Not every player to wear the #7 has found success with the club, but it has been donned by icons that have had a lasting impact on the beautiful game. 23 Other. Paralympic athletes are a source of hope and optimism for many people. His legacy will live on in college basketball and the hearts of his students forever. He was a two-time MVP, an . The league quirky tweaks of NFL rules, including a mad dash to midfield to gain possession of the ball, rather than a kickoff. It was Mike Bratz, a point guard who played 15 games in the 1982-83 season). Poor preparation, missing an important detail, or completely offend a certain segment of the audience. Professional sports seems to be the perfect breeding ground for bizarre and hilarious nicknames for athletes. In his playing days, Jerome was a six-time Pro Bowl selection and a Super Bowl Champion with the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XL. Standing just 5'10" tall, Johnson has enough attitude packed inside his small frame for the rest of us. Jim Browns career in the National Football League only lasted nine seasons, but his impact on the game has lasted through history. Coolest Nicknames From Non-Traditional Sports. Virat Kohli, nicknamed Chikoo, is a famous Indian international cricketer who is the present captain of the India national team.With a top record on his plate, he is regarded as one of the best batsmen in the world. If a player did anything to attract attention to themselves, and not the team, he would be benched. But who makes it into Australia-only top 10? Birth Country: United States. Robinson was a six-time All-Star, World Series Champion, and the 1949 National League MVP. The Neon legend was born in Tallahassee, where Sanders was a two-time consensus All-America, and a Jim Thorpe . Gervin would go on to be a nine-time NBA All-Star and be elected to the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame. He is perhaps the best player in Major League Baseball history that is yet to enter the Hall of Fame, having been banned for life for lying about his involvement with betting on baseball. The name stuck throughout Rich Gossage's playing days, and he is affectionately known by the moniker to this day. Over 75 years after Ruth's professional baseball career ended, he is still regarded as the best baseball player to ever live. Tiger Woods is a professional golfer and tied for first in PGA Tour wins, ranks second in men's major championships, and holds multiple golf records. No. "The Human Highlight Film" has got to be one of the coolest nicknames in sport and it was perfect for Dominique Wilkins. . Folklore legend has it Hardaway's nickname came as a result of his grandmother's southern accent when calling him "Pretty," thus coming out as "Penny.". On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The former Super Bowl champion New York Giant gained the nickname due to his large stature and semi-rare left-handedness. Seriously, the man eclipsed Rosie O'Donnell. Douglas, standing at 5' 2", also won . "The Mailman always delivers" was the phrase that followed Malone from his college days until the end of his career and beyond. Steelers commentator Myron Cope is responsible for Bettis' legacy as "The Bus," noting a Notre Dame teammates' adjective when calling Bettis "Bussy.". Vande Velde's View: My ability to discern "Pioneers of American Motorcycle Racing, Chapter 5", "NSMB.e.MAGAZINE Freeride, Extreme and North Shore style Mountain Biking", "The King of BMX. Chuck Klien (Philadelphia Phillies) 4. The school's mascot is the Owl and the obvious lack of a vowel letter in his last name was the second half of a legendary nickname. However, he is also known as "Wild Thing" for his unusual delivery to the plate. He has worn the iconic #7 for Manchester United as well as the Portuguese National Team and his current club Real Madrid. In many other sports, numbers of club legends are retired from use and placed in the rafters to be revered by generations of fans. This moniker has nothing to do with Smith on a personal level, other than his ability to make spectacular plays and do back flips off the turf. He pitched parts of 11 seasons with theMinnesota Twins(1990,1993),Florida Marlins(1995),Chicago Cubs(1995) andBoston Red Sox(1996-2002). Like English . Williams is perhaps best known for giving up the game-and-World Series-winning home run to Joe Carter and the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 6 of the 1993 World Series. 