The Most Iconic Athletes at Every Number (30-39)

Welcome back to a continuation of our weekly blog detailing the greatest athletes at every number. Last week, we named our athletes from #20 to #29, and this week, we’ve got yet another legendary collection of players. Welcome back to the 4th inning of WLTL’s most iconic athletes at every number.

#30 - Nolan Ryan (Honorable Mentions: Stephen Curry and Martin Brodeur)

The greatest man on the mound of all time. In 1966, Nolan Ryan was called up by the New York Mets. His initial tenure in New York was up-and-down, riddled with injuries contrasted with signs of promise by the young prospect, leading to his 1972 trade to the California Angels. The trade has since been decried as one of the worst of all time, however, it is pointing out that it made a lot of sense at the time, and it allowed Ryan to excel in California. His 8 year stint with the Angels saw him reach his status as a record-breaker, yet the team around him was only good enough to make the playoffs in his last season with the team as he departed for Houston in 1980 and became the MLB’s first million dollar player with a four year 4.5 million dollar contract. His Houston era was extremely similar to his Angels one, yet a contract dispute in 1988 landed him in Dallas, and Ryan became the first player to play for all of the four original MLB expansion teams: the New York Mets, the California (Los Angeles) Angels, the Houston Colt .45s (Astros), and the Washington Senators (Texas Rangers). Injuries, unfortunately, ended his career just 2 games short in 1993, but he still retired as perhaps the greatest player in MLB history to never play in the World Series. His records include his 5,714 strikeouts (leading Randy Johnson by 839), 7 no-hitters (leading Sandy Koufax by 3), 6.55 hits per 9 innings pitched (second is Sandy Koufax at 6.79), the lowest career batting average allowed at 0.204, and a laundry list of stats that easily promote him to being the greatest pitcher in MLB history, as well as undoubtedly the greatest #30 of all time.

#31 - Greg Maddux (Honorable Mentions: Reggie Miller and Mike Piazza)

We go from pitcher to pitcher as Greg Maddux just barely beat out fellow ballplayer Mike Piazza and the legendary Reggie Miller for the #31. Maddux was called up to the Chicago Cubs in 1986 after being drafted in 1984 and struggled mightily in his first season. During a 1987 game against the San Diego Padres, Andre Dawson was hit by a pitch and started a bench-clearing brawl between the teams. With an impending demotion, Maddux made up his mind that he was going to hit a Padres player in retaliation, and though fellow pitcher Rick Sutcliffe tried to talk him out of it, Maddux went through with his plan and was subsequently sent to the Cubs Triple-A affiliate, before getting recalled following 3 undefeated games with an era of 0.98. He rebounded with his return, making the 1988 All-Star and leading the Cubs to an NLCS loss against the San Francisco Giants. Maddux closed out his tenure in Chicago with a Cy Young win before signing with the Atlanta Braves in free agency. His Atlanta stay secured his legacy amongst the great pitchers of his generation, as he won 4 consecutive Cy Young awards and the 1995 World Series before returning to the Cubs. His stay in Chicago was unsuccessful, as well as his subsequent tours in San Diego and Los Angeles, but he did add to his legacy as one of the greatest pitchers of the 1980s and 1990s, and made him even more deserving of becoming the face of the number 31.

#32 - Magic Johnson (Honorable Mentions: Jim Brown and Sandy Koufax)

There are few nicknames in sports so iconic that we tend to forget the name behind the legend, and I’m sure many people who love basketball have no clue who Earvin Johnson is. After a solid high school career, during which he earned his iconic “Magic” nickname, Johnson stayed local and committed to Michigan State. It was while at Michigan State that fans got a foresight into the future, as the 1978 NCAA Championship pitted a Johnson-led Spartans team against the Larry Bird-led Indiana State Sycamores. The Los Angeles Lakers used the #1 Overall Pick in the 1979 NBA Draft on Magic, and Johnson was elated to play alongside the legendary Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The pair led the Lakers to the 1980 and 1982 NBA Championships before embarking on the most iconic era in Laker history. Facing off against Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics in three consecutive series, taking two as well as cementing back-to-back titles with a series win against the Detroit Pistons. However, that would be the end of the “Showtime Dynasty”, as the Lakers would never again win the NBA Championship, losing in 1989 and 1991 to the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls. In 1991, Johnson, though heterosexual, contracted HIV, and while he attempted to make a return in the All-Star games, players were greatly against Johnson’s return, so he retired. Johnson’s time in the league cemented him as one of the league’s greatest players, and his trophy case is the stuff of legends: 12 NBA All-Stars, 9 All-NBA First Teams, 5 NBA Championships, 3 Finals MVPs, 3 NBA MVPs, and accolades on top of accolades showcasing how “Magic” Earvin’s time in the league was, and his legacy as one of the greatest players in NBA history.

