a
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Hank Aaron
Civil Rights Activist, Baseball Player / 1934 -
Considered one of the best baseball players of all time, Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth's home run record when he hit his 715th home run in 1974, before setting a new Major League Record with 755 home runs in the same year.
See full bio
| Watch video
(1934-)
Civil Rights Activist, Baseball Player
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Lou Albano
Film Actor, Television Actor, Athlete, Television Personality / 1933 - 2009
Lou Albano was a professional wrestler-turned-wrestling personality in the hugely popular World Wrestling Federation of the 1980s.
See full bio
(1933-2009)
Film Actor, Television Actor, Athlete, Television Personality
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Mel Allen
Radio Personality, Television Personality / 1913 - 1996
Mel Allen was a sportscaster and lead announcer for the New York Yankees baseball team from 1940 to 1964. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1978.
See full bio
(1913-1996)
Radio Personality, Television Personality
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Sparky Anderson
Coach / 1934 - 2010
Sparky Anderson was the manager of baseball’s Cincinnati Reds and Detroit Tigers, winning three World Series championships.
See full bio
(1934-2010)
Coach
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Luis Aparicio
Baseball Player / 1934 -
Luis Aparicio was a professional baseball player known for his speed, fielding and toughness.
See full bio
(1934-)
Baseball Player
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Alexis Arguello
Boxer / 1952 - 2009
Alexis Arguello was a Nicaraguan professional boxer who held several world championship titles. He became mayor of Managua in 2008.
See full bio
(1952-2009)
Boxer
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Henry Armstrong
Boxer / 1912 - 1988
Henry Armstrong was a U.S. pro boxer who held three championship titles simultaneously. He later became a minister and champion for at-risk youth.
See full bio
(1912-1988)
Boxer
b
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Ernie Banks
Baseball Player, Coach / 1931 -
Baseball player Ernie Banks is regarded as one of the finest power hitters in history and was the holder of most of the Chicago Cubs' offensive records.
See full bio
(1931-)
Baseball Player, Coach
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Charles Barkley
Basketball Player, Television Personality / 1963 -
Retired NBA player Charles Barkley was part of the 1992 U.S. Olympic "Dream Team" and was named one of the league's 50 greatest players in 1996.
See full bio
(1963-)
Basketball Player, Television Personality
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Elgin Baylor
Basketball Player, Coach, Business Leader / 1934 -
Hall of Fame NBA forward Elgin Baylor was a prolific scorer and rebounder for the Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers.
See full bio
(1934-)
Basketball Player, Coach, Business Leader
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Cool Papa Bell
Baseball Player / 1903 - 1991
Cool Papa Bell was a player in the Baseball Negro Leagues in the 1920s-1940s; reputedly the fastest baserunner of all time. He's in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
See full bio
(1903-1991)
Baseball Player
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Johnny Bench
Baseball Player / 1947 -
During U.S. baseball catcher Johnny Bench’s 17 seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, he led the team to four National League pennants and two World Series wins.
See full bio
(1947-)
Baseball Player
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Yogi Berra
Baseball Player, Coach / 1925 -
Yogi Berra is best known as a Yankees player who was widely considered one of the best catchers of all-time. Later in life, he managed the team, becoming only one of six managers to lead both National and American League teams to the World Series.
See full bio
(1925-)
Baseball Player, Coach
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Larry Bird
Basketball Player, Coach / 1956 -
Larry Bird is a retired professional basketball player known for his years with the Boston Celtics and his deceptively nimble skills on the court.
See full bio
(1956-)
Basketball Player, Coach
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Bonnie Blair
Athlete / 1964 -
Bonnie Blair is a world-record-holding speed skater and the most decorated woman in Winter Olympics history.
See full bio
(1964-)
Athlete
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Jim Brown
Activist, Film Actor, Football Player / 1936 -
Jim Brown is a record-holding, former NFL fullback who's been elected to his sport's Hall of Fame and who's also worked as a model and film actor.
