Rare Forty-tude

These five stars have played long enough to leave lasting legacies but stayed strong enough, as they faced the Big Four-O, to perform at a level that still approaches their top form

		Michael Jordan Date of Birth: Feb. 17, 1963 Rookie Season: 1984-85 Teammates as a Rookie: Dave Corzine, Quintin Dailey, Ennis Whatley, Orlando Woolridge Rivals as a Rookie: Danny Ainge, Rolando Blackman, Walter Davis, Clyde Drexler, George Gervin, Andrew Toney
Career Stats 1,039 games; 31,575 points; 5,513 assists; 6,442 rebounds; 2,473 steals*

		Roger Clemens Date of Birth: Aug. 4, 1962 Rookie Season: 1984 Teammates as a Rookie: Dennis Eckersley, Dwight Evans, Jerry Remy, Jim Rice Rivals as a Rookie: Doyle Alexander, Mike Boddicker, Mike Flanagan, Jack Morris, Phil Niekro, Tom Seaver, Don Sutton
Career Stats: 574 games; 293 wins; 151 losses; 3,909 strikeouts; 45 shutouts; 3.15 ERA

		Jerry Rice Date of Birth: Oct. 13, 1962 Rookie Season: 1985 Teammates as a Rookie: Roger Craig, Ronnie Lott, Joe Montana, Jack (Hacksaw) Reynolds Rivals as a Rookie: Mark Clayton, Cris Collinsworth, Mark Duper, Charlie Joiner, Steve Largent, James Lofton, John Stallworth
Career Stats: 270 games; 1456 catches; 21,597 receiving yards; 192 touchdowns

		Ron Francis Date of Birth: March 1, 1963 Rookie Season: 1981-82 Teammates as a Rookie: Mark Howe, Dave Keon, Pierre Larouche, Blaine Stoughton Rivals as a Rookie: Bobby Carpenter, Bobby Clarke, Marcel Dionne, Bernie Federko, Wayne Gretzky, Gilbert Perrault, Darryl Sittler
Career Stats: 1,625 games; 533 goals; 1,206 assists; 1,739 points; 180 power play goals**

		John Stockton Date of Birth: March 26, 1962 Rookie Season: 1984-85 Teammates as a Rookie: Adrian Dantley, John Drew, Rickey Green, Darrell Griffith Rivals as a Rookie: Dennis Johnson, Magic Johnson, Fat Lever, John Lucas, Norm Nixon, Micheal Ray Richardson, Gus Williams
Career Stats: 1,471 games; 19,373 points; 15,556 assists; 3,212 steals; 51.5 FG%*

And here are four more players still going strong as their 40th birthday approaches this year.

		Bruce Smith Date of Birth: June 18, 1963 Rookie Season: 1985 Teammates as a Rookie: Greg Bell, Vince Ferragamo, Scott Norwood, Andre Reed Rivals as a Rookie: Richard Dent, Mark Gastineau, Howie Long, Bill Pickel, Reggie White
Career Stats 263 games; 195 sacks; 46 forced fumbles; 897 tackles;

		Al MacInnis Date of Birth: July 11, 1963 Rookie Season: 1981-82 Teammates as a Rookie: Guy Chouinard, Lanny McDonald, Jim Peplinski, Pekka Rautakallio Rivals as a Rookie: Ray Borque, Paul Coffey, Larry Murphy, Denis Potvin, Larry Robinson
Career Stats 1,389 games; 338 goals; 1,253 assists; 367 +/- rating;**

		Karl Malone Date of Birth: July 24, 1963 Rookie Season: 1985-86 Teammates as a Rookie: Thurl Bailey, Adrian Dantley, Mark Eaton, John Stockton Rivals as a Rookie: Charles Barkley, Kevin McHale, Buck Williams, Kevin Willis, James Worthy
Career Stats 1,401 games; 35,675 points; 14,272 rebounds; 4,908 assists; 51.7 FG%*

		Randy Johnson Date of Birth: Sept. 10, 1963 Rookie Season: 1988 Teammates as a Rookie: Andres Galaragga, Dennis Martinez, Pascual Perez, Tim Raines, Tim Wallach Rivals as a Rookie: David Cone, Dwight Gooden, Orel Hershiser, Nolan Ryan, Mike Scott
Career Stats 436 games; 224 wins; 106 losses; 3,746 strikeouts; 34 shutouts; 3.06 ERA

*Through the All-Star break
**Through Sunday's games

Issue date: February 17, 2003

Photographs by (left to right, top to bottom); Manny Millan, Bob Rosato, John Iacono (2), Andy Hayt, Peter Read Miller, Manny Millan, Lou Capozzola, Richard Mackson, John W. McDonough, John Iacono, Heinz Kluetmeier (2), David E. Klutho, Damian Strohmeyer, John W. McDonough, Ronald C. Modra, John W. McDonough

 

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