Baseball players are not all one dimensional when it comes to sports. For example, 305-game (and two-time Cy Young Award) winner Tom Glavine was drafted in the fourth round of the 1984 National Hockey League draft (by the Los Angeles Kings) — two rounds ahead of future National Hockey League Hall of Famer Brett Hull. (Glavine scored 232 points and had 111 goals as a high school hockey player). Hall of Fame outfielder Dave Winfield was drafted coming out of college by the San Diego Padres (MLB); Atlantic Hawks (NBA); Utah Stars (ABA); and Minnesota Vikings (NFL). Hall of Fame hurlers Bob Gibson and Fergie Jenkins share the distinction of having played for the Harlem Globetrotters. And the list goes on. In this post, BBRT would like to look at MLB players who also played another sport at the highest professional level. Here are BBRT’s favorites in this category.
1. Deion Sanders (MLB/NFL)
With his nine-year MLB career and 14-year NFL career (all between 1989-2005), Sanders tops this list on the basis of some unique accomplishments:
– Only person to play in the Super Bowl (for the victorious San Francisco 49ers, 1995, and the winning Dallas Cowboys, 1996) and the World Series (for the losing Atlanta Braves, 1992);
– Only person to hit a major league home run and score an NFL touchdown in the same week;
– Only person to suit up for an MLB and NFL game on the same day – on October 11, 1992, Sanders played for the Atlanta Falcons in an NFL day game against the Miami Dolphins and then flew to Pittsburgh to suit up for the Atlanta Braves’ League Championship Series game against the Pirates that night. (He did not, however, get into the game).
As a MLB player (1989-1995, 1997, 2001) for the New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants, Sanders played in 641 regular season games, compiling a .263 average with 39 Home runs, 168 RBI and 186 stolen bases. His best year was 1992, when he played in 97 games for the Braves – going .304, with a league-leading 14 triples, along with 8 home runs, 28 RBI, 54 runs scored and 26 stolen bases. He followed that up with a great World Series, hitting .533 (8 for 17), with four runs scored, one RBI and five stolen bases.
During his NFL career, Sanders earned his way into the Football Hall of Fame – intercepting 53 passes, returning nine for touchdowns; returning 155 kickoffs for 3,523 yards and three TDs; returning 212 punts for 2,199 yards and six TDs; catching 60 passes for 784 yards and three TDs; and recovering four fumbles (one for a TD). He was an eight-time Pro-Bowler and the NFL’s 1994 Defensive Player of the Year.
Factoid: Sanders, a Florida State University alum, is credited with bringing the “Tomahawk Chop” to the Braves’ fans.
2. Gene Conley (MLB/NBA)
The 6’ 8” right-handed pitcher was edged out for the top spot on this list, only because Sanders made it into one professional Hall of Fame. Conley excelled at baseball and basketball and holds the distinction of being the only person to play on an NBA Championship squad (Boston Celtics in 1959, 60 & 61) and a World Series Champion (Milwaukee Braves, 1957).
His MLB career spanned 11 seasons: Boston Braves (1952); Milwaukee Braves (1954-58); Philadelphia Phillies (1959-60); Boston Red Sox (1961-63) – also earning him the distinction of being the only person to play for the Boston Braves, Red Sox and Celtics.
A right-handed hurler, Conley pitched in 276 games in his career (214 starts), winning 91 and losing 96 with a career 3.82 ERA. He was a three-time All Star and the winning pitcher in the 1955 All Star Game. His best year was 1954 when he went 14-9 with a 2.96 ERA. He pitched in just one game in the 1957 World Series, giving up 2 runs in 1.2 innings of relief (the starts for Milwaukee went to Warren Spahn, Lew Burdette and Bob Buhl.)
Conley’s NBA career was as strong as his MLB run. At forward and center – playing for the Boston Celtics (1952-61) and New York Knicks (1962-64) – he came off the bench to score 2,069 points, grab 2,212 rebounds and dish out 201 assists. He averaged 16.5 minutes, 5.9 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. In 33 playoff games, he averaged 14.6 minutes, 6.7 points and 5.1 rebounds.
Factoid: In high school, Conley was All-State (Oklahoma) in baseball and basketball, as well as the state high jump champion.
3. Bo Jackson (MLB/NFL)
Bo Jackson (6’1”, 227 lbs.) had an eight-season career as an MLB outfielder: Kansas City Royals (1986-90); Chicago White Sox (1991, 1993); California Angels (1994) and played at running back for the Los Angeles Raiders for four seasons (1987-90). In 1989, he was selected as a MLB All Star (and MVP of the 1989 All Star Game) and as an NFL Pro-Bowler.
