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

Extra! Extra! Instead of futile attempt separating herd immunity from herd stupidity as legacy #MessMedia and inept recession-redefining politicians remain as confusing in their fear-porn messaging as "science-based" climate-change claptrap from John "Lurch" Kerry plus CDC guidance (tainted by input from toxic teacher unions spearheaded by reprehensible Randi Weingarten), 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 Louisiana State hoopers Joe Adcock and Alvin Dark supplied outstanding National League offensive outputs on this date. Adcock's extra-base bonanza is one of the most impressive in history. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a July 31 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

JULY 31

  • RHP Mike Adams (played basketball for Texas A&M-Kingsville in 1996-97) traded by the San Diego Padres to the Texas Rangers in 2011.

  • Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading scorer in 1945-46) belted four homers off four different pitchers plus a double against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1954, setting MLB record for most total bases in a single game (18) standing until broken by RF Shawn Green in 2002.

  • Chicago Cubs 2B Glenn Beckert (three-year hoops letterman for Allegheny PA) contributed seven hits against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1970 twinbill sweep.

  • RHP Andy Benes (joined Evansville's shorthanded basketball squad in 1985-86 under coach Jim Crews) traded by the San Diego Padres to Seattle Mariners in 1995.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates LF Carson "Skeeter" Bigbee (Oregon hoops letterman in 1915) banged out four hits against the New York Giants in the opener of a 1917 doubleheader.

  • St. Louis Cardinals SS Alvin Dark (Louisiana State and Southwestern Louisiana hoops letterman in mid-1940s) went 4-for-4 against the New York Giants in a 1957 contest.

  • St. Louis Cardinals CF Taylor Douthit (California hoops letterman from 1922 through 1924) collected five hits and scored four runs in an 18-5 pounding of the Philadelphia Phillies in 1928.

  • In the midst of eight straight scoreless relief appearances, Baltimore Orioles LHP Mike Flanagan (averaged 13.9 ppg for UMass' freshman squad in 1971-72) notched the final of his 167 MLB wins. Earlier in the 1991 campaign, Flanagan amassed 10 consecutive contests where he failed to yield an earned run.

  • Houston Astros INF Gene Freese (West Liberty WV hoops captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team) stroked a pinch single against the Cincinnati Reds in 1966 before going 0-for-21 during the last two months of his 12-year MLB career.

  • LHP Johnny Gee (captain of Michigan's 16-4 hoops team in 1936-37) absorbed his first defeat since returning to the New York Giants in 1946 after a year's retirement.

  • Philadelphia Phillies rookie RHP Bob Greenwood (St. Mary's hoops letterman second half of 1940s) posted his lone MLB victory by hurling eight innings as starter against the St. Louis Cardinals in nightcap of 1954 doubleheader.

  • Cleveland Indians 1B Mike Hargrove (Northwestern Oklahoma State hoops letterman) scored five runs in a 16-11 victory against the Toronto Blue Jays in 1983.

  • Chicago Cubs LF Monte Irvin (Lincoln PA hooper 1 1/2 years in late 1930s) manufactured four hits and five RBI against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1956 game.

  • 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 season) closed out the month with five consecutive multiple-hit contests in 1970.

  • INF-OF Tony Phillips (New Mexico Military juco hooper in 1977-78 as teammate of eventual Drake All-American Lewis Lloyd) traded by the Toronto Blue Jays to the New York Mets in 1998.

  • San Diego Padres LHP Dennis Rasmussen (sixth-man for Creighton averaged 5.1 ppg from 1977-78 through 1979-80) yielded more than three runs for the only time in his last 15 starts of the 1988 campaign.

  • Chicago White Sox LF Gary Redus (J.C. hooper for Athens AL and father of Centenary/South Alabama guard with same name) registered two hits in his fifth consecutive contest in 1987.

  • Boston Red Sox rookie RHP Don Schwall (All-Big Seven Conference second-team selection as sophomore in 1956-57 when leading Oklahoma in rebounding) hurled the middle three innings for the A.L., yielding the only run, in a 1-1 tie in the second of two All-Star Games in 1961. St. Louis Cardinals 1B Bill White (played two years with Hiram OH in early 1950s) of the N.L. and Detroit Tigers RF Al Kaline of the A.L. were the only All-Stars with two safeties. Five years later with the Philadelphia Phillies, White went 5-for-5, including four extra-base hits, and chipped in with five RBI in the opener of a 1966 doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

  • Securing his fifth victory of the month, Boston Red Sox RHP Sonny Siebert (team-high 16.7 ppg for Mizzou in 1957-58 as All-Big Eight Conference second-team selection) hurled a one-hitter at California in 1970.

  • Washington Senators rookie RHP Monte Weaver (hoops center for Emory & Henry VA in mid-1920s) secured his eighth victory of the month in 1932.

  • Chicago Cubs OF Cy Williams (Notre Dame forward in 1909-10) clobbered a three-run homer to chase New York Giants Hall of Fame RHP Christy Mathewson (played for Bucknell at turn of 20th Century) in the opener of a 1915 doubleheader.

  • San Diego Padres RF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) went 5-for-5 with four RBI and scored four runs in a 1979 outing against the Atlanta Braves.

  • Boston Braves 3B Chuck Workman (All-MIAA first-five hoops selection for Central Missouri State as sophomore and junior in mid-1930s) blasted two homers against the New York Giants in the nightcap of a 1945 twinbill.

  • Washington Senators LHP Tom Zachary (Guilford NC hoops letterman in 1916) tossed a three-hit shutout against the Detroit Tigers in 1924.

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

Extra! Extra! Instead of wasting time trying to make sense out of underpaid Odd Squad front-girl/rooftop-dancing bartender AOC (a/k/a Sandy Fake Arrest) plus summer-of-love miscreant mayors and out-of-touch city council members from riotous #Dimorat-dominated municipalities (Atlanta/Baltimore/Chicago/Cleveland/Denver/Houston/Kansas City/Little Rock/Los Angeles/Milwaukee/Minneapolis/New Orleans/New York/Oakland/Philadelphia/Phoenix/Pittsburgh/Portland/St. Louis/San Diego/San Francisco/San Jose/Seattle/Washington, et al) supporting defunding police for populace in general while so-called leaders (erstwhile jihadists) tone deaf to anarchy such as Congressional contemptible clueless clown Cori Bush collectively spend millions of dollars on security details for their own protection, 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 non-DI hoopers from Alabama colleges - Frank Bolling (Spring Hill), Marv Breeding (Samford) and Gary Redus (Athens J.C.) - made MLB news on this date. Ditto six small-school hoopers from Pennsylvania colleges - Glenn Beckert (Allegheny), Monte Irvin (Lincoln), Christy Mathewson (Bucknell), Red Murray (Lock Haven), Gary Peters (Grove City) and Joe Shaute (Mansfield). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a July 30 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

JULY 30

  • Chicago Cubs 2B Glenn Beckert (three-year basketball letterman for Allegheny PA) provided four hits against the Cincinnati Reds in the opener of a 1967 twinbill.

  • Texas Rangers RHP Jim Bibby (Fayetteville State NC backup hooper and brother of UCLA All-American Henry Bibby) fanned 13 batters while hurling a no-hitter against the first-place Oakland A's in 1973.

  • Texas Rangers 1B Larry Biittner (runner-up in scoring and rebounding in 1966-67 for Buena Vista IA) went 4-for-4 in a 2-1 victory against the Oakland Athletics in the opener of a 1972 doubleheader.

  • Milwaukee Braves 2B Frank Bolling (averaged 7.3 ppg in 1950-51 for Spring Hill AL) belted a double off Hank Aguirre for the N.L. in the second 1962 All-Star Game. Pittsburgh Pirates SS Dick Groat (two-time All-American with Duke in 1950-51 and 1951-52 when finishing among nation's top five scorers each season) contributed two hits and two RBI for the N.L. and Washington Senators RHP Dave Stenhouse (three-time All-Yankee Conference selection for Rhode Island from 1952-53 through 1954-55) started for the A.L.

  • 2B Marv Breeding (Samford hooper in mid-1950s) traded by the Washington Senators to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1963.

  • Minnesota Twins 3B John Castino (medical redshirt for Rollins FL in 1973-74 under coach Ed Jucker) contributed four hits, including game-winning double in bottom of 10th inning off reliever Goose Gossage, in 2-1 victory against the New York Yankees in 1980.

  • In the midst of a career-high 12-game hitting streak, Pittsburgh Pirates 1B Donn Clendenon (four-sport letterman with Morehouse GA) manufactured four safeties against the Atlanta Braves in a 1968 game.

  • Philadelphia Athletics C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) went 4-for-4 with two homers and six RBI in an 8-5 win against the St. Louis Browns in 1931.

  • Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for Louisiana State and Southwestern Louisiana during World War II) fired as manager of the Cleveland Indians in 1971.

  • Philadelphia Phillies 2B Denny Doyle (averaged 2.7 ppg for Morehead State in 1962-63) went 4-for-4 against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1971 outing, triggering a nine-game hitting streak.

  • Detroit Tigers CF Hoot Evers (Illinois hoops starter in 1939-40) accumulated three hits and four runs against the Philadelphia Athletics in a 1948 contest.

  • New York Giants 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) collected five hits and four runs against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the nightcap of a 1923 twinbill.

  • In his initial MLB start, St. Louis Cardinals RHP Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer and rebounder in 1955-56 and 1956-57) posted his first of 251 career victories with #1 of 56 shutouts (1-0 against Cincinnati Reds in 1959).

  • In the midst of a career-high 13-game hitting streak, Oakland Athletics 3B Wayne Gross (Cal Poly Pomona assists leader in 1974-75) whacked two homers in an 11-1 win against the Toronto Blue Jays in 1980.

  • New York Giants OF Monte Irvin (Lincoln PA hooper 1 1/2 years in late 1930s) tied a N.L. record by grounding into three double plays against the Milwaukee Braves in a 1953 game.

  • Cleveland Indians DH David Justice (Thomas More KY assists leader in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg) jacked two homers against the Seattle Mariners in a 1998 contest.

  • Chicago White Sox RHP Vern Kennedy (Central Missouri State hooper in mid-1920s) won his 10th straight decision in 1936.

  • In 1991, Seattle Mariners LHP Bill Krueger (led WCAC in free-throw percentage as freshman en route to averaging 5.1 ppg for Portland from 1975-76 through 1979-80) collected his eighth triumph in nine decisions over a two-month span.

  • New York Giants RHP Christy Mathewson (Bucknell hooper at turn of 20th Century) had his 13-game winning streak snapped by the Pittsburgh Pirates, 3-1, in 1909. Three years earlier, Mathewson went 3-for-3 and scored two runs in 1906 outing against the Cincinnati Reds.

  • Washington Senators RF Sam Mele (NYU's leading scorer in 1943 NCAA playoffs) homered and provided four RBI in both ends of a 1950 doubleheader sweep against the St. Louis Browns.

  • Cleveland Indians RF Ed Morgan (Tulane hoops letterman from 1923-24 through 1925-26) contributed four hits against the Boston Red Sox in a 1929 outing.

  • New York Giants RF Red Murray (played hoops for Lock Haven PA in early 1900s) registered multiple hits in his seventh consecutive contest in 1909.

  • San Diego Padres 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) amassed two homers and five RBI against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1986 game.

  • St. Louis Cardinals C Don Padgett (freshman in 1934 with Lenoir-Rhyne NC excelled in multiple sports) provided four hits against the Boston Braves in a 1940 contest.

  • Chicago White Sox LHP Gary Peters (Grove City PA hooper in mid-1950s) faced only 29 batters in a 75-pitch, 6-0 shutout of the New York Yankees in 1966. Two years earlier, Peters hurled his third three-hit complete game this month en route to leading the A.L. with 20 victories in 1964.

  • Philadelphia Phillies LF Gary Redus (J.C. hooper for Athens AL and father of Centenary/South Alabama guard with same name) registered two doubles among his four hits against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1986 game.

  • Atlanta Braves RHP Ron Reed (Notre Dame's leading scorer and rebounder in 1964-65) hit safely in his sixth of six starts this month.

  • Philadelphia Phillies RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) spun his third shutout in a row en route to a N.L.-high five whitewashes in 1950.

  • Cleveland Indians LHP Joe Shaute (Mansfield PA hooper in early 1920s) went 3-for-3 in a 1927 game against eventual World Series champion New York Yankees. Shaute was in the midst of a streak hitting over .300 three times in a four-year span with at least 20 safeties.

  • Chicago Cubs SS Roy Smalley Jr. (one of top scorers for Drury MO in 1942-43 and 1943-44) collected five RBI, including a decisive two-run double in the bottom of the eighth inning, in a 7-6 triumph against the New York Giants in 1951.

  • Los Angeles Angels LHP Jack Spring (freshman hooper for Washington State in 1951-52) secured victory, triggering streak of 13 straight relief appearances without allowing an earned run.

  • San Diego Padres CF 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) contributed four safeties against the Cincinnati Reds in a 2009 game. Venable belted a homer for the first of three consecutive contests.

  • OF Randy Winn (Santa Clara backcourtmate of eventual two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash in 1993-94) traded by the Seattle Mariners to the San Francisco Giants in 2005. Two years earlier, Winn amassed two homers and six RBI against the Detroit Tigers in a 2003 game.

  • Boston Braves LHP Tom Zachary (Guilford NC hoops letterman in 1916) won his fifth game of the month in 1932.

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

Extra! Extra! Rather than waste brain cells trying to figure out leftist-lunatic "thinking" there should be widespread distribution of puberty blockers, transitioning males allowed to compete athletically against authentic females, access to abortion up until delivery, intrusive COVID passports, Plagiarist Biledumb serving as little more than a weatherman in discussions with hideous Hunter's corrupt business partners and free iphones/ID cards for illegal aliens but not "suppressive" soft-bigotry-of-low-expectations voter ID, 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 NYU hoopers Hank Greenberg and Sam Mele made MLB news on this date. Ditto a pair of ex-small college hoopers from Washington - Billy North (Central Washington) and Ray Washburn (Whitworth). Former small-school hoopers providing powerful performances for the Philadelphia Phillies included Ray Benge (Sam Houston State), Gene Freese (West Liberty WV) and Roy Smalley Jr. (Drury MO). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a July 29 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

JULY 29

  • Philadelphia Phillies RHP Ray Benge (multi-year hoops letterman for Sam Houston State first half of 1920s) hurled a five-hit shutout against the Chicago Cubs in 1931. It was his first of four complete-game victories in a three-week span.

  • Chicago White Sox rookie 1B Zeke Bonura (best basketball forward for Loyola LA in late 1920s and early 1930s) belted two homers in a 16-15 setback against the Detroit Tigers in 1934.

  • Minnesota Twins 2B John Castino (medical redshirt for Rollins FL in 1973-74 under coach Ed Jucker) contributed four hits, including decisive homer in bottom of eighth inning, in 4-3 win against the Seattle Mariners in 1983.

  • Philadelphia Athletics RHP Jack Coombs (captain and starting basketball center for Colby ME) posted his 10th victory of the month in 1910.

  • Los Angeles Dodgers RHP Roger Craig (forward with North Carolina State's 1949-50 freshman hoops team) secured his second shutout in a nine-day span in 1959. Three years later with the New York Mets, Craig lost his sixth straight decision during the month in 1962.

  • Chicago White Sox CF Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA hoops titlist) homered twice in the opener en route to knocking in eight runs in a 1956 doubleheader sweep of the Boston Red Sox.

  • OF Hoot Evers (hoops starter for Illinois in 1939-40) awarded on waivers from the New York Giants to the Detroit Tigers in 1954.

  • Philadelphia Phillies 3B Gene Freese (West Liberty WV hoops captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team) homered in his third consecutive contest in 1959.

  • Detroit Tigers 1B Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoops scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) banged out four hits against the New York Yankees in 1937. the next year, Greenberg blasted two homers for the third time in a four-game span in 1938.

  • San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-Western Athletic Conference second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) stroked three doubles against the New York Mets in a 1998 game.

  • New York Yankees LHP Steve Hamilton (All-OVC selection was Morehead State's leading scorer and rebounder in 1956-57 and 1957-58) notched a hold against the California Angels as he went unscored upon two months in a row covering 12 relief appearances in 1970.

  • Cleveland Indians 1B Mike Hargrove (Northwestern Oklahoma State hoops letterman) homered twice against the Seattle Mariners in a 1980 contest.

  • Brooklyn Robins rookie 1B Buddy Hassett (hooper for Manhattan team winning school-record 17 consecutive games in 1930 and 1931) collected four runs, two triples and five RBI against the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a 1936 doubleheader.

  • St. Louis Cardinals 2B Tommy Herr (hooper with Delaware's freshman team in 1974-75) went 4-for-4 in a 1987 outing against the New York Mets.

  • Los Angeles Dodgers RF Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection when leading Ohio State in scoring and rebounding in 1956-57 and 1957-58) homered in all five games of series against the San Francisco Giants closing out the month in 1962.

  • 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 Philadelphia Athletics in the nightcap of a 1954 twinbill.

  • Chicago Cubs 3B Vance Law (averaged 6.8 ppg for Brigham Young from 1974-75 through 1976-77) smacked two homers against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1988 game.

  • Cincinnati Reds RF Danny Litwhiler (member of JV hoops squad with Bloomsburg PA in mid-1930s) went 4-for-4 for the second time in an eight-game span in 1948.

  • Chicago White Sox P Joel Horlen, flirting with a no-hitter entering the ninth inning, wound up losing the game, 2-1, when OF Don Lock (Wichita State field-goal percentage leader in 1956-57 and 1957-58 under coach Ralph Miller) socked a homer for the Washington Senators in 1963. LF Chuck Hinton (played multiple sports for Shaw NC) broke up the no-hit bid with a one-out single in the ninth. The next year, Lock knocked in all of the Senators' runs with two homers in a 4-1 win against the Cleveland Indians.

  • St. Louis Cardinals rookie CF Bake McBride (averaged 12.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg in 21 games with Westminster MO in 1968-69 and 1969-70) posted his third three-hit game in a row in series against the Chicago Cubs in 1974.

  • OF Sam Mele (NYU's leading scorer in 1943 NCAA playoffs) awarded on waivers from the Baltimore Orioles to the Boston Red Sox in 1954.

  • Cleveland Indians 1B Ed Morgan (Tulane hoops letterman from 1923-24 through 1925-26) went 5-for-5 and chipped in with five RBI in a 14-7 win against the Detroit Tigers in 1929.

  • Oakland Athletics CF Billy North (played hoops briefly for Central Washington in 1967-68) collected four RBI in an 11-9 victory against the Chicago White Sox in 1974.

  • Kansas City Royals LF Lou Piniella (averaged 2.5 ppg and 1.4 rpg for Tampa as freshman in 1961-62) climaxed a career-high 18-game hitting streak with three safeties in 1971 contest against the Detroit Tigers.

  • RHP Paul Reuschel (Western Illinois' leading rebounder in 1966-67 with 15.2 per game) posted the save when the Cleveland Indians extended their winning streak to seven games with a 9-6 decision over the Chicago White Sox in 1979.

  • In 1963, Minnesota Twins rookie LHP Garry Roggenburk (Dayton's leading scorer three straight seasons from 1959-60 through 1961-62 grabbed school-record 32 rebounds in third varsity game) didn't allow an earned run in his first eight relief appearances of the month until the Red Sox tallied one earned run 4 2/3 innings against him.

  • Philadelphia Phillies SS Roy Smalley Jr. (one of top scorers for Drury MO in 1942-43 and 1943-44) snapped a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the eighth inning with his second of two triples against the Milwaukee Braves in a 1956 game.

  • St. Louis Cardinals RHP Ray Washburn (Whitworth WA leading scorer as All-Evergreen Conference pick in 1958-59 and 1959-60) won his seventh straight decision in 1968 with fifth victory of the month while compiling a 0.90 ERA over those last five starts.

  • Boston Red Sox C Sammy White (All-PCC Northern Division first-five selection for Washington in 1947-48 and 1948-49) went 4-for-4 in a 1959 contest against the Cleveland Indians.

  • Philadelphia Phillies CF Cy Williams (Notre Dame hoops forward in 1909-10) homered twice against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1923 outing.

  • In 2005, LF Randy Winn (Santa Clara backcourtmate of eventual two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash in 1993-94) manufactured four hits in his final game with the Seattle Mariners.

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

Extra! Extra! Is Commander or Cacklin' Kamala the Out House attack dog as VP exhibits fondness for fiery fleet of EV buses and repeats herself in stale canned speeches? Instead of debating whether she should apologize for her ancestors owning more than 120 slaves in Jamaica (according to her father), you can read all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former Duke versatile athletes Chubby Dean and Ace Parker join ex-small college hoopers Billy North (Central Washington) and Ossie Orwoll (Luther IA) in providing key MLB performances on this date for the Athletics' franchise. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a July 28 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

JULY 28

  • Cincinnati Reds CF Ethan Allen (Cincinnati basketball letterman in 1924-25 and 1925-26) went 4-for-4 in a 7-5 win against the Brooklyn Robins in nightcap of 1929 doubleheader.

  • 1B Donn Clendenon (hoops letterman for Morehouse GA) clobbered two homers en route to setting a New York Mets record by knocking in seven runs in 12-2 rout of the San Francisco Giants in 1970.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers rookie RHP Roger Craig (forward with North Carolina State's 1949-50 freshman hoops team) fanned 11 Cincinnati Reds batters to post his third MLB victory in as many starts in 1955.

  • Philadelphia Athletics rookie 1B Chubby Dean (reserve guard for Duke in 1936) delivered three hits for the second consecutive contest in 1936, raising his batting average to .345 through 55 games.

  • Detroit Tigers 1B Walt Dropo (first Connecticut player to average at least 20 ppg in single season with 21.7 in 1942-43) walloped two homers off starter Harry Schaeffer (four-year hoops letterman for East Stroudsburg PA second half of 1940s) in a 12-2 triumph against the New York Yankees in 1952. It was Schaeffer's debut and lone MLB decision.

  • Detroit Tigers 3B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) launched milestone 300th of his 414 MLB career homers.

  • Detroit Tigers CF Hoot Evers (Illinois hoops starter in 1939-40) contributed four hits against the Boston Red Sox in a 1948 contest.

  • Kansas City Royals rookie RHP Rich Gale (led New Hampshire with 7.2 rpg in 1975-76), improving his mark to 12-3, posted his fifth triumph of the month by tossing his third shutout in 1978.

  • New York Yankees 3B Mike Gazella (premier hooper for undefeated Mansfield PA hoops squad in 1918) went 3-for-3 in a 9-4 win against the St. Louis Browns in 1927.

  • Detroit Tigers 1B Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoop scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) stroked four hits against the Cleveland Indians in a 1935 game.

  • Philadelphia Phillies 2B Tommy Herr (hooper with Delaware's freshman team in 1974-75) secured two extra-base hits among his four safeties in the opener of 1989 twinbill against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

  • Washington Senators rookie OF Gary Holman (Southern California hoops letterman in 1962-63) delivered career-high three hits against the Boston Red Sox in a 1968 outing.

  • 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) furnished six RBI in an 8-6 win against the Cincinnati Reds in 1960.

  • 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 milestone 300th of his 305 MLB career homers.

  • New York Yankees LF Charlie Keller (Maryland three-year hoops letterman from 1934-35 through 1936-37) cracked three homers against the Chicago White Sox in the opener of a 1940 twinbill. Keller went yard only once more in the remaining 58 games of campaign.

