The American Spectator : The Spectacle Blog : A Gretzky Who Plays Baseball?

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Normally a seventh round draft pick of the Chicago Cubs wouldn't merit a great deal of attention. But when you are the son of the greatest hockey player to ever don skates well people are going to sit up and take notice.

The Cubs have drafted 18-year old Trevor Gretzky, the son of Wayne Gretzky during the second day of the MLB Draft. The younger Gretzky plays first base and was drafted straight out of high school in California. Gretzky said he became hooked on baseball when his father took him to Yankee Stadium when he was finishing out his NHL career with the New York Rangers.

Honestly, I am not surprised there could be a Gretzky in the major leagues. When The Great One was in his prime with the Edmonton Oilers, he would follow Edmonton Trappers, the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. On occasion, Gretzky would get some swings in batting practice against the likes of Ron Kittle, who in 1983 became the American League Rookie of the Year after hitting 35 homers and driving in 100 runs for the AL West Champions.

On a side note, I once attended an Edmonton Trappers game in 1999. By this time, the Trappers were affiliated with the Oakland Athletics. What I remember about Telus Field was that while the outfield had natural grass, the infield was covered in artificial turf. I have never seen anything like it since.

As for Trevor Gretzky, there is no guarantee he will sign with the Cubs. Prior to being drafted, he had agreed to attend San Diego State and play under the tutelage of eight-time NL batting champion Tony Gwynn. Perhaps the junior Gretzky will opt to gain more seasoning under the watchful eye of another Great One.

View all comments (3) | Leave a comment

JohnD| 6.8.11 @ 8:26AM

I don't know if I'd call Gretzky the best hockey player ever to don skates. He was a great scorer, obviously, but he was no Gordie Howe. He also couldn't defend himself and needed goons to protect him, unlike, say an Alex Ovechkin who has both circus-like skills but can still stand up for himself.

Sparky| 6.8.11 @ 10:53AM

I grew up in the Detroit area during Gordie Howe's playing days, so I definitely love me some Gordo. But I won't abide any downplaying of Wayne Gretzky. He was the greatest playmaker we will ever see, routinely doing things that seemed utterly incredible. The imagination, anticipation, and artistry with he played are unforgettable.

Lisa| 6.8.11 @ 1:18PM

Big decision for any kid. However, this kid, thanks to the sheer luck of being the son of a multi-millionaire, is already set for life; he doesn't need the money, so I doubt the hunger you need to get to the bigs is there. I say he goes to SDSU.