The one iconic jersey that defines every pro sports city

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: Trout is one of those true generational players, the type of home-grown superstar who defines a franchise long before his career is finished. And, sure, we’re calling this early for Trout, considering 2016 is only his fifth full year in the majors, but in his four seasons in the majors, he’s won one AL MVP and finished second three times. — Ryan Fagan

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Teemu Selanne, Tim Salmon

MORE: Trout doesn't condone bat-flipping | Best MLB players of all-time, by jersey number

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: Aaron’s 715th home run, the blast off Al Downing that pushed Hammerin’ Hank past Babe Ruth on the career list, remains the defining moment in Atlanta sports. He came to Atlanta when the Braves made the move from Milwaukee in 1966, when he was already 32 years old. Still, he popped 335 homers for Atlanta’s team, passing legends like Jimmie Foxx, Ted Williams and Mel Ott along the way. — Fagan

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Chipper Jones, Dominique Wilkins, Greg Maddux

MORE: Best MLB stars of all-time, by jersey number 

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: You could make an excellent case for Baltimore Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas, but the sight of an old-school Colts jersey brings out a bit of pain in long-time football fans who remember the way the team broke their hearts when it left for Indianapolis on that fateful day. So we’re going with an Orioles star, and that honor falls to Ripken, the legendary Orioles shortstop who won two MVP awards, helped Baltimore to the 1983 World Series and, oh yeah, holds a consecutive-games record that will never be broken. Ripken passed Lou Gehrig in 1995, which is why we chose that jersey. — Fagan

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Johnny Unitas, Ray Lewis, Brooks Robinson

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: This was not an easy selection, because Boston sports history is loaded with heroes. It would be easier to pick an iconic goat; that would be unfortunate former Red Sox owner Harry Frazee.
 
Sox heroes would include Ted Williams, Johnny Pesky, Carl Yastrzemski and David Ortiz. The Patriots bring Tom Brady, among others. The Bruins? They don't come any bigger than Bobby Orr.
 
Even the Celtics offered a shamrock-field full of options. Bill Russell, after all, might be the most successful player in any team's history.
 
Bird gets the word because he ushered in more than just a renaissance of championship basketball in Boston. The NBA was on life support when Bird and Magic Johnson brought it back to life with their legendary rivalry. The Hick from French Lick was a show-stopping talent. He was so good, not even Harry Frazee would have traded him. No, no, Nanette. — Ray Slover

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Ted Williams, Bobby Orr, Tom Brady, Bill Russell

MORE: Best NBA stars, by jersey number 

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: This choice was obvious, wasn’t it? Not only did Robinson break baseball’s color barrier with class and dignity on and off the field, but he was an amazing player on the diamond, too. Robinson won the 1947 rookie of the year award, the 1949 MVP and helped Brooklyn to the 1955 World Series title. — Fagan

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Duke Snider, Pee Wee Reese, Gil Hodges, Deron Williams

MORE: Best MLB players of all-time, by jersey number 

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: The every-day love story. Kelly ditched Buffalo for the USFL after the 1983 Draft, but he came back in 1986 and would lead the Bills to four consecutive Super Bowls starting in 1990. The relationship with the small-market city blossomed into the perfect marriage, with the perfect number. Kelly’s No. 12 is the only jersey the Bills have retired, and he symbolized the city’s resiliency once again through his recent battle with cancer. Buffalo and Kelly simply go together forever. — Bill Bender

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Bruce Smith, Dominik Hasek

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE:  Arriving in Calgary with a flourish, Iginla would become a scoring leader and MVP award winner in a distinguished Flames career. He is the team's leader in in goals, points, and games played; is second to Al MacInnis in assists; and twice scored 50 goals.
 
While his 14 Flames season didn't produce a Stanley Cup title — the team lost in the '04 finals — his achievements remain legendary.
 
