Extra! Extra! Instead of debating whether unprincipled CNN Sucks and #MSDNC have an ounce of integrity with the way networks covered Charlotte murder of Ukrainian transplant, who can read news about baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

A couple of small-college hoopers from Missouri - Guy Curtright (Northeast Missouri State) and Bake McBride (Westminster) - supplied significant hitting headlines as MLB outfielders on this date. Ex-hoops All-American Frank Howard (Ohio State) hammered noteworthy homers 12 years apart on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a September 10 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

SEPTEMBER 10

• In 1954, Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) broke a N.L. record by hitting his ninth homer on the road against a lone opponent (Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field).

• Chicago Cubs 2B Glenn Beckert (three-year hoops letterman for Allegheny PA) contributed five RBI against the San Francisco Giants in the midst of a 20-game hitting streak in 1966.

• Milwaukee Brewers RHP Jim Colborn (attended Whittier CA in mid-1960s before studying for master's at Edinburgh where becoming All-Scotland in basketball) went the distance against the Detroit Tigers for his 19th triumph in 1973.

• Chicago White Sox CF Guy Curtright (two-time All-MIAA hoops selection led Northeast Missouri State in scoring each of four seasons in early 1930s) collected three extra-base hits against the Washington Senators in a 1945 contest.

• Boston Red Sox rookie RHP Boo Ferriss (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1940-41) registered his 21st victory, stroked two doubles and scored three runs in 1945 outing against the Detroit Tigers.

• New York Giants 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) went 6-for-6 before grounding out in a 22-1 romp over the Boston Braves in the opener of a 1924 doubleheader.

• INF Ben Geraghty (Villanova hoops letterman from 1933-34 through 1935-36) traded by the Brooklyn Dodgers to the Washington Senators in 1937.

• In his first MLB game, Los Angeles Dodgers 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) homered off Hall of Fame Philadelphia Phillies RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47). Howard fanned at least once in each of last seven contests of his 1958 rookie campaign. Twelve years later as 1B for the Washington Senators, he hammered two homers in a game against the Cleveland Indians in 1970.

• Atlanta Braves 2B Davey Johnson (averaged 1.7 ppg with Texas A&M in 1961-62) put a jolt into one against the San Francisco Giants for his 40th homer in 1973.

• Cleveland Indians LF David Justice (Thomas More KY assists leader in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg) knocked in five runs against the Chicago White Sox in a 1999 outing.

• Detroit Tigers SS Harvey Kuenn (played hoops briefly for Wisconsin in 1951-52 after competing on JV squad previous season) stroked four hits against the Philadelphia Athletics in a 1954 game.

• California Angels RF Joe Lahoud (New Haven CT hoops letterman in mid-1960s) amassed five RBI against the Kansas City Royals in a 1974 contest.

• Milwaukee Braves SS Johnny Logan (Binghamton hooper in 1948-49) accumulated four hits and six RBI in a 13-5 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1955.

• Philadelphia Phillies RF Bake McBride (averaged 12.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg in 21 games with Westminster MO in 1968-69 and 1969-70) supplied his second four-hit start in a row in 1980.

• Career-high 10-game hitting streak for New York Yankees SS Gene Michael (led Kent State in scoring with 14 ppg in 1957-58) ended in 1969 when the Washington Senators' Dick Bosman hurled a two-hitter.

• Cleveland Indians 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) homered in his fourth consecutive contest in 1972.

• New York Yankees RF Lou Piniella (averaged 2.5 ppg and 1.4 rpg with Tampa as freshman in 1961-62) provided multiple safeties in each contest of a four-game set against rival Boston Red Sox in 1978.

• Pittsburgh Pirates 1B Gary Redus (J.C. hooper for Athens AL and father of Centenary/South Alabama guard with same name) provided three extra-base hits against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1990 game.

• New York Yankees RHP Allie Reynolds (listed on roster of Hank Iba-coached Oklahoma A&M squad in game program for first-ever contest at Gallagher-Iba Arena in 1938-39) registered 13 of his American League-high 160 strikeouts in 6-1 win against the St. Louis Browns in 1952.

• C Nate Smith (hoops letterman for Tennessee State in 1953-54 and 1954-55) purchased from the Los Angeles Dodgers by the Baltimore Orioles in 1962.

• San Diego Padres LHP Eric Stults (played for 1999 NAIA D-II Tournament hoops runner-up and 2000 NCCAA Tournament titlist with Bethel IN) won his fifth straight decision in 2012.

• LHP Bob Veale (scored 1,160 points from 1955-56 through 1957-58 with Benedictine KS) won his debut as a Boston Red Sox reliever in 1972.

• Washington Senators 3B Eddie Yost (NYU freshman hooper in 1943-44 under coach Howard Cann) coaxed multiple walks for the 17th time in a 38-game span en route to leading A.L. with 141 bases on balls in 1950. Five years later, he was issued a total of nine free passes in two-game set against the Kansas City Athletics in 1955.

• Boston Braves LHP Tom Zachary (Guilford NC hoops letterman in 1916) tossed a four-hit shutout against the Pittsburgh Pirates en route to winning five of his last six decisions in 1930.

Extra! Extra! She was more lucid propagandist than Out House successor Ka-ringe "Binder Babe" Jean-Pierre, but media misfit Jenny Sock-it-to-me might generate even lower #MSDNC viewer ratings with her "circle back" programming offending Gold Star families than fellow former Plagiarist Biledumb/Cacklin' Kamala flak Symone D. Sanders (Isn't it racist Psaki got prime-time slot over Ebonics-afflicted Sanders?). Rather than debating topic, you can read news about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Two former hoopers from Kentucky small colleges - "Sweet" Lou Johnson (Kentucky State) and David Justice (Thomas More) - made hitting headlines as National League outfielders on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a September 9 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

SEPTEMBER 9

• Brooklyn Dodgers RHP Ray Benge (multi-year hoops letterman for Sam Houston State first half of 1920s) hurled a two-hit shutout against the Cincinnati Reds in opener of 1934 twinbill.

• Chicago Cubs 1B Larry Biittner (runner-up in basketball scoring and rebounding in 1966-67 for Buena Vista IA) stroked four hits in a 15-2 romp over the Philadelphia Phillies in 1979.

• San Francisco Giants INF Ernie Bowman (East Tennessee State hoops letterman in 1954-55 and 1955-56) drove in the go-ahead run with an eighth-inning triple in 9-6 win against the rival Los Angeles Dodgers in 1961.

• Pittsburgh Pirates RF Dan Costello (Mount St. Mary's hooper from 1910-11 through 1913-14) went 3-for-3 against the Chicago Cubs in a 1914 game.

• SS Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for Louisiana State and Southwestern Louisiana during World War II) accounted for all of the New York Giants' offense with two homers in 2-0 victory against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1950 as teammate Sal Maglie hurled a MLB-tying fourth straight shutout.

• In the midst of a career-high 11-game hitting streak, Washington Senators 3B Frank Ellerbe (Wofford hooper after transferring from Sewanee TN) knocked in decisive run with a double in top of 12th inning of 6-5 triumph against St. Louis Browns in opener of 1920 doubleheader.

• Los Angeles Dodgers RF Joe Ferguson (hooper in 1967 NCAA playoffs for Pacific) launched a three-run homer, which was the game-winning hit in 5-3 win against the San Diego Padres in 1973.

• Brooklyn Robins 2B Jake Flowers (member of Washington College MD "Flying Pentagon" hoops squad in 1923) knocked in winning run in the ninth inning in a 3-2 victory against the New York Giants in 1928.

• Chicago Cubs 3B Howard Freigau (Ohio Wesleyan hooper) supplied four safeties, including three extra-base hits, in a 9-7 triumph against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1925.

