Lemieux was rewarded for his efforts with a third Stanley Cup, which he won as the owner in 2009. 3 has become a symbol of pride for NASCAR fans everywhere, and he is remembered as being fearless while winning seven Sprint Cup Championships and four IROC Championships in 677 races spanning 27 years. James has worn different numbers throughout his career but is probably tied together most with the number 23. Gordon earned his nickname when he burst on to the scene in 1989 at the age of 21, when he went 17-9 in his first full season in the majors. While his nickname is creative, it is also a prime example of racial prejudice and bigotry. Not every player to wear the #7 has found success with the club, but it has been donned by icons that have had a lasting impact on the beautiful game. Jordan is widely considered to be the greatest basketball player of all-time, with six NBA titles, five MVP awards, and fourteen All-Star Game appearances. Robinson was a six-time All-Star, World Series Champion, and the 1949 National League MVP. Baseball stars have had success with the number as well with Don Mattingly, Ryne Sandberg, and Zach Greinke thriving with the number 23 in . Quiz Source He played his entire career from 1995-2001 with the Vancouver Grizzlies. Hernndez is also known for the enormous leg kick featured in his delivery. The big man also played for the USA Basketball team, was a two-time NBA Champion, won the NBA MVP in 1995 and was a 10-time NBA All-Star. He pitched parts of 11 seasons with theMinnesota Twins(1990,1993),Florida Marlins(1995),Chicago Cubs(1995) andBoston Red Sox(1996-2002). He did however appear in summerstock productions ofDamn YankeesandFiddler on the Roof.". Michael Jordans #23 is the most iconic number in the history of sports. Cosentino, Frank. Elway possessed an uncanny ability to lead his teams to victory when they trailed late in games. The league quirky tweaks of NFL rules, including a mad dash to midfield to gain possession of the ball, rather than a kickoff. Coincidentally, Roberts adapted his nickname from former Oakland Raiders QB Ken Stabler, who was nicknamed "The Snake" for his ability to slither through opponents when scrambling. Full Site Menu. Johnson can now be considered one of the most successful athletes of all time. Williams said he had wanted the No. Robinsons #42 will never be worn by another Major League baseball player. For certain teams, some numbers hold a special place in club lore and the hearts of the fans. He was part of the Brazilian national teams that won three World Cup championships (1958, 1962, and 1970). 23 Other. 24: Alworth, . Johnson once said toDave Jacobs, "That kid you got is sweet as sugar," and the nickname stuck. . Shaun's nickname is born out of obvious connections. After nearly 14 seasons with the Seattle SuperSonics, the team traded him to the Bucks for the remainder of the 2003 season. The obvious nickname is the third generation of his birth name. The legendary coach lived to be 99-years-old, passing away last June. He overcame an HIV diagnosis and has continued his success off the court in the business world. The ability to play both QB and WR gave Stewart the nickname "Slash," as in quarterback/(slash)receiver. The world's 50 highest-paid athletes collected an astounding $2.97 billion before taxes and agents' fees over the last 12 months, smashing last year's record total by 8%more than $200 . Ranker Sports. Oh yeah, he also played basketball for five NBA teams in 15 years and won four NBA championships with three different teams. It has been said that Floyd actually fell asleep several times during games in his career, and his hooded eyelids certainly didn't help refute the claims. The Rock is just too famous of a nickname to not put on this list. The injury was a blessing in disguise, actually giving him an edge on the mound. Boyd played parts of nine seasons in the majors, and compiled a career 78-77 record, with 799 strikeouts. Author: SI Staff. 5 Best players to wear No. This nickname isn't creative at all, but is so synonymous with the Yankees third baseman it deserves a mention on the countdown. Either way, the nickname is very fitting of one of the most dominant strike-out pitchers the game has ever seen. the sword to D'Artagnan . When the Reading Red Roses took the field in 1907, they changed sports history forever. Also called "The Baddest on the Planet," Mike Tyson won his first 19 professional bouts by knockout12 of them occurring in the first round. Here are the nicknames of some of the other Olympians. In 87 career fights, Camacho has 79 wins (including 38 knockouts) and just five losses with three draws. When the Reading Red Roses took the field in 