His best year in MLB was 1989, when he hit .256, with 32 home runs, 105 RBI and 26 stolen bases for the Kansas City Royals. That same year, he notched 950 yards rushing (5.5 yards per carry) and 4 rushing touchdowns for the Raiders. That season he also caught nine passes for 69 yards.
In his MLB career, Jackson played in 694 games, hitting .250 with 141 home runs, 415 RBI and 82 stolen bases.
In his four seasons in the NFL, Jackson rushed for 2,782 yards (5.4 years per carry) and 16 touchdowns. He also caught 40 passes for 352 yards and two touchdowns.
Factoid: In the NFL, Jackson is most remembered for a 221-yard Monday Night Foot rushing performance (November 30, 1987) in his NFL rookie season.
4. Brian Jordan (MLB/NFL)
Jordan patrolled considerable territory in his 15 seasons as an MLB outfielder (1992-2006) and three seasons as an NFL safety. Jordan’s baseball career included time with the St. Louis Cardinals (1992-98); Atlanta Braves (1999-2001, 2005-06); LA Dodgers (2002-03); and Texas Rangers (2004). He played in 1,456 games, hitting .282 with 184 home runs and 821 RBI. He was an All Star in 1999, when he hit .282, with 23 home runs, 115 RBI and 13 stolen bases.
His brief NFL career, all with the Atlanta Falcons included 5 interceptions and 4 quarterback sacks in 36 games.
Factoid: In June 1992, Jordan received a $1.7 million signing bonus as part of a new contract with the St. Louis Cardinals – contingent on Jordan giving up football.
5. Kevin “Chuck” Connors (MLB/NBA/Hollywood)
Six-foot-five with athletic skills and rugged good looks, Connors played for MLB’s Brooklyn Dodgers and Chicago Cubs and the NBA’s Boston Celtics (and was also drafted by the NFL Chicago Bears) before going on to play before even larger audiences as the star of the hit television series “The Rifleman.” He makes this list on more on the basis of his acting career, which also included appearances in more than 40 movies, including a starring role in the now classic “Old Yeller,” and guest appearances on dozens of television shows.
His MLB career included one at bat with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1949 and 66 games as a first baseman/pinch hitter for the Chicago Cubs in 1951. He chalked up a .239 career average with 2 home runs and 18 RBIs. In 1946-48, Connors played forward for the Boston Celtics, averaging 4.5 points per game in 53 games played.
In 1966, Connors reemerged on the baseball scene as an intermediary between the LA Dodgers and holdout pitchers Don Drysdale and Sandy Koufax. The lefty-righty duo had gone a combined 49-20 for the 1965 World Champion Dodgers and decided to leverage their shared success, refusing to attend spring training and demanding a $1 million, three-year contract (split equally) – which would have made them the highest paid players in the game. Connors is credited with helping end the month-long holdout, with Koufax signing for $125,000 and Drysdale for $110,000.
Factoid: Connors also is credited with shattering the first professional backboard ever, during a November 1946 Celtics’ pregame warm-up.
Here are some others who reached the highest level in baseball and at least one other sport. No judgments here – alphabetical order.
Danny Ainge (NBA/MLB)
Ainge broke into the major leagues at age 20 (in 1979) with the Toronto Blue Jays. He played just three seasons in the majors – 211 games, with a .220 average, 2 home runs and 37 RBI. Primarily a second baseman, Ainge also saw time at third base, shortstop and all three outfield positions. Notably, Ainge’s MLB career overlapped his college basketball career – Brigham University, 1977-81 – where he ran up average of 20.9 points, 4.6 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game and was the 1981 collegiate Basketball Player of the Year.
Ainge’s NBA career began at age 22 and stretched over 14 seasons (1981-95) with the Boston Celtics, Sacramento Kings, Portland Trailblazer and Phoenix Suns. The 6’ 4”, 175-pound guard totaled 11,964 points, 1,133 steals, 4,199 assists, 2,769 rebounds. His per game averages were 26.6 minutes, 11.5 points, 4.9 assists and 2.7 rebounds. Ainge played in 193 NBA playoff games, averaging 26.1 minutes, 9.9 points, 3.4 assists and 2.3 rebounds. He was a member of the Celtics 1984 and 1986 NBA Champion teams and a 1988 NBA All Star.
Factoid: Ainge is the only athlete selected as a first team High School All-American in baseball, basketball and football.
Frank Baumholtz (MLB/BAA)
Frank Baumholtz enjoyed a ten-season MLB career (1947-49, 1951-57) as an outfielder with the Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies). He played in 1,019 games, finishing with a .290 average, 25 home runs, 272 RBI, 450 runs scored and 20 stolen bases. His best season was his 1947 rookie year, when he played in 151 games, led the league with 711 plate appearances and hit .289 with 5 home runs, 45 RBI and 96 runs scored.