• LHP Steve Hamilton (Morehead State's leading scorer and rebounder in 1956-57 and 1957-58) awarded on waivers from the New York Yankees to the Chicago White Sox in 1970.

• St. Louis Cardinals rookie 2B Tommy Herr (hooper with Delaware's freshman team in 1974-75) supplied three hits for the third time in an 11-game span in 1980.

• In 1964, Los Angeles Dodgers 1B-OF 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 his eighth homer in 20 at-bats against San Francisco Giants P Bob Hendley, including four in a row the previous year (not in same game).

• RHP Bobby Humphreys (four-year hoops letterman graduated from Hampden-Sydney VA in 1958) won his second game in relief in four days to help the St. Louis Cardinals advance toward 1964 N.L. pennant.

• Toronto Blue Jays 3B Garth Iorg (juco hooper with College of the Redwoods CA in mid-1970s) delivered a decisive two-run homer in bottom of eighth inning of 5-3 win against the Detroit Tigers in 1985.

• Atlanta Braves RF David Justice (Thomas More KY assists leader in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg) amassed two homers and five RBI against the San Francisco Giants in a 1991 contest.

• In 1965, Los Angeles Dodgers LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman hoops squad in 1953-54) hurled his fourth no-hitter in as many years. It was a perfect game against the Chicago Cubs, who yielded a lone safety but incurred their second one-hit setback this season against L.A. LF "Sweet" Lou Johnson (Kentucky State teammate of legendary HBCU coach Davey Whitney averaged 5.7 ppg and 2 rpg in 1951-52) secured the game's only hit and scored the lone run.

• Minnesota Twins rookie RF Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) homered in his fourth consecutive contest in 1968.

• INF Tim Nordbrook (Loyola LA hoops letterman in 1968-69) purchased from the Baltimore Orioles by the California Angels in 1976.

• California Angels 3B Bob Oliver (All-Valley Conference basketball choice for American River Community College CA in 1962) provided two hits for the eighth time in their first nine games of the month in 1973.

• Boston Red Sox rookie RHP Dick Radatz (center on Michigan State's freshman hoops squad in 1955-56) tossed nine innings of relief in registering a victory against the New York Yankees in 1962. Outing was his 12th relief appearance of season toiling at least three frames.

• RHP John Stuper (two-time all-conference junior college hooper in mid-1970s for Butler County PA) traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the Cincinnati Reds in 1984.

• Detroit Tigers 2B Gary Sutherland (averaged 7.4 ppg with Southern California in 1963-64) provided four hits against the New York Yankees in a 1975 outing.

• Chicago White Sox RF Evar Swanson (played all five positions for Knox IL) went 4-for-4 against the Washington Senators in the opener of a 1934 doubleheader.

• Detroit Tigers rookie SS Coot Veal (averaged team-high 10.9 ppg as Auburn sophomore in 1951-52 before transferring to Mercer) scored three runs in the first of five two-hit outings in a seven-game span in 1958.

• Kansas City Athletics 1B-OF Preston Ward (second-leading scorer for Southwest Missouri State in 1946-47 and 1948-49) walloped three homers in a row against the Baltimore Orioles in 1958 game.

• Philadelphia Phillies RF Cy Williams (Notre Dame forward in 1909-10) whacked homers in his first two at-bats but they weren't enough to prevent a 12-6 reversal against the Brooklyn Robins in 1926.

• New York Giants 1B Babe Young (Fordham hoops letterman in 1935-36) blasted two homers in a 1941 contest against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Extra! Extra! Instead of mocking intellectual constipation of #Dimorat numbskulls spearheaded by petty Plagiarist Biledumb and Cacklin' Commie-la "laser focused" on mask hysteria, illegal aliens avoiding horse reins while walking across border, climate-change cabal, equating patriotism with racism and allowing ex-Gitmo detainees to flourish in Afghan government while remainder of them avoid trials but not anyone linked to opponent Donald Trump, you can read news about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former San Diego State hoopers Tony Clark and Tony Gwynn supplied significant National League hitting performances on this date. Ditto ex-NYU hoopers Hank Greenberg and Eddie Yost in the American League. Fellow Hall of Famers and ex-hoopers Lou Boudreau, Rick Ferrell, Carlton Fisk and Frankie Frisch joined Gwynn and Greenberg in generating headlines on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a September 8 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

SEPTEMBER 8

• New York Yankees RHP Jim Beattie (Dartmouth's top basketball rebounder in 1974-75 when he was selected team MVP and honorable mention All-Ivy League) secured a 13-2 win in 1978 when the Boston Red Sox committed seven errors.

• Philadelphia Phillies RHP Ray Benge (multi-year hoops letterman for Sam Houston State first half of 1920s) hurled a three-hit shutout against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1932. He was in the midst of six complete-game victories in less than two months.

• Cleveland Indians SS Lou Boudreau (leading scorer for Illinois' 1937 Big Ten Conference co-champion) collected four hits and scored four runs against the Chicago White Sox in a 1942 game.

• Oakland Athletics CF Glenn Burke (averaged 16.3 ppg in six basketball games with Nevada-Reno in 1974-75) went 3-for-3 in a 1978 contest against the Texas Rangers.

• Detroit Tigers 1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in Western Athletic Conference games in 1991-92 after transferring from Arizona) homered in his third consecutive contest in 1999. Six years later with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Clark collected two homers and five RBI against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 2005 outing.

• First MLB start for Brooklyn Dodgers RHP Bill Crouch (Eastern Michigan hoops captain in 1927-28) was a complete-game victory, 11-2, against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1939. Crouch closed out the month with two more complete-game wins.

• After hitting only one homer in his first 269 MLB games, St. Louis Browns C Rick Ferrell (played forward for Guilford NC before graduating in 1928) smacked a round-tripper in back-to-back contests against the Detroit Tigers in 1931.

• In midst of five consecutive contests with multiple hits, Boston Red Sox C Carlton Fisk (runner-up in scoring with 13.7 ppg and top rebounder for New Hampshire's 1965-66 freshman squad) hammered a pair of homers and knocked in five runs in 7-2 win against the Toronto Blue Jays in 1977.

• New York Giants 2B Frankie Frisch (Fordham captain) went 4-for-4 against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1923 game.

• Detroit Tigers LF Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoops scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) contributed five RBI against the New York Yankees in a 1945 contest. Eight years earlier, Greenberg belted two dingers in the nightcap of a 1937 twinbill against the Cleveland Indians.

• Baltimore Orioles 3B Wayne Gross (Cal Poly Pomona assists leader in 1974-75) walloped two homers against the Milwaukee Brewers in a 1984 outing.

• San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-Western Athletic Conference second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) supplied five hits in a 16-inning setback against the San Francisco Giants in 1992.

• Cleveland Indians RHP Oral Hildebrand (Butler hoops All-American in 1928-29 and 1929-30) won his MLB debut with 3 1/3 innings of two-hit relief against the Chicago White Sox in the opener of a 1931 doubleheader.

• In 1973, Detroit Tigers DH 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 his final of 382 MLB career homers.

• Washington Senators 2B Morley Jennings (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1911) fanned all three MLB plate appearances in his lone start in a 1913 game against the New York Yankees.

• Chicago White Sox 1B Deacon Jones (leading scorer for Ithaca College NY midway through 1953-54) stroked a pinch-hit single in his first MLB at-bat in 1962 (against the Washington Senators).

• San Francisco Giants RHP Frank Linzy (listed on Oklahoma State's freshman hoops roster in 1959-60) allowed his only earned run in final 15 relief appearances of the 1968 campaign (in fifth inning of work in 11th frame against World Series-bound St. Louis Cardinals).

• Cleveland Indians CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) went 4-for-4 against the Minnesota Twins in a 1993 game.

• Bake McBride (averaged 12.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg in 21 games with Westminster MO in 1968-69 and 1969-70) handled 11 chances for the Philadelphia Phillies in a 5-3 victory at Chicago in 1978, tying the N.L. mark for right fielders.

