{"id":1392627,"date":"2021-08-07T07:19:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-07T11:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/?p=1392627"},"modified":"2021-08-07T07:20:01","modified_gmt":"2021-08-07T11:20:01","slug":"new-york-jets-might-without-super-bowl-victory-joe-namath-gone-50000-path-high-school","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/new-york-jets-might-without-super-bowl-victory-joe-namath-gone-50000-path-high-school\/","title":{"rendered":"The New York Jets Might Be Without a Super Bowl Victory Had Joe Namath Gone Down a $50,000 Path in High School"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

New York Jets<\/a> fans have experienced plenty of nightmares over the years. None may be more frightening than imagining a world without Joe Namath at quarterback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his statistics don\u2019t measure up with modern quarterbacks, Namath remains among the most important figures in professional football history. But long before he upset the Baltimore Colts<\/a> in Super Bowl 3, the Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback needed to make a difficult choice regarding his future in sports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Chicago Cubs offered Joe Namath $50,000 to play baseball<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"New
New York Jets legend Joe Namath nearly signed with the Chicago Cubs in 1961 | Focus on Sport\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Major League Baseball Draft, believe it or not, is a fairly new event. Prior to 1965, teams competed with one another, much like modern free agency, to acquire the services of everyone from high school prospects to older college players.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That applied to Namath, who graduated high school in the spring of 1961. Although he intended to play quarterback at the University of Alabama, his prowess on the baseball field earned him at least four offers from Major League teams — and remember, the league only had 18 teams when he enrolled in college. The New York Mets and Houston Colt .45s, now the Astros, began playing in 1962.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a 1969 interview with\u00a0Playboy<\/em>, Namath said the St. Louis Cardinals offered him $15,000 when he was a junior in high school. The Baltimore Orioles and Kansas City Athletics also wanted to sign the outfielder. But during his senior year, the Chicago Cubs<\/a> came through and offered him $50,000 to join one of the sport's oldest franchises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When he spoke with Playboy<\/em>, Namath still wasn\u2019t sure why teams were so interested in signing him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I could throw, and I could hit. I have no idea what my batting average was in high school, but I know it wasn't below .450, and that's pretty good hitting where I come from.”<\/p>Joe Namath<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Luckily for the Crimson Tide, Namath passed up on baseball and signed his letter of intent to play college football. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Namath's decision became far more meaningful throughout 1969<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n

The powerhouse Baltimore @Colts<\/a>.
The underdog @nyjets<\/a>.
And a guarantee by @RealJoeNamath<\/a>. @SuperBowl<\/a> III changed the game forever. (via @NFLThrowback) #NFL100<\/a> #FBF<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/IcGfzRtBfx<\/a><\/p>— NFL (@NFL) May 31, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote>