Hardwood to Hardball

Dave DeBusschere, the former New York Knick star and Basketball Hall of Fame member who died May 14 at 62, was an intriguing sports figure. He led his high school (Detroit’s Austin Catholic) to state championships in baseball and basketball (1958), was a three-time basketball All-American at the University of Detroit (1960-62), became the youngest head coach in the NBA at 24 while also playing for the Detroit Pistons (1964), served as ABA commissioner at the time of its merger with the NBA (1976) and was the Knicks’ representative at the first NBA draft lottery (1985) when the luck of the draw resulted in them getting the No. 1 pick, used to select Patrick Ewing. Here’s another part of DeBusschere’s legacy -- being among 11 athletes who played major league baseball and in the NBA:

DANNY AINGE

6-5, 185, Brigham Young

NBA : GUARD, 1981-1994, Boston, Sacramento, Portland

CAREER: A starter on two NBA championship teams (Boston, 1984 and 1986). Scoring average: 11.8.

MAJOR LEAGUES: INFIELDER, 1979-81, Toronto

CAREER: Had virtually the same HR-to-AB ratio (1 to 332) as Mario Mendoza, for whom baseball’s measure of batting futility, the “Mendoza Line, “ was named. Batting average: .220

CLAIM TO FAME : “Oh Danny Boy”, One of the Celtics’ “Brash Brothers,” Ainge was known for his aggressive play, constant whining to referees and on-court fights. As a baseball player, he was more of a Punch-and-Judy hitter.

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FRANKIE BAUMHOLTZ

5-10 1/2, 170, Ohio U.

NBA: GUARD, 1946-47 Cleveland

CAREER: Was the NBA’s 10th-leading scorer in the league’s first season of existence. Scoring average: 14.0

MAJOR LEAGUES: OUTFIELDER, 1947-57, Cincinnati, Chicago (NL), Philadelphia (NL)

CAREER: Was fifth in 1947 rookie-of-the-year voting to Jackie Robinson. In 1955, he set a then-NL record by playing in 76 games without an extra-base hit. Batting average: .290

CLAIM TO FAME : “One-Man Outfield”, Baumholtz played center field for the Cubs between Hank Sauer and Ralph Kiner. Or as Kiner once said, “He heard the phrase ‘You got it’ more than any player in history.”

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GENE CONLEY

6-8, 255, Washington State

NBA: CENTER, 1952-53, 1958-64, Boston, New York

CAREER: Hard-nosed player who was Bill Russell’s backup on three NBA championship Celtic teams (1959-61). Scoring average: 5.9. Rebound average: 6.4

MAJOR LEAGUES: PITCHER, Boston (NL), Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Boston (AL)

CAREER: In the 1955 All-Star game, he struck out Al Kaline, Mickey Vernon and Al Rosen -- each a batting champion or runner-up -- in the 12th inning of NL win. Win-loss record: 91-96. ERA: 3.82.

CLAIM TO FAME : “Let’s Fly Away”, In 1962, Conley and infielder Pumpsie Green went AWOL, getting off the Red Sox bus as it was stuck in traffic during a heat wave in New York. Conley tried unsuccessfully to catch a flight to Israel. Explained Conley: “I want to be able to say that I’m the tallest guy ever to ride a camel.”

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CHUCK CONNORS

6-7, 205, Seton Hall

NBA: FORWARD: 1946-48, Boston

CAREER: Still a decade away from his TV role as “The Rifleman,” Connors was a scattershot for the Celtics, 24.7% from the field, 46.4% from the line. Scoring average: 4.5

MAJOR LEAGUES: FIRST BASEMAN, 1949, 51, Brooklyn, Chicago (NL)

CAREER: Played in only 67 games, hitting two homers. Or as Dodger teammate Carl Erskine said: “As a baseball player, he was a great actor.” Batting average: .238

CLAIM TO FAME : “Hollywood Hotshot”, The Cubs sent Connors to the Los Angeles Angels of the Pacific Coast League after the 1951 season, where he was discovered by Hollywood, garnering fame as the star of “The Rifleman” and “Branded.”

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DAVE DeBUSSCHERE: 6-6, 225, Detroit

NBA : FORWARD, 1962-1974, Detroit, New York

CAREER: Played on two NBA championship teams (New York, 1970 and 1973). Voted one of the NBA’s 50 greatest players in 1996. Scoring average: 16.1 Rebound average: 11

MAJOR LEAGUES: PITCHER, 1962-63, Chicago (AL)

CAREER: On April 27, 1963, DeBusschere and another off-season NBA player, Gene Conley, pitched in the same game. Win-loss record: 3-4. ERA: 2.90

CLAIM TO FAME: “Pride of the Knicks”, The consummate professional, DeBusschere’s heady and skilled play and commitment to the team concept were trademarks of the Knick championship teams that made an impression on a reserve named Phil Jackson.

