Kyler Murray was one of the most exciting dual-sport athletes of the late 2010s, sparking a debate over his future in both football and baseball. As the first-round pick of Major League Baseball’s Oakland Athletics and the first overall pick in the NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals, Murray unique position to be featured on baseball cards in two professional sports.
While Murray played quarterback at the University of Oklahoma and was drafted ninth overall by the Athletics in the 2018 MLB Draft, he had a very promising baseball career starting in high school. As a two-way star at Allen High School in Texas, Murray was rated as one of the top dual-sport prep prospects in the country. He drew early attention from scouts and collectors with his appearances in sets like 2017 Topps High Tek.
This non-rookie card showed Murray in his Allen high school uniform, listed as a shortstop with stats from his senior high school season. The card featured Murray’s vibrant athleticism and 5-tool potential that had scouts excited about his future in baseball. Even at the high school level, Murray was generating buzz and interest that would translate to the hobby.
After being drafted by Oakland, Murray enrolled at Oklahoma to pursue both football and baseball. In 2019, he appeared in multiple college baseball card products to showcase his status as a rising two-sport star. Products like 2019 Donruss Optic featured Murray in an Oklahoma baseball jersey, highlighting the talents that made him a high draft pick despite only playing one season of college ball.
As a quarterback at Oklahoma during the 2018 and 2019 seasons, Murray took the college football world by storm and captured the Heisman Trophy award in 2018. Despite his rising football stardom, Murray remained committed to baseball and reported to Oakland’s rookie league affiliate after the college season. This opened up new opportunities for cards featuring Murray as a dual-athlete.
Panini captured Murray’s two-sport profile with cards like 2019 Prizm Basketball that placed him in a Oklahoma football uniform on the front but listed his baseball stats and team on the back. Products like 2019 Topps Heritage Minors featured Murray in an Athletics minor league jersey after he was assigned to their Single-A team. These highlighted his high-profile status as an athlete pursuing two pro sports.
In the weeks leading up to the 2019 MLB Draft, Murray’s future was the subject of intense speculation. Would he choose football over baseball full-time? After much debate, Murray made headlines by announcing he would focus solely on the NFL. This decision had major ramifications for his baseball card collectors and the hobby.
Any projections of a baseball career were now up in the air. Murray’s athletic accomplishments and dual-sport potential up to that point had made him a popular young star in the market. But collectors now faced uncertainty regarding further releases in the baseball sector. Murray’s football stardom and Heisman pedigree also opened up possibility for increased value in college cards.
When the Arizona Cardinals selected Murray first overall in the 2019 NFL Draft, it was hailed as an unprecedented scenario – no one had ever been drafted in the top 10 of both the MLB and NFL Drafts. His unique path to reaching the pinnacle of two major professional sports generated nationwide attention and buzz.
Panini capitalized on Murray’s new NFL status with releases like 2019 Donruss Optic Football that featured his rookie card in a Cardinals uniform. Given his high draft position and immediate starting role, Murray’s NFL rookie cards sold for top prices. Products like Leaf Entertainment also offered “Phoenix” parallels and memorabilia cards to tap into demand from Murray collectors.
Despite choosing football, Murray’s Oakland minor league affiliation and progress as an athlete ensured his baseball cards retained value as novel artifacts of his extraordinary dual-sport career. Sets like 2019 Topps Triple Threads paired swatches of his NFL uniforms with patches from his Athletics tenure. These hybridized the two phases of his young stardom.
In the years since, Murray has stabilized as the Cardinals’ franchise quarterback while maintaining ties to baseball. He works out in the offseason with Athletics players and works to improve his baseball skills. Some speculate he may one day attempt an NFL-MLB double if the scheduling allows.
Until any return to professional baseball occurs, Murray’s existing baseball cards continue to intrigue collectors. They preserve a unique chapter in the hobby – a supremely talented athlete who came agonizingly close to stardom in two sports. As one of the only stars ever drafted so high in consecutive sports, Kyler Murray’s baseball cards hold a special place documenting his trailblazing dual-sport path.
