Wrestlemania, the “showcase of the immortals,” originates from New Orleans this weekend. The 30th installment of the event will feature present day WWE stars like Daniel Bryan and the Shield, while bringing back household names like The Undertaker and Hulk Hogan.
Athletes from the four major pro sports have long been a part of the pro wrestling scene, going back to former AFL standout Ernie “Big Cat” Ladd, and probably even before that. But, like Ladd, usually football players were the ones to make the jump: from William “The Refrigerator” Perry at Wrestlemania 2 to Lawrence Taylor in the main event of Wrestlemania 11, former Atlanta Falcon and WCW Heavyweight Champion Bill Goldberg and countless others.
But baseball players have been in the mix, too, one being among the greatest pro wrestlers of all-time. Here’s how…