Two Sport Pros

[robin_buckeye]

This was on another thread, but I thought I'd start a new one.

See this link:

http://www.daytondailynews.com/s/conten ... nform_artr

A few quotes:

Ten, to be exact, from Chuck Connors (more famous as TV's "Rifleman") in the 1940s and '50s to Danny Ainge (Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Celtics) and Mark Hendrickson in more recent years.

Dick Groat's first love was basketball — he averaged 12 points for the Fort Wayne (Ind.) Pistons in 1952-53, his only season — but he became a star in baseball, winning the National League batting title and the MVP award for Pittsburgh in 1960.

"You've got to have a lot of endurance and I think you have to enjoy it,'' said Gene Conley, 77. He is the only man with championship rings in both sports, as a Milwaukee Braves pitcher in 1957 and center-forward with the Boston Celtics in 1959-61.

[softball66]

Who was a championship cricket player and hall of fame baseballist?
His sons played in the U. S. Tennis opens.

[robin_buckeye]

Can we get all ten?
We have five, 1) Chuck Connors; 2) Danny Ainge; 3) Mark Hendrickson; 4) Dick Groat; 5) Gene Conley.

I can add 6) Ron Reed (Phillies and NBA).

I'm pretty sure that both Bob Gibson and Ferguson Jenkins played with the Globetrotters, but I'm not sure that counts.

[Gloveguy]

Frank Baumholtz, Dave DeBusschere, Steve Hamilton, Cotton Nash, Dick Ricketts, Howie Schultz

[Thudhugger]

Aren't we forgetting Deon Sanders and Bo Jackson? And there's one more, but I can't remember his name just now. He played for the Braves as an outfielder....damn. I can see his face... oh well...Is it Brian Jordan?

Thud

[fuzzydogg22]

we cant forget the yankees player...hansen something? I think he was a 3rd baseman for the yanks and a QB for the cowboys? This was just a few years ago

[mrh64]

The Cardinals had a farmhand that went on to the Cowboys ( I think ) I think his name was Chad Hutchinson?

[softball66]

You guys ever hear of Jim Thorpe? How about Ernie Nevers.

[glovemedic]

You guys ever hear of Jim Thorpe?

Yea, didn't he finish 2nd or 3rd behind Muhamad Ali as the greatest athlelte of the century a few years back?

[offsidewing]

Jim Brown? Lacrosse and Football Hall of Fame?

[Cowboy7130]

Didn't John Elway play minor league ball for the Yankees the summer before the Colts traded him to Denver?

[Deacon]

Elway played centerfield for the Oneonta Yankees in the NYP league

[robin_buckeye]

Elway did play in the Yankees organization -- I think he was originally drafted by a team he didn't want to play for (Baltimore Colts?), so he signed a baseball contract and played until he was traded or re-drafted.

Funny fact -- although he is considered to be one of the hardest throwing QBs ever, the Yankees were a bit disappointed with him because his arm wasn't strong enough to play right field!

[robin_buckeye]

What about George Halas? I know he played for the Yankees. Did he ever play in the NFL or was he just an owner?

[softball66]

I googled Halas and took me to Wikpedia where there's a photo of George under a fly ball in 1919 and look at his glove; it's a doozer! Thorpe was playing for Cincinnati at the same time and HOFer Edd Roush had quite an experience playing with him, remarking how amazingly fast he was and how strong too as they would wrestle.
The very excellent crickett player was HOFer George Wright as was his brother Harry.
George is the Wright of "Wright and Ditson" where they made baseball and wood products such as tennis racquets and golf clubs. Both of George's sons, I understand, were fine tennis players and appeared in the U. S. Tennis open.