Saturday, December 4, 2021

Pro or Olympic Athletes Who Were Also High Ranking Politicians in the United States

      Recently I got to thinking about politicians who were former professional athletes.  Given my personal tastes, I first thought of people who played in the National Football League and Major League Baseball.  But as I discovered, there were more who played in other pro leagues.  I initially was going to make this about people from around the world, but after checking this out, it was too ambitious--simply put, there are too many examples if I use the entire world, and this would end up being like a 10 part post or more.  So, I limited myself to just American politicians, since this left me with a manageable number of examples.  So, apologies to my non-American readers.

     Also, I decided to limit the list a bit more.  Mainly, I went with higher ranking politicians.  That is, U.S. House of Representatives members, U.S. Senators, state governors, or city mayors.  Plus, as athletes the individuals had to play at least one official regular season game or match--no folks who were members of the practice squad, or competed in preseason games.  For the Olympians, I limited it to people who won a medal (i.e., a gold, silver, or bronze), not just made an Olympic team.  Although I will list one non-medal winning Olympian at the end, in an Honorable Mention section.  As usual, I did the best I could, but it's clearly possible I may have missed somebody.  So I welcome readers to comment and mention any mistakes or omissions, and I'll fix this post when I can.  Anyway, let's get to it.  I'll divide these examples up by sport, with brief athletic accomplishments listed, followed by what type of politician they were.  And further highlights in other  careers, if applicable.


Mixed Martial Artists (MMA):

1)    Sharice Davids:  Davids had a brief pro MMA career, fighting twice, in 2013 and 2014.  She beat Nadia Nixon via submission, and then lost a decision to Rosa Acevedo.  In politics she won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives from the state of Kansas, starting in 2019 and continuing through present.  She's a Democrat.  Also, as far as I could find she's the only female high ranking politician who was formerly a pro athlete.

2)    Mark Wayne Mullin, who normally goes by MarkWayne Mullin:  Like Davids, Mullin had a short MMA stint, from 2006-07.  He fought 3 times, and won all 3.  I by knockout, and 2 by submissions, against Clinton Bonds on two occasions, and versus Bobby Kelley once.  Currently, and since 2013, he's been a U.S. House member from Oklahoma, as a Republican.


National Hockey League (NHL):

1)    Brandon Bochenski:  Bochenski played in the NHL from 2005-10, with the Chicago Blackhawks, Boston Bruins, and Ottawa Senators as a right wing.  In 156 total games he scored 28 goals, and had 40 assists, with a +/- of 1.  He also accrued 54 penalty minutes.  Politically, he's been the mayor of Grand Forks, North Dakota since 2020, for the Republican party.


National Basketball Association (NBA)/National Basketball League (NBL):

1)    Bill Bradley:  Bradley played with the New York Knicks from 1967-77, as a small forward.  In his career he averaged 12.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game.  Total, in 742 games he shot 44.8% from the field, and scored 9217 points.  He was named to one All Star Team, and was part of 2 NBA title-winning teams.  He's a Hall of Famer, and also won a gold medal on the 1964 U.S. Men's basketball team.  In Washington he served as a U.S. Senator from 1979-97 for New Jersey, as a Democrat.

2)    Kevin Johnson:  Johnson played as a point guard from 1987-2000, mostly with the Phoenix Suns.  He started 623 of 735 games.  His per game averages include 17.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, 9.1 assists, and 1.5 steals.  He was named an All Star 3 times.  Later he served as the mayor of Sacramento, California from 2008-16.  Johnson was a Democrat.

3)    Tom McMillen:  McMillen was with several teams, including the Atlanta Hawks and Washington Bullets, in a career stretching from 1975-86.  A center, he played in 729 total games.  His per game averages were 8.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, 0.3 steals, 1.1 assists, and 0.3 blocks.  Then from 1987-93 he was a Democratic U.S. Representative for Maryland.

4)    Morris "Mo" Udall:  Udall's pro basketball career was brief, as he only played 1 year, with the Denver Nuggets in the old NBL, in 1948-49.  A forward, he appeared in 57 games, averaged 6.5 points per game and made 121 of 171 free throws.  (I couldn't discover any more statistics, since it was so long ago, when stats weren't kept nearly as well.)  His tenure as a U.S. Representative, conversely, was long, as he served from 1961-91 for Arizona, as a Democrat.  I realize some folks might not count the NBL as a top pro league, (the NBA doesn't count its stats, for example), but since several of its teams joined with the then BAA (Basketball Association of America) to make the NBA, I think it should count.


Olympic Medalists:

1)    Dave Albritton:  In the 1936 Olympics Albritton won a silver medal in the men's high jump.  Later he served as the Congressional Representative for the state of Ohio from 1961-72, as a Republican.

2)    Bob Mathius:  Mathius won gold medals in the decathlon  in both the 1948 and 1952 Games.  Later, he served as a U.S. Representative for California from 1967-75, as a Republican.  He also acted in several movies, such as "The Bob Mathius Story" (1954), "China Doll" (1958), "It Happened in Athens" (1962), and "Minotaur, the Wild Beast of Crete" (1962).

