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20th Century Top 50: Kentucky
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Rank |
Profile |
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1
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Muhammad Ali ,
Louisville
The Greatest. Nuff said.
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| 2
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Mary T. Meagher ,
Louisville
Established world records in 100- and 200-meter butterfly in 1981; won three gold medals (100- and 200-meter fly and 4³100 medley
relay) at '84 Olympics.
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| 3
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Wes Unseld ,
Louisville
Two-time All-America at Louisville; named NBA
Rookie of the Year and MVP, with Bullets in 1969.
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| 4
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Harold (Pee Wee) Reese ,
Ekron
Played shortstop and was clubhouse leader for seven pennant-winning Dodgers teams in 1940s and '50s.
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| 5
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Cliff Hagan ,
Owensboro
Two-time All-America
center at Kentucky; played 10 seasons with NBA Hawks;
was Wildcats' athletic director from 1975 to '88.
|
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| 6
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Paul Hornung ,
Louisville
Notre Dame quarterback and placekicker won 1956 Heisman; holds NFL single-season scoring record (176 points), for Packers in '60.
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| 7
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Darrell Waltrip ,
Owensboro
Winston Cup champion
in 1981, '82 and '85;
amassed nearly $20 million
in NASCAR earnings.
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| 8
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John Beckwith ,
Louisville
Negro leagues star played seven positions and hit
54 home runs for Homestead Grays in 1928.
|
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| 9
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Eddie Arcaro ,
Newport
Only jockey to win Triple Crown twice -- aboard Whirlaway
in 1941 and Citation in '48; retired in '61 with 4,779 wins.
|
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| 10
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Phil Simms ,
Louisville
Won Super Bowl XXI as Giants quarterback; threw for 33,462 yards in 14-year career.
|
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| 11
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A.B. (Happy) Chandler ,
Corydon
Baseball commissioner from 1945 to '50; instrumental in integrating the major leagues.
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| 12
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Matt Winn ,
Louisville
Civic leader and track operator is credited with establishing Kentucky Derby as nation's premier horse race.
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| 13
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Frank Ramsay ,
Corydon
All-America at Kentucky
in 1952; won seven NBA titles with Celtics (1954 to '64).
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| 14
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Wallace (Wah Wah) Jones ,
Harlan
Four-time All-SEC
in basketball at Kentucky; starred on Wildcats'
NCAA-champion hoops teams in 1948 and '49;
also all-league in football.
|
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| 15
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Dave Cowens ,
Covington
Seven-time NBA All-Star
center with Celtics; retired in 1983 with career averages
of 17.6 points and 13.6 rebounds.
|
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| 16
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Leonard Lyles ,
Louisville
Darting running back
at Louisville led Division II in scoring with 132 points
in 1957; played defensive
back for Colts and
49ersfor 12 seasons.
|
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| 17
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Man o' War ,
Nursery Stud Farm
Set five world records in
1919 and '20 as a 2- and
3-year-old; lost only
once in 21 career starts.
|
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| 18
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Darrell Griffith ,
Louisville
Led Louisville to NCAA
title in 1980; NBA Rookie of the Year with Jazz in '81.
|
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| 19
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Citation ,
Calumet Farm
Triple Crown winner in 1948; first horse to win more
than $1 million in prize money.
|
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| 20
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Allan Houston ,
Louisville
Led Ballard High to state basketball title in 1988; has scored more than 7,000
points in seven-year NBA career.
|
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| 21
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Jeff Van Note ,
Bardstown
Kentucky star was six-time
Pro Bowl center for the Falcons; played 246 games in 18-year NFL career.
|
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| 22
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Tim Couch ,
Hyden
Alltime leading passer at Kentucky; selected by Browns with first pick in 1999 draft.
|
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| 23
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Jack (Goose) Givens ,
Lexington
Led Kentucky to 1978 NCAA basketball title with 41-
point performance against Duke in the
championship game.
|
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| 24
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Howard Schnellenberger ,
Louisville
All-America tight end at Kentucky; coached Miami to national football title in 1983.
|
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| 25
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Clarence Gaines ,
Paducah
Won 828 games from 1947
to '93 as Winston-Salem State's basketball coach; third alltime
in college wins behind
Dean Smith and Adolph Rupp.
|
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| 26
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Earle Combs ,
Pebworth
Murderers' Row outfielder hit .325 over 12-year career
with Yankees from 1924 to '35.
