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20th Century Top 50: Arkansas
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|
Rank |
Profile |
|
1 |
Paul (Bear)
Bryant , Fordyce
Coached Alabama to six national football titles and has the most wins (323)
in Division
I-A. |
|
2 |
Sonny
Liston , St. Francis
Heavyweight champion for two years; won 50 of 54 pro
bouts. |
|
3 |
Bill
Dickey , Kensett
Caught 100 games or more ina record 13 straight seasons; played in eight
World Series; was the soul of Yankees 1930s and '40s
dynasty. |
|
4 |
Scottie
Pippen , Hamburg
Point guard, shooting guard, power forward rolled into one; the most talented
understudy in NBA history; one of the league's 50 greatest
players. |
|
5 |
Brooks
Robinson , Little Rock
Made diving backhand graban art as Orioles third baseman; won 16 Gold
Gloves, 1964 MVP and '70 World Series MVP
awards. |
|
6 |
Dizzy
Dean , Lucas
The Gas House Gang's ace and lead clown -- 133 wins and countless colorful
quotes in six giddy years with the Cardinals from 1932 to
'37. |
|
7 |
Sidney
Moncrief , Little Rock
One of the Triplets who led Arkansas to 1978 Final Four; one of the most
consistent and versatile NBA players
ever. |
|
8 |
Don
Hutson , Pine Bluff
Two-time MVP holds records for most seasons leading NFL in receptions and
yards. |
|
9 |
Barry
Switzer , Crossett
Won three national titles at Oklahoma; then went 45-26 and won a Super Bowl in
four years with the
Cowboys. |
|
10 |
George
Kell , Swifton
Eight-time All-Star with five teams; had a career average of .306; won a batting
title.
|
|
11 |
Frank
Broyles , Fayetteville
Winningest coach in Razorbacks history; in his 26 years as athletic director
Hogs have won 35 national titles in four
sports. |
|
12 |
Nolan
Richardson , Fayetteville
Winningest basketball coach in University of Arkansas history; won NCAA title in
1994.
|
|
13 |
Bill
Carr , Pine Bluff
Set world record and won gold in the 400 meters and anchored the gold-winning
U.S. 4x400 team at 1932
Olympics. |
|
14 |
Jerry
Jones , North Little Rock
Co-captain and guard for Arkansas's 1964 national football champs; has won three
Super Bowls since buying the Cowboys in
'89. |
|
15 |
John
McDonnell , Fayetteville
Has won 34 NCAA indoor and outdoor track and cross-country team titles
at Arkansas since
'72.
|
|
16 |
Hazel
Walker , Ashdown
All-America AAU basketball player from 1933 to '45; AP's female athlete of the
year in '40. Founded Arkansas Travelers in '49; toured with them until
'65. |
|
17 |
Johnny
Sain , Havana
Spahn, Sain and rain were Braves' ideal rotation in 1948 pennant run; Sain
led the NL with 24 wins that
year. |
|
18 |
John
Daly , Dardanelle
Gripped and ripped his way to a win at the PGA Championship as alternate in 1991
and won a playoff at the '95 British
Open. |
|
19 |
Bobby
Mitchell , Hot Springs
Set U.S. best in indoor 70-yard hurdles at Illinois in 1958; led NFL in
receiving yards in '62 and
'63. |
|
20 |
Joan
Crawford , Van Buren
Thirteen-time AAU All-America led her team to 10 AAU national titles in the
1950s and
'60s. |
|
21 |
Willie
Davis , Texarkana
Anchored defensive line during the Packers' glory days; never missed a game in
12-year career; was All-Pro five
times.
|
|
22 |
Ken
Hatfield , Helena
Led nation in punt returns for Arkansas in 1963 and '64 and returned to coach
Hogs in '84; went to six consecutive
bowls. |
|
23 |
Mark
Martin , Batesville
Thirty-one races and more than $21.5 million won in 17 seasons on NASCAR
circuit; finished second in points in
1998. |
|
24 |
Corliss
Williamson , Russellville
Forward led Hogs in scoring (20.4 ppg) and rebounds (7.7 rpg) during run to 1994
NCAA title; Kings' first pick in
'95. |
|
25 |
Travis
Jackson , Waldo
One of the best-fielding shortstops of the 1920s and '30s, masterful bunter; hit
over .300 six times for
Giants.
