Carry on with the slideshow, and impress your friends with your newfound street cred. "Hammerin' Hank" played 23 seasons and recorded 755 career home runs and 3,771 hits. Publish date: May 25, 2009. . He was a two-time MVP, an . Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons In the power categories, it's . famous athletes number 23 nickname - masar.group This is one of the most fitting nicknames on the countdown. A 7'1" tree with more nicknames than points per game (4.0 career average), Joel Przybilla is a force to be reckoned with; if mostly in the Name Hall of Fame. [Results] Who is the most famous athlete of all time? Joel Mason, an Iron River native who was born March 12, 1912 and died Oct. 31, 1995 at the age of 83, was a professional football and basketball player. From popular baby names to more rare ones, choosing a name from this list is a great choice for sporty girls. He is a nine-time NBA All-Star, was the NBA scoring champion in 1986 and won two dunk contests (1985, 1990). 1 1. Famous Athletes - List & Biographies of World Famous Athletes Comment below!JOIN THE TOTALPROSPORTS TEAM and SUBSCRIBE! "Pee wee" was a term used to describe a small marble in Reese's childhood, and it would become his nickname for the remainder of his life. No list of the best athletes is complete without "The Greatest" Muhammad Ali. 22: Joey Bats (Jose Bautista) Bautista once did a very funny sketch that was a version of the baseball bat scene in "The Untouchables." NBA Countdown: Who wore No. 33 best? - Yahoo! A Social History Of America's Most Popular Drugs - PBS number eight "Pocket Rocket" = Brent Russell, Utility players "Pocket Dynamo" = Gio Aplon, Fullback / Wing " Slaptjips" (Afrikaans for potato chips or french fries) = Pieter Rossouw, Wing "The . According to Parish, former Celtics forwardCedric Maxwellgave Parish this nickname because of hisstoicnature. While most remember him for his playing days in baseball, Williams is also a true American hero, leaving the game twice to enlist in the United States Armed Forces as a Marine Corps pilot. But who makes it into Australia-only top 10? Also called "The Baddest on the Planet," Mike Tyson won his first 19 professional bouts by knockout12 of them occurring in the first round. From 00 to 99: Picking the top pro athletes to wear each uniform number Dominique Wilkins. Bill Russell, another legend of the sport, also wore No. . He also played for the New York Yankees of the American Football League for just one season before they absolved into the NFL. https://goo.gl/tX6CcK-~-~~-~~. Brown is widely considered one of the greatest running backs of all time, thanks to his brutal yet elegant rushing style. So, Jordan divided it in half and wore #23. 5 - Joe DiMaggio. The name stuck throughout Rich Gossage's playing days, and he is affectionately known by the moniker to this day. His other famous nickname, "The Yankee Clipper," also deserves a mention on the countdown. The obvious nickname is the third generation of his birth name. 5 Best players to wear No. Davis would often cry to his coach, begging the man to let him play with his friends and the coach would say, "stop crying, you big baby!" The nickname is cool because it's edgy and impressive, but then when you find out he's a boxer, it just seems kind of lame. However, it was as a fullback that got him his alias, and it would stick with him long after his playing days were over. White was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006 and was a 13-time Pro Bowl selection. World Fame 100: Australia's Top 10 most famous athletes - ESPN.com The Neon legend was born in Tallahassee, where Sanders was a two-time consensus All-America, and a Jim Thorpe . Gordie Howe is considered one of the best hockey players in history but is also known for his friendly personality, kind demeanor, longevity as a player and prolific goal-scoring. The 6'9", 271lb lineman recorded 57 sacks in his career but played before the sack became an official stat in 1982. As time passes, these athletes will be remembered for the accomplishments achieved while wearing their preferred numbers. . McCovey got his nickname from his slender-but-tall build. Famous for wearing the number 23 jersey throughout the entirety of his career, Murphy achieved much while playing, including . He won two NBA titles with the Houston Rockets and was the NBA MVP in 1994, also with the Rockets. As owner of the Kansas City A's, Charles O. Finley thought his new pitcher needed a solid nickname, and citing Hunter's giant 'stache which looked like a catfish's whiskers, gave him the nickname "catfish.". 25 Best Baseball Nicknames in History - MLB.com Michael Jordan's #23. Wagner recorded over 3,400 hits in his career with theLouisville Colonels(18971899), andPittsburgh Pirates(19001917), in a time known as the "Dead Ball" era when pitchers reigned supreme. Either way, the nickname stuck, as did the movie. Grange got his nickname from Chicago American writer Warren Brown, who dubbed the pasty white-skinned red head "The Galloping Ghost," citing his running style at the University of Illinois. 