Watch No. 1 NFL draft pick Jared Goff's dad, Jerry, hit his first MLB single
After being named the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft on Thursday night, it was a big day for new Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff and his family. But the Cal product won't be the first Goff in his immediate family to play a professional sport. That honor belongs to his father, Jerry, who played with the Expos, Pirates and Astros in parts of six seasons between 1990-96.
Of course, this Goff wasn't nearly as lauded a prospect as his son. Jerry was drafted in the third round of the 1986 draft by the Mariners after hitting .352 with 18 home runs as a catcher in his senior year at the University of California, Berkeley -- just like his son.
Not that Jerry is upset about his son's star shining a little brighter. Talking about the QB's likely status as a top draft pick, Jerry told the San Francisco Chronicle:
"That's how crazy a fairy tale it is. Being a sports guy my whole life, I'd look at guys and be like, 'Wow, that's a first-rounder.' … Reality is going to set in Thursday."
While Jared has made threading passes through defenses look easy, Jerry struggled making contact in his rise through the minors -- though he did show a fair amount of power. He was promising enough that the Montreal Expos acquired Goff, and he made his big league debut on May 15, 1990, going 0-4. Three days later, he'd make his next appearance, picking up his first big league hit while wearing the fashion-forward all-powder blue Expos unis.
Goff then bounced around the league, never getting more than 119 at-bats in a season. Though, he would go out on top -- kind of. In his final appearance with the Astros on May 12, 1996, Goff hit his seventh and final home run against his former team, the Expos.
Only problem? He was also charged with six passed balls, tying him with Harry Vickers and Geno Petralli for most in a single game. Which is a ... less than optimal outcome. But hey, sports are hard. Although, seemingly, they aren't too difficult for his son:
