Sign in to follow this  
Coach Redmon

MLB Players who wrestled in high school

Recommended Posts

I am talking with our high school baseball team this week about joining our wrestling program next season. Many major sport athletes (baseball, football, etc) have a negative image of wrestling for numerous reasons (rolling around with other men half naked, cutting weight, skin infections, etc); I would like to attempt to persude our baseball players otherwise by informing them of MLB players who wrestled in high school in order to improve conditioning, strength, etc. I have found a long list of NFL players who played in high school/college, but have been unsuccessful in searching for MLB players. If you know of any, or found a good list would you please post them.

Thanks for your help!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

NFL players that wrestled.(power point)

http://www.mtnviewtakedown.com/downloads/Football%20and%20Wrestling.ppt

Famous People Who Wrestled

U.S. Presidents

Chester Arthur, Calvin Coolidge, Dwight Eisenhower, Ulysses S Grant, Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, Zachary Taylor, John Tyler, George Washington

U.S. SENATE

The late John Chafee (former senator RI), Lincoln Chafee (current senator RI), Chuck Hagel (Nebraska), John McCain (Arizona), The Late Paul Wellstone (Minnesota)

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The Late Carl Albert, (former Speaker of the House), Dennis Hastert (Illinois), (Current Speaker of the House), Brad Glass, Greg Ganske (Iowa), Jim Leach (Iowa), Jim Nussle (Iowa)

SECRETARY OF DEFENSE

Donald Rumsfeld, Frank Carlucci

WHITE HOUSE STAFF

Ari Fleischer, George Stephanopoulos

OTHER POLITICIANS

Arne Carlson, (former governor of Minnesota), Steven Friedman, (chief economic advisor under the G.W. Bush administration), Jim Jordan

ACTORS/COMEDIANS

William Baldwin, The Late John Belushi, Steve Buscemi, The Late James Cagney, Tom Cruise, Tony Danza, Kirk Douglas, The Late Chris Farley, Al Franken, The Late Victor French, (TV show Highway to Heaven), PeeWee Herman, (Paul Ruebens in HS in Florida), Breck Jamison, (formerly of As The World Turns), Harvey Keitel, Ashton Kutcher (That 70s Show), Jay Leno, Mario Lopez, Bill Maher, Howie Mandel, Jay Mohr, The Late Nat Pendleton (1920s Olympic wrestler, 1930s movie actor), Tom Sullivan, Mr. T. (Laurence Turead), Tab Thacker, Vince Vaughn, Tim Van Patten, Robin Williams

WRESTLING COMMENTATORS

Ken Chertow, Dan Gable, Jim Gibbons, Jeff Blatnick, Russ Hellickson, Ken Kraft, Tim Johnson

ADVENTURERS

Don Briggs (former University of Northern Iowa assistant coach, now base camp manager at Mt. Everest)

TV NEWSCASTERS/PERSONALITIES

Geraldo Rivera, Andy Rooney

AMERICAN HEROES

Jeremy Glick (aboard United flight 93 that crashed in Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001), Charles Moose

(Montgomery County (Maryland) Police Chief – led investigation in Washington DC area sniper shootings October 2002), Tommy Norris (Medal of Honor winner for actions in Vietnam), Prisoner of war in Iraq Pfc. Patrick Miller

(wrestled in HS in Park City, Kansas)

AMERICAN HEROES who died in service to our country in the Iraq war

Marine Lance Corporal, Brian E. Anderson (wrestled in HS in Durham, NC), Army Corporal Nicholas Arvanitis (Salem HS, New Hampshire), Marine Major Jay Thomas Aubin (killed in a British helicopter crash in Kuwait – wrestled in HS in Skowhegen, Maine), Marine Lance Corporal, Andrew Aviles (wrestled in HS in Tampa), Marine Lance Corporal, Brian Rory Buesing (wrestled in HS in Charlotte County, Florida), Army Captain Douglas Dicenzo (Plymouth HS, New Hampshire, applied to only one college - West Point), Marine Captain Travis Ford (wrestled in HS in Ogalalla, Nebraska), Marine Lance Corporal Dimitrios Gavriel (Timberlane HS, New Hampshire - 1993 NH State Champ, also wrestled for Brown), Army Sgt. Daniel Gionet (Pelhm HS, New Hampshire - multiple award recipient for sportsmanship from coaches and school), 1st Lieutenant Noah Harris (1999 Georgia AAA 189 # State Champion) of Gilmer High School, Ellijay, Georgia, Travis Manion (Doylestown, PA), Marine Sgt. Brian McGinnis (wrestled in HS in St. Georges, Delaware), Marine Lance Corporal Robert Moscillo (Salem HS, New Hampshire), Marine Major Kevin Nave (wrestled in HS in White Lake Township, Mich.), Marine Lance Corporal, Patrick O’Day (wrestled in HS at Santa Rosa, California), Sgt. 1st Class Randy Rehn (wrestled in HS in Longmont, Colorado), Marine Corporal, Randal Kent Rosaker (wrestled in HS in Alamosa, Colorado), Lance Cpl. James Brown (Wrestled at Gibson Southern High School, Fort Branch, Indiana. Killed by sniper fire in Iraq)

