Image credit: PALO ALTO, CA – APRIL 1980: Future NFL quarterback John Elway of Stanford University at bat during an NCAA baseball game against USC in April 1980 at Sunken Diamond stadium in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by David Madison/Getty Images)

Topps' 2024 Bowman Draft Release: John Elway in a Yankees Jersey

This morning, Topps officially made a significant announcement. One of the highly sought-after chase cards in the 2024 Bowman Draft release will showcase NFL legend John Elway donning a Yankees jersey. This isn't just a gimmick to generate interest; it's a story that came remarkably close to reality.Back in 1979, the Royals drafted Elway in the 18th round out of high school. However, he chose to attend Stanford, where he excelled in both football and baseball. As a freshman, he played in the outfield and achieved a respectable batting average of.269. But in his sophomore season in 1981, he took his game to a whole new level, hitting.361 with nine home runs and 50 RBIs in just 49 games. People began to take notice of Elway, including Yankees owner George Steinbrenner.“George was completely captivated by the idea of John,” Yankees scout Gary Hughes told ESPN in 2013. “‘We’ve got to have this guy. He’s going to be great. He’s going to be a Yankee.’”So, in the second round of the 1981 draft, the Yankees selected Elway with the 52nd overall pick, six spots ahead of when the Padres drafted Tony Gwynn. Other notable players drafted that year after Elway were David Cone, Paul O’Neill, John Franco, Mark McGwire, Fred McGriff, Roger Clemens, and Vince Coleman.Elway signed for $140,000 and played for Class-A Oneonta in 1982. Despite a slow start, he hit.356 in July and finished the season with remarkable stats of.318/.432/.896. The Yankees were firmly convinced that he could become a major star. In fact, he was ranked as Baseball America’s No. 1 Yankees prospect in 1983. Here's an excerpt from that time:“The arm he possessed was a true gift from God,” longtime Stanford coach Mark Marquess told MLB.com in 2015. “He could’ve easily made it as a Major League player. Being left-handed as a hitter, he had power. He was incredibly athletic, and his arm was like a cannon… I’ve never seen an athlete, whether in football or baseball, with an arm like that.”But Elway was torn. He still had a deep love for football and was determined to pursue that career. As the 1983 NFL Draft approached, the Yankees tried to persuade him to choose baseball for his future. When Elway was drafted first overall by the Baltimore Colts (an organization that didn't seem to suit him), it seemed like his future might be in pinstripes.However, shortly after, the Colts traded Elway to the Denver Broncos, and he made the decision to focus on football. And the rest, as they say, is history.Just like last year's Bowman Draft chase of Tom Brady in an Expos uniform (he was drafted by them in 1995), this year's Elway Yankees card chase is a delightful tribute to the possibilities that could have been. Here's the commercial that Topps dropped today, featuring the actor who played George Steinbrenner on Seinfeld, Stephen A. Smith, and a mythical backstory of the entire situation:[Insert commercial here]