Iginla wore No. 24 early in his career and transitioned to No. 12, which will one day joined the most celebrated sweaters in Flames history. The team has retired Lanny McDonald's No. 9 and Mike Vernon's No. 30, and holds MacInnis' No. 2 and Joe Nieuwendyk's No. 25 as honored numbers. — Slover

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE:  Newton didn’t take long to convince Carolina he was worth the No. 1 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.  Newton threw for 422 yards in his debut, and he’s evolved into a NFL MVP over the past five seasons. It’s come with a few bumps, but it’s become something special. Newton is a never-before-seen talent who does it his way, and he had the entire city of Charlotte “dabbin’” all the way to Super Bowl 50. The good times will roll in the Queen City for years to come. — Bender

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Dale Earnhardt, Steve Smith, Larry Johnson, Mugsy Bogues

MORE: Best NFL players by jersey number | Gossage doesn't want bunch of 'Cam Newtons' in MLB

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: Chicago, the Windy City, the city of broad shoulders, hog butcher of the … you know. There is no individual from any of the city's pro sports teams to rival Jordan.
 
Must be the shoes … or maybe it's the six NBA titles he helped secure in the 1990s. The dunks; the clutch shots; the awe-inspiring moments Chicago fans dream of on their way to sleep.
 
Oh, we could make a good case for Cubs icon Ernie Banks, a great player who would always want to play two for a cursed franchise. There are monsters to be considered, as the Bears gave us Sweetness, Walter Payton, and power and pain with Dick Butkus. Love the ChiSox? Name a great.
 
Michael Jordan is Chicago. No one comes within a tongue's wag of matching. — Slover

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Ernie Banks, Walter Payton, Dick Butkus

MORE: Jordan prepared for 95-96 season on set of 'Space Jam' | Best NBA stars by jersey number

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: He might be banned from baseball, but Rose’s popularity in Cincinnati, his hometown, has never waned. Charlie Hustle won the NL MVP award in 1973, but we gave the nod to 1975, the year the Big Red Machine won the first of its three World Series titles. Rose hit .370 in that World Series and took home the series MVP award. — Fagan

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Johnny Bench, Oscar Roberton, Anthony Munoz, Barry Larkin

MORE: Did Rose really endorse Donald Trump? | Rose should be in Hall of Fame

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: Why didn’t we pick LeBron? Clevelanders never burned Brown’s jersey. He was the star player on the city’s last pro sports championship team in 1964. There’s no doubting Brown’s legacy. He’s considered by some to be the greatest NFL player of all time. LeBron can change this by breaking Cleveland’s championship drought, but there’s no guarantee that will happen. Cleveland is a Browns town first, and nobody represented that golden era more than No. 32.  — Bender

HONORABLE MENTIONS: LeBron James, Bob Feller, Omar Vizquel, Bernie Kosar

MORE: Brown's leadership, lessons endure | Classic photos of Jim Brown 

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: This is the only college selection on this list, and it comes with good reason. Columbus has NHL and MLS franchises, but the city lives through Ohio State football. Nobody represents that unbridled love for the Buckeyes more than Griffin, a two-time Heisman Trophy winner and the star piece in Woody Hayes’ Big Ten championship mechanism. Griffin still lives in Columbus and he’s arguably the most-recognizable face in the community. This is an easy choice. — Bender

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Rick Nash, Barros Schelotto

 

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: It has to be a Cowboys legend, and there are so many to choose from. It was tough to go against Roger Staubach, who led Dallas to five Super Bowl appearances. Yet the slight edge goes to Smith, the NFL’s all-time leading rusher and the driving force behind three Super Bowl runs in the 1990s. Smith’s toughness —best shown in the 1993 regular-season finale against the Giants when he played through a shoulder injury — still endures. — Bender

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Roger Staubach, Mike Modano, Dirk Nowitzki, Nolan Ryan, Pudge Rodriguez

 

