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20th Century Top 50: Virginia
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Rank |
Profile |
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1 |
Arthur
Ashe ,
Richmond
Winner of 33 pro titles; won the U.S. Open in 1968 as an amateur; winner of '70
Australian Open and Wimbledon in '75; ranked in world's Top 10 for
12 years.
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2
Lawrence
Taylor ,
Williamsburg
Baseball star at Lafayette High; All-America in football at North Carolina;
NFL's alltime leader in sacks by a linebacker, with
Giants.
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3
Secretariat ,
Doswell
Raised at Meadow Farm; capped 1973 Triple Crown with a 31-length victory in
Belmont
Stakes.
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4
Bruce
Smith ,
Norfolk
Won 1985 Outland Trophy as a senior at Virginia Tech; second on NFL's career
sack
list.
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5
Sam
Snead ,
Hot
Springs
Most wins on PGA Tour (81), including seven
majors.
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6
Moses
Malone ,
Petersburg
Led Petersburg High to two undefeated state championship seasons; went straight
to ABA's Utah Stars in 1974; three-time NBA MVP and 12-time
All-Star.
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7
David
Robinson ,
Manassas
Consensus college player of the year at Navy in 1987; 1994-95 NBA MVP; has been
eight-time All-Star with
Spurs.
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8
Ralph
Sampson ,
Harrisonburg
Three-time AP College Player of the Year at Virginia; Rookie of the Year for
Rockets in 1984; four-time NBA
All-Star.
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9
Willie
Lanier ,
Richmond
Six-time All-Pro middle linebacker played 11 AFL and NFL seasons with
Chiefs.
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10
Dwight
Stephenson ,
Hampton
All-State center and defensive tackle for Hampton High state champions. Hall of
Fame center with Dolphins from 1980 to
'87.
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11
Grant
Hill ,
Reston
Three-time All-America at Duke; NBA co-Rookie of the Year; four-time
All-Star.
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12
Benita Fitzgerald
Mosley ,
Dale
City
Three-time NCAA 100-meter hurdles champ at Tennessee; won gold at 1983 Pan Am
Games and '84
Olympics.
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13
Alonzo
Mourning ,
Chesapeake
Two-time Mr. Virginia averaged 9.6 blocks as senior at Indian River High;
1998-99 NBA Defensive Player of the
Year.
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14
Kenny
Easley ,
Chesapeake
As a senior at Oscar Smith High, was first Virginian to pass and rush for 1,000
yards in a season; NFL Defensive Player of the Year with Seahawks in
1984.
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15
Allen
Iverson ,
Hampton
Was state's player of the year in football and basketball at Bethel High his
junior year; led NBA in scoring in 1998-99 for
76ers.
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16
Clarence (Ace)
Parker ,
Portsmouth
Five-sport star at Woodrow Wilson High; in college and pro football halls of
fame; hit a home run in first big league at bat for Philadelphia A's in
1937.
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17
Andre
Cason ,
Virginia
Beach
Set world indoor 60-meter-dash record in 1992; member of world-record U.S.
4x100-meter relay
team.
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18
Herman
Moore ,
Danville
Set school records for catches and receiving yards at Virginia; had three
straight 100-catch seasons with Lions (1995 to
'97).
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19
Roosevelt (Rosey)
Brown ,
Charlottesville
Black All-America tackle at Morgan State (1951, '52); All-Pro eight seasons with
Giants.
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20
Ray
Dandridge ,
Richmond
Negro leagues star of 1930s and '40s; considered best third baseman never to
play in the
majors.
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21
Pernell
Whitaker ,
Norfolk
Olympic lightweight boxing gold medalist in 1984; six-time champ in four
divisions from 1987 to
'97.
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22
Leroy
Keyes ,
Newport
News
Set Virginia high school long jump record in 1964; two-time All-America in
football at Purdue; led nation in scoring in
'67.
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23
Curtis
Strange ,
Norfolk
1974 NCAA champion and World Amateur Cup winner at Wake Forest; U.S. Open
champion in '88 and
'89.
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24
Melissa Belote
Ripley ,
Springfield
Won three gold medals at the 1972 Olympics, setting world record in 200-meter
backstroke and Olympic record in
100 backstroke.
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25
Lanny
Wadkins ,
Richmond
Has 21 PGA Tour victories, including 1977 PGA
Championship.
