Ozzie Smith

How good defensively was St. Louis Cardinals’ shortstop Ozzie Smith? So good that he’s one of only a handful of baseball players to have ever made the Hall of Fame based solely on his defense.

“The Wizard” was one of the best defensive shortstops the game of baseball has ever seen. He started his career for the San Diego Padres in 1978, but made a name for himself as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals, the club he played for from 1982 to 1996.

Ozzie Smith only hit .262 with 28 home runs and averaged just 43 RBI per season, but it didn’t matter. He was so good defensively that baseball fans consider him a legend. Smith also kept fans entertained with his highlight reel plays, back flips and hand springs that he regularly performed on the diamond.

Smith played his last game on October 17, 1996. Over his career, he would go on to rack up 13 Gold Glove Awards, 15 All-Star Game appearances and one World Series title in 1982. He also won the Roberto Clemente Award (given to players for character and charitable contributions to the community) in 1995, the Branch Rickey Award (awarded in recognition to a player’s exceptional community service) in 1994 and the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award (given to players who best exemplify character and integrity both on and off the field) in 1989.

On January 8, 2002, Ozzie Smith was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. He received a first ballot vote by receiving 91.7% of the votes cast and even served as a torchbearer in the opening ceremonies for the 2002 Winter Olympics as the torch based through Salt Lake City.

The shortstop position has certainly changed over the years. Nowadays, more power is expected from the position than ever before with the emergence of Hanley Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez (former shortstop who now plays third base for the Yankees) and Miguel Tejada.

But in the not too distance past, shortstops were almost solely known for their defense. And Ozzie Smith is certainly a legend in that category.

Karl Malone

Karl Malone was one of the best forwards to ever play in the NBA and it’s hard to find a more durable player, period.

Malone began his NBA career in 1985 when the Utah Jazz selected him with the 13th pick in the first round. That season, “The Mailman” was nominated to the NBA All-Rookie Team by averaging 14.9 points and 8.9 rebounds over 81 games.

“The Mailman” got his nickname because he always delivered in big games. In a May playoff game against the Los Angeles Lakers in 1997, Malone made 18 of 18 free throws, which broke the NBA record for most free throw attempts without a miss in a single postseason game. He also finished with 42 points.

When playing the Seattle Supersonics in an April 2000 postseason game, Karl Malone scored 50 points (franchise playoff record for the Utah Jazz) and grabbed 12 rebounds.

After signing with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2003 offseason, Malone became the oldest NBA player to ever post a triple-double when he totaled 10 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in a regular season game against the San Antonio Spurs. He was 40 years old at the time.

Karl Malone was also one of the most durable players in NBA history. In 18 NBA seasons, “The Mailman” missed only 10 games – an astonishing feat for any player, especially when you consider how much stress the game of basketball is placed on your knees.

Not every player is willing to run up to congratulate Malone on his career success, however. Malone was often accused of “throwing” elbows during his playing days and even caused former Detroit Pistons’ guard Isiah Thomas to have 40-stitches above his left eye after an incident in 1991. He also inflicted injuries to current NBA star Steve Nash and former San Antonio Spurs’ great David Robinson, who was left unconscious on the court for nearly two minutes after catching one of Malone’s elbows. 

Many will also note that Malone wouldn’t have had the success he had if not for former Utah Jazz teammate John Stockton, one of the best guards to have ever played the game. Stockton was so effective at getting Malone the ball that often all that was required of “The Mailman” was to provide a slam-dunk.

But to say Malone wasn’t a great player because he had help would diminish all that he accomplished. He was simply one of the best forwards in NBA history and he also made Stockton better.

Karl Malone won two NBA MVP Awards (1997, 1999) and was a 13-time NBA All-Star. He was also an 11-time All-NBA First Team Selection and was a three-time NBA All-Defensive First Team Selection (1997-1999).

When his career was finished, Karl Malone record 36,928 points, 5,238 assists and 14,968 rebounds. The basketball legend was also nominated to the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.

Bo Jackson

From Jim Thorpe to Deion Sanders to Brian Jordan, the sports world has seen several multiple-sport athletes.

But there was only one Bo Jackson.

