Tom Brady was an exceptional athlete, one so talented that his throwing arm was valued enough to get him drafted in the 15th round... by the Montreal Expos.
You are excused for being confused. Yes, we are referring to the now-retired NFL quarterback who won seven Super Bowls — six with New England and one with Tampa Bay. Yes, the same one who is widely considered to be the greatest NFL pivot of all time.
But Brady was also a left-handed hitting catcher, one the since-departed Expos dreamed could help them win a World Series back in 1995 when they drafted him. In a video released on Tuesday, that dream becomes a reality (or alternative reality) with the 46-year-old's career arc having taken a decidedly different turn.
Even former Expos Vladimir Guerrero Sr., Larry Walker, and Pedro Martinez are featured, exclaiming: "That guy just never let us lose... except to the Giants."
That's a reference to the pair of Patriots Super Bowl losses to New York, but takes on a different meaning in this tongue-and-cheek world.
The spoof video is all part of a promotion for Topps' Bowman Draft 2023 cards, which are being released by Fanatics, and focus on MLB prospects before they play a big-league game. The release features some "what if?" rookie cards, including one for Brady.
Not content to let Brady have all the fun, former N.Y. Giants quarterback Eli Manning responded with a video of his own, decked out in San Francisco gear, jokingly referring to a pair of championships won by the Bay Area baseball team.
"You've got a special place in the hearts of all of us… in San Francisco," says Manning, who may be looking to get his own baseball card from Topps.
Manning wasn't the only one chiming in on #BradyDay. Cooperstown, home of the Baseball Hall of Fame, got in on the act on X (the social media app formerly known as Twitter), posting a Hall of Fame plaque featuring the near-Major Leaguer.
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