Best athlete by state all time

Had he not suffered a devastating hip injury playing for the Raiders in 1991, Bo Jackson would likely have become a two-sport legend. The 1985 Heisman Trophy winner at Auburn, Jackson was a star in football, baseball, and track and field. Even after his football career ended prematurely, Jackson was able to play several more seasons in Major League Baseball, winning Comeback Player of the Year in 1993.

Born in Anchorage, Ala., former Phillies, Diamondbacks and Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling won 216 games in the majors. The 2001 World Series MVP with Arizona, most baseball fans remember Schilling best for his “bloody sock game,” in which he pitched Game 6 of the 2004 ALCS with an ankle injury. A two-time World Series champ, Schilling is easily the most accomplished athlete ever from the state of Alaska.

Born in Phoenix, Minnesota Vikings and Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive lineman Randall McDaniel is the most accomplished athlete from Arizona. McDaniel played 14 seasons in the NFL, making the Pro Bowl 12 times and being named All-Pro 10 times. He was inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009 and widely considered one of the best guards to ever play the game.

Michael Jordan’s partner in crime, it shouldn’t be forgotten just how dominant Scottie Pippen was on a basketball court. Along with being one of the best defenders in NBA history, Pippen also shot over 47 percent from the field over the course of his 16-year career. A seven-time All-Star, he won six championships with the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s. Pippen was born in Hamburg, Ark.

Mark Spitz was Michael Phelps before, well, Michael Phelps. In the 1972 Olympics, Spitz won a record seven gold medals in swimming competitions, and set new world-record times in all the events he competed in. From 1968 to 1972, Spitz set an incredible 35 world records in swimming and won just about every event he competed in. He was born in Modesto, Calif.

Born in Manassa, Colo., boxer Jack Dempsey was one of America’s biggest sports icons in the early 20th century. The World Heavyweight Champion of boxing from 1919 to 1926, Dempsey is widely considered one of the greatest fighters the sport has ever seen. He was also the first boxer ever to draw a million-dollar gate. “The Manassa Mauler” finished his career with 65 wins, including 51 by knockouts.

A three-time All-American running back at Syracuse, Floyd Little is one of America’s great forgotten athletes. After scoring 39 touchdowns in three years at Syracuse, Little was drafted by the Denver Broncos. “The Franchise” played nine seasons for the Broncos and finished his career as the NFL’s seventh leading all-time rusher. Along with being a three-time Pro Bowl selection, Little was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2010. Little was born in New Haven, Conn.

One of the best players in the NL, Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt is the best ballplayer to come out of the state of Delaware. Already a three-time All-Star at the age of 28, Goldschmidt is a lock to hit over 30 home runs and 100 RBI out in the desert every season. He has also won two Gold Glove awards. Goldschmidt is well on his way to becoming the best athlete to come out of the state of Delaware.

One of the best cornerbacks and return men in NFL history, Deion “Prime Time” Sanders also played Major League Baseball over three different decades. An eight-time NFL All-Pro and two-time Super Bowl champion, Sanders was an outfielder for the Yankees, Braves, Reds, and Giants. He even led the NL in triples in 1992. Born in Fort Myers, Fla., Sanders is member of both the Pro Football and College Football Hall of Fames.

Along with being one of the greatest running backs ever to step onto a football field, Jim Brown is also one of football’s most respected sports figures in American history as well. The former Cleveland Browns star was an eight-time First-Team All-Pro selection over the course of his nine-year NFL career, won four NFL MVPs and helped lead the Browns to the 1964 NFL Championship. Brown was born in St. Simons, Ga.

Along with winning five Olympic medals in swimming, Hawaiian-born athlete Duke Kahanamoku also helped popularize the sport of surfing in the United States. Between competing in Olympics, Kahanamoku would travel across the globe, participating in surfing exhibitions that allowed the sport to gain worldwide recognition. Kahanamoku was also an avid volleyball player.

“Hammerin'” Harmon Killebrew was born in the tiny town of Payette, Idaho. A 13-time All-Star for the Minnesota Twins, Killebrew hit 573 home runs and drove in 1,584 RBI over the course of his 20-plus years in the majors. He was inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame in 1984.

