Entertainment Variety: Hoops Price is Right For Numerous Carnival Barkers

Whether or not they talk a better game than they actually played, following is an alphabetical list of media personalities such as recently-deceased Bob Barker who "had game" as college basketball players before becoming famous television hosts and directors:

DAVID ADKINS, Denver
Comedian known as Sinbad had a show by that name on the Fox Network and was a lead actor in the movie Houseguest. He vaulted to TV prominence as a co-star on the hit series A Different World and later briefly hosted Vibe, a late-night talk show. . . . Adkins averaged 4.2 ppg and 4.4 rpg for Denver in his varsity career (1974-75 through 1977-78) when the Pioneers were classified as a major-college independent. He shot at least 50% from the floor all four seasons.

BOB BARKER, Drury (Mo.)
Longtime host of America's highest-rated daytime game show - "The Price is Right." Barker, who also served as executive producer for the longest-running game show in TV history, is the first performer to whom CBS ever dedicated a stage. After winning a total of 15 Emmy awards, he was installed into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2004. Barker, host of The Price is Right for more than 30 years, broke Johnny Carson's record for continuous performances on the same network TV show. The avowed animal rights advocate narrated the Rose Parade telecast for 21 years. . . . Barker played college basketball as a freshman and sophomore in 1941-42 and 1942-43 before serving in the military during World War II. He is in Drury's team picture for 1946-47 (his graduation year), but not listed on the Panthers' roster.

WALTER BOND, Minnesota
Host of the Food Network show "Giving You the Business," where employees of a business enterprise are secretly entered into hidden-camera challenges testing their skill to handle difficult issues. Based on their responses, the company's CEO gave one a franchise. . . . Bond averaged 7.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg and 2.3 apg with the Gophers from 1987-88 through 1990-91 under coach Clem Haskins. Averaged 6.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg and 2.6 apg in eight NCAA playoff games in 1989 and 1990. Averaged 5.7 ppg with the Dallas Mavericks, Utah Jazz and Detroit Pistons in three NBA seasons from 1992-93 through 1994-95.

JAMES BROWN, Harvard
Sports announcer has had host and anchor duties for CBS and the Fox Network. He also hosted The World's Funniest on Fox, contributed to HBO's Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel and was a regular substitute host for Bob Costas' Coast to Coast radio show. . . . Played for legendary DeMatha High School coach Morgan Wooten in the Washington, D.C., area. The 6-6 forward, a three-time second-team All-Ivy League selection from 1970-71 through 1972-73, still ranks among Harvard's top 10 in career scoring and rebounding. As a senior, Brown led the Ivy in scoring in conference competition (22.6 ppg) and set a school record with 18 field goals when he scored a career-high 36 points in a victory over Boston University. He was a fourth-round draft choice of the Atlanta Hawks after averaging 16.1 points and 9.7 rebounds per game in his three-year varsity career. Brown briefly was a teammate of Pete Maravich. "Pete and I were devoted martial arts followers, which requires a lot of discipline. We grew very close," Brown said.

MARK CURRY, California State-Hayward
Comedian starred in ABC's hit black sitcom Hangin' With Mr. Cooper from 1992 through 1997 before hosting Don't Forget Your Toothbrush on Comedy Central. Oakland product worked in and eventually managed a drugstore where, the story goes, he kept cracking up the customers. Finally, in 1987, he took his first steps onstage at a comedy club and worked his way up to headliner. . . . Curry, a 6-6 center, played with California State-Hayward (now known as East Bay) for three years in the early 1980s. Excerpt from the Pioneers' school guide: "Sat out the 1981-82 campaign. Good rebounder has demonstrated a fine shooting touch from the inside."

BOB EINSTEIN, Chapman (Calif.)
Emmy Award-winning writer was affiliated with the Laugh-In and Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour TV shows. He created the Super Dave Osborne hapless stuntman character. . . . Transfer student showed some promise with Chapman, averaging 5 ppg and 2.9 rpg in 1963-64 and 1964-65.

CRAIG KILBORN, Montana State
Succeeded Tom Snyder in late March 1999 on the Los Angeles-based "Late Late Show" following David Letterman on CBS opposite NBC's "Late Night with Conan O'Brien". Kilborn was an ESPN anchor from September 1993 until becoming host of Comedy Central's news parody called "The Daily Show". . . . Three-year letterman for Montana State from 1981-82 through 1983-84 started six games as a sophomore and two more as a junior. The 6-5 1/2 swingman's best season was as a sophomore when he averaged 5.1 ppg. Montana forward Larry Krystkowiak was the premier player in the Big Sky Conference in Kilborn's final campaign. The irreverent native of Hastings, Minn., left the Bobcats' team following his junior season to begin his career in the broadcast industry, and served as a color commentator for their basketball games. "We live in an overly sensitive society, where we take ourselves too seriously," the quirky Kilborn said. "Coming from the world of sports, you better not be sensitive, man. The coaches yell at you, they would challenge your manhood. You have to be tough, and have a thick skin. There was this guy who played for Oregon State with bad acne on his shoulder and arms. The opposing fans called him 'Zitton' and used to throw Clearasil bottles on the court when he came out. That's my audience."

ART LINKLETTER, San Diego State
Longtime radio and television personality was master of ceremonies of such popular shows as People Are Funny, Art Linkletter's House Party and Kids Say the Darndest Things. . . . Three-year letterman led San Diego State in scoring in 1932-33 (7 ppg) and 1933-34 (8.8 ppg). He was named to the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference all-star team as a sophomore and senior. Captain of the Aztecs' team as a senior when he finished second in conference competition in scoring.

WARNER SAUNDERS, Xavier (La.)
Windy City broadcasting legend anchored Chicago's NBC affiliate (WMAQ-TV). . . . The 6-5 Saunders was a center for four seasons with the Gold Rush (class of '57).

RON SHELTON, Westmont (Calif.)
Writer-director is synonymous with sports movies such as The Best of Times (high school football/1986), Bull Durham (minor league baseball/1988), White Men Can't Jump (street basketball/1992), Cobb (major league baseball/1994), Blue Chips (college basketball/1994), Tin Cup (golf/1996) and Play It to the Bone (boxing/1999). One of his non-sports films, Blaze, became a personal milestone for him as he went on to marry one of the stars, Toronto-born Lolita Davidovich. In Blue Chips, actor Nick Nolte was coach Pete Bell, who broke the rules in order to get the players he needed to remain competitive. "I played pickup into my 40s, right up until the time I made White Men Can't Jump," Shelton said. "I knew the game. I just loved that world." . . . Shelton scored 1,420 points in the mid-1960s, finishing the 20th Century among his alma mater's top 10 career scorers. He went on to play five seasons of Organized Baseball as a second baseman in the Baltimore Orioles' minor league system. Thirty-ninth round draft choice in 1966 hit .251 from 1967 through 1971, advancing all the way to AAA.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling September 3 NFL Gridiron

Long before kneeling knuckleheads, the NCAA Tournament commenced in 1939, which was one year after the NIT triggered national postseason competition. An overlooked "versatile athlete" feat occurring in 1938 likely never to be duplicated took place at Arkansas, where the quarterback for the football squad (Jack Robbins) repeated as an All-SWC first-team basketball selection, leading the Razorbacks (19-3) to the league title. After the season, Robbins became an NFL first-round draft choice by the Chicago Cardinals (5th pick overall) and senior football/basketball teammates Jim Benton (11th pick by Cleveland Rams) and Ray Hamilton (41st pick by Rams) went on to become wide receivers for at least six years in the NFL. Yes, they created a kneeling-in-admiration shatterproof achievement - three do-everything members of a league championship basketball squad who promptly were among the top 41 selections in the same NFL draft.

Two years later, All-SWC first-team hoop selection Howard "Red" Hickey was instrumental in Arkansas reaching the 1941 Final Four before becoming an end for the Cleveland Rams' 1945 NFL titlist. Two-sport college teammate and fellow end O'Neal Adams scored five touchdowns for the New York Giants the first half of the 1940s. Another two-sport Hog who played for the Giants in the mid-1940s was Harry Wynne. An earlier versatile Razorback was Jim Lee Howell, who was an All-SWC first five hoop selection in 1935-36 before becoming a starting end for the Giants' 1938 NFL titlist and Pro Bowl participant the next year. Adams, Benton, Hamilton, Hickey and Howell combined for 77 touchdowns in an 11-year span from 1938 through 1948 when at least one of the ex-Razorback hoopers scored a TD in each of those seasons.

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players making a name for themselves in September 3 football games at the professional level (especially unbeaten Cleveland Browns teammates Otto Graham and Ara Parseghian hooking up for touchdown pass in 1948 before they became coaches of prominent gridiron enterprises):

SEPTEMBER 3

  • Boston Patriots WR Art Graham (collected one point and three rebounds in two basketball games with Boston College in 1961-62) posted a 1967 AFL-long touchdown reception of 79 yards in 26-21 setback against the Denver Broncos in season opener.

  • Cleveland Browns rookie HB Ara Parseghian (Miami of Ohio hooper in 1946-47 and 1947-48) caught a 17-yard touchdown pass from QB Otto Graham (Big Ten Conference runner-up in scoring as Northwestern sophomore in 1941-42 and junior in 1942-43) in 19-14 win against the Los Angeles Dons in 1948 AAFC season opener.

  • Cleveland Browns WR Reggie Rucker (averaged 6.8 ppg and 3.8 rpg for Boston University in 1966-67) registered three pass receptions for 113 yards in a 24-7 win against the San Francisco 49ers in 1978 season opener.

  • Arizona Cardinals DL Mao Tosi (averaged 4.1 ppg and 5.5 rpg with Idaho in 1997-98) had a career-high seven solo tackles in 21-16 setback against the New York Giants in his NFL debut in 2000 season opener.

On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Providing MLB Headlines on September 3

Extra! Extra! Instead of discussing kinder-and-gentler Taliban militants (according to "most distrusted name in news" CNN Sucks) chanting "Death to America!" when religious scholars aren't Pope-like tackling tenets of climate change with as much arranged-marriage vigor as fear-mongering Plagiarist Biledumb (a/k/a Pedo-Peter by hideous Hunter), insecure Cacklin' Kamala, Lurch Kerry, ex-Speaker of House #NannyPathetic, Odd Squad rooftop-dancing bartender AOC and Fake Squaw Senator #Liesalot Warren, you can read news about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Tony Clark and Kenny Lofton, a pair of former hoopers who played at Arizona under Hall of Fame coach Lute Olson, supplied significant performances with American League teams on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a September 3 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

SEPTEMBER 3

  • Detroit Tigers 1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in WAC basketball games in 1991-92 after transferring from Arizona) contributed five RBI against the Atlanta Braves in a 1997 game.

  • In the midst of hitting safely in all 13 games he played this month, Philadelphia Phillies 2B Denny Doyle (averaged 2.7 ppg for Morehead State in 1962-63) delivered four safeties in the nightcap of a 1973 twinbill against the New York Mets.

  • Detroit Tigers 1B Walt Dropo (first player in Connecticut history to average at least 20 ppg in single season with 21.7 ppg in 1942-43) homered twice in an 11-8 triumph against the Cleveland Indians in 1952.

  • Baltimore Orioles LHP Mike Flanagan (averaged 13.9 ppg for Massachusetts' 15-1 freshman squad in 1971-72) became MLB's first 20-game winner in the 1979 season.

  • In his final MLB appearance in 1975, St. Louis Cardinals RHP Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer in 1955-56 and 1956-57) allowed a pinch-hit grand slam to the Chicago Cubs' Pete LaCock before retiring 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).

  • New York Mets 1B-LF Jim Hickman (freshman hooper for Ole Miss in 1955-56) hammered three homers against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1965 game.

  • Philadelphia Phillies LHP Lefty Hoerst (four-year hoops letterman for La Salle in late 1930s) hurled his first complete game (4-1 win against Brooklyn Dodgers in nightcap of 1941 doubleheader).

  • New York Yankees LF Charlie Keller (Maryland hoops letterman from 1934-35 through 1936-37) lashed three extra-base hits against the Philadelphia Athletics in nightcap of a 1945 twinbill.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers rookie LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman hoops squad in 1953-54) hurled his second straight shutout in 1955 (4-0 against Pittsburgh Pirates).

  • Cleveland Indians CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling a 35-3 record) tied a MLB record by scoring in his 18th straight game, stole five bases and supplied five hits, including a walk-off homer in the 13th inning, in a 12-11 victory against the Baltimore Orioles in 2000. Teammate Jim Thome (juco hooper for Illinois Central in 1988-89) contributed five RBI as DH.

  • Philadelphia Athletics rookie RHP Bill McCahan (three-year Duke hoops letterman named to All-Southern Conference Tournament team in 1942) hurled a no-hitter against Washington in 1947.

  • LF Jimmy Moore (Union TN hoops standout in late 1920s), making his Philadelphia Athletics debut in 1930, collected a double, homer and four RBI in 11-4 win against the Boston Red Sox.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates LHP Preacher Roe (Harding AR hooper in late 1930s) fanned 11 St. Louis Cardinals batters en route to an N.L.-leading 148 whiffs in 1945.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates OF Ted Savage (Lincoln MO scoring average leader in 1955-56) stroked a pinch-hit, three-run homer against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1963 contest.

  • Chicago Cubs LF Riggs Stephenson (Alabama hoops letterman in 1920) went 4-for-4 against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1933 outing.

  • Only MLB decision for Philadelphia Phillies LHP Lefty Taber (hooper from class of '25 for Dubuque IA) came in his lone start, a 12-2 setback against the Boston Braves in 1927.

  • San Francisco Giants CF Randy Winn (Santa Clara backcourtmate of eventual two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash in 1993-94) whacked two homers against the Arizona Diamondbacks in a 2005 game.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling September 2 NFL Gridiron

Long before kneeling knuckleheads, the NCAA Tournament commenced in 1939, which was one year after the NIT triggered national postseason competition. An overlooked "versatile athlete" feat occurring in 1938 likely never to be duplicated took place at Arkansas, where the quarterback for the football squad (Jack Robbins) repeated as an All-SWC first-team basketball selection, leading the Razorbacks (19-3) to the league title. After the season, Robbins became an NFL first-round draft choice by the Chicago Cardinals (5th pick overall) and senior football/basketball teammates Jim Benton (11th pick by Cleveland Rams) and Ray Hamilton (41st pick by Rams) went on to become wide receivers for at least six years in the NFL. Yes, they created a kneeling-in-admiration shatterproof achievement - three do-everything members of a league championship basketball squad who promptly were among the top 41 selections in the same NFL draft.

Two years later, All-SWC first-team hoop selection Howard "Red" Hickey was instrumental in Arkansas reaching the 1941 Final Four before becoming an end for the Cleveland Rams' 1945 NFL titlist. Two-sport college teammate and fellow end O'Neal Adams scored five touchdowns for the New York Giants the first half of the 1940s. Another two-sport Hog who played for the Giants in the mid-1940s was Harry Wynne. An earlier versatile Razorback was Jim Lee Howell, who was an All-SWC first five hoop selection in 1935-36 before becoming a starting end for the Giants' 1938 NFL titlist and Pro Bowl participant the next year. Adams, Benton, Hamilton, Hickey and Howell combined for 77 touchdowns in an 11-year span from 1938 through 1948 when at least one of the ex-Razorback hoopers scored a TD in each of those seasons.

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves in football on September 2 at the professional level (especially in 1979):

SEPTEMBER 2

  • Philadelphia Eagles WR Harold Carmichael (basketball starter two seasons for Southern LA averaged 9.8 ppg and 10.6 rpg in 1969-70) caught two second-quarter touchdown passes from Ron Jaworski in a 23-17 win against the New York Giants in 1979 season opener.

  • Washington Redskins TE Jean Fugett (leading scorer and rebounder for Amherst MA as junior in 1970-71) caught two touchdown passes from Joe Theismann in a 29-27 setback against the Houston Oilers in 1979 season opener.

On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Providing MLB Headlines on September 2

Extra! Extra! Instead of wondering if misguided #MessMedia will return to asking gaffe-prone Plagiarist Biledumb about ice cream while many Americans don't believe creepy stranderer-in-chief will conduct a press conference if he can't complete a cogent thought, you can read news about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Multiple Show-Me State colleges - Central Missouri, Drury, Mizzou, Missouri State and Washington University - had former hoopers "show" significant MLB performances on this date. Ditto three ex-community college hoopers from California (Irv Noren, Bob Oliver and Larry Wolfe). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a September 2 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

SEPTEMBER 2

  • Bonus baby 2B Jerry Adair (one of Oklahoma State's top three basketball scorers in 1956-57 and 1957-58 while ranking among nation's top 12 free-throw shooters each season) made his MLB debut with the Baltimore Orioles in 1958.

  • 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading scorer in 1945-46) pounded a pinch-hit, two-run homer off RHP Bobby Humphreys (four-year hoops letterman graduated from Hampden-Sydney VA in 1958) to give the California Angels a 6-5 win against the Washington Senators in 1966.

  • In 1981, RHP Jim Beattie (Dartmouth's top rebounder in 1974-75 when selected team MVP and honorable mention All-Ivy League) toiled 10 innings against the Baltimore Orioles en route to setting a Seattle Mariners record for a starter by pitching 19 straight scoreless innings.

  • Philadelphia Athletics rookie RHP Bill Beckmann (hooper in late 1920s for Washington MO) hurled his second straight shutout in 1939.

  • INF Bosey Berger (NCAA consensus All-American first-team hoops selection in 1932 for Maryland) combined with Chicago White Sox teammate Mike Kreevich to hit homers as the first two batters in a game for the second time in the 1937 campaign.

  • New York Mets 1B Donn Clendenon (four-sport letterman with Morehouse GA) clobbered two homers against the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 1969 contest.

  • After sitting out almost a month because of a broken rib, New York Giants SS Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for LSU and USL during World War II) fell and broke his shoulder in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1955.

  • Boston Red Sox RHP Boo Ferriss (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1941) won his 12th straight contest for victory No. 24 in the opener of a 1946 twinbill against the New York Yankees.

  • In 1983, Baltimore Orioles LHP Mike Flanagan (averaged 13.9 ppg for Massachusetts' 15-1 freshman squad in 1971-72) posted his 13th consecutive triumph over the Minnesota Twins when teammate Ken Singleton (played for Hofstra's freshman hoops team in mid-1960s) broke up a scoreless duel with a ninth-inning homer.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates 3B Gene Freese (West Liberty WV hoops captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team) accumulated a total of nine hits in back-to-back 1957 twinbills the first two days of the month.

  • St. Louis Cardinals RHP Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer and rebounder in 1955-56 and 1956-57) hurled his 12th shutout in span of 18 starts covering less than three months in 1968.

  • Detroit Tigers 1B Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoops scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) collected two homers and a triple in 9-8 nod over the Washington Senators. His second round-tripper was a walk-off in the bottom of the 10th inning.

  • San Francisco Giants RHP Ed Halicki (NAIA All-American third-team choice in 1971-72 when leading Monmouth in scoring with 21 ppg after setting school single-game rebounding record with 40 previous season) fanned 12 opposing batters for the third game in a three-week span in 1975.

