CWS Title Quest: All-Time Winningest Coach Mike Martin Still Seeking Crown
Florida State's Mike Martin, failing to reach the College World Series after two one-run defeats at home, remains in quest to become the next former college basketball player coaching a school to a CWS championship. The all-time winningest college baseball coach boasts the highest winning percentage among NCAA Division I mentors, winning almost three-fourths of his games. Martin, who has guided the Seminoles to the CWS a total of 16 times (1980-86-87-89-91-92-94-95-96-98-99-00-08-10-12-17), played basketball for Wingate (NC) in the mid-1960s before the institution became a four-year school. One of his junior college hoop teammates was Morris "Mo" McHone, who went on to coach the San Antonio Spurs in 1983-84. Martin coached basketball for Tallahassee (Fla.) Community College in the early 1970s.
FSU advanced to a Super Regional for the 17th time in 20 seasons - the most for any school since the format was introduced. Martin, national runner-up in 1986 and 1999, isn't the only revered coach frustrated by not capturing a national title. Richard "Itchy" Jones, who averaged 8.9 ppg for Southern Illinois' basketball squad in 1956-57, established a baseball dynasty in 21-year coaching career at his alma mater before accepting a similar position with the Illini in Champaign in 1991. Jones compiled a 1,240-752-6 record before retiring in 2005. In 1971, his second year at Southern Illinois, Jones guided the Salukis to within one game of the national title, finishing second at the CWS. In 1974 and 1977, Jones brought SIU back to the CWS, placing third both times. Buoyed by more than 20 eventual major leaguers, he became the 18th coach in NCAA Division I history to win 1,000 games. Also falling short was ex-New Mexico State hooper Gary Ward, who guided Oklahoma State to 16 consecutive Big Eight Conference titles and 10 CWS appearances - including seven in a row and three runner-up finishes (1981-87-90) - in 19 seasons as coach from 1978 through 1996 before accepting a similar position succeeding his son at his alma mater for two years. Ward, who averaged 9.1 ppg and 5.4 rpg for the Aggies in 1960-61 and 1961-62, became only the 24th coach in college baseball history to secure 1,000 career victories, finishing with a 1,022-361-1 mark.
Stanford's Everett Dean, compiling a 3-0 basketball tournament record in 1942, is the only unbeaten coach in NCAA playoff history. He is also the only NCAA basketball championship coach to win a CWS baseball game for the same school as a coach (1953). Four former college cagers who eventually played or managed at the MLB level - Dick Siebert (2 with Minnesota), Don Lund (Michigan), Bobby Winkles (3 with Arizona State) and Marty Karow (Ohio State) - combined to capture a total of seven CWS championships in the 1960s. Following is an alphabetical list of previous ex-college hoopers who went the extra step and reached the milestone of coaching a CWS titlist:
JOHN "JACK" BARRY, Holy Cross
Infielder, primarily a shortstop, hit .243 with the Philadelphia Athletics and Boston Red Sox in 11 A.L. seasons from 1908 through 1919. Ranked fifth in the league in RBI in 1913 with 85 for the Athletics as a key component of Connie Mack's first dynasty. Participated in five World Series, four with the champion, in a six-year span from 1910 through 1915. Compiled a 90-62 managerial record with the Red Sox in 1917 before winning more than 80% of his games coaching his alma mater for 40 years (including capturing the 1952 College World Series). The 5-9 Barry was a basketball letterman for the Crusaders in 1908.
SAM BARRY, Wisconsin
Basketball Hall of Famer coached USC's 1948 baseball titlist. He is the Trojans' all-time winningest basketball coach.
RAY "PICK" FISHER, Middlebury (VT)
Righthander compiled a 100-94 record and 2.82 ERA with the New York Yankees and Cincinnati Reds in 10 years from 1910 through 1920. Ranked among the A.L. top 10 in ERA and complete games in back-to-back seasons (1914 and 1915). Started one World Series game for the Reds against the Chicago White Sox in 1919. Won 14 Big Ten Conference championships as baseball coach at Michigan for 38 years until the late 1950s (including 1953 College World Series title). Became a spring training pitching instructor for the Detroit Tigers after being blacklisted for almost 40 years because of salary disputes with Cincinnati's owners. Fisher played "class" basketball (1910 graduate) before becoming his alma mater's first full-time salaried member of the Physical Education Department.
MARTIN KAROW, Ohio State
Coach of his alma mater's 1966 College World Series winner after the Buckeyes finished runner-up the previous year. He was a basketball letterman in 1925 before the infielder went 2-for-10 in six games for the Boston Red Sox in 1927.
JERRY KINDALL, Minnesota
Infielder hit .213 in nine seasons (1956 through 1958 and 1960 through 1965) with the Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians and Minnesota Twins. Baseball coach at Arizona for more than 20 years, leading the Wildcats to three College World Series titles (1976, 1980 and 1986). He is the only player to hit for the cycle in the College World Series at Omaha (against Ole Miss on June 11, 1956). Kindall is the only individual to play for and coach CWS champions. The 6-2 1/2, 175-pounder played two seasons of varsity basketball for Minnesota under coach Ozzie Cowles, averaging 1.4 ppg as a sophomore in 1954-55 and 6.9 ppg as a junior in 1955-56. Excerpt from school guide: "Exceptionally quick reflexes and a good eye are his main attributes although he also has tremendous spring making him a good rebounder."
DON LUND, Michigan
Outfielder hit .240 in a seven-year career (1945, 1947 through 1949 and 1952 through 1954) with the Brooklyn Dodgers, St. Louis Browns and Detroit Tigers. His only season as a regular was 1953 when he was the Tigers' right fielder. Coached baseball at his alma mater, winning the national championship in 1962, before running the Tigers' farm system until 1970. First-round selection as a fullback/linebacker by the Chicago Bears in the 1945 NFL draft. Rejected $100 a game offer from the Bears and never played pro football. He was a 6-0, 200-pound starting guard as a junior for the Wolverines' basketball team and starting center as a senior. Averaged 4.4 ppg in 46 outings. In his history of Michigan basketball, Jeff Mortimer wrote of the school's World War II squads: "Lund, rejected for military service because of a trick knee, was the mainstay of these teams." Following his playing career, he served as baseball coach for his alma mater (won 1962 College World Series), farm system director for the Tigers and associate athletic director at his alma mater.
DICK SIEBERT, Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.)
Lefthanded first baseman hit .282 with the Brooklyn Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Athletics in 11 years in 1932 and from 1936 through 1945. All-Star in 1943 finished among the top Seven in the A.L. in batting average in 1941 and 1944. Minnesota's baseball coach for 31 years (753-361-8 record from 1948 through 1978) captured three CWS titles in a nine-year span from 1956 through 1964. His son, Paul, pitched with the Houston Astros, San Diego Padres and New York Mets for five years from 1974 to 1978. Siebert played two years of college basketball in 1929 and 1930. The March 1929 issue of the Concordia Comet mentions that, "Lefty Siebert, despite having never touched a basketball before enrolling at Concordia, was almost as good a basketball player as he was a baseball player."
JOHN "HI" SIMMONS, Northeast Missouri State
Missouri's all-time winningest baseball coach (481-284 record in 34 years) captured the 1954 NCAA title in one of his six College World Series appearances. One of his winning pitchers at the CWS was Norm Stewart, who went on to become Mizzou's all-time winningest basketball coach. School's baseball stadium is named after Simmons. All-conference center was senior captain of 1927-28 basketball squad.
BOBBY WINKLES, Illinois Wesleyan
Coached Arizona State to College World Series titles in 1965, 1967 and 1969 before managing the California Angels in 1973 and through the first 74 games of 1974 (170-213 major league record). Reggie Jackson, Rick Monday and Sal Bando were among the more than 20 future major leaguers he coached at ASU. Winkles led Illinois Wesleyan in scoring as a senior in 1950-51 (12 ppg). The 5-9, 170-pound guard was a first-team selection in the College Conference of Illinois.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Making Mark on June 12 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all 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 college hoopers Jackie Robinson (UCLA), Wally Roettger (Illinois) and Preston Ward (Missouri State) each had MLB multiple-hit streaks of at least four games on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 12 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 12
Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) produced four hits against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the nightcap of a 1953 doubleheader. Ten years later with the Cleveland Indians in 1963, Adcock homered for the fourth time in a five-game span.
Eighteen-year-old RHP Ralph Branca (sixth-leading scorer for NYU in 1943-44) made his Brooklyn Dodgers debut, striking out the first three New York Giants batters he faced in 1944.
A two-run, seventh-inning triple by pinch-hitter Grant Dunlap (Pacific hoops letterman in 1942-43 and 1946-47) proved decisive as the St. Louis Cardinals edged the New York Giants, 3-1, in 1953.
San Francisco Giants 1B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) contributed a double and homer in the fourth inning when they scored all of their runs in an 8-5 win over the Cincinnati Reds in 1983.
LHP Johnny Gee (hoops captain of Michigan's 16-4 team in 1936-37) purchased from the Pittsburgh Pirates by the New York Giants in 1944.
San Francisco Giants RHP Ed Halicki (NAIA All-American third-team choice in 1971-72 when leading Monmouth in scoring with 21 ppg after setting school single-game rebounding record with 40 the previous season) hurled a one-hit shutout against the Montreal Expos in 1978. Nine days later, he spun a three-hit whitewash against the Cincinnati Reds.
Brooklyn Dodgers 3B Harvey Hendrick (Vanderbilt hoops letterman in 1918) stole second, third and home against the Chicago Cubs in the eighth inning in 1928.
Brooklyn Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) hammered a grand slam en route to amassing eight RBI in a 20-7 triumph over the Cincinnati Reds in 1949. Three years later, Hodges homered twice against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1952 contest.
California Angels DH Joe Lahoud (New Haven CT hoops letterman in mid-1960s) launched two homers against the Detroit Tigers in a 1975 outing.
St. Louis Cardinals SS Doc Lavan (Hope MI hooper from 1908 through 1910) went 5-for-5 against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1922 game.
Mel McGaha (first Arkansas hooper to earn four letters from 1943-44 through 1946-47) named manager of the Kansas City Athletics in 1964.
Washington Senators 3B Buddy Myer (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1923-24) went 4-for-4 with four RBI against the Detroit Tigers in a 1938 contest.
C-OF Don Padgett (participated in multiple sports as freshman for Lenoir-Rhyne NC in 1934) purchased from the Brooklyn Dodgers by the Boston Braves in 1946.
Philadelphia Phillies LHP Eppa Rixey (Virginia hoops letterman in 1912 and 1914) tossed his second of back-to-back shutouts in 1917. Eight years later with the Cincinnati Reds, Rixey fired a shutout amid a streak of seven straight wins in less than a month in 1925.
Brooklyn Dodgers LF Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) registered his seventh straight multiple-hit game in 1953.
In the midst of a career-high 16-game hitting streak in 1928, St. Louis Cardinals rookie LF Wally Roettger (Illinois hoops letterman in 1921-22 and 1922-23) supplied his sixth straight multiple-hit outing.
An inside-the-park homer by Cincinnati Reds OF Champ Summers (led SIUE in scoring in 1969-70 after doing same with Nicholls State in 1964-65) represented his second pinch-hit round-tripper in less than a month in 1977. Three years later with the Detroit Tigers, Summers smashed two homers against the Minnesota Twins in a 1980 game.
Pittsburgh Pirates 1B Preston Ward (second-leading scorer for Southwest Missouri State in 1946-47 and 1948-49) provided multiple hits in his fourth consecutive contest in 1954, going 11-for-18 in that span.
Detroit Tigers LHP Ed Wells (multi-sport athlete graduated in 1924 from Bethany WV) hurled his third straight shutout en route to six complete-game victories during the month in 1926.
Boston Red Sox C Sammy White (All-PCC Northern Division first-five selection for Washington in 1947-48 and 1948-49) went 4-for-4 against the Detroit Tigers in a 1958 outing.
In 1954, RHP Jim Wilson (letterman for San Diego State's 1942 NAIA Tournament participant) hurled a no-hitter for the Milwaukee Braves in a duel against Hall of Fame RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) and the Philadelphia Phillies.
In perhaps the most amazing game in College World Series history, eventual Hall of Fame OF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) fanned 15 USC batters and yielded only one infield single through eight innings as RHP in 1973 before the defending national champion Trojans overcame a 7-0 deficit with eight runs in the ninth.
Former MLB manager Bobby Winkles (All-College Conference of Illinois first-team selection led Illinois Wesleyan in scoring with 12 ppg as senior in 1950-51) coached Arizona State to his first of three College World Series championships with the Sun Devils by edging Ohio State, 2-1, in 1965.
OF-3B Chuck Workman (All-MIAA selection was leading scorer in inaugural NAIA Tournament won by Central Missouri State in 1937) traded by the Boston Braves to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1946.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Making Mark on June 11 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all 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 power-conference hoopers Don Schwall (Oklahoma), Jim Tabor (Alabama) and Sammy White (Washington) provided significant performances for the Boston Red Sox on this date. Also making MLB news were several ex-hoopers for small colleges in Pennsylvania - Clyde Barnhart (Shippensburg), Al Downing (Muhlenberg) and Danny Litwhiler (Bloomsburg). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 11 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 11
In 1927, Pittsburgh Pirates LF Clyde Barnhart (played basketball for Shippensburg PA predecessor Cumberland Valley State Normal School prior to World War I) supplied three extra-base hits against the Brooklyn Robins for his 10th consecutive multiple-hit contest.
