His early life was full of twists and turns. He had surgery on both knees due to HS football injuries, and to play basketball his knees were wrapped in tape until they chafed. He made Ohio's freshman basketball team but insurance requirements forced him off. He started baseball as a switch-hitter, but Wren talked him out of batting lefty. The Orioles showed interest, but he would've been behind Brooks Robinson for about five years. The Phils latched onto him after seeing him vs BG (my cousin, Doug Bair, was their ace pitcher). He was about to undergo another knee surgery when the surgeon decided he didn't need it. That may have saved his career. Instead, the Phils rehabbed him.

http://www.daytoncitypaper.com/on-your-marc-214 /

Here is why I remember so clearly Ohio hosting that first-round NCAA tournament in the 60s. The start time for the first game was 1 p.m. That's when I had an exam scheduled. I went to the prof - the late Russ Baird - and asked if I could begin the exam 20 or 30 minutes early so as to minimize missing innings. He said no. I must then have set some kind of record for taking his exam because I missed only an inning or two of the game.

Now fast forward 30 or so years. I was in Athens to guest lecture. In between classes I settled into a faculty lounge to sip coffee. In walked Russ. I introduced myself. Then I recounted the above story. Added I, "If a student today came to you with the same request, what would you say?"

Answered Russ, "I'd let him start the exam early. I've mellowed."

Kentucky ended up winning the bracket. They lost to NC State 5-4 but won three straight, beating Indiana 14-9 and then NC State 8-6 and 10-5.

Coach Wren also recruited quite a few Junior College players back in that day. Made a living out of Miami Dade Junior College.

OCF, your memory is only half bad. The Cats did play in old Jets park, but they did not play any Big10 teams. They beat ND once and Southern Illinois twice to make it out of the District IV tournament. Only Big10 team their was Minnesota, but OHIO did not play them.

Now that you refresh my memory, that sounds right. I think why I was recalling a B10 team is that I probably watched Minnesota play someone else -- maybe SIU. My mother was a Minnesota grad so I'm always kind of partial to them, except when they are playing OHIO.