BY PATRICK “PACKY” MADER
Like the previously posted article (on MNAthletes.com website) on Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) athletes who played in the NFL, this story will feature only athletes from the 13 Minnesota liberal arts colleges – plus St. Thomas – who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) since 1960. While few in number, there are intriguing stories.
The University of St. Thomas has had five graduates who played in MLB, only one since 1960. But Chuck Hiller, a left-handed hitting second baseman, is in baseball history records. The Illinois native hit the first National League grand slam in the World Series in the 7th inning of game 4 in 1962 off New York Yankees’ pitcher Marshall Bridges to lead the San Francisco Giants to a 7-3 victory. In a way, it was redemption for failing to get a runner across the plate in an identical situation the previous inning. Chuck had seven hits in 26 at bats for the Giants in the match-up, with three doubles to go along with his home run. In a MLB career spanning eight years – the longest of any MIAC player since 1960 – Chuck had 516 hits in 2,121 at bats. Following his playing career, Chuck was a MLB coach, minor league manager, coach, and instructor, and broadcast analyst.
1963 Topps
While before the stated era, Angelo Giuliani of St. Paul also played several seasons as a MLB catcher including being the receiver in Joe DiMaggio’s debut game (Joltin’ Joe got three hits). The name may be familiar to Minnesota Twins’ baseball fans because he coordinated youth baseball camps and clinics for the team for decades. Angelo is also known because he signed Kent Hrbek to his first contract with the Twins.
More recently, St. Thomas “Tommie” right-handed batting Tony Fisher was a Texas Rangers’ 6th round draft pick in 1996, the highest amateur draft choice (regular phase) discovered since instituted in 1965.
Left-handed pitcher Mike Davison of Augsburg went 3-5 as a pitcher for the San Francisco Giants. The Springfield High School (Minnesota) athlete pitched all but one of his 32 MLB games for the Giants in 1970.
“One-Year Winners”
All-MIAC in baseball and basketball while at St. Mary’s University, Dave Thies pitched 25 innings for Kansas City in 1963. The De LaSalle (Minneapolis) High School alum also had two hits in six at bats – one a double – for the Athletics. Interestingly, 1968 Olympic and NHL hockey player Bob Paradise of St. Paul was offered a contract to pitch for the Boston Red Sox organization before the St. Mary’s graduate opted to pursue hockey and teaching.
No athlete from Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota, has played in the Major Leagues since 1960, but one graduate coached and managed for the Chicago Cubs in the 1960s. Vedie Himsl had 51 wins in four years for the St. Paul Saints before joining the coaching ranks and then the Scouting Director for the Cubs.
Gustavus Adolphus College and St. Olaf College have both had numerous players play in independent baseball leagues, but none have made a MLB roster. Pitcher Ben Hughes of St. Louis Park, the MIAC Pitcher of the Year in 2011, was a 10th round choice of the Colorado Rockies that year, but had a short-lived professional career.
Hamline University has had two MLB players, but none since 1960. One player, though, is part of familiar baseball trivia. Only 13 athletes have played at the top level in both baseball and basketball: MLB and the NBA. Howie Schultz, a 6-foot, 6-inch right-handed hitting and throwing first baseman who played primarily for the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1943-48, is one of the select athletes. The St. Paul Central High School alum had a .241 career batting average in 470 games. Hitting 32 doubles and 11 home runs in 1944, his best season, Howie started his NBA career after his baseball playing days. A charter member of Hamline’s Athletic Hall of Fame, Howie played eight years professionally with four seasons in the NBA including two years with the Minneapolis Lakers (1951-53). The power forward played in every game for the Lakers as the team won the 1952 NBA championship.
Concordia College of Moorhead, Minnesota, has had a pair of MLB players, both demonstrating perseverance and passion for the sport as they toiled for years in the minor leagues. Three-sport athlete (football, basketball, and baseball) Cobber graduate Arlo Brunsberg from Fertile, Minnesota (70 miles northeast of Moorhead), had one hit in three at bats for the Detroit Tigers in 1966. The left-handed batting catcher played professionally from 1962-70, then coached for three seasons at North Dakota State University before accepting a teaching and coaching position at Blaine, a suburban high school north of Minneapolis. Arlo had the misfortune of playing in an organization with sturdy and steady catcher Bill Freehan ahead of him. When asked at a 2024 banquet whether there had been a player he thought destined for greatness while playing in the minor leagues, Arlo replied, “(Hall of Fame) Pitcher Jim Palmer. He no-hit us when he was pitching for Aberdeen as an 18-year-old and I was playing for Duluth-Superior.
“One-Year Winners”
Chris Coste has an inspirational story: He was a 33-year-old rookie for the Philadelphia Phillies and was a member of the 2008 World Series championship team! Chris played in independent league ball for years until signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates and endured disappointments as he was not called up by the MLB club from any affiliate he played for despite good numbers in the minor leagues. Finally, Chris got an opportunity with the Phillies in 2006 and proved to be a valuable catcher (he had been a pitcher and third baseman for Concordia) for the team. He ended his MLB career with a very respectable .272 batting average and 23 home runs in 238 games. The author of two books, Chris later coached at Concordia and still manages the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks in the American Association.
Bethel, St. Scholastica, Carleton, and Macalester (colleges) have not had any athletes in MLB. Again, several players have competed in independent leagues or even minor league baseball but, unfortunately, did not advance far in the demanding sport.
The hard-earned professional sporting success of MIAC athletes like Chris Coste, Chuck Hiller, and Howie Schultz is rare, but the professional and personal success of most is remarkable.
• • • • • •
• Originally Published in Apr. 2024 on “MNAthletes.com” •
THIS ARTICLE FROM “MNAthletes.com” WEBSITE IS REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR. IT HAS BEEN RETYPED, BUT NO CONTENT HAS BEEN CHANGED, EXCEPT GRAPHICS.
Patrick “Packy” Mader has written several books, including two large volumes on Minnesotans who were in the Olympic Games or competed in world competitions. To view hundreds of articles on Minnesota athletes, be sure to visit Packy’s website: MNAthletes.com. You can click on the link below:
To keep up-to-date on additions to BaseballCardFun.com, subscribe below*
* Your email address will never be shared and is only used to announce new articles
BaseballCardFun.com 