Did Anyone From Your School Ever Make The Pros?

DirtyDog48 · June 20, 2005 10:57PM

Ronnie Blye, who graduated a couple of years before I entered Samuel J. Tilden High School in Brooklyn, played running back for the Giants and Eagles in 1968 and 1969. Then there was Willie Randolph who attended Tilden way after I did.

abmluce · June 21, 2005 12:08AM

Ron Brown was a few years ahead of me in HS. Was on the practice squad for some pro team but has been the defensive backs coach i think for nebraska for many years

AkbarClone · June 21, 2005 12:42AM

I was friends with Carlestor Crumpler at my high school--sat next to each other in a few classes. He played a few years in the NFL. Later when I was at college, his younger brother came to attend. I spoke to him a few times about Carlestor to see how he was doing--now the younger brother is playing in the NFL and is doing OK for himself (Alge Crumpler).

Several baseball players from high school played in the minors over the last couple of decades--but only one that I am aware of made the major leagues for a brief spell--and I didn't know him personally.

Now from my college (like many of you) the pro ranks are littered with fellow alums--but I am assuming this is a high school thread, so no need to go into those guys.

IrishMike · June 21, 2005 1:47AM

Scott Skiles...high school team won state championship before they went to a class system. His and my small school beat schools with 2 or 3 times as many students with no player over six foot three and all white players who can't jump...was quite a feat...similar to that of Milan High School...which won and was the impetus for the movie Hoosiers. I taught with Marv Wood who was the coach of Milan.

Stingray · June 21, 2005 4:38AM

I went to Waterford Kettering in Waterford, Michigan. We had three that I know of: Kirk Gibson (Baseball), Pat Lafontane (Hockey) and Jim Miller (Football, had one good year with the Bears). Lafontane graduate one year ahead of me in 1983.

Speaking of Scott Skiles, I was attending Michigan State when he was playing, not High School though.

Stingray

CreeperKat · June 21, 2005 4:40AM

Ryan Klesko - started with the Braves and is now with the Padres. Played highschool ball with him.

SDSportsFan · June 21, 2005 10:00AM

Terry Forster (the "Fat tub of Goo" for you David Letterman fans), and Jim Tatum (Brewers, Rockies and Padres) both went to my high school.

Steve

interchanges · June 21, 2005 11:02AM

Stingray~Was hoping to hear Bobby Higginson went to your high school.

Heh

Joewoowoo · June 21, 2005 12:51PM

I went to Summit High school in NJ, Willie Wilson who played for the KC Royals went to my school and I played little league baseball and went to school with Gerard Phelan (Gerard caught the infamous pass from Doug Flutie which is known as the original Hail Mary Pass )

Gemmy10 · June 21, 2005 1:36PM

I went to school with Thurman Munson.

Jut kidding.

JrMacdaddy · June 21, 2005 2:12PM

Paul Molitor
Steve Walsh
Chris Weinke
Matt Birk
Corbin Lacina
Derek Engler
Joe Mauer

daddy43 · June 21, 2005 2:41PM

Went to New Braunfels High school in Texas. Kliff Kingsbury played with the Pats and now is with the Saints. Cross town school Canyon- Lance Berkman is playing for the Astros!

1977topps · June 22, 2005 12:41AM

My barber played HS ball with Carl Yastrzemski. Yaz grew up in Southampton NY, I live about 15-20 miles away.

noclass · June 22, 2005 7:18AM

Jose Canseco - Miami Coral Park High School - Class of 1982

goose3 · June 22, 2005 8:00AM

Larry Siegfried.

mercurynut · June 22, 2005 8:14AM

Billy Swift and Jim Bettie both pitched in the pros.

pandrews · June 22, 2005 8:27AM

Paul Rigdon.. he 2 hit the yankees in his ML debut.. played for Cincinnati, Milwaukee and Cleveland.. injuries forced him out..

Peetie · June 22, 2005 10:24AM

I didn't go to school with him but I worked for Donnie Baseball at his restaurant in Evansville, Mattingly's 23.

Class guy!

DirtyHarry · June 22, 2005 1:10PM

Dick Ambrose (we called him Duck) was a LB most notably for the Browns.

GoBravesGo · June 27, 2005 7:24AM

I knew a girl that upon graduation, moved to Atlanta, became a stripper in The Gold Club, and eventually a very high priced call girl. That is the only person that I knew that ever went Pro! (she was freakin HOT too, so it is a shame I could never afford to take her out - before or after she began her "pro" career!)

