What's in store for Grand Canyon (Ariz.), Incarnate Word (Tex.) and Massachusetts-Lowell as they brace for their inaugural season at the NCAA Division I level? Only seven of the first 33 schools moving up to compete at DI in the 21st Century posted a winning record in their debut campaign. The average first-year mark for the last 33 newcomers is 9-19.

In 2008-09, South Dakota became only the second school to reach the 20-win plateau in its first DI season since Stephen F. Austin achieved the feat in 1986-87. But Gardner-Webb's 22 victories in 2000-01 later were vacated. Eight of the nine best first-year seasons occurred in the 1970s when 40 of the 70 institutions elevating their programs to DI during the decade promptly posted winning records.

In 1971-72, Southwestern Louisiana, now known as Louisiana-Lafayette, became the only school ever to finish in the Top 10 of the final DI rankings the year after finishing in the Top 10 of the final Division II poll. But it wasn't long before USL was prohibited from fielding a formal team for two seasons (1973-74 and 1974-75) as part of an NCAA probation.

Alabama State (22-6 in 1982-83) is the only school since the 1970s to win more than three-fourths of its games in its DI debut campaign. Following is a first-year summary of schools moving up to the major-college ranks after the initial season of NCAA classification in 1947-48:

*Evansville had an abbreviated schedule because of a plane crash.

Academic redshirt Danrad "Chicken" Knowles could be the key to possibly sparking Houston to its first NCAA playoff victory since the Cougars finished national runner-up to Georgetown in 1984. The gifted guard with an entertaining nickname joins the following long list of collegians over the years with distinctive monikers:

• Forest (Frosty) Able, Western Kentucky
• Greg (Cadillac) Anderson, Houston
• Paul (Curly) Armstrong, Indiana
• Raymond (Peanut) Arrington, Radford
• William (Bird) Averitt, Pepperdine
• Norwood (Pee Wee) Barber, Florida State
• Jim (Bad News) Barnes, Texas Western
• Amadou (Coco) Barry, Maine
• Segado (Cookie) Belcher, Nebraska
• Ralph (Stork) Bishop, Washington
• Roderick (Moo Moo) Blakney, South Carolina State
• Daron (Mookie) Blaylock, Oklahoma
• Tyrone (Muggsy) Bogues, Wake Forest
• Jermaine (Itchy) Bolden, Morgan State
• Roylin (Boot) Bond, Pepperdine
• Charles (Tub) Bradley, Wyoming
• Frank (Flash) Brian, Louisiana State
• Fred (Downtown) Brown, Iowa
• Murray (Mule) Brown, Florida State
• Luther (Ticky) Burden, Utah
• Michael (Spiderman) Burns, UNLV
• George (Chink) Busch, Creighton
• (Pogo) Joe Caldwell, Arizona State
• Bruce (Soup) Campbell, Providence
• Bowyer (Ducky) Castelle, Xavier
• Sam (The Bam) Clancy, Pittsburgh
• Craig (Speedy) Claxton, Hofstra
• Nathaniel (Sweetwater) Clifton, Xavier (La.)
• Vernell (Bimbo) Coles, Virginia Tech
• Derwin (Tank) Collins, New Orleans
• John (Chubby) Cox, Villanova/San Francisco
• Earl (The Twirl) Cureton, Robert Morris/Detroit
• Adrian (Ace) Custis, Virginia Tech
• Edwin (Greedy) Daniels, UNLV/Mississippi State
• E.B. (Ox) Darby, Texas A&M
• Anthony (Amp) Davis, George Mason
• Arthur (Yah) Davis, St. Joseph's
• McKinley (Deacon) Davis, Iowa
• Louis (Pick) Dehner, Illinois
• Alfred (Dusty) DeStefano, St. John's
• John (Hook) Dillon, North Carolina
• Julius (Daddy) Dolnics, Texas Christian
• Clyde (The Glide) Drexler, Houston
• Dwight (Dike) Eddleman, Illinois
• LeRoy (Cowboy) Edwards, Kentucky
• Theodore (Blue) Edwards, East Carolina
• Eyo (Bubbles) Effiong, Winthrop
• Emil (Box) Englebretson, Creighton
• Julius (Dr. J) Erving, Massachusetts
• Kevin (Yogi) Ferrell, Indiana
• James (Bruiser) Flint, St. Joseph's
• Jackie (The Shot) Foley, Holy Cross
• Arnold (Clyde) Gaines, Wisconsin
• Lauren (Laddie) Gale, Oregon
• Harry (The Horse) Gallatin, Northeast Missouri
• Erin (Helicopter) Galloway, Hawaii
• George (Iceman) Gervin, Eastern Michigan
• Carlos (Bunny) Gibson, Marshall
• Ward (Hoot) Gibson, Creighton
• Jack (Goose) Givens, Kentucky
• Bonnie (Country) Graham, Mississippi
• Paul (Snoopy) Graham, Ohio University
• Mike (Fly) Gray, Nevada-Reno
• Ken (Tree) Green, Nevada-Reno
• Kenneth (Apple) Green, Pan American
• Harold (Happy) Hairston, New York University
• Wade (Swede) Halbrook, Oregon State
• Bill (Biff) Hall, Montana
• Earl (Bus) Hall, Virginia Tech
• Anfernee (Penny) Hardaway, Memphis State
• Herbert (Hawkeye) Hargett, Mississippi State
• Clem (The Gem) Haskins, Western Kentucky
• John (Hondo) Havlicek, Ohio State
• Robert (Bubbles) Hawkins, Illinois State
• Clarence (Kleggie) Hermsen, Minnesota
• Jermaine (Squirt) Hicks, Weber State/Chicago State
• John (Babe) Higgins, Stanford
• Clinton (Bread Truck) Hinton, UNC Charlotte/Oral Roberts
• James (Lindy) Hood, Alabama
• Tecumseh (Tee) Hooper, The Citadel
• Alfredo (Tito) Horford, Miami (Fla.)
• Greg (Stretch) Howard, New Mexico
• (Hot) Rod Hundley, West Virginia
• Jimmy (Snap) Hunter, Memphis
• Hernell (Jeep) Jackson, Texas-El Paso
• Frank (Spoon) James, UNLV
• Arthur (Brownie) Jaquay, Creighton
• Antonio (Scoop) Jardine, Syracuse
• Keith (Mister) Jennings, East Tennessee State
• Carldell (Squeaky) Johnson, UAB
• Dana (Binky) Johnson, Canisius
• Earvin (Magic) Johnson, Michigan State
• Gary (Cat) Johnson, Oral Roberts
• Gus (Honeycomb) Johnson, Idaho
• Kevin (Butter) Johnson, Charlotte
• Lynbert (Cheese) Johnson, Wichita State
• Albert (Slab) Jones, New Mexico State
• Byron (Snake) Jones, San Francisco
• Gerald (Wimpy) Jones, Arizona State
• Lamont (Momo) Jones, Arizona/Iona
• Wallace (Wah Wah) Jones, Kentucky
• Wilbert (Wibs) Kautz, Loyola of Chicago
• Robert (Jeep) Kelley, UNLV/Hawaii
• Bill (Pickles) Kennedy, Temple
• Eugene (Goo) Kennedy, Texas Christian
• Bob (Trigger) Kenney, Kansas
• Bruce (Sky) King, Pan American
• Raymond (Circus) King, San Diego State/California
• William (Dolly) King, Long Island
• Donald (Pinky) Knowles, Creighton
• Cletus (Goob) Kuehler, West Texas State
• David (Big Daddy) Lattin, Texas-El Paso
• Albert (Cappy) Lavin, San Francisco
• Hal (King) Lear, Temple
• Arnold (Butz) Lehrman, Minnesota
• Bob (Slick) Leonard, Indiana
• Andrew (Fuzzy) Levane, St. John's
• Lafayette (Fat) Lever, Arizona State
• Eugene (Junie) Lewis, Pittsburgh/South Alabama
• Brant (Pinky) Lipscomb, Vanderbilt
• Lewis (Magic) Lloyd, Drake
• (Jungle) Jim Loscutoff, Oregon
• John (Dub) Malaise, Texas Tech
• Karl (The Mailman) Malone, Louisiana Tech
• (Pistol) Pete Maravich, Louisiana State
• Floyd (Biggy) Marshall, Tennessee
• Slater (Dugie) Martin, Texas
• Cedric (Cornbread) Maxwell, UNC Charlotte
• Ayome (Paco) May, Kansas State
• Marvin (Moon) McCrary, Missouri
• Ken (Mouse) McFadden, Cleveland State
• Billy (The Hill) McGill, Utah
• Eric (Cricket) McLaughlin, Akron
• Don (Monk) Meineke, Dayton
• Francis (Ick) Miller, Creighton
• Ryan (Archie) Miller, North Carolina State
• Roland (The Cat) Minson, Brigham Young
• Earl (The Pearl) Monroe, Winston-Salem State
• Ed (Britches) Montgomery, Tennessee
• Bryan (Dinty) Moore, Stanford
• Harry (Moo) Moore, West Virginia
• Jonathan (Stitch) Moore, Furman
• Javone (Bam) Moore, Canisius
• Tony (Zippy) Morocco, Georgia
• Charles (Stretch) Murphy, Purdue
• Charlie (Feed) Murphy, Loyola of Chicago
• Charles (Cotton) Nash, Kentucky
• Sherman (Nemo) Nearman, North Carolina
• Bill (Fig) Newton, Louisiana State
• Bob (Bevo) Nordmann, St. Louis
• Ken (Snake) Norman, Illinois
• Martyn (Moochie) Norris, Auburn
• Ralph (Buckshot) O'Brien, Butler
• Garland (Mule) O'Shields, Tennessee
• Bill (Fumbo) Ouseley, William & Mary
• Carlton (Silk) Owens, Rhode Island
• Horace (Pappy) Owens, Rhode Island
• Togo Palazzi, Holy Cross
• J.P. (Bubber) Farish, Auburn
• William (Smush) Parker, Fordham
• Choppy Patterson, Clemson
• Herschel (Bones) Pedersen, Brigham Young
• James (Scoonie) Penn, Boston College
• Ray (Cookie) Pericola, South Carolina
• Edward (Pancakes) Perry, Middle Tennessee State
• Ron (Spider) Perry, Virginia Tech
• Philip (Pap) Peyton, Texas
• John (Squint) Phares, West Virginia
• Clarke (Pinky) Pittenger, Toledo
• DeWayne (Pooh) Powell, Tennessee-Martin
• George (Tic) Price, Virginia Tech/Virginia Commonwealth
• Carl (Dusty) Pullian, UT-Chattanooga
• Cal (The Hawk) Ramsey, New York University
• Earl (Shadow) Ray, Wyoming
• Bryant (Big Country) Reeves, Oklahoma State
• Richie (The Cat) Regan, Seton Hall
• Jesse (Cab) Renick, Oklahoma A&M
• Angelo (Rock) Reynolds, Penn
• Billy (The Kid) Reynolds, Northwestern (La.) State
• Jerry (Ice) Reynolds, Louisiana State
• Rudolph (Zip) Rhodes, Montana
• Jerome (Pooh) Richardson, UCLA
• Oscar (Big O) Robertson, Cincinnati
• Glenn (Big Dog) Robinson Jr., Purdue
• Alvin (Fats) Roth, City College of New York
• Michael (Campy) Russell, Michigan
• Forest (Aggie) Sale, Kentucky
• Sebastian (Subby) Salerno, Creighton
• Albert (Apple) Sanders, Louisiana State
• Tom (Satch) Sanders, New York University
• Frank (Pep) Saul, Seton Hall
• Philip (Flip) Saunders, Minnesota
• Nevil (The Shadow) Shed, Texas-El Paso
• Emilio (Zeke) Sinicola, Niagara
• Adrian (Odie) Smith, Kentucky
• Dayshon (Scoochie) Smith, Dayton
• Robert (Bingo) Smith, Tulsa
• Jermaine (Sunshine) Smith, UNLV
• Vernon (Catfish) Smith, Georgia
• William (Beaver) Smith, St. John's
• John (Squeaky) Spanbauer, Niagara
• Dave (Ditto) Sparks, George Washington
• Marion (Odie) Spears, Western Kentucky
• Dave (The Rave) Stallworth, Wichita State
• Bob (Sweeper) Stephens, Drexel
• George (Swede) Sundstrom, Rutgers
• Harley (Skeeter) Swift, East Tennessee State
• Anthony (Ace) Tanner, Davidson
• Clarence (Babe) Taylor, Vanderbilt
• Claude (Sleepy) Taylor, Middle Tennessee State
• Roland (Fatty) Taylor, La Salle
• Irv (Swede) Terjesen, New York University
• Albert (Bobo) Thomas, Centenary
• Blackstone (Blackie) Thompson, Alabama
• Marvis (Bootsy) Thornton, St. John's
• Nate (The Great) Thurmond, Bowling Green
• Gene (Bumper) Tormohlen, Tennessee
• Carlyle (Blackie) Towery, Western Kentucky
• Victor (Slick) Townsend, Oregon
• Robert (Tractor) Traylor, Michigan
• Ernest (Kiki) Vandeweghe, UCLA
• Charles (Chico) Vaughn, Southern Illinois
• Mathias (Mutt) Volz, Nebraska
• Malcolm (Sparky) Wade, Louisiana State
• Chet (The Jet) Walker, Bradley
• Vincent (Spotlight) Walker, Western Carolina
• Adrian (Spike) Walters, St. Francis (Pa.)
• Ray (Shag) Warren, Texas Christian
• Duane (Pearl) Washington, Syracuse
• Anthony (Spud) Webb, North Carolina State
• Marvin (Human Eraser) Webster, Morgan State
• Gawen (Bonzi) Wells, Ball State
• Joseph (Jo Jo) White, Kansas
• Milton (Bus) Whitehead, Nebraska
• Charles (Hawkeye) Whitney, North Carolina State
• Pookey Wigington, Seton Hall
• Anthony (Scoop) Williams, Toledo
• Donald (Duck) Williams, Notre Dame
• James (Bug) Williams, Syracuse
• James (Fly) Williams, Austin Peay State
• John (Hot Rod) Williams, Tulane
• Ron (Fritz) Williams, West Virginia
• Sylvester (Sly) Williams, Rhode Island
• Jim (Jiggy) Williamson, Rhode Island
• (Super) John Williamson, New Mexico State
• David (Poncho) Wright, Louisville
• Gerry (Sir Jamalot) Wright, Southern California/Iowa
• Joseph (Joby) Wright, Indiana
• Desmond (Boggie) Yates, Middle Tennessee State
• Paul (Hooks) Yesawich, Niagara
• Max (Slats) Zaslofsky, University of Chicago/St. John's
• Bob (Zeke) Zawoluk, St. John's