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: Elway’s star power soared on Jan. 11, 1987, when he led the Broncos to a 98-yard scoring drive at Cleveland Municipal Stadium. Elway made all the right plays in leading Denver to a 23-20 win and a berth in Super Bowl XXI. While several other great moments followed — including back-to-back Super Bowl wins to close his career — “The Drive” is the  moment that immortalized Elway in the Mile High City. We love that bright orange No. 7, too.  — Bender

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Joe Sakic, Peyton Manning, Alex English, Todd Helton

MORE: How Elway built champion Broncos

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE:  He is Mr. Hockey. Oh sure, his Red Wings play in Joe Louis Arena, but outside stands a 12-foot, 2-ton statue of the greatest player in Wings history who, until Wayne Gretzky arrived, was the greatest player in NHL history. Sorry, Bobby Orr fans.
 
No. 9 is forever. Howe is in declining health and has dementia, but a recent visit to The Joe sent chills through the team. — Slover

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Al Kaline, Joe Dumars, Barry Sanders

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: Remember him as the greatest player in NHL history, as the man behind four Stanley Cup championships in the most explosive scoring era in hockey. Remember Aug. 9, 1988, the day the Oilers traded him in the most shocking move in hockey. It was earthshattering. Remember him simply as The Great One. No. 99. Say no more. — Slover

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: How do you pick between three Green Bay legends? Bart Starr won five championships in the Lombardi heyday. Aaron Rodgers is a two-time NFL MVP with a Super Bowl. In the middle is Favre, the one America enjoyed watching — for better or worse — the most. The three-time MVP helped Green Bay back on the NFL map, and the image of Favre sprinting around the Superdome with helmet flying high in Super Bowl XXXI carries on. Even though Favre left for a while, the love affair with Packers fans continues.   — Bender

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Bart Starr, Aaron Rodgers, Reggie White 

MORE: Favre more fun than Manning | Favre heads Hall class 

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: Given what Hakeem Olajuwon did at both the college and pro level, this seems like an impossible choice. But Campbell, widely considered the best high school player in Texas history, ushered in the “Luv Ya Blue” era in 1978 with a whirlwind of powerful runs. Who could forget the Monday Night Football game against Miami? Bum Phillips’ cowboy hat? Campbell running around with his jersey falling off? Campbell carried Houston to the AFC championship on those big shoulders. The Oilers might be gone, but that season will never be forgotten. — Bender

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Hakeem Olajuwon, Nolan Ryan, Craig Biggio/Jeff Bagwell 
 

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: Manning’s career trajectory changed in the 2006 AFC championship game. That’s when he led the Colts back from a 21-3 deficit against the rival Patriots with a game-winning 80-yard TD drive. That propelled Manning to his first Super Bowl victory. That changed the narrative on Manning, who became more than just a fantasy football championship quarterback. Manning would leave Indianapolis for Denver late in his career, but Andrew Luck has a long way to go to reach this level of love.  — Bender

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Reggie Miller, A.J. Foyt

MORE: Manning should ride off into sunset | What next? TV, or team exec? | Best NFL players by jersey number

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: The Jaguars have had some good players, including Mark Brunell, Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew. Boselli, a five-time Pro Bowler, is the most-likely player to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This isn’t a sexy pick by any means, but it’s the best pick for this city. Boselli was Jacksonville’s first-ever draft pick, and he still does play-by-play for the Jaguars. Perhaps this will be Blake Bortles someday. The young quarterback has shown promise.  — Bender

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Mark Brunell, Maurice Jones-Drew

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: Brett, a first-ballot Hall of Famer who played his entire career in Kansas City, is the easy choice here. And even though he helped lead the Royals to the 1985 World Series title over the cross-state Cardinals, we’re going with his epic 1980 season, when he took an unforgettable run at one of baseball’s hallowed numbers. Brett was batting .400 as late as September 19, but he wound up a .390. Still, he was an easy MVP choice. — Fagan

