Last year, NFL quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow made some news when it was reported that he was training and actively pursuing a baseball career. Recently, it was Sanders Commings turn to announce that he is also making the shift from football to baseball. However, professional players shifting from one sport to another is not common especially from pro football to major league baseball. Here are three more athletes who have jumped over the fence even before Commings and Tebow.
Bo Jackson was the second Heisman trophy winner who made the shift from football to baseball. The first to do that was Vic Janowicz, halfback of Ohio State. Jackson was touted by USA Today as the "world's great living athlete" for being a Pro Bowler in football and an All-Star in baseball.
His transition to baseball was due to a conflict with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in 1986 during the fourth round and by the Los Angeles Raiders in 1987 during the seventh round. Since he was not finished with the Royals at that time, he asked Raiders chief Al Davis to allow him to play mod-season which Davis agreed. Thus, he completed his Royals season first before playing with the Raiders. That also made him a bona-fide two-sport superstar.
Evar Swanson was considered as the fastest man during his time for covering the bases in just 13.3 seconds. Although it's unofficial, nothing has beaten the record until now. Swanson was not just a two-sport athlete but a multisport player. He was a midfielder in baseball and a running back in football.
As a football player, her played for the Chicago Cardinals between 1924 and 1927. In 1929, he got to play baseball for the Cincinnati Reds as an outfielder in 1929. He had an impressive rookie season but was cut short when he sustained an injury in the shoulder, which plagued him for the rest of his career. After a brief reprieve from the Major League, Swanson returned but this time, he was playing for the White Sox. He had the best season in 1933 but had to finally forced to retire because of his injury.
Charlie Berry did not just stop as being an athlete but went on to become a sports official. He was a catcher in the Major League and served as an offensive end in national football. Unlike the other players who were mentioned on this list. He had a short stint with the Boston Red Sox for 10 games in 1928
After being an athlete, he went on to become an umpire where he took part in the World Series.He also officiated 12 NFL championship games.
