Did you know these famous people played Minor League Baseball?
This story was excerpted from The Baseball Traveler newsletter.
This story was excerpted from The Baseball Traveler newsletter.
Minor League Baseball players often go on to achieve success and stardom, but this celebrity isn’t necessarily restricted to the baseball diamond. The following individuals didn’t make a mark in their baseball careers, instead going on to become household names while pursuing a different passion. If at first you don’t succeed, try something else!
Before they were stars
Mario Cuomo (OF, 1952)
Mario Cuomo served three terms as New York governor, becoming a nationally prominent figure in the process. Before his political triumphs he was just a baseball-obsessed kid from Queens, one with enough talent to get signed by the Pirates in 1952 (the scout who signed him was in NYC to check out an up-and-comer named Whitey Ford). Cuomo was assigned to the Brunswick Pirates of the Florida-Georgia League, his strong start ultimately negated by injury. In 1953, he chose a college education in lieu of baseball and the rest, as they say, is history.
Cuomo is perhaps the most notable politician to have played Minor League Baseball. However, Dwight Eisenhower is rumored to have done so as well. We might never know for sure.
Charley Pride (RHP, 1953-60)
Charley Pride never got close to Cooperstown enshrinement but he nonetheless went on to have a Hall of Fame career. The trailblazing Black country music star logged 30 No. 1 hits over his career, most in the 1970s, and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2000. Pride grew up poor in Mississippi and initially saw baseball as the path to a better life. He played throughout the country during much of the 1950s, logging time with Negro, Minor, barnstorming and semi-pro league teams. While his strong pitching arm kept him employed, it was his golden voice that eventually earned him wealth and fame.
Ron Shelton (2B, 1967-71)
“Bull Durham” was a surprise hit upon release and is now considered to be one of the best baseball movies of all time. Its true-to-life details regarding life in the Minor Leagues resonated with a large audience, and that’s because director Ron Shelton lived that life. He spent five seasons in the Baltimore Orioles system, suiting up for five teams along the way. None of those teams was the Durham Bulls, but there’s nothing wrong with taking a little artistic license.
Kurt Russell (2B, 1971-73)
Bing Russell was an actor and a baseball executive and his son, Kurt, followed his father’s footsteps. The future movie star’s pursuit of a baseball career effectively ended in 1973, after he suffered a torn rotator cuff while playing for the Double-A El Paso Sun Kings. By that point Russell’s acting career was on the rise, allowing him to make a relatively seamless transition from the baseball diamond. “I don’t regret anything except the injury itself,” Russell told MiLB.com’s Michael Avallone in 2019. “Playing more would have been great, but it wasn’t meant to be.”
Randy Poffo (a.k.a. Randy “Macho Man” Savage) (OF, 1971-74)
Ooooooh yeah! The flamboyant wrestler known far and wide as Randy “Macho Man” Savage preceded this heel turn with a professional baseball career. Poffo played in the Minor Leagues for four seasons, primarily within the St. Louis Cardinals organization. Teammates remembered him as a quiet guy with, yes, a passion for wrestling. He was known for building makeshift rings in the clubhouse, and in 1973 (while he was still playing baseball) competed on the wrestling circuit as “The Spider.”
Scott Boras (2B-3B, 1974-77)
Yes, baseball’s most preeminent player representative was once a player himself. Boras spent four seasons in the Minor Leagues, largely in the Cardinals' system, making it as high as Double-A. A chronic knee injury put the kibosh on Boras’ playing career, so he went back to school and obtained a law degree. Boras’ current career began in the early 1980s when pitcher Mike Fischlin, a high school friend, asked him to serve as an agent.
John Elway (OF, 1982)
Tom Brady, Dan Marino and John Elway were all drafted by Major League teams, but Elway was the only one among these quarterback luminaries who went on to play in the Minors. The Yankees, wowed by the Stanford standout’s booming bat and powerful right arm, selected Elway in the second round of the 1981 Draft and signed him for the then-prodigious sum of $140,000. His lone professional season was with the Class A Short-Season Oneonta Yankees in 1982; over 42 games he hit .318, stole 13 bases and walked more than he struck out. Elway then returned to Stanford for his senior year, excelling on the gridiron once again. The Colts selected him with the first pick of the 1983 NFL Draft, leading to a prolonged drama: Which sport would Elway choose to play professionally? We all know how that turned out.
📩 SUBSCRIBE TO THE BASEBALL TRAVELER NEWSLETTER
While we're on topic...
Elway is one of many NFL players who also spent time playing Minor League Baseball. Others include, but are not limited to, the following:
John Lynch (P, 1992-93) -- Lynch, currently the general manager of the San Francisco 49ers, played 16 seasons in the NFL. He was drafted by the Florida Marlins in 1992 and, later that year, threw the first pitch in the history of the organization (playing for the Class A Short-Season Erie SeaWolves).
Ricky Williams (OF, 1995-98) -- From 1995-98 Williams was a star running back with the University of Texas. He was also a member of the Phillies’ organization during that time frame, appearing in 170 games overall. Football ultimately won out. Williams signed with the Saints and played his first NFL season in 1999.