Vincent Edward “Bo” Jackson never won a World Series. Bo Jackson never won a Super Bowl, either. He also wasn’t even a starter on the Los Angeles Raiders and he only played three years in the NFL. But he nevertheless was a legend among multi-sport athletes.

Jackson used to call football a “hobby.” This is coming from a man who won a Heisman Trophy and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1998. He also ran for 2,782 yards on 515 carries - an impressive 5.4 average – and also scored 18 touchdowns running and receiving in the three years he played in the NFL.

One of Bo Jackson’s most legendary plays occurred in 1988 on Monday Night Football. Jackson’s Los Angeles Raiders were taking on the Seattle Seahawks and Hawks had a trash-talking linebacker named Brian Bosworth who claimed he would contain Jackson all night.

If by “contain” Bosworth meant getting run over by Jackson then he was right. On that legendary night, Bo Jackson rushed for 221 yards, flatted Bosworth and also took an outside sweep 91-yards untouched.

Amazingly, Jackson wasn’t even the starter for the Raiders. That job belonged to Marcus Allen, but the two formed one of the best 1-2 punches in all of football. If it weren’t for suffering a serious hip injury in 1991, who knows how great Jackson could have been.

Bo Jackson’s real passion was baseball. And although his .250 career batting average isn’t noteworthy, the 141 home runs he clobbered are. Jackson also finished his career with 415 RBI while playing with the Kansas City Royals (1986-1990), Chicago White Sox (1991-1993) and the California Angels (1994).

Jackson’s best season occurred in 1989 when he was selected to the All-Star team and even won the 1989 MLB All-Star Game MVP. Jackson also won the AL Comeback Player of the Year Award in 1993.

For his career, Bo Jackson totaled four 20-home run seasons from 1987 to 1990. He also recorded a 30-home run season in 1989 and a 10 RBI season in 1989.

As previously mentioned, had Bo Jackson stayed healthy throughout his entire career, he might have turned out to be the best multi-sport athlete ever. In fact, he still might have been given all he accomplished in just a short period of time.

Bo Jackson is one of the best athletes the sports world has ever seen.

Rich “Goose” Gossage

Rich “Goose” Gossage started his baseball career with the Chicago White Sox in 1972. After pitching there until 1976, he would go on to play for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1977), New York Yankees (1979-1983, 1989), San Diego Padres (1984-1987), Chicago Cubs (1988), San Francisco Giants (1989), Texas Rangers (1991), Oakland Athletics (1992-1993) and Seattle Mariners (1994). He also spent one season in Japan playing for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks in 1990.

There might not have been a more dominant relief between the years of 1975 and 1985 than Goose Gossage. During that span, Gossage made the All-Star team nine times and deserves mention as one of the greatest relievers in baseball history.

During his 22 years in baseball, Goose Gossage was the MLB save leader three times and was also among the top six in saves nine times. He was among the top six vote-gettors for the Cy Young award five times and compiled 310 career saves during a time when the stat meant more than it did in today’s game.

One of the more interesting stats in baseball is that Goose Gossage had to save a total of 52 games in which he needed at least seven outs to close out the win. One baseball’s other great closers was Dennis Eckersley and by comparison, “The Eck” had only five such saves among his career total of 390. Trevor Hoffman (2) and Mariano Rivera (1) – two of baseball’s top closers in today’s era – had even less such saves in their careers.

For his career, Goose Gossage amassed a won-loss record of 124-107 and an ERA of 3.01. He was selected to nine All-Star Games, was a World Series champion in 1978 when he was a member of the New York Yankees and won the 1978 AL Rolaids Relief Man of the year.

For all of his career accomplishments, Goose Gossage was passed over to being inducted into Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 2000. But in 2008, Gossage received enough votes to be enshrined into the Hall and thus his career reached its pinnacle.

Rich “Goose” Gossage is certainly a legend among MLB relievers.

Bobby Hull

Hockey legend Bobby Hull wasted zero time getting acclimated to the NHL.

As just an 18 year old in 1957, Bobby Hull scored 47 points in 70 games when he was a rookie for the Chicago Blackhawks. The feat was outstanding for any player, nevertheless a teenager in his first year in the NHL.