  • Brooklyn Robins 1B Buddy Hassett (hooper for Manhattan teams winning school-record 17 consecutive contests in 1930 and 1931) banged out four hits against the Chicago Cubs in a 1937 game. Five years later, Hassett duplicated the feat for the New York Yankees against the St. Louis Browns in nightcap of a 1942 twinbill.

  • In midst of closing out 1961 campaign with 10 consecutive scoreless relief appearances, Cincinnati Reds LHP Bill Henry (hoops letterman for Houston's 1947 NAIA Tournament team featuring co-captain Guy Lewis) posted his 16th save (tied Jim Brosnan for team high in category).

  • Philadelphia Phillies LHP Lefty Hoerst (four-year hoops letterman for La Salle in late 1930s) yielded only two hits but managed to lose by walking four batters in the eighth inning in 1942.

  • Washington Senators slugging 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) received intentional passes his first three plate appearances, twice leading off an inning, against the Cleveland Indians in a 1970 contest.

  • Atlanta Braves 1B Davey Johnson (averaged 1.7 ppg for Texas A&M in 1961-62) homered in both ends of a 1974 doubleheader sweep of the San Diego Padres.

  • In 2002, Oakland Athletics LF David Justice (Thomas More KY assists leader in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg) jacked his final of 305 MLB career homers.

  • 3B Fritz Knothe (member of Penn's freshman hoops squad in 1923-24) shipped by Philadelphia Phillies to Albany (International League) to complete a deal made the previous month in 1933.

  • St. Louis Browns SS Doc Lavan (Hope MI hooper from 1908 through 1910) went 4-for-4 against the Cleveland Indians in a 1916 outing.

  • Chicago Cubs INF Vance Law (averaged 6.8 ppg for Brigham Young from 1974-75 through 1976-77) accounted for the game's only run with a ninth-inning homer off the Los Angeles Dodgers' Bob Welch in 1986.

  • Philadelphia Phillies rookie OF Danny Litwhiler (member of JV hoops squad with Bloomsburg PA in mid-1930s), en route to a 21-game hitting streak, collected six safeties and eight RBI in a 1940 doubleheader sweep of the New York Giants.

  • Los Angeles Dodgers 2B Davey Lopes (NAIA All-District 15 selection for Iowa Wesleyan averaged 16.9 ppg as freshman in 1964-65 and 12.1 ppg as sophomore in 1965-66 before transferring with his coach to Washburn KS where he was All-CIC selection for 1968 NAIA Tournament team) stroked a game-winning grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning off Chicago Cubs closer Bruce Sutter in 1979.

  • New York Yankees rookie RHP Zach Monroe (played hoops briefly for Bradley in 1950-51) hurled his lone MLB complete game, defeating the Boston Red Sox, 6-1, in 1958.

  • In his first start for the St. Louis Cardinals, RF Irv Noren (hooper of year for California community college state champion Pasadena City in 1945) stroked three extra-base hits against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1957 contest.

  • California Angels 1B Bob Oliver (All-Valley Conference basketball choice for American River Community College CA in 1962) accounted for the game's only tallies with a first-inning, two-run homer off Jim Palmer against the Baltimore Orioles in 1972.

  • Cleveland Indians RHP Jim Perry (averaged more than 20 ppg in late 1950s for former juco Campbell) fired a four-hit shutout against the Baltimore Orioles in 1961.

  • Atlanta Braves RHP Ron Reed (Notre Dame's leading rebounder in 1963-64 and 1964-65) spun his second three-hit shutout in less than a month in 1974.

  • A two-hit shutout by Chicago White Sox RHP Johnny Rigney (top hoops center for St. Thomas MN in mid-1930s) against the Detroit Tigers was one of 11 consecutive triumphs for him in 1939. The next year, he also tossed a two-hit whitewash against the Tigers in 1940.

  • OF Larry Sheets (All-ODAC hoops selection for Eastern Mennonite VA in 1981-82 and 1982-83) shipped by the Milwaukee Brewers to the Seattle Mariners as part of a conditional deal in 1993.

  • Boston Red Sox RHP Sonny Siebert (team-high 16.7 ppg for Missouri in 1957-58 as All-Big Eight Conference second-team selection) hurled a one-hitter and socked two homers in a 3-0 triumph against the Baltimore Orioles in 1971. He had six round-trippers during the season.

  • Boston Red Sox RHP Dave Sisler (All-Ivy League second-team selection for Princeton's first NCAA Tournament team in 1952) surrendered back-to-back homers to Hall of Famers Yogi Berra and Mickey Mantle in 1958. It was one of 12 times the New York Yankees' duo whack back-to-back round-trippers. They homered in the same game 50 times.

  • SS Roy Smalley Jr. (one of top scorers for Drury MO in 1942-43 and 1943-44) drilled a pinch two-run double in the bottom of the eighth inning to propel the Philadelphia Phillies to a 5-3 win against the New York Giants in 1955.

  • In the midst of winning his final seven decisions in 1977, Kansas City Royals LHP Paul Splittorff (runner-up in scoring and rebounding for Morningside IA in 1967-68) tossed a one-hit shutout against the Milwaukee Brewers in the nightcap of a twinbill.

  • LHP Bob Veale (scored 1,160 points for Benedictine KS from 1955-56 through 1957-58) purchased from the Pittsburgh Pirates by the Boston Red Sox in 1972.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates 1B Preston Ward (second-leading scorer for Southwest Missouri State in 1946-47 and 1948-49) knocked in six runs in an 8-1 victory against the Chicago Cubs in 1953.

  • St. Louis Browns OF Hal Warnock (Arizona hoops letterman from 1931-32 through 1933-34) contributed a pinch-hit double in his first MLB plate appearance in the nightcap of a 1935 doubleheader against the Cleveland Indians.

  • Boston Red Sox 3B Larry Wolfe (juco letterman in 1971-72 and 1972-73 for Sacramento City College CA scored career-high 33 points against Santa Rosa on 12-17-71) whacked a pinch-hit homer in 1980 game against the California Angels.

  • Boston Braves 3B Chuck Workman (two-time All-MIAA first-five hoops selection was leading scorer when Central Missouri won inaugural NAIA Tournament in 1937) whacked two homers in the opener of a 1945 twinbill against the Philadelphia Phillies.

On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Providing MLB Headlines on September 1

Extra! Extra! Instead of wondering if Secret Service or hideous Hunter-hammered cover girl "Dr." Jill is responsible for bringing Plagiarist Biledumb's bed pan along when creepy "big guy" futilely tries to give coherent speech with satanic background, you can read news about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former Guilford NC hoopers Rick Ferrell and Tom Zachary supplied significant American League performances on this date. Ex-LSU hoopers Joe Adcock and Alvin Dark did likewise in National League contests. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a September 1 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

SEPTEMBER 1

  • Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) swatted two homers against the Chicago Cubs in a 1960 game.

  • Chicago Cubs LF Ethan Allen (Cincinnati hoops letterman in 1924-25 and 1925-26) supplied four hits against the New York Giants in a 1936 contest.

  • Chicago White Sox CF Ken Berry (freshman hooper for Wichita in 1959-60) went 4-for-4 in a 1966 game against the Detroit Tigers.

  • Baltimore Orioles LF Al Bumbry (Virginia State's runner-up in scoring with 16.7 ppg as freshman in 1964-65) banged out four hits against the Kansas City Royals in a 1974 outing.

  • Arizona Diamondbacks 1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in WAC competition in 1991-92) collected five RBI against the Colorado Rockies in a 2007 game.

  • Philadelphia Athletics rookie RHP Jack Coombs (hoops captain and starting center for Colby ME) went the distance in a 24-inning, 4-1 win against the Washington Senators in 1906. Coombs tossed two more complete-game victories in the next 10 days.

  • New York Giants SS Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for Louisiana State and Southwestern Louisiana in mid-1940s) manufactured four hits in his second game in a row against the Chicago Cubs in 1953.

  • Milwaukee Braves 2B Jack Dittmer (Iowa hooper in 1949-50), entering the game with a .180 batting average, started a streak of six consecutive multiple-hit contests in 1954. Dittmer homered in three of the tilts.

  • Closing in on the conclusion of an 18-year Hall of Fame career, Washington Senators C Rick Ferrell (hoops forward for Guilford NC before graduating in 1928) furnished four hits against the Philadelphia Athletics in a 1947 contest.

  • In 1976, Baltimore Orioles rookie LHP Mike Flanagan (averaged 13.9 ppg for UMass' freshman squad in 1971-72) registered his first of 167 MLB career victories (six-hit, 7-1 nod over Kansas City Royals).

  • Pittsburgh Pirates rookie 3B Gene Freese (West Liberty WV hoops captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team) stroked four hits against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1955 outing.

  • 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) received bases-loaded walk in the 21st inning to give the San Francisco Giants a 1-0 victory at Cincinnati in 1967.

  • 2B Tommy Herr (hooper with Delaware's freshman team in 1974-75) homered in his first game with the New York Mets in a 6-5 verdict over the San Francisco Giants in 1990.

  • Chicago Cubs 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) went 4-for-4 against the Houston Astros in a 1968 game.

  • Detroit Tigers RF Harvey Kuenn (hooper played briefly for Wisconsin in 1951-52 after competing on JV squad previous season) contributed four hits against the Chicago White Sox in a 1959 contest.

  • Washington Senators SS Doc Lavan (Hope MI hooper from 1908 through 1910) went 4-for-4 against the New York Yankees in a 1918 outing.

  • In 1931, New York Giants rookie LHP Jim Mooney (played for East Tennessee State) notched his fourth win and second shutout since being summoned from the minors three weeks earlier.

  • Washington Senators rookie SS Buddy Myer (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1923-24) went 4-for-5 for the second time in an eight-game span in 1926.

  • Cincinnati Reds CF Greasy Neale (hooper graduated in 1915 from West Virginia Wesleyan) went 5-for-5 against the St. Louis Cardinals in the nightcap of a 1918 doubleheader.

  • OF-1B John Poff (member of Duke's freshman basketball squad in 1970-71) awarded off waivers from the Philadelphia Phillies to the Milwaukee Brewers in 1980.

  • In the final month of his 10-year MLB career, Brooklyn Dodgers 3B Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) swiped three bases in nightcap of 1956 doubleheader against the New York Giants.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers LHP Preacher Roe (Harding AR hooper in late 1930s) yielded five solo homers but the St. Louis Cardinals still were soundly defeated, 12-5, in 1953. Five years earlier, Roe tossed his second of back-to-back shutouts in 1948.

  • New York Yankees rookie LHP Marius Russo (member of LIU teams compiling 50-2 record in 1934-35 and 1935-36 under legendary coach Clair Bee) earned a save against the Cleveland Indians in the midst of seven straight complete-game victories to close out 1939 campaign.

  • Baltimore Orioles RF Ken Singleton (played for Hofstra freshman hoops team in mid-1960s) homered twice against the Seattle Mariners in a 1980 contest.

  • Cleveland Indians 2B Riggs Stephenson (Alabama hoops letterman in 1920) collected two homers and six RBI against the St. Louis Browns in the nightcap of a 1924 twinbill.

  • Philadelphia Phillies RHP Kent Tekulve (freshman hooper for Marietta OH in mid-1960s) won his sixth game as reliever in span of a month in 1986.

  • New York Yankees RHP Ralph Terry (juco hooper averaged 22 ppg for Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in mid-1950s) went 3-for-3 at the plate in a 1962 game against the Kansas City Athletics.

  • LHP Bob Veale (scored 1,160 points from 1955-56 through 1957-58 with Benedictine KS) made relief appearance for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1971 when they started what is believed to be the first all-black lineup (including several Latinos) in MLB history (against Philadelphia Phillies).

  • Pittsburgh Pirates CF Bill Virdon (Drury MO hooper in 1949) belted a two-out, game-ending grand slam in 6-4 verdict over the Cincinnati Reds in 1963.

  • New York Yankees LHP Tom Zachary (Guilford NC letterman in 1916) yielded his most earned runs of the year (four against Boston Red Sox) en route to a 12-0 worksheet in 1929.

Happy Birthday! September Celebration Dates For A-As and HOF Coaches

Georgetown championship coach John Thompson Jr. is among three Providence All-Americans born the first four days of September. The day celebrating the most birthdays this month for former All-Americans is September 7th with 10. Gonzaga (16th) and North Carolina (23rd and 25th) each had two All-Americans born on the same day this month. Kansas (seven) and Carolina (six) boast the most A-As born this month. Following are birthdates in September for All-American players and Hall of Fame coaches:

SEPTEMBER

1: All-Americans Kofi Cockburn (born in 1999/Illinois), Ryan Gomes (1982/Providence), Tim Hardaway Sr. (1966/Texas-El Paso), Vinnie Johnson (1956/Baylor), Bernie Opper (1915/Kentucky) and Guy Rodgers (1935/Temple).
2: All-Americans Ed Conlin (1933/Fordham), Bob Faught (1921/Notre Dame), Frank Groves (1913/Kansas State), Marcus Morris (1989/Kansas) and John Thompson Jr. (1941/Providence) plus Hall of Fame coaches Adolph Rupp (1901/Kentucky) and Thompson (Georgetown).
3: All-Americans Al Green (1953/Louisiana State), Walt Kirk (1924/Illinois), Steve Scheffler (1967/Purdue) and Damon Stoudamire (1973/Arizona).
4: All-Americans Clarence "Bevo" Francis (1932/Rio Grande OH), Kevin Stacom (1951/Providence) and Roger Strickland (1940/Jacksonville).
5: All-Americans Davion Mitchell (1998/Baylor), Ken Norman (1964/Illinois), Dennis Scott (1968/Georgia Tech), Seth Tuttle (1992/Northern Iowa) and Anthony "T.J." Warren Jr. (1993/North Carolina State).
6: All-Americans Thomas Guerrero (1919/UC Santa Barbara), Sean Singletary (1985/Virginia) and John Wall (1990/Kentucky).
7: All-Americans Cliff Anderson (1944/St. Joseph's), Mateen Cleaves (1977/Michigan State), Charlie Davis (1949/Wake Forest), Ralph Davis (1938/Cincinnati), Wilbert Kautz (1915/Loyola of Chicago), George Lacy (1912/Richmond), Kevin Love (1988/UCLA), Clyde Lovellette (1929/Kansas), Dick O'Neal (1935/Texas Christian) and Bob Verga (1945/Duke) plus Hall of Fame coach Al McGuire (1928/Marquette).
8: All-Americans Jim Krebs (1935/Southern Methodist), Tom Meschery (1938/St. Mary's) and Clarence Weatherspoon (1970/Southern Mississippi).
9: All-Americans Shane Battier (1978/Duke), Steve Downing (1950/Indiana) and Drew Timme (2000/Gonzaga).
10: All-Americans Bob Lanier (1948/St. Bonaventure), Jordan Nwora (1998/Louisville), Willie Sojourner (1948/Weber State), Ray Tolbert (1958/Indiana) and Jason Williams (1981/Duke plus Hall of Fame coach Dave Robbins (1942/Virginia Union).
11: All-Americans Ike Diogu (1983/Arizona State), Joe Hassett (1955/Providence) and Johnny Neumann (1950/Mississippi) plus Hall of Fame coach Harold Anderson (1902/Toledo and Bowling Green).
12: All-Americans Terry Dehere (1971/Seton Hall) and Ernie Vandeweghe (1928/Colgate).
13: All-Americans Jim Cleamons (1949/Ohio State), Brian Evans (1973/Indiana), Carl "C.J." Fair (1991/Syracuse), Charles Hardnett (1938/Grambling) and Willie Murrell (1941/Kansas State).
14: All-Americans Jevon Carter (1995/West Virginia), Tom Chilton (1938/East Tennessee State) and Perry Ellis (1993/Kansas) plus Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown (1940/UCLA, Kansas and Southern Methodist).
15: All-Americans Marvin Delph (1956/Arkansas), Sherman Douglas (1966/Syracuse), Mike Dunleavy Jr. (1980/Duke), Jason Terry (1977/Arizona) and Tony Yates (1937/Cincinnati).
16: All-Americans Elgin Baylor (1934/Seattle), Ron Brewer (1955/Arkansas), Dan Dickau (1978/Gonzaga), Bob Kinney (1920/Rice), Billy McGill (1939/Utah) and Nigel Williams-Goss (1994/Gonzaga).
17: All-Americans Udoka Azubuike (1999/Kansas), Ulysses "Junior" Bridgeman (1953/Louisville), Lester Conner (1959/Oregon State), Greg Kelser (1957/Michigan State), Doug Smith (1969/Missouri), Rasheed Wallace (1974/North Carolina) and Kermit Washington (1951/American University).
18: All-American Bill Kotsores (1924/St. John's) and Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino (1952/Boston University, Providence, Kentucky, Louisville and Iona).
19: All-Americans Brandon Clarke (1996/Gonzaga), Sidney Wicks (1949/UCLA) and Trae Young (1998/Oklahoma).
20: All-Americans Kyle Anderson (1993/UCLA) and John Townsend (1916/Michigan) plus Hall of Fame coach Harry Litwack (1907/Temple).
21: All-Americans Randolph Childress (1972/Wake Forest), Artis Gilmore (1949/Jacksonville), Jack Givens (1956/Kentucky), Doug Moe (1938/North Carolina), Sidney Moncrief (1957/Arkansas) and Ron Sobiesczyk (1934/DePaul) plus Hall of Fame coach Bob Huggins (1953/Akron, Cincinnati, Kansas State and West Virginia).
22: Hall of Fame coach Robert "Lute" Olson (1934/Long Beach State, Iowa and Arizona).
23: All-Americans Ray Blume (1958/Oregon State), Pete Brennan (1936/North Carolina), Dean Kelley (1931/Kansas), Eric Montross (1971/North Carolina) and Frank Ward (1904/Montana State).
24: All-Americans Randy Foye (1983/Villanova), Drew Gooden (1981/Kansas) and Ron "Fritz" Williams (1944/West Virginia).
25: All-Americans Chauncey Billups (1976/Colorado), Cade Cunningham (2001/Oklahoma State), Jimmy Darrow (1937/Bowling Green State), Ron Haigler (1953/Penn), Bob McAdoo (1951/North Carolina), Rashad McCants (1984/North Carolina) and Harv Schmidt (1935/Illinois).
26: All-Americans Lucius Allen (1947/UCLA), Cliff Crandall (1925/Oregon State), Mike Farmer (1936/San Francisco), Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (1993/Kentucky) and John Roche (1949/South Carolina).
27: All-Americans Ed Gray (1975/California), Steve Kerr (1965/Arizona) and Monte Towe (1953/North Carolina State).
28: All-Americans Johnny Dawkins (1963/Duke), Keith Edmonson (1960/Purdue), Emeka Okafor (1982/Connecticut) and Bonzi Wells (1976/Ball State).
29: All-Americans Chuck Cooper (1926/Duquesne), Kevin Durant (1988/Texas), Darington Hobson (1987/New Mexico), Hersey Hawkins (1966/Bradley), John Paxson (1960/Notre Dame), Eddie Phillips (1961/Alabama) and Jesse "Cab" Renick (1917/Oklahoma A&M) plus Hall of Fame coach Homer Drew (1944/Valparaiso).
30: All-Americans Mark Randall (1967/Kansas), Jordan Taylor (1989/Wisconsin) and Jerome Whitehead (1956/Marquette).