• Cleveland Indians 2B Dutch Meyer (Texas Christian hoops letterman in 1934-35 and 1935-36) delivered three safeties for the second time in three contests during a career-high 16-game hitting streak in 1945.

• Gene Michael (Kent State's leading scorer with 14 ppg in 1957-58) fired as Chicago Cubs manager in 1987.

• New York Giants RF Red Murray (played hoops for Lock Haven PA in early 1900s) stole three bases in the opener of a 1909 doubleheader against the Brooklyn Superbas.

• Kansas City Royals 1B Bob Oliver (All-Valley Conference basketball choice for American River Community College CA in 1962) went 4-for-4 with three runs scored against the California Angels in 1970.

• First MLB homer for rookie LF Carl Reynolds (Southwestern TX hoops MVP and captain in mid-1920s) catapulted the Chicago White Sox to a 4-3 win against the Washington Senators in 1927. Five years later as a RF with the Senators, he went 4-for-4 and scored three runs in a 1932 game against the St. Louis Browns.

• Baltimore Orioles LF Ken Singleton (played for Hofstra freshman hoops team in mid-1960s) went 4-for-4 against the Boston Red Sox in a 1979 outing.

• Philadelphia Phillies RF Cy Williams (Notre Dame forward in 1909-10) whacked a decisive grand slam in 8-4 triumph against the Brooklyn Robins in 1926.

• Washington Senators 3B Eddie Yost (NYU freshman hooper in 1943-44 under coach Howard Cann) contributed three extra-base hits (two doubles and one triple) in opener of 1948 twinbill against the Philadelphia Athletics.

Extra! Extra! Instead of debating whether first week in January should be remembered politically more for alleged coordinated "Insurrection Day" or unmasking #Demonrats orchestrating Obama Administration meeting in 2017 when indifferent Plagiarist Biledumb was involved with #DirtyRice of Domestic Policy and FBI in weaponizing Logan Act to "unmask" and entrap Gen. Michael Flynn, you can read news about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Four former Big Ten Conference hoopers - Sammy Esposito (Indiana), Hoot Evers (Illinois), Johnny Gee (Michigan) and Dave Winfield (Minnesota) - made MLB news on this date. Ditto ex-NYU hoopers Hank Greenberg and Eddie Yost with outstanding offensive performances in the American League. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a September 7 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

SEPTEMBER 7

• In 1966, California Angels 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) jacked his final of 336 MLB homers.

• Igniting a streak of nine consecutive contests with at least one RBI, LF Brant Alyea (Hofstra's leading basketball scorer and rebounder in 1960-61 after being runner-up in both categories previous season) drove in all of the Minnesota Twins' runs with two homers in a 7-6 win against the Milwaukee Brewers in opener of 1970 doubleheader.

• Philadelphia Phillies RHP Ray Benge (multi-year hoops letterman for Sam Houston State first half of 1920s) hurled a complete game without yielding an earned run against the Boston Braves for the second time the first week of month in 1928.

• Seattle Mariners LF Bruce Bochte (starting forward for Santa Clara's NCAA playoff team in 1969-70 averaged 7.4 ppg and 4 rpg) went 4-for-4 in a 5-2 victory against the Kansas City Royals in 1982.

• Baltimore Orioles LF Al Bumbry (Virginia State's runner-up in scoring with 16.7 ppg as freshman in 1964-65) stroked four hits against the Cleveland Indians in a 1981 game.

• Detroit Tigers C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) went 6-for-7 and scored five runs in a 1935 doubleheader sweep of his original team (Philadelphia Athletics).

• Ending a personal six-game losing streak, Philadelphia Phillies RHP Gene Conley (All-PCC first-team selection led North Division in scoring in 1949-50 as Washington State sophomore) hurled a four-hit shutout against the Chicago Cubs in 1960.

• Cleveland Indians CF Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA hoops titlist) supplied a pair of homers in a 6-0 verdict over the Baltimore Orioles in 1955.

• Boston Red Sox 1B Walt Dropo (first player in Connecticut history to average 20 ppg in single season with 21.7 in 1942-43) homered twice in a 10-8 triumph against the New York Yankees in 1950.

• Sammy Esposito (averaged 7 ppg as Indiana hoops starter in 1951-52) started in place of Chicago White Sox 2B Nellie Fox in 1960, ending Fox's consecutive-game streak at 798.

• Detroit Tigers LF Hoot Evers (hoops starter for Illinois in 1939-40) went for the cycle, adding another triple, and amassing six RBI in a 13-13, 10-inning tie with the Cleveland Indians in 1950.

• New York Giants 3B Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) furnished six hits in a 1921 doubleheader sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies.

• Rookie LHP Johnny Gee (Michigan captain was Big Ten Conference's sixth-leading scorer in 1936-37) didn't allow an earned run in eight innings in his MLB debut but committed one of eight errors by the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 7-3 setback against the Philadelphia Phillies in opener of 1939 twinbill.

• Detroit Tigers 1B Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoops scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) collected three extra-base hits, including two homers (199th and 200th of his career), against the Cleveland Indians in a 1939 contest.

• New York Giants RHP Jim Hearn (Georgia Tech hoops letterman in 1941-42) had a 12-game winning streak against the Pittsburgh Pirates snapped in 1953.

• Los Angeles Dodgers 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City in 1947 and 1948) homered twice against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1958 outing.

• New York Giants LF Monte Irvin (Lincoln PA hooper 1 1/2 years in late 1930s) ripped a 500-foot homer in a 7-3 nod over the Boston Braves in 1951.

• Kansas City Royals RF Lynn Jones (averaged 10.4 ppg for Thiel PA from 1970-71 through 1973-74) contributed his fourth three-hit game in less than a month in 1984.

• Philadelphia Phillies rookie 2B Moon Mullen (backup guard for Oregon's legendary "Tall Firs" team winning inaugural NCAA tourney in 1939) stroked four singles in a 7-5 win against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1944 game.

• Minnesota Twins rookie RF Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) smacked two homers against the Detroit Tigers in 1968. Six years later as a New York Yankees 3B, Nettles homered in both ends of a 1974 doubleheader against the Tigers. In 1981, whacked two round-trippers for the Yanks in a contest against the Milwaukee Brewers.

• Detroit Tigers RF Jim Northrup (second-leading scorer and third-leading rebounder for Alma MI in 1958-59) went 5-for-5 with two homers in a 3-2, 11-inning victory against the Washington Senators in 1971.

• St. Louis Browns RHP Jim Park (hooper for Kentucky in 1911-12 and 1913-14) won his MLB debut in 1915 when he didn't allow an earned run in 11 innings of a 4-1 win against the Cleveland Indians.

• New York Giants rookie RHP Roy Parmelee (Eastern Michigan hoops letterman in 1924-25 and 1925-26) hurled his second straight four-hit, complete-game triumph in 1931.

• OF Carl Reynolds (Southwestern TX hoops MVP and captain in mid-1920s) was purchased from Minneapolis (American Association) by the Chicago Cubs in 1937.

• Brooklyn Dodgers LHP Preacher Roe (Harding AR hooper in late 1930s) walked six Philadelphia Phillies batters but raised his record to 19-2 in 1951 with an 11-6 decision over RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47).

• LHP Garry Roggenburk (led Dayton in scoring all three seasons from 1959-60 through 1961-62 and grabbed school-record 32 rebounds in third varsity game en route to pacing Flyers in rebounding first two years) purchased from the Minnesota Twins by the Boston Red Sox in 1966.

• Philadelphia Phillies CF Cy Williams (Notre Dame forward in 1909-10) homered in both ends of a 1921 twinbill against the New York Giants.