In his final game with the Montreal Expos, 1B Donn Clendenon (four-sport letterman with Morehouse GA) stroked three extra-base hits against the San Diego Padres in a 1969 game.
LHP Al Downing (attended Muhlenberg PA on hoops scholarship but left before ever playing) traded by the Oakland Athletics to the Milwaukee Brewers in 1970.
San Francisco Giants 1B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) delivered two homers and five RBI in a 7-6 win against the Atlanta Braves in 1983.
Hall of Fame C Rick Ferrell (Guilford NC hooper in mid-1920s) traded with his brother (P Wes Ferrell) from the Boston Red Sox to the Washington Senators in 1937.
In the midst of a career-high 12-game hitting streak in 1961, Cincinnati Reds 3B Gene Freese (West Liberty WV captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team) contributed four RBI for the second time in a five-outing span.
St. Louis Cardinals 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) furnished four hits for the first of two times in a four-game span in 1929.
INF Jerry Kindall (averaged 6.9 ppg for Minnesota in 1955-56) traded by the Cleveland Indians to the Minnesota Twins in a three-team swap including the Los Angeles Angels in 1964.
Boston Red Sox RF Joe Lahoud (New Haven CT hoops letterman in mid-1960s) smacked three homers against the Minnesota Twins in a 1969 contest.
LF Danny Litwhiler (member of JV hoops squad with Bloomsburg PA in mid-1930s) among three St. Louis Cardinals who lashed back-to-back-to-back sixth-inning homers in the nightcap of a 1944 doubleheader.
Washington Senators 3B Buddy Myer (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1923-24) manufactured two hits in his sixth successive game in 1929.
In 1972, 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) homered for the Cleveland Indians and brother Jim Nettles homered for the Minnesota Twins in the same game. Four years later with the New York Yankees, Graig Nettles collected two homers and five RBI against the Texas Rangers in a 1976 outing.
INF Paul Popovich (averaged 3.3 ppg for West Virginia's 1960 NCAA playoff team) wound up with the Chicago Cubs in 1969 after he was traded twice on the same day (by Los Angeles Dodgers and Montreal Expos). Two years earlier as a Cubs rookie, Popovich went 5-for-9 in a 1967 twinbill sweep of the New York Mets.
Brooklyn Dodgers rookie 1B Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) went 4-for-4 against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1947 contest. Three days later, Robinson started a 21-game hitting streak.
New York Yankees 3B Red Rolfe (played hoops briefly with Dartmouth in 1927-28 and 1929-30) supplied four extra-base hits against the Detroit Tigers in a 1936 outing.
In 1961, Boston Red Sox RHP Don Schwall (All-Big Seven Conference second-team selection led Oklahoma in rebounding in 1956-57) won his first five MLB starts, compiling a 1.31 ERA in that span.
Philadelphia Phillies rookie SS Gary Sutherland (averaged 7.4 ppg with USC in 1963-64) supplied four hits against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 1967 contest. Nine years later as a 2B in his first game with the Milwaukee Brewers, Sutherland knocked in the go-ahead run against Oakland Athletics P Vida Blue in a 4-2 win in 1976.
Boston Red Sox rookie 3B Jim Tabor (Alabama hoops letterman in 1936-37) banged out two triples against the Chicago White Sox in the nightcap of a 1939 doubleheader.
Boston Red Sox C Sammy White (All-PCC Northern Division first-five hoops selection for Washington in 1947-48 and 1948-49) clobbered a ninth-inning grand slam off Satchel Paige to defeat the St. Louis Browns, 11-9, in 1952. White completed his HR trot by rounding third base and crawling from half-way home and kissing the plate.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Making Mark on June 10 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all 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 college hoopers Dick Gernert (Temple), Wayne Gross (Cal Poly Pomona), Frank Howard (Ohio State) Vance Law (Brigham Young), Wally Moon (Texas A&M), Graig Nettles (San Diego State), Bill White (Hiram OH) and Dave Winfield (Minnesota) each whacked two homers in a MLB game on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 10 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 10
A pinch-hit single by Houston Colts .45s 2B Joey Amalfitano (played basketball for Loyola Marymount in 1952-53) triggered a 12-game hitting streak for him in 1962.
Pittsburgh Pirates LF Carson "Skeeter" Bigbee (Oregon hoops letterman in 1915) provided four hits for the third time in a 19-game span in 1922.
Boston Braves SS Dick Culler (#9 jersey retired by High Point for Little All-American in 1935 and 1936) contributed four hits in a 10-5 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1946.
New York Giants SS Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for LSU and USL in mid-1940s) stroked a double in his fourth consecutive contest in 1950.
Chicago Cubs RHP Mark Freeman (LSU center averaged 3.6 ppg as senior in 1950-51) notched his only MLB complete game with a four-hit, 6-1 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1960.
Chicago White Sox 3B Gene Freese (West Liberty WV hoops captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team) went 4-for-4 against the Boston Red Sox in a 1960 outing.
Boston Red Sox 1B Dick Gernert (Temple hoops letterman in 1948-49 when averaging 2.7 ppg) collected two homers and six RBI against the Kansas City Athletics in a 1957 game.
LHP Joe Gibbon (two-time All-SEC forward for Ole Miss was nation's second-leading scorer as a senior in 1956-57) traded by the San Francisco Giants to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1969.
Detroit Tigers 1B Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoop scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) hammered a homer for the third consecutive contest in 1939.
Oakland Athletics rookie 3B Wayne Gross (Cal Poly Pomona assists leader in 1974-75) swatted two homers against the Detroit Tigers in a 1977 outing.
San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-WAC second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) supplied a double, triple and homer against the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 1993 game.
Boston Braves 1B Buddy Hassett (hooper for Manhattan teams winning school-record 17 consecutive games in 1930 and 1931) went 4-for-4 against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1940 contest.
Washington Senators LF Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection in 1956-57 and 1957-58 hammered two homers against the Boston Red Sox in a 1967 outing.
Chicago White Sox 3B Vance Law (averaged 6.8 ppg for Brigham Young from 1974-75 through 1976-77) launched two homers against the Minnesota Twins in a 1984 game.
Philadelphia Phillies CF Jerry Martin (1971 Southern Conference MVP after he was Furman's scoring runner-up previous season) went 4-for-4 in a 7-5 triumph against the Atlanta Braves in 1977.
Recently-acquired RF-1B Sam Mele (NYU's leading scorer in 1943 NCAA playoffs) knocked in six fourth-inning runs (three-run HR and bases-loaded triple) for the Chicago White Sox in a 1952 contest at Philadelphia.
Los Angeles Dodgers LF Wally Moon (averaged 4.3 ppg with Texas A&M in 1948-49 and 1949-50) smashed two homers against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1961 outing.
Boston Braves LF Joe Mowry (Iowa hoops letterman in 1929-30 and 1930-31) went 3-for-3 against the Brooklyn Dodgers in a 1933 game.
San Diego Padres 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) whacked two homers against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1984 contest.
Chicago Cubs SS Paul Popovich (teammate of Jerry West for West Virginia's 1960 NCAA playoff team) homered in back-to-back games against the San Diego Padres in a 1970 outing.
Oakland Athletics RHP Steve Renko (averaged 9.9 ppg and 5.8 rpg as Kansas sophomore in 1963-64) allowed only five earned runs in his first five starts of 1978 campaign covering 30 innings.
RHP Jeff Robinson (two-time NAIA All-District 3 hoops honoree in early 1980s for Azusa Pacific CA) awarded off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Texas Rangers in 1992.
Cleveland Indians RHP Sonny Siebert (team-high 16.7 ppg for Missouri in 1957-58 as All-Big Eight Conference second-team selection) hurled a no-hitter against the Washington Senators in 1966.
2B Junior Spivey (redshirted his only semester at Northwestern Oklahoma State on hoop scholarship before transferring to KS junior college) traded by the Milwaukee Brewers to the Washington Nationals in 2005.
Chicago Cubs rookie 2B Jimmy Stewart (All-VSAC hoops selection for Austin Peay's NCAA DII Tournament teams in 1959-60 and 1960-61) stroked four hits against the New York Mets in a 1964 game.
INF Gary Sutherland (Southern California's fifth-leading scorer in 1963-64 when averaging 7.4 ppg) traded by the Detroit Tigers to the Milwaukee Brewers in 1976.
St. Louis Cardinals 1B Bill White (two-year hooper for Hiram OH in early 1950s) smacked two homers in a 1965 contest against the Cincinnati Reds.
San Diego Padres RF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) collected two homers and six RBI in a 1978 outing against the Chicago Cubs.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Making Mark on June 9 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all 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.
New York colleges Fordham (Frankie Frisch), Siena (Gary Holle), NYU (Sam Mele), Hofstra (Ken Singleton) and Columbia (Art Smith) had former hoopers supply significant MLB performances on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 9 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 9
Chicago Cubs rookie CF George Altman (appeared in 1953 and 1954 NAIA Basketball Tournament with Tennessee State) went 4-for-4 in an 8-4 win against the Cincinnati Reds in 1959.
New York Giants SS Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for LSU and USL in mid-1940s) whacked two homers in a 1951 outing against the Chicago Cubs, delivering a multiple-hit outing for the first of six times in a seven-game stretch. Three years later, Dark delivered his fourth four-hit performance in the first eight contests of the month in 1954.
Detroit Tigers LF Hoot Evers (Illinois hoops starter in 1939-40) went 5-for-5 against the New York Yankees in a 1949 game.
Baltimore Orioles LHP Mike Flanagan (averaged 13.9 ppg for UMass' 15-1 freshman basketball squad in 1971-72) shut out the Detroit Tigers in 1984, beating them for the second time in a week.
New York Giants 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) supplied four hits against the Chicago Cubs in a 1922 contest. Nine years later with the St. Louis Cardinals, Frisch furnished four safeties against the Brooklyn Dodgers in a 1931 outing.
St. Louis Cardinals SS Charlie Gelbert (scored at least 125 points each of last three seasons in late 1920s for Lebanon Valley PA) contributed four hits against the Chicago Cubs in a 1935 game.
In 2008, Florida Marlins LHP Mark Hendrickson (two-time All-Pacific-10 Conference selection paced Washington State in rebounding four straight seasons from 1992-93 through 1995-96) yielded the 600th home run of the career of Ken Griffey Jr.
The lone MLB safety for 1B Gary Holle (led Siena in scoring and rebounding in 1974-75)) was a pinch-hit double with the Texas Rangers against the Baltimore Orioles in 1979.
Atlanta Braves RF David Justice (Thomas More KY assists leader in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg) smacked two homers against the Montreal Expos in a 1991 game. Nine years later with the Cleveland Indians, Justice jacked two round-trippers against the Cincinnati Reds in a 2000 contest.
Nine-year MLB INF Jerry Kindall (averaged 6.9 ppg for Minnesota as junior in 1955-56) coached Arizona to his third of three College World Series championships with the Wildcats by overwhelming Florida State, 10-2, in 1986.
LF Danny Litwhiler (member of JV hoops squad with Bloomsburg PA in mid-1930s) purchased from the St. Louis Cardinals by the Boston Braves in 1946.
Sam Mele (NYU's leading scorer in 1943 NCAA playoffs) replaced as manager of the Minnesota Twins by Cal Ermer in 1967.
Los Angeles Dodgers LF Wally Moon (averaged 4.3 ppg with Texas A&M in 1948-49 and 1949-50) homered in his fourth outing of a five-game span in 1960.
Montreal Expos RHP Steve Renko (averaged 9.9 ppg and 5.8 rpg as Kansas sophomore in 1963-64) hurled the first of his two one-hitters in a month in 1971 (against San Francisco Giants and Philadelphia Phillies).
In 1955, Philadelphia Phillies RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) fired a three-hit shutout against the St. Louis Cardinals en route to leading the N.L. in wins for the fourth consecutive campaign.
Montreal Expos RF Ken Singleton (Hofstra freshman hoops squad in mid-1960s) went 4-for-4 against the Atlanta Braves in the opener of a 1974 doubleheader.
Chicago White Sox RHP Art Smith (Columbia two-year hoops letterman graduated in 1931) lost his lone MLB decision when dropping debut as a starter against the Washington Senators in 1932.
St. Louis Cardinals 1B Bill White (two-year hooper for Hiram OH in early 1950s) provided three extra-base hits against the Milwaukee Braves in a 1959 game.
Chicago White Sox RHP Jim Wilson (letterman for San Diego State's 1942 NAIA Tournament participant) hurled his first of three shutouts in less than a month in 1956.