See full bio
(1936-)
Activist, Film Actor, Football Player
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Bear Bryant
Coach / 1913 - 1983
During his 25 years coaching football for the University of Alabama, Bear Bryant recruited the first black player and set a record of 323 wins.
See full bio
(1913-1983)
Coach
c
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Roy Campanella
Baseball Player / 1921 - 1993
Roy Campanella was American baseball catcher who played for the Brooklyn Dodgers until his career was cut short as a result of an automobile accident.
See full bio
(1921-1993)
Baseball Player
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Rod Carew
Baseball Player, Coach / 1945 -
Rod Carew is a former Major League Baseball first baseman, second baseman and coach who played for the Minnesota Twins and the California Angels. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991.
See full bio
(1945-)
Baseball Player, Coach
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Wilt Chamberlain
Basketball Player / 1936 - 1999
Wilt Chamberlain was the first NBA player to score more than 30,000 cumulative points over his career, and the first and only player to score 100 points in a single game.
See full bio
(1936-1999)
Basketball Player
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Oscar Charleston
Baseball Player / 1896 - 1954
Oscar Charleston played in the Negro National League and later managed several teams. He’s considered one of the best players in the history of the league.
See full bio
(1896-1954)
Baseball Player
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Roger Clemens
Baseball Player / 1962 -
Former Major League Baseball player Roger Clemens, of the Red Sox, won 7 Cy Young Awards and recorded 4,672 strikeouts. He was indicted for perjury in 2010.
See full bio
(1962-)
Baseball Player
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Roberto Clemente
Baseball Player / 1934 - 1972
Outfielder Roberto Clemente broke National League batting records while playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1960s.
See full bio
(1934-1972)
Baseball Player
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Brian Clough
Coach, Soccer Player / 1935 - 2004
Brian Clough was a British professional soccer player and later coach, best know for his work with Derby County and Nottingham Forest.
See full bio
(1935-2004)
Coach, Soccer Player
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Ty Cobb
Baseball Player / 1886 - 1961
Ty Cobb was a Hall of Fame professional baseball player known for his toughness and for being a fierce competitor.
See full bio
(1886-1961)
Baseball Player
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Cynthia Cooper
Basketball Player, Coach / 1963 -
Cynthia Cooper is a former player in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), an Olympic champion and currently coaches the UNC Wilmington Seahawks.
See full bio
(1963-)
Basketball Player, Coach
d
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Ernie Davis
Football Player / 1939 - 1963
Ernie Davis became the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy before his life was tragically cut short by leukemia at the age of 23.
See full bio
(1939-1963)
Football Player
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Glenn Davis
Football Player / 1924 - 2005
Glenn Woodward Davis won the 1946 Heisman Trophy as a halfback at Army, setting single season records for average yards per carry, 11.5 in 1945.
See full bio
(1924-2005)
Football Player
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Joe DiMaggio
Baseball Player / 1914 - 1999
Joe DiMaggio was one of the best all-round baseball players in the history of the game, helping the NY Yankees to nine World Series titles.
See full bio
| Watch video
(1914-1999)
Baseball Player
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Larry Doby
Baseball Player, Coach / 1923 - 2003
Baseball player Larry Doby was the second African American player in the major leagues and first in the American League when he joined the Cleveland Indians.
See full bio
(1923-2003)
Baseball Player, Coach
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Fred Dryer
Television Actor, Football Player, Producer / 1946 -
NFL player Fred Dryer played for the New York Giants and the Los Angeles Rams before starting his acting career. He starred on the TV action series Hunter.
See full bio
(1946-)
Television Actor, Football Player, Producer
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Leo Durocher
Baseball Player, Coach / 1905 - 1991
Biography.com profiles baseball player and manager Leo Durocher, who played managed the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Giants, Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros.
See full bio
(1905-1991)
Baseball Player, Coach
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Roberto Durán
Boxer / 1951 -
Panamanian boxer Roberto Durán won world championships in four weight divisions, but is best remembered for his "no más" loss to Sugar Ray Leonard in 1980.