• New York Yankees RF Dave Winfield (starting forward with Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) got hung up in a rundown between third base and home plate following a pitchout but escaped to score decisive run in 3-2 triumph against the Oakland A's in 1985.

• After he was purchased from the Milwaukee Braves in 1963, RF Corky Withrow (averaged more than 22 ppg for Georgetown College KY in 1957-58 and 1958-59) made his only MLB start with the St. Louis Cardinals, notching his lone big-league RBI with a first-inning ground out off Pittsburgh Pirates LHP Joe Gibbon (two-time All-SEC forward for Mississippi averaged 18.6 ppg and 9.6 rpg from 1953-54 through 1956-57).

• Washington Senators 3B Eddie Yost (NYU freshman hooper in 1943-44 under coach Howard Cann) reached base nine times (five hits and four walks) in a 1953 doubleheader sweep of the Philadelphia Athletics. Six years later with the Detroit Tigers, Yost homered twice in opener of 1959 twinbill against the Cleveland Indians.

• New York Giants 1B Babe Young (Fordham hoops letterman in 1935-36) blasted a grand slam in a 4-1 victory against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1940.

• San Diego Padres RHP Chris Young (All-Ivy League first-team selection for Princeton in 1999-00) retired the first 23 Milwaukee Brewers batters en route to a two-hitter in 2008. It was Young's lone MLB complete game.

Extra! Extra! Instead of hoping to be entertained by arm-wrestling challenge among masculine #Dimorats Stephen Colbert, David Hogg, Mayor Jacob Frey, Senator Jon Ossoff, "Smiley" Zohran Mamdani, waddling Jamie Raskin and #SackofSchiff, you can read news about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Several former hoopers from North Carolina colleges - Vince Colbert (East Carolina), Dick Groat (Duke) and Don Padgett (Lenoir-Rhyne) - made MLB news on this date. Ex-jucos like Colbert (Eastern Utah) doing likewise included Garth Iorg (College of the Redwoods CA), Ken Retzer (Jefferson City MO), Carl Reynolds (Lon Morris TX) and Jim Thome (Illinois Central). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a September 6 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

SEPTEMBER 6

• RHP Andy Benes (briefly played basketball for Evansville in 1985-86) defeated his brother, Alan, when the St. Louis Cardinals erupted for 11 third-inning runs in an 11-2 nod over the Chicago Cubs in 2002.

• Chicago White Sox CF Ken Berry (freshman hooper for Wichita in 1959-60) went 3-for-3 (including double and homer) before scoring his third run, the game-winning tally off a wild pitch in bottom of ninth inning of 4-3 nod over the California Angels in nightcap of 1965 doubleheader.

• Pittsburgh Pirates LF Carson "Skeeter" Bigbee (Oregon hoops letterman in 1915) collected four hits and four runs against the Chicago Cubs in a 1919 game.

• In the midst of five two-hit outings in a seven-game span in 1964, rookie 2B Ron Campbell (Tennessee Wesleyan hooper) connected for his lone MLB homer (off Ray Sadecki of eventual World Series winner St. Louis Cardinals).

• Philadelphia Athletics C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) clobbered a two-run homer in the 10th inning in 3-1 verdict over the Boston Red Sox, giving Lefty Grove his 25th triumph in 1930.

• RHP Vince Colbert (averaged 14.3 ppg and 7.3 rpg for East Carolina in 1966-67 and 1967-68) didn't allow a run in eight innings of a 1-0 triumph against the Baltimore Orioles in nightcap of doubleheader. Colbert supplied two complete-game victories the remainder of month to finish as the Cleveland Indians' only winning hurler (7-6) with 10 or more starts in 1971.

• Los Angeles Dodgers C Joe Ferguson (hooper in 1967 NCAA playoffs with Pacific) provided three extra-base hits and four RBI against the San Francisco Giants in a 1978 contest.

• 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) suffered a broken wrist in 1960.

• Oakland Athletics 3B Wayne Gross (Cal Poly Pomona assists leader in 1974-75) whacked two homers against the Chicago White Sox in a 1983 game.

• St. Louis Cardinals 2B Tommy Herr (hooper with Delaware's freshman team in 1974-75) supplied four hits in a 1986 game against the Houston Astros.

• Washington Senators 1B 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 among his five hits against the Detroit Tigers in a 1970 contest.

• Toronto Blue Jays 3B Garth Iorg (juco hooper with College of the Redwoods CA in mid-1970s) smacked a three-run double in the top of ninth inning in a 4-0 win against the Chicago White Sox in 1986.

• New York Yankees LF Charlie Keller (Maryland hoops letterman from 1934-35 through 1936-37) knocked in five runs against the Detroit Tigers in opener of a 1945 twinbill.

• Chicago White Sox RHP Ted Lyons (two-time All-SWC first-team selection for Baylor in early 1920s) knocked in the decisive run with a triple as he reached the 20-win plateau in 1930 with 2-1 decision over the Cleveland Indians, snapping Wes Ferrell's 13-game winning streak.

• New York Giants RHP Christy Mathewson (Bucknell hooper at turn of 20th Century) fanned 14 Brooklyn batters in a 6-2 triumph in 1906.

• Gene Michael (Kent State's leading scorer with 14 ppg in 1957-58) fired as New York Yankees manager in 1981 despite winning the first-half pennant.

• New York Giants RF Red Murray (played hoops for Lock Haven PA in early 1900s) went 3-for-3 with three runs scored, two doubles and two RBI in a 1910 outing against the Boston Doves.

• In 1968, Minnesota Twins rookie RF Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) whacked his first of 390 MLB career homers. The round-tripper, off 31-game winner Denny McLain of the Detroit Tigers, ignited a power surge of five dingers for him in a four-game span.

• Chicago Cubs RF Bill Nicholson (hoops guard for Washington College MD two years in mid-1930s) belted two homers against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 1947 game.

• St. Louis Cardinals rookie RF Don Padgett (freshman in 1934 with Lenoir-Rhyne NC excelled in multiple sports) went 4-for-4 against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the nightcap of a 1937 twinbill to trigger 12-game hitting streak.

• C Ken Retzer (fourth-leading juco scorer with 184 points for Jefferson City MO in 1953-54) traded by the Cleveland Indians to Washington Senators in 1961.

• Chicago White Sox LF Carl Reynolds (Southwestern TX hoops MVP and captain in mid-1920s) went 4-for-4 in the opener of a 1930 doubleheader against the Cleveland Indians.

• In the midst of closing out the 1952 campaign with eight consecutive complete-game wins, Philadelphia Phillies RHP Robin Roberts (Michigan State's second-leading scorer in 1945-46 and 1946-47) went the distance in a 17-inning, 7-6 victory against the Boston Braves in 1952.

• In 1948, Boston Braves Hall of Fame LHP Warren Spahn twice picked off Brooklyn Dodgers INF Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41).

• Brooklyn Dodgers LHP Preacher Roe (Harding AR hooper in late 1930s) won his 10th straight decision in 1953.

• Chicago White Sox DH Jim Thome (juco hooper for Illinois Central in 1988-89) went 4-for-4 and scored three runs in 2006 game against the Boston Red Sox.

• Bill Virdon (Drury MO hooper in 1949) fired as Pittsburgh Pirates manager in 1973. Virdon is replaced by Danny Murtaugh, who assumed control of the club for fourth and final time.

• Philadelphia Phillies CF Cy Williams (Notre Dame forward in 1909-10) went 5-for-5 and scored four runs against the New York Giants in nightcap of a 1924 twinbill.

