Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is on track to make history this Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles in New Orleans. He has a chance to become the first quarterback in Super Bowl history to win three consecutive championships.

Former major league pitcher Mike Hampton will watch the game from his home in California. However, he couldn't help but think of Mahomes as the 5-year-old who was a regular at Shea Stadium in 2000. Hampton and Mahomes' father, Pat Mahomes Sr., was a teammate with the New York Mets. Hampton praised then-manager Bobby Valentine for giving kids like Mahomes the freedom to move around the club and on the pitch.

"Patrick is now an adult," Hampton said. "My memories of him are of him with short haircuts, skinny build, a 5-year-old boy playing with my son, Gage, in a strike cage in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Every time I hear him speak with a Southern accent, it reminds me of those memories from 2000. ”

Hampton never imagined that Mahomes would become one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. In fact, Hampton had imagined that Mahomes would be a shortstop like Derek Jeter, or an outfielder like Ken Griffey Jr. Hampton called Mahomes "a real baseball player at the age of five."

During Super Bowl week, a popular photo circulated on social media of Mahomes catching a flyball with Hampton before the 2000 World Series game against the Yankees. Hampton now hangs the picture on the wall of his office.

"This picture goes viral at this time of year because Patrick plays in the Super Bowl every year," Hampton said. "We were deep in the field, he was 5 years old at the time, tracking the big league flyball like he was catching a Sunday fly ball in the minor leagues. When you see something like this – and he behaves so naturally – you can tell that he has the potential to be someone special. ”

Mahomes considered following in his father's footsteps. The Detroit Tigers drafted him in the 37th round of the 2014 MLB Draft, but he did not sign with the team due to his love of football. However, baseball is still in Mahomes' blood because he is one of the shareholders of the Kansas City Royals.

As for Hampton, he is coaching a minor league team in California and is using Mahomes as an example to teach kids how to become a professional player in sports.

"The kids couldn't believe I knew him, and I joked, 'Hey, bro, he knows me. I don't know him. I was famous before him. 'I always show this picture to my kids, and I will do the same this year," Hampton said. "We start our first training session next week and I'm excited. Patrick is an inspirational person, not just for kids, but for everyone. He handled himself with humility and showed the image that a celebrity athlete should have. ”