Baseball is legendary for the trials of its 162-game schedule, marching from the melting snows of spring to the swirling winds of autumn. However soccer and basketball could be simply as unrelenting within the punishment they will placed on the physique. Every of those sports activities requires high-end stamina and sturdiness, making the choose group {of professional} athletes who’ve excelled in multiple of them really extraordinary.
Main League Baseball and the Nationwide Soccer League have co-existed for almost a century, and fewer than 70 males are identified to have performed in each. An excellent smaller group — 12 to be precise — performed in each MLB and the Nationwide Basketball Affiliation. Collectively, these lists embrace a number of the most well-known athletes in historical past.
Beneath is a fast take a look at a number of the largest crossover names who starred in each the Main Leagues {and professional} soccer or basketball:
Jackson has a declare to the title of best athlete of all time. A part of that repute stems from Jackson being one of many few folks in historical past to earn an All-Star choice in a number of sports activities (and the one athlete to take action in skilled soccer and baseball). Nevertheless it additionally stems from the sheer expertise of watching Jackson carry out, whether or not he was bowling over defensive linemen or scaling outfield partitions.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers took Jackson with the highest choose within the 1986 NFL Draft, however as an alternative he selected to play for the defending World Collection champion Royals, who had chosen him that yr within the fourth spherical of the MLB Draft. It wasn’t lengthy earlier than Jackson was a star on the diamond, profitable the 1989 All-Star Sport MVP with a stunning two-way show of offense and protection. Extremely, Jackson averaged 5.5 yards per carry within the NFL whereas additionally hitting 32 homers and driving in 105 runs in 1989. Two years later, a devastating hip damage whereas enjoying for the Raiders derailed what may have been a number of extra years of dual-sport brilliance.
Recognized to many as “Prime Time,” Sanders had unbelievable pace that made him a two-sport star within the Nineties. Groups would famously keep away from throwing to Sanders’ facet of the sector when he performed cornerback for the Falcons, 49ers and Cowboys, whereas opposing hitters noticed deep drives go to waste when the rangy Sanders patrolled the outfield for the Yankees, Braves and Reds. At 21 years previous, Sanders memorably hit a house run for the Yankees and scored a landing for the Falcons in the identical week in 1989. He’s additionally the one athlete to play in each the Tremendous Bowl and the World Collection, going 8-for-15 in 4 video games for the Braves within the 1992 Fall Basic, and profitable the Tremendous Bowl with the 49ers and Cowboys.
Thorpe’s place in soccer historical past is unquestioned. He was a part of the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame’s inaugural class in 1963, and his statue greets guests as they stroll by way of the doorways of the museum in Canton, Ohio. However Thorpe’s athleticism prolonged far past the gridiron. He gained Olympic gold medals in each the pentathlon and decathlon in 1912, and he joined the defending World Collection champion New York Giants the next yr. Thorpe was a star of the Giants’ well-known world tour that winter, assembly Pope Pius X and enjoying in entrance of King George V of England. Thorpe would in some way steadiness soccer, baseball and basketball over the subsequent a number of years, ending with a profession .252 common over 289 video games on the diamond with the Giants, Reds and Braves.
Jordan is likely one of the most up-to-date examples of a two-way star. He led the Falcons in tackles and was named an alternate to the Professional Bowl as a defensive again in 1991 earlier than switching to baseball full-time the next yr. He unquestionably made a larger influence on the diamond, spending 15 seasons with the Cardinals, Braves, Dodgers and Rangers. St. Louis followers will recall Jordan’s game-winning residence run in Sport 4 of the 1996 Nationwide League Championship Collection, and the outfielder earned his lone All-Star Sport choice with Atlanta three years later. Jordan completed his profession as a .282 hitter with 184 residence runs.
The story of soccer in Chicago begins with “Papa Bear” Halas. The Windy Metropolis native based the Bears franchise and co-founded the NFL in 1920, and served as a participant, coach and proprietor for the Monsters of the Halfway — all on the identical time. Die-hard Yankees followers will recall that Halas additionally performed 12 video games in pinstripes in 1919, manning proper area within the Bronx simply earlier than the arrival of 1 George Herman Ruth. Halas joined Thorpe as an inaugural inductee to the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame in 1963.
Nevers was considered certainly one of soccer’s greatest triple threats through the Nineteen Twenties for his potential to run, move and kick. He was a four-sport star at Stanford, excelling at baseball, basketball, and monitor and area. Nevers was a right-handed pitcher for the St. Louis Browns whereas additionally starring for the NFL’s Duluth Eskimos, compiling a 6-12 document and 4.64 ERA on the mound from 1926-28.
Henson is the latest athlete to make the highest degree in each sports activities. He was named Baseball America’s highschool participant of the yr in 1998, and the Yankees drafted him within the third spherical that yr and paid him a $2 million signing bonus — even with the understanding that he was dedicated to enjoying soccer for the College of Michigan. Henson cut up time with Tom Brady as quarterback of the Wolverines, and in the end appeared in eight large league video games for the Yankees from 2002-03. He began the Dallas Cowboys’ Thanksgiving Day sport in 2004 and suited up for the Lions in ’08.
Another info you need to learn about those that have crossed over from professional baseball to professional soccer, and vice versa:
• Jackie Robinson, who broke MLB’s coloration barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, was a four-sport star at UCLA, lettering in baseball, soccer, basketball and monitor in 1939 and ’40. Earlier than being drafted into World Warfare II, he performed semi-pro soccer for the Los Angeles Bulldogs and Honolulu Bears.