2 Deion Sanders, CB, Florida State (1985-88) Focus on Sport/Getty Images. The legendary Boston Red Sox outfielder had many nicknames, such as:"The Kid","Teddy Ballgame," and"The Thumper.". A 7'1" tree with more nicknames than points per game (4.0 career average), Joel Przybilla is a force to be reckoned with; if mostly in the Name Hall of Fame. Fred Stabley Jr. of theLansing State Journal, gave him themoniker, despite protest from Johnson's mother, a devout Christian, who claimed it was sacrilegious. Just the mere mention of "The Great One" in reference to hockey brings memories of nearly 900 goals and a memorable trade that landed the hockey star in Los Angeles. Rodman embraced the nickname and fed off the hype. In modern sports, athletes are valuable assets that are the centerpiece of advertising campaigns and the faces of their organizations. As of 1999 . He collided with teammate Tim Raines, and other teammates shouted, "You're a big unit.". When he was not allowed to play with his friends on the peewee team due to his size, he was told he must play with older kids. Legendary NFL players with number 18 jerseys include Peyton Manning, Charlie Joiner, and Emmitt Thomas, all Hall of Fame-level players whose career . Erving electrified crowds with his dunking and leaping abilities, and the nickname seemed divine and easily matched his personality and persona. Triskaidekaphobic football fans dreaded the Sundays when Marino and the Miami Dolphins rolled into town, because it usually meant their defense was in for a long day. Baseball stars have had success with the number as well with Don Mattingly, Ryne Sandberg, and Zach Greinke thriving with the number 23 in . Any way you slice it, the man could hit, and the "Splendid Splinter" seems to be the most creative nickname ever concocted for the lefty. "Three Fingers" Brown was able to throw many pitches that could not be achieved by a man with a full hand. Surprisingly, no one calls him "Kazaam," but that could be because they are afraid of being sit on by a 7'1", 325 lb man. George Best, Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona, David Beckham, and Cristiano Ronaldo have all sported the #7 during their successful exploits with the club. One of the greatest athletes the United Kingdom has ever produced, Mo is a world famous distance runner. Grange was drafted by, and finished his career with, the Chicago Bears. The countdown has begun for when the New York Yankees will retire the #2 of their recently retired shortstop, Derek Jeter. A sporty name from a Paralympic athlete can remind children to never give up. https://goo.gl/tX6CcK-~-~~-~~. A six-time NBA All-Star broke into the league in 1989 with the Seattle SuperSonics and got his nickname, according to Wikipedia.org: "after Sonics announcerKevin Calabrosaw a poster with the name and found it fitting to add to his radio broadcasts.". Namath's nickname "Broadway Joe" was given him bySherman Plunkett, a Jets teammate. Named for his cool demeanor on a basketball court, Gervin played in both the ABA and the NBA, and it has been said at his ABA tryout in Virginia, he made 22-of-25 three-point attempts. The running back/receiver was a three-time Pro Bowl selection and named to the NFL 1950s All-Decade Team. According to an interview on theDan Patrickradio showon10/22/08, the number change had nothing to do with the filmMajor League. His stellar play as a defensive lineman, along with his faith, helped him earn his nickname as "The Minister of Defense.". The two sport star wore #21 on both the football field and baseball diamond, and holds the honor of being the only athlete to hit a home run and score a touchdown in the same week. Jerry Rice is unquestionably the greatest wide receiver in the history of the NFL. 6 also crosses over to baseball. He then cemented his status as a hockey legend when he secured ownership of the Penguins and stopped them from moving to Kansas City. Muhammad Ali. Johnson played for the Charlotte Hornets at the height of their popularity in the mid-'90s, and earned the nickname "Grandmama" after shooting a commercial for Converse. James has worn different numbers throughout his career but is probably tied together most with the number 23. The lefty was also a six-time Stanley Cup Champion and winner of multiple awards. The Dodgers won theWorld Series in 1955and in1959. His moniker was also his calling card, but these days, it's just his his curse. 