1907, they changed sports history forever. He is famous for his blocked shots and on-the-court bouts with Shaquille O'Neal while O'Neal was a member for the Orlando Magic. Sometimes, the new moniker comes from an inside joke with . Source: Getty Images ), "The Mountain Bike Hall of Fame Hall of Fame Inductees". Jordan adopted the number in high school because his brother wore his preferred #45. He spent 12 years in the NBA with the Charlotte Hornets and New York Knicks. Magics versatility allowed him to play all five positions on the court, and he earned three MVP Awards in both the regular season and NBA Finals. We have to say it: "He'll stomp on a child's testicles, but he won't poop on a pigeon.". Stan "The Man" Musial wore the number during his time with the St. Louis Cardinals. Here's a little lesson for all you readers out there, confused as to how he loses one finger and only has three remaining. 2 - Secretariat. 4 in assists and Nash, another who wore No. Also nicknamed "The Silver Fox"and just known by the shorter "Duke" Snider, the former Brooklyn Dodgers slugger was often compared to other New York outfielders such as Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle and earned the nickname "The Duke of Flatbush" after an area in New York City called "Flatbush" and his accolades as a hitter. Rodman was a king on the court when it came down to getting into his opponent's physche. Steelers commentator Myron Cope is responsible for Bettis' legacy as "The Bus," noting a Notre Dame teammates' adjective when calling Bettis "Bussy.". Indiana Pacers ( 70) Aaron McKie. The big man spent his best NBA days with the Los Angeles Lakers and the Seattle SuperSonics, but he was also on the 1985 NBA All-Rookie First Team roster with the Dallas Mavericks. and the name stuck. No. He began to garner the nickname "Iron" for his toughness and seemingly total resistance to go down. He hit 40 or more home runs in five consecutive seasons (195357) and averaged 42 home runs, 124RBI, 123 runs and a .320 batting average between 1953-1956. Alexander Karelin (Wrestling)- The . Is it still cool to diss her or is it too far gone now? At nine years old, Davis was already 5'6" tall and weighed 160 lbs. Considered one of the best players in professional basketball history, Maravich's life ended and began when he suffered a heart attack while playing a pick-up game in Pasadena, Calif. Maravich was a devout Christian and said shortly before his death he would like to be remembered as a follower of Christ, and not a basketball player. Michael Jordan's #23. Gossage is a nine-time MLB All-Star and won a World Series ring with the 1978 New York Yankees. What famous athletes wore number 22? Chamberlain is still holds the NBA record for points scored in a single game, and the paper he is holding is the number of points he dropped on the New York Knicks in 1962 as a member of the Philadelphia Warriors. His #99 is retired throughout the NHL, never to be worn by another player again. History, conspiracies and Jordan: Why 23 is sport's most legendary number Three sports, three icons, all No.23. Here's a look at 19 of the most famous athletes in the world. His #13 is retired by both the Pittsburgh Panthers and the Miami Dolphins, and he is the greatest quarterback to ever wear the number. He added an "H" to his name later in his career in homage to his Muslim faith. 105 people from all around the world were asked to name who they thought would be the 'most famous athlete of all time'. According to Parish, former Celtics forwardCedric Maxwellgave Parish this nickname because of hisstoicnature. Usain Bolt (11%) and Pel (11%) then completed the Top 5. This obvious alias comes from the "Wizard of Oz," and is in combination with Smith's shortened first name, "Oz.". 1. Gordie Howe is considered one of the best hockey players in history but is also known for his friendly personality, kind demeanor, longevity as a player and prolific goal-scoring. After playing for a minor . The nickname comes from Wilt's height and slender build and the obvious rhyming of his first name. While attending the University of Michigan, Traylor earned his nickname for his tremendous size, dominance in the paint, and the way "Tractor" just seemed to flow with his last name. His other famous nickname, "The Yankee Clipper," also deserves a mention on the countdown. Carlton Fisk earned his nickname with the Boston Red Sox for his physical stature, standing 6'2" tall and weighing 220 pounds. In 1993, he signed the most lucrative contract in NBA history (at that time) to play for the Hornets, a 12-year, $84 million deal. Montana became a football great with the San Francisco 49ers, finished his career with the