|
20th Century Top 50
|
|
Rank |
Profile |
|
1 |
Ty
Cobb, Royston
Highest lifetime average (.366) and fourth-highest total of games played
(3,034) in major league
history. |
|
2 |
Herschel
Walker, Wrightsville
Heisman winner at Georgia; fourth in NFL history in all-purpose
yards.
|
|
3 |
Bobby
Jones, Atlanta
Greatest golfer ever? Swept British and U.S. Opens and Amateurs in 1930, won
13 majors before retiring at 28. Founded
Masters.
|
|
4 |
Fran
Tarkenton, Athens
Mobile and durable quarterback set NFL records for pass attempts, completions,
touchdowns and yards
passing. |
|
5 |
Walt (Clyde)
Frazier, Atlanta
Won two NBA titles with Knicks; named one of league's 50 greatest
players. |
|
6 |
Gwen
Torrence, Decatur
Won three gold medals (200 meters and 4x100 relay twice) in 1992 and
'96 Games; also took 4x400 silver in '92. |
|
7 |
Wyomia
Tyus, Griffin
First to win back-to-back Olympic 100-meter gold medals, in 1964 and '68; won
another gold and a silver in Olympic
career.
|
|
8 |
Johnny
Mize, Demorest
Hit 359 homers, including 51 in 1947, with just 524 strikeouts; a 10-time
All-Star. |
|
9 |
Mel
Blount, Lyons
All-America defensive back at Southern and anchor of Pittsburgh's Steel
Curtain
secondary. |
|
10 |
Roger
Kingdom, Vienna
Won 110-meter-hurdles gold at 1984 and '88 Olympics and broke event's
eight-year-old world record in
'89.
|
|
11 |
George
Rogers, Duluth
Won Heisman Trophy and led nation in rushing in 1980; won rushing title as NFL
rookie and had four 1,000-yard
seasons. |
|
12 |
Bill
Terry, Atlanta
Tied NL single-season record for hits (254); last in league to bat .400 (1930);
lifetime .341 average is 11th
alltime.
|
|
13 |
Frank
Thomas, Columbus
Only player to hit .300 with 20 homers, 100 RBIs, 100 runs and 100 walks in
seven straight seasons (1991 to
'97).
|
|
14 |
Alice Coachman
Davis, Albany
First black woman to win Olympic gold (high jump in 1948); named one of 100
greatest Olympians in '96. |
|
15 |
Kevin
Brown, Irwinton
Set season records for wins and strikeouts at Georgia Tech; had major leagues'
best ERA (2.33) from 1996 to
'98.
|
|
16 |
Norm
Nixon, Macon
Led Southwest High to state title in 1973; two-time All-Star guard played 10 NBA
seasons. |
|
17 |
Louise
Suggs, Austell
U.S. Women's Amateur champ in 1947; founding member of the LPGA in '50; won 50
pro
events. |
|
18 |
Luke
Appling, Atlanta
Seven-time All-Star shortstop hit .300 16 times in 20 years with White Sox
and won two batting
titles. |
|
19 |
James
Brooks, Warner Robbins
All-America at Warner Robbins High and at Auburn; ended 12-year NFL
career as Bengals' alltime leading
rusher. |
|
20 |
Teresa
Edwards, Thomasville
Two-time All-America guard at Georgia; only American to play on four Olympic
basketball teams; won three golds and a
bronze.
|
|
21 |
Willie
Gault, Griffin
Olympic sprinter and bobsledder; on record-setting 4¥100 relay team at
1980 Games; '83 NCAA indoor hurdles and 60-yard champion; 333 receptions in
11-year NFL
career.
|
|
22 |
Bill
Stanfill, Cairo
All-America defensive end and 1968 Outland winner at Georgia; four-time All-Pro
with
Dolphins. |
|
23 |
Dan
Reeves, Americus
Cowboys back for eight seasons; NFL's winningest active coach (eighth
alltime); coached in four Super
Bowls. |
|
24 |
Ray
Guy, Thomson
First punter to be chosen in first round of NFL draft, in 1973; played in seven
Pro
Bowls. |
|
25 |
Edith
McGuire, Atlanta
Won a gold in 200-meter dash and two silver medals at 1964
Olympics.
