A 3-sport athlete at Granada Hills Excessive Faculty in Los Angeles, JOHN ELWAY, who this week steps into the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame’s Gold Jacket Highlight, starred in baseball, basketball and soccer. His expertise in America’s pastime propelled him into Main League Baseball’s pipeline.
As a highschool senior, John threw for 3,711 yards and 29 touchdowns as quarterback of the soccer crew, whereas batting .551 and profitable Los Angeles Participant of the 12 months honors and town championship in baseball. His play prompted the Kansas Metropolis Royals to pick out him within the 18th spherical of the 1979 MLB Draft.
The choice didn’t sway him to depart his dedication to Stanford College as a dual-sport athlete, nevertheless, and he enrolled in faculty.
“I’ve by no means seen any athlete, in soccer or baseball, with that arm,” remarked former Stanford head baseball coach Mark Marquess.
As a freshman at Stanford, he struggled in each sports activities, seeing little taking part in time on the baseball diamond and recording solely 544 passing yards, six TDs and three interceptions because the backup quarterback. In 1980, he was named the beginning quarterback for the Cardinal; nevertheless, this didn’t carry far more success.
The next season, the soccer crew mustered solely 4 victories, with John totaling 2,674 yards, 20 touchdowns and 11 picks. After a tough freshman baseball season, he turned issues round as a sophomore. Recent off his first of two PAC-10 Soccer Participant of the 12 months awards, John was a extra centered and dynamic baseball participant. In 49 video games after 12 months 2, he batted .361 with 9 homers, 15 doubles, 50 RBIs and 47 runs scored.
In his ultimate yr as a Cardinal, his play helped Stanford to the NCAA Baseball Regionals, the place he batted .444. On the gridiron, he was named PAC-10 Participant of the 12 months and consensus All-America, received the Sammy Baugh Trophy and completed second within the Heisman Trophy voting.
His success as a two-sport athlete heralded nationwide consideration.
George Steinbrenner, the proprietor of the New York Yankees on the time, had a watch on John. The “Bronx Bombers” chosen him within the second spherical of the 1981 MLB First-12 months Participant Draft, forward of future Baseball Corridor of Famer Tony Gwynn.
“He has a well-above-average major-league arm,” stated Gary Hughes, a Yankees scout. “He runs nicely, makes contact, and this yr he began hitting for energy. That’s the massive attraction.”
John signed with the Yankees for $140,000, greater than the No. 1 total decide acquired that yr. He began his minor-league profession within the New York-Penn League (Class A) batting 2-for-22. He turned issues round, although, and completed with a .318 common in 40 video games.
Nonetheless, John was seen because the consensus prime prospect within the upcoming NFL Draft. He held pre-draft conferences with a number of golf equipment, together with the Baltimore Colts, who held the primary total decide. He and his household made it identified they most popular he play for a West Coast crew or, particularly, for Dallas or Miami. They expressed considerations in regards to the route the Colts’ group was headed.
Even after the Elways said their views, NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle learn aloud that the Baltimore Colts had chosen him with the No. 1 decide.
Whereas soccer was all the time John’s past love, the choice to play baseball now appeared like a believable profession path.
“Proper now, it seems like I’ll be taking part in baseball with the Yankees,” John stated after being chosen by the Colts. “It is going to be a few days, or possibly even two weeks, earlier than I make the ultimate choice. We haven’t dominated out soccer, nevertheless it doesn’t look good proper now.”
After six days of ready, the Denver Broncos provided a commerce bundle for John.
“I’m undoubtedly thrilled to be right here,’’ he stated in his first information convention after the commerce. “It’s one thing I didn’t count on to occur. I’m glad to be taking part in within the NFL, and I’m glad to be taking part in for the Denver Broncos.’’
A quarterback who would go on to win two Tremendous Bowls, a Tremendous Bowl MVP, a regular- season MVP and 9 Professional Bowl nods with the membership, John was enshrined in Canton in 2004.