  • RHP Vern Kennedy (Central Missouri State hooper in mid-1920s) purchased from the Cleveland Indians by Philadelphia Phillies in 1944.

  • Toronto Blue Jays RHP Dave Lemanczyk (averaged 4.5 ppg and 3.5 rpg from 1969-70 through 1971-72 on couple of NCAA College Division Tournament teams for Hartwick NY) registered his third shutout in 1979, blanking his former team (Detroit Tigers), 3-0.

  • CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) traded by the Chicago White Sox to the San Francisco Giants in 2002.

  • Chicago White Sox RHP Ted Lyons (two-time All-SWC first-team selection for Baylor in early 1920s) tied a MLB record with two doubles in a 10-run second inning en route to a 14-6 decision over the St. Louis Browns in opener of 1935 doubleheader.

  • Oakland Athletics CF Billy North (played four basketball games with Central Washington in 1967-68) made an unassisted double play against the Kansas City Royals in a 1973 contest.

  • Kansas City Royals 1B Bob Oliver (All-Valley Conference basketball choice for American River Community College CA in 1962) belted two homers, including go-ahead, two-run blast in top of the ninth inning, in a 7-6 win against the Detroit Tigers in 1970.

  • Philadelphia Athletics rookie 1B Ossie Orwoll (Luther IA hooper in first half of 1920s), raising his batting average to .390, manufactured four hits against the St. Louis Browns in a 1928 game.

  • Philadelphia Athletics rookie SS Ace Parker (Duke hoops letterman in 1935-36) provided a career-high three hits and four RBI in 11-7 win against the Cleveland Indians in 1937.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers INF Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in PCC both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) went on a 12-for-25 spurt en route to capturing the 1949 N.L. batting title.

  • Boston Red Sox RF Arlie Tarbert (Ohio State hoops letterman in 1924-25 and 1925-26) collected a career-high two hits in a 3-0 win against the Cleveland Indians in opener of 1927 doubleheader.

  • In the midst of a career-high 20-game hitting streak, St. Louis Cardinals 1B Bill White (two-year hooper with Hiram OH in early 1950s) doubled in his fourth consecutive contest in 1964.

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

Extra! Extra! Rather than wonder if narcissistic flim-flam First Son "Have You No Shame?" Hunter has transitioned from smartest guy human pandemic Plagiarist Biledumb knows amid suspicious activity reports to best aging juvenile painter hair-sniffing Mr. Clarity knows (although cute granddaughter sired by hideous grifter with former college hooper-turned-stripper probably is as competent as artist despite "the big guy" never hugging her and likely not knowing little one's name), 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 Frankie Frisch (Fordham), Wally Moon (Texas A&M) and Ray Washburn (Whitworth WA) supplied significant MLB performances on this date for the St. Louis Cardinals. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a July 27 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

JULY 27

  • Milwaukee Brewers LHP Rick Austin (member of Washington State's freshman basketball team in 1965-66) didn't allow an earned run in his first nine relief appearances of the month in 1975.

  • RHP Ray Benge (multi-year hoops letterman for Sam Houston State first half of 1920s) awarded off waivers to the Philadelphia Phillies from Boston Bees in 1936.

  • Chicago Cubs RHP Ray Burris (basketball standout in Southwestern Oklahoma State Hall of Fame) capped off a streak of six straight winning starts in 1976 with his second shutout in that span.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers RHP Roger Craig (forward with North Carolina State's 1949-50 freshman hoops team) hurled one of his four shutouts in 1959.

  • St. Louis Cardinals 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) contributed four hits against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1933 contest.

  • In an 8-0 victory against the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-Western Athletic Conference second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) secured five hits in a game for the third time in the 1993 campaign.

  • Los Angeles LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman hoops squad in 1953-54) fanned 16 Philadelphia Phillies in 11 innings before the Dodgers prevailed in 16 frames, 2-1, in 1966.

  • Boston Red Sox rookie OF Joe Lahoud (hoops letterman for New Haven CT) hammered a two-run homer in the top of the 20th inning in a 5-3 win at Seattle in 1969.

  • Toronto Blue Jays DH Rick Leach (averaged 15.5 ppg for Michigan's junior varsity team in 1975-76) singled in the go-ahead run in a 10-8 triumph against the Boston Red Sox in 1987.

  • Washington Senators CF Don Lock (Wichita State field-goal percentage leader in 1956-57 and 1957-58 under coach Ralph Miller) launched back-to-back homers and had five RBI in an 8-4 victory against the Detroit Tigers in 1963.

  • CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling a 35-3 record) traded by the Texas Rangers to the Cleveland Indians in 2007.

  • Cleveland Indians RF Bake McBride (averaged 12.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg in 21 games with Westminster MO in 1968-69 and 1969-70) went 4-for-4 against the Kansas City Royals in a 1983 game.

  • In the ninth inning against the California Angels, New York Yankees SS Gene Michael (Kent State's leading scorer with 14 ppg in 1957-58) pulled the hidden-ball trick for the second time in six weeks in 1970.

  • St. Louis Cardinals rookie CF Wally Moon (averaged 4.3 ppg with Texas A&M in 1948-49 and 1949-50) manufactured four hits for the third time in a 17-game span in 1954.

  • Philadelphia Phillies RHP Bobby Munoz (scored 35 points for Polk Community College FL in game against Palm Beach in mid-November 1986) hurled a two-hitter in 3-1 win against the Florida Marlins for his seventh victory in eight decisions during stretch of strike-shortened season.

  • LF Greasy Neale (hooper graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan College in 1915) supplied three of the Cincinnati Reds' eight stolen bases in a 14-5 triumph against the Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a 1918 doubleheader.

  • In 1940, Chicago White Sox RHP Johnny Rigney (starting center with St. Thomas MN in 1932-33 and 1933-34) registered three hits at the plate for second time in last three starts.

  • Chicago Cubs LF Riggs Stephenson (Alabama hoops letterman in 1920) incurred a season-ending broken ankle stepping on first base against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1931.

  • Chicago White Sox rookie 3B Billy Sullivan Jr. (Portland hoops letterman in 1927-28) collected three hits and four RBI in an 8-7 victory against the New York Yankees in opener of 1931 twinbill.

  • St. Louis Cardinals RHP Ray Washburn (Whitworth WA leading scorer as All-Evergreen Conference pick in 1958-59 and 1959-60) won for the fifth time in as many starts during the month in 1966.

  • New York Yankees LHP Ed Wells (multi-sport athlete for Bethany WV in early 1920s) provided two safeties in all three of his starts this month in 1931. Two years later with the St. Louis Browns, Wells assembled a six-game hitting streak.

  • Chicago White Sox 2B Frank Whitman (one of leading scorers with Eureka IL as freshman in 1942-43) stroked a single for his lone MLB hit (against New York Yankees in 1946).

  • New York Yankees RF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) collected two homers and five RBI for the second time in a five-game span in 1988. Seven years as a DH for the Cleveland Indians in 1995, he walloped his final of 465 MLB career round-trippers.

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

Extra! Extra! Instead of wondering why Out House halted construction of gas-costs saving Keystone XL pipeline linking U.S. with Canada while simultaneously emboldening Russia by allowing pipeline connecting Communists to Germany (hideous First Son Hunter must have multi-tasked during his primitive painting-by-sniffing by serving as energy-expert consultant for both rotten executive orders by Plagiarist "Suspicious Activity" Biledumb), you can read 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 Duke hoops All-Americans Dick Groat and Billy Werber went a combined 9-for-9 as infielders in MLB games on this date. Ex-Fordham hoopers Frankie Frisch and Babe Young plus ex-juco hoopers Bob Oliver (American River CA), Jim Perry (Campbell NC) and Tony Phillips (New Mexico Military) also made MLB news on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a July 26 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

JULY 26

  • Philadelphia Phillies LF Morrie Arnovich (Wisconsin-Superior hooper in early 1930s) went 4-for-4 in a 3-1 setback against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1939.

  • Chicago Cubs 2B Glenn Beckert (three-year hoops letterman for Allegheny PA) banged out five straight hits in a 7-6 decision over the Atlanta Braves in nightcap of a 1970 doubleheader.

  • Cleveland Indians SS Lou Boudreau (leading scorer for Illinois' 1937 Big Ten Conference co-champion) went 4-for-4 against the Washington Senators in a 1940 game.

  • In midst of career-high 13-game hitting streak, Minnesota Twins 3B John Castino (medical redshirt for Rollins FL in 1973-74 under coach Ed Jucker) knocked in winning run in bottom of ninth inning in 6-5 win against the Milwaukee Brewers in 1983.

  • After incurring a 13-3 defeat against the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox RHP Gene Conley (All-PCC first-team selection led North Division in scoring in 1949-50 as Washington State sophomore) and teammate Pumpsie Green mysteriously disappeared in 1962. Conley wanted to fly to Israel and went to the airport but was denied a ticket because he didn't have a visa.

  • OF Billy Cowan (hoops co-captain of Utah's 1960 NCAA playoff team) purchased from the New York Yankees by the California Angels in 1969.

  • RHP Skip Dowd (12 field goals in January 1909 set Holy Cross single-game record standing for 41 years until broken by All-American Bob Cousy) purchased from the Pittsburgh Pirates by Indianapolis (American Association).

  • Boston Red Sox C Rick Ferrell (played forward for Guilford NC before graduating in 1928) stroked four hits against the Detroit Tigers in a 1934 contest.

  • Chicago White Sox 3B Gene Freese (West Liberty WV hoops captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team) collected five hits (including three for extra bases), four runs and four RBI against the Boston Red Sox in a 1960 game.

  • Acting St. Louis Cardinals manager Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) contributed four hits but they weren't enough to prevent a 6-5 setback at Boston in the nightcap of 1930 twinbill against the Braves.

  • New York Giants LHP Johnny Gee (Michigan hoops captain was Big Ten Conference's sixth-leading scorer in 1936-37) hurled a complete-game, 3-2 win against the Cincinnati Reds in 1946.

  • St. Louis Cardinals RHP Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer with 22 ppg in 1955-56) belted a grand slam in 1973 contest against the New York Mets.

  • Chicago White Sox CF Mark Gilbert (Florida State hooper in 1974-75 under coach Hugh Durham) smacked a two-run double - his lone MLB extra-base hit - off Dennis Martinez to help fuel comeback in 9-8 triumph against the Baltimore Orioles in 1985.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates rookie SS Dick Groat (two-time All-Ameican with Duke in 1950-51 and 1951-52 when finishing among nation's top five scorers each season) ended an 0-for-19 slump by going 5-for-5 in 6-4 win against the Boston Braves in 1952.

  • New York Mets CF Jim Hickman (freshman hooper for Ole Miss in 1955-56) homered in both ends of a 1964 doubleheader against the Milwaukee Braves.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) knocked in five runs against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1958 game.

  • 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) homered in his third consecutive contest against the California Angels in 1970. Three years later with the Detroit Tigers, Howard connected for round-trippers in both at-bats against the Boston Red Sox in a 1973 contest.

  • Atlanta Braves 2B Davey Johnson (averaged 1.7 ppg with Texas A&M in 1961-62) homered in both ends of a 1973 twinbill split against the Cincinnati Reds.

  • New York Yankees LF Charlie Keller (Maryland three-year hoops letterman from 1934-35 through 1936-37) clobbered two homers against the Detroit Tigers in a 1942 game.

  • New York Giants LF Hank Leiber (Arizona hooper in 1931) started a fourth-inning triple play with a brilliant catch near the wall in 5-4 verdict over the Cincinnati Reds in 1936.

  • New York Giants RHP Christy Mathewson (Bucknell hooper at turn of 20th Century) won his 21st consecutive contest from the Cincinnati Reds in 1911.

  • Philadelphia Phillies rookie 2B Moon Mullen (backup guard for Oregon's legendary "Tall Firs" team winning inaugural NCAA tourney in 1939) manufactured four straight safeties in a 1944 game against the St. Louis Cardinals.

  • In the midst of a career-high 15-game hitting streak in 1973, Oakland Athletics CF Billy North (played briefly for Central Washington in 1967-68) supplied multiple safeties for the sixth time in last nine outings.

  • 1B Bob Oliver (All-Valley Conference basketball choice for American River Community College CA in 1962) drove in all of the Kansas City Royals' runs in a 6-5 setback against the Cleveland Indians in opener of 1970 doubleheader.

  • Cleveland Indians rookie RHP Jim Perry (averaged more than 20 ppg in late 1950s for former juco Campbell) fired a two-hit shutout against the Washington Senators in opener of 1959 twinbill.

  • Chicago White Sox LHP Gary Peters (Grove City PA hooper from 1955-57) pounded out three hits, including a three-run homer, in opener of 1964 twinbill against the Minnesota Twins.

  • Detroit Tigers RF Tony Phillips (New Mexico Military juco hooper in 1977-78 as teammate of eventual Drake All-American Lewis Lloyd) banged out four hits in a 1992 game against the California Angels.

  • Baltimore Orioles RF Ken Singleton (Hofstra freshman hoops squad in mid-1960s) knocked in five runs against the Seattle Mariners in a 1979 game.

  • INF Jay Ward (McKendree IL hooper in 1956-57 before concentrating solely on pro baseball) traded by the Los Angeles Dodgers to Minnesota Twins in 1962.

  • Kansas City Royals C John Wathan (averaged 3.7 ppg in 11 games for San Diego in 1968-69) provided his fifth consecutive multiple-hit game in 1980.

  • Boston Red Sox 3B Billy Werber (first Duke hoops All-American in 1929-30) went 4-for-4 against the Detroit Tigers in a 1934 contest.

  • 1B Babe Young (Fordham hoops letterman in 1935-36) traded by the Cincinnati Reds to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1948.

Justice K: From Yale Benchwarmer to "Warming" Leftist Lunatic Heartthrobs

The progressive pestilence probably will be party to super-spreader combination of enduring COVID-19 confinement and coast-to-coast "righteous" riots as we eventually endure demonic #Dimorat "Borking" demonstrations again after assassination attempt on Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Many observers, particularly those with functioning brains, believe basketball-connected survivor Kavanaugh - a first-in-his-class student from first-class family - doesn't deserve to be run out of steakhouse restaurant by progressive puke. Apparently sidetracked by latest round of "collusion" involving Donald Trump, why hasn't DOJ enforced a federal law prohibiting intimidation of Supreme Court Justices? Is AG Merrick Garland sitting on his hands on that and thoroughly investigating hideous Hunter as retribution for those on other side of aisle previously rejecting him as a nominee or participating in offering bounty for location of conservatives?

Orange-man impeachment-obsessed dissenters, the woke-manipulating "mob" from left ignited by New York Slimes' contrived commentary, tried to portray Kavanaugh as old/white/man equivalent of Bill Cosby wannabee or Otis Campbell, the town drunk in fictitious Mayberry, N.C., on TV sitcom The Andy Griffith Show including dopey Obie director Ron Howard. In summation, to what extent did athletic participation possibly supply Yale graduate Kavanaugh with the guile and tenacity to Bull-doggedly compete against obscene opponents such as creepy porn lawyer #Avenaughty and multiple smear-merchant #Dimorat presidential candidates? Do self-anointed geniuses from press pestilence at CNN and MSNBC, irrationally demanding donning of masks as if we all were Muslim women needing hijabs, still "feel" #Avenaughty should have run for POTUS? Will anal anchors call NYC's tattle-tale line if someone disagrees?

Taking their defamation cue from uncivil #ShrillaryRotten, myopic #MaxMaxine, "prayerful"/spark-of-divinity (of criminal illegal aliens)/punch-drunk (for the children) #NannyPathetic, evolving chameleon Cursin' Kirsten Gillibrand, socialist legislative genius/gaffe machine/DNC dues deadbeat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, PTSD-afflicted Omar, Dominican Republic villa-loving Robert Menendez and fake squaw Lie-alotta (Elizabeth Warren), libnut panels decried former President Trump apologizing to Justice K. But Kavanaugh boasts more honor and integrity in his appendage "pesky" Jimmy Kimmel wants severed than #Hollyweird, #MessMedia, Yale law school graduate #SickWillie, #Demonrats on Senate Judiciary Committee and pink-cap protestor puke collectively accrue. While wondering how much more Liz and Bernie can give us, it was too bad #TheDonald couldn't tell majority of leftist mob that "You're Fired!" before public-shaming scumbags shifted their ire to Kanye West when rapper/evangelist wandered off their polluted plantation or anyone disputed hoax assembled by incandescent imbeciles linked to Fusion GPS.

Dr. Fraudci's orchestrated testimony completely devoid of corroborative evidence (a/k/a credibility) and acceptance of GoFundMe donations ($647,610) appealed only to progressive blockade manned by ships of fools including ACLU bestowing Courage Award upon her. How many card-carrying members of the faith-demonizing fourth-rate estate have utilized basic tenets of journalism (Who? What? When? Why? Where?) to "judge" her Christine-come-lately assertions of incidents occurring decades ago? Is afraid-of-flying "Blaze" a political activist-turned-actress who knew nothing about polygraphs? While Kavanaugh's adorable 10-year-old daughter prayed for forlorn accuser violated principally by her purported proponents from whom unlicensed psychologist sought anonymity, 10 truly deplorable #Demonrat swamp-creature vermin on Committee preyed on the youngster's fine family.

Facts are Kavanaugh's college days included playing for JV squad and genesis of his extra-judicial writing stems from serving as a wordsmith for Yale Daily News sports department. Then-sports editor Dan Levy said Kavanaugh's drafts were dry, but thorough, and editors "were very happy to have someone reliable covering a big sport like basketball (in 1985-86)." He is certainly more familiar with thoroughness and reliability than Yale political-elite failures and media misfits Chris "CNN Fredo" Cuomo, Professor Pamela "Brain Barren" Karlan, Amy Klobuchar, Paul "Computer Hacked" Krugman and Ben "Elevator" Sasse. What phony Midwestern values did Klobuchar exhibit treating her staff when she finally saw writing on the wall and exited presidential race?

Disoriented from inhaling too much of Eric "The Grate" Swalwell's farting after him eating too much Chinese food post-excursions with Chinese "Check-her-out" spy, it's too bad today's lame-stream press puke covering big stories is so unreliable as journalistic jackals and anal analysts across the country looked under every rock, yearbook blurb and piece of ice for anything negative to brutalize Kavanaugh and his family. The "ene-media" bile encouraged rage and revenge over Justice K, who may need to switch benevolence gears and offer brain-cell injections to the witless (misguided media and putrid politicians) rather than serving meals to the homeless. Why hasn't Yale grad Bob Woodward defended his alma mater's honor by setting the record straight on Kavanaugh via authoring more award-winning investigative prose? Wordsmith Woodward must be in the woods wired for wispy words from wicked Yale Law School grad #ShrillaryRotten, the Marine wannabe ass who grotesquely assassinated character of Army veteran Tulsi Gabbard by claiming Major in National Guard is a Russian asset. California man accused of attempting to murder Kavanaugh left a paper trail of internet "assassin skills" research before showing up outside the judge's Maryland home.

At the conclusion of 1985-86 season, Tom Brennan departed Yale to eventually become Vermont's all-time winningest coach. In Kavanaugh's final post for the Daily News, he noted the mentor "left amidst a storm of controversy that included team disunity and doubts about his coaching ability." Justice K endured excessive disunity and doubts from Super Sleuth #Swinestein, fake soldier Blumenthal, Leaker Leahy, Turban "Fake White House Meetings" Durbin, Groper Booker with fake Newark friend T-Bone serving as Jiminy Cricket-like chip on his shoulder and #SanFranFreakshow's laughing hyena Kamala "What Can Sugar Daddy Willie Brown Do For Me?" Harris. It wouldn't be surprising if Kavanaugh's latest calendar includes a similar "Sinator" assessment and that he "left (hearing) questioning amidst a storm of controversy including Committee disunity and doubts about George Soros-loving Democrats' mental stability (especially Yale graduates Blumenthal and Booker; neither of whom bright enough to discern who left brown tread marks in their underwear during a Spartacus moment)." Meanwhile, haughty henchwoman Hirono is so obsessed with sexual assault that perhaps she can divulge which of her colleagues benefitted from Congressional slush fund.

In college, Kavanaugh described a Bulldogs' defeat against DIII Clark MA as "one of worst showings in years" and "embarrassing." Coupled with another non-DI opponent defeat against Trinity CT, Yale hoops seemed as inept as Justice K-hating media flushing due process down the toilet. "I do remember he was a happy kid, a nice kid," Brennan told Yahoo Sports after keeping him off the Elis' varsity bench. "You'd have thought he was a freshman at Auburn, not Yale. He was happy all the time. All those (Yale) people had furrowed brows. I didn't meet many happy people at Yale." The unhappy throng probably resembles unseemly leftist exploitation of children and aging actress (Hanoi Jane) during climate-change protests (including nixing Thanksgiving) plus Tweet stupidity of meddlesome Mitt "Pierre Delecto" Romney with his Mormon special underwear on a mite too tight.

Chris Dudley, a three-time All-Ivy League first-team selection, said he regularly drank with Kavanaugh but "never, ever saw him blacked out" drunk. Dudley's description deviates from teammate Charles "Chad" Ludington, a seldom-used forward (1.1 ppg from 1983-84 through 1986-87) who said he often drank with Kavanaugh and that the ex-beat man "has not told the truth."

In a he-said/he-said standoff, do you believe Dudley or Ludington? In typical "unbiased" fashion, USA Today devoted more than 12 times as many words in one article to Ludington's view than to Dudley's stance. USA Today probably feels it deserves an award for objectivity because the negative-to-positive ratio of stories on Kavanaugh across the country was 15:1. How long before USA Today and #BSLSD possibly editorialize that remaining "vulnerable" left-leaning ladies Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomoyor (first Hispanic and Latina Justice received J.D. from Yale Law School) deserve extra Supreme Court security because Justice K is near them with ice in his veins, solo-cup drinks and male basketball tales? Ludington's perspective portrayed Kavanaugh in such a negative light that the Justice seemed to be worthy of becoming hazing member of Kentucky's cheerleading squad.

Since Ludington is also from left-infested academia (associate professor of history at North Carolina State), odds are he uses vulnerable adolescent-sounding voice to try to win friends and influence enemies (with aversion to evaluating genuine evidence). Amid all of the wild speculation, perhaps Ludington still bears a grudge that Kavanaugh didn't author a story clamoring for him to get more playing time. Seems as if Ludington, who said he couldn't sleep for days, should don some googly eyes glasses and be a mite more closer-to-home concerned about NCSU, the most penalized ACC school in NCAA history, never again duplicating recruiting scholars such as Jim Valvano's most sought-after prospect (Chris Washburn of 470 SAT score fame), versatile Charles Shackleford credited with claim he could shoot with either hand because he was "amphibious" or illicit sneaker-related payment this decade to lure Dennis Smith Jr. to try to revive David Thompson glory years. Let's hope Ludington didn't have former Wolfpack frontcourter J.J. Hickson use a knife as a Southern student preparing vittles in "A Global History of American Food" course years before Hickson was charged with armed robbery while reportedly wielding knife in home invasion in the Atlanta metropolitan area.