Tampa Bay Devil Rays CF Randy Winn (Santa Clara backcourtmate of eventual two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash in 1993-94) registered four extra-base hits in a 2002 game against the San Diego Padres. In his next two contests against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Winn also manufactured multiple extra-base safeties.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Making Mark on June 8 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all 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 West Chester State PA hoopers Harry Anderson and Howie Bedell made MLB news with the Philadelphia Phillies on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 8 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 8
Chicago Cubs RF George Altman (appeared in 1953 and 1954 NAIA Basketball Tournament with Tennessee State) went 4-for-4 in a 4-3 loss against the New York Mets in the opener of a 1962 doubleheader.
In the midst of a career-high 13-game hitting streak, Philadelphia Phillies 1B Harry Anderson (averaged 7.7 ppg and 8.9 rpg for West Chester PA in 1951-52) supplied two homers among his four hits in the opener of a 1958 twinbill against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Detroit Tigers RHP Elden Auker (All-Big Six Conference first-five selection with Kansas State in 1931-32) tossed a one-hitter against the Philadelphia Athletics in 1937.
Posting his lone RBI with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1968, LF Howie Bedell (averaged 3.5 ppg and 3.5 rpg for West Chester PA in 1955-56) lofted a pinch-hit, sacrifice fly with one out in the fifth frame against the Los Angeles Dodgers, breaking RHP Don Drysdale's string of 58 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings.
Pittsburgh Pirates LF Carson "Skeeter" Bigbee (Oregon hoops letterman in 1915) banged out at least three hits for the sixth time in a 13-game span in 1923.
Baltimore Orioles CF Al Bumbry (Virginia State's runner-up in scoring with 16.7 ppg as freshman in 1964-65) collected four hits and five RBI in a 13-8 win against the California Angels in 1980.
San Diego Padres 1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in WAC games in 1991-92) smacked a three-run pinch homer off LHP Billy Wagner in the bottom of the eighth inning in an 8-6 triumph against the New York Mets in 2008.
Cincinnati Reds CF Harry Craft (four-sport letterman with Mississippi College in early 1930s) went 5-for-5, hitting for the cycle, with six RBI in a 23-2 victory against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1940.
Boston Red Sox 1B Walt Dropo (Connecticut's first player ever to average 20 points in single season with 21.7 ppg in 1942-43), en route to becoming 1950 A.L. Rookie of the Year, contributed two homers, seven RBI and five runs scored in a 29-4 romp over the St. Louis Browns in the most lopsided result in the 20th Century.
New York Yankees 1B-OF Buddy Hassett (hooper for Manhattan teams winning school-record 17 consecutive games in 1930 and 1931) extended his hit streak to 20 games with a pair of singles against the Cleveland Indians in 1942.
RHP Cal Koonce (hoops standout for Campbell in 1960 and 1961 when North Carolina-based school was junior college) purchased from the New York Mets by the Boston Red Sox in 1970.
Bonus baby LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman hoops squad in 1953-54) activated from the injury list by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1955. They made room for him by optioning P Tommy Lasorda, who eventually managed them for 21 years from 1976 to 1996.
Detroit Tigers SS Harvey Kuenn (played hoops briefly for Wisconsin in 1951-52 after competing on JV squad previous season) collected four hits and four RBI against the New York Yankees in a 1954 contest.
In 1945, Cleveland Indians 2B Dutch Meyer (Texas Christian hoops letterman in 1934-35 and 1935-36) supplied his third three-hit outing in a four-game span.
LHP Dennis Rasmussen (sixth-man for Creighton averaged 5.1 ppg from 1977-78 through 1979-80) traded by the Cincinnati Reds to the San Diego Padres in 1988.
Cincinnati Reds 1B Eddie Shokes (Duke hoops letterman in 1939-40 and 1940-41) supplied a career-high three hits against the Boston Braves in a 1946 contest.
Kansas City Athletics 1B Norm Siebern (member of Southwest Missouri State squads capturing back-to-back NAIA Tournament hoops titles in 1952 and 1953) went 4-for-4 against the Chicago White Sox in a 1963 game.
Eventual MLB Hall of Fame OF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) fanned 14 Oklahoma batters as RHP in hurling a 1-0 shutout in the Gophers' 1973 College World Series opener.
Success At Every Single Turn: Will Barnes and/or Davis Join Ellis and Kruger?
ESPN energizer bunny Dick Vitale is among five different Detroit Mercy coaches who directed the Titans to the NCAA playoffs and/or NIT. If new UD coach Mike Davis becomes the sixth such mentor and hangs around long enough to achieves the feat four times, he will join exclusive company in the coaching community. Davis has guided more teams to national postseason competition (14; Indiana 5 times/UAB 4/Texas Southern 5) than Detroit has participated in during its entire school history (13).
The two success-ridden pilots already in this celebrated category are Cliff Ellis (South Alabama 4/Clemson 8/Auburn 7/Coastal Carolina 4) and Lon Kruger (Kansas State 4/Florida 4/UNLV 6/Oklahoma 5). Davis will need to see immediate postseason results to try to keep pace with principal competitor Rick Barnes (Providence 5/Clemson 4/Texas 16/Tennessee 1) en route to joining well-traveled Ellis and Kruger.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Making Mark on June 7 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all 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 hoopers from current ACC members Florida State (Jim Lyttle) and North Carolina State (Andrew Brackman) supplied first-round MLB draft choices for the New York Yankees on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 7 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 7
SS Bill Almon (averaged 2.5 ppg in half a season for Brown's 1972-73 team ending the Bears' streak of 12 straight losing basketball records) selected first overall in 1974 amateur draft featuring 12 of first 13 choices going on to become major leaguers. Almon was chosen by the San Diego Padres ahead of first-rounders/eventual All-Star honorees Dale Murphy, Lance Parrish, Lonnie Smith, Rick Sutcliffe, Garry Templeton and Willie Wilson.
Seattle Mariners 1B Bruce Bochte (starting forward for Santa Clara's NCAA playoff team in 1969-70) provided four hits in a 5-4 win against the Cleveland Indians in 1981.
RHP Andrew Brackman (averaged 7.5 ppg and 3.5 rpg with North Carolina State in 2004-05 and 2005-06 for pair of NCAA playoff teams) selected in first round (30th pick overall) by the New York Yankees in 2007 amateur draft. Brackman was chosen ahead of supplemental first-rounders Todd Frazier and Justin Jackson. Other notable players picked who signed that year include Brandon Belt (11th round), Zack Cozart (2nd), Lucas Duda (7th), Greg Holland (10th), Freddie Freeman (2nd), Corey Kluber (4th), Jonathan Lucroy (3rd), Anthony Rizzo (6th), Giancarlo Stanton (2nd) and Jordan Zimmerman (2nd).
Brooklyn Robins RF Harvey Hendrick (Vanderbilt hoops letterman in 1918) stroked three hits in third consecutive contest in 1927.
Philadelphia Phillies CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) logged three hits for the third time in a four-game span in 2005.
OF Jim Lyttle (led Florida State in free-throw shooting in 1965-66 when averaging 12.4 ppg) selected in first round (10th pick overall) by the New York Yankees in 1966 amateur draft. Lyttle was chosen ahead of fellow first-rounders John Curtis (did not sign that year), Richie Hebner, Carlos May and Gary Nolan.
OF Les Mann (Springfield MA hooper in 1913 and 1914) purchased from the Cincinnati Reds by the Boston Braves in 1924.
New York Giants Hall of Fame RHP Christy Mathewson (Bucknell hooper at turn of 20th Century) combined with teammate Joe McGinnity to surrender 11 runs in the opening inning of a 19-0 drubbing by the Chicago Cubs in 1906. It is the worst setback in Giants' history.
Len Matuszek (starter for Toledo's 18-7 team in 1975-76) smashed a three-run, pinch-hit homer for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Houston Astros in 1986.
RHP Joe Niekro (averaged 8.9 ppg and 3.8 rpg for West Liberty WV from 1963-64 through 1965-66) traded by the New York Yankees to the Minnesota Twins in 1987.
In the midst of a 12-game hitting streak, St. Louis Cardinals RF Don Padgett (freshman in 1934 with Lenoir-Rhyne NC excelled in multiple sports) pounded his fourth homer in last six contests.
Chicago Cubs RHP Claude Passeau (Millsaps MS hooper in late 1920s and early 1930s) hurled a shutout against the Brooklyn Dodgers and supplied a two-run, game-ending homer in the ninth inning in 1946.
Detroit Tigers LF Curtis Pride (led William & Mary in steals three times and assists twice while averaging 5.6 ppg and 3.1 apg from 1986-87 through 1989-90) contributed a career-high four hits and scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning in a 6-5 triumph against the New York Yankees in 1996.
Boston Red Sox rookie C Sammy White (All-PCC Northern Division first-five selection for Washington in 1947-48 and 1948-49) went 4-for-4 with three extra-base hits against the Detroit Tigers in a 1952 outing.
OF Dave Winfield (starting forward with Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) picked fourth overall by the San Diego Padres in 1973 amateur draft and goes straight to the majors. Twelve years later as a New York Yankees RF, Winfield walloped two homers against the Milwaukee Brewers in a 1985 game.
1B Babe Young (Fordham hoops letterman in 1935-36) traded by the New York Giants to the Cincinnati Reds in 1947.
How Will Amir Garrett Be Gauged as MLB Pitcher After College Cager Career?
Boom or bust? How will history determine the early impact of lefthander Amir Garrett on the Cincinnati Reds? The former St. John's hooper excelled in his first three starts last year with 1.83 ERA before struggling mightily majority of next nine starts, leaving him with an ERA of 7.41 two months later in mid-June. This season as a reliever, Garrett got off to a grand beginning again, notching a 1.35 ERA through his first 21 appearances.
Sandy Koufax, perhaps the finest lefty in MLB history, was a freshman basketball player with the University of Cincinnati in 1953-54 prior to walking 12 opponents in first four relief appearances covering 9 2/3 innings for Brooklyn Dodgers in 1955. The greatest beginning of a MLB pitching career by an ex-college hooper was assembled by Mississippi State's David "Boo" Ferriss, who hurled 22 scoreless innings and won his his first eight starts with the Boston Red Sox in 1945.