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| 27
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Joe B. Hall ,
Cynthiana
Succeeded Adolph Rupp as Kentucky basketball
coach in 1972; 297-100 record and NCAA title in '78.
|
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| 28
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Jim Bunning ,
Southgate
Struck out 2,855 (and walked only 1,000) in his 17-year major league career (from 1955 to '71); pitched perfect game for Phillies.
|
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| 29
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Woody Stephens ,
Stanton
Trainer won five consecutive
Belmont Stakes (from 1982
to '86), as well as two
Kentucky Derbies, a Preakness and five Kentucky Oaks.
|
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| 30
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Carl Mays ,
Liberty
Pioneered submarine-style pitching motion; 208
wins in 15-year career (from 1915 to '29) with four teams.
|
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| 31
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Ellis Johnson ,
Morehead
First athlete to letter in four sports at Kentucky: baseball, basketball, football, and track and field (from 1930 to '33).
|
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| 32
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Ralph Beard ,
Louisville
Star guard on Kentucky's 1949 NCAA championship team; denied NBA career because of point-shaving scandal.
|
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| 33
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(King) Kelly Coleman ,
Wayland
Averaged 46.9 points as senior at Wayland High in 1955-56; had 75-point, 41-rebound game against Maytown High.
|
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| 34
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Ed Diddle ,
Gradyville
In 42 seasons as Western Kentucky's basketball coach won 759 games, fourth
alltime among college coaches.
|
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| 35
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Joe Fulks ,
Birmingham
Averaged 16.4 points over his eight-year pro career
from 1946 to '54; credited with popularizing the jump shot.
|
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| 36
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John Hillerich ,
Louisville
Sporting goods pioneer teamed with Frank Bradsby in 1911 to develop Louisville Slugger brand.
|
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| 37
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Rex Chapman ,
Owensboro
Star guard at Apollo High and Kentucky; has scored more than 9,000 points in 12-year NBA career.
|
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| 38
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Ralph Waldo Rose ,
Louisville
Won gold medal in shot put
at 1904 and '08 Olympics; first to break 50-foot mark.
|
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| 39
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Butch Beard ,
Hardinsburg
Guard averaged 19 points in three years at Louisville; played in NBA for nine seasons
(from 1969 to '79);
coached Nets for two years.
|
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| 40
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David Russell (Gus) Bell ,
Louisville
Four-time All-Star with
Reds; batted .281 with 206 home runs over 15 years
in big leagues (1950 to '64).
|
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| 41
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Tamara McKinney ,
Lexington
Olympic skier in 1980, '84 and '88; first U.S. woman to win overall World Cup, in '83; took world titles in giant slalom
('81, '83) and slalom ('85).
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| 42
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Bill Arnsparger ,
Paris
Architect of No Name Defense for Dolphins' Super Bowl VII and VIII champions.
|
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| 43
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Clinton (Hawk) Thomas ,
Greenup
Negro leagues star known
for his range in outfield;
hit .407 for Philadelphia franchise in 1924.
|
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| 44
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Don Gullett ,
Lynn
Injury-plagued lefty won 109 games for Reds and
Yankees from 1970 to '78.
|
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| 45
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Sherman Lewis ,
Louisville
All-America tailback at Michigan State finished third in 1963 Heisman voting; defensive back for Jets in '66 and '67; now offensive coordinator for Packers.
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| 46
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Don Fightmaster ,
Louisville
After losing arm in military accident, won national one-arm golf tournament seven
times; was world champion twice.
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| 47
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Marvin Hart ,
Jefferson County
Heavyweight champion boxer went 28-7-4 from 1899 to 1910.
|
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| 48
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Charlie Tyra ,
Louisville
First Louisville player to amass more than 1,000 points and rebounds; played five seasons in NBA in late 1950s and early '60s.
|
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| 49
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Clem Haskins ,
Campbellsville
Two-time All-America forward
at Western Kentucky; still holds Hilltoppers' record with 55 points in one game.
|
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| 50
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Cawood Ledford ,
Harlan County
Before retiring in 1992,
was Kentucky's play-by-play man for 39 years; named state's sportscaster of the
year 22 times. |
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