MLB

Larry David reprises role as George Steinbrenner in John Elway-Yankees card ad for Topps

Few things on TV were as legendary as Larry David’s impersonation of George Steinbrenner on “Seinfeld,” and he reprised his role as the late Yankees owner in a Topps advertisement.

In the ad for a new John Elway card commemorating the former Broncos quarterback being drafted by the Yankees in the second round of the 1981 draft, David, 77, reenacted the day the Yankees selected Elway over eventual Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn.

The advertisement begins in the modern day with ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith interviewing Elway, who says that Steinbrenner was the one who lobbied for Elway to be drafted by the Yankees.

It then turns to Steinbrenner, acted by David, around 1981, with scouts suggesting they take Gwynn.

“The basketball player? I don’t think so,” the pronounced Steinbrenner impersonation says. “It’s got to be Elway. I want him out in right field with that cannon arm.”

Larry David reprised his role as George Steinbrenner. YouTube Topps

Elway, who was drafted in 1983 by the Baltimore Colts before his rights were later traded to the Denver Broncos, was playing baseball for Stanford in 1980 and ’81 before being drafted by the Yankees and playing some minor league ball for them in 1982.

The scout then makes the argument for Gwynn, saying he projects to be a better player than first baseman for the Cardinals at the time Keith Hernandez, which Steinbrenner throws cold water on immediately.

Billy Martin poses for a picture with John Elway. Bettmann Archive
John Elway signed a five year contract with the Yankees. Bettmann Archive

“Keith Herndanez huh? I don’t like that big mustache… Nope, it’s Elway. Skies the limit for that guy. I can see it all,” Steinbrenner continues. “The kids lining up for his baseball card, his name in lights at Yankee Stadium, his name on the side of a car dealership… Make the pick.”

Despite hesitation, the scout agrees after Steinbrenner tells him to make the pick.

George Steinbrenner was said to be infatuated with John Elway. Ron Galella Collection via Getty
Larry David played George Steinbrenner in “Seinfeld.” Variety via Getty Images

Steinbrenner was said to be “enamored with the idea of John” at the time, according to scout Gary Hughes in 2013. “’We’ve got to have this guy. He’s going to be great. He’s going to be a Yankee.’”

Gwynn went on to collect 3,141 hits during his Hall of Fame baseball career while Elway only received 151 at-bats while at low-A Oneonta, hitting .318 with a .896 OPS and four home runs.

Steinbrenner had planned to have Elway as the team’s starting right fielder in 1985 but he became the starting quarterback of the Broncos in 1983.

With Elway having kicked baseball to the curb, he went on to have a Hall of Fame NFL career, winning two Super Bowls in 1997 and ’98 with the Broncos.

John Elway cards have existed but are making a comeback. Denver Post via Getty Images

He signed a five-year contract with the Yankees, which he used as a bargaining chip to force his way out of Baltimore, as he would’ve been a free agent in 1985, where the Colts would lose him for nothing.

Rookie cards did exist of Elway back in the 1980s with a Yankee uniform on, currently selling on Ebay for upwards of $1,000.

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