Following is a comprehensive summary of early rookie performances by other MLB pitchers who played varsity basketball for a school presently or formerly at the NCAA Division I level:
| College Hooper | Current/Former DI School | Summary of Early MLB Pitching Career |
|---|---|---|
| Mark Acre | New Mexico State | held foes scoreless in first five games as Athletics reliever in 1994 and yielded only one ER in first 10 appearances (0.82 ERA) |
| Elden Auker | Kansas State | 8.07 ERA through first 10 games (including four starts) with Tigers in 1933 |
| Curt Barclay | Oregon | 5.01 ERA in first three starts with New York Giants in 1957 |
| Mike Barlow | Syracuse | allowed four earned runs covering three innings in his first two relief appearances with St. Louis Cardinals in 1975 |
| Stan Baumgartner | University of Chicago | 4.82 ERA in first nine games with Philadelphia Phillies in 1914 |
| Jim Beattie | Dartmouth | 4.70 ERA in first five starts with New York Yankees in 1978 |
| Carl Bouldin | Cincinnati | 15.43 ERA in first six games with Washington Senators in 1961 and 1962 |
| Ralph Branca | NYU | 8.41 ERA in first nine games with Brooklyn Dodgers in 1944 |
| Ownie Carroll | Holy Cross | 0-2 mark in first three starts with Tigers in 1925, allowing 19 runs in 17 innings |
| Marty Clary | Northwestern | 6.14 ERA in seven games after September call-up by Atlanta Braves in 1987 |
| Vince Colbert | East Carolina | 10.02 ERA in first 16 relief appearances with Cleveland Indians in 1970 |
| Gene Conley | Washington State | lost first two starts with Boston Braves, surrendering 10 earned runs in 7 1/3 innings in 1952 |
| Danny Coombs | Seton Hall | 8.74 ERA in first six games with Houston Colt .45's in 1963 and 1964 |
| Bill Crouch | Eastern Michigan | won all four verdicts in September and compiled 2.58 ERA in six games with Brooklyn Dodgers in 1939 |
| Dave "Boo" Ferriss | Mississippi State | won first eight decisions, including four shutouts, while manufacturing microscopic 0.74 ERA with Boston Red Sox in 1945 |
| Dave Frost | Stanford | 2.68 ERA in 15 games with Chicago White Sox and California Angels in 1977 and 1978 |
| Rich Gale | New Hampshire | won 13 of first 16 decisions while compiling 2.59 ERA in first 21 starts with Kansas City Royals in 1978 |
| Johnny Gee | Michigan | lost four of five decisions while posting 4.67 ERA in first six outings with Pittsburgh Pirates in 1939 and 1941 |
| Joe Gibbon | Mississippi | won first two relief appearances with Pirates covering five innings in 1960 |
| Bob Gibson | Creighton | yielded HR to first batter he faced in 1959 en route to allowing five hits and three earned runs in 2 1/3 innings in first two relief appearances with St. Louis Cardinals |
| Dave Giusti | Syracuse | lost first three starts and compiled 7.49 ERA in first eight games with Houston Colt .45's in 1962 |
| Dallas Green | Delaware | 5.45 ERA in first five starts with Phillies, allowing 35 hits and 18 walks in 34 2/3 innings |
| Paul Gregory | Mississippi State | unscored upon in first four relief appearances covering 6 1/3 innings with Chicago White Sox in 1932 |
| Ed Halicki | Monmouth (N.J.) | lost eight of nine decisions as San Francisco Giants rookie in 1974 |
| Steve Hamilton | Morehead State | 2.94 ERA in first 15 games covering 33 2/3 innings with Cleveland Indians and Washington Senators in 1961 and 1962 |
| Atlee Hammaker | East Tennessee State | 5.68 ERA in first nine games with Kansas City Royals in 1981 |
| Jim Hearn | Georgia Tech | lowered ERA to 2.44 after hurling first MLB shutout in 16th appearance with St. Louis Cardinals in 1947 |
| Mark Hendrickson | Washington State | 5.91 ERA in 12 relief appearances with Toronto Blue Jays in 2002 before lowering mark to 2.45 at season's end by winning three of four September starts |
| Oral Hildebrand | Butler | 8.38 ERA covering 9 2/3 innings in first three relief appearances with Cleveland Indians in September 1931 |
| Jay Hook | Northwestern | 6.23 ERA covering 13 innings with Cincinnati Reds in 1957 and 1958 |
| Walt Huntzinger | Penn | 5.13 ERA covering 40 1/3 innings with New York Giants in 1923 and 1924 |
| Andy Karl | Manhattan | 1.37 ERA in first eight relief appearances with Boston Red Sox in 1943 |
| Bob Keegan | Bucknell | 6.59 ERA in first seven games with Chicago White Sox in 1953 |
| Jim Konstanty | Syracuse | 2.17 ERA in first 10 games, including seven starts, with Cincinnati Reds in 1944 |
| Bill Krueger | Portland | 2.54 ERA in first seven starts with Oakland Athletics in 1983 |
| Ted Lyons | Baylor | eventual Hall of Famer posted 10.12 ERA in first five games as Chicago White Sox reliever in 1923 |
| Dave Madison | Louisiana State | yielded two earned runs in three innings in debut with New York Yankees in 1950 before going scoreless in first eight relief appearances covering 14 innings with St. Louis Browns in 1952 |
| Bill McCahan | Duke | 1.23 ERA in first five games with Philadelphia Athletics in 1946 and 1947 |
| Ben McDonald | Louisiana State | won first six decisions while notching 2.52 ERA in first 17 games covering 53 2/3 innings with Baltimore Orioles in 1989 and 1990 |
| Jim Mooney | East Tennessee State | won first six decisions while posting 1.13 ERA in first eight games, including five complete games, with New York Giants in 1931 |
| Roy Parmelee | Eastern Michigan | 9.32 ERA in 13 games with New York Giants in 1929 and 1930 |
| Dennis Rasmussen | Creighton | 1.27 ERA in first five games covering 21 2/3 innings with San Diego Padres and New York Yankees in 1983 and 1984 |
| Ron Reed | Notre Dame | won first six starts in initial full season with Atlanta Braves in 1968 |
| Paul Reuschel | Western Illinois | 2.22 ERA in first 20 relief appearances with Chicago Cubs in 1975 |
| Denny Riddleberger | Old Dominion | 0.82 ERA in first 10 relief appearances covering 11 innings with Washington Senators in 1970 and 1971 |
| Eppa Rixey | Virginia | eventual Hall of Famer registered 2.50 ERA in 23 games (including 20 starts) with Philadelphia Phillies in 1912 |
| Robin Roberts | Michigan State | eventual Hall of Famer registered 2.50 ERA in first 15 starts with Philadelphia Phillies in 1948 |
| Garry Roggenburk | Dayton | 1.44 ERA in 34 relief appearances with Minnesota Twins in 1963 (also lost two starts) |
| Marius Russo | NYU | won last eight starts of rookie season while compiling 2.41 ERA in 21 games covering 116 innings with New York Yankees in 1939 |
| Don Schwall | Oklahoma | All-Star as rookie posted 1.31 ERA in winning first five starts with Boston Red Sox in 1961 |
| Rollie Sheldon | Connecticut | 2.28 ERA in first 18 games upon winning six straight decisions after firing back-to-back shutouts with New York Yankees in 1961 |
| Sonny Siebert | Missouri | 5.67 ERA in first 12 games with Cleveland Indians in 1964 |
| Lee Smith | Northwestern State | 1.26 ERA in first 12 relief appearances with Chicago Cubs in 1980 |
| Dave Stenhouse | Rhode Island | All-Star as Senators rookie compiled 0.88 ERA in seven games after winning first three starts in 1962 |
| Tim Stoddard | North Carolina State | 8.78 ERA in first eight relief appearances with Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles in 1975 and 1978 |
| George Stone | Louisiana Tech | 2.85 ERA in first 11 games covering 41 innings with Atlanta Braves in 1967 and 1968 |
| Darrell Sutherland | Southern California | 9.15 ERA in first eight games covering 20 2/3 innings with New York Mets in 1964 |
| Cecil Upshaw | Centenary | 1.95 ERA covering 37 1/3 innings in first 24 relief appearances with Atlanta Braves in 1966 and 1967 |
| Jim Wilson | San Diego State | 2.08 ERA in first six games covering 30 1/3 innings with Boston Red Sox in 1945 |
| Chris Young | Princeton | 5.85 ERA in first four starts with Texas Rangers in 2004 |
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Making Mark on June 6 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all 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, Tony Gwynn and Graig Nettles made MLB news on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 6 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 6
Philadelphia Phillies RHP Mike Adams (played basketball for Texas A&M-Kingsville in 1996-97) notched 14 straight relief appearances without allowing an earned run before going on the disabled list in 2014.
RHP Mike Barlow (Syracuse substitute from 1967-68 through 1969-70) traded by the Houston Astros to the California Angels in 1976.
Cleveland Indians RF Beau Bell (two-year hoops letterman for Texas A&M in early 1930s) went 4-for-4 in a 5-4 win against the Washington Senators in 1940.
RHP Jim Bibby (Fayetteville State NC backup hooper and brother of UCLA All-American Henry Bibby) traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the Texas Rangers in 1973.
Detroit Tigers 1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in WAC games in 1991-92) provided three extra-base hits against the Milwaukee Brewers in a 1998 contest.
San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-WAC second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) stroked a ninth-inning single on a 3-0 delivery to end Tom Browning's bid for a perfect game with the Cincinnati Reds in 1988.
Brooklyn Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) hammered two homers against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1953 outing.
Nine-year MLB INF Jerry Kindall (averaged 6.9 ppg for Minnesota as junior in 1955-56) coached Arizona to his second of three College World Series championships with the Wildcats by defeating Hawaii, 5-3, in 1980.
LF Danny Litwhiler (member of JV hoops squad with Bloomsburg PA in mid-1930s) notched the only for the Philadelphia Phillies off Johnny Vander Meer of the Cincinnati Reds in a 1941 game three years to the month after Vander Meer became the only MLB hurler to toss back-to-back no-hitters.
In 1963, Chicago Cubs RHP Lindy McDaniel (hooper for Oklahoma's 1954-55 freshman squad), entering a contest against the San Francisco Giants as a reliever with the bases loaded and one out in the top of the 10th inning, promptly picked Hall of Fame CF Willie Mays off second base an then fanned C Ed Bailey before leading off the bottom of the frame with a game-winning homer.
New York Yankees 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) smacked two homers against the Seattle Mariners in a 1983 contest.
Chicago Cubs RF Bill Nicholson (Washington College MD hoops guard for two years in mid-1930s) blasted two homers against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1940 outing.
RHP Joe Niekro (averaged 8.9 ppg and 3.8 rpg for West Liberty WV from 1963-64 through 1965-66) traded by the New York Yankees to the Minnesota Twins in 1987.
RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) registered his only victory in 1961 (3-2 at San Francisco). He finished with the worst-ever season record (1-10 in final year with Philadelphia Phillies) for a Hall of Fame hurler.
Brooklyn Dodgers LF Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) accounted for four hits in back-to-back games against the Chicago Cubs in 1954.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Making Mark on June 5 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all 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 Illinois hoopers Lou Boudreau, Hoot Evers and Wally Roettger supplied significant MLB performances on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 5 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 5
Cleveland Indians SS Lou Boudreau (leading scorer for Illinois' 1937 Big Ten Conference basketball co-champion) went 4-for-4 against the Philadelphia Athletics in a 1943 game.
Philadelphia Athletics C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) amassed four hits against the St. Louis Browns in a 1926 outing.
In the midst of a career-high 19-game hitting streak, Detroit Tigers LF Hoot Evers (Illinois hoops starter in 1939-40) contributed five RBI in a 7-4 win against the Washington Senators in 1950.
Boston Red Sox 1B Dick Gernert (Temple hoops letterman in 1948-49 when averaging 2.7 ppg) homered in his third consecutive contest against the Cleveland Indians in 1958.
LHP Atlee Hammaker (averaged 5.3 ppg as freshman in 1976-77 and 4.9 ppg as sophomore in 1977-78 under East Tennessee State coach Sonny Smith) selected in first round (21st pick overall) by the Kansas City Royals in 1979 amateur draft.
Brooklyn Robins LF Buddy Hassett (hooper for Manhattan teams winning school-record 17 consecutive games in 1930 and 1931) banged out four hits against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 1938 game.
INF-OF Harvey Hendrick (Vanderbilt hoops letterman in 1918) purchased from the St. Louis Cardinals by the Cincinnati Reds in 1932.
A three-run, pinch-hit homer by Gail Hopkins (averaged 2.5 ppg with Pepperdine in 1963-64) sparked the Kansas City Royals to an 11-7 triumph against the New York Yankees in 1971.
Cleveland Indians RF David Justice (Thomas More KY assists leader in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg) jacked two homers against the Milwaukee Brewers in a 2000 game.
Cleveland Indians CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) launched two homers against the Detroit Tigers in a 1995 outing.
Milwaukee Braves SS Johnny Logan (Binghamton hooper in 1948-49) logged four hits in a 7-0 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1954.
St. Louis Cardinals RHP Lindy McDaniel (hooper for Oklahoma's 1954-55 freshman squad) notched his fifth complete-game victory in a five-week span in 1957.
RHP Ben McDonald (started six games as 6-6 freshman forward for Louisiana State in 1986-87) picked first overall by the Baltimore Orioles in the 1989 amateur draft. RHP Scott Burrell (three-time All-Big East Conference selection from 1990-91 through 1992-93 for Connecticut under coach Jim Calhoun) was the final choice in the opening round (26th by Seattle Mariners). Burrell was picked ahead of eventual MLB hurlers Jerry Dipoto, Alan Embree, Scott Erickson, Sterling Hitchcock, Trevor Hoffman, Todd Jones, Curt Leskanie, Denny Neagle, Paul Quantrill, Pat Rapp, Shane Reynolds, Russ Springer, Mike Trombley and Tim Worrell.
Washington Senators rookie CF Irv Noren (hoops player of year for California community college state champion Pasadena City in 1945) went 4-for-4 against the Detroit Tigers in a 1950 outing.
Extending his hitting streak to 15 games, St. Louis Browns LF Ray Pepper (Alabama hoops letterman in 1926-27) provided four safeties in a 10-5 win against the Chicago White Sox in the nightcap of a 1934 doubleheader.
Cincinnati Reds RF Wally Roettger (Illinois hoops letterman in 1921-22 and 1922-23) registered two triples among his four hits against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1931 game.
RHP Lee Smith (averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg with Northwestern State in 1976-77) fanned four of the last five Pittsburgh Pirates batters to earn a save for the Chicago Cubs in a 3-1 victory in 1983.
Washington Senators 2B Wayne Terwilliger (two-year hoops letterman for Western Michigan averaged 5.6 ppg in final season in 1947-48) smacked a grand slam in an 8-4 win against the Chicago White Sox in 1953.
New York Yankees RF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) delivered five hits for the second time in a three-game span in 1984. Three years later, Winfield manufactured three extra-base safeties against the Milwaukee Brewers in a 1987 contest.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Making Mark on June 4 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all 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 Cincinnati hoopers Ethan Allen and Sandy Koufax provided MLB headlines on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 4 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 4
Chicago Cubs LF Ethan Allen (Cincinnati basketball letterman in 1924-25 and 1925-26) went 4-for-4 in an 8-5 win against the New York Giants in 1936.
Chicago Cubs RF George Altman (hooper appeared in 1953 and 1954 NAIA Tournament with Tennessee State) notched his sixth straight multiple-hit game in 1961.
RHP Elden Auker (All-Big Six Conference first five selection with Kansas State in 1931-32), supported by an inside-the-park homer from player/manager Mickey Cochrane (Boston University player in early 1920s) during a 10-run third inning, earned the triumph in an 18-9 decision over the Philadelphia Athletics.
Seattle Mariners RHP Jim Beattie (Dartmouth's top rebounder in 1974-75 when selected team MVP and honorable mention All-Ivy League) tossed a two-hit shutout against the Detroit Tigers in 1982.
