The Beginning of Crosby's Cross-Over Baseball Career?

Sidney Crosby is more than just one of the best hockey players skating NHL ice today. He is an athlete at the core. So while taking some batting practice swings with the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on Sept. 8, it should have come as no surprise that the captain of the Penguins was able to smack one about 360 feet.

Crosby explained to a reporter after his long ball swing that he played baseball until he was 13 years old. In contrast to Tom Glavine but just like pretty much every other Canadian, Crosby chose to pursue hockey. Hopefully that works out for him.

If Crosby does decide to eventually have a Michael Jordan moment, he should find little problem immediately making the Pirates' roster. After all, there is always an open spot from the constant trading done by the organization of any player that can walk and chew bubble gum at the same time. A couple more home runs like the one he hit last Wednesday, though , and he could end up on the block, too.