Dave DeBusschere RC in MLB and NBA ... I Didn't Know!

JackWESQ · October 9, 2007 11:09AM

I'm sure somebody knew this already, but I came across an auction for a Dave DeBusschere rookie card here:

Auction for MLB DeBusschere Rookie Card

And I said to myself, wasn't DeBusschere a HOF NBA player? He was. So I cracked out the ol' SMR and saw that DeBusschere has the following rookie cards:

1. (NBA) 1969-70 Topps Dave DeBusschere (SMR on a PSA 9 is 525) (Card Number 85); and
2. (MLB) 1963 Topps Dave DeBusschere (SMR on a PSA 9 is 125) (Card Number 54).

DeBusschere's career MLB record. 3 wins and 4 losses. 1 hit in 22 ABs. And of course, in the NBA a 16.1 point average in 875 career games. That's pretty cool.

/s/ JackWESQ

Leiascards · October 9, 2007 12:25PM

I believe Danny Ainge has both a football and basketball rookie card.

Allen · October 9, 2007 12:30PM

Ainge is Baseball and Basketball too. He has a 1983 Topps Traded I believe and a 86-87 Fleer.

nam812 · October 9, 2007 12:30PM

Ainge has a baseball card in the 1982 Topps set.

Cokin75 · October 9, 2007 12:52PM

Ainge has 1981 cards with the Jays as well.

Allen · October 9, 2007 12:57PM

81 Topps Traded was what I was thinking of. I couldn't remember if it was the year before or after Ripken.

Goot · October 9, 2007 1:06PM

He's not a big name at all, but Mark Hendrickson (Dodgers P) played both baseball and basketball too.

TomGshotput · October 9, 2007 1:19PM

I bought that card PSA graded pretty cheap (under $4), probably because no one else knew it was a very good player. Will also probably be the only Hall-of-Fame PSA rookie card from the 60s I ever buy

Kenny Lofton was a teammate of Sean Elliot at Arizona

Here's another one I just looked up that suprised me

A little better at basketball, not quite as good at baseball

And Micheal Jordan played Minor League Baseball of course

MLB/NFL has even more examples

Cokin75 · October 9, 2007 1:24PM

Ron Reed (pitcher in the 70s 80s with the Phillies and Braves) and the Rifleman Chuck Connors both played in the NBA and MLB as well. Don't think they had basketball cards though.

Leiascards · October 9, 2007 1:24PM

Wasn't Dave Winfield drafted into the NBA and NFL as well as MLB

GOODLIEU · October 9, 2007 1:31PM

Dick Groat of baseball fame played in the early 50's for the Fort Wayne Pistons for a short while.
John Havlicek was drafted by the Celtics and the Clevland Browns in 1962 and Bill Sharman played in the Brooklyn Dodgers farm system. I think he was called up to the show but never got to play.

TomGshotput · October 9, 2007 1:40PM

Yes, but he never played college football, so hard to say if he was good, or simply a big guy used for a late round pick, like the Jets inviting two heavyweight wrestlers to training camp this year

Anyone know if Winfield was any good any basketball when he played?

Leiascards · October 9, 2007 1:42PM

Or like Paul Wight AKA The Big Show from WWE being a college basketball player.

baseballfanatic · October 9, 2007 1:49PM

Gene Conley was one of the first and one of the best.
He played off and on for the Celts and Knicks between 52 and 64 WHILE playing for the Red Sox, Braves and Phils during the same years

Edited to add: Try going 15-14 as a pitcher with the Red Sox than averaging 9.0 in 70 games for the Knicks over the winter...

Edited to add again: Was the only athlete to win a Championship ring in 58 with the Braves and 59, 60 and 61 with the Celtics

TomGshotput · October 9, 2007 1:51PM

Some might think going from NCAA to WWE is a little different than going from the Olympics to the NFL. . .

DavidPuddy · October 9, 2007 1:54PM

And one of the first to play both Football and Baseball former Heisman Trophy winner Vic Janowicz from Ohio State

illini · October 9, 2007 2:08PM

I have 7 of Danny Ainge 1981 donruss rookie baseball cards. I am selling 7 of them shipped for $25.00.. All nm-mt

GOODLIEU · October 9, 2007 2:39PM

Dave Winfield most notable moment as a college Basketball player was when he and his others Minnesota team mates were involved in a huge brawl with Ohio State and their center Luke Witte was injured in the melee I think it happened in the early 70's.

Stingray · October 10, 2007 12:43AM

<< <i>Ainge has 1981 cards with the Jays as well. >>

81 Donruss

larryallen73 · October 10, 2007 12:57AM

Though he didn't have a card (or even play) some good trivia is that UCLA football great Kenny Easley was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in the last round of the NBA draft. I assume the same year the Seahawk's drafted him in the NFL draft.

41GoudeyGuy · October 10, 2007 2:40AM

Tony Gwynn was drafted by the San Diego Clippers of the NBA after starring as a Point Guard on the San Diego State Basketball team.

Stingray · October 10, 2007 4:23AM

Wasn't John Smoltz drafted by a NHL team??

larryallen73 · October 10, 2007 5:03AM

Wasn't John Smoltz drafted by a NHL team??

I think it was Glavine.

Stingray · October 10, 2007 5:30AM

<< <i>Wasn't John Smoltz drafted by a NHL team??

I think it was Glavine. >>

Correct, he was drafted by the LA Kings in 1984.

Glavine was drafted by both the Los Angeles Kings in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft (in the 4th round, 69th overall—five rounds ahead of future National Hockey League stars Brett Hull and Luc Robitaille), and the Atlanta Braves Major League Baseball organization in the 2nd round of the 1984 amateur baseball draft. Glavine elected to play baseball and made his major league debut on August 17, 1987.

Dave DeBusschere RC in MLB and NBA ... I Didn't Know!

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