RIP Zander Hollander - Complete Sports Handbooks...

[billyjack]

I noticed the recent passing of Zander Hollander, the author of probably hundreds of "Complete Handbook of ..." --> Baseball, Pro Football, College Basketball, etc...

So, as a kid in the 70's, every year in the Spring my brother and I would get the new Who's Who In Baseball and the new Complete Handbook of Baseball. Other times of the year we'd get the College Basketball book and some of the others. Before cable tv and the internet, sports fans would be starved for box scores, stats and rosters. Anyway, I found our old college basketball one from 1980. It was from the kickoff year of the Big East. There are write-ups for literally hundreds of teams, top divisions, lower divisions, like small schools like Rhode Island College.

Anyway when I get the chance I'll try to fill in some cool stuff from the books.

Here is one of the first ones I remember:


Under the "MIDLANDS", for the 1980 Missouri Valley, Hollander predicted that Creighton would finish 4th, behind Indiana State, New Mexico State and Wichita State...
4th of 9 MVC teams ---> "CREIGHTON: The Bluejays tied for third and posted a 14-13 record last season. They return Kevin McKenna, who had 13.2 points and 4.5 rebounds, and Jim Honz, who average 9.3 points and six rebounds."

Under the "MIDWEST", for Independents, ZH predicted Notre Dame at the top, followed by some of our compatriots:
2nd of 9 Midwest Indies ---> "DePAUL: Coach Ray Meyer returns for his 38th year as head coach at DePaul and he should snare his 600th coaching victory (596-333) before the first of the year. And his Blue Demons could grab a lot more before the season concludes. Forward Mark Aguirre bulled his way to a 23.9 scoring average his freshman season. Also back are 6-9 center Jim Mitchem (8.0) and speedy guard Clyde Bradshaw. And Meyer pulled a recruiting coup when he pocketed two of Chicago's finest prospects, 6-8 forward Teddy Grubbs and 6-8 center Terry Cummings."

3rd of 9 Midwest Indies ---> "MARQUETTE: The Warriors suffered a pair of big losses when forward Bernard Toone (18.7) and center Odell Ball (11.1) used up their eligibility, but coach Hank Reynolds has a solid nucleus to build on. Top returnee is 6-5 guard Sam Worthen, a slick passer who found time to average 12.1 points. Sophomore Michael Wilson gained valuable experience as a freshman, while 6-9 Dean Marquardt, 6-6 Robert Byrd and 6-6 Oliver Lee are being counted on to improve on the frontline."

8th of 9 Midwest Indies ---> "XAVIER: First-year coach Bob Staak arrives on campus after serving as an assistant at Penn. Among those players Staak inherits are 6-7 junior forward Gary Massa (11.8, 3.5) and playmaking guard Keith Walker. Walker dealt out 147 assists last winter, a school record. Seven-foot junior center Bob King should improve, while freshman guard Anthony Hicks and 6-7 junior college transfer David Anderson should help."

Under Midwest "Others":
"BUTLER: After a dismal start, Butler closed with an 11-16 record. And if coach Joe Sexson can uncover someone to replace guards Tom Orner and Doug Mitchell, the Bulldogs could improve since they return 7-0 center Mark Miller (13.1, 9.8), 6-9 forward Joe Maloney (11.6, 6.1), 6-4 forward Gary Raker (14.2, 4.9), and 6-5 forward Frank Thomas (4.9, 2.4). Two promising newcomers are 6-5 Lynn Mitchem and guard Dave Bastian."

[GumbyDamnit!]

Not to be confused with Xaviera Hollander who I grew up reading...

[billyjack]

Not to be confused with Xaviera Hollander who I grew up reading...

Heh... nice one...