|
|
26 |
Wilson
Matthews , Atkins
Went 111-15-3 as football coach at Little Rock High in 1940s and '50s; won 10
state
titles. |
|
27 |
Ron
Brewer , Fort Smith
Deadly outside shooting Triplet at Arkansas from 1975 to '78; led '78 Final Four
team in scoring; eight seasons in
NBA.
|
|
28 |
Fred
Williams , Little Rock
After starring at Arkansas, was four-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle with Bears
in the 1950s; later played with the
Redskins. |
|
29 |
Bettye
Fiscus , Wynne
Razorbacks' first women's basketball star set a then Arkansas scoring
record -- men's and women's -- with 2,073 points from 1981 to
'85. |
|
30 |
Clyde (Smackover)
Scott , Smackover
Multisport star at Arkansas in 1940s; All-America running back and a '48
Olympic high hurdles silver
medalist.
|
|
31 |
Reece (Goose)
Tatum , Forrest City
Toured with Harlem Globetrotters as one of basketball's most popular players
in 1940s and
'50s. |
|
32 |
Don
Kessinger , Forrest City
A six-time NL All-Star with Cubs, set a then record for consecutive errorless
games by a shortstop (54) in
1969. |
|
33 |
Cliff
Harris , Des Arc
Hard-hitting safety had 29 interceptions in 10 years with the Cowboys; played in
five Super Bowls and five Pro
Bowls. |
|
34 |
Paul
Runyan , Hot Springs
A short-game master, he won PGA Championships in 1934 and '38 and finished in
top four at Masters four
times. |
|
35 |
Dan
Hampton , Jacksonville
All-America defensive tackle at Arkansas in 1978 and anchor of Bears'
defense in '80s; four trips to Pro
Bowl. |
|
36 |
Eddie
Hamm , Lonoke
Set world long jump record at an AAU meet in 1928; later that year won
gold at the
Olympics.
|
|
37 |
Paul (Daffy)
Dean , Lucas
Dizzy's more reserved brother won 19 of the 49 games the Deans won in 1934
season and won two more in the Cardinals' World Series win over the Tigers;
career record:
50-34. |
|
38 |
Caldwell
Jones , Rohwer
Played 14 seasons in the NBA and twice named first-team All-Defense.
|
|
39 |
Jim
Benton , Fordyce
Led NCAA in receptions at Arkansas in 1937; helped lead Cleveland Rams to '45
NFL
title.
|
|
40 |
Earl
Bell , Jonesboro
Pole vaulter was first athlete to win a U.S. outdoor title in three decades; set
a world mark (18'71Ú4") in 1976 and got bronze at the '84 Olympics. |
|
41 |
Dutch
Harrison , Conway
Won 18 PGA tournaments, including Canadian, Western and Texas (twice)
Opens. |
|
42 |
Keith
Jackson , Little Rock
Twice All-America at Oklahoma and played in five Pro Bowls; 10th among NFL tight
ends in career
catches.
|
|
43 |
Thomas
Freeman , Hot Springs
Went 155-18-12 in 185 pro fights; won world welterweight title in
'30.
|
|
44 |
Billy Ray Smith
Sr. , Augusta
Golden Gloves heavyweight regional champ as a teen, then stellar defensive
tackle and end for 14 years with Rams, Colts and
Steelers. |
|
45 |
Ken
Kavanaugh , Little Rock
Big-play threat as an end on 1940s Bears' run-happy teams; averaged 22.4 yards
per catch; scored on 50 of 162
receptions.
|
|
46 |
Wear
Schoonover , Pocahontas
First Arkansas All-America in any sport, as an end in 1929; also starred in
basketball, baseball, and track and
field. |
|
47 |
Elijah
Pitts , Conway
Played six seasons alongside Jim Taylor in Packers backfield and on five
championship teams in his 11-year
career.
|
|
48 |
Marvin
Delph , Conway
Third Triplet twice led the Hogs in scoring (1976 and
'77). |
|
49 |
Monte
Coleman , Pine Bluff
Played more games (216) than anyone in Redskins history except Darrell Green;
anchored three Super Bowl-winning defenses at
linebacker. |
|
50 |
Amber
Nicholas , Newark
Never missed a game at point guard for Arkansas from 1987 to '92; set school
records for consecutive starts (87) and assists
(538). |
