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20th Century Top 50
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Rank |
Profile |
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1 |
Roger Maris,
Fargo
Three-sport star at Shanley High; Yankees outfielder was AL MVP in 1960 and '61;
broke Babe Ruth's record with 61 home runs in '61.
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2 |
Phil Jackson,
Williston
Played 12 seasons in the NBA; coached Bulls to six titles between 1991 and '98.
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3 |
Darin Erstad,
Jamestown
Scored 36 goals in 1992 for Jamestown High hockey team; state 110- and 300-meter hurdles champion; punted for Nebraska's '94 national championship team; outfielder with Angels.
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4 |
Andy Hampsten,
Grand Forks
Only American to win Tour
of Italy and Tour of Switzerland.
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5 |
Lute Olson,
Grand Forks
Played on 1952 state basketball championship team at Grand Forks High; '97 NCAA title
as Arizona coach.
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6 |
Cliff Cushman,
Grand Forks
Two-time Kansas All-America hurdler, in 1959 and '60;
won silver medal in 400-meter hurdles at 1960 Olympics.
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7 |
Cliff (Fido) Purpur,
Grand Forks
First North Dakotan to play in NHL; joined St. Louis Eagles
in 1934-35; had 60 points in 144 regular-season games
in five seasons with two teams.
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8 |
Amy Ruley,
Fargo
North Dakota State women's basketball coach has led
Bison to five NCAA Division II titles since 1980.
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9 |
John Bennett,
Grand Forks
Won NCAA long jump at Marquette in 1953 and '54, and silver medal at '56 Olympics.
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10 |
Virgil Hill,
Williston
Won silver medal at 1984 Games; won WBA light heavyweight title in '87; defended belt
a record 19 times.
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11 |
Casper Oimoen,
Minot
A captain of 1932 and '36 U.S. Olympic ski teams; won three national titles in ski jumping.
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12 |
Brad Gjermundson,
Marshall
Four-time world champion saddle bronc rider (1981, '83, '84, '85); qualified for National
Finals Rodeo nine times.
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13 |
Dale Brown,
Minot
Earned 12 letters at Minot State in basketball, football and track; LSU basketball coach from 1972 to '97; set school record with 448 wins.
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14 |
Pete Retzlaff,
Ellendale
Eagles receiver was five-time Pro Bowl pick; retired in 1966 with 452 catches for 7,412 yards and 47 touchdowns.
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15 |
Sid Cichy,
Fargo
Coached Shanley High football team to 231-38-3 record,
11 undefeated seasons and 15 state titles from 1948 to '77.
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16 |
Dave Osborn,
Cando
Three-time letterman in football and track at North Dakota; rushed for 4,320
yards and 29 touchdowns
with Vikings from 1965 to '75.
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17 |
Rick Helling,
Lakota
Won 20 games for Rangers in 1998; is 44-34 in six seasons.
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18 |
Bob Wiese,
Jamestown
Two-time all-state back at Jamestown High in early
1940s was twice All-Big Ten at Michigan; lettered two years
in basketball, three years
in baseball for Wolverines.
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19 |
Brian Voss,
Bismarck
Won PBA national title and was bowler of the year
in 1988.
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20 |
Phil Hansen,
Oakes
Two-time All-America at North Dakota State; defensive end is third player in Bills' history with 50-plus sacks.
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21 |
Steve Myhra,
Wahpeton
Set Colts' marks with 21 field goals and 96 points in 1961; kicked late-game field goal in historic '58 NFL Championship against Giants to force overtime.
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22 |
Steve Blehm,
Devils Lake
North Dakota School for the Deaf guard scored state-record 3,930 points (1970 to '73).
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23 |
Ron Erhardt,
Mandan
All-conference quarterback
at Jamestown College; Giants offensive coordinator with
two Super Bowl championship teams (1986 and '90).
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24 |
Pat Smykowski,
Lidgerwood
Set North Dakota State
women's basketball career marks for points, three-pointers and assists, from 1986 to '89.
