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.

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

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.

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.

Emmitt Smith

Rush for over 1,400 yards and haul in over sixty catches in five straight seasons and you’re definitely considered a legend.

Emmitt Smith was born May 15, 1969 in Pensacola, Florida. He played collegiately at Florida University, where he was eventually elected into the Gator Football Ring of Honor.

Out of college, the Dallas Cowboys drafted Smith in the 1990 NFL Draft with the 17th pick in the first round. He played for the Cowboys for 13 seasons from 1990 to 2002, before joining the Arizona Cardinals in 2003.

For his career, Emmitt Smith compiled 18,355 rushing yards (a 4.2 yard per average) and 174 rushing touchdowns. He currently holds the NFL record for career rushing yards, breaking Walter Payton’s mark on October 27, 2002. Smith also leads all running backs with 164 career rushing touchdowns and his 175 total touchdowns ranks him second to only San Francisco 49ers’ wide receiver Jerry Rice, who has 207 total touchdowns.

Emmitt Smith was best known for his tremendous durability, vision and balance. He was never one of the faster or flashier backs, but he was always well renowned for running between the tackles and gaining the “tough yards.”

One knock on Smith has always been that he had great offensive lines blocking for him in Dallas. And fans of Barry Sanders have long believed that if Barry didn’t have an earlier retirement that he would have shattered the NFL career rushing record.

But there’s no denying Smith was a great player – great offensive lines or not. He was selected to eight Pro Bowls, was the 1993 NFL MVP and was a six-time All-Pro selection. He also won the 1990 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and was elected into the Dallas Cowboys’ Ring of Honor.

Perhaps Emmitt Smith’s greatest achievement was winning the MVP Award for Super Bowl XXVIII. Smith finished his career a three-time Super Bowl winner and one of the true NFL greats.

Tom Landry

The name Tom Landry is often symbolic with NFL coaching legacy.
 
After playing defensive back during his NFL playing career and amassing 32 interceptions in 80 games, tom Landry became a defensive coordinator for the New York Giants in 1956. Ironically enough, Landry was opposite fellow coaching legend Vince Lombardi, who was the Giants’ offensive coordinator.
 
While serving as the Giants’ defensive coordinator, Tom Landry invented the now popular 4-3 defense. The defensive front features four down lineman (two defensive ends and two defensive tackles), three linebackers (two left and right outside linebackers and one middle) and four defensive backs (two cornerbacks and two safeties).
 
Tom Landry was also the first coach to analyze tendencies and determine what the opposing offense was trying to do before the snap. Landry’s “Flex Defense” was designed to align defenders in the right position to counter what the offense was trying to accomplish. It was the first time any coach built a system that was designed to be flexible based off of countering the opposing team’s offense.

In 1960, Tom Landry became the first head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. Even though history would prove Landry was a coaching genius and legend, things didn’t go very well during his first five seasons. The Cowboys started off 0-11-1 during Landry’s first year, and never amassed more than five wins in each of the next four seasons.

Despite the horrible start to his career, Landry was given a ten-year extension by then Dallas Cowboys’ owner Clint Murchison. It was a risk on the part of Murchison, but one that would eventually pay huge dividends.

The Cowboys won seven games in 1965 and then were one of the NFL’s biggest surprises in 1966, posting 10 wins and making it the championship game. Even though Landry’s Cowboys lost to Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers, the season marked many great things to come.

Tom Landry and the Dallas Cowboys went on to have 20 consecutive winning seasons from 1966 to 1985. That marvelous feat is still an NFL record and is also one of the longest winning streaks in professional sports.

Landry amassed a 270-178-6 record over the 20 consecutive winning seasons, which is the third most wins for a head coach. The Dallas Cowboys went on to win 13 Divisional titles, five NFC championships and two Super Bowls (1972, 1978). Landry’s 20 career playoff wins are the most of any head coach in NFL history.

For all his accomplishments, Tom Landry won several awards, including AP Coach of the Year and Sporting News Coach of the Year in 1966.

Simply put, Tom Landry was an innovator and a true coaching legend.

Hakeem Olajuwon

One of the finest all-around centers in the game of basketball has ever seen was Hakeem Olajuwon.

“The Dream” was born January 21, 1963 in Lagos, Nigeria. When he reached his playing days, Hakeem Olajuwon stood 7-feet tall and weighed 255 pounds. He was the prototypical NBA center.

Hakeem Olajuwon played alongside future Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler at the University of Houston. There, both Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler put on a clinic, leading Houston to three trips to the NCAA Final Four.

