MLB OF Eric Byrnes Once Sacked Tom Brady Three Times in High School Game

Former Oakland Athletics and Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Eric Byrnes sacked Tom Brady three times in a 63-6 blowout in a high school game between St. Francis (Mountain View, California) and Junipero Serra in 1993. Brady retired from the NFL Wednesday.
MLB OF Eric Byrnes Once Sacked Tom Brady Three Times in High School Game
MLB OF Eric Byrnes Once Sacked Tom Brady Three Times in High School Game /

Former MLB Network analyst and 11-year MLB outfielder Eric Byrnes once sacked seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady three times in a high school football game, back in 1993. Byrnes' St. Francis Lancers defeated Brady's Junipero Serra Padres 63-6. It was one of the biggest blowouts in the history of both schools.

Byrnes told the story on MLB Network back in early 2018, reenacting the sacks in the studio.

Junipero Serra and St. Francis are both Catholic high schools located in the Bay Area of California. Byrnes was a year ahead of Brady. Both were selected in the MLB Amateur Draft: Byrnes in 1994 and Brady in 1995.

Byrnes excelled in both football and baseball. After he was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 38th round of the 1994 MLB Draft, he opted not to sign, and to instead play baseball at UCLA. He was then drafted once again in 1997, this time in the Houston Astros in the fourth round, but didn't sign. In 1998, the Oakland Athletics selected Byrnes in the eighth round, and he signed.

Brady, a left-handed hitting catcher, was selected in the 18th round of the 1995 MLB Draft by the Montreal Expos. Brady chose football instead, attending the University of Michigan, and the rest is history.

Brady announced his retirement from the National Football League Wednesday, after winning seven Super Bowls and receiving 15 Pro Bowl selections with the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Byrnes had a nice Major League career of his own. After he was called up to the Oakland Athletics, he quickly made a name for himself as a speedy outfielder with fantastic range in the outfield. Byrnes made some of the finest catches a center fielder has ever made.

As a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2007, Byrnes stole 50 bases, hit 21 home runs, knocked in 83 RBI, and posted a slash line of .286/.353/.813, while collected 14 Defensive Runs Saved in the outfield. That season, the Diamondbacks would win 90 games, and their first National League West division title since 2002. The 2007 Diamondbacks reached the National League Championship Series, where they were swept by the Colorado Rockies.

Byrnes played for the A's, Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, Baltimore Orioles and Seattle Mariners from 2000-2010.

Check out the latest episode of the Jack Vita Show for more MLB offseason analysis!

Subscribe to the Jack Vita Show on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Amazon | iHeartRadio | Stitcher | Pandora | TuneIn | Listen Notes | Podtail | Podchaser | Hubhopper | Audio junkie | Himalaya | Podcast Addict | Available wherever podcasts are found.

More MLB Offseason Coverage:

For more from Jack Vita, follow him on Twitter @JackVitaShow, and subscribe to his podcast, the Jack Vita Show, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Facebook, Amazon, iHeartRadio, and wherever podcasts are found.


Published
Jack Vita
JACK VITA

Jack Vita is a national baseball writer for Fastball on Sports Illustrated/FanNation.