Legendary NFL quarterback Otto Graham is one of just two athletes ever to win championships in two of the four major North American sports. Along with winning an NBA title with the Rochester Royals in 1946, Graham was widely considered the best quarterback of his generation with the Browns. He led the Browns to 10 straight NFL Championship Games, winning seven of them, and set just about every passing record for the time. A five-time Pro Bowl selection, famed New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner called Graham "as great of a quarterback as there ever was."

There’s a reason he’s called “Larry Legend.” In fact, there are many reasons why former Celtics great Larry Bird has earned that nickname. Along with winning three championships for Boston in the 1980s, Bird is one of the greatest shooters the NBA has ever seen, evident by his three victories in the NBA’s Three-Point Shooting Contest. A nine-time First-Team All-NBA player, Bird averaged 24.3 points per game over the course of his Hall of Fame career. He is the best athlete ever to come out the state of Indiana.

Born in Van Meter, Iowa, Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller is the greatest athlete to come from the Hawkeye State. The Cleveland Indians legend led the majors in strikeouts seven times and was an eight-time All-Star. Feller also spearheaded an Indians rotation that won the 1948 World Series. Red Sox legend Ted Williams said Feller had the best fastball he ever saw in his playing career.

Barry Sanders is without question the most electrifying running back ever to play in the NFL. A Pro Bowl selection in every single one of his 10 seasons in the NFL, Sanders led the NFL in rushing five times and finished his career with over 15,000 yards gained on the ground. A six-time First-Team All-Pro and the 1988 Heisman Trophy winner, he was born in Wichita, Kan.

One of the most iconic figures in sports history, Muhammad Ali was born in Louisville, Ky., in 1942. Never one to shy away from controversy, Ali was always able to back up his brash talk with superb performances in the squared circle. After stunning Sonny Liston in 1964 to become World Heavyweight Champion, Ali’s legend would only grow and grow. Memorable wins over Joe Frazier and George Foreman would solidify Ali’s position as perhaps the greatest boxer ever. He finished his career with 56 wins and just five losses.

Although he grew up in Mississippi, Peyton Manning was born in New Orleans. Maybe the greatest quarterback in NFL history, Manning redefined what it means to be a signal caller in the NFL. He is the only quarterback to win two Super Bowl championships as starter for two different teams and owns just about every statistical record a quarterback can have. “The Sheriff” walked away from the game this year after he led the Broncos to a win in Super Bowl 50.

Born in Camden, Maine, Anna Goodale is an Olympic gold medalist in rowing for the United States. Goodale is currently a coach for Ohio State University's Women's Rowing Team.

Although he certainly didn’t look like a world-class athlete by today’s standards, Babe Ruth is universally considered the best baseball player ever. Along with hitting 714 home runs and having multiple 20-win seasons on the mound, Ruth has the highest Wins Above Replacement (WAR) ever in MLB history. A career .342 hitter, his life and career have taken on mythic proportions.

Born in Brockton, Mass., boxer Rocky Marciano held the heavyweight championship for nearly four years in the 1950s. With a career knockout percentage of 87.75, Marciano was one of the most dominant fighters in boxing history during his prime. “The Rock from Brockton” finished his boxing career with a perfect record of 49-0, including 43 knockouts.

One of the most exciting and charismatic sports figures ever, Magic Johnson is easily the greatest athlete to be born in the state of Michigan. Magic and his “Showtime” Los Angeles Lakers helped revolutionize basketball and make it one of the most popular sports across the globe. Widely considered to be the greatest point guard in NBA history, Johnson led the Lakers to five championship wins in the 1980s.

Hall of Fame outfielder Dave Winfield could have been an all-time great in track and field or basketball had he chosen to. A 12-time All-Star in the majors, Winfield led the Minnesota Golden Gophers to a Big Ten title in basketball in 1972 and was drafted to play in both the NBA and ABA. However, Winfield stuck with baseball and had a marvelous 22-year career in which he recorded over 3,000 hits. Winfield was inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame in 2001.

Putting aside positions, Jerry Rice just might be the greatest football player of all time. The Hall of Fame wide receiver dominated the game like few others, scoring over 200 touchdowns and winning three Super Bowls with the 49ers. Born in a Crawford, Miss., a town with a population of less than 1,000 people, Rice was a 10-time First-Team All-Pro selection and is easily the greatest athlete ever form the Magnolia State.

