Hampton always thought Mahomes would be a SS, not a QB

NEW YORK -- Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes could make history when he faces the Eagles in New Orleans this Sunday. He has a chance to become the first quarterback in Super Bowl history to three-peat as an NFL champion.

Former Major League pitcher Mike Hampton will be watching the game from his California home. However, he can¡¯t help but see Mahomes as the 5-year-old kid who used to hang out at Shea Stadium on a regular basis during the 2000 season. Hampton and Mahomes¡¯ father, Pat Sr., were teammates with the Mets that year. Hampton credits then-manager Bobby Valentine for giving kids like Mahomes the freedom of hanging out in the clubhouse and on the field.

¡°[Patrick] has grown up into a man now,¡± Hampton said. ¡°My memories of him are when he had his hair cut down tight. He was a little thin. He was a 5-year-old boy hanging out with my son, Gage, in the batting cages in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Every time I listen to him talk with the country accent, it brings back those memories in 2000, for sure.¡±

Hampton never envisioned Mahomes being one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history. In fact, Hampton imagined Mahomes being a shortstop like Derek Jeter or an outfielder like Ken Griffey Jr. Hampton called Mahomes ¡°a real baseball player at 5 years old.¡±

During Super Bowl week, there was a popular photo circulating in social media that shows Mahomes shagging fly balls with Hampton before the start of the 2000 World Series against the Yankees. Hampton currently has that photo on his office wall.

¡°The photo gets circulated this time of year because Patrick is in the Super Bowl every year,¡± Hampton said. ¡°We are deep in the outfield and he is 5 years old, tracking a Major League flyball like it¡¯s a little Sunday popup in Little League. When you see things like that -- how natural it came -- you could see he had the potential to become something special.¡±

Mahomes thought about following in his father¡¯s footsteps. The Tigers selected him in the 37th round of the 2014 MLB Draft, but he didn¡¯t sign with the organization because of his love for football. Baseball is still in Mahomes¡¯ blood, however, because he is a part-owner of the Royals.

As for Hampton, he is coaching a Little League team in California and uses Mahomes as an example of how to be a professional in the sports world.

¡°[The kids] can¡¯t believe I know him and I joke, ¡®Hey, bro, he knows me. I don¡¯t know him. I was famous before [he was].¡¯ I always show the photo to my kids, and I¡¯ll do it again this year,¡± Hampton said. ¡°We start our first practice next week. I¡¯m excited. Patrick is an inspirational person, not only to children but to everyone. He handles himself humbly. He portrays what a celebrity athlete should be.¡±