Did you know?.....................................................
Here are some little known facts about our High School and the Baseball program through the years. Thank you to former SMHS Head Baseball Coach Ron Layton for providing some of the history of these topics!
Did you Know?
that SMHS was host to the TV Series "Greatest Sports Legends" (GSL) in the late 1970's and early 1980's? Hall of Fame Baseball players Willie Stargell and Brooks Robinson took batting practice on our baseball diamond.
Above left; Willie Stargell talking with former Knights 3B Johnny Broussard during Greatest Sports Legends taping at SMHS.
Above right; Willie Stargell taking Batting Practice and launching some baseballs into the SMHS Agricultural Farm.
There were also a number of other athletes whose Greatest Sports Legends shows were filmed at SMHS. 1976 Olympic Decathlon Gold Medalist Bruce Jenner (aka the Kardashians stepdad), 1960 Olympic Triple-Gold Medalist Wilma Rudolph; Baseball Hall-of-Famers Jim Palmer and Bob Gibson; NFL Hall-of-Fame Quarterback Johnny Unitas; NBA Basketball Hall-of-Famers Walt Frazier and Rick Barry were a few others. Former Padre and Dodger Steve Garvey, and Sports Journalist George Plimpton, whose books often referenced his sports adventures ("Out of My League"-Baseball, 1961, "Paper Lion"-Football, 1966, and "The Bogey Man"-Golf, 1968) also filmed their GSL shows at SMHS.
The Greatest Sports Legends segment for Hall of Fame NBA Basketball player Wilt Chamberlain was also filmed at SMHS. The host for the Chamberlain piece was Baseball Hall of Fame Pitcher Tom Seaver. Here is a "YouTube" link to the Wilt Chamberlain piece. You can notice the old gymnasium, asphalt basketball courts, and Freshmen baseball field in the background. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8J8cWFnc1w
Below (Left to Right Front) Former Knights Head Coach Ron Layton, All-Time MLB Hits Record Holder Pete "Charlie Hustle" Rose, and Hall-of-Fame Baseball Player Tom Seaver, with Knights Baseball team behind them.
Above left; Hall-of-Fame Pitcher Jim Palmer, Coach Ron Layton, and Steve Garvey during Greatest Sports Legends taping on our ball field at SMHS.
Above right; Hall-of-Famer Willie Stargell and GSL Host Jayne Kennedy (also a former host on CBS' NFL Today Pre-Game show and Miss USA Semi-Finalist) take a break in our stands during Greatest Sports Legends taping at SMHS.
Did you Know?
that SMHS was host to the TV Series "Bob Uecker's Wacky World of Sports" in the early 1980's? In the following "YouTube" segment, you can clearly see the SMHS Marching Band in the background while filming. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQE7Gt67Jb0
Did you Know?
that SMHS was also host to the TV Series "Challenge of the Stars" in the 1980's? Actor Dick Van Patten was host of the show, and one of the shows featured Michael Jordan playing a game of HORSE against Martin and Charlie Sheen in our old Gymnasium.