1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in WAC hoops games in 1991-92) selected by the Detroit Tigers in first round (2nd pick overall) in 1990 amateur draft. Sixteen years later with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Clark cracked two homers among his four hits against the Atlanta Braves in a 2006 contest.
Cleveland Indians CF Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA hoops titlist) hit for the cycle against the Boston Red Sox in a 1952 outing.
Atlanta Braves 3B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) knocked in five runs in a 9-3 win against the New York Mets in 1972.
St. Louis Cardinals 3B Howard Freigau (Ohio Wesleyan hooper) collected four hits, four stolen bases and five RBI in a 12-5 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1924.
Pittsburgh Pirates LHP Joe Gibbon (two-time All-SEC forward for Ole Miss was nation's second-leading scorer as a senior in 1956-57) hurled his final MLB shutout (four-hitter against New York Mets in opener of 1967 twinbill).
Pinch-hitter Harvey Hendrick (Vanderbilt hoops letterman in 1918) hammered a two-out, bases-loaded triple in the ninth inning to spark the Cleveland Indians to an 11-10 verdict over the St. Louis Browns in 1925. Four years later after having his career-high 25-game hitting streak snapped in the final contest of May, 1B Hendrick collected two homers and six RBI for the Brooklyn Robins in an 11-8 victory against the St. Louis Cardinals in the nightcap of a 1929 doubleheader.
RHP Jim Konstanty (Syracuse hooper in late 1930s) signed by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1956 after he was released by the New York Yankees.
Los Angeles Dodgers LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman squad in 1953-54) became the fourth hurler to toss three no-hitters, blanking the N.L.-leading Philadelphia Phillies, 3-0, in 1964.
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) collected three hits and three stolen bases against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 1974 game.
Cleveland Indians 1B Ed Morgan (Tulane hoops letterman from 1923-24 through 1925-26) manufactured four hits in a 10-2 win against the Boston Red Sox in 1931.
Chicago White Sox OF Gary Redus (J.C. hooper for Athens AL and father of Centenary/South Alabama guard with same name) ripped a game-winning grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Texas Rangers in 1988.
New York Giants RHP Hal Schumacher (multiple-sport athlete for St. Lawrence NY in early 1930s) secured his fourth shutout in less than a month en route to a total of seven whitewashes in 1933.
Cleveland Indians 3B Riggs Stephenson (Alabama hoops letterman in 1920) went 4-for-4 against the Detroit Tigers in a 1922 contest. Eight years later as a Chicago Cubs LF, Stephenson amassed five hits, four runs and four RBI against the Boston Braves in a 1930 outing.
1B-OF Preston Ward (second-leading scorer for Southwest Missouri State in 1946-47 and 1948-49) traded by the Chicago Cubs to the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 10-player swap in 1953.
California Angels 3B John Werhas (USC's leading scorer in 1958-59 and 1959-60) whacked a pinch-hit homer against the Minnesota Twins in 1967.
In 1986, New York Yankees RF Dave Winfield (starting forward with Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) homered twice in an 11-0 victory over the California Angels in support of RHP Joe Niekro (averaged 8.9 ppg and 3.8 rpg for West Liberty WV from 1963-64 through 1965-66), who hurled a no-hitter for 7 2/3 innings before yielding a safety.
In the midst of five consecutive complete-game triumphs, St. Louis Browns LHP Tom Zachary (Guilford NC hoops letterman in 1916) tossed a five-hit shutout against the Chicago White Sox in 1926.
Hoop Dreams to Field of Dreams: Will Connaughton Become Next Big Ben?
Swingman Pat Connaughton, a two-time runner-up in scoring and rebounding for Notre Dame, was the most notable college basketball player selected four years ago in the 2014 MLB Amateur Draft. Connaughton, a pitcher, was picked in the fourth round by the Baltimore Orioles (121st choice overall) before losing his lone decision in the New York-Penn League (Class A). Concentrating on professional hoops the past three seasons as a backup shooting guard with the Portland Trail Blazers, he seemed unlikely to become Baltimore's next Big Ben. But could Connaughton be back on the diamond in the not-too-distant future seeing where his mid-90s mph fastball can take him in Organized Ball?
In an era of increased specialization, the Orioles selected former LSU hooper Ben McDonald with the first pick in the 1989 draft. McDonald, a part-time starter as a freshman forward under coach Dale Brown in 1986-87, went on to pitch in the starting rotation for the Orioles and Milwaukee Brewers for nine years from 1989 through 1997 before becoming an analyst for ESPN's CWS coverage. Connaughton isn't the first UND hoop standout to pitch at the professional level. Ron Reed, the Irish's top rebounder in 1963-64 and 1964-65, compiled a 146-140 MLB record in 19 seasons from 1966 through 1984 and Bob Arnzen, who averaged 20.3 ppg and 11.5 rpg from 1966-67 through 1968-69, posted a 6-8 minor-league mark in the Montreal Expos' farm system in three years (1969-71-72).
Infielder-outfielder C.J. Henry, the 17th pick overall in the 2005 draft, hit an anemic .222 in four low-minors seasons in the New York Yankees' farm system before the brother of Kansas standout Xavier Henry averaged 3.1 ppg in 13 contests with the Jayhawks in 2009-10. But North Carolina State's Andrew Brackman, who pitched briefly for the Yankees in 2011, is the only DI basketball regular in the 21st Century to become a major leaguer after being selected in the opening round of the amateur draft. Brackman was chosen ahead of supplemental first-rounders Todd Frazier and Justin Jackson. Other notable players picked that year include Brandon Belt (11th round), Zack Cozart (2nd), Lucas Duda (7th), Freddie Freeman (2nd), Matt Harvey (3rd/did not sign), Greg Holland (10th), Craig Kimbrel (33rd/did not sign), Corey Kluber (4th), Jonathan Lucroy (3rd), Anthony Rizzo (6th), Chris Sale (21st/did not sign), Giancarlo Stanton (2nd) and Jordan Zimmerman (2nd).
Numerous universities have featured versatile athletes who played college basketball before going on to major league baseball careers. Connecticut's Scott Burrell, a three-time All-Big East Conference choice under Huskies coach Jim Calhoun, was the first athlete to become a first-round draft pick of two major sports organizations (MLB and NBA). The first-round selection of the Seattle Mariners in 1989 and fifth-round choice by the Toronto Blue Jays in 1990 never reached as high as Double A, compiling a 2-6 Class A pitching record in 14 starts in the Blue Jays' farm system 1990 and 1991. Burrell, a first-round pick by the Charlotte Hornets in 1993, averaged 6.9 ppg and 3.5 rpg with four different NBA franchises in eight seasons from 1993-94 through 2000-01.
In 1989, Burrell was picked ahead of supplemental first-rounder Todd Jones plus the following eventual MLB hurlers: Jerry Dipoto (3rd round), Alan Embree (5th), Scott Erickson (4th), Sterling Hitchcock (9th), Trevor Hoffman (11th), Curt Leskanie (8th), Denny Neagle (3rd), Paul Quantrill (6th), Pat Rapp (15th), Shane Reynolds (3rd), Russ Springer (7th), Mike Trombley (14th) and Tim Worrell (20th). In 1990, Burrell was chosen before eventual MLB pitchers Jason Bere (36th round), Eddie Guardado (21st), Mike Hampton (6th), Dave Mlicki (17th), Troy Percival (6th), Andy Pettitte (22nd), Rick White (15th) and Mike Williams (14th).
Former NCAA Division I hoopers Dave Winfield and Bill Almon were MLB teammates the last six seasons of the 1970s after becoming first-round draft choices by the San Diego Padres in back-to-back years. On the eve of the 2018 selection process, following is an alphabetical list of major leaguers who were first-round choices in the amateur baseball draft after playing varsity college basketball:
| First-Round Choice | Position | College(s) | MLB Team Selector | Pick Overall | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Almon | SS | Brown | San Diego Padres | 1st | 1974 |
| Andy Benes | RHP | Evansville | San Diego Padres | 1st | 1988 |
| Andrew Brackman | RHP | North Carolina State | New York Yankees | 30th | 2007 |
| Tony Clark | 1B | Arizona/San Diego State | Detroit Tigers | 2nd | 1990 |
| Cameron Drew | OF | New Haven CT | Houston Astros | 12th | 1985 |
| Atlee Hammaker | LHP | East Tennessee State | Kansas City Royals | 21st | 1979 |
| Rich Hand | RHP | Puget Sound WA | Cleveland Indians | 1st | 1969** |
| Jim Lyttle | OF | Florida State | New York Yankees | 10th | 1966 |
| Ben McDonald | RHP | Louisiana State | Baltimore Orioles | 1st | 1989 |
| Dennis Rasmussen | LHP | Creighton | California Angels | 17th | 1980 |
| Jeff Shaw | RHP | Rio Grande OH | Cleveland Indians | 1st | 1986** |
| *Mike Stenhouse | OF-1B | Harvard | Oakland Athletics | 26th | 1979 |
| Matt Thornton | LHP | Grand Valley State MI | Seattle Mariners | 22nd | 1998 |
| Dave Winfield | OF | Minnesota | San Diego Padres | 4th | 1973 |
| John Young | 1B | Chapman CA | Detroit Tigers | 16th | 1969** |
*Did not sign that year.
**January draft/secondary phase.
NOTES: 1B-OF Rick Leach (13th pick in 1979 by Detroit Tigers) was a JV player for Michigan and OF Ken Singleton (3rd selection in 1967 by New York Mets) was a freshman player for Hofstra. . . . Rasmussen and Stenhouse were compensation for signings of free-agent pitchers Nolan Ryan and Steve Renko, respectively.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Making Mark on June 3 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all 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 college hoopers Cameron Drew (New Haven) and Dennis Rasmussen (Creighton) were MLB first-round draft selections on this date before eventually reaching the bigs. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 3 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 3
Chicago Cubs 2B Glenn Beckert (three-year basketball letterman for Allegeny PA) drove in P Ken Holtzman with the only run of the game in Holtzman's no-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds in 1971. The next year, Beckert banged out four hits against the San Diego Padres in a 1972 contest.
New York Giants SS Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for LSU and USL during World War II) went 4-for-4 and scored five runs in a 13-8 victory against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1954.
New York Yankees LHP Al Downing (attended Muhlenberg PA on hoops scholarship but left before ever playing) won his sixth straight start in 1966.
OF Cameron Drew (NECC first-team selection in 1984-85 when leading New Haven CT in scoring and rebounding) selected by Houston Astros in first round (12th pick overall) in 1985 amateur draft. Drew was chosen ahead of fellow first-rounders Joey Cora, Gregg Jefferies, Joe Magrane, Brian McRae and Rafael Palmeiro.
1B Walt Dropo (Connecticut's first hooper averaging 20 points in single season with 21.7 ppg in 1942-43) traded by the Boston Red Sox to the Detroit Tigers in a nine-player swap in 1952.
Overweight RHP George Earnshaw (Swarthmore PA hooper in 1922) fined by Philadelphia Athletics owner/manager Connie Mack in 1933.
Detroit Tigers 1B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) homered twice in a 1985 game against the Seattle Mariners.
OF Hoot Evers (hoops starter for Illinois in 1939-40) traded by the Detroit Tigers to the Boston Red Sox in a nine-player swap in 1952.
Chicago White Sox RHP Eddie Fisher (hooper for Oklahoma's 1954-55 freshman squad) tossed a four-hit shutout against the Los Angeles Angels in 1963.
New York Giants C Paul Florence (Georgetown hoops letterman from 1920-21 through 1922-23) furnished a career-high three hits in a 10-5 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1926.
In 1983, George Bamberger stepped down as manager of the New York Mets and was succeeded by Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection when leading Ohio State in scoring and rebounding in 1956-57 and 1957-58).
In 1978, Philadelphia Phillies 2B Davey Johnson (averaged 1.7 ppg with Texas A&M in 1961-62) became the first MLB player to smack two pinch-hit grand slams in a single season.
Chicago Cubs 3B Vance Law (averaged 6.8 ppg for Brigham Young from 1974-75 through 1976-77) logged four hits against the New York Mets in a 1988 outing. Law added three more safeties the next day.
San Francisco Giants RF Rick Leach (averaged 15.5 ppg for Michigan's JV hoops squad in 1975-76) registered four hits against the Houston Astros in a 1990 game.
RHP Dave Lemanczyk (hooper in NCAA Division II Tournament in 1970 and 1971 with Hartwick NY) traded by the Toronto Blue Jays to the California Angels in 1980.
LHP Dennis Rasmussen (sixth-man for Creighton averaged 5.1 ppg in three seasons from 1977-78 through 1979-80) selected in first round (17th pick overall) by the California Angels in 1980 amateur draft. Rasmussen was compensation for signing of free-agent P Nolan Ryan.
New York Yankees RF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) went 4-for-4 against the Oakland Athletics in a 1985 contest.
Star Light: No Chance Nova Reaches NCAA Tourney Regional Final Next Year
Each Final Four since 1995 had at least one school promptly lose a minimum of one player early to the NBA, including all four participants in 2007 (Florida, Georgetown, Ohio State and UCLA). But what happened to those national semifinal schools such as defending champion Villanova with as many as three undergraduates declaring for the NBA? It's no great mystery as to why Oregon failed to participate in the 2018 NCAA tourney as the Ducks became the latest of 11 schools in this "denuclearized" category not to advance as far as a regional final.