Baumholtz played one season of professional basketball (1946-47), as a guard for the Cleveland Rebels of the Basketball Association of America, forerunner of the NBA. He appeared in 45 games, averaging 14.0 points per game.
Factoid: Baumholtz was a first-team All American in basketball at Ohio University (1941) and his No. 54 jersey was the first ever retired by the school – on “Frank Baumholtz Day,” February 4, 1995.
Dave DeBusschere (NBA/MLB)
The best basketball player to ever play major league baseball, DeBusschere played 12 seasons in the NBA (1962-74, Detroit Pistons and New York Knicks), was an eight-time NBA All Star, six-time NBA All-Defensive Player and played on the Knicks’ 1970 and 1973 NBA Championship teams. DeBusschere is a member of the National Basketball Hall of Fame. Over his career (875 games), the 6’6” forward/guard averaged 35.7 minutes, 16.1 points, 2.9 assists and 11 rebounds per game.
DeBusschere’s MLB career was considerably shorter than his stellar basketball tenure. He joined the Chicago White Sox at age 22 in 1962 and pitched in the 1962 and 1963 seasons, logging 36 appearances (10 starts), a 3-4 record and a 2.90 ERA. His brief major league career did include one complete-game shutout.
Factoid: In the 1964-1965 season, DeBusschere, just 24-years-old, was appointed player-coach of the Detroit Pistons. From 1964-67, he coached the Pistons to a 79-143 record before going back to a player-only position. He remains the youngest coach in NBA history
Dick Groat (MLB/NBA)
Groat had a 14-career as an MLB shortstop (1952, 1955-67) with the Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants. He was a five-time All Star and won the 1960 NL Most Valuable Player Award, while helping the Pirates earn the NL Crown (and World Series). That season he and led the NL in batting at .325. Groat was a career .286 hitter, with 2,138 hits, 39 home runs and 707 RBI. He was on two World Series winners: the 1960 Pirates and the 1964 Cardinals.
Groat also played one season (1952-53) for the NBA’s Fort Wayne Pistons, averaging 25.5 minutes, 11.9 points, 2.7 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game.
Factoid: While at Duke University, Groat was a two-time All American in both baseball and basketball. He was the first person selected to both the College Baseball and Basketball Halls of Fame.
Frank Grube (MLB/NFL)
Grube played catcher for the Chicago White Sox and St. Louis Browns (1931-36), getting into 394 games, but hitting only .154 with one home run and 107 RBI. His NFL career consisted of just one year – 11 games at end for the then NFL New Yankees.
Factoid: Grube played basketball, baseball and football for Lafayette University – and while he never played football before attending college, Grube was an All-America end on Lafayette’s 1926 National Championship team.
George Halas (NFL/MLB)
While Football Hall of Famer George Halas may have been “Mr. Everything” in professional football for some six decades – player, coach, owner, promoter, innovator and pioneer – his MLB career was shorter and less noteworthy. Halas played in 12 games (22 at bats, .091 average) as an outfielder for the 1919 Yankees.
During his a pro-football playing career (1919-1928), Halas played defensive end and wide receiver for the Hammond All Stars, Decator/Chicago Staleys and Chicago Bears. A Bears’ owner from 1920 until his death in 1983, Halas coached the Chicago Bears (and their predecessor Staleys) for 40 seasons (1920-29, 1933-42, 1946-55. 1958-67). Under his leadership, the Bears won nine Divisional titles, six NFL Championships and only six times finished with a losing record. He is also credited with co-developing the T-formation.
Factoid: Halas played basketball, football and baseball at the University of Illinois.
Steve Hamilton (MLB/NBA)
The 6’6” left-handed reliever enjoyed a 12-year (1961-72) career with the Cleveland Indians, Washington Senators, New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, New York Giants and Chicago Cubs – going 40-31 with 42 saves and a career ERA of 3.05.
Hamilton also played two seasons as a forward for the NBA Minneapolis Lakers (1958-60) – averaging 13.3 minutes, 4.5 points and 3.4 rebounds in 82 games.
Factoid: As his MLB career was winding down, Hamilton gained notoriety for his “folly-floater,” a slo-o-o-w, high-arcing pitch that would have looked more at home in a slow pitch softball game.
Carroll Hardy
Hardy was a multi-sport talent for the University of Colorado in the early 1950s, lettering in football, baseball and track – earning All-Conference honors in football and baseball. Immediately out of college, Hardy signed on as a receiver with the NFL San Francisco 49ers. In 1955, he caught 12 passes for 338 yards and four touchdowns, and returned three punts for 65 yards. Hardy then chose to concentrate on baseball and played 8 seasons (1957-64, 1967) as a major league outfielder, getting into 433 games for the Indians, Red Sox, Astros and Twins. His career average was .225, with 17 home runs and 113 RBI.