Soon after his successful rookie season, Hull quickly became a hockey star. His incredible slapshot was bested by only his amazing speed. He earned the nickname “The Golden Jet” because of his blazing speed, good looks and blood hair. Hull frightened NHL goalies and defenders alike with his blend of skill and versatility.

In the 1959-60 season, Booby Hull won his first Art Ross trophy for leading the NHL in points. He also set a new league record in 1968-69 after scoring 58 goals and 107 points (a personal best). Hull also came close to 100 points in the 1965-66 season when he complied 97 points after scoring 54 goals and doling out 53 assists in 65 games.

Before he shocked the world of hockey by quitting the NHL and joining the World Hockey Association in 1972, he led the Chicago Blackhawks to a Stanley Cup victory (1961) and also added two Hart Trophies as league MVP.

Hull went on to compile 303 goals, 335 assists and 638 points for the WHA. He played in 411 games for Winnipeg Jets, but then the franchise joined the NHL in 1979. Hull eventually got to end his career by playing alongside Gordie Howe as a Hartford Whaler.

Bobby Hull’s pro career spanned from 1957 to 1980. In 1983, Hull was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Dick “Night Train” Lane

Dick “Night Train” Lane wouldn’t survive in today’s NFL. No, not because he wouldn’t survive playing against today’s athletes.

Dick “Night Train” Lane wouldn’t survive in today’s NFL because he would be way too aggressive for referees. Today’s NFL couldn’t handle Lane’s tenacity, ferociousness and ferocity. He would be flagged on every play.

In 1952, Lane was sick of working at an aircraft factory so he decided to show up to the Los Angeles Rams’ training camp. He was projected as a defensive end, but with future Hall of Famers Tom Fears and Elroy Hirsch already on the roster, coach Joe Stydahar tried Lane at defensive back.

As long as Lane could hit someone, he didn’t care what position he played.

During his rookie season in 1952, Dick Lane set the record for most interceptions in an NFL season with 14. Not bad for a guy that wore #81 (an unusual number for a defensive back) and who was projected to be a defensive end.

After just two seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, Lane was traded to the Chicago Cardinals in 1954 and then eventually to the Detroit Lions in 1960. Lane played in Detroit until he retired in 1965.

“Night Train” finished his career with 68 interceptions, amassed 1,207 interception yards and scored five touchdowns. He was selected to seven Pro Bowls, was a 10-time All-Pro selection and was elected to the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team. Lane was also a part of the 1950s All-Decade Team.

Lane is often considered as one of the best cornerbacks to ever have played the game and certainly the toughest. Receivers used to cringe when they knew Lane was in the area, fearing a ferocious hit. He also had great ball skills, which made him a double-threat considering his outstanding tackling ability.

In 1974, Dick “Night Train” Lane was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Isiah Thomas

He might have been the smallest of the “Bad Boys”, but might have been the toughest, too.

The Detroit Pistons selected Isaiah Thomas with the second overall pick in the 1981 NBA Draft. He wasted no time getting acclimated to the league, making the NBA’s All-Rookie Team and starting at guard for the 1982 NBA All-Star team.

Thomas went on to play for the Detroit Pistons for 14 years from 1981 to 1994.During the span, he helped the Bad Boys from Motown win two titles (1989 and 1990), as well as earned the 1990 Finals MVP.

Isiah Thomas was a 12-time All-Star, was a two-time NBA All-Star Game MVO and was a three-time All-NBA First Team selection. Thomas was also selected to the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1996 and was honored into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000.

Thomas was known for his tenacity on the court. He often supplied his team with great toughness and heart, staples of the Detroit Pistons teams that Thomas played for throughout his career.

Isiah Thomas was often at his best when it mattered the most – in the playoffs. Against the New York Knicks in Game 5 of the 1984 playoffs, Thomas scored 16 points in the last minute and a half to play in regulation to send the game into overtime. Ultimately the Knicks hung on for the victory, but Thomas’s performance was one of the greatest in NBA history.

Thomas finished his career with 18,822 points, 9,061 assists and 1,861 steals. After his career, Thomas went on to coach the Indiana Pacers from 2000 to 2003. While he led the Pacers to the playoffs in all three seasons as coach, Thomas never got Indiana out of the first round and was eventually replaced by Rick Carlisle.