Is there any doubt Nova will be #12 following the early departures of quintessential quartet comprised of Mikal Bridges, Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo and Omari Spellman all were selected among the first 33 picks in the NBA draft? VU had only three players tabbed in the first 47 years of undergraduate choices since its introduction in 1971 - first-rounders Tim Thomas (1997), Michael Bradley (2001) and Kyle Lowry (2006). None of the first four clubs losing as many as four undergrads reached NCAA playoff regional semifinals the following campaign. Check out the following chronological look at how Final Four schools fared the year after having three or more players renounce their college eligibility (averaging 10 defeats among them):
| Year | Final Four Team | Three or More Undergraduates Declaring For NBA Draft | Record | Postseason Outcome Next Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Duke (3) | William Avery (14th pick overall), Elton Brand (1st), Corey Maggette (13th) | 29-5 | Lost NCAA regional semifinal |
| 2001 | Arizona (3) | Gilbert Arenas (31st), Richard Jefferson (13th), Michael Wright (39th) | 24-10 | Lost NCAA regional semifinal |
| 2005 | North Carolina (4) | Raymond Felton (5th), Sean May (13th), Rashad McCants (14th), Marvin Williams (2nd) | 23-8 | Lost in NCAA second round |
| 2007 | Florida (4) | Corey Brewer (7th), Taurean Green (52nd), Al Horford (3rd), Joakim Noah (9th) | 24-12 | Reached NIT semifinals |
| 2007 | Ohio State (3) | Mike Conley Jr. (4th), Daequan Cook (21st), Greg Oden (1st) | 24-13 | Won NIT |
| 2008 | Kansas (3) | Darrell Arthur (27th), Mario Chalmers (34th), Brandon Rush (13th) | 27-8 | Lost NCAA regional semifinal |
| 2008 | UCLA (3) | Kevin Love (5th), Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (37th), Russell Westbrook (4th) | 26-9 | Lost in NCAA second round |
| 2012 | Kentucky (5) | Anthony Davis (1st), Terrence Jones (18th), Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (2nd), Doron Lamb (42nd), Marquis Teague (29th) | 21-12 | Lost in NIT first round |
| 2015 | Duke (3) | Tyus Jones (24th), Jahlil Okafor (3rd), Justise Winslow (10th) | 25-11 | Lost NCAA regional semifinal |
| 2015 | Kentucky (6) | Devin Booker (13th), Willie Cauley-Stein (6th), Andrew Harrison (44th), Dakari Johnson (48th), Trey Lyles (12th), Karl-Anthony Towns (1st) | 27-9 | Lost in NCAA second round |
| 2017 | Oregon (3) | Jordan Bell (38th), Dillon Brooks (45th), Tyler Dorsey (41st) | 23-13 | Lost in NIT second round |
| 2018 | Villanova (4) | Mikal Bridges (10th), Jalen Brunson (33rd), Donte DiVincenzo (17th), Omari Spellman (30th) | TBD | TBD |
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Making Mark on June 2 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all 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 college hoopers Frank Howard (Ohio State), David Justice (Thomas More KY), Danny Litwhiler (Bloomsburg PA), Jerry Martin (Furman) and Graig Nettles (San Diego State) each hammered two homers in a single MLB game on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 2 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 2
2B Jerry Adair (one of Oklahoma State's top three basketball scorers in 1956-57 and 1957-58 while ranking among the nation's top 12 free-throw shooters each season) traded by the Chicago White Sox to the Boston Red Sox for reliever Don McMahon in 1967 and wound up playing in the World Series later that year against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Cleveland Indians SS Lou Boudreau (leading scorer for Illinois' 1937 Big Ten Conference co-champion) scored six runs in a 1940 doubleheader split against the Philadelphia Athletics.
Philadelphia Athletics rookie C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) collected five RBI against the Boston Red Sox in a 1925 game.
In 1951, 1B Walt Dropo (Connecticut's first player ever to average 20 points for a single season with 21.7 ppg in 1942-43) demoted by the Boston Red Sox to the minors to regain his form after he was A.L. Rookie of the Year the previous campaign.
Pittsburgh Pirates 3B Lee Handley (Bradley hoops letterman from 1932-33 through 1934-35) banged out four hits against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1945 contest.
Kansas City Royals DH Gail Hopkins (averaged 2.5 ppg with Pepperdine in 1963-64) went 4-for-4 against the Cleveland Indians in a 1973 outing.
Washington Senators LF Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection in 1956-57 and 1957-58 when leading Ohio State in scoring and rebounding) hammered two homers against the California Angels in the opener of a 1965 twinbill.
New York Yankees DH David Justice (Thomas More KY assists leader in 1984-85) jacked two homers against the Cleveland Indians in a 2001 game.
Philadelphia Phillies LF Danny Litwhiler (JV hooper with Bloomsburg PA in mid-1930s) launched two homers against the Chicago Cubs in a 1941 contest.
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) tied a MLB mark by committing three errors in the first inning of a 6-3 setback against the Montreal Expos in 1973.
Chicago White Sox RHP Ted Lyons (two-time All-SWC first-team selection for Baylor in early 1920s) tossed a shutout against the Boston Red Sox in the opener of a 1940 doubleheader, notching his 225th career victory.
Chicago Cubs CF Jerry Martin (1971 Southern Conference MVP after he was Furman's runner-up in scoring the previous season) whacked two homers against the San Francisco Giants in a 1979 outing. Two years later as a member of the Giants, Martin capped off a nine-run, fourth-inning outburst with a grand slam against the Houston Astros in 1981.
C Cal Neeman (Illinois Wesleyan's leading scorer in 1947-48 and 1948-49) purchased from the St. Louis Cardinals by the Cleveland Indians in 1963.
Cleveland Indians 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) launched two homers against the Milwaukee Brewers in the nightcap of a 1970 twinbill.
San Francisco Giants CF Billy North (played hoops briefly for Central Washington in 1967-68) went 3-for-3 with three steals in an 8-6 win against the Chicago Cubs in 1979.
Pittsburgh Pirates LF Wally Roettger (Illinois hoops letterman in 1921-22 and 1922-23) knocked in five runs in the nightcap of a 1934 doubleheader against his original team (St. Louis Cardinals).
Baltimore Orioles LF Larry Sheets (All-ODAC hoops selection in 1981-82 and 1982-83 with Eastern Mennonite VA) homered in his third consecutive contest in 1987.
Atlanta Braves LHP George Stone (averaged 14.7 ppg and 6.5 rpg for Louisiana Tech in 1964-65 and 1965-66) won his first six decisions in 1969.
LHP Matt Thornton (averaged 5.8 ppg and 2.4 rpg for Grand Valley State MI from 1995-96 through 1997-98) selected by Seattle Mariners in first round (22nd pick overall) in 1998 amateur draft.
Chicago Cubs RF Bob Will (all-league athlete was Mankato State MN hoops captain in 1954-55) clobbered his third homer in a four-game span in 1960.
Twin Transfers: Return of Martins Makes Nevada Final Four Prospect in 2019
Nevada became an authentic Final Four contender when twins Caleb and Cody Martin chose to return to the Wolfpack instead of turning pro. The Martins propelled Nevada to a national ranking last season by combining for more than 33 ppg after transferring from North Carolina State. Caleb became Mountain West Conference player and newcomer of the year while Cody was named league defensive player of the year before making colossal contributions in Nevada setting an NCAA playoff-record comeback (erasing 22-point second-half deficit against Cincinnati).
The award-winning Martins not only aren't the only set of former NCSU brothers to play together for two different DI universities, but they wouldn't be the first duo to go on and participate in the Final Four with another university. Brian and Steve Walker were in the regular rotation for Purdue's 1980 national third-place team. Following is an alphabetical list of other twins in this two-school category:
- Joey and Stevie Graham combined for 25.3 ppg and 9.5 rpg as sophomores with Central Florida in 2001-02 before transferring to Oklahoma State. They collaborated for 15.2 ppg and 6.6 rpg in 2003-04 and 24.2 ppg and 9.4 rpg in 2004-05 for two OSU NCAA playoff teams.
- Jarvis and Jonas Hayes combined for 25.1 ppg as freshmen with Western Carolina in 1999-00. They transferred to Georgia after Jarvis led the Southern Conference in scoring with 17.1 ppg. With the Bulldogs, the twins teamed for 25.8 ppg and 10.3 rpg in 2001-02 and 25 ppg and 8.8 rpg in 2002-03.
- South Alabama's Jason and Russell McCutcheon combined for 18 ppg and 8.2 rpg in 1994-95 and 21.6 ppg and 8.6 rpg in 1995-96. After transferring to Nicholls State, they combined for 31 ppg and 9.3 rpg for the Southland Conference champion in 1997-98.
- Brian (guard) and Steve (forward) Walker combined for 10 ppg with North Carolina State in 1976-77 (17-11 record) before both of them transferred to Purdue, where they teamed for 7.3 ppg in 1978-79 (27-8 record) and 5.8 ppg in 1979-80 (23-10 mark). Brian led the Big Ten Conference in assists in conference competition in 1980-81 (6.7 apg).
- David and Travis Wear combined for 6.5 ppg and 3.8 rpg as freshmen for North Carolina in 2009-10 before transferring to UCLA, where they collaborated for 18 ppg and 10.2 rpg in 2012-13 and 13.8 ppg and 7 rpg in 2013-14.
- Sean and Shawn Wightman played together with Western Michigan for three years (1990-91 through 1992-93) after transferring from Illinois State. They combined for 17.9 ppg as juniors. Sean was the nation's top three-point marksman as a junior and led the Mid-American Conference in free-throw shooting as a senior.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Making Mark on June 1 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all 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 college hoopers Donn Clendenon (Morehouse GA), Mike Hargrove (Northwestern Oklahoma State), Harvey Hendrick (Vanderbilt) and Ed Morgan (Tulane) manufactured at least four hits in a MLB game on this date as a first baseman. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a June 1 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
JUNE 1
Pittsburgh Pirates 1B Donn Clendenon (four-sport letterman including basketball with Morehouse GA) contributed four hits against the New York Mets in a 1963 game.
Chicago White Sox CF Guy Curtright (two-time All-MIAA selection led Northeast Missouri State in scoring each of four seasons in early 1930s) scored four runs in an 11-9 win against the Washington Senators in 1945.
Brooklyn Robins 3B Wally Gilbert (Valparaiso hoops captain from 1918-19 through 1920-21) stroked four hits in a 10-2 victory against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1930.
Cleveland Indians 1B Mike Hargrove (Northwestern Oklahoma State hoops letterman) went 4-for-4 against the Seattle Mariners in a 1983 contest.
Cincinnati Reds 1B Harvey Hendrick (Vanderbilt hoops letterman in 1918) went 5-for-5, including three doubles, against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1931 outing. The previous day against the Cards, Hendrick secured four hits in the opener of a doubleheader.
Detroit Tigers RF Lynn Jones (averaged 10.4 ppg for Thiel PA from 1970-71 through 1973-74) supplied his second four-hit game against the Milwaukee Brewers in a span of eight days in 1981.
LF Danny Litwhiler (JV hooper with Bloomsburg PA in mid-1930s) traded by Philadelphia Phillies to St. Louis Cardinals in 1943.
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) whacked two homers against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1979 outing.
Philadelphia Phillies 1B Len Matuszek (starter for Toledo's 18-7 team in 1975-76) failed to notch a putout in a 12-3 defeat against the Chicago Cubs in 1984.
St. Louis Cardinals LF Wally Moon (averaged 4.3 ppg with Texas A&M in 1948-49 and 1949-50) had his 24-game hitting streak end against the Milwaukee Braves in 1957.
Boston Red Sox 1B Ed Morgan (Tulane hoops letterman from 1923-24 through 1925-26) collected four hits and four RBI in a 13-1 win against the Washington Senators in 1934.
OF Lyle Mouton (starter in LSU's backcourt with All-American Chris Jackson for 1989 NCAA playoff team) traded by the Baltimore Orioles to the Milwaukee Brewers in 1999.
In 1962, Washington Senators RHP Ray Rippelmeyer (led SIU in scoring and rebounding in 1952-53 before transferring and pacing SEMO in scoring in 1953-54 and 1954-55 as All-MIAA first-team choice each year) registered his lone MLB victory (as reliever against Minnesota Twins).
New York Giants RF Wally Roettger (Illinois hoops letterman in 1921-22 and 1922-23) went 4-for-4 against the Boston Braves in the opener of a 1930 twinbill.
Boston Red Sox rookie 3B Jim Tabor (Alabama hoops letterman in 1936-37) amassed five doubles over a two-game span in 1939.
Kansas City Athletics RHP Dave Thies (two-time all-conference selection finished St. Mary's MN career in 1959 as school's all-time leading scorer) lost his lone MLB decision (against Washington Senators in 1963).
