|
20th Century Top 50
|
|
Rank |
Profile |
|
1 |
Joe
Frazier, Beaufont
Won heavyweight gold medal at 1964 Olympics; in boxing's greatest heavyweight
rivalry, beat Muhammad Ali in '71, then lost two other
bouts. |
|
2 |
"Shoeless" Joe
Jackson, Pickens County
His .356 career average is third alltime but involvement in 1919 Black Sox
scandal keeps him from Hall of
Fame. |
|
3 |
Pete
Maravich, Clemson
Averaged NCAA-record 44.2 points over four seasons at Louisiana State (1966
to '70) and 24.2 in 10 years in the
NBA. |
|
4 |
Art
Shell, Charleston
Eight-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman (1973 to '79, '81); two-sport star at
Bonds-Wilson
High. |
|
5 |
Felix (Doc)
Blanchard, Bishopville
Army fullback bulled his way to 1945 Heisman Trophy; led Army to
national titles in 1944 and
'45. |
|
6 |
Betsy
Rawls, Spartanburg
Won 55 LPGA events, including eight majors, from 1951 to '75; fifth on LPGA
career win list and fifth in victories in
majors. |
|
7 |
David
Pearson, Whitney
Winner of 105 NASCAR races, three Winston Cup titles over 27-year career (1960
to
'86). |
|
8 |
Alex
English, Columbia
Eight-time NBA All-Star averaged 21.5 points in 15-year NBA career; had
career-high 29.8 ppg in 1985-86 as forward for
Nuggets. |
|
9 |
Jim
Rice, Anderson
Seven-time All-Star for Red Sox and 1978 AL MVP led league in home runs three
times; retired in '89 with 382
homers. |
|
10 |
Harry
Carson, Florence
Two-time MEAC MVP at South Carolina State; starred as linebacker for Giants'
Super Bowl XXI
champions. |
|
11 |
Marty
Marion, Richburg
The Octopus, six-time All-Star, won 1944 NL MVP award; led league shortstops
in fielding percentage three
times. |
|
12 |
Beth
Daniel, Charleston
Winner of 32 LPGA events, including 1990 LPGA Championship; won two U.S. Women's
Amateurs.
|
|
13 |
Al
Rosen, Spartanburg
All-Star third baseman four times; 1953 AL MVP with league-leading 43 homers,
145
RBIs. |
|
14 |
Cale
Yarborough, Sardis
All-state fullback at Timmonsville High in 1957 won 83 NASCAR races and
three Winston Cup
titles. |
|
15 |
Kevin
Garnett, Mauldin
Jumped straight from high school to NBA's Timberwolves in 1995; has averaged
16.5 points in first four-plus seasons; named to two All-Star
teams.
|
|
16 |
Chino
Smith, Greenwood
Batted .423 with Negro leagues' New York Lincoln Giants (1924 to '31); also hit
.423 in exhibition games against big
leaguers. |
|
17 |
Bob
Montgomery, Sumter
Defeated Beau Jack in 1943 to win world lightweight championship; career record
of 75-19-3, with 37
knockouts. |
|
18 |
Larry
Nance, Anderson
Won inaugural NBA Slam Dunk contest in 1984 as forward for Phoenix; two-time
All-Star had his number retired by
Cavaliers. |
|
19 |
Bobby
Richardson, Sumter
Seven-time All-Star second baseman collected 1,432 career hits (1955 to '66);
batted .305 in 36 World Series
games. |
|
20 |
Katrina
McClain, Charleston
Two-time Olympic gold medalist with U.S. women's basketball team helped Georgia
to a 116-15 record from 1984 to
'87. |
|
21 |
Charlie
Waters, North Augusta
Two-position star at North Augusta High spent 11 seasons as Cowboys safety (1970
to '81); three-time Pro Bowl
selection. |
|
22 |
Mookie
Wilson, Bamberg
Mets outfielder had 1,397 hits and 327 stolen bases over 12 seasons (1980 to
'92). |
|
23 |
Bobo
Newsom, Hartsville
Twenty-year major league pitcher went 211-222 with 3.98 ERA; was 21-5 with 2.83
ERA for Tigers in
1920. |
|
24 |
Xavier
McDaniel
, Columbia
Led nation in scoring and rebounding at Wichita State in 1984-85; had career
year with Seattle in '86-87, averaging 23.0 points and 8.6
rebounds. |
|
25 |
Stanley
Morgan, Easley
Star running back, receiver and wingback at Tennessee (1973 to '76); played in
four Pro Bowls with
Patriots.