New Niagara coach Chris Casey hopes guard Emile Blackman, by the time he becomes eligible in 2014-15, continues to make the progress he displayed at the end of last season before tagging along with his coach from LIU Post. In his last six games, Blackman averaged 16.8 ppg and 4.8 rpg while shooting 52% from the floor and nearly 58% on three-pointers. Niagara struck small-school lightning at the turn of the 21st Century when Mercyhurst (Pa.) transfer Demond Stewart became Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference MVP in 2000-01.

A striking number of standout major-college players started their careers playing for a four-year small college before transferring. Of course, the most prominent player in this category is all-time great Elgin Baylor. After leaving College of Idaho, Baylor became an NCAA unanimous first-team All-American with Seattle in 1957-58.

More than 30 different players became NCAA Division I conference all-league selections in the 1980s and 1990s after beginning their careers with a small four-year college. In 2013-14, Weber State swingman Davion Berry (transfer from Cal State Monterey Bay) became the 10th player in the last 30 years to earn MVP honors in a DI league after transferring from a small college. Who will be next player to join the following chronological list of first-team all-conference selections since the NCAA playoffs expanded to at least 64 teams in 1985 after starting their college careers playing for non-Division I four-year schools?

*Ten of these players were named conference MVP.
NOTE: Tennessee-Martin subsequently moved up to the DI level.

A total of 120 NCAA Division I schools, 20 of them last season, have incurred their most defeats in a single campaign over the last six years. The only power conference members in this dubious category in 2011-12 were Auburn (9-23) and Mississippi State (10-22) from the SEC.

No major college has an all-time high for setbacks lower than the 16 losses incurred by UNLV. Elsewhere, Nebraska never has won an NCAA playoff game but the Huskers have also never incurred a 20-loss campaign. Additional schools never to lose at least 20 games in a single season include Boise State, College of Charleston, Connecticut, Duke, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan State, North Carolina State, Oklahoma, Temple, UAB, Vanderbilt, Villanova, Virginia Commonwealth and Western Kentucky.

Nearly one-fourth of the current active coaches have the dubious distinction of holding the school single-season record for most reversals. But they can take some comfort in the fact that revered NCAA title mentors such as Jim Calhoun, Denny Crum, Jud Heathcote and Mike Krzyzewski are in the same classification. Following is an alphabetical list of NCAA DI schools and the rock-bottom season or seasons when they sustained their most setbacks (TBD with coaches denotes "to be determined"):

*Coach wasn't in charge of team the entire season.

College basketball boasts a significant presence during the Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement weekend in Canton, Ohio. The following alphabetical list of former college hoopsters comprise more than 10 percent of the HOF members:

DOUG ATKINS, Tennessee
Member of College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame. Eight-time Pro Bowl participant played 17 NFL seasons (1953 through 1969) as a defensive end with the Cleveland Browns, Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints. He was a first-round NFL draft selection (11th pick overall) after competing in two Cotton Bowls and one Sugar Bowl. . . . Atkins originally enrolled on a basketball scholarship at Tennessee, where he played one season of varsity basketball before concentrating on football. The 6-5, 210-pound center averaged 9.9 points per game for the 1950-51 Volunteers, ranking third on the team in scoring. He was selected by the Minneapolis Lakers in the 1953 NBA draft.

MORRIS "RED" BADGRO, Southern California
Member of Pro Football Hall of Fame was an offensive and defensive end with the New York Yankees (1927 and 1928), New York Giants (1930 through 1935) and Brooklyn Dodgers (1936) in a nine-year NFL career that was interrupted by a stint in major league baseball. Hit .257 in two seasons (1929 and 1930) as an outfielder with the St. Louis Browns after becoming a three-time All-Pro with the Giants. . . . Earned varsity basketball letters for the Trojans in 1924-25 and 1926-27. Named to the first five on the All-Pacific Coast Conference team as a forward in 1926-27 when he was USC's MVP.

CLIFF BATTLES, West Virginia Wesleyan College
Halfback became member of College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame. Led the NFL in rushing as a rookie with Boston in 1932 and in his final season with Washington in 1937. First NFL player to rush for 200 yards in a game (215 yards in 16 carries for the Boston Redskins against the New York Giants in 1933). . . . The 6-1, 195-pounder played four seasons of varsity basketball in college.

SAMMY BAUGH, Texas Christian
Member of College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame is considered by many as the finest quarterback in history. Consensus All-American in 1936. Passed for 21,886 yards and 186 touchdowns in 16 years (1937 through 1952) with the Washington Redskins. First-round pick led the NFL in passing five times, in punting five times and in pass interceptions once. Five-time All-Pro participant held almost all of the NFL's passing records when he retired. His 44-yard gallop was the longest run from scrimmage in a 3-2 victory over LSU in the 1936 Sugar Bowl before helping the Horned Frogs defeat Marquette, 16-6, in the 1937 Cotton Bowl. . . . Three-year letterman in basketball at TCU was an honorable mention selection on the All-Southwest Conference team as a senior in 1936-37.

BOBBY BELL, Minnesota
Member of the College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was a consensus All-American choice as a tackle and winner of the Outland Award as the nation's outstanding interior lineman in 1962. Selected in the seventh round of the 1963 AFL draft by the Dallas Texans. As a linebacker, the nine-time All-Pro selection intercepted 25 passes in his 12-year career with the Kansas City Chiefs. Bell played in two Super Bowls (I and IV). . . . He became the first African-American basketball player for Minnesota when he appeared in three games in the 1960-61 season, collecting four points and four rebounds.