DC Swamp-based USA Today, with its print edition understandably on life support, also carried a disgusting sports column about whether Kavanaugh should continue coaching a girls' basketball team, outrageously adding pedophilia angle to sorry saga. USELESS Today, leaning as far left as church-taxing Beto the Bozo and rooftop-dancing bartender AOC, probably thinks desperate columnist Kirsten Powers, former flame of disgraced Demonrat Congressman Anthony Weiner, should be giving dating tips to Kavanaugh-coached hoops squad and perhaps fellow lefty lunatic/#NannyPathetic Left Coast Fav Katie "Throuple" Hill (D-Calif.). Powers' fascination with #CarlosDanger exhibited as much wisdom as Beto's juvenile fantasy about confiscating guns with tough-guy approach comparable to hack(er)'s short story gunning car engine running over children. His "a-dolt" short story or song for grunge band likely is fantasizing about running over Christians in general with "courageous" Mayor Pete as sidekick.

What's next amid Yale grad John "Lurch" Kerry's climate-change claptrap and Yale students protesting free speech? Will USELESS Today blame Kavanaugh for Dudley's dismal free-throw shooting (51.2% with Yale; 45.8% in 16-year NBA career) and torturing his girls' basketball team 10 weekends by having Dudley serve as their charity-stripe instructor if they didn't join him in his Catholic Charities' volunteer work? This is a vital inquiry; especially when taking bags of ice to high school and college students might be at stake to help revive them from hangovers and excessive flatulence or headache stress connected to intense FBI interviews for anyone with a pulse and tall tale to tell and sell to the left. Exhibit A for juvenile foul shooting from the "petty parody" hip is Supreme stupidity exhibited by Congressman Adam Schiff-ty during his Russian collusion pranking as nauseous as any underhanded intimidation conducted by pathetic progressives coupled with compromised bug-eyed "Sack of Schiff" cowardly and falsely claiming his committee did not speak in advance to a biased hearsay whistle-blower.

After the "Swet-hog" venom partially orchestrated by creepy porn lawyer Anal Avenatti, while also working himself to the bone(r) for stripper Stormy, dried up when exposed to purifying light, Kavanaugh prevailed because he is more strong-willed and infinitely smarter than unhinged leftists impaired by cow farting. Justice K's supreme traits take you to the top of your class and pinnacle of your profession. As a result, right-thinking individuals are now positioned to drink "American Stout" beer and throw elephant-shaped confetti plus perhaps idealistic ice to celebrate Justice K's backbone enduring this abuse. Meanwhile, smear-merchant foes can cry in their loser lager figuring out how to pay #TheDonald's legal fees after #Avenaughty's firm was evicted and shake in their bellicose boots about someone eventually connecting the dots on what the Obama Administration NSA Susan "Dirty" Rice meant about "do everything by the book." Is that the same blow-hard book (Wanna bet if it contains name of Ukraine-call CIA-connected alleged Yalie corridor gossip boasting Russian Studies major and/or his coup-obsessed attorney?) let alone internet video Rice misled nation about as then UN Ambassador in 2012 when weighing in on Sunday talk shows about terrorist attack on diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya? Perhaps Kavanaugh didn't write enough glowing articles about Rice's brother when guard was a Yale undergraduate. Did #DirtyRice, becoming more unglued as a probe into the handling of the Russia investigation rose to level of criminal inquiry, also call Kavanaugh "a piece of s_it" like #Demonrat chronic liar despicably proclaimed about Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC)? It's a small world after all! John Rice, sibling of Netflix member of board of directors (cashing in by tagging along with Obamas), was runner-up for the Elis in scoring, assists, steals and FG% as a senior in 1987-88. Compare the female job performances as U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. of ruthless "unmasking" Dirty Rice and Samantha Power (another Yale grad) to the dignity demonstrated by Nikki Haley. No word whether the Obamas and Rice approved of Netflix's child-exploiting "Cuties" movie, which was clearly a piece of spit.

Inebriated or not, the ceremonial lead prosecutor of press protocol should fire myriad of #MessMedia members failing to "blow whistle" on Hunter Biledumb, who received law degree from Kavanaugh's old stomping grounds (Yale). Right campus; wrong guy probed since Arkansas woman/GWU student's claim that DNA testing confirmed he fathered her baby. Does creepy Grandpa know name of granddaughter as well as he knows more than a dozen of hideous Hunter's suspect overseas business associates? Discharged from the Navy Reserve in 2014 after testing positive for cocaine, the petty Plagiarist's ne'er-do-well son with no background in private equity or energy magically became Ukrainian gas production "expert" worth $83,333 a month. Beneficiary of credit-card booty at least boasted the resources to carry on romantic relationship with his sister-in-law while ex-wife claimed in court filing during divorce proceedings he was "spending extravagantly on his own interests including drugs, alcohol, prostitutes, strip clubs, and gifts for women with whom he has sexual relations." By the way, did lapdog offspring leave his "corrupted" laptop at computer repair shop before or after latest lap-dance? Hair-sniffing Joe "You're Full of Spit" Biden, during his 36 years of braggadocio in the Senate, contributed to crafting anti-drug legislation among the strictest during the 1980s and 1990s. But drug reform advocates contend his own children (including daughter Ashley) were able to circumvent brunt of these laws due to double standard favoring white and wealthy featuring kiddos exhibiting expertise principally in sniffing white powder. We should listen to Biledumb and his "Binder Babe" press secretary as much as he and cover girl "Dr." Jill hug seventh grandchild (cute girl Navy from rural Arkansas). Perhaps the First Couple will attempt to patch things up with her by putting little one in charge of one of numerous shell corporations shielding funds via off-shore accounts.

In regard to exposing naked truth, self-revered Regular Joe regularly indulged in skinny-dipping in his pool according to skinny on him from female Secret Service agents who found his behavior "offensive" as described in book The First Family Detail. Let's hope hairy-legged Quid Pro Quo Joe's hands-on approach issuing boastful answers to bright/articulate/clean "right questions" concerning any Con(stitutional) corruption don't reek again of plagiarism like Lying Liz lifting "crabby" recipe in Pow Wow Chow cookbook. Getting in line behind Canadian Prime Minister for an Obama endorsement while his finger-licking-good puppeteer spouse props him up similar to a marionette, buffoonish Biden should keep "entertaining" the nation with Tara Reede abuse explanations, super predator racial-jungle dialogue and resurrecting "The Big Guy's" disconcerting bathhouse dialogue/softball town-hall questions with CNN haughty host Anderson Pooper around the same period an authentic whistle-blower turned the tables via inside job on the shameless "Most Distrusted Name in News." Will anyone among #MessMedia focus on how in hell miserly #HidenBiden "earned" $11 million in 2017 if not in business with his offensive offspring or his pathetic performances as Judiciary Committee chairman of Robert Bork and Clarence Thomas hearings before Ginsburg was appointed to Supreme Court about a quarter century before #AudacityofHype inquired about aging Ginsburg departing early to install a younger leftist Justice? "C'mon man!"

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

Extra! Extra! Instead of debating whether first "positive results" of Plagiarist Biledumb's tenure could have been avoided by a sixth, seventh or eighth COVID jab from Dr. Fraudci or the Scarf Lady, you might want to 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 Alabama hoopers Riggs Stephenson and Jim Tabor each contributed four hits in a MLB game on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a July 25 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

JULY 25

  • Joey Amalfitano (Loyola Marymount hooper in 1952-53) became manager of the Chicago Cubs in 1980.

  • OF Ken Berry (freshman hooper for Wichita in 1959-60) belted a game-winning, two-run homer in bottom of 16th inning to give the Chicago White Sox a 6-5 success against the Cleveland Indians in 1967.

  • In his second MLB start, California Angels 1B Bruce Bochte (starting forward for Santa Clara's NCAA playoff team in 1969-70 when averaging 7.4 ppg and 4 rpg) banged out four hits against the Kansas City Royals in a 1974 game.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers RHP Ralph Branca (sixth-leading scorer for NYU in 1943-44) banged out two hits at the plate in his third straight start in 1948.

  • Detroit Tigers 1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in WAC games in 1991-92) homered from each side of the plate for the second time in 1999 season in a 9-1 triumph against the Boston Red Sox.

  • LHP Patrick Corbin (hooper for Mohawk Valley Community College NY in 2007-08) traded by the Los Angeles Angels to Arizona Diamondbacks in 2010.

  • In first inning (seventh) of his lone MLB game, Chicago White Sox C Bill "Dutch" Fehring (teammate of hoop All-Americans Norm Cottom, Ed Shaver and John Wooden averaged 4.7 ppg for Purdue from 1931-32 through 1933-34) tagged out New York Yankees Hall of Fame 1B Lou Gehrig attempting an inside-the-park homer in 1934.

  • Los Angeles Dodgers RF Joe Ferguson (hooper in 1967 NCAA playoffs with Pacific) knocked in five runs against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1979 contest.

  • Philadelphia Athletics RF Walt French (hoops letterman for Rutgers and Army) supplied four hits against the Detroit Tigers in a 1927 outing.

  • St. Louis Cardinals rookie SS Charlie Gelbert (scored at least 125 points each of last three seasons in late 1920s for Lebanon Valley PA) went 4-for-4 against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1929 game.

  • RF David Justice (Thomas More KY assists leader in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg) jacked a home run to account for the Atlanta Braves' lone hit and game's only run in a 1-0 victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1992.

  • San Francisco Giants rookie RHP Frank Linzy (listed on Oklahoma State's freshman hoops roster in 1959-60) posted his third of back-to-back-to-back saves in 1965 against the Milwaukee Braves featuring a lineup including Henry Aaron/Joe Torre/Eddie Mathews.

  • Boston Red Sox 1B Tony Lupien (Harvard hoops captain in 1938-39) went 5-for-6, including three extra-base hits, in a 9-8 win against the Louis Browns in 1942.

  • Cleveland Indians rookie 1B Ed Morgan (Tulane hoops letterman from 1923-24 through 1925-26) manufactured five RBI in a 15-5 win against the Boston Red Sox in the nightcap of a 1928 doubleheader.

  • Detroit Tigers RF Jim Northrup (second-leading scorer and third-leading rebounder for Alma MI in 1958-59) launched two homers against the Washington Senators in a 1968 contest.

  • New York Yankees rookie LHP Dennis Rasmussen (sixth-man for Creighton averaged 5.1 ppg from 1977-78 through 1979-80) blanked the Milwaukee Brewers over seven innings en route to one of his six straight winning decisions in 1984.

  • Seattle Mariners RF Leon Roberts (grabbed one rebound in four basketball games for Michigan in 1970-71 under coach Johnny Orr) lashed a decisive two-run homer in top of ninth inning in 4-2 win against the Toronto Blue Jays in 1978.

  • Philadelphia Phillies RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) fired the second of back-to-back shutouts in 1951.

  • OF Dave Robertson (one of two reserves on North Carolina State's first basketball team in 1911) traded by the New York Giants to Chicago Cubs in 1919.

  • Cleveland Indians 2B Freddy Spurgeon (Kalamazoo MI hooper in 1921-22) stroked four hits against the St. Louis Browns in 1926. The next year, Spurgeon extended his career-high hitting streak to 14 games in a row.

  • Chicago Cubs INF-OF Riggs Stephenson (Alabama hoops letterman in 1920) contributed four hits in a 9-5 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1930.

  • Cleveland Indians C Billy Sullivan Jr. (Portland hoops letterman in 1927-28) collected four safeties against the Philadelphia Athletics in a 1936 contest.

  • Cincinnati Reds rookie LF Evar Swanson (played all five positions for Knox IL) went 5-for-6 against the Boston Braves in a 1929 outing.

  • Boston Red Sox 3B Jim Tabor (Alabama hoops letterman in 1936-37) blasted two homers against the Chicago White in a 1940 game and the Cleveland Indians in a 1941 contest. In a 1944 outing, Tabor went 4-for-4 against the Detroit Tigers.

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

Extra! Extra! Rather than instructions retrieving illegal firearm, extracting pervert from ritzy hotel with latest hooker or tracking down daughter's inappropriate diary, Plagiarist Biledumb could go long way to preventing monkey-pox from spreading in U.S. by issuing executive order for Secret Service/FBI/personal attorney to help keep hideous Hunter's snake in his pants in order for appendage not to become a Congressional hearing exhibit. Instead of debating this obvious observation, you can read 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 Morrie Arnovich (Wisconsin-Superior), Joe Ferguson (Pacific), Dick Groat (Duke), Frank Grube (Lafayette), Harvey Kuenn (Wisconsin), Tony Lupien (Harvard) and Carl Reynolds (Southwestern TX) accrued more than three hits in a MLB game on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a July 24 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

JULY 24

  • Philadelphia Phillies LF Morrie Arnovich (Wisconsin-Superior hooper in early 1930s) went 4-for-4 and scored four runs in a 13-11 win against the Cincinnati Reds in 1937.

  • Philadelphia Athletics LHP Stan Baumgartner (hooper for Western Conference champion for University of Chicago in 1914) hurled a shutout against the St. Louis Browns in 1924.

  • New York Yankees Hall of Fame LF Earle Combs (three-year hoops captain for Eastern Kentucky) crashed into the wall in St. Louis in 1934, incurring a broken collarbone and fractured skull.

  • St. Louis Cardinals SS Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for Louisiana State and Southwestern Louisiana in mid-1940s) stroked two triples in a 1957 game against the Brooklyn Dodgers.

  • Cleveland Indians CF Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA hoops titlist) smashed a decisive 10th-inning, two-run homer at New York in 1954. The blast was Doby's third round-tripper in two days at Yankee Stadium.

  • Los Angeles Dodgers RF Joe Ferguson (hooper in 1967 NCAA playoffs with Pacific) delivered four hits against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1979 game.

  • A four-hitter against the Seattle Mariners in 1988 was the first shutout with the Toronto Blue Jays by LHP Mike Flanagan (averaged 13.9 ppg for UMass' freshman squad in 1971-72).

  • Pittsburgh Pirates SS Dick Groat (two-time All-American with Duke in 1950-51 and 1951-52 when finishing among nation's top five scorer each season) went 4-for-4 against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1957 contest.

  • Chicago White Sox C Frank Grube (Lafayette starting hoops guard as senior in 1926-27) went 7-for-10 in a 1932 doubleheader against the Cleveland Indians.

  • In his MLB debut, Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Dick Hall (averaged 13.5 ppg from 1948-49 through 1950-51 for Swarthmore PA Southern Division champions in Middle Atlantic States Conference) fanned 11 opposing batters in a complete-game, 12-5 win against the Chicago Cubs in the opener of a 1955 twinbill.

  • Boston Red Sox LHP Bill Henry (hoops letterman for Houston's 1947 NAIA Tournament team featuring co-captain Guy Lewis) hurled his first of two MLB shutouts (opener of 1953 doubleheader against St. Louis Browns) before becoming reliever majority of career.

  • The lone MLB homer for Doug Howard (second-team All-WAC choice for BYU in 1968-69 and 1969-70) was a pinch-hit circuit clout for the St. Louis Cardinals off Burt Hooton of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1975.

  • San Francisco Giants OF Harvey Kuenn (played hoops briefly for Wisconsin in 1951-52 after competing on JV squad previous season) collected three doubles among his four hits against the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 1964 game.

  • Texas Rangers DH Rick Leach (averaged 15.5 ppg for Michigan's junior varsity hoops team in 1975-76) logged six hits in last seven at-bats after going 3-for-4 against the Toronto Blue Jays in 1989.

  • Chicago White Sox LHP Thornton Lee (Cal Poly hooper in 1925-26) tossed his second of back-to-back, 10-inning victories in 1937.

  • Washington Senators CF Don Lock (Wichita State field-goal percentage leader in 1956-57 and 1957-58 under coach Ralph Miller) lashed back-to-back homers against the Kansas City Athletics in a 1965 contest.

  • Chicago White Sox 1B Tony Lupien (Harvard hoops captain in 1938-39) stroked five hits in an 8-4 win against the New York Yankees in the nightcap of a 1948 doubleheader.

  • Kansas City Royals 1B Bob Oliver (All-Valley Conference basketball choice for American River Community College CA in 1962) belted a homer in both ends of 1970 twinbill split against the Cleveland Indians.

  • Detroit Tigers RHP Clarence "Red" Phillips (East Central OK hooper from 1927-28 through 1930-31) won his MLB debut in 1934 with 4 1/3 innings of scoreless relief against the Boston Red Sox.

  • Toronto Blue Jays OF Tony Phillips (New Mexico Military juco hooper in 1977-78 as teammate of eventual Drake All-American Lewis Lloyd) banged out three safeties in his third consecutive contest in 1998.

  • Chicago White Sox RF Carl Reynolds (Southwestern TX hoops MVP and captain in mid-1920s) registered two triples among his four hits in a 1930 outing against the Washington Senators.

  • St. Louis Cardinals RF Wally Roettger (Illinois hoops letterman in 1921-22 and 1922-23) contributed four RBI in a 6-4 triumph against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1929.

  • Boston Red Sox 3B Jim Tabor (Alabama hoops letterman in 1936-37) knocked in six runs against the Chicago White Sox in a 1941 game.

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

Extra! Extra! Instead of wondering how economists factor in shoplifting inflation as #Dimorat-dominated municipalities influenced by George Soros donations give no-bail free reign to thieves and thugs via defunding police while whining about Southern border governors shipping illegal aliens to sanctuary cities, 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 Norm Siebern manufactured meaningful moments in their MLB careers on this date. Ditto ex-Alabama hoopers Whitey Campbell and Riggs Stephenson plus ex-Louisiana State hoopers Joe Adcock and Alvin Dark. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a July 23 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

JULY 23

  • Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) contributed four hits against the Brooklyn Dodgers in a 1955 game.

  • C Mark Bailey (led Southwest Missouri State in rebounding and field-goal shooting in 1980-81) traded by the Houston Astros to the Montreal Expos in 1988.

  • Washington Senators RHP Whitey Campbell (Alabama forward was hoops letterman from 1927 through 1929) made his lone MLB appearance (one inning with no earned runs against Detroit Tigers in 1933).

  • OF Bob Cerv (ranked fourth on school all-time scoring list in 1949-50 when finishing Nebraska career) and C Elston Howard socked back-to-back pinch-hit homers for the New York Yankees in the ninth inning in 1955 but they still lost to the Kansas City Athletics, 8-7, in 11 frames.

  • Los Angeles Dodgers RHP Roger Craig (forward with North Carolina State's 1949-50 freshman hoops team) fired a three-hit shutout against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1960.

  • Boston Braves rookie SS Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for Louisiana State and Southwestern Louisiana in mid-1940s) manufactured four safeties to cap off a nine-game hitting streak in 1948 after having his career-high 23-game hitting skein end in the opener of July 15 doubleheader.

  • Boston Red Sox LF Hoot Evers (Illinois hoops starter in 1939-40) supplied three extra-base hits in a 4-3 victory against the Chicago White Sox in 1953. Two years later, Evers' two-run, pinch-hit homer powered the Cleveland Indians to a 3-2 triumph against the Baltimore Orioles, who had traded him earlier in the month.

  • New York Giants 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) went 4-for-4 against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1943 contest.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates LHP Johnny Gee (Michigan captain was Big Ten Conference's sixth-leading scorer in 1936-37) yielded only two hits in seven innings of scoreless relief to notch a 3-2 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1943.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates SS Dick Groat (two-time All-American with Duke in 1950-51 and 1951-52 went 4-for-4 against the Chicago Cubs in a 1955 outing.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates 2B Howdy Groskloss (five-sport participant voted most outstanding Amherst MA athlete of first half of 20th Century) contributed career-high four RBI in a 17-6 rout of the Brooklyn Robins in 1931.

  • Rookie RHP Bill Harman (Virginia's hoop co-captain in 1940-41) provided his lone scoreless outing in five relief appearances for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1941.

  • Utilityman Harvey Hendrick (Vanderbilt hoops letterman in 1918) provided a pinch-hit grand slam in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Chicago Cubs a 9-5 win in the opener of a 1933 doubleheader against the Philadelphia Phillies.

  • 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) homered for the A.L. off Philadelphia Phillies P Steve Carlton in the 1969 All-Star Game.

  • 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) smacked a triple off Oakland A's P Rollie Fingers in the 1974 All-Star Game.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers 2B Barney Koch (Oregon hoops letterman in 1943-44) contributed a career-high three hits in his MLB debut in the opener of a 1944 twinbill against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

  • Detroit Tigers RF Harvey Kuenn (played hoops briefly for Wisconsin in 1951-52 after competing on JV squad previous season) went 4-for-4 and scored four runs against the Washington Senators in a 1959 game.

  • New York Yankees 3B Jerry Lumpe (member of Southwest Missouri State's 1952 NAIA Tournament championship hoops team) logged his third consecutive contest with three hits in 1958.

  • Chicago White Sox RF Danny Moeller (Millikin IL hoops captain in 1905-06) had a 12-game hitting streak snapped by the Detroit Tigers in 1915.

  • Chicago Cubs RF Bill Nicholson (hooper for Washington College MD in mid-1930s), after swatting four consecutive homers in two 1944 games (three in opener of doubleheader against New York Giants), received the ultimate compliment. In the nightcap of the twinbill, Nicholson is issued an intentional walk forcing in a run.

  • Harry "Porky" O'Neill (leading scorer for Gettysburg PA hoops champions in Eastern Pennsylvania Conference in 1938 and 1939) played one inning as a substitute catcher for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1939 game against the Detroit Tigers. O'Neill went on to serve in U.S. Marines as a 1st Lieutenant when killed at Iwo Jima on March 6, 1945, during WWII.

  • In 1962, Brooklyn Dodgers INF Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) became the first African-American inductee to Baseball Hall of Fame. Twelve years earlier, 2B had three extra-base hits among his five safeties in 1950 game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

  • In the midst of nine multiple-hit outings in a 10-game span, New York Yankees 3B Red Rolfe (played hoops briefly with Dartmouth in 1927-28 and 1929-30) provided two of his A.L.-leading 15 triples in a 1936 contest.

  • Philadelphia Athletics rookie 3B Al Rubeling (Towson hooper in early 1930s) went hitless for the only time in a 19-game span in 1940.

  • Kansas City Athletics 1B Norm Siebern (member of Southwest Missouri State squads capturing back-to-back NAIA Tournament titles in 1952 and 1953) went 8-for-12 in a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers in 1961.

  • Cleveland Indians 2B Riggs Stephenson (Alabama hoops letterman in 1920) went 4-for-4 against the Boston Red Sox in a 1924 contest. Eight years later as Chicago Cubs LF, Stephenson contributed four hits against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 1932 outing.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates CF Bill Virdon (Drury MO hooper in 1949) scored four runs against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the opener of a 1958 twinbill. Ten years later in 1968, Virdon's two-run pinch homer in the bottom of ninth inning was his final MLB hit (after activated from coaching staff).

  • Philadelphia Athletics 3B Billy Werber (first Duke hoops All-American in 1929-30) provided at least three hits for the fourth time in a seven-game span in 1937.

  • Washington Senators 3B Eddie Yost (NYU freshman hooper in 1943-44 under coach Howard Cann) drew at least three walks for the third time in a five-game span en route to A.L.-leading 123 bases on balls in 1953.

Double Duty: Hoops Hardwood Handled Numerous Secondary-Sport Athletes

Collegehoopedia.com frequently focuses on former college hoopers who wound up playing professional baseball and football. Their wherewithal supports the theory in some quarters that basketball players are the most versatile team-sport athletes in the world. What other sport demands such an abundance of speed, strength, stamina, coordination, quickness, jumping ability, teamwork, timing, guile and creativity? Following is an alphabetical list of additional "secondary-sport" standouts - excluding baseball, football, golf, tennis and track - who also exhibited their athletic prowess in college basketball:

DIRK ANDROFF, Eastern Illinois
Major Softball League player posted 10 consecutive .700-plus batting averages between 1988 and 1997. After swatting 14 homers in 29 plate appearances in 1996 National Softball Association World Series in Johnson City, Tenn., he met an untimely death in the fall of 1997 while working out on an exercise bike. . . . The 6-7 Androff, a three-year starting power forward from 1982-83 through 1984-85, averaged 8 ppg and 5.9 rpg while shooting 61% from the floor. He also was a tight end for EIU when eventual New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton was the Panthers' quarterback.

DENNIS BERKHOLTZ, Kansas State
Backcourt player in handball captained the U.S. team at the 1972 Olympics in Munich (scored six goals in three matches for 14th-place finisher). Also played at the 1970 and 1974 World Championships. He later coached the U.S. team at the 1976 Olympics and became President of the USA Handball in the late 1970s. . . . Averaged 9.2 ppg and 3.1 rpg for K-State from 1964-65 through 1966-67 under coach Tex Winter. Berkholtz led the Wildcats in total points as a senior.

JIM BERKMAN, St. Lawrence (N.Y.)
First-team All-American in lacrosse as a senior played in four NCAA tourneys. . . . Averaged 8.2 ppg in the mid-1980s. Set school free-throw shooting records for single season and career accuracy. Also established all-time assists standard.

PAUL BILBO, Hofstra/Mercyhurst (Pa.)
Professional wrestler with ring name of Pretty Boy Smooth or P.B. Smooth (a/k/a Urban Playboy). He was also involved in the comedy-horror anthology called Shingles. . . . The 6-8 Bilbo played in 12 games for Hofstra as a freshman in 2010-11 before transferring to Mercyhurst, where he averaged 5.5 ppg and 3.2 rpg from 2011-12 through 2013-14.

DAVID BRADFIELD, Cornell
Midfielder was lacrosse's team MVP in 1954. . . . All-Ivy League second-team selection in basketball in 1953-54 with conference-leading 5.8 apg.

TRAVIS "HAPA" BROWNE, Palomar Community College (Calif.)
After a dozen UFC victories, the 6-7, 250-pound Hawaiian incurred his first UFC defeat, after popping a hamstring, in early October 2012 against Bigfoot Silva. . . . The mixed martial artist said basketball honed his footwork, movement and feints, giving him an advantage against similar-sized opponents.

MARK CALOWAY, Texas Wesleyan
Known as "The Undertaker," he is a multiple-time champion in the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment). The Houston native won his first 12 Wrestle Mania events. . . . The 6-10, 300-pounder played basketball for the Rams in the mid-1980s.

GREG CLAUSEN, Marquette
Body builder competed on regional level and national stage in the Men's Physique classification. He ballooned to 340 pounds before shedding 100 and slimming down to only 5% body fat. . . . The 6-11 Clausen averaged 2.1 ppg and 2.4 rpg from 1997-98 through 2000-01 under coaches Mike Deane and Tom Crean.

BOB CLEM, San Diego State
One of the most consistent players on the Open circuit was inducted into the Beach Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2014. His place in beach volleyball history was cemented with a 1971 victory at the Manhattan Open. . . . Clem averaged 13.5 ppg and 4.3 rpg for the Aztecs in 1967-68.

CHRIS CLEVELAND, St. Lawrence (N.Y.)
Goaltender set a school record for shutouts in his sophomore season with seven as the soccer squad posted its second straight 11-1 ledger. . . . The 6-1 Cleveland captained 1973-74 hoops team (4.2 ppg) going undefeated in league competition and earning the first NCAA bid in school history. He averaged 6.1 ppg over the previous two campaigns.

JONATHAN COACHMAN, McPherson (Kan.)
Known as "Coach," he is the cocky young announcer for WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment). . . . Two-time KCAC Most Valuable Player was his alma mater's all-time leading scorer (1,782 points) and rebounder (722) when his career ended in 1995.

MARK CONNOLLY, Oklahoma State/Long Beach State
Son of Olga and Harold Connolly, gold medalists in the discus and hammer in 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, compiled an 8-2-1 professional boxing record from 1993 to 2000 (lost last two bouts). Connolly advanced to the super heavyweight title bout in the 1990 U.S. Olympic Festival in St. Paul, Minn., and notched a 15-5 record with six knockouts as an amateur. . . . The 6-6 Connolly averaged 4 ppg and 3.6 rpg for OSU from 1978-79 through 1980-81 before transferring to LBSU, where he averaged 2 ppg and 1.8 rpg in 1982-83 under coach Tex Winter. Olga, who competed in five Olympics, was a member of the Czechoslovakian national basketball team in 1957.

BEN CRENCA, Vermont
Boasting stage name of "Big Trouble" Ben Bishop, he took up professional wrestling in 2019 after dabbling at Australian Rules Football. . . . The 6-9 Crenca averaged 2.8 ppg and 2 rpg from 2009-10 through 2012-13, participating in NCAA tourney as a junior.

RAY CRITTENDEN IV, Virginia Tech
Set former school single-season soccer records for goals (15) and points (34) in 1988. Went on to play as a wide receiver in the NFL. . . . Scored total of four points in four basketball games as a freshman in 1988-89.

WESLEY "VEGAS" DAVIS, Tennessee
Competed in World Beauty Fitness and Fashion Shows in Hollywood and Las Vegas. . . . Member of the Colorado River Indian Tribes averaged 2.8 ppg and 1.7 rpg from 1996-97 through 1999-00. Scored three points against Southwest Missouri State in 1999 NCAA playoffs.

BOB DJOKOVICH, Air Force
Team captain scored 18 goals competing in the 1984 Summer Olympics in handball. Most notable victories for member of national handball team from 1977 to 1987 were the Gold medal at the 1987 Pan American Games and Silver medal at the 1986 Goodwill Games. Sixth President of the U.S. Team Handball Federation from 2001 to 2004. . . . Averaged 10.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg and 4.2 apg from 1974-75 through 1977-78. Led USAF in assists each of his last three seasons.

MIKE DODD, San Diego State
He aligned with Mike Whitmarsh in 1993 and they subsequently became one of the premier pairs on the pro volleyball tour before earning a silver medal in the 1996 Olympics when two-man beach volleyball made its debut. . . . The 6-5, 175-pound guard averaged 10.2 points and three assists per game from 1975-76 through 1978-79, helping the Aztecs capture PCAA titles in 1977 and 1978. Dodd led the PCAA in free-throw percentage as a sophomore (.839). The NBA ninth-round draft choice of the San Diego Clippers in 1979 was a hoop teammate of future baseball sensation Tony Gwynn. Excerpt from school guide: "Shown more year-to-year improvement than anyone on the squad. Has been the 'guts' of the Aztec fast break with his pull-up jumpers and effective drives."

JAMES "BUSTER" DOUGLAS, Coffeyville CC (Kan.)/Sinclair CC (Ohio)
Won world heavyweight boxing title with a 10th-round knockout of Mike Tyson in Tokyo on February 10, 1990. Lost title to Evander Holyfield on a third-round KO in Las Vegas on October 23, 1990. . . . A 6-4, 210-pound forward, the Columbus, Ohio, product averaged 9 ppg and 8 rpg for the 1978-79 Coffeyville team that compiled a 25-8 record. He scored 20 points and grabbed 18 rebounds in an 89-65 rout of Tunxis County CC (Conn.) in the NJCAA national tournament. The next year, he averaged 21.2 ppg and 9 rpg as the starting center for Sinclair. Following his days with the Sinclair Tartans, he accepted a basketball scholarship to Mercyhurst College (Pa.). Mercyhurst's 1980-81 media guide said the law enforcement major "is a great offensive player. His strength and size will provide a much needed dimension to the Laker rebounding efforts."

TIM DYKSTRA, Eastern Illinois
Relinquished a year of college hoops eligibility to play on the 16-man U.S. handball team in 1984 Olympics. . . . The 6-4 Dykstra averaged 8 ppg, 3.5 rpg and 2.9 apg for EIU from 1981-82 through 1984-85.

DERRELL EDWARDS, High Point
In a sport dominated by Caucasians, Edwards became a NASCAR pit crew member. "I don't get in awe about a lot of things, but looking up in those stands (at Daytona) and seeing them packed, you get the chills through your body," said the Baltimore product. . . . Juco recruit averaged 4.2 ppg, 2 rpg and 1.7 apg for HPU in 2012-13 and 2013-14.

HARVEY EDWARDS, Bucknell
Won three Masters World Championships the first half of the 1990s en route to induction to the Ultimate Frisbee Hall of Fame. He was attracted to the sport because of the athleticism it took to play and simplicity of the game. . . . Recruited to Bucknell by Jim Valvano before coach left for Iona, Edwards collected four points, three rebounds and two assists in eight basketball games in 1975-76.

ARI FELDMAN, Cal State Northridge
Middle blocker stopped playing volleyball due to shoulder pain. . . . Part-time hoops starter averaged 3.9 ppg and 1.9 rpg in 2011-12.

DICK FINLEY, Syracuse
Midfielder was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1999. He is credited with being the first player to use the over-the-head and wrap checks, which are still prominent maneuvers in contemporary game. . . . Hofstra transfer averaged 5.4 ppg and 4.2 rpg in 29 basketball games in 1961-62 and 1962-63.

JORDAN FITHIAN, Binghamton/Emporia State (Kan.)
Professional handball player in Germany until choosing to move back to U.S. to start a family. Won USATH Open National Championships/Elite Division in 2013 and 2016. . . . The 6-6 Fithian averaged 3.5 ppg and 3.4 rpg as a part-time starting forward with Binghamton in 2004-05 and 2005-06 before transferring to Emporia State, where he averaged 7.8 ppg and 5.1 rpg in 2006-07 and 2007-08.

STEVE FLORENTINE, UC Irvine
Held the school solo block mark of 97 from 1989 through 1991 until it was broken in 2021. . . . Averaged 2.2 ppg and 1.2 rpg for UCI in 1986-87 and 1987-88.

HUDSON FRICKE, Florida/Milligan (Tenn.)
Twice ranked as #1 CrossFit athlete in South Carolina (workout regimen incorporating elements of high-intensity interval training, Olympic weightlifting, plyometrics and calisthenics). . . . Walk-on guard at UF from 2007-08 through 2009-10 under coach Billy Donovan before becoming Appalachian Athletic Conference Player of the Year with Milligan in 2010-11 (17.2 ppg and nation-leading four three-pointers per game).

BRENDAN GAUGHAN, Georgetown
NASCAR racer earned the Winston West championship in 2000 and again in 2001 before moving to the Craftsman Truck Series in 2002. His first NCTS win came at Texas Motor Speedway en route to winning rookie of the year honors. The 2003 campaign was Gaughan's coming-out party, winning six times in 25 starts and finishing fourth in the series title race. . . . The 5-9, 180-pounder collected four points and three rebounds in 14 games as a junior teammate of Allen Iverson in 1996-97. The son of Las Vegas hotel and casino magnate Michael Gaughan was scoreless in three outings as a sophomore and garnered one point and four rebounds in eight contests as a senior.

MYRL GOODWIN, New Mexico/Idaho State
Winner of Seniors World Championship Steer Roper titles in 1992, 1998 and 2000. . . . Averaged 12.2 ppg and 7.5 rpg as runner-up in scoring and rebounding averages for New Mexico in 1956-57 and 1957-58 before transferring to Idaho State, where he averaged team-high 16.4 ppg for 1960 NCAA tourney participant.

HUGH GREENWOOD, New Mexico
Australian Rules Football player in his native country since 2017. Inside midfielder led the AFL in total tackles and tackles per game in 2020. . . . Averaged 7.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg and 2.9 apg with the Lobos from 2011-12 through 2014-15. He scored a career-high 24 points against Boston College. Participated in NCAA Tournament each of his first three seasons.

PAUL GROFFSKY, Michigan
Entering his first triathlon in 2001, he became one of the top "senior" age-group triathletes in the country. . . . Averaged 11.5 ppg for the Wolverines from 1951-52 through 1954-55, leading them in rebounding as a junior and senior.

LUKE GROSS, Indiana State/Marshall
Inducted into U.S. Rugby Hall of Fame in 2019. Taking up the sport at age of 24, he earned 62 caps for U.S. from 1996 to 2003, remaining all-time caps leader until 2011. . . . Averaged 3.8 ppg and 4.6 rpg for the Sycamores in 1988-89 and 1989-90 before transferring to Marshall, where he averaged 5.9 ppg and 4.8 rpg in 1991-92 and 1992-93.

DICK HAMMER, Southern California
Volleyball player in 1964 Olympics in Tokyo. Moonlighting in film work, he portrayed the Marlboro Man in cigarette advertisements in the 1970s. . . . Fifth-leading scorer for the Trojans' 1954 national fourth-place team.

WALT HARRIS, Jacksonville State
Mixed martial artist competes in heavyweight division of UFC, ranking ninth at the end of 2019. . . . The 6-5 Harris averaged 2.3 ppg and 1.5 rpg for OVC member in 2003-04.

JOHN "JAY" HEAPS, Duke
First-team All-American was the No. 2 pick in the 1999 Major League Soccer (MLS) college draft before becoming the league's rookie of the year with the Miami franchise. Earned the Missouri Athletic Club Sports Foundation Collegiate Men's Soccer Player of the Year Award. Heaps, a four-time All-ACC selection, tallied 45 goals during his college career. Won Defender of the Year in 2009 for the New England Revolution. Coached the Revolution from 2011 to 2017 before serving as president and general manager of Birmingham Legion FC. . . . The 5-9, 155-pound walk-on point guard from Longmeadow, Mass., played in four seasons for the Blue Devils' basketball team from 1995-96 through half of the 1998-99 campaign. Scored a basket in the 1998 NCAA playoffs against Radford in South Regional opener before playing against Jim Boeheim-coached Syracuse in Sweet 16.

PHIL HEATH, Denver
Seven-time Mr. Olympia bodybuilder nicknamed "The Gift." . . . Guard averaged 1.3 ppg from 1998-99 through 2001-02.

GREG "STRIDER" HUMMEL, UC Santa Barbara
In summer of 1977, hiking legend walked the entire 2,650-mile length of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) starting at Mexican border in early April before stepping into Canada in early September. . . . The 6-9 backup center went on to collect 10 points and 18 rebounds in 18 basketball games in 1977-78.

GLENN JACOBS, Northeast Missouri State
Three-time world wrestling champion, inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2021, played various characters until repackaged with ring name of Kane in 1997. He defeated "Attitude Era" poster boy Stone Cold Steve Austin for the WWF title in his first pay-per-view main event in June 1998. Became the Republican Mayor of Knox County, Tenn., in 2018 and was reelected in 2022. . . . The 6-8 Jacobs averaged 12.8 ppg and 7 rpg in 1987-88 and 1988-89 for school now known as Truman State.

RALPH JOHNSON, Baylor
Fast-pitch softball hurler for several teams in the Houston area. Pitched for squads advancing to the Softball World Championships on four different occasions. In 1999, he was honored by being inducted into the local Softball Hall of Fame. . . . Johnson averaged 10.3 ppg for Baylor from 1949-50 through 1951-52 under coach Bill Henderson. Participated in Final Four as a sophomore before earning All-SWC first-team acclaim his last two years as the Bears' top scorer.

GERALD "WIMPY" JONES, Arizona State
Hurled 45 no-hitters in fast-pitch softball and participated in 10 world championship tournaments in 31-year career. . . . All-Border Conference first-team selection in basketball in 1941-42.

JON KEDROWSKI, Valparaiso
Ski-mountaineer known for summitting and camping overnight on the summit of all 55 of Colorado's Fourteeners (mountains more than 14,000 feet) over course of 95 days in 2011. The next year, Kedrowski successfully climbed Mount Everest. In 2014, he skied 20 Cascade Volcanoes in 30 days. . . . Collected 18 points and 7 rebounds in 18 basketball games in 2000-01 and 2001-02.

JIMMY KEENAN, Notre Dame
Three-time honorable mention All-American as lacrosse midfielder. . . . Played in five basketball games for the Fighting Irish in 1995-96 under coach John MacLeod.

MATT KORCHECK, Arizona
Australian Rules Football player scored nine goals in VFL in 2016-17. . . . Juco recruit averaged 1.2 ppg and 1.1 rpg for UA in 2013-14 and 2014-15 under coach Sean Miller.

ROLLO KUEBLER, Loyola of Chicago
Inducted into Chicago 16-inch Softball Hall of Fame in 2009. . . . Averaged 1.6 ppg for the Ramblers in 1948-49 (NIT runner-up) and 1950-51.

GREG LEE, UCLA
Combined with Jim Menges to dominate the pro beach volleyball circuit with 13 straight tournament victories in the mid-1970s. He was inducted into the CBVA Beach Volleyball Hall of Fame in 1997. . . . Averaged 5.8 ppg with the Bruins from 1971-72 through 1973-74 as two-time NCAA champion teammate of national player of year Bill Walton.

JEFF LIPSCOMB, San Diego State/UC Santa Barbara
Top beach volleyball player placed 100th in 1996 Boston Marathon and competed in local triathlons in California. . . . The 6-7 Lipscomb averaged 2.3 ppg and 1.4 rpg for SDSU in 1972-73 before averaging 4.2 ppg and 2.8 rpg for UCSB in 1974-75 and 1975-76.

CHARLIE LOCKWOOD, Syracuse
MILL Rookie of the Year in 1995. Played lacrosse for U.S. in the World Games in 1994 and 1998. . . . Scored six points in six games in 1993-94, sinking a three-pointer on his first field-goal attempt.

KIRK LUCHMAN, Florida State
Bodybuilder won Super Heavyweight class in 2014. . . . The 6-10 Luchman averaged 6.8 ppg and 5 rpg from 1993-94 through 1996-97 under coach Pat Kennedy.

CARL MANISCALCO, Bradley
Member of Chicago 16 Inch Softball Hall of Fame. . . . Juco recruit averaged 9.2 ppg and 5.1 apg in 1978-79 and 1979-80 under coach Dick Versace, leading the Braves in assists his first season.

CHRIS MARLOWE, San Diego State
Network volleyball commentator was captain of the U.S. gold medal-winning volleyball team at the 1984 Olympics. One of his teammates was eventual broadcast partner Paul Sunderland, who succeeded Lakers legendary announcer Chick Hearn. . . . The 6-3, 190-pound guard was in the Aztecs' regular rotation in three varsity basketball seasons from 1970-71 through 1972-73, averaging 5 ppg and 3.3 rpg. Marlowe grabbed 12 rebounds in a game against San Diego as a sophomore when he was a teammate of eventual NFL defensive back Joe Lavender.

MIKE MASTERS, Williams (Mass.)
First pro American soccer player to score a goal in London's Wembley Stadium. Member of U.S. National Soccer squad. . . . The 6-4 forward, a part-time starter, averaged 10.6 ppg and 5.1 rpg as a junior in 1987-88 and 5.1 ppg and 3 rpg as a senior in 1988-89.

SEAMUS "SHAE" McNAMARA, Marist
First American to play in the Australian Football League. Signed a two-year international rookie contract and was selected by the Collingwood Football Club in 2009 draft at pick 47. . . . The 6-8 McNamara averaged 3.5 ppg and 2.2 rpg from 2004-05 through 2007-08.

DENNIS MEPHAM, Bowling Green State
Soccer defender played professionally in the NASL, American Soccer League, United Soccer League and MISL (Buffalo Stallions and Cleveland Force/Crunch from 1980 to 1990). He was named to the 1981 ASL All-Star Team with the Rochester Flash. . . . Played in a total of five basketball games with the Falcons in 1976-77 and 1977-78.

DICK MITCHELL, San Diego State
National caliber badminton player ranked as high as second in the nation in the mid-1950s. Selected to the Badminton Hall of Fame in 1974. . . . Center for NAIB champion in 1941 was an All-Tournament selection despite missing the national final because of a back injury. He earned all-conference first-team honors the next year en route to finishing his career as the third-highest scorer in Aztecs history.

PATRICK MITCHELL, North Dakota
Hooked on with the Sydney Swans of the Australian Football League as a Ruckman, where the job is to jump and catch the ball when it's in the air. . . . The 6-8, 220-pound Mitchell averaged 10.1 ppg and 4.6 rpg while shooting 37.3% from three-point range from 2009-10 through 2011-12.

ARTHUR "DAN" MORGAN, South Carolina
Named to All-World slow-pitch softball team three times in seniors age group. . . . Averaged 1.2 ppg for the Gamecocks in 1958-59.

GLEN MUELLER, Cornell
Lacrosse team captain as a senior collected 55 goals and 42 assists in 62 career games, posting at least 30 points in each campaign. The 1971 squad won the sport's inaugural NCAA DI championship. . . . The 6-3 Mueller averaged 4.5 ppg and 2.8 rpg from 1969-70 through 1971-72.

ELIJAH "EZ" MUHAMMAD, Tennessee Tech
CrossFit Games athlete ranked 95th in the U.S. and 192nd worldwide in 2020. He fell short of qualifying for Regionals in 2018 for the first time in eight years in the sport. . . . Native of Columbus, Ohio, averaged 5.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.8 apg and 1.3 spg in 2008-09.

TIM MULQUEEN, St. Joseph's
Head coach of Memphis 901 FC in the USL Championship after serving as goalkeeper coach for the U.S. National Soccer Team at the 2004 Summer Olympics qualifying tournament. U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard credited Mulqueen with helping to establish his career. . . . Played in two basketball games with the Hawks in 1986-87.

VIC NAPOLITANO, Temple
Goalie for the school's undefeated squad in 1951, winning the Owls' first of two national championships. The regal run climaxed in front of the largest crowd ever to attend a soccer game in U.S. history with a 2-0 triumph over San Francisco, ending the Dons' 40-game winning streak. . . . Averaged 2.3 ppg in 11 basketball games for the Owls in 1949-50. He also hit .255 in the St. Louis Cardinals' farm system in three years from 1954 to 1956.

KEVIN NASH, Tennessee
Known as "Diesel" when he won the World Wrestling Federation championship in a record-setting eight-second bout in 1994. The former bouncer went from a hanger-on to a 6-10, 350-pound hero in about seven months. His pin of Bob Backlund completed an unprecedented trifecta, giving him the WWF World tag team title, International title, and World title in the same calendar year. One of the most popular figures in recent wrestling history quietly began his career in 1990 as a WCW under-card wrestler, including billing as Oz (dressed in green cape and claimed to be "great and powerful") and Vinnie Vegas (wise guy in a pink suit and sunglasses). He was known as "Big Sexy" when he played a Russian in a movie "The Punisher." . . . He weighed about 225 pounds in college as a center who averaged 5.1 ppg and 4.2 rpg in a three-year varsity career (1977-78 through 1979-80) marred by weight problems and injuries. Earned a starting spot as a freshman and had a 13-point, 12-rebound game against Northwestern. Nash contributed a 16-point, 10-rebound outing against Niagara as a sophomore. He collected a total of 19 points and 14 rebounds in just 36 minutes in four NCAA Tournament games in 1979 and 1980. Described in school guide as a "crowd favorite" and a player with "unfailing hustle."

