With the NFL lockout no closer to being solved, some football stars are trying other sports. One prominent switch-over that hasn't happened yet is a high profile athlete try baseball. Chad Ochocinco is on the reserve team for Sporting Kansas City of Major League Soccer. It's too late in the NBA season for someone to make an NBA team.
However, minor league baseball is just starting. It's not inconceivable that an NFL player would want to at least try out with a minor league baseball team to stay in shape. Plus the team would see more people in the seats should a high-profile player make the jump to baseball.
In fact, many prominent football players have played minor league and even professional baseball. Here's a look at some of the biggest names to try both sports.
Jim Thorpe
Jim Thorpe was arguably one of the greatest athletes in United States history. He helped found the National Football League in 1921 after playing several years of baseball. He was a career .252 hitter, saving his best year for last in 1919 when he hit .327.
Brian Jordan
Brian Jordan played for 15 seasons in Major League Baseball, compiling a .282 batting average. He primarily played with the Cardinals and Braves. Before becoming a baseball star, Jordan played four years for the Atlanta Falcons with four sacks and five interceptions.
Bo Jackson
The most famous two-sport athlete of his day, Bo Jackson became well-known for his "Bo Knows" commercials. He was also a feared hitter for the Kansas City Royals after his season was done with the NFL's Raiders. Amazingly, all four years Jackson played football he also played baseball in the Major Leagues. Despite his hitting power, Jackson's lone problem in baseball was a huge amount of strikeouts.
Deion Sanders
Deion Sanders had a great career at cornerback for the Atlanta Falcons and Dallas Cowboys. He also turned to baseball and played for the Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves. When Sanders got on base, he was a threat to steal at any time because of his speed he had from football. Sanders was flashy, but he was good enough to play two professional sports in the same year just like Jackson.
Ernie Nevers
Ernie Nevers only played five seasons in the NFL, yet was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963 as a fullback. Nevers has an NFL record he accomplished in 1929 which has never been equalled—he scored 40 points in one game against the Chicago Bears. Nevers also pitched for the St. Louis Browns in the late 1920s.
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