On This Date: Former College Hoopers Supplying MLB Headlines on June 30

June 30th, 2024 - 9:43

Extra! Extra! Instead of wondering how much pint-sized Fox News funnyman Greg Gutfeld was instrumental in helping get rid of shirtless big punk Geraldo Rivera, 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.

Two former hoopers from small colleges in Virginia - Larry Doby (Virginia Union) and Larry Sheets (Eastern Mennonite) - made American League news on this date. Additional former Southern small-college hoopers generating MLB news were John Castino (Rollins FL), Rick Ferrell (Guilford NC), Jake Flowers (Washington College MD), Hal Lee (Mississippi College) and George Stone (Louisiana Tech). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 30 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

JUNE 30

  • Cincinnati Reds LF Morrie Arnovich (Wisconsin-Superior hooper in early 1930s) went 4-for-4 in a 7-6 win against the Chicago Cubs in nightcap of 1940 doubleheader.

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

  • In 1960, Detroit Tigers 2B Frank Bolling (averaged 7.3 ppg for Spring Hill AL in 1950-51) had a streak of seven straight two-hit games, with an extra-base safety in all but one of them, halted by going hit-less against the Boston Red Sox.

  • Cleveland Indians SS Lou Boudreau (leading scorer for Illinois' 1937 Big Ten Conference co-champion) went 4-for-4 against the Chicago White Sox in a 1942 contest.

  • Minnesota Twins 3B John Castino (medical redshirt for Rollins FL in 1973-74 under coach Ed Jucker) contributed four hits and five RBI in 12-3 win against the Kansas City Royals in 1980.

  • Philadelphia Athletics C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) went 4-for-4 against the Detroit Tigers in a 1930 game.

  • In 1978, Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA hoops titlist) became the second black MLB manager, succeeding Bob Lemon as skipper of the Chicago White Sox.

  • Boston Red Sox C Rick Ferrell (hoop forward for Guilford NC before graduating in 1928) contributed three extra-base hits and four RBI against the Philadelphia Athletics in a 1935 contest.

  • St. Louis Cardinals 3B Jake Flowers (member of 1923 "Flying Pentagon" championship hoops squad for Washington College MD) capped off the month with five straight multiple-hit games in 1932.

  • In 1940, Washington Senators SS Charlie Gelbert (scored at least 125 points each of last three seasons in late 1920s for Lebanon Valley PA) closed out the month hitting .474 in 11 games (18-of-38).

  • En route to hitting .303 in 1970, St. Louis Cardinals RHP Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer and rebounder in 1955-56 and 1956-57) supplied his fifth multiple-hit game of the month while winning seven starts during that span. He contributed 12 such multiple-hit outings by season's end.

  • San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-WAC second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) and two teammates each socked a three-run homer in a 15-6 rout of the Oakland A's in 1997.

  • Commencing the game by fanning the side on nine pitches in the opening inning, Los Angeles Dodgers LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman hoops squad in 1953-54) hurled a no-hitter against the New York Mets in 1962.

  • Minnesota Twins 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) tossed a two-hit shutout against the California Angels in 1992.

  • Boston Braves LF Hal Lee (Mississippi College hooper in mid-1920s before coaching basketball at Auburn and Louisiana Tech the first half of the 1930s) went 4-for-5 with two triples in the opener of a 1935 twinbill against Philadelphia Phillies.

  • In 1938, New York Giants CF Hank Leiber (Arizona hooper in 1931) launched the final homer at Philadelphia's Baker Bowl before the Phillies moved to Shibe Park. Leiber finished the contest with three extra-base hits and five RBI.

  • Los Angeles Dodgers 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 became All-CIC choice with 1968 NAIA Tournament team) went 4-for-4 against the San Diego Padres in a 1975 game.

  • In the midst of a 10-game hitting streak, Philadelphia Athletics C Ed Madjeski (Seton Hall letterman from 1928-29 through 1930-31) manufactured five safeties in a 1933 doubleheader split against the St. Louis Browns.

  • New York Giants RHP Christy Mathewson (Bucknell hooper at turn of 20th Century) went 3-for-3 at the plate in 1903 outing against the St. Louis Cardinals.

  • RHP Nels Potter (leading scorer during two years attending Mount Morris IL in early 1930s) purchased from the Philadelphia Athletics by the Boston Red Sox in 1941.

  • A two-run, inside-the-park homer by RF Dave Robertson (one of two reserves on North Carolina State's first basketball team in 1911) lifted the New York Giants to a 4-3 victory against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1916.

  • Baltimore Orioles LF Larry Sheets (All-ODAC hoops selection in 1981-82 and 1982-83 with Eastern Mennonite VA) collected four RBI in a 1987 game against the Boston Red Sox, triggering a career-high 10-game hitting streak.

  • SS Roy Smalley Jr. (one of top scorers for Drury MO in 1942-43 and 1943-44) knocked in all of the Chicago Cubs' runs in a 5-4 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1952.

  • New York Mets LHP George Stone (averaged 14.7 ppg and 6.5 rpg for Louisiana Tech in 1964-65 and 1965-66) hurled his final MLB complete game when defeating the Chicago Cubs, 5-1, in 1975.

  • Detroit Tigers C Billy Sullivan Jr. (Portland hoops letterman in 1927-28) provided three hits in both ends of a 1940 twinbill split against the St. Louis Browns.

  • OF Kite Thomas (averaged 5.1 ppg for Kansas State in 1946-47) awarded on waivers from the Philadelphia Athletics to the Washington Senators in 1953.

  • DH-1B Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to Baltimore Orioles in 2012.

  • In 2005, Seattle Mariners LHP Matt Thornton (averaged 5.8 ppg and 2.4 rpg for Grand Valley State MI from 1995-96 through 1997-98) charged with a run for the first time after 14 scoreless relief appearances.

  • RHP Rusty Yarnall (Vermont hoops letterman in first half of 1920s) lost decision in his lone MLB appearance with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1926.