#33 - Larry Bird (Honorable Mentions: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Jose Canseco)

You can’t have one without the other. Starting in high school, Bird took up #33 to emulate his older brother Mark. While Bird received a scholarship to play for the legendary Bob Knight and Indiana University, he dropped out of college because of homesickness, before enrolling in the closer-to-home Indiana State University. He had a successful 3-year career at the college, most notably leading the University to an undefeated season and an NCAA Championship game appearance in 1978, where he would fall to Magic Johnson for the first time. Bird would be drafted 6th overall in the 1979 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics and immediately flipped the script on the franchise. While the team fell to the Philadelphia 76ers, the groundwork was laid, and with new acquisitions Robert Parish and Kevin McHale, the Celtics dominated the eastern conference en route to the 1981 NBA Championship. The Celtics continued to torch the league, and in the process developed a rivalry with the Lakers and the familiar Magic Johnson. Between Johnson and Bird, they accounted for 8 NBA Championships, all won during the 1980s. Bird’s falloff coincided with the rise of the eastern conference powerhouses in the Bulls and Pistons, and his departure from the league in 1992 resulted in his jersey retirement the same year. Though Bird could never truly surpass Johnson, their rivalry was the stuff of legend, and Bird’s legacy as one of the best ballplayers of the 80s is often overshadowed by the talent around him, making him, without question, the greatest #33 of all time.

#34 - Walter Payton (Honorable Mentions: Hakeem Olajuwon and Shaquille O’Neal)

Sweetness. In high school, Payton avoided football; partially because he didn’t want to compete against his brother and also because he was an active member in the band. After his older brother Eddie graduated, the high school coach approached Payton and agreed to let him play and stay in the band at the same time. After playing his college ball at Jackson State University (where his brother attended), Payton was drafted 4th overall by the Chicago Bears in the 1975 draft. After initially being given #21, however, it was swapped to #34 just before the season began. Payton got off to a slow start but began to gain recognition as one of the greatest rushers in the league. While the roster around him initially hid his talent, it soon began to overshadow him as the legendary Chicago Bears defense got the majority of the credit for 1985, however, it was Payton’s rushing that made sure the defense didn’t fall behind their dominating form. After 12 years in the league, Payton decided to retire in 1987, and he had his number retired by the organization as well as becoming a 1st ballot Hall of Famer in 1993. He retired as the greatest running back of all time, and while several of his records have since been surpassed, Payton is still an icon of the game whose legacy has cemented him as our pick for #34.

#35 - Rickey Henderson (Honorable Mentions: Frank Thomas and Kevin Durant)

The MLB’s “Man of Steal”, Rickey Henderson, made his major league debut with the Oakland Athletics in 1979. In his first Oakland stint, Henderson blossomed into the media darling he would soon become known as, as fans were enthralled by his base-stealing and fielding. In 1985, he traded the Bay Area for the Big Apple and became a New York Yankee. His stay with the legendary club added to his allure, but his trophy case remained empty, prompting him to return to Oakland. In his 2nd year with the team, Henderson finally reached the mountain top when the team won “The Series that Stopped” (1989) and two years later, he had his career-defining moment when he stole the 939th base of his career. Then, yet again, two years later, Henderson would become immortal as he stole base #1066, making him the base-stealing king of the MLB. In 1993, Henderson made his way to ”The Great White North”, and joined a playoff-bound Blue Jays squad. While he performed disappointingly, he was one of the RBIs driven in by Joe Carter’s series-winning walk-off home run. This is where it gets confusing: Henderson then returned to Oakland a third time for 2 seasons, then departed for a 2 year stint in San Diego, a one year stay in Anaheim, a fourth 1 year stop in Oakland, a 1 ½ season stay in New York (this time with the Mets), a layover for the remainder of that ½ year in Seattle, a grand 1 year return in San Diego, a 1 year pass through Boston, and, mercifully, a final season with the Los Angeles Dodgers before he hung it up in 2003. He retired as the MLB’s all-time leader in bases stolen and runs, records that still stand to this day, and his personality endeared him to many fans of the era. While he made the switch to the #24, Henderson deserves his flowers for the number he first donned when he stole the hearts of baseball fans around the world.

#36 - Jerome Bettis (Honorable Mentions: Gaylord Perry and Joan Mir Mayrata)

“The Bus” betrayed the local crowd and played his college years at Notre Dame. In his #36, his talented tenure with the school resulted in the Los Angeles Rams drafting him 10th overall in the 1993 NFL Draft. As a rookie, he showed great form under LA’s ground-heavy rushing attack, however, a change of scenery (becoming the St. Louis Rams) coinciding with a change in offensive strategy limited his offensive production, and Bettis was traded to Pittsburgh. His stay in the Steel City is where he cemented his legacy, dueling year in and year out to be the top running back in the league as his hard-hitting style of rushing resulted in dominant performances game after game. In 2005, Bettis announced that the following season would be his last, saying that he hoped he got to play in the Super Bowl in his home city of Detroit as it would be a great way to close out his career. In 2006, he would achieve his wish as the Steelers would not only play in, but win the 2006 Super Bowl against the Seattle Seahawks in Bettis’s home city. "I played this game for a championship. I'm a champion, and I think the Bus's last stop is here in Detroit." Bettis’s style of play was loved by fans and coaches, and his legacy pits him as one of the greatest running backs in NFL history.