3)    Ralph Metcalfe:  Metcalfe had quite a lot of success in the Olympics.  In 1932 he won the silver medal in the 100 meters, and a bronze in the 200 meters.  Then in the 1936 Games he won silver at the 100 meters again, and gold in the 4X100 meter relay.  Later he was a Democratic U.S. Representative for Illinois from 1971-78.

4)    Jim Ryun:  Ryun was a famous runner in the United States, starting from a young age.  However, his only medal was a silver in the 1500 meter event for the 1968 Summer Games.  From 1996-2007 he was a U.S. Representative for Kansas.  He was a Republican.


Major League Baseball (MLB):

1)    Fred Brown:  Brown had a very short pro baseball career, from 1901-02 with the National League's Boston Beaneaters.  (Yes, that was their name.)  As an outfielder, he played in 9 total games, with 21 plate appearances, 20 at bats, 2 runs, 4 hits, 1 double, and 2 rbi, for a "slash" of .200/.200/.250, an adjusted OPS of 24, and -0.2 WAR.  His political career was much more distinguished.  He was the governor of New Hampshire from 1923-25, and a U.S. Senator for the same state from 1933-39.  Brown was a Democrat.

2)    Jim Bunning:  From 1955-71 Bunning was a pitcher, mostly for the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies.  His lifetime won-loss record was 224-184, and his lifetime ERA was 3.27.  His WHIP was 1.179, his adjusted ERA was 115, he was named to 9 All Star teams, and his overall WAR was 59.4.  He's in the Hall of Fame.  Then, from 1987-99 he was a U.S. Representative for Kentucky, followed by a U.S. Senate seat from 1999-2011, also for Kentucky.  He was a Republican.

3)    Wilmer "Vinegar Bend" Mizell:  Mizell was in the Majors from 1952-53, and then again from 1956-62, for the St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates, and New York Mets.  A pitcher, his career won-loss record was 90-88, his ERA was 3.85, and his adjusted ERA was 104 (or just a little above average).  His lifetime WHIP was 1.385, and his WAR was 17.5.  He was technically named to 2 All Star teams, but both were in one year, 1959. Mizell also won a World Series with the Pirates in 1960.  Down in Washington D.C.  he was a Representative from North Carolina from 1969-75, serving as a Republican.

4)    Pius Schwert:  Like Brown, Schwert's time in MLB was short, and not that sweet.  He was a catcher for the New York Yankees in 1914-15.  He appeared in 12 games, with 27 plate appearances, 24 at bats, 6 runs, 5 hits, 3 doubles, 3 walks, and 6 rbi.  For an overall slash of .208/.296/.333, an adjusted OPS of 89, and 0.2 WAR.  He was a U.S. Representative for New York from 1939-41, as a Democrat.

5)    John K. Tener:  He goes way back, to MLB's infancy.  In 1888-89 he played with the Chicago White Sox, who at that time were in the National League.  Tener was mostly a pitcher, but he also played some outfield, first base, and third base.  All told as a hurler he finished with a 22-20 won-loss record, with a 3.40 ERA, (112 adjusted ERA).  His WHIP was 1.342.  At the plate he slashed .234/.290/.301, with 63 hits, 3 homers, 25 rbi, and an adjusted OPS of 66.  His overall WAR was 2.5.  He also played in some other pro baseball leagues, of arguably lesser standing.  In the world of politics he served as a U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania from 1909-11.  Then he was the same state's governor from 1911-15, both times as a Republican.


National Football League (NFL) and American Football League (AFL):

1)    Steve Largent:  Largent played wide receiver from 1976-89, with the Seattle Seahawks.  He ended with 819 receptions, 13,089 receiving yards, 100 receiving touchdowns, and 1 rushing touchdown.  His AV was 140, and he was named to 7 Pro Bowls, and 1 All Pro team.  All these accomplishments led him to be named to the NFL Hall of Fame.  Then from 1994-2002 he was a U.S. Representative for Oklahoma, as a Republican.

2)    Colin Allred:  Allred, in contrast to Largent, had a very brief and uneventful career.  He played from 2007-10 with the Tennessee Titans, as a mostly reserve linebacker.  He competed in 32 games, with 2 starts.  His final AV was 2.  Since 2019 he's been a U.S. Representative for Texas, as a Democrat.

3)    LaVern Dilweg:  Dilweg played in the NFL's infancy, from 1926-34, mostly with the Green Bay Packers, as an end.  He played in 107 games, with 72 as a starter.  Stats from these early days are very sparse, but I can tell you he scored 12 touchdowns, was named to the All Pro Team 5 times, and was a member of 3 NFL title winning teams.  He also was named to the Hall of Fame All-1920's Team.  Conversely, his national political tenure was brief, as he was a U.S. Representative for Wisconsin from 1943-45.

4)    Anthony Gonzalez:  Not to be confused with the great tight end Tony Gonzalez, this Anthony Gonzalez was a wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts from 2007-2011.  In 40 total games, with 12 as a starter, he caught 99 passes for 1307 yards, and 7 touchdowns.  Gonzalez's career AV was 16.  Since 2019 he's been a U.S. Representative from Ohio, serving as a Republican.

