Best by the Numbers

[Rhonda Rousey's Sports Bra]

46-50

Out of a weak lot of players number 46 is Andy Pettitte. Andy has rings and a decent ERA but that's really about it, his post season stats are close to the same as his regular season stats. Nothing too special really.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pettian01.shtml


47 is Tom Glavine and I think I included the other two pitchers from the ATL regime, amazing how that team only won one championship during that amazing run. Glavine is a two time Cy Young award winner and as I mentioned already, he was part of the Braves from the 90's, if you don't know what that means then GTFO.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/glavito02.shtml

48 is another Nascar driver, Jimmie Johnson. Johnson is the reigning Sprint Cup Champion and I'm pretty sure he's won that 4 times in a row. Jimmie is already one of the best stock car drivers in history and he's only 31.

http://racing-reference.info/driver?id=johnsji01


49 is Ron Guidry. He had a pretty short career but did win a Cy Young in 1978. I don't know too aweful much about him so that's about it.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/guidrro01.shtml

Now for number 50, halfway there baby! My number 50 is "The Admiral" David Robinson. David is a two time NBA champion and the MVP in 1995, the Spurs really weren't much of anything til Robinson got there and now they have a title or two to their name.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/robinda01.html

 

[Rhonda Rousey's Sports Bra]

It's been awhile but time to start down the hill. 51-55 I think I'm going to start adding some clips into all these and go back through my list and add them to those posts too.

51 is Bears great Dick Butkus. I waffled a bit on this one between my choice and Ichiro. Ichiro might take this honor before the end of his career, but for now it's Dick.

Spoiler

[youtube]sxR9qYSHt8U[/youtube]

Butkus was an old school linebacker for the old school Bears and is considered by many as one of the best linebackers ever. Dick played for 9 years and made the ProBowl in 8 of them and was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1979.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/ButkDi00.htm


52 is one of my few current players on this list, I'm talking about Ray Lewis.

Spoiler

[youtube]uXC0AmlIuRs[/youtube]

Ray Lewis. The man is a beast if I've ever seen one and has helped make the Ravens Defense one of the most feared, respected, and best defenses in the NFL. Even a murder charge couldn't keep him down. A future Hall of Famer for sure.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LewiRa00.htm


53 is Dodgers great Don Drysdale.

Spoiler

[youtube]NBwWOGHiYZY[/youtube]

This isn't exactly a Drysdale video, but it's the best I could find. Don makes his appearance at about 2:44.

Don Drysdale was always in Sandy Koufax's shadow but was a great, Hall of Fame pitcher in his own right. Drysdale was old school to a T, brushback pitches were as common as foul balls and he still holds the record for most hit batsmen with 154.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/drysddo01.shtml


54 is Goose Goosage.

Spoiler

[youtube]hcp98cRbXNM[/youtube]

I could have went with Randy White here. But I didn't. Goose was basically what the closer is today before there was today's version of a closer. He was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 2008 and had held the record for most All-Star games until Rivera past him in 2008.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gossari01.shtml


55 is Orel Hershiser.

There aren't any videos of Orel, sorry. Hershiser was a close call between him and Junior Seau, but the Cy Young and the World Series ring put him over.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hershor01.shtml

 

[The Brain]

I hate to argue against a Chicago guy, but how about Randy Johnson for 51? He has five Cy Young Awards, over 300 wins, and is second all time in strike outs. He was one of the most dominant pitchers in the last 15 or 20 years and is a lock for the hall of fame. I won't argue against Butkus because as you know I'm not football expert. Here in Chicago I've always heard of his greatness, but I think The Big Unit may be a bit more deserving as the best to wear 51. Although Butkus made a guest appearance in Night Court once, one of my favorite comedies from back in the day, so points for that.

 

[Rhonda Rousey's Sports Bra]

Honestly Randy didn't even pop into my mind. I guess because Ichiro wears that number in Seattle and that's what I remember Johnson best for. Randy Johnson is now 1b with Butkus being 1a and ichiro a close, close 2nd/3rd behind them. If I'd have thought about him I might have him as 1a instead but with me being a baseball guy and Butkus being the first guy that popped into my head I'll stay with him. Damn, good catch Brain.

 

[gd]

Ya, 51 has to be Randy Johnson. Arguably the greatest left handed pitcher of all time, certainly the best of this era. In his prime, he was the most dominant and intimidating player in baseball. Butkus is great, but for anyone outside of Chicago, and even those in Chicago, it's mullet man all the way.