Hakeem Olajuwon went on to be drafted by the Houston Rockets with the first overall selection in the 1984 NBA Draft. That draft is so popular, because it was the same one that produced the likes of Charles Barley, John Stockton and one of the greatest basketball players in NBA history, the air man Michael Jordan.

Hakeem Olajuwon had a tremendous rookie year and was voted to the 1985 NBA All-Rookie Team. Other coaches, players and fans marveled at the way he not only dominated under the basket on the offensive end, but also was one of the best defenders on a yearly basis.

It was until the 1993-94 and 1994-95 NBA seasons where Hakeem Olajuwon became one of the greatest centers of his generation, however. He went on to dominate great centers like Patrick Ewing, Dikembe Mutombo, Shaquille O’Neal and in-state rival David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs.

In one of the greatest NBA Finals in basketball history, Hakeem Olajuwon’s Rockets battled the New York Knicks in a seven-game grudge match.

With the Knicks up 3-2 in the best of seven series, Hakeem Olajuwon made one of the best plays in NBA Finals history, blocking New York guard John Starks’ shots as time expired and Houston defending an 86-84 lead. In Game 7 of the series, Hakeem Olajuwon, “The Dream”, scored a game-high 25 points and 10 rebounds, which helped boost the Rockets to NBA Finals Champions. It was the first sports championship in Houston since the Houston Oilers won the AFL championship in 1961.

Thanks to “The Dream”, the Rockets again won the NBA Finals in 1995. Not only is Hakeem Olajuwon a two-time NBA Champion, but he’s also a two-time NBA Finals MVP.

For his amazing career, Hakeem Olajuwon amassed 26,946 points, 13,747 rebounds and 3,830 blocked shots. In 1994, he became the only player in NBA history to have won MVP, Finals MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards in the same season – a record that still stands today. Hakeem Olajuwon is also the NBA’s all-time leader in blocked shots and is also in the top ten for blocks, scoring, rebound, and steals. Hakeem  Olajuwon is the only player in NBA history placed in the top ten for all four categories.

Hakeem Olajuwon was a 12-time All-Star during his career and a two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1993-1994). He was also a six-time All-NBA First Team Selection, a three-time All-NBA Second Team Selection and a five-time NBA All-Defensive First Team Selection.

While the NBA has certainly seen its fair share of great centers, Hakeem Olajuwon undoubtedly deserves mention with Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Ernie Harwell

Not all legends are made on the gridiron, hardwood or baseball diamond. Some are made in the broadcasting booth.

Ernie Harwell was born January 25, 1918 in Washington, Georgia. He graduated from Emory University and from there he began his career working as a copy editor and sportswriter for the Atlanta Constitution. Ernie Harwell also was a regional correspondent for one of the top sports publications, The Sporting News.

Ernie Harwell got his first announcing gig for the Atlanta Crackers, which was a minor league baseball team based in Atlanta, Georgia between 1901 and 1965. In 1948, Ernie Harwell became the only announcer in the history over baseball to be traded for a player when Brooklyn Dodgers’ general manager Branch Rickey dealt catcher Cliff Dapper to the Crackers in exchange for breaking Ernie Harwell’s broadcasting contract. Ernie Harwell took over for regular Dodgers’ broadcaster Red Barber, who became hospitalized with a bleeding ulcer.

Ernie Harwell broadcasted for the Dodgers through 1949 and then jumped to the rival New York Giants from 1950 to 1953. Ernie Harwell’s famous call of Bobby Thomson’s “shot heard ‘round the word” during the 1951 National League pennant playoff game is still aired today throughout the country. Ernie Harwell also announced for the Baltimore Orioles from 1954 to 1959.

In 1960, Ernie Harwell became the voice of the Detroit Tigers. It was there in Detroit that he became a legend.

Ernie Harwell replaced longtime Tigers’ play-by-play announcer Van Patrick in 1960. Ernie Harwell was the voice of the Tigers until Tigers’ flagship radio station WJR didn’t renew his contract in 1991. After spending a stint with the California Angels in 1992, public outcry demanded that Ernie Harwell was brought back to Detroit.

Ernie Harwell began calling innings 1-3 and 7-9 of each Tiger game and from 1994 to 1998 he did the Tigers’ television broadcast. In 1999, the Tigers welcomed Ernie Harwell back to the radio booth full-time, until he announced his retirement in 2002.

For his broadcasting career, Ernie Harwell did the play-by-play for two All-Star Games (1958 and 1961) and two World Series (1963 and 1968). Ernie Harwell’s voice could also be heard throughout his career on CBS Radio, ESPN Radio and on WJR when the Tigers went to the 1984 World Series.