JIM BROWN, Syracuse
Movie actor is member of College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame. Earned All-American honors in football and lacrosse. Averaged 6.2 yards per carry as a senior in 1956 and scored 43 points in a game against Colgate. Co-MVP in 1957 Cotton Bowl. The first-round draft choice established NFL career records for yards rushing (12,312), rushing attempts (2,359), rushing average (5.2 per carry), touchdowns (126) and years leading league in rushing (eight) in his nine seasons (1957 through 1965) with the Cleveland Browns. Nine-time Pro Bowl selection. . . . Averaged 14 points per game for the Orangemen basketball team as a sophomore and 11.3 as a junior. He is reluctant to specifically say why he quit the team before his senior season when Syracuse participated in the NCAA Tournament for the first time, but indicated it was because of a racial quota. "Well, they basically didn't want to start more than two blacks (Vinnie Cohen and Manny Breland) although nobody could outrun, outjump or outshoot me," said Brown, who was selected in the ninth round of the 1957 NBA draft by the Syracuse Nationals. "It really was a tragedy the way athletics were handled there at the time," said Cohen, who went on to become a Washington, D.C., lawyer for 40 years. Excerpt from school guide: "Brownie is a powerfully built youth, who helps under the boards, and is an excellent shot as well." His son Jimmy, a two-time All-MEAC first-team selection, played for three NCAA Tournament teams with North Carolina A&T from 1983 through 1985 after transferring from Southern Cal and was the Aggies' leading scorer as a senior with 18.2 points per game.

JUNIOUS "BUCK" BUCHANAN, Grambling
Pro Football Hall of Famer was the first pick overall in the 1962 AFL draft by the Dallas Texans. The 6-7, 285-pound defensive tackle missed only one game because of injury in his 13-year pro career, which included a streak of eight consecutive seasons being named to either the AFL All-Star Team or NFL Pro Bowl. Instrumental in the Kansas City Chiefs' victory over the heavily-favored Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV. . . . Concentrated solely on football after earning a basketball letter as a freshman in 1958-59. Buchanan and teammate Ernie Ladd both intended on only playing basketball for Grambling before legendary coach Eddie Robinson kept both from transferring by allegedly giving them a key to the cafeteria's kitchen so they could go there and eat whenever they were hungry if the pair would come out for the football squad.

EARL "DUTCH" CLARK, Colorado College
Member of College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame. Halfback and quarterback was named to All-NFL team in six of his seven seasons with Portsmouth (1931 and 1932) and Detroit (1934 through 1938). Led the NFL in scoring in 1932, 1935 and 1936. Player-coach of Detroit in 1937 and 1938) and head coach of Cleveland Rams from 1939 through 1942. First-team QB on the 1928 AP All-American team. Scored at least one touchdown in 21 consecutive college football games. . . . The 6-0, 180-pounder was an All-Rocky Mountain Conference choice in basketball all four seasons (first team as a freshman and senior, second team as a junior and third team as a sophomore). Sketch in Spalding Official Guide: "There isn't a man who could match Clark as a floor guard. The best dribbler ever to bounce a ball in the conference."

GEORGE CONNOR, Holy Cross/Notre Dame
Member of College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame was Outland Trophy winner (outstanding interior lineman) as a tackle on Notre Dame's 1946 national championship team. Consensus All-American football choice in 1946 and 1947. Earned All-America honors as a tackle at Holy Cross in 1943 before transferring to Notre Dame. First-round draft choice by the New York Giants in 1946 (5th pick overall). Played offensive/defensive tackle and linebacker with the Chicago Bears for eight years from 1948 through 1955, earning All-NFL first-team honors from 1949 through 1953. . . . Averaged 2.5 points per game as a 6-3, 225-pound center on the Irish's 1946-47 basketball team. Basketball letterman with Holy Cross in 1943 and 1944.

LEN DAWSON, Purdue
Member of Pro Football Hall of Fame completed 2,136 passes for 28,731 yards and 239 touchdowns in 19 seasons (1957 through 1975) with the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Texans and Kansas City Chiefs. First-round draft choice of the Pittsburgh Steelers went on to become a seven-time All-Pro. Quarterbacked the Chiefs to victory over Minnesota in Super Bowl following 1969 season. . . . Played in two games as a 6-0, 180-pound guard for Purdue's basketball team in the 1956-57 campaign.

MIKE DITKA, Pittsburgh
Member of College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame. The tight end caught 427 passes for 5,812 yards and 43 touchdowns in 12 NFL seasons (1961 through 1972) with the Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys. The first-round draft choice participated in two Super Bowls with Dallas (V and VI) after playing five Pro Bowls with the Bears (1962 through 1966). Coached Super Bowl winner in 1985 season when the Bears compiled an 18-1 overall record. Registered a 112-68 mark in 11 years (1982-92) as coach of the Bears. Coached the New Orleans Saints in the late 1990s between stints as a network analyst. . . . The 6-2, 205-pound forward averaged 2.8 points and 2.6 rebounds per game in two seasons with the Panthers (1958-59 and 1959-60) after playing in high school under Press Maravich, the father of Pete Maravich, the NCAA's all-time leading scorer. Sketch in school basketball guide: "A natural athlete who never quits. If Pitt wins a few games, there is a good chance he will be in the thick of things."

WILBUR "WEEB" EWBANK, Miami (Ohio)
Member of Pro Football Hall of Fame is the only head coach to win championships in both the NFL (Baltimore Colts in 1958 and 1959) and AFL (New York Jets in 1968). . . . Two-year basketball letterman for Miami (1926-27 and 1927-28) compiled a 5-13 record as head basketball coach at his alma mater in 1938-39 and an 8-12 mark as Brown's head basketball coach in 1946-47.

OTTO GRAHAM, Northwestern
Member of College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame. Quarterback earned All-American honors and finished third in Heisman Trophy voting as a senior in 1943. First-round draft choice of the Detroit Lions in 1944 (4th pick overall). Played 10 seasons (1946 through 1955) with the Cleveland Browns and quarterbacked team to championship game each year (All-America Football Conference from 1946 through 1949 and NFL from 1950 through 1955). Compiled a 105-17-4 playing record in regular-season pro competition, completing 1,464 of 2,626 passes for 23,584 yards and 174 touchdowns. Five-time Pro Bowl selection (1951 through 1955). Compiled a 17-22-3 record as coach of the Washington Redskins in three years from 1966 through 1968. . . . Played three seasons of varsity basketball, finishing second in the Big Ten in scoring as a sophomore (13.1 points per game) and as a junior (15.8). The 6-0 forward earned second-team All-Big Ten honors in 1941-42 and first five honors in 1942-43. Also played for Colgate as a senior. NCAA consensus first-team All-American in 1944 and second-team All-America in 1943. Left Northwestern with the highest scoring total in school history with more than 600 points. Played one season with the Rochester Royals in the National Basketball League, averaging 5.2 points per game for the 1945-46 squad that won the NBL title.

HARRY "BUD" GRANT, Minnesota
Former NFL and CFL end and coach. First-round choice by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1950 NFL draft. Played with Philadelphia in 1951 and 1952 and Winnipeg of the CFL from 1953 through 1956. Caught 272 passes for 4,197 yards and 20 touchdowns in six pro seasons, leading the CFL in pass receptions in 1953 (with 68), 1954 (49) and 1956 (63). Coached Winnipeg in the CFL (1957-66) and Minnesota in the NFL (1967-85). Coach of four CFL champions and four NFL Super Bowl teams. . . . Third-leading scorer for the Gophers' basketball squad in 1948-49 (8.5 points per game) after being named team MVP the previous season over first-team All-American Jim McIntyre. Finished 13th in the Big Ten Conference in scoring in 1946-47 with a 9.3 average. Played two seasons in the NBA, including a rookie year when he was a member of the Lakers' 1950 championship team.

GEORGE HALAS, Illinois
Member of Pro Football Hall of Fame compiled a 324-151-31 record as an NFL coach, guiding the Chicago Bears to seven NFL titles. His 40-year NFL coaching career also included stints with the Decatur/Chicago Staleys. MVP of the 1919 Rose Bowl as an end for Great Lakes. . . . The 6-0, 175-pound Halas, known for his gritty defense, was a starting guard for the Illini team that won the Big Ten basketball title in 1916-17 with a 10-2 record. He was captain of the squad the next season before entering the armed forces in mid-January. He was also an outfielder in 12 games for the New York Yankees in 1919.

MEL HEIN, Washington State
Hall of Fame charter member played with the New York Giants for 15 years from 1931 through 1945. In 1994, Hein was named to the NFL's all-time 75-year anniversary team. Eight-time All-NFL center scored a touchdown in 1938 when he was named the league's MVP. In college, he intercepted eight passes in a game against Idaho. . . . The 6-2, 220-pounder was a basketball letterman in 1930 after leading WSU to a Rose Bowl bid. He was supervisor of officials for the American Football Conference of the NFL until his retirement.

ELROY "CRAZY LEGS" HIRSCH, Wisconsin/Michigan
Member of College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame. First-round draft choice by Cleveland in 1945 (5th pick overall). Played halfback, defensive back and offensive end as a pro with the Chicago Rockets of the All-America Football Conference from 1946 through 1948 and Los Angeles Rams of the NFL from 1949 through 1957. Caught 387 passes and scored 66 touchdowns as a pro. Played in four NFL championship games. Held the Rams' team record for most touchdown receptions for almost 40 years until it was broken by Isaac Bruce in 2001. . . . Starting center for the Wolverines' basketball team in 1944 while undergoing military training there. Sketch in Michigan guide: "Naval transfer from Wisconsin was a big aid, chiefly through his flaming competitive spirit."

