|
20th Century Top 50
|
|
Rank |
Profile |
|
1 |
Bob Gibson,
Omaha
All-state in basketball at Omaha Tech; played with Globetrotters; won 251 games, two Cy Youngs for Cardinals.
|
| 2 |
Gale Sayers, Omaha
State long jump record holder; two-time football All-America at Kansas; led NFL in rushing in 1966 and '69 with Bears.
|
|---|
| 3 |
Grover Cleveland Alexander,
Elba
Three-time major league 30-game winner (1915, '16, '17); led National League in wins six times and ERA five times.
|
|---|
| 4 |
Tom Osborne,
Hastings
All-state in football and basketball at Hastings High; coached Nebraska football team to three national titles from 1973 to '97.
|
|---|
| 5 |
Johnny Rodgers,
Omaha
Heisman Trophy-winning wingback led Nebraska to 1970 and '71 national titles.
|
|---|
| 6 |
Sam Crawford,
Wahoo
Retired in 1917 with major league record 312 career triples; had .309 batting average, 2,961 hits and 366 stolen bases with Reds and Tigers.
|
|---|
| 7 |
Richie Ashburn,
Tilden
Four-time NL All-Star; won league batting titles with Phillies in 1955 and '58.
|
|---|
| 8 |
Ed Weir,
Superior
Two-time All-America at Nebraska; Knute Rockne called him "greatest tackle I ever saw."
|
|---|
| 9 |
Bob Boozer,
Omaha
All-America in basketball at Kansas State in 1958 and '59; led Wildcats to two Big Eight titles; No. 1 pick of Royals.
|
|---|
| 10 |
Jim Hartung,
Omaha
Member of gold-medal-winning 1984 U.S. men's gymnastics team; led Nebraska to four straight NCAA crowns; won seven individual NCAA titles.
|
|---|
| 11 |
Mel Harder,
Beemer
Indians righthander was All-Star from 1934 to '37; won 223 games.
|
|---|
| 12 |
Dave Rimington,
Omaha
Two-time All-America center at Nebraska (1981, '82); only man to win Outland Trophy twice.
|
|---|
| 13 |
Ron Boone,
Omaha
Star of Omaha Tech 1963 state championship basketball team; four-time ABA All-Star.
|
|---|
| 14 |
Louise Pond,
Lincoln
Winner of 1916 state women's golf title; women's singles and doubles tennis champion at Heidelberg College in 1900; founded Nebraska women's basketball team.
|
|---|
| 15 |
Billy Southworth,
Harvard
Hit .297 with 138 stolen bases in majors (1913 to '29); managed Cardinals to three pennants and World Series titles in '42 and '44.
|
|---|
| 16 |
Pat Fischer,
Omaha
Halfback at Nebraska; three-time Pro Bowl cornerback with Cardinals and Redskins started 212 straight games.
|
|---|
| 17 |
Mick Tingelhoff,
Lexington
Class B all-state center on 1957 Lexington High football team; six Pro Bowls with Vikings.
|
|---|
| 18 |
Dazzy Vance,
Cowles
Led NL in strikeouts from 1922 to '28, in ERA three times, and in wins and complete games twice; won 197 games.
|
|---|
| 19 |
George Sauer,
Lincoln
All-America fullback at Nebraska in 1933; coached Kansas to two Big Six titles; New York Jets' director of player personnel from '63 to '68.
|
|---|
| 20 |
Charley Brock,
Columbus
Intercepted 20 passes for Packers from 1939 to '47, including two for TDs in '45; played on two NFL champions.
|
|---|
| 21 |
Dean Steinkuhler,
Burr
Played eight-man football at Sterling High; won 1983 Lombardi and Outland trophies as offensive guard at Nebraska.
|
|---|
| 22 |
Mark Calcavecchia,
Laurel
Has nine PGA Tour wins;
1989 British Open winner.
|
|---|
| 23 |
Guy Chamberlin,
Blue Springs
All-America defensive end and halfback at Nebraska; played for 1921 NFL champion Decatur Staleys; coached NFL's Canton-Cleveland team to three league titles.
|
|---|
| 24 |
Jay Novacek,
Gothenburg
All-state QB at Gothenburg High in 1981; set state pole vault record; tight end for Cardinals and Cowboys from '85 to '95.
|
|---|
| 25 |
Gil Dodds,
Falls City
Won multiple state high school gold medals in the 880 and mile from 1935 to '37; set world indoor mile record three times.
