MLB Draft Legacy: Pat Mahomes Sr. and Shawn Purdy’s Pre-Super Bowl MLB History

The fathers of Super Bowl quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Brock Purdy, Pat Mahomes Sr. and Shawn Purdy, respectively, share a fascinating history in the MLB Draft dating back to the 1980s, long before their sons’ anticipated showdown in Super Bowl LVIII.

Patrick Mahomes II’s father, Pat Mahomes, enjoyed an 11-year career as a pitcher in Major League Baseball. On the other hand, while Brock Purdy’s father, Shawn Purdy, never made it to the big leagues, he spent eight seasons honing his craft in the minor leagues.

MLB analyst Ryan M. Spaeder highlighted an intriguing coincidence involving the two families, noting that in five consecutive MLB Drafts from 1987 to 1991, either Mahomes or Purdy was selected.

Shawn Purdy’s journey in the draft began when the Pittsburgh Pirates picked him in the 46th round from Valencia Community College in 1987. However, he opted not to pursue a professional baseball career at that time. Subsequently, in 1989, the Kansas City Royals drafted Purdy in the 44th round from Indian River State College, but he chose to continue his collegiate career. After transferring to the University of Miami, Purdy was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the 26th round of the 1990 MLB Draft but again decided to decline the offer. Finally, in 1991, he signed with the California Angels after being picked in the 16th round.

In contrast, Pat Mahomes was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the sixth round of the 1988 MLB Draft.

Pat Mahomes’s MLB career spanned across various teams, including the Twins, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, Texas Rangers, Chicago Cubs, and Pirates. He compiled a record of 42-39 with a 5.47 ERA and 1.594 WHIP during his MLB tenure and also spent time in the minors, accruing a record of 102-75 with a 3.63 ERA and 1.373 WHIP before retiring at age 39 in 2009.

Similarly, Shawn Purdy experienced a successful minor league career, amassing a record of 58-37 with a 3.91 ERA and 1.353 WHIP while representing the affiliates of the Angels, San Francisco Giants, and Atlanta Braves. He concluded his professional baseball journey in 1998 at the age of 30.