en route to N.L.-high 218 hits.

  • Cleveland Indians CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) delivered three extra-base hits against the Toronto Blue Jays in a 1993 contest.

  • Milwaukee Braves SS Johnny Logan (Binghamton hooper in 1948-49) went 5-for-5 against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1955 game.

  • Final blast of 390 MLB career homers by 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) was a pinch-hit, game-tying round-tripper for the Montreal Expos against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1988.

  • RHP Roy Parmelee (hoops letterman for Eastern Michigan in 1924-25 and 1925-26) purchased from the Chicago Cubs by the Boston Red Sox in 1938.

  • In a 1931 contest, Cincinnati Reds RF Wally Roettger (Illinois hoops letterman in 1921-22 and 1922-23) went 5-for-5 against his original team (St. Louis Cardinals).

Celebrating Former Hooper Jackie By Acknowledging 42 Other MLB Players

April 15th, 2017 - 17:06

"A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives." - Jackie Robinson

Every sports fan accepts the cultural significance of Jackie Robinson Day, an annual event commemorating and honoring the groundbreaking day he made his debut 70 years ago with the Brooklyn Dodgers as MLB's first African-American player.

But what many observers might not know about Robinson is the impact he also had in basketball. UCLA's initial all-conference hooper in the 1940s was a forward who compiled the highest scoring average in the Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with the Bruins (12.3 points per league game in 1939-40 and 11.1 ppg in 1940-41) after transferring from Pasadena (Calif.) City College. Continuing his scoring exploits, the six-time National League All-Star was the leading scorer for the Los Angeles Red Devils' barnstorming team in 1946-47.

In deference to Robinson's uniform number, following is an alphabetical list of 42 more of the best African-American basketball players for four-year colleges who subsequently played at the MLB level (including Cincinnati Reds regal rookie Amir Garrett):

College Hooper Four-Year School Summary of Basketball Career Summary of MLB Career
Ron Allen Youngstown State Averaged 14.7 ppg from 1961-62 through 1963-64, leading Penguins in scoring and rebounding as sophomore. Only hit in 11 MLB at-bats for 1B and brother of Dick Allen and Hank Allen was homer with St. Louis Cardinals at San Diego in 1972.
George Altman Tennessee State Four-year letterman was forward on teams compiling 88-17 record from 1951-52 through 1954-55 (including two NAIA Tournament appearances). Two-time All-Star 1B hit .269 with 102 home runs in nine seasons from 1959 through 1967 with Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets before playing eight years in Japan.
Jim Bibby Fayetteville State (N.C.) Backup hooper's brother, Fred, set Fayetteville State single-season record with 18.1 rpg in 1963-64. Their younger brother, Henry, was All-American guard with UCLA. RHP compiled 111-101 record and 3.76 ERA with St. Louis Cardinals, Texas Rangers, Cleveland Indians and Pittsburgh Pirates in 12 seasons from 1972 through 1984. Hurled first no-hitter in Rangers history in 1973 and started two games for victorious Pirates in 1979 World Series.
Dorian "Doe" Boyland Wisconsin-Oshkosh Averaged 5.6 ppg and 3.4 rpg in half a season in 1974-75. 1B had two hits in 19 at-bats with Pittsburgh Pirates in three years from 1978 to 1981. Traded to San Francisco Giants but never played for them.
Al Bumbry Virginia State Averaged 16.7 ppg (team runner-up) as freshman in 1964-65 and 12.4 ppg plus 4.6 rpg as junior in 1966-67. Lefthanded-swinging OF hit .281 with Baltimore Orioles and San Diego Padres in 14 years from 1972 through 1985. Hit .337 as A.L. Rookie of the Year in 1973 when tying MLB single-game record with three triples. Finished among top nine in stolen bases five times in first nine years. Participated in World Series in 1979 and 1983.
Ray Burris Southwestern Oklahoma State Two-sport standout is in school's Hall of Fame. RHP compiled 108-134 record and 4.17 ERA with Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees, New York Mets, Montreal Expos, Oakland A's, Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals in 15 years from 1973 through 1987. Started three postseason games for Expos in 1981 after averaging 227 innings pitched last four full seasons with Cubs.
Tony Clark Arizona/San Diego State Swingman averaged 11.6 ppg and 4.6 rpg for Aztecs as sophomore in 1991-92, leading them in scoring in WAC games. 1B averaged 31 HRs annually in four-year span from 1996 through 1999 with Detroit Tigers. Tallest switch-hitter (6-7) in MLB history hit .262 with 251 homers and 824 RBI in 15 seasons from 1995 through 2009 with Tigers, Red Sox, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres.
Donn Clendenon Morehouse (Ga.) Earned letters in four collegiate sports before leading Army base at Fort Jackson (Columbia, S.C.) to hoop title before discharge in time for spring training in 1959. 1B hit .274 with 159 home runs and 682 RBI with Pittsburgh Pirates, Montreal Expos, New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals in 12 years from 1961 through 1972. World Series MVP with "Miracle Mets" in 1969 when hitting three home runs (Games 2, 4 and 5).
Vince Colbert East Carolina ECU's first African-American hooper averaged 14.3 ppg and 7.3 rpg in 1966-67 and 1967-68. J.C. transfer led Pirates in rebounding as junior. RHP compiled 9-14 record and 4.57 ERA with Cleveland Indians in three years from 1970 through 1972. He was their only winning pitcher (7-6) with 10 or more starts in 1971.
George Crowe Indiana Central Four-year hoops letterman from 1939-40 through 1942-43 for college now known as University of Indianapolis after becoming first Indiana H.S. player named state's "Mr. Basketball." 1B hit .270 in nine years (1952, 1953 and 1955 through 1961) with Boston/Milwaukee Braves, Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals. One year after named All-Star, led N.L. in pinch-hits (17)in first season with Cards in 1959 before slugging MLB-record 11th pinch-hit HR in 1960.
Arthur "Bill" Davis Minnesota Averaged 6.4 ppg and 5 rpg from 1961-62 through 1963-64 under coach John Kundla. Forward contributed 12.5 ppg as senior for team including eventual NBA standouts Archie Clark and Lou Hudson. 1B hit .181 with Cleveland Indians and San Diego Padres in three seasons (1965, 1966 and 1969).
Larry Doby Virginia Union Attended LIU on hoops scholarship but transferred to VU after Uncle Sam summoned him for World War II service. Reserve guard on team winning 1943 CIAA title. Seven-time All-Star OF hit .283 with 253 HRs and 969 RBI in 13 years from 1947 through 1959 with Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox. First black player in A.L. twice led league in homers (1952 and 1954). Smacked 20 or more HRs eight seasons in row from 1949 through 1956.
Don Eaddy Michigan One of first two African-Americans to play hoops for Wolverines averaged 11.4 ppg in four seasons from 1951-52 through 1954-55. Led team in scoring in Big Ten Conference competition as sophomore. INF played briefly with Chicago Cubs in 1959.
Amir Garrett St. John's Averaged 7.4 ppg and 4 rpg in 2011-12 and 2012-13 under coach Steve Lavin prior to transfer to Northridge State, where he had RS year before focusing only on baseball. After representing Cincinnati Reds at 2016 All-Star Futures Game, LHP won his first two MLB decisions in April 2017 with six shutout innings in each start. In his third start, he tied Reds record for rookie LHP by fanning 12 Baltimore Orioles batters.
Bob Gibson Creighton First Bluejays player to average 20 ppg for his career (20.2). Led school in scoring in 1955-56 (40th in country with 22 ppg) and 1956-57 and was second-leading scorer in 1954-55. Hall of Famer compiled 251-174 pitching record with 3,117 strikeouts and 2.91 ERA in 17 seasons from 1959 through 1975 with St. Louis Cardinals. In 1968, RHP tossed 13 shutouts en route to a 1.12 ERA. Ranked among N.L. top six in strikeouts 11 times from 1961 through 1972. He hit 24 home runs and won nine consecutive Gold Gloves (1965 through 1973). Notched 7-2 mark and 1.89 ERA in nine World Series games, including strikeout record of 17 Tigers in 1968 contest.
Tony Gwynn San Diego State Averaged 8.6 ppg and 5.5 apg from 1977-78 through 1980-81. Second-team All-WAC selection as junior and senior. San Diego Padres OF hit .338 in 20 seasons (1982 through 2001), winning eight N.L. batting titles - 1984, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997. Played in 15th All-Star Game in 1999 before topping 3,000-hit plateau later in year.
Chuck Harmon Toledo Second-leading scorer as sophomore in 1946-47 (13.6 ppg) and as junior in 1947-48 (8.8). As freshman starter in 1942-43, swingman was second-leading scorer for 22-4 team finishing NIT runner-up. Utilityman hit .238 in four seasons from 1954 through 1957 with Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies.
Billy Harrell Siena When school's first African-American player finished career, he held school records for most points in season (396 in 1951-52), career and game (28 against Arizona State in 1951) plus most rebounds in season (387 in 1949-50). INF hit .231 in 173 games with Cleveland Indians (1955, 1957, 1958) and Boston Red Sox (1961).
Chuck Hinton Shaw (N.C.) Played multiple sports before serving two years in U.S. Army in mid-1950s. His brother, Checo, was lineman with him on football squad and power forward for hoops team. OF-INF played every defensive position while hitting .264 with Washington Senators, Cleveland Indians and California Angels in 11 A.L. seasons from 1961 through 1971. In 1962, he was runner-up in stolen bases in A.L. and finished fourth in batting average. First expansion Senator to be named to All-Star team was final Senator to hit .300.
Monte Irvin Lincoln (Pa.) Athletic career was nearly prematurely ended when infection from scratched hand in hoops game kept him close to death for seven weeks. Hall of Fame OF-1B hit .293 with 99 HRs and 443 RBI in eight years from 1949 through 1956 with New York Giants and Chicago Cubs. Irvin led N.L. in RBI with 121 in 1951 (same year led World Series in hitting with .458 mark vs. crosstown Yankees).
Anthony "Tony" Johnson LeMoyne-Owen (Tenn.) J.C. transfer forward was All-VSAC selection in 1976-77 and 1979-80 as team's top scorer. LF hit .232 with Montreal Expos and Toronto Blue Jays in two years in 1981 and 1982.
"Sweet" Lou Johnson Kentucky State Teammate of legendary coach Davey Whitney averaged 5.7 ppg and 2 rpg in 1951-52. OF hit .258 with Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles/California Angels, Milwaukee Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers and Cleveland Indians in eight seasons from 1960 through 1969. Contributed two homers and two doubles for Dodgers in 1965 World Series against Minnesota Twins.
Lynn Jones Thiel (Pa.) Averaged 10.4 ppg from 1970-71 through 1973-74. OF hit .252 with Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals in eight seasons from 1979 through 1986. Doubled and tripled as pinch-hitter for Royals in 1985 World Series against St. Louis Cardinals.
David Justice Thomas More (Ky.) Led team in assists in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg. Three-time All-Star OF hit .279 in 14 seasons from 1989 through 2002 with Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees and Oakland A's. Jacked 40 homers (N.L. runner-up) with 120 RBI (also runner-up) in 1993 with Braves and total of 41 homers (fourth in A.L.) with 118 RBI in 2000 with Indians and Yanks.
Kenny Lofton Arizona Averaged 4.8 ppg and 2.6 apg in four seasons from 1985-86 through 1988-89 under coach Lute Olson. Leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record. Lefthanded CF hit .299 and stole 622 bases in 17 seasons from 1991 through 2007 with Houston Astros, Cleveland Indians, Atlanta Braves, Chicago White Sox, San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Dodgers and Texas Rangers. Four-time Gold Glover led Indians with .325 batting mark (fourth in A.L.) and paced majors with 70 stolen bases in 1993. After trade to Cleveland, hit .285 for Indians in 1992 and led the A.L. in stolen bases with 66 (record for A.L. rookie). Six-time All-Star led A.L. in stolen bases five consecutive years from 1992 through 1996, hitting career-high .349 in 1994.
Davey Lopes Iowa Wesleyan/Washburn (Kan.) NAIA All-District 15 selection averaged 16.9 ppg and 3.4 rpg as All-IIAC first-team choice freshman in 1964-65 and 12.1 ppg as sophomore in 1965-66 before transferring with his coach. All-CIC selection in 1967-68 when averaging 7.6 ppg for NAIA Tournament team. Four-time All-Star 2B hit .263 with Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland A's, Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros in 16 seasons from 1972 through 1987. Led N.L. in stolen bases in back-to-back campaigns in 1975 (77) and 1976 (63) after finishing runner-up in 1974 (59). Swiped five bases in game in 1974, tying 70-year-old N.L. record before establishing since-broken N.L. mark with 38 consecutive successful thefts in 1975.
Terrell Lowery Loyola Marymount Two-time All-WCC first-team selection and league-leading scorer. Tallied career-high 48 points against Idaho State as junior in 1990-91 when finishing among top five nationally in scoring (28.5 ppg) and assists (9.1 apg). OF hit .282 with Chicago Cubs, Tampa Bay Devil Rays and San Francisco Giants from 1997 through 2000. Stroked five hits for Giants in single game against Milwaukee Brewers in 2000.
Arnold "Bake" McBride Westminster (Mo.) Averaged 12.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg in 21 games in 1968-69 and 1969-70. Lefthanded-swinging OF hit .299 with St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies and Cleveland Indians in 11 seasons from 1973 through 1983. N.L. Rookie of the Year in 1974 when hitting .309 with Cardinals was named to N.L. All-Star team two years later.
Lyle Mouton Louisiana State Averaged 8.2 ppg and 3.2 rpg as sophomore in 1988-89 under coach Dale Brown. Started in backcourt with All-American Chris Jackson when Tigers lost to UTEP in West Regional of NCAA playoffs. OF hit .280 for Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles, Milwaukee Brewers and Florida Marlins in seven years from 1995 through 2001.
Billy North Central Washington Collected two points and two rebounds in four games in 1967-68. Switch-hitting CF posted .261 batting average with Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants in 11 years from 1971 through 1981. Paced A.L. in stolen bases in 1974 (54) and 1976 (75).
Curtis Pride William & Mary Averaged 5.6 ppg and 3.1 apg from 1986-87 through 1989-90. Led team in steals three times and assists twice. Named to CAA All-Rookie team as freshman and All-Defensive team next two seasons. Born with 95% hearing disability, lefthanded-swinging OF hit .250 in 11 seasons from 1993 to 2006 with seven franchises (Montreal Expos, Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, Montreal Expos, New York Yankees and Anaheim/California Angels).
Dave Ricketts Duquesne Three-year starter led Dukes in scoring as senior with 17.9-point average in 1956-57, finishing fourth in nation in free-throw percentage (86.2%). Converted school-record 42 FTAs in row. Catcher hit .249 in six seasons (1962, 1965 and 1967 through 1970) with St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates. Switch-hitter played with Cards in 1967 and 1968 World Series.
Dick Ricketts Duquesne Second-team consensus All-American choice as junior in 1953-54 and first five consensus All-American selection as senior in 1954-55. Converted all 19 FTAs in game against Dayton. School's all-time leading scorer averaged 17.7 ppg and 12.2 rpg in starting all 111 games during four-year career. Compiled 1-6 pitching record in only season with St. Louis Cardinals in 1959.
Earl Robinson California Three-time All-PCC second-team selection averaged at least 10 ppg each season from 1955-56 through 1957-58 under coach Pete Newell. Averaged 15.5 points in four NCAA Tournament games his last two years, leading Bears in scoring in two of four playoff contests. OF hit .268 in four seasons from 1958 to 1964 with Los Angeles Dodgers and Baltimore Orioles.
Ted Savage Lincoln (Mo.) Led in scoring average with 13.5 ppg in 1955-56 before averaging 14.5 ppg and 5.6 rpg in 1956-57. OF hit .233 in nine seasons (1962, 1963 and 1965 through 1971) with Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers and Kansas City Royals.
Ken Singleton Hofstra Freshman hooper in mid-1960s. Three-time All-Star OF hit .282 with 246 HRs and 1,065 RBI with New York Mets, Montreal Expos and Baltimore Orioles in 15 years from 1970 through 1984. Switch-hitter exceeded 20 HRs in five seasons, including high of 35 (fifth in A.L.) in 1979 with Orioles.
Lee Smith Northwestern State Forward averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg in 1976-77. Seven-time All-Star was all-time saves leader when he retired, notching 478 in 18 seasons from 1980 through 1997 with Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, California Angels, Cincinnati Reds and Montreal Expos until Trevor Hoffman broke his mark in 2006. Set N.L. record in 1991 (subsequently broken) for most saves in season with 47 for Cardinals. RHP led N.L. in saves three times (1983-91-92) and A.L. once (1994).
Nate Smith Tennessee State Letterman in 1953-54 and 1954-55. Catcher went 2 for 9 in five games with Baltimore Orioles in 1962.
Bob Veale Benedictine (Kan.) Scored 1,160 points from 1955-56 through 1957-58 as center for school previously called St. Benedict's. LHP compiled 120-95 record and 3.08 ERA in 13 seasons from 1962 through 1974 with Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Red Sox. Led N.L. in strikeouts with 250 in 1964 (first of four consecutive years he won at least 16 games and ranked among top seven in strikeouts).
Will Venable Princeton All-Ivy League first-team selection as junior and second-team choice as senior averaged 9.3 ppg under coach John Thompson III from 2001-02 through 2004-05. Lefthanded OF hit .249 with San Diego Padres, Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Dodgers in nine seasons from 2008 through 2016. Finished among N.L. top 10 in triples (8th with 7) and stolen bases (9th with 29) in 2010.
Bill White Hiram (Ohio) Three-sport letterman played two years of hoops. Five-time All-Star 1B hit .286 with New York/San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies in 13 N.L. seasons in 1956 and from 1958 through 1969. Lefthander ranked among N.L. top 10 in RBI five times (1961-62-63-64-66). Placed among N.L. top eight in both doubles and triples three straight campaigns from 1959 through 1961. Gold Glover seven consecutive years from 1960 through 1966.
Desi Wilson Fairleigh Dickinson FDU's all-time leading scorer (1,902 points) was NEC player of year in 1989-90. Leading scorer (23.8 ppg) and rebounder (9.2 rpg) for 1990-91 league co-champion. Lefthanded-swinging 1B hit .271 with San Francisco Giants in 1996.
Dave Winfield Minnesota Averaged 6.9 ppg and 5.4 rpg as junior in 1971-72 and 10.5 ppg and 6.1 rpg as senior in 1972-73 under coach Bill Musselman. Played entire game in 1972, collecting eight points and eight rebounds against eventual Final Four participant Florida State, in Gophers' first NCAA Tournament appearance. Hall of Fame OF hit .283 with 465 home runs, 1,833 RBI and 3,110 hits in 22 seasons (1973 through 1988 and 1990 through 1995) with San Diego Padres, New York Yankees, California Angels, Toronto Blue Jays, Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Indians. Led N.L. in total bases in 1979 with 333 before ranking among A.L. top four in batting average in 1984 (.340) and 1988 (.322). Seven-time Gold Glover appeared in 12 All-Star Games after never playing in minors. Participated in World Series with Yankees (1981) and Blue Jays (1992).

