|
20th Century Top 50
|
|
Rank |
Profile |
|
1 |
Joe
DiMaggio, San Francisco
Record 56-game hitting streak in 1941; three-time MVP played on eight World
Series champions with Yankees; career .325
hitter. |
|
2 |
Jackie
Robinson, Pasadena
UCLA football star; changed baseball -- and the nation -- in 1947 as first
black in majors; MVP with Dodgers in
'49. |
|
3 |
Bill
Russell, Oakland
Led San Francisco to NCAA titles in 1955 and '56; defensive force and anchor of
Celtics dynasty of '60s; five-time MVP.
|
|
4 |
Mark
Spitz, Sacramento
Seven swimming world records and seven gold medals at 1972 Olympics; two golds,
one silver and a bronze at '68
Games. |
|
5 |
Ted
Williams, San Diego
Last man in majors to bat .400, in 1941; won Triple Crown in '42 and '47; .344
career average over 19 seasons with Red
Sox. |
|
6 |
Pete
Sampras, Palos Verdes
Tied with Roy Emerson for most Grand Slam singles titles (12); only player to
finish No. 1 in world six straight
years. |
|
7 |
Tony
Gwynn, Long Beach
San Diego State's alltime assists leader in basketball; winner of NL-record
eight batting titles; active hits leader
(3,067). |
|
8 |
John
Elway, Granada Hills
Baseball and football star at Stanford; winningest QB in NFL history with
Broncos. |
|
9 |
Pete
Rozelle, Los Angeles
In 29 years as commissioner built NFL into cultural behemoth, adding new
holiday to nation's calendar: Super
Sunday. |
|
10 |
Marcus
Allen, San Diego
At USC in 1981, set NCAA record for rushing yards (2,342) and won Heisman;
NFL's seventh-leading rusher
alltime.
|
|
11 |
Duke
Snider, Los Angeles
Dodgers centerfielder hit more home runs (326) than any other big leaguer in
1950s; seven-time
All-Star. |
|
12 |
Anthony
Muñoz, Ontario
Dominant offensive lineman at USC; perennial All-Pro in 13 seasons with
Bengals.
|
|
13 |
Tiger
Woods, Cypress
Has 15 PGA Tour wins in four years as a pro; youngest player to win the Masters,
in
1997. |
|
14 |
Jack
Kramer, Montebello
Won two U.S. titles (1946, '47) and one Wimbledon ('47) with blistering
serve-and-volley game; later helped form ATP and tirelessly promoted
tennis. |
|
15 |
Greg
LeMond, Lakewood
First American to win Tour de France, in 1986; returned in '89 after near fatal
hunting accident to win again; won for third time in
'90.
|
|
16 |
Hazel
Walker, Berkeley
Grande dame of women's tennis; won 19 Grand Slam titles; didn't lose a set in
singles play from 1927 to
'32. |
|
17 |
Bob
Mathias, Tulare
Two-time Olympic gold medalist in decathlon (1948 and '52) was, at 17, youngest
Olympic track
champion. |
|
18 |
Barry
Bonds, San Mateo
Best baseball player of the 1990s; three-time MVP and only player with 400
home runs and 400
steals. |
|
19 |
Billie Jean
King, Long Beach
Won 12 Grand Slam titles, but more important tennis victories came in
popularizing sport in U.S. and boosting women's
tour. |
|
20 |
Florence Griffith
Joyner, Los Angeles
Sprinter won three golds at 1988 Olympics, setting world records in 100 (10.49)
and 200 meters
(21.34). |
|
21 |
Greg
Louganis, El Cajon
First man to sweep platform and springboard diving golds at two Olympics (1984
and
88).
|
|
22 |
Mark
McGwire, Claremont
Hit Pac-10 record 32 home runs at USC in 1984; bashed major league record 70
with Cardinals in '98; home run ratio of one every 10.8 at bats best of any
hitter. |
|
23 |
Bill
Walton, San Diego
Three-time college player of the year at UCLA (1972-74); played on two NBA
champions. |
|
24 |
Rafer
Johnson, Kingsburg
Won state high school high hurdles title in 1954; set decathlon world record in
'55; won Olympic decathlon silver in '56 and gold in
'60. |
|
25 |
Frank
Gifford, Bakersfield
All-America at USC; running back was league MVP and led Giants to NFL title
in
1956.
