Also called "The Boilermaker," Jeffries was a world heavyweight boxing champion just before the turn of the 20th century. In the realm of all-time nicknames, it is definitely sweet, but it hits the countdown towards the back, because there isn't much back story here, and he's not actually a hitman. Marino is one of the most prolific passers in the history of the NFL, amassing 61,361 yards during his seventeen seasons in the league. George Best, Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona, David Beckham, and Cristiano Ronaldo have all sported the #7 during their successful exploits with the club. The switch worked because Magic and the Showtime Lakers won the NBA Title in 1980 and would go on to win four more before the end of Magics career. David Ortiz has his regular season heroics, but Jeter owns October. His accomplishments on the baseball diamond are virtually unparalleled over the course of a century of baseball history. Rose took the nickname seriously and spent his career as a hard-nosed ball player, known for legging out extra-base hits and splendid play in the field. These individuals are synonymous with these names and will always remember their playing days and the monikers we used to make them legends of the lingo. One of the greatest athletes the United Kingdom has ever produced, Mo is a world famous distance runner. The eccentric cross-dresser earned his play in NBA history as a Champion with the Chicago Bulls, and as a psycho, after kicking a camera man in the jewels, drawing a record number of technical fouls, tearing his jersey off before leaving the court when ejected, wearing a dress for a promotion on multiple occasions, piercing every area of his body and dating Carmen Electra. His other famous nickname, "The Yankee Clipper," also deserves a mention on the countdown. 22: Joey Bats (Jose Bautista) Bautista once did a very funny sketch that was a version of the baseball bat scene in "The Untouchables." Smith is a 15-time All-Star, 13-time Gold Glove Winner and a 1982 World Series Champion with the St. Louis Cardinals. The World Golf Hall of Fame member is a legend in the game, and his "Golden Bear" moniker has led to many endorsements and products that "bear" his name. His moniker was also his calling card, but these days, it's just his his curse. 23 before Michael Jordan? He scores goals at an unbelievable pace and in a variety of ways, which makes him an absolute nightmare for opposing defenders. During his time with the 49ers, Rice won three Super Bowls and led the league in receiving yardage six times. The big man also played for the USA Basketball team, was a two-time NBA Champion, won the NBA MVP in 1995 and was a 10-time NBA All-Star. The ESPN World Fame 100 is our annual attempt to create a ranking, through statistical analysis, of the 100 most famous athletes on the planet.. We started with Forbes' annual list of the highest . The 25 Athletes with the Most Nicknames | News, Scores, Highlights Best player to wear each jersey number in NFL history: Tom Brady leads The NBA big man grew up in the small community ofGans, Okla., and attended Oklahoma State University. 31.April (Latin origin) meaning "open". The big man spent his best NBA days with the Los Angeles Lakers and the Seattle SuperSonics, but he was also on the 1985 NBA All-Rookie First Team roster with the Dallas Mavericks. He is a two-time NBA MVP and 13-time NBA All-Star selection and is currently ranked second all-time in NBA scoring. Oh yeah, he also played basketball for five NBA teams in 15 years and won four NBA championships with three different teams. mark reinstein/Shutterstock. Cosentino, Frank. In this sport, Lee Chong Wei sits on the throne. Lists of nicknames - nickname list articles on Wikipedia If a player did anything to attract attention to themselves, and not the team, he would be benched. Fisk held the MLB record for games played at the catcher position (2,226) until Rodriguez broke it in 2009 with the Texas Rangers. Fracisco Cordova (Pittsburg Pirates) 8. The Wu-Tang Clan references are as . The 29 Most Decorated Female U.S. Olympians Of All Time - Team USA He played his entire career from 1995-2001 with the Vancouver Grizzlies. . Lemieux was rewarded for his efforts with a third Stanley Cup, which he won as the owner in 2009. Follow your favourite Olympic heroes on their journey to the games. However, it was as a fullback that got him his alias, and it would stick with him long after his playing days were over. 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. Williams said he didnt change his number until 1993 because that was his first chance to do it.". 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. Wagner was a first-ballot Hall of Fame inductee in 1936, gaining 95.13 percent of the vote. 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. Hardaway was a four-time NBA All-Star, two-time NBA first team selection and NBA All-Rookie first team selection (1994). Rodman earned his moniker with aggressive and often over-the-top defense. The legend became the Baseball Hall of Famer in 1962. In any event, Mays is one of the best players to grace a Major League field and will forever be known as, "The Say Hay Kid.". He pitched parts of 11 seasons with theMinnesota Twins(1990,1993),Florida Marlins(1995),Chicago Cubs(1995) andBoston Red Sox(1996-2002). The 10 Most Famous Malaysian Athletes - Culture Trip "While doing the research on why someone would name their child "Eldrick," it was discovered the nickname "Tiger" was given to him by his father. Every year, LeBron James earns around $25 million in salary from the Cleveland Cavaliers and roughly $55 million from endorsements. Malone was known for his consistency and durability and for teaming up with a sprightly white guy in short shorts all those years as a member of the Utah Jazz. A Social History Of America's Most Popular Drugs - PBS The Neon legend was born in Tallahassee, where Sanders was a two-time consensus All-America, and a Jim Thorpe . Venus and Serena Williams. Johnston got his moniker from a teammate on the Dallas Cowboys, Babe Laufenberg, a second-string quarterback. Gordon earned his nickname when he burst on to the scene in 1989 at the age of 21, when he went 17-9 in his first full season in the majors. The ability to play both QB and WR gave Stewart the nickname "Slash," as in quarterback/(slash)receiver. A sporty name from a Paralympic athlete can remind children to never give up. 28) on his jersey, the same number that Vaughn wore in the film. These players have left a lasting impression on their respective teams. The 75 best sports nicknames of all time | Yardbarker 23 