Isiah Thomas went on to coach the New York Knicks in 2006-07 and 2007-08 NBA Seasons, but failed to make the playoffs in each of those years. Due to a lack of continuity with his players and multiple controversial situations including a sexual harassment charge, Mike D’Antoni replaced Thomas as Knicks’ head coach.

Magic Johnson

Question: Who is perhaps the only player in NBA history arguably better than the great Michael Jordan?

Answer: Earvin “Magic” Johnson

Magic Johnson played for the Los Angeles Lakers during the franchise’s glory years from 1979 to 1991. During that span, Johnson helped the Lakers win five NBA Titles: 1980, 1982, 1985 and 1988. He was also a 12-time NBA All-Star, a three-time Finals MVP (1980, 1982, 1987) and a three-time league M.V.P. (1987, 1989, 1990).

Magic Johnson is often referred to as the prototype big point guard and was the only player in NBA history that could play all five positions effectively. Given his size, speed and athleticism, he not only could play all five positions, but dominate as well.

Johnson’s forte on the court was the fast break, where he excelled at getting the ball out of his hands and to his teammates for scoring opportunities. If his teammates were slowed up in transition, Johnson was outstanding at positioning himself under the basket for in-the-paint points.

Magic Johnson’s greatest effort came when he was just a rookie. At age 20, his Los Angeles Lakers took on Dr. J’s Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA Finals. When Kareem Abdul-Jabbar went down with an injury in Game 6 of the 1980 NBA Finals, Johnson took over, scoring 42 points, grabbing 15 rebounds, as well as finishing with seven assists and three steals. It might have been the best individual Finals performance of all time.

Along with his many career achievements, Magic Johnson was also a two-time NBA All-Star Game MVP, was nominated to the 1980 NBA All-Rookie Team and was selected to the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team. Johnson was also a nine-time All-NBA First Teamer and was a Second Team All-NBA Player in 1982.

The legend Johnson finished with 17,707 points, 6,559 rebounds and 10,141 assists in his career. If it weren’t for him being tested positive for the HIV virus during the 1991-1992 NBA Season, Johnson might have continued to add to his unbelievable career.

The Legend of Bigfoot

Is it a man? Is it an ape? Is it an ape-man? What is Bigfoot?

The Legend of Bigfoot, or “Sasquatch”, was first reported in folklore, but it’s latest sighting can be traced as recently as September 16, 2007 when a hunter named Rick Jacobs captured an image of what looked like a sasquatch.

Bigfoot is said to be an ape-like creature that makes his home in the forests of the Pacific northwest of the United States and Canadian province of British Columbia. There have been many so-called sightings of Bigfoot, yet its status still remains unconfirmed. That is, nobody can actually get hard evidence that the bipedal ape-creature exists. In fact, some scientists even think it’s trivial to even do research on the legend that is Bigfoot.

But despite scientists and academics doing their best to discount that Bigfoot exists, people still believe.

Bigfoot sightings go as far back as 1840, when a protestant missionary Reverend named Elkanah Walker recorded myths that hairy “giants” used to steal salmon and had a “strong smell.”

Fast-forward to as recently as 1995 when a TV film crew from Waterland Productions filmed what they claimed to be Bigfoot at Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. And in April of 2005, a ferry operator named Bobby Clarke filmed over two minutes of footage of what reportedly was Bigfoot on a bank off the Nelson River in Norway House, Manitoba.

There are even annual Bigfoot-related conventions and the creature plays into such tourism attractions as “Sasquatch Daze,” which is an annual event held in Harrison Hot Springs, British Columbia.

There have also been several Bigfoot-related films that have been released, including “The Legend of Bobby Creek” (1972), “Bigfoot” (1987) and one of the more popular Bigfoot-related films, “Harry and the Hendersons” (1987).

Whether one believes in Bigfoot or not, the legend of the creature is timeless.

Joe Paterno

One of the finest and most influential figures in college football history is longtime Penn State University head coach Joe Paterno.

Joe Paterno has an overall coaching record of 372-125-3. He’s also 23-10-1 in bowl games and he’s won two NCAA National Championships (1982, 1986).

But it’s what he does off the field that makes him a true college football legend.

What many don’t know is that Joe Paterno started what was known as the “Grand Experiment” in 1970. The idea behind it was to get collegiate athletes a solid education and make sure they were not only their best on the field, but also in the classroom as well.