|
|
26 |
Theodore (Tiger)
Flowers, Camilla
First U.S.-born black world middleweight champ, in 1926; had career record of
115-13-6.
|
|
27 |
Charlie
Ward, Thomasville
Won Heisman and quarterbacked Florida State to national title in '93; Knicks
point guard was drafted by Brewers and
Yankees.
|
|
28 |
Ted
Turner, Atlanta
Won America's Cup in 1977; boss of Atlanta's Braves, Hawks and Thrashers;
Goodwill Games
founder.
|
|
29 |
Dick (Cannonball)
Redding, Atlanta
His fastball blew through Negro leagues; went 43-12 for Lincoln Giants in
1912. |
|
30 |
Bill
Elliott, Dawsonville
Won Daytona, Winston and Southern 500s in 1985; first driver to win Winston
Million; 40 wins, 274 top 10 finishes in 23-year NASCAR
career.
|
|
31 |
Dale
Ellis, Marietta
Ninth pick in 1983 NBA draft; deadly shooter, second alltime on three-point
field goal
list.
|
|
32 |
Forrest (Spec)
Towns, Fitzgerald
Won Olympic gold in 110-meter hurdles in 1936; three weeks later in Oslo blazed
to a world record that stood for 12
years.
|
|
33 |
Spurgeon (Spud)
Chandler, Carnesville
Retired in 1947 with best winning percentage (.717) among pitchers with 100
victories; won MVP with Yanks in '43 (20-4, 1.64
ERA). |
|
34 |
William
Andrews, Thomasville
Four-time Pro Bowl back with Falcons; had four 1,000-yard seasons in six-year
career.
|
|
35 |
Richard
Dent, Atlanta
Starred on defensive line for 1986 Super Bowl-winning Bears; 137.5 sacks in
15-year career; went to the Pro Bowl four
times. |
|
36 |
Paul
Anderson, Vidalia
First man to lift a total of 1,100 pounds in press, snatch and jerk, in 1955;
won weightlifting gold at '56
Olympics.
|
|
37 |
Steve
Lundquist, Jonesboro
Won a total of six swimming golds at 1979 and '83 Pan Am Games and two more at
'84
Olympics.
|
|
38 |
Tim
Flock, Atlanta
Two-time NASCAR champion; won 40 of the 187 NASCAR events he started
from 1949 to
'61.
|
|
39 |
Bobby
Walthour, Walthourville
Set 26 cycling world records in 1904; held two U.S. Motorpace and two world
championships.
|
|
40 |
Larry
Mize, Augusta
Sank 140-foot pitch to win 1987 Masters; has won more than $6 million in
18 years on PGA
Tour. |
|
41 |
Bobby Lee
Bryant, Macon
Two Pro Bowls and 51 interceptions as Vikings cornerback from 1968 to '80;
drafted by
Yankees. |
|
42 |
Rayfield
Wright, Griffen
Six-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle; won two Super Bowl rings in 13-year career
with Cowboys (1967 to
'79).
|
|
43 |
Jeff
Malone, Macon
Two-time All-Star guard; the NBA's 11th-best alltime free throw
shooter.
|
|
44 |
Bitsy
Grant, Atlanta
A 5'4", 120-pound retriever, he won three U.S. clay-court championships;
ranked in the U.S. top 10 nine times between 1930 and
'41. |
|
45 |
Clarence
Scott, Decatur
Led Decatur High to state title in 1965; played 178 straight games and was
an All-Pro defensive back for Browns from '71 to
'83.
|
|
46 |
Cindy
Brogdon, Buford
Three-time All-America forward at Tennessee from 1976 to '79; Lady Volunteers'
record holder for free throw percentage, second in
scoring.
|
|
47 |
Tommy
Aaron, Gainesville
Perennial PGA Tour runner-up made his biggest mark by winning the Masters in
1973.
|
|
48 |
Bucky
Dent, Savannah
Three-time All-Star shortstop, but best known for home run that beat the
Red Sox in 1978
playoff. |
|
49 |
Mildred
McDaniel, Atlanta
Won high jump gold medal with world record performance at 1956
Olympics. |
|
50 |
Doug
Sanders, Cedartown
The Flamingo of the Fairways had 20 wins on PGA Tour from 1956 to '72 and was
runner-up in four
majors. |