LHP Bob Veale (scored 1,160 points with Benedictine KS from 1955-56 through 1957-58) amassed 16 strikeouts in shutting out the Philadelphia Phillies, 4-0, for the Pittsburgh Pirates' 12th consecutive victory in 1965. Veale also tossed a five-hit shutout in his second start of the month.
San Diego Padres RF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) whacked two homers against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 1979 contest.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Making Mark on May 31 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all 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.
Current SEC members Louisiana State (Joe Adcock and Lyle Mouton), Mississippi (Joe Gibbon), Mississippi State (Boo Ferriss), Missouri (Sonny Siebert) plus Texas A&M (Beau Bell) had former hoopers provide significant MLB performances on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a May 31 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
MAY 31
Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) collected two homers and five RBI against the Chicago Cubs in a 1956 contest.
St. Louis Browns RHP Elden Auker (All-Big Six Conference first-five selection with Kansas State in 1931-32) registered his fifth straight win during the month in 1942. All of the victories were complete games.
St. Louis Browns RF Beau Bell (two-year hoops letterman for Texas A&M in early 1930s) banged out four hits in an 11-10 triumph against the Detroit Tigers in 1936.
In 1979, Seattle Mariners 1B Bruce Bochte (starting forward for Santa Clara's NCAA playoff team in 1969-70) amassed three hits, three runs and five RBI in a 12-10 win against his original club (California Angels).
Kansas City Athletics LF Bob Cerv (ranked fourth on Nebraska's career scoring list in 1949-50 when finishing his career) clobbered a homer in back-to-back games for the third time this month in 1958.
San Francisco Giants 1B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) homered in his third consecutive contest in 1983.
Boston Red Sox rookie RHP Boo Ferriss (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1941) secured his sixth complete-game victory of the month in 1945.
Philadelphia Phillies 3B Gene Freese (captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team for West Liberty WV) whacked his fifth pinch homer of the 1959 season. Two years later with the Cincinnati Reds, Freese smashed two round-trippers in an 8-7 triumph against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1961.
Buttressed by nine doubles from Pittsburgh Pirates teammates, LHP Joe Gibbon (two-time All-SEC forward for Ole Miss was the nation's second-leading scorer as a senior in 1956-57) hurled a complete-game, 9-1 victory against the Atlanta Braves in 1961.
Pittsburgh Pirates SS Dick Groat (two-time All-American with Duke in 1950-51 and 1951-52 when finishing among nation's top five scorers each season) delivered five hits in a 4-3 victory against the Cincinnati Reds in 1960.
Boston Red Sox RHP Tom Herrin (Louisiana Tech hoops letterman in 1947-48 and 1948-49) notched his lone MLB victory (20-10 decision over the Philadelphia Athletics in 1954).
First victory of the 1957 campaign for Chicago White Sox RHP Bob Keegan (Bucknell hoops letterman in 1941-42 and 1942-43) was a four-hit shutout against the Detroit Tigers.
New York Yankees LF Charlie Keller (three-year hoops letterman with Maryland from 1934-35 through 1936-37) accumulated two homers and five RBI against the Cleveland Indians in a 1947 outing.
Pittsburgh Pirates CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling a 35-3 record) had his 26-game hitting streak end in 2003, falling one contest short of the franchise record.
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) stroked three doubles against the San Francisco Giants in a 1979 outing.
Boston Red Sox 1B Tony Lupien (Harvard hoops captain in 1938-39) provided four hits against the St. Louis Browns in the nightcap of a 1943 twinbill. Five years later with the Chicago White Sox, Lupien went 6-for-8 in a 1948 doubleheader split against the Detroit Tigers.
Chicago White Sox RHP Ted Lyons (two-time All-SWC first-team selection for Baylor in the early 1920s) notched his fifth consecutive complete-game victory during the month in 1926.
Chicago White Sox RF Sam Mele (NYU's leading scorer in 1943 NCAA playoffs) smacked two homers against the Boston Red Sox in a 1952 game.
OF Lyle Mouton (starter in LSU's backcourt with All-American Chris Jackson for 1989 NCAA playoff team) mashed two homers for eventual NCAA champion in 1991 College World Series opener against Florida.
Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Don Schwall (All-Big Seven Conference second-team selection led Oklahoma in rebounding in 1956-57) tossed his second shutout of the month in 1963.
Baltimore Orioles LF Larry Sheets (All-ODAC hoops selection in 1981-82 and 1982-83 with Eastern Mennonite VA) supplied three doubles among his four hits against the Seattle Mariners in a 1988 contest.
St. Louis Cardinals RHP Sonny Siebert (team-high 16.7 ppg for Missouri in 1957-58 as All-Big Eight Conference second-team selection) hurled his second of back-to-back five-hit shutouts in 1974.
San Diego Padres OF Will Venable (All-Ivy League first-team selection as junior and second-team choice as senior averaged 9.3 ppg under Princeton coach John Thompson III from 2001-02 through 2004-05) went 4-for-4 in a 4-2 win against the Chicago White Sox in 2014.
RF John Wathan (averaged 3.7 ppg in 11 games for San Diego in 1968-69) put the Kansas City Royals in front to stay with a three-run, inside-the-park homer in a 6-4 win against the Chicago White Sox in 1980.
Washington Senators RHP Monte Weaver (hoops center for Emory & Henry VA in mid-1920s) posted his fifth triumph of the month en route to eight straight victories in 1934.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Making Mark on May 30 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all 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 St. Joseph's (Ind.) and Oakland City (Ind.) hooper Gil Hodges owned this "doubleheader" date in MLB annals. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a May 30 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
MAY 30
Boston Red Sox 1B Dale Alexander (starting basketball center for Milligan TN in mid-1920s) suffered a career-ending injury in 1933 (therapy for twisted knee sliding into home plate led to third-degree burns, gangrene and near loss of his leg). Four years earlier as a Detroit Tigers rookie, he launched a homer in both ends of a 1929 doubleheader split against the St. Louis Browns.
Pittsburgh Pirates LF Clyde Barnhart (hooper for Shippensburg PA predecessor Cumberland Valley State Normal School prior to World War I) collected four hits, four runs scored and five RBI against the St. Louis Cardinals in the nightcap of a 1925 doubleheader.
Detroit Tigers 2B Frank Bolling (averaged 7.3 ppg for Spring Hill AL in 1950-51) blasted two homers in a 3-2 win against the Kansas City Athletics in the nightcap of a 1957 twinbill.
RHP Ownie Carroll (Holy Cross hoops letterman in 1922) traded with Harry Rice by the Detroit Tigers in 1930 to the New York Yankees for two members of the legendary 1927 squad featuring Murderers' Row (P Waite Hoyt and SS Mark Koenig).
In 1955, Milwaukee Braves 1B George Crowe (four-year letterman from 1939-40 through 1942-43 for Indiana Central after becoming first high school player named state's Mr. Basketball) closed out the month with five multiple-hit games, homering in three of the contests.
San Francisco Giants 1B Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college hoops crown) homered twice against the San Diego Padres in the opener of a 1977 twinbill.
3B Gene Freese (hoops captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team for West Liberty WV) whacked two homers, powering the Cincinnati Reds to a 1961 doubleheader sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Brooklyn Robins/Dodgers 3B Wally Gilbert (Valparaiso hoops captain in early 1920s) supplied six straight safeties in a doubleheader sweep of the New York Giants in 1931.
Detroit Tigers 1B Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoops scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) went 5-for-5, including four runs, two homers and five RBI, against the St. Louis Browns in a 1937 game.
Pittsburgh Pirates SS Dick Groat (two-time All-American with Duke in 1950-51 and 1951-52 when finishing among nation's top five scorers each season) went 4-for-4 and scored four runs in the nightcap of a 1958 twinbill against the Milwaukee Braves.
C Frank Grube (starting hoops guard for Lafayette as senior in 1926-27), two teammates and Chicago White Sox manager Lew Fonseca involved in a fight with an umpire under the stands after a doubleheader loss at Cleveland in 1932.
Brooklyn Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) knocked in eight runs against the Boston Braves in a 1952 doubleheader sweep. The next year, Hodges homered twice against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the opener of a 1953 twinbill. In 1958 after the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles, Hodges homered in both ends of a doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs. Four years later, Hodges homered three times in a 1962 twinbill against the New York Mets.
Washington Senators LF Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection when leading Ohio State in scoring and rebounding in 1956-57 and 1957-58) hammered two homers and chipped in with six RBI against the Kansas City Athletics in the opener of a 1967 twinbill.
New York Yankees LF Charlie Keller (three-year hoops letterman with Maryland from 1934-35 through 1936-37) went 4-for-4 against the Philadelphia Athletics in the nightcap of a 1946 doubleheader.
RHP Cal Koonce (Campbell standout in 1960 and 1961 when North Carolina-based school was junior college), after helping the New York Mets sweep a twinbill against the Pittsburgh Pirates, didn't allow a run in his first 13 relief appearances in 1968.
St. Louis Cardinals SS Doc Lavan (Hope MI hooper from 1908 through 1910) had six hits in a 1921 twinbill sweep of the Cincinnati Reds.
Baltimore Orioles rookie RHP Dave Leonhard (averaged 4.8 ppg with Johns Hopkins MD in 1961-62) tossed his second shutout of the month in 1968 (two-hitter after earlier one-hitter).
RF Sam Mele (NYU's leading scorer in 1943 NCAA playoffs) traded by the Washington Senators to the Chicago White Sox in 1952.
Cleveland Indians 1B Ed Morgan (Tulane hoops letterman from 1923-24 through 1925-26) contributed five RBI in a 12-6 win against the Chicago White Sox in the opener of a 1932 doubleheader.
Washington Senators 3B Buddy Myer (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1923-24) hit safely in all 22 games of the month and 24 in a row overall in 1929.
Chicago Cubs rookie C Cal Neeman (Illinois Wesleyan's leading scorer in 1947-48 and 1948-49) hit safely in last 11 contests of the month in 1957.
The Chicago Cubs went 32 games in 1943 before hitting a homer prior to RF Bill Nicholson (hoops guard for Washington College MD two years in mid-1930s) knocking a couple of balls beyond the outfield barrier in a 5-1 victory over the Braves. His first of a pair of two-run blasts came in the team's 1,120th at-bat of the season.
1B Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) ripped a 13th-inning homer to give the Brooklyn Dodgers a 2-1 win over the New York Giants in the opener of a 1949 doubleheader.
Cleveland Indians LF Preston Ward (second-leading scorer for Southwest Missouri State in 1946-47 and 1948-49) walloped two homers against the Chicago White Sox in the nightcap of a 1956 twinbill.
St. Louis Cardinals 1B Bill White (two-year hooper with Hiram OH in early 1950s) supplied two homers and six RBI against the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 1960 game.
San Diego Padres RF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) knocked in five runs against the Atlanta Braves in a 1979 contest.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Making Mark on May 29 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all 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 West Liberty WV hooper Joe Niekro was involved in one of the most unusual incidents in MLB annals. The only homer of Niekro's 22-year career came in 1976 and came at the expense of his brother (24-year big leaguer Phil). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a May 29 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
MAY 29
Rookie RHP Mark Acre (played in 1990 NCAA Basketball Tournament with New Mexico State) allowed his only run through 10 relief appearances to early June 1994 with the Oakland A's (0.82 ERA in first 3 1/2 weeks).
SS Bill Almon (averaged 2.5 ppg in half a season for Brown's 1972-73 team ending the Bears' streak of 12 straight losing records) traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates to the New York Mets in 1987.
In 1955, Cleveland Indians RF Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA hoops titlist) launched the first MLB homer over the outer wall at Kansas City's Municipal Stadium.
Boston Red Sox RHP Boo Ferriss (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1941) hurled his third shutout of the month in 1946.
In the midst of a 20-game hitting streak, New York Yankees 1B-OF Buddy Hassett (hooper for Manhattan teams winning school-record 17 consecutive games in 1930 and 1931) contributed four hits in a 16-1 rout of Washington in 1942.
LF "Sweet" Lou Johnson (Kentucky State teammate of legendary HBCU coach Davey Whitney averaged 5.7 ppg and 2 rpg in 1951-52) swatted two homers in a 5-3 triumph against the Milwaukee Braves in 1965.
Chicago White Sox RHP Howie Judson (Illinois' third-leading scorer in 1944-45) ended a personal streak of 15 straight defeats with a 12-8 relief victory over the St. Louis Browns in 1950.
OF Jim Lyttle (led Florida State in free-throw shooting in 1965-66 when averaging 12.4 ppg) purchased from the Montreal Expos by the New York Mets in 1974.
RHP Christy Mathewson (Bucknell hooper at turn of 20th Century) notched a 3-0 shutout over the Boston Braves in 1916, sparking the New York Giants to their 17th triumph in a row (all on the road).
New York Yankees 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) socked two homers against the Oakland Athletics in a 1973 game.
Philadelphia Phillies RF Bill Nicholson (Washington College MD hoops guard for two years in mid-1930s) provided his third consecutive three-hit contest in 1953. Nicholson supplied only one more safety in the final 40 at-bats of his 16-year MLB career.