JEFF NATTANS, Loyola (Md.)
Soccer defender who played professionally in the American Professional Soccer League and USISL Pro League. . . . The 6-3 Nattans averaged 2.8 ppg from 1985-86 through 1988-89.

JOE BOB NEELY, Arizona State
Inducted into International Softball Congress fast-pitch Hall of Fame in 1977. ISC All-World Team selection in 1951 and 1955 played for three national tournament runners-up. Hit five consecutive home runs in Major League play. . . . Played hoops for the Suns Devils in 1945-46.

KADEEM PANTOPHLET, Duquesne
Striker was an All-Atlantic 10 Conference second-team selection in 2014 with team-high eight goals. He tied school single-game record with three assists the same year. . . . The 6-7 native of the Netherlands averaged 4.2 ppg and 3 rpg as a part-time starter for basketball squad in 2011-12 and 2012-13.

MATT POPLAWSKI, Penn
Four-year soccer letterman from 2013 through 2016 was an All-Ivy League first-team selection as senior. . . . Averaged 1.2 ppg in 21 basketball games in 2013-14 and 2014-15.

RON REIS JR., Santa Clara
Best known for his appearances with WCW in the late 1990s under ring names The Yeti and Reese. . . . The 7-1 center averaged 10.7 ppg and 7.4 rpg from 1988-89 through 1991-92. He is the son of a member of back-to-back NCAA basketball titlists with Cincinnati in 1961 and 1962.

GARY RICH, Ohio State/Richmond
Seven-footer spent 14 years as a professional wrestler (most as The Dragon Master) before retiring in 2005. . . . Averaged 0.7 ppg and 1 rpg in a total of 17 DI basketball games in the late 1980s.

TOM SCHNEEBERGER, Air Force
Handball player competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics, where he scored 21 goals. Won Gold Medal at the Pan American Games in 1987. . . . Averaged 11.9 ppg and 5.7 rpg for USAF from 1974-75 through 1977-78. He led the Falcons in scoring each of his last two seasons. Selected by the Denver Nuggets in ninth round of 1978 NBA draft.

ROBERT SHAW, Cornell
Lacrosse midfielder was a three-time All-Ivy League first-team selection, compiling a 34-4 varsity record. The Big Red captured the 1971 NCAA title by defeating Maryland, 12-6, in title tilt. . . . Played in 11 basketball games in 1969-70.

KEVIN SHEPPARD, Jacksonville
Striker played soccer for the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2002 Gold Cup qualification match against the Dominican Republic. . . . Averaged 11.3 ppg, 2.5 rpg and 3.7 apg from 1998-99 through 2002-03 under coach Hugh Durham. Sheppard led the Dolphins in assists and minutes played each of his last two seasons as an All-Atlantic Sun Conference second-team selection. He had a starring role in "The Iran Job," a documentary following him as he played for a basketball team in the Middle Eastern nation.

ANDY SLOCUM, Texas A&M
Better known for his time in WWE under the ring name Jackson Andrews, where he acted as Tyson Kidd's enforcer while on the Raw brand. The WWE reportedly eventually refused to work with him after revelations he was abusing his fiancee. . . . The seven-footer averaged 6.4 ppg and 6 rpg from 1999-00 through 2003-04. He led the Aggies in rebounding average as a sophomore and senior.

PAT SPENCER, Northwestern
No. 1 pick in 2019 Premier Lacrosse League. In 2019, the four-time Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year with Loyola (Md.) had 49 goals and 65 assists to finish as the conference's all-time scoring leader. . . . Runner-up in scoring for Northwestern with 10.4 ppg in 2019-20 (career-high 23 points against Bradley) while leading the Wildcats in assists and steals.

STEVE STIELPER, James Madison
In 2016, he was inducted into the Maryland Slow-Pitch Softball Hall of Fame. . . . The 6-8 Stielper averaged 20.4 ppg and 8.8 rpg from 1976-77 through 1979-80 under coach Lou Campanelli. JMU's all-time scoring leader tallied 51 points in a single game against Robert Morris.

PAUL SUNDERLAND, Oregon/Loyola Marymount
Member of U.S. gold medal-winning volleyball team at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. One of his teammates was eventual broadcast partner Chris Marlowe. Sunderland, a three-time Player of the Year (1978-79-82) during his 10-year stint on the U.S. National Volleyball squad, went on to succeed Los Angeles Lakers legendary announcer Chick Hearn and toiled as a broadcaster for both Fox Sports Net and NBC Sports. . . . Basketball letterman with Oregon in 1971-72 (3.2 ppg and 2.2 rpg under coach Dick Harter) before transferring and averaging 9.2 ppg and 6.4 rpg with LMU in 1973-74.

MIKE TETI, St. Joseph's
Internationally-renowned rower earned a bronze medal as member of the men's eight at the 1988 Olympics and also won gold at 1987 World Championships. Fixture in U.S. rowing coached American squad to seven gold medals at World Championships (including three in row from 1997 through 1999) and a bronze medal at 1996 Olympics in lightweight four. At the 2004 Summer Games in Athens, he led the men's eight to a world record in its heat, and an eventual gold medal, marking the first time the U.S. captured the men's eight since 1964. Guided the U.S. men's eight to a bronze medal at the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing. Also served as assistant coach for the varsity eight at 2012 Olympics in London. . . . Played in one basketball game for the Hawks in 1977-78.

STEVE TIMMONS, Orange Coast Community College (Calif.)
The powerful and flamboyant redhead joined the U.S. national volleyball team in 1981 after helping USC capture the NCAA title the previous year. He led the U.S. Olympic team to volleyball gold medals in 1984 (Los Angeles) and 1988 (Seoul). . . . Starting center for Orange Coast's 27-5 state championship team in 1978-79.

ERIC WALLACE, Ohio State/DePaul/Seattle
Spent three years as a ruckman with the North Melbourne Kangaroos (Australian Rules Football) before a tryout in 2016 with the NFL's Carolina Panthers. . . . The 6-6 1/2, 230-pounder averaged 6.5 ppg and 5.3 rpg with three different colleges in 2007-08, 2009-10 and 2011-12 (career highs of 9.4 ppg and 7.9 rpg for Seattle).

MIKE WHITMARSH, San Diego
Joined Miller Lite/AVP Professional Beach Volleyball Tour in 1989, when he was rookie of the year. He aligned with Mike Dodd in 1993 and they subsequently became one of the premier pairs on the volleyball tour before earning a silver medal in the 1996 Olympics when two-man beach volleyball made its debut. Committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning at age 46 in 2009 after inhaling car-exhaust fumes in the garage of a friend's home. . . . Played two years of basketball for Grossmont (Calif.) Community College before moving up to Division I. Whitmarsh is tied for the USD DI single-game records for points (37 vs. Loyola Marymount) and assists (12 vs. Gonzaga). He led the Toreros in scoring (15.3 ppg) and was second in rebounding (5.3 rpg) as a junior in 1982-83. The next year, he led the team in scoring (18.8 ppg), rebounding (7.3 rpg) and assists (6 apg). Whitmarsh scored a team-high 17 points in a 65-56 loss to Princeton in the preliminary round of 1984 NCAA Tournament. Picked by the Portland Trail Blazers in the fifth round of the 1984 NBA draft, but never played in the league. He participated in three games with Rapid City in the CBA in 1988-89.

PAUL WIGHT, Wichita State/Southern Illinois-Edwardsville
Known as the "The Big Show" in World Wrestling Entertainment circles because of his size (7-0, 500-plus pounds). The native of Aiken, S.C., has won the WWE title on multiple occasions. . . . Northern Oklahoma Junior College transfer averaged 2 ppg and 2.3 rpg for Wichita State as a sophomore in 1991-92 before transferring to SIUE, where he averaged 3.5 ppg and 1.5 rpg in 11 games in 1992-93.

HARRY WINKLER, Florida
Member of U.S. Men's Handball Team at the 1972 Olympics and 1976 Olympics before coaching the U.S. Women's Handball Team at the 1984 Olympics (Los Angeles). Served as an officer (first lieutenant) in the U.S. Army at Ft. Campbell, Ky., where he learned team handball. . . . The 6-3 Winkler averaged 4.4 ppg and 1.6 rpg for the Gators from 1965-66 through 1967-68.

VERN WOODWARD, Wisconsin-River Falls
Head boxing coach of the Pan-American Team in 1963 and 1975. . . . Basketball letterman in the early 1930s.

ALAN YOUNG, Brown
Held the school's single-game soccer scoring record with five goals against Connecticut en route to compiling a three-year varsity total of 32. Served as captain in both soccer and baseball, earning All-Ivy League first-team acclaim in both sports. . . . Averaged 8.5 ppg and 3.4 rpg from 1961-62 through 1963-64.

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

Extra! Extra! Instead of wondering if cover girl "Dr." Jill or interview-less Secret Service unable to discern cocaine intruder lay those old pandemic social-distancing arrows found in aisles of stores around the White House to steer meandering Plagiarist Biledumb to and from his next incoherent word salad and shaking hands with invisible person, 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), Boo Ferriss (Mississippi State) and Riggs Stephenson (Alabama) supplied significant MLB performances on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a July 22 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

JULY 22

  • Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) homered in both ends of a 1956 doubleheader against the Philadelphia Phillies.

  • Chicago Cubs 2B Glenn Beckert (three-year hoops letterman for Allegheny PA) chipped in with four hits against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1970 game.

  • St. Louis Browns C Benny Bengough (Niagara hoops letterman from 1916-17 through 1918-19) went 4-for-4 against the Washington Senators in a 1931 contest.

  • In the midst of six straight victories, RHP Jim Bibby (Fayetteville NC hooper first half of 1960s) belted a two-run homer to power the Pittsburgh Pirates to 3-2 win against the Atlanta Braves in nightcap of 1979 twinbill.

  • Usually a reliever, Cincinnati Reds RHP Joe Black (Morgan State hooper in mid-1940s) toiled 10 frames as starter in eventual 14-inning defeat for them against the New York Giants in 1955.

  • 1B Zeke Bonura (best basketball forward for Loyola LA in late 1920s and early 1930s) purchased from the Washington Senators by the Chicago Cubs in 1940.

  • Philadelphia Athletics C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) hit for the cycle against the Washington Senators in a 1932 outing.

  • Cincinnati Reds CF Harry Craft (four-sport letterman with Mississippi College in early 1930s) had his 15-game hitting streak snapped by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1939.

  • Boston Red Sox rookie RHP Boo Ferriss (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1941) posted his second eight-game winning streak in the 1945 campaign.

  • A two-run, 13th-inning homer by Boston Red Sox rookie 1B Dick Gernert (Temple hoops letterman in 1948-49 when averaging 2.7 ppg) proved to be the difference in a 4-2 win against the Chicago White Sox in 1952.

  • RHP Dallas Green (Delaware's runner-up in scoring and rebounding In 1954-55) purchased from the Philadelphia Phillies by the New York Mets in 1966. Green was returned to Philly three weeks later.

  • In 1999, Cleveland Indians manager Mike Hargrove (Northwestern Oklahoma State hoops letterman) accidentally handed in an incorrect lineup card against the Toronto Blue Jays, forcing the Tribe to forfeit the DH and bat their pitcher in the seventh spot in the batting order.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) homered in both ends of a 1953 doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs.

  • 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) smashed a pinch homer in the 11th inning to give the Los Angeles Dodgers a 5-4 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1961.

  • Detroit Tigers SS Harvey Kuenn (played hoops briefly for Wisconsin in 1951-52 after competing on JV squad previous season) delivered four hits against the Washington Senators in a 1955 game.

  • Chicago Cubs 3B Vance Law (averaged 6.8 ppg for Brigham Young from 1974-75 through 1976-77) whacked two homers against the San Francisco Giants in a 1989 contest.

  • Baltimore Orioles RHP Dave Leonhard (averaged 4.8 ppg for Johns Hopkins MD in 1961-62) tossed a five-hit shutout against the Kansas City Royals in 1971.

  • CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling a 35-3 record) traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Chicago Cubs in 2003. Nine years earlier, Lofton pilfered four bases with the Cleveland Indians against the Chicago White Sox in a 1994 contest.

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

  • In the midst of closing out the month with eight saves in as many appearances, Los Angeles Dodgers RHP Jeff Shaw (freshman guard for Rio Grande OH hoops squad compiling 31-5 record and reaching second round of 1985 NAIA Tournament) allowed a run for the only time in a span of 17 games in 1998.

  • Baltimore Orioles RF Larry Sheets (All-ODAC hoops selection in 1981-82 and 1982-83 with Eastern Mennonite VA) contributed four RBI in the second of back-to-back games with three hits against the Chicago White Sox in 1987.

  • Kansas City Royals LHP Paul Splittorff (runner-up in scoring and rebounding for Morningside IA in 1967-68) won his eighth decision in a row in 1976.

  • Chicago Cubs LF Riggs Stephenson (Alabama hoops letterman in 1920) went 4-for-4 against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1927, including two of his N.L.-high 46 doubles. Three years later, Stephenson raised his 1930 batting average to .391 by extending a career-high hitting streak to 16 in a row.

  • Cleveland Indians 3B Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) whacked three taters in a 1994 game against the Chicago White Sox.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates LHP Bob Veale (scored 1,160 points from 1955-56 through 1957-58 as center for Benedictine KS) went 5-for-9 at the plate as a switch-hitter in back-to-back complete-game victories against the Milwaukee Braves and St. Louis Cardinals in 1964.

  • Washington Senators 3B Eddie Yost (NYU freshman hooper in 1943-44 under coach Howard Cann) drew three walks in both ends of a 1951 doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox.

Name Game: Numerous Entertainers On and Off the Basketball Hardwood

Did you know that Richard M. (Rick) Nixon was the sports information director at Texas-San Antonio? That question was inspired by scouring old college basketball guides and the discovery of a bevy of individuals who make you think of someone else more prominent with the same name outside the world of basketball. To what extent can one take this name game?

We make this inquiry in the aftermath of the passing away of iconic singer Tony Bennett. The Green Bay Press-Gazette recounted a pop culture/sports history photo-op meeting on November 16, 1991, at Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport. Bennett was passing through on his way to perform at the Capitol Civic Centre in Manitowoc and the Press-Gazette arranged a Triple Crown of Tony Bennetts (legendary singer/Packers #1 draft choice linebacker from Ole Miss/UWGB all-time leading scorer before coaching Virginia to 2019 NCAA crown). The last of the crooners joked that only one other time earlier in his career had he ever met someone with the same name as his, and even then spelling got in the way. "She was a stripper," Bennett said. "She spelled it T-O-N-I."

They all didn't leave their heart in San Francisco. Following is an alphabetical list of former all-conference first-team basketball selections boasting names such as Bennett having a familiar ring in the entertainment industry:

All-Conference Choice Pos. NCAA DI School Year(s) All-League First-Team Selection
Tony Bennett G Wisconsin-Green Bay 1989-90 through 1991-92 in Mid-Continent
Bobby Brown G Cal State Fullerton 2005-06 and 2006-07 in Big West
Charlie Brown G-F Texas Western 1956-57 through 1958-59 in Border
James Brown G Dartmouth 1972-73 in Ivy League
Al Green G Louisiana State 1978-79 in SEC
Steve Green F Indiana 1973-74 and 1974-75 in Big Ten
Jermaine Jackson G Detroit 1998-99 in Midwestern Collegiate
Keith Jackson G San Francisco 1987-88 in WCAC
Michael Jackson F Missouri-Kansas City 1999-00 in Mid-Continent
Don Johnson F Oklahoma A&M 1950-51 and 1951-52 in Missouri Valley
Don Johnson G UCLA 1951-52 in PCC/South Division
Jimmy Lampley C Arkansas-Little Rock 1981-82 in TAAC
Kevin McHale F-C Minnesota 1979-80 in Big Ten
Paul Neumann G Stanford 1958-59 in PCC
Jack Parr C-F Kansas State 1955-56 through 1957-58 in Big Seven
Roy Rogers C Alabama 1995-96 in SEC
Paul Williams F Arizona State 1982-83 in Pacific-10

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

Extra! Extra! Instead of debating whether blathering Plagiarist Biledumb is conversant on "code red" climate change less than asthma-ridden hair-sniffer admits knowing about cancer-causing windshield wipers, COVID-preventing vaccinations/masks and "smartest guy I know" son hideous happy-to-be-with hooker Hunter's foreign business shenanigans an IRS whistleblower estimated to be worth $17 million, 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 major-college hoopers Frankie Frisch (Fordham), Bob Gibson (Creighton), Hank Greenberg (NYU), Robin Roberts (Michigan State) and Jackie Robinson (UCLA) supplied significant MLB performances on this date en route to becoming Hall of Famers. Also making MLB news on this date were the following ex-hoopers from PA small colleges: Glenn Beckert (Allegheny), Kevin Gryboski (Wilkes), Dick Hall (Swarthmore) and Red Murray (Lock Haven). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a July 21 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

JULY 21

  • Chicago Cubs 2B Glenn Beckert (three-year basketball letterman for Allegheny PA) contributed four safeties for the second time during a career-high 27-game hitting streak in 1968.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Jim Bibby (Fayetteville State NC backup hooper and brother of UCLA All-American Henry Bibby) tossed a six-hit shutout against the San Francisco Giants in 1978.

  • St. Louis Cardinals 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) homered in both ends of a 1930 doubleheader split against the Brooklyn Robins.

  • St. Louis Cardinals RHP Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer and rebounder in 1955-56 and 1956-57) smacked his fourth homer in a span of nine starts in 1972. The round-tripper accounted for decisive run in a 2-1 verdict over the Atlanta Braves to earn his 11th consecutive triumph.

  • Detroit Tigers 1B Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoop scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) went 4-for-4, including three extra-base hits, against the Philadelphia Athletics in a 1934 contest.

  • RHP Kevin Gryboski (backup hooper for Wilkes PA in 1991-92 and 1992-93) traded by the Atlanta Braves to Texas Rangers in 2005.

  • Baltimore Orioles RHP Dick Hall (averaged 13.5 ppg from 1948-49 through 1950-51 for Swarthmore PA Southern Division champions in Middle Atlantic States Conference) fanned three of four Minnesota Twins batters he faced in his 11th straight scoreless relief appearances in 1962.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers INF-OF Harvey Hendrick (Vanderbilt hoops letterman in 1918) hammered a game-winning, three-run homer in the ninth inning of a 9-8 decision over the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a 1930 doubleheader. Hendrick's decisive blast was one of four pinch-hit round-trippers during the twinbill (two for each team).

  • In 2003, Toronto Blue Jays LHP Mark Hendrickson (two-time All-Pacific-10 Conference selection paced Washington State in rebounding four straight seasons from 1992-93 through 1995-96) hurled his first MLB shutout (against New York Yankees).

  • Chicago White Sox RHP Bart Johnson (averaged 30.5 ppg for Brigham Young's freshman squad in 1967-68) tossed his second shutout of the month in 1976, winning for sixth time in span of seven starts.

  • Cleveland Indians RHP Dutch Levsen (Iowa State hoops letterman in 1918-19) hurled the second of back-to-back shutouts in 1926.

  • Milwaukee Braves SS Johnny Logan (Binghamton hooper in 1948-49) went 5-for-5 in a 7-4 win against the New York Giants in the nightcap of a 1957 doubleheader.

  • 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 an All-CIC selection with 1968 NAIA Tournament team) traded by the Chicago Cubs to the Houston Astros in 1986.

  • Philadelphia Phillies RF Jerry Martin (1971 Southern Conference Tournament MVP after finishing as Furman's runner-up in scoring previous season), pinch-hitting for Bake McBride (averaged 12.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg in 21 games with Westminster MO in 1968-69 and 1969-70), manufactured the game-winning hit with a bases-loaded triple in a 9-6 verdict over the San Francisco Giants in 1977.

  • St. Louis Cardinals RHP Lindy McDaniel (freshman team hooper for Oklahoma in 1954-55) banged out four hits at the plate, including a pair of doubles, in 11-2 pounding of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1957.

  • In his first MLB start, Baltimore Orioles RHP Ben McDonald (started six games as 6-6 freshman forward for LSU in 1986-87 under coach Dale Brown) blanked the Chicago White Sox, 2-0, in 1990.

  • In the midst of a 10-game hitting streak, New York Yankees RF Bud Metheny (hoops letterman for William & Mary from 1935-36 through 1937-38) went 4-for-4 against the St. Louis Browns in a 1943 game. Two years later, Metheny homered in a 12-3 romp over the Chicago White Sox in 1945.

  • New York Giants RF Red Murray (played hoops for Lock Haven PA in early 1900s) stole three bases in a 1909 contests against the St. Louis Cardinals.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates bonus-baby rookie SS Eddie O'Brien (third-team All-American selection as Seattle senior in 1952-53 when finishing second in nation in field-goal percentage) went 3-for-4 in the midst of a seven-game hitting streak in 1953.

  • Philadelphia Athletics RHP Cotton Pippen (Texas Western hoops letterman in 1929-30) posted his second complete-game victory in less than a month in 1939.

  • In the midst of 11 consecutive scoreless relief appearances in 1963, Boston Red Sox RHP Dick Radatz (center on Michigan State's freshman hoops squad in 1955-56) improved his won-loss record to 12-1.

  • In 1960, Philadelphia Phillies RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) hurled his third career one-hitter.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers 2B Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in PCC both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) went 4-for-4 against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1951 outing.

  • Chicago Cubs C El Tappe (two-time All-Pioneer Conference first-team selection scored 921 points for Quincy College IL from 1946-47 through 1949-50) contributed a career-high three hits in 1960 game against the Cincinnati Reds.

Striking Number of Former College Hoopers Wind Up in MLB's Hall of Fame

The Baseball Hall of Fame is hallowed ground. This weekend almost marked an induction in quaint Cooperstown, N.Y., of another former college basketball player. New inductee Scott Rolen committed to play hoops for Georgia over Oklahoma State before Indiana native chose to sign with the Philadelphia Phillies and subsequently hold court as one of the one percent of players achieving stardom in baseball's HOF. Did you know that all-time great shortstop Honus Wagner was fond of playing hoops in the offseason to stay in shape? How much is any basketball card of him worth? Third baseman Rolen nearly joined the following individuals among the more than 300 MLB Hall of Famers were college hoopers:

WALTER ALSTON, Miami (Ohio)
Managed the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers for 23 seasons (1954 through 1976), winning seven National League pennants and three World Series. In eight All-Star Game assignments, Alston was the winning manager a record seven times. He struck out in his only major league at-bat with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1936. . . . The 6-2, 195-pound Alston, a charter member of his alma mater's Athletic Hall of Fame, lettered in basketball in 1932-33, 1933-34 and 1934-35. He scored 10 of Miami's 15 points in a 32-15 defeat against Indiana in his senior season.

LOU BOUDREAU, Illinois
Infielder hit .295 in 15 seasons (1938 through 1952) with the Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox. Managed Indians, Red Sox, Kansas City Athletics and Chicago Cubs, starting his managerial career at the age of 24 in 1942. As player-manager in 1948, the shortstop led Cleveland to the A.L. title and earned MVP honors by hitting .355 with 116 RBI. He hit a modest .273 in the World Series. The seven-time All-Star led the A.L. with 45 doubles on three occasions (1941, 1944 and 1947) and paced the league in batting average in 1944 (.327). . . . Played two varsity basketball seasons for Illinois (1936-37 and 1937-38) under coach Doug Mills. As a sophomore, Boudreau led Illinois in scoring with an 8.7-point average as the team shared the Big Ten Conference title. Compiled an 8.8 average the next year. After helping the Illini upset St. John's in a game at Madison Square Garden, the New York Daily News described him as "positively brilliant" and said he "set up countless plays in breathtaking fashion." Averaged 8.2 ppg for Hammond (Ind.) in the National Basketball League in 1938-39.