PAUL HORNUNG, Notre Dame
Member of College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame earned All-American honors as a quarterback in 1955 and 1956. Only Heisman Trophy winner to play for a losing team (2-8 as a senior). First pick overall in the NFL draft as a bonus selection. Played nine seasons as a halfback/placekicker with the Green Bay Packers, leading the NFL in scoring in 1959, 1960 and 1961. He rushed for 3,711 yards and 50 touchdowns and caught 130 passes for 1,480 yards and 12 touchdowns. Played in five NFL championship games and two Pro Bowls (1960 and 1961). . . . Played varsity basketball for the Irish as a sophomore, averaging 6.1 points per game in 10 contests. Wrote Hornung in his autobiography Golden Boy: "(Coach Johnny) Jordan liked to tip a few, and sometimes, on the road, he'd take me out drinking with him. He could do that because I wasn't on basketball scholarship."

MARV LEVY, Coe (Iowa)
Hall of Famer (elected in 2001) compiled a 143-112 record as coach of the Kansas City Chiefs (1978-82) and Buffalo Bills (1986-97). He had a 17-5 mark against Don Shula, the winningest coach in NFL history. Posted an 11-8 postseason mark with the Bills en route to becoming the only NFL coach to win four consecutive league or conference championships. But he lost four straight Super Bowls. He was special teams coach of the Washington Redskins' 1972 Super Bowl entrant. Also served as head coach for three colleges--New Mexico (14-6 record in two years in 1958 and 1959), California (8-29-3 record in four years from 1960 through 1963) and William & Mary (23-25-2 in five years from 1964 through 1968). . . . Coached basketball one season for his alma mater in 1955-56. The team compiled a 20-5 record, won the Midwest Collegiate Conference with a 14-2 mark and lost to Stephen F. Austin, 74-62, in the first round of the NAIA Tournament. Levy earned a basketball letter with the 1949-50 Coe squad that posted a 3-14 mark.

RONNIE LOTT, Southern California
Unanimous All-American defensive back played 15 seasons in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Raiders, New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs (1981 through 1995). Intercepted 14 passes for the Trojans (two for touchdowns) before intercepting 63 passes in regular-season NFL competition and nine in the postseason. First-round draft choice played in 10 Pro Bowl games and four Super Bowls. . . . Collected nine assists, four points and three rebounds in six games for the Trojans' basketball squad as a junior in 1979-80.

JOHN MACKEY, Syracuse
Three-time All-Pro tight end became an NFL Hall of Famer after being a second-round draft choice by the Baltimore Colts in 1963. The 6-2, 220-pounder caught 331 passes for 5,236 yards and 38 touchdowns in 10 seasons. Six of his nine TD catches in 1966 came on plays of more than 50 yards. He grabbed a deflected pass from Johnny Unitas for a 75-yard TD in Super Bowl V after having three pass receptions in Super Bowl III. . . . Mackey collected 28 points and 28 rebounds in six basketball games with the Orangemen in 1960-61.

GEORGE MUSSO, Millikin (Ill.)
Member of Pro Football Hall of Fame played for seven divisional winners and four NFL title teams. The 6-2, 270-pound guard and tackle played for 12 seasons (1933 through 1944) with the Chicago Bears. As a collegian, he played against future President Ronald Reagan, who attended Eureka. As a member of the Bears in 1935, Musso played against future President Gerald Ford in the Bears-College All-Star Game in Chicago. . . . Three-year basketball letterman in college.

EARLE "GREASY" NEALE, West Virginia Wesleyan College
Pro Football Hall of Famer compiled a 63-43 record as coach of the Philadelphia Eagles for 10 years from 1941 through 1950, winning back-to-back NFL titles by shutting out their opponents in championship games in 1948 and 1949. Guided Washington and Jefferson (Pa.) to the 1922 Rose Bowl before coaching Virginia and West Virginia. He starred as an end on Jim Thorpe's pre-World War I Canton Bulldogs. Also played as a major league outfielder with the Cincinnati Reds for eight years from 1916 to 1924, hitting .357 in the infamous "Black Sox" 1919 World Series. . . . Class of 1915 at WVWC.

ERNIE NEVERS, Stanford
Member of College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame. He was a consensus All-American selection as a senior fullback in 1925 before rushing for 37 touchdowns in five NFL seasons with the Duluth Eskimos (1926 and 1927) and Chicago Cardinals (1929 through 1931). Set NFL record with a 40-point game against the Chicago Bears in 1929. Co-MVP of the 1925 Rose Bowl. . . . Compiled a 6-12 pitching record in three seasons (1926 through 1928) with the St. Louis Browns. He yielded two of Babe Ruth's record-tying 60 home runs in 1927. . . . Lettered in basketball for Stanford as a sophomore and junior. Named to the All-Pacific Coast Conference second five as a junior in 1924-25. Historians say he was a fine shooter, an excellent dribbler, tough on defense, and generally a terrifying figure for the opposition. The Spalding Basketball Guide said: "He is almost as good a basketball player as he is a football star. With his speed, weight and general all-around ability, he was a stellar performer."

CLARENCE "ACE" PARKER, Duke
College Hall of Famer led the Blue Devils to a three-year record of 24-5 in the mid-1930s, serving as team captain in his final season in 1936 when they went 9-1. After playing a variety of positions (quarterback, tailback, defensive back and punter), was a second-round choice in the 1937 NFL draft (13th overall). Passed for 3,935 yards and 22 touchdowns, rushed for 1,108 yards and 10 TDs and punted for a 39.5-yard average with the Brooklyn Dodgers/Boston Yanks in six years from 1937 through 1941 and 1945. Three-time consensus All-Pro led the NFL in passing yards in 1938 with 865. He paced the league with six interceptions in 1940 when he was named NFL Most Valuable Player. . . . Basketball letterman for the Blue Devils in 1935-36. Also played major league baseball with the Philadelphia Athletics.

ART SHELL, Maryland-Eastern Shore
Member of Pro Football Hall of Fame was head coach of the Los Angeles Raiders for six years from 1989 through 1994. Offensive tackle for the Raiders from 1968 through 1982 played in eight Pro Bowls (1973 through 1979 and 1981) after being picked in the third round. Participated in Super Bowls XI and XV. . . . Two-year basketball letterman as a 6-5, 265-pound center at school that was then known as Maryland State College. Sketch from school guide: "Pure muscle. Amazing agility. Uncompromising under the boards, nobody pushes big Art without a battle."

ROGER STAUBACH, Navy
Member of College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame won Heisman Trophy in 1963. Passed for 3,571 yards and rushed for 682 in his career at Navy (1962 through 1964). Quarterback in four Super Bowls during his 11 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. Six-time Pro Bowl selection passed for 22,700 yards and 153 touchdowns after being a 10th-round draft choice in 1964. . . . Averaged 9.3 points per game for the 1961-62 Navy plebe (freshman) basketball team. The 6-2, 190-pound forward scored five points in four games for Midshipmen varsity squad the next season.

JOE STYDAHAR, West Virginia
Member of College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame. Earned All-American honors as a 6-4, 230-pound tackle in 1935. Played nine seasons (1936 through 1942, 1945, and 1946) with the Chicago Bears after being their first-round pick in the first NFL draft. Named to All-NFL team four times from 1937 through 1940. Coached Los Angeles Rams (1950-51) and Chicago Cardinals (1953-54), leading Rams to 1951 NFL title. In 1934, he he set a school record with seven blocked punts, including three for touchdowns. Participated in both the East-West Shrine Game and College Football All-Star Game in Chicago. . . . Three-year basketball letterman was captain of the Mountaineers' 1934-35 team that compiled a 16-6 record. Selected as a center to the first five on West Virginia's Pre-World War II team that was named as part of the university's all-time basketball squad.

EMLEN TUNNELL, Toledo
Member of Pro Football Hall of Fame played in nine Pro Bowl games (1951 through 1958 and 1960). Defensive back established career records for interceptions (79), yards gained on interceptions (1,282) and yards gained on punt returns (2,209) in 14 seasons (1948 through 1961) with the New York Giants and Green Bay Packers. . . . The 6-1, 180-pound forward was a top reserve for the 1942-43 Toledo basketball team that compiled a 22-4 record and finished second in the NIT.

DOAK WALKER, Southern Methodist
Member of both the College Football and Pro Football Hall of Fame. SMU legend was a three-time All-American halfback and the school's only Heisman Trophy winner (as a junior in 1948). Finished third in Heisman voting in 1947 and 1949. Scored 38 touchdowns in his four-year SMU career, including two kickoff returns in 1947. Walker rushed for 1,928 yards in college, passed for 1,654, caught passes for 454 and returned eight interceptions for 176. He was also a punter and placekicker for the Mustangs. Co-MVP in back-to-back Cotton Bowls (1948 and 1949). First-round choice by the New York Bulldogs in the 1949 NFL draft (3rd pick overall). Walker rushed for 1,520 yards and 12 touchdowns in six years with the Detroit Lions (1950 through 1955), leading the NFL in scoring as a rookie (128 points) and in his final season (96). Member of NFL championship teams in 1952 and 1953 scored on a 62-yard run in the '52 title game. Five-time Pro Bowl selection (1951-52-54-55-56). . . . Walker was a basketball letterman in 1945-46 with SMU as a freshman.

LARRY RAYFIELD WRIGHT, Fort Valley State (Ga.)
Seventh-round draft choice played with the Dallas Cowboys for 13 years from 1967 through 1979. All-Pro offensive tackle six straight seasons from 1971 through 1976. Caught a touchdown pass as a tight end in 1968. Played in five Super Bowls (following 1970, 1971, 1975, 1977 and 1978 campaigns). . . . The 6-6, 245-pounder, an All-SIAC basketball player, averaged 17 ppg and 15 rpg as a junior and 21 ppg and 17.4 rpg as a senior.

Extra! Extra! Read all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players! Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only four percent of active MLB players earned college diplomas.

Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopsters had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August calendar involving such versatile athletes:

AUGUST
31 - P Mike Flanagan (averaged 13.9 ppg for Massachusetts' 15-1 freshman basketball squad in 1971-72) traded by the Baltimore Orioles to the Toronto Blue Jays in 1987. Toronto released knuckleballer Phil Niekro to make room on roster for Flanagan. . . . 1B-OF Dick Gernert (Temple letterman in 1948-49 when averaging 2.7 ppg) purchased from the Chicago Cubs by the Detroit Tigers in 1960. . . . Dallas Green (Delaware's second-leading scorer and rebounder in 1954-55) named manager of the Philadelphia Phillies in 1979. . . . Brooklyn Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (played for Oakland City, IN, in 1947 and 1948) swatted four homers in a 19-3 romp over the Boston Braves in 1950. . . . 1B-OF Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection when leading Ohio State in scoring and rebounding in 1956-57 and 1957-58) purchased from the Texas Rangers by the Detroit Tigers in 1972. . . . P Bill Krueger (led WCAC in free-throw percentage in 1975-76 with Portland) traded by the Minnesota Twins to Montreal Expos in 1992. It is one of four seasons Krueger split time between the A.L. and N.L. during his career. . . . 2B Davey Lopes (NAIA All-District 15 selection for Iowa Wesleyan averaged 16.9 ppg as a freshman in 1964-65 and 12.1 as a sophomore in 1965-66) shipped by the Oakland Athletics to the Chicago Cubs in 1984 to complete an earlier deal. . . . Chicago White Sox P Ted Lyons (two-time All-SWC first-team selection for Baylor in early 1920s) lifted after seven innings and 15 hits opposing the St. Louis Browns in 1941. It is Lyons' final incomplete MLB game as he finished three subsequent starts in 1941, all 20 in 1942 and all five in 1946 (after serving in U.S. military during World War II). . . . SS Gene Michael (Kent State's leading scorer with 14 ppg in 1957-58) banged out four of the New York Yankees' 25 hits in an 18-6 romp over the Chicago White Sox in 1974. . . . A three-run, ninth-inning homer by OF Wally Moon (averaged 4.3 ppg with Texas A&M in 1948-49 and 1949-50) gave the Los Angeles Dodgers a 5-2 victory against the San Francisco Giants in 1959 when teammate Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman squad in 1953-54) broke Dizzy Dean's N.L. mark and tied Bob Feller's MLB record of 18 strikeouts in a single game. . . . In 1930, Cleveland Indians 1B Ed Morgan (Tulane letterman from 1923-24 through 1925-26) collected four hits and four RBI for the second time in last four games of the month. . . . In the midst of a 10-game hitting streak, Chicago White Sox rookie OF Lyle Mouton (starter in LSU's backcourt with All-American Chris Jackson for 1989 NCAA playoff team) went 4-for-4 against the Detroit Tigers in 1995. Six years later, he was shipped by the Tigers to the Houston Astros as part of a conditional deal in 2001. . . . 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) belted two homers to power the New York Yankees to a 5-4 victory against Seattle in 1977. . . . OF Irv Noren (player of year for California junior college state champion Pasadena City in 1945) awarded off waivers from the Kansas City Athletics to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1957. . . . P Denny Riddleberger (averaged 5.7 ppg and 2.5 rpg for Old Dominion in 1965-66) traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates with cash to the Washington Senators for P George Brunet in 1970. . . . Closer Lee Smith (averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg with Northwestern State in 1976-77) traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the New York Yankees in 1993. . . . DH Dave Winfield (starting forward with Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) purchased from the Minnesota Twins by the Cleveland Indians in 1994.
30 - Tim Cullen (starting guard for Santa Clara in 1962-63 when he averaged 10 ppg) tied a MLB single-inning record with three errors in the eighth frame for the Washington Senators against the Oakland A's in 1969 one year before he led A.L. second basemen in fielding percentage. Washington 1B-OF Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection when he led Ohio State in scoring and rebounding in 1956-57 and 1957-58) contributed four hits in the Senators' 11-3 victory. . . . 2B Jack Dittmer (played basketball for Iowa in 1949-50) supplied one of the Milwaukee Braves' eight homers in a 19-4 romp over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the opener of a 1953 doubleheader. . . . INF Tim Nordbrook (letterman in 1968-69 for Loyola, LA) purchased from the Chicago White Sox by the Toronto Blue Jays in 1977. . . . Bill Virdon (played for Drury, MO, in 1949) fired as manager of the Montreal Expos in 1984.
29 - In 1951, New York Giants P Jim Hearn (Georgia Tech letterman in 1941-42) defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates for the eighth straight time. . . . Brooklyn Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (played for Oakland City, IN, in 1947 and 1948) drove in seven runs and whacked two homers in a 13-1 victory against the Cincinnati Reds in 1951. . . . In 1966, Chicago Cubs P Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) registered the final triumph of his 19-year Hall of Fame career. . . . INF Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) hit for the cycle against the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a 1948 doubleheader. . . . San Diego Padres OF Will Venable (All-Ivy League first-team selection as a junior and second-team choice as a senior averaged 9.3 ppg under Princeton coach John Thompson III from 2001-02 through 2004-05) tripled in his first MLB at-bat in 2008.
28 - New York Yankees 1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in WAC games in 1991-92) slugged three homers in an 18-6 trouncing of the Toronto Blue Jays in 2004. . . . Detroit Tigers RF Jim Northrup (second-leading scorer and third-leading rebounder for Alma, MI, in 1958-59) went 6-for-6 against the Oakland A's in 1969. Northrup's 13th-inning homer over the roof won the game, 5-3. . . . P Jeff Shaw (freshman guard for Rio Grande, OH, squad compiling a 31-5 record and reaching second round of 1985 NAIA Tournament) traded by the Montreal Expos to the Chicago White Sox in 1995.
27 - In 1964, California Angels 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading scorer in 1945-46) became the 23rd player to reach the 300-homer plateau when he connected at Kansas City. . . . Starting on two days rest, Brooklyn Dodgers P Ralph Branca (sixth-leading scorer for NYU in 1943-44) spun a two-hit shutout against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1951, entering the ninth inning with a no-hitter. . . . In his second MLB start, Brooklyn Dodgers P Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman squad in 1953-54) fanned 14 Cincinnati Reds in a 7-0 two-hit shutout in 1955. . . . Hall of Fame P Christy Mathewson (played for Bucknell at turn of 20th Century) resigned as Cincinnati Reds manager in 1918 to accept a commission as a captain in the chemical warfare branch of the Army during World War I. . . . Chicago White Sox P Gary Peters (played for Grove City, PA, in mid-1950s) hurled an 11-inning shutout against the Boston Red Sox in the nightcap of a 1967 doubleheader. . . . Pinch-hitter Jimmy Stewart (All-Volunteer State Athletic Conference selection for Austin Peay State in 1959-60 and 1960-61) stroked a bases-loaded triple to spur the Cincinnati Reds to an 8-7 victory against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1971.
26 - 1B Kevin "Chuck" Connors (scored 32 points in 15 varsity games for Seton Hall in 1941-42 before leaving school for military service) clubbed a game-tying three-run homer for the Chicago Cubs at the Polo Grounds against the New York Giants before Giants C Wes Westrum (played for Bemidji State, MN, one season before serving in military during WWII) whacked a game-winning, ninth-inning homer in the opener of a 1951 doubleheader. . . . Boston Red Sox P Boo Ferriss (Mississippi State letterman in 1941) posted his 20th victory by doubling home the game-winning run in a 4-3 verdict over the Philadelphia Athletics in the opener of a 1945 doubleheader. . . . Dallas Green (Delaware's second-leading scorer and rebounder in 1954-55) fired as manager of the New York Mets in 1996. . . . New York Giants P Christy Mathewson (played for Bucknell at turn of 20th Century) tossed his seventh shutout of the 1902 campaign. Twelve years later, Mathewson hurled a two-hit shutout against the St. Louis Cardinals in the nightcap of a twinbill to register his 20th triumph in 1914. . . . In 1977, 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) stroked a two-run triple in the ninth inning to lift the New York Yankees to their 12th win in 13 contests (6-5 against the Texas Rangers). . . . P Dennis Rasmussen (sixth-man for Creighton averaged 5.1 ppg in three seasons from 1977-78 through 1979-80) traded by the New York Yankees to the Cincinnati Reds in 1987. . . . Baltimore Orioles P Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47), released earlier in the year by the Yankees, outdueled New York star lefthander Whitey Ford, 2-1, in 1962. . . . In 1939, Cincinnati Reds 3B Billy Werber (first Duke All-American in 1929-30) became the initial player to bat in a televised major league game (against the Brooklyn Dodgers).
25 - New York Yankees Hall of Fame OF Earle Combs (three-year captain for Eastern Kentucky) incurred a severe shoulder injury colliding with a teammate in the outfield, contributing to Combs retiring following the 1935 campaign. . . . Boston Red Sox P Boo Ferriss (Mississippi State letterman in 1941) topped the visiting Cleveland Indians, 2-1, to improve his 1946 Fenway Park mark to 13-0. . . . In 1982, San Diego Padres rookie OF Tony Gwynn (All-WAC second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) broke his wrist diving for a fly ball en route to falling short of a .300 batting average for the only time in his 20-year career (.289). . . . OF David Justice (led Thomas More, KY, in assists in 1984-85) and Atlanta Braves teammate Fred McGriff whacked back-to-back homers for the second time in 10 days in 1993. . . . New York Giants P Christy Mathewson (played for Bucknell at turn of 20th Century) reached the 20-win plateau for the seventh straight season in 1909. . . . Pittsburgh Pirates OF Gary Redus (J.C. player for Athens, AL, and father of Centenary/South Alabama hoopster) hit for the cycle against the Cincinnati Reds in 1989. . . . New York Yankees 3B Red Rolfe (played briefly with Dartmouth in 1927-28 and 1929-30) extended his streak of scoring at least one run to 18 straight contests in 1939.