#37 - Dave Stieb (Honorable Mentions: Lester Hayes and Shaun Alexander)

#37 was hard to choose, especially since we weren’t nearly as well-versed about some of these icons as we were about others, but one separated themselves from the rest. Despite being drafted as an outfielder, Dave Stieb was called up to the majors and made his first start on the mound for the Toronto Blue Jays in 1979. For over a decade, Stieb remained the engine behind the Blue Jays, and his consistent pitching earned him 7 All-Stars. However, Stieb is most well-known for blowing no-hitters. In 1985, he had a no-hitter ruined by back-to-back home runs. In 1988, in two consecutive games, he had no-hitters that ended on the final out, in the final inning, with a 2-strike-count. In 1989, he nearly achieved the perfect game, yet, once again, it was ended on the final out, in the final inning, with a 2-strike-count. In 1990, however, he finally got it, a no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians, which stands as the only no-hitter in Blue Jays history. While injuries ended his career prematurely just before he could reap the successes of his pitching as the Blue Jays would win consecutive World Series titles in 1992 and 1993, Stieb carved his legacy as one of the most underappreciated pitchers of all time and the face of the Toronto franchise. If only his luck weren’t horrid, he might not have been a player we needed to research for this list, and instead, he might have been one we knew when we heard his name. Nonetheless, his accolades and talent promote him to being our choice for #37.

#38 - Curt Schilling (Honorable Mentions: George Rogers and Pavol Demitra)

Schilling ironically began his career in the Boston Red Sox farm system, however, he was traded out of it in 1988 to the Baltimore Orioles, taking up the number 38 as it was his lucky number. His Orioles days showed promise, however, he was traded away in 1991 in a trade which many Orioles fans have decried as the worst in team history. After a year in Houston, Schilling moved over to Philadelphia, where he flourished as the team’s primary ace and led them to a World Series berth in 1993. While the team started the decade off hot, the Phillies’ performance quickly sputtered out, and Schilling requested a trade for a more performative team, landing him in Arizona with the Diamondbacks. Together with fellow pitching legend Randy Johnson, Schilling led the team to an upset 2001 World Series victory over the New York Yankees. For the remainder of his tenure with the team, Schilling continued to compete against Johnson, however, Johnson continuously came out on top in Cy Young voting. In 2003, the organization decided to separate the two as Curt Schilling was traded to Boston. His stay in Boston cemented his legacy as one of baseball’s greats, specifically his win in Game 6 of the 2004 ALCS, which he won on a bloody sock, and which propelled the Red Sox to complete their legendary 4-game reverse sweep against the New York Yankees. Schilling ended his career after winning the 2004 and 2007 World Series with the team when injuries began to catch up with him. The 6-time All-Star and 3-time World Series Champion retired at the top and put an exclamation mark at the end of the career of one of the most underappreciated pitchers of the 90s and 2000s.

#39 - Larry Csonka (Honorable Mentions: Dominik Hasek and Roy Campanella)

The number 1 overall pick for the 1968 AFL/NFL Draft, Larry Csonka’s career was nearly over before it even began when he was hospitalized with a concussion in a game against the Buffalo Bills. He followed that up three weeks later with a second concussion, a ruptured eardrum, and a broken nose in a game against the San Diego Chargers. After some coaching from legendary head coach Don Shula, Csonka never missed a game for the rest of his career. His toughness was praised by players on both sides of the ball as he seemed to run without remorse for himself or his opponents and played to the final whistle. Together with fellow running back standout Mercury Morris, Csonka led the Dolphins to three consecutive Super Bowls from 1971 to 1973, including victories in the last two years with one of those being the infamous undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins team. In 1974, however, he made the controversial move to the World Football League. With minimal success, Csonka attempted to return to the NFL with the New York Giants, however his tenure with the team was marred by the overall underwhelming play of his teammates, ending unceremoniously with him at the forefront of the “Miracle at the Meadowlands” when he and quarterback Joe Pisarcik fumbled the game ending rush, resulting in a Philadelphia Eagles “scoop n’ score”. Larry Csonka is one of the legends of the game often lost to history amongst NFL fans; however, what he accomplished in the league has cemented his sport as WLTL’s pick for the greatest #39 of all time.