On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Make Their Mark on April 15 MLB Games

April 15th, 2017 - 6:50

Extra! Extra! Read all about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players! Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.

Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a taxing April 15 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

APRIL 15

  • New York Giants 2B Andy Cohen (Alabama basketball letterman in 1924 and 1925) went 3-for-4 for the second time in first three games of 1928 campaign.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers RF Ox Eckhart (Texas hoops letterman in 1923) smacked his lone MLB homer (against New York Giants in 1936).

  • RHP Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer and rebounder in 1955-56 and 1956-57) made his St. Louis Cardinals debut at Los Angeles in 1959, hurling the final two innings in a 5-0 setback against the Dodgers. He became the first future Hall of Famer to yield a homer to first batter he faced in the majors (3B Jim Baxes went downtown in seventh inning).

  • First appearance and start in 1961 for Philadelphia Phillies RHP Dallas Green (Delaware's second-leading scorer and rebounder in 1954-55) wound up becoming a five-hit shutout against the San Francisco Giants.

  • INF Gene Handley (Bradley hoops letterman in 1932-33 and 1933-34) purchased from the Pittsburgh Pirates by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1940.

  • 1B Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) debuted for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, becoming the first black player to appear in a MLB game. Before Robinson was replaced by Howie Schultz (Hamline MN hooper in early 1940s), he went hitless in three at-bats against the Boston Braves a year before President Truman desegregated the military.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates CF Bill Virdon (Drury MO hooper in 1949) belted two homers in a 4-1 triumph against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1961.

  • Washington Senators rookie RHP Monte Weaver (hoops center for Emory & Henry VA in mid-1920s) won his season debut in 1932 with a four-hit shutout against the Boston Red Sox.

  • Boston Red Sox C Sammy White (All-PCC Northern Division first-five selection for Washington in 1947-48 and 1948-49) went 4-for-4 against the Washington Senators in 1954.

  • Philadelphia Phillies CF Cy Williams (Notre Dame forward in 1909-10) homered twice against the Boston Braves in a 1922 game.

  • San Diego Padres RHP Chris Young (All-Ivy League first-team selection as Princeton's leading scorer and rebounder in 1999-00) tied a MLB record with 25 straight starts on the road without a defeat before bowing at Los Angeles against the Dodgers in 2007.

Missing in Main Action: Simmons First AWOL Consensus A-A in 38 Years

April 14th, 2017 - 12:54

Freshman phenom or flop. Last season, LSU's Ben Simmons was the first NCAA consensus All-American in 38 years (since Minnesota's Mychal Thompson and Portland State's Freeman Williams in 1978) to leave college after failing to appear in either of the two principal national postseason tournaments during their career. After previously occurring frequently, Army's Kevin Houston (1987) had been the last All-American of any type to miss the NCAA tourney and NIT. Houston, Thompson and Williams are several of 23 four-year players among all A-As in this dubious category.

Simmons and fellow All-Americans Kay Felder (Oakland) and Markelle Fultz (Washington freshman this campaign) might have made bigger names for themselves if they had participated in national postseason competition prior to declaring early for the NBA draft. Fultz is the 126th standout from a member of an existing power league (26 of them consensus) on the following alphabetical list of All-Americans who never competed in the NCAA playoffs or NIT since the events were introduced in the late 1930s:

Player Position School Years All-American
Alvan Adams C Oklahoma 1974 and 1975
Jim Ashmore G Mississippi State 1957
Chet Aubuchon G Michigan State 1940
*Don Barksdale C UCLA 1947
Leo Barnhorst F-C-G Notre Dame 1949
John Barr G Penn State 1941
*Walt Bellamy C Indiana 1961
Gale Bishop F-C Washington State 1943
Bruno Boin F-C Washington 1957
George BonSalle C Illinois 1957
Wally Borrevik C Oregon State 1944
*Vince Boryla F-C Notre Dame/Denver 1949
Fred Boyd G Oregon State 1972
*Frank Burgess G Gonzaga 1961
Jim Burns G Northwestern 1967
Lawrence Butler G Idaho State 1979
*Leo Byrd F Marshall 1959
Bob Calihan C Detroit 1939
Dan Callandrillo G Seton Hall 1982
Joe Capua G Wyoming 1956
Tom Chilton F East Tennessee State 1961
*Doug Collins G Illinois State 1973
Russ Critchfield G California 1967
Billy Cunningham F North Carolina 1964 and 1965
*Chuck Darling C Iowa 1952
A.W. Davis F Tennessee 1965
Charlie Davis G Wake Forest 1971
***Terry Dischinger C-F Purdue 1960 through 1962
Bill Ebben F Detroit 1957
Paul Ebert C Ohio State 1952 through 1954
Frank Ehmann F Northwestern 1955
Bob Faris F George Washington 1939
Bob Faught C Notre Dame 1942
Kay Felder G Oakland 2016
Ken Flower G Southern California 1953
**Darrell Floyd G-F Furman 1955 and 1956
*Chet Forte G Columbia 1957
Don Freeman F Illinois 1966
**Robin Freeman G Ohio State 1955 and 1956
Markelle Fultz G Washington 2017
Terry Furlow F Michigan State 1976
*Dave Gambee F Oregon State 1958
*Dick Garmaker F Minnesota 1954 and 1955
Bill Garrett C Indiana 1951
Ed Gayda F Washington State 1950
Harold Gensichen F Western Michigan 1943
Ralph "Toddy" Giannini G Santa Clara 1940
Joe Gibbon F Mississippi 1957
Chester "Chet" Giermak C William & Mary 1950
**Otto Graham F Northwestern 1943 and 1944
**Dick Groat G Duke 1951 and 1952
**Dale Hall F Army 1944 and 1945
*Ralph Hamilton F Indiana 1947
Bill Hanson F-C Washington 1962
Vince Hanson C Washington State 1945
Bill Hapac F Illinois 1940
Jules "Skip" Harlicka G South Carolina 1968
Jerry Harper C-F Alabama 1956
*Spencer Haywood F-C Detroit 1969
**Fred Hetzel F-C Davidson 1963 through 1965
Joe Hobbs G Florida 1958
Paul Hoffman F-C Purdue 1947
Kevin Houston G Army 1987
Frank Howard C-F Ohio State 1957
**Bailey Howell F-C Mississippi State 1958 and 1959
Lou Hudson G-F Minnesota 1965 and 1966
*Dick Ives F Iowa 1944 and 1945
*Chester "Chet" Jaworski G Rhode Island State 1939
Ron Johnson C Minnesota 1959 and 1960
Vinnie Johnson G Baylor 1979
Paul Judson G Illinois 1956
Rich Kelley C Stanford 1975
*Walt Kirk G Illinois 1945
**Leo Klier F Notre Dame 1944 and 1946
Ed Koffenberger C-F Duke 1946 and 1947
Tom Kondla C Minnesota 1967
Ron Kramer C Michigan 1957
Dennis "Mo" Layton G Southern California 1971
Kevin Loder F Alabama State 1981
Stan Love C Oregon 1971
Jeff Malone G Mississippi State 1983
John Mandic C Oregon State 1942
Julius McCoy F Michigan State 1956
Banks McFadden C Clemson 1939
George McGinnis F Indiana 1971
*Jim McIntyre C Minnesota 1948 and 1949
Mark McNamara C California 1982
Carl McNulty C Purdue 1952
Chuck Mencel G Minnesota 1953 and 1955
Mike Mitchell F Auburn 1978
*Bill Mlkvy F Temple 1951
**Glen Max Morris C-F Northwestern 1945 and 1946
Jack Murdock G Wake Forest 1957
Phillip "Red" Murrell F Drake 1958
Don Nelson F-C Iowa 1961 and 1962
*Johnny Neumann F-G Mississippi 1971
Paul Neumann G Stanford 1959
Albert "Ab" Nicholas G Wisconsin 1952
Don Ohl G Illinois 1958
Frank Oleynick G Seattle 1975
Dick O'Neal C Texas Christian 1957
Bernie Opper G Kentucky 1939
**Kevin O'Shea G Notre Dame 1947 through 1950
Robert Parish C Centenary 1974 through 1976
Roger Phegley G-F Bradley 1978
Ricky Pierce F-G Rice 1982
Lou Pucillo G North Carolina State 1959
Dave Quabius G Marquette 1939
Ray Ragelis F-C Northwestern 1951
Jimmy Rayl G Indiana 1962 and 1963
Bob Rensberger G Notre Dame 1943
John Richter C North Carolina State 1959
Bill Ridley G Illinois 1956
Eddie Riska F Notre Dame 1941
Flynn Robinson G Wyoming 1965
Mike Robinson G Michigan State 1974
Wil Robinson G West Virginia 1972
Gene Rock F-G Southern California 1943
Marshall Rogers G Pan American 1976
Joe Ruklick C Northwestern 1959
**Dave Schellhase F Purdue 1965 and 1966
Harv Schmidt F Illinois 1957
Dave Scholz F Illinois 1969
Danny Schultz G Tennessee 1964
**Frank Selvy F Furman 1952 through 1954
*George Senesky F-G St. Joseph's 1943
*Bill Sharman G Southern California 1950
Gene Shue F Maryland 1953 and 1954
*Ben Simmons F-G Louisiana State 2016
Gary Simmons G Idaho 1958
Ralph Simpson F-G Michigan State 1970
Meyer "Whitey" Skoog F-G Minnesota 1949 through 1951
Doug Smart C-F Washington 1957 through 1959
Chris Smith C Virginia Tech 1960
Don Smith C Iowa State 1968
Glen Smith F Utah 1952
Forrest "Frosty" Sprowl F Purdue 1942
Bill Stauffer F-C Missouri 1952
Terry Teagle G-F Baylor 1982
Gary Thompson G Iowa State 1957
**Mychal Thompson F-C Minnesota 1977 and 1978
Rudy Tomjanovich F Michigan 1969 and 1970
Gene Tormohlen C Tennessee 1959
Walt Torrence G-F UCLA 1959
John Townsend F Michigan 1938
Vic "Slick" Townsend G-F Oregon 1941
Dick Van Arsdale F Indiana 1965
Tom Van Arsdale F Indiana 1965
Ernie Vandeweghe F Colgate 1949
*Grady Wallace F South Carolina 1957
Lou Watson F-G Indiana 1950
Nick Werkman F Seton Hall 1963
Paul Westphal G Southern California 1971 and 1972
*Murray Wier G-F Iowa 1948
Richard "Buzz" Wilkinson G Virginia 1955
*Freeman Williams G Portland State 1977 and 1978
Max Williams G Southern Methodist 1960
Sam Williams F Iowa 1968
*Mark Workman C West Virginia 1951 and 1952
George Yardley F Stanford 1950
Rich Yunkus C Georgia Tech 1970 and 1971

*Times named an NCAA consensus All-American.

On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Make Their Mark on April 14 MLB Games

April 14th, 2017 - 7:31

Extra! Extra! Read all about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players! Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.

Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an April 14 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

APRIL 14

  • 2B Denny Doyle (averaged 2.7 ppg for Morehead State's basketball squad in 1962-63) stroked a two-run single in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Philadelphia Phillies a 6-5 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1971.

  • Los Angeles Dodgers LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman hoops team in 1953-54) threw the ninth complete game without permitting a walk in his career by blanking the St. Louis Cardinals, 4-0, in 1964 in his only Opening Day start.

  • A two-run pinch single by Rick Leach (averaged 15.5 ppg for Michigan's JV squad in 1975-76) provided the margin of victory in the Texas Rangers' 4-2 verdict over the Detroit Tigers in 1989.

  • Atlanta Braves CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling a 35-3 record) contributed five hits and five runs scored in a 14-5 rout of the Cincinnati Reds in 1997.

  • New York Yankees 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64), en route to tying a MLB record with 11 homers in the month of April, collected four round-trippers - two in each game - during a 1974 doubleheader split opposing his former team (Cleveland Indians).

  • Kansas City Royals LHP Paul Splittorff (runner-up in scoring and rebounding for Morningside IA in 1967-68) tossed a two-hit shutout against the Chicago White Sox in 1973.

