There was an amount of competetion here to determine the best athlete to wear number 19. But certaintly not enough strong competetion to overcome Johnny Unitas, who some consider the best quarterback to ever take to the gridiron. When Johnny U retired, he held most of the NFL passing records. An amount of those records have been overtaken, however one remains. Johnny threw a touchdown pass in 47 straight games. A task comparable to Joe DiMaggio's 56 game hit streak. Some say this record, somewhat like the say of Joe's record, will not be broken. That is to be determined by the future star QBs of the NFL. However, one thing is certain: Johnny Unitas was one of the best quarterbacks, and players, the NFL has ever seen.
Colts
Unitas
Good choice, he is definitely the best to ever sport #19 on his back. I'm sure you considered other notables such as; Bob Feller, Robin Yount, and someone I would have never thought of had I not looked him up, Lance Alworth. Impreesive career - see below:
ReplyDeleteLance Dwight Alworth (1961 Arkansas All-America,First AFL star to be enshrined,All-AFL seven times, played in seven AFL All-Star games, caught passes in 96 straight games, AFL receiving leader three years, Scored first Dallas TD in Super Bowl VI win (Nicknamed "Bambi" for smooth, graceful, spectacular moves). . .Career record: 542 receptions, 10,266 yards, 85 TDs.
Okay, here are my thoughts for your next entry (#20).
ReplyDeleteBarry Sanders:
- First player to rush for 1,000 yards his first 10 seasons
- Led NFL in rushing four times.
- NFL's MVP, 1997
- Gained 2,053 yards including record 14 straight 100-yard games, 1997
- Career rushing record: 15,269 yards, 99 TDs
- First or second-team All-NFL each of his 10 seasons
- Selected to 10 Pro Bowls.
- Hall of Famer
Frank Robinson:
One of baseball's great "gamers." As Rookie of the Year in 1956 and an MVP in both leagues (with the Reds in 1961 and the Orioles in 1966), he developed a reputation as an aggressive outfielder and hard-charging baserunner. The American League Triple Crown winner in 1966, Robinson amassed 586 home runs and ended his career just 57 hits shy of the 3,000-hit club. His intelligence and leadership helped him become the major leagues' first African-American field manager in 1975, when he skippered the Cleveland Indians.
Post-Season: 1961 World Series, 1966 World Series, 1969 ALCS, 1969 World Series, 1970 ALCS, 1970 World Series, 1971 ALCS, 1971 World Series
Awards: All-Star (13): 1956-1957, 1959, 1961-1962, 1965-1967, 1969-1971, 1974; National League MVP 1961, American League MVP 1966; Rookie of the Year 1956; Gold Glove 1958; World Series MVP 1966; 1971 All-Star Game MVP
Lou Brock:
Post-Season: 1964 World Series, 1967 World Series, 1968 World Series
Awards: All-Star (6): 1967, 1971-1972, 1974-1975, 1979
Recognized as one of the most gifted base runners in baseball, Lou Brock helped to revolutionize the art and science of this element of the game as he totaled 938 stolen bases during his 19-year career. A six-time All-Star selection, Brock also accumulated more than 3,000 hits to help lead the St. Louis Cardinals to three National League pennants and two World Series championships. Although his stolen base records have been eclipsed, the National League honors each year’s stolen base leader with the Lou Brock Award.
Don Sutton:
A model of consistency and durability throughout his 23-year major league career, Don Sutton won 324 games and struck out 3,574 batters, while never missing his turn in the pitching rotation for the Dodgers, Astros, Brewers, Athletics and Angels. A four-time All-Star, he reached double figures in wins in 21 of his 23 seasons and struck out over 100 batters in each of his first 21 campaigns. He pitched in four World Series and posted five career one-hit games.
Steve Yzerman. Unitas wasn't always a No. 19, but No. 19 will always be Stevie Y. Had he not played in the same era as Gretzky and Lemieux, Yzerman would have been considered among the best centers of all time. The longest-serving captain of any team in sports, he went from mega-scorer to one of the best two-way players in the game, rescuing one of the NHL's premier franchises from the bottom of the standings, and turning it into the league's best. If you don't want to delete Unitas, make a "19 C" for Stevie.
ReplyDeleteBURNABY JOE! Sakic over Unitas
ReplyDeleteYzerman is much greater than Sakic.
DeleteI can't believe they didn't mention Steve Yzerman as a good competitor for this. Unitas one 3 championships (One where he got hurt and his back up finished the game), Yzerman went to 4 and won 3. He is second in red wing history in almost all categories (Next to Mr. Hockey Gordie Howe), and sixth all-time in scoring. He won a Gold Medal at the olympics. He helped the red wings make the playoffs 19 straight years during his career. He wore the Capatin longer than any other athlete ever. Yzerman has had more success, more records, and more awards than Unitas. Not to mention Johnny U's rival Joe Namath kicked his ass twice, and Yzerman's rival Joe Sakic/Colorado Avelanche was bested by Stevie Y. It was close by I think there was definately a mistake here.
ReplyDeleteStevey Y all the way. He was the best Red Wing to ever play hockey.
ReplyDeleteStevie Y is a god!
ReplyDelete#19 Brian Trottier NY Islanders
ReplyDeleteWhat about Aaron F Boone?
ReplyDeletelol--Great Blog. (I have added you to My Must Read Blog list on My blog.
what about tony gwynn senior...
ReplyDeleteBOB FELLER!!!! STEVE YZERMAN!!!! TONY GWYNN!!!!
ReplyDeleteHonorable mentions:
ReplyDeleteTony Gwynn, R Yount
S Yzerman, B Trottier
Stevie Y hands down. This guy because of his quiet leadership gets overlooked in all rankings, including this one. Unitas is nice, but he is no Stevie Y. Not even close. It's unbelievable how the so called sports experts leave Steve Yzerman off all their lists. Lets get this right and reverse this one.
ReplyDeleteI love Yzerman, but how can anyone seriously claim he is the best #19 over Unitas? Yzerman wasn't the best hockey player of all-time. He wasn't the best at this position. He wasn't even in the top five. Unitas was hands-down the best QB ever to play the game, and possibly the best offensive football player (one could also make a case for Jim Brown). Yzerman was great, but Unitas was in a class by himself. He was the Bobby Orr of football.
ReplyDeleteThere are more hockey players than there are QBs buddy, so you can't even compare. And Stevie Y would make top ten hockey players of all time for sure. Unitas would not make top ten football players of all time. Just letting you know.
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