|
|
26 |
Tom
Seaver, Fresno
Pitcher led Miracle Mets in 1969; won 311 games, three Cy Youngs; first
pitcher with 10 200-strikeout
seasons. |
|
27 |
Peggy
Fleming, San Jose
Three-time figure skating world champion won gold medal at 1968 Olympic
Games.
|
|
28 |
Don
Budge, Oakland
First player to win tennis's Grand Slam, in
1938. |
|
29 |
Frank
Robinson, Oakland
Only player to win MVP in both leagues; hit 586 homers, won Triple Crown in
1966; majors' first black manager, in
'75. |
|
30 |
Don
Drysdale, Van Nuys
Set major league record for consecutive scoreless innings (58 2/3) in 1958
with Dodgers; Cy Young winner and eight-time
All-Star.
|
|
31 |
Gino
Marchetti, Antioch
Played 13 seasons with Colts; went to 10 Pro Bowls; named defensive end of
All-NFL team for league's first 50
years. |
|
32 |
Cheryl
Miller, Riverside
Led Riverside Polytechnic High girls' basketball team to 132-4 record (1979 to
'83); won two NCAA basketball titles at
USC. |
|
33 |
Norm van
Brocklin, Lafayette
Won NFL titles with Rams (1951) and Eagles ('60); led league in passing three
times; played in 10 Pro Bowls; still holds single-game passing yards record
(554). |
|
34 |
Jim
Hines, Oakland
World record in 100 meters (9.95) at 1968 Olympics stood for 15 years; first man
to break 10-second barrier in that
event. |
|
35 |
Joe
Morgan, Oakland
Only second baseman to win back-to-back MVPs (1975 and '76); played on two World
Series champions with
Reds. |
|
36 |
Glenn
Davis, Laverne
Doc Blanchard's cohort in dominant Army backfield (1944 to '46); won Heisman as
senior after two years as
runner-up.
|
|
37 |
Pancho
Gonzales, Los Angeles
Perhaps most gifted tennis player of all time; won U.S. title in 1948 and '49;
pioneered pro tour with Jack Kramer
(#14).
|
|
38 |
O.J.
Simpson, San Francisco
Won Heisman trophy at USC; first in NFL to rush for 2,000 yards in a season
(1973).
|
|
39 |
Maureen
Connolly, San Diego
In 1951, at age 16, became youngest U.S. singles champion; then swept nine
straight Grand Slam titles from '51 to
'54.
|
|
40 |
Willie
Shoemaker, El Monte
Second-winningest jockey alltime with 8,833 victories; career earnings of
$123 million and 11 Triple Crown
wins. |
|
41 |
Bob
Lemon, San Bernardino
Failing outfielder started pitching as 26-year-old veteran; had five 20-win
seasons for Indians in
1950s. |
|
42 |
Janet
Evans, Placentia
Greatest U.S. distance swimmer won three golds at 1988 Olympics, set 400-meter
freestyle world
record.
|
|
43 |
Karch
Kiraly, Los Angeles
Played on U.S. Olympic gold-medal-winning volleyball teams in 1984 and '88; won
gold in beach volleyball in '96; considered greatest player in history
of
volleyball.
|
|
44 |
Tommie
Smith, Lamoore
Set seven sprint world records from 1966 to '68, including 200-meter gold-medal
performance at '68
Olympics. |
|
45 |
Mickey
Wright, San Diego
Four-time U.S. Open champion won 82 women's professional golf tournaments,
including 13 major
championships.
|
|
46 |
Dennis
Eckersley, Freemont
Pitched in second-most games (1,071) in majors; only pitcher with 150 wins and
300
saves. |
|
47 |
Bob
Waterfield, Van Nuys
Led UCLA to first victory over USC in 1942; became first rookie QB to win NFL
title with Rams in '45; MVP in '45 and
'50.
|
|
48 |
Rickey
Henderson, Oakland
All-American running back at Oakland Technical High; majors' alltime leader in
steals, third in walks, fifth in
runs. |
|
49 |
Matt
Biondi, Moraga
All-America swimmer at Cal tied Spitz for most Olympic medals: 11 total in 1984,
'88 and '92 Games, including seven
golds. |
|
50 |
Eddie
Mathews, Santa Barbara
Third baseman hit 512 home runs from 1952 to '68; made nine All-Star
teams. |