  • LHP Ed Wells (multi-sport athlete graduated in 1924 from Bethany WV) purchased from the New York Yankees by the St. Louis Browns in 1933.

By George: Playoff Paul Accustomed to Media Overlooking His Hoop Prowess

April 13th, 2017 - 20:39

Paul George should be accustomed to basketball not-so-savvy voters shunning him despite him again carrying the Indiana Pacers to the NBA playoffs. Whatever happens in opening round matchup against LeBron James of defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers, George deserves plaudits after scoring at least 20 points in the Pacers' last 12 regular-season outings, including 30.8 ppg, 8 rpg and 3.6 apg in their final five contests.

Mr. Versatility for Fresno State in 2009-10 was overlooked by inept All-American voters before promptly blossoming into an All-Star with the Pacers. George, flourishing despite incurring a gruesome broken leg several years ago, is the latest textbook example of the chronic problem exhibited by low-information A-A voters and their shoddy treatment of mid-major standouts. Is the #MessMedia spending too much time reading a contrived-narrative slanted story in "Rolling to Get Stoned" or fiction novel by former Obama security guru?

Jeff Foxworthy, breaking the gruesome mental-midget fever, should host a show Are You Smarter Than a Fifth-Rate Press Pundit? Questioning the qualifications of misguided media members quickly comes to mind when assessing their longstanding track record failing to acknowledge stellar mid-level players as All-Americans. The majority of the predictably pathetic press appear as if they are swallowing their own vomit trying to accept and describe Donald Trump's non-traditional political prowess. Despite superb collegiate careers, including player of the year acclaim in a mid-major conference, a striking number of individuals didn't generate sufficient national recognition to be chosen as an All-American. For instance, Louisiana Tech's Paul Millsap led the nation in rebounding three straight seasons from 2003-04 through 2005-06 but wasn't accorded All-American status.

Incredibly, the overlooked features two prominent floor generals who went on to lead the NBA in assists a total of 14 times - John Stockton (nine) and two-time MVP Steve Nash (five) - plus Tim Hardaway, who averaged 8.2 apg during his 13-year pro career; Joe Dumars, a six-time NBA All-Star guard and 1989 NBA Finals MVP, and Derek Fisher, who received five championship rings with the Los Angeles Lakers in the first decade of the 21st Century. Among shunned frontcourters, two-time conference MVPs Chris Gatling, Brian Grant, Popeye Jones and Rik Smits each played at least 11 seasons in the NBA.

Whether they are coaches who need to come out of the film-watching closet or members of the lame-stream media, many incompetent voters should be deep-sixed for overdosing on the premier leagues while condescendingly looking upon mid-level players such as ex-Lehigh luminary C.J. McCollum, who has averaged more than 20 ppg each of the last two pro campaigns and will eventually be among the following alphabetical list of Division I conference MVPs left behind in regard to securing All-American status before they enjoyed NBA/ABA careers of at least six seasons:

Player Pos. School Mid-Level Conference League MVP Season(s)
Mark Acres F Oral Roberts Midwestern City 1982-83 and 1983-84
Rick Adelman G Loyola CA West Coast Athletic 1967-68
Jim Ard C Cincinnati Missouri Valley 1969-70
Vin Baker C Hartford North Atlantic 1992-93
Jose Juan Barea G Northeastern Colonial Athletic Association 2005-06
Anthony Carter G Hawaii Western Athletic 1996-97
Terry Catledge F South Alabama Sun Belt 1983-84 and 1984-85
Chris Childs G Boise State Big Sky 1988-89
Doug Christie G-F Pepperdine West Coast 1990-91 and 1991-92
Craig "Speedy" Claxton G Hofstra America East 1997-98 and 1999-00
Wayne Cooper C New Orleans Sun Belt 1977-78
Antonio Daniels G Bowling Green Mid-American 1996-97
Bryce Drew G Valparaiso Mid-Continent 1996-97 and 1997-98
Joe Dumars G McNeese State Southland 1984-85
Ledell Eackles F New Orleans American South 1987-88
Blue Edwards F East Carolina Colonial Athletic Association 1988-89
Melvin Ely C Fresno State Western Athletic 2000-01 and 2001-02
Derek Fisher G Arkansas-Little Rock Sun Belt 1995-96
Fred Foster F Miami of Ohio Mid-American 1967-68
Winston Garland G Southwest Missouri State Mid-Continent 1986-87
Chris Gatling C-F Old Dominion Sun Belt 1989-90 and 1990-91
Kenny Gattison F Old Dominion Sun Belt 1985-86
Mike Glenn G Southern Illinois Missouri Valley 1975-76
Brian Grant F-C Xavier Midwestern Collegiate 1992-93 and 1993-94
Willie Green G Detroit Horizon League 2002-03
Bob Gross F-G Long Beach State PCAA 1974-75
Tim Hardaway G Texas-El Paso Western Athletic 1988-89
Trenton Hassell F Austin Peay Ohio Valley 2000-01
Gordon Hayward G-F Butler Horizon League 2009-10
Armond Hill G Princeton Ivy League 1975-76
George Hill G IUPUI Summit League 2007-08
Tyrone Hill F-C Xavier Midwestern Collegiate 1989-90
Roy Hinson C Rutgers Atlantic 10 1982-83
Lindsey Hunter G Jackson State Southwestern Athletic 1992-93
Avery Johnson G Southern (LA) Southwestern Athletic 1987-88
Eddie Jones F-G Temple Atlantic 10 1993-94
Ronald "Popeye" Jones C Murray State Ohio Valley 1989-90 and 1990-91
Chris Kaman C Central Michigan Mid-American 2002-03
Joe Kleine C Arkansas Southwest 1984-85
Larry Krystkowiak F Montana Big Sky 1983-84 through 1985-86
Courtney Lee G-F Western Kentucky Sun Belt 2007-08
Jim Les G Bradley Missouri Valley 1985-86
Reggie Lewis F Boston University ECAC North Atlantic 1984-85 through 1986-87
Grant Long F Eastern Michigan Mid-American 1987-88
Pace Mannion G-F Utah Western Athletic 1982-83
Aaron McKie G Temple Atlantic 10 1992-93
Steve Mix C-F Toledo Mid-American 1968-69
Steve Nash G Santa Clara West Coast 1994-95 and 1995-96
Johnny Newman F Richmond ECAC South 1983-84
Norm Nixon G Duquesne Eastern Collegiate Basketball League 1976-77
Michael Olowokandi C Pacific Big West 1997-98
Anthony Parker G-F Bradley Missouri Valley 1995-96
Robert "Sonny" Parker G-F Texas A&M Southwest 1974-75
Tim Perry F Temple Atlantic 10 1987-88
Kurt Rambis C-F Santa Clara West Coast Athletic 1979-80
Dan Roundfield F Central Michigan Mid-American 1974-75
Brian Shaw G UC Santa Barbara PCAA 1987-88
Reggie Slater C Wyoming Western Athletic 1991-92
Larry Smith F Alcorn State Southwestern Athletic 1979-80
Rik Smits C Marist ECAC Metro 1986-87 and 1987-88
Ricky Sobers G UNLV West Coast Athletic 1974-75
John Stockton G Gonzaga West Coast Athletic 1983-84
Rodney Stuckey G Eastern Washington Big Sky 2005-06
Jason Thompson F Rider Metro Atlantic Athletic 2007-08
George Trapp F Long Beach State PCAA 1969-70 and 1970-71
Gary Trent F Ohio University Mid-American 1992-93 through 1994-95
Ronny Turiaf F Gonzaga West Coast 2004-05
David Wesley G Baylor Southwest 1991-92

On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Make Their Mark on April 13 MLB Games

April 13th, 2017 - 7:37

Extra! Extra! Read all about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players! Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.

Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an April 13 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

APRIL 13

  • Montreal Expos SS Bill Almon (averaged 2.5 ppg in half season for Brown's 1972-73 basketball team ending school's streak of 12 straight losing records) stroked four hits in a 5-4 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1980.

  • In his first MLB game in 1954, Detroit Tigers 2B Frank Bolling (averaged 7.3 ppg for Spring Hill AL in 1950-51) belted a homer off Baltimore Orioles P Don Larsen.

  • San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-WAC second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) and two teammates establish a MLB record by each hitting a homer as the first three batters in the bottom of the first inning of their 1987 home opener against San Francisco Giants RHP Roger Mason (multiple-year letterman in late 1970s for Saginaw Valley State MI).

  • Boston Red Sox C Duane Josephson (led Northern Iowa in scoring in 1962-63 and 1963-64 under coach Norm Stewart) opened the scoring with a second-inning, two-run homer off Denny McLain in a 5-3 victory against the Washington Senators in 1971.

  • 1B Tony Lupien (Harvard hoops captain in 1938-39) awarded on waivers from the Boston Red Sox to the Philadelphia Phillies in 1944.

  • St. Louis Cardinals CF Wally Moon (averaged 4.3 ppg with Texas A&M in 1948-49 and 1949-50) swatted a homer against the Chicago Cubs in his first at-bat en route to becoming 1954 N.L. Rookie of the Year.

  • Detroit Tigers RHP Jeff Robinson (two-time NAIA All-District 3 hoops honoree in early 1980s left Azusa Pacific CA as school's No. 9 all-time scorer) hurled a four-hit shutout against the Minnesota Twins in 1989.

  • St. Louis Cardinals closer Lee Smith (averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg with Northwestern State in 1976-77) set MLB record for most career saves in 1993 (mark subsequently broken).

  • RHP Jim Wilson (hoops letterman for San Diego State's 1942 NAIA Tournament participant) purchased from the Milwaukee Braves by the Baltimore Orioles in 1955.

  • California Angels RF Dave Winfield (starting forward with Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) collected 15 total bases and six RBI on three homers, a double and single in a 15-9 verdict over the Minnesota Twins in 1991.

Oh Brother!: Where Will Lawsons Rank Among Standout Sets of Siblings?

April 12th, 2017 - 20:26

There appears to be a need to establish some Law(sons) and Order via a historical perspective. Many in the mainstream media are portraying the transfer of brothers Dedric and K.J. Lawson from Memphis to Kansas as the MOAB story thus far in the off-season. Actually, if Michael and Marcus Weathers continue to improve, the twins who attended high school in Kansas could very well be the top set of brothers to transfer this year after their sterling freshman campaign for Miami (Ohio).

The Lawson duo collaborated for 31.5 ppg, 18 rpg and 6.1 apg with the underachieving Tigers this campaign prior to the scholars departing by giving coach Tubby Smith a vulgar half-a-peace sign. However, their scoring average pales in comparison to the brother output by Tom and Sam Stith as standouts on St. Bonaventure teams participating in the NIT the two years they played together in 1958-59 and 1959-60, compiling a 41-8 record. The Stiths combined to average 52 ppg in 1959-60, an NCAA single-season mark for brothers on the same team. Tom (46) and Sam (22) collaborated for 68 points in a 93-80 triumph over Marshall. Each of them ranked among the national leaders in field-goal percentage their two years together.

The Stith siblings are among about 20 different sets of brothers averaging more points in a single season for the same school than the Lawsons. A chronological list in this category includes GWU's Joe and John Holup (combined for 33.2 ppg in 1952-53), Seattle's Johnny and Eddie O'Brien (45.1 in 1952-53), St. Louis' Bob and Bill Nordmann (32 in 1959-60), Stiths (52 in 1959-60), Delaware's Nate and Pete Cloud (32.8 in 1962-63), Indiana's Tom and Dick Van Arsdale (43.5 in 1963-64 and 35.6 in 1964-65), St. John's Bob and Ken McIntyre (34 in 1964-65), SMU's Gene and Lynn Phillips (36.8 in 1968-69), GWU's Bob and Mike Tallent (46.7 in 1968-69), Villanova's Larry and Keith Herron (34.5 in 1976-77), Northeast Louisiana's Calvin and Kenny Natt (35.2 in 1976-77), ORU's Mark and Jeff Acres (35.8 in 1983-84), LIU's Carey and Paul Scurry (32.1 in 1984-85), Howard's John and Howard Spencer (39 in 1986-87), VMI's Damon and Ramon Williams (36.9 in 1988-89 and 39.3 in 1989-90), UCLA's Ed and Charles O'Bannon (34 in 1994-95), Wright State's Cain and Seth Doliboa (33 in 2001-02), VMI's Travis and Chavis Holmes (34.2 in 2006-07 and 34 in 2007-08) plus Rider's Jason and Ryan Thompson (35.4 in 2007-08).

Depending upon your view, the most efficient brothers in Memphis history probably were Forest and Orby Arnold in 1955-56 when they helped take the Tigers to the 25-team NCAA playoffs. But the Lawson tandem still has time to mature and possibly join a couple of KU brothers acts (Kelley and Morris) among the following additional 40-plus sets of standout brother combinations on same team in NCAA history (listed alphabetically):