ALBERT B. "HAPPY" CHANDLER, Transylvania (Ky.)
Twice governor of Kentucky (1935-39 and 1955-59), U.S. senator (1939-45) and commissioner of baseball (1945-51). He oversaw the initial steps toward integration of the major leagues. Democrat embraced the "Dixiecrats" in the late 1940s. . . . Captain of Transylvania's basketball team as a senior in 1920-21.

GORDON "MICKEY" COCHRANE, Boston University
Hall of Famer hit .320 (highest career mark ever for a catcher) with the Philadelphia Athletics and Detroit Tigers in 13 seasons from 1925 through 1937. Swatted three homers in a single game as a rookie. Lefthanded swinger was A.L. MVP in 1928 and 1934. Led the A.L. in on-base percentage in 1933 (.459) and ranked among the league top nine in batting average five times (1927-30-31-33-35). Participated in five World Series (1929-30-31-34-35). . . . Five-sport athlete with BU, including basketball (class of '24).

EARLE COMBS, Eastern Kentucky
Hall of Fame outfielder hit .325 with the New York Yankees in 12 seasons from 1924 through 1935. Lefthanded swinger led the A.L. in hits with 231 in 1927 when he also paced the the league in singles and triples. Also led the A.L. in triples in 1928 and 1930. Assembled a 29-game hitting streak in 1931. Leadoff hitter and "table-setter" for the Yankees' potent "Murderer's Row" offense ranked among the A.L. top six in runs eight straight years when he became the first player in modern major league history to score at least 100 runs in his first eight full seasons. Posted a .350 batting average in four World Series (1926-27-28-32) before a pair of serious collisons shortened his productive career. Served as coach with the Yankees (1936-44), St. Louis Browns (1947), Boston Red Sox (1948-54) and Philadelphia Phillies (1955). . . . Captain of his alma mater's basketball squad for three years when EKU was known as Eastern State Normal.

LARRY DOBY, Virginia Union
Outfielder hit .283 with 253 home runs and 969 RBI in a 13-year career from 1947 through 1959 with the Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox. The first black player in the American League twice led the A.L. in homers (32 in 1952 and 1954). He was the first African-American to lead a league in homers (1952 and 1954) and the first to participate in the World Series (1948). Hit 20 or more round-trippers eight consecutive seasons from 1949 through 1956 while finishing among the A.L. top nine in slugging percentage each year. The seven-time All-Star drove in 100 or more runs five times, leading the A.L. with 126 in 1954 when the Indians won 111 games before being swept by the New York Giants in the World Series. Appeared in 1948 and 1954 World Series with the Indians, winning Game 4 in '48 with a homer off Braves star Johnny Sain. Doby managed the White Sox for most of 1978 (37-50 record). . . . The 6-1, 180-pounder attended LIU on a basketball scholarship but transferred to Virginia Union prior to the start of the season after Uncle Sam summoned him for World War II service. Doby was told Virginia Union had a ROTC program and he could complete his freshman season before being drafted. He became eligible the second semester of the 1942-43 season and was a reserve guard on a team that won the CIAA title.

RICK FERRELL, Guilford (N.C.)
Catcher hit over .300 five times en route to a .281 career batting average with the St. Louis Browns, Boston Red Sox and Washington Senators in 18 years from 1929 through 1947. He set an A.L. record with 1,805 games behind the plate. Traded with his brother (pitcher Wes Ferrell) from Boston to Washington during the 1937 campaign. . . . The 5-10, 160-pounder was a basketball forward before graduating in 1928.

FRANKIE FRISCH, Fordham
Registered a run of 11 consecutive .300 seasons and set fielding records for chances and assists with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1927. As player-manager with the Cards, he instilled the rollicking all-out style of hardnosed play that prompted a team nickname of "The Gashouse Gang." His season strikeout total topped 20 only twice en route to a .316 average in his 19-year career, which also included a stint with the New York Giants. . . . According to his bio in Total Baseball, "The Fordham Flash" captained the Rams' basketball squad. In 1925, Frisch officiated the first-ever game played in the Rose Hill Gym (the oldest NCAA Division I facility in the nation).

BOB GIBSON, Creighton
Compiled a 251-174 pitching record with 3,117 strikeouts and 2.91 ERA in 17 seasons (1959 through 1975) with the St. Louis Cardinals. In 1968, he pitched 13 shutouts en route to a 1.12 ERA, the second-lowest since 1893 in 300 innings. Gibson notched a 7-2 mark and 1.89 ERA in nine games in the 1964, 1967 and 1968 World Series (92 strikeouts in 81 innings). He set a World Series record with 17 strikeouts against the Detroit Tigers on October 2, 1968. . . . First Creighton player to average 20 ppg for his career (20.2). Led the school in scoring in 1955-56 (40th in the country with 22 ppg) and 1956-57 and was second-leading scorer in 1954-55 before playing one season (1957-58) with the Harlem Globetrotters. Sketch from school brochure: "Possesses outstanding jump shot and for height (6-1) is a terrific rebounder."

TONY GWYNN, San Diego State
Padres outfielder hit .338 in 20 seasons (1982 through 2001), winning eight N.L. batting titles--1984, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997. Played in 15th All-Star Game in 1999 before topping the 3,000-hit plateau later in the year. Holds N.L. record for most years leading league in singles (six). Won a Gold Glove five times (1986-87-89-90-91). He hit .368 in the 1984 N.L. Championship Series to help San Diego reach the World Series against the Detroit Tigers. Also participated in the 1998 World Series against the New York Yankees. Became baseball coach at his alma mater after retiring from the major leagues. . . . Averaged 8.6 ppg and 5.5 apg in 107 games with the Aztecs in four seasons (1977-78 through 1980-81). The 5-11, 170-pound guard was named second-team All-Western Athletic Conference as both a junior and senior. Led the WAC in assists as both a sophomore and junior and was third as senior. Paced San Diego State in steals each of his last three seasons. Selected in the 10th round of 1981 NBA draft by the San Diego Clippers.

GIL HODGES, St. Joseph's (Ind.)/Oakland City (Ind.)
Dead-pull hitter had a .273 batting average with 370 home runs and 1,274 RBI in an 18-year playing career with the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets. Became a three-time Gold Glove first baseman after being switched from catcher by manager Leo Durocher because of the emergence of Roy Campanella. Eight-time All-Star swatted four home runs against the Braves on August 31, 1950. The 6-1 1/2, 200-pounder drove in more than 100 runs seven consecutive seasons from 1949 through 1955 and hammered 20 or more homers 11 straight years from 1949 through 1959. Finished among the N.L. top three in homers four times in a five-year span from 1950 through 1954. Hodges, who hit 14 grand slams, achieved career highs in 1954 by hitting .304 with league runner-up totals of 42 homers and 130 RBI. He appeared in seven World Series. After a woeful 0-for-21 performance in a 1952 World Series loss to the Yankees, he led the Dodgers' regulars with a .364 World Series average the next year. Hodges homered in each of his last four World Series with the Dodgers, including blasts that won 1956's Game One vs. the Yanks and 1959's Game Four vs. the White Sox. Hodges hit the first homer in Mets history in 1962 before he was traded to the Senators for OF Jim Piersall the next year. Managed the "Miracle Mets" to the 1969 World Series championship, compiling a 660-753 record (.467) with the Senators and Mets in nine years from 1963 through 1971. Hodges hit the most homers for an individual who went on to manage a WS winner. . . . Gil and his brother (Bob), natives of Petersburg, Ind., enrolled at St. Joseph's (Ind.) in the fall of 1941 and played for the Pumas in 1942-43. Gil, a Marine who spent 18 months in the Pacific with 80 of those days in combat on Okinawa, later attended Oakland City, where he played basketball in 1947 and 1948. Morris Klipsch, a Petersburg auto dealer, says Gil may have liked basketball as much as baseball. "I recall him saying one fall after the Dodgers season was over that he would like to join a pro basketball team," Klipsch said.

MONTE IRVIN, Lincoln (Pa.)
Outfielder-first baseman hit .293 with 99 home runs and 443 RBI in eight major league years (1949 through 1956) with the New York Giants and Chicago Cubs. Irvin led the N.L. in RBI with 121 in 1951, the same year he led the World Series in hitting (.458 vs. crosstown Yankees) after collecting seven hits in the first two contests of the six-game set. He was a member of the Giants' squad that swept the Cleveland Indians in the 1954 World Series. The 6-1, 195-pounder was one of the first black players signed after baseball's color line was broken in 1947. Among the brightest stars in the Negro Leagues, he registered league highs of .422 in 1940 and .396 in 1941 before spending three years in the Army. . . . His athletic career was nearly prematurely ended when an infection from a scratched hand in a basketball game kept him close to death for seven weeks. Irvin participated in basketball for 1 1/2 years in the late 1930s for Lincoln, an all-black university in Oxford, Pa., before dropping out of school.

SANDY KOUFAX, Cincinnati
Compiled a 165-87 record and 2.76 ERA in 12 seasons as a lefthanded pitcher with the Brooklyn (1955 through 1957) and Los Angeles (1958 through 1966) Dodgers. Led the N.L. in ERA in each of his last five seasons, going 25-5 in 1963 (MVP), 26-8 in 1965 and 27-9 in 1966 (Cy Young Award). Pitched four no-hitters and had 98 games with at least 20 strikeouts. Notched a 4-3 record and 0.95 ERA in eight World Series games in 1959, 1963 (MVP), 1965 (MVP) and 1966. . . . The Brooklyn native attended Cincinnati one year on a combination baseball/basketball scholarship before signing a pro baseball contract for a reported $20,000 bonus. He was the third-leading scorer with a 9.7-point average as a 6-2, 195-pound forward for the Bearcats' 12-2 freshman team in 1953-54. Koufax compiled a 3-1 pitching record in his lone college baseball campaign, averaging 14.3 strikeouts and 8.4 bases on balls per game when his statistics are converted to a nine-inning game ratio. . . . Ed Jucker, coach of Cincinnati's NCAA titlists in 1961 and 1962, directed the Bearcats' baseball squad and freshman basketball team in 1953-54. Jucker said of Koufax's basketball ability: "He could jump extremely well, was a strong kid and a good driver. He would have made a fine varsity player. We certainly could have used him." If viewers pay attention to CBS acknowledging celebrities in the stands during telecasts with crowd shots, they've probably noticed that Koufax regularly attends the Final Four.

TED LYONS, Baylor
Spent his entire 21-year career with the Chicago White Sox (1923 through 1942 and 1946) after never playing in the minors. Managed the White Sox from 1946 through 1948. Three-time 20-game winner compiled a 260-230 record and 3.67 ERA in 594 games. He pitched a no-hitter against the Boston Red Sox in 1926. In 1939, Lyons hurled 42 consecutive innings without issuing a walk. . . . Earned four basketball letters at Baylor from 1919-20 through 1922-23. Consensus first-team selection on All-Southwest Conference squad as a sophomore and senior.

CHRISTY MATHEWSON, Bucknell
Often regarded as baseball's greatest pitcher, the righthander compiled a 372-188 record and 2.13 ERA with 79 shutouts for the New York Giants in 17 years from 1900 to 1916 before winning his lone start with Cincinnati in 1916. Led the N.L. in ERA five times (1905-08-09-11-13). Hall of Famer ranked among the N.L. top five in victories 12 years in a row from 1903 through 1914. Paced the N.L. in strikeouts on five occasions in a six-year span from 1903 through 1908. Won 30 games or more in three consecutive seasons, leading the Giants in their 1905 World Series victory over the Philadelphia Athletics by hurling three shutouts in six days. Also appeared in three straight World Series from 1911 through 1913. . . . The 6-2 Mathewson also played football and basketball at the turn of the 20th Century for Bucknell (class of '02).

CUM POSEY, Penn State/Duquesne
Founder and co-owner of the Homestead Greys professional baseball team that won eight consecutive National Negro League titles. . . . Posey was the first African American to complete in intercollegiate athletics for Penn State in 1910-11. He later attended Duquesne. A legend in Pittsburgh sports history was owner/player for the famed Leondi Club, an independent basketball team that was the National Negro Championship team for many years.

EPPA RIXEY JR., Virginia
Compiled a 266-251 record with 3.15 ERA in 21 seasons (1912 through 1917 and 1919 through 1933) with the Philadelphia Phillies and Cincinnati Reds. He never played a minor league game and appeared in the 1915 World Series with the Phillies. Missed the 1918 campaign while serving overseas with an Army chemical-warfare division. Rixey won 19 or more games six years, including 1922 when he led the N.L. with 25 victories with the Reds. In his next to last season, he pitched a string of 27 consecutive scoreless innings at age 42. The N.L.'s winningest lefthanded pitcher until Warren Spahn broke his record was selected to the Hall of Fame in 1963. . . . The 6-5, 210-pound Rixey, who also played golf at Virginia, earned basketball letters in 1911-12 and 1913-14.

ROBIN ROBERTS, Michigan State
Compiled a 286-245 record in 19 seasons (1948 through 1966) with the Philadelphia Phillies, Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs. He was a twenty-game winner for six consecutive seasons with the Phillies (1950 through 1955), leading the N.L. in victories the last four years in that span. The seven-time All-Star lost his only World Series start in 1950, 2-1, when the Yankees' Joe DiMaggio homered off him in the 10th inning. . . . Roberts played three seasons of basketball with the Spartans (1944-45 through 1946-47). He averaged 10.6 ppg as a freshman (team's third-leading scorer as he was eligible because of WWII), 9.8 as a sophomore (second-leading scorer) and 9.0 as a junior (second-leading scorer). The 6-0, 190-pound forward led the team in field-goal percentage as a junior captain. Sketch from school basketball guide: "Regarded by newsmen as one of the greatest players today in college basketball. A poll by Detroit Free Press named him the 'most valuable' collegiate player in Michigan. He is not especially fast, but he's extremely well-coordinated, passes exceptionally well, and is a beautiful one-hand shot artist."

JACKIE ROBINSON, UCLA
Infielder hit .311 with 137 homers as a regular on six N.L. pennant winners with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 10 seasons (1947 through 1956). After becoming Rookie of the Year in 1947, Robinson was named MVP in 1949 when he led the N.L. with a .342 batting average and 37 stolen bases. The six-time All-Star homered in the 1952 All-Star Game. He had two homers and seven doubles in World Series competition. . . . Football, basketball and track standout at Pasadena City College in 1937-38 and 1938-39. Named to All-Southern California Junior College Conference Western Division all-star basketball team both years, a span in which UCLA was winless in league competition. First athlete in UCLA history to letter in football, basketball, baseball and track. Forward compiled the highest scoring average in the Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA (12.3 points per league game in 1939-40 as an all-league second-team selection and 11.1 in 1940-41). In his last UCLA athletic contest, he accounted for more than half of the Bruins' output with 20 points in a 52-37 loss to Southern California.

LEE SMITH, Northwestern (La.) State
All-time major league career saves leader when he retired, notching 478 in 18 seasons from 1980 through 1997 with the Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, California Angels, Cincinnati Reds and Montreal Expos until Trevor Hoffman broke his mark in 2006. Set a record in 1991 (subsequently broken) for most saves in a season by a N.L. pitcher with 47 for the Cardinals. Righthander led the N.L. in saves three times (1983-91-92) and the A.L. once (1994). Seven-time All-Star selection posted a career 71-92 record and lost league championship series games with the Cubs in 1984 and Red Sox in 1988. . . . The 6-5, 215-pound forward averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg with the Demons in his only season of college basketball (1976-77). He scored eight points in a 97-92 loss at Lamar when teammate Billy Reynolds set a school single-game Division I record with 42 points.

JIM THOME, Illinois Central College
Lefthanded batter hit .276 with 612 homers and 1,699 RBI with the Cleveland Indians, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Minnesota Twins and Baltimore Orioles in 22 years from 1991 through 2012. First-ballot Hall of Famer was five-time All-Star and one of eight players in MLB history with at least 500 homers, .400 on-base percentage and .550 slugging percentage upon retirement. He led the A.L. in bases on balls with the Indians three times (1997, 1999 and 2002) before pacing N.L. in homers with 47 in 2003 for the Phillies. Finished among the top four in A.L. in round-trippers on six occasions. . . . "About a mile from our (Peoria, IL) house was the ghetto," Thome said. "It was where the best basketball games were played. I'd go over there all the time. I usually was the only white kid in the games, and they respected me because I kept coming back." He played hoops for a local junior college in 1988-89. "My father was tough on me, pushing me," Thome said. "I remember when I scored 36 points in a state tournament basketball game. It was one point off a school record. I thought my dad would be happy, but that night he talked about the mistakes I made on defense and in rebounding." According to ICC's athletic department, "People weren't sure which sport, basketball or baseball, was Jim's best." ICC hoops coach Carroll Herman said, "He (Thome) was a plugger, strong on the boards and gave us toughness inside. He could have gone on and played at a four-year school. He was good enough."

DAVE WINFIELD, Minnesota
Outfielder hit .283 with 465 home runs, 1,833 RBI and 3,110 hits in 22 seasons (1973 through 1988 and 1990 through 1995) with the San Diego Padres, New York Yankees, California Angels, Toronto Blue Jays, Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Indians. Appeared in 12 All-Star Games after never playing in the minors. Participated in the World Series with the Yankees (1981) and Blue Jays (1992). . . . Played two seasons of varsity basketball as a 6-6, 220-pound forward with the Gophers, averaging 6.9 ppg and 5.4 rpg as a junior in 1971-72 and 10.5 ppg and 6.1 rpg as senior in 1972-73. He played the entire game in Minnesota's first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1972 under coach Bill Musselman. Selected by the Atlanta Hawks in the fifth round of the 1973 NBA draft and the Utah Stars in the sixth round of the 1973 ABA draft. Didn't play college football, but was chosen in the 17th round of the 1973 NFL draft by the Minnesota Vikings. Excerpt from school guide: "Recruited out of intramural ranks to lend depth, became a starter and was a giant in the stretch drive. Amazing athlete leaps like a man catapulted. Soft touch from medium range."

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

Extra! Extra! Instead of trying to decide whether #ShrillaryRotten, VP Cacklin' Kamala, ex-Speaker Nanny Pathetic, #MadMaxine Waters or #Dimorat Odd Squad member is biggest empty pants suit, 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 Fordham hoopers Frankie Frisch and Babe Young had outstanding offensive outputs in National League games on this date. Ex-Wisconsin hoopers Harvey Kuenn and Stu Locklin also made MLB news on this date as did ex-PA small-college hoopers Charlie Gelbert (Lebanon Valley), Kevin Gryboski (Wilkes), Monte Irvin (Lincoln) and Christy Mathewson (Bucknell). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a July 20 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

JULY 20

  • Philadelphia Athletics rookie RHP Bill Beckmann (Washington MO hooper in late 1920s) went 3-for-3 from the plate against the Cleveland Indians en route to going 6-for-8 in his last three starts of the month in 1939.

  • St. Louis Browns RF Beau Bell (two-year basketball letterman for Texas A&M in early 1930s) banged out three hits in both ends of a 1937 doubleheader against the New York Yankees.

  • Minnesota Twins 3B John Castino (medical redshirt for Rollins FL in 1973-74 under coach Ed Jucker) accounted for decisive run with solo homer in top of seventh inning of 5-4 victory against the Boston Red Sox in 1980.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates 1B Donn Clendenon (four-sport letterman with Morehouse GA) collected five RBI, including a decisive three-run homer in the seventh inning, in an 8-5 win against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1966.

  • Boston Red Sox LF Hoot Evers (Illinois hoops starter in 1939-40) scored four runs in an 8-7 win against the Cleveland Indians in 1952.

  • St. Louis Cardinals 3B Jake Flowers (member of Washington College MD "Flying Pentagon" hoops squad in 1923) furnished five hits in a 16-5 romp over the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1932.

  • 3B Gene Freese (captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament hoops team for West Liberty WV) traded by the Chicago White Sox to the Houston Astros for P Jim Mahoney and cash in 1966.

  • St. Louis Cardinals 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) contributed six RBI against the Brooklyn Robins in a 1930 game.

  • St. Louis Cardinals SS Charlie Gelbert (scored at least 125 points each of last three seasons in late 1920s for Lebanon Valley PA) delivered four hits against the Brooklyn Robins in a 1930 contest. Two years later, Gelbert collected three safeties, three runs and three RBI against the same opponent to trigger a career-high 12-game hitting streak in 1932.

  • Detroit Tigers LF Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoop scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) went 4-for-4 in a 3-1 victory against the New York Yankees in 1940.

  • Atlanta Braves RHP Kevin Gryboski (backup hooper for Wilkes PA in 1991-92 and 1992-93) notched his eighth scoreless relief outing in first eight appearances of month in 2003.

  • Toronto Blue Jays 2B Garth Iorg (juco hooper with College of the Redwoods CA in mid-1970s) smacked two homers in a 1987 game against the Texas Rangers.

  • In a 1956 contest, Chicago Cubs LF Monte Irvin (Lincoln PA hooper 1 1/2 years in late 1930s) mashed two homers against his original team (New York Giants).

  • San Francisco Giants OF Harvey Kuenn (played hoops briefly for Wisconsin in 1951-52 after competing on JV squad previous season) contributed four hits against the Chicago Cubs in a 1964 game.

  • OF Stu Locklin (played one basketball game for Wisconsin in 1947-48 under coach Bud Foster) traded by the Cleveland Indians to Boston Red Sox in 1958.

  • Cleveland Indians CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling a 35-3 record) provided five hits in a 6-5 win against the Minnesota Twins in 1996.

  • Milwaukee Braves SS Johnny Logan (Binghamton hooper in 1948-49) logged three doubles in a 4-3 loss against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1955.

  • RHP Christy Mathewson (Bucknell hooper at turn of 20th Century) traded by the New York Giants to the Cincinnati Reds in 1916.

  • Baltimore Orioles RHP Ben McDonald (started six games as a 6-6 freshman forward for LSU in 1986-87) hurled a one-hit shutout against the Kansas City Royals in 1993.

  • Minnesota Twins RHP Jim Perry (averaged more than 20 ppg in late 1950s for former juco Campbell) tossed a shutout against the Seattle Pilots en route to winning all six of his decisions this month in 1969.

  • LHP Dennis Rasmussen (sixth-man for Creighton averaged 5.1 ppg from 1977-78 through 1979-80) bowed against the Pittsburgh Pirates, 3-2, for his lone setback in first 11 decisions with the San Diego Padres in 1988.

  • Cincinnati Reds rookie LF Evar Swanson (played all five positions for Knox IL) went 6-for-9 in a 1929 doubleheader against the Philadelphia Phillies.

  • In 1955, Preston Ward (second-leading scorer for Southwest Missouri State in 1946-47 and 1948-49) whacked a key three-run pinch homer for the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 4-3 win against a Milwaukee Braves squad featuring second baseman Hank Aaron.

  • Cincinnati Reds 1B Babe Young (Fordham hoops letterman in 1935-36) homered in both ends of a 1947 twinbill for the third time this month.