Cubfan · June 27, 2005 9:36AM

I went to college with Rick Reuschel's sister

.

bowdowntome · June 28, 2005 9:57AM

Dan Murphy (class of 1982, same as me) Pitched briefly for the Padres back in '90 or '91, bounced around in mnors quite a bit, blew all his money partying. During the off-season he'd come back home and we'd slip him into our slow pitch softball team as a ringer. (pretty good hitter)

Al Martin - A couple grades behind me. As a freshman he was a skinny little kid who liked basketball, became a HS baseball star after I graduated. His name in HS was Al Scales.

Mike Powell (who I think is still the world outdoor long jump record holder) - Went to a crosstown rival. I use to have to try and compete against him on the high jump. He'd clear like 6'10" without warming up, and leave everyone else in the dust. He also was a big basketball draw. People came to watch him dunk, taking off from the freethrow line.

Cecil Fielder - Another crosstown rival we'd go watch play basketball.

SoFLPhillyFan · June 28, 2005 10:10AM

Anthony Griggs - LB
Ohio State, Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles

Also went to school with Carl Lewis, Olympic gold medalist and knew his parents who were teachers.

Used to walk by Greg Luzinski's house every day on the way to school. His kids were younger than me.

The kicker - knew quite well Sharon Morella, who was the daughter of Gorilla Monsoon. This was in 74-78 when he was popular. She was a cheerleader and filled out her sweater....wink, wink.

iamthegreatcornholio · June 28, 2005 10:57AM

David Greene - he a year ahead of me - went somewhere in this years nfl draft.

Louis Williams - i don't think he was in hs when i went there - went somewhere in this years nba draft?

Brian

edit to add - just checked greene drafted by seahawks, and williams 76ers.

DeutscherGeist · June 28, 2005 6:30PM

I never knew them personally since they graduated well before I did, but

Babe Herman (MLB Baseball)
Dwight Stones (Track and Field)
Duane Bickett (NFL)

John Wayne (actor)
Madeleine Stowe (actress)

All went to Glendale High School in California

zef204 · June 28, 2005 11:59PM

Lindsay Knapp- OL for Notre Dame and then the Packers

Tony Cogan(I played little league with him & went to cross town rival HS) - Pitched at Stanford and 1 abysmal year with KC. 1st batter he faced was Jorge Posada at Yankee Stadium. 3 run jack.

SanctionII · June 29, 2005 7:32AM

Hoops -

Joe Barry Carroll (Purdue Univ. and various NBA teams in the 1980's and an NBA All-Star, though many questioned his heart and commitment to the game) played center on my high school's sophmore team when I was playing center on the varsity team in 1973-74. He went on to Big-Ten fame, College All American fame, #1 NBA Draft pick in 1980 (I think, if not then in the top 3 picks), NBA All Star and a long pro career. I on the other hand played small college hoops (not very well at that) and faded into obscurity.

Also, from a cross town rival school - Michael, "Sugar Ray" Richardson played during the same time I played. He was the NBA #3 draft pick in 1978 by the New York Knicks. Also an All Star and I think an All Pro whose NBA career was cut short due to his problem with "blow". A mid 1980's lifetime suspension from the NBA ruined what probably would have been a Hall Of Fame career. However, he went to play hoops in Europe, got married, had kids, grew up and kept playing pro hoops in Europe until the ripe old age of 44 years.

Take that and wind it back, SanctionII.

Mac53 · June 29, 2005 1:01PM

Jerry Schiting. All American at Purdue, journeyman guard in the NBA for a long while, ended up with the Celtics. In case anyone thinks that pros are just like everyone else, except more athletic, I have this experience. I'd play at the park against Jerry, I was in 10th grade and he was in 6th. He'd dribble up the court and pass the ball off to the right. Except it wasn't really a pass, it was a shot he drained from 25 feet. Next time down, he'd pull up and shoot. Except it wasn't a shot, it was a laser pass under the hoop. He'd dribble to the left, but not really, he was dribbling to the right. Everybody was playing basketball, but he was playing "a game with which we were not familiar."

SDSportsFan · June 30, 2005 9:00AM

In addition to Terry Forster and Jim Tatum who I mentioned in my previous post, Hayden Penn of the Orioles also went to my high school (Santana High) in Santee CA.

Lon Hinkle (pro golfer) also went there, and I just remembered that Lon Sheriff of the Miami Dolphins also went to Santana.

Steve

CdnOsfan · June 30, 2005 2:59PM

Went to elementary and high school with Wayne and Keith Primeau (NHL).

sagard · July 1, 2005 1:06AM

Mike Ramsey and Reed Larson played hockey at my high school. Played college baseball for a season with Kerry Ligtenburg.

SanctionII · July 1, 2005 9:27AM

Speaking of pro hoops and the level of play, I will relate a story.