24 - Brooklyn Dodgers P Ralph Branca (sixth-leading scorer for NYU in 1943-44) hurled a three-hit shutout against the Chicago Cubs in 1951, striking out 10 and walking none. . . . Cincinnati Reds CF Harry Craft (four-sport letterman with Mississippi College in early 1930s) contributed two homers, a double and six RBI in a 13-9 win against the New York Giants in 1941. . . . San Francisco Giants P Ed Halicki (set Monmouth's single-game rebounding record with 40 as a junior in 1970-71 before leading Hawks in scoring with 21 ppg as a senior) hurled a no-hitter against the New York Mets in 1975. . . . SS Doc Lavan (played for Hope, MI, from 1908 through 1910) purchased from the St. Louis Browns by the Philadelphia Athletics in 1919. . . . New York Giants OF Hank Lieber (played for Arizona in 1931) tied a MLB single-inning record by lashing two homers during an eight-run uprising in the second frame against the Chicago Cubs in 1935. . . . Los Angeles Dodgers 2B Davey Lopes (NAIA All-District 15 selection for Iowa Wesleyan averaged 16.9 ppg as a freshman in 1964-65 and 12.1 as a sophomore in 1965-66) stole five bases in a 3-0 triumph against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1974. The next year, Lopes extended his MLB record streak to 38 consecutive successful steal attempts before he was thrown out by Montreal Expos C Gary Carter in the 12th inning. . . . Cleveland Indians 1B Ed Morgan (Tulane letterman from 1923-24 through 1925-26) collected five RBI in an 11-7 win against the Boston Red Sox in 1931. . . . Philadelphia Phillies P Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) had a streak of 13 consecutive complete games against the Milwaukee Braves snapped in 1954. . . . In 1952, Brooklyn Dodgers P Preacher Roe (played for Harding, AR, in late 1930s) registered his 10th straight victory against the St. Louis Cardinals, 10-4.
23 - In 1989, Atlanta Braves P Marty Clary (Northwestern letterman in 1981-82 and 1982-83) notched his lone MLB shutout (3-0 against the St. Louis Cardinals). . . . 3B Gene Freese (captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team for West Liberty WV) purchased from the Pittsburgh Pirates by the Chicago White Sox in 1965. . . . Pittsburgh Pirates SS Dick Groat (two-time All-American with Duke in 1950-51 and 1951-52 when finishing among nation's top five scorers each season) knocked in the winning run in the 11th inning of the nightcap of a 1959 doubleheader against the Los Angeles Dodgers to give reliever Elroy Face his 16th victory without a loss. . . . Los Angeles Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (played for Oakland City, IN, in 1947 and 1948) hammered his 14th career grand slam to set a new N.L. record. It was the first grand slam in the history of the franchise on the West Coast. . . . Utilityman Jimmy Stewart (All-Volunteer State Athletic Conference selection for Austin Peay State in 1959-60 and 1960-61) slugged a three-run, pinch-hit homer off Hall of Famer Tom Seaver to spark the Cincinnati Reds to a 7-5 triumph against the New York Mets in 1970. . . . P Tom Zachary (Guilford, NC, letterman in 1916) awarded on waivers from the Washington Senators to the New York Yankees in 1928.
22 - Pittsburgh Pirates OF Carson "Skeeter" Bigbee (Oregon letterman in 1915), playing in his third straight extra-inning game against Brooklyn, went to bat 11 times in a 22-inning marathon in 1917. . . . P Jim Konstanty (Syracuse player in late 1930s) awarded on waivers from the Philadelphia Phillies to the New York Yankees in 1954. . . . Chicago Cubs OF Bill Nicholson (played for Washington College, MD, in mid-1930s) socked a game-winning homer in the bottom of the 11th inning in a 5-4 decision over the Cincinnati Reds in 1942. . . . INF Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) contributed five hits in the nightcap of a 1951 doubleheader to spark the Brooklyn Dodgers to their 14th straight victory against the St. Louis Cardinals.
21 - Boston Red Sox INF Jack Barry (letterman for Holy Cross in 1908) tied a MLB record with four sacrifices at Cleveland in 1916. . . . Pittsburgh Pirates P Dave Giusti (made 6 of 10 field-goal attempts in two games for Syracuse in 1959-60) twirled a shutout and knocked in six runs with a pair of bases-loaded doubles in an 11-0 rout of the Cincinnati Reds in 1966. . . . Monte Irvin (played for Lincoln, PA, 1 1/2 years in late 1930s) named special assistant to Commissioner William Eckert in 1968. . . . Chicago White Sox P Ted Lyons (two-time All-SWC first-team selection for Baylor in early 1920s) hurled a no-hitter against the Boston Red Sox in 1926. Lyons required only 67 minutes and 81 pitches. . . . Philadelphia Athletics P Bill McCahan (three-year Duke letterman named to All-Southern Conference Tournament team in 1942) earned his fourth consecutive complete-game victory in 1947. . . . 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) accounted for both of the New York Yankees' runs via a homer and double in a 2-1 triumph against the Texas Rangers in 1977. . . . P Floyd Newkirk (Hall of Fame selection at Illinois College) made his lone MLB appearance with the New York Yankees in 1934. . . . Pitchers Paul Reuschel (Western Illinois' leading rebounder in 1966-67 with 15.2 per game) and Rick Reuschel collaborated on a 7-0 victory for the Chicago Cubs against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1975 - the first time brothers combined on a shutout. Paul relieved in the seventh inning after Rick was forced to leave because of a blister on his finger.
20 - Kansas City Athletics OF Bob Cerv (ranked fourth on Nebraska's career scoring list in 1949-50 when finishing his career) swatted three homers in an 11-10 defeat against the Boston Red Sox in 1959. . . . P Bill Connors (averaged 6 ppg and 2.3 rpg for Syracuse in 1960-61) purchased from the Chicago Cubs by the New York Mets in 1967. . . . Brooklyn Dodgers SS Jake Flowers (member of 1923 "Flying Pentagon" basketball championship squad for Washington College MD) contributed four hits against the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a 1933 doubleheader. . . . Chicago White Sox P Bob Keegan (Bucknell letterman in 1941-42 and 1942-43), utilizing a new slow delivery, hurled a 6-0 no-hitter against the Washington Senators in 1957. . . . SS Don Kessinger (three-time All-SEC selection for Mississippi from 1961-62 through 1963-64 while finishing among nation's top 45 scorers each year) traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the Chicago White Sox in 1977. . . . 2B Davey Lopes (NAIA All-District 15 selection for Iowa Wesleyan averaged 16.9 ppg as a freshman in 1964-65 and 12.1 as a sophomore in 1965-66) set a Los Angeles Dodgers record with 15 total bases in an 18-8 romp over the Chicago Cubs in 1974 (three homers, double and single). . . . Philadelphia Phillies P Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) had his 15-game winning streak against the Pittsburgh Pirates snapped in 1953. . . . Brooklyn Dodgers SS Tommy Brown (17 years old) became the youngest player to hit a MLB homer in 1945 when he connected off Pittsburgh Pirates P Preacher Roe (played for Harding, AR, in late 1930s). . . . Birdie Tebbetts (played for Providence in 1932) resigned as manager of the Cleveland Indians in 1966. . . . New York Yankees OF Dave Winfield (starting forward with Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) walloped the 300th homer of his career in 1986.
19 - 2B Marv Breeding (played for Samford in mid-1950s) purchased from the Los Angeles Dodgers by the Baltimore Orioles in 1964. . . . Philadelphia Phillies P Andy Karl (Manhattan letterman from 1933 through 1935) saved slugger Jimmie Foxx's only MLB pitching decision in 1945 (6-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds). . . . New York Giants P Christy Mathewson (played for Bucknell at turn of 20th Century) had his 22-game winning streak against the Cincinnati Reds snapped in 1911. . . . OF Gary Redus (J.C. player for Athens, AL, and father of Centenary/South Alabama performer) traded by the Chicago White Sox to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1988. . . . 1B-OF Norm Siebern (member of Southwest Missouri State's back-to-back NAIA Tournament titlists in 1952 and 1953) supplied a pinch-hit, bases-loaded triple to help the Boston Red Sox outlasted the California Angels, 12-11, in 1967. . . . Bill Virdon (played for Drury, MO, in 1949) hired as manager by the Houston Astros in 1975.
18 - P Ray Burris (played for Southwestern Oklahoma State) purchased from the New York Yankees by the New York Mets in 1979. . . . INF Charlie Gelbert (scored at least 125 points each of his last three seasons with Lebanon Valley, PA, in late 1920s) awarded on waivers from the Washington Senators to the Boston Red Sox in 1940. . . . Dallas Green (Delaware's second-leading scorer and rebounder in 1954-55) fired as manager of the Philadelphia Phillies in 1989. . . . New York Giants CF Hank Lieber (played for Arizona in 1931) collected a homer, triple and two doubles in an 8-4 triumph against the Cincinnati Reds in 1935. . . . P Claude Passeau (played for Millsaps, MS, in late 1920s and early 1930s) tossed a three-hit shutout as the Philadelphia Phillies ended a 14-game losing streak with a 7-0 verdict over the Boston Bees in 1936. . . . P Steve Renko (averaged 9.9 ppg and 5.8 rpg as Kansas sophomore in 1963-64) traded by the Chicago Cubs to the Chicago White Sox in 1977.
17 - 1B Ron Allen (Youngstown State's scoring and rebounding leader as a sophomore in 1961-62) secured his only MLB hit, a ninth-inning homer at San Diego in 1972, after the brother of standout 1B Dick Allen replaced ejected St. Louis Cardinals teammate Joe Torre. . . . Bing Devine (Washington, MO, letterman in mid-1930s) fired as general manager of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1964 before they go on to win the World Series against the New York Yankees. . . . OF Curt Flood and 3B Gene Freese (captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team for West Liberty WV), the first two St. Louis Cardinals batters, hammer back-to-back home runs off Los Angeles Dodgers LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman squad in 1953-54) in the opener of a 1958 doubleheader. . . . Baltimore Orioles P Dick Hall (averaged 11.9 ppg in 1948-49, 13.4 in 1949-50 and 15.4 in 1950-51 for Swarthmore's Southern Division champions in Middle Atlantic states Conference) provided a perfect inning of relief against the Kansas City Athletics in 1963, giving him 28 consecutive batters retired in a span of five appearances. . . . In 1985, Reggie Jackson of the New York Yankees, moving past Willie McCovey and Ted Williams on the all-time homer list, swatted his 522nd career round-tripper off Oakland A's P Bill Krueger (led WCAC in free-throw percentage in 1975-76 with Portland). . . . New York Giants P Christy Mathewson (played for Bucknell at turn of 20th Century) hurled his second straight three-hit shutout against Chicago in 1905. . . . New York Giants P Jim Mooney (played for East Tennessee State) tossed a four-hit shutout against the Cincinnati Reds in 1932.