2 2. The long red locks flowing from his helmet while he seems impenetrable by gravity seems to make this nickname non-inventive, but still a perfect fit. 2 pick in the draft", "Philadelphia Eagles Media Guide bio 2013", "Pitt's 'Shady' McCoy shines in South Bend spotlight", "Get to Know Gary Player, Golf's Legendary Black Knight", "Big Phil feeling huge pressure at Hazeltine", "Our Exclusive Ranking: 75 Best Rivalries in Golf (#11-20)", "Gulf Times Qatar's top-selling English daily newspaper Sport", "Final Round: Rookie Reavie closes like seasoned veteran", "How Golfer Retief Goosen Played His Way Into the Hall of Fame", "Beethoven breezes for Holy Bull | Kentucky Derby 135", "Lester Piggott to open New Wiltshire Stand at Salisbury", http://www.cbc.ca/archives/categories/sports/hockey/the-legendary-9-maurice-rocket-richard/a-heros-funeral.html, "Mogilny, Reichel, Roberts combo on fire", "Ovechkin, Caps look to build off Game 5 momentum against Flyers", "Kovalchuk, Avery Fuel Rivalry; Did Kovy Go Too Far? The tall glass of water got his famous alias from multiple sources: According to Paige, his nickname originated from childhood work toting bags at the train station. A list of the greatest athletes to wear the number 22 would be incomplete without one of the NHL's most prolific scorers of the late 1970s/1980s. Over the course of his entire sixteen season NFL career, John Elway became regarded as one of the greatest quarterbacks in history. Die-hard Seattle Mariners fans remember the smooth delivery and fantastic catch phrases of broadcaster Dave Niehaus and the way he would refer to Johnson as "The Big Unit" instead of his actual name for the entire duration of the tall lefty's playing days in Seattle. There are many different stories explaining the origin of the "Say Hey" nickname, but the most common descriptions is as follows: When Mays was coming up in the minor leagues, he moved so frequently through the ranks he didn't know very many of his teammates names. "Hammerin' Hank" played 23 seasons and recorded 755 career home runs and 3,771 hits. Johnson once said toDave Jacobs, "That kid you got is sweet as sugar," and the nickname stuck. Boston's prodigal son, Ortiz has become an icon in Bean Town for his clutch hitting and lovable personality. 105 people from all around the world were asked to name who they thought would be the 'most famous athlete of all time'. Wagner was a first-ballot Hall of Fame inductee in 1936, gaining 95.13 percent of the vote. What was your favorite jersey number that numerous legends wore? Let's start with the two most simple nicknames: Mike and MJ. BATS THAT THEY HAVE WIELDED E. MAYNE'S PRICELESS COLLECTION The Stradivarius to Kreisler . After nearly 14 seasons with the Seattle SuperSonics, the team traded him to the Bucks for the remainder of the 2003 season. The mobile thrower has nearly 30,000 passing and 4,000 rushing yards to his name. The sports television outlet have come up with a formula that combines endorsements with social media following and the amount of intern His accomplishments on the baseball diamond are virtually unparalleled over the course of a century of baseball history. Glen Davis was a big kid. Full list of Olympic athletes, including Simone Biles, Naomi Osaka and Michael Phelps. The thumb is not called a "finger," and therefore doesn't count. Elway possessed an uncanny ability to lead his teams to victory when they trailed late in games. The #7 shirt at Liverpool has a long and storied history that has seen some of the clubs best players wear the number. As time passes, these athletes will be remembered for the accomplishments achieved while wearing their preferred numbers. HIGHLAND PARK, IL - OCTOBER 21: A gate with the number 23 controls access to the home of basketball legend Michael Jordan on October 21, 2013 in Highland Park, Illinois. Brown played . 99 (he originally wore the No. While most think the successful Alabama Crimson Tide coach was named "Bear" for his personality, it was actually given to him as a child. Either way, the nickname is very fitting of one of the most dominant strike-out pitchers the game has ever seen. Hall of Fame linebacker got the nickname Mad Stork for his gangly frame (6-7, 220-pounds). Load," and "Round Mound of Touchdown," in reference to one of Charles Barkley's many monikers. Along with Aaron's power, his longevity also is worth noting. There are those names that just seemsoright. That brings his total annual income to roughly $80 million. No. Also called "The Boilermaker," Jeffries was a world heavyweight boxing champion just before the turn of the 20th century. No. Nicklaus earned the nickname at an early age because of his shock of blond hair and stout build. The iconic hitter earned the nickname "The Flying Dutchman" in his playing days for his speed and nationality. Venus and Serena Williams. At the height of his career, Jordan could take off from the free-throw line and dunk the basketball. His tall and skinny build makes him look like a satchel tree. Wilkins earned his alias with gravity-defying dunks and prolific scoring. In less than a decade, both MLB catchers will be Hall of Fame members. 