Few athletes get the opportunity to be drafted in two sports.
Red Deer native Paul Manning is one.
Manning was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 20th round of the 1997 Major League Draft, then selected by the Calgary Flames in the third round of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft.
“It’s kind of neat to be drafted in two sports,” he said in a phone interview from his home in Edmonton.
Manning was scouted while playing Midget (U18) AAA baseball with the Red Deer Braves.
“There was a scout based out of the Taber area and he was consistently in touch with me and coming up to watch,” explained Manning.
“I was on Team Alberta at the Nationals and heard a famous Yankees scout, who discovered Derek Jeter (Dick Groch) was coming up to watch me. I really didn’t think much about it but he contacted me and said he was serious. We met at a hotel after and he tried to convince me to sign and get me into their system.
“But I also had a hockey scholarship which was worth as much as what they would pay me.
“Also growing up in Red Deer hockey was big and it seemed far fetched to make it as a ball player.
“Still it was cool but it didn’t take me long to figure out my best option.”
The Yankees still took “a flyer” on Manning who ended up playing four years of hockey with Colorado College in Colorado Springs.
Ironically, Manning didn’t sign with the Flames either.
After four years of college, he was told the Flames were going in another direction, and his rights were traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets prior to the 2001-02 season.
He ended up playing only eight games in the NHL in the 2002-03 season before heading back to Syracuse in the AHL.
It was his time in Syracuse, where he saw just how big the Yankees organization was.
“Growing up, I was always a huge Mariners fan and kind of hated the Yankees,” he added with a laugh. “But in Syracuse the Yankees were really big. That was cool to see.”
Paul and his family went to New York a couple years back, which gave him even more of an idea just how big the they are.
“Huge,” he said. “Seeing the new Yankee Stadium and the history there and all the greats in centre field is on another level.
“It was pretty cool to think I was drafted by them ... I was thankful for that.”
Manning knew a little bit about what the baseball minor league system was all about. He knew Brad Moon, who was selected out of Red Deer in the 23rd round of the 1996 draft by the Toronto Blue Jays.
Moon signed and was sent to Medicine Hat of the Pioneer Rookie League.
He played one season before injuring his shoulder and never played again.
“Brad told me he was starting at the bottom and wasn’t making much money. Told me about the lifestyle, grinding it out just to work your way up.”
Manning eventually played 11 years of pro hockey - nine in the German League but baseball will always be part of his live.
“I love the sport,” he said. “I think one of the reasons is that it got me out in the summer, playing four or five months.
“It was crucial for me to get that break from hockey, then come fall I was itching to get back on the ice.
“It’s rare these days. I played against Jarome Iginla and he promotes playing different sports. Few do, which is sad.”
And Manning knows a thing or two about playing only one sport as he runs spring and summer hockey schools in Edmonton.
“I see a lot of kids burning out, especially in the spring. You see a lot of good players who aren’t excited about playing.”
His son, Ewan, plays both but is more into baseball.
“He’s 16 and plays U18 AA and pitches,” explained Paul. “He enjoys it and while I help coach I don’t know much about pitching so I can’t say anything to him, except encourage him and sit back and watch.
His daughter, Campbell, 13, is into hockey “along with other teenage girl activities.”
This year, the Innisfail native and St. Joseph’s Academy and Red Deer Carstar Braves U18AAA grad Nate Flewelling, who played this year with the Sylvan Lake Gulls, was drafted in the third round by the Tampa Bay Rays.
“That’s exciting,” said Manning. “A group of us follow minor baseball and he wowed them at the combine. When he was drafted I reach out to a buddy of mine in Red Deer and he said he’s a stud.
“It’s good for ball in Red Deer ... puts them on the map. You can’t get any better when it comes to location and facilities. Not a better city to grow up in.”
Manning played centrefield while Flewelling is mainly a catcher who plays some first base.
Paul indicated he’ll continue to watch Flewelling’s development.
“It’ll be fun to follow him and to cheer for kids, especially local kids who have that kind of special talent. It’s fun to watch them as they progress through their careers.”
Flewelling is the fourth local product drafted joining Moon, Manning and Jeff MacDonald of Lacombe, who was selected in the 35th round of the 2001 draft by the Colorado Rockies.
Danny Rode is a retired Advocate reporter and member of the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame who can be reached at danbrode@shaw.ca
