|
20th Century Top 50: New Jersey
|
|
Rank |
Profile |
|
1
|
Carl Lewis ,
Willingboro
Won four gold medals at 1984 Olympics, three medals
(two golds and a silver) at the '88 Olympics, two golds at
the '92 Olympics and a gold in the long jump in '96.
|
| 2
|
Rick Barry ,
Roselle Park
All-State at Roselle Park High; NBA Rookie of the Year with Warriors; 23.2 ppg for career.
|
|---|
| 3
|
Franco Harris ,
Mount Holly
Ran for more than 1,000 yards eight times in 13 seasons with Steelers; member of four Super Bowl-championship teams.
|
|---|
| 4
|
Amos Alonzo Stagg ,
West Orange
University of Chicago football coach (from 1892 to '32) was first to use center snap, onside kick, lateral and man in motion.
|
|---|
| 5
|
Marty Liquori ,
Cedar Grove
Last high schooler to break four-minute mile; ranked No. 1 in 1500 meters in 1969 and '71.
|
|---|
| 6
|
Goose Goslin ,
Salem
Hall of Fame outfielder batted .316 over career (1921
to '38); led AL in triples twice.
|
|---|
| 7
|
Joe Medwick ,
Carteret
Football star at Carteret High; National League MVP
in 1937; played in nine
All-Star games.
|
|---|
| 8
|
Anne Donovan ,
Ridgewood
Three-time basketball
All-America at Old Dominion; 1983 National Player of
the Year; three-time Olympic team member.
|
|---|
| 9
|
Renaldo Nehemiah ,
Newark
Set high school records
in 120-yard and 110-meter high hurdles; held world record
in 110-meter high hurdles from 1979 to '89.
|
|---|
| 10
|
Mickey Walker ,
Elizabeth
In 1920s, "Toy Bulldog"
held world welterweight and middleweight titles.
|
|---|
| 11
|
Dick Button ,
Englewood
Five-time world figure skating champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist (1948, '52); at '52 Games
became first to do a triple
jump in competition.
|
|---|
| 12
|
Monte Irvin ,
Orange
All-state in four sports at
East Orange High; Negro leagues All-Star four times; drove in major league-leading 121 runs for 1951 Giants.
|
|---|
| 13
|
(Jersey) Joe Walcott ,
Camden
Won heavyweight title at
age 37 in 1951 by knocking out Ezzard Charles.
|
|---|
| 14
|
Larry Doby ,
Paterson
American League's first black player, with Indians
(1947); seven-time All-Star.
|
|---|
| 15
|
Bill Parcells ,
Oradell
Coached Giants to Super Bowl victories in 1987 and '91,
and Patriots to '96 AFC crown.
|
|---|
| 16
|
Lou Creekmur ,
Woodbridge
Set school shot put record at William and Mary; eight-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman helped Lions win three NFL titles in 1950s.
|
|---|
| 17
|
Drew Pearson ,
South River
From 1973 to '83, Cowboys receiver caught then team-record 489 passes for 7,822
yards and 46 touchdowns.
|
|---|
| 18
|
Carol Blazejowski ,
Cranford
Three-time All-America in basketball at Montclair State; twice led the nation in scoring.
|
|---|
| 19
|
Paul Robeson ,
Somerville
Two-time All-America end was third black to enter Rutgers (1915-19); earned 12 letters in football, baseball, basketball, and track and field.
|
|---|
| 20
|
Jim Ringo ,
Phillipsburg
NFL center from 1953 to '67 made All-Pro eight times; played in 182 straight games.
|
|---|
| 21
|
Charlie Berry ,
Phillipsburg
NFL All-Pro in 1925 and
'26; 11 seasons as major league catcher; 24 years as
NFL official; 21 years as AL ump.
|
|---|
| 22
|
John Van Ryn ,
East Orange
One of best doubles players in U.S. history, winning 14
of 16 Davis Cup matches (with Wilmer Allison) and six
Grand Slam championships.
|
|---|
| 23
|
Henry Wittenberg ,
Jersey City
As light heavyweight won wrestling gold medal at 1948 Olympics and silver at '52 Games.
|
|---|
| 24
|
Gene Wettstone ,
West New York
Founded and coached Penn State gymnastics team for 38 years; won nine NCAA titles
and coached nine Olympians.
|
|---|
| 25
|
Cathy Rush ,
West Atlantic City
Coached Immaculata College women's basketball team
to three straight AIAW titles (1971-72 to '73-74).
