Inside the Numbers
On Christmas Eve, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch printed their picks for the most recognizable athlete for each jersey number. The picks naturally have a St. Louis flavor, (Even my pick for number 2 would be different) but it's an interesting concept and I actually think they showed remarkable restraint. Willie McGee is the real #51 and everyone knows Dan Dierdorf is #72. It's obviously unscientific when "The Moose" Darryl Johnston makes the list, and Magic Johnson doesn't. Here are the Post-Dispatch picks, with St. Louis athletes noted...00- Robert Parrish
0- Johnny Olszewski
1/8- Eddie Gaedel, St. Louis Browns' midget
1- Ozzie Smith, Cards' HOF SS
2- Red Schoendienst, Cards' HOF 2B
3- Babe Ruth
4- Lou Gehrig
5- Joe DiMaggio
6- Stan Musial, the greatest Cardinal of them all
7- Mickey Mantle
8- Cal Ripken Jr.
9- Ted Williams
10- Pele
11- Isiah Thomas
12- Joe Namath
13- Wilt Chamberlain
14- Pete Rose
15- Bart Starr
16- Joe Montana
17- Dizzy Dean, Cards' HOF pitcher
18- Peyton Manning
19- Johnny Unitas
20- Lou Brock, Cards' HOF OF
21- Roberto Clemente
22- Emmitt Smith
23- Cal Eldred (just joking)
24- Willie Mays
25- Barry Bonds
26- Billy Williams
27- Juan Marichal
28- Marshall Faulk, Rams RB
29- Rod Carew
30- Ken Griffey, Jr.
31- Greg Maddux
32- Jim Brown
33- Larry Bird
34- Walter Payton
35- Phil Niekro
36- Meadowlark Lemon
37- Doak Walker
38- Curt Schilling
39- Roy Campanella
40- Gayle Sayers
41- Brian Piccolo
42- Jackie Robinson
43- Richard Petty
44- Hank Aaron
45- Bob Gibson, Cards' HOF pitcher
46- Andy Pettitte
47- Mel Blount
48- Darryl Johnston
49- Hoyt Wilhelm
50- Ed Macauley, St. Louis U basketball
51- Dick Butkus
52- Mike Webster
53- Don Drysdale
54- Randy White
55- Orel Hershiser
56- Lawrence Taylor
57- Darryl Kile, Cards' pitcher
58- Jack Lambert
59- Jack Ham
60- Chuck Bednarik
61- Nate Newton
62- Charley Trippi
63- Willie Lanier
64- Jerry Kramer
65- Tom Mack
66- Mario Lemieux
67- Larry Stallings, football Cardinals' linebacker
68- Jaromir Jagr
69- Tim Krumrie
70- Sam Huff
71- Alex Karras
72- Ed "Too Tall" Jones
73- John Hannah
74- Merlin Olson
75- Mean Joe Greene
76- Loe "The Toe" Groza
77- Red Grange
78- Bobby Bell
79- Harvey Martin
80- Jerry Rice
81- Jackie Smith, football Cardinals' TE
82- Raymond Berry
83- Mark Clayton
84- Randy Moss
85- Jack Youngblood
86- Buck Buchanan
87- Dwight Clark
88- Alan Page
89- Otis Taylor
90- Jevon Kearse
91- Dennis Rodman
92- Reggie White
93- Gilbert Brown
94- Charles Haley
95- Richard Dent
96- Bill Voiselle
97- Jeremy Roenick
98- Tom Harmon
99- Wayne Gretzky
posted by CM @ 3:24 PM
14 Comments:
I can forgive Wilt Chamberlain over Dan Marino but not the St. Louis bias- namely the inclusion of Red Schoendienst and....Stan Musial over Julius Erving? Please.
Wow, it's good to see Mark Clayton though. He must have played a season with the Rams that I've forgotten about.
This morning's Post-Dispatch printed a sampling of feedback on the numbers. A couple readers are quite angry that Dale Earnhardt was not chosen as #3 considering that you'll see a couple of his stickers if you drive through your average parking lot. It has to be Ruth, though. He's the most accomplished athlete of all time, and he was the first athlete to ever wear that number. They also want Dale Earnhardt Jr. for #8 over Cal Ripken. I think I would go with Yogi Berra.