16 - Los Angeles Dodgers P Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman squad in 1953-54) improved his record to 19-5 with a 3-0 shutout against the St. Louis Cardinals but will miss the remainder of the 1964 season because of an elbow injury incurred while sliding back into second base earlier in the month. . . . In 1911, New York Giants P Christy Mathewson (played for Bucknell at turn of 20th Century) defeated the Cincinnati Reds for the 22nd straight time.
15 - Milwaukee Braves P Gene Conley (All-PCC first-team selection led North Division in scoring in 1949-50 as a Washington State sophomore) won his ninth consecutive contest in 1954 (2-1 against the Chicago Cubs). Seven years later, Conley was with the Boston Red Sox in 1961 when he tossed a shutout and hit a homer in an 8-0 shelling of the Cleveland Indians. . . . 1B Walt Dropo (Connecticut's first player ever to average 20 points for a season with 21.7 ppg in 1942-43) was hospitalized after being beaned in 1950 but the Boston Red Sox began a streak of winning 27 of their next 30 games. . . . New York Giants P Christy Mathewson (played for Bucknell at turn of 20th Century) blanked opponents going into extra innings but wound up losing each contest - against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1910 and Boston Braves in 1914. . . . OF Greasy Neale (West Virginia Wesleyan College hoopster graduated in 1915) pilfered second, third and home in the ninth inning to help the Cincinnati Reds upend the New York Giants, 4-0, in 1919. . . . OF Bill Nicholson (played for Washington College, MD, in the mid-1930s) socked three homers, two doubles and a single but the Chicago Cubs dropped both ends of a 1942 doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates. . . . New York Giants C Wes Westrum (played for Bemidji State, MN, one season before serving in military during WWII) provided the difference with an eighth-inning, two-run homer in a 3-1 decision over the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1951. . . . OF Randy Winn (Santa Clara backcourtmate of eventual two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash in 1993-94), playing his first home game with the San Francisco Giants, hit for the cycle against the Cincinnati Reds in 2005.
14 - Cleveland Indians SS Lou Boudreau (leading scorer for Illinois' 1937 Big Ten Conference co-champion) suffered a broken right ankle in a collision at second base in 1945. . . . P Ralph Branca (sixth-leading scorer for NYU in 1943-44) won his first and only decision with the New York Yankees (3-1 over the Boston Red Sox in 1954). . . . St. Louis Cardinals P Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer in 1955-56 and 1956-57) hurled a no-hitter at Pittsburgh in 1971. . . . Texas Rangers 1B Mike Hargrove (Northwestern Oklahoma State basketball letterman) supplied a leadoff homer for the second straight game in 1977. . . . P Dave Madison (letterman for LSU from 1939-40 through 1942-43) traded by the St. Louis Browns to the Detroit Tigers in an eight-player swap in 1952. . . . In 1991, St. Louis Cardinals reliever Lee Smith (averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg with Northwestern State in 1976-77) reached the 30-save plateau for the sixth time en route to leading the N.L. with 47. . . . Birdie Tebbetts (played for Providence in 1932) resigned as manager of the Cincinnati Reds in 1958. . . . St. Louis Cardinals 1B Bill White (played two years with Hiram, OH, in early 1950s) hit for the cycle in the opener of a 1960 doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates. . . . In 1991, California Angels RF-DH Dave Winfield (starting forward with Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) slugged the 400th homer of his career.
13 - Toronto Blue Jays CF Danny Ainge (three-time Brigham Young All-American and national player of year as senior in 1980-81) went 3-for-3 in a 5-4 setback against the Milwaukee Brewers in 1980. . . . Chicago White Sox P Dave DeBusschere (three-time All-American for Detroit from 1959-60 through 1961-62) tossed a shutout against the Cleveland Indians in 1963. . . . In 1955, Cleveland Indians OF Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA titlist) made his first miscue after an A.L.-record 165 errorless games. . . . Boston Red Sox P Boo Ferriss (Mississippi State letterman in 1941) won his eighth straight game for victory No. 20 in 1946. . . . Pittsburgh Pirates P Dave Giusti (made 6 of 10 field-goal attempts in two games for Syracuse in 1959-60) hurled a one-hitter to beat the Chicago Cubs, 1-0, in 1966. . . . New York Giants P Jim Hearn (Georgia Tech letterman in 1941-42) shut out the Philadelphia Phillies' Whiz Kids in 1950. . . . Chicago White Sox P Jimmy Miles (averaged 5.2 ppg and 8.9 rpg for Delta State MS in 1964-65) lost his lone MLB decision (7-3 against the Kansas City Royals in 1969). . . . C Don Prohovich (member of Holy Cross' 1954 NIT champion) traded with $15,000 by the White Sox to the Cubs for utilityman Earl Averill Jr. in 1960. Deal was the first swap of players between the two Chicago franchises. . . . OF Rip Repulski (started a few games for St. Cloud State, MN) hit a three-run pinch homer for the Philadelphia Phillies but they still lost against the Pittsburgh Pirates, 10-9, in 1958. . . . Cincinnati Reds P Eppa Rixey (Virginia letterman in 1911-12 and 1913-14) drove in two runs and blanked the Pittsburgh Pirates, 3-0, in 1932.
12 - In 1953, Philadelphia Phillies P Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) beat the Pittsburgh Pirates for the 15th consecutive time. Roberts reached the 20-win plateau for the fourth straight season. . . . Baltimore Orioles OF Larry Sheets (All-Old Dominion Athletic Conference selection for Eastern Mennonite, VA, in 1981-82 and 1982-83) and teammate Wayne Gross socked back-to-back pinch-hit homers but they weren't enough to prevent an 8-5 setback against the Cleveland Indians in 1985. . . . Arizona Diamondbacks rookie 2B Junior Spivey (redshirted his only semester at Northwestern Oklahoma State on a basketball scholarship before transferring to a KS junior college) registered his second five-hit game of the 2001 campaign. . . . Chicago Cubs INF-OF Riggs Stephenson (Alabama letterman in 1920) knocked in the winning run in the 11th inning of a 3-2 victory against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1930. . . . San Francisco Giants OF Randy Winn (Santa Clara backcourtmate of eventual two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash in 1993-94) accounted for the game's only run with a homer at Florida in 2005.
11 - New York Giants P Curt Barclay (Oregon's third-leading scorer and rebounder as a sophomore in 1950-51) hurled a three-hit, 5-0 shutout against the Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a 1957 doubleheader. . . . C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University player in early 1920s) delivered a decisive ninth-inning hit to give the win to P George Earnshaw (Swarthmore, PA, player in 1922) in the Philadelphia Athletics' 3-2 decision over the Washington Senators in 1928. . . . Gene Desautels (Holy Cross letterman in 1929 and 1930) caught the entire game for the Cleveland Indians without a putout (no strikeouts) in 1942 when they have a 14-inning scoreless tie with the Detroit Tigers. . . . OF Bill Nicholson (played for Washington College, MD, in mid-1930s) capped off back-to-back-to-back homers by the Chicago Cubs but the three straight round-trippers weren't enough to prevent a 7-5 defeat against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1941. . . . In 1945, Chicago Cubs P Claude Passeau (played for Millsaps, MS, in late 1920s and early 1930s) restricted the Boston Braves to two hits - both coming with two outs in the eighth inning. . . . 2B Johnny Temple (played briefly for Catawba, NC, in 1945 before serving in U.S. Navy) purchased from the Baltimore Orioles by the Houston Colt .45s in 1962. . . . P Jim Wilson (letterman for San Diego State's 1942 NAIA Tournament participant) traded by the Cleveland Indians to the Detroit Tigers in 1949.
10 - Pittsburgh Pirates OF Carson "Skeeter" Bigbee (Oregon basketball letterman in 1915) posted his second five-hit game in less than two months in 1922. . . . 1B-OF Dick Gernert (letterman with Temple in 1948-49 when he averaged 2.7 ppg) homered in the 10th inning to help catapult the Boston Red Sox to a 3-1 victory against the New York Yankees in 1952. . . . Baltimore Orioles 3B Ryan Minor (two-time All-Big Eight Conference first-team selection for Oklahoma was league player of year as junior in 1994-95 when averaging 23.6 ppg and 8.4 rpg) had a career-high three hits against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 1999. . . . In 1936, INF Buddy Myer (Mississippi State letterman in 1923-24), the defending A.L. batting champion, sent home by the Washington Senators to recover from a season-long stomach ailment. . . . C Cal Neeman (Illinois Wesleyan's leading scorer in 1947-48 and 1948-49) purchased from the Cleveland Indians by the Washington Senators in 1963. . . . Pittsburgh Pirates CF Bill Virdon (played for Drury, MO, in 1949) tied a MLB mark by notching two assists in the seventh inning of the nightcap of a 1958 doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds. Twenty-four years later in 1982, Virdon was fired as manager of the Houston Astros.
9 - Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading scorer in 1945-46) hit two homers in an 8-3 setback against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1961. . . . New York Mets P Roger Craig (forward with North Carolina State's 1949-50 freshman basketball team) ended his N.L. record-tying 18-game losing streak by beating the Chicago Cubs, 7-3. Craig will be on the losing end of a shutout nine times in 1963. . . . New York Giants SS Alvin Dark (letterman for LSU and USL during World War II) extended his hitting streak to 17 games in 1951. . . . St. Louis Cardinals SS Charlie Gelbert (scored at least 125 points each of last three seasons in late 1920s for Lebanon Valley PA) generated four hits against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1932. . . . Los Angeles Dodgers 2B Davey Lopes (NAIA All-District 15 selection for Iowa Wesleyan averaged 16.9 ppg as freshman in 1964-65 and 12.1 ppg as sophomore in 1965-66) set new MLB record by stealing his 32nd consecutive base without being caught in 1975. . . . OF Bill Nicholson (played for Washington College, MD, in mid-1930s) traded by the Philadelphia Athletics to the Washington Senators in 1938. . . . Boston Braves rookie C Ebba St. Claire (Colgate letterman in 1941-42) tied a N.L. backstop standard by participating in three double plays in a single game in 1951.