ASTRONAUTS/NASA

Joe Allen (Astronaut), Michael Collins (Astronaut), Jim Voss (Astronaut), Ronald Dittemore (NASA space shuttle program manager), William Kerslake (NASA scientist)

MUSICIANS

The Late Kurt Cobain (Nirvana), Glen Danzig (wrestled as Glen Anzalone), The Late Shannon Hoon (Blind Melon), Maynard James Keenan (Tool), Ludacris, The Late Layne Staley (Alice in Chains), Robin Zander (Cheap Trick), Garth Brooks

AUTHORS

Terry Davis (Vision Quest), John Irving (The World According to Garp), The Late Ken Kesey (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest), Ron Kovic (Born of the Fourth of July)

MILITARY LEADERS

Denny Benchoff (3-star general), The Late Greg “Pappy” Boyington, General Charles C. Krulak, Rear Admiral, William J. McDaniel, George Patton, Al Rushotz, Retired Gen. Norman Schwartzkopf

BUSINESS LEADERS

Rocky Aoki (Benihana Restaurants), Scott Beck (Boston Market), James Bigger (Nestle), Ben Bishop (Bethlehem Steel), Dan Cathy (Chick-fil-a), John Filer (Aetna), Stephen Friedman (Goldman Sachs), Robert Hannan (Thrift Drug), Henry Kravis (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.), James Macalear (SMS Corp.), Ron McGruder (Olive Garden), Art Martori (Production Farm Management), David Pottruck (Charles Schwab), Edward Rust (State Farm), Arthur Rutzen (Wells Fargo), John Vaughan (Alco Standard)

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Tim Krumrie, Ernie Ladd, Jess Lewis, Ray Lewis, Ronnie Lott, Kirk Loudermilk, Joel Mackovica, Steve Martin,

Mickey Marvin, Napoleon McCallum, Mark McDonald, Chris McIntosh, Greg Meisner, Jim Nance, Lorenzo Neal, Stephen Neal, Jeremy Newberry, Chuck Noll, Leo Nomellini, Chuke Nwokoric, Jonathan Ogden, Irv Pankey, David Patten, Bob Pickens, Jim Plunkett, Dave Porter, Mike Pyle, Mike Reid, Eric Rhett, Brad St. Louis, Cory Schlesinger, Tony Siragusa, Fred Smerlas, Dave Szott, Kyle Turley, Rick Turnbull, Tommy Vardell, John Ward, Fred Weary, Charles White, Ricky Williams, Greg Wojochowski, Alex Karras

OLYMPIC ATHLETES IN OTHER SPORTS WHO ONCE WRESTLED

Mark Lenzi (Diving), Sugar Ray Leonard (Boxing), Jason Morris (Judo), Jimmy Pedro (Judo), Brian Shimer (Bobsled), Jim Thorpe (Early 20th century decathlete)

RELIGIOUS DENOMINATION FOUNDER

Joseph Smith (founder, Church of the Latter-Day Saints) (Mormon)

SCIENCE

Dr. Norman Borlaug (Nobel prize winner), William Kerslake (NASA scientist)

Professional Football Players (NFL)

Coy Wire, Art Baker, Ronde Barber, Tiki Barber, Walter Barnes, Harris Barton, Brad Benson, Bob Bruenig, Tom Cousineau, Tom Covert, Roger Craig, Curley Culp, Larry Czonka, Dan Dierdorff, Ron Essink, Jim Everett, Demarco Farr, Terrell Fletcher, Bill Fralic, Doug “Bubba” France, Bill George, Charlie Getty, Kevin Glover, LeRoi Glover, Bob Golic, Mike Golic, Darrien Gordon, Scottie Graham, Tim Green, Kelly Gregg, Archie Griffin, Nick Greisen, John Hannah, Carlton Haselrig, Ron Heller, Chad Hennings, Jay Hilgenberg, Bo Jackson, Mario Johnson, Henry Jordan, Dave Joyner, John Jurkovich, Randy Grossman, Marlon Greenwood, James Mungro, Jon Hartunian, Mark Schlereth

PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES (other than NFL)

Brett Butler (baseball), Pat Day (horse racing), Kevin Harvick (NASCAR), Larry Holmes (boxing), Glenn Hubbard (baseball), Jeremy Rose (horse racing), Bill Shoemaker (horse racing), Spud Webb (basketball)

No Holds Barred (UFC/Octagon) competitors:

Mark Coleman, Randy Couture, Kevin Jackson, Kevin Randleman, Dan Severn, Ken Shamrock

SPORTS BROADCASTING

The Late Roone Arledge, Jim Lampley, Bill Macatee

SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT (pro rasslers who were amateur wrestlers)

