Starring in a single skilled sport is difficult sufficient. Doing so in a couple of is virtually legendary. This is our listing of 20 notable athletes (in alphabetical order) who pulled it off. And, we’re speaking skilled sports activities — which, in lots of instances, would rule out Olympic accomplishments.
And, no, Michael Jordan didn’t make this listing.
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Danny Ainge (basketball, baseball)
Wealthy Pilling/MLB Pictures through Getty Photographs
A two-sport standout at BYU through the Seventies, Ainge first took his crack at Main League Baseball. In 211 video games with the Toronto Blue Jays from 1979-81, Ainge batted .220, with two homers and 128 strikeouts whereas taking part in principally at second base. It was on the basketball courtroom, clearly, the place Ainge left his mark of success. He performed 14 NBA seasons (1982-95), received two titles with Boston, was an All-Star as a Celtic in 1987-88 and averaged 11.5 factors and 4.0 assists in additional than 1,000 video games.
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Tom Brown (soccer, baseball)
![Tom Brown (football, baseball)](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_276,w_466,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/6/6/66c454d27377b363a8e18306af37c38b35ca70ef/tom-brown-football-baseball.png)
packerstoday.com
Brown’s declare to fame was being a standout defensive again for the Inexperienced Bay Packers. Throughout his time with the storied franchise, Brown was a part of three NFL championship groups (1965-67) and people Packers squads that received the primary two Tremendous Bowls. Throughout his six NFL seasons, Brown recorded 13 interceptions and recovered six fumbles. Nevertheless, Brown additionally performed one season of Main League Baseball. That got here for the Washington Senators in 1963, when Brown performed in 61 video games, batting simply .147 with a homer and 45 strikeouts as a primary baseman.
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Lionel Conacher (hockey, soccer)
![Lionel Conacher (hockey, football)](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1330,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/2/b/2b6e45fbb6e6ef2b0cc3fbd922042e95ed5c2b0b/lionel-conacher-hockey-football.jpg)
Eddy Roworth/Toronto Star through Getty Photographs
We’ll head to Canada for this versatile athlete, who in his post-pro sports activities life was a outstanding politician. Conacher first starred on the soccer area, scoring 14 touchdowns through the 1921 season for the Toronto Argonauts, who defeated Edmonton and received the first-ever Gray Cup that yr. Following his run with the Argos, Conacher laced up the blades and loved a Corridor of Fame NHL profession. From 1925-37, Conacher performed for 4 groups. He received his first Stanley Cup as a member of the Chicago Black Hawks in 1934, then added one other with the Montreal Maroons one season later.
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Gene Conley (basketball, baseball)
![Gene Conley (basketball, baseball)](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1366,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/7/0/7074ad74849b6ebb18e65a2dc9a2ceded35b3e30/gene-conley-basketball-baseball.jpg)
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Conley, curiously sufficient, was one of some athletes to play two sports activities at roughly the identical time. On the diamond, his major-league profession spanned 1952-63, and included 4 All-Star nods, principally with the Milwaukee Braves. Conley went 91-96 with a 3.82 ERA and recorded 888 strikeouts. In the meantime, from 1952-53, and once more from 1958-64, Conley performed ahead for the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks. Throughout his 351-game NBA tenure, the 6-foot-8 Conley common 6.3 rebounds and 5.9 factors. He is certainly one of two athletes to say a league championship in two of the 4 main North American sports activities: profitable the 1954 World Collection with the Braves and three titles as a Celtic (1959-61).
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Dave DeBusschere (basketball, baseball)
![Dave DeBusschere (basketball, baseball)](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1472,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/f/a/fa2dd4c00839901d0ec0479b0d9103310a0b60d0/dave-debusschere-basketball-baseball.jpg)
Give attention to Sport/Getty Photographs
The Nineteen Sixties have been fairly busy for the multi-talented DeBusschere. It started in 1962, with a two-season MLB stint for the Chicago White Sox. In 36 mound appearances, with 10 begins, Debusschere went 3-4 with an entire recreation and respectable 2.90 ERA. In fact, it was on the hardcourt that DeBusschere made his bones. In 13 seasons from 1962-74, DeBusschere averaged 16.1 factors, 11.0 rebounds and almost 3 assists per recreation whereas taking part in for Detroit and New York. He was named an All-Star eight instances, helped the Knicks win two titles within the early ’70s and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Corridor of Fame in 1983.