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

Extra! Extra! Plagiarist Biledumb's hideous son Hunter could probably do better while stoned on cocaine whether or not ingested at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Instead of shooting-from-the-hip successor Ka-ringe "Binder Babe" Jean-Pierre studying film deciding whether ex-Out House propagandist Jen "Circle Back" Sock-it-to-me would be ace of #Dimorat DC Swamp know-it-all "pitching" staff including #AudacityofHype (lefty overlord Barry Hussein Obama), DF-funding Dr. Anthony Fraudci, contemptible party/issue-changer Charlie Crist (former U.S. Representative ran for Florida Governor multiple times) and Softball sorcerer Chrissy Matthews, 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 Arizona hoopers Hank Leiber and Kenny Lofton supplied significant games as MLB center fielders on this date. Ditto Ivy Leaguers Bill Almon (Brown), Tony Lupien (Harvard), Red Rolfe (Dartmouth) and Chris Young (Princeton) making MLB news along with Louisiana State's Joe Adcock, who homered twice in a game in each league. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a July 19 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

JULY 19

  • Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) went 4-for-4 with two homers and eight RBI against the New York Giants in a 1956 game. Eight years later with the Los Angeles Angels in 1964, Adcock homered twice in a 4-0 victory against the Minnesota Twins in the nightcap of a twinbill.

  • New York Mets SS Bill Almon (averaged 2.5 ppg in half a season for Brown's 1972-73 team ending school's streak of 12 straight losing records) amassed four hits and scored four runs in a 13-3 win against the Cincinnati Reds in 1980.

  • Cleveland Indians SS Lou Boudreau (leading scorer for Illinois' 1937 Big Ten Conference co-champion) contributed three hits in both ends of a 1942 doubleheader sweep against the Boston Red Sox.

  • Washington Senators SS Tim Cullen (starting guard for Santa Clara in 1962-63 when averaging 10 ppg and 3.4 rpg) collected four hits in a 4-2 victory against the Detroit Tigers in 1967.

  • Boston Braves rookie 2B Jack Dittmer (Iowa hooper in 1949-50), entering the game hitting .150, erupted for three safeties and five RBI in a 6-2 triumph against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1952.

  • Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame C Rick Ferrell (Guilford NC hooper in mid-1920s) launched a homer off his brother (Wes Ferrell of Cleveland Indians) in 1933. Wes, who whacked a round-tripper in the same inning (fourth), finished his career with 38 HRs in 548 games while Rick had 28 in 1,884 contests.

  • In 1982, San Diego Padres OF Tony Gwynn (All-Western Athletic Conference second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81 who twice led league in assists) posted his first of 3,141 hits in 20-year MLB career.

  • Houston Astros reliever Buddy Harris (Philadelphia Textile hoops letterman in 1965-66 and 1966-67) posted his lone MLB victory (against Philadelphia Phillies in 1971).

  • Cincinnati Reds LHP Bill Henry (hoops letterman for Houston's 1947 NAIA Tournament team featuring co-captain Guy Lewis) allowed his only earned run in final 22 relief appearances of 1964 season in which he posted a microscopic 0.87 ERA.

  • Los Angeles Dodgers RF Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection when leading Ohio State in scoring and rebounding in 1956-57 and 1957-58) whacked two homers against the Milwaukee Braves in a 1963 contest.

  • Chicago White Sox C Duane Josephson (Northern Iowa scoring leader in 1962-63 and 1963-64 under coach Norm Stewart) went 4-for-4 in a 6-3 success against the Baltimore Orioles in the nightcap of a 1970 doubleheader.

  • LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman hoops squad in 1953-54) started a second straight game for the last-place Los Angeles Dodgers in 1958. Koufax was lifted after walking four batters in the first inning the previous day.

  • New York Giants CF Hank Leiber (Arizona hooper in 1931) knocked in five runs against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1938 game.

  • Washington Senators CF Don Lock (Wichita State field-goal percentage leader in 1956-57 and 1957-58 under coach Ralph Miller) went 4-for-4 with two homers and five RBI against the Boston Red Sox in the opener of a 1964 doubleheader.

  • Chicago White Sox CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling a 35-3 record) lashed a leadoff homer for the second straight game against the Kansas City Royals in 2002.

  • Boston Red Sox 1B Tony Lupien (Harvard hoops captain in 1938-39) tripled in both ends of a 1942 twinbill against the Cleveland Indians.

  • Washington Senators RF Danny Moeller (Millikin IL hoops captain in 1905-06) stole second, third and home in the opening inning before doubling and tripling later in the game against the Cleveland Indians in 1915.

  • Minnesota Twins RHP Jim Perry (averaged more than 20 ppg in late 1950s for former juco Campbell) fired a two-hit shutout against the Washington Senators in nightcap of 1966 doubleheader.

  • LHP Gary Peters (Grove City PA hooper in mid-1950s) whacked a 13th-inning pinch-hit homer to give the Chicago White Sox a 3-2 win against the Kansas City Athletics in 1964. Circuit clout was one of three for Peters in a two-week span with at least one runner on base.

  • Detroit Tigers DH Tony Phillips (New Mexico Military juco hooper in 1977-78 as teammate of eventual Drake All-American Lewis Lloyd) knocked in five runs with two extra-base hits in a 1991 assignment against the Kansas City Royals.

  • Atlanta Braves RF 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) scored four runs against the Milwaukee Brewers in a 1998 outing.

  • New York Yankees 3B Red Rolfe (played hoops briefly with Dartmouth in 1927-28 and 1929-30) homered in his fourth consecutive contest in 1942.

  • OF Ted Savage (Lincoln MO scoring average leader in 1955-56) knocked in the game-winning run in the 11th inning as the Cincinnati Reds overcame a 9-0 deficit to edge the Houston Astros, 10-9, in 1969.

  • New York Giants RHP Hal Schumacher (St. Lawrence NY hooper in early 1930s) hurled a 12-hit shutout against the Cincinnati Reds in 1934. The whitewash was Schumacher's ninth straight winning decision.

  • New York Yankees 1B-OF Norm Siebern (member of Southwest Missouri State's back-to-back NAIA Tournament hoops titlists in 1952 and 1953) notched his second five-hit game of the month in 1958 (against Kansas City Athletics).

  • In the midst of a career-high 17-game hitting streak, Baltimore Orioles RF Ken Singleton (Hofstra freshman hoops squad in mid-1960s) provided four safeties in a 1978 contest against the Chicago White Sox.

  • New York Yankees 1B Bill "Moose" Skowron (scored 18 points in eight games for Purdue in 1949-50) stroked a decisive ninth-inning, bases-loaded double in the ninth inning after previously providing two homers in a 13-11 triumph against the Cleveland Indians in 1960.

  • Chicago Cubs LF Riggs Stephenson (Alabama hoops letterman in 1920) went 4-for-4 against the New York Giants in a 1926 game.

  • Cleveland Indians 1B Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) smacked two homers for second time in a three-game span in 2000. The next year, he swatted a pair of round-trippers in 2001 contest against the Chicago White Sox.

  • In the midst of a 15-game hitting streak in 1962, St. Louis Cardinals LF-1B Bill White (two-year hooper for Hiram OH in early 1950s) supplied multiple safeties in his fifth consecutive contest.

  • In 1977, San Diego Padres LF Dave Winfield (starting forward with Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) went 2-for-2, including a two-run single off Sparky Lyle, in Winfield's first of 12 consecutive All-Star Game appearances.

  • Washington Senators 3B Eddie Yost (NYU freshman hooper in 1943-44 under coach Howard Cann) homered twice in a 5-4 win against the Cleveland Indians in 1956.

  • San Diego Padres RHP Chris Young (All-Ivy League first-team selection for Princeton in 1999-00) earned his fifth straight victory, surrendering only two hits in seven innings of a 1-0 verdict over the Philadelphia Phillies in 2007.

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

Extra! Extra! I thought "the big guy" POTUS said he was going to fire anyone who was rude to staff colleague. Instead of dissing paucity of business experience among fist-bumping Plagiarist Biledumb's "Old Yeller" administration (more than 60% of cancel-culture corps has virtually none), 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 NYU hoopers Ralph Branca and Sam Mele supplied significant MLB achievements on this date. Ditto ex-Ohio State hoopers Steve Arlin and Frank Howard in N.L. outings plus ex-Toledo hoopers Chuck Harmon and Pinky Pittenger as MLB infielders. Eventual ACC members Boston College (Luke Urban), Florida State (Jim Lyttle), Notre Dame (Cy Williams) and Virginia (Eppa Rixey) also had ex-hoopers make MLB news on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a July 18 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

JULY 18

  • RHP Mike Adams (played basketball for Texas A&M-Kingsville in 1996-97) traded by the Cleveland Indians to the San Diego Padres in 2006.

  • Philadelphia Phillies LF Ethan Allen (Cincinnati hoops letterman in 1924-25 and 1925-26) delivered four hits and four RBI in a 9-8 loss against the Cincinnati Reds in 1934. The next year, Allen stroked three doubles in an 11-3 defeat against the Chicago Cubs in 1935.

  • San Diego Padres RHP Steve Arlin (played two basketball games for Ohio State in 1964-65 under coach Fred Taylor) supplied his fifth complete-game start yielding fewer than three hits in a one-month span in 1972.

  • Cincinnati Reds CF Frankie Baumholtz (MVP in 1941 NIT and first player in Ohio University history to score 1,000 career points) went 4-for-4 against the New York Giants in the opener of a 1948 doubleheader. It was Baumholtz's third consecutive contest with at least three safeties.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers RHP Ralph Branca (sixth-leading scorer for NYU in 1943-44) hurled a one-hitter in a 7-0 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1947.

  • New York Yankees LHP Al Downing (attended Muhlenberg PA on hoops scholarship but left before ever playing), in the midst of posting six straight triumphs, toiled 10 innings in a no-decision outing against the Cleveland Indians in 1964.

  • Philadelphia Phillies rookie 2B Denny Doyle (averaged 2.7 ppg for Morehead State in 1962-63) delivered his fifth consecutive two-hit game in 1970.

  • Los Angeles Dodgers C-OF Joe Ferguson (hooper for Pacific's 1967 NCAA playoff team) broke up a no-hit bid by Luke Walker of the Pittsburgh Pirates with a ninth-inning homer in the nightcap of a 1971 twinbill.

  • St. Louis Cardinals 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) smacked two homers but they were in vain in an 8-7 setback against the New York Giants in 1930.

  • All-time hits leader Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds hit the only grand slam of his career with the homer yielded in 1964 by Philadelphia Phillies RHP Dallas Green (Delaware's second-leading scorer and rebounder in 1954-55).

  • Cincinnati Reds rookie 3B Chuck Harmon (second-leading scorer for Toledo in 1946-47 and 1947-48) stroked four hits against the New York Giants in the opener of a 1954 doubleheader.

  • Los Angeles Dodgers RF Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection when leading Ohio State in scoring and rebounding in 1956-57 and 1957-58) hammered two homers against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1962 game (including decisive blast in top of ninth inning).

  • 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 four hits and five RBI against the Atlanta Braves in a 1967 contest.

  • OF Jim Lyttle (led Florida State in free-throw shooting in 1965-66 when he averaged 12.4 ppg) purchased from the Chicago White Sox by the Montreal Expos in 1975.

  • OF Les Mann (Springfield MA hooper in 1913 and 1914) awarded on waivers to the New York Giants from the Boston Braves in 1927.

  • New York Giants RHP Christy Mathewson (Bucknell hooper at turn of 20th Century) blanked the St. Louis Cardinals, 5-0, in the nightcap of a 1913 doubleheader but his record string of 68 walkless innings came to a halt.

  • Baltimore Orioles RHP Ben McDonald (started six times as freshman forward for LSU in 1986-87 under coach Dale Brown) tossed a two-hit shutout against the Texas Rangers in 1992.

  • LF Sam Mele (NYU's leading scorer in 1943 NCAA playoffs) managed the only hit for the Baltimore Orioles against Boston Red Sox P Russ Kemmerer in the opener of a 1954 twinbill.

  • Boston Red Sox SS Buddy Myer (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1923-24) went 4-for-4 against the Cleveland Indians in the nightcap of a 1927 doubleheader. Thirteen years later as a Washington Senators 2B, Myer went 4-for-4 against the Chicago White Sox in 1940.

  • Boston Red Sox 2B Pinky Pittenger (set Toledo's single-game scoring record with 49 points in 1918-19) went 4-for-4 against the Chicago White Sox in the nightcap of a 1923 twinbill.

  • Boston Braves RHP Nels Potter (leading scorer two seasons in early 1930s for Mount Morris IL/Manchester IN) went 3-for-3 at the plate including a two-run double in 10-2 victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1948.

  • Cincinnati Reds LHP Eppa Rixey (Virginia hoops letterman in 1912 and 1914) fired his second shutout in less than a week en route to a N.L. leading four whitewashes in 1924.

  • After speaking out against racial discrimination testifying in front of the House Un-American Activities Committee, Brooklyn Dodgers INF Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) scored twice, once on a steal of home in the sixth inning, in a 3-0 triumph against the Chicago Cubs in 1949.

  • New York Giants RHP Hal Schumacher (multiple-sport athlete for St. Lawrence NY in early 1930s) allowed fewer than two earned runs in his seventh straight start in 1933.

  • Kansas City Athletics 1B Norm Siebern (member of Southwest Missouri State squads capturing back-to-back NAIA Tournament hoops titles in 1952 and 1953) smashed two homers against the Boston Red Sox in a 1963 game.

  • In the midst of a career-high 10-game hitting streak in a one-week span in 1955 (including three twinbills), Philadelphia Phillies SS Roy Smalley Jr. (one of top scorers in 1942-43 and 1943-44 for Drury MO) whacked a homer for the third time in a four-game stretch.

  • C Luke Urban (player-coach for Boston College's hoops squad from 1918-19 through 1920-21) purchased from Toledo (American Association) by the Boston Braves in 1927.

  • St. Louis Cardinals 1B Bill White (two-year hooper with Hiram OH in early 1950s) went 3-for-4 in each end of a twinbill sweep of the Chicago Cubs in 1961. White tied Ty Cobb's 49-year-old record of 14 hits in back-to-back doubleheaders. Three years later, White went 4-for-4 with three extra-base safeties against the New York Mets in a 1964 outing.

  • The Philadelphia Phillies lost, 7-6, to the Chicago Cubs in 1925 despite grand slam by RF Cy Williams (Notre Dame forward in 1909-10) in bottom of 10th inning.

  • Baltimore Orioles RHP Jim Wilson (hoops letterman for San Diego State's 1942 NAIA Tournament participant) fired his second shutout in a 13-day span in 1955.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Providing MLB Headlines on July 17

Extra! Extra! Instead of debating whether overwrought Out House reality czars collaborating with Big Tech to "misinformation" censor free-speech posts is citadel of systemic stupidity or their definition of a return to normalcy (Will role of self-absorbed VP Cacklin' Kamala in online harassment task task force include addressing bullying tactics by mean-girl Chrissy Tiegen?), 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 hoopers for current or former major universities - Joe Adcock (Louisiana State), Bruce Bochte (Santa Clara), Zeke Bonura (Loyola LA) and Tony Clark (San Diego State) - made news as MLB first basemen on this date. Ditto ex-small college hooper Bill White (Hiram OH). Joining Adcock and Bonura among ex-LA school hoopers generating MLB headlines was George Stone (Louisiana Tech). What was it with the Detroit Tigers and catchers? Check out offensive displays by ex-college hoopers Mickey Cochrane, Billy Sullivan Jr. and Birdie Tebbetts on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a July 17 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

JULY 17

  • Cincinnati Reds LF Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) went 4-for-4, scored four runs and threw out a runner at home plate in the ninth inning in a 9-8 victory against the Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a 1951 twinbill. Four years later as a Milwaukee Braves 1B in 1955, Adcock pounded two homers in an 8-7 win against the New York Giants in the lidlifter of a doubleheader.

  • San Diego Padres RHP Steve Arlin (played two basketball games for Ohio State in 1964-65 under coach Fred Taylor) spun his third shutout covering four starts in less than three weeks in 1973.

  • Texas Rangers RHP Jim Bibby (Fayetteville State NC backup hooper and brother of UCLA All-American Henry Bibby) fired a three-hit shutout against the New York Yankees in 1974.

  • Seattle Mariners 1B Bruce Bochte (starting forward for Santa Clara's NCAA playoff team in 1969-70 when averaging 7.4 ppg and 4 rpg) contributed a pinch-hit single for the A.L. in front of his hometown fans in the 1979 All-Star Game.

  • Chicago White Sox 1B Zeke Bonura (best basketball forward for Loyola LA in late 1920s and early 1930s) extended his hitting streak to a career-high 16 games in 1936.

  • Seattle Mariners CF Mickey Brantley (averaged 10 ppg, 6.8 rpg and 5.4 apg for Columbia-Greene Community College SC in 1979-80) banged out four hits in a 7-4 setback against the Cleveland Indians in 1988.

  • 1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in Western Athletic Conference games in 1991-92) traded by the San Diego Padres to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2008.

  • Philadelphia Athletics C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) smacked three extra-base hits against the Detroit Tigers in a 1928 game.

  • In 1963, Chicago White Sox RHP Dave DeBusschere (All-American for Detroit from 1959-60 through 1961-62 while averaging 24.8 ppg and 19.4 rpg) stroked a single against the Washington Senators for his only MLB hit in 22 at-bats en route to his first of three major-league victories.

  • After tossing 5 1/3 innings of one-hit relief, New York Yankees LHP Steve Hamilton (All-OVC selection was Morehead State's leading scorer and rebounder in 1956-57 and 1957-58) won his first seven decisions in 1964.

  • Legendary Babe Ruth drew his 2,000th career base on balls in 1934 at Cleveland off RHP Oral Hildebrand (All-American hooper for Butler in 1928-29 and 1929-30).

  • Cleveland Indians OF Chuck Hinton (played multiple sports for Shaw NC) hammered three homers and a triple in a 1966 doubleheader sweep of the Detroit Tigers.

  • Washington Senators LF Don Lock (Wichita State field-goal percentage leader in 1956-57 and 1957-58 under coach Ralph Miller) homered in his first MLB game in the opener of a 1962 twinbill against the Chicago White Sox.

  • In 1934, New York Giants RHP Roy Parmelee (Eastern Michigan hoops letterman in 1924-25 and 1925-26) broke a 1-1 stalemate with seventh-inning grand-slam homer off Chicago Cubs All-Star Lon Warneke in 5-3 win.

  • St. Louis Cardinals LF Rip Repulski (occasional hoops starter for St. Cloud State MN in 1946-47) ripped two homers in opener of 1955 doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

  • In 1964, Baltimore Orioles RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) hurled a 5-0 shutout against the Detroit Tigers despite yielding 11 hits.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers LF Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in PCC both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) ripped two homers against the St. Louis Cardinals in the nightcap of a 1953 twinbill.

  • New York Yankees rookie RHP Al Shealy (Newberry College SC hooper in early 1920s) twirled a complete-game, 4-2 victory with no earned runs allowed against the Cleveland Indians in 1928.

  • In the midst of four straight complete-game victories, Washington Senators rookie RHP Dave Stenhouse (three-time All-Yankee Conference hoops selection for Rhode Island from 1952-53 through 1954-55) spun a three-hit shutout against the Chicago White Sox in 1962.

  • In the midst of winning five straight starts in 1971, Atlanta Braves LHP George Stone (averaged 14.7 ppg and 6.5 rpg for Louisiana Tech in 1964-65 and 1965-66) tossed his second shutout in three weeks.

  • Detroit Tigers C Billy Sullivan Jr. (Portland hoops letterman in 1927-28) stroked three doubles against the Washington Senators in a 1941 game. The next year with the Brooklyn Dodgers, Sullivan contributed four RBI against the Chicago Cubs in a 1942 outing.

  • Detroit Tigers C Birdie Tebbetts (Providence hooper in 1932) knocked in five runs against the Boston Red Sox in a 1939 contest.

  • Chicago White Sox DH Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) collected two homers and seven RBI in 2009 game against the Baltimore Orioles.

  • Boston Red Sox 3B Billy Werber (first Duke hoops All-American in 1929-30) became the first A.L. player to hit four consecutive doubles in one game (opener of 1935 doubleheader against Cleveland Indians).

  • St. Louis Cardinals 1B Bill White (two-year Hiram OH hooper in early 1950s) went 8-for-10 in a 1961 twinbill sweep of the Chicago Cubs.

King James Changing Uniform # Back to 23 to Honor Legendary Bill Russell

You can quibble with LeBron James regarding some of his inane social-warrior stances. But you can't criticize him for honoring Bill Russell by changing his uniform number from #6 back to #23 to honor him. Russell, who passed away last year, was the ultimate championship basketball player, winning a total of 13 titles with the University of San Francisco (two NCAA) and Boston Celtics (11 NBA). Russell is among 10 All-Americans boasting at least six NCAA/NBA crowns with at least one college title. Five of Russell's Celtic teammates are among the following hoopers with the most NBA and NCAA championships:

No. All-American NBA Titles NCAA Titles
13 Bill Russell 11 with Boston Celtics (1957-59-60-61-62-63-64-65-66-68-69) two with San Francisco (1955 and 1956)
9 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar six with Milwaukee Bucks (1971) and Los Angeles Lakers (1980-82-85-87-88) three with UCLA (1967 through 1969) when his name was Lew Alcindor
9 John Havlicek eight with Boston Celtics (1963-64-65-66-68-69-74-76) one with Ohio State (1960)
9 K.C. Jones eight with Boston Celtics (1959-60-61-62-63-64-65-66) one with San Francisco (1955)
8 Frank Ramsey seven with Boston Celtics (1957-59-60-61-62-63-64) one with Kentucky (1951)
7 Bob Cousy six with Boston Celtics (1957-59-60-61-62-63) one with Holy Cross (1947)
7 Michael Jordan six with Chicago Bulls (1991-92-93-96-97-98) one with North Carolina (1982)
6 Magic Johnson five with Los Angeles Lakers (1980-82-85-87-88) one with Michigan State (1979)
6 Larry Siegfried five with Boston Celtics (1964-65-66-68-69) one with Ohio State (1960)
6 Keith Wilkes four with Golden State Warriors (1975) and Los Angeles Lakers (1980-82-85) two with UCLA (1972 and 1973)

NOTE: USF's K.C. Jones was ineligible to compete in 1956 NCAA Tournament because he was playing his fifth season of college basketball.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Providing MLB Headlines on July 16

Extra! Extra! Bike-rider and stair-climber extraordinaire Plagiarist Biledumb, a lost "big guy" coin in tall grass, was at NATO conference "Making America Worst" wearing world-stage spotlight like a dunce cap. Instead of debating creepy hair sniffer's incoherence and incompetence while wondering if he'll patch things up with shunned granddaughter Navy by putting her in charge of one of those shell corporations, 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.

Jerry Lumpe (New York Yankees) and Norm Siebern (Kansas City Athletics) - hoop teammates for Southwest Missouri State's 1952 NAIA Tournament titlist - provided significant American League performances on this date against the Detroit Tigers. Ditto Darrell Evans and Irv Noren for separate CA community college champions at Pasadena City. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a July 16 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

JULY 16

  • Cincinnati Reds rookie LF Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) collected two homers and five RBI against the New York Giants in the nightcap of a 1950 twinbill. Eleven years later as a Milwaukee Braves 1B in a 1961 game, Adcock swatted two homers against the St. Louis Cardinals.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates LF Clyde Barnhart (hooper for Shippensburg PA predecessor Cumberland Valley State Normal School prior to World War I) provided four hits, including three doubles, against the Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a 1927 doubleheader.