Mike Webster can be argued at 52. One of the greatest centers of all time as well as one of the toughest players ever. Linemen don't get much credit, but Webster definetly should. Tought to fault Ray Lewis though.

Can't argue with the rest of them really. Even though Joey Porter is my boy.

 

[Rhonda Rousey's Sports Bra]

Time to hit numbers 56-60. I'm sure this will be linebacker heavy.

56 is Lawrence Taylor all the way.

Spoiler

[YOUTUBE]EVDZE8LnjYI[/YOUTUBE]

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TaylLa00.htm

Need I say more? 56 is another one of those numbers that belongs to one man, and 56 is Lawrence Taylor.


57 is Johan Santana. Could have went with Marino's center here, but I'd rather have a Cy Young winner over a bulldozer.

Spoiler

[YOUTUBE]9xwcBSiV5pY[/YOUTUBE]

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/santajo02.shtml

Johan is a perennial contender for the Cy Young award even though he hasn't been the same pitch for the Mets that he was for the Twins. Still one of this generations great pitchers.


58 is Jack Lambert.

Spoiler

[YOUTUBE]BkBJMdlTBWg[/YOUTUBE]

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LambJa00.htm

I should probably let either Becker or GD do this one for me since I doubt I'll do this guy justice. But Lambert was a two time Defensive Player of the Year and made 9 straight Pro Bowls.

59 is yet another Steeler, Jack Ham.

Spoiler

[YOUTUBE]YMSRh5U4uLw&feature=related[/YOUTUBE]

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HamxJa00.htm

Agian same as Lambert, Becker or GD probably know miles more about the guy than I do. Ham was an 8 time Pro-Bowler and is in the Hall of Fame class of 88.

60 is old school. Otto Graham,

Spoiler

[YOUTUBE]z_BLSAZqx1s[/YOUTUBE]

This is about the only video I could find. Sorry.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GrahOt00.htm

Otto's biggest claim to fame is leading the Browns to ten straight title games and winning 3 NFL Championships.

 

[Little Jerry Lawler]

Great choices from 56-60.

Another #58 who could have been on here was Derrick Thomas. In my opinion, he was one of the greatest at his position in the last two decades. It's a shame he died so young but I'm glad he was voted into the Hall of Fame because he deserved it

#60 Chuck Bednarik was a beast when he was playing for the Eagles. 8 Pro Bowls, 10 All-Pro selections and the best player to me to ever suit up for Philadelphia.

 

[Rhonda Rousey's Sports Bra]

61-65 getting to the boring numbers now, good thing for the internet because some of my next picks are people I've never really heard of.

61 is Curley Culp.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CulpCu00.htm

Culp played before tackles were official stats so not much in that regard. Appearantly he was a nosegaurd before it was a position. No videos of Curley are available.

62 is Jim Langer.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LangJi00.htm

Langer was the Center for the perfect 72 Dolphins and played every snap that season. Langer was named All-Pro from 73-77.

Spoiler

[youtube]Nc2KYnzn7Xw[/youtube]

This is just an interview from Langer.

63 is Willie Lanier.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LaniWi00.htm

Lanier was a lifetime Chief and great middle linebacker. Willie was actually on of the first African-American stars at middle linebacker. Hall of Fame class of 1986 and was All-Pro from 68-77.

Spoiler

[youtube]YStjWELu_wk[/youtube]

64 is Jerry Kramer.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/K/KramJe00.htm

Kramer was the man that made the hole Bart Starr ran through in the Ice Bowl of 67. Not too many stats for a RG, but this block is etched into history as one of the most famous plays in history.

Spoiler

[youtube]i-FLNape4C0&feature=related[/youtube]

65 is Elvin Bethea.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BethEl00.htm

Bethea is a 8 time Probowler and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2003. Playing defensive end before sacks became an official stat but "recorded" 105 sacks throughout his career.

Sorry, no videos.

 

[Rhonda Rousey's Sports Bra]

66-70 I know there's at least one All-Time great in this set and I won't be wasting anytime getting to him at number 66.

66 is Mario Lemieux.