Birthdays in January for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in February for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in March for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in April for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in May for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in June for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in July for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in August for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in September for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in October for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in November for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in December for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Providing MLB Headlines on August 31

Extra! Extra! Instead of cursing "eye-rolling" empty-suit aviator Plagiarist "F-15" Biledumb and "the big guy's" awful morally-bankrupt administration seeking a "big f-ing deal" war-participation trophy from #MessMedia misfits despite inept evacuation and civilized-world 90% sullying of stranding God-knows-how-many American citizens/allies/Christians two years ago to be brutalized by "Tally-bon" cockroaches, you can read news about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Ed Morgan (Tulane), Lyle Mouton (Louisiana State) and Lee Smith (Northwestern State) - former major-college hoopers from Pelican State universities - supplied significant moments in their MLB careers on this date. Ditto ex-Pasadena City CA community college hoopers Darrell Evans and Irv Noren and multiple former small-college hoopers from PA schools (Allegheny's Glenn Beckert/Lafayette's Frank Grube/Grove City's Gary Peters/Mansfield's Joe Shaute). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 31 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 31

  • New York Giants LF Babe Barna (West Virginia basketball letterman in 1936 and 1937) provided a career-high four hits in 7-6 win against the Chicago Cubs in 1942.

  • Chicago Cubs 2B Glenn Beckert (three-year hoops letterman for Allegheny PA) supplied four safeties against the Atlanta Braves in a 1969 game.

  • California Angels rookie LF Bruce Bochte (starting forward for Santa Clara's NCAA playoff team in 1970 averaged 7.4 ppg and 4 rpg) belted two homers against the Milwaukee Brewers in a 1974 contest.

  • In 1954, Milwaukee Braves rookie RHP Gene Conley (All-PCC first-team selection led North Division in scoring in 1949-50 as Washington State sophomore) hurled a three-hit shutout against the Brooklyn Dodgers. The whitewash was Conley's fifth win of the month.

  • RHP Casey Cox (juco recruit averaged 1.7 ppg and 1.2 rpg for Cal State Los Angeles in 1961-62) traded by the Texas Rangers to New York Yankees in 1972.

  • Milwaukee Braves 1B George Crowe (four-year letterman from 1939-40 through 1942-43 for Indiana Central after becoming first high school player named state's Mr. Basketball) smacked two homers against the Brooklyn Dodgers in a 1955 outing.

  • Boston Braves SS Dick Culler (#9 jersey retired by High Point for hoops Little All-American in 1935 and 1936) contributed four hits against the Philadelphia Phillies in nightcap of a 1946 doubleheader.

  • In the midst of five straight seasons amassing a minimum of 20 hits, Detroit Tigers RHP Jean Dubuc (forward for Saint Michael's VT in 1905-06 and 1906-07 before starting with Notre Dame in 1907-08) went 3-for-3 at the plate against the Chicago White Sox in a 1915 contest.

  • San Francisco Giants LF Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) went 4-for-4 against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 1977 outing.

  • Los Angeles Dodgers C Joe Ferguson (hooper in 1967 NCAA playoffs with Pacific) launched two homers against the Montreal Expos in a 1980 game.

  • LHP Mike Flanagan (averaged 13.9 ppg for Massachusetts' 15-1 freshman 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.

  • Minnesota Twins rookie RHP Bob Gebhard (Iowa backup hooper during first half of 1960s) posted his lone MLB victory when hurling two innings of relief against the Chicago White Sox in 1971.

  • 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.

  • St. Louis Cardinals RHP Bob Gibson (first Creighton hooper to average more than 20 ppg in career with 20.2 from 1954-55 through 1956-57) belted his second homer of the month in 1965.

  • Dallas Green (Delaware's second-leading scorer and rebounder in 1954-55) named Philadelphia Phillies manager in 1979.

  • In 1934, St. Louis Browns C Frank Grube (Lafayette starting hoops guard as senior in 1926-27) closed out the month with his seventh multiple-hit contest in an eight-game span.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) swatted four homers, accounting for nine RBI, in a 19-3 romp over the Boston Braves in 1950. Seven years later, Hodges homered in his fifth of final six games of the month in 1957.

  • 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.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates LHP Herb Kelly (hooper for Notre Dame from 1911-12 through 1913-14) notched his lone MLB victory (against Brooklyn Robins in 1915).

  • Chicago White Sox rookie RHP Vern Kennedy (Central Missouri State hooper in mid-1920s) twirled a no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians in 1935.

  • Chicago Cubs 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) collected five hits against the Montreal Expos in the opener of a 1971 doubleheader.

  • Philadelphia Phillies RHP Jim Konstanty (member of 1937-38 and 1938-39 Syracuse hoop teams) hurled a three-hit shutout against the Boston Braves in the nightcap of a 1952 twinbill.

  • LHP 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 freshman in 1964-65 and 12.1 as sophomore in 1965-66 before transferring with his coach to Washburn KS where he was All-CIC selection for 1968 NAIA Tournament team) shipped by the Oakland Athletics to the Chicago Cubs in 1984 to complete an earlier deal.

  • Chicago White Sox RHP 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 a career-high 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 RF 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 the midst of a career-high 12-game hitting streak, Chicago White Sox rookie 2B Ray Morehart (Austin College TX hoops letterman in early 1920s) went 9-for-10 with eight RBI in a 1926 doubleheader split against the Detroit Tigers.

  • In 1930, Cleveland Indians 1B Ed Morgan (Tulane hoops 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 Louisiana State's backcourt with All-American Chris Jackson for 1989 NCAA playoff team) went 4-for-4 against the Detroit Tigers in a 1995 contest. Six years later, Mouton 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.

  • Chicago Cubs RF Bill Nicholson (hoops guard for Washington College MD two years in mid-1930s) had his 21-game hitting streak snapped by the Cincinnati Reds in 1943.

  • OF Irv Noren (hooper 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. Two years earlier with the New York Yankees, Noren went 3-for-3 and scored four runs against the Athletics in a 1955 contest.

  • Chicago White Sox LHP Gary Peters (Grove City PA hooper in mid-1950s) allowed fewer than three runs in his eighth straight start en route to pacing the A.L. with a 1.98 ERA in 1966.

  • INF-OF Tony Phillips (New Mexico Military juco hooper in 1977-78 as teammate of eventual Drake All-American Lewis Lloyd) traded by the Montreal Expos with cash to the San Diego Padres in 1980.

  • LHP 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.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers LHP Joe Shaute (hooper for Mansfield PA in early 1920s) secured his third save in a five-days span in 1932.

  • RHP 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.

  • Philadelphia Phillies 3B Jim Tabor (Alabama hoops letterman in 1936-37) provided three extra-base hits and five RBI against the Boston Braves in the opener of a 1946 twinbill.

  • DH Jim Thome (juco hooper for Illinois Central in 1988-89) traded by the Chicago White Sox with cash to Los Angeles Dodgers in 2009.

  • New York Yankees LHP Ed Wells (multi-sport athlete graduated in 1924 from Bethany WV) hurled a one-hit shutout against the Washington Senators in the opener of a 1929 doubleheader.

  • Boston Red Sox rookie 3B Billy Werber (first Duke hoops All-American in 1929-30) knocked in five runs against the New York Yankees in a 1933 outing.

  • Chicago Cubs RF Bob Will (all-league athlete was hoops captain for Mankato State MN in 1954-55) contributed two safeties in both ends of a 1960 twinbill against the Milwaukee Braves. He had 11 multiple-hit games during the month.

  • 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.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Providing MLB Headlines on August 30

Extra! Extra! Instead of mocking wretched watch-checking Plagiarist Biledumb, although hideous Hunter's enabling daddy wasn't totally undignified a couple of years ago disrespecting grieving parents by inquiring whether "son always had balls size of cue balls" comparable to what Sleepy and Creepy Joe callously remarked at Dover AFB more than 10 years ago when flag-draped coffin of deceased Navy SEAL returned from U.S. consulate in Benghazi, you can read news about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former Santa Clara hoop guards Tim Cullen and Randy Winn made significant MLB news on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 30 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 30

  • Texas Rangers RF Larry Biittner (runner-up in basketball scoring and rebounding in 1966-67 for Buena Vista IA) banged out four hits against the Minnesota Twins in a 1973 game.

  • Philadelphia Athletics SS John Chapman (multiple-season hooper for Mount St. Mary's) chipped in with a career-high three hits against the Boston Red Sox in opener of 1924 doubleheader.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers RHP Jack Coombs (captain and starting hoops center for Colby ME) announced his retirement following a 1-0 setback against the New York Giants in game lasting only 57 minutes.

  • 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 (Iowa hooper in 1949-50) socked one of the Milwaukee Braves' eight homers in a 19-4 romp over the Pittsburgh Pirates in opener of 1953 doubleheader.

  • Boston Red Sox 2B Denny Doyle (averaged 2.7 ppg for Morehead State in 1962-63) went 4-for-4 against the Oakland Athletics in a 1977 outing.

  • Detroit Tigers 1B 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 California Angels.

  • St. Louis Cardinals 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) provided four hits against the New York Giants in a 1933 contest.

  • New York Yankees C Mike Garbark (hoops letterman for Villanova's 25-5 squad in 1937-38 under coach Alex Severance) furnished four hits in a 9-7 win against the Boston Red Sox in 1944.

  • 2B Tommy Herr (hooper with Delaware's freshman team in 1974-75) traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to New York Mets in 1990.

  • Boston Braves rookie 3B Fritz Knothe (member of Penn's freshman hoops squad in 1923-24) went 4-for-6 and scored four runs in 1932 doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

  • Milwaukee Braves SS Johnny Logan (Binghamton hooper in 1948-49) homered in both ends of a 1953 doubleheader sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

  • INF Tim Nordbrook (hoops letterman for Loyola LA in 1968-69) purchased from the Chicago White Sox by the Toronto Blue Jays in 1977.

  • In 1953, Pittsburgh Pirates rookie 2B Johnny O'Brien (consensus All-American second-team choice as junior and consensus first-team selection as senior averaged 25.8 ppg for Seattle from 1950-51 through 1952-53) supplied three contests with three hits and chipped in with a four-RBI outing in his last seven games of the month.

  • New York Yankees LF Lou Piniella (averaged 2.5 ppg and 1.4 rpg with Tampa as freshman in 1961-62) provided at least three safeties for fifth time in 10-day span in 1980, raising his batting average 40 points to .304.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates RF Dave Robertson (one of two reserves on North Carolina State's first basketball team in 1911) hit for the cycle in 1921 game against the Brooklyn Robins.

  • Cleveland Indians LHP Joe Shaute (hooper for Mansfield PA in early 1920s) became first A.L. hurler to reach 20-win plateau in 1924 by registering his eighth triumph in a little more than one month.

  • Montreal Expos RF Ken Singleton (Hofstra freshman hoops team in mid-1960s) went 4-for-4 and scored four runs against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1974 outing.

  • St. Louis Cardinals RHP Lee Smith (averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg with Northwestern State in 1976-77) posted his 12th save of the month in 1992.

  • Cleveland Indians 3B Jim Thome (juco hooper for Illinois Central in 1988-89) smacked a homer in his fourth consecutive contest in 1996.

  • Bill Virdon (Drury MO hooper in 1949) fired as Montreal Expos manager in 1984.

  • San Francisco Giants RF Randy Winn (Santa Clara backcourtmate of eventual two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash in 1993-94) homered from both sides of the plate in a 2008 game against the Cincinnati Reds.

  • Detroit Tigers 3B Eddie Yost (NYU freshman hooper in 1943-44 under coach Howard Cann) drew four walks in a game for second time this month en route to A.L.-leading 135 bases on balls in 1959.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Providing MLB Headlines on August 29

Extra! Extra! Instead of debating whether petty political blame-thrower Plagiarist Biledumb should have abandoned Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan without informing new commander pre-Kabul evacuation (setting stage for Middle East Christian Genocide II comparable to what hair sniffer helped preside over in 2011 in conjunction with #AudacityofHype Barry Hussein Obama), you can read news about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former Big Ten Conference hoopers Hoot Evers (Illinois), Frank Howard (Ohio State), Don Lund (Michigan) and Robin Roberts (Michigan State) supplied significant MLB performances on this date. Ditto ex-NYU hoopers Hank Greenberg and Eddie Yost with outstanding offensive outputs in the American League. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 29 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 29

  • In 1959, Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) homered in his third consecutive contest for the second time this month.

  • Cincinnati Reds rookie CF Ethan Allen (Cincinnati hoops letterman in 1924-25 and 1925-26) amassed four hits and scored three runs in a 6-5 win against the Boston Braves in nightcap of a 1927 doubleheader.

  • St. Louis Browns RHP Elden Auker (All-Big Six Conference first-five selection with Kansas State in 1931-32) notched his fourth consecutive complete-game triumph the last half of month in 1941.

  • In midst of winning 10 straight decisions in 1991, San Diego Padres RHP Andy Benes (joined Evansville's shorthanded basketball squad in 1985-86 under coach Jim Crews) hurled a two-hit shutout against the St. Louis Cardinals.

  • Detroit Tigers CF Hoot Evers (Illinois hoops starter in 1939-40) contributed four hits against the New York Yankees in nightcap of a 1948 twinbill.

  • RHP Eddie Fisher (played for Oklahoma's 1954-55 freshman hoops squad) purchased from the Chicago White Sox by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1973.

  • Detroit Tigers LF Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoops scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) supplied four hits against the Washington Senators in opener of a 1940 doubleheader.

  • Atlanta Braves RHP Kevin Gryboski (backup hooper for Wilkes PA in 1991-92 and 1992-93) secured his 15th straight scoreless relief appearance in 2004.

  • In 1951, New York Giants RHP Jim Hearn (Georgia Tech hoops letterman in 1941-42) defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates for eighth straight time.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and 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.

  • Washington Senators LF Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection when leading Ohio State in scoring and rebounding in 1956-57 and 1957-58) smacked three extra-base hits against the Kansas City Royals in a 1970 game.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates pinch-runner Mel Ingram (three-year hoops letterman with Gonzaga in second half of 1920s) scored game-tying run in bottom of eighth inning in a 7-6 win against the Chicago Cubs in nightcap of 1929 twinbill.

  • Boston Red Sox LHP Vic Johnson (Wisconsin-Eau Claire hoops letterman in 1942-43) tossed a four-hit shutout against the New York Yankees in 1945.

  • Atlanta Braves RF David Justice (Thomas More KY assists leader in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg) jacked two homers against the Houston Astros in a 1995 contest.

  • New York Mets RHP Cal Koonce (Campbell hoops standout in 1960 and 1961 when North Carolina-based school was junior college) hurled a five-hit shutout against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1967.

  • Kansas City Athletics 2B Jerry Lumpe (member of Southwest Missouri State's 1952 NAIA Tournament championship hoops team) went 4-for-4 against the Boston Red Sox in a 1961 outing.

  • St. Louis Browns RF Don Lund (Michigan hoops starter in 1943-44 and 1944-45) registered five RBI in a 12-4 win against the Boston Red Sox in the nightcap of a 1948 doubleheader.

  • Chicago White Sox rookie LHP Gary Peters (Grove City PA hooper in mid-1950s) won his 11th straight decision in 1963.

  • Boston Red Sox 3B Pinky Pittenger (set Toledo's single-game scoring standard with 49 points in 1918-19) went 4-for-4 against the Philadelphia Athletics in a 1922 game.

  • In 1966, Chicago Cubs RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) registered the final of his 286 triumphs during 19-year Hall of Fame career. Extra-winning relief win enabled him to become the only hurler in MLB history to defeat the Braves franchise when it was based in Boston, Milwaukee and Atlanta.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers 2B 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 twinbill.

  • New York Yankees LHP Marius Russo (member of LIU teams compiling 50-2 record in 1934-35 and 1935-36 under legendary coach Clair Bee) registered his fifth complete-game victory of the month in 1940.

  • RHP Bill Sampen (MacMurray IL MVP in 1984-85 when averaging team-high 14.9 ppg) traded by the Montreal Expos to Kansas City Royals in 1992.

  • New York Giants RHP Hal Schumacher (multiple-sport athlete for St. Lawrence NY in early 1930s) fired his second three-hit shutout in just over a month in 1942.

  • Montreal Expos LF Ken Singleton (Hofstra freshman hoops team in mid-1960s) socked two homers against the Atlanta Braves in a 1972 contest.

  • Chicago Cubs RHP Lee Smith (averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg for Northwestern State in 1976-77) notched a perfect three-inning save against the Atlanta Braves in 1983.

  • Chicago Cubs rookie 2B Jimmy Stewart (two-time All-VSAC hoops selection was Austin Peay's third-leading scorer in 1959-60 and 1960-61 when participating in NCAA DII Tournament) supplied back-to-back games with three hits against the New York Mets in 1964.

  • San Diego Padres CF 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.

  • St. Louis Cardinals RHP Ray Washburn (Whitworth WA scoring leader when All-Evergreen Conference selection in 1958-59 and 1959-60) tossed a shutout against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1968 after hurling two 10-inning no-decisions yielding no earned runs earlier in the month.

  • Detroit Tigers LHP Ed Wells (multi-sport athlete graduated in 1924 from Bethany WV) won his fifth straight decision of the month in 1925.

  • Washington Senators 3B Eddie Yost (NYU freshman hooper in 1943-44 under coach Howard Cann) went 4-for-4 against the Chicago White Sox in a 1951 game. He went 17-for-35 (.486) the final eight contests of month. Two years later, Yost notched three hits in his third straight outing against the Detroit Tigers in 1953.

Smashing Success: Ex-College Hoopers Making Transition to Tennis Court

A theory in some esteemed quarters believes basketball players are the most versatile team-sport athletes in the world. Tennis is also a sport demanding an abundance of speed, strength, stamina, coordination, quickness, jumping ability, timing, guile and creativity. When losing, let's hope they exhibit a mite more touch of court-ship than Her Smugness "Subway" Serena. As the 2023 U.S. Open gets serious in Flushing Meadows, N.Y., with many fans coming from crime-ridden subway system, it's time to evaluate the following alphabetical list of tennis standouts who also displayed their athletic prowess in college basketball:

NED CASWELL, Furman
Southern Conference tennis MVP in 1987 when he was an NCAA Championships quarterfinalist. He was a Top 225 Player in the World in 1989. Coached Anderson College's NJCAA national title in 1992. . . . Assists leader on the Paladins' 1984-85 basketball squad with 3.4 apg.

BRANDON "DON" COLEMAN, Lamar Tech
Led college to three consecutive Lone Star Conference singles titles from 1952 through 1954 before winning the NAIA doubles crown in 1955. . . . Played hoops for two years with the Cardinals. Enjoyed long tenure as high school basketball coach in Texas, posting 893 victories.

KES DEIMLING JR., Duke
Captain of 1952 tennis team defeating defeating North Carolina to capture Southern Conference championship. The next year, he was part of league's doubles titlist. . . . Teammate of All-American Dick Groat averaged 4.9 ppg in 1950-51 and 1951-52.