  • Chicago Cubs 2B Glenn Beckert (three-year hoops letterman for Allegheny PA) stretched his hitting streak to 21 games with a decisive 12th-inning double in a 4-3 victory against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1968. Three years later in a 1971 contest, Beckert banged out four hits against the Phillies.

  • Philadelphia Athletics rookie C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) contributed at least three hits for the fifth time in a seven-game span in 1925.

  • CF Harry Craft (four-sport letterman with Mississippi College in early 1930s) traded by the Cincinnati Reds to the New York Yankees in 1942 although he never played for the Yanks.

  • St. Louis Cardinals CF Taylor Douthit (California hoops letterman from 1922 through 1924) tallied four hits against the New York Giants in the midst of four consecutive contests with at least three safeties in 1929.

  • Detroit Tigers 1B Walt Dropo (Connecticut's first hooper to average 20 points for single season with 21.7 ppg in 1942-43) delivered two more hits, giving him an A.L. record-tying 15 safeties over a four-game span in 1952.

  • Atlanta Braves 1B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) homered twice in a 1989 game against the New York Mets.

  • Philadelphia Athletics RF Walt French (hoops letterman for Rutgers and Army) furnished four hits against the St. Louis Browns in the nightcap of a 1926 doubleheader.

  • After 16 scoreless innings, New York Giants 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) stroked a bases-loaded triple to ignite a 7-0 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1920.

  • 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) hurled back-to-back shutouts in a six-day span in 1976.

  • Los Angeles Dodgers C Tom Haller (backup forward for Illinois in 1956-57 and 1957-58 under coach Harry Combes) amassed four hits and four RBI against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1968 game.

  • Cleveland Indians rookie RHP Rich Hand (averaged 6.2 ppg for Puget Sound WA in 1967-68) hurled a four-hit shutout against the Kansas City Royals in 1970.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) collected two homers and five RBI against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1953 contest.

  • Los Angeles Dodgers manager Davey Johnson (averaged 1.7 ppg with Texas A&M in 1961-62) hospitalized in 2000 after experiencing dizziness as a result of an irregular heartbeat.

  • California Angels LF Joe Lahoud (New Haven CT hoops letterman in mid-1960s) launched a pair of two-run homers against the Cleveland Indians in a 1974 outing.

  • New York Giants CF Hank Leiber (Arizona hooper in 1931) logged three extra-base hits against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1935 game.

  • A three-run homer by 3B Jerry Lumpe (member of Southwest Missouri State's 1952 NAIA Tournament hoops championship team) gave the New York Yankees a 3-2 win against the Detroit Tigers in 1958.

  • New York Yankees RF Irv Noren (hooper of year for California community college state champion Pasadena City in 1945) went 4-for-4, including game-winning homer in the bottom of the ninth inning, against the Baltimore Orioles in 1954.

  • Kansas City Athletics 1B Norm Siebern (member of Southwest Missouri State squads capturing back-to-back NAIA Tournament titles in 1952 and 1953) went 4-for-4 against the Detroit Tigers in the nightcap of a 1961 doubleheader.

  • Chicago Cubs SS Roy Smalley Jr. (one of top scorers in 1942-43 and 1943-44 for Drury MO) homered in each end of a 1950 twinbill sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies.

  • Boston Braves OF Ab Wright (Oklahoma A&M hoops letterman in 1928-29) whacked a three-run, pinch-hit homer against the Brooklyn Dodgers in the nightcap of a 1944 doubleheader.

Give Up the Ghost: Which Schools Should Consider De-emphasizing From DI?

You cannot be serious! What's the point if you're going to be this inept? Army hasn't had a single-digit defeat season since 1977-78. After St. Francis (N.Y.) dropped all sports, biting the big-time dust after winning only 36.4% of its basketball games covering the last seven seasons, Army was left with two other schools (The Citadel plus William & Mary) as the only longstanding major-college programs failing to compete in the NCAA Tournament since the first year of the national playoffs in 1939. The Cadets seemed on the precipice of a breakthrough season but that blew up on them when Ethan Roberts and Jalen Rucker entered the transfer portal.

At any rate, the trio of never-been-there schools shouldn't exit Division I because they've been around from the start. Dartmouth, despite no winning record overall or in Ivy League competition thus far in 21st Century (23 seasons), also gets a pass because it is a member of a prestigious conference. But are there other schools that should consider de-emphasizing?

There's always a Colgate in the mix making one hesitate kicking a program to the lower-level curb. The Raiders registered at least 23 victories four of the last five seasons (going 14-2 in COVID-ridden 2020-21) after suffering nine consecutive losing campaigns from 2008-09 through 2016-17. There also were a couple of other feel-good, rags-to-riches stories. How about Fordham posting a gaudy 25-8 record last season after only two winning marks (2006-07 and 2015-16) in previous 30 seasons and Kennesaw State going 26-9 in the wake of all losing records in its first 16 seasons competing at the DI level.

But most of the newcomers recently moving up to DI aren't like California Baptist, which posted winning records each of its first five seasons at higher level. For some institutions, it can't get much worse and they should strongly consider returning to a lower classification such as what Hartford did. Following is an alphabetical list of a couple dozen schools that probably should give up the DI ghost:

Struggling School Summary of Dismal Performance at NCAA DI Level
Arkansas-Pine Bluff 10 straight overall losing records of at least five games below .500
Binghamton 14 consecutive overall losing records of at least five games below .500
Cal Poly eight straight 20-loss seasons and nine in last 10
Cal State Northridge 14 consecutive overall losing records with eight of them reaching 20-loss plateau
Cal State Sacramento only two overall winning records in 32 seasons since moving up to NCAA DI status in 1991-92
Central Arkansas only one winning record (18-17 in 2017-18) in first 17 seasons competing in DI conference
Charleston Southern averaged 18 defeats annually in last 26 seasons with only four winning records in that span
Chicago State only one winning record (19-13 in 2008-09) in last 37 seasons with 28 years of at least 20 setbacks in that span
Coppin State only one winning record (16-14 in 2010-11) in last 19 seasons including eight straight campaigns of at least 20 setbacks from 2012-13 through 2019-20 (thank you COVID in 2020-21)
Delaware State 11 consecutive non-winning seasons with each of last six of them failing to win more than 20% of games
Florida A&M 16 consecutive losing records
Houston Christian only one winning record (17-14 in 2016-17) in last 15 seasons since returning to NCAA DI status
Idaho State two barely winning records (total of three games above .500 in 2015-16 and and 2020-21) in last 20 seasons
Illinois-Chicago no season in last 19 with fewer than 13 defeats (COVID-shortened 2020-21)
Maine 13 consecutive non-winning campaigns and 18 in last 19
Marist only one winning record in last 15 seasons (12-9 in COVID-shortened 2020-21)
Mississippi Valley State 11 consecutive seasons with at least 22 defeats and failing to reach double digits in victories
Northern Illinois two winning records in last 17 seasons (21-13 in 2015-16 and 18-13 in 2019-20)
South Carolina State one non-losing record in last 13 seasons (19-15 in 2015-16)
Southeast Missouri State no season with fewer than 14 defeats in last 22 years (since 18-12 mark in 2000-01)
Stetson one winning record in last 22 seasons (17-14 in 2022-23)
Texas-Rio Grande Valley one winning record in last 15 seasons (20-17 in 2018-19), two winning records in last 21 seasons and three winning records in last 29 seasons
Western Carolina incurred at least 12 setbacks for 40 consecutive campaigns with 30 of the last 38 marred by losing records
Western Illinois sustained at least 14 reversals in all but one of last 24 seasons (22-9 in 2012-13)

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Providing MLB Headlines on July 15

Extra! Extra! If hideous Hunter is smartest guy Plagiarist Biledumb knows amid all of "Let's Go Brandon" pronoun-chasing #Dimorats, are loose cannon/top advisor's vile comments about stepmom "Dr." Jill accurate? Instead of debating this inquiry, 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 Swarthmore PA hoopers George Earnshaw and Jack Ogden made news as National League pitchers on this date. Ex-Eastern Michigan hoopers Bill Crouch and Jim Snyder also made MLB news on this date. Former Evansville hooper Andy Benes owned the New York Mets the first half of July in 1994 as ace for the San Diego Padres. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a July 15 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

JULY 15

  • En route to leading N.L. in strikeouts, San Diego Padres RHP Andy Benes (joined Evansville's shorthanded basketball squad in 1985-86 under coach Jim Crews) fanned 14 batters and permitted only two hits in eight innings against the New York Mets in nightcap of 1994 twinbill. Twelve days earlier, Benes whiffed 13 batters in tossing a one-hit shutout against the Mets.

  • In 1939, a disputed home run down the LF foul line into the upper deck at the Polo Grounds by Cincinnati Reds CF Harry Craft (four-sport letterman including basketball with Mississippi College in early 1930s) hastened the advent of "fair" pole screens.

  • RHP Bill Crouch (Eastern Michigan hoops captain in 1927-28) hurled the first 10 frames for the St. Louis Cardinals in their 16-inning, 3-2 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1941.

  • Boston Braves SS Dick Culler (#9 jersey retired by High Point for hoops Little All-American in 1935 and 1936) went 4-for-4 in a 3-2 triumph against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1946.

  • Detroit Tigers 1B Walt Dropo (first Connecticut's hooper to average 20 points for single season with 21.7 ppg in 1942-43) tied a MLB record with 12 consecutive hits before his streak was snapped in the nightcap of a doubleheader against the Washington Senators in 1952.

  • RHP George Earnshaw (Swarthmore PA hooper in 1922) traded by the Brooklyn Dodgers to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1936.

  • Chicago Cubs 3B Howard Freigau (hooper for Ohio Wesleyan) had his 21-game hitting streak snapped by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1925.

  • Boston Red Sox 1B Dick Gernert (Temple letterman in 1948-49 when averaging 2.7 ppg) collected two homers and five RBI in a 7-5 win against the Chicago White Sox in 1952.

  • In 1967, a line drive by Pittsburgh Pirates RF Roberto Clemente broke the right leg of St. Louis Cardinals RHP Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer and rebounder in 1955-56 and 1956-57). But Gibson returned from the injury to lead the Cards to the World Series championship.

  • Philadelphia Phillies RHP Andy Karl (Manhattan hoops letterman from 1933 through 1935) registered the lone complete game in his MLB career in a 3-1 defeat against the Cincinnati Reds in 1945.

  • New York Giants RHP Christy Mathewson (Bucknell hooper at turn of 20th Century) hurled a no-hitter against St. Louis with a 5-0 win in 1901. Twelve years later, he used only 70 pitches to outduel Cincinnati Reds P Three Finger Brown, 4-2, extending Mathewson's streak of innings without issuing a walk to 61.

  • St. Louis Cardinals RF Wally Moon (averaged 4.3 ppg with Texas A&M in 1948-49 and 1949-50) smacked two triples in the nightcap of a 1956 twinbill against the Philadelphia Phillies.

  • 1B Cotton Nash (three-time All-American averaged 22.7 ppg and 12.3 rpg in Kentucky career from 1961-62 through 1963-64) traded by the Chicago White Sox to the Minnesota Twins in 1969.

  • Cincinnati Reds RHP Jack Ogden (Swarthmore PA hooper in 1918) hurled a five-hit shutout against the Boston Braves in 1931.

  • In midst of A.L. All-Star losing eight consecutive verdicts in 1971, Minnesota Twins RHP Jim Perry (averaged more than 20 ppg in late 1950s for former juco Campbell) tossed 10 scoreless innings in a no-decision outing against the Boston Red Sox.

  • In 1963, Chicago White Sox LHP Gary Peters (Grove City PA hooper from 1955-57) fanned 13 Baltimore Orioles batters while hurling a one-hitter - third-inning single by Robin Roberts (one of Michigan State's top three scorers from 1944-45 through 1946-47) - in the first of back-to-back shutouts for Peters, who was in midst of winning 11 straight decisions.

  • OF Leon Roberts (grabbed one rebound in four basketball games for Michigan in 1970-71 under coach Johnny Orr) was sold by the Texas Rangers to the Toronto Blue Jays in 1982.

  • 1B-OF Norm Siebern (member of Southwest Missouri State's back-to-back NAIA Tournament hoops titlists in 1952 and 1953) purchased from the San Francisco Giants by the Boston Red Sox in 1967.

  • In 1997, the Montreal Expos announced the retirement of closer Lee Smith (averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg with Northwestern State in 1976-77).

  • Minnesota Twins 2B Jim Snyder (Eastern Michigan hoops letterman in 1951-52) jacked his lone MLB homer (against Washington Senators in 1964).

  • Montreal Expos rookie LF Mike Stenhouse (averaged 4.1 ppg for Harvard in 1977-78) smacked a homer in back-to-back games against the Cincinnati Reds in 1984.

  • C John Stephenson (scored 1,361 points for William Carey MS in early 1960s) hit a pinch two-run homer in the ninth inning to carry the California Angels to a 4-3 win against the Milwaukee Brewers in 1972.

  • Philadelphia Athletics rookie RF Kite Thomas (averaged 5.1 ppg for Kansas State in 1946-47) supplied a career-high three hits, including a double and homer, in the opener of a 1952 doubleheader against the St. Louis Browns.

  • Boston Red Sox 3B Billy Werber (first Duke hoops All-American in 1929-30) amassed four hits and four runs in the opener of a 1934 twinbill against the St. Louis Browns.

  • A three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning by RF Chuck Workman (All-MIAA first-five selection for Central Missouri State as sophomore and junior in mid-1930s) proved to be the difference as the Boston Braves beat the Brooklyn Dodgers, 6-3, in 1944.

Peaks and Valleys: Kennesaw Tied Toledo and Towson For Vast Improvement

No school had more of a roller coaster ride earlier this century than Siena, which went from a 6-24 record in 2004-05 to 27-8 in 2008-09 before going from 27-7 in 2009-10 to 8-24 in 2012-13. In the last decade, Tennessee State traveled a similar turbulent path in short span going from 20-13 in 2011-12 to 5-26 in 2014-15 to 20-11 in 2015-16.

There is a normal ebb and flow (good/bad/ugly) to a basketball game and season. But what is rare is Kennesaw State's wild-swing achievement last season when the Owls reached the NCAA playoffs with a 26-win team only three years removed from a dreadful 1-28 ledger. Kennesaw's difference in games from worst to winningest NCAA Division I season (+22) tied Toledo and Towson with Towson achieving outhouse-to-penthouse feat only two campaigns removed from woeful 1-31 worksheet.

Clearly, there is more short-term seasonal stability among power-conference members. Colorado is the only power-league member among schools posting their existing DI best/worst seasons in a span of fewer than four years.

What goes up must come down on college hoopdom's elevator ride. Central Michigan incurred the most dramatic single-season downfall after center Chris Kaman left school early to become the sixth pick overall in 2003 NBA draft and have a 13-year pro career. Following is a DI level summary of the best to worst or vice versa in a stretch of fewer than four seasons (all this century at least in part):

SHORT RIDE GOING UP

DI School Most DI Defeats Before Winningest Season Games Improved
Kennesaw State 1-28 in 2019-20 to 26-9 in 2022-23 +22
Toledo 4-28 in 2010-11 to 27-7 in 2013-14 +22
Towson 1-31 in 2011-12 to 25-11 in 2013-14 +22
Wagner 5-26 in 2009-10 to 25-6 in 2011-12 +20
UC Davis 5-26 in 2011-12 to 25-7 in 2014-15 +19 1/2
Maryland-Baltimore County 4-26 in 2014-15 to 25-11 in 2017-18 +18
UCF 8-23 in 2000-01 to 25-6 in 2003-04 +17
Albany 7-25 in 2009-10 to 24-11 in 2012-13 +15 1/2
Lipscomb 12-21 in 2015-16 to 29-8 in 2018-19 +15
Tennessee State 5-26 in 2014-15 to 20-11 in 2015-16 +15
Northern Kentucky 9-21 in 2015-16 to 26-9 in 2018-19 +14 1/2
South Florida 8-25 in 2015-16 to 24-14 in 2018-19 +13 1/2
Utah Valley 11-19 in 2019-20 to 28-9 in 2022-23 +13 1/2
Boise State 13-20 in 2018-19 to 27-8 in 2021-22 +13
Central Arkansas 2-27 in 2014-15 to 18-17 in 2017-18 +13
Norfolk State 12-20 in 2010-11 to 26-10 in 2011-12 +12
Wright State 11-20 in 2014-15 to 25-10 in 2017-18 +12
Colorado 9-22 in 2008-09 to 24-14 in 2010-11 +11 1/2

SHORT RIDE GOING DOWN

DI School Winningest DI Season Before Most Defeats Games Declined
Marist 25-9 in 2006-07 to 1-29 in 2009-10 -22
Little Rock 30-5 in 2015-16 to 7-25 in 2017-18 -21 1/2
Binghamton 23-9 in 2008-09 to 2-29 in 2011-12 -20 1/2
Middle Tennessee State 31-5 in 2016-17 to 8-23 in 2019-20 -20 1/2
Central Michigan 25-7 in 2002-03 to 6-24 in 2003-04 -18
Siena 27-7 in 2009-10 to 8-24 in 2012-13 -18
Boston University 25-5 in 1996-97 to 7-22 in 1999-00 -17 1/2
Fairfield 25-8 in 2010-11 to 7-25 in 2013-14 -17 1/2
Tennessee-Martin 22-10 in 2008-09 to 4-27 in 2011-12 -17 1/2
St. Francis (N.Y.) 23-12 in 2014-15 to 4-27 in 2016-17 -17
Gardner-Webb 23-9 in 2001-02 to 5-24 in 2002-03 -16 1/2
Florida Gulf Coast 26-8 in 2016-17 to 10-22 in 2019-20 -15
Northern Arizona 23-15 in 2014-15 to 5-27 in 2017-18 -15
Omaha 21-11 in 2018-19 to 5-25 in 2021-22 -15
Tennessee State 20-13 in 2011-12 to 5-26 in 2014-15 -14

NOTE: St. Francis (N.Y.) dropped all sports following this past season.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Providing MLB Headlines on July 14

Extra! Extra! Instead of debating whether granddaughter-ignoring Plagiarist Biledumb should join his hideous son on Sex Offender Registry for highlighting a one-source story about 10-year-old seeking an out-of-state abortion while failing to point out she was raped by an illegal alien, 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.

Chicago Cubs teammates and ex-Mississippi hoopers Jim Hickman and Don Kessinger helped propel the National League to victory in 1970 All-Star Game on this date. Former Illinois hoopers Lou Boudreau and Tom Haller made significant American League news on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a July 14 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

JULY 14

  • Cleveland Indians player-manager Lou Boudreau (leading basketball scorer for Illinois' 1937 Big Ten Conference co-champion) banged out five extra-base hits - four doubles and a homer - but it wasn't enough to prevent an 11-10 defeat in the opening game of a 1946 doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox, which got three homers for eight RBI from Hall of Fame OF Ted Williams.

  • St. Louis Cardinals SS Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for Louisiana State and Southwestern Louisiana in mid-1940s) went 9-for-11 in a three-game series against opponent (New York Giants) trading him to the Cards a month earlier.

  • Boston Red Sox C Gene Desautels (Holy Cross hoops letterman in 1929 and 1930) went 4-for-4 against the St. Louis Browns in a 1937 game.

  • Detroit Tigers 1B Walt Dropo (Connecticut's first player ever to average 20 points for season with 21.7 ppg in 1942-43) stroked five singles in an 8-2 win over the New York Yankees in 1952.

  • Boston Red Sox C Rick Ferrell (forward for Guilford NC before graduating in 1928) amassed four hits and four runs against the Cleveland Indians in the opener of a 1935 twinbill.

  • St. Louis Cardinals SS Jake Flowers (member of Washington College MD "Flying Pentagon" hoops squad in 1923) went 4-for-4 in a 3-2 victory against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1931.

  • San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-Western Athletic Conference second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81 who twice led league in assists) extended his hitting streak to 19 games with three safeties against the San Francisco Giants in a 1977 contest, raising his batting average to .402.

  • In a MLB first, Tom Haller (backup forward for Illinois in 1956-57 and 1957-58 under coach Harry Combes) was the Detroit Tigers' catcher in 1972 when his brother, Bill, umpired behind the plate.

  • 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 2-for-2 to help the N.L. edge the A.L., 5-4, in 12 innings in the 1970 All-Star Game. Cubbies teammate Jim Hickman (freshman hooper for Ole Miss in 1955-56) drove in Pete Rose with a single to center field as part of the famous play where Rose Barreled into catcher Ray Fosse at home plate to score winning run in bottom of 12th.

  • St. Louis Browns LHP Ernie Koob (Western Michigan hoops letterman in 1914) hurled a 17-inning shutout in a scoreless tie against the Boston Red Sox in 1916.

  • Philadelphia Phillies LF Danny Litwhiler (member of JV hoops squad with Bloomsburg PA in mid-1930s) went 4-for-4 against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1941 game.

  • In 1935, Chicago White Sox RHP Ted Lyons (two-time All-SWC first-team selection for Baylor in early 1920s) hurled his second of back-to-back shutouts.

  • Kansas City Athletics 1B Irv Noren (hooper of year for California community college state champion Pasadena City in 1945) launched two homers against the Washington Senators in the nightcap of a 1957 doubleheader.

  • RHP Curly Ogden (Swarthmore PA hoops center in 1919, 1920 and 1922) tossed his third shutout in first seven starts with the Washington Senators in 1924.

  • New York Yankees LF Lou Piniella (averaged 2.5 ppg and 1.4 rpg with Tampa as freshman in 1961-62) provided three extra-base hits (two doubles/one homer) in a 7-6 win against the Chicago White Sox in 1978.

  • Chicago Cubs INF Paul Popovich (teammate of Jerry West for West Virginia's 1960 NCAA playoff team) delivered a game-winning, pinch single in the bottom of the ninth inning in a 9-8 triumph against the Atlanta Braves in 1972.

  • Cincinnati Reds LHP Eppa Rixey (Virginia hoops letterman in 1912 and 1914) fired a six-hit shutout against Brooklyn amid a streak of eight straight wins en route to a N.L.-high 25 triumphs in 1922.

  • New York Yankees 1B Bill "Moose" Skowron (scored 18 points in eight games for Purdue in 1949-50) socked his second pinch-hit grand slam of the 1957 season.

  • Chicago Cubs RHP Lee Smith (averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg with Northwestern State in 1976-77) earned the victory in the 1987 All-Star Game with three innings of scoreless relief for the N.L.

  • Chicago White Sox LHP Matt Thornton (averaged 5.8 ppg and 2.4 rpg for Grand Valley State MI from 1995-96 through 1997-98) scored upon for the only time in a 16-game span through the end of the month in 2006.

  • Boston Red Sox LHP Bob Veale (scored 1,160 points for Benedictine KS from 1955-56 through 1957-58) notched his fourth straight save in 1973.

  • RF Dave Winfield (starting forward with Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) walloped two homers for the California Angels in an 8-7 triumph against the Toronto Blue Jays in 1990.

  • San Francisco Giants RF Randy Winn (Santa Clara backcourtmate of eventual two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash in 1993-94) knocked in five runs against the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 2007 game.

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