Every year, Paterno requires that all of his players have above-average success in the classroom and more times than not, his student athletes don’t fail him. Throughout the years, Penn State football players consistently have outstanding graduation rates and are often among the top 10 in Division I scholastics.

Being a former English major, Joe Paterno often makes sure that his athletes don’t use incorrect grammar when talking to reporters or fellow teammates. You won’t hear “We played good today,” out of a Penn State Nittany Lions player.

On top of what he does for students’ scholastic achievements, Joe Paterno and his wife Sue have donated more than $4 million to expand the Pattee Library on PSU’s campus. They’ve also helped raise an additional $13.5 million in private donations for the library’s construction.

Joe Paterno is now in his 80s and over the past four or five years, there has been talk through the media of his impending retirement. But you don’t usher a legend out – he can leave whenever he pleases. That’s how much Joe Paterno means to Penn State University and college football. He deservedly writes his own ticket.

Not many coaches can touch what Joe Paterno has brought to college football over the years. He’s a true college football legend and an outstanding coach.

Joe Paterno’s Career Awards and Achievements:

1972 Walter Camp Coach of the Year
1978 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year
1981 Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award
1982 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year
1986 SI Sportsman of the Year
1986 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year
1986 Paul “Bear” Bryant Award
1994 Walter Camp Coach of the Year
2002 Amos Alonzo Stagg Award
2005 Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award
2005 The Home Depot Coach of the Year Award
2005 Walter Camp Coach of the Year

Soundgarden

Along with fellow American rock bands Pearl Jam, Nirvana and Alice In Chains, Soundgarden was a key figure in the creation of the music genre “grunge,” which is also a style of alternative rock that developed in Seattle.

Soundgarden was the first band of the grunge era to sign to a major label, although Pearl Jam and Nirvana reached more commercial success. Soundgarden – comprised of Chris Cornell, Kim Thayil, Matt Cameron and Ben Shepherd – didn’t mind Pearl Jam and Nirvana’s success, however, because the genre became immensely popular in the early 1990s.

Soundgarden was formed in Seattle, Washington in 1984 by lead singer Chris Cornell, lead guitarist Kim Thayil and bassists Hiro Yamamoto, although Matt Cameron eventually became the band’s permanent drummer in 1986 while bassist Ben Shepherd replaced Yamamoto in 1990.

Soundgarden achieved incredibly success with their 1994 album entitled, Superunknown. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts and singles “Black Hole Sun” (Best hard Rock Performance) and “Spoonman” (Best Metal Performance) yielded the band Granny Awards. The band also won a MTV Video Music Award for Best Metal/Hard Rock Video on “Black Hole Sun,” as well as a Clio Award for Best Alternative Music Video for “Black Hole Sun.”

Although they broke up because of an internal conflict over the creative direction of the band, Soundgarden has sold an estimated 20 million albums worldwide, including eight million records in the United States alone.

Lead singer Chris Cornell eventually went on to have a solo career before joining the remaining members of former rock band Rage Against the Machine (minus lead singer Zach de la Rocha) to form Audioslave – an American hard rock supergroup, which included the vocals of Cornell and lead guitarist Tom Morello. Audioslave sold more than eight million records worldwide, received three Grammy nominations and was the first Ameican rock band to ever perform an open-air concert in Cuba, but the band broke up in 2007 after releasing only three albums.

“Black Hole Sun” and “Spoonman” can still be heard on radio airwaves today. And Soundgarden continues to be one of the more popular bands of the 1990s and its influence on the grunge scene makes them American rock legends.

Legends in the Wrong Uniform

When the name Willie Mays gets brought up, most sane baseball fans associate the legendary outfielder with the San Francisco Giants. But at one point at the end of his career, Mays did play with the New York Mets.

SI.com did a unique feature in their Photo Gallery section in which they compiled a group of sports legends that quite didn’t look right wearing certain teams uniforms throughout their career.

The list makes you say, “Boy Michael Jordan looks weird in that Washington Wizards uniform.” Below is SI.com’s list.

Willie Mays
New York Mets, 1972-73
Mays led the Giants from 1951 through 1972, before being traded midseason to the Mets. In just a handful of at-bats, Mays had little impact on his new team.