Born in St. Louis, former Yankees catcher Yogi Berra was one of baseball’s most beloved figures. Along with being the source of some of the greatest quotes in sports history, Berra also managed play in 18 All-Star Games and won an incredible 13 World Series titles. Considered by most to be the greatest catcher in baseball history, Berra was also a three-time AL MVP with the Yankees.

One of the greatest coaches in professional sports history, Phil Jackson won 11 championships as head coach of the Bulls and Lakers. What many people forget, however, is that Jackson also won two championships as key role player for the New York Knicks in the 1970s. The “Zen Master” was born in the city of Deer Lodge, Mont., which has a population of just over 3,000 people.

In the 1960s, St. Louis Cardinals ace Bob Gibson was baseball’s most dominant pitcher. Born in Omaha, Neb., Gibson was a nine-time All-Star, two-time NL Cy Young Award winner and struck out well over 3,000 batter. Gibson’s finest year came in 1968, when he posted an inhuman ERA of 1.12 and struck out 17 batters in Game 1 of that year’s World Series. “Gibby” was inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame in 1981.

An eight-time Grand Slam champion, former tennis star Andre Agassi is the greatest athlete from the state of Nevada. Agassi posted a career singles record of 870-274 and also won a gold medal for the United States in the 1996 Olympics.

Born in Exeter, N.H., former Blue Jays and Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter would likely be remembered as one of the best pitchers of his generation had it not been for injuries. In 2005, Carpenter won 21 games for the Cards on his way to winning the NL Cy Young Award. A three-time All-Star, Carpenter also was the 2009 NL Comeback Player of the Year.

Of all the great athletes born in the state of New Jersey, none have been finer than Derek Jeter. One of the most beloved players to put on a glove, the former Yankees shortstop will be inducted into Cooperstown the second he is eligible. Jeter played his entire 20-year career with the Yankees, leading the team to five World Series championships. A 14-time All-Star, Jeter ended his career with 3,465 hits and a batting average of .310. It’s going to be a long time until Yankees fans stop missing the presence of “Mr. November” on their team.

One of the toughest players in NFL history, Hall of Fame defensive back Ronnie Lott is a native of New Mexico. The eighth overall selection in the 1981 NFL Draft, Lott was the leader of a 49ers defense that won four Super Bowls. A six-time First-Team All-Pro, he is one the NFL’s greatest defensive players.

Although he grew up in North Carolina, Michael Jeffrey Jordan was actually born in Brooklyn, N.Y. Regardless, however, of where he was born, Jordan is universally considered the greatest basketball player ever and one of the best athletes of all time. An unstoppable scorer, shut-down defender and clutch shot maker, Jordan carried the NBA to unprecedented heights. An All-star in all but one of the 15 seasons he played in the NBA, MJ led the Bulls on six championship runs in the 1990s. And although most choose not to remember it, Jordan did have a brief career as a professional baseball player as well.

The first unanimous regular-season MVP in NBA history, Stephen Curry doesn’t look like a world-class athlete. However, looks can be deceiving. Already the greatest shooter in NBA history, Curry is looking to lead his Golden State Warriors to back-to-back NBA championships. The three-point wizard is also the son of former NBA player Dell Curry.

Born in Jamestown, N.D., former Angels outfielder/infielder Darin Erstad came tantalizingly close to becoming the first player since Ted Williams to hit over .400 in 2000. Although Erstad fell short of the mark, he did help lead Anaheim to its first World Series title in 2002 in seven games over the Giants. He was also a punter for the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers in college.

When his career comes to an end, LeBron James will likely be remembered as one of the five greatest NBA players of all time. Born in Akron, Ohio, King James is four-time NBA MVP, 12-time All-Star and six-time All-Defensive Team selection. James is now looking to bring his home state of Ohio its first NBA championship. Love him or hate him, LeBron James is one of the greatest athletes we’ve ever seen.

One of the most versatile athletes ever, Jim Thorpe won Olympic gold medals and was a Hall of Fame NFL player. Thorpe even played eight seasons in Major League Baseball and was a fantastic basketball player as well. Simply put, Thorpe could anything athletic. He is widely considered the greatest all-around athlete of the 20th century.

Born in Portland, Ore., Dick Fosbury is one of the most influential track and field stars ever. Fosbury revolutionized the high jump with his “back-first” style technique and won a gold medal in the event at the 1968 Olympics. The “Fosbury Flop” has become a standard technique high jumpers are now taught to use.

