Mel Stein*

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Mel Stein was another three-sport player at Napa High School. As a B basketball player on the 1942-43 team, he was part of one of the great comebacks in Napa history when the Indians outscored Vallejo 20-0 in the fourth quarter to win 37-34. He was the starting center on the 1943-44 team until a job-related injury ended his season. Stein was a two-year starter at first base for the Indian baseball teams of 1943 and 1944. He hit .350 in 1944, second on a team which John Colledge called one of his best. Stein started his football career as a 105-pound reserve center on the B team. After a year as JV center, he was starting center on the 1943 co-championship team. He was named the outstanding lineman on the 1943 team and earned all NBL honors as center. After a two-year navy stint, Stein returned to play four years of football and three years of baseball at San Jose State. In 1949, he hit .350 for San Jose’s first California Collegiate Athletic Association championship team. He was Co-captain of the 1950 team. After one year as a backup center, Stein was converted to end and had a brilliant three-year career that included All-Conference honors in 1948 and a 1950 Raisin Bowl championship. After graduation, Stein played several years of profession baseball in class A, B, and C minor leagues. He is one of a small number of Napa High graduates to earn a four-year college athletic scholarship in one sport and play professionally in another.

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