University of Missouri Athletics

An impact player in two sports for Mizzou, the St. Louis native lettered in basketball three years (1956-58) and one year in baseball (1958). He was a third-team all-American as a first baseman in 1958 and was also all-District V and all-Big Eight Conference. He led MU in home runs that year with eight during a season when the Tigers went to the championship game of the College World Series where they lost, 8-7 in 12 innings to Southern California. He was named to the all-time CWS team for the decade of the 1950s. In basketball, he led Missouri in scoring in 1958 (16.7 points per game), and in free throw shooting in 1957 (78.5%). He was drafted simultaneously by the Cleveland Indians and the St. Louis Hawks of the NBA. He signed with the Indians and made it to the big leagues in 1964. He pitched for 11 seasons and compiled a record of 140-114 with a 3.21 ERA. He threw a no-hitter in 1966 against the Washington Senators. He posted 16-win seasons in both 1965 and ’66. After the 1968 season he was traded to the Boston Red Sox where he played five seasons and was an American League All-Star in 1971. He later played with the Texas Rangers, St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres and Oakland Athletics. In 1974 he was credited with the win in a 25-inning Cardinal victory over the New York Mets – the second longest game played in National League history. He was the last American League pitcher to hit two home runs in one game, accomplishing the feat while with the Red Sox against the Baltimore Orioles in 1971. He was inducted into the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame in 2017.