I played small collecge hoops in the 1970's. Some of my teamates came from So. Cal. and thus during summer breaks I and other non California teamates would visit. A few times we went to Laguna Beach to play hoops on the outdoor court next to the beach. The place was always packed with So. Cal talent, ranging from local twentysomethings, high school players, small college players, Division 1 players and NBA players. I remember one NBA player, a 6'11" white guy. Watching him play on TV, he looked so awkward, out of place and downright uncoordinated. People would always criticize him and being a stiff and not having the talent to warrant playing in the NBA.

We played against him in Laguna. The guy was a stud; quick, fast, strong, polished and dominant. No one could hold a candle to him. He torched everybody, regardless of the color of your skin and regardless of whether you played 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5. The funny thing is he was in cruise mode and everyone else was playing as hard as they could. He was simply having a little relaxation and did not give 100% effort.

Regardless of how an NBA player looks on TV or live at an arena, there is no doubt about his talent or ability. If he looks like a stiff, it is merely due to the fact that he is playing against the cream of the cream of the crop (i.e. Lebron James, etc.). It is all relative and 99.99999999% of hoopsters in the country would never be able to do what any NBA player can do.

Griffins · July 1, 2005 12:18PM

Tim Leary graduated the year I got to Santa Monica High, played a few years in the bigs.
Terry Bevington was my little league coach, went on to get fired as manager of the Chicago White Sox.
Not pro sports, but a bunch of guys I grew up with were the subject of a documentary (Dogtown and the Zboys) and a movie (Lords of Dogtown).

SanctionII · July 3, 2005 5:46AM

SDSportsFAN, your post mentioned that Lon Hinkle, the golfer, went to your highschool in Santee, Cal. His younger brother is Barney Hinkle and he played small college hoops. When I was a senior, he was a freshman on my college hoops team. He had a great small college career.

SDSportsFan · July 3, 2005 6:28AM

<< SDSportsFAN, your post mentioned that Lon Hinkle, the golfer, went to your highschool in Santee, Cal. His younger brother is Barney Hinkle and he played small college hoops. When I was a senior, he was a freshman on my college hoops team. He had a great small college career. >>

Thanks SanctionII

I remember Barney Hinkle well...

His senior year (1976-77) at Santana was my freshman year. He, Mark Price and Todd Harper led the team to the San Diego County Championship game against Helix High School (Bill Walton's high school). We won 54-52

I always hoped Barney and Todd would have gotten to the pros, but neither did

I know Todd went to Weber State, but don't remember where Barney went.

Steve

Wow, I just remembered another one...

Joe Price (pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds) also went to Santana

SanctionII · July 5, 2005 8:27AM

SDSportsFan,

Barney Hinkle went to play college basketball at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado (Southwestern Colorado, about 70 miles from the 4 Corners National Monument, at the southern end of the San Juan Mountains, and no too far as the crow flies from Telluride). The town and school are at about 6,300 feet in altitude in some of the best of the Rockies.

The school in the 70's & 80's played at the NAIA level of competition. At some point in time the school and the league it played in (The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference when I played) changed from the NAIA to the NCAA. The team now plays at the Division II level. Barney I think was (and maybe still is) the leading scorer at the school and further has been inducted in the school's athletic hall of fame. I think he also made All-Conference during at least one of his four years at the school. He clearly could have played at a higher level of competition. He is a great guy. He works for one of the big beer companies (Bud, I think).

Skinpinch · July 5, 2005 10:07AM

Was Rick Reuschel's sister cute? Was she nicknamed mini-whale?

DirtyDog48 · July 5, 2005 10:10AM

<< Was Rick Reuschel's sister cute? Was she nicknamed mini-whale? >>

I hear she looked exactly like Paul Reuschel......but without the moustache.

SDSportsFan · July 5, 2005 10:24AM

<< SDSportsFan,

Barney Hinkle went to play college basketball at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado (Southwestern Colorado, about 70 miles from the 4 Corners National Monument, at the southern end of the San Juan Mountains, and no too far as the crow flies from Telluride). The town and school are at about 6,300 feet in altitude in some of the best of the Rockies.

The school in the 70's & 80's played at the NAIA level of competition. At some point in time the school and the league it played in (The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference when I played) changed from the NAIA to the NCAA. The team now plays at the Division II level. Barney I think was (and maybe still is) the leading scorer at the school and further has been inducted in the school's athletic hall of fame. I think he also made All-Conference during at least one of his four years at the school. He clearly could have played at a higher level of competition. He is a great guy. He works for one of the big beer companies (Bud, I think). >>

Thanks SanctionII

I remember that now about Barney going to Fort Lewis College! I know exactly where Durango is. I was stationed in Colorado Springs from 1995 to 1998 in the Air Force and went skiing at Purgatory once; absolutely GORGEOUS area

Steve

SanctionII · July 5, 2005 11:02AM

SDSportsFan,

Cool that you know the Durango area and that you skied Purgatory. The mountains of Southwest Colorado are some of the most beautiful in the country IMHO.