Born in Philadelphia, few athletes have dominated their sport like Wilt Chamberlain did. The Hall of Fame center once averaged over 50 points a game for an entire season and scored a record 100 points in one game. Chamberlain also averaged an absurd 22.9 rebounds a night over his 14-year career with the Warriors, 76ers and Lakers. A four-time NBA MVP, “Wilt the Stilt” finished his career with 31,419 points scored.

The third player ever to record 3,000 hits, second baseman Napoleon “Nap” Lajoie was Ty Cobb’s biggest rival during his time. A career .339 hitter, Lajoie was also the player-manager of the Cleveland Naps from 1905-09, a team that changed its name from the “Broncos” to the “Naps” in honor of Lajoie. He was born in Woonsocket, R.I.

Kevin Garnett is the ultimate example of player you would love to have on your team but viscerally hate if he isn’t. Born in Greenville, S.C., Garnett is one of the best power forwards in NBA history, as he has been a 15-time All-Star over the course of his career with the Timberwolves and Celtics. The 2004 NBA MVP, Garnett led the Celtics to their first NBA title in 22 years in 2008.

He may have been named after a city from another state, but Dallas Clark was born in Sioux Falls, S.D. One of Peyton Manning’s favorite targets in Indianapolis, the tight end caught 505 passes for 5,665 receiving yards and 53 touchdowns over the course of his NFL career. Clark is South Dakota’s most accomplished athlete.

One of the most beloved athletes to play in the NFL, legendary defensive end Reggie White was born in Chattanooga, Tenn. White was one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history, finishing his career with 198 sacks, an incredible 10 First-Team All-Pro selections and one Super Bowl ring. Sadly, White died in 2004 at the age of 43 from cardiac arrhythmia.

Of all the great athletes born in the state of Texas, “Babe” Didrikson Zaharias is its finest. One of the greatest female athletes ever, Zaharias was an Olympic gold medalist in track and field and was a successful pro golfer. Zaharias won 41 LPGA events and was named the 10th Greatest North American Athlete of the 20th Century by ESPN.

The best athlete born in the state of Utah is without question Steve Young. One of the best quarterbacks to play in the 1990s, Young was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and led the San Francisco 49ers to a Super Bowl championship. A three-time First-Team All-Pro, Young is currently an NFL analyst for ESPN.

One of the greatest offensive catchers ever, Carlton Fisk was an 11-time All-Star and hit 376 home runs in his Hall of Fame career. Born in Bellow Falls, Vt., Fisk played his best years with the Boston Red Sox and at the time of his retirement in 1993 was baseball’s all-time leader in home runs by a catcher. Fish was inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame in 2000.

Considered by many to be the greatest defensive player in NFL history, former Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor may also have been football’s most intimidating player ever. An eight-time First-Team All-Pro, Taylor recorded 132.5 sacks in his 12-year career and won two Super Bowls with the G-Men. Taylor was born in Williamsburg, Va.

Although he is remembered as one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history, John Elway nearly ditched a career in football entirely for one in baseball. A star athlete at Stanford, Elway was drafted by the New York Yankees and offered a gig as the team’s starting right fielder before he played a single game for the organization. Elway, however, chose football over baseball and proved to be one the most clutch quarterbacks in NFL history. Born in Port Angeles, Wash., Elway won two Super Bowls and was a nine-time Pro Bowl selection with the Broncos.

Randy Moss was called “The Freak” for a reason. A multi-sport star in high school, Moss chose to play football and eventually became the most electrifying wide receiver in the NFL during his prime years. Moss racked up over 15,000 receiving yards and 156 touchdowns playing for the Vikings, Raiders, Patriots, Titans and 49ers. He was born in the unincorporated town of Rand, W.V.

Is it too early to deem J.J. Watt the best athlete ever born in Wisconsin? Nah. Watt is well on his way to becoming one of the greatest football players ever. The 11th overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, Watt has already won three Defensive Player of the Year awards with the Texans and is still in the prime of his career at 27. He is also the only player in NFL history with multiple 20-plus sack seasons.

Born in Rock Springs, Wy., former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Boyd Dowler played 12 seasons in the NFL. Dowler was Packers quarterback Bart Starr’s No. 1 target and was an integral part of Green Bay’s first two Super Bowl wins. He finished his NFL career with 50 touchdowns and was a member of the 1960s All-Decade Team.