Many athletes have competed in two professional sports, but has anyone played three or more? One of the most well-known two-sport athletes is Michael Jordan. He played basketball for the Chicago Bulls and the Washington Wizards. Jordan also pursued baseball, playing for the Birmingham Barons, a minor league affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, before returning to basketball. Although he did not play professional baseball at the Major League level, he participated in an exhibition game against the Chicago Cubs on April 10, 1994.
While playing multiple professional sports is a rare and difficult achievement, one athlete, Dave Winfield, was drafted in three different sports: baseball, basketball, and football. In 1973, he was selected by the San Diego Padres (MLB), next to the Atlanta Hawks (NBA), and finally, the Minnesota Vikings (NFL), all in the same year. However, since he did not actively compete in all three leagues, he ultimately pursued baseball. By the end of his career, Winfield had won a World Series ring, recorded over 3,000 Major League hits, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001.
Another great multi-sport athlete was Babe Didrikson Zaharias. She performed excellently in multiple sports, including baseball, basketball, golf, and track and field. An Olympic gold medalist, Zaharias set multiple world records in track and field. She also played in three Major League Baseball exhibition matches and competed in tennis and swimming. However, she is best known for her success in golf. Beginning her golf career in 1933, she turned professional in 1947 and won 41 golf tournaments, including 10 major championships, 4 Women’s Western Opens, 3 Titleholders Championships, and 3 U.S. Women’s Opens.
by Rodney Kite-Powell (Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery)
Zaharias’ legacy as one of the most accomplished female athletes in history remains unmatched. Jim Thorpe was another person to play more than 2 sports. He competed in baseball from 1913 to 1919. He played for the San Francisco Giants in 1913, 1915, and 1917, to 1919. He also played for the Cincinnati Reds in 1917. As well as playing for the Atlanta Braves in 1919. He didn’t just play baseball, he also played American football for the Canton Bulldogs in 1915 and won many unofficial championships. Jim ended up becoming the first president of the NFL in 1920 and served as the president for 2 years.
Although many people strive to be the best at their favorite sport, there are a few people that want to be the best at many professional sports. Jim Thorpe was one of those people to achieve their goal of playing multiple professional sports, making him a very successful athlete, along with people like Dave Winfield and Babe Didrikson Zaharias.
Works Referenced: “The Official Site of Major League Baseball.” MLB.com, 2018, www.mlb.com; “NFL.” NFL.com, 2018, www.nfl.com; Schwartz, Larry. “ESPN.” ESPN.com, 2019, www.espn.com.