79 - Rosey Brown. Maravich earned his nickname in high school, from his habit of shooting the ball from his hip, as if firing a revolver. Brown has inspired generations of running backs to wear #32 in his honor including Marcus Allen and OJ Simpson. Was the famous number 23 of the Chicago Bulls? An eight-time Pro Bowl . Jones owes his alias to his family, who constantly told him he was "A chip-off-the-old-block," in reference to his father. Johnson was elected to theNBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1996, is a five-time NBA Champion with the Los Angeles Lakers, a three-time MVP and a 12-time All-Star. The World Golf Hall of Fame member is a legend in the game, and his "Golden Bear" moniker has led to many endorsements and products that "bear" his name. Hayes earned many nicknames during his playing days, such as "The Judge" and his self-proclaimed "Jedi" alias for his pre-Super Bowl XVIII quotes stating he was "The only true Jedi in the NFL" (Star Wars was immensely popular in the late '70s and early '80s). 2. The Team clue is for the team that that athlete is most notable for while wearing the #23, not their current teams. Clyde Drexler. April Holmes has one gold medal and two bronze . Jordan is widely considered to be the greatest basketball player of all-time, with six NBA titles, five MVP awards, and fourteen All-Star Game appearances. Comment below!JOIN THE TOTALPROSPORTS TEAM and SUBSCRIBE! Clayton Kershaw. David Ortiz has his regular season heroics, but Jeter owns October. He was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987, with 76.27 percent of the vote, just over the necessary 75 percent to qualify. 3 Kids seem to believe that stardom carries with it certain "perks," such as that famous athletes get special treatment if they break the law (34%; 39% of teens and 25% of 10-12 year olds) and are Hirsch made his NFL debut for the Chicago Rockets before finishing his career with the Los Angeles Rams. the bat to Trumper. The big man also played for the USA Basketball team, was a two-time NBA Champion, won the NBA MVP in 1995 and was a 10-time NBA All-Star. "Babe" Ruth: "The Great Bambino/The Sultan of Swat". His nickname is more a basic description of the entity he embodies than a catchy alter-ego. The #7 shirt at Manchester United has been worn by several of the greatest players of all time. His lawyer should have been named "The electric no possibility of victory but still attempting attorney.". Bryant would grow up to be one of the most prominent figures in college sports and one of the most successful coaches in college football history, winning six national titles. Possibly one of the most well-known athletes of all-time, George Herman Ruth could have had his nickname "Babe" included with Tiger Woods, Magic Johnson, and Boomer Esiason, but it was just one of many for the 22 year pitcher turned outfielder. Indiana Pacers ( 19) New York Knicks ( 19) Milwaukee Bucks ( 22, 23) Don May. With a common name like Ed Jones, inserting "Too Tall" seemed like an easy way to separate the man and make him an individual. Here are the nicknames of some of the other Olympians. However, steroids will likely only be a small blip on his write-up when his playing days are over, and it seems America will remember him for his philanthropy and for coming through in the clutch. Jim Umbricht (Houston Astros) 10. Truly the champion of the nickname, Ruth is also the symbol of achievement in our nation's greatest past-time. Malone was known for his consistency and durability and for teaming up with a sprightly white guy in short shorts all those years as a member of the Utah Jazz. Ryan recorded 5,714 strikeouts, 324 wins and a TKO of Robin Ventura in his 27-year career. 