Super Bowl: Patrick Mahomes' family ties make Mets one of his favorite teams
Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes once spent afternoons shagging fly balls at Shea Stadium, as seen at right alongside former Mets pitcher Mike Hampton in 2000. Credit: Getty Images; AP/Kathy Willens
LAS VEGAS — Patrick Mahomes still counts the Mets as one of his favorite baseball teams. They’re his third favorite to be exact.
Mahomes is one of the owners of the Kansas City Royals, so they’re No. 1. He grew up in Texas and loved the Rangers, but now they’re No. 2. Mahomes father, Pat, is the reason the Mets are third on his list.
Pat Mahomes played 11 seasons in the major leagues with the Twins, Red Sox, Mets, Rangers and Pirates. He went 13-3 with the Mets in 1999 and 2000 mostly as a relief pitcher. The Mets made the postseason both years, and were in the World Series in 2000 where they lost to the Yankees.
“My favorite memories growing up were the Mets,” Mahomes said. “My dad was in the Subway Series. That’s when I was like 5 or 6. I started really remembering stuff.
“I was a Rangers fan growing up even though they lost the World Series when I was a real fan and they won right way when I became a Royals fan. Right now, it’s Royals, Rangers, Mets, Twins.”
Mahomes is now 28 and the best quarterback in the NFL. He’s shooting for his third Super Bowl victory Sunday when Kansas City faces the 49ers.
Playing baseball growing up has helped Mahomes as a quarterback with his arm strength, accuracy and all the different arm angles from which he throws the football.
Mahomes always wanted to play in the major leagues and thought he would, but he wasn’t as successful in college on the diamond as he was the gridiron. In one appearance for Texas Tech, Mahomes allowed three earned runs and didn’t record an out. His ERA is infinity.
“I thought even after my freshman year college I was playing baseball,” Mahomes said. “After playing football then I went to the baseball field that freshman year and I think I have an infinity ERA, so I knew that was about it for my baseball career.
“It was something that I always had dreamed of — being a professional baseball player. It didn't work out that way, but it worked out on another avenue.”
Mahomes doesn’t sound as if he’s gotten baseball entirely out of his system though.
“At some point,” he said, “I'm going to try to get out to spring training and see if I still have any juice left in the arm.”
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
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