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Dan Quisenberry, Frank White, Len Dawson

MORE: Best MLB players of all-time, by jersey number 

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: L.A. will always be a Lakers town, first and foremost, and Magic is the reason why. His teams changed the way the NBA operated and his skills — he was a 6-9 point guard, for crying out loud — changed the way players played the game. In the 1986-87 season, the Showtime Lakers were still at their peak—they won their fourth of five titles in Magic’s career — and Magic won his first NBA regular-season MVP award, after averaging a career-best 23.9 points per game to go with 12.2 assists per contest. And to beat Boston in the NBA Finals was a perfect cap to an amazing season. — Fagan

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Sandy Koufax, Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Eric Dickerson, Fernando Valenzuela

MORE: Magic getting another talk show | Best NBA stars by jersey number

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: Gasol’s arrival in the town where he made a lasting impact is different from any other player on this list — he came to Memphis in a trade that sent his brother, Pau, out of town (to the Lakers). Marc, a two-time All-Star, has exceeded most every expectation in his time in Memphis. When the Grizzlies made their memorable run to the Western Conference Finals in 2013 — knocking off No. 1 seed Oklahoma City in the conference semifinals — Marc averaged 17.2 points and 2.2 blocks in those 15 games, up from his season averages of 14.1 and 1.7. — Fagan

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Mike Conley, Zac Randolph, Pau Gasol

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: The ’72 Dolphins are still the standard team for which others are judged by, but Marino remains the iconic player in South Beach, even ahead of  Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat. Marino’s MVP season in 1984 – the one where he passed for then-NFL records of 5,084 yards and 48 TDs en route to his only Super Bowl appearance — was simply the start of a remarkable career. Marino’s celebrity status in Miami remains today. Seriously, was there a better fit in “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective?” — Bender

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Dwyane Wade, Bob Griese, Larry Csonka

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: As double-dips go, Yount’s 1982 season was pretty amazing. He won the AL MVP and led Milwaukee to the World Series for the first — and still, only — time in franchise history. Yount won that MVP as a 26-year-old shortstop, but he won his second AL MVP in 1989 as a 33-year-old center fielder. — Fagan

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Paul Molitor, Hank Aaron, Oscar Robertson, Sidney Moncrief

MORE: Best MLB players of all-time, by jersey number

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE:  Puckett might not have looked much like a prototypical superstar — he was short and stout instead of tall and imposing — but he played like one during his dozen season with the Twins. Minnesota wasn’t the favorite in the 1987 or the 1991 World Series matchups, but the Twins won both, with Puckett doing amazing things along the way.  — Fagan

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Kevin Garnett, Harmon Killebrew, Randy Moss, Fran Tarkenton

MORE: Best MLB players of all-time, by jersey number

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: The great Richard, the Rocket, remains among the most revered players in Canadiens history. His scoring prowess was rivaled only by his fierceness, and some would argue his cruelty, as a player. Montreal defines itself bleu, blanc et rouge. No. 9, Maurice Richard, led eight Habs teams to the Stanley Cup in the Original Six era, including five in a row between 1956 and '60. Vive le Rocket. —  Slover

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Gary Carter, Andre Dawson

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: Steve McNair was the quarterback who helped the Tennessee Oilers transition into the Tennessee Titans, and that materialized with the Music City Miracle run through the 1999 AFC Playoffs. McNair was just so-damn tough. He played through injuries. He lived up the first-round billing. He was a yard shot from pushing Super Bowl XXXIV into overtime. McNair’s life was cut short after his playing career, but his impact for this NFL franchise remains. — Bender

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Eddie George

 

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: Archie Manning is the hometown hero, and this is closer than you think. Yet Brees is the one who legitimized a moribund NFL franchise into a winner with 5,000 passing yards at a time, and the Super Bowl XLIV win was part of the ongoing healing process from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Brees has done all that with class befitting of one of the NFL’s most-underrated great quarterbacks. — Bender

