On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Supplying MLB Headlines on September 18

September 18th, 2024 - 12:33

Extra! Extra! Who in their right mind would give Iran $6 billion to fund terrorism? Instead of reflecting during Constitution Day week that zero-integrity Plagiarist Biledumb/Cacklin' Commie-la administration should have been the entity out of commission after witless whisperer's depraved doctrine striving to generate victory lap turned 9/11 into a commemoration for Jihadi jackals Al Qaeda, ISIS and Taliban forcing Americans out of terrorist haven, 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.

A couple of former hoopers from current power-conference members based in Indiana - Oral Hildebrand (Butler) and Cy Williams (Notre Dame) - supplied significant MLB performances on this date. Ditto ex-San Diego State hoopers Tony Gwynn and Jim Wilson plus former NCAA hoop tourney participants Billy Cowan (Utah), Kenny Lofton (Arizona), Sam Mele (NYU) and Dave Winfield (Minnesota). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a September 18 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

SEPTEMBER 18

  • In 1963, CF Billy Cowan (Utah basketball letterman from 1957-58 through 1959-60 was co-captain of NCAA playoff team as senior) cracked his first MLB homer, a ninth-inning, two-run blast giving the Chicago Cubs a 2-1 win over Pittsburgh Pirates LHP Joe Gibbon (two-time All-SEC forward for Ole Miss was nation's second-leading scorer as senior in 1956-57).

  • In 1987, Detroit Tigers 1B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) became the first 40-year-old to reach 40-homer plateau in a single season.

  • Hall of Fame C Rick Ferrell (Guilford NC hooper in mid-1920s) and his brother (P Wes Ferrell) thrown out of the game by an umpire after the Boston Red Sox teammates protest a call too vehemently in 1934.

  • In 1928, Brooklyn Robins 2B Jake Flowers (member of 1923 "Flying Pentagon" championship hoops squad for Washington College MD) supplied back-to-back three-hit outings to extend his hitting streak to career-high 10 games in a row.

  • San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-WAC second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) extended his hitting streak to a career-high 25 games.

  • New York Mets RF Jim Hickman (freshman hooper for Ole Miss in 1955-56) hammered final ever homer at Polo Grounds in 1963 (off Chris Short of Philadelphia Phillies in fourth inning).

  • Cleveland Indians RHP Oral Hildebrand (Butler hoops All-American in 1928-29 and 1929-30) tossed a two-hitter against the Boston Red Sox, finishing the 1933 campaign with an A.L.-leading six shutouts.

  • New York Yankees LF Charlie Keller (Maryland three-year hoops letterman from 1934-35 through 1936-37) homered twice against the Chicago White Sox in opener of a 1946 doubleheader.

  • Detroit Tigers RHP Dave Lemanczyk (averaged 4.5 ppg and 3.5 rpg for Hartwick NY teams compiling 51-21 record from 1969-70 through 1971-72) lost his third straight complete game in a 13-day span in 1975.

  • Cleveland Indians CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) cracked two homers against the Kansas City Royals in a 2001 contest.

  • New York Giants RHP Christy Mathewson (Bucknell hooper at turn of 20th Century) tossed his 11th shutout en route to 33rd victory in 1908.

  • Boston Red Sox RHP Gordon McNaughton (hooper for Loyola of Chicago in late 1920s) lost his lone MLB decision (6-5 against Detroit Tigers in 1932).

  • Boston Red Sox rookie RF Sam Mele (NYU's leading scorer in 1943 NCAA playoffs) went 5-for-5 against the St. Louis Browns in a 1947 game.

  • Chicago Cubs SS Pinky Pittenger (set Toledo's single-game scoring standard with 49 points in 1918-19) went 4-for-4 against the New York Giants in a 1922 contest.

  • New York Mets INF Ted Schreiber (hooper for St. John's in 1957-58 under coach Joe Lapchick) made history in 1963 in final game at the Polo Grounds by hitting into double play as pinch-hitter in bottom of ninth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies for final two outs at the famed stadium.

  • New York Yankees RHP Ralph Terry (juco hooper averaged 22 ppg for Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in mid-1950s) tossed his third shutout in a doubleheader in span of five starts in 1960. A pair of the whitewashes were two-hitters.

  • St. Louis Cardinals RHP Ray Washburn (Whitworth WA leading scorer when named All-Evergreen Conference in 1958-59 and 1959-60) hurled a no-hitter at San Francisco. The gem came day after Gaylord Perry of the Giants no-hit the Cards, handing RHP Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer in 1955-56 and 1956-57) one of his five 1-0 defeats in 1968. Washburn was in the midst of not allowing more than three earned runs in his last 20 starts of this campaign and all 16 starts the following season before a trade to the Cincinnati Reds.

  • Philadelphia Phillies CF Cy Williams (Notre Dame forward in 1909-10) collected three extra-base hits against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the nightcap of a 1924 twinbill.

  • Baltimore Orioles RHP Jim Wilson (hoops letterman for San Diego State's NAIB Tournament team in 1942) hurled a five-hit shutout against the Washington Senators in 1955. He also chipped in with two safeties in his third straight start.

  • Going 7-for-8, New York Yankees LF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) homered in both ends of a 1983 doubleheader against the Cleveland Indians.