5. If the Cuban pitcher ever wanted to sue the founder of Pilates, he may have a solid case. Stan "The Man" Musial wore the number during his time with the St. Louis Cardinals. "Sugar" Ray Leonard owes his legendary moniker-alias toSarge Johnson, assistant coach of the U.S. Olympic Boxing Team. Penny has attributed his successes in life to his grandma, who raised him up as a child while his mother was away working. However, his nickname doesn't rank very highly on a list of originality and creativity. It has spawned other nicknames involving athletes with the last name "Rodriguez," including the current record holder for most saves in a season, Frankie "K-Rod" Rodriguez. Every year, LeBron James earns around $25 million in salary from the Cleveland Cavaliers and roughly $55 million from endorsements. McGriff's alias is just one of the many nickname brainchild ideas of ESPN analyst Chris Berman, who noticed the slugger's name resembled that of the National Crime Prevention Council mascot "McGruff.". The 1998 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse reported that cocaine was used by 3.8 million Americans. Hunter is an eight-time All-Star and five-time World Series Champion. Birth date: September 12, 1913. the sword to D'Artagnan . There are so many famous AKAs in the world of sports, and many deserve their place at the top of the heap. One look at the high-flying X-Games star, and it's easy to see why he is called "The Flying Tomato.". The nickname may not be specific to the Yankees shortstop, but he personifies the alliterative nickname with consistent big hits when needed most. His image has been slightly tarnished after he admitted to taking performance-enhancing drugs after many published media reports. Steve Nash - Jackson is No. The ever-flamboyant star has also had his run-ins with the law but will go down as a tremendous athlete with a killer nickname. This nickname isn't creative at all, but is so synonymous with the Yankees third baseman it deserves a mention on the countdown. Lists of nicknames - nickname list articles on Wikipedia Sanders played professional baseball with theNew York Yankees(19891990),Atlanta Braves(19911994),Cincinnati Reds(19941995, 1997, 2001) andSan Francisco Giants(1995). The world's 50 highest-paid athletes collected an astounding $2.97 billion before taxes and agents' fees over the last 12 months, smashing last year's record total by 8%more than $200 . Shaquille O'Neal, a Hall of Famer and all-time great, wore Nos. Wooden disapproved so mightily of individual achievement, he wouldn't even allow his players to dunk the ball. Often considered the greatest boxer, Ali made a name for himself with his quick footwork, skills, and trash-talking persona. Calvin "Megatron" Johnson. The nickname seems to describe his abilities perfectly, and Jordan and the moniker are now inseparable. He won both the 5,000 and 10,000 meters in the 2012 London Olympics. The nickname literally translated means "The Duke," but his moniker is in reference to a tropical hurricane, which he is said to have brought on his opponents while pitching on the mound. When the Reading Red Roses took the field in 1907, they changed sports history forever. 32 and 34 for the first 17 of his 19 NBA seasons, before adopting No. Our most famous number in sports is the former NBA player Michael Jordan's number 23. While attending the University of Michigan, Traylor earned his nickname for his tremendous size, dominance in the paint, and the way "Tractor" just seemed to flow with his last name. Either way, the nickname stuck, as did the movie. From popular baby names to more rare ones, choosing a name from this list is a great choice for sporty girls. After becoming a standout at Arizona State University, Jake Plummer was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals and would go on to play for the Denver Broncos. The Wu-Tang Clan references are as . Eighty-eight years ago this week, the New York Yankees became the first professional sports team to permanently wear numbers on their uniforms. Author: SI Staff. Players carefully cultivate their public images in order to maximize their value on and off the field of play. Gabby Douglas (Gymnastics)- Flying Squirrel. "The Great Bambino," "The Sultan of Swat," "The Colossus of Clout," and simply "The Babe," are all references to baseball's greatest legend. In the News: Derek Carr, Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, Brock Purdy, Jimmy Garoppolo, Tom Brady. 6 - Bill Russell, with special mention to Stan "the Man" Musial and Julius Erving, basketball's "Dr. J.". Perry was described as "A man in a white jersey resembling a refrigerator coming through the offensive line." His #13 is retired by both the Pittsburgh Panthers and the Miami Dolphins, and he is the greatest quarterback to ever wear the number. Newton was the prime