See full bio
(1951-)
Boxer
e
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Dale Earnhardt
Race Car Driver / 1951 - 2001
Dale Earnhardt was a champion stock car driver with NASCAR who won seven championships. He died in the final lap of the Daytona 500 in 2001
See full bio
(1951-2001)
Race Car Driver
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Mama Cass
Singer / 1941 - 1974
Cass "Mama Cass" Elliot was known for her heavyset figure, and was one of four members of the late 1960s pop sensation The Mamas and the Papas.
See full bio
(1941-1974)
Singer
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John Elway
Football Player, Entrepreneur / 1960 -
During his 14-year career as a quarterback with the Denver Broncos, athlete John Elway passed for more than 50,000 yards and 300 touchdowns.
See full bio
(1960-)
Football Player, Entrepreneur
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Chris Evert
Tennis Player / 1954 -
Chris Evert became the youngest tennis player to reach the semifinals of the U.S. championship in 1971. She reigned for 7 years as the #1 player in the world.
See full bio
(1954-)
Tennis Player
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Barney Ewell
Track and Field Athlete / 1918 - 1996
Barney Ewell was one of the leading sprinters of the 1940s, and won three medals at the 1948 Olympics.
See full bio
(1918-1996)
Track and Field Athlete
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Ezzard Charles
Boxer / 1921 - 1975
Ezzard Charles was American world heavyweight boxing champion from 1950, when he outpointed Joe Louis to 1951, when he was knocked out by Jersey Joe Walcott.
See full bio
(1921-1975)
Boxer
f
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Nick Faldo
Golfer / 1957 -
British golfer Nick Faldo won three Masters tournaments and three British Opens before becoming a television golf analyst.
See full bio
(1957-)
Golfer
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Alex Ferguson
Coach, Soccer Player / 1941 -
Alex Ferguson is a Scottish soccer player known for his highly successful, long-term management of the Manchester United league.
See full bio
(1941-)
Coach, Soccer Player
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George Foreman
Boxer, Entrepreneur, Minister / 1949 -
George Foreman is a retired American boxer who twice won boxing's heavyweight championship. After retiring, he became a popular pitchman.
See full bio
| Watch video
(1949-)
Boxer, Entrepreneur, Minister
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Rube Foster
Baseball Player / 1879 - 1930
Rube Foster was a baseball player and manager who organized the Negro National League, the first long-lasting professional league for African American players.
See full bio
(1879-1930)
Baseball Player
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Joe Frazier
Boxer / 1944 - 2011
Joe Frazier was the world heavyweight boxing champion from February 1970 until January 1973 and fought in the famous "Thrilla in Manila" in 1975.
See full bio
(1944-2011)
Boxer
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Walt Frazier
Basketball Player / 1945 -
Walt Frazier was a basketball player who was one of the finest professional guards in the late 1960s and early '70s.
See full bio
(1945-)
Basketball Player
g
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Lou Gehrig
Baseball Player / 1903 - 1941
Hall of Fame first baseman Lou Gehrig played for the New York Yankees in the 1920s and 1930s, setting the mark for consecutive games played. He died of ALS in 1941.
See full bio
(1903-1941)
Baseball Player
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Althea Gibson
Golfer, Tennis Player / 1927 - 2003
Tennis star Althea Gibson was the first African American to play at Wimbledon. She also broke racial barriers in professional golf.
See full bio
| Watch video
(1927-2003)
Golfer, Tennis Player
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Frank Gifford
Football Player, Television Personality / 1930 -
Football player Frank Gifford played receiver and running back for the New York Giants. He made a second career out of sports broadcasting on TV and radio.
See full bio
(1930-)
Football Player, Television Personality
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Juan Gonzalez
Baseball Player / 1969 -
Baseball player Juan Gonzalez, considered by some to be the best Puerto Rican player since Roberto Clemente, played for the Rangers, Tigers, Royals and Indians.