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Archie Manning, Anthony Davis

MORE: Best NFL players by jersey numbers | New Brees contract coming soon |
 

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: New York has seen legends rise and fall during its time as America’s sports capitol, but no player has captured the imagination of a nation or a sport like this iconic slugger. Baseball was never the same after Ruth started smacking baseballs over the fences at a record pace. We chose 1927, of course, because that’s the year Ruth popped an eye-popping 60 home runs and the Yankees’ Murders’ Row lineup won the World Series. — Fagan

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Willis Reed, Derek Jeter, Mickey Mantle, Joe Namath, Lawrence Taylor, Joe DiMaggio, Patrick Ewing, Mark Messier

MORE: Classic photos of Babe Ruth from SN archives | Best MLB players by jersey number 

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: God, we loved the Raiders. Sinister Al Davis built a football team that tweaked the nose of Pete Rozelle's button-down NFL, proving nice guys didn't always finish first because they had to best the pride and poise of the gnarly men in silver and black.
 
The A's have a history that is almost as colorful. Reggie Jackson and his 1970s teammates made them the counterculture team to contract against the Reds.
 
But we're going with the man millennials will see as the greatest player to represent a hard-scrabble city. Curry is magic, seemingly able to conjure up shots that make the most pleasing sound in basketball.

MORE: Best NBA stars by jersey number

Splash. That's the stuff that makes Steph iconic. — Slover

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Reggie Jackson, Rickey Henderson, Chris Mullin, Marcus Allen, Ken Stabler

MORE: Curry or Jordan? President Obama weighs in | Could Harlem Globetrotters stop Curry?

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: OK, so there's not a lot of options in The Big. Is it going too far to say Durant's challengers for this mention would include rodeo stars? Durant called down thunder when he arrived, making the Thunder the NBA's best small-market team. Lightning strike us if we're wrong. — Slover

MORE: Durant to Boston hype | Durant to Warriors | Best NBA stars by jersey number

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: Hardaway arrived in Orlando a year after Shaquille O’Neal, and that helped turn a young franchise into a playoff contender in a hurry. Hardaway’s versatility – a 6-foot-7 stud who could play three positions – added to that wow factor. Who could forget those commercials with Lil’ Penny? The Magic were cool, and they took advantage of their second playoff appearance in 1995 by reaching the NBA Finals. Penny stayed with the Magic through 1998-99, and that’s why he’s our choice. – Bender

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Shaquille O’Neal, Dwight Howard 
 

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: Alfie's 17 seasons with the Senators include a stretch as captain from 1999 through 2013. The team's only trip to the Stanley Cup finals resulted in a seven-game loss to the Ducks. He was an outstanding leader; some liken him to the Wings' Steve Yzerman. He remains tops in goals, assists and points in Sens history and played in 1,178 games. — Slover

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: There are so many legit choices here, and it’s almost impossible to pick one. But perhaps nobody represents Philly quite like Iverson, the hard-edged, hard-nosed, hard-truth guard who carried the 76ers to the NBA Finals during a MVP season in 2001. He scored 48 points in Game 1, the 76ers’ only win in the series against the Lakers. Iverson wasn’t perfect and always said what was on his mind. That’s why the Philly fans still love him so much. – Bender

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Julius Erving, Charles Barkley, Mike Schmidt, Randall Cunningham, Reggie White, Bobby Clarke
 

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: Johnson, who was elected into the Hall of Fame wearing a Diamondbacks’ cap, won four of his five career Cy Young awards for Arizona (1999-2002). The 2001 World Series, held just a few months after the unthinkable 9/11 tragedy, captured the nation’s attention like no other in recent memory. The Diamondbacks beat the Yankees in seven thrilling games, and Johnson was named co-MVP after posting a 1.04 ERA in 17 1/3 innings. — Fagan

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Steve Nash, Larry Fitzgerald, Curt Schilling

