LAS VEGAS – It is, with apologies from Charles Dickens. A tale of two lockers. Or, a baseball locker room and a baseball clubhouse.
Because in the San Francisco GiantsThe story of All-Star outfielder, ‘inner sanctum Joc Pederson Being ahead Las Vegas Raiders All-Pro receiver Davante Adams The depth chart for wideout at their high school football teams is well-known. With a well-intentioned eyeroll. Perhaps two.
Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford He said it with a smile. He smirked.
“I thought Davante was getting two.”[-teamed] Joc would always be open every night. This is kind of what I had envisioned.”
Giants ace across the clubhouse Logan WebbHe was a Raiders fan growing up in Sacramento and is still amazed.
“It’s amazing, especially since he was technically ahead and Davante is now No. Webb laughed. That’s quite cool. Joc would have me laughing and saying, “Where did this athleticism go?”
The Raiders’ desert-dwelling compound is located some 500 miles southwest of the Bay Area. This makes the story nonstarter.
“I had no idea,” said Raiders Pro Bowl punter AJ Cole, a passionate Braves fan, who recalled Pederson’s heroics in Atlanta’s 2021 run for the World Series title. “Must have a talent hotbed. I would like to see stats. I You are required To see more statistics
Safety Johnathan AbramAdams, who is a high-regarded Mississippi high school baseball prospect, goes against Adams every day in practice. Adams wanted proof. “For real?” Abram thought. “That’s quite a stat. Take a look at these boys.
Pederson, a two-time World Series Champion, has 171 home runs and 702 hits in nine major league seasons. Adams’ 1-3 Raiders are at the Kansas City Chiefs Monday Night Football at 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN+/ABC: A two-time All Pro receiver, ET has 695 career receptions for 841 yards and 76 touchdowns over eight seasons. Green Bay Packers Four games with Raiders
You might be wondering how Adams and Pederson managed to make a two-time All-Pro pass-catcher a backup to a two-time Home Run Derby winner the one year they played together.
Both have been successful in their respective sports. Each made their respective debuts in the big league within three days of eachother in September 2014.
However, in 2009, all eyes were focused on Palo Alto (California High School)’s football field.
THEY WERE Dubbed The name “X-Power” is a nickname for the pair as well as a reference the position they played as prep receivers.
Adams said, “I was the backup X.” “Even though we were both on the field at once.”
Adams was a junior while Pederson was a senior that fall 2009. Adams was also participating in his first year of organized soccer after he broke his left arm while playing football in eighth grade.
Adams stated, “It was the beginning of the second half.” “I was a QB. I said, “I’m done with this —..” “I’m not breaking bones.
Adams joined Pederson’s Palo Alto football team three years later, buoyed and encouraged by his family. Adams claimed that Adams and Pederson were “tight friends” from middle school. Adams was also a former basketball player for the Vikings. Adams made his initial impression on Pederson by playing basketball there.
“I remember that we were playing basketball. He was a freshman and I was a sophomore. Try Do not dunk Try to dunk,” Pederson recalled. He could do a dunk but he did 360s the following year. It went beyond that, to the point of, “Woah! That’s …’ between his legs, 360s, and just about everything.
“I believe he could win a dunk tournament in the NBA. He is a very special athlete.
After his first touchdown with Raiders during the season-opening loss at home to the Raiders, he was happy. Los Angeles ChargersAdams celebrated the occasion with a pseudo –Isaiah Rider-styled “East Bay Funk Dunk” While still in midair, he raised to the SoFi Stadium goalpost and placed the ball between his legs. He then dropped the pigskin to the end zone, shortly before he did so.
Pederson stood out in high school.
Adams said Adams of his geology class friend, “He was like a dog.”
”He was a hell of a player,” Adams continued. “He showed me a lot. He wasn’t the vet so I wouldn’t look at him. But he was… a stud at all three sports [football, basketball and baseball].
“And I [already] I knew so many things about football, it wasn’t that kind of vibe. However, I did learn a lot about him. He was kind of an old man with a wide head and I watched him from far. … He was one the most gritty [teammates] He was the best. He was going to speak some s —.”
Earl Hansen is the legendary South Bay high-school football coach. Jim Harbaugh was one of his early quarterbacks. Earl won more 200 games at Palo Alto Valley than at San Lorenzo Valley.
Hansen, also known as the Silver Fox, said that he kicked Pederson out of the team in 2009, after what Hansen called “an outburst.”
Adams recalled that Pederson returned to San Jose Archbishop Mitty High with 100 yards receiving in the first quarter.
“That was back before anybody had any real idea.” Swag,” Adams said. Adams said, “He had Swag. He scored and then threw it back. This was the old-school way of doing things, when you had 16 bands around your arms. He was one of those who did that. He was doing it because he loved baseball. Drop He would also give us his camo long sleeve. Camo long sleeves, and all that.
Stats? Stats for Cole, Raiders’ punter
2009 Palo alto team finished 7-2. Pederson caught 30 passes and 650 yards (21.7 yards/catch) and nine touchdowns. Adams, in his second year of organized high school football caught 25 passes and 484 yards (19.4 YPC and seven TDs).
Both can be seen here in action
Pederson (#6) made a nice catch to set up a Adams (#10) touchdown catch. pic.twitter.com/4sLT5Ivlib
— Baseball Quotes (@BaseballQuotes1) January 17, 2021
Adams was described as “basically, his first year, knowing what he was supposed do, but not knowing what the other guys were supposed to do,” Hansen said about Adams after the 2013 season. It wasn’t hard.
It was fun. We could call any number of plays and it would work. It was quite special. It was a great year. Until our quarterback hurt.
Pederson recalls Adams being elusive after the catch.
Pederson stated, “It’s certainly not like he can run super fast, but his quickness really stands out.” “If only one person tries to tackle him, then that person is not going to tackle his.” You shouldn’t even touch him. He’ll find a way for you to juke him. It’s amazing.”
NFL defensive backs concur.
PEDERSON GRADUATED FROM IN The spring of 2010, with his eyes solely on baseball, he was chosen by the Los Angeles Dodgers He was selected in the 11th round by MLB’s June Draft. He continued to spend time at minor league outposts like Midland, Michigan and Rancho Cucamonga in California.
With Adams as WR1, Hansen’s Vikings won the California Division I state championship. Adams was awarded a Fresno State scholarship. an unranked recruit To become a second round draft pick by Packers in 2014.
Pederson made his major-league debut pinch-hitting at Dodger Stadium, Sept. 1, 2014. He was looking to end the game with Juan Uribe at the third base position and Carl Crawford at the first base in a 6-4 loss. Washington Nationals. Three days later, Adams made his debut in the NFL in Seattle. He played 18 snaps on offense and nine on special teams. In the 36-16 loss to Seattle’s Packers, Adams did not receive a pass.
Despite their poor start to their pro career, they have prospered. They still communicate with each other via occasional texts. Adams and Raiders quarterback Derek Carr Pederson was a special delight to watch. homer and then talk trash to a fan Adams had sent Carr an Instagram link and he was riding him in Milwaukee.
These are very strange times for Pederson. After being part of the 2020 Dodgers World Series champs, and the Braves’ World Series champs, he will not be playing for the Braves in the postseason. Adams is still looking for his first Lombardi Trophy. Adams also needs to learn how to navigate the loud Raiders ship. Adams suffered three consecutive losses, before beating the Braves. Denver Broncos Week 4.
Pederson stated that he loves the Raiders. “It’s a dream come true for him, because the Raiders are his favorite team.
“At Fresno State, he just continued growing, and in NFL, continuing his improvement. He is hungry to be better and it has been a great journey.