See full bio
(1969-)
Baseball Player
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Red Grange
Football Player, Radio Personality / 1903 - 1991
Red Grange was an American football player best known for his frequent touchdowns, earning him the nickname "the Galloping Ghost."
See full bio
(1903-1991)
Football Player, Radio Personality
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Janet Guthrie
Race Car Driver / 1938 -
Janet Guthrie was the first female racecar driver to compete in a NASCAR Winston Cup stock car race, the Indianapolis 500 and Daytona 500.
See full bio
(1938-)
Race Car Driver
h
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Marvin Hagler
Boxer / 1954 -
Middleweight boxing champion Marvin Hagler was one of the greatest fighters of the 1970s and 1980s, holding the middleweight title for seven years.
See full bio
(1954-)
Boxer
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Dorothy Hamill
Ice Skater / 1956 -
Dorothy Hamill is a gold medal-winning Olympic figure skater known for her moves on the rink as well as her signature bobbed haircut.
See full bio
(1956-)
Ice Skater
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Scott Hamilton
Ice Skater, Television Personality / 1958 -
Scott Hamilton is a U.S. Gold Medal Olympiad also known for his sports commentary and raising cancer awareness.
See full bio
| Watch video
(1958-)
Ice Skater, Television Personality
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Bob Hayes
Football Player, Track and Field Athlete / 1942 - 2002
Bob Hayes was a sprinter and NFL player who was remarkably powerful, with as much raw speed as any athlete in history.
See full bio
(1942-2002)
Football Player, Track and Field Athlete
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Hulk Hogan
Animal Rights Activist, Athlete, Reality Television Star / 1953 -
Hulk Hogan was one of the most beloved figures in the World Wrestling Federation in the 1980s, known for his flamboyance and the frenzy of his fans—Hulkamania.
See full bio
(1953-)
Animal Rights Activist, Athlete, Reality Television Star
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Catfish Hunter
Baseball Player / 1946 - 1999
Baseball pitcher Catfish Hunter played for the Oakland A’s and the New York Yankees. He joint the Hall of Fame in 1987.
See full bio
(1946-1999)
Baseball Player
j
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Reggie Jackson
Film Actor, Baseball Player / 1946 -
Reggie Jackson was a professional baseball player best known for his great World Series status, for which he earned the nickname "Mr. October."
See full bio
(1946-)
Film Actor, Baseball Player
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Fergie Jenkins
Baseball Player
Canadian-born professional baseball player Fergie Jenkins was one of the premier pitchers in the game in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
See full bio
Baseball Player
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Magic Johnson
Basketball Player, Entrepreneur / 1959 -
For 12 years, Earvin "Magic" Johnson dominated the court as one of America's best basketball players. In 1991, he announced that he had the AIDS virus.
See full bio
| Watch video
(1959-)
Basketball Player, Entrepreneur
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Michael Johnson
Track and Field Athlete / 1967 -
Michael Johnson is an Olympic champion in track and field. He won numerous gold medals and broke world records in the 1990s.
See full bio
(1967-)
Track and Field Athlete
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David "Deacon" Jones
Football Player / 1938 - 2013
American football Hall of Famer David "Deacon" Jones led the Los Angeles Rams' "Fearsome Foursome" defensive line in the 1960s.
See full bio
(1938-2013)
Football Player
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Michael Jordan
Basketball Player / 1963 -
Michael Jordan is a former American basketball player who led the Bulls to six national championships and earned the NBA Most Valuable Player Award five times.
See full bio
| Watch video
(1963-)
Basketball Player
k
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Duke Kahanamoku
Professional Swimmer / 1890 - 1968
Surfing icon Duke Kahanamoku (1890–1968) was an Olympic swimmer, film actor, and sheriff of Honolulu, Hawaii.
See full bio
(1890-1968)
Professional Swimmer
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Karl Malone
Basketball Player / 1963 -
American basketball player Karl Malone broke the National Basketball Association (NBA) career record for free throws attempted and made.