5)    Jack Kemp:  Kemp played with the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers in 1957, and then with the AFL's San Diego Chargers and Buffalo Bills from 1960-69, all as a quarterback.  In all he played in 122 games, with 105 starts.  He completed 46.7% of his passes, for 21,218 yards, 114 touchdowns, and 183 interceptions, for a quarterback rating of 57.3.  On the ground he rushed for 1150 yards, and 40 touchdowns.  His total AV was 83, and he was named to 7 Pro Bowls and 2 All Pro teams.  Kemp was also the starter for 2 AFL title winning teams.  Later, in 1995-2003 he was a U.S. Representative from Oklahoma, as a Republican.

6)    Burgess Owens:  Owens played from 1973-82, with the New York Jets and Oakland/L.A. Raiders, as a defensive back.  He played in 137 games, all as a starter.  He intercepted 30 passes for 458 yards, and 4 touchdowns, and also recovered 13 fumbles.  Additionally, he returned 1 kickoff for a touchdown, and scored another, unspecified touchdown (presumably on a special teams play, perhaps a blocked punt or field goal).  His total AV was 62, and he also was part of a Super Bowl winning team.  As of 2021 he's now a U.S. Representative for Utah, as a Republican.

7)    Jon Runyan, Sr.:  From 1996-2009, Runyan was an offensive tackle with the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans, Philadelphia Eagles, and San Diego Chargers.  He started 192 out of 207 total games.  He was named to 1 Pro Bowl, and accumulated 106 AV.  From 2011-15 he was a U.S. Representative for New Jersey, as a Republican.

8)    Jim Schwantz:  Switching back to more obscure players, Schwantz was a linebacker who played with the Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, and San Francisco 49ers, in 1992, and then from 1994-98.  He played in 72 games, none of them starts.  Schwantz was a special teamer, and made 46 total tackles, with a career AV of 7.  He was, though, named to a Pro Bowl (as a special teamer, obviously), and was part of a Super Bowl title winning team.  Since 2009 he's been the mayor of Palatine, Illinois, as a nonpartisan, whatever that means.  (I guess it's another way of saying independent.)

9)    Heath Shuler:  There's no nice way to say this--Shuler was a huge bust in the NFL.  He was the third overall pick in the 1994 draft, and didn't live up to this.  A quarterback, he played with Washington and the New Orleans Saints, from 1994-97.  Shuler started 22 out of 29 overall games.  He completed 49.2% of his passes, for 15 touchdowns, 23 interceptions, 3691 yards, and a 54.3 quarterback rating.  He added 198 yards and a touchdown rushing, and his total AV was only 6.  Later, however, he served as a U.S. Representative for North Carolina, from 2007-13 as a Democrat.

10)   Alan Autry, Jr., who was also known as Carlos Brown:  Autry/Brown played quarterback for the Green Bay Packers from 1975-76, starting 3 of 26 games.  He completed only 37.2% of his passes for 396 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions.  Rushing-wise he added 49 yards.  His overall quarterback rating was 35.0, or worse than if he spiked the ball into the turf on every play.  And his overall AV was 2.  After football, though, he got into acting.  He appeared in such movies as "Remember My Name" (1978), "North Dallas Forty" (1979), "Southern Comfort" (1981), "Nomads" (1986) and "House" (1986).  On television he acted in such programs as "Cheers" (1983), "The Dukes of Hazard" (1981 and 1984),"In the Heat of the Night" (1988-95), and "Grace Under Fire" (1995-96).  Then he served as the mayor of Fresno, California from 2001-09, as an independent.  He also was involved in some musical compositions.  So, all in all, kind of a Renaissance Man, I suppose.


Canadian Football League (CFL)

1)   Fob James:  James played pro football briefly, for one year with the CFL's Montreal Alouettes in 1956.  Alas, I wasn't able to find out any of his statistics, other than that he played in 10 games, as a halfback.  Politically he was governor of Alabama on two separate occasions, from 1979-83 and again from 1995-99.  He was a Democrat and then a Republican.

2)   J.C. Watts:  Watts was a lauded college football player in the late 1970's.  Unfortunately, that was still a time when African-American players were rarely given a chance to play quarterback in the NFL.  Therefore, Watts went up north, and played in the CFL, from 1981-86.  He was both a member of the Ottawa Rough Riders and the Toronto Argonauts.  I did see a few stats--he completed 52.9% of his passes, for 12,414 yards, 66 touchdowns, 93 interceptions and an overall quarterback rating of 67.9.  Later he served as a U.S. Representative from Oklahoma, from 1995-2003, as a Republican. 


Honorable Mention:

1)   Ben Nighthorse Campbell:  Campbell was the captain of the U.S. judo team during the 1964 Summer Olympics.  Alas, he didn't earn any medals.  In 1987-93 he was a U.S. Representative from Colorado.  From 1993-2005 he was a Senator, from the same state.  Like Fob James he was both a Democrat and a Republican during his political career.




































































































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