Michael Jordan
Washington Wizards, 2001-03
Sure, he owned part of the team. But MJ just didn’t look right in a Wizards uniform and he failed to get his team to the playoffs.

Joe Namath
Los Angeles Rams, 1977
After 12 years with the Jets, Namath dragged his worn out knees to Los Angeles for one more shot at glory. He played in just four games, throwing three TDs and five INTs.

Bobby Orr
Chicago Blackhawks, 1976-79
After making his mark on NHL history in Boston, Orr joined the Blackhawks. He played just 26 games for Chicago.

Hank Aaron
Milwauke Brewers, 1975-76
After setting the all-time home run record with the Braves, Aaron spent two seasons in Milwaukee — the city in which he began his career with the Braves before they moved to Atlanta.

Patrick Ewing
Seattle Supersonics, 2000-01
Ewing spent one season with the Sonics and the next year in Orlando. He didn’t average double-digit scoring in either season.

Tony Dorsett
Denver Broncos, 1988
Dorsett followed up 11 seasons in Dallas with one forgettable season in Denver.

Babe Ruth
Boston Braves, 1935
After 15 years rewriting the record books in pinstripes, Ruth joined the Braves, who simply wanted him to boost attendance. Ruth had just 72 at-bats with the Braves.

Ray Bourque
Colorado Avalanche, 1999-2002
Actually Bourque did contribute to the Avalanche’s success, which included a Stanley Cup in 2001. But he just doesn’t look right out of the Bruins uniform he wore for 21 years.

Dominique Wilkins
Boston Celtics, 1994-95
‘Nique had 12 great seasons in Atlanta before bouncing around with the Clippers, Celtics, Spurs and Magic at the end of his career.

Aerosmith

Aerosmith, comprised of guitarist Joe Perry, bassist Tom Hamilton, lead singer Steven Tyler, drummer Joey Kramer and guitarist Brad Whitford, is one of the most successful hard rock bands of all time. They’re often referred to as “The Bad Boys from Boston” and “America’s Greatest Rock and Roll Band.”

Aerosmith’s first single, “Sweet Emotion” was released in 1975 and climbed all the way to No. 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 list. The band went on to have 21 singles chart in the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100.

In 1976, Aerosmith’s second major single, “Dream On” climbed all the way to No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. And in 1988, the band reached No. 3 on the list with the release of “Angel.” The band’s most successful single was “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing”, which reached the No. 1 spot in 1998 – Aerosmith’s only No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100.

To date, Aerosmith’s most successful studio album was Toys in the Attic, which was released April 8, 1975. The album peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard 200 list and went Platinum eight times. The band’s next two most successful studio albums were the 1993 release Get a Grip and the 1997 release, Nine Lives. Both peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 list and went Platinum seven times.

Aerosmith won their first Grammy Award in 1990 for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. They went on to win four more Grammy awards for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for their singles “Janie’s Got a Gun”, “Livin’ on the Edge”, “Crazy”, and “Pink. Aerosmith trails only U2 for most Grammy awards won in that category.

Aerosmith has collected five American Music Awards, four Billboard Music Awards, two People’s Choice Awards and 16 Boston Music Awards. Aerosmith also ranks fourth all-time at the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) with ten wins to date. The band is the all-time leader in Best Rock Video awards with four, as well as Viewer’s Choice awards with three.

In 2001, Aerosmith achieved one of the greatest honors in rock music by being inducated into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They also hold the second highest number of No. 1 singles on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for a group with nine. Aerosmith also holds the most gold and multi-platinum albums by an American group.

Aerosmith’s Studio Albums:

1973: Aerosmith
1974: Get Your Wings
1975: Toys in the Attic
1976: Rocks
1977: Draw the Line
1979: Night in the Ruts
1982: Rock in a Hard Place
1985: Done with Mirrors
1987: Permanent Vacation
1989: Pump
1993: Get a Grip
1997: Nine Lives
2001: Just Push Play
2004: Honkin’ on Bobo

Aerosmith is a true hard rock legend.

Dennis Eckersley

There might not have been a finer closer than the “Eck” in major league baseball history.

