Monmouth College Athletics

Gary Halls was a pitching giant, literally. After a big finish to his collegiate career, the righthander from Glenview was signed to a professional contract and went a combined 7-5 in two seasons with affiliates of the San Francisco Giants and the Milwaukee Brewers.

    
Halls’ big finish lifted Monmouth to its best finish in school history, at least from a national tournament perspective. He was 8-2 in 1976, and his honors included team MVP, first team All-Midwest Conference, All-District and first team All-State. Halls won the opening game against Nebraska Wesleyan in the first round of the NCAA tournament, then saved the deciding third game as the Fighting Scots advanced to the national quarterfinals, a level they had not reached before or since.

    
Halls, who didn’t lose a conference game in his two seasons at Monmouth, was 15-3 for his career with a 2.38 ERA. His 7-1 record as a junior helped Monmouth win the 1975 MWC title.