Nolan Ryan

Nolan Ryan is often highly regarded as one of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball history. As one of the hardest throwing right-handed pitchers ever, Nolan Ryan threw pitches that were regularly hit above 100 mph on the radar gun.

Nolan Ryan started his career with the New York Mets in 1966 and played with the organization until 1971. In 1972, Nolan Ryan was traded to the California Angels and lasted eight seasons there until he signed a lucrative free-agent contract with the Houston Astros after the 1979 season. Nolan Ryan then left Houston in a contract dispute following the 1988 season and joined the Texas Rangers.

For his career, Nolan Ryan compiled a 324-292 record as a starter and struck out 5,714 batters, which is still a MLB record. Nolan Ryan also holds the record for most career no-hitters with seven.

Nolan Ryan finished his stellar career with an ERA of 3.19, was an eight-time All-Star and a World Series champion in 1969. He was also named American League The Sporting News Pitcher of the Year in 1977 and is the only player to have his jersey retired by three different teams (California Angels, Houston Astros and Texas Rangers).

Nolan Ryan was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999 and earned 98.2% of votes, which was just six votes short of a unanimous election. He’s often compared to the great Sandy Koufax (Los Angeles Dodgers), since Nolan Ryan broke two of Sandy Koufax’s records (no-hitters and the single-season strikeout mark).

Nolan Ryan is a true pitching legend, although some like to question his place in history because of his low winning percentage (.526). But while other pitchers might have had better stats, arguably no player mastered the strikeout as well as the Nolan Ryan “Express.” He was also incredibly durable, too, as evidence that he played in more seasons (27) than any other player in Major League Baseball history.

Deion Sanders

“Prime Time” Deion Sanders was one of the flashiest and cockiest players to ever don a NFL uniform. He was also one of the best cover corners the game has ever seen. 

Deion Sanders was a three-sport athlete at Florida State University. He starred in football, baseball and track, and was a two-time consensus All-American cornerback in 1987 and 1988. In 1988, he won the Jim Thorpe Award, which is given to the nation’s top defensive back. 

Deion Sanders was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in 1989 and immediately made an impact, scoring a touchdown on his very first kick return. During his five years in Atlanta, Deion Sanders intercepted 24 passes – three of which he returned for touchdowns – and led the league in kickoff return yards with 1,067 in 1992. 

Frustrated by the direction of the Falcons, Deion Sanders signed a one-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers, turning in one of his best seasons as a pro. He recorded six interceptions and returned them for an NFL-best 303 yards and three touchdowns. Deion Sanders also won the 1994 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award and hauled in an interception in the 49ers’ 49-26 thrashing of the San Diego Chargers in Super Bowl XXIX. 

After feuding with All-Pro wide receiver Jerry Rice, Deion Sanders became upset with the 49ers’ organization. Just before the 1995 season, “Prime Time” signed a seven-year, $35 million contract with the Dallas Cowboys, which made him the highest paid defensive player in the NFL. That season, Deion Sanders helped the Cowboys win their third Super Bowl in four years with an exiting victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XXX. In the game, Deion Sanders caught a 47-yard reception on offense, which set up the Cowboys’ first score. He currently is the only player in NFL history to catch a pass and make an interception in the Super Bowl. 

Towards the twilight of his career, Deion Sanders played for the Washington Redskins and Baltimore Ravens, respectively. But age and injuries caught up to the once elite cornerback and in January of 2006, Deion Sanders retired for a second time and became an analyst for the NFL Network, where he’s still currently employed. 

Over his NFL career, Deion Sanders was selected to eight Pro Bowls, was a nine-time All-Pro selection and was a two-time Super Bowl Champion. He was also selected to the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 1990s. 

One of the things Deion Sanders is known for is being a two-sport athlete. He played with five different teams during his MLB career, including the New York Yankees (1989-1990), the Atlanta Braves (1991-1994), Cincinnati Reds (1994-1995, 1997, 2001) and the San Francisco Giants (1995). He led the National League in triples in 1992 with 14 and stole 186 bases during his career. 

While Deion Sanders has taken criticism for shying away from contact on the football field, nobody can deny his legacy as a legitimate shutdown corner. Perhaps no other corner in the NFL has ever shut down an entire side of the field like Deion Sanders could, although there arguably have been better all-around defensive backs, including the Broncos’ Champ Bailey.