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: Few players are as beloved in any city as Clemente is in Pittsburgh. Not only was he an easy choice as a Hall of Famer, he was one of the best people ever to wear a baseball uniform. He was still a young player when he helped the Pirates win the 1960 World Series and growing as a superstar when he won the 1966 NL MVP, but by the time he helped lead the Pirates to the 1971 World Series title (he hit .414 with a pair of home runs and seven RBIs and was named series MVP), his legend was fully secure. — Fagan

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Mario Lemieux, Joe Green, Terry Bradshaw, Willie Stargell, Franco Harris

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: It’s either Walton or Clyde Drexler for this basketball-crazy city, and it’s a can’t-lose decision. We gave the slight edge to Walton, the big, bad, red-haired MVP who carried the Trail Blazers to their first and only NBA championship 1977. Walton averaged 18.6 points and 14.4 rebounds that season, an amazing one-of-a-kind year the city still revels in today.  – Bender

HONORABLE MENTION: Clyde Drexler 
 

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: There's a good case to be made for longtime captain Eric Staal, who was traded to the Rangers this season. But Ward is the cornerstone, at least for now, and was in goal for the 'Canes' Stanley Cup victory. Ward was a 22-year-old rookie that magical season, in which he was the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as the playoffs' most valuable player. Now 32, his No. 30 could be vanishing from the scene after this season. — Slover

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: Before Webber’s arrival, the Kings had made the playoffs only twice since moving to Sacramento in 1985-86. Webber legitimized the franchise and helped them to six of eight straight playoff appearances. That included the memorable playoff run in 2001-02, when C-Webb led the Kings to the Western Conference Finals, where they lost in seven games to the Lakers. Sacramento hasn’t been quite the same since they traded Webber to Philadelphia in 2005. — Bender

HONORABLE MENTION: Mitch Richmond
 

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: In St. Louis, he’s known simply as “Stan” or sometimes “The Man” but his last name isn’t necessary. Baseball fans know. Between 1942 and 1948, the Cardinals won the World Series three times and Musial won the NL MVP three times. The only time both things happened in the same year: 1946. His legacy in St. Louis only grew after his playing days ended; a generation of St. Louisians who grew up after he retired knew him as the former Cardinal who plays the harmonica all the time and smiles a lot. — Fagan

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Bob Gibson, Brett Hull, Ozzie Smith

MORE: Best MLB players of all-time, by jersey number 

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: This is our only dual choice, but seriously, how do you pick one without the other? Stockton arrived in 1984, and Malone followed one year later. Together, this unlikely combination formed the greatest pick-and-roll duo in NBA history. Malone and Stockton took the Jazz to the first of five conference finals in 1991-92. Even though the Jazz lost to the Trail Blazers in six games, that appearance set the tone for the success of the franchise for years to come. — Bender

HONORABLE MENTION: Pete Maravich 
 

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: Duncan is an easy choice. He’s been the constant face through San Antonio’s five-championship run that started with the title in the strike-shortened 1998-99 season. That’s why we picked the 2002-03 season. Duncan led the Spurs to 60 wins and to a win against the Nets in the NBA Finals. Other players have fit into the master plan with the Spurs, but Duncan’s presence – however emotionless – continues to be the driving force. — Bender

HONORABLE MENTION: George Gervin, David Robinson, Tony Parker 

MORE: Best NBA stars by jersey number 
 

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: Of course, the jersey choice for San Diego had to be the Padres’ completely awesome brown jerseys from the 1980s. And that works out perfectly, because Tony Gwynn gave the baseball world a glimpse as to what was to come in 1984, when he hit .351 (he batted at least .350 six more times in his career) and helped lead the Padres to the World Series for the first time in franchise history.  — Fagan