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D.J. Dozier (soccer, baseball)
![D.J. Dozier (football, baseball)](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1312,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/0/8/083c97832448d6125278b29502d0ee94179df9aa/dj-dozier-football-baseball.jpg)
Mitchell Layton/Getty Photographs
One of many nice working backs in Penn State historical past, Dozier did not stay as much as his first-round draft standing throughout a five-season NFL profession (1987-91). He gained simply 691 yards and rushed for seven touchdowns, whereas catching 33 passes and two TDs for Minnesota and Detroit. In the meantime, sports activities followers of a sure age doubtless additionally overlook that Dozier had a cup of espresso within the majors. Dozier was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in 1983, however by no means signed and opted for school. It might be virtually 10 years later, although, that Dozier finally made it to the massive leagues. In his solely major-league season of 1992, Dozier break up time within the infield and outfield over 25 profession video games for the New York Mets. He batted .191, and struck out 19 instances in 47 at-bats.
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Bob Gibson (baseball, basketball)
![Bob Gibson (baseball, basketball)](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1347,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/5/d/5ddb5615c32db7db40ebd2e87910ca8a1e9dd995/bob-gibson-baseball-basketball.jpg)
James Drake/Getty Photographs
Gibson is the best pitcher in St. Louis Cardinals historical past and one of many all-time greatest in Main League Baseball historical past (two Cy Younger Awards, two-time World Collection champion, 1968 NL MVP, 251 wins, 3,117 strikeouts, and a 2.91 ERA). However what many baseball followers in all probability have no idea is that Gibson really performed one season {of professional} basketball — albeit with the Harlem Globetrotters through the 1957-58 marketing campaign, and one yr earlier than debuting within the majors. Gibson was a standout hooper at Creighton, however by no means bought a critical shot within the NBA. He did, nonetheless, show off some nifty ball-handling skills while making about $500 a month as a Globetrotter.
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Otto Graham (soccer, basketball)
![Otto Graham (football, basketball)](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1385,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/2/2/22f91cc69ec0c27ed1b7f8cd2d556b79fa81dd6e/otto-graham-football-basketball.jpg)
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We touched on Gene Conley as certainly one of two individuals to win a championship in two of the 4 main North American skilled sports activities leagues. In what’s doubtless a shock to some, Graham was the opposite. Certain, Graham is thought to be one of the greatest football players of all time, profitable three NFL championships through the Nineteen Fifties with the Cleveland Browns and a three-time NFL MVP (with document profession 8.63 yards per cross try). Nevertheless, Graham additionally performed one season for the Rochester Royals (at the moment the Sacramento Kings) of the Nationwide Basketball League. In 32 video games through the 1945-46 marketing campaign, Graham averaged 5.3 factors for the league-champion Royals.
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George Halas (soccer, baseball)
![George Halas (football, baseball)](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1222,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/0/a/0a89a8ad935b8ddb9d682c2a9988a30a609ec85a/george-halas-football-baseball.jpg)
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The daddy of the NFL, Halas was a player-coach for the famed Decatur Staleys within the early Nineteen Twenties. Halas was a star receiver (All-Professional, actually) for the Staleys, who would turn out to be the Bears when he moved the franchise to Chicago. In fact, Halas’s soccer legacy is nicely instructed, however what number of sports activities followers knew he was additionally a fairly good baseball participant? In 1919, Halas performed 12 video games for the New York Yankees, patrolling the outfield whereas going 2-for-12 with eight strikeouts. Not precisely Corridor of Fame numbers, however that stage of success was awaiting Halas within the soccer world.
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Mark Hendrickson (basketball, baseball)
![Mark Hendrickson (basketball, baseball)](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1290,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/3/4/3491388f200e1cec976002fe0a5cb376bba05047/mark-hendrickson-basketball-baseball.jpg)
Brad White/Getty Photographs
At 6-9, and following a profitable school profession at Washington State, Hendrickson performed 114 video games over 4 NBA seasons (1997-2000). Whereas taking part in in Philadelphia, Sacramento Cleveland and New Jersey, Hendrickson averaged simply 3.3 factors and a pair of.8 rebounds. Hendrickson then turned his consideration to the diamond, the place he loved a lengthier profession as a big-league pitcher for 5 groups from 2002-11. The left-hander, who received 10 or extra video games twice with Tampa Bay, compiled a 58-74 profession document in 328 appearances, and 166 begins, with a 5.09 ERA.
