The 50 Greatest Idaho Sports Figures

This list of the top 50 greatest 20th-century athletes originally appeared in the Dec. 27, 1999 issue of Sports Illustrated. Have someone to add to SI's list? Click here to submit your choices.

20th Century Top 50 Rank Profile 1 Harmon Killebrew, Payette Most homers by AL righthanded hitter (573); fifth alltime overall; 13 All-Star Games with Twins; 1969 AL MVP. 2 Jerry Kramer, Sandpoint Starred as tackle and kicker at Idaho; led power sweeps that helped Packers to five NFL titles including wins in first two Super Bowls; four-time All-Pro guard. 3 Picabo Street, Sun Valley Earned gold in Super G at 1998 Olympics, downhill silver in '94; only American to win World Cup downhill title ('96). 4 Gary Stevens, Boise One of this generation's top jockeys; has won six Triple Crown races, including 1997 Derby and Preakness. 5 Vern Law, Meridian Won twice in Pirates' 1960 World Series defeat of Yankees; got Cy Young Award that year. 6 Larry Wilson, Rigby Four-sport high school star was safety-blitzing terror with Cardinals from 1960 to '72; 52 interceptions, eight Pro Bowls. 7 Jake Plummer, Boise Third in 1996 Heisman race, at Arizona State; comeback specialist led '98 Cardinals to first postseason win since '47. 8 Mike Young, Idaho Falls Three-time state wrestling champ at Idaho Falls High in early 1960s; 56-1 record at BYU; won gold at '67 Pan Am Games. 9 Wayne Walker, Boise Anchored Idaho offensive line with Jerry Kramer in 1950s; made three Pro Bowls as linebacker with Lions. 10 Merril Hoge, Pocatello Set Idaho State record for all-purpose yards (5,413) in 1980s; holds Steelers season mark for catches by a running back (50). 11 John Friesz, Coeur D'Alene Set Division I-AA record with 10 straight 300-yard passing games at Idaho in 1989; now with Patriots, his fourth team. 12 Larry Jackson, Boise In 1964 won 24 games and was NL Comeback Player of the Year with Cubs; had 194 victories in 14 seasons in majors. 13 Jason Buck, St. Anthony Two-time junior college defensive player of the year at Ricks College; Outland Trophy winner at BYU in 1986. 14 Andrea Lloyd, Moscow Three-time state girls' basketball player of the year at Moscow High; won NCAA title with Texas in 1986, Olympic gold in '88. 15 Doug Riesenberg, Moscow Football and track All-America at Moscow High; Giants offensive tackle from 1987 to '95; won Super Bowl ring in '90. 16 Chris Owens, Idaho Falls Won four state wrestling titles and went 123-0 at Idaho Falls High in 1980s; finished second in 142-pound class at NCAA championships in '92. 17 Dean Oliver, Caldwell Won record eight world calf roping titles and three world all-around championships (1963, '64, '65). 18 John Grant, Boise All-America defensive end at USC in 1972; spent seven seasons with Broncos. 19 Mike Garman, Caldwell Pitched for five teams in nine seasons in majors; had career-high 12 saves for NL champion Dodgers in 1977. 20 Randy Trautman, Caldwell Boise State walk-on was two-time Division I-AA All-America defensive tackle; led Broncos to 1980 divisional national title. 21 Dee Pickett, Caldwell Boise State quarterback in 1976 and '77; world all-around rodeo champion in '84. 22 Amber Welty, Twin Falls Won NCAA high jump championship as junior at Idaho State in 1988; member of '92 Olympic team. 23 Babe Caccia, Pocatello Idaho State fixture from 1948 to '86; school's winningest football and baseball coach; athletic director from '79 to '86. 24 Laverne Fator, Hailey Jockey won 143 races in 1926; won or placed in 2,783 of 4,967 starts from '19 to '31. 25 Corissa Yasen, Coeur D'Alene Won 1996 NCAA heptathlon title; All-America in nine track events at Purdue; averaged 11.4 points for Boilermakers' basketball team that season. 26 Davey Hamilton, Meridian Has 13 top five finishes on Indy Racing League circuit; finished fourth in 1999 point standings. 27 Rick Woods, Boise Set Boise State record for career punt return yards (1,147); had 13 interceptions with Steelers and Buccaneers from 1982 to '87. 28 David Archer, Soda Springs Football and basketball starat Soda Springs High; spent six seasons in NFL; best year was 1986 when he passed for 2,007 yards with Falcons. 29 Brent Pease, Mountain Home Left Montana in 1986 with single-season records in passing yards (3,056) and TDs (30). 30 Roland Woolsey, Grandview All-Big Sky safety at Boise State in 1974; had five interceptions in four-year career with four NFL teams. 31 Kipp Bedard, Boise All-America wideout at Boise State in 1980, '81; still holds Broncos' single-season mark for receiving yards (1,101). 32 Cedric Minter, Boise Set then Big Sky career rushing record (4,475) at Boise State from 1978 to '80; played five seasons with CFL's Toronto Argonauts and NFL's Jets. 33 Babe Hiskey, Pocatello Won three state amateur golf titles, in 1956, '60 and '61. 34 Dee Wilde, Pocatello Won World Indoor Archery Championship in 1998; has been ranked No. 1 in world eight times since '89; holds every 18-meter world record. 35 Andy Toolson, Twin Falls Left BYU in 1990 as career leader in three-pointers (141); played briefly with Jazz. 36 Ray McDonald, Caldwell Led nation in rushing (1,329 yards) for Idaho in 1966; played two seasons with Redskins before leg injury ended career. 37 Steve Hayes, Aberdeen Idaho State's alltime leading rebounder and second-leading scorer; played in Italy, CBA and NBA from 1982 to '86. 38 Ed Jacoby, Idaho Falls Boise State track coach for 23 of last 24 years; coached 11 All-Americas; three-time NCAA district coach of the year. 39 John L. Smith, Idaho Falls All-Big Sky quarterback at Weber State in 1971; coached Idaho to three Division I-AA top 10 finishes from '89 to '94. 40 Teresa Spaulding, Meridian Starred at center for BYU basketball team; member of 1984 Olympic team. 41 Brad White, Idaho Falls Football star and state wrestling champ at Skyline High; defensive lineman for three NFL teams from 1981 to '87. 42 Clarence Edmundson, Moscow Won national half-mile title at Idaho in 1909; ran 800 meters at '12 Olympics; had 488-195 record as Washington hoops coach from '21 to '47. 43 Hal Espy, Pocatello At Idaho State won NCAA heavyweight boxing title in 1957 and '59. 44 Yo Murphy , Idaho Falls All-America wide receiver at Idaho in 1992; played for Scottish Claymores of NFL Europe in '98; receiver with Buccaneers and Vikings in '99. 45 Ken Hobart, Kamiah All-America quarterback at Idaho in 1983 was second player in NCAA history to pass for more than 10,000 yards; set 12 Division I-AA records. 46 Scott Auker, Fruitland All-Big Sky tight end at Idaho in 1984 and '85. 47 Vic Kobe, Pocatello Won 1953 NCAA boxing championship in 119-pound division. 48 Jane Chi, Boise NCAA indoor women's tennis champion at UCLA in 1995; turned professional same year; finished '99 as world's 84th-ranked pro. 49 Gary Simmons, Twin Falls All-America guard at Idaho in 1957-58; his 20.4 ppg that season was a Vandals record. 50 Robbie Davis, Pocatello Leading apprentice jockey in 1982; still successful rider today, though not the same after 1988 accident in which his horse trampled a fellow jockey to death.

Photograph by AP Photo