One of the better numbers in sports. Ripken played in a record 2,632 consecutive games for the Orioles, setting a sporting standard for work ethic. He played 21 seasons in Baltimore, hitting 431 home runs and earning All-Star game nominations in each of his seasons.

Runner-up: Yogi Berra.

Worthy of consideration: Troy Aikman, Kobe Bryant (through 2006), Dale Earnhardt Jr., Joe Morgan, Steve Young, Carl Yastrzemski.