See full bio
(1963-)
Basketball Player
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Billie Jean King
Tennis Player / 1943 -
Billie Jean King is best known for her long and successful tennis career.
See full bio
(1943-)
Tennis Player
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Sandy Koufax
Baseball Player / 1935 -
Jewish-American baseball pitcher Sandy Koufax starred for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers before elbow arthritis forced an early retirement.
See full bio
| Watch video
(1935-)
Baseball Player
l
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René Lacoste
Tennis Player, Business Leader, Fashion Designer / 1904 - 1996
Member of the legendary Four Musketeers of French tennis, Renee Lacoste also invented the metal tennis racket and was founder of the Lacoste line of sportswear.
See full bio
(1904-1996)
Tennis Player, Business Leader, Fashion Designer
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Curly Lambeau
Coach, Football Player / 1898 - 1965
American Football Hall of Famer Curly Lambeau founded the Green Bay Packers and coached the team to six NFL championships.
See full bio
(1898-1965)
Coach, Football Player
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Jake LaMotta
Boxer / 1921 -
Jake LaMotta is an American former world middleweight champion boxer. He was famously portrayed by Robert De Niro in the film Raging Bull.
See full bio
(1921-)
Boxer
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Tom Landry
Coach / 1924 - 2000
Pro Football Hall of Famer Tom Landry played gridiron football for the New York Giants and was the first ever head coach of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys.
See full bio
(1924-2000)
Coach
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Tommy Lasorda
Baseball Player, Coach / 1927 -
Tommy Lasorda is an American baseball manager best known for successfully managing the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1977 to 1996.
See full bio
(1927-)
Baseball Player, Coach
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Bob Lemon
Baseball Player, Coach / 1920 - 2000
Bob Lemon was an All Star Major League Baseball pitcher who had his heyday in the 1940s and 1950s.
See full bio
(1920-2000)
Baseball Player, Coach
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Suzanne Lenglen
Tennis Player / 1899 - 1938
Suzanne Lenglen was a French tennis player who won 31 championship titles between 1914 and 1926. She is largely credited as the first female tennis star.
See full bio
(1899-1938)
Tennis Player
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Sugar Ray Leonard
Boxer / 1956 -
Sugar Ray Leonard was a champion Olympic and professional welterweight boxer. He retired from the sport in 1997 and was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame.
See full bio
| Watch video
(1956-)
Boxer
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Sonny Liston
Boxer / 1932 - 1970
Sonny Liston was introduced to boxing while serving time in a Missouri State penitentiary. He became a professional fighter in 1953.
See full bio
(1932-1970)
Boxer
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Joe Louis
Boxer / 1914 - 1981
The world heavyweight boxing champion from June 22, 1937, until March 1, 1949, Joe Louis held the title longer than anyone else in history.
See full bio
| Watch video
(1914-1981)
Boxer
m
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Moses Malone
Basketball Player / 1955 -
A former ABA star and three-time NBA Most Valuable Player, Hall of Fame center Moses Malone was the first basketball player to skip college and go pro.
See full bio
(1955-)
Basketball Player
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Mickey Mantle
Baseball Player / 1931 - 1995
Mickey Mantle played for the New York Yankees from 1951 to 1968, and was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.
See full bio
(1931-1995)
Baseball Player
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Alice Marble
Tennis Player / 1913 - 1990
Alice Marble was a women's tennis champion, winner of 12 U.S. Open and 5 Wimbledon titles. She also served as U.S spy in Switzerland during WWII.
See full bio
(1913-1990)
Tennis Player
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Rocky Marciano
Boxer / 1923 - 1969
American professional boxer and world heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano beat Jersey Joe Walcott for the title and won an unrivaled 49 straight fights.
See full bio
(1923-1969)
Boxer
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Juan Antonio Marichal
Baseball Player / 1937 -
Professional baseball player Juan Antonio Marichal the first Latin American to pitch a no-hitter (on June 15, 1963) in the major leagues.