Super Mario is one of the greatest Penguins in NHL history and ranks in the top ten of greatest hockey players ever, or at least close to it.

http://www.hockey-reference.com/players/l/lemiema01.html

Spoiler

[YOUTUBE]8ziRI1uemCk[/YOUTUBE]

67 is Reggie McKenzie.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/McKeRe20.htm

Reggie blocked for O.J. Simpson.

68 is Jaromir Jagr.

http://www.hockey-reference.com/players/j/jagrja01.html

Jagr retired with 1,599 points and lead the league in that catagory in 5 of his 17 year career.

Spoiler

[YOUTUBE]oDX0pxdidB4[/YOUTUBE]

69 is Mark Schlereth.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SchlMa00.htm

Pretty bad when Stink is the best player to wear any number. I won't comment any more.

70 is Sam Huff.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HuffSa00.htm

Huff played in 6 title games and 5 ProBowls. Bout all I can say about Huff and I had to look that up. Sorry I couldn't add more in this set of numbers.

 

[Rhonda Rousey's Sports Bra]

71-75 should be alot of football, but there is one guy that I put in here that didn't play on the gridiron.

71 is Alex Karras.

Spoiler

[YOUTUBE]B9jIrf4WD6M[/YOUTUBE]

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/K/KarrAl00.htm

Karras played 12 years in the league and was All Pro in 4 of those season. The Mad Duck also played in a sitcom called Webster with his wife.

72 is Carlton Fisk.

Fisk is the man with the record for most games caught with 2,226 and has one of baseball's most memorable homeruns when he waved the ball fair. 24 seasons behind the plate is quite a feat and Fisk did it with the Red and White Sox.

Spoiler

[YOUTUBE]vuzM_rgcAWY[/YOUTUBE]

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/fiskca01.shtml

73 is John Hannah.

Just like the cover says, the greatest Offensive Lineman in History.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HannJo00.htm

Spoiler

[YOUTUBE]molBrCEz1YI[/YOUTUBE]

74 is Merlin Olsen.

15 year career all 15 years was a ProBowler. Along side Deacon Jones was part of the Rams' Fearsome Foursome. This is another one of those picks that make it hard because stats aren't really available.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/O/OlseMe00.htm

Spoiler

[YOUTUBE]XmQ0j1c3akk[/YOUTUBE]

75 is Deacon Jones.

Deacon Jones was part of the Fearsome Foursome along with my choice for number 74. No real official stats to go off of again, but this guy was an absolute beast in his playing days.

Spoiler

[YOUTUBE]sGJ3Q-ccqrQ[/YOUTUBE]

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JoneDe00.htm

 

[Rhonda Rousey's Sports Bra]

76-80

76 is Lou Groza.

Spoiler

[YOUTUBE]RnxWnq_IH_E[/YOUTUBE]

Groza was a Six-time All-NFL tackle, 1954 NFL Player of The Year, Nine-time Pro-Bowler, Participated in nine NFL Title Games and four AAFC title games, 1974 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and has the college award for the best kicker in the country named after him.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GrozLo20.htm

77 is Red Grange.

Spoiler

[YOUTUBE]BGlve8jDPBo[/YOUTUBE]

Red Grange is one of those All-Time great players from way back, his popularity was compared to that of Babe Ruth. Red wore one of only two numbers ever retired by Illinios.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GranRe20.htm

78 is Bruce Smith.

Spoiler

[YOUTUBE]gte5RPziaIU[/YOUTUBE]

Smith is the All-time NFL Sack Leader with 200, an 11-time Pro-Bowler, Buffalo Bills Sack Leader with 171, the 1987 Pro Bowl MVP, and AFC Defensive Player of the Year four times (1987, 1988, 1990, 1996)

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SmitBr00.htm

79 is Harvey Martin.

Martin is the Cowboys' career sack leader and was a 4 time Pro Bowler and co-MVP of SuperBowl XII.

Spoiler

[YOUTUBE]ybZgGwopB1E[/YOUTUBE]

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MartHa00.htm

80 is a no brainer, Jerry Rice.

Just a quick list of records Rice holds.

1st in career touchdowns - 207

1st in touchdown receptions - 197

1st in career yards gained - 23,546

1st in career receptions - 1,549

1st in 1,000+ yards receiving seasons - 14

1st in 100+ yards receiving games - 76

Jerry is also a thirteen time Pro Bowl selection and was the MVP of Super Bowl XXIII.

Spoiler

[YOUTUBE]lz2qMl7CuiU[/YOUTUBE]

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RiceJe00.htm