When you hear the phrase March Madness, it usually has nothing to do with what is happening down in the Cactus or Grapefruit League—unless one’s definition of “madness” is a series of games that do not count against players who will not make it to the majors. That’s not to say the pros in Florida and Arizona are not paying attention to their brackets, much like the rest of the world. Of course they are. And for a handful of ex-MLBers, the NCAA Tournament was more than a distraction. It was a memory.
Kenny Lofton, University of Arizona
While there have been better basketball players who played baseball and better baseball players who played basketball, none have had the amount of success at both that Lofton did. During 16 years in the majors, he was one of the most feared lead-off hitters in the game. The six-time all star hit .299 with 622 stolen bases and 1,528 runs scored. As a backup point guard for the 1988 Arizona Wildcats, Lofton helped lead the team to the Final Four. The following year as a starter, Arizona and Lofton made the Sweet 16.
Tim Stoddard, NC State Wolfpack
Lofton is one of only two guys to play in both a World Series and the Final Four. The other? Tim Stoddard. Forget about Bo Jackson. If Stoddard’s first name had rhymed with “knows”, he could’ve been the most famous two-sport star. (OK, maybe not, but he was pretty good at both.) Stoddard was a standout on the 1974 NC State Wolfpack team that beat Marquette for the National Championship and he was in the bullpen with the Orioles when they won the World Series in 1983. In 13 years in the majors, Stoddard had a 3.95 ERA.
Dave Winfield, University of Minnesota
With all due respect to Michael Jordan, who never made it to the major leagues during his baseball career, Dave Winfield is easily the best collegiate basketball player turned baseball player. His MLB record is pretty clear—465 homers, lifetime .283 hitter, and the Hall of Fame. His collegiate basketball career is just as crystal. In addition to leading the University of Minnesota to a Big Ten title and the 1972 NCAA Tournament, he was drafted by both the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks and the ABA’s Utah Stars. Winfield was such a great athlete, he was famously also drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the 17th round—despite not playing college football.
Danny Ainge, Notre Dame
It’s arguable whether Ainge or former Knick Dave DeBusschere had the better post-baseball NBA career. DeBusschere was an eight-time All Star, but Ainge has had success as a player, coach, and now president of basketball operations for the Boston Celtics. Ainge also had the more memorable NCAA Tourney run, helping lead BYU to three straight appearances, including the Elite Eight in 1981 with a famous coast-to-coast buzzer beater over Notre Dame. His baseball career was not nearly as highlight-worthy. In three seasons with the Blue Jays, Ainge played in 211 games and only hit .220. More impressively though, he was a major leaguer while starring on the hardwood at BYU, only retiring when he was drafted by the Boston Celtics.