Long before kneeling knuckleheads, the NCAA Tournament commenced in 1939, which was one year after the NIT triggered national postseason competition. An overlooked "versatile athlete" feat occurring in 1938 likely never to be duplicated took place at Arkansas, where the quarterback for the football squad (Jack Robbins) repeated as an All-SWC first-team basketball selection, leading the Razorbacks (19-3) to the league title. After the season, Robbins became an NFL first-round draft choice by the Chicago Cardinals (5th pick overall) and senior football/basketball teammates Jim Benton (11th pick by Cleveland Rams) and Ray Hamilton (41st pick by Rams) went on to become wide receivers for at least six years in the NFL. Yes, they created a kneeling-in-admiration shatterproof achievement - three do-everything members of a league championship basketball squad who promptly were among the top 41 selections in the same NFL draft.

Two years later, All-SWC first-team hoop selection Howard "Red" Hickey was instrumental in Arkansas reaching the 1941 Final Four before becoming an end for the Cleveland Rams' 1945 NFL titlist. Two-sport college teammate and fellow end O'Neal Adams scored five touchdowns for the New York Giants the first half of the 1940s. Another two-sport Hog who played for the Giants in the mid-1940s was Harry Wynne. An earlier versatile Razorback was Jim Lee Howell, who was an All-SWC first five hoop selection in 1935-36 before becoming a starting end for the Giants' 1938 NFL titlist and Pro Bowl participant the next year. Adams, Benton, Hamilton, Hickey and Howell combined for 77 touchdowns in an 11-year span from 1938 through 1948 when at least one of the ex-Razorback hoopers scored a TD in each of those seasons.

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves on September 5 in football at the professional level (especially in 1949 and 1993 plus ex-hooper receivers with the Broncos):

SEPTEMBER 5

• Green Bay Packers TE Jimmy Graham (part-time starter for Miami FL averaged 4.2 ppg and 4.2 rpg from 2005-06 through 2008-09 under coach Frank Haith) accounted for the game's lone touchdown with a pass reception from Aaron Rodgers in 10-3 win against the Chicago Bears in 2019 season opener.

• Cleveland Browns QB Otto Graham (Big Ten Conference runner-up in scoring as Northwestern sophomore in 1941-42 and junior in 1942-43) threw four touchdown passes - three of them in fourth quarter - in a 28-28 tie against the Buffalo Bills in 1949 AAFC season opener. Bills QB George Ratterman (third-leading scorer with 11.7 ppg for Notre Dame in 1944-45) had two third-quarter rushing TDs.

• Baltimore Colts B John North (Vanderbilt hoops letterman in 1943) caught an 80-yard touchdown pass from Y.A. Tittle in 45-28 win against the New York Yankees in 1948.

• In his NFL debut, Cincinnati Bengals WR Patrick Robinson (starting guard for Tennessee State in 1990-91 when averaging 6.7 ppg and 2.9 apg) returned five punts for 70 yards and three kickoffs for 74 yards in a 27-14 setback against the Cleveland Browns in 1993 season opener. Robinson finished his rookie campaign with a league-high 43 punt returns.

• Denver Broncos TE Julius Thomas (averaged 6.8 ppg and 4.3 rpg while shooting 66.3% from floor with Portland State from 2006-07 through 2009-10) caught two second-quarter touchdown passes from Peyton Manning in a 49-27 win against the Baltimore Ravens in 2013 season opener.

• Denver Broncos WR Cedric Tillman (averaged 4.3 ppg and 2.6 rpg while serving as part-time starter for Alcorn State in 1990-91) caught a go-ahead touchdown pass from John Elway in 26-20 win against the New York Jets in 1993 season opener.

Will Mo Alie-Cox (Indianapolis Colts) or George Fant (Washington Commanders) become the eighth major-university athlete to achieve NFL Pro Bowl status after earning all-league acclaim as a college hooper? Cox (Virginia Commonwealth) and Fant (Western Kentucky) are the only players in this category since fellow mid-major hoopers Darren Fells (UC Irvine) and Joe Reitz (Western Michigan) in 2008. Fant and Reitz are among 12 individuals earning all-conference acclaim at least three times before competing in the NFL. The only one of the group to be a four-time all-league choice is Kansas' Otto Schnellbacher in the 1940s before leading NFL with 11 interceptions in 1951 for the New York Giants.

It was a far different era at the start of national postseason competition when at least four versatile players were named all-league hoopers each year from 1936 through 1939 prior to entering the NFL. The Big Ten Conference hasn't contributed an athlete in this category in more than 50 years but boasted eight different such individuals from 1936 through 1969 including All-Americans Otto Graham (Northwestern), Vern Huffman (Indiana), Ron Kramer (Michigan) and Max Morris (Northwestern). Pacific's Clyde Conner and John Thomas - All-CBA second-team selections in 1954-55 for WCC forerunner - went on to become San Francisco 49er teammates for six seasons from 1958 through 1963. But now in this era of specialization, how many all-conference college football players could play in the NBA? In deference to the start of a new pro football campaign, following is an alphabetical list of all-conference basketball players from DI leagues who wound up competing in the AAFC and NFL:

*All-Americans.
NOTE: Casares, Gates, Graham, Kramer, Lundy, Schnellbacher and Widby became NFL Pro Bowlers.

Extra! Extra! Unless you're wondering why Large Letitia James is out dancing on NYC streets rather than attending weight-loss clinic to keep from blowing penitentiary food budget if sentenced to prison, you can read news about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Several former hoopers from Big Apple universities - Joe Gallagher (Manhattan), Hank Greenberg (NYU), Andy Karl (Manhattan) and Marius Russo (LIU) - made MLB news on this date. Ditto several ex-hoopers from small Illinois colleges - Geoff Hartlieb (Quincy), Mem Lovett (University of Chicago), Cal Neeman (Illinois Wesleyan) and Jim Thome (Illinois Central). Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a September 4 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

SEPTEMBER 4

• Los Angeles Angels 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) cracked two homers against the Baltimore Orioles in a 1964 game.

• Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Jim Bibby (Fayetteville State NC backup hooper and brother of UCLA All-American Henry Bibby) fired a three-hit shutout against the New York Mets in nightcap of 1978 twinbill.

• Philadelphia Athletics LF Lyle Bigbee (hoops letterman with his brother for Oregon in 1915) smacked his lone MLB homer.

• Boston Red Sox C Gene Desautels (Holy Cross hoops letterman in 1929 and 1930) went 4-for-4 against the Philadelphia Athletics in the opener of a 1938 doubleheader.

• The Boston Braves started a streak of nine consecutive doubleheaders in 1928 by losing the opener, 3-2, to Brooklyn on a 10th-inning homer by 2B Jake Flowers (hooper for Washington College MD "Flying Pentagon" squad in 1923).

• St. Louis Browns rookie LF Joe Gallagher (Manhattan varsity hooper in 1934-35) went 5-for-7 in a 1939 twinbill against the Detroit Tigers.

• Detroit Tigers rookie 1B Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoops scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) collected five RBI against the Chicago White Sox in a 1933 contest.

• Chicago White Sox rookie RHP Paul Gregory (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1929-30) didn't allow an earned run in a complete-game, 5-1 win against the St. Louis Browns in nightcap of 1932 doubleheader.

• San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-WAC second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) went 4-for-4 against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 1996 game.

• RHP Geoff Hartlieb (averaged 1.8 ppg and 1.1 rpg for Quincy IL in 2012-13 before transferring to Lindenwood MO to concentrate on baseball) awarded off waivers from the New York Mets to Boston Red Sox in 2021.

• Cleveland Indians rookie LF Jerad Head (Washburn KS leader in assists and three-field field-goal shooting in 2004-05 for MIAA regular-season co-champion) had his lone MLB extra-base hit and RBI with a run-scoring double against the Kansas City Royals in a 2011 contest.

• RHP Jim Hearn (Georgia Tech hoops letterman in 1941-42) and New York Giants teammate Sal Maglie each hurled a shutout in 1950 twinbill against the Philadelphia Phillies.

• RHP Andy Karl (Manhattan hoops letterman in mid-1930s) traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to the Chicago Cubs in 1943. Karl refused to report to his new team the following spring.

