Greatest to wear 1-40

Ever since I can remember, I've been rather obsessed with uniform numbers and the greatest players to wear them. For those of you like me, here's where we can discuss such players. I've quickly added some suggestions, but hope to get discussion started (numbers 21-40 soon to follow):

1. Ozzie Smith
2. Derek Jeter
3. Babe Ruth
4. Brett Favre
5. Joe DiMaggio
6. Bill Russell
7. John Elway
8. Cal Ripken
9. Ted Williams
10. Fran Tarkenton
11. Isiah Thomas
12. Tom Brady
13. Dan Marino
14. Ernie Banks
15. Bart Starr
16. Joe Montana
17. John Havlicek
18. Peyton Manning
19. Steve Yzerman
20. Mike Schmidt

 

Here's the second half. I only decided to go to 40, because 60s and 70s would be boring. Although the 50s and 80s would be good. If anyone else wants to start it.

21. Roger Clemens
22. Emmitt Smith
23. Michael Jordan
24. Willie Mays
25. Barry Bonds
26. Wade Boggs
27. Jeremy Roenick
28. Curtis Martin
29. Eric Dickerson
30. Martin Brodeur
31. Greg Maddux
32. Magic Johnson
33. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
34. Nolan Ryan
35. Frank Thomas
36. Gaylord Perry
37. Stephen Strasburg
38. Curt Schilling
39. Mike Greenwell (the only one I could think of)
40. Gayle Sayers

 

Is that you, Dameshek?

 

Not bad...I would have said Gehrig over Favre. My hatred for the Red Wings makes me put Unitas in over Stevie Y.

 

Off the top of my head, I'd make a few changes and, while admittedly some are Yankee-centric, I think they're worthy (maybe not the last one since Strawberry only wore 39 for the last five or six years of his career, but 39 was a tough one).

 

For 13, I'll take Wilt Chamberlain over Dan Marino.

Some of those are damn tough. For number 9 I can't argue with Ted Williams, but there's a case to be made for Gordie Howe.

 

No. 13 - Wilt Chamberlain
No. 14 - Pete Rose
No. 20 - Barry Sanders
No. 21 - Roberto Clemente
No. 37 - Doak Walker
No. 39 - Roy Campanella


Just a couple that stood out from this SI list.


http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/more/06/26/intro.numbers/

 

Mantle > Elway and Gehrig > Favre, but I can understand trying to avoid turning the list into a Mankfest.

 

1. Ozzie Smith
2. Derek Jeter
3. Babe Ruth
4. Brett Favre Bobby Orr
5. Joe DiMaggio Maybe Nicklas Lidstrom, tough call on this one
6. Bill Russell
7. John Elway
8. Cal Ripken
9. Ted Williams
10. Fran Tarkenton
11. Isiah Thomas Mark Messier
12. Tom Brady
13. Dan Marino
14. Ernie Banks Pete Rose
15. Bart Starr
16. Joe Montana
17. John Havlicek
18. Peyton Manning
19. Steve Yzerman
20. Mike Schmidt Barry Sanders
21. Roger Clemens
22. Emmitt Smith
23. Michael Jordan
24. Willie Mays
25. Barry Bonds there has got to be somebody better than this ass hole
26. Wade Boggs
27. Jeremy Roenick
28. Curtis Martin
29. Eric Dickerson
30. Martin Brodeur
31. Greg Maddux
32. Magic Johnson
33. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
34. Nolan Ryan
35. Frank Thomas
36. Gaylord Perry
37. Stephen Strasburg
38. Curt Schilling
39. Mike Greenwell Dominik Hasek
40. Gayle Sayers

 

Assuming we're only talking about the four major team sports, because if not, 10 has to be this guy:

 

Steak, that SI link had him as the No. 10 listing.

It also had Secretariat at No. 2 instead of Jetes.


I'd agree on both Pele and Secretariat.

 

This guy probably merits it more than Strasburg at this point as well.