Below are some of Ernie Harwell’s most notable calls:

—-“It’s gone! - Ernie Harwell’s recollection of his call of the “Shot Heard ‘Round the World”, the home run by Bobby Thomson that won the NL pennant for the New York Giants on October 3, 1951. The NBC TV broadcast on which Ernie Harwell made the call was not preserved or recorded for posterity.”

—-“Here’s the set by Segui, the pitch…swung on, a drive to left! That’ll be the ball game! It’s over the head of Gosger! McLain wins his thirtieth, here comes Stanley, he’ll score…Willie Horton hits a single and the ball game is over, and the Tigers win it 5-4…Denny McLain is one of the first out of the dugout, racing out, and Horton is mobbed as the Tigers come from behind, and McLain has his thirtieth victory of the 1968 season! - Calling the final out on September 14, 1968. It was the 30th win of the year for Denny McLain, the first such feat for a major league pitcher since Dizzy Dean in 1934.” - Ernie Harwell

—-“This big crowd here ready to break loose. Three men on, two men out. Game tied, 1-1, in the ninth inning. McDaniel checking his sign with Jake Gibbs. The tall right-hander ready to go to work again, and the windup, and the pitch…He swings, a line shot, base hit, right field, the Tigers win it! Here comes Kaline to score and it’s all over! Don Wert singles, the Tigers mob Don, Kaline has scored…The fans are streaming on the field…And the Tigers have won their first pennant since nineteen hundred and forty-five! Let’s listen to the bedlam here at Tiger Stadium! - Calling Don Wert’s game winning single to give the Tigers the American League pennant on September 17, 1968.” - Ernie Harwell

—“Gibson has tied the record of Sandy Koufax, 15 strikeouts in a single World Series game. Trying for number 16 right now against Cash to break the record. He takes his set position, he delivers, here’s the pitch…Swing and a miss, he did it! - Calling St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Bob Gibson’s record-setting 16th strikeout against the Tigers in Game 1 of the 1968 World Series. (Audio) ” - Ernie Harwell

—“Here comes Herndon, he’s got it! And the Tigers are the champions of 1984! - Calling the last out in Game 5 of the 1984 World Series.” - Ernie Harwell

—-“Peña digging in, waiting, here’s the set, the pitch…Swing and a miss! And the Toronto Blue Jays win it, the final game of 2002. The final score: the Blue Jays 1, and the Tigers nothing. - Harwell calling the last out in his final game broadcast on September 29, 2002.” - Ernie Harwell

Ernie Harwell continues to be beloved in the city of Detroit and throughout the world of baseball. He’s a true living legend and one of the best broadcasters in sports history.

Citation

Many casual sports fans know whom Secretariat is – the great horse that won the 1973 Triple Crown.

But before there was Secretariat, there was Citation.

Citation was horse racing’s first millionaire horse. He earned $1,085,760 in a 45-race career that span from 1947 to 1951. Citation was so good that of the 32 times he ran, he was in the money every time but once.

At one point during his illustrious career, Citation set a modern-day record by winning 28 out of 30 races, including 16 consecutive wins between 1948 and 1950. His final record was 32-10-2.

Citation won his first race in 1947 at the Futurity Stakes. That same year, he also won the Pimlico Futurity, but it wasn’t until 1948 when he became a horse racing legend.

In 1948, Citation won nine major races, including the Tanforan Handicap, the Flamingo Stakes, the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, the Belmont Stakes, the Stars and Stripes Handicap, the Jockey Club Gold Cup, the American Derby and the Pimlico Special. As you can read, the most significant events won by Citation in 1948 were none other than the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes – horse racing’s Triple Crown.

Ridden by jockey Arcaro, Citation won the Kentucky Derby by 3 ½ lengths over his stablemate, Coaltown, who eventually won the 1949 Horse of the Year. In the Preakness Stakes, Citation won by 5 ½ lengths and at the Belmont Stakes, he captured horse racing’s Triple Crown by tying the stakes record of 2:28 1/5 set by Count Fleet, the 6th Triple Crown winner.

Throughout his career, Citation won many racing awards. On top of being the 8th U.S. Triple Crown Champion in 1948, he also was the U.S. Champion 2-year-old Colt in 1947, as well as the U.S. Champion 3-year-old Colt in 1948. Citation went on to win U.S. Horse of the Year in 1948 and the U.S. Champion Older Horse in 1951.

