Broncos legend John Elway is about to enter the Hall of Fame. No, he's not getting inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame again. In fact, it's not even for football.
The New York-Penn League, a Short-Season Class A baseball league, will add Elway to their annals of elite players Tuesday at their All-Star Game in Brooklyn, N.Y.
He will join the fireball-throwing pitcher Randy Johnson and the NY-Penn League's historian Charlie Wride in this year's Hall of Fame induction class.
Though Elway's baseball history of course pales in comparison to his lengthy parade of accomplishments in football, longtime fans know Elway was also a gifted baseball player, playing both in the outfield and as a pitcher at Stanford.
The New York Yankees drafted Elway 52nd overall in the 1981 draft, and he would go on to play for the Oneonta Yankees, their Short-Season A class affiliate in the New York-Penn League.
Albeit brief, Elway's 42-game professional baseball stint in one summer with Oneonta was promising for a prospective future in the major leagues. He hit .318 with an on-base percentage of .432, and caught opponents off-guard for 13 steals.
Naturally, Elway also had eight assists as an outfielder, showing off his arm.
Though he subsequently left baseball to pursue what would be an illustrious and distinguished football career, it's well worth noting the history that contributed to the path he found with the Broncos.
[photo via NY-Penn League]
