MLB Athlete Number 18 - Ted Kluszewski

Ted Kluszewski, the big left handed hitter sometimes referred to as "Big Klu", is the best MLB athlete to ever wear the jersey number 18.

Kluszewski played for four major league teams during his career: the Reds, Pirates, White Sox and Angels. Over his 15 seasons with those teams (primarily with the Reds), Kluszewski put up some impressive stats.

• .298 career batting average



• 279 career home runs



• 1954 home run champ (49)



• 1955 hits champ (192)

1954 was his best offensive season, when he batted .326 with 49 home runs and 141 RBI. He wound up second in the MVP voting that year. Kluszewski's jersey number 18 retired by the Reds.

MLB Athlete Number 17 - Dizzy Dean

Dizzy Dean, one of the best pitchers ever to take to an MLB mound, is also the best MLB athlete (and professional athlete) to ever wear the jersey number 17.

Dizzy Dean pitched for 12 years in the majors, primarily with the St. Louis Cardinals, but also with the Chicago Cubs, and extremely briefly with the St. Louis Browns. Dean would play his first full season in the majors in 1932 at the age of 22 when he put together an 18 and 15 record. He pitched a strong 286 innings with 191 strikeouts that year.

He would continue to be a dominant right-handed pitcher the next four years, winning 20 or more games in each year. In 1934 he would put up a phenomenal record of 30 wins and only 7 losses.

• Led NL in strikeouts four straight years (1932 to 1935)



• Two time NL wins leader (1934 and 1935)



• 1934 NL MVP



• .644 career winning percentage



• 1,163 career strikeouts



• 154 complete games



• 26 career shutouts

Did you know.......Dizzy Dean's jersey number 17 has been retired by the St. Louis Cardinals?