Factoid: Hardy is the only player to pinch hit for Ted William, as well as the only player to pinch hit for Williams’ replacement, Carl Yastzremski. He also hit his first MLB home run, while pinch hitting for Roger Maris.
Mark Hendrickson (MLB/NBA)
Hendrickson, a 6’9” left-handed hurler, recorded 10 MLB seasons (328 appearances, 166 starts) with a 58-74 record and a 5.03 ERA. Between, 2002-2011, he pitched for the Toronto Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Los Angeles Dodgers and Baltimore Orioles. His best MLB season was 2009, when he went 6-5 with a 4.37 ERA for the Orioles.
Hendrickson also played four seasons (1996-2000) as a power forward in the NBA for the Philadelphia 76ers, Sacramento Kings, New Jersey Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers. In 114 games, he averaged 13.2 minutes, 3.3 points and 2.8 rebounds per game.
Factoid: While playing for Washington State University, Hendrickson made the All Pac 10 Conference teams in both baseball and basketball.
Drew Henson (MLB/NFL)
The 6’5″, 225-pounder played quarterback for the Lions (2008), Cowboys (2004-05) and Vikings (2006). He also appeared in 8 games for the 2002-03 Yankees going one for nine. His NFL career consisted of just nine games played, and he completed a total of 11 of 20 passes with one TD and one interception. Despite these less than sterling numbers, he can lay claim to both throwing and NFL Touchdown and collecting an MLB base hit.
Vic Janowicz (MLB/NFL)
Janciwics got in 22 games as a halfback for the Washington Redskins (1954-55), gaining 410 yards on 99 carries with 4 touchdowns. He also played 83 games at catcher and third base for the Pittsburgh Pirates over the the 1953 and 1954 seasons – hitting .214 with 2 home runs and ten RBI.
Cotton Nash (MLB/NBA)
Nash had brief careers at the top level of pro basketball (NBA/ABA) and baseball (Chicago White Sox, Minnesota Twins). In baseball, the OF/1B got in 13 games (White Sox, 1967 and Twins, 1969-70) with a .188 average and 2 RBI in 16 at bats. In basketball, the 6’5”, 215-pound Nash played forward for the LA Lakers and San Francisco Warriors of the NBA and the Kentucky Colonels of the ABA between 1964-68. He averaged 13.6 minutes, 5.6 points and 3.3 rebounds in 84 games.
Clarence “Ace” Parker (MLB/NFL)
Clarence Parker got his MLB career off with a bang, homering in his first at bat for the 1937 Philadelphia Athletics. It was down hill from there, as Parket played in just 94 games in 1937 and 1938 (SS-3B-OF) hitting .179 with 2 home runs and 25 RBI.
Parker proved more adept at football, making the Hall of Fame as a multiple threat player. Playing from 1937 to 1946 for Brooklyn, Boston and New York (and winning the NFL MVP Award in 1940), he completed 335 of 718 passing attempts for 30 touchdowns, rushed 498 times for 1,292 yards and 13 TDs, had 8 pass receptions for 229 yards and three TDs, returned 24 punts for 238 yards and one TD, returned five kickoffs for 98 yards, made 25 of 30 point-after-touchdown kicks (but only 1 of 5 field goal attempts) and punted 150 times for a 38.4 yard average.
Ron Reed (MLB/NBA)
The 6’6”, 217-pound, right-handed pitcher enjoyed a 19-year career as an MLB starter and reliever (Atlanta Braves, 1966-75; St. Louis Cardinals, 1975; Philadelphia Phillies, 1976-83; and Chicago White Sox, 1984). Reed’s MLB career record was 146-140, 103 saves, a 3.46 ERA and 1,481 strikeouts in 2,477.2 innings pitched. His best season was 1969, when he went 18-10, 3.47 in 33 starts for the Braves.
Reed also played forward for two seasons for the NBA Detroit Pistons (1965-66, 1966-67) averaging 18.9 minutes, 8.0 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.
Factoid: Reed is one of only eight MLB pitchers with 100 wins and 100 saves.
Dick Ricketts (MLB/NBA)
Ricketts, a 6’7”, 216-pound right hander, had just one MLB season, going 1-6 with a 5.82 ERA for the 1959 Saint Louis Cardinals. He played in the NBA from 1955-59, scoring 1,974 points and grabbing 1,337 rebounds – for a per game average of 26.8 minutes, 12.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists.
Howie Schultz (MLB/NBA)
Schultz played major league baseball for six seasons (1943-48), spending time at first base with the Brooklyn Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies and Cincinnati Reds. He played 470 games, hitting .241, with 24 home runs and 208 RBI.
In 1949, the 6’6” Schultz switched to basketball, beginning a three-year stint as an NBA center/forward. He played for the NBA’s Anderson Packers, Fort Wayne Pistons and Minneapolis Lakers, averaging 5.3 points per game.
