Skill on diamond, court put McFarland in HofF

Although it’s been 25 years since Edward “Bobo” McFarland sank 52 straight free throws for the Bowdoin College basketball team to set school and then-New England small college records, when asked, he still thinks first of the 53rd foul shot. The one he missed.

“It was in a game against Bates near the end of the season and Bates had a good team. I missed it late in the second half and we lost by one point. I do remember that part,” McFarland said.

That kind of intensity and perfectionism is what enabled McFarland to excel in several sports at Scarborough High and Bowdoin. Those qualities also played a large role in his being drafted by the NBA and major league baseball.

Sunday, McFarland will achieve historical perfection when he is inducted along with six other sports greats to the Maine Sports Hall of Fame. Induction ceremonies are at the Spare Time Recreation Center in Lewiston at 5 p.m.

“I feel very honored and proud,” said McFarland, whose nickname, according to his father, Edward “Packy” McFarland, derives from his resemblance at birth to former major league pitcher Bobo Newsom.

The nickname was a portent. Baseball would become McFarland’s sport of choice. He has already been inducted into the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame.

At Scarborough High he was a three-time Triple C All-Star. He led the Manchester Post to three straight American Legion state titles, leading to his being offered a contract by the Cardinals right out of high school.

At Bowdoin, however, McFarland’s baseball talent was overshadowed by his basketball ability. He set five New England small college records and led the state in scoring his final two years.

He was All-Maine for three years, All-New England, and All-East in 1968 and ’69, as well as New England College Player of the Year in ’69 after averaging 25.1 points per game.

Still, he was a top baseball infielder for the Polar Bears, earning All-State honors for three years and All-New England and All-East honors his final two seasons.

When he was drafted following his senior year on June 3 by the Kansas City Royals, and on June 6 by the NBA New York Knicks, McFarland made a decision.

“I made a commitment to baseball. I think I knew that’s where my future lay,” he said.

After two seasons in the Royals minor league system (he hit .287 and .240), sandwiched around a National Guard stint, McFarland reached a crossroads.

“I talked to my manager, Steve Boros. I was 24 or 25. He said I might be able to hang around for a couple more years in the minors or I might make the bigs if someone got hurt. I decided to get on with my life,” said McFarland, who chose to follow in his father’s footsteps as a high school coach.

McFarland went on to become a teacher and basketball coach at Morse High in Bath from 1971-78. He spent a season as an assistant coach at Bates. Finally, he decided to join the business world.

Does he have any regrets about not trying the NBA?

“Nah, I think I’d probably make the same decision all over again,” he said.