Houston Astros RHP Joe Niekro (averaged 8.9 ppg and 3.8 rpg for West Liberty WV from 1963-64 through 1965-66) belted the only homer of his 22-year career in 1976. The round-tripper against the Atlanta Braves came at the expense of his brother (Phil).
RHP Claude Passeau (Millsaps MS hooper in late 1920s and early 1930s) traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to the Chicago Cubs in 1939.
LF Ray Pepper (Alabama hoops letterman in 1926-27) banged out five hits, including two homers, and drove in five runs to boost the St. Louis Browns to a 12-7 victory over the Detroit Tigers in 1934.
OF Curtis Pride (led William & Mary in steals three times and assists twice while averaging 5.6 ppg and 3.1 apg from 1986-87 through 1989-90) pounded a pinch homer for the Atlanta Braves against the Chicago Cubs in 1998.
Philadelphia Phillies LHP Eppa Rixey (Virginia hoops letterman in 1912 and 1914) yielded a ninth-inning inside-the-park homer but held on for a 4-3, 13-inning victory against Pittsburgh. It is the only homer Rixey allowed in 301 innings pitched.
Baltimore Orioles DH Larry Sheets (All-ODAC hoops selection in 1981-82 and 1982-83 with Eastern Mennonite VA) smacked two homers in an 8-6 win against the Oakland Athletics in 1986. Three years later, Sheets socked a round-tripper in his third of last four outings.
In 1926, Cleveland Indians 2B Freddy Spurgeon (Kalamazoo MI hooper in 1921-22) extended his hitting streak to 11 games in a row with eighth contest of the month boasting at least three safeties.
Chicago Cubs OF Bob Will (all-league athlete was Mankato State MN hoops captain in 1954-55) slugged his second pinch-hit homer in an eight-game span in 1962.
Second homer of game by CF Randy Winn (Santa Clara backcourtmate of eventual two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash in 1993-94) provided the decisive tally for the San Francisco Giants in a 4-3 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2008.
Beginner's Luck? Former Hofstra Hooper Alyea Homered on First MLB Pitch
How many Paul DeJongs were former college basketball players before making it on the diamond? A year ago today, DeJong (St. Louis Cardinals shortstop) became the 118th MLB player hitting a homer in his first at-bat. Among the five ex-college hoopers homering in first at-bat on the following chronological list, Hofstra's Brant Alyea is the only one to go deep on the initial MLB pitch he faced:
| Ex-Hooper | College | First MLB Team | Date | Opponent Yielding HR | MLB Career HRs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ace Parker | Duke | Philadelphia Phillies | 4-30-37 | Boston Red Sox | 2 |
| Ted Tappe | Washington State | Cincinnati Reds | 9-14-50 | Brooklyn Dodgers | 5 |
| Wally Moon | Texas A&M | St. Louis Cardinals | 4-13-54 | Chicago Cubs | 142 |
| Bill White | Hiram (Ohio) | New York Giants | 5-7-56 | St. Louis Cardinals | 202 |
| Brant Alyea* | Hofstra | Washington Senators | 9-12-65 | California Angels | 38 |
*Alyea, who led Hofstra in scoring and rebounding in 1960-61 under coach Butch van Breda Kolff, is one of 29 players hitting homer on first MLB pitch he faced.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Making Mark on May 28 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all 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 college hoopers Frankie Baumholtz (Ohio University), Bob Cerv (Nebraska), David Justice (Thomas More KY), Billy North (Central Washington), Larry Sheets (Eastern Mennonite VA) and Babe Young (Fordham) supplied significant performances as MLB outfielders on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a May 28 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
MAY 28
In a 1954 game, Chicago Cubs CF Frankie Baumholtz (MVP in 1941 NIT and first player in Ohio University basketball history to score 1,000 career points) stroked four hits against his original team (Cincinnati Reds).
New York Yankees LF Bob Cerv (ranked fourth on Nebraska's career scoring list in 1949-50 whacked a pinch grand slam against the Chicago White Sox in a 1961 contest.
RHP George Earnshaw (Swarthmore PA hooper in 1922) acquired by the Philadelphia Athletics from Baltimore in 1928.
Detroit Tigers 1B Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoops scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) smacked two homers in an 8-3 win against the New York Yankees in 1935.
RF David Justice (Thomas More KY assists leader in 1984-85) provided a two-run single to spark a ninth-inning rally propelling the Atlanta Braves past the San Diego Padres, 8-6, in 1991.
San Francisco Giants CF Billy North (played hoops briefly for Central Washington in 1967-68) stole three bases in a game for the third time this month in 1981.
RHP Ron Reed (Notre Dame's leading rebounder in 1963-64 and 1964-65) traded by the Atlanta Braves to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1975.
Baltimore Orioles LF Larry Sheets (All-ODAC hoops selection in 1981-82 and 1982-83 with Eastern Mennonite VA) socked two homers against the California Angels in a 1987 outing.
Boston Red Sox RHP Sonny Siebert (team-high 16.7 ppg for Missouri in 1957-58 as All-Big Eight Conference second-team selection) won his first nine decisions in the 1971 campaign, posting a 1.77 ERA in April and May.
Entering the game with a .177 batting average, Washington Senators 2B Wayne Terwilliger (two-year hoops letterman for Western Michigan averaged 5.6 ppg in final season in 1947-48) went 3-for-3 and homered for the first of three consecutive contests in 1954 (all of his round-trippers for season in 106 outings).
As a substitute in a 17-inning tie, Los Angeles Dodgers rookie 3B John Werhas (USC's leading scorer in 1958-59 and 1959-60) collected a career-high three hits against the Cincinnati Reds in 1964.
In 1994, Minnesota Twins DH Dave Winfield (starting forward with Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) collected his 3,054th MLB hit, surpassing former Twin Rod Carew into 15th place on the all-time list.
New York Giants CF Babe Young (Fordham hoops letterman in 1935-36) went 4-for-4 against the Brooklyn Dodgers in a 1946 game.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Making Mark on May 27 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all 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 Santa Clara basketball guards Tim Cullen and Randy Winn each supplied MLB-career defining games on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a May 27 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
MAY 27
CF Ethan Allen (Cincinnati basketball letterman in 1924-25 and 1925-26) traded by the Cincinnati Reds to the New York Giants in 1930. Five years later, Allen was with the Philadelphia Phillies when he stroked four hits in a 4-2 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Philadelphia Athletics C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) whacked two homers against the Detroit Tigers in a 1933 game.
INF Pat Crawford (Davidson hoops captain in early 1920s) traded by the New York Giants to Cincinnati Reds in 1930.
Washington Senators 2B Tim Cullen (starting guard for Santa Clara in 1962-63 when averaging 10 ppg and 3.4 rpg) contributed four hits in an 8-1 victory against the Detroit Tigers in 1967.
Boston Red Sox rookie RHP Boo Ferriss (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1941) tossed his fourth shutout in first six starts in 1945.
Baltimore Orioles 3B Wayne Gross (led Cal Poly Pomona in assists in 1974-75) cracked a grand slam against the California Angels in a 1984 outing.
Cleveland Indians 1B Mike Hargrove (Northwestern Oklahoma State hoops letterman) provided at least three hits in fourth consecutive contest in 1981.
Los Angeles Dodgers RF Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection when leading Ohio State in scoring and rebounding in 1956-57 and 1957-58) went 4-for-4 against the Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a 1962 doubleheader.
RHP Andy Karl (Manhattan hoops letterman in mid-1930s) traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to the Boston Braves in 1947.
Cleveland Indians CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) went 3-for-3 with three stolen bases against the Oakland Athletics in a 1994 game.
Chicago Cubs LF Les Mann (Springfield MA hooper in 1913 and 1914) went 4-for-4 against the New York Giants in a 1918 game.
Brooklyn Dodgers LHP Preacher Roe (Harding AR hooper in late 1930s) fired the second of back-to-back shutouts in 1949.
Closer Lee Smith (averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg with Northwestern State in 1976-77) traded by the California Angels to the Cincinnati Reds in 1996.
Chicago Cubs LF Riggs Stephenson (Alabama hoops letterman in 1920) provided three straight three-hit games in 1927. Four years later in 1931, Stephenson went 4-for-4, including three extra-base hits, against the Cincinnati Reds. In a 1932 contest, he went 4-for-4 again against the Reds.
In 1975, Oakland Athletics RHP Jim Todd (averaged 16 ppg for Millersville PA in 1968-69 after transferring from Parsons IA) didn't allow an earned run in nine straight relief appearances in the month until doing so against the Baltimore Orioles.
Seattle Mariners LF Randy Winn (Santa Clara backcourtmate of eventual two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash in 1993-94) went 5-for-5 in a 15-7 triumph against the Kansas City Royals in 2003.
On This Date: Former College Hoopers Making Mark on May 26 MLB Games
Extra! Extra! Read all 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.
In a five-year span, Duke's first basketball All-American Billy Werber supplied significant MLB performances in each league on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a May 26 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:
MAY 26
RHP Mike Adams (played basketball for Texas A&M-Kingsville in 1996-97) traded by the Milwaukee Brewers to the New York Mets in 2006.
Lefthander Harvey Haddix of the Pittsburgh Pirates spun a perfect game for 12 innings in 1959 before Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading scorer in 1945-46) swatted a game-winning homer in the 13th (credited with double because of base-running snafu).
Pittsburgh Pirates LF Clyde Barnhart (hooper for Shippensburg PA predecessor Cumberland Valley State Normal School prior to World War I) had his 25-game hitting streak snapped by the Chicago Cubs in 1925.
St. Louis Browns RF Beau Bell (two-year hoops letterman for Texas A&M in early 1930s) collected two homers and five RBI against the Boston Red Sox in a 1937 game.
Pittsburgh Pirates LF Carson "Skeeter" Bigbee (Oregon hoops letterman in 1915) went 4-for-4 including three doubles against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1923 contest.
Baltimore Orioles CF Al Bumbry (Virginia State's runner-up in scoring with 16.7 ppg as freshman in 1964-65) contributed five hits in a 16-inning marathon against the Detroit Tigers in 1979.
Philadelphia Athletics C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) went 5-for-5 against the Washington Senators in a 1929 outing.
Brooklyn Dodgers RHP Roger Craig (forward with North Carolina State's 1949-50 freshman hoops team) tossed a three-hit shutout against the New York Giants in 1956.
Second MLB hit for INF Pat Crawford (Davidson hoops captain in early 1920s) was a pinch grand slam for the New York Giants in a 1929 game against the Boston Braves.
St. Louis Cardinals CF Taylor Douthit (California hoops letterman from 1922 through 1924) went 7-for-10 in a 1929 twinbill against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
In the midst of a career-high 14-game hitting streak, Los Angeles Dodgers C Joe Ferguson (hooper in 1967 NCAA playoffs with Pacific) furnished four hits against the San Francisco Giants in a 1974 contest.
Boston Red Sox RHP Boo Ferriss (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1941) hurled a one-hitter against the Chicago White Sox in the opener of a 1946 doubleheader.
In a 1970 outing, Los Angeles Dodgers C Tom Haller (backup forward for Illinois in 1956-57 and 1957-58 under coach Harry Combes) banged out four hits against his original team (San Francisco Giants).
Boston Braves 1B Buddy Hassett (hooper for Manhattan teams winning school-record 17 consecutive games in 1930 and 1931) banged out four hits in a 10-8 loss against the New York Giants in 1940.
Los Angeles Dodgers LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman hoops squad in 1953-54) fanned 16 Philadelphia Phillies batters in a 1962 game.
Detroit Tigers SS Harvey Kuenn (played hoops briefly for Wisconsin in 1951-52 after competing on JV squad previous season) collected four hits against the Kansas City Athletics in a 1956 contest.
Texas Rangers DH Rick Leach (averaged 15.5 ppg for Michigan's JV squad in 1975-76) went 3-for-3 in a 5-3 victory against the Minnesota Twins in 1989.
INF Jerry Lumpe (member of Southwest Missouri State's 1952 NAIA Tournament championship hoops team) traded by the New York Yankees to the Kansas City Athletics in 1959 in a swap involving Ralph Terry, who pitched in five straight World Series for the Yanks.
San Diego Padres 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) homered in his fourth consecutive contest in 1986.
Starting LHP Gary Peters (Grove City PA hooper in mid-1950s) batted sixth in the starting lineup for the Chicago White Sox in a 5-1 loss against the New York Yankees in the opener of a 1968 doubleheader.
St. Louis Browns RHP Nels Potter (leading scorer during two years attending Mount Morris IL in early 1930s) retired the first 23 Boston Red Sox batters he faced in 1944 game.
Boston Red Sox C Birdie Tebbetts (Providence hooper in 1932) went 4-for-4 against the St. Louis Browns in a 1949 outing.
Boston Red Sox 3B Billy Werber (first Duke hoops All-American in 1929-30) went 4-for-4 against the St. Louis Browns in a 1935 game. Four years later with the Cincinnati Reds, Werber scored four of his N.L.-leading 115 runs in a 7-5 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1939.
St. Louis Cardinals 1B Bill White (two-year hooper for Hiram OH in early 1950s) went 4-for-4 against the New York Mets in the opener of a 1963 twinbill.
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