In 1959, Citation was elected into the United States racing Hall of Fame and is regarded as the No. 3 racehorses of the 20th Century behind Secretariat and Man o’ War.

Tony Gwynn

One of the greatest hitters in baseball history was born May 9, 1960 in Los Angeles, California. His name? Anthony Keith Gwynn, better known as Tony Gwynn.

Tony Gwynn made his Major League debut July 19, 1982 for the San Diego Padres. His final game was October 7, 2001 for those very same San Diego Padres. Tony Gwynn played his entire 20-year baseball career for the Padres, which is a remarkable feat considering how athletes jump from sports city to sports city nowadays.

In his first game in 1982, Tony Gwynn drove a base hit off Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Sid Monge. Twenty years later in 2001, Tony Gwynn got his final hit off Colorado Rockies pitcher Gabe White. In between those 20 years, he compiled 3,141 hits in route to becoming the Padres’ all-time hits leader.

Hits aren’t the only Padres’ record Tony Gwynn holds, either. Tony Gwynn is also the San Diego Padres’ all-time leader in average (.338), games played (2,440), at bats (9,288), runs (1,383), doubles (543), triples (85), RBI (1,138), walks (790) and stolen bases (319).

It’s safe to say that Tony Gwynn is the greatest player in Padres history.

Below are some of Tony Gwynn’s most memorable moments:

500th hit – August 18, 1985 vs. Atlanta pitcher Craig McMurtry
1,000th hit – April 22, 1988 vs. Houston pitcher Nolan Ryan
1,135th hit – September 17, 1988 vs. Atlanta pitcher Jim Acker (Gwynn became the Padres’ all-time hitter leader, surprising Dave Winfield.)
1,500th hit – August 15, 1990 vs. Montreal pitcher Steve Frey
2,000th hit – August 6, 1993 vs. Colorado pitcher Bruce Ruffin
2,500th hit – August 14, 1996 vs. Cincinnati pitcher Hector Carrasco
3,000th hit – August 6, 1999 vs. Montreal pitcher Dan Smith
3,141st hit – October 6, 2001 vs. Colorado Gabe White

For his career, Tony Gwynn was selected to 15 All-Star Games, was a five-time Gold Glove Award winner and a seven-time Silver Slugger Award winner. Tony Gwynn also won several more awards, including the Roberto Clemente Award in 1999, Lou Gehrig Memorial Award in 1998 and the Branch Rickey Award in 1995. In honor of his accomplishments, the San Diego Padres retired Tony Gwynn’s #19 jersey.

Not many players in the history of baseball had a better plate approach than Tony Gwynn. Tony Gwynn’s legacy was built on what he did with the bat, but he was also a solid defender and despite his size, could swipe a bag with the best of them, too.

In 2007, Tony Gwynn was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. He earned 97.6% of the total votes and was a first ballot inductee.

Arnold Palmer

“The King” Arnold Palmer is highly regarded as one of the best players in golf history. He is an American-born player who turned pro in 1954 after attending Wake Forest University.

Arnold Palmer started in 142 major championships. Of those 142 starts, he had seven wins, 10-second place finishes and 19-third place finishes. Arnold Palmer also has the longest streak of top-10 finishes in major championship history with six.

Arnold Palmer’s first major championship was at The Masters in 1958 when he beat fellow American golfers Doug Ford and Fred Hawkins by one stroke. He also won the 1960 Masters by one stroke, tipping Ken Venturi with a winning score of 282. Arnold Palmer defeated Kel Nagle by six strokes in the 1962 Open Championship, as well as Dave Marr and Jack Nicklaus by six strokes in the 1964 Masters.

Of his seven major champion wins, Arnold Palmer won four Masters (1958, 1960, 1962, 1964), two British Opens (1961, 1962) and one U.S. Open championships (1960). Arnold Palmer also won three PGA Championships (1964, 1968, 1970).

Arnold Palmer racked up 29 PGA Tour events in four seasons from 1960 to 1963. In 1960, Arnold Palmer won the Hickok Belt as the top professional athlete of the year and Sports Illustrated’s “Sportsman of the Year” award. He also earned the Vardon Trophy – given to the golfer with the lowest scoring average – four times in years 1961, 1962, 1964 and 1967.

Arnold Palmer is often ranked behind Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Ben Hogan, Bobby Jones, Sam Snead and even Byron Nelson on the all-time greatest golfers list. But what’s most significant about Arnold Palmer’s legacy is how he became one of the first stars of the sport’s television age, which began in the 1950s.

For his legacy, Arnold Palmer won the PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998 and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974.

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