  • Mark and Jeff Acres combined to average 29.9 ppg and 8 rpg for Oral Roberts in three seasons (1981-82, 1983-84 and 1984-85). The Titans participated in the 1982 NIT and 1984 NCAA playoffs.
  • Forest (senior/21.2) and Orby (freshman/7.9) Arnold combined to average 29.1 ppg for Memphis State's 20-7 NCAA playoff team in 1955-56. Forest was the school's all-time leading scorer (1,854 points) until Larry Finch broke his mark in 1973. Orby finished his career in 1958-59 with 1,245 points.
  • Nate and Pete Cloud, two of the top scorers and rebounders in Delaware history, played together on Blue Hens teams compiling a 32-13 record in 1961-62 and 1962-63. Pete (28) and Nate (18) combined for 46 points in a 100-66 victory over Muhlenberg on February 16, 1963.
  • Stanford twins Jarron and Jason Collins combined for 19.3 ppg and 12.6 rpg in 1999-00 before powering the Cardinal to a 31-3 record in 2000-01 with 27.3 ppg and 14.5 rpg.
  • Penn State's Joe (31) and Jon (career-high 26) Crispin combined for 57 points and 13 of 21 treys in a 73-68 win at Kentucky in perhaps the biggest road victory in the Nittany Lions' history. They pooled their resources for 27.8 ppg and 7 apg in 1999-00 and 26.7 ppg and 5 apg in 2000-01. Jon transferred to UCLA after Joe graduated.
  • Al and Mel Daniel combined for 29.5 ppg with Furman's 20-9 team in 1978-79. They teamed for 42 points in a 91-73 victory over UNC Charlotte and 39 in an 83-70 win over eventual NCAA No. 1 seed North Carolina in the North-South Doubleheader. Al, a two-time All-Southern Conference choice, was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs in the fourth round later that year while Mel became a three-time All-SC selection.
  • Forwards Cain and Seth Doliboa transferred to Wright State from Dayton and Bowling Green, respectively. Cain (Sr.) and Seth (Soph.) were All-Horizon League second-team selections in 2001-02 when they combined for 33 ppg and 12 rpg.
  • Kral and Shann Ferch combined for 27.6 ppg and 8.4 apg with Montana State's 21-8 Big Sky Conference regular-season champion and NIT squad in 1986-87. They teamed for 23.4 ppg the previous season, including a total of 45 (Kral 30 and Shann 15) in a double-overtime contest at Weber State.
  • Twins Joey and Stevie Graham combined for 25.3 ppg and 9.5 rpg as sophomores with Central Florida in 2001-02 before they transferred to Oklahoma State. The transfers collaborated for 15.2 ppg and 6.6 rpg in 2003-04 and 24.2 ppg and 9.4 rpg in 2004-05 for two OSU NCAA playoff teams.
  • Twin guards Aaron and Andrew Harrison combined for 24.6 ppg as freshmen in 2013-14 and 20.3 ppg as sophomores for a pair of Kentucky Final Four squads.
  • Twins Jarvis and Jonas Hayes combined for 25.1 ppg as freshmen with Western Carolina in 1999-00. They transferred to Georgia after Jarvis led the Southern Conference in scoring with 17.1 ppg. With the Bulldogs, the twins teamed for 25.8 ppg and 10.3 rpg in 2001-02 and 25 ppg and 8.8 rpg in 2002-03.
  • Villanova's Larry and Keith Herron combined for more than 30 ppg from 1974-75 through 1976-77. Another brother, Reggie, played with them in 1976-77.
  • Twins Travis and Chavis Holmes combined for 18.7 ppg with VMI in 2005-06, 34.2 ppg in 2006-07 and 34 ppg in 2007-08. They colloborated for 57 points in a 156-95 victory over Virginia Intermont in 2006-07 when they each ranked among the nation's top five in steals (placed 1-2 in the Big South Conference). Finished 1-2 nationally in thefts their senior season.
  • Joe and John Holup were the top two players for George Washington's first NCAA Tournament team in 1954. Joe, the school's all-time leading scorer and rebounder, paced the nation in field-goal percentage in 1954 and 1956. He also led the nation in rebounding in 1956. John was the team's leading scorer in 1952 before giving way to Joe the next season. John was a co-captain in 1954 when GWU secured the Southern Conference championship.
  • In 1974, seniors Kim and Kerry Hughes carried Wisconsin to its only winning record in Big Ten Conference competition (8-6; 16-8 overall) in a 34-year span from 1963 through 1996. Kim was the Badgers' top rebounder as a sophomore. The 6-11 identical twins combined for 27 ppg and 22 rpg in their junior season and 26 ppg and 20.3 rpg in their final year. Kerry had 21 points and Kim contributed 20 in a home game versus Northwestern their senior year.
  • Kansas guards Allen and Dean Kelley are the only set of brothers to play together in two NCAA Tournament title games (1952 and 1953). The Jayhawks posted a 47-9 record during those two years. Dean was selected by Fort Wayne in the 1953 NBA draft before Allen was picked by Milwaukee in the 1954 NBA draft.
  • Identical twins Lloyd and Floyd Kerr were swingmen who combined to average 25.3 ppg and 10.7 rpg for Colorado State from 1966-67 through 1968-69. Brothers Kerr each scored more than 10 points in all three NCAA playoff games when the Rams reached the Midwest Regional final their senior season (17-7 record) before becoming NBA third-round draft choices.
  • Mike (Sr.) and Jimmy (Soph.) Lee combined for 25.9 ppg for Syracuse's 24-5 team that participated in the 1973 NCAA Tournament East Regional. Jimmy (25) and Mike (20) collaborated for 45 points in a game against La Salle.
  • Twin centers Brook and Robin Lopez combined for 20.2 ppg, 11.5 rpg and 4.1 bpg with Stanford as freshmen in 2006-07 and 29.4 ppg, 13.8 rpg and 4.4 bpg as sophomores in 2007-08 before they both left school early and became NBA first-round draft choices.
  • Senior center-forward Randy Mahaffey, an All-ACC first-team selection, and sophomore forward Richie Mahaffey combined for 27 ppg and 16.8 rpg for Clemson's ACC first-division team in 1966-67 (17-8 record). Randy (34) and Richie (28) collaborated for 62 points in a 102-88 overtime victory at Virginia.
  • Frank and John Mandic were all-league selections for Oregon State's 1940 PCC champion (27-11 record). John was the Beavers' leading scorer after Frank paced the squad the previous season.
  • Rodney and Scooter McCray were instrumental in helping Louisville reach the Final Four in 1982 and 1983 before they played in the NBA.
  • Bob and Ken McIntyre, two of the top 25 scorers in St. John's history, were the top two point producers for the Redmen in 1963-64 (combined for 31 ppg) and 1964-65 (34 ppg) in Joe Lapchick's final two seasons as coach. The McIntyres collaborated for 34 points in a 55-51 victory over Villanova in the 1965 NIT championship game.
  • Dick and Bernie Mehen were All-SEC forwards for Tennessee's second-place team in 1941-42.
  • George and Ed Mikan powered DePaul to a 40-8 record in 1945 (NIT champion) and 1946 before they both played at least six seasons in the NBA. George was a first-team All-American both years.
  • Twins Markieff and Marcus Morris from Philadelphia combined for 12 ppg and 9.2 rpg with Kansas in 2008-09, 19.5 ppg and 11.4 rpg in 2009-10 and 30.8 ppg and 15.9 rpg as All-Big 12 Conference selections in 2010-11 before they both left school early and became NBA first-round draft choices.
  • Calvin (All-American) and Kenny Natt, combining for 29.3 ppg and 12.6 rpg, sparked Northeast Louisiana (23-6 record) to its first national postseason tournament (1979 NIT) as a major college before commencing their NBA careers. They combined for 26.6 ppg and 15.2 rpg in 1977-78 after collaborating for 35.2 ppg and 14.9 rpg in 1976-77.
  • Bob and Bill Nordmann combined for 32 ppg for St. Louis' 19-9 NIT team in 1959-60. Bob, nicknamed Bevo, was an All-Missouri Valley Conference first-team selection. He went on to play four seasons in the NBA after missing the 1960-61 campaign because of a severe knee injury.
  • Ed and Charles O'Bannon of UCLA combined for 29.8 ppg and 15.6 rpg in 1993-94 and 34 ppg and 14.4 rpg for the Bruins' NCAA titlist in 1994-95. Ed (37) and Charles (13) collaborated for 50 points in a 100-77 triumph against Duke in late February 1995.
  • Bantam-sized twins Johnny and Eddie O'Brien were the top two scorers for Seattle (26-3 record) when it reached the 1953 NCAA Tournament in the Chieftains' first season at the major-college level. They also were infielders for the Pittsburgh Pirates the same year. Johnny O'Brien, a 5-8 unanimous first-team All-American who played center on offense and remains the school's all-time scoring leader, is the only player to score more than 40 points in his first NCAA Tournament game (42 in an 88-77 victory against Idaho State). Eddie contributed 21 in the same playoff contest.
  • Forwards Bud and Ralph Ogden combined with center Dennis Awtrey to lead Santa Clara to 50 victories in 56 contests and West Regional finals against UCLA in 1968 and 1969. The Ogdens teamed for 27.9 ppg and 12.4 rpg in 1967-68 and 31.5 ppg and 15.5 rpg in 1968-69.
  • Forwards Gene (21.3) and Lynn (15.5) Phillips combined for 36.8 ppg with SMU in 1968-69.
  • Clifton and Roscoe Pondexter were All-PCAA first-team selections in 1973-74 when Long Beach State's top two scorers combined for 31.2 ppg and 15.5 rpg in powering the 49ers to a 24-2 record. Clifton (23) and Roscoe (18) combined for 41 points in a 98-89 victory over Oral Roberts. They both left college with eligibility remaining after the season.
  • Dave and Dick Ricketts were starters for Duquesne's 1955 NIT champion (22-4 record). Dick, who remains the school's all-time leading scorer, had three 30-point games for the Dukes before playing three seasons in the NBA. Both brothers played major league baseball.
  • Carey and Paul Scurry combined for 32.1 ppg and 20.7 rpg for LIU in 1984-85 (15-13 record). Carey was ECAC Metro player of the year that season by leading the league in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots (2.8 bpg).
  • Eventual NBA draft choices Dwight and Greg Smith were standouts for Western Kentucky's NCAA playoff teams in 1965-66 and 1966-67 combining for a 48-6 record.
  • Army's backcourt of Chris and J.P. Spatola combined for 26.3 ppg and 6.2 apg in 2000-01. Chris was an All-Patriot League second-team selection that season when he led the conference in scoring with 18.5 ppg. The next year, they combined for 25.6 ppg and 7 apg.
  • Howard University's John and Howard Spencer combined for 39 ppg and 17 rpg in 1986-87 when the Bison posted its best record (24-4) in school Division I history. Howard, a transfer from Auburn, was an All-MEAC first-team selection that season and John was an All-MEAC second-team choice the next year.
  • George Washington's Bob and Mike Tallent combined for 46.7 ppg in 1968-69 (14-11 record). Bob, a transfer from Kentucky, still holds four school offensive records, including a 28.9-point average that led the Southern Conference in his senior year. Mike paced the league the next season with a 21.3-point mark.
  • Rider's Jason and Ryan Thompson combined for 28.4 ppg and 15.3 rpg in 2006-07 and 35.4 ppg, 18.3 rpg, 3.3 bpg and 2.7 spg in 2007-08.
  • Twins Tom (17.4 ppg) and Dick (17.2 ppg) Van Arsdale ranked sixth and seventh on Indiana's list of all-time leading scorers when they graduated in 1965. They were among the nation's top 60 point producers as juniors in 1963-64 and combined for 76 points in a 108-102 neutral court victory over Notre Dame. The Hoosiers went 19-5 their senior campaign. Each of them played 12 seasons in the NBA, where they both scored more than 14,200 points.
  • Twins Damon and Ramon Williams combined for 28.9 ppg in their four-year VMI careers from 1986-87 through 1989-90. They were All-Southern Conference Tournament first-team selections as sophomores in 1988. Ramon was an all-league first-team pick as a junior and Damon achieved the feat as a senior. They rank among the school's top scorers in history.

On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Make Their Mark on April 12 MLB Games

April 12th, 2017 - 7:08

Extra! Extra! As a new season unfolds, read all about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players! Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.

Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an April 12 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

APRIL 12

  • RHP Rich Beck (listed on Gonzaga's basketball roster in 1961-62) purchased from the Philadelphia Phillies by the New York Yankees in 1965.

  • RHP Dick Hall (averaged 13.5 ppg from 1948-49 through 1950-51 for Swarthmore PA Middle Atlantic States Conference Southern Division champions) traded by the Kansas City Athletics to the Baltimore Orioles in 1961.

  • In 1961, San Francisco Giants C Tom Haller (backup forward for Illinois in 1956-57 and 1957-58 under coach Harry Combes) stroked his first MLB hit, a homer off Pittsburgh Pirates P Vern Law.

  • A pinch-hit homer by OF Lynn Jones (averaged 10.4 ppg for Thiel PA from 1970-71 through 1973-74) accounted for the Detroit Tigers' only runs in a 6-2 loss against the Toronto Blue Jays in 1981.

  • Cleveland Indians rookie CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) swiped four bases against the Boston Red Sox in the opener of a 1992 doubleheader.

  • Detroit Tigers RHP Jeff Robinson (two-time NAIA All-District 3 hoops honoree in early 1980s left Azusa Pacific CA as school's No. 9 all-time scorer) won his MLB debut, allowing only one run in seven innings in a 7-1 victory against the Chicago White Sox in 1987.

  • After a pair of rainouts, 1B-OF Norm Siebern (member of Southwest Missouri State's back-to-back hoops NAIA Tournament titlists in 1952 and 1953) socked a decisive eighth-inning HR to give the New York Yankees a season-opening 3-2 win over the visiting Boston Red Sox in 1959.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Kent Tekulve (freshman hooper for Marietta OH in mid-1960s) commenced a streak of 12 relief appearances in a row without allowing an earned run in 1978.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates LHP Bob Veale (scored 1,160 points from 1955-56 through 1957-58 with Benedictine KS) outdueled San Francisco Giants P Juan Marichal, 1-0, in 1965.

  • San Diego Padres RF Will Venable (All-Ivy League first-team selection as junior and second-team choice as senior averaged 9.3 ppg under Princeton coach John Thompson III from 2001-02 through 2004-05) scored four runs against the Atlanta Braves in 2010.

Currying Favor: LeBron and Westbrook Join Ranks of Mid-Major Deniers

April 11th, 2017 - 21:24

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, anointed NBA Most Valuable Player the previous two seasons while shattering the league's record for most three-pointers, neither is too small nor too fragile. What is too small and fragile are the brains of any genius who overlooked the Davidson All-American for significantly inferior performers as a high school recruit, those who subsequently bypassed him in a similar fashion in the NBA draft and blabbermouth such as Charles Barkley claiming Curry is "just a shooter." Whether or not it's simply superficial envy because Curry continues his reign as the best-selling NBA jersey, even LeBron James and Russell Westbrook appear annoyed with his hype.

Legendary Oscar Robertson came close to joining the condemnation chorus by saying "coaches today don't know anything about defenses." The Big O scored more valid points than Sir Charles on the state of the game but their "mid-major" mistake was including Curry in any critique. By any measure, Curry can compete in any era against anybody after becoming the first unanimous MVP in NBA history. Knuckleheads offended by Curry's dynamo daughter at a post-game press conference podium should save their angst for those individuals on a basketball payroll despite shunning Curry - occasionally including media or front-office colleagues.

In retrospect, it defies belief ESPN "expert" Seth Greenberg wasn't among their series of layoffs after boasting the gall to patronize Virginia Tech All-American Dell Curry's son by offering a spot on the Hokies' roster as a walk-on before the Minnesota Timberwolves picked long-forgotten Jonny Flynn one slot ahead of the incomparable Curry in 2009. In other words, Greenberg and the Timberwolves are the only individual and pro team capable of stopping Curry. Of course, Loyola (Md.) is the only college capable of containing Curry, holding the nation's top point producer scoreless in 2008-09.

