Who was Sam Wheat

[ainitatyb]

Patrick Swayze played a charactor called Sam Wheat in the movie Ghost, but who was the original Sam Wheat?

[CSIambleside]

I've found this

Sam Rice, baseball hall of famer, was born this date in 1890. When he retired from baseball in 1934, he had 2987 hits. Hardly anyone was counting hits back then otherwise he may have hung on to reach 3000. He is forever linked with fellow hall of famer Zack Wheat. Rice and Wheat). The Patrick Swayze character in "Ghost" was named Sam Wheat, a tribute to both.

Could the question also mean, Who was originally to play the character in the film? In which case, it was Bruce Willis, who turned down the role.