|
|
26 |
Gorman
Thomas, James Island
Led AL in home runs in 1979 with Brewers and tied for lead in '82; hit 268
homers over 13
seasons. |
|
27 |
Donnie
Shell, Whitmire
Signed by Steelers as undrafted free agent out of South Carolina State
in 1974; five-time Pro Bowl safety; member of Alltime Black College
Football
Team. |
|
28 |
Dave
Meggett, Charleston
Two-way star at Bonds-Wilson/North Charleston High; played in two Super Bowls,
with Giants (XXV) and Pats
(XXXI). |
|
29 |
Levon
Kirkland, Lamar
Two-time (1990, '91) All-America linebacker at Clemson; played in two
Pro Bowls as a
Steeler. |
|
30 |
LaMarr
Hoyt, Columbia
Righthander won 1983 Cy Young Award with 24-10 record, 3.66
ERA.
|
|
31 |
William
Perry, Aiken
All-America defensive lineman at Clemson; member of Bears' Super Bowl XX
winners. |
|
32 |
Robert
Porcher, Cainhoy
Defensive end had 15 sacks as senior at South Carolina State; first MEAC player
picked in first round of NFL draft, by Lions in
1992. |
|
33 |
Steve
Fuller, Spartanburg
Clemson QB was 1978 Gator Bowl MVP; Jim McMahon's understudy on '85 Bears team
that won Super
Bowl. |
|
34 |
Dan
Driessen, Hilton Head
Reds first baseman had 1,464 hits, 153 home runs over 15 seasons (1973
to
'87). |
|
35 |
Charlie
Brown, John's Island
Won a Super Bowl ring and appeared in two Pro Bowls as member of
Redskins in mid-1980s; led team with 78 catches in
'83. |
|
36 |
Robert
Brooks, Greenwood
Set University of South Carolina mark with 19 TD catches; caught 102 balls
with Packers in
1995.
|
|
37 |
Terry
Kinard, Sumter
In 1982 Clemson safety became only Tiger ever voted unanimous All-America and AP
first-team All-America twice; made '89 Pro Bowl with
Giants. |
|
38 |
Freddie
Solomon, Sumter
University of Tampa QB played in two Super Bowls as a receiver with 49ers from
1979 to
'85. |
|
39 |
Harold
Green, Stratford
Ranks third in South Carolina history with 3,005 yards rushing; ran for 4,250
yards in seven NFL seasons from 1990 to
'96. |
|
40 |
Bill
Spiers, Cameron
Clemson punter; hit .320 with Astros in 1997; has played every position except
catcher and
pitcher. |
|
41 |
Tony
Rice, Woodruff
Woodruff High quarterback led Notre Dame to 12-0 record and 1988
national
title. |
|
42 |
Stanford
Jennings, Summberville
Three-time Southern Conference Player of Year (1981 to '83) at Furman; returned
kickoff 93 yards for Bengals in Super Bowl
XXIII.
|
|
43 |
Willie Mays
Aikens, Seneca
First baseman hit four home runs for Royals in 1980 World
Series.
|
|
44 |
Brian
Williams, Lancaster
Starting pitcher at South Carolina from 1988 to '90 led team at least once in
doubles, triples and steals as well as in wins, innings and
strikeouts. |
|
45 |
J.C.
Caroline, Columbia
Star running back at Booker T. Washington High; played 10 seasons with Bears;
appeared in 1957 Pro
Bowl.
|
|
46 |
Jim
Stuckey, Columbia
Clemson standout defensive lineman was first-round draft pick of 49ers
in 1980; won two Super Bowls with San
Francisco. |
|
47 |
Anthuan
Maybank, Georgetown
Ran anchor leg in gold-medal-winning 4x400 relay at 1996
Olympics.
|
|
48 |
George
Webster, Anderson
Two-time All-America roverback at Michigan State; 1967 AFL Rookie of the Year
with Oilers; three-time
All-Pro. |
|
49 |
Billy
O'Dell, Whitmire
Holds Clemson mark for ERA (1.51) and strikeouts in a game (21); two-time
major league All-Star (1958, '59) went 105-100 over 13
seasons.
|
|
50 |
Van Lingle
Mungo, Pageland
Pitcher for Dodgers and Giants had 120-115 record over 14 seasons in 1930s
and
'40s. |
