This past March we gave you the best athletes to wear uniform numbers 00 through 10.
Today, we bring you the greatest ever to don numbers 11 through 20.
11 – Mark Messier played in the NHL for a quarter-century. A two-time league MVP, The Moose is the only player to captain two different teams to Stanley Cup championships. Runners up: Isiah Thomas, Elvin Hayes
12 – Tom Brady. The greatest quarterback of all time has led New England to eight Super Bowls, winning five – more than any player in history. Runners up: Joe Namath, Terry Bradshaw, Jim Kelly, John Stockton, Roger Staubach
13 – Wilt Chamberlain is perhaps the most dominant athlete in any sport. He holds 72 NBA records, 68 by himself. Beginning in high school, The Big Dipper has had his jersey retired by every team he ever played on. Runners up: Dan Marino Steve Nash.
14 – A.J. Foyt is the only driver to win the Indy 500, the Daytona 500, the 24 Hours of Daytona, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Runners up: Pete Rose, Ernie Banks, Otto Graham, Bob Cousy, Brendan Shanahan.
15 – Bart Starr led the Green Bay Packers to five league titles and was MVP of the first two Super Bowls. One of the classiest athletes of all time, Starr has the highest postseason passer rating in history. Runners up: Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, Thurman Munson.
16 – Joe Montana was a national champion at Notre Dame and four-time Super Bowl winner. Joe Cool threw 122 Super Bowl passes and was never intercepted. Runners up: Whitey Ford, Len Dawson, Brett Hull.
17 – John Havlicek won eight NBA titles in 16 seasons with the Boston Celtics. A superb athlete, Hondo led Ohio State to the 1960 NCAA basketball championship and was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 1962. Runners up: Dizzy Dean, Mark Grace, Jarri Kurri.
18 – Peyton Manning threw for more yards and touchdowns than any quarterback in NFL history. In 2011, Tom Brady called Manning the greatest quarterback of all time. Runners up: Dave Cowens, Emmitt Thomas, Charlie Joiner, Denis Savard.
19 – Johnny Unitas revolutionized the quarterback position. Johnny U guided the Baltimore Colts to three league titles and was the greatest passer of his era. Runners up: Lance Alworth, Bob Feller, Willis Reed, Steve Yzerman.
20 – Barry Sanders led the NFL in rushing four times. The 1988 Heisman Trophy winner played in the Pro Bowl every year he was in the league. Sanders retired prematurely. Had he not, Number 20 would be pro football’s all-time rushing leader. Runners up: Frank Robinson, Lou Brock, Ed Reed, Luc Robitaille.
Who are you favorites to ever wear these numbers?
