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

August 27th, 2023 - 10:29

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

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

AUGUST 27

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

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

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

  • Starting on two days rest, Brooklyn Dodgers RHP Ralph Branca (sixth-leading scorer for NYU in 1943-44) spun a two-hit shutout against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1951, entering the ninth inning with a no-hitter.

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

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

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

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

  • Hall of Fame RHP Christy Mathewson (Bucknell hooper at turn of 20th Century) resigned as Cincinnati Reds manager in 1918 to accept a commission as a captain in the chemical warfare branch of the Army during World War I.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Pinch-hitter Jimmy Stewart (All-Volunteer State Athletic Conference hoops selection for Austin Peay State in 1959-60 and 1960-61) stroked a bases-loaded triple to spur the Cincinnati Reds to an 8-7 victory against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1971.

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

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

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

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