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Drew Henson (soccer, baseball)
![Drew Henson (football, baseball)](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1333,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/8/4/846beaff030f6bf920d90d66641354969f5a3381/drew-henson-football-baseball.jpg)
Mitchell Layton/Getty Photographs
A two-sport star at Michigan, Henson first took intention at MLB success. Nevertheless, his big-league profession lasted all of eight video games with the New York Yankees, through the 2002 and ’03 seasons. The third baseman went 3-of-9 with three strikeouts. When it got here to his NFL profession, Henson’s precise time on the soccer area wasn’t way more in depth, however fairly fascinating. It started in 2004 with two seasons as a member of the Dallas Cowboys. He performed in seven video games with one begin in ’04. From there, Henson hung out taking part in in NFL Europe, then returned to the NFL for a practice-squad stint with Minnesota. Henson’s NFL profession ended after spending 2008 with the Detroit Ions. In complete, his NFL tenure spanned eight video games, going 11-of-20 for 98 yards with a touchdowns and an interception.
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Holly Holm (boxing, MMA)
![Holly Holm (boxing, MMA)](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1318,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/f/7/f72082e99fcca80beee667b5405d4ca39559b8cc/holly-holm-boxing-mma.jpg)
Aaron Meullion-USA TODAY Sports activities
One of the vital profitable feminine boxers of all time. Amongst her titles, Holm, whose boxing profession started in 2002, was each the WBF Feminine World Gentle Welterweight and Welterweight champion. The truth is, she’s posted 33 wins in 38 complete bouts and recorded 16 title defenses which have encompassed three completely different weight lessons. On this planet of mixed-martial arts, Holm was the UFC Ladies’s Bantamweight champion, and famous for handing Ronda Rousey her first loss at UFC 193 in November 2015.
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Bo Jackson (soccer, baseball)
![Bo Jackson (football, baseball)](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1302,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/4/2/422ba427e43db6eb1c8a62f257782c336b385077/bo-jackson-football-baseball.jpg)
Owen C. Shaw/Getty Photographs
In the case of the quintessential two-sport celebrity athlete, it begins and ends with Bo Jackson. Come on — there was a whole advertising marketing campaign that revolved round Jackson’s MLB and NFL success. He performed each throughout a few of the similar seasons, speeding for two,782 yards, 16 touchdowns and incomes a Professional Bowl nod with the Los Angeles Raiders from 1987-90. Jackson completed that whereas additionally batting .250 with 141 dwelling runs, 413 RBI and 82 stolen bases throughout an eight-season big-league profession (1986-94) spent principally with Kansas Metropolis, which additionally included a memorable All-Star Game appearance in 1989.
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Brian Jordan (baseball, soccer)
![Brian Jordan (baseball, football)](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1328,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/a/5/a55f26c2715987b7663395c24b59c4a8449f2b2d/brian-jordan-baseball-football.jpg)
Jeff Carlick/Allsport/Getty Photographs
Although not fairly to the extent of Bo Jackson, Jordan fared relatively nicely taking part in within the NFL and Main League Baseball. Jordan loved an extended professional profession on the diamond than the gridiron. He performed 15 seasons within the majors (1992-2006), with the primary seven as a St. Louis Cardinal. The outfielder was a profession .282 hitter, who clubbed 184 homers with 821 RBI, and was named an All-Star in 1999. Earlier than that, Jordan spent three seasons with the Atlanta Falcons (1989-91), seeing motion in 36 video games and recording 5 interceptions.
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Ernie Nevers (soccer, baseball)
![Ernie Nevers (football, baseball)](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1666,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/9/9/99dfbd3ea6a23da66ea5eb48c8da5077b0be2fba/ernie-nevers-football-baseball.jpg)
Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Photographs)
Nevers is among the biggest gamers ever strap on a soccer helmet, starring for the Duluth Eskimos and Chicago Cardinals from 1926-31. A risk as a runner and passer, Nevers rushed for 38 touchdowns throughout his Corridor of Fame NFL profession. Nevers additionally did just a little pitching on the major-league stage. From 1926-28, Nevers went 6-12 with a 4.64 ERA throughout 44 appearances for the St. Louis Browns. He additionally went 12-for-60 on the plate whereas placing out 18 instances as a giant leaguer.
