In case you are wondering what this is...allow me to explain. We tend to associate numbers with athletes. We realize this is weird. For instance, when we golf and get a cart, we try to beat each other to come up with a player that wore the jersey number that matches our cart number. Mostly we try to think of the oldest or most off the wall player we can think of. Anyways, it’s definitely a lil odd, but we felt if we were going to do this blog, we were going to be genuine to who we are. Sports are our passion and this is one of our idiosyncrasies that we've decided to share.
APRIL 13,2011 BLOG:
*Warren Moon wore #1 during his stellar playing career in the CFL & NFL. A CFL legend (he won five consecutive Grey Cups with Edmonton) before heading south, Moon completed 3,988 of 6,823 passes for 49,325 yards and 291 touchdowns in 17 NFL seasons.
*Joe DiMaggio wore #5 while playing his entire career (1936-1951) for the New York Yankees where he compiled a record 56-game hitting streak. Was a three-time MVP hitting .325 with 361 Home Runs for his career. Also, mega bonus points for being the spouse of Marilyn Monroe.
*John Elway wore #7 playing for the Denver Broncos. Elway recorded the most victories by a starting quarterback at the time of his retirement. He retired as statistically as the second most prolific passer in NFL history in 1999. Elway was one of the 1980s and 1990s most versatile and prominent quarterbacks who led his teams to sixAFC Championship Games and five Super Bowls, winning his last two. He led them to an NFL Record 47 4th Quarter comebacks.
*Pele wore #10 playing on three World Cup-winning teams with Brazil (1958, 1962, 1970) and helped launch soccer in
America when he came out of retirement to play for the Cosmos in 1975.
*Tom Brady wears #12 for the New England Patriots where he's 80-25 as a starter, 12-2 in the postseason and holds the NFL record for the most consecutive wins (10). If that ain't enough, he's married to Victoria Secret Supermodel, Gisele Bundchen.
*Roberto (Bobby) Clemente wore #21 for the Pittsburgh Pirates and is remembered as much for his humanitarianism as for his renown in right field. Clemente won four batting titles, 12 Golden Glove awards and finished his career with 3,000 hits. He died at 38, in 1972, in a cargo plane that was carrying supplies and food o Nicaragua.
*Elvin Bethea wore #65 for the Houston Oilers going to 8 Pro Bowls & unofficially recording 105 Sacks.
*Tim Krumrie wore #69 for the Cincinnati Bengals in the 1980's going to 2 Pro Bowls.
*Sam Huff wore #70 for the New York Giants in the 50's playing in 6 Title Games & 5 Pro Bowls. (Also near to my heart as a former West Virginia University standout.)
*Jerry Rice wore #80 in his illustrious NFL Career. The NFL's career leader in receptions (1,549), yards (22,895) and touchdowns (208), Rice was a key member of four Super Bowl champions as a San Francisco 49er. He is widely considered by many as the best football player ever to play the game.
APRIL 23,2011 BLOG:
*Johnny Bench wore #5 for the Cincinnati Red from 1967 to 1983. He was a Hall of Fame catcher, a 14-time All-Star selection, and a two-time NL MVP. He was the best offensive and defensive catcher of the 1970s, and was a key member of The Big Red Machine, which won six division titles, four NL pennants, and two World Series championships. Many consider him the best catcher to ever play the game.
*Mickey Mantle wore #7 throughout his entire 18-year Hall of Fame career for the New York Yankees as an outfielder and first basemen. He won 3 AL MVP titles and played in 16 All-Star games. Mantle appeared in 12 World Series, winning 7 of them. He still holds the records for most home runs (18), RBIs (40), runs (42), walks (43), extra-base hits (26), and total bases (123). He is also the career leader in walk off home runs, with a combined 13 in regular season and post-season play (12 regular, 1 postseason). He won the triple crown in 1956. He is regarded by many to be the greatest switch hitter of all time and one of the greatest players in baseball history.
*Walt Frazier wore #10 when he led the New York Knicks to the franchise's only two NBA Championships (1970 & 1973). He was blessed with a unique combination of court vision, quickness, and size (he stands 6'4") for a guard. As their floor He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987.
*Kirk Gibson wore #23 Gibson was an outfielder with the Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Kansas City Royals, and Pittsburgh Pirates. He is best known for a pinch hit home run he hit off Dennis Eckersley in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series during his time with the Dodgers. He was also named the NL MVP in 1988.
*Rod Woodson wore #26 in his Hall of Fame NFL Career. He was the premier cornerback of his era, and was named to the NFL's 75th Anniversary team, the only active player on the list when it was chosen in 1994. He played 17 seasons (1987-2003) and for four teams (Steelers, Niners, Ravens, Raiders).
*Ted Hendricks wore #83 during his 15-season career with the Colts and Raiders. This Hall of Fame linebacker got the nickname Mad Stork for his gangly frame (6-7, 220-pounds). An eight-time Pro Bowl selection who blocked 25 field goals in his career. Hendricks played in 215 consecutive games and four Super Bowls.
MAY 3,2011 BLOG:
*Dale Earnhardt drove the #3 in his Hall of Fame stock car career. He is well known as the most popular race car driver ever! He had huge success in the Winston Cup (now the Sprint Cup Series), winning seventy-six races (including one Daytona 500 victory in 1998). Earnhardt's seven championships are tied for most all-time with Richard Petty. His aggressive driving style led to controversy and earned him the nickname "The Intimidator". Earnhardt died in a last-lap crash during the 2001 Daytona 500. He has been inducted in numerous halls of fames, including the inaugural class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
*Dale Murphy wore #3 During an 18-year baseball career, 1976-1993, he played for three different teams, but is noted for his time with the Atlanta Braves. Murphy won consecutive National League MVP Awards in 1982 & 1983, the National League's Silver Slugger Award four straight years (1982–1985), and the National League's Gold Glove award five straight years (1982–1986). *(Was also an absolute stud on Nintendo’s RBI BASEBALL video game)
*George Brett wore #5 during his entire 21-year Hall of Fame career for the Kansas City Royals. Brett's 3,154 career hits are the most by any third baseman in major league history, and 15th all-time. Brett is one of four players in MLB history to accumulate 3,000 hits, 300 home runs, and a career .300 batting average with the others being Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, and Stan Musial. He was born in Glen Dale, WV.
*Mark Messier wore #11 as hockey's ultimate leader. He is the only player to captain two franchises (Oilers and Rangers) to Stanley Cup victories. (His jersey is retired in both cities.) Messier ranks second on the all-time regular season scoring list with 1,887 points..
*Bart Starr wore #15 in his Hall of Fame NFL Career. The great conductor of the Packers offense, Starr won NFL Championships in 1961, 1962, 1965, 1966 and 1967, and was named MVP of the first two Super Bowls.
*Ryne Sandberg wore #23 during his 16-season Hall of Fame career, most notably with the Chicago Cubs. He is recognized as one of the best second basemen in baseball history. Sandberg established himself as a perennial All-Star and Gold Glove candidate, making 10 consecutive All-Star appearances and winning nine consecutive Gold Gloves from 83 to 91. His career .989 fielding percentage is a major league record at second base.