Kansas City Chiefs and compiled a career rap sheet that looks like this: The Hall of Famer lost his index finger in a gruesome farming accident, in which he was putting material into a feed chopper, slipped and got his hand mangled. But those come from the big four traditional sports: baseball, football, basketball and hockey. "Three Fingers" Brown was able to throw many pitches that could not be achieved by a man with a full hand. 99. However, he is also known as "Wild Thing" for his unusual delivery to the plate. The program will chronicle Tyson's love for pigeon racing. However, Newton underwent verticalgastrectomy,in February 2010,a surgical operation that removes up to 75 percent of a patient's stomach and staples the remainder. Williams said he didnt change his number until 1993 because that was his first chance to do it.". There's no inventive story here: "Dr. J" was given to Julius Erving by a high school friend, who watched him play and likened his smoothness with the ball and ability to score like the precision of a doctor performing surgery. His #32 has been retired by the Cleveland Browns. Kuko is considered one of the best wingmen to ever play the game, and therefore might be the only man on the planet capable of gettingFranck Ribry a real date. Like English . He earned the moniker "The Little General" for his leadership abilities on the court and also his fiery, competitive nature as a player. Barkley had a stellar professional basketball career and continues to be a force on the celebrity sports scene. HIGHLAND PARK, IL - OCTOBER 21: A gate with the number 23 controls access to the home of basketball legend Michael Jordan on October 21, 2013 in Highland Park, Illinois. A list of the greatest athletes to wear the number 22 would be incomplete without one of the NHL's most prolific scorers of the late 1970s/1980s. The legendary Boston Red Sox outfielder had many nicknames, such as:"The Kid","Teddy Ballgame," and"The Thumper.". The name stuck throughout Rich Gossage's playing days, and he is affectionately known by the moniker to this day. His moniker was also his calling card, but these days, it's just his his curse. When the Bears needed a short yardage gain, there was "The Fridge," banging through the line and stumbling into the end zone. Rose is the career MLB hits leader, having recorded 4,256 knocks. Reese was a 10-time All-Star and two-time World Series Champion with the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers. Return to Top; Players. Johnston got his moniker from a teammate on the Dallas Cowboys, Babe Laufenberg, a second-string quarterback. Nash led the league in assists five times. If pressed to name a national sport, Malaysians would say "badminton.". Photo: Wikimedia Commons. Birth City: Oakville. "Babe" Ruth: "The Great Bambino/The Sultan of Swat". Manager Alfred Lawson chose to put numbers on his teams jerseys in order for fans to easily identify each of the players. As time passes, these athletes will be remembered for the accomplishments achieved while wearing their preferred numbers. Edson Arantes do Nascimento (Brazilian Portuguese: [ds(w) atiz du nasimtu]; 23 October 1940 - 29 December 2022), better known by his nickname Pel (Portuguese pronunciation: ), was a Brazilian professional footballer who played as a forward.Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, he was among the most successful and popular sports figures of the 20th . The 6'9", 271lb lineman recorded 57 sacks in his career but played before the sack became an official stat in 1982. No. As if the Venezuelan pitcher needs any more names,Garcs' tongue-in-cheek nickname is a poke at his stature, and friends and teammates commonly refer to him by his moniker. Players carefully cultivate their public images in order to maximize their value on and off the field of play. Name: Jesse Owens. Andre Dawson's nickname, "The Hawk," was given to him by an uncle when Andre was very young. 7 - Mickey . In his era, people of this stature were commonly called "stretch," for the way they appeared lengthened out as if someone had grabbed their toes while someone else held them by the head and pulled in the opposite direction. "Mr. Hockey" is used to sum up his life, and it is very fitting. Lemieux also overcame Hodgkins Lymphoma, which caused him to miss the entire 1994-95 season. He was also the second most prolific passer in NFL history, with 51,475 career passing yards, despite only leading the NFL in passing yardage once. Seriously, the man eclipsed Rosie O'Donnell. Gender: Male. Rumor has it, the pitcher wanted to return to the majors in 2008 at the tender age of 49, reports the Boston Globe. Allyson Felix, Track and Field: 9 medals (6 G, 3 S) Felix is the only female track and field athlete to ever win six Olympic gold medals and her nine medals are tied for the most ever won by a . "The Glide" is a member of the Hall of Fame and captured the 1995 NBA championship with the Houston Rockets. At every turn, Ronaldo has succeeded and proved to be the best. The school's mascot is the Owl and the obvious lack of a vowel letter in his last name was the second half of a legendary nickname. Smith is a 15-time All-Star, 13-time Gold Glove Winner and a 1982 World Series Champion with the St. Louis Cardinals. 