Russell Wilson (2B, 2010-11) -- Wilson spent parts of two seasons playing in the Colorado Rockies' organization, suiting up for the Tri-City ValleyCats and Asheville Tourists.
Shaq Thompson (OF, 2012) -- Thompson, a Carolina Panthers linebacker, played 13 games for the Gulf Coast League Red Sox in 2012. It did not go well. He went 0-for-39 … with 37 strikeouts!
Tim Tebow (OF, 2017-19) -- After a stellar college football career and a serviceable stint in the NFL, Tebow pivoted to baseball at the age of 29. He held his own over three years in the Mets’ system, but never established himself as a Major League-level talent.
Michael Jordan (OF, 1994) -- In a list like this, there’s Michael Jordan and then there’s everybody else. Jordan, of course, was a star before he became a Minor Leaguer. He was the best basketball player in the word, arguably of all time, and yet he paused his professional career to pursue his baseball dreams. Jordan spent the 1994 season with the Double-A Birmingham Barons, a team piloted by rookie manager Terry Francona. He held his own but by no means excelled, and the following season he was back on the basketball court. Was it all a dream?
Other notables
Scott Patterson (RHP, 1980-86) -- Patterson, the Braves’ first selection in the 1980 Draft, made 255 appearances over seven Minor League seasons. He then transitioned to acting, making a big impression as Luke Danes, the diner owner on “Gilmore Girls.”
Eliot Asinof (OF, 1940-41) -- Asinof, the author of several baseball books (most notably “Eight Men Out”) played two seasons in the Phillies' farm system before enlisting in the Army.
Jim Reeves (RHP, 1945-47; ’49) -- Before he became the country music superstar known as Gentleman Jim, Reeves was a kid from rural Texas trying to make it as a ballplayer with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Drake Hogestyn (3B, 1976-77) -- The days of Hogestyn’s life included a short stint within the Yankees' organization. From 1982 until his death in 2024 he played John Black on “Days of our Lives.”
Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton (1B, 1949-50) -- Sweetwater debuted with the New York Knicks in 1950, becoming the first Black player to sign an NBA contract and the second to play in the league. This came on the heels of his second and final season within the Cleveland Indians' organization.
Bert Convy (OF, 1951-52) -- The actor and game show host spent two years in the Phillies' system, beginning when he was just 17 years old.
Benjamin Hill is a reporter for MiLB.com and writes Ben's Biz Blog. Follow Ben on Twitter @bensbiz.
River Riders get swept on walk off from Johnson City
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - The Elizabethton River Riders dropped their second game in a row on Wednesday against the Johnson City Doughboys by a final score of 14-11. The Doughboys struck first in the first when Cody Miller scored on a throwing error after stealing third base. Elizabethton tied the
Kerry Herndon-Brown, Connar Penrod earn Appalachian League opening week honors
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- The Appalachian League announced that Elizabethton’s Kerry Herndon-Brown and Greeneville’s Connar Penrod were named Hitter and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, for the period of June 6 to June 11. Herndon-Brown, 18, earned Hitter of the Week honors for the first week of the Appalachian League
River Riders take Game 2 from State Liners to close strong homestand
ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. - The River Riders took care of business on Sunday against the State Liners with a 6-3 victory, climbing back into a tie for first place in the Appalachian League West with Bristol. The runs were plentiful in the first inning, as both squads put up a two
River Riders slug their way past Axmen in Opening Day victory
ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. – Three different River Riders hit home runs Tuesday night as Elizabethton defeated the Kingsport Axmen, 9-7. The Axmen got the scoring started in the top half of the first when Payton Allen came home on a sacrifice fly by Corbin Shaw. However, Elizabethton came back in a
River Riders announce 2023 roster
ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. - The Elizabethton River Riders have named their 32-man roster for the 2023 Appalachian League season. The roster is composed of 17 pitchers and 15 position players, all college students from across the nation. “Our community is in store for an action-packed summer of baseball,” River Riders manager
Elizabethton River Riders announce 2023 coaching staff
ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. - The River Riders announce their 2023 coaching staff joining manager Jeremy Owens this season in Elizabethton. Leading the team this season includes hitting coach Andy Tomberlin, pitching coach John Chalupa and athletic trainer Kody Eckert. “The River Riders are fortunate to have returning hitting and pitching coaches
Appalachian League's 2023 managers set to take the helm
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Over the last several weeks, Appalachian League teams have announced their managers for the 2023 season. That group includes four brand-new faces with more than 150 years of combined experience in professional baseball. Former big league manager John McLaren, along with Dennis Cook, Bill Kinneberg and
Appalachian League participates in MLK Day of Service
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Appalachian League executives participated in the 28th annual MLK Day of Service on Jan. 16, 2023, volunteering in nine communities across North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Tabbed as a “day on, not a day off” to celebrate the life and legacy of the Civil
Appalachian League celebrates 2022 charitable contributions
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The Appalachian League announced that the league’s charitable outreach grew to more than $3.4 million of gift-in-kind and monetary donations this year. Additionally, the league and its clubs volunteered more than 11,000 hours of community service. The league’s reach impacts the towns and cities their 10
Elizabethton River Riders unveil 2023 season schedule
ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. - The Elizabethton River Riders announced their 2023 baseball schedule. The River Riders will host their first home game June 6 against the Kingsport Axmen. The 2023 Appalachian League season begins June 6 and runs through July 31. The River Riders will celebrate Independence Day at Northeast Community
Appy League adds Justin Morgenstern as director of player personnel
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The Appalachian League is pleased to announce the hiring of Justin Morgenstern as the new director of player personnel. Morgenstern joins the Appalachian League from the Philadelphia Phillies, where he was an area scout since 2016. Morgenstern spent his first three years with the organization covering
Elizabethton River Riders announce Kiva Fuller as general manager
ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. - Boyd Sports, LLC announces Kiva Fuller as the general manager of the Elizabethton River Riders, effective Oct. 3. Kiva joins the River Riders coming from the Johnson City Doughboys as the general manager for the past two seasons, earning the Appalachian League Patriot Award and Promotional Award.
Appalachian League announces Humanitarian of the Year nominees
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The Appalachian League announced the 10 nominees for its 2022 Humanitarian of the Year award. The Humanitarian of the Year award is given to the Appalachian League player that has been judged to have made the most notable contributions in his community during the season through
2022 All-Appalachian League Team announced
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The Appalachian League announced the 2022 All-Appalachian League Team. The honorees were nominated and voted on by the league’s managers. The All-Appalachian League Team is highlighted by Bluefield’s Jackson Feltner, who was named Player of the Year, and Burlington’s Mason Ruh, who earned Pitcher of the
River Riders come from behind to defeat Pulaski
ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. – An early lead by the Pulaski River Turtles was not enough Friday night in Elizabethton, as the River Riders came back from a two-run deficit with a four-run seventh inning to beat Pulaski 8-4. The River Turtles got on the board first with a sacrifice fly in
River Riders split doubleheader against Bristol
BRISTOL, Va. - The Elizabethton River Riders split a seven-inning doubleheader Wednesday night against the Bristol State Liners. They won the first game, 11-3, but dropped Game 2, 7-2, to Bristol. Bristol struck early in Game 1, with three first-inning runs, but the Blue and Yellow hit back. Carlo Zorola
Greeneville downs Elizabethton, 7-2
ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. - Following a week in which the Elizabethton River Riders played just one game, they fell, 7-2, to the Greeneville Flyboys on Monday night at NCCU Ballpark. Greeneville pounded out 10 hits on the night, including seven combined hits from Myles Smith and Cameron LaLiberte to push the
River Riders, Ridge Runners canceled due to rain
BLUEFIELD, W.V. - The Elizabethton River Riders and Bluefield Ridge Runners will not play this week due to rainouts on both July 27 and July 28, with the games not being made up due to no other availability for a makeup game. The River Riders (21-23) are still looking to
Johnson Jr. hits walk-off single, East tops West at 2022 Appy League All-Star Game
BURLINGTON, N.C. -- The East defeated the West, 6-5, at the 2022 Appalachian League All-Star Game presented by Visit Alamance on Tuesday night at Burlington Athletic Stadium. After Greeneville's Brock Daniels (Missouri) hit a game-tying two-run single with two outs in the top of the ninth, Danville's RJ Johnson Jr
Basler's walk-off helps Elizabethton down Burlington, 6-5
ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. - Down 4-0 in the fourth inning, the Elizabethton River Riders battled all the way to the end and earned a 6-5 victory over the Burlington Sock Puppets on Saturday night thanks to a walk-off single by Peyton Basler. One night after a four-hour-plus win over Pulaski, the
River Rider bats explode, score 22 in win over Pulaski
22-16. No, that is not a football score. The Elizabethton River Riders won a wild, high-octane offensive affair at Calfee Park in Pulaski over the River Turtles, 22-16, on Friday night. It was a night in which Elizabethton managed to get 31 runners on base and have multiple players with
River Riders can’t complete comeback, drop game to Pulaski
PULASKI, Va. - The Elizabethton River Riders fell into a 5-0 hole after two innings Thursday night against Pulaski, and despite clawing all the way back to lead in the sixth inning, they couldn’t hold on as the Blue and Yellow fell to the River Turtles, 8-7. Elizabethton was behind
Early deficit dooms River Riders as Axmen sweep
KINGSPORT, Tenn. - Nothing seemingly went right on Wednesday night for the Elizabethton River Riders, as they were swept in a critical two-game series by the Kingsport Axmen, 10-3, on Wednesday night. The Axmen were off and running early, scoring three runs in the first with the help of a
Elizabethton River Riders announce Appalachian League All-Star selections
ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. – The Appalachian League has announced its rosters for the second annual All-Star Game taking place on Tuesday, July 26 at Burlington Athletic Stadium in Burlington, N.C. The game is presented by Visit Alamance, and will feature 44 of the league’s top players. Selections were made by the