LESLIE "CHUCK" DeVOE, Princeton
Co-founder of ABA's Indiana Pacers also was a prominent tennis player. After never losing a singles or doubles match in three years of varsity tennis, he played in two U.S. Nationals (now called U.S. Open) in the early 1950s. DeVoe's most impressive tennis moment came when he entered the 1966 Western Tennis Championship in Indianapolis as a 36-year-old businessman. His first-round victim was 21-year-old Puerto Rican phenom Charles Pasarell (just back from reaching Wimbledon quarterfinals) as DeVoe won in two sets (6-2, 9-7). Holder of 11 Indiana state open singles titles and later of numerous national seniors crowns. His brother, Stephen, is a former director of professional tennis for the U.S. Tennis Association and tournament director for the U.S. Open. . . . DeVoe averaged 10 ppg from 1949-50 through 1951-52. Senior captain and All-EIBL first-team selection of NCAA tourney team scored game-high 23 points in East Regional setback against Duquesne.

KEN DILL, Delaware
Led tennis team to a four-year dual mark of 50-12 and runner-up finish at the 1979 ECC championships. Two-time team MVP compiled a career singles record of 51-14 and remains the only tennis player in school history to win three league titles as he captured the 1981 ECC doubles crown and both the ECC singles and doubles titles in 1982. . . . Averaged 7.2 ppg, 1.8 rpg and 2.4 apg from 1979-80 through 1981-82. He was runner-up for the Blue Hens in assists in 1980-81 with 4.3 apg.

MIKE EIKENBERRY, Virginia
Three-year tennis letterman was an All-ACC selection as senior in 1969 before becoming President of the U.S. Professional Tennis Association from 1984 to 1986. . . . Averaged 3.1 ppg and 2.1 rpg for the Cavaliers' hoop squad in 1967-68.

TARIK EL-BASSIOUNI, Miami (Fla.)
He was in regular rotation of Top 40-ranked tennis team in 2002, winning decisive match in back-to-back days in late March. His father, Hossan, was a member of the 1968 Egyptian Olympic Team as a water polo player. . . . El-Bassiouni collected 10 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in nine basketball games in 1999-00 under coach Leonard Hamilton, playing briefly in South Regional semifinal setback against Tulsa.

JIM FLYNN, Portland
Number one player as a freshman and part of UP's tennis team posting 79 consecutive wins in the mid-1950s. . . . Averaged 2.2 ppg and 1.7 rpg in 1953-54 and 1954-55.

RICH GUGAT, UCLA/San Jose State
Tennis letterman with legendary teammate Arthur Ashe. . . . Member of 1962 Final Four team coached by John Wooden before transferring to SJSU, where he averaged 3.4 ppg and 2 rpg in 1963-64.

TECUMSEH "TEE" HOOPER, The Citadel
Won five Southern Conference tennis crowns (two singles, three doubles). . . . All-Southern Conference second-team selection as a senior forward in 1968-69 when he averaged 17.4 ppg and 8.7 rpg.

ROBERT "BOBBY" JAKE, Northwestern/Vermont
Big Ten Conference singles and doubles champion in 1946. . . . NU hoops letterman in 1942 and 1943 before serving in U.S. Army Air Corps during WWII. He played for Vermont in 1947 before becoming 16th selection overall in BAA draft.

C. "RON" LIVINGSTON, UCLA
Helped the Bruins' tennis squad win PCC titles from 1952 through 1954. Joined fellow team co-captain Bob Perry to capture the NCAA doubles crown in 1954. . . . Led UCLA in scoring in two seasons under coach John Wooden. All-PCC South Division first-team selection in hoops as a senior.

JOHN LUCAS JR., Maryland
Twice won ACC #1 singles championship (1974 and 1976). "When I finished college, I didn't know if I could make more money playing tennis or basketball," Lucas told SI. Played World Team Tennis with the Golden Gaters and New Orleans Nets in 1977 and 1978. . . . NCAA consensus first-team hoops All-American as a junior and senior averaged 18.3 ppg and 4.7 apg from 1972-73 through 1975-76. First pick overall in 1976 NBA draft.

DENNIS LYNCH SR., Yale
Captain of 1964 Yale tennis team and Yale-Harvard squad playing Oxford-Cambridge in the Prentice Cup Matches that year. Longtime singles and doubles champion of the Seabright Lawn Tennis & Cricket Club, the Asbury Park Press voted him second-best player in the history of Jersey Shore tennis in 2000. VP at Smith, Barney & Co. before co-founding Lynch & Mayer, a large-cap investment advisory group which had approximately $6 billion in assets in 1996. . . . All-Ivy League second-team basketball selection in 1962-63 and 1963-64 averaged 13.1 ppg and 4.1 rpg in three-year varsity career under coach Joe Vancisin. Lynch scored 12 points in an overtime setback against Final Four-bound Wake Forest in 1962 East Regional.

CLIF MAYNE, California
Won the NCAA doubles title in 1952 before finishing national runner-up in doubles in 1953. . . . Mayne collected 16 points and 15 rebounds in 25 games in 1953-54 and 1954-55 under coaches Nibs Price and Pete Newell.

MERLE OGLE, Northern Colorado
Tennis team captain as sophomore/junior/senior, losing only one match during those years as two-time RMC singles' champion. . . . Led basketball squad in scoring as a senior, earning second-team all-league acclaim.

JOHN POWLESS, Murray State
He has been ranked No. 1 in the world in singles and doubles for senior men 55 and older, and served six seasons as captain and coach of the U.S. Junior Davis Cup team. Undefeated in three years of varsity tennis competition and won three Ohio Valley Conference singles and doubles titles. . . . The 6-5, 195-pound forward averaged 6.9 ppg and 5.7 rpg in 81 varsity games in four seasons from 1953-54 through 1956-57. Powless was Wisconsin's head basketball coach for eight seasons from 1968-69 through 1975-76.

DICK RAZZETTI, Georgetown
Competed in the U.S. Open in 1959 and was ranked nationally by the U.S. Tennis Association. Compiled a 17-1 record over his three-year college tennis career. . . . Averaged 1.2 ppg in 11 basketball games for the Hoyas in 1957-58 and 1958-59.

JOHN and RUPE RICKSEN, California
Twins were NCAA quarterfinalists in singles - Rupe in 1951 and John in 1953. As a doubles teandem, they reached the NCAA semifinals in 1951 and the quarters in 1952 and 1953. . . . John (8.8) and Rupe (5.6) combined for 14.4 ppg from 1950-51 through 1952-53. John was a first-team all-conference selection as a senior.

MARTY RIESSEN, Northwestern
Nine times ranked among the top 10 men's singles tennis players in the U.S. Member of five U.S. Davis Cup teams (1963, 1965, 1967, 1973, 1981). . . . A 6-1, 170-pound guard, he averaged 6.5 ppg for Northwestern from 1961-62 through 1963-64. Sketch in school guide: "Reputation as a rugged, poised performer. Cool head makes him a logical floor leader."

OLIVER "BO" RODDEY, Davidson
The Charlotte pediatrician is possibly the greatest tennis player in Davidson history. He played No. 1 four years, and in 1950 as a senior was the Southern Conference singles and doubles champion. His doubles teammate was Whit Cobb, a four-year starter in basketball. In 1975, Roddey became one of the original members of the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame. The first native North Carolinian to be chosen for the Junior Davis Cup team dominated tennis in the state from 1946 until 1952 and was ranked No. 1 in the South. . . . Roddey scored 73 points from 1947-48 through 1949-50.

DICK SAVITT, Cornell
In 1951, at the age of 24, self-taught tennis player won both the Australian and Wimbledon men's singles championships. Americans legends Jimmy Connors (1974) and Pete Sampras (1994 and 1997) subsequently achieved the feat. Ranked as high as #2 in the world in 1951. Two-time EIBL singles champion (1949 and 1950) won gold medals in both singles and men's doubles at the 1961 Maccabiah Games in Israel. . . . Following a brief stint in the Navy, he enrolled at Cornell in 1946 before two injuries, one of a knee, curtailed his hoops career. Tennis did not aggravate his knee as much.

VIC SEIXAS, North Carolina
Member of Tennis Hall of Fame was Wimbledon champion in 1953. Ranked No. 1 in the U.S. in 1951, 1954 and 1957. Member of U.S. Davis Cup team from 1951 through 1957 shared French and Australian doubles titles with Tony Trabert in 1953. . . . Scored six points in one basketball game for the Tar Heels in 1946-47.

S.L. SHOFNER, Central Oklahoma
Capped his college tennis career with a 22-2 senior season in 1954 that included the NAIA national singles championship. . . . Member of three OIC titlists averaged 16.8 ppg as a sophomore and 20.2 ppg as a senior.

TONY TRABERT, Cincinnati
Member of International Tennis Hall of Fame won NCAA singles title in 1951 before winning singles titles in French (1954 and 1955), United States (1955) and Wimbledon (1955) tournaments. Ranked the No. 1 men's player in the world by the London Daily Telegraph in 1953 and 1955. . . . Played two seasons of varsity basketball for the Bearcats in a college career interrupted by military service. Averaged 6.9 points in 22 games in 1950-51 and scored 11 points in four games in 1953-54. Starting guard as a 6-0 sophomore for the '51 team that played in the NIT and had an 18-4 record. Sketch in school guide: "Great surprise in early basketball drills. His improvement has been rapid and he should be a great help to the club."

MARTY WOLF, Xavier
Held school tennis record for most victories with 100 for decades. . . . Averaged 4.4 ppg and 1.8 rpg for the Muskeeters from 1975-76 through 1977-78.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Providing MLB Headlines on August 28

Extra! Extra! Instead of debating whether Plagiarist Biledumb's brain and soul boast cognitive bandwidth of a fungus gnat while hideous Hunter's burner-phone daddy spews the "semi-f-word" amid treating U.S. treasure and personnel trashy comparable to his sordid sin(atorial) spree taunting Tara Reade like "Tally-bon" sex slave long before shunning granddaughter Navy from rural Arkansas, you can read news about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former college hoopers Jerad Head (Washburn KS), Thornton Lee (Cal Poly), Dutch Levsen (Iowa State), Kenny Lofton (Arizona) and Jim Thome (Illinois Central) supplied significant performances on this date with the Cleveland Indians (now Guardians because of progressive puke word police). Ditto ex-hoopers Walt French (Rutgers/Army), Rollie Sheldon (Connecticut) and Norm Siebern (Southwest Missouri) for the Philadelphia/Kansas City Athletics. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 28 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 28

  • Seattle Mariners RF Mickey Brantley (averaged 10 ppg, 6.8 rpg and 5.4 apg for Columbia-Greene Community College SC in 1979-80) went 3-for-4 with four RBI in a 10-4 triumph against the New York Yankees in 1987.

  • New York Yankees 1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in Western Athletic Conference basketball games in 1991-92 after transferring from Arizona) slugged three homers in an 18-6 trouncing of the Toronto Blue Jays in 2004.

  • New York Giants SS Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for Louisiana State and Southwestern Louisiana in mid-1940s) provided three hits for the third straight outing in a series against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1952.

  • St. Louis Browns 3B Frank Ellerbe (Wofford hooper after transferring from Sewanee TN) completed a three-game series going 9-for-15 against the Philadelphia Athletics in 1921.

  • In 1927, Philadelphia Athletics RF Walt French (hoops letterman for Rutgers and Army) furnished his fourth three-hit game in an eight-day span.

  • Boston Red Sox LF Dick Gernert (Temple letterman in 1948-49 when averaging 2.7 ppg) delivered a walk-off, two-run homer in the 10th inning of a 6-4 win against the Baltimore Orioles in 1959.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates 3B Lee Handley (Bradley hoops letterman from 1932-33 through 1934-35) provided four hits, including a two-run safety in the ninth inning, in a 3-2 victory against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1941.

  • Boston Braves 1B Buddy Hassett (hooper for Manhattan teams winning school-record 17 consecutive contests in 1930 and 1931) banged out four hits in a 10-5 triumph against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1939.

  • Cleveland Indians LF Jerad Head (Washburn KS leader in assists and three-field field-goal shooting in 2004-05 for MIAA regular-season co-champion) singled in his first MLB plate appearance in a 2011 game against the Kansas City Royals.

  • Chicago White Sox RHP Bart Johnson (averaged 30.5 ppg for Brigham Young's freshman squad in 1967-68) hurled his second of back-to-back shutouts at end of month in 1974.

  • Cleveland Indians LHP Thornton Lee (Cal Poly hooper in 1925-26) tossed his first of 14 MLB career shutouts (four-hitter against the Boston Red Sox in opener of 1935 twinbill). Six years later with the Chicago White Sox, Lee's four-hit whitewash against the Washington Senators was his fifth complete-game victory of the month.

  • Cleveland Indians RHP Dutch Levsen (Iowa State hoops letterman in 1918-19) became the last MLB hurler to register a complete-game win in both ends of a doubleheader with a pair of four-hitters against the Boston Red Sox in 1926.

  • Cleveland Indians CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) went 4-for-4 against the Toronto Blue Jays in a 1995 contest.

  • Chicago Cubs RF Bill Nicholson (hoops guard for Washington College MD two years in mid-1930s) belted two homers against the Brooklyn Dodgers in a 1947 game.

  • Detroit Tigers RF Jim Northrup (second-leading scorer and third-leading rebounder for Alma MI in 1958-59) went 6-for-6 with two homers against the Oakland A's in 1969. Northrup's 13th-inning blast over the roof won the game, 5-3.

  • Texas Rangers LHP Dave Rajsich (juco hooper for Phoenix College AZ in early 1970s) hurled 8 2/3 innings of one-run relief of Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins in a 10-6 win against the Kansas City Royals in 1980.

  • Washington Senators LHP Denny Riddleberger (averaged 5.7 ppg and 2.5 rpg for Old Dominion in 1965-66) yielded his only earned run in a 15-game span of relief appearances during the 1971 campaign.

  • RHP Jeff Shaw (freshman guard for Rio Grande OH hoops squad compiling 31-5 record and reaching second round of 1985 NAIA Tournament) traded by the Montreal Expos to the Chicago White Sox in 1995.

  • In 1965, Kansas City Athletics RHP Rollie Sheldon (third-leading scorer as sophomore for Connecticut's 1960 NCAA Tournament team) hurled a three-hit shutout against his original team (New York Yankees).

  • Kansas City Athletics 1B Norm Siebern (member of Southwest Missouri squads capturing back-to-back NAIA Tournament hoop titles in 1952 and 1953) homered twice and drove in five runs against the Los Angeles Angels in a 1962 contest.

  • Boston Red Sox C Birdie Tebbetts (Providence hooper in 1932) registered his eighth multiple-hit outing in a 14-game span in 1947.

  • Cleveland Indians 1B Jim Thome (juco hooper for Illinois Central in 1988-89) went 3-for-3 (double and two homers) in a 2002 tilt against the Detroit Tigers.

  • Los Angeles Angels LF Leon Wagner (Tuskegee AL hooper in 1952-53) homered twice in 1962 game against the Kansas City Athletics.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Providing MLB Headlines on August 27

Extra! Extra! Instead of wondering why petty Plagiarist Biledumb attacks Republican governors in Florida and Texas plus in excess of 70 million MAGA voters more than Navy's loving Grandpa ("Mr. Clarity") does "Tally-bon" knocking-on-your-door thugs who must be arranging for Afghani girls to have hair sniffed by squinting stranderer-in-chief in exchange for dolt incompetently creating "Kabul Kill Zone" and inexplicably giving barbarians a biometric hit list, you can read news about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Several former hoopers from small colleges in Pennsylvania - Christy Mathewson (Bucknell), Jack Ogden (Swarthmore) and Gary Peters (Grove City) - made MLB news on this date. Ditto three ex-hoopers from universities in Louisiana - Joe Adcock (LSU), Zeke Bonura (Loyola) and Lee Smith (Northwestern State). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 27 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 27

  • In 1964, California Angels 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) became the 23rd player to reach 300-homer plateau when he went yard by connecting at Kansas City.

  • Philadelphia Athletics LHP Stan Baumgartner (hooper for Big Ten Conference champion for University of Chicago in 1914) posted his third straight complete-game victory closing out the month in 1924.

  • Washington Senators 1B Zeke Bonura (best basketball forward for Loyola LA in late 1920s and early 1930s) banged out four hits for the third time in an eight-game span in 1938.

  • Starting on two days rest, Brooklyn Dodgers RHP 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.

  • Montreal Expos RHP Ray Burris (two-sport standout in Southwestern Oklahoma State Hall of Fame) surrendered only one hit in eight innings against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1981 outing.

  • St. Louis Cardinals RHP Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer and rebounder in 1955-56 and 1956-57) won all six starts during the month in 1970 en route to an N.L.-leading 23 triumphs.

  • Chicago Cubs 1B Harvey Hendrick (Vanderbilt hoops letterman in 1918) went 4-for-4 in a 2-0 win against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1933.

  • In his second MLB start, Brooklyn Dodgers LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman hoops squad in 1953-54) fanned 14 Cincinnati Reds in a 7-0 two-hit shutout in 1955.

  • Hall of Fame RHP Christy Mathewson (Bucknell hooper 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.

  • Philadelphia Phillies RF Bake McBride (averaged 12.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg in 21 games with Westminster MO in 1968-69 and 1969-70) banged out four hits and scored four runs against the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 1978 game.

  • St. Louis Browns rookie RHP Jack Ogden (Swarthmore PA hooper in 1918), posting his third straight complete-game victory, hurled a four-hit shutout against the Boston Red Sox in the nightcap of a 1928 twinbill.

  • Chicago White Sox LHP Gary Peters (Grove City PA hooper in mid-1950s) hurled an 11-inning shutout against the Boston Red Sox in the nightcap of a 1967 doubleheader.

  • St. Louis Browns RHP Bob Poser (Wisconsin hoops letterman from 1929-30 through 1931-32) posted his lone MLB victory (against Washington Senators in opener of 1935 twinbill).

  • Detroit Tigers rookie 3B Nolen Richardson (Georgia hoops captain in 1925-26 as member of All-Southern Conference Tournament team) went 3-for-3 in a 9-4 win against the Chicago White Sox in 1931.

  • RF Leon Roberts (grabbed one rebound in four basketball games for Michigan in 1970-71 under coach Johnny Orr) knocked in the Texas Rangers' last four runs with a double and homer in 5-1 win against the Milwaukee Brewers in 1981.

  • Baltimore Orioles DH Ken Singleton (Hofstra freshman hoops team in mid-1960s) homered in both ends of a 1982 doubleheader against the Texas Rangers.

  • St. Louis Cardinals RHP Lee Smith (averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg with Northwestern State in 1976-77) logged a save in his ninth consecutive contest in 1991.

  • Pinch-hitter Jimmy Stewart (All-Volunteer State Athletic Conference hoops 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.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Kent Tekulve (freshman hooper for Marietta OH in mid-1960s) tallied eighth save in last 10 relief appearances of the month in 1978.

  • New York Yankees RHP Ralph Terry (juco hooper averaged 22 ppg for Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in mid-1950s) tossed his third shutout with at least nine strikeouts during 1962 campaign en route to leading A.L. with 23 victories.

  • Cleveland Indians 3B Jim Thome (juco hooper for Illinois Central in 1988-89) contributed three extra-base hits (two doubles and one homer) in a 1993 game against the New York Yankees.