HONORABLE MENTIONS: LaDanian Tomlinson, Junior Seau, Dan Fouts

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: When Montana released a third-and-3 pass on Jan. 10, 1982, everything changed in San Francisco. The 49ers became a four-time Super Bowl-winning machine with Montana at the controls. Montana became the ultimate symbol of cool – “Joe Cool” – which he flashed with that game-winning drive against the Bengals in Super Bowl XXIII. That’s why Montana is the choice here over Willie Mays, one of the toughest if not toughest call on this list. It’s a good thing Dwight Clark caught that ball, right?  — Bender

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Willie Mays, Jerry Rice, Barry Bonds

 

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: Jumbo Joe has been an anchor for the Sharks, but he also has failed to fulfill his promise as a leader. The Sharks have never made the Stanley Cup finals, and Thornton gets some of the blame. But he remains a popular player who produces points, mostly as a world-class assist man.  "His work ethic away from the puck, how honest he plays the game, how committed he is, how prepared he is, I can't imagine many guys out there that are doing that at his age," coach Peter DeBoer told the San Jose Mercury News recently.  Jumbo protection again proves Thornton is no ordinary Joe. — Slover

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: When overwhelming public sentiment calls for a superstar to return “home” to finish his career, you know the bond between player and city is special. Griffey, known as The Kid, was an instant fan favorite when he made his debut as a 19-year-old center fielder less than two years after he was the No. 1 overall pick in the MLB draft. In 1997, Griffey won his lone MVP award (56 homers, 147 RBIs, 1.028 OPS) and the Mariners won the AL West. — Fagan

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Gary Payton, Steve Largent, Shawn Kemp, Edgar Martinez

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: Keon might be, according to noted hockey scribe Scott Morrison, the greatest Leafs player of all time. Certainly he is symbolic of everything that went wrong with this once-mighty franchise. Keon's No. 14 is retired, but until January he had nothing to do with the Leafs. Blame Harold Ballard, the cranky former Leafs owner. Keon is now again lauding his Leafs heritage and fans no longer wear his sweater as a protest. — Slover

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Vince Carter, Joe Carter, Roberto Alomar

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: Dunn arrived in 1997, the same year the Buccaneers ditched their orange-and-white duds for a slick red-and-pewter look. It was suddenly cool to wear a Buccaneers jersey, and Dunn helped make that possible. That signified a change for the franchise, which evolved into a Super Bowl contender over the next few years with the nucleus that included Dunn, Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks. Dunn left for Atlanta after the 2001 season, but he retired with Tampa Bay in 2008. — Bender

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Dave Andreychuk, Warren Sapp, Evan Longoria

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: Linden and his No. 16 sweater are linked in Canucks glory. He was a heart-and-soul player, a leader by birth who elevated his team on and off the ice. The Canucks retired the numbers of Pavel Bure, Markus Naslund and Stan Smyl, but it's "Captain Canuck" who holds a special place in fans' hearts. — Slover

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: The first-round pick blossomed into a Pro Bowl player and had the Redskins in the playoff hunt in 2007 when tragedy struck. Taylor’s death occurred late in the season, cutting short the life a 24-year old star-in-the-making. The Redskins rallied around Taylor’s loss to make the playoffs before losing to Seattle in the wild card round. For a city that hugs the Redskins a little tighter than everybody else, the loss of Taylor still hurts almost a decade later.  — Bender

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Joe Theismann, John Riggins, Wes Unseld, Alex Ovechkin, Walter Johnson

WHY HE'S OUR CHOICE: The original Jets franchise had a number of heroes, but Hawerchuk is special. The No. 1 overall pick in the 1981 draft, Hawerchuk spurred a 48-point turnaround in his first season. That season saw him with the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie and set a record for rookie points that wouldn't be broken until Sidney Crosby arrived. A poll of NHL GMs in the mid-1980s asked which players they would pick to start a franchise. Hawerchuk was third behind Wayne Gretzky and Paul Coffey. In Winnipeg, there was no doubt — it was Hawerchuk. — Slover