Ask most Yankee fans how many many Hall of Fame center fielders the team has produced, and they will immediately say two, mentioning the names Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle.
What those fans aren’t aware of is that the Yankees had a third Hall of Fame center fielder.
His name? Earle Combs.
Combs’ road to Cooperstown began at Eastern Kentucky State Normal School, now known as Eastern Kentucky University. It prepared students for careers as teachers. He played one year there, hitting a cool .522.
Upon graduation he took a job teaching, but played ball on the side.