• In his lone MLB appearance, Merritt "Mem" Lovett (freshman hooper for University of Chicago in 1931-32) popped out as a Chicago White Sox pinch-hitter for final out in opener of 1933 doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers.

• C Cal Neeman (Illinois Wesleyan's leading scorer in 1947-48 and 1948-49), appearing in 121 of the Chicago Cubs' first 133 games in 1957, was on course to break MLB record for most contests caught by a rookie before fracturing little finger of his right hand.

• 1B Jack Phillips (leading scorer for 14-1 Clarkson NY in 1942-43) traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Chicago White Sox in 1954.

• New York Yankees DH Lou Piniella (averaged 2.5 ppg and 1.4 rpg with Tampa as freshman in 1961-62) went 4-for-4 in a 3-2 win against the Kansas City Royals in 1982.

• Minnesota Twins LF Rick Renick (played in one basketball game for Ohio State in 1963-64 under coach Fred Taylor) registered career-high three hits in nightcap of 1972 twinbill against the Chicago White Sox.

• St. Louis Cardinals rookie C Dave Ricketts (three-year starter led Duquesne in scoring senior season with 17.9 ppg in 1956-57) ripped his lone MLB homer (against Pittsburgh Pirates in opener of 1967 twinbill).

• New York Yankees rookie LHP Marius Russo (member of LIU teams compiling 50-2 record in 1934-35 and 1935-36 under legendary coach Clair Bee) hurled his second shutout in less than three weeks in 1939.

• Kansas City Royals LHP Paul Splittorff (runner-up in scoring and rebounding for Morningside IA in 1967-68) twirled the second of back-to-back shutouts in 1975.

• Chicago White Sox 1B Billy Sullivan Jr. (Portland hoops letterman in 1927-28) went 5-for-5 against the St. Louis Browns in the nightcap of a 1932 doubleheader.

• Cleveland Indians 1B Jim Thome (juco hooper for Illinois Central in 1988-89) smacked two homers in a 2001 game against the Boston Red Sox. Nine years later as DH for the Minnesota Twins, he whacked a pair of round-trippers in 2010 outing against the Texas Rangers in the first of four consecutive contests in which Thome went downtown.

• Philadelphia Athletics 3B Billy Werber (first Duke hoops All-American in 1929-30) banged out three hits in both ends of a 1937 twinbill against the Boston Red Sox.

• Brooklyn Dodgers LHP Frank Wurm (acknowledged as best hooper for Middlebury VT in 1945-46) walked five batters in 1/3 of an inning in his lone MLB appearance (start against Boston Braves in nightcap of 1944 doubleheader).

Long before kneeling knuckleheads, the NCAA Tournament commenced in 1939, which was one year after the NIT triggered national postseason competition. An overlooked "versatile athlete" feat occurring in 1938 likely never to be duplicated took place at Arkansas, where the quarterback for the football squad (Jack Robbins) repeated as an All-SWC first-team basketball selection, leading the Razorbacks (19-3) to the league title. After the season, Robbins became an NFL first-round draft choice by the Chicago Cardinals (5th pick overall) and senior football/basketball teammates Jim Benton (11th pick by Cleveland Rams) and Ray Hamilton (41st pick by Rams) went on to become wide receivers for at least six years in the NFL. Yes, they created a kneeling-in-admiration shatterproof achievement - three do-everything members of a league championship basketball squad who promptly were among the top 41 selections in the same NFL draft.

Two years later, All-SWC first-team hoop selection Howard "Red" Hickey was instrumental in Arkansas reaching the 1941 Final Four before becoming an end for the Cleveland Rams' 1945 NFL titlist. Two-sport college teammate and fellow end O'Neal Adams scored five touchdowns for the New York Giants the first half of the 1940s. Another two-sport Hog who played for the Giants in the mid-1940s was Harry Wynne. An earlier versatile Razorback was Jim Lee Howell, who was an All-SWC first five hoop selection in 1935-36 before becoming a starting end for the Giants' 1938 NFL titlist and Pro Bowl participant the next year. Adams, Benton, Hamilton, Hickey and Howell combined for 77 touchdowns in an 11-year span from 1938 through 1948 when at least one of the ex-Razorback hoopers scored a TD in each of those seasons.

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players making a name for themselves in September 3 football games at the professional level (especially unbeaten Cleveland Browns teammates Otto Graham and Ara Parseghian hooking up for touchdown pass in 1948 before they became coaches of prominent gridiron enterprises):

SEPTEMBER 3

• Boston Patriots WR Art Graham (collected one point and three rebounds in two basketball games with Boston College in 1961-62) posted a 1967 AFL-long touchdown reception of 79 yards in 26-21 setback against the Denver Broncos in season opener.

• Cleveland Browns rookie HB Ara Parseghian (Miami of Ohio hooper in 1946-47 and 1947-48) caught a 17-yard touchdown pass from QB Otto Graham (Big Ten Conference runner-up in scoring as Northwestern sophomore in 1941-42 and junior in 1942-43) in 19-14 win against the Los Angeles Dons in 1948 AAFC season opener.

• Cleveland Browns WR Reggie Rucker (averaged 6.8 ppg and 3.8 rpg for Boston University in 1966-67) registered three pass receptions for 113 yards in a 24-7 win against the San Francisco 49ers in 1978 season opener.

• Arizona Cardinals DL Mao Tosi (averaged 4.1 ppg and 5.5 rpg with Idaho in 1997-98) had a career-high seven solo tackles in 21-16 setback against the New York Giants in his NFL debut in 2000 season opener.

America's Team, the Dallas Cowboys, warrants recognition as the last NFL franchise to give versatile college basketball All-Americans (Utah State's Cornell Green and Tennessee's Ron Widby in mid-1970s) an opportunity to labor as authentic NFL players.

Versatile athletes are becoming an endangered species although Rico Gathers, Baylor's all-time leading rebounder (fourth in nation as junior in 2014-15), was retained by the Cowboys as fourth tight end several years ago to avoid losing him to waivers. Promptly after Labor Day is when majority of college basketball annuals hit the newsstands about same time NFL regular season kicks off into high gear. In an era of specialization, the odds are staggering against any of the projected college hoop All-Americans in the magazines enjoying a genuine AAFC/NFL career such as the following alphabetical list of seven well-rounded athletes including two from Utah State:

NOTE: Hoop All-Americans selected in the NFL draft but not playing in the league include Kentucky's Wallace "Wah Wah" Jones as an E by the Chicago Bears in 7th round in 1949, San Francisco's K.C. Jones as an E by the Los Angeles Rams in 30th round in 1955, Ohio State's John Havlicek as a WR by the Cleveland Browns in 7th round in 1962, Kentucky's Pat Riley as a FL by the Cowboys in 11th round in 1967, Providence's Jimmy Walker as a WR by the New Orleans Saints as last pick in 17th and final round in 1967, West Virginia's Ron "Fritz" Williams as a DB by the Cowboys in 18th round in 1968, Indiana's Quinn Buckner as a DB by the Washington Redskins in 14th round in 1976 and Louisiana State's Al Green as a DB by the San Diego Chargers in 10th round in 1979.

Extra! Extra! Instead of wondering if misguided #MessMedia misfits will return to asking gaffe-prone Plagiarist Biledumb about ice cream while many Americans don't believe creepy stranderer-in-chief dwells on Cacklin' Commie-la washing collard greens in her bathtub before book tour, you can read news about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Multiple Show-Me State colleges - Central Missouri, Drury, Mizzou, Missouri State and Washington University - had former hoopers "show" significant MLB performances on this date. Ditto three ex-community college hoopers from California (Irv Noren, Bob Oliver and Larry Wolfe). Ex-Ohio State hoopers Frank Howard and Fred Taylor supplied offensive output for the Washington Senators on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a September 2 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

SEPTEMBER 2

• Bonus baby 2B Jerry Adair (one of Oklahoma State's top three basketball scorers in 1956-57 and 1957-58 while ranking among nation's top 12 free-throw shooters each season) made his MLB debut with the Baltimore Orioles in 1958.

