Kurt Russell has honed his acting skills through years of hard work. Having ventured into the entertainment world through television series at the young age of 12 in the 1960s, he never looked back. While it’s hard to imagine him doing anything else other than acting, many might be surprised to know that he also possessed talent in baseball. However, a dangerous injury turned his attention all on acting.
While he was raising the ladders of success in entertainment, his passion for baseball during his 20s was also on fire. He played on minor league teams like the Portland Mavericks over four seasons. He was also making his way to get into a major league but ironically, his baseball pushed him to pursue his acting career.
Kurt Russell’s Serious Injury Led Him to Retire from Baseball
Before getting serious about his acting career, Kurt Russell decided to follow in his father’s footsteps to pursue a baseball career. Having played the sport through high school, he eventually secured his spot as a second baseman on a minor league team.
However, he faced a dangerous injury that led him to retire from the sport. In the early 1970s, he was turning the pivot of a double play in the field when the incoming runner at second base ran into him, leading the rotator cuff in his right (throwing) shoulder to tear up.
In an interview with Men’s Health, he admitted sustaining the injury but when asked whether it happened during the game, he responded,
“Well, no. It was a couple of things. I was using my arm more than I should. I took a hundred ground balls before every game. And then one night I was out celebrating, had a few too many, and blew out my arm playing air hockey.”
Given that he couldn’t pursue his baseball career any longer, he decided to focus his energy on acting. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise as he became one of the most demanding actors working in Hollywood even now.
Kurt Russell Returned to Focus on His Acting Career
After his retirement in 1973, he returned to pursue his acting career and the next year, he appeared in The New Land series inspired by the 1972 Swedish film of the same name. While the show was praised by critics, it still suffered low ratings. However, this didn’t disappoint the actor who continued to showcase his skills which eventually gave him great results.
In the same interview, he talked about still wanting to play baseball however considers it different from his acting career. He stated,
“They’re just completely different things. They’re not even like apples and oranges. They’re like… a race car and a TV remote control. There’s no connection.”
He gained wider recognition by playing the role of Ego in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films. He is also recognized for appearing in the Fast & Furious franchise as Mr. Nobody. Had he been playing baseball, he would certainly achieved major milestones however his acting career is still flourishing as ever.