8 - SS Gene Michael (Kent State's leading scorer with 14 ppg in 1957-58) stroked a two-out single in the ninth inning to give the New York Yankees a 3-2 victory against the Texas Rangers in 1973. . . . OF Bill Nicholson (played for Washington College, MD, in mid-1930s) pounded an 11th-inning homer to propel the Chicago Cubs to a 2-1 triumph against the Cincinnati Reds in 1947. . . . Philadelphia Phillies P Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) won his eighth straight decision and fourth game in 10 days in 1956.
7 - 2B Dutch Meyer (letterman for TCU in 1934-35 and 1935-36) traded by the New York Giants to the Detroit Tigers in 1940. . . . P Joe Niekro (averaged 8.9 ppg and 3.8 rpg for West Liberty, WV, from 1963-64 through 1965-66) awarded off waivers from the Detroit Tigers to the Atlanta Braves in 1973. . . . OF Jim Northrup (second-leading scorer and third-leading rebounder for Alma, MI, in 1958-59) shipped by the Detroit Tigers to the Montreal Expos as part of a conditional deal in 1974. . . . In 1987, Detroit Tigers P Jeff Robinson (two-time NAIA All-District 3 honoree in early 1980s left Azusa Pacific, CA, as its No. 9 all-time scorer) blanked the New York Yankees, 8-0, retiring the last 24 batters in a row. . . . Boston Red Sox rookie P Don Schwall (All-Big Seven Conference second-team selection led Oklahoma won seventh straight start, improving his record to 13-2 in 1961. . . . In 1990, California Angels OF Dave Winfield (starting forward with Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) collected his 2,500th career hit.
6 - In 1932, 1B Dale Alexander (starting center for Milligan, TN, in mid-1920s) provided a single for the Boston Red Sox' lone safety off Wes Ferrell of the Cleveland Indians. . . . Mickey Cochrane (Boston University player in early 1920s) fired as Detroit Tigers manager in 1938. . . . Cincinnati Reds rookie CF Harry Craft (four-sport letterman with Mississippi College in early 1930s) hit a grand slam in an 11-6 triumph against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1938. . . . San Diego Padres OF Tony Gwynn (All-WAC second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) went 4-for-5 in a 12-10 win against the Montreal Expos in 1999, posting the 3,000th hit of his MLB career. . . . P Mark Hendrickson (two time All-Pacific-10 Conference selection paced Washington State in rebounding four straight seasons from 1992-93 through 1995-96) made his MLB debut with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2002. . . . INF Davey Johnson (averaged 1.7 ppg with Texas A&M in 1961-62) traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to the Chicago Cubs in 1978. . . . San Francisco Giants 1B-OF Rick Leach (averaged 15.5 ppg for Michigan's junior varsity team in 1975-76) suspended for 60 days in 1990 following a positive drug test. . . . Cleveland Indians RF Ed Morgan (Tulane letterman from 1923-24 through 1925-26) raised his batting average to .372 with back-to-back three-hit games. . . . Washington Senators INF Buddy Myer (Mississippi State letterman in 1923-24) contributed four hits in a 13-11 victory against the New York Yankees in the opener of a 1929 doubleheader. . . . 1B Jack Phillips (leading scorer for 14-1 Clarkson, NY, in 1942-43) purchased from the New York Yankees by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1949.
5 - Baltimore Orioles OF Al Bumbry (Virginia State's runner-up in scoring with 16.7 ppg as a freshman in 1964-65) belted his second leadoff homer in two days in 1982. . . . OF Billy Cowan (co-captain of Utah's 1960 NCAA playoff team) traded by the New York Mets to the Milwaukee braves in 1965. . . . P Dave Giusti (made 6 of 10 field-goal attempts in two games for Syracuse in 1959-60) purchased from the Oakland Athletics by the Chicago Cubs in 1977. . . . Posting one of his N.L.-leading five shutouts in 1950, New York Giants P Jim Hearn (Georgia Tech letterman in 1941-42) yielded a leadoff single before throttling the Pittsburgh Pirates the remainder of the way in a 5-0 whitewash. . . . Of Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling a 35-3 record) scored the winning run in the 11th inning in 2001 when the Cleveland Indians erased a 14-2 deficit in the seventh to prevail, 15-14, against the Seattle Mariners. . . . Baltimore Orioles P Ben McDonald (started six games as a 6-6 freshman forward for LSU in 1986-87) hurled a one-hit shutout against the Milwaukee Brewers in 1994. . . . OF Richie Scheinblum (averaged 6.1 ppg and 3.6 rpg in 1962-63 and 1963-64 with LIU-C.W. Post) purchased from the Kansas City Royals by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1974. . . . Philadelphia Phillies OF Cy Williams (Notre Dame forward in 1909-10), who went on to lead the N.L. in homers in 1927, hit for the cycle in a 9-7 triumph against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
4 - In 1961, Chicago Cubs OF George Altman (appeared in 1953 and 1954 NAIA Tournament with Tennessee State) became the first player ever to hit two homers in a single game off Los Angeles Dodgers Hall of Fame P Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman squad in 1953-54). . . . In 1971, St. Louis Cardinals P Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer in 1955-56 and 1956-57) posted his 200th career victory. . . . San Diego Padres OF Tony Gwynn (All-WAC second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81), securing at least five hits in a game for the fourth time in the 1993 season, stroked six safeties in an 11-10 triumph against the San Francisco Giants. . . . St. Louis Browns P Ernie Nevers (All-PCC second-five choice in 1924-25 for Stanford) hurled his first complete game, defeating the Philadelphia Athletics, 3-1, in 1926. . . . Houston Colt .45s 2B Johnny Temple (played briefly in 1945 for Catawba, NC, before joining U.S. Navy) broke up Los Angeles Dodgers P Johnny Podres' bid for a no-hitter with a one-out, ninth-inning single in 1963. . . . While warming up prior to the fifth inning in a 1983 game at Toronto, New York Yankees OF Dave Winfield (starting forward with Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) accidentally killed a seagull with a thrown ball. . . . New York Yankees P Tom Zachary (Guilford, NC, letterman in 1916) notched his seventh straight win with a shutout against the Cleveland Indians in the opener of a 1929 doubleheader.
3 - SS Dick Culler (Little All-American in 1935 and 1936 with High Point, NC) purchased from the Chicago Cubs by the New York Giants in 1948. . . . Alvin Dark (letterman for LSU and USL during World War II) fired as manager of the Oakland Athletics in 1967. . . . P Christy Mathewson (played for Bucknell at turn of 20th Century) surrendered 15 hits in 10 innings but the New York Giants still defeated the Cincinnati Reds, 7-6, in 1909. . . . Gene Michael (Kent State's leading scorer with 14 ppg in 1957-58) dismissed as New York Yankees manager in 1982 after losing a doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox. . . . Montreal Expos OF Ken Singleton (Hofstra freshman team in mid-1960s) secured the only hit off Bill Hands of the Chicago Cubs in the nightcap of a 1972 doubleheader.
2 - Philadelphia Athletics C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University player in early 1920s) hit for the cycle against the New York Yankees in 1933. . . . INF Tim Cullen (starting guard for Santa Clara in 1962-63 when he averaged 10 ppg) traded by the Chicago White Sox to the Washington Senators for SS Ron Hansen in 1968. . . . Cleveland Indians OF Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA titlist) hammered three homers in an 11-0 victory against the Washington Senators in 1950. . . . P Cal Koonce (standout for Campbell in 1960 and 1961 when North Carolina-based school was a junior college) purchased from the Chicago Cubs by the New York Mets in 1967. . . . P Christy Mathewson (played for Bucknell at turn of 20th Century) yielded 15 singles but the New York Giants still defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates, 8-4, in 1911. . . . Bill Virdon (played for Drury, MO, in 1949) fired as manager of the New York Yankees and succeeded by Billy Martin in 1975.
1 - Chicago Cubs RF Frankie Baumholtz (MVP in 1941 NIT and first player in Ohio University history to score 1,000 career points) banged out four hits against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1953. . . . Cleveland Indians 2B Bosey Berger (Maryland's first All-American led Southern Conference in scoring in league competition in 1930-31) provided four hits, including three doubles, against the Chicago White Sox in 1935. . . . Milwaukee Braves 2B Frank Bolling (averaged 7.3 ppg in 1950-51 for Spring Hill AL) went 3-for-4 in both ends of a 1965 twinbill sweep of the San Francisco Giants. . . . Chicago Cubs INF Don Eaddy (averaged team-high 13.8 in Big Ten Conference competition as Michigan sophomore in 1952-53) fanned in his lone MLB plate appearance in 1959. . . . Philadelphia Athletics rookie 2B Gene Handley (Bradley letterman in 1932-33 and 1933-34) manufactured four hits against the Chicago White Sox in 1946. . . . In 1957, 1B Gil Hodges (played for Oakland City, IN, in 1947 and 1948) hit his 13th career grand slam to set a new N.L. record. It was the final grand slam in the history of the Brooklyn franchise before the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles. . . . In 1913, New York Giants P Christy Mathewson (played for Bucknell at turn of 20th Century) reached the 20-win plateau for the 11th consecutive season. . . . Hitless in his first six at-bats, RF Jim Northrup (second-leading scorer and third-leading rebounder for Alma, MI, in 1958-59) homered in the 16th inning to give the Detroit Tigers a 4-3 victory against the California Angels in 1971. . . . Philadelphia Phillies P Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) posted his 200th triumph with a three-hit, 3-1 success at Chicago in 1958. . . . Pittsburgh Pirates P Don Schwall (All-Big Seven Conference second-team selection led Oklahoma saved both ends of a 1965 doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs with three innings of scoreless relief in each contest. . . . Boston Braves rookie RF Chuck Workman (two-time All-MIAA first-five selection was leading scorer when Central Missouri won inaugural NAIA Tournament in 1937) went 4-for-4 against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the opener of a 1943 twinbill.

MLB achievements/highlights in July by former college basketball players

MLB achievements/highlights in June by former college basketball players

MLB achievements/highlights in May by former college basketball players

MLB achievements/highlights in April by former college basketball players