Dennis Eckersley started his Major League Baseball career with the Cleveland Indians in 1975. After three seasons in Cleveland, he played for the Boston Red Sox (1978-1984) and the Chicago Cubs (1984-1986), before finally winding up with the Oakland A’s in 1987.

It was in Oakland where he reached legendary status.

On April 3, 1987, the Chicago Cubs traded Eckersley to the Oakland A’s, where he eventually replaced injured closer Jay Howell. The Eck went on to save 16 games in 1987, but he truly made his mark the following year, recording a league-leading 45 saves in 1988.

Dennis Eckersley recorded saves in each of the four games Oakland won while sweeping Eck’s former team, the Boston Red Sox, in the 1988 AL Championship Series. From there, the A’s met their cross-bay rival the San Francisco Giants in the 1989 World Series. In the series many coin as “The Earthquake Series”, Eckersley secured a victory in Game 2 and saved the final game of the series as Oakland swept the Giants.

Eckersley went on to become baseball’s most dominant closers from 1988 to 1992. During that span, he finished as the American League saves leader twice, while also finishing second twice and third once. Also during that span, he never posted an ERA higher than 2.96 and went on to save a remarkable 220 games.

Dennis Eckersley had perhaps his best season in 1992, when he won the American League Cy Young Award, which is given to the league’s best pitcher, as well as the AL’s Most Valuable Player Award. He also became only the third pitcher to save 51 games in a season. (The other two were Rollie Fingers in 1981 and Willie Hernandez in 1984.)

Only two pitchers in the history of baseball have ever finished with a 20-win season and a 50-save season. One is the Braves’ John Smoltz. The other is the Eck.

Eckersley went on to play nine years with the A’s before joining manager Tony LaRussa in St. Louis for the 1996 season. Eckersley eventually finished his career in Boston, playing one final season with the Red Sox in 1998.

For his career, Dennis Eckersley was a six-time All-Star and a World Series champion. On top of being the AL’s Most Valuable Player and Cy Young in 1992, he also was named The Sporting News’s AL Pitcher of the Year, as well.

Dennis Eckersley’s career accomplishments were recognized when he was elected into Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 2004. His 390 career saves ranks him fifth on the all-time list.

Patrick Roy

Patrick Roy was one of the best goaltenders of the NHL’s modern era. He perfected the butterfly style of goaltending and was incredibly successful.

Patrick Roy was born October 5, 1965 in Sainte-Foy, Quebec, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens selected him with the 51st overall pick in the 1984 NHL Draft, but it was a roller coaster experience for the young net-minder in Montreal.

First and foremost, Roy hated the idea of playing for the Canadiens given that he grew up a diehard Quebec Nordiques fan. Then, even after winning a Stanley Cup in 1986, Roy had a falling out with the team that drafted him.

On December 2, 1995, Roy was in net against the Detroit Red Wings when the Wings crushed Montreal 12-1 in the Canadiens worst home defeat in franchise history. Roy gave up nine goals and was jeered by the home fans when he would make easy saves.

After being pulled in the middle of the second period, Roy angrily told team president Ronald Corey that it was his last game in Montreal. Roy was upset that Montreal head coach Mario Tremblay kept him in net in order to humiliate him. Three days later, Roy was traded along with Mike Keane to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Jocelyn Thibault, Martin Rucinsky and Andrei Kovalenko.

Patrick Roy immediately made an impact in Colorado, helping the Aves win their first Stanley Cup the same year they acquired him from Montreal. Roy went on to win four Stanley Cups over the course of his career, along with three Conn Smythe Trophies and five Jennings Trophies, which is given to the net-minder who allowed the fewest amount of goals.

Roy also holds numerous records, including most NHL games played by a goaltender (1029), most NHL regular season wins (551) and most NHL playoff games played by a goaltender (247), which is the second most playoff games of all players. He also holds the record for most NHL playoff wins by a goaltender with 151, most Conn Smythe Trophy wins with three, and most minutes played in the goaltender position in the NHL (75,444).

Despite his brash attitude, flashy style and overall cockiness, Patrick Roy was simply one of the best goaltenders ever to play the game. He was an 11-time All-Star, a four time NHL First Team All-Star and won the Trico Goaltending Award in 1989 and 1990.

Patrick Roy is a hockey goaltending legend.

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