23, even if it was for a short period during his career. When Stewart entered the NFL, he was moved from quarterback to receiver, but was often placed under center for certain plays by head coach Bill Cowher. Players could put whatever name they wanted back there, and Smart's "He Hate Me" was the best of them all. Due to his legal troubles, Jones has requested he now be known simply as "Adam Jones" in an effort to separate his new under-the-radar personality from his past troubles with the law. Usain Bolt (11%) and Pel (11%) then completed the Top 5. We all know Dizzy and Daffy, Crazy Legs, Shoeless Joe, King James, The Great One and Air Jordan. Lists of nicknames - nickname list articles on Wikipedia On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Shaquille O'Neal, a Hall of Famer and all-time great, wore Nos. When he was not allowed to play with his friends on the peewee team due to his size, he was told he must play with older kids. The Pro Football Hall of Famer has 16,726 career yards, along with 110 TDs on the ground. Brown has inspired generations of running backs to wear #32 in his honor including Marcus Allen and OJ Simpson. Boyd played parts of nine seasons in the majors, and compiled a career 78-77 record, with 799 strikeouts. The tall glass of water is a solid shooter, and therefore, the gun jokes just flow. Rodman was a king on the court when it came down to getting into his opponent's physche. 1. . Naim Sleymanolu (Weightlifting)- Pocket Hercules. He stood 6'-and-a-half inches tall and weighed 225 lbs, a very large size in his time. "The Glide" is a member of the Hall of Fame and captured the 1995 NBA championship with the Houston Rockets. Jeffries boxed in a time where blacks were heavily persecuted, and "The Great White Hope" was a moniker for his desire to destroy all blacks with his boxing abilities. "The Mailman always delivers" was the phrase that followed Malone from his college days until the end of his career and beyond. List of Top 100 Athletes in the World and their Net worth (2023) Hayes earned many nicknames during his playing days, such as "The Judge" and his self-proclaimed "Jedi" alias for his pre-Super Bowl XVIII quotes stating he was "The only true Jedi in the NFL" (Star Wars was immensely popular in the late '70s and early '80s). ESPN World Fame 100 - Top Ranking Athletes Birth Year: 1913. "Three Fingers" Brown was able to throw many pitches that could not be achieved by a man with a full hand. Other nicknames, aliases, and monikers include: "Shaq," "Shaq Fu," "The BigAristotle," "The Big Daddy," "Superman," "The BigAgave," "The Big Cactus," "The Big Shaqtus," "The BigGalactus," "Wilt Chamberneezy," "The BigBaryshnikov," "The Real Deal," "Dr. Shaq,""The BigShamrock," "The BigLeprechaun," "Shaqovic,"and the most recent, "The Big Conductor.". His legacy will live on in college basketball and the hearts of his students forever. While his nickname is creative, it is also a prime example of racial prejudice and bigotry. Drexler has had his nickname since his days at the University of Houston, named for his speed and athleticism on the court and his pleasant and easygoing nature in his private life. In his era, people of this stature were commonly called "stretch," for the way they appeared lengthened out as if someone had grabbed their toes while someone else held them by the head and pulled in the opposite direction. However, many athletes remain inseparable from their on-field persona and the uniform that they wear. Chicago Bulls: What is Michael Jordan's best nickname? The Rams and Jets QB also did several endorsement commercials during his playing days, including this one for pantyhose, no joke. Really? Michael Jordans #23 is the most iconic number in the history of sports. Currently playing for the Cincinnati Bengals, Adam "Pacman" Jones received his nickname as a young child, when it was noted that he could drink his milk as fast as the video game character. Toggle the table of contents . His moniker was given to him by teammates for his dribbling skills and ability to go "coast-to-coast," covering the entire floor from a rebound on defense to a layup on the other end. Chicago Sports: The legendary number 23 for each team - Da Windy City Follow your favourite Olympic heroes on their journey to the games. No. While sporting the #66, he helped the Penguins lift the Stanley Cup twice, won three Hart Trophies, and earned six Art Ross Trophies as the leagues leading scorer. Aaron's nickname epitomizes his performance at the plate. Jackie Robinson passed away on October 24, 1972, at age 53. Sorry Derek Jeter fans, but Big Red was the best thoroughbred race horse of all-time. Elway retired following two consecutive Super Bowl wins and appeared in five Super Bowls. There are many different stories explaining the origin of the "Say Hey" nickname, but the most common descriptions is as follows: When Mays was coming up in the minor leagues, he moved so frequently through the ranks he didn't know very many of his teammates names. 