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26
Barty
Smith ,
Richmond
Baseball, football, basketball and track star had state record toss of
59' 1" in shot; led Packers in rushing and receiving in
1977.
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27
Beattie
Feathers ,
Bristol
All-state at Bristol High four times; Tennessee All-America; with 1934 Bears,
the first NFL back to run for 1,000
yards.
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28
(Bullet) Bill
Dudley ,
Bluefield
Virginia halfback led nation in all-purpose yards in 1941; led NFL in rushing
for Steelers
('46).
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29
Eppa
Rixey ,
Culpeper
Baseball star at Virginia; his 266 wins (1912-33), with Phillies and Reds, stood
as NL lefty record for more than 40
years.
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30
Charles
Haley ,
Gladys
Pass-rush specialist; onlyman to play on five Super Bowl champions, with
49ers and
Cowboys.
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31
Jake
Scott ,
Arlington
Super Bowl VII MVP clinched Dolphins' perfect 1972 season with two interceptions
against Redskins; five-time All-Pro
safety.
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32
Archie
Harris ,
Urbanna
Two-time NCAA discus champion at Indiana; set world record with 174' 9"
throw in
1941.
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33
Gray
Simons ,
Norfolk
State wrestling champion at Granby High; four NAIA and three NCAA titles at Lock
Haven; set NCAA mark with 84 consecutive wins; two-time
Olympian.
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34
Spottswood (Spot)
Poles ,
Winchester
Hit .440 in 1911 and .398 in '12 for New York Lincoln Giants of the Negro
leagues.
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35
Sonny
Randle ,
Cohasset
Track and football star at Virginia; had most NFL TD catches in 1960s (for
Cards, Cowboys and 49ers); coach at Virginia and
Marshall.
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36
Bobby
Dandridge ,
Richmond
Maggie Walker High and Norfolk State basketball star; four-time NBA All\!Star in
career (1969 to '82) with Bucks and
Bullets.
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37
Chris
Warren ,
Burke
Alltime leader at Ferrum with 4,583 all-purpose yards; four-time 1,000-yard
rusher with Seahawks from 1992 to
'95.
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38
Chandler
Harper ,
Portsmouth
Won 20 PGA Tour events, including the 1950 PGA Championship; youngest (18) and
oldest (56) Virginia state golf
champion.
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39
D.J.
Dozier ,
Virginia
Beach
Led Penn State in rushing four times; played briefly for Vikings; 25 games with
Mets in
1992.
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40
Charles (Lefty)
Driesell ,
Norfolk
All-state in basketball at Granby High; set state coaching record with 57
straight wins at Newport News High; coach at Davidson, Maryland and James
Madison.
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41
Billy
Wagner ,
Tannersville
Holds NCAA strikeout records for career (327) and per nine innings for a season
(19.1) at Ferrum; now closer for Astros.
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42
Gene
McEver ,
Bristol
Tennessee's first football All-America; scored 21 TDs in
1929.
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43
Norm
Snead ,
Newport
News
Threw for 30,797 yards and 196 touchdowns in 18-year NFL career with Redskins,
Eagles, Vikings, Giants and
49ers.
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44
Lawrence
Johnson ,
Chesapeake
Three-time NCAA champion set collegiate record in pole vault in 1996 at
Tennessee; set U.S. mark of 19' 2" later that
year.
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45
Curtis
Turner ,
Roanoke
Had 17 NASCAR victories despite a four-year ban for trying to unionize
drivers.
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46
Carroll
Dale ,
Wise
All-America at Virginia Tech; 14 NFL seasons; played for Packers in first two
Super
Bowls.
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47
Deacon
Phillippe ,
Rural
Retreat
Pitched in majors from 1899 to 1911 for Louisville Colonels and Pirates; 189
victories in 372 major league
games.
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48
Jack
Cloud ,
Norfolk
Rushed for 2,056 yards as two-time All-America at William & Mary from 1950
to '53; played for Packers and
Redskins.
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49
Frank
Havens ,
Arlington
Olympic gold medalist in 1952 10,000-meter canoe singles; seven-time national
champion.
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50
Joe
Smith ,
Norfolk
College player of the year at Maryland in 1995; No. 1 pick in '95
NBA draft with Warriors; now a forward with the
Timberwolves.
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