  • After replacing Joe Torre as catcher, Sammy White (All-PCC Northern Division first-five selection for Washington in 1947-48 and 1948-49) supplied an RBI double in the 12th inning to give the Milwaukee Braves an 11-10 triumph against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1961 contest.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Providing MLB Headlines on August 26

Extra! Extra! Instead of debating two years later whether surrender-in-chief Plagiarist Biledumb's depraved "Come on, man!" decisions did indeed leave U.S. citizens/allies stranded in terrorist-controlled foreign nation and build the "Tally-bon" Back Better (Not America), you can read news about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former college hoopers Alvin Dark (Louisiana State/Louisiana-Lafayette) and Danny Litwhiler (Bloomsburg PA) each went 5-for-5 in a National League game on this date. Ex-LA cagers joining Dark in making MLB news on this date were Zeke Bonura (Loyola New Orleans) and Cecil Upshaw (Centenary). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 26 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 26

  • St. Louis Browns RF Ethan Allen (Cincinnati basketball letterman in 1924-25 and 1925-26) went 4-for-4 against the New York Yankees in a 1937 game.

  • Chicago White Sox 1B Zeke Bonura (best basketball forward for Loyola LA in late 1920s and early 1930s) belted two homers in a 6-3 win against the Philadelphia Athletics in 1936.

  • 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.

  • Washington Senators RHP Casey Cox (juco recruit averaged 1.7 ppg and 1.2 rpg for Cal State Los Angeles in 1961-62) earned his seventh victory in relief in a span of 2 1/2 months in 1967.

  • New York Giants SS Alvin Dark (letterman for Louisiana State and Southwestern Louisiana in mid-1940s) went 5-for-5 with five RBI in a 1953 outing against the St. Louis Cardinals.

  • Boston Red Sox RHP Boo Ferriss (Mississippi State hoops 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 1945 doubleheader.

  • Dallas Green (Delaware's second-leading scorer and rebounder in 1954-55) fired as New York Mets manager in 1996.

  • Cleveland Indians DH David Justice (Thomas More KY assists leader in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg) homered in his fourth consecutive contest in 1997.

  • Philadelphia Phillies LF Danny Litwhiler (member of JV hoops squad with Bloomsburg PA in mid-1930s) went 5-for-5 against the Chicago Cubs in the opener of a 1942 doubleheader.

  • Cleveland Indians CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) logged four hits and four RBI against the Seattle Mariners in a 2001 game.

  • New York Giants RHP Christy Mathewson (Bucknell hooper 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 Texas Rangers).

  • St. Louis Cardinals LF Don Padgett (freshman in 1934 with Lenoir-Rhyne NC excelled in multiple sports) provided three hits against the Brooklyn Dodgers in both ends of a 1941 doubleheader split.

  • LHP 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 RHP 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 Hall of Fame LHP Whitey Ford, 2-1, in 1962.

  • Atlanta Braves rookie RHP Cecil Upshaw (Centenary's leading scorer as junior in 1962-63) allowed his only run in a span of 11 relief appearances covering 15 innings in 1967.

  • In 1939, Cincinnati Reds 3B Billy Werber (first Duke hoops All-American in 1929-30) became the initial player to bat in a televised major league game (against Brooklyn Dodgers).

  • Boston Red Sox rookie C Sammy White (All-PCC Northern Division first-five selection for Washington in 1947-48 and 1948-49) knocked in five runs against the Detroit Tigers in a 1952 contest.

  • St. Louis Cardinals RF Randy Winn (Santa Clara backcourtmate of eventual two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash in 1993-94) registered four hits and three RBI against the Washington Nationals in a 2010 outing.

  • Washington Senators LHP Tom Zachary (Guilford NC hoops letterman in 1916) yielded 20 hits in 12 innings of a 5-4 defeat against the Detroit Tigers in 1923.

Gross Negligence: Luminaries Never Earning Status as National Coach of Year

"It is better to be looked over than overlooked." - Mae West

Which prominent coaches never earned acclaim as national coach of the year by a major award (AP/NABC/Naismith/USBWA)? A year ago, Pete Carril passed away but he isn't the only prominent mentor nationally shunned by the voting class. Maryland named its court after Gary Williams, the school's all-time winningest coach who guided the Terrapins to the 2002 NCAA title during a span when he became the only mentor ever to defeat the nation's top-ranked team in four straight seasons (2000-01 through 2003-04). Surprisingly, Williams never was courted as national coach of the year by one of the major awards, joining other NCAA championship coaches such as Denny Crum, Billy Donovan, Joe B. Hall, Don Haskins, Rollie Massimino and Jim Valvano "shorted" by this dubious distinction.

Does this blemish exist because of smug power-league coaches or is the media more of a mess than even its fiercest critics believe? A stunning total of individuals received honor as national COY despite never reaching an NCAA playoff regional final - including Rod Barnes, Perry Clark, Jim Crews, Keno Davis, Matt Doherty, Cliff Ellis, Eddie Fogler, Frank Haith, Marv Harshman, Todd Lickliter, George Raveling, Al Skinner, Charlie Spoonhour and Dick Versace. Unless Steve Harvey announced the "beauty-contest" results, following is an alphabetical list of high-profile retired coaches never receiving one of the five major national coach of the year awards since 1955 despite their significant achievements:

Dave Bliss - Compiled a total of 14 20-win seasons with three different schools.

Dale Brown - Led LSU to 15 consecutive postseason tournaments (1979 through 1993) en route to becoming the second-winningest coach in SEC history at the time (behind Adolph Rupp) in both overall and SEC games.

Vic Bubas - Guided Duke to NCAA Tournament Final Four appearances three times in a four-year span from 1963 through 1966.

Pete Carril - Never incurred a losing record in 29 seasons with Princeton from 1968 through 1996.

Gale Catlett - Went his first 23 seasons without a losing record with Cincinnati and West Virginia; participated in nine consecutive national postseason tournaments in the 1980s.

Denny Crum - Won 15 regular-season conference championships in the Missouri Valley and Metro in his first 23 seasons with Louisville; only coach to twice win conference and NCAA tournaments in the same year (1980 and 1986).

Don DeVoe - Compiled a total of 12 20-win seasons with three different schools.

Don Donoher - One of first 10 coaches to take his first three teams to the NCAA playoffs guided his first seven Dayton clubs to national postseason competition; posted double digits in victories all 25 seasons.

Billy Donovan - Two-time national championship coach (2006 and 2007) became Florida's all-time winningest mentor.

Lefty Driesell - One of only three different coaches to guide four different schools to the NCAA playoffs; captured conference tournament titles in four different leagues; only coach to win more than 100 games for four different schools en route to total of 786 victories; had 14 final Top 20 rankings.

Hugh Durham - One of only three coaches in NCAA history to win at least 225 games for two Division I schools, directing both Florida State and Georgia to the Final Four.

Bill C. Foster - Only six losing records in 25 seasons at the Division I level with UNC Charlotte, Clemson, Miami (FL) and Virginia Tech.

Jack Gardner - Only coach to direct two different schools to the Final Four at least twice apiece.

Pete Gillen - Remarkable run with Xavier (winning five Midwestern Collegiate Conference Tournament titles in six-year span from 1986 through 1991) before posting 20-win seasons with Providence in the Big East and Virginia in the ACC.

Joe B. Hall - Averaged 23 victories annually in 13 seasons with Kentucky, reaching championship game in either NCAA Tournament or NIT three times in a four-year span from 1975 through 1978.

Don Haskins - Captured four Western Athletic Conference Tournament championships with Texas-El Paso in a seven-year span from 1984 through 1990 while winning more than 20 games each of those seasons; compiled a total of 17 20-win campaigns.

Lou Henson - Compiled only one losing record in his last 22 years with Illinois and New Mexico State; finished in first division of the Big Ten Conference nine straight seasons.

Terry Holland - Averaged 20 victories annually in 21 seasons with Davidson and Virginia.

Lon Kruger - Guided five different schools to the NCAA Tournament - Kansas State, Florida, Illinois, UNLV and Oklahoma.

Harry Litwack - Finished third with Temple in three consecutive national postseason tournaments (1956 and 1958 in NCAA and 1957 in NIT). Posted only one losing record in 21 seasons with the Owls through 1973.

Rollie Massimino - Averaged more than 20 victories annually in the 1980s; participated in 14 consecutive national postseason tournaments with Villanova and UNLV before coaching at small-school level in Florida.

Ray Mears - Finished lower than third place in SEC standings with Tennessee just once in his final 14 seasons from 1964 through 1977.

Shelby Metcalf - Averaged 18.6 victories annually with Texas A&M in an 18-year span from 1971-72 through 1988-89.

Eldon Miller - Won more than 20 games with three different DI schools (Western Michigan, Ohio State and Northern Iowa).

Joe Mullaney - Reached the 20-win plateau nine straight seasons from 1958-59 through 1966-67, directing Providence to the NIT semifinals four times in the first five years of that stretch; won more than two-thirds of his games with the Friars decided by fewer than five points.

C.M. Newton - Posted at least 22 victories with Alabama six times in the last seven seasons of the 1970s.

Dave Odom - Won 20 or more games 10 times in a 14-year span from 1992-93 through 2005-06 with Wake Forest and South Carolina.

Ted Owens - Finished first or second in Big Eight Conference standings each of his first seven seasons with Kansas from 1965 through 1971.

Tom Penders - Won at least 20 games with three different schools (Rhode Island, Texas and George Washington) a total of 10 times in a 13-year span from 1987 through 1999 before winning more than 20 games three times in six seasons with Houston.

Jack Ramsay - Worst record in 11 seasons with St. Joseph's was an 18-10 mark.

Bo Ryan - Wisconsin's all-time winningest coach never finished lower than fourth in Big Ten Conference standings in 14 full seasons with the Badgers from 2001-02 through 2014-15.

Wimp Sanderson - Won five SEC Tournament titles with Alabama, including three in a row from 1989 through 1991.

Fred Schaus - Won Southern Conference Tournament championships each of his six seasons with West Virginia from 1955 through 1960 before posting winning records in Big Ten competition all six years with Purdue.

Roy Skinner - Compiled only one losing record in 16 seasons with Vanderbilt.

Billy Tubbs - Directed Oklahoma to 12 consecutive 20-win seasons, a Big Eight Conference best; took the Sooners to national postseason play his last 13 years with them before moving on to TCU and Lamar.

Jim Valvano - Guided Iona to a school-record 29 victories in 1979-80 before winning at least 18 games each of his last nine seasons with North Carolina State from 1982 through 1990.

Gary Williams - All-time winningest coach for Maryland directed 13 teams to Top 20 finishes in final polls, including a couple of them with Boston College.

Ned Wulk - All-time winningest coach for Arizona State finished atop conference standings in six of his first seven seasons with the Sun Devils.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Providing MLB Headlines on August 25

Extra! Extra! If government program is deemed so abysmal, why didn't Clueless Joe sunset debt debacle incurred mainly by useless woke folk (even if "the big guy" did it using pseudonym)? If your college diploma doesn't boast sufficient value for you to pay it off, degree certainly doesn't have enough merit for other Americans to underwrite it for deadbeats similar to rooftop-dancing bartender AOC. Instead of feeling as if you're a principled dolt for working hard and foolishly paying off your student loan, you can read news about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former junior college hoopers Darrell Evans, Gary Redus, Jackie Robinson, Ralph Terry and Jim Thome made MLB news on this date. Ditto ex-San Diego State hoopers Tony Gwynn and Graig Nettles on this date in 1982. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 25 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 25

  • OF Ken Berry (freshman hooper for Wichita in 1959-60) contributed a fifth-inning solo homer and game-winning single in bottom of ninth to lift the Chicago White Sox to a 2-1 win over the Boston Red Sox in nightcap of 1967 twinbill.

  • Cleveland Indians SS Lou Boudreau (leading basketball scorer for Illinois' 1937 Big Ten Conference co-champion) contributed four hits against the Boston Red Sox in a 1947 game.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates rookie RHP Don Carlsen (Denver hoops letterman in 1943) toiled 12 innings in a 3-2 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1951. He singled and scored decisive run against Jim Konstanty (Syracuse hooper in late 1930s) in top of the 12th.

  • New York Mets 1B Donn Clendenon (four-sport letterman with Morehouse GA) knocked in five runs against the Atlanta Braves in a 1970 contest.

  • New York Yankees Hall of Fame LF Earle Combs (three-year hoops captain for Eastern Kentucky) incurred a severe shoulder injury colliding with a teammate, contributing to Combs' retirement following the 1935 campaign. He delivered two three-hit outings in his previous four starts.

  • San Francisco Giants 3B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) homered twice in a 1978 game against the Montreal Expos.

  • Los Angeles Dodgers C Joe Ferguson (hooper in 1967 NCAA playoffs with Pacific) collected two homers and four RBI in a 6-4 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1973 outing.

  • Boston Red Sox C Rick Ferrell (played forward for Guilford NC before graduating in 1928) furnished four hits and four RBI in a 5-4 victory against the Cleveland Indians in the opener of a 1935 doubleheader.

  • Boston Red Sox RHP Boo Ferriss (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1941) topped the visiting Cleveland Indians, 2-1, to improve his 1946 Fenway Park mark to 13-0.

  • Philadelphia Athletics starting RHP Stu Flythe (North Carolina State hoops letterman from 1932-33 through 1934-35) walked 11 Chicago White Sox batters in three innings in a 1936 game.

  • In 1982, San Diego Padres rookie LF Tony Gwynn (All-WAC second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81 who twice led league in assists) 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).

  • Brooklyn Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) homered twice and doubled against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1954 contest.

  • Washington Senators 1B Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection when leading Ohio State in scoring and rebounding in 1956-57 and 1957-58) went 4-for-4 against the Minnesota Twins in a 1969 game.

  • RF David Justice (Thomas More KY assists leader in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg) and Atlanta Braves teammate Fred McGriff whacked back-to-back homers for the second time in 10 days in 1993. Justice jacked two circuit clouts in the game against the San Francisco Giants as he secured six round-trippers in his last six contests of the month.

  • Cincinnati Reds RHP Vern Kennedy (Central Missouri State hooper in mid-1920s) fired a six-hit shutout against the Pittsburgh pirates in 1945. Eleven years earlier, he was purchased from Oklahoma City (Texas League) by the Chicago White Sox in 1934.

  • Washington Senators SS Doc Lavan (Hope MI hooper from 1908 through 1910) went 4-for-4 against the Chicago White Sox in the nightcap of a 1918 twinbill.

  • New York Giants RHP Christy Mathewson (Bucknell hooper at turn of 20th Century) reached the 20-win plateau for the seventh straight season in 1909.

  • New York Yankees RHP Lindy McDaniel (played for Oklahoma's 1954-55 freshman hoops squad) retired 32 consecutive batters covering four relief appearances in 1968.

  • New York Yankees 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) cracked two homers against the Minnesota Twins in a 1982 game.

  • Chicago White Sox LHP Gary Peters (Grove City PA hooper in mid-1950s) had his personal streak of 14 straight starts allowing fewer than four earned runs snapped by the Boston Red Sox in 1967.

  • In 1989, Pittsburgh Pirates 1B Gary Redus (J.C. hooper for Athens AL and father of Centenary/South Alabama guard with same name) hit for the cycle against his original team (Cincinnati Reds).

  • Chicago White Sox rookie RHP Johnny Rigney (top hoops center for St. Thomas MN in mid-1930s) struck out New York Yankee Hall of Famers Joe DiMaggio and Lou Gehrig in a 1937 relief appearance.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers 3B Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) ripped two homers against the Chicago Cubs in the nightcap of a 1953 twinbill.

  • New York Yankees 3B Red Rolfe (played hoops briefly with Dartmouth in 1927-28 and 1929-30) extended his streak of scoring at least one run to 18 straight contests in 1939.

  • Baltimore Orioles RF Ken Singleton (Hofstra freshman hoops team in mid-1960s) stroked three extra-base hits against the Seattle Mariners in a 1981 contest.

  • St. Louis Cardinals RHP Lee Smith (averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg for Northwestern State in 1976-77) notched milestone 300th of 478 saves in his 18-year MLB career.

  • Chicago Cubs LF Riggs Stephenson (Alabama hoops letterman in 1920) went 7-for-10 in a 1933 doubleheader split against the Philadelphia Phillies.

  • Detroit Tigers 1B Champ Summers (led SIUE in scoring in 1969-70 after doing likewise for Nicholls State in 1964-65) launched two homers against the Seattle Mariners in a 1979 game.

  • New York Yankees RHP Ralph Terry (juco hooper averaged 22 ppg for Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in mid-1950s) improved his record to 11-1 with second of back-to-back shutouts in 1961.

  • DH Jim Thome (juco hooper for Illinois Central in 1988-89) purchased from the Minnesota Twins by Cleveland Indians in 2011.

Back in the Day: Ex-College Hoopers Go Bowling as Head Football Coaches

Former Louisville coach Bobby Petrino, after returning to The Ville as the Cardinals' football coach and overseeing the program's ACC entrance and Top 20 rankings prior to dismissal several seasons ago, is accustomed to controversy such as subject use of timeout and accepting soap-opera challenges (remember departures from the Atlanta Falcons and Arkansas Razorbacks). If new U of L basketball coach Kenny Payne doesn't pan out for some reason, Petrino boasted a background making him capable of motorcycling back over to fill in for Payne reminiscent of two-sport college coaches in the middle of the 20th Century who wouldn't have been fazed by a virus. Petrino, who scored 1,145 points in four years of basketball for Carroll (Mont.) in the early 1980s, was an All-Frontier Conference first-team hoop selection as a senior.

Petrino, now offensive coordinator with Texas A&M after departing Missouri State, isn't the first ex-Louisville football coach with a link to college hoops. Frank Camp Jr., the school's all-time winningest coach (118-95-2), was captain of the Transylvania (Ky.) basketball squad before coaching such standouts as Johnny Unitas, Lenny Lyles and Doug Buffone. Petrino is far from being the first marquee college football coach with a college hoops connection. It might not be delivered to you on a "Hog" motorcycle with statuesque blond hanging on tight as college gridiron campaign commences this weekend, but he is among the following alphabetical list of versatile ex-college hoopers who guided major universities to multiple major bowl games:

EARL "RED" BLAIK, Miami (Ohio)/Army
College Football Hall of Fame coach, boasting six undefeated teams, compiled a 121-33-10 record at Dartmouth (1934 through 1940) and Army (1941 through 1958). . . . After graduating from Miami, he enrolled at Army and became the first Cadet to compete against Navy in three sports in one season (football, basketball and baseball).

FRANK BROYLES, Georgia Tech
Retired Arkansas athletic director compiled a 149-62-6 record in 20 seasons as head football coach at Missouri (1957) and Arkansas (1958 through 1976). Guided 10 teams to bowl games, winning the AP and UPI national title in 1964. Quarterback was SEC Player of the Year in 1944. Third-round selection by the Chicago Bears in 1946 NFL draft (19th pick overall). He threw for a career-high 304 yards against Tulsa in the 1945 Orange Bowl. . . . Four-year starting guard in basketball for Georgia Tech. Three-time second-five selection on SEC All-Tournament team. Second-leading scorer for the Yellow Jackets with a 10.4-point average as a senior in 1946-47.