|
|---|
| 26
|
Joe Theismann ,
South River
Quarterback set Notre Dame season record with 2,820 total yards in 1970; led Redskins to '83 Super Bowl victory.
|
|---|
| 27
|
Mel Sheppard ,
Almenesson
Track star won gold in 1908 Olympics in 800 meters, 1,500
and medley relay, and at 1912 Games in 4x400 relay.
|
|---|
| 28
|
Alex Wojciechowicz ,
South River
Hall of Famer played center and defensive back for Lions (from 1938 to '46) and Eagles ('46-50); was mainstay of two Philly title teams.
|
|---|
| 29
|
Debbie Meyer ,
Haddonfield
Swimmer won Olympic
gold in 1968 in 200-, 400- and 800-meter freestyle.
|
|---|
| 30
|
George Mehnert ,
Newark
Won flyweight wrestling title
at 1904 Olympics and
bantanweight competition at
'08 Games.
|
|---|
| 31
|
Irving Fryar ,
Mount Holly
Nebraska All-America was only player with 1,000-yard receiving seasons for three NFL teams.
|
|---|
| 32
|
Gus Lesnevich ,
Cliffside Park
Light heavyweight champion won belt in 1941; set record
for quickest knockout in light heavyweight history (1:58
of the first round) with '48 win over Billy Fox.
|
|---|
| 33
|
Frank Cumiskey ,
West New York
Won five national AAU all-around gymnastic titles (1934-'47) and 17 individual titles.
|
|---|
| 34
|
Deron Cherry ,
Palmyra
Chiefs free safety from 1981 to '91 had 50 career interceptions and played in six Pro Bowls.
|
|---|
| 35
|
Doc Cramer ,
Beach Haven
Twenty-year major league outfielder made five All-Star teams and led AL with
200 hits for Red Sox in 1940.
|
|---|
| 36
|
Ron Dayne ,
Berlin
Overbrook High All-America won Heisman Trophy and set NCAA Div. I alltime rushing record with 6,397 yards at Wisconsin from 1996 to '99.
|
|---|
| 37
|
Milt Campbell ,
Plainfield
As a high school senior, finished second in 1952 Olympic decathlon; won event in '56.
|
|---|
| 38
|
Rosey Grier ,
Roselle
1954 All-America tackle at Penn State played in NFL from '55 to '66; helped Giants win four Eastern Conference titles.
|
|---|
| 39
|
Don Newcombe ,
Madison
In 1956 former Negro
leagues pitcher won the first Cy Young Award with
27-7 record and 3.06 ERA
for Dodgers.
|
|---|
| 40
|
Bill Larned ,
Summit
Tennis star won five
straight U.S. singles titles
from 1907 to '11.
|
|---|
| 41
|
Lydell Mitchell ,
Salem
Salem High football and basketball star; was All-America and led the nation
with 174 points and 29 TDs at
Penn State in 1971.
|
|---|
| 42
|
Orel Hershiser ,
Cherry Hill
Cy Young winner with Dodgers in 1988, when he pitched major league record 59 consecutive scoreless innings.
|
|---|
| 43
|
Tom Heinsohn ,
Union City
Starred at Holy Cross; played on eight Celtics NBA champion teams in 1950s and '60s; coached Boston to two titles.
|
|---|
| 44
|
Dick Savitt ,
Bayonne
One of four U.S. men to win Wimbledon and Australian titles in same year (1951); four times ranked in world's Top 10.
|
|---|
| 45
|
Ernest Blood ,
Passaic
From 1915 to '24, coached Passaic High basketball team to 200-1 record and 159-game winning streak; won seven state titles.
|
|---|
| 46
|
Mike Rozier ,
Camden
Nebraska running back won 1983 Heisman Trophy with 2,148 rushing yards (179 per game) and 29 touchdowns.
|
|---|
| 47
|
Charlie Jamieson ,
Paterson
In 1928 slick-fielding Cleveland Indian became only outfielder to initiate two triple plays
in one season; batted .303 from 1915 to '32.
|
|---|
| 48
|
Tom Courtney ,
Newark
NCAA 880-yard champion for Fordham in 1955; won track gold medals at '56 Olympics in 800 meters and 4x400 relay.
|
|---|
| 49
|
Joseph Burk ,
Beverly
World's top sculler from 1937 to '41; developed shorter stroke that became standard.
|
|---|
| 50
|
Claudio Reyna ,
Springfield
Midfielder for U.S. Olympic soccer team in 1992 and '96; three-time All-America at Virginia.
|
|---|