Iron Sheik (Khosrow Vazin), Brock Lesnar, Earl McCready, Randy Orton, Nat Pendleton, Brad Rheingans, Bob Roop, Joe Scarpello, Ruffy Silverstein, The Steiner Brothers, The Late Chris Taylor, The Late Mr. Wrestling/Tim Woods, Kurt Angle, Bob Backlund, George Bollas, Jack Brisco, Mike DiBiase, Dory Funk, Verne Gagne, Ray Gunkel

Dan Hodge, Dick Hutton, Bob Roop, Joe Scarpello, Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat, Rick Flair, Terry Gerrin "Rhyno"

  • Upvote 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100121003258AApvwYG

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

Brian & Marcus Giles both wrestled in high school

Yankees reliever Phil Coke

Rockies reliever Joe Beimel

Padres third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff wrestled his freshman year of high school.

Blue Jays pitcher Shaun Marcum

Twins player Michael Cuddyer

Brewers pitcher Yovani Gallardo wrestled for one year

Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain told ESPN radio he wrestled for a year.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire

Source(s):

http://www.jockbio.com/Bios/Giles/Giles_bio.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/29/sports/baseball/29yankees.html

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080608&content_id=2869664&vkey=news_sd&fext=.jsp&c_id=sd

http://www.mlb.com/team/player/index.jsp?player_id=451788&c_id=tor

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090514&content_id=4732856&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb&partnerId=rss_mlb

* 1 year ago

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100121003258AApvwYG

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

Brian & Marcus Giles both wrestled in high school

Yankees reliever Phil Coke

Rockies reliever Joe Beimel

Padres third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff wrestled his freshman year of high school.

Blue Jays pitcher Shaun Marcum

Twins player Michael Cuddyer

Brewers pitcher Yovani Gallardo wrestled for one year

Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain told ESPN radio he wrestled for a year.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire

Source(s):

http://www.jockbio.com/Bios/Giles/Giles_bio.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/29/sports/baseball/29yankees.html

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080608&content_id=2869664&vkey=news_sd&fext=.jsp&c_id=sd

http://www.mlb.com/team/player/index.jsp?player_id=451788&c_id=tor

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090514&content_id=4732856&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb&partnerId=rss_mlb

* 1 year ago

I found the same article, but as you can see, Joba is the biggest name on there besides retired Brian and Marcus Giles.

I suppose beggars can't be chooser, I appreciate the information. Keep it coming.

Thanks!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

According to this article on mlb.com, pitcher Ted Lilly has a wrestling background of some kind (though, outside of this article, I've read nothing else about him wrestling in high school).

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100210&content_id=8048648&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

Former Philadelphia Phillies catcher Darren Daulton was a state champion wrestler in high school.

There might be several reasons why it's hard to find well known baseball players who are former wrestlers. In states which produce the majority of MLB players--California, Arizona, Texas, Georgia, Florida--many top baseball prospects focus on baseball year round. They spend their winters getting ready for baseball instead of wrestling or playing basketball.

Also, wrestling simply isn't as big in those 5 states as it is elsewhere in the country. The states with the highest percentage of male high school athletes participating in wrestling are Alaska (11.5%), Nevada (10.9%), Wyoming (10.6%), Utah (9.8%) and Nebraska (9.7%). Though Nevada is emerging as a baseball talent pool, those states do not produce many professional baseball players. By comparison, California ranks 33rd with 6.2% of male high school athletes participating in wrestling; Florida 34th with 6.1% and Texas 49th with 1.7%. The only state with a lower percentage than Texas is Mississippi, which is the only state that doesn't officially have high school wrestling.

Wrestling is a great sport so I hope you can encourage more baseball players, and athletes from other sports, to give it a try!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Wrestling to Baseball is one of the smallest connections. Wrestling and Football are basically codependent when handled properly. There was a nationally ranked heavyweight this year or last year that is playing baseball in college instead of wrestling.

Trying to get soccer/wrestling connections is tough too, I only have Charlie Davies (and Ian Horn when I'm trying to be clever)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Wrestling to Baseball is one of the smallest connections. Wrestling and Football are basically codependent when handled properly. There was a nationally ranked heavyweight this year or last year that is playing baseball in college instead of wrestling.

Trying to get soccer/wrestling connections is tough too, I only have Charlie Davies (and Ian Horn when I'm trying to be clever)

The Vasquez brothers are all very talented soccer players . Even the oldest, Rafael was.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

PeeWee Herman, are you serious? do you know what he is famous for?

Uh yeah for peewee's playhouse duh

Also Ray Lewis (the most intense football player of all time) was a state champion wrestler in Florida.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Yea they have a pretty small connection, while wrestling has a team aspect its mainly a individual sport and a combat sport. Baseball is a team sport with no physical contact, i played baseball from the time i was 4 til like junior year and wrestled almost as long and 90% kids i played baseball with would prolly cry at a serious wrestling teams practice.  

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Sign in to follow this