• 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading scorer in 1945-46) pounded a pinch-hit, two-run homer off RHP Bobby Humphreys (four-year hoops letterman graduated from Hampden-Sydney VA in 1958) to give the California Angels a 6-5 win against the Washington Senators in 1966.

• In 1981, RHP Jim Beattie (Dartmouth's top rebounder in 1974-75 when selected team MVP and honorable mention All-Ivy League) toiled 10 innings against the Baltimore Orioles en route to setting a Seattle Mariners record for a starter by pitching 19 straight scoreless innings.

• Philadelphia Athletics rookie RHP Bill Beckmann (hooper in late 1920s for Washington MO) hurled his second straight shutout in 1939.

• INF Bosey Berger (NCAA consensus All-American first-team hoops selection in 1932 for Maryland) combined with Chicago White Sox teammate Mike Kreevich to hit homers as the first two batters in a game for the second time in the 1937 campaign.

• New York Mets 1B Donn Clendenon (four-sport letterman with Morehouse GA) clobbered two homers against the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 1969 contest.

• After sitting out almost a month because of a broken rib, New York Giants SS Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for LSU and USL during World War II) fell and broke his shoulder in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1955.

• Boston Red Sox RHP Boo Ferriss (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1941) won his 12th straight contest for victory No. 24 in the opener of a 1946 twinbill against the New York Yankees.

• In 1983, Baltimore Orioles LHP Mike Flanagan (averaged 13.9 ppg for Massachusetts' 15-1 freshman squad in 1971-72) posted his 13th consecutive triumph over the Minnesota Twins when teammate Ken Singleton (played for Hofstra's freshman hoops team in mid-1960s) broke up a scoreless duel with a ninth-inning homer.

• Pittsburgh Pirates 3B Gene Freese (West Liberty WV hoops captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team) accumulated a total of nine hits in back-to-back 1957 twinbills the first two days of the month.

• St. Louis Cardinals RHP Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer and rebounder in 1955-56 and 1956-57) hurled his 12th shutout in span of 18 starts covering less than three months in 1968.

• Detroit Tigers 1B Hank Greenberg (enrolled at NYU on hoops scholarship in 1929 but attended college only one semester) collected two homers and a triple in 9-8 nod over the Washington Senators. His second round-tripper was a walk-off in the bottom of the 10th inning.

• 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 previous season) fanned 12 opposing batters for the third game in a three-week span in 1975.

• Brooklyn Robins 1B Buddy Hassett (hooper for Manhattan teams winning school-record 17 consecutive contests in 1930 and 1931) banged out four hits against the Chicago Cubs in a 1937 game. Five years later, Hassett duplicated the feat for the New York Yankees against the St. Louis Browns in nightcap of a 1942 twinbill.

• In midst of closing out 1961 campaign with 10 consecutive scoreless relief appearances, Cincinnati Reds LHP Bill Henry (hoops letterman for Houston's 1947 NAIA Tournament team featuring co-captain Guy Lewis) posted his 16th save (tied Jim Brosnan for team high in category).

• Philadelphia Phillies LHP Lefty Hoerst (four-year hoops letterman for La Salle in late 1930s) yielded only two hits but managed to lose by walking four batters in the eighth inning in 1942.

• Washington Senators slugging 1B-OF 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) received intentional passes his first three plate appearances, twice leading off an inning, against the Cleveland Indians in a 1970 contest.

• Atlanta Braves 1B Davey Johnson (averaged 1.7 ppg for Texas A&M in 1961-62) homered in both ends of a 1974 doubleheader sweep of the San Diego Padres.

• In 2002, Oakland Athletics LF David Justice (Thomas More KY assists leader in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg) jacked his final of 305 MLB career homers.

• 3B Fritz Knothe (member of Penn's freshman hoops squad in 1923-24) shipped by Philadelphia Phillies to Albany (International League) to complete a deal made the previous month in 1933.

• St. Louis Browns SS Doc Lavan (Hope MI hooper from 1908 through 1910) went 4-for-4 against the Cleveland Indians in a 1916 outing.

• Chicago Cubs INF Vance Law (averaged 6.8 ppg for Brigham Young from 1974-75 through 1976-77) accounted for the game's only run with a ninth-inning homer off the Los Angeles Dodgers' Bob Welch in 1986.

• Philadelphia Phillies rookie OF Danny Litwhiler (member of JV hoops squad with Bloomsburg PA in mid-1930s), en route to a 21-game hitting streak, collected six safeties and eight RBI in a 1940 doubleheader sweep of the New York Giants.

• Los Angeles Dodgers 2B Davey Lopes (NAIA All-District 15 selection for Iowa Wesleyan averaged 16.9 ppg as freshman in 1964-65 and 12.1 ppg as sophomore in 1965-66 before transferring with his coach to Washburn KS where he was All-CIC selection for 1968 NAIA Tournament team) stroked a game-winning grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning off Chicago Cubs closer Bruce Sutter in 1979.

• New York Yankees rookie RHP Zach Monroe (played hoops briefly for Bradley in 1950-51) hurled his lone MLB complete game, defeating the Boston Red Sox, 6-1, in 1958.

• In his first start for the St. Louis Cardinals, RF Irv Noren (hooper of year for California community college state champion Pasadena City in 1945) stroked three extra-base hits against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1957 contest.

• California Angels 1B Bob Oliver (All-Valley Conference basketball choice for American River Community College CA in 1962) accounted for the game's only tallies with a first-inning, two-run homer off Jim Palmer against the Baltimore Orioles in 1972.

• Cleveland Indians RHP Jim Perry (averaged more than 20 ppg in late 1950s for former juco Campbell) fired a four-hit shutout against the Baltimore Orioles in 1961.

• Atlanta Braves RHP Ron Reed (Notre Dame's leading rebounder in 1963-64 and 1964-65) spun his second three-hit shutout in less than a month in 1974.

• A two-hit shutout by Chicago White Sox RHP Johnny Rigney (top hoops center for St. Thomas MN in mid-1930s) against the Detroit Tigers was one of 11 consecutive triumphs for him in 1939. The next year, he also tossed a two-hit whitewash against the Tigers in 1940.

• Colorado Rockies RHP Kevin Ritz (JV hooper for William Penn IA in 1983-84 before transferring to a junior college) ripped a third-inning homer in an 8-3 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1996.

• OF Larry Sheets (All-ODAC hoops selection for Eastern Mennonite VA in 1981-82 and 1982-83) shipped by the Milwaukee Brewers to the Seattle Mariners as part of a conditional deal in 1993.

• Boston Red Sox RHP Sonny Siebert (team-high 16.7 ppg for Missouri in 1957-58 as All-Big Eight Conference second-team selection) hurled a one-hitter and socked two homers in a 3-0 triumph against the Baltimore Orioles in 1971. He had six round-trippers during the season.

• Boston Red Sox RHP Dave Sisler (All-Ivy League second-team selection for Princeton's first NCAA Tournament team in 1952) surrendered back-to-back homers to Hall of Famers Yogi Berra and Mickey Mantle in 1958. It was one of 12 times the New York Yankees' duo whack back-to-back round-trippers. They homered in the same game 50 times.

• SS Roy Smalley Jr. (one of top scorers for Drury MO in 1942-43 and 1943-44) drilled a pinch two-run double in the bottom of the eighth inning to propel the Philadelphia Phillies to a 5-3 win against the New York Giants in 1955.

