Gage Skidmore [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

They have name recognition, plenty of contacts, and know how to put up with abuse. Being a professional athlete can be great training for a career in politics. Here are 10 pros who successfully made the jump.

1. Jim Bunning

The Hall of Fame pitcher retired in second place on the all time strikeout list. The Republican went on to serve for 12 years in the US House of Representatives and another dozen as a Senator, all while representing the State of Kentucky.