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25 |
Don Barcome Jr.,
Grand Forks
In 1979, captained first American team to win world junior men's curling championship.
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26 |
Ken Hunt,
Grand Forks
Major league outfielder from 1959 to '64 had best season
in '61 with Angels, hitting career-high 25 home runs.
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27 |
Jim Kleinsasser,
Carrington
Two-time Division II All-America tight end at North Dakota, in 1997 and '98; led team in
'98 with 45 catches; second-round pick of Vikings.
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28 |
Glenn Hansen,
Grand Forks
Set state career scoring record at Grand Forks High; played
in NBA from 1976 to '78.
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29 |
Janelle Bakken,
Thompson
Has five snowmobile drag-racing world records and more than 160 first-place showings.
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30 |
Jeff Boschee,
Valley City
Averaged 26 points at Valley City High as a senior and
was state's first McDonald's high school All-America; now point guard at Kansas.
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31 |
Randy Hedberg,
Parshall
Minot State QB passed for school-record 5,737 yards and 49 touchdowns; started four games for Buccaneers in 1977.
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32 |
Kami Anderson,
Valley City
Twice named all-state
in girls' basketball at Valley City High; Stanford's 18th alltime leading scorer (1985 to '88).
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33 |
Bob Feeney,
Bismarck
North Dakota's alltime winningest high school football coach had 234-110-1 record
at three schools (1964 to '98).
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34 |
Corey Ihmels,
Williston
Won three straight state
cross-country championships (1989 to '91); won '91 national cross-country championships.
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35 |
Nadine Schmidt,
Braddock
North Dakota State guard-forward was NCAA Division II Final Four MVP in 1991 and '93.
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36 |
Al Dosch,
Strasburg
Two-time all-conference football player at Valley City State; coached five high schools, including Strasburg High, to combined 229-61-4 record.
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37 |
Brooks Bollinger,
Grand Forks
Four-time all-city QB at Central High; passed for 4,209 career yards and 40 touchdowns; won 10 letters in three sports; now playing at Wisconsin.
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38 |
Jeff Panzer,
Grand Forks
Junior forward on North Dakota hockey team had 21 goals
and 26 assists in 1998-99.
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39 |
Dick Tschider,
Bismarck
All-state at St. Mary's High; two-time all-conference linebacker and center at North Dakota State in 1956 and '57.
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40 |
Shane McMenamy,
Grand Forks
U.S. Junior Amateur golf champion in 1996; first
16-year-old to win that title since Tiger Woods in '92.
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41 |
Les Jepsen,
Bowbells
Averaged 14.9 points and 10.0 rebounds at Iowa in 1990; played two years in the NBA.
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42 |
Tanya Fischer,
Rhame
North Dakota's alltime leading high school scorer (3,148 points) at Bowman High; state's 1993 Miss Basketball; two-time state cross-country champion.
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43 |
Doug Beaudoin,
Jamestown
All-America in football and basketball at Jamestown High; played in NFL from 1976 to '81.
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44 |
Lynn Nelson,
Sheldon
Was 33-42 in seven seasons with Cubs, A's and Tigers between 1930 and '40.
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45 |
Sheri Kleinsasser,
Carrington
Ended career as alltime leading scorer for North Dakota women's basketball team (1992 to '95); finished with 1,941 points.
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46 |
Ron Green,
Fargo
All-conference receiver at North Dakota; played with Browns in 1967 and '68.
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47 |
George Rulon,
Jamestown
National coordinator of American Legion Baseball from 1961 to '86; credited with popularizing American Legion World Series.
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48 |
Julie Bosch,
Bismarck
Has won five straight I Made the Hill 10K's and nine of the last 10; set course record in 1998.
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49 |
Justin Fletschock,
Munich
Two-time all-conference pitcher at North Dakota State (1996 and '97); school's career leader in wins, complete games and innings pitched.
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50 |
Tony Satter,
Fargo
North Dakota State running back from 1987 to '90 helped team win two Division II national titles; career average of 9.96 yards per touch. |