Other. Aside from the final stop of his football career in Baltimore, he wore #21 for his other four teams. The Rock is just too famous of a nickname to not put on this list. 1 1. Over 75 years after Ruth's professional baseball career ended, he is still regarded as the best baseball player to ever live. Reese was a 10-time All-Star and two-time World Series Champion with the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers. Sometimes, the new moniker comes from an inside joke with . He is also one of the most dominant. The term has become synonymous with small stature, which Reese also had. Wayne Gretzky is widely considered the best hockey player ever to play the game, in the same conversations with Gordie Howe and Brett Hull. He was a two-time MVP, an . Return to Top; Players. His stellar play as a defensive lineman, along with his faith, helped him earn his nickname as "The Minister of Defense.". When the Reading Red Roses took the field in 1907, they changed sports history forever. August 10, 2021 9:00 am. List of Top 100 Athletes in the World and their Net worth (2023) Very few athletes have earned their nickname quite like Dominique Wilkins. 88. "Charles is no stranger to the comical spotlight, so when this nickname surfaced, it obvious stuck. These numbers can be passed down from one club legend to the next, as the tradition is in soccer. He led the league in runs scored, home runs and RBI in separate seasons. Aaron's nickname epitomizes his performance at the plate. When the Bears needed a short yardage gain, there was "The Fridge," banging through the line and stumbling into the end zone. 3 He was known as the 'Splendid Splinter' and is considered one of baseball's greatest hitters. 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. However, steroids will likely only be a small blip on his write-up when his playing days are over, and it seems America will remember him for his philanthropy and for coming through in the clutch. Robinson broke Major Leagues Baseball color barrier, becoming the first black man to play in the league since the 1880s. Olajuwon's first name was spelled "Akeem" in his college days at the University of Houston and early into his NBA career. NBA Countdown: Who wore No. 33 best? - Yahoo! Quiz Source Also nicknamed "The Silver Fox"and just known by the shorter "Duke" Snider, the former Brooklyn Dodgers slugger was often compared to other New York outfielders such as Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle and earned the nickname "The Duke of Flatbush" after an area in New York City called "Flatbush" and his accolades as a hitter. Ranker Sports. Brown played . 2 Deion Sanders, CB, Florida State (1985-88) Focus on Sport/Getty Images. He began to garner the nickname "Iron" for his toughness and seemingly total resistance to go down. The number is currently vacant at the club, just waiting for the next legend to don the famous #7. The Celtics' big man averaged 22.5 rebounds in his career; between his mastery of the . Robinson's nickname is derived from his service in the United States Navy. Simple, yet accurate, this nickname is solid and turned a superb athlete with a common name into a legend. 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. April Holmes has one gold medal and two bronze . The running back/receiver was a three-time Pro Bowl selection and named to the NFL 1950s All-Decade Team. However, "His Airness" seems to be the most creative, citing his incredible leaping ability. He is alsoknown for his 10-year reign asmiddleweightworld champion and setting a record for defending it 20 consecutive times. 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. Unless he attempts a return to baseball, which isn't likely, he will be eligible for the Hall of Fame following the 2012 season and could be a first-ballot Hall of Famer and definitely deserves to be elected. However, his nickname doesn't rank very highly on a list of originality and creativity. In the postseason, no one is more dominant in baseball than Jeter. In his playing days, Jerome was a six-time Pro Bowl selection and a Super Bowl Champion with the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XL. Johnston was also the first fullback ever elected to the Pro Bowl, a position officially recognized by the NFL because of Johnston's efforts as a blocker and occasional runner. This list rewards creativity, and while Ali is the greatest boxer ever, his nickname isn't the most creative moniker in sports. Aside from being a vegan, Salley is known for several other odd mannerisms and goofy antics. Payton is no exception and quickly garnered the nickname "Sweetness" for his ability to make plays, and slide through the defense with ease. Magics versatility allowed him to play all five positions on the court, and he earned three MVP Awards in both the regular season and NBA Finals. (A special thanks to The Sandlot for assisting with this slide), 8Pro Bowlselection (1981,1983,1984,1985,1987,1989,1990,1993), 3 First TeamAll-Proselection (1987,1989,1990), 3 Second Team All-Pro selection (1981,1983,1984), 4Super Bowlchampion (XVI,XIX,XXIII,XXIV). 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. 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. "Three Fingers" Brown was able to throw many pitches that could not be achieved by a man with a full hand. During and following his boxing career, Tyson is known for his unusual and often frightening quotes and taunts and also several run-ins with law enforcement. The Best Athletes Who Wore #23 - Ranker Jesse Owens - Movie, Olympics & Quotes - Biography In true legendary boxer style, Ali gave himself the nickname "The Greatest," but also deserves it. Die-hard Seattle Mariners fans remember the smooth delivery and fantastic catch phrases of broadcaster Dave Niehaus and the way he would refer to Johnson as "The Big Unit" instead of his actual name for the entire duration of the tall lefty's playing days in Seattle. 99 for years because of an admiration for the football playerMark Gastineau, who also wore No. 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). He retired with the most wins of any quarterback in NFL history (which would later be broken by Favre, Brady, and Manning). Not every player to wear the #7 has found success with the club, but it has been donned by icons that have had a lasting impact on the beautiful game. As a pass-rusher, Perry dominated offensive backfields and was constantly in the head of opposing quarterbacks. 79 - Rosey Brown. Source: Getty Images "The Mailman always delivers" was the phrase that followed Malone from his college days until the end of his career and beyond.