On This Date: Ex-College Hoopsters Make Mark on September 15 MLB Games

September 15th, 2015 - 7:42

Extra! Extra! Read all about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players! Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopsters had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a September 15 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

SEPTEMBER 15

  • California Angels 1B Bruce Bochte (starting forward with Santa Clara's 1970 NCAA playoff basketball team averaged 7.4 ppg and 4 rpg) went 5-for-5 against the Minnesota Twins in 1975.

  • Washington Senators RHP Carl Bouldin (All-NCAA Tournament selection for Cincinnati in 1961) posted his first MLB victory with his only complete game (3-1 nod over the Chicago White Sox in 1962).

  • Detroit Tigers rookie CF Hoot Evers (Illinois starter in 1939-40) slugged two homers against the Washington Senators in 1946.

  • In the opener of a 1946 doubleheader, Boston Red Sox RHP Boo Ferriss (Mississippi State letterman in 1941) registered his 25th triumph, a 4-1 verdict over the Chicago White Sox.

  • San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-WAC second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) went 4-for-4 against the Cincinnati Reds in 1996.

  • Los Angeles Dodgers RF Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection when leading Ohio State in scoring and rebounding in 1956-57 and 1957-58) went 4-for-4 and contributed two assists in a 6-4 victory against the Chicago Cubs in 1962.

  • Chicago White Sox rookie RHP Bob Keegan (Bucknell letterman in 1941-42 and 1942-43) tossed his first of back-to-back shutouts in 1953.

  • New York Yankees LF Charlie Keller (Maryland three-year letterman from 1934-35 through 1936-37) homered twice against the St. Louis Browns in the opener of a 1945 doubleheader.

  • In 1961, Los Angeles Dodgers LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman squad in 1953-54) set a N.L. single-season record for most strikeouts by a lefthander.

  • Detroit Tigers SS Harvey Kuenn (played briefly for Wisconsin in 1951-52 after competing on JV squad previous season) supplied first four-hit game in his MLB career (against Washington Senators in 1952).

  • Chicago White Sox RHP Ted Lyons (two-time All-SWC first-team selection for Baylor in early 1920s), en route to pacing the A.L. in ERA (2.10), hurled a three-hitter against the Boston Red Sox in 1940 on a day commemorating his career.

  • In 1908, New York Giants RHP Christy Mathewson (played for Bucknell at turn of 20th Century) defeated the St. Louis Cardinals for the 24th straight time.

  • In his MLB debut, Philadelphia Athletics RHP Bill McCahan (three-year Duke letterman named to All-Southern Conference Tournament team in 1942) tossed a seven-inning, 2-0 shutout against the Cleveland Indians in the nightcap of a 1946 doubleheader, outdueling Hall of Famer Bob Feller.

  • St. Louis Cardinals LF Wally Moon (averaged 4.3 ppg with Texas A&M in 1948-49 and 1949-50) whacked two homers against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the nightcap of a 1957 twinbill.

  • RHP Joe Niekro (averaged 8.9 ppg and 3.8 rpg for West Liberty WV from 1963-64 through 1965-66) traded by the Houston Astros to the New York Yankees in 1985.

  • Detroit Tigers RF Jim Northrup (second-leading scorer and third-leading rebounder for Alma MI in 1958-59) jacked two homers against the Oakland Athletics in 1968.

  • 2B Mel Roach (averaged 9.3 ppg for Virginia in 1952-53) delivered a pinch-hit single in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Philadelphia Phillies to a 5-4 win against the St. Louis Cardinals.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers 2B Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) homered twice against the Cincinnati Reds in 1952.

  • Washington Senators LHP Orlin "Buck" Rogers (Virginia letterman from 1932-33 through 1934-35) lost his lone MLB decision in debut as a starter against the Cleveland Indians in 1935.

  • Milwaukee Brewers LF Ted Savage (led Lincoln MO in scoring average in 1955-56) collected two triples and a homer against the Oakland Athletics in 1970.

  • An eighth-inning bloop single by Philadelphia Athletics 1B Dick Siebert (played for Concordia-St. Paul MN in 1929 and 1930) broke up a no-hit bid by Cleveland Indians P Bob Feller in 1940.

  • Cleveland Indians RHP Sonny Siebert (team-high 16.7 ppg for Mizzou in 1957-58 as All-Big Eight Conference second-team selection) closed out the 1966 campaign with seven straight quality starts, compiling a 1.61 ERA in that span.

  • Atlanta Braves rookie LHP George Stone (averaged 14.7 ppg and 6.5 rpg for Louisiana Tech in 1964-65 and 1965-66) won his fourth straight start in 1968, notching a 1.69 ERA in that span.

  • Montreal Expos 2B Gary Sutherland (averaged 7.4 ppg with Southern California in 1963-64) stroked four hits against the Chicago Cubs in 1969.

  • Washington Senators LHP Eddie Wineapple (averaged 13.9 ppg with Providence in 1928-29) made his lone MLB appearance, toiling four innings in the opener of a 1929 doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers.

  • Cleveland Indians rookie RF Ab Wright (Oklahoma A&M letterman in 1928-29) contributed four hits and four against the Washington Senators in the opener of a 1935 twinbill.