HERBERT "FRITZ" CRISLER, University of Chicago
Member of College Football Hall of Fame compiled a 116-32-9 record in 18 seasons as football coach at Minnesota (1930 and 1931), Princeton (1932 through 1937) and Michigan (1938 through 1947). The only team he coached with a losing record was in his first year. His last seven Michigan teams finished in the top 10 in the final Associated Press Poll. The 1947 Wolverines had a 10-0 record, defeated Southern Cal in the Rose Bowl (49-0) and finished second in the final AP poll behind Notre Dame. . . . Named to third five on All-Big Ten Conference basketball team in 1919-20 when the University of Chicago was a member of the league.

DAN DEVINE, Minnesota-Duluth
College Football Hall of Famer coached Notre Dame to a national champinship in 1977 after directing the Green Bay Packers to the NFC Central Division title five years earlier. Guided the Fighting Irish to a 53-16-1 mark in six seasons from 1975 through 1980. Also coached Missouri to six bowl games in the 1960s (92-38-7 record in 13 years from 1958 through 1970). . . . Played guard for Duluth's basketball squad in 1942-43 and 1945-46. Captained the Bulldogs as a senior and paced the club in scoring that season. He was a quarterback for the school's football team.

BOBBY DODD, Tennessee
Compiled a 165-64-8 coaching record with Georgia Tech in 22 years from 1945 through 1966. Won his first eight of 13 bowl games with the Yellow Jackets. . . . All-SEC second-team selection in basketball as a junior in 1929-30. He was captain of the team as a senior.

VINCE DOOLEY, Auburn
Auburn MVP in 1954 Gator Bowl. Coached Georgia to the 1980 national championship and six SEC titles. Compiled a 201-66-10 record as 20 teams played in bowl games in his 25 seasons from 1964 through 1988. . . . Averaged 6.3 ppg as a starting guard in 1951-52 in his only season of varsity basketball with Auburn before concentrating on football.

PETE "BUMP" ELLIOTT, Michigan
Executive director of the Pro Football Hall of Fame earned All-American honors as a quarterback for the Wolverines' 1948 national champion. Big Ten Conference MVP led Michigan to a 49-0 victory over USC in the 1948 Rose Bowl. Former head coach at Nebraska (4-6 record in 1956), California (10-21 from 1957 through 1959) and Illinois (1960 through 1966) led Cal and the Illini to Rose Bowl berths. . . . A four-year starter as a 6-0, 190-pound guard on Michigan teams from 1945-46 through 1948-49. Captain of squad as a sophomore and member of Big Ten Conference championship team in 1947-48. First-team all-conference choice as a junior and second-team selection as a senior. Second-team pick on Helms All-American team in 1947-48 when he scored a team-high 15 points in the Wolverines' first NCAA Tournament victory, a 66-49 decision over Columbia in Eastern Regional third-place game. Excerpt from school guide: "At times his defensive work was almost uncanny as he held high-scoring opposition practically scoreless in several games. Outstanding at recovering rebounds."

DON FAUROT, Missouri
Hall of Famer spent 19 years as head football coach (100-80-10 record from 1935 through 1956) and 30 years as athletic director for Mizzou. Alma mater's all-time winningest coach guided the Tigers to four bowl games in the 1940s. Faurot is best known as the inventor of the Split T formation. In 1972, the Tigers' football stadium was named in his honor (Faurot Field). . . . Captained the Tigers' basketball team as an undergraduate.

WAYNE HARDIN, Pacific
Head football coach at U.S. Naval Academy (38-22-2 record from 1959 through 1964) and Temple (80-50-3 from 1970 through 1982) directed both schools to bowl games. Coached Heisman Trophy winner Roger Staubach in 1963 when Navy finished second in the nation in the final AP poll with a 9-2 record. . . . Letterman on four Pacific basketball teams scored a total of 78 points in his last two seasons in 1947-48 and 1948-49.

RALPH "SHUG" JORDAN, Auburn
Compiled a 176-83-6 record as head football coach for his alma mater from 1951-75. Led Auburn to berths in 12 bowl games and an AP national title in 1957 with a 10-0 record. . . . Three-year basketball letterman was captain of the team his junior season (1930-31). Coached Auburn basketball squad to a 95-75 record (.559) in 10 years from 1933-34 through 1941-42 and 1945-46 before assuming the same post at Georgia and compiling a 41-28 mark (.594) in four campaigns from 1946-47 to 1949-50.

ELMER LAYDEN, Notre Dame
Member of College Football Hall of Fame was a fullback in the famed Four Horseman backfield of the 1920s. The 5-11, 180-pounder was a consensus All-American selection in 1924. Head football coach of the Irish from 1934 through 1940, compiling a 47-12-2 record. His 1938 Notre Dame team was named national champion by the Dickinson System. NFL commissioner from 1941 to 1946. . . . Scored seven points in 10 games for the 1922-23 Notre Dame basketball squad.

EDWIN "JIM" LOOKABAUGH, Oklahoma A&M
Compiled a 58-41-6 record coaching his alma mater for 11 years from 1939 through 1949. Guided the Aggies to victories in Cotton Bowl (following 1944 season) and Sugar Bowl (#5 AP ranking with perfect season in 1945) plus appearance in Delta Bowl (following 1948 campaign). . . . All-SWC hooper in 1925.

HOMER HILL NORTON, Birmingham-Southern
Compiled a 143-75-18 coaching record in 25 seasons from 1919 through 1947 with Centenary (11) and Texas A&M (14). Won the Sugar Bowl and Cotton Bowl with the Aggies in back-to-back years (1939 and 1940). . . . Played four sports in college, including basketball. Also coached basketball for Centenary in the early 1920s.

HOUSTON NUTT, Arkansas/Oklahoma State
Arkansas football coach for 10 years from 1998 through 2007 (75-48 record) after serving in a similar capacity at Murray State (31-16 from 1993 through 1996) and Boise State (5-6 in 1997). Aligned with Ole Miss in 2008, taking the Rebels to a bowl game in his first year with them (only team to defeat national champ Florida). Quarterback at Arkansas under Frank Broyles and Lou Holtz before transferring to Oklahoma State under Jimmy Johnson. . . . Collected six points and three rebounds in 1976-77 as a freshman under coach Eddie Sutton on Arkansas team featuring Sidney Moncrief and Ron Brewer before playing a couple of years with OSU under Paul Hansen.

BENNIE OOSTERBAAN, Michigan
Member of College Football Hall of Fame coached Michigan's football team to a 63-33-4 record in 11 seasons (1948 through 1958). His first team finished with a 9-0 record and was voted national champion in the AP poll. He won Big Ten Conference titles in 1948, 1949 and 1950. . . . In 1943, the Helms Athletic Foundation named him to its 10-man All-American basketball teams it selected for the 1926-27 and 1927-28 seasons. Finished third in Western Conference (forerunner of Big Ten) scoring in 1926-27 (9.3 ppg) and led league as a senior the next year (10.8 ppg).

TOM OSBORNE, Hastings (Neb.)
Compiled a 255-49-2 record as Nebraska coach while winning 13 conference crown in 25 years from 1973 through 1997. Lost seven straight bowl games prior to having undefeated clubs capture national championships in three of his final four campaigns (1994-95-97). Selected in 19th round of 1959 NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers before catching 29 passes for 343 yards and two touchdowns for the Washington Redskins in 1960 and 1961. . . . Attending college in his hometown, he scored 1,291 points for Hastings during the last half of 1950s, leading the team in scoring (17.7 ppg) and rebounding (9.1 rpg) as a sophomore in 1956-57.

ARA PARSEGHIAN, Miami (Ohio)
Member of College Football Hall of Fame compiled a 170-58-6 record as coach at Miami of Ohio (1951 through 1955), Northwestern (1956 through 1963) and Notre Dame (1964 through 1974). Guided Notre Dame to three national football titles (1964, 1966 and 1973). Directed the Fighting Irish to five bowl games during the first half of the 1970s. Rookie halfback on Cleveland Browns team that won All-America Football Conference title in 1948. Selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 13th round of 1947 NFL draft. . . . Played for Miami basketball squads in 1946-47 and 1947-48 (34 points, 31.3 FG%, 44.4 FT%). Teammate of future Tennessee coach Ray Mears.

JOE PATERNO, Brown
Penn State's head coach from 1966 to 2011 guided the Nittany Lions to national championships in 1982 and 1986, five undefeated/untied seasons (1968-69-73-86-94) and 29 finishes in Top 10 national rankings. Only major-college coach ever to reach the 400-win plateau (409-136-3 record) was 24-12-1 in bowl games. Paterno was fired by school trustees in mid-season 2011 after the arrest of his long-time assistant, Jerry Sandusky, on child sexual abuse charges. . . . Paterno earned varsity basketball letters at Brown in 1947-48 and 1948-49. His 7.3-points-per-game scoring average in 1947-48 was second highest on the team.

DAVID SHAW, Stanford
Alma mater's all-time winningest coach compiled an 86-34 record while guiding school to a bowl game each year in his first eight seasons from 2011 through 2018 before posting losing mark in 2019, finishing his career there last year with a 96-54 mark. Wide receiver caught 57 passes for 664 yards and five touchdowns from 1991 through 1994 under coaches Dennis Green and Bill Walsh. . . . Roommate of Cardinal hoops starter Brent Williams grabbed one rebound in 1 1/2 minutes of playing time in only game against Oregon State in 1993-94.

BILL YEOMAN, Texas A&M/Army
Winningest coach in Houston history (160-108-8 from 1962 through 1986) prevailed in six of 11 bowl games. Yeoman revolutionized offensive football in 1964 by developing the Veer option offense. He also had a prominent role in racial integration in the South by becoming the first coach at a predominantly white school in the State of Texas to sign an African-American player. Finished 11 times in the AP or UPI Top 20. . . . Hoops letterman with A&M in 1945-46 before earning three letters with the Cadets (1947-48-50), averaging 4.4 ppg in 1947-48 and 6.9 ppg in 1949-50.

BOB ZUPPKE, Wisconsin
Member of College Football Hall of Fame compiled a 131-81-13 record as head football coach at Illinois from 1913 through 1941. Directed the Illini to four national titles (1914, 1919, 1923 and 1927) and seven Big Ten championships. . . . Two-year letterman on Wisconsin's basketball team. The seven-man 1904-05 squad was called the "Western intercollegiate champions" by Spalding's Official Basketball Guide.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Providing MLB Headlines on August 24

Extra! Extra! Instead of debating whether Americans "used their best judgment" shunning Tweet-meanie #TheDonald by electing shuffling Plagiarist Biledumb and Cackling Kamala despite both untrustworthy #Dimorats needing brain vaccine booster to spell Sharia, defend border, refute their smash-and-grab voting bloc and understand loan responsibilities, you can read news about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former college hoopers Harry Craft (Mississippi College), Bill White (Hiram OH) and Cy Williams (Notre Dame) each contributed three extra-base hits in a MLB game on this date. Ex-California juco hoopers Darrell Evans (Pasadena City) and Garth Iorg (Redwoods) also had outstanding offensive performances on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 24 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 24

  • In the midst of a career-high 16-game hitting streak, Baltimore Orioles 2B Jerry Adair (one of Oklahoma State's top three basketball scorers in 1956-57 and 1957-58 while ranking among nation's top 12 free-throw shooters each season) collected eight hits in a 1962 doubleheader sweep of the New York Yankees.

  • Philadelphia Phillies 1B Ed Bouchee (freshman hooper for Washington State in 1951-52) homered in both of a 1958 twinbill sweep of the Chicago Cubs. He supplied grand slam and triple in back-to-back innings in the opener.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers RHP 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.

  • Baltimore Orioles CF Al Bumbry (Virginia State's runner-up in scoring with 16.7 ppg as freshman in 1964-65) went 4-for-4 against the Chicago White Sox in a 1977 game.

  • 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.

  • Philadelphia Phillies 1B Cal Emery (scored four points in three Penn State basketball games in 1957-58) provided his lone MLB extra-base safety with a pinch-hit double off the Pittsburgh Pirates' Don Cardwell in 1963.

  • Atlanta Braves rookie 3B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) went 4-for-4 in a 1971 game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

  • Cleveland Indians RHP Johnson Fry (Marshall hoops letterman in 1921-22) made his lone MLB appearance in 1923.

  • San Francisco Giants RHP Ed Halicki (set Monmouth's single-game rebounding record with 40 as junior in 1970-71 before leading Hawks in scoring with 21 ppg as senior) fired a no-hitter against the New York Mets in 1975.

  • Los Angeles Dodgers rookie RF Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection when leading Ohio State in scoring and rebounding in 1956-57 and 1957-58) hammered two homers against the Milwaukee Braves in a 1960 contest.

  • RHP Bobby Humphreys (four-year hoops letterman graduated from Hampden-Sydney VA in 1958) won his third game in relief in six days for the Washington Senators in 1966.

  • Toronto Blue Jays INF Garth Iorg (juco hooper with College of the Redwoods CA in mid-1970s) delivered a decisive two-out, two-run single in the top of 10th inning of a 7-5 win against the Minnesota Twins in 1986.

  • New York Yankees rookie RF Charlie Keller (Maryland hoops letterman from 1934-35 through 1936-37) knocked in five runs against the St. Louis Browns in a 1939 game the day after going 6-for-10 and scoring five runs in a doubleheader sweep of the Chicago White Sox. Two years later, Keller cracked two homers against the White Sox in the nightcap of a 1941 twinbill.

  • SS Doc Lavan (Hope MI hooper from 1908 through 1910) purchased from the St. Louis Browns by the Philadelphia Athletics in 1919.

  • New York Giants OF Hank Leiber (Arizona hooper 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 freshman in 1964-65 and 12.1 as sophomore in 1965-66 before transferring with his coach to Washburn KS and becoming an All-CIC selection with 1968 NAIA Tournament team) 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.

  • New York Giants RHP Christy Mathewson (Bucknell hooper at turn of 20th Century) went 3-for-4 against the Chicago Cubs, triggering a streak where he hit safely in nine of 10 starts.

  • Cleveland Indians 1B Ed Morgan (Tulane hoops letterman from 1923-24 through 1925-26) collected five RBI in an 11-7 win against the Boston Red Sox in 1931.

  • In 1910, New York Giants RF Red Murray (played hoops for Lock Haven PA in early 1900s) stole multiple bases against the St. Louis Cardinals in three consecutive contests.

  • Philadelphia Phillies RHP 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.

  • Chicago White Sox RHP Charlie Robertson (Austin College TX hooper) went 3-for-3 at the plate in 1923 contest against the Philadelphia Athletics.

  • In 1952, Brooklyn Dodgers LHP Preacher Roe (Harding AR hooper in late 1930s) registered his 10th straight victory against the St. Louis Cardinals, 10-4.

  • Minnesota Twins RHP Mike Smithson (teammate of Tennessee All-American Ernie Grunfeld averaged 1.9 ppg and 1.6 rpg under coach Ray Mears in 1974-75 and 1975-76) hurled a six-hit shutout against the Boston Red Sox in 1985.

  • Chicago Cubs 2B Rob Sperring (averaged 8.7 ppg and 2.9 rpg for Pacific from 1968-69 through 1970-71) had his career-high 11-game hitting streak snapped by the Houston Astros in 1976.

  • Atlanta Braves LHP George Stone (averaged 14.7 ppg and 6.5 rpg for Louisiana Tech in 1964-65 and 1965-66) tossed a three-hit shutout against the Montreal Expos in 1970.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates 1B Preston Ward (second-leading scorer for Southwest Missouri State in 1946-47 and 1948-49) pounded a three-run homer off Joe Nuxhall in a 4-2 triumph against the Cincinnati Reds in 1955.

  • Kansas City Royals C John Wathan (averaged 3.7 ppg in 11 games for San Diego in 1968-69) delivered a tie-breaking double in the top of 15th inning before scoring eventual decisive run in 4-3 verdict over the Milwaukee Brewers in 1977.

  • Homering in his fourth game in a row, St. Louis Cardinals 1B Bill White (two-year hooper with Hiram OH in early 1950s) stroked three extra-base hits against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1961.

  • Philadelphia Phillies CF Cy Williams (Notre Dame forward in 1909-10) contributed three extra-base hits in a 1922 game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Providing MLB Headlines on August 23

Extra! Extra! Instead of wondering why soft-on-crime #Dimorats and woke businesses shun best and brightest while focusing on the least whitest other than deity Dr. Fraudci and Plagiarist Biledumb, you can read news about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former SEC hoopers Joe Adcock (Louisiana State), Don Kessinger (Mississippi) and Jim Tabor (Alabama) delivered significant MLB performances on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 23 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 23

  • Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) provided four hits against the Chicago Cubs in the opener of a 1953 twinbill.

  • At the Polo Grounds in 1962, San Francisco Giants INF Ernie Bowman (East Tennessee State hoops letterman in 1954-55 and 1955-56) belted his lone MLB homer. Five frames later, he banged out the game-winning single in extra innings to give the Giants a 2-1 win against the expansion New York Mets.

  • In 1989, Atlanta Braves RHP Marty Clary (Northwestern hoops letterman in 1981-82 and 1982-83) notched his lone MLB shutout (3-0 against St. Louis Cardinals).

  • Philadelphia Athletics C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) manufactured two homers among his four hits and chipped with five RBI against the Chicago White Sox in a 1932 game.

  • In the midst of a career-high 10-game hitting streak, Cincinnati Reds 2B Pat Crawford (Davidson hoops captain in early 1920s) stroked an inside-the-park homer in nightcap of 1930 doubleheader against the Brooklyn Robins.

  • Philadelphia Phillies 2B Denny Doyle (averaged 2.7 ppg for Morehead State in 1962-63) delivered his third consecutive three-hit outing against the Atlanta Braves in 1972.

  • Atlanta Braves 3B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) homered in his fourth contest of a five-game span in 1974.

  • 3B Gene Freese (hoops captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team for West Liberty WV) purchased from the Pittsburgh Pirates by the Chicago White Sox in 1965.

  • In the midst of a career-high 23-game hitting streak, St. Louis Cardinals 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) furnished nine consecutive multiple-hit contests in 1931.

  • Detroit Tigers RHP George Gill (Mississippi College hooper in early 1930s) hurled his sixth consecutive complete game in 1938.

  • 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.

  • St. Louis Cardinals 2B Tommy Herr (hooper with Delaware's freshman team in 1974-75) supplied four hits and three RBI in a 1984 game against the Houston Astros.

  • In 1958, Los Angeles Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and 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 after relocating from Brooklyn to the West Coast.

  • Chicago Cubs 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) supplied a multiple-safety outing for the seventh time in eight-game span in 1972.

  • Detroit Tigers RF Harvey Kuenn (played hoops briefly for Wisconsin in 1951-52 after competing on JV squad previous season) went 5-for-5 against the Baltimore Orioles in a 1959 contest.

  • Chicago White Sox LHP Thornton Lee (Cal Poly hooper in 1925-26) lashed his fourth homer of season in a 2 1/2-month span in 1938.

  • New York Yankees rookie RF Jim Lyttle (Florida State free-throw shooting leader in 1965-66 when averaging 12.4 ppg) went 4-for-4 with three RBI in a 7-5 win against the Chicago White Sox in the nightcap of a 1970 twinbill.

  • Philadelphia Phillies CF Bake McBride (averaged 12.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg in 21 games with Westminster MO in 1968-69 and 1969-70) amassed three hits and three stolen bases against the Atlanta Braves in a 1977 game.