|
|---|
| 26 |
Glenn Presnell,
Gilead
All-conference halfback at Nebraska in 1927; led NFL in scoring for '33 Portsmouth Spartans.
|
|---|
| 27 |
Randy Rasmussen,
Elba
Offensive guard played team-record 207 games with Jets from 1967 to '81; member of Super Bowl III champions.
|
|---|
| 28 |
Bob Cerv,
Weston
All-state in basketball at Weston High; led Nebraska to 1950 conference title; spent 12 seasons as major league outfielder; batted .276.
|
|---|
| 29 |
Val Skinner,
North Platte
State high school champion in 1974 and '78; has won six LPGA events in 16 years on tour.
|
|---|
| 30 |
Lloyd Hahn,
Falls City
Set world records at seven distances, from 800 to 1,500 meters, in the 1920s.
|
|---|
| 31 |
Gregg Olson,
Omaha
Diamondbacks reliever threw four no-hitters at Northwest High, won 27 games without a loss; 1989 AL Rookie of the Year.
|
|---|
| 32 |
Tom Rathman,
Grand Island
Scored 34 touchdowns as running back at Grand Island High and was state high jump champion; 49ers fullback from 1986 to '93.
|
|---|
| 33 |
Ruby Miller,
Elm Creek
Averaged 38.6 points as a senior at Elm Creek High in 1927; scored 80 in game against Miller High.
|
|---|
| 34 |
Marlin Briscoe,
Omaha
Led Broncos with 14 TD passes as rookie in 1968; led AFC with 57 receptions for Bills in '70.
|
|---|
| 35 |
Eugene (Hoppy) McCue,
Arapahoe
Was all-state three times in basketball and all-state twice in football at Arapahoe High from 1948 to '51; also won 11 individual track titles.
|
|---|
| 36 |
Johnny Hopp,
Hastings
All-Star outfielder batted .296 in 14-year career (1939 to '52); played in five World Series, with Cardinals and Yankees.
|
|---|
| 37 |
Kent McCloughan,
Broken Bow
All-state in football at Broken Bow High; earned All-League honors as cornerback with Raiders in 1967 and '68.
|
|---|
| 38 |
Larry Station,
Omaha
Set state meet record in shot put (62' 11 1/2") in 1982 at Central High; two-time All-America linebacker at Iowa.
|
|---|
| 39 |
Paul Tierney,
Broken Bow
State rodeo champion at Broken Bow High in 1970; World All-Around Rodeo champion in '80.
|
|---|
| 40 |
Steve Brooks,
McCook
Rode Ponder to 1949 Kentucky Derby win; 10 days later rode winners in first six races.
|
|---|
| 41 |
Erick Strickland,
Bellevue
Led Nebraska basketball team in scoring in 1996; spent three summers as Class A outfielder in Marlins system; now plays guard for Mavericks.
|
|---|
| 42 |
Edsel Wibbels,
Wolbach
All-state football player at Wolbach High; won national high school discus title in 1937 with a throw of 142' 4".
|
|---|
| 43 |
Jack Van Berg,
Columbus
First thoroughbred trainer to get 5,000 wins, in 1987; led nation in victories eight times.
|
|---|
| 44 |
Carol Moseke Frost,
Cedar Rapids
Four-time National AAU discus champion; won a gold medal at the 1968 Pan Am Games.
|
|---|
| 45 |
Tim Burke,
Omaha
Expos closer saved 84 games from 1987 to '90; retired with a 49-33 record, 2.72 ERA and 102 saves.
|
|---|
| 46 |
Ed Thompson,
Cambridge
In 1997, Omaha QB was first player in Division II history to rush and pass for 1,000 yards in single season; accomplished feat again in '98.
|
|---|
| 47 |
Tom Kropp,
Aurora
NAIA All-America in football and basketball at Kearney State; drafted by Steelers and Bullets in 1975.
|
|---|
| 48 |
Julie Vollertsen,
Palmyra
Hitter for silver-medal-winning 1984 U.S. Olympic volleyball team was also member of '82 bronze-medal-winning team at world championships.
|
|---|
| 49 |
Roger Sayers,
Omaha
Track and football star is Omaha's eighth alltime leading rusher with 2,033 yards from 1960 to '63; member of '62 U.S. national track team.
|
|---|
| 50 |
Chris Leigh,
Platteview
Scored then girls basketball state-record 1,492 points for Platteview from 1976 to '79.
|
|---|