6 - Bill Russell, with special mention to Stan "the Man" Musial and Julius Erving, basketball's "Dr. J.". Jon Lieber (Chicago Cubs) 7. Why he's here: When you start to look through MLB records for switch-hitters, you begin to put Beltran's stellar career in perspective. One of the greatest athletes the United Kingdom has ever produced, Mo is a world famous distance runner. Jim Thorpe. . As if the Venezuelan pitcher needs any more names,Garcs' tongue-in-cheek nickname is a poke at his stature, and friends and teammates commonly refer to him by his moniker. Plummer is currently a racquetball champion in his native Idaho and was recently interviewed and quoted as saying he loves his life in his small town. Whatever the case may be, the five-time Negro League All-Star, World Series Champion and Hall of Famer was one of the most dominant pitchers of his era, and he wore his moniker with honor. 99 (he originally wore the No. There's no inventive story here: "Dr. J" was given to Julius Erving by a high school friend, who watched him play and likened his smoothness with the ball and ability to score like the precision of a doctor performing surgery. Birth date: September 12, 1913. August 10, 2021 9:00 am. Iconic NBA players with number 23 jerseys include Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis, all Hall of Fame-level players whose career highlights are among the greatest moments in basketball history. Williams said he had wanted the No. Jordan is widely considered to be the greatest basketball player of all-time, with six NBA titles, five MVP awards, and fourteen All-Star Game appearances. Coincidentally, Roberts adapted his nickname from former Oakland Raiders QB Ken Stabler, who was nicknamed "The Snake" for his ability to slither through opponents when scrambling. He is famous for his blocked shots and on-the-court bouts with Shaquille O'Neal while O'Neal was a member for the Orlando Magic. However, he only made one broadway appearance, covered here by Wikipedia: "he made his only appearance on Broadway as a cast replacement in a revival ofThe Caine Mutiny Court Martial. Most recently, Suarez brought the shirt some disgrace with his on-field antics, but he also helped Liverpool mount their best title challenge in over a decade. 23 Greatest Athletes to Wear No. 23 Quiz Stats - By schredder - Sporcle One look at the high-flying X-Games star, and it's easy to see why he is called "The Flying Tomato.". Steelers commentator Myron Cope is responsible for Bettis' legacy as "The Bus," noting a Notre Dame teammates' adjective when calling Bettis "Bussy.". Best all-time MLB players at each jersey number, 1-99 The 100 Best Nicknames in Sports History - Bleacher Report Forever remembered for his involvement in the 1919 "Black Sox" scandal, "Shoeless" Joe Jackson was known for his lightning-quick feet and agility, earning the moniker that would become inseparable from his legacy. Shaun's nickname is born out of obvious connections. "The Human Highlight Film" has got to be one of the coolest nicknames in sport and it was perfect for Dominique Wilkins. No. He won both the 5,000 and 10,000 meters in the 2012 London Olympics. Stan "The Man" Musial wore the number during his time with the St. Louis Cardinals. 6 also crosses over to baseball. No joke here, just a great player and an exceptional man. Gabby Douglas (Gymnastics)- Flying Squirrel. The number is currently vacant at the club, just waiting for the next legend to don the famous #7. (Featuring @ann76 as Author)", "Wereldtitel Van Dijk met Specialized-Lululemon", "March 31, 2007 Sarasota Herald Tribune article", United States Olympic Committee document confirming Harris's first name (page.44 *.pdf file. Rod "He Hate Me" Smart was the shining star of the Vince McMahon's XFL, which lasted all of one season. The 1998 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse reported that cocaine was used by 3.8 million Americans. Joe was never a stranger to the media, providing plenty of quotes and controversy in his days, and "Broadway Joe" seems fitting despite the limited experience in actual theatre. Paige is considered one of the best pitchers to play baseball, and it is a crying shame he didn't get a chance to enter the Major Leagues sooner than he did. Sanders played professional baseball with theNew York Yankees(19891990),Atlanta Braves(19911994),Cincinnati Reds(19941995, 1997, 2001) andSan Francisco Giants(1995). However, his nickname doesn't rank very highly on a list of originality and creativity. The Canadian ice hockey legend got his moniker from his thundering slap shot, which was said to echo through stands and arenas like a sonic boom. In 87 career fights, Camacho has 79 wins (including 38 knockouts) and just five losses with three draws. The #7 has been passed down from Kevin Keegan to Kenny Daglish to Luis Suarez, and many others have held the honor of wearing the most iconic number for one of Englands most decorated football clubs. There's something about being a football player while making a living in Chicago that attracts nicknames like a moth to a flame. It has spawned other nicknames involving athletes with the last name "Rodriguez," including the current record holder for most saves in a season, Frankie "K-Rod" Rodriguez. The Dodgers won theWorld Series in 1955and in1959. Wayne Gretzky is widely considered the best hockey player ever to play the game, in the same conversations with Gordie Howe and Brett Hull. Coolest Nicknames From Non-Traditional Sports. and the name stuck. Birth City: Oakville. The best players to wear 18 as their jersey numbers are sprinkled across all major sports. We even remember his name, as "Babe" Ruth, instead of George Ruth. The ability to play both QB and WR gave Stewart the nickname "Slash," as in quarterback/(slash)receiver. 23: Chamberlin, Guy Chamberlin. The most famous athlete from each of Michigan's 83 counties William Perry was a fan favorite with the Chicago Bears from 1985-93, and the team used him on both sides of the ball. He plays for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League and has been the team's captain since 2013.His record list includes the fastest century by an Indian . The amount of spin generated by the mangled bones and missing pieces of his dominant hand had great effects and led to Brown's legendary moniker. Williams said he didnt change his number until 1993 because that was his first chance to do it.". Ivan Rodriguez also got his moniker for the same reason. In Oakland, he had been known as "Jax" and "Buck.". By Jamie Driver Eddie Fiola Interview Lifelounge Daily Goodness", "e*thirteen Rider Steve Peat Breaks UCI World Cup Record Silverfish UK", "Shoes, Ace, Shuffle and the best football nicknames from Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates | Goal.com", "SportMob Top facts about Ruud Gullit, the Black Tulip", "The origins of Maradona's many nicknames: El Pelusa, El Cebollita", "Former Fulham and West Ham midfielder Papa Bouba Diop dies aged 42", "Matthew Booth a white knight for the black masses", "World Cup 2010: Matthew Booth the perfect advertisement for integrated South Africa", "Breesus' is the reason for potentially perfect season", "Calvin Johnson shows why Lions made him No. 33 his college number in his lone year alongside . Kansas City-Omaha Kings ( 75) Jerry McKee. The legendary Boston Red Sox outfielder had many nicknames, such as:"The Kid","Teddy Ballgame," and"The Thumper.". Mookie Blaylock could have been the name of a famous band. After Milwaukee, Payton played for the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics and Miami Heat. However, soon after signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2007, Plummer announced his retirement, citing his desire to live a more peaceful life. 99. Surprisingly, no one calls him "Kazaam," but that could be because they are afraid of being sit on by a 7'1", 325 lb man. Virat Kohli, nicknamed Chikoo, is a famous Indian international cricketer who is the present captain of the India national team.With a top record on his plate, he is regarded as one of the best batsmen in the world. He amazed hockey fans from the moment he stepped onto the ice with the Edmonton Oilers in 1978. 50 - Jamie Moyer One of the most flammable pitchers in the league in his 20s, Moyer looked like he might wash out of baseball after spending the . With a common name like Ed Jones, inserting "Too Tall" seemed like an easy way to separate the man and make him an individual. Jeter was named to fourteen All-Star teams and won the World Series five times during his career with the Bronx Bombers. 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Jim Umbricht (Houston Astros) 10. These numbers can be passed down from one club legend to the next, as the tradition is in soccer. What famous athletes wore number 22? Deion Sanders dazzled the nation as he high stepped into the end zone after interceptions and punt returns, frustrating football purists and giving birth to the moniker Prime Time. Chamberlain is still holds the NBA record for points scored in a single game, and the paper he is holding is the number of points he dropped on the New York Knicks in 1962 as a member of the Philadelphia Warriors. The legend became the Baseball Hall of Famer in 1962. His accomplishments on the baseball diamond are virtually unparalleled over the course of a century of baseball history. Return to Top; Players. Hopkins is known for 51 wins in 59 fights, which include 32 knockouts and one no contest. The nickname comes from Wilt's height and slender build and the obvious rhyming of his first name. Load," and "Round Mound of Touchdown," in reference to one of Charles Barkley's many monikers. He became known as "The Ryan Express" when he came into games because of his fastball that easily topped 100 mph on a routine basis. Steve Carlton (Philadelphia Phillies) 3. Thomas was a dominant hitter and an icon during his playing days with the Chicago White Sox. Olympic Athletes - Biographies, Medals & More DiMaggio was bound to earn a few nicknames in his playing days, and "Joltin' Joe" was just the beginning. Edson Arantes do Nascimento (Brazilian Portuguese: [ds(w) atiz du nasimtu]; 23 October 1940 - 29 December 2022), better known by his nickname Pel (Portuguese pronunciation: ), was a Brazilian professional footballer who played as a forward.Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, he was among the most successful and popular sports figures of the 20th . Rumor has it, the pitcher wanted to return to the majors in 2008 at the tender age of 49, reports the Boston Globe. (Trivia time: Which Buls player wore No. Either way, the nickname is very fitting of one of the most dominant strike-out pitchers the game has ever seen. Full Site Menu. The nickname "Charlie Hustle" was given to Rose by Whitey Ford in 1963, who was watching the then-rookie Rose sprint to first base on a walk. Hunter is an eight-time All-Star and five-time World Series Champion. 2. "Apparently, White Sox broadcaster Ken Harrelson tagged Thomas with the nickname "Big Hurt" because that's exactly what he does to opposing pitchers. 5. 1. At nine years old, Davis was already 5'6" tall and weighed 160 lbs. Best player to wear each jersey number in NFL history: Tom Brady leads He collided with teammate Tim Raines, and other teammates shouted, "You're a big unit.". A lot of these athletes have worn other numbers as well. The school's mascot is the Owl and the obvious lack of a vowel letter in his last name was the second half of a legendary nickname. However, "His Airness" seems to be the most creative, citing his incredible leaping ability. 2 - Secretariat. All players are Canadian unless indicated otherwise. Michael Jordan (23) We bet you see this coming. He is alsoknown for his 10-year reign asmiddleweightworld champion and setting a record for defending it 20 consecutive times. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. Whatever you want to call him, McGriff had a solid career in MLB, playing for seven teams and recording three Silver Sluggers, five All-Star appearances and a 1995 World Series Championship with the Atlanta Braves. A power reliever, he put his full weight behind every pitch, so that he dropped hard to the right, sometimes falling off the mound. Vande Velde's View: My ability to discern "Pioneers of American Motorcycle Racing, Chapter 5", "NSMB.e.MAGAZINE Freeride, Extreme and North Shore style Mountain Biking", "The King of BMX. According to an interview on theDan Patrickradio showon10/22/08, the number change had nothing to do with the filmMajor League. He was part of the Brazilian national teams that won three World Cup championships (1958, 1962, and 1970). Name: Jesse Owens. A list of the greatest athletes to wear the number 22 would be incomplete without one of the NHL's most prolific scorers of the late 1970s/1980s. Like English . He was also the second most prolific passer in NFL history, with 51,475 career passing yards, despite only leading the NFL in passing yardage once. The nickname literally translated means "The Duke," but his moniker is in reference to a tropical hurricane, which he is said to have brought on his opponents while pitching on the mound. 3 He was known as the 'Splendid Splinter' and is considered one of baseball's greatest hitters. The mobile thrower has nearly 30,000 passing and 4,000 rushing yards to his name. If a player did anything to attract attention to themselves, and not the team, he would be benched. His tall and skinny build makes him look like a satchel tree. Howe is a PR dream, the face of the NHL and a legend in the realm of professional hockey. There are those names that just seemsoright. "Mr. Hockey" is used to sum up his life, and it is very fitting. ), "The Mountain Bike Hall of Fame Hall of Fame Inductees". He was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987, with 76.27 percent of the vote, just over the necessary 75 percent to qualify. Jackson hit home runs in Game 4 and Game 5 of the Series. . Twenty-three is the number . One theory says he received the nickname while participating in batting practice as a rookie with the Montreal Expos. Hall of Fame linebacker got the nickname Mad Stork for his gangly frame (6-7, 220-pounds). Dan Marino, practically reversed the belief that 13 is an unlucky number. Jackson was also a prolific hitter, and many historians feel he could have broken several records had he not been banned from baseball after the 1920 season. Clyde Drexler. The nickname "Spider" is a reference to Salley's fear of arachnids, which, according to him, was conquered during his time on the 2009 reality television showI'm a CelebrityGet Me out of Here!