To finish a thought from my posting, my #2 would be Tommy Lasorda. I don't know why, but that's who I immediately think of.
Another reader says #41 should be Milwaukee Braves slugger Eddie Matthews instead of Brian Piccolo. Agreed.
Two printed letters argue that Mia Hamm should be #9. That's simply ridiculous. Ted Williams was the clear choice, though you wouldn't go wrong with Roy Hobbs.
And Stan the Man IS #6. Always will be.
That Mia Hamm suggestion is an interesting point. Maybe if she kept her shirt on more often people would remember her number.
Looks like the Post-Dispatch doesn't believe in diversity and equality. Let me be the first to suggest a boycott of this sexist rag until those responsible for this list either apologize or are fired. Maybe the sportswriters at the Post-Dispatch would recognize some female jersey numbers if they started giving women's sports equal space in their sports section. And I thougth Dan Rather had cornered the market on media bias.... TA
How about Moses Malone instead of Red Schoendienst? I don't think you have to be a biased 76er fan to suggest that one.
There's a significance here that Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers have consecutive numbers and are both on the list at 40 and 41. No one knows Eddie Mathews number, even if he is the more deserving athlete. My assumption is that anyone who's seen "Brian's Song" would pick up on their numbers, though I've never bothered myself to watch it.
I have to say that I agree Dale Earnhardt should be listed ahead of the Babe. When you have your number on that many bumper stickers, your number has transcended sports. I'm not going to argue he's a better athlete than the Babe, but that's not the point of the list.
It sounded right to me too. All the more reason that she doesn't deserve to be on the list.
It's arguable whether Dale Earnhardt has even transcended auto racing into the larger sports world. I think of his legacy as sort of Mia Hamm crossed with Darryl Kile. As I recall, Jeff Gordon was bigger in the sport even when Earnhardt was alive. The bumper stickers will disappear within the decade, replaced with his son's number #8 or Confederate flag decals. Ruth was the first sports celebrity on par with the stars of movies and radio. He is the public embodiment of the "Roaring '20s," saved his sport (our national sport,) took it to new heights, and was once the most recognizable man in the world. And, like I said, he wore the number before anyone else.
I didn't really have a point. I was just making fun of the reaction that the list would receive if it were being discussed on a cable "news" show. I like the list personally, especially number 23. Sorry about showing my soccer ignorance. TA
I stand by my Earnhardt opinion. This is the sort of debate that, by definition, is measured by public opinion and I think if you polled Americans, Earnhardt would be the overwhelming winner.
Was Jeff Gordon bigger when they were alive? I don't know (or care, except in regards to this argument), but again that's not what this topic is about. There are dozens of American celebrities who are bigger in death, that's a different argument. The fact remains those decals are EVERYWHERE and in many ways are the very definition of what we're talking about with this list.
Chris, take us as a case in point, how many hardcore racing-only fans have heard of Ruth? All of them, of course, but very few of them have likely given any thought to what his number is. Many of us who are not racing fans likewise know almost nothing specific about Earnhardt, EXCEPT the number of his car.
Who's a bigger star? Jamie Lynn Spears or Humphrey Bogart? David Cassidy or Humphrey Bogart?
What?
Here's a similar analogy to the #3 debate: Carson Palmer went to USC, which most sports fans know because he won the Heisman trophy when he played there. John Wayne, the film star, also went to USC. Nobody's saying Carson Palmer is as famous as John Wayne, but how many people could tell you John Wayne went to USC?
In this analogy,
John Wayne = Babe Ruth
Carson Palmer = Dale Earnhardt
Going to USC = Jersey/Car #3
Who's Carson Palmer?
What if John Wayne had founded USC?
But how many people know he was the first? That's my point. This is a public opinion debate. Of the things everybody knows about Babe Ruth, his uniform number is not at the top of the list, as it is for Dale Earnhardt. Babe Ruth may be the most popular person to every visit the Grand Canyon. Does that mean they should erect a statue of him there?
Actually my vote is for Allen Iverson.
Post a Comment
<< Home