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Charley Powell (soccer, boxing)
![Charley Powell (football, boxing)](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_184,w_274,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/3/7/37f18fcd914a67a7818d48edb670c9b9b52bf95f/charley-powell-football-boxing.png)
Fox 5 San Diego
There have been a number of NFL gamers to step into the boxing ring, they usually achieved varied ranges of success. Then there’s Powell, who performed within the NFL with San Francisco and Oakland from 1952-61. At age 19, Powell was the youngest participant to make his NFL debut on the time. In his first begin, he sacked Detroit legend Bobby Layne. Powell additionally loved a comparatively profitable boxing profession, going 25-11-3. He was additionally knocked out within the third spherical towards Cassius Clay (earlier than Clay was often known as Muhammad Ali) in 1963 and misplaced to Floyd Patterson.
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Deion Sanders (soccer, baseball)
![Deion Sanders (football, baseball)](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1350,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/0/1/013ba740d28a13bd12a7fe6ef32394c5b5c98229/deion-sanders-football-baseball.jpg)
Give attention to Sport/Getty Photographs
Exterior of Bo Jackson, Sanders might be essentially the most notable — and widespread — modern-day two-sport, skilled sports activities star. Sanders holds the excellence of being the one athlete to play in each a Tremendous Bowl and World Collection. Sanders received two Tremendous Bowls, was a six-time First-Crew All-Professional and received NFL Defensive Participant of the 12 months (1994) throughout his Corridor of Fame NFL profession that ran from 1989-2005. In the meantime, Sanders additionally spent elements of 9 seasons patrolling the outfield within the majors (1989-95, ’97, 2001) with the New York Yankees, Atlanta, Cincinnati and San Francisco. In 614 profession video games, Sanders hit .263, clubbed 39 homers and stole 186 bases whereas retaining that “Primetime” strategy.
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Tim Tebow (soccer, baseball)
![Tim Tebow (football, baseball)](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1462,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/8/e/8e445f86525b6f7c6d8906716afd50ef1b8fd194/tim-tebow-football-baseball.jpg)
Eric Hasert/TCPALM through Imagn Content material Providers, LLC/USA TODAY
Sure, Tebow by no means performed on the major-league stage, however his skilled baseball expertise within the minors proved to be fairly intriguing. From 2016-19, Tebow hung out within the New York Mets system, progressing from the Arizona Fall League to Triple-A Syracuse. In 77 video games for Syracuse in 2019, Tebow batted simply .163, after hitting .273 on the Double-AA stage one yr earlier. It was a relatively valiant effort for the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner, who began 16 of 35 NFL video games with Denver and the New York Jets from 2010-12. Tebow solely accomplished 47.9 p.c of his profession passes, however memorably led the Broncos to a playoff win over Pittsburgh through the 2011 season, throwing for 316 yards and two touchdowns whereas additionally speeding for a rating.
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Jim Thorpe (soccer, baseball)
![Jim Thorpe (football, baseball)](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1469,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/f/8/f8824b4dc2c9b77e54eaf499b367fc35f4111b22/jim-thorpe-football-baseball.jpg)
Bain Information Service/Interim Archives/Getty Photographs
Is Thorpe the best, most versatile athlete of all time? There is definitely an argument to be made for his case, no matter time interval. Thorpe’s Corridor of Fame soccer profession included skilled stops with such storied franchises because the Canton Bulldogs (1915-17, 1919-20, ’26), New York Giants (1925) and Chicago Cardinals (1928). As well as, he performed skilled baseball throughout elements of six seasons from 1913-19. Taking part in outfield in almost 300 video games and batting higher than .280, Thorpe spent most of his baseball profession with the New York Giants.
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Shaun White (snowboarding, skateboarding)
![Shaun White (snowboarding, skateboarding)](http://res.cloudinary.com/ybmedia/image/upload/c_crop,h_1237,w_2000,x_0,y_0/c_scale,f_auto,q_auto,w_700/v1/m/4/5/45d9d662c4052802d5c311dfe3b9430556bd9b56/shaun-white-snowboarding-skateboarding.jpg)
Danielle Parhizkaran/USA TODAY Sports activities
“The Flying Tomato” is a three-time Olympic gold-medal profitable snowboarder, who as of February 2024 additionally received 13 golds in slopestyle and superpipe on the X Video games from 2003-13. As well as, the outgoing and seemingly all the time cheerful White claimed two gold medals in skateboarding on the X Video games. Each got here within the vert competitors, with the primary in 2007 and the opposite in 2011. As well as, White has received quite a few silver and bronze medals on the X Video games on each the snow and concrete.
A Chicago native, Jeff Mezydlo has professionally written about sports activities, leisure and popular culture for almost 30 years. If he may do it once more, he’d attend Degrassi Junior Excessive, Ampipe Excessive and Grand Lakes College.