• In the midst of winning his final seven decisions in 1977, Kansas City Royals LHP Paul Splittorff (runner-up in scoring and rebounding for Morningside IA in 1967-68) tossed a one-hit shutout against the Milwaukee Brewers in the nightcap of a twinbill.

• 1B Fred Taylor (third-leading scorer with 10 ppg for Ohio State's 1950 NCAA tourney team before coaching Buckeyes to 1960 national title) smacked a two-run, first-inning double to help propel the Washington Senators to 5-0 win against the Philadelphia Athletics in 1952.

• LHP Bob Veale (scored 1,160 points for Benedictine KS from 1955-56 through 1957-58) purchased from the Pittsburgh Pirates by the Boston Red Sox in 1972.

• Pittsburgh Pirates 1B Preston Ward (second-leading scorer for Southwest Missouri State in 1946-47 and 1948-49) knocked in six runs in an 8-1 victory against the Chicago Cubs in 1953.

• St. Louis Browns OF Hal Warnock (Arizona hoops letterman from 1931-32 through 1933-34) contributed a pinch-hit double in his first MLB plate appearance in the nightcap of a 1935 doubleheader against the Cleveland Indians.

• Boston Red Sox 3B Larry Wolfe (juco letterman in 1971-72 and 1972-73 for Sacramento City College CA scored career-high 33 points against Santa Rosa on 12-17-71) whacked a pinch-hit homer in 1980 game against the California Angels.

• Boston Braves 3B Chuck Workman (two-time All-MIAA first-five hoops selection was leading scorer when Central Missouri won inaugural NAIA Tournament in 1937) whacked two homers in the opener of a 1945 twinbill against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Extra! Extra! Instead of wondering if Cacklin' Commie-la's lost Secret Service security detail or hideous Hunter-hammered cover girl "Dr." Jill is responsible for bringing Plagiarist Biledumb's bed pan along when creepy "big guy" futilely tries to leave another beach vacation and give coherent speech with satanic background, you can read news about memorable major league baseball achievements and moments involving former college basketball players. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Nonetheless, numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games, transactions and dates in MLB history.

Former Guilford NC hoopers Rick Ferrell and Tom Zachary supplied significant American League performances on this date. Ex-LSU hoopers Joe Adcock and Alvin Dark did likewise in National League contests. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a September 1 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

SEPTEMBER 1

• Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) swatted two homers against the Chicago Cubs in a 1960 game.

• Chicago Cubs LF Ethan Allen (Cincinnati hoops letterman in 1924-25 and 1925-26) supplied four hits against the New York Giants in a 1936 contest.

• Chicago White Sox CF Ken Berry (freshman hooper for Wichita in 1959-60) went 4-for-4 in a 1966 game against the Detroit Tigers.

• Baltimore Orioles LF Al Bumbry (Virginia State's runner-up in scoring with 16.7 ppg as freshman in 1964-65) banged out four hits against the Kansas City Royals in a 1974 outing.

• Arizona Diamondbacks 1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in WAC competition in 1991-92) collected five RBI against the Colorado Rockies in a 2007 game.

• Philadelphia Athletics rookie RHP Jack Coombs (hoops captain and starting center for Colby ME) went the distance in a 24-inning, 4-1 win against the Washington Senators in 1906. Coombs tossed two more complete-game victories in the next 10 days.

• New York Giants SS Alvin Dark (hoops letterman for Louisiana State and Southwestern Louisiana in mid-1940s) manufactured four hits in his second game in a row against the Chicago Cubs in 1953.

• Milwaukee Braves 2B Jack Dittmer (Iowa hooper in 1949-50), entering the game with a .180 batting average, started a streak of six consecutive multiple-hit contests in 1954. Dittmer homered in three of the tilts.

• Closing in on the conclusion of an 18-year Hall of Fame career, Washington Senators C Rick Ferrell (hoops forward for Guilford NC before graduating in 1928) furnished four hits against the Philadelphia Athletics in a 1947 contest.

• In 1976, Baltimore Orioles rookie LHP Mike Flanagan (averaged 13.9 ppg for UMass' freshman squad in 1971-72) registered his first of 167 MLB career victories (six-hit, 7-1 nod over Kansas City Royals).

• Pittsburgh Pirates rookie 3B Gene Freese (West Liberty WV hoops captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team) stroked four hits against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1955 outing.

• 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) received bases-loaded walk in the 21st inning to give the San Francisco Giants a 1-0 victory at Cincinnati in 1967.

• 2B Tommy Herr (hooper with Delaware's freshman team in 1974-75) homered in his first game with the New York Mets in a 6-5 verdict over the San Francisco Giants in 1990.

• Chicago Cubs SS Don Kessinger (three-time All-SEC selection for Mississippi from 1961-62 through 1963-64 while finishing among nation's top 45 scorers each year) went 4-for-4 against the Houston Astros in a 1968 game.

• Detroit Tigers RF Harvey Kuenn (hooper played briefly for Wisconsin in 1951-52 after competing on JV squad previous season) contributed four hits against the Chicago White Sox in a 1959 contest.

• Washington Senators SS Doc Lavan (Hope MI hooper from 1908 through 1910) went 4-for-4 against the New York Yankees in a 1918 outing.

• In 1931, New York Giants rookie LHP Jim Mooney (played for East Tennessee State) notched his fourth win and second shutout since being summoned from the minors three weeks earlier.

• Washington Senators rookie SS Buddy Myer (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1923-24) went 4-for-5 for the second time in an eight-game span in 1926.

• Cincinnati Reds CF Greasy Neale (hooper graduated in 1915 from West Virginia Wesleyan) went 5-for-5 against the St. Louis Cardinals in the nightcap of a 1918 doubleheader.

• OF-1B John Poff (member of Duke's freshman basketball squad in 1970-71) awarded off waivers from the Philadelphia Phillies to the Milwaukee Brewers in 1980.

• In the final month of his 10-year MLB career, Brooklyn Dodgers 3B Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) swiped three bases in nightcap of 1956 doubleheader against the New York Giants.

• Brooklyn Dodgers LHP Preacher Roe (Harding AR hooper in late 1930s) yielded five solo homers but the St. Louis Cardinals still were soundly defeated, 12-5, in 1953. Five years earlier, Roe tossed his second of back-to-back shutouts in 1948.

• New York Yankees rookie LHP Marius Russo (member of LIU teams compiling 50-2 record in 1934-35 and 1935-36 under legendary coach Clair Bee) earned a save against the Cleveland Indians in the midst of seven straight complete-game victories to close out 1939 campaign.

• Baltimore Orioles RF Ken Singleton (played for Hofstra freshman hoops team in mid-1960s) homered twice against the Seattle Mariners in a 1980 contest.

• Cleveland Indians 2B Riggs Stephenson (Alabama hoops letterman in 1920) collected two homers and six RBI against the St. Louis Browns in the nightcap of a 1924 twinbill.

• Philadelphia Phillies RHP Kent Tekulve (freshman hooper for Marietta OH in mid-1960s) won his sixth game as reliever in span of a month in 1986.

• New York Yankees RHP Ralph Terry (juco hooper averaged 22 ppg for Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in mid-1950s) went 3-for-3 at the plate in a 1962 game against the Kansas City Athletics.

• LHP Bob Veale (scored 1,160 points from 1955-56 through 1957-58 with Benedictine KS) made relief appearance for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1971 when they started what is believed to be the first all-black lineup (including several Latinos) in MLB history (against Philadelphia Phillies).

• Pittsburgh Pirates CF Bill Virdon (Drury MO hooper in 1949) belted a two-out, game-ending grand slam in 6-4 verdict over the Cincinnati Reds in 1963.

• New York Yankees LHP Tom Zachary (Guilford NC letterman in 1916) yielded his most earned runs of the year (four against Boston Red Sox) en route to a 12-0 worksheet in 1929.