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DICK GROAT: 6-1, 185, Duke

NBA :GUARD, 1952-53, Ft. Wayne

CAREER: Inducted into the military for two years after his lone NBA season. When his number was retired at Duke, he said, “I still consider myself a retired basketball player, not a baseball player.” NBA scoring average: 11.9

MAJOR LEAGUES: SHORTSTOP, 1952-67, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Philadelphia, San Francisco

CAREER: Phillie Manager Gene Mauch said of the 1960 NL MVP: “He holds the Pirates together.” Groat helped Pittsburgh to a world championship that season, and St. Louis in 1964. Batting average: .286

CLAIM TO FAME: “Better Than His Team”, Groat is the last player to have a higher batting average than his team’s winning percentage. In 1952, his .284 average was 11 points higher than Pittsburgh’s winning percentage (42-112, .273).

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STEVE HAMILTON: 6-7, 190 Morehead State

NBA : FORWARD, 1958-60, Minneapolis

CAREER: Member of the last Laker team based in Minneapolis. Scoring average: 4.5 Rebound average: 4.5 MAJOR LEAGUES: PITCHER, 1961-72, Cleveland, Washington, New York (AL), Chicago (AL), San Francisco, Chicago (NL), Nickname: Hambone

CAREER: Missed by one season of playing with Elgin Baylor and Jerry West for the Lakers in Los Angeles, but was a teammate of another dynamic duo, Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris, in his first four years with the Yankees. Win-loss record: 40-31 ERA: 3.09.

CLAIM TO FAME: “He’s in the Bloop”, Hamilton developed a blooper pitch late in his career, using a hesitation delivery much like Rip Sewell did with his famed “Eephus” ball. Hamilton named his pitch the “Folly Floater.”

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MARK HENDRICKSON: 6-9, 230, Washington State

NBA :FORWARD, 1996-2000, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Sacramento, Cleveland

CAREER: Drafted in the second round by Philadelphia, he also played parts of two seasons in the CBA. Scoring average: 3.3, Rebound average: 2.8

MAJOR LEAGUES: PITCHER, 2002-03, Toronto

CAREER: Is one inch shorter than Randy Johnson and left-handed, but all comparisons end there. He has pitched 92 innings, striking out 45. Win-loss record: 7-4 ERA: 4.21

CLAIM TO FAME: “Kids, Stay in School”, Hendrickson is one of only two Washington State players to lead the Cougars in rebounding all four seasons.

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COTTON NASH: 6-5, 225, Kentucky

NBA: FORWARD, 1964-65; L.A. Lakers, San Francisco, Kentucky (ABA)

CAREER: Left Kentucky as its career scoring leader and was a second-round draft pick of the Lakers, but was released after 25 games. Scoring average: 3.0

MAJOR LEAGUES: FIRST BASEMAN, 1967-1970; Chicago (AL), Minnesota

CAREER: Played only 18 games, but as a defensive replacement he saved Joel Horlen’s no-hitter for the White Sox against the Tigers on Sept. 10, 1967. His long stretch resulted in a putout that prevented Jerry Lumpe from beating out a grounder for a hit. Batting average: .188

CLAIM TO FAME: “Cotton Crazy”, Nash’s popularity at Kentucky transcended even that of legendary Coach Adolph Rupp. The school’s sports information director at the time said: “The Coliseum (Kentucky’s home court from 1950 to 1976) was the house that that Rupp built, but it was the house that Cotton filled.”

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RON REED: 6-5, 210, Notre Dame

NBA: FORWARD, 1965-67; Detroit

CAREER: Was the sixth man for the Dave DeBusschere-coached Pistons before signing a two-year contract with the Braves that required him to quit basketball. Scoring average: 8.0

MAJOR LEAGUES: PITCHER, 1966-84; Atlanta, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Chicago (AL)

CAREER: Teamed with Tug McGraw for eight seasons to give the Phillies a strong bullpen duo. After his final major league season at age 42, he was 15th on the all-time list for games pitched (751). Win-loss record: 146-140. ERA: 3.46

CLAIM TO FAME: “Routine Victory”, Reed was the Braves’ winning pitcher on April 8, 1974, the day Hank Aaron hit his record-breaking 715th home run.

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DICK RICKETTS: 6-7, 220, Duquesne

NBA: FORWARD, 1955-58; St. Louis, Rochester, Cincinnati

CAREER: Still the leading career scorer and rebounder for Duquesne, which also produced former Laker standout guard Norm Nixon. Scoring average: 9.3

MAJOR LEAGUES: PITCHER, 1959; St. Louis

CAREER: Dick’s younger brother Dave reached the major leagues four years after he did, and hung on as a backup catcher for seven seasons. Win-loss record: 1-6 ERA: 5.82

CLAIM TO FAME: “Raising Duquesne”

In 1955, Ricketts teamed with Sihugo Green -- the NBA ‘s No. 1 overall draft selection over Bill Russell a year later -- to lead Duquesne to a championship in the NIT, which at the time was considered a more prestigious event than the NCAA tournament.

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Among the sources used for research: BaseballLibrary.com, Baseball-Reference.com, The Official NBA Encyclopedia

Photos: Associated Press