In a previous non-sexist straightforward generation when fifty-something Hannah Storm also dressed like a teenager, Stockton-to-Malone could have been a hallmark of the Washington Bullets/Wizards rather than the Utah Jazz if there were more astute judgments made in 1984 and 1985 between mid-major and SEC/ACC players. Smug egghead prosecutors seeking face time appealing to low-information voters by indicting hard-working policemen probably would have more stature probing low-intelligence individuals previously laying an egg bypassing workmanlike Curry. Following is an alphabetical list of mid-major standouts selected behind players from current power conference members before they became league MVP such as Curry, Finals MVP, appeared in five or more All-Star Games or all-time Top 10 in assists, blocked shots, rebounds or steals:

Mid-Major Standout (Draft Pick Overall) College Year Players From Current Power League Member Chosen Ahead of Standout
Tiny Archibald (19) Texas-El Paso 1970 Jim Ard (Cincinnati)/Gary Freeman (Oregon State)/Al Henry (Wisconsin)/Mike Price (Illinois)/John Vallely (UCLA)
Maurice Cheeks (36) West Texas State 1978 Marty Byrnes (Syracuse)/Harry Davis (Florida State)/Jack Givens (Kentucky)/Butch Lee (Marquette)/Wayne Radford (Indiana)/Raymond Townsend (UCLA)/Rick Wilson (Louisville)
Larry Costello (12) Niagara 1954 Ed Kalafat (Minnesota)/Bob Mattick (Oklahoma State)/Dick Rosenthal (Notre Dame)
Stephen Curry (7) Davidson 2009 Jonny Flynn (Syracuse)/Hasheem Thabeet (Connecticut)
Joe Dumars (18) McNeese State 1985 Uwe Blab (Indiana)/Kenny Green (Wake Forest)/Keith Lee (Memphis State)
Wayne Embry (23) Miami (Ohio) 1958 Pete Brennan (North Carolina)/Archie Dees (Indiana)/Roy DeWitz (Kansas State)/Vern Hatton (Kentucky)/Frank Howard (Ohio State)/John Nacincik (Maryland)/Joe Quigg (North Carolina)/Lamar Sharrar (West Virginia)
Walt Frazier (5) Southern Illinois 1967 Sonny Dove (St. John's)
Hal Greer (14) Marshall 1958 Pete Brennan (North Carolina)/Archie Dees (Indiana)/Vern Hatton (Kentucky)/Joe Quigg (North Carolina)/Lamar Sharrar (West Virginia)
Richie Guerin (17) Iona 1954 Dick Farley (Indiana)/Ed Kalafat (Minnesota)/Bob Mattick (Oklahoma State)/Dick Rosenthal (Notre Dame)
Dennis Johnson (29) Pepperdine 1976 Bob Carrington (Boston College)/Norm Cook (Kansas)/Jacky Dorsey (Georgia)/Scott Lloyd (Arizona State)/Willie Smith (Missouri)/Chuckie Williams (Kansas State)
Gus Johnson (11) Idaho 1963 Art Heyman (Duke)/Tom Hoover (Villanova)/Tom Thacker (Cincinnati)/Gerry Ward (Boston College)
Sam Jones (8) North Carolina Central 1957 George BonSalle (Illinois)/Lennie Rosenbluth (North Carolina)/Win Wilfong (Memphis State)
Rudy LaRusso (12) Dartmouth 1959 Don Goldstein (Louisville)/John Richter (North Carolina State)/Joe Ruklick (Northwestern)
Karl Malone (13) Louisiana Tech 1985 Kenny Green (Wake Forest)/Keith Lee (Memphis State)
Cedric "Cornbread" Maxwell (12) UNC Charlotte 1977 Tom LaGarde (North Carolina)
Steve Nash (15) Santa Clara 1996 Todd Fuller (North Carolina State)
Willis Reed (10) Grambling 1964 Gary Bradds (Ohio State)/George Wilson (Cincinnati)
John Stockton (16) Gonzaga 1984 Lancaster Gordon (Louisville)/Terence Stansbury (Temple)/Melvin Turpin (Kentucky)
Nate Thurmond (4) Bowling Green 1963 Art Heyman (Duke)/Tom Thacker (Cincinnati)
Chet Walker (14) Bradley 1962 Paul Hogue (Cincinnati)/John Rudometkin (Southern California)

NOTE: Drafts in 1958, 1959, 1962, 1963 and 1964 included territorial picks.

On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Make Their Mark on April 11 MLB Games

April 11th, 2017 - 6:27

Extra! Extra! As a new season unfolds, read all about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players! Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.

Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an April 11 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

APRIL 11

  • RHP Roger Craig (forward with North Carolina State's 1949-50 freshman basketball team) released by the Cincinnati Reds and promptly signed as a free agent by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1966.

  • RHP Dallas Green (Delaware's runner-up in scoring and rebounding in 1954-55) purchased from the Philadelphia Phillies by the Washington Senators in 1965. Returned to the Phillies a month later.

  • In 1932, utilityman Harvey Hendrick (Vanderbilt hoops letterman in 1918) traded with P Benny Frey and cash by the Cincinnati Reds to the St. Louis Cardinals for holdout OF Chick Hafey, the previous year's N.L. batting champion.

  • 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) supplied the first homer in New York Mets history (at St. Louis in 1962).

  • Atlanta Braves 2B Davey Johnson (averaged 1.7 ppg with Texas A&M in 1961-62) went 4-for-4 against the San Diego Padres in a 1973 game.

  • In his second MLB game, Boston Red Sox RF Joe Lahoud (New Haven CT hoops letterman in mid-1960s) socked a homer off the Detroit Tigers' Denny McLain in 1968.

  • Toronto Blue Jays DH Rick Leach (averaged 15.5 ppg for Michigan's JV squad in 1975-76) registered four hits against the New York Yankees in 1988.

  • Cleveland Indians CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) notched at least one double or triple in each of first six games of 1999 campaign while hitting .467.

  • 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 New York Mets in a 1980 contest.

  • Chicago White Sox RF Lyle Mouton (starter in LSU's backcourt with All-American Chris Jackson for 1989 NCAA playoff team) launched a game-winning, three-run homer in the bottom of the 11th inning against the Texas Rangers in 1996.

  • In 1961, Hall of Fame RHP Robin Roberts (one of Michigan State's top three scorers each season from 1944-45 through 1946-47) tied Grover Cleveland Alexander's N.L. record with a 12th straight Opening Day start for the Philadelphia Phillies.

  • St. Louis Cardinals rookie LF Wally Roettger (Illinois hoops letterman in 1921-22 and 1922-23) registered five RBI against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1928 season opener.

  • CF Bill Virdon (Drury MO hooper in 1949) traded by the New York Yankees to the St. Louis Cardinals in a deal involving OF Enos Slaughter in 1954. Seven years later, Virdon socked a two-out, three-run homer to give the Pittsburgh Pirates an 8-7 victory at San Francisco.

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

Harry Experience: Combes Collected More A-As Than Any Coach in 1st 20 Years

April 10th, 2017 - 7:25

Only seven individuals have coached at least 14 All-Americans with one major college. Four years ago, Duke's Mike Krzyzewski broke a tie with Kentucky's Adolph Rupp and moved atop this list. This season, Coach K became the first with as many as 29 when guard Luke Kennard was honored.

In one of the most overlooked achievements in NCAA history new Champaign bench boss Brad Underwood should know about, Harry Combes amassed 16 different All-Americans in his first 19 of 20 seasons as Illinois' mentor from 1947-48 through 1966-67. No other coach has accumulated more than 13 All-Americans in his first 20 campaigns with a single school - North Carolina's Dean Smith (13 in first 20 seasons), Indiana's Bob Knight (12), Krzyzewski (12), Rupp (12), Indiana's Branch McCracken (11), Arizona's Lute Olson (11), UCLA's John Wooden (10) and Syracuse's Jim Boeheim (eight). Recruiting the Chicago metropolitan area isn't a panacea for the struggling Illini, which should remember how 22 different major-college All-Americans in less than 30 years in an earlier era came from Illinois high schools located in towns featuring populations smaller than 20,000.

As a means of comparison, keep in mind inactive NCAA Division I national coaches of the year P.J. Carlesimo, Perry Clark, Tom Davis, Eddie Fogler, Jim Harrick, Marv Harshman, Clem Haskins, Maury John, Jim O'Brien, George Raveling, Charlie Spoonhour and Butch van Breda Kolff combined for 17 All-Americans in a cumulative 251 years coaching at the major-college level. Moreover, prominent active coaches Tommy Amaker, Mike Anderson, John Beilein, Randy Bennett, Brad Brownell, Mick Cronin, Ed DeChellis, Scott Drew, Fran Dunphy, Tim Floyd, Travis Ford, Frank Haith, Billy Kennedy, Jim Larranaga, Fran McCaffery, Bob McKillop, Dan Monson, Tubby Smith and Mark Turgeon have combined for fewer All-Americans than Combes. Indiana boasts two of the following seven coaches with the most different All-Americans at one university:

Coach All-Americans With Single Division I School School Tenure With Most All-Americans
Mike Krzyzewski 29 All-Americans in first 37 seasons with Duke 1980-81 through 2016-17
Adolph Rupp 23 in 41 seasons with Kentucky 1930-31 through 1971-72 except for 1952-53
Dean Smith 22 in 36 seasons with North Carolina 1961-62 through 1996-97
John Wooden 18 in 27 seasons with UCLA 1948-49 through 1974-75
Bob Knight 17 in 29 seasons with Indiana 1971-72 through 1999-00
Harry Combes 16 in 20 seasons with Illinois 1947-48 through 1966-67
Branch McCracken 14 in 24 seasons with Indiana 1938-39 through 1942-43 and 1946-47 through 1964-65

NOTE: Respected retired mentors Gale Catlett, Mike Deane, Bill Henderson, Shelby Metcalf, Stan Morrison, Bob Polk, Charlie Spoonhour and Ralph Willard never had an All-American despite at least 18 seasons coaching at the major-college level.

On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Make Their Mark on April 10 MLB Games

April 10th, 2017 - 6:45

Extra! Extra! As a new season gains traction, read all about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players! Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.

Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Jerry Adair (Oklahoma State) and Sonny Siebert (Missouri) - former Big Seven Conference opponents as top three scorers for their respective teams in 1956-57 - supplied significant MLB performances on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an April 10 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

APRIL 10

  • Baltimore Orioles 2B Jerry Adair (one of Oklahoma State's top three basketball scorers in 1956-57 and 1957-58) went 3-for-3 on Opening Day against the New York Yankees in 1962.

  • Washington Senators 1B 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 New York Yankees in 1969.

  • In 1947, 1B Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) became the first black player of the 20th Century to sign a MLB contract (with Brooklyn Dodgers).

  • OF Wally Roettger (Illinois hoops letterman in 1921-22 and 1922-23) traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the New York Giants in 1930.

  • In 1968 season opener, Cleveland Indians RHP Sonny Siebert (team-high 16.7 ppg for Missouri in 1957-58 as All-Big Eight Conference second-team selection) tossed a two-hit shutout against the Chicago White Sox.

  • Atlanta Braves LHP George Stone (averaged 14.7 ppg and 6.5 rpg for Louisiana Tech in 1964-65 and 1965-66) tossed a six-hit shutout against the Houston Astros in his first start of the 1970 campaign.

  • A pinch-hit grand slam by OF-1B Champ Summers (led SIUE in scoring in 1969-70 after doing same with Nicholls State in 1964-65) propelled the San Diego Padres to a 7-3 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1984. It was Summers' final MLB homer.

  • RHP Billy Wynne (one of prime hoopers in mid-1960s for Pfeiffer NC) returned by the Cleveland Indians to the New York Mets in 1967 after he was selected during the winter in the Rule 5 draft.

You Would Cry Too If It Happened to You: Touted Tar Heels Trail of Tears

April 9th, 2017 - 8:48

Only a "double idiot" wouldn't know the prognosis of a promising postseason always seems to exist for North Carolina, which has made more Final Four appearances than any school (20). But the Tar Heels' on-court regal resume could be even more impressive.

Over the years, Carolina has had more than its fair share of national contenders see their playoff hopes dashed by injuries to vital players. No school's NCAA championship aspirations have been short-circuited more by an assortment of major injuries than UNC's M.A.S.H. unit. Consider this lengthy list of Tar Heel tourney trauma (rankings are by AP unless otherwise noted):

  • 1958 - Joe Quigg, the starting center for Carolina's unbeaten NCAA champion in 1957, was sidelined his entire senior season following a leg injury in the team's first big scrimmage. The 13th-ranked Tar Heels blew a seven-point halftime lead against Maryland in the ACC Tournament final.

  • 1969 - Starting guard Dick Grubar, averaging 13 points per game, injured a knee in the ACC Tournament and was lost for the NCAA playoffs. A standout defensive player, the senior would have drawn the assignment of facing explosive Purdue guard Rick Mount, a 36-point scorer in a national semifinal victory over fourth-ranked Carolina.

  • 1976 - Sophomore playmaker Phil Ford, a second-team consensus All-American, injured a knee in a pickup game after the ACC Tournament and was ineffective (two points, three assists, five turnovers) in the eighth-ranked Tar Heels' 79-64 NCAA Tournament first-round defeat against Alabama.

  • 1977 - Senior center Tom LaGarde was averaging 15.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game when he injured a knee at midseason and was lost for the remainder of the year. Ford, a first-team consensus All-America and fifth-ranked Carolina's leading scorer, hyperextended his shooting elbow (right) in the East Regional semifinals and scored a total of just 20 points in the team's last three playoff games, including six points on 3-of-10 field-goal shooting in a national final defeat against Marquette.

  • 1980 - Standout freshman forward James Worthy was averaging 12.5 points and 7.4 rebounds per game when he sustained a broken ankle at midseason and was lost for the remainder of the year. The 15th-ranked Tar Heels lost their NCAA playoff opener in double overtime against Texas A&M.

  • 1984 - Mercurial freshman guard Kenny Smith, still hampered after missing eight games because of a broken wrist, wasn't 100% when the top-ranked Heels were kayoed by Indiana, 72-68. Of course, the biggest problem for Carolina was national player of the year Michael Jordan being limited to 13 points, one rebound and one assist.

  • 1985 - Junior guard Steve Hale was unable to play the remainder of the tournament after suffering a broken collarbone when thrown to the floor while driving to the basket in Carolina's NCAA playoff opener against Middle Tennessee State. The seventh-ranked Tar Heels were eliminated in the Southeast Regional final by champion-to-be Villanova (56-44).

  • 2012 - Playmaker deluxe Kendall Marshall sustained a fractured right wrist in second-round victory against Creighton. #1 seed UNC, ranked fourth nationally, went on to lose against Kansas in Midwest Regional final.

On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Make Their Mark on April 9 MLB Games

April 9th, 2017 - 7:50

Extra! Extra! As a new season gains steam, read all about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players! Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history. Did you know that outfielder "Sweet" Lou Johnson, an ex-Kentucky State hooper, was traded three times the first nine days in April in deals involving Los Angeles-based teams?

In the minors, all-time basketball great Michael Jordan made his Organized Baseball debut on April 9, 1994, when the Chicago White Sox farmhand went hitless as an outfielder for the Birmingham Barons (Southern League). What in the world was the 31-year-old Jordan thinking en route to a .202 batting average and 114 strikeouts in 127 games?

Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. George Altman (Tennessee State) joined Sweet Lou as former HBCU hoopers making MLB news on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an April 9 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

APRIL 9

  • RF George Altman (appeared in 1953 and 1954 NAIA Tournament with Tennessee State's basketball squad) stroked four hits against the New York Mets on Opening Day 1963 in his debut with the St. Louis Cardinals.

  • 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") traded by the Milwaukee Braves to the Cincinnati Reds in 1956.

  • Detroit Tigers DH Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) homered twice in a 1986 game against the Boston Red Sox.

  • LF "Sweet" Lou Johnson (Kentucky State hoops teammate of legendary HBCU coach Davey Whitney averaged 5.7 ppg and 2 rpg in 1951-52) traded by the Detroit Tigers with $10,000 to the Los Angeles Dodgers for P Larry Sherry in 1964.

  • In his first start of the 1992 campaign, Baltimore Orioles RHP Ben McDonald (started six times as freshman forward for LSU in 1986-87 under coach Dale Brown) tossed a two-hit shutout against the Cleveland Indians.

  • Detroit Tigers 2B Gary Sutherland (averaged 7.4 ppg with USC in 1963-64) went 4-for-4 against the New York Yankees in 1974.

  • Minnesota Twins DH Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) stroked three extra-base hits against the Kansas City Royals in 1993.

Lost Tradition: VMI Joined Big South After 78 Years in Southern Conference

April 9th, 2017 - 7:36

Wichita State is bound for the American Athletic Conference following 72 seasons in the Missouri Valley. Only one school ever has joined an existing league after a longer stint in an intact coalition. Virginia Military aligned with Big South in 2002-03 after 78 campaigns in the Southern Conference before rejoining SC in 2014-15.