• Jackson is certainly one of solely two former Heisman Trophy winners to seem in a Main League sport. The opposite was 1950 winner Vic Janowicz, who performed two seasons with the Pirates after leaving Ohio State earlier than returning to soccer with Washington.
• There is just one member of each the Nationwide Baseball Corridor of Fame and Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame. That may be Cal Hubbard, who’s certainly one of solely 10 umpires enshrined in Cooperstown and in addition performed linebacker for the Giants, Packers and Steelers.
• A complete of seven members of the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame additionally performed within the Main Leagues: Pink Badgro, Paddy Driscoll, Halas, Nevers, Ace Packer, Thorpe and Sanders.
• Legendary pitcher Christy Mathewson, one of many inaugural 5 members of the Baseball Corridor of Fame, performed fullback for the Pittsburgh Stars skilled soccer group in 1902 (18 years earlier than the founding of the NFL).
• Solely seven athletes have appeared in each skilled sports activities because the NFL merged with the AFL in 1970: D.J. Dozier, Henson, Chad Hutchinson, Jackson, Jordan, Matt Kinzer and Sanders.
Ainge is essentially the most well-known fashionable athlete to play in each MLB and the NBA, manning second base for the Blue Jays between 1979-81 earlier than profitable a number of NBA titles with the Celtics and later starring for the Kings, Path Blazers and Suns. Ainge turned simply the second participant in NBA historical past to efficiently make 900 three-point photographs, and he served because the Celtics’ GM and president of basketball operations till retiring in June 2021.
A primary-team All-America guard for Ohio College, Baumholtz averaged 14 factors per sport for the Cleveland Rebels of the Basketball Affiliation of America (the NBA’s predecessor) in 1946-47. He went on to put fifth within the ’47 MLB Rookie of the Yr Award vote (gained by Jackie Robinson) after tallying 182 hits for the Reds.
Conley collected loads of {hardware}, capturing three NBA titles with the Celtics from 1959-61 whereas additionally contributing to the Braves’ 1957 World Collection championship as a pitcher.
Connors is definitely identified largely for his work as an actor, enjoying Lucas McCain in ABC’s “The Rifleman” from 1958-63. However Connors additionally helped lead the Rochester Royals to the 1946 NBL Championship earlier than later becoming a member of the Celtics of the newly shaped BAA. Connors promptly left the Celtics to play for the Dodgers, breaking in with Brooklyn in 1949. Connors was additionally drafted by the Chicago Bears, however he by no means performed in an NFL sport.
The defensive coronary heart and soul of the Knicks’ revered championship groups of 1970 and ’73, DeBusschere was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Corridor of Fame in 1983. The ahead additionally pitched for the White Sox from 1962-63.
Trivia nuts will acknowledge Groat because the 1960 NL MVP, a season through which he hit .325 for the world champion Pirates. However Groat was additionally a two-time All-America basketball participant at Duke College, and went on to play one season for the Fort Wayne Pistons in 1952.
Hamilton spent 12 large league seasons as a dependable reliever, ending his profession with a 3.05 ERA and making appearances in each the 1963 and ’64 World Collection for the Yankees. He additionally spent two seasons as an influence ahead for the Minneapolis Lakers from 1958-60.
A pure match for the court docket at 6-foot-9, Hendrickson performed in 114 video games for the 76ers, Kings, Nets and Cavaliers from 1996-2000. The lanky lefty ultimately turned his consideration to baseball, discovering extra extended success as a reliever for 5 golf equipment over 10 Main League seasons.
Nash was a first-team All-American for the College of Kentucky earlier than suiting up for the Lakers and San Francisco Warriors through the 1964-65 season. He discovered himself within the Majors two years later, ultimately enjoying 13 video games as a primary baseman and left fielder for the White Sox and Twins.
Reed is essentially the most completed baseball participant on this crossover checklist, incomes an All-Star nod in 1968 and lasting 19 seasons within the Majors. The righty completed his pitching profession with a 146-140 document and three.46 ERA. Reed additionally performed ahead for the Pistons from 1965-67, the identical time he was breaking into the large leagues.
The St. Louis Hawks made Ricketts, a first-team All-America ahead at Duquesne College, the No. 1 general choose of the 1955 NBA Draft, and he performed three seasons for the Hawks and Royals. Ricketts additionally signed as a pitcher with the Cardinals in ’55, showing in 12 large league video games.
Schultz’s top of 6-foot-6 saved him out of navy service, thus permitting him to play first base for the Dodgers, Phillies and Reds from 1943-48. He would later go well with up for the NBA’s Anderson Packers, Fort Wayne Pistons and Minneapolis Lakers, claiming a hoop with the 1951-52 Lakers squad.
Probably the most well-known crossover try from basketball to baseball belongs to 1 Michael Jeffrey Jordan. After capturing three straight NBA championships with the Bulls, Jordan retired from basketball in October 1993 and signed a Minor League contract with the White Sox the next February. Jordan manned the outfield for Double-A Birmingham and for Scottsdale of the Arizona Fall League, however he by no means discovered the success he loved on the court docket. Baseball’s strike hastened Jordan’s return to the Bulls in 1995, the place he went on to cement his standing as maybe the best of all time with three extra titles.
Not within the NBA, however they might play
• One would even be remiss with out mentioning the three Corridor of Fame baseball gamers — Lou Brock, Bob Gibson and Fergie Jenkins — who as soon as performed for the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters.
• Corridor of Famer Dave Winfield was famously drafted by each the Atlanta Hawks and the ABA’s Utah Stars, however didn’t go well with up for both group.