  • Cleveland Indians rookie RHP Jim Perry (averaged more than 20 ppg in late 1950s for former juco Campbell) fired a three-hit shutout against the Boston Red Sox in 1959.

  • Utilityman Jimmy Stewart (All-Volunteer State Athletic Conference hoops 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.

  • Chicago Cubs rookie OF Champ Summers (led SIUE in scoring in 1969-70 after doing same with Nicholls State in 1964-65) smacked his first MLB homer, a pinch grand slam, against the Houston Astros in 1975.

  • Boston Red Sox 3B Jim Tabor (Alabama hoops letterman in 1936-37) went 4-for-4 in a 1939 game against the St. Louis Browns.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates CF Bill Virdon (Drury MO hooper in 1949) went 7-for-8 in a 1959 doubleheader sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

  • St. Louis Cardinals 1B Bill White (two-year hooper with Hiram OH in early 1950s) went 4-for-4 against the Houston Colt .45s in a 1963 contest.

  • LHP Tom Zachary (Guilford NC hoops letterman in 1916) awarded on waivers from the Washington Senators to the New York Yankees in 1928.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Providing MLB Headlines on August 22

Extra! Extra! Instead of encouraging Bozo Blinken's little-to-no-thinking State Department to shift gears from asking United Nations to conduct insulting study on how pervasive racism is among U.S. citizens to issuing cartel-comforting emergency warning to refugees about not coming to America since inept vacationer-in-chief Plagiarist Biledumb was in charge of executing "cut-and-run plan" for them, you can read news about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former All-PCC hoopers Red Badgro (Southern California) and Jackie Robinson (UCLA) supplied significant hitting performances in MLB games on this date. Ex-college hoopers Joe Shaute (Mansfield PA) and Sonny Siebert (Missouri) spun shutouts for the Cleveland Indians on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 22 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 22

  • Detroit Tigers 1B Dale Alexander (starting basketball center in mid-1920s for Milligan TN) delivered four hits in a 9-6 win against the Boston Red Sox in 1931.

  • San Diego Padres SS Bill Almon (averaged 2.5 ppg in half a season for Brown's 1972-73 team ending school streak of 12 straight losing records) went 4-for-4 against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1979 game.

  • St. Louis Browns rookie RF Red Badgro (first-five pick on All-Pacific Coast Conference team in 1926-27 as USC's MVP) banged out four hits in a 10-0 victory against the New York Yankees in 1929.

  • In midst of a career-long eight-game hitting streak, Atlanta Braves rookie SS Rob Belloir (three-year hoops letterman led Mercer in free-throw percentage as senior in 1968-69 while averaging 19 ppg) registered four RBI (including two-run triple) in 9-5 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1975.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates LF Carson "Skeeter" Bigbee (Oregon hoops letterman in 1915), playing in his third straight extra-inning game against Brooklyn, went 6-for-11 in a 22-inning marathon in 1917.

  • A pinch-hit, three-run homer in bottom of eighth inning by OF-1B Jim Hickman (freshman hooper for Ole Miss in 1955-56) lifted the New York Mets to 7-5 triumph against the St. Louis Cardinals in opener of 1965 twinbill.

  • Washington Senators 1B Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection when leading Ohio State in scoring and rebounding in 1956-57 and 1957-58) hammered two homers, including decisive blow in the top of the 10th inning, against the Minnesota Twins in 1970.

  • Chicago White Sox RHP Bart Johnson (averaged 30.5 ppg for Brigham Young's freshman squad in 1967-68) secured his team-high 14th save in a two-month span in 1971.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers RHP Clyde King (started two basketball games for North Carolina in December 1944 under coach Ben Carnevale) won both ends of a 1951 doubleheader as a reliever against the St. Louis Cardinals.

  • RHP Jim Konstanty (Syracuse hooper in late 1930s) awarded on waivers from the Philadelphia Phillies to the New York Yankees in 1954.

  • In 1973, OF Joe Lahoud (New Haven CT hoops letterman in mid-1960s) launched a ninth-inning, pinch-hit grand slam to give the Milwaukee Brewers a 4-3 lead but they wound up losing against the California Angels, 5-4, in 10 innings.

  • Chicago Cubs RF Bill Nicholson (hooper 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.

  • St. Louis Cardinals C Don Padgett (freshman in 1934 with Lenoir-Rhyne NC excelled in multiple sports) provided four hits against the Brooklyn Dodgers in a 1939 contest.

  • Boston Red Sox LHP Gary Peters (Grove City PA hooper from 1955-57), homering in his ninth consecutive campaign, went downtown against the Oakland Athletics in opener of a 1971 twinbill. Blast was Peters' first of three circuit clouts in a two-week span.

  • In the midst of a 10-game hitting streak closing out the month, Chicago Cubs 2B Paul Popovich (averaged 3.3 ppg for West Virginia's 1960 NCAA playoff team) pounded a three-run homer in a 6-5 win against the Cincinnati Reds in 1973.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates RF Dave Robertson (one of two reserves on North Carolina State's first basketball team in 1911) contributed four hits and four RBI in a 10-8 win against the Boston Braves in 1921.

  • 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.

  • In the midst of hurling eight complete games in a seven-week span, Cleveland Indians LHP Joe Shaute (hooper for Mansfield PA in early 1920s) fired a four-hit shutout against the Washington Senators in nightcap of 1926 twinbill.

  • In 1964, Cleveland Indians rookie RHP Sonny Siebert (team-high 16.7 ppg for Missouri in 1957-58 as All-Big Eight Conference second-team selection) tossed his first of 21 shutouts in a 12-year MLB career.

  • Philadelphia Phillies 1B Jim Thome (juco hooper for Illinois Central in 1988-89) smacked two taters in a 2003 game against the St. Louis Cardinals.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Providing MLB Headlines on August 21

Extra! Extra! Instead of debating soccer player deserving respect (Chrissy Teigen self-absorbed wannabe Megan Rapinoe bullying teammates into anthem kneeling or deceased Afghani Mohammad Zaki Anwari trapped in landing gear of C-17 transport plane aspiring to board evacuation flight stemming from dumpster fire ignited by Rapinoe-endorsed Plagiarist "The Muck Starts Here" Biledumb), you can read news about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Several hoopers from Illinois colleges - Lou Boudreau (Illinois), Floyd Newkirk (Illinois College) and Paul Reuschel (Western Illinois) - made MLB news on this date. Boudreau is joined by fellow Hall of Famers Monte Irvin (Lincoln PA), Ted Lyons (Baylor) and Eppa Rixey (Virginia) as ex-college hoopers generating MLB news on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 21 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 21

  • Boston Red Sox INF Jack Barry (basketball letterman for Holy Cross in 1908) tied a MLB single-game record with four sacrifices at Cleveland in 1916.

  • Philadelphia Athletics RHP Bill Beckmann (hooper in late 1920s for Washington MO) tossed a shutout against the Chicago White Sox in 1940 for his fifth victory in as many decisions in a 3 1/2-week span.

  • Cleveland Indians SS Lou Boudreau (leading scorer for Illinois' 1937 Big Ten Conference co-champion) banged out four hits against the Chicago White Sox in the opener of a 1949 twinbill.

  • Philadelphia Phillies rookie RHP Ron Diorio (New Haven CT runner-up in scoring and rebounding in 1968-69) yielded the only run in his first 17 relief appearances in the 1973 campaign (0.60 ERA in that span).

  • Pittsburgh Pirates RHP 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.

  • Cincinnati Reds rookie LHP Don Gross (Michigan State freshman hooper in 1949-50) hurled his lone MLB shutout by blanking the St. Louis Cardinals on four hits in 1955.

  • Monte Irvin (Lincoln PA hooper 1 1/2 years in late 1930s) named special assistant to Commissioner William Eckert in 1968.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers RHP Clyde King (started two basketball games for North Carolina in December 1944 under coach Ben Carnevale didn't allow an earned run in his eighth straight appearance covering 28 1/3 innings in 1947.

  • Chicago White Sox RHP 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 RHP Bill McCahan (three-year Duke letterman named to All-Southern Conference Tournament team in 1942) earned his fourth consecutive complete-game victory in 1947.

  • Atlanta Braves RHP Gary Neibauer (collected 13 points and 9 rebounds in 16 games for Nebraska in 1964-65 under coach Joe Cipriano) earned his second relief victory of the month in 1973.

  • 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.

  • RHP 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.

  • Cincinnati Reds LHP Eppa Rixey (Virginia hoops letterman in 1912 and 1914) was 41 in 1932 when he tossed the second of back-to-back shutouts against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

  • Kansas City Athletics 1B Norm Siebern (member of Southwest Missouri hoop squads capturing back-to-back NAIA Tournament titles in 1952 and 1953) homered twice against the Boston Red Sox in a 1962 game.

  • San Diego Padres RF Clint Venable (two-time All-Ivy League selection averaged 9.3 ppg under Princeton coach John Thompson III from 2001-02 through 2004-05) amassed four hits in a 7-5 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2012.

  • Seattle Mariners CF Randy Winn (Santa Clara backcourtmate of eventual two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash in 1993-94) supplied five hits and four RBI against the Detroit Tigers in a 2004 contest.

Internal Tension: Ville Hoops May Fail to Win More Than Football Team Again

By any rudimentary measure, a college basketball season is not good when a team fails to win more games than the school's football counterpart. Louisville's embarrassment last campaign included only half as many triumphs (four) as the school's gridiron squad. The good news for Louisville was that it won more hoop contests than California (three). As the 2023 football season commences, "The Ville" hoopers might not be all that supportive of their gridiron brethren. They could be "down under" again with another ill season after prize prospect Trentyn Flowers chose to go pro in "The Land Down Under" (Australia) rather than play for the Cardinals. Among power-league members, Washington State was tainted by such back-to-back sorry seasons in 2001-02 and 2002-03.

Since hoop team schedules allow competing in about three times as many games, it's rare for it to fail to post more victories in a given calendar year. However, Georgia's perennial football powerhouse more than doubled the number of basketball triumphs for the Bulldogs in 2021-22. But the biggest football-to-basketball contrast was Brigham Young in 1996-97 when the Cougars went 14-1 and 1-25, respectively.

Incredibly, Cal wasn't the only power-league member with dismal school year thus far this century when football team, despite registering a losing record, achieved more victories than basketball counterpart. Baylor incurred such a blemish in 2005-06. Cal and Baylor are among 30 current power-conference members with FBS football program to endure a basketball campaign in the 21st Century when it failed to notch more victories than their gridiron colleagues. All five power leagues with two-sport emphasis (ACC/Big Ten/Big 12/Pac 12/SEC) have at least five members with this dubious distinction.

Duke's basketball and football teams tied with four victories apiece in 1924-25 and UCLA's two programs tied three times in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Need more evidence which sport takes precedence at certain schools? Check out the last year a football team achieved more victories than basketball counterpart at Kansas (1904-05), Purdue (1905-06), Indiana (1913-14), North Carolina (1914-15), Kentucky (1922-23), West Virginia (1924-25) and Illinois (1927-28).

Believe it or not, basketball coach George Buchheit suffered the indignity of failing to win more games than football squad with both Kentucky and Duke in a three-year span. More recently, coaches for two different schools in this category included Bill Frieder (Michigan in 1981-82 and Arizona State in 1996-97), Lon Kruger (Florida in 1995-96 and Oklahoma in 2016-17), Ernie Kent (Oregon in 2008-09 and Washington State in 2015-16 and 2018-19) plus Jim Christian (Texas Christian in 2010-11 and Boston College in COVID-impacted 2020-21).

Prominent football coaches boasting backgrounds possibly making them more empathetic with hoops mentors because they previously were college hoopers themselves included Arkansas' Frank Broyles (played for Georgia Tech), Georgia Tech's Bobby Dodd (Tennessee), Arkansas' Houston Nutt (Arkansas/Oklahoma State), Penn State's Joe Paterno (Brown) and Illinois' Bob Zuppke (Wisconsin). Excluding defending national champion UConn, which didn't elevate its football program to highest level until the start of this century, what was the last season for Division I FBS level members from power conferences posting as many or more football wins in a single school year than basketball victories?

Power-League Member School Year Football Record (Coach) Basketball Record (Coach)
Alabama 1968-69 8-3 (Paul "Bear" Bryant) 4-20 (Charles "C.M." Newton)
Arizona 1982-83 6-4-1 (Larry Smith) 4-24 (Ben Lindsey)
Arizona State 1996-97 11-1 (Bruce Snyder) 10-20 (Bill Frieder)
Arkansas 2002-03 9-5 (Houston Nutt) 9-19 (Stan Heath)
Arkansas 1971-72 8-3-1 (Frank Broyles) 8-18 (Lanny Van Eman)
Arkansas 1970-71 9-2 (Frank Broyles) 5-21 (Lanny Van Eman)
Auburn 2010-11 14-0 (Gene Chizik) 11-20 (Tony Barbee)
Baylor 2005-06 5-6 (Guy Morriss) 4-13 (Scott Drew)
Boston College* 2020-21 6-5 (Jeff Hafley) 4-16 (Jim Christian)
Brigham Young 1996-97 14-1 (LaVell Edwards) 1-25 (Roger Reid/Tony Ingle)
California 2022-23 4-8 (Justin Wilcox) 3-29 (Mark Fox)
Cincinnati 1983-84 4-6-1 (Watson Brown) 3-25 (Tony Yates)
Clemson 1967-68 6-4 (Frank Howard) 4-20 (Bobby Roberts)
Colorado 1995-96 10-2 (Rick Neuheisel) 9-18 (Joe Harrington/Ricardo Patton)
Duke 1924-25 4-5 (Howard Jones) 4-9 (George Buchheit)
Florida 1995-96 12-1 (Steve Spurrier) 12-16 (Lon Kruger)
Florida 1981-82 7-5 (Charley Pell) 5-22 (Norm Sloan)
Florida State 2022-23 10-3 (Mike Norvell) 9-23 (Leonard Hamilton)
Georgia 2021-22 14-1 (Kirby Smart) 6-26 (Tom Crean)
Georgia Tech 1973-74 5-6 (Bill Fulcher) 5-21 (Dwayne Morrison)
Georgia Tech 1972-73 7-4-1 (Bill Fulcher) 7-18 (Dwayne Morrison)
Georgia Tech 1971-72 6-6 (Leon "Bud" Carson) 6-20 (John "Whack" Hyder)
Georgia Tech 1953-54 9-2-1 (Bobby Dodd) 2-22 (John "Whack" Hyder)
Illinois 1973-74 5-6 (Bob Blackman) 5-18 (Harv Schmidt)
Illinois 1927-28 7-0-1 (Bob Zuppke) 5-12 (Craig Ruby)
Indiana 1913-14 3-4 (James Sheldon) 2-12 (Arthur Berndt)
Iowa 2009-10 11-2 (Kirk Ferentz) 10-22 (Todd Lickliter)
Iowa State* 2020-21 9-3 (Matt Campbell) 2-22 (Steve Prohm)
Kansas 1961-62 7-3-1 (Jack Mitchell) 7-18 (Dick Harp)
Kansas 1915-16 6-2 (Herman Olcott) 6-12 (William "W.O." Hamilton)
Kansas 1906-07 7-2-2 (Albert "Doc" Kennedy) 7-8 (James "Doc" Naismith)
Kansas 1904-05 8-1-1 (Albert "Doc" Kennedy) 5-6 (James "Doc" Naismith)
Kansas State 1999-00 11-1 (Bill Snyder) 9-19 (Tom Asbury)
Kentucky 1922-23 6-3 (William Juneau) 3-10 (George Buchheit)
Louisiana State 2010-11 11-2 (Les Miles) 11-21 (Trent Johnson)
Louisiana State 1997-98 9-3 (Gerry DiNardo) 9-18 (John Brady)
Louisiana State 1996-97 10-2 (Gerry DiNardo) 10-20 (Dale Brown)
Louisiana State 1966-67 5-4-1 (Charles McClendon) 3-23 (Press Maravich)
Louisville 2022-23 8-5 (Scott Satterfield) 4-28 (Kenny Payne)
Maryland 1949-50 9-1 (Jim Tatum) 7-18 (A.L. "Flucie" Stewart)
Memphis 1969-70 8-2 (Billy Murphy) 6-20 (Henry "Moe" Iba)
Miami (Fla.) 2002-03 12-1 (Larry Coker) 11-17 (Perry Clark)
Michigan 1981-82 9-3 (Glenn "Bo" Schembechler) 7-20 (Bill Frieder)
Michigan State 1962-63 5-4 (Hugh "Duffy" Daugherty) 4-16 (Forddy Anderson)
Minnesota 2022-23 9-4 (Philip "P.J." Fleck) 9-22 (Ben Johnson)
Minnesota 1967-68 8-2 (Murray Warmath) 7-17 (John Kundla)
Mississippi 1990-91 9-3 (Billy Brewer) 9-19 (Ed Murphy)
Mississippi 1975-76 6-5 (Ken Cooper) 6-21 (Robert "Cob" Jarvis)
Mississippi 1965-66 7-4 (John Vaught) 5-18 (Eddie Crawford)
Mississippi State 1981-82 8-4 (Emory Bellard) 8-19 (Bob Boyd)
Mississippi State 1980-81 9-3 (Emory Bellard) 8-19 (Jim Hatfield)
Missouri 2014-15 11-3 (Gary Pinkel) 9-23 (Kim Anderson)
Nebraska 1999-00 12-1 (Frank Solich) 11-19 (Danny Nee)
North Carolina 1914-15 10-1 (T.C. Trenchard) 6-10 (Charles "Chick" Doak)
North Carolina State 1992-93 9-3-1 (Dick Sheridan) 8-19 (Les Robinson)
Northwestern 1996-97 9-3 (Gary Barnett) 7-22 (Ricky Byrdsong)
Notre Dame 1995-96 9-3 (Lou Holtz) 9-18 (John MacLeod)
Notre Dame 1992-93 10-1-1 (Lou Holtz) 9-18 (John MacLeod)
Ohio State 1997-98 10-3 (John Cooper) 8-22 (Jim O'Brien)
Oklahoma 2016-17 11-2 (Bob Stoops) 11-20 (Lon Kruger)
Oklahoma 1980-81 10-2 (Barry Switzer) 9-18 (Billy Tubbs)
Oklahoma State 1971-72 4-6-1 (Floyd Gass) 4-22 (Sam Aubrey)
Oklahoma State 1933-34 6-2-1 (Lynn "Pappy" Waldorf) 4-14 (Harold "Puny" James)
Oregon 2008-09 10-3 (Mike Bellotti) 8-23 (Ernie Kent)
Oregon State 2021-22 7-6 (Jonathan Smith) 3-28 (Wayne Tinkle)
Penn State 2009-10 11-2 (Joe Paterno) 11-20 (Ed DeChellis)
Penn State 2002-03 9-4 (Joe Paterno) 7-21 (Jerry Dunn)
Pittsburgh 2021-22 11-3 (Pat Narduzzi) 11-21 (Jeff Capel III)
Pittsburgh 1976-77 12-0 (Johnny Majors) 6-21 (Tim Grgurich)
Purdue 2004-05 7-5 (Joe Tiller) 7-21 (Gene Keady)
Purdue 1952-53 4-3-2 (Stuart Holcomb) 4-18 (Ray Eddy)
Purdue 1914-15 5-2 (Andy Smith) 5-8 (R.E. Vaughn)
Purdue 1905-06 6-1-1 (A.E. Hernstein) 4-7 (Clarence Jamison)
Rutgers 2006-07 11-2 (Greg Schiano) 10-19 (Fred Hill)
South Carolina 2011-12 11-2 (Steve Spurrier) 10-21 (Darrin Horn)
Stanford 1992-93 10-3 (Bill Walsh) 7-23 (Mike Montgomery)
Syracuse 1961-62 8-3 (Ben Schwartzwalder) 2-22 (Marc Guley)
Tennessee 1993-94 9-2-1 (Phillip Fulmer) 5-22 (Wade Houston)
Texas 1983-84 11-1 (Fred Akers) 7-21 (Bob Weltlich)
Texas A&M* 2020-21 9-1 (John "Jimbo" Fisher) 8-10 (Brent "Buzz" Williams)
Texas A&M 1999-00 8-4 (Richard "R.C." Slocum) 8-20 (Melvin Watkins)
Texas A&M 1997-98 9-4 (Richard "R.C." Slocum) 7-20 (Tony Barone)
Texas Christian 2010-11 13-0 (Gary Patterson) 11-22 (Jim Christian)
Texas Tech 1989-90 9-3 (William "Spike" Dykes) 5-22 (Gerald Myers)
UCLA 1941-42 5-5-1 (Edwin "Babe" Horrell) 5-18 (Wilbur Johns)
UCLA 1938-39 7-4-1 (William Spaulding) 7-20 (Pierce "Caddy" Works)
UCLA 1936-37 6-3-1 (William Spaulding) 6-13 (Pierce "Caddy" Works)
Utah 2011-12 8-5 (Kyle Whittingham) 6-25 (Larry Krystkowiak)
Vanderbilt 1945-46 3-6 (McNeil "Doby" Bartling) 3-10 (Gus Morrow)
Vanderbilt 1941-42 8-2 (Henry "Red" Sanders) 7-9 (Norm Cooper)
Virginia 1962-63 5-5 (William Elias) 5-20 (Billy McCann)
Virginia 1950-51 8-2 (Arthur Guepe) 8-14 (Gus Tebell)
Virginia 1941-42 8-1 (Frank Murray) 7-10 (Gus Tebell)
Virginia Tech 2000-01 11-1 (Frank Beamer) 8-19 (Ricky Stokes)
Wake Forest 1944-45 8-1 (D.C. "Peahead" Walker) 3-14 (Murray Greason)
Washington 2016-17 12-2 (Chris Petersen) 9-22 (Lorenzo Romar)
Washington State 2018-19 11-2 (Mike Leach) 11-21 (Ernie Kent)
Washington State 2015-16 9-4 (Mike Leach) 9-22 (Ernie Kent)
Washington State 2002-03 10-3 (Mike Price) 7-20 (Paul Graham)
West Virginia 1924-25 8-1 (Clarence Spears) 6-11 (Francis Stadsvold)
Wisconsin 1981-82 7-5 (Dave McClain) 6-21 (Bill Cofield)