99 for years because of an admiration for the football playerMark Gastineau, who also wore No. It has spawned other nicknames involving athletes with the last name "Rodriguez," including the current record holder for most saves in a season, Frankie "K-Rod" Rodriguez. In true legendary boxer style, Ali gave himself the nickname "The Greatest," but also deserves it. . Calvin "Megatron" Johnson. 99 (he originally wore the No. He wore the #3 for his entire baseball career and has had that number retired by the New York Yankees. Bettis is certainly a large man, weighing 252lbs while standing only 5'11" tall. Jeter was the cornerstone of the Yankees during their tremendous success in the 1990s and 2000s. He collided with teammate Tim Raines, and other teammates shouted, "You're a big unit.". The switch worked because Magic and the Showtime Lakers won the NBA Title in 1980 and would go on to win four more before the end of Magics career. It shows that the number 42 signifies a piece of history in baseball. If the Cuban pitcher ever wanted to sue the founder of Pilates, he may have a solid case. He used the technique of crouching with his left arm out to fight opponents, and experienced many successes. 5 - Joe DiMaggio. 4 - Lou Gehrig by a sliver over Bobby Orr. Moses Malone . 28) on his jersey, the same number that Vaughn wore in the film. His trash talking is the stuff of street legend and his longevity in the league cemented his status as an NBA great. Jordan is widely considered to be the greatest basketball player of all-time, with six NBA titles, five MVP awards, and fourteen All-Star Game appearances. Johnson was first dubbed "Magic" while playing Everett High School high as a 15-year-old sophomore. He built a contraption out of poles that allowed him to carry more bags than his co-workers. 25 References. 2. Which got us thinking about the greatest athletes . Ivan Rodriguez also got his moniker for the same reason. Mlkvy received his nickname while attending Temple University. When Stewart entered the NFL, he was moved from quarterback to receiver, but was often placed under center for certain plays by head coach Bill Cowher. DiMaggio was bound to earn a few nicknames in his playing days, and "Joltin' Joe" was just the beginning. It has been said that he could run 100 yards in 10 seconds and high jump over six feet. Whatever the case may be, the five-time Negro League All-Star, World Series Champion and Hall of Famer was one of the most dominant pitchers of his era, and he wore his moniker with honor. 31.April (Latin origin) meaning "open". He amazed hockey fans from the moment he stepped onto the ice with the Edmonton Oilers in 1978. By Jamie Driver Eddie Fiola Interview Lifelounge Daily Goodness", "e*thirteen Rider Steve Peat Breaks UCI World Cup Record Silverfish UK", "Shoes, Ace, Shuffle and the best football nicknames from Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates | Goal.com", "SportMob Top facts about Ruud Gullit, the Black Tulip", "The origins of Maradona's many nicknames: El Pelusa, El Cebollita", "Former Fulham and West Ham midfielder Papa Bouba Diop dies aged 42", "Matthew Booth a white knight for the black masses", "World Cup 2010: Matthew Booth the perfect advertisement for integrated South Africa", "Breesus' is the reason for potentially perfect season", "Calvin Johnson shows why Lions made him No. One of the greatest athletes ever, Usain Bolt is popular by the nickname 'Lightning Bolt'. Newton was the prime example of how munchies can have devastating effects on your weight and physical appearance. As far as nicknames go, this one isn't much fun, but at least it's better than "Baby Shaq.". How do you rank the best nicknames of all time? This May, he earned his second UEFA Champions League title and scored in the Final against Atletico Madrid. John G. Zimmerman/SI. Kansas City-Omaha Kings ( 75) Jerry McKee. Currently playing for the Cincinnati Bengals, Adam "Pacman" Jones received his nickname as a young child, when it was noted that he could drink his milk as fast as the video game character.

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