On This Date: Former College Hoopers Made News in August 1 MLB Contests

August 1st, 2021 - 9:00

Extra! Extra! Unless you're debating national embarrassments such as clinging-to-plane Afghan departure or "delta" scariant mask mandate mass hysteria-induced mental illness reminiscent of three-century long witch burning in Europe from 1450 to 1750, 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 San Diego State hoopers Tony Clark and Graig Nettles generated American League headlines on this date. Ex-Michigan college hoopers Don Eaddy (Michigan), Jim Northrup (Alma) and Robin Roberts (Michigan State) also made MLB news on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an August 1 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

AUGUST 1

  • Chicago Cubs RF Frankie Baumholtz (MVP in 1941 NIT and first basketball player in Ohio University history to score 1,000 career points) banged out four hits against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 1953 game.

  • Cleveland Indians 2B Bosey Berger (Maryland's first hoops All-American led Southern Conference in scoring in league competition in 1930-31) provided four hits, including three doubles, against the Chicago White Sox in a 1935 contest.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Jim Bibby (Fayetteville State NC backup hooper and brother of UCLA All-American Henry Bibby) incurred his only defeat (1-0 against San Diego Padres) in 11 decisions from early June to mid-August en route to leading the N.L. in winning percentage in 1980.

  • Milwaukee Braves 2B Frank Bolling (averaged 7.3 ppg in 1950-51 for Spring Hill AL) went 3-for-4 in both ends of a 1965 twinbill sweep of the San Francisco Giants.

  • Detroit Tigers 1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in WAC games in 1991-92) clobbered two homers for the second time in a six-game span in 1998.

  • Boston Red Sox 2B Denny Doyle (averaged 2.7 ppg for Morehead State in 1962-63) delivered four hits in a 1976 game against the New York Yankees.

  • Chicago Cubs INF Don Eaddy (averaged team-high 13.8 in Big Ten Conference competition as Michigan sophomore in 1952-53) fanned in his lone MLB plate appearance in 1959.

  • Atlanta Braves 3B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) homered for the fourth straight day in 1973.

  • Los Angeles Dodgers C Joe Ferguson (hooper in 1967 NCAA playoffs with Pacific) jacked a game-winning homer in the bottom of the 10th inning in a 2-1 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1980.

  • Philadelphia Athletics rookie 2B Gene Handley (Bradley hoops letterman in 1932-33 and 1933-34) manufactured four hits against the Chicago White Sox in a 1946 outing.

  • In 1957, 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) hit his 13th career grand slam to set a new N.L. record. It was the final grand slam in the history of the Brooklyn franchise before the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles.

  • Atlanta Braves 2B Davey Johnson (averaged 1.7 ppg with Texas A&M in 1961-62) drilled two homers against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1973 game.

  • In his 11th straight scoreless relief appearance, Boston Red Sox LHP Vic Johnson (Wisconsin-Eau Claire hoops letterman in 1942-43) allowed only one hit over six innings to earn a 7-5 triumph against the New York Yankees in 1945.

  • St. Louis Cardinals CF Les Mann (Springfield MA hooper in 1913 and 1914) went 4-for-4 with three doubles against the Brooklyn Robins in a 1921 outing.

  • In 1913, New York Giants RHP Christy Mathewson (Bucknell hooper at turn of 20th Century) reached the 20-win plateau for the 11th consecutive season.

  • Cleveland Indians 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) had his 19-game hitting streak snapped by the Oakland Athletics in 1971.

  • Hitless in his first six at-bats, RF Jim Northrup (second-leading scorer and third-leading rebounder for Alma MI in 1958-59) homered in the 16th inning to give the Detroit Tigers a 4-3 victory against the California Angels in 1971.

  • Philadelphia Phillies RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) posted his 200th triumph with a three-hit, 3-1 success at Chicago in 1958.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Don Schwall (All-Big Seven Conference second-team selection led Oklahoma saved both ends of a 1965 doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs with three innings of scoreless relief in each contest.

  • In 1973, New York Mets LHP George Stone (averaged 14.7 ppg and 6.5 rpg for Louisiana Tech in 1964-65 and 1965-66) hit safely in his ninth of last 10 starts.

  • Atlanta Braves RHP Cecil Upshaw (Centenary's leading scorer as junior in 1962-63) tossed nine innings of four-hit, scoreless relief to secure a 4-2 win against the New York Mets in 1968.

  • Boston Braves rookie RF Chuck Workman (two-time All-MIAA first-five hoops selection was leading scorer when Central Missouri won inaugural NAIA Tournament in 1937) went 4-for-4 against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the opener of a 1943 twinbill.