Men For All Seasons: Lengthy List of MLB All-Stars Are Ex-College Hoopers

Four former college basketball players - Rick Ferrell (Guilford NC), Frankie Frisch (Fordham), Oral Hildebrand (Butler) and Hal Schumacher (St. Lawrence NY) - appeared in the inaugural major league baseball All-Star Game in 1933 and at least one ex-college hooper participated in every All-Star festivity through the remainder of 20th Century.

An annual average of seven former college hoopers were MLB All-Stars the first half of the 1950s (including Hall of Famers Monte Irvin, Robin Roberts and Jackie Robinson). That's a higher figure that the total number of ex-college hoopers competing at the MLB level the past several seasons. In an era of specialization, fewer and fewer individuals are opening themselves up to learning its more difficult to earn a spot on a MLB 40-man roster than a college hoops roster. Evidence of the recent reduction of dual-sport athletes is exhibited by the fact pitchers Chris Young (2007) and Matt Thornton (2010) are the only players in this unique category since outfielder Randy Winn (2002).

Four franchises - Braves, Cardinals, Cubs and Giants - have had eight different ex-college hoopers become a MLB All-Star. Arizona, Illinois, San Diego State and Texas A&M each had three former hoopers go on to become MLB All-Stars. Hall of Fame reliever Lee Smith (Northwestern State) is the only MLB All-Star for as many as four different franchises after playing NCAA Division I hoops. Although the Dodgers struck out in hosting the extravaganza this year in L.A., following is an alphabetical list of MLB All-Star selections who played varsity basketball as a regular for a four-year college:

*Baseball Hall of Famers.