*COVID-19 impacted basketball campaign.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Providing MLB Headlines on August 20

Extra! Extra! Instead of mocking debacle where wokeness weakens U.S. via indefensible institutional-elite Big Tech policy decision allowing "over-the-rainbow" Taliban savages on Twitter but not meanie #TheDonald and callous contrary conservatives, you can read news about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former Southwest Missouri State hoopers Mark Bailey, Jerry Lumpe and Preston Ward provided significant MLB performances on this date. Ex-college hoopers Bob Cerv (Nebraska) and Davey Lopes (Iowa Wesleyan/Washburn KS) each hit three homers in a game on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 20 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 20

  • Boston Red Sox INF Jerry Adair (one of Oklahoma State's top three basketball scorers in 1956-57 and 1957-58 while ranking among nation's top 12 free-throw shooters each season) went 3-for-3 in opener and jacked decisive homer in nightcap of 1967 twinbill sweep of the California Angels.

  • Houston Astros C Mark Bailey (led Southwest Missouri State basketball team in rebounding and field-goal percentage in 1980-81) collected three hits, four runs and four RBI in a 17-2 romp over the St. Louis Cardinals in 1985.

  • Detroit Tigers 2B Frank Bolling (averaged 7.3 ppg in 1950-51 for Spring Hill AL) collected two homers and five RBI against the New York Yankees in a 1959 game.

  • In the midst of a career-high 17-game hitting streak, Kansas City Athletics LF Bob Cerv (ranked fourth on Nebraska's career scoring list in 1949-50 when finishing hoop career) collected three homers and six RBI in an 11-10 defeat against the Boston Red Sox in 1959.

  • RHP 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.

  • Baltimore Orioles LHP Mike Flanagan (averaged 13.9 ppg for UMass' freshman hoops squad in 1971-72) fired his fifth shutout of the 1979 campaign - a three-hitter against the Texas Rangers - in the midst of him winning eight straight starts en route to an A.L.-high 23 triumphs.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers SS Jake Flowers (member of Washington College MD "Flying Pentagon" championship hoops squad in 1923) contributed four hits against the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a 1933 doubleheader.

  • Chicago White Sox RHP Bob Keegan (Bucknell hoops 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.

  • Philadelphia Phillies rookie SS Ralph LaPointe (Vermont hoops letterman during WWII) went 7-for-12 at conclusion of three-game series against the Chicago Cubs in 1947.

  • Cleveland Indians CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) logged two homers and six RBI against the Seattle Mariners in a 2000 contest.

  • 2B Davey Lopes (NAIA All-District 15 selection for Iowa Wesleyan averaged 16.9 ppg as freshman in 1964-65 and 12.1 as sophomore in 1965-66 before transferring with his coach to Washburn KS where he was All-CIC selection for 1968 NAIA Tournament team) set a Los Angeles Dodgers record with 15 total bases in an 18-8 rout of the Chicago Cubs in 1974 (three homers, double and single).

  • Kansas City Athletics 2B Jerry Lumpe (member of Southwest Missouri State's 1952 NAIA Tournament championship hoops club) went 7-for-10 in a 1963 doubleheader sweep of the Washington Senators.

  • St. Louis Cardinals CF Bake McBride (averaged 12.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg in 21 games with Westminster MO in 1968-69 and 1969-70) belted two homers against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1975 game.

  • Philadelphia Phillies rookie 2B Moon Mullen (backup guard for Oregon's legendary "Tall Firs" team winning inaugural NCAA tourney in 1939) stroked four singles in a 4-1 win against the Cincinnati Reds in 1944 outing.

  • Texas Rangers RF Gary Redus (J.C. hooper for Athens AL and father of Centenary/South Alabama guard with same name) ripped two homers against the Baltimore Orioles in a 1993 contest.

  • St. Louis Cardinals RHP Ron Reed (Notre Dame's leading rebounder in 1963-64 and 1964-65) tossed a four-hit shutout against the Cincinnati Reds in 1975. Reed yielded fewer than two earned runs in nine of his first 16 starts for the Cards.

  • Chicago White Sox RHP Johnny Rigney (top hoops center for St. Thomas MN in mid-1930s) hurled his second of back-to-back three-hit shutouts in 1941.

  • Philadelphia Phillies RHP 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.

  • In 1945, Brooklyn Dodgers SS Tommy Brown (17 years old) became the youngest player to hit a MLB homer when connecting off Pittsburgh Pirates LHP Preacher Roe (Harding AR hooper in late 1930s).

  • Baltimore Orioles RF Ken Singleton (hooper for Hofstra freshman team in mid-1960s) went 4-for-4 against the Minnesota Twins in a 1977 game.

  • Boston Red Sox RHP Lee Smith (averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg with Northwestern State in 1976-77) supplied his seventh straight hitless relief appearance in 1988. Smith fanned 15 batters during span covering nine innings.

  • St. Louis Cardinals RHP John Stuper (two-time all-conference junior college player in mid-1970s with Butler County PA) hurled his lone MLB shutout (five-hitter against the Houston Astros in 1983).

  • Birdie Tebbetts (Providence hooper in 1932) resigned as Cleveland Indians manager in 1966.

  • In the midst of winning five straight starts during the month, Pittsburgh Pirates LHP Bob Veale (scored 1,160 points for Benedictine KS from 1955-56 through 1957-58) tossed a four-hit shutout against the Houston Astros in 1969.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates 1B Preston Ward (second-leading scorer for Southwest Missouri State in 1946-47 and 1948-49) provided three extra-base hits in a 1955 game against the New York Giants.

  • Pinch two-run single by 1B Bill White (two-year hooper for Hiram OH in early 1950s) sparked the San Francisco Giants to a 4-3 win against the Cincinnati Reds in 1958.

  • In 1986, New York Yankees RF Dave Winfield (starting forward with Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) walloped the milestone 300th of his 465 MLB career homers.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Providing MLB Headlines on August 19

Extra! Extra! Instead of wondering if Plagiarist Biledumb's Administration realizes "Tally-bon" goons releasing ISIS and Al Qaeda operatives generated Afghani chaos comparable to #Dimorat mayors/judges/DAs allowing felons out of jail to roam our streets, you can read news about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former Southwest Missouri State hoopers Norm Siebern and Preston Ward supplied significant MLB performances on this date. Ditto ex-juco hoopers Darrell Evans (Pasadena City CA), Garth Iorg (College of Redwoods CA), Gary Redus (Athens AL) and Jim Thome (Illinois Central). Thome was joined by eventual Hall of Famers Hank Greenberg (NYU), Christy Mathewson (Bucknell) and Dave Winfield (Minnesota). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 19 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 19

  • Chicago Cubs 1B George Altman (hooper appeared in 1953 and 1954 NAIA Basketball Tournament with Tennessee State) amassed four hits in a 4-3 win against the Houston Colt .45s in 1962.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates LF Clyde Barnhart (hooper for Shippensburg PA predecessor Cumberland Valley State Normal School prior to World War I) went 4-for-4 and chipped in with five RBI against the Brooklyn Robins in 1925.

  • Philadelphia Phillies 1B Ed Bouchee (freshman hooper for Washington State in 1951-52) went 3-for-3 with double and triple in a 1958 game against the St. Louis Cardinals.

  • 2B Marv Breeding (hooper for Samford in mid-1950s) purchased from the Los Angeles Dodgers by the Baltimore Orioles in 1964.

  • Detroit Tigers rookie RHP Ownie Carroll (Holy Cross hoops letterman in 1922) hurled his third complete-game victory of the month in 1927.

  • San Francisco Giants 3B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) smacked milestone 200th of his 414 MLB career homers.

  • Detroit Tigers 1B Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoops scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) collected three homers and eight RBI in a 1938 doubleheader sweep of the St. Louis Browns.

  • California Angels RHP Paul Hartzell (averaged 5.9 ppg and 3.4 rpg for Lehigh in 1972-73) hurled his fourth complete game in a 22-day span in 1978.

  • Grand-slam homer from CF Jim Hickman (freshman hooper for Ole Miss in 1955-56) off Vern Law powered the New York Mets to a 4-2 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1964. Six years later as a 1B with the Chicago Cubs, Hickman homered twice and knocked in five runs in 1970 outing against the San Diego Padres.

  • Toronto Blue Jays 3B Garth Iorg (juco hooper with College of the Redwoods CA in mid-1970s) supplied three extra-base hits (two doubles and homer) plus three RBI in an 8-7 win against the Boston Red Sox in 1983.

  • New York Yankees LF David Justice (Thomas More KY assists leader in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg) jacked two homers against the Anaheim Angels in a 2000 contest.

  • Philadelphia Phillies RHP Andy Karl (Manhattan hoops letterman from 1933 through 1935) saved Hall of Fame slugger Jimmie Foxx's only MLB pitching decision in 1945 (6-2 win against Cincinnati Reds).

  • New York Yankees LF Charlie Keller (Maryland hoops letterman from 1934-35 through 1936-37) homered in both ends of a 1942 twinbill split against the Boston Red Sox.

  • Detroit Tigers SS Harvey Kuenn (played hoops briefly for Wisconsin in 1951-52 after competing on JV squad previous season) contributed four hits against the Cleveland Indians in the nightcap of a 1954 doubleheader.

  • New York Giants RHP Christy Mathewson (Bucknell hooper at turn of 20th Century) had his 22-game winning streak against the Cincinnati Reds snapped in 1911.

  • Detroit Tigers LF Curtis Pride (led William & Mary in steals three times and assists twice while averaging 5.6 ppg and 3.1 apg from 1986-87 through 1989-90) smacked a pinch-hit, three-run homer against the Chicago White Sox in 1996.

  • OF Gary Redus (J.C. hooper for Athens AL and father of Centenary/South Alabama guard with same name) traded by the Chicago White Sox to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1988.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates RF Dave Robertson (one of two reserves on North Carolina State's first basketball team in 1911) registered three extra-base hits (including pair of homers) and eight RBI in opener of 1921 doubleheader against the Philadelphia Phillies.

  • 1B-OF Norm Siebern (member of Southwest Missouri State's back-to-back NAIA Tournament hoop 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.

  • Philadelphia Phillies rookie SS Gary Sutherland (averaged 7.4 ppg with USC in 1963-64) went 3-for-3, including his first MLB homer, against the Chicago Cubs in 1967.

  • Boston Red Sox 3B Jim Tabor (Alabama hoops letterman in 1936-37) smacked two homers against the New York Yankees in opener of a 1942 twinbill.

  • Philadelphia Phillies 1B Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) swatted a homer in his fourth consecutive contest in 2003.

  • Detroit Tigers rookie SS Coot Veal (averaged team-high 10.9 ppg as Auburn sophomore in 1951-52 before transferring to Mercer) posted his second three-hit outing in the midst of a career-high 13-game hitting streak.

  • San Diego Padres CF Clint Venable (two-time All-Ivy League selection averaged 9.3 ppg under Princeton coach John Thompson III from 2001-02 through 2004-05) went hitless for the only time in his first 25 games of the month in 2013.

  • Bill Virdon (Drury MO hooper in 1949) hired as Houston Astros manager in 1975.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates RF Preston Ward (second-leading scorer for Southwest Missouri State in 1946-47 and 1948-49) provided fourth three-hit outing in a six-game span in 1954.

  • New York Yankees RF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) went 4-for-4 in a 1984 game against the Oakland Athletics.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Providing MLB Headlines on August 18

Extra! Extra! Misguided #MessMedia mavens, giving WY carpetbagger Liz Cheney a participation trophy and IL reject Adam Kinzinger a crying towel, are essentially the only constituency for drama queen and king. Instead of wondering if droning landslide loser is still employable by shooting weapon better than anal actor Alec Baldwin or dynasty daddy dearest so Ms. Abe Lincoln's next vocation could be as gun-toting #IRSArmy agent for Plagiarist Biledumb, you can read news about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former Texas Christian hoopers Harry Kinzy and Dutch Meyer delivered significant American League performances on this date. Ditto fellow ex-SWC hoopers Beau Bell (Texas A&M) and Ted Lyons (Baylor). Former juco hooper Jim Thome (Illinois Central) twice jacked a pair of homers in A.L. games on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 18 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 18

  • In the midst of a 21-game hitting streak, St. Louis Browns RF Beau Bell (two-year basketball letterman for Texas A&M in early 1930s) went 5-for-5 in the opener of a 1936 doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers.

  • RHP Ray Burris (Southwestern Oklahoma State hooper) purchased from the New York Yankees by the New York Mets in 1979.

  • Philadelphia Athletics C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) went 4-for-4 against the Detroit Tigers in a 1933 game.

  • Atlanta Braves 1B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) launched the final of his 414 MLB career homers.

  • St. Louis Browns C Rick Ferrell (played forward for Guilford NC before graduating in 1928) capped off a career-high 20-game hitting streak with four safeties against the Boston Red Sox in 1932. Four years later, Ferrell supplied three extra-base hits against the Philadelphia Athletics in a 1936 contest.

  • St. Louis Cardinals 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) smacked two homers against the Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a 1932 twinbill.

  • 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.

  • Chicago White Sox RHP Harry Kinzy (starting forward for Texas Christian from 1931-32 through 1933-34) lost his lone MLB decision and complete game when walking 10 Washington Senators batters in 1934.

  • Cleveland Indians RF Harvey Kuenn (played hoops briefly for Wisconsin in 1951-52 after competing on JV squad previous season) went 4-for-4 against the Chicago White Sox in a 1960 game.

  • Chicago White Sox 3B Vance Law (averaged 6.8 ppg for Brigham Young from 1974-75 through 1976-77) went 3-for-3, including logging the decisive RBI in the bottom of the eighth inning, in a 7-6 win against the Toronto Blue Jays in 1984.

  • New York Giants CF Hank Leiber (Arizona hooper in 1931) collected a homer, triple and two doubles in an 8-4 triumph against the Cincinnati Reds in 1935.

  • Philadelphia Phillies LF Danny Litwhiler (member of JV hoops squad with Bloomsburg PA in mid-1930s) smacked two triples against the Cincinnati Reds in the opener of a 1941 doubleheader.

  • Milwaukee Braves SS Johnny Logan (Binghamton hooper in 1948-49) doubled in his fifth consecutive contest in 1956.

  • Chicago White Sox RHP Ted Lyons (All-SWC first-team basketball selection with Baylor as sophomore and senior in early 1920s) contributed four hits in a 7-5 win against the Detroit Tigers in 1940.

  • Chicago Cubs CF Les Mann (Springfield MA hooper in 1913 and 1914) went 7-for-8 in 1916 doubleheader split against the New York Giants.

  • Cleveland Indians 2B Dutch Meyer (Texas Christian hoops letterman in 1934-35 and 1935-36) went 4-for-4 in a 7-4 victory against the Philadelphia Athletics in 1945.

  • Oakland Athletics CF Billy North (played hoops briefly for Central Washington in 1967-68) stroked four hits in a 6-3 win against the Milwaukee Brewers in 1973.

  • RHP Claude Passeau (hooper 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.

  • RHP 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.

  • Chicago White Sox CF Carl Reynolds (Southwestern TX hoops MVP and captain in mid-1920s) went 4-for-4 in a 1930 game against the New York Yankees.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates RF Dave Robertson (one of two reserves on North Carolina State's first basketball team in 1911) went 4-for-4 in opener of 1921 doubleheader against the Philadelphia Phillies.

  • Detroit Tigers C Birdie Tebbetts (Providence hooper in 1932) went 4-for-4 in a 1940 game against the Chicago White Sox.

  • Cleveland Indians 3B Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) collected two homers and six RBI in a 1996 outing against the Detroit Tigers. Eleven years later as Chicago White Sox DH, he smacked two round-trippers in a 2007 contest against the Seattle Mariners.

  • OF Will Venable (All-Ivy League first-team selection as junior and second-team choice as senior averaged 9.3 ppg under Princeton coach John Thompson III from 2001-02 through 2004-05) traded by the San Diego Padres to the Texas Rangers in 2015.

  • Cincinnati Reds 3B Billy Werber (first Duke hoops All-American in 1929-30) knocked in five runs against the Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a 1941 twinbill.

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