The breakup of the SWC in mid-1990s dismantled the longest tradition. Following are the NCAA Division I schools departing for a different alliance after more than 60 years in a league:

School Longstanding League Member (Seasons) Next Conference (First Season)
Baylor 82 years in SWC (1915-96) Big 12 (1997)
Rice 82 years in SWC (1915-96) WAC (1997)
Texas 82 years in SWC (1915-96) Big 12 (1997)
Texas A&M 82 years in SWC (1915-96) Big 12 (1997)
Southern Methodist 78 years in SWC (1919-96) WAC (1997)
Virginia Military 78 years in Southern (1926-2003) Big South (2004)
Texas Christian 73 years in SWC (1924-96) WAC (1997)
Wichita State 72 years in Missouri Valley (1946-2017) AAC (2018)
Arkansas 68 years in SWC (1924-91) SEC (1992)
Iowa State 68 years in Big Eight (1929-96) Big 12 (1997)
Kansas 68 years in Big Eight (1929-96) Big 12 (1997)
Kansas State 68 years in Big Eight (1929-96) Big 12 (1997)
Missouri 68 years in Big Eight (1929-96) Big 12 (1997)
Nebraska 68 years in Big Eight (1929-96) Big 12 (1997)
Maryland 61 years in ACC (1954-2014) Big Ten (2015)

On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Make Their Mark on April 8 MLB Games

April 8th, 2017 - 7:52

Extra! Extra! As a new season gains steam, read all about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players! Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.

Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Two former small-college hoopers from Pennsylvania - Al Downing (Muhlenberg) and Pete Sivess (Dickinson) - made MLB news on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an April 8 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

APRIL 8

  • OF Babe Barna (two-year West Virginia basketball letterman in mid-1930s) purchased from the Philadelphia Athletics by the Washington Senators in 1939.

  • In 1974, Los Angeles Dodgers LHP Al Downing (attended Muhlenberg PA on hoop scholarship but left school before playing) yielded Hank Aaron's 715th homer bypassing Babe Ruth.

  • RHP Mark Freeman (averaged 3.6 ppg for LSU as senior in 1950-51) traded by the New York Yankees to the Kansas City Athletics in 1959. Returned to Yankees a month later.

  • Cincinnati Reds rookie LF Gary Redus (J.C. hooper for Athens AL and father of Centenary/South Alabama guard) went 4-for-4 and chipped in with five RBI against the Chicago Cubs in 1983.

  • RHP Pete Sivess (Dickinson PA hooper in 1935-36) traded by the Philadelphia Phillies with cash to the New York Yankees in 1939.

  • New York Yankees RF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) whacked two homers against the Milwaukee Brewers, igniting his streak of seven consecutive multiple-hit contests in 1988.

Musical Chairs: One-Third of Nation's DI Teams in New Leagues This Century

April 7th, 2017 - 21:11

"Man, that's messed up!" This concise summation certainly depicts higher education, which simply isn't what it used to be. Keeping remedial mathematics in mind, the Atlantic 10 Conference has more than that number of members; the Big Ten has more than 10 members and the Big 12 has fewer than 12 members. With respect to precise directions and logistics, the Atlantic Coast features Boston, Indiana (Notre Dame), Louisville, Pittsburgh and Syracuse, much of the Big East absorbs flyover country and the Southeast(ern) extends to the Midlands (Missouri and Texas A&M).

Amid all of the bizarre trans this and trans that, the most ardent fan probably can't come anywhere close to naming half of the schools transferring conferences the last several years. Heaven knows how future generations will explain the Big East split. After Wichita State abandoned the Missouri Valley for the American Athletic, will another prominent mid-major such Gonzaga from the far northwest attempt to remain relevant by joining the Jesuit-heavy Big East? As NFL Hall of Famer Vince Lombardi, who coached freshman basketball with Fordham, would famously say: "What the hell is going on out here?"

When Appalachian State (Sun Belt), Elon (CAA) and Davidson (Atlantic 10) departed in recent years, they became the 32nd, 33rd and 34th schools to leave the Southern Conference. Following is a school-by-school look at league affiliations over the years after Wichita State took off from the MVC and was replaced by Valparaiso, which was succeeded in the Horizon League by IUPUI from the Summit League:

School Latest League Previous DI Conference(s)
Abilene Christian Southland (1969-73 and since 2014)
Air Force Mountain West (since 2000) WAC (1981-99)
Akron Mid-American (since 1993) Ohio Valley (1981-87)/Mid-Continent (1991 and 1992)
Alabama SEC (since 1933) Southern (1922-32)
Alabama A&M SWAC (since 2000)
Alabama State SWAC (since 1983)
Albany America East (since 2002)
American Patriot League (since 2002) ECC (1967-84)/CAA (1985-2001)
Appalachian State Sun Belt (since 2015) Southern (1972-2014)
Arizona Pac-12 (since 1979) Border (1932-61)/ WAC (1963-78)
Arizona State Pac-12 (since 1979) Border (1932-62)/WAC (1963-78)
Arkansas SEC (since 1992) SWC (1924-91)
Arkansas State Sun Belt (since 1992) Southland (1969-87)/American South (1988-91)
Army Patriot League (since 1991) MAAC (1982-90)
Auburn SEC (since 1933) Southern (1922-32)
Austin Peay Ohio Valley (since 1964)
Ball State Mid-American (since 1976)
Baylor Big 12 (since 1997) SWC (1915-96)
Belmont Ohio Valley (since 2013) Atlantic Sun (2002-12)
Binghamton America East (since 2002)
Boise State Big West (1997-2001 and since 2014) Big Sky (1971-96)/WAC (2002-11)/Mountain West (2012 and 2013)
Boston College ACC (since 2006) Big East (1980-2005)
Boston University Patriot League (since 2014) Yankee (1973-76)/America East (1980-2013)
Bowling Green Mid-American (since 1954)
Bradley Missouri Valley (1949-51 and since 1956)
Brigham Young West Coast (since 2012) Rocky Mountain (1925-37)/Skyline (1938-62)/WAC (1963-99)/Mountain West (2000-11)
Brown Ivy League (since 1954)
Bucknell Patriot League (since 1991) ECC (1959-80)
Buffalo Mid-American (since 1999) ECC (1992 and 1994)/Mid-Continent (1995-98)
Butler Big East (since 2014) Missouri Valley (1933 and 1934)/Mid-American (1947-50)/Horizon League (1980-2012)/Atlantic 10 (2013)
California Pac-12 (since 1916)
UC Davis Big West (since 2008)
UC Irvine Big West (since 1978)
Cal Poly Big West (since 1997) American West (1995 and 1996)
UC Riverside Big West (since 2002)
UC Santa Barbara Big West (1970-74 and since 1977) West Coast Athletic (1965-69)
Cal State Bakersfield WAC (since 2014)
Cal State Fullerton Big West (since 1975)
Cal State Northridge Big West (since 2002) American West (1995 and 1996)/Big Sky (1997-2001)
Campbell Big South (1986-94 and since 2012) Atlantic Sun (1995-2011)
Canisius MAAC (since 1990) ECAC North Atlantic (1980-89)
Central Arkansas Southland (since 2007)
Central Connecticut State Northeast (since 1998) ECC (1991-94)/Mid-Continent (1995-97)
Central Florida American Athletic (since 2014) Sun Belt (1992)/Atlantic Sun (1994-2005)/C-USA (2006-2013)
Central Michigan Mid-American (since 1973)
Charleston Southern Big South (since 1986)
Charlotte C-USA (1996-2005 and since 2014) Sun Belt (1977-91)/Metro (1992-95)/Atlantic 10 (2006-13)
Chattanooga Southern (since 1978)
Chicago State WAC (since 2014) Mid-Continent (1995-2006)/Great West (2010-13)
Cincinnati American Athletic (since 2014) Mid-American (1947-53)/Missouri Valley (1958-70)/Metro (1976-91)/Great Midwest (1992-95)/C-USA (1996-2005)/Big East (2006-13)
The Citadel Southern (since 1937)
Clemson ACC (since 1954) Southern (1922-53)
Cleveland State Horizon League (since 1995) Mid-Continent (1983-94)
Coastal Carolina Sun Belt (since 2017) Big South (1986-2016)
Colgate Patriot League (since 1991) ECAC North Atlantic (1980-90)
College of Charleston CAA (since 2014) TAAC (1994-98)/Southern (1999-2013)
Colorado Pac-12 (since 2012) Rocky Mountain (1923-37)/Big Eight (1948-96)/Big 12 (1997-2011)
Colorado State Mountain West (since 2000) Rocky Mountain (1924-37)/Skyline (1938-62)/WAC (1970-99)
Columbia EIBL/Ivy League (since 1902)
Connecticut American Athletic (since 2014) New England/Yankee (1938-43 and 1946-76)/Big East (1980-2013)
Coppin State MEAC (since 1986)
Cornell EIBL/Ivy League (since 1902)
Creighton Big East (since 2014) Missouri Valley (1929-48 and 1977-2013)
Dartmouth EIBL/Ivy League (since 1912)
Davidson Atlantic 10 (since 2015) Southern (1937-88 and 1993-2014)/Big South (1991 and 1992)
Dayton Atlantic 10 (since 1996) Midwestern Collegiate (1989-93)/Great Midwest (1994 and 1995)
Delaware CAA (since 2002) ECC (1959-91)/America East (1992-2001)
Delaware State MEAC (since 1972)
Denver Summit League (since 2014) Rocky Mountain (1923-37)/Skyline (1938-62)/Sun Belt (2000-12)/WAC (2013)
DePaul Big East (since 2006) Great Midwest (1992-95)/C-USA (1996-2005)
Detroit Horizon League (since 1981) Missouri Valley (1950-57)
Drake Missouri Valley (1908-51 and since 1957)
Drexel CAA (since 2002) ECC (1959-91)/America East (1992-2001)
Duke ACC (since 1954) Southern (1929-53)
Duquesne Atlantic 10 (since 1977 except for 1993) Midwestern Collegiate (1993)
East Carolina American Athletic (since 2015) Southern (1966-77)/ECAC South/CAA (1983-2001)/C-USA (2002-14)
Eastern Illinois Ohio Valley (since 1997) Mid-Continent (1983-96)
Eastern Kentucky Ohio Valley (since 1949)
Eastern Michigan Mid-American (since 1975)
Eastern Washington Big Sky (since 1988)
East Tennessee State Southern (1980-2005 and since 2015) Ohio Valley (1959-78)/Southern (1980-2005)/Atlantic Sun (2006-14)
Elon CAA (since 2015) Big South (1998-2003)/Southern (2004-2014)
Evansville Missouri Valley (since 1995) Ohio Valley (1949-52)/Midwestern Collegiate (1980-94)
Fairfield MAAC (since 1982)
Fairleigh Dickinson Northeast (since 1982) Metropolitan Collegiate (1966-69)
Florida SEC (since 1933)
Florida A&M MEAC (since 1980)
Florida Atlantic C-USA (since 2014) Atlantic Sun (1996-2004)/Sun Belt (2005-13)
Florida Gulf Coast Atlantic Sun (since 2008)
Florida International C-USA (since 2014) TAAC (1992-98)/Sun Belt (1999-2013)
Florida State ACC (since 1992) Metro (1977-91)
Fordham Atlantic 10 (since 1996) MAAC (1982-90)/Patriot League (1991-95)
Fresno State Mountain West (since 2013) WCAC (1956 and 1957)/Big West (1970-92)/WAC (1993-2012)
Furman Southern (since 1937)
Gardner-Webb Big South (since 2009) Atlantic Sun (2003-08)
George Mason Atlantic 10 (since 2014) CAA (1983-2013)
Georgetown Big East (since 1980)
George Washington Atlantic 10 (since 1977) Southern (1942, 1943 and 1946-70)
Georgia SEC (since 1933) Southern (1922-32)
Georgia Southern Sun Belt (since 2015) TAAC (1981-92)/Southern (1993-2014)
Georgia State Sun Belt (1977-81 and since 2014) Atlantic Sun (1985-2005)/CAA (2006-13)
Georgia Tech ACC (since 1980) Southern (1922-32)/SEC (1933-64)/Metro (1976-78)
Gonzaga West Coast (since 1980) Big Sky (1964-79)
Grambling State SWAC (since 1959)
Grand Canyon WAC (since 2014)
Green Bay Horizon League (since 1995) Mid-Continent (1983-94)
Harvard EIBL/Ivy League (1902-09 and since 1934)
Hawaii Big West (since 2013) WAC (1980-2012)
High Point Big South (since 2000)
Hofstra CAA (since 2002) ECC (1966-94)/America East (1995-2001)
Holy Cross Patriot League (since 1991) ECAC North (1980-83)/MAAC (1984-90)
Houston American Athletic (since 2014) Missouri Valley (1951-60)/SWC (1976-96)/C-USA (1997-2013)
Houston Baptist Southland (since 2014) TAAC (1980-89)/Great West (2009-13)
Howard University MEAC (since 1972)
Idaho Big Sky (1964-96 and since 2015) Pacific Coast (1922-59)/Big Sky (1964-96)/Big West (1997-2005)/WAC (2006-14)
Idaho State Big Sky (since 1964) Rocky Mountain (1950-60)
Illinois Big Ten (since 1896)
Illinois-Chicago Horizon League (since 1995) Mid-Continent (1983-94)
Illinois State Missouri Valley (since 1981)
Incarnate Word Southland (since 2014)
Indiana Big Ten (since 1899)
Indiana State Missouri Valley (since 1977)
IPFW Summit League (since 2008)
IUPUI Horizon League (since 2018) Summit League (1999-2017)
Iona MAAC (since 1982) Metropolitan Collegiate (1966-69)
Iowa Big Ten (since 1899)
Iowa State Big 12 (since 1997) Missouri Valley (1908-28)/Big Eight (1929-96)
Jackson State SWAC (since 1959)
Jacksonville Atlantic Sun (since 1999) Sun Belt (1977-98)
Jacksonville State Ohio Valley (since 2004) TAAC/Atlantic Sun (1996-2003)
James Madison CAA (since 1983)
Kansas Big 12 (since 1997) Missouri Valley (1908-28)/Big Eight (1929-96)
Kansas State Big 12 (since 1997) Missouri Valley (1914-28)/Big Eight (1929-96)
Kennesaw State Atlantic Sun (since 2006)
Kent State Mid-American (since 1952)
Kentucky SEC (since 1933) Southern (1922-32)
Lafayette Patriot League (since 1991) ECC (1959-90)
Lamar Southland (1969-87 and since 1999) American South (1988-91)/Sun Belt (1992-98)
La Salle Atlantic 10 (since 1996) ECC (1959-83)/MAAC (1984-92)/Midwestern Collegiate (1993-95)
Lehigh Patriot League (since 1991) ECC (1959-90)
Liberty Big South (since 1992)
Lipscomb Atlantic Sun (since 2004)
Long Beach State Big West (since 1970)
Long Island Northeast (since 1982) Metropolitan Collegiate (1966-69)
Longwood Big South (since 2013)
Louisiana-Lafayette Sun Belt (since 1992) Southland (1972-82)/American South (1988-91)
Louisiana-Monroe Sun Belt (since 2007) TAAC (1980-82)/Southland (1983-2006)
Louisiana State SEC (since 1933) Southern (1923-32)
Louisiana Tech C-USA (since 2014) Southland (1972-87)/American South (1988-91)/Sun Belt (1992-2001)/WAC (2002-13)
Louisville ACC (since 2015) Missouri Valley (1965-75)/Metro (1976-95)/C-USA (1996-2005)/Big East (2006-13)/American Athletic (2014)
Loyola of Chicago Missouri Valley (since 2014) Horizon League (1980-2013)
Loyola (Md.) Patriot League (since 2014) Northeast (1982-89)/MAAC (1990-2013)
Loyola Marymount West Coast (since 1956)
Maine America East (since 1980) New England/Yankee (1938-43 and 1946-76)
Manhattan MAAC (since 1982) Metropolitan Collegiate (1966-69)
Marist MAAC (since 1998) Northeast (1982-97)
Marquette Big East (since 2006) Midwestern Collegiate (1990 & 1991)/Great Midwest (1992-95)/C-USA (1996-2005)
Marshall C-USA (since 2006) Ohio Valley (1949-52)/Mid-American (1954-69 and 1998-2005)/Southern (1978-97)
Maryland Big Ten (since 2015) Southern (1924-53)/ACC (1954-2014)
Maryland-Baltimore County America East (since 2004) ECC (1991 and 1992)/Big South (1993-98)/Northeast (1999-2003)
Maryland-Eastern Shore MEAC (1972-79 and since 1983)
Massachusetts Atlantic 10 (since 1977) New England/Yankee (1947-76)
Massachusetts-Lowell America East (since 2014)
McNeese State Southland (since 1973)
Memphis American Athletic (since 2014) Missouri Valley (1968-73)/Metro (1976-91)/Great Midwest (1992-95)/C-USA (1996-2013)
Mercer Southern (since 2015) Atlantic Sun (1980-2014)
Miami (Fla.) ACC (since 2005) Big East (1992-2004)
Miami (Ohio) Mid-American (since 1948)
Michigan Big Ten (since 1896)
Michigan State Big Ten (since 1949)
Middle Tennessee State C-USA (since 2014) Ohio Valley (1953-2000)/Sun Belt (2001-13)
Milwaukee Horizon League (since 1995) Mid-Continent (1993 and 1994)
Minnesota Big Ten (since 1896)
Mississippi SEC (since 1933) Southern (1923-32)
Mississippi State SEC (since 1933) Southern (1922-32)
Mississippi Valley State SWAC (since 1969)
Missouri SEC (since 2013) Missouri Valley (1908-28)/Big Eight (1929-96)/Big 12 (1997-2012)
Missouri-Kansas City WAC (since 2014) Summit League (1995-2013)
Missouri State Missouri Valley (since 1991) Mid-Continent (1983-90)
Monmouth MAAC (since 2014) Northeast (1986-2013)
Montana Big Sky (since 1964) Pacific Coast (1924-29)/Skyline (1952-62)
Montana State Big Sky (since 1964) Rocky Mountain (1925-57 except for 1948)/Skyline (1952-62)
Morehead State Ohio Valley (since 1949)
Morgan State MEAC (1972-80 and since 1985)
Mount St. Mary's Northeast (since 1990)
Murray State Ohio Valley (since 1949 except for 1962)
Navy Patriot League (since 1992) CAA (1983-91)
Nebraska Big Ten (since 2012) Missouri Valley (1908-28)/Big Eight (1929-96)/Big 12 (1997-2011)
Nebraska-Omaha Summit League (since 2013)
Nevada Mountain West (2013) WCAC (1970-79)/Big Sky (1980-92)/Big West (1993-2000)/WAC (2001-12)
New Hampshire America East (since 1980) New England/Yankee (1938-43 and 1946-76)
NJIT Atlantic Sun (since 2016) Great West (2009-13)
New Mexico Mountain West (since 2000) Border (1932-42 and 1945-51)/Skyline (1952-62)/WAC (1963-99)
New Mexico State WAC (since 2006) Border (1932-62)/Missouri Valley (1971-83)/Big West (1984-2000)/Sun Belt (2001-05)
New Orleans Southland (since 2014) Sun Belt (1977-80 and 1992-2011)/American South (1988-91)
Niagara MAAC (since 1990) ECAC North Atlantic (1980-89)
Nicholls State Southland (since 1992) Gulf Star (1985-87)
Norfolk State MEAC (since 1998)
North Carolina ACC (since 1954) Southern (1922-53)
UNC Asheville Big South (since 1986)
North Carolina A&T MEAC (since 1972)
North Carolina Central MEAC (1972-80 and since 2012)
UNC Greensboro Southern (since 1998) Big South (1993-97)
North Carolina State ACC (since 1954) Southern (1922-53)
UNC Wilmington CAA (since 1985)
North Dakota Big Sky (since 2013)
North Dakota State Summit League (since 2008)
Northern Arizona Big Sky (since 1971) Border (1932-53)
Northern Colorado Big Sky (since 2007)
Northern Illinois Mid-American (1976-86 and since 1998) Mid-Continent (1991-94)/Midwestern Collegiate (1995-97)
Northern Iowa Missouri Valley (since 1992) Mid-Continent (1983-91)
Northern Kentucky Horizon League (since 2016) Atlantic Sun (2013-15)
North Florida Atlantic Sun (since 2006)
North Texas C-USA (since 2014) Missouri Valley (1958-75)/Southland (1983-96)/Big West (1997-2000)/Sun Belt (2001-13)
Northwestern Big Ten (since 1896)
Northwestern State Southland (since 1988) TAAC (1981-84)/Gulf Star (1985-87)
Notre Dame ACC (since 2014) Big East (1996-2013)
Oakland Horizon League (since 2014) Summit League (1999-2013)
Ohio University Mid-American (since 1947)
Ohio State Big Ten (since 1912)
Oklahoma Big 12 (since 1997) Missouri Valley (1920-28)/Big Eight (1929-96)
Oklahoma State Big 12 (since 1997) SWC (1918 and 1922-25)/Missouri Valley (1926-57)/Big Eight (1959-96)
Old Dominion C-USA (since 2014) Sun Belt (1983-91)/CAA (1992-2013)
Oral Roberts Summit League (1998-2012 and since 2015) Midwestern Collegiate (1980-87)/Southland (2013 and 2014)
Oregon Pac-12 (1916-59 and since 1965)
Oregon State Pac-12 (1916-59 and since 1965)
Pacific WCAC/WCC (1953-71 and since 2014) Big West (1972-2013)
Penn EIBL/Ivy League (since 1904)
Penn State Big Ten (since 1993) Atlantic 10 (1977-79 and 1983-91)
Pepperdine West Coast (since 1956)
Pittsburgh ACC (since 2014) Eastern 8 (1977-82)/Big East (1983-2013)
Portland West Coast (since 1977)
Portland State Big Sky (since 1997)
Prairie View SWAC (since 1921 except for 1991)
Presbyterian Big South (since 2010)
Princeton EIBL/Ivy League (since 1902)
Providence Big East (since 1980)
Purdue Big Ten (since 1896)
Quinnipiac MAAC (since 2014) Northeast (1999-2013)
Radford Big South (since 1986)
Rhode Island Atlantic 10 (since 1981) New England/Yankee (1938-43 and 1946-76)/ECAC North (1980)
Rice C-USA (since 2006) SWC (1915-96)/WAC (1997-2005)
Richmond Atlantic 10 (since 2002) Southern (1937-76)/CAA (1983-2001)
Rider MAAC (since 1998) ECC (1967-92)/Northeast (1993-97)
Robert Morris Northeast (since 1982)
Rutgers Big Ten (since 2015) Middle Atlantic (1959-62)/Atlantic 10 (1977-95)/Big East (1996-2013)/American Athletic (2014)
Sacramento State Big Sky (since 1997) American West (1995 and 1996)
Sacred Heart Northeast (since 2000)
St. Bonaventure Atlantic 10 (since 1980)
St. Francis (N.Y.) Northeast (since 1982) Metropolitan Collegiate (1966-68)
Saint Francis (Pa.) Northeast (since 1982)
St. John's Big East (since 1980)
Saint Joseph's Atlantic 10 (since 1983) ECC (1959-82)
Saint Louis Atlantic 10 (since 2006) Missouri Valley (1938-74)/Metro (1976-82)/Midwestern Collegiate (1983-91)/Great Midwest (1992-95)/C-USA (1996-2005)
Saint Mary's West Coast (since 1953)
Saint Peter's MAAC (since 1982) Metropolitan Collegiate (1966-69)
Samford Southern (since 2008) Atlantic Sun (1980-2003)/Ohio Valley (2004-07)
Sam Houston State Southland (since 1988) Gulf Star (1985-87)
San Diego West Coast (since 1980)
San Diego State PCAA/Big West (1970-78 and since 2014) WAC (1979-99)/Mountain West (2000-13)
San Francisco West Coast (since 1953)
San Jose State Mountain West (since 2014) WCAC (1953-69)/Big West (1970-96)/WAC (1997-2013)
Santa Clara West Coast (since 1953)
Savannah State MEAC (since 2012)
Seattle WAC (since 2013) WCAC (1972-80)
Seton Hall Big East (since 1980) Metropolitan Collegiate (1966-69)
Siena MAAC (since 1990) Northeast (1982-84)/ECAC North Atlantic (1985-89)
South Alabama Sun Belt (since 1977)
South Carolina SEC (since 1992) Southern (1923-53)/ACC (1954-71)/Metro (1984-91)
South Carolina State MEAC (since 1972)
USC Upstate Atlantic Sun (since 2008)
South Dakota Big Sky (since 2013) Great West (2009-12)
South Dakota State Summit League (since 2008)
Southeastern Louisiana Southland (since 1998) Gulf Star (1985-87)/TAAC (1992-97)
Southeast Missouri State Ohio Valley (since 1992)
Southern (La.) SWAC (since 1935)
Southern California Pac-12 (since 1922)
Southern Illinois Missouri Valley (since 1975)
SIU-Edwardsville Ohio Valley (since 2012)
Southern Methodist American Athletic (since 2014) SWC (1919-96)/WAC (1997-2005)/C-USA (2006-13)
Southern Mississippi C-USA (since 1996) Metro (1983-95)
Southern Utah Big Sky (since 2013) American West (1995 and 1996)/Summit League (1998-2012)
South Florida American Athletic (since 2014) Sun Belt (1977-91)/Metro (1992-95)/C-USA (1996-2005)/Big East (2006-13)
Stanford Pac-12 (since 1917)
Stephen F. Austin Southland (since 1988) Gulf Star (1985-87)
Stetson Atlantic Sun (since 1987)
Stony Brook America East (since 2002)
Syracuse ACC (since 2014) Big East (1980-2013)
Temple American Athletic (since 2014) ECC (1959-82)/Atlantic 10 (1983-2013)
Tennessee SEC (since 1933) Southern (1922-32)
Tennessee-Martin Ohio Valley (since 1993)
Tennessee State Ohio Valley (since 1988)
Tennessee Tech Ohio Valley (since 1949)
Texas Big 12 (since 1997) SWC (1915-96)
Texas A&M SEC (since 2013) SWC (1915-96)/Big 12 (1997-2012)
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Southland (since 2007)
Texas-Arlington Sun Belt (since 2014) Southland (1969-2012 except for 1987)/WAC (2013)
Texas Christian Big 12 (since 2013) SWC (1924-96)/WAC (1997-2001)/C-USA (2002-05)/Mountain West (2006-12)
Texas-El Paso C-USA (since 2006) Border (1936-62)/WAC (1970-2005)
Texas-Pan American WAC (since 2014) TAAC (1980)/American South (1988-91)/Sun Belt (1992-98)/Great West (2009-13)
Texas-San Antonio C-USA (since 2014) TAAC (1987-91)/Southland (1992-2012)/WAC (2013)
Texas Southern SWAC (since 1955)
Texas State Sun Belt (since 2014) Gulf Star (1985-87)/Southland (1988-2012)/WAC (2013)
Texas Tech Big 12 (since 1997) Border (1933-56)/SWC (1958-96)
Toledo Mid-American (since 1952)
Towson CAA (since 2002) Northeast (1982)/ECC (1983-92)/Big South (1993-95)/America East (1996-2001)
Troy Sun Belt (since 2006) ECC (1994)/Mid-Continent (1995-97)/Atlantic Sun (1998-2005)
Tulane American Athletic (since 2015) Southern (1923-32)/SEC (1933-66)/Metro (1976-85 and 1990-95)/C-USA (1996-2014)
Tulsa American Athletic (since 2015) Missouri Valley (1935-96)/WAC (1997-2005)/C-USA (2006-14)
UAB C-USA (since 1996) Sun Belt (1980-91)/Great Midwest (1992-95)
UALR Sun Belt (since 1992) TAAC (1981-91)
UCLA Pac-12 (since 1928)
UNLV Mountain West (since 2000) WCAC (1970-75)/Big West (1983-96)/WAC (1997-99)
Utah Pac-12 (since 2012) Rocky Mountain (1925-37)/Skyline (1938-62)/WAC (1963-99)/Mountain West (2000-11)
Utah State Mountain West (since 2014) Rocky Mountain (1925-37)/Skyline (1938-62)/Big West (1979-2005)/WAC (2006-13)
Utah Valley WAC (since 2014) Great West (2009-13)
Valparaiso Missouri Valley (since 2018) Mid-Continent (1983-2007)/Horizon League (2008-17)
Vanderbilt SEC (since 1933) Southern (1923-32)
Vermont America East (since 1980) New England/Yankee (1947-76)
Villanova Big East (since 1981) Eastern Athletic Association (1977-80)
Virginia ACC (since 1954) Southern (1922-37)
Virginia Commonwealth Atlantic 10 (since 2013) Sun Belt (1980-91)/Metro (1992-95)/CAA (1996-2012)
Virginia Military Southern (1926-2003 and since 2015) Big South (2004-14)
Virginia Tech ACC (since 2005) Southern (1922-65)/Metro (1979-95)/Atlantic 10 (1996-2000)/Big East (2001-04)
Wagner Northeast (since 1982)
Wake Forest ACC (since 1954) Southern (1937-53)
Washington Pac-12 (since 1916)
Washington State Pac-12 (1917-59 and since 1964)
Weber State Big Sky (since 1964)
Western Carolina Southern (since 1978)
Western Illinois Summit League (since 1983)
Western Kentucky C-USA (since 2015) Ohio Valley (1949-82)/Sun Belt (1983-2014)
Western Michigan Mid-American (since 1948)
West Virginia Big 12 (since 2013) Southern (1951-68)/Atlantic 10 (1977-95)/Big East (1996-2012)
Wichita State American Athletic (since 2018) Missouri Valley (1946-2017)
William & Mary CAA (since 1983) Southern (1937-77)
Winthrop Big South (since 1986)
Wisconsin Big Ten (since 1896)
Wofford Southern (since 1998)
Wright State Horizon League (since 1995) Mid-Continent (1992-94)
Wyoming Mountain West (since 2000) Rocky Mountain (1923-37)/Mountain States (1938-62)/WAC (1963-99)
Xavier Big East (since 2014) Midwestern Collegiate (1980-95)/Atlantic 10 (1996-2013)
Yale EIBL/Ivy League (since 1902)
Youngstown State Horizon League (since 2002) Ohio Valley (1982-88)/Mid-Continent (1992-2001)

Honors Court: UK and UNC Tied for Most Hoops All-American Selections

April 7th, 2017 - 6:33

Kentucky and North Carolina continue to rank 1-2 for most All-American honorees over the years. Duke isn't far behind UK (total of 72) and UNC (72) although none of the Blue Devils' All-Americans came from the state of North Carolina (20 different states plus District of Columbia).

Illinois, Notre Dame and Purdue never have won an NCAA championship despite all three schools supplying at least 20 different individuals as All-Americans. Following is a list of the top 10 universities boasting the most All-Americans since 1928-29 (AP, Converse, NABC, UPI and USBWA).

Rank School (Different Individuals) Rank School (Total # of All-Americans)
1. Kentucky (47) T1. Kentucky (72)
2. North Carolina (43) T1. North Carolina (72)
3. Indiana (41) 3. Duke (62)
4. Duke (39) 4. Indiana (56)
5. Kansas (36) 5. Kansas (54)
T6. Illinois (31) 6. UCLA (48)
T6. UCLA (32) 7. Ohio State (46)
8. Ohio State (29) 8. Notre Dame (44)
9. Notre Dame (26) 9. Illinois (36)
10. Purdue (21) 10. Purdue (31)
T11. Michigan (20)
T11. Syracuse (20)

On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Make Their Mark on April 7 MLB Games

April 7th, 2017 - 6:20

Extra! Extra! As a new season shifts into high gear, read all about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players! Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.

Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Former Hofstra top scorer and rebounder Brant Alyea set a MLB Opening Day RBI record on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an April 7 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

APRIL 7

  • Minnesota Twins LF Brant Alyea (Hofstra's leading scorer and rebounder in 1960-61 after finishing runner-up in both categories previous basketball season) amassed seven RBI, a major league record for opening day, against the Chicago White Sox in 1970. Alyea drove in 19 runs in P Jim Perry's first four starts that year.

  • In his MLB debut in 1970, Philadelphia Phillies 2B Denny Doyle (averaged 2.7 ppg for Morehead State in 1962-63) delivered three hits, including a RBI triple in the third inning for the game's first run, in a 2-0 win against the Chicago Cubs.

  • In his MLB debut in 2017, Cincinnati Reds LHP Amir Garrett (averaged 7.4 ppg and 4 rpg for St. John's in 2011-12 and 2012-13 before RS transfer year at Cal State Northridge) hurled six shutout innings to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals.

  • RHP Bobby Humphreys (four-year hoops letterman for Hampden-Sydney VA in mid-1950s) traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the Chicago Cubs in 1965.

  • RHP Dave Madison (letterman for LSU from 1939-40 through 1942-43) purchased from the New York Yankees by the St. Louis Browns in 1952.

  • Boston Red Sox LHP Gary Peters (Grove City PA hooper in mid-1950s), after allowing no earned runs in 32 spring training innings, secured a 4-3 season-opening win at New York in 1970.

  • New York Yankees LF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) homered in each of his first three games in 1983.

What the Heel?: NCAA and Carolina Way Included Stalling From All Corners

April 6th, 2017 - 19:08

Did North Carolina, before capturing the NCAA Tournament title this year, hire Hillary Clinton's vigorous lawyers experienced at redacting documents before negotiating and releasing NCAA allegations stemming from a shady African and Afro-American independent study course? Amid the three responses to Notices of Allegations and "Four Corners" stalling (administration/coaching staff/press/politicians), could we at least have some entertainment such as a spirited dunk contest among foot-dragging Chancellor, Sgt. Schultz-like coach Roy "I Know Nothing" Williams, backpedaling NCAA officials, look-the-other-way media represented by Dick Vitale and mum state politicians more enthused about prospect of increasing NCAA-record number of Final Four appearances? The dunk-a-thon should be conducted on a kids goal because that is the Sepp Blatter-like way principals involved in this ruse played footsie with onlookers.

If the Heelhole of a selling-your-scholastic-soul scheme was solely for GPA boosting while making diploma from the school worth the equivalent of a sheet of Charmin, Carolina's 2005 (10 of 15 members were AFAS majors with total of 35 "pretty doggone good" bogus classes over two semesters) and 2009 NCAA titles should be - but won't be - in jeopardy of being vacated. Shrouded in more secrecy than Area 51, candid commentary probably isn't on the horizon, either, via subpoena-related deposition details emerging from judges denying suing players promised a good education but major-manipulated into AFAS, Communications plus Exercise and Sport Science.

At any rate, for the sake of supplying a good chuckle to offset a portion of the angst, the public should have an opportunity to digest a sampling of the pithy prose from those unread Prime Time 10-page papers (assigned mostly A grades with few B+ marks since a player or two may have misspelled his name). Pilfering ex-POTUS lingo, pinhead purveyors simply seek to say: "You didn't write (or build) that!" UNC, admitting "regrettable actions" even before an academic accreditation sanction, probably deserved more consideration for the death penalty simply because disgraceful no-show classes came under the umbrella of a Center For Ethics. To date, there has been no delusional discrimination claim among UNC athletes or regular students failing to have access to Asian-American, Cuban-American, Irish-American, Latin-American or Mexican-American studies.

The university has paid millions of dollars in PR costs dealing with the scholastic scandal but that's an affordable expense insofar as there was significant savings over these many years when no faculty was necessary to actually provide instruction for bogus book-work. Rather than learning classy pass fakes on the court, the courted players passed by "learning" in fake classes. It's no excuse but, if the let's-not-dwell-on-the-negative media would get off its royal cushion, how many other schools across the nation have comparable compromising courses? This is not exactly virgin territory among power-league members after a former Minnesota tutor claimed she wrote or helped write more than 400 papers or pieces of coursework for in excess of 20 Gophers players in the mid-1990s. Amid notice of allegations to UNC, the NCAA should remember: "If you don't stand for something (such as higher scholastic standards), you'll fall for anything (excessive number of suspect student-athletes)."

How in Heel is having athletic department personnel steering players into sham classes for 18 years not, at its core curriculum, a textbook definition of "lack of institutional control?" On the other hand, it may be the "institution (athletic department)" was very much in control and knew damn well it was playing puppeteer as much as POTUS using the "N" word in a radio interview. What exactly were the names of these equally undignified 101 classes offered and graded by an African studies department office manager who wasn't a professor? Perhaps the AFAS coloring-book syllabus included: Duke is Really Spelled P-U-K-E; Urban Riots Honoring Michael Brown, Freddie Gray and Trayvon Martin; Hands Off! Don't Loot!; Black Lives Matter Except For Aborted Innocent Babies; Rap is Crap But Deserves National Anthem; Cultural Impact of Hair Braiding and Pants On the Ground; Dignity and Ethics in Setting O.J. Free or Watching O.J.'s Reality Show After Release From Prison; Profiling Welfare Kings and Queens; Where's Your Baby Daddy?; Race-Hustling Leaders Rev Al, Jesse Jackson and Van Jones; Impact of MadMax(ine) on Masked Natifa; Reasons Why Black Sheep Vote More Than 90% For Dimorats; Impact of Tattoo Misspellings; Unmasking #DirtyRice Defense of #OutHouse's Dirty Deeds, How Jailin' Rose Bombs Uncle Toms; Dancin' On Their Graves Like Father of the Year Ray Lewis; Ranking Marching Bands Heavy Breathing Around ESPN's Undefeated Rather Than Grantland, etc., etc., etc.

When will #KneelWithJemele ESPN, while shedding influence of "right radicals" Britt McHenry, Sage Steele, Mike Ditka and Curt Schilling, get to the bottom of the chicanery yielding answers via another orchestrated interview with Coy Roy serving as master of "really-bothered-by-whole-thing" ceremonies featuring backdrop of supportive ex-players? ESPN, in a stimulating move as vital as the Bunny Ranch endorsing #ShrillaryRotten, should have just gone ahead and issued Williams' support group some "Game Day" posters for their journalistic juvenile pep rally. Defining courage down via crass tabloidism, the network has gone so far let-it-be left it Jennerly defended decision to give ESPY Courage Award to Bruce or Caitlyn or whatever he or she is rather than infinitely more obvious choice of Army veteran Noah Galloway or the late women's hoopster Lauren Hill. At least ESPC, after first expressing laughable "piracy concerns," cancelled a 30 for 30 documentary fawning over sad-sack Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson prior to showing its "bloody" true colors editing out segment focusing on Schilling in a Boston Red Sox documentary. Shouldn't a network with 'ESP' as part of its acronym know in advance reasons for its declining brand?

Amid all of the press posturing and Carolina's scholastic shenanigans, even if you have to fabricate, don't let integrity icon Dean Smith's last two Final Four teams in the mid-1990s be involved in any way or else no coach on the planet can be trusted. It seems totally out of character, but time will tell if lie-beral "do-anything-for-them" overkill via "fairness" control-freak tendencies polluted UNC's program at the genesis of the academic scandal and will eventually stain his legacy. If so, we'll all be weeping like a Villanova pep-band piccolo player before the Wildcats had fans weeping for joy after winning NCAA title a year later.

How difficult would it have been for Williams, instead of pleading educational mission ignorance amid unraveling of Wayne's World (academic advisor Walden), to take a few minutes out of his busy schedule per semester to assess academic progress of each of his players? Didn't Roy acknowledge there was "class clustering" early in his Carolina head coaching tenure before focusing on restroom accessibility? If so, did Walden simply continue the charade or add a Kansas twist(er) or two to the charade? How efficient was former UNC point guard Melvin Scott in directing Roy's Boys to any classes they need to attend? It is the height of hypocrisy for Williams and other "father-figure" DI mentors to have contract bonus provisions stemming from APR/graduation rates. Will UNC's extension into the next decade demand he apologize to whistle-blower tutor Mary "Just Keep My Players Eligible" Willingham? Didn't Williams figuratively assault her (triggering death threats in aftermath of additional administration admonishments) by impugning Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary's character saying her illiteracy claims were untrue and totally unfair about a striking number of scholars boasting middle-school reading skills?

Said Willingham prior to settling a lawsuit with UNC for $335,000 (about $1,000 per basketball player enrollment in paper class minus attorneys' fees): "I went to a lot of basketball games in the Dean Dome, but Roy never came and sat with me while I tutored his guys." Hell, some of his guys seemed to spend more time in roomy auto linked to classy convicted felon Haydn "Fats" Thomas than in a regular classroom. Heaven help us if Williams' "sad-time" excuses regarding the academic debris are typical of the coaching community level of interest in authentic advancement toward a genuine diploma. Reminiscent of escaped convicts in New York deserving inclusion in a penitentiary honors program, two-time All-American Rashad McCants claims he made Dean's List at UNC one semester despite failing to attend any of the four classes in which he "earned" straight A's on his way out (at least not via manhole cover).

In this absence-of-standards era, Williams is virtually guaranteed a job with ESPN as an analyst if he fibbed to NCAA investigators similar to certifiable liar Bruce Pearl. Amid the pimpish compartmentalization, there are also "clever" guys such as Oregon stemming from its timing in waiting to expel three players implicated in an alleged sexual assault in order to avoid a reduction in its Academic Progress Rate score. Meanwhile, fellow Pac-12 Conference member California adopted a stricter admissions policy when it comes to academics. The standards may have helped spur Cuonzo Martin leave for Mizzou but will Cal set a nationwide trend for increased scholastic standards or will majority of universities duck the issue? Not if the condescending NCAA headquarters appears much more concerned about Indian nicknames and "tear down that stall" for transgenders.

Former Duke starter Jay Bilas, who succeeded Vitale as ESPN's Prime Time Performer in the GameDay color commentator role, has experiential ACC knowledge competing against colorful North Carolina State coach Jim Valvano's suspect squads (735 average SAT score - featuring Chris Washburn at 470 - and excessive number of positive drug tests during the 1980s). Bilas should confirm how many NCSU frontcourt starters he competed against coherently conveyed a complete sentence to him. A tutor reportedly claimed Washburn thought the country directly south of the U.S. was Canada or Spain and directly north was England. While pondering rigorous courses washout Washburn passed to remain academically eligible for more than a season, a cold-blooded question surfaces as to whether the academic anemia at UNC is worse than what occurred at N.C. State, which probably gains the negative nod if only because of Washburn teammate Charles Shackleford's following animal-expert quote: "Left hand, right hand, it doesn't matter. I'm amphibious." The "A" in "bring your A-game" in an ACC ad apparently doesn't stand for academics.

If bookish Bilas genuinely knows self-evaluation "toughness," he will maneuver upstream and shift his passion from lambasting the NCAA about paying these gentlemen and scholars to a lawyerly focus on stopping the NCAA from preying on players who have no business representing universities because they aren't authentic student-athletes. Granted, such an academic-values modification will translate into an inferior product for him and his network to promote (and for luminaries such as Jim Boeheim, John Calipari, Bob Huggins, Mike Krzyzewski, Rick Pitino plus Williams to coach for that matter). But does a mediocre Duke player such as Lance Thomas need more than $30,000 as down payment on jewelry? What about multiple Memphis players reporting they were robbed of more than $66,000 worth of vital items for Calipari-coached college students (mink coats, diamond earrings, stereo equipment, flat-screen TV)? Of all people, Bilas knows basketball players at a school such as Duke are treated differently than secondary sports such as lacrosse; let alone regular students.

Moreover, Syracuse's Boeheim, cleverly distinguishing "difference between breaking rules and cheating," wouldn't have an opportunity to be "impressed" about one-and-done Carmelo Anthony's 1.8 gpa before failing to mention if Anthony attended more classes than games his second semester. Did BMOC Melo mellow out in Orange-hot Child and Family Studies long before his verbal spat with Knicks executive Phil Jackson? Too many self-serving schools and their athletic departments are living an academic lie as much as the white NAACP chapter president and are ignorant as much as CNN anchor calling Dallas gunman "brave and courageous" for shooting at police headquarters.

When there are games and national crowns to win, how interested could Bilas' alma mater and Carolina's chief rival possibly be in education these days, anyway? Additional departing freshman sensations give Duke nine one-and-done "graduates" in a seven-year span. When Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timerwolves) and Willie Cauley-Stein (Sacramento Kings) became the seventh and eighth Kentucky product in a six-year span among the NBA's top eight draft picks, the gifted group may have pooled credit-hour resources for a single shared diploma (hopefully not useless AFAS). The pair of rookies and five of the other early Big Blue picks - including DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings), Anthony Davis (New Orleans Pelicans), Brandon Knight (Phoenix Suns), Julius Randle (Los Angeles Lakers) and John Wall (Washington Wizards) - on six different NBA teams combined for a paltry 173-319 record last season (.352), a mark even worse than Calipari's 72-112 worksheet (.391) in three seasons with the New Jersey Nets in the late 1990s. UK provided 21 selections in the previous six years, averaging three first-round picks annually while combining to earn in excess of $85 million this campaign. But if winning on the hardwood is more vital than the draft lottery, UK hasn't been more valuable. With Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Charlotte Hornets) missing majority of previous season because of an injured right shoulder, none of those 21 UK Calipari-coached draft choices started for an NBA postseason participant in 2016.

Whether it's a single season or redshirt with five years, what quality of classes are taken in college by mercenary professional-caliber athletes if a mind-numbing 60% of NBA players file for bankruptcy five years after retirement? Openness in revealing UNC's academic allegations and the NCAA's mission-statement response to this subterfuge will determine once and for all how ethically bankrupt major-college athletics has become under the present leadership and corrosive press incompetently covering the corruption.

California Only State Posting More NCAA DI Hoops Titles Than North Carolina

April 6th, 2017 - 8:00

North Carolina and Duke combined for four NCAA Tournament titles in the last nine years. The only time two different schools from the same state captured three consecutive NCAA titles was from 1960 through 1962 when Ohio State and Cincinnati reigned supreme. North Carolina was twice involved in back-to-back crowns with an in-state counterpart - 1982 and 1983 (N.C. State) plus 2009 and 2010 (Duke).

California is the only state with as many as four different universities win an NCAA Division I Tournament championship. The following eight different states have multiple schools capturing an NCAA DI Tournament crown:

California (15) - California (1959), San Francisco (1955 and 1956), Stanford (1942), UCLA (1964-65-67-68-69-70-71-72-73-75-95)

North Carolina (13) - Duke (1991-92-01-10-15), North Carolina (1957-82-93-05-09-17), North Carolina State (1974 and 1983)

Kentucky (11) - Kentucky (1948-49-51-58-78-96-98-12), Louisville (1980-86-13)

Michigan (3) - Michigan (1989), Michigan State (1979 and 2000)

Ohio (3) - Cincinnati (1961 and 1962), Ohio State (1960)

Pennsylvania (3) - La Salle (1954), Villanova (1985 and 2016)

New York (2) - CCNY (1950), Syracuse (2003)

Wisconsin (2) - Marquette (1977), Wisconsin (1941)

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