In the days when baseball was king in America, most twelve-year old boys dreamed of attaining fame as major league ballplayers. In some parts of the world, including many Caribbean and Far East countries, that is still the case. Earning renown and financial success by throwing and hitting a baseball was and is as good as it gets.

   It may be surprising, then, to know that dozens, if not hundreds, of young men who played baseball professionally won their claim to fame in other endeavors. Some would be known as athletes in other sports, such as Michael Jordan. Others would make their mark in show business or the world of literature. Still others, like Jack Faszholz or Gene Schroer from earlier articles (Pitcher and Preacher / Pitcher and Lawyer respectively) in this series, would find success in the fields of religion and law.

   This article will describe a number of such players and their other fields of interest. Some of them are known to many, others might be a surprise. The list is far from comprehensive, since this column concentrates on the minor league side, but it's the start of what could be an interesting list of multi-talented individuals.

   The greatest number of crossover athletes comes from professional football. Art Rooney, the legendary founder of the Pittsburgh Steelers, was a solid-hitting outfielder in the low minors during the 1920's. Hall of Fame quarterback Sammy Baugh spent one season of Triple-A ball in the Cardinals' organization. Quarterbacks John Elway and Charley Trippi batted over .300 as minor league outfielders. All-Pro players Yale Lary and Kyle Rote had successful, albeit brief, careers, with Rote batting .429 during a short stay with Lake Charles in 1954. More recent players such as Bob Douglass, D.J. Dozier, and Chad Hutchinson spent time in the minors. Longtime Philadelphia Eagle player and NFL announcer Tom Brookshier pitched his way to a 7-1 record with Roswell in 1954. And the list continues, with names such as Ken Strong, Adrian Burk, Steve Filipowicz, Earl Girard, Earl Hunsinger, Bob Walton, and Ray Weitecha.

   NFL officials also earned fame, with the most successful being longtime referee Pat Haggerty, who won batting championships with Jamestown in 1948 and Little Rock in 1950. Officials Dale Hackbart and Dean Look spent time in baseball, with Look having a cup of coffee with the 1961 White Sox.

   A number of players spent parts of their careers as major league pitchers and professional basketball players. Among the best known of that group are Gene Conley, Dave DeBusschere, and Dick Ricketts. Several other NBA all-stars spent a few summers supplementing their basketball salaries with minor league paychecks. Hall of Famer Neil Johnston pitched for three seasons and Bill Sharman spent fives years in the Dodgers' system. New York Knick stars Carl Braun and Harry Gallatin played briefly under their real names, while Rochester Royal guard Bobby Davies played as Bob Davis. Other NBA players who wore minor league jerseys include Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton, Andy Philip, Jim Holstein, and Frank "Pep" Saul.

   At least two hockey players spent time in the minors. All-time great Montreal Canadian defenseman Doug Harvey spent parts of four seasons in the Class A Border League including 1949, when he won the batting and RBI championship. Twenty years later, New York Islander forward Clark Gillies spent time with Covington of the Appalachian League.

   Whether professional wrestling is a professional sport can be decided by others, but bad-guy Randy Savage played in the Cardinals' organization for several seasons under his real name, Randy Poffo.

   The lure of Hollywood has claimed several former players, the most famous of whom was Chuck Connors. After a lengthy career in major and minor league baseball and three years as a professional basketball player, Connors retired to go into show business and earned his star as Lucas McCain during the five-year run of "The Rifleman". Kurt Russell began his acting career in the late 1960's, interrupted it to play pro ball for three seasons, injured his shoulder, and returned to the world of showbiz. Actor and game show host Bert Convy played for parts of three seasons in the Phillies' chain. Screenwriter and director Ron Shelton is best known for penning "Bull Durham". Shelton spent six seasons as a pitcher and infielder with a number of Orioles' affiliates.

   At least two well-known authors had professional baseball experience. Zane Grey, known more for his western stories than baseball career, played for several teams in the 1890's. And Eliot Asinoff, author of "Eight Men Out: The Black Sox and the 1919 World Series", played for two seasons in the early 1940's.

   The last word goes to the profession with the most words, that of politics. Former New York governor Mario Cuomo batted .244 with the 1952 Brunswick Pirates of the Class D Georgia-Florida League.

   This list could be expanded considerably as it is far from an exhaustive list of qualified individuals. An element of mystery appears as some players used a pseudonym to keep their full-time employers unaware of their side activity. Their identities may be known only to friends and relatives.

   Readers who wish to present additional candidates are invited to list them in the "History of the Game" message board in the forum section of The Baseball Almanac (a thread specifically for multi-sport athletes is in the link found here). Professions not listed above can be included as we search for noteworthy individuals who spent part of their lives playing this great game.