See full bio
(1937-)
Baseball Player
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Roger Maris
Athlete / 1934 - 1985
American baseball player Roger Maris hit 61 home runs in 1961 to break the single-season record held by the legendary Babe Ruth.
See full bio
| Watch video
(1934-1985)
Athlete
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Willie Mays
Baseball Player / 1931 -
Willie Mays played professional baseball for the Giants and the Mets. He was one of the best batters and fielders at the time.
See full bio
(1931-)
Baseball Player
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John McEnroe
Tennis Player / 1959 -
John McEnroe is a world champion tennis player famous for his temperamental outbursts. He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1999.
See full bio
(1959-)
Tennis Player
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Jim McKay
Television Personality / 1921 - 2008
Jim McKay is one of the most famous sportscasters in the history of television. He hosted ABC's Wide World of Sports and was a frequent Olympic commentator.
See full bio
(1921-2008)
Television Personality
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Joe Montana
Football Player / 1956 -
Professional football player Joe Montana lead the 49ers to victories in four Super Bowls during the 1980s, including consecutive wins in 1989 and 1990.
See full bio
(1956-)
Football Player
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Helen Wills Moody
Coach, Tennis Player / 1905 - 1998
Tennis player Helen Wills Moody was the first female athlete to become an international star, winning 31 Grand Slam titles during her career.
See full bio
(1905-1998)
Coach, Tennis Player
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Joe Morgan
Baseball Player / 1943 -
Baseball player Joe Morgan won consecutive National League MVP awards 1975–1976, when he led the Cincinnati Reds to back-to-back World Series championships.
See full bio
(1943-)
Baseball Player
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Edwin Moses
Track and Field Athlete / 1955 -
Olympic athlete Edwin Moses was unbeaten in the 400-meter hurdles from 1977 to 1987.
See full bio
(1955-)
Track and Field Athlete
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Eddie Murray
Baseball Player / 1956 -
Baseball player Eddie Murray played 12 seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, earning the nickname "Steady Eddie" for his solid batting average.
See full bio
(1956-)
Baseball Player
n
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James A. Naismith
Coach, Inventor / 1861 - 1939
James Naismith invented tha game of basketball in 1891.
See full bio
(1861-1939)
Coach, Inventor
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Joe Namath
Football Player / 1943 -
Joe Namath, nicknamed "Broadway Joe”, was a U.S. football quarterback who in his third season with the New York Jets threw for a record 4,007 yards.
See full bio
(1943-)
Football Player
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Martina Navratilova
Tennis Player / 1956 -
Czech tennis star Martina Navratilova was one of the world's top tennis players in the 1970s and '80s.
See full bio
| Watch video
(1956-)
Tennis Player
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Jack Nicklaus
Golfer / 1940 -
Professional golfer Jack Nicklaus, nicknamed "the Golden Bear," won the U.S. Open four times and the Professional Golfers Association championship five times.
See full bio
(1940-)
Golfer
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Greg Norman
Golfer / 1955 -
Despite his successes, Australian golfer Greg Norman earned a reputation for his inability to sustain leads in several major tournaments.
See full bio
(1955-)
Golfer
o
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Walter O'Malley
Business Leader / 1903 - 1979
Walter O'Malley was the influential president of the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers for nearly 30 years.
See full bio
(1903-1979)
Business Leader
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Hakeem Olajuwon
Basketball Player / 1963 -
Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon led the Houston Rockets to back-to-back NBA championships during the peak of his magnificent 18-year professional career.
See full bio
(1963-)
Basketball Player
p
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Alan Page
Football Player, Track and Field Athlete, Lawyer / 1945 -
American football player Alan Page became the first defensive player to win the Most Valuable Player award of the National Football League (NFL) in 1971.
See full bio
(1945-)
Football Player, Track and Field Athlete, Lawyer
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Satchel Paige
Baseball Player / 1906 - 1982
Legendary pitcher Satchel Paige became the oldest player to join Major League baseball, with a career that spanned 40 years.
See full bio
(1906-1982)
Baseball Player