Cris Carpenter did the unthinkable.
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He went to high school in Gainesville and college in Athens.
Gainesville, Georgia, that is.
The drive down Route 129 can be brutal sometimes. Trust me, I've looked at it extensively on Google Maps.
Carpenter made a name for himself at the University of Georgia on the football field and the baseball diamond.
His career solidified him as one of the top two-sport athletes in UGA history. He carried that success to Major League Baseball.
What is the Georgia Bulldogs great up to today?
Cris Carpenter at Georgia
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Carpenter dominated no matter the season at Gainesville High School. He earned All-State honors as a quarterback and punter in football. On the hardwood, he was an All-State guard. He wasn't too shabby as a pitcher, either.
The Gainesville native decided to give up hoops to focus on punting and pitching in college.
The multi-sport athlete played two seasons under Georgia football coach Vince Dooley. He booted a career punting average of 42.8 yards, which is tied for the fourth-best in program history.
Carpenter recorded 22 wins, a 2.93 ERA, 33 saves, and 260 strikeouts in three seasons as a relief pitcher. He was a member of the Dawgs team that reached the NCAA College World Series in 1987.
Cris Carpenter's MLB Career
OTD 1965 - Cris Carpenter is born in St. Augustine, FL. Cris played for the St Louis Cardinals from 1988-1992. #STLCards pic.twitter.com/Vf6727vaYY
— Augie Nash (@AugieNash) April 5, 2019
Carpenter's college career was cut short when the St. Louis Cardinals selected him with the 14th overall pick in the 1987 MLB Draft. He made his major league debut less than a year later.
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Cris Carpenter, not to be confused with St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter, had a solid eight-year career.
As a bullpen pitcher for the Cardinals, Florida Marlins, Texas Rangers, and Milwaukee Brewers, Carpenter had 27 wins; 252 strikeouts, 7 saves; and a 3.91 ERA.
He retired in 1996.
Cris Carpenter Now
@960theref @djohnstonuga Had the pleasure of interviewing #UGABaseball legend (and a tremendous Bulldog punter to boot) Cris Carpenter today... Had no idea Cris was All-State in basketball as well at Gainesville High. @BaseballUGA pic.twitter.com/u93nH6KsZC
— Patrick Garbin (@patrickgarbin) March 13, 2018
Carpenter returned to his hometown after hanging up the cleats. He finished his degree at Piedmont College and now works as a history teacher and coach his alma mater.
The SEC legend seems to enjoy being back home. He certainly has a plethora of knowledge and experience to hand down to the next generation.
