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14 MLB stars who could have been stars in other sports too

Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson is a member of the Rangers' Minor League system, and Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston is a preseason All-American in baseball. But pro baseball players have their share of other-sport stardom in their past, as well. Here's a few examples:

 

1. Kirk Gibson

othersports

The D-backs manager was named an All-American wide receiver at Michigan State in 1978.

 

2. Tom Glavine

othersports

A Massachusetts native, Glavine was drafted in the fourth round of the 1987 NHL draft by the Los Angeles Kings.

 

3. Bob Gibson

othersports

The Hall of Famer graduated from Creighton and only began his career with the Cardinals after playing the 1957-58 season with the Harlem Globetrotters. He continued to play with the Globetrotters in several subsequent offseasons.

 

 

4. Ferguson Jenkins

othersports

This Hall of Famer was another pitching Globetrotter, playing with them from 1967-69.

 

5. Todd Helton

othersports

The Rockies legend was Tennessee's starter at quarterback for a few weeks in 1994. He suffered a knee injury and was replaced by ... Peyton Manning.

 

6. Tom Candiotti

othersports

The knuckleballer never threw a perfect game -- but he's bowled one. He was inducted into the celebrity wing of the International Bowling Hall of Fame in 2007.

 

7. Tony Gwynn

othersports

The Padres' contact hitter extraordinaire credited his bat speed to wrists strengthened from his time playing point guard at San Diego State from 1977-1981. He still holds the school's season and career records for assists.

 

8. Jackie Robinson

othersports

Before he broke MLB's color line Robinson excelled in baseball, football, basketball and track at UCLA (including winning the NCAA championship in the long jump in 1940). He also briefly played pro football with the Los Angeles Bulldogs of the Pacific Coast Professional Football League in 1941.

 

9. Curtis Pride

othersports

Deafness didn't stop Pride from having an 11-year MLB career. Nor did it stop him from scoring two goals for the U.S. in the 1985 FIFA U-16 World Championship in China.

 

10. Kenny Lofton

othersports

The five-time stolen base champion went to Arizona on a basketball scholarship and played in the 1988 Final Four.

 

11. Nyjer Morgan

othersports

Before he was T-Plush in MLB and NPB, Morgan had dreams of playing in the NHL. He played for a number of Junior "B" teams across Canada and briefly at the Major Junior level for the Regina Pats.

 

12. Vince Coleman

othersports

You'd think a basestealer like Coleman would have played college football as a receiver or defensive back, right? Actually, Coleman was a punter and kicker for Florida A&M from 1978-81.

 

13. Jeff Samardzija

othersports

The Cubs starter was a finalist for the Fred Biletnikoff Award (given to the nation's best receiver) at Notre Dame in both 2005 and '06.

 

14. Dave Winfield

othersports

Finally, Winfield might be the most impressive multi-sport athlete on this list. In 1973, the Minnesota alum was drafted in three sports by four different teams -- the Padres, the NBA's Atlanta Hawks, the ABA's Utah Stars and the NFL's Minnesota Vikings.