If you ever watch old movies on TV, check out "Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid" (Paul Newman and Robert Redford) which I think was made in the early 70's and "Avalanche" (Rock Hudson and Mia Farrow) which was made in the winter of 77-78. Both movies were filmed (partially or completely) in the Durango Purgatory area. In the Butch Cassidy film, when Newman and Redford are talking on a ledge before they jump off a cliff, the shot was filmed on the Animas River north of Durango at a favorite swimming, sunbathing spot (however, the followup shot of two men falling over 100 feet into a deep river was filmed elsewhere). The "Avalanche" movie was one of many "disaster" type films made in the 70's (i.e. The Posieden Adventure, Airport, Inferno, Earthquake, etc.). Rock Hudson and Mia Farrow were the leading man and lady in the film. The storyline is a bunch of hip, well heeled, beautiful people are at a new winter ski resort that was built in the wrong place. The first part of the film introduces you to the characters and the soap operas that are their lives and then Wham, the resort gets destroyed by a killer avalanche. It is so hokey it is funny. Every time I see the film I laugh because some of my college buddies and their girlfriends were hired as extras. They survived the final editing of the film and are in the movie, particularly in the scene shot in the resort's Disco. Lots of them are dancing on the disco floor next to Rock & Mia. What appeared hip and cool in 1978 now looks so stupid.

Funny that we both know Barney Hinkle. It has been fun trading posts with you. Do you venture over to the US Coin Forum. I post some over there and not so much on Sports Talk. BTW, thanks for your military service.

Cubfan · July 5, 2005 10:50PM

If I remember correctly, the Reuschel sister had a touch of a moustache

. Nice girl though.

Gator5220 · July 6, 2005 2:46AM

Zeke Mowatt - TE - Hardee High School, NY Giants.

Caught a TD pass in the Super Bowl.

Skinpinch · July 6, 2005 3:43AM

Isn't Zeke Mowatt known for waving his pecker openly and purposefully in front of a female reporter in the locker room?

Gator5220 · July 6, 2005 5:01AM

No, you're thinking of a New England Patriot, but the name escapes me at the moment.

IrishMike · July 6, 2005 10:57PM

My daughters attended the same High School as world reknown classy human bean Shawn Kemp. He was in constant trouble in High School and like many athletes his behavior was tolerated. I remember chatting with him briefly and am not in the least surprised about all his illegimate children by many women and his legal problems. Unfortunately he is typical of many NBA players.

Several years ago I was staying in a downtown Chicago Hotel. I didn't realize the Cleveland Cavs were staying their as they were in town to play the Bulls. I have the same name as one of their former players. I received calls from 4 different women wanting to party. I know it opened my eyes. This had to be in the early 80's. Not much has changed.

I also knew David Letterman in college as my roomie pledged his frat and the brunette from Three's Company, Janice was in a couple of my college classes.

DirtyDog48 · July 6, 2005 11:08PM

<< Zeke Mowatt - TE - Hardee High School, NY Giants.
Caught a TD pass in the Super Bowl. >>

Zeke also spent some time with the Patriots and was one of the players who flashed a female reporter for the Boston Herald.......in fact, I think he's best remembered for waving the salami rather than for the Super Bowl TD.

Gator5220 · July 7, 2005 12:06AM

<< 

<< Zeke Mowatt - TE - Hardee High School, NY Giants.
Caught a TD pass in the Super Bowl. >>

Zeke also spent some time with the Patriots and was one of the players who flashed a female reporter for the Boston Herald.......in fact, I think he's best remembered for waving the salami rather than for the Super Bowl TD. >>

Maybe I just have selective memory.

gregormendel · July 8, 2005 10:48AM

Football- DJ Dozier
Basketball-JR Reid

RegistryNut · July 8, 2005 4:07PM

Mike Pagel. Quarterback for the NFL Colts. His dad,Tom,was my varsity baseball coach. Nice people.
Washington High School-Phx. Az.

RegistryNut

Onlypsahockey · July 9, 2005 3:09AM

Everett High School

Dan Ross & Omar Easy

Bob

bags05 · July 12, 2005 12:47AM

Roger Clemens graduated the year that I was a freshman at Spring Woods High School in Houston. We had a big Roger Clemens day in 1987 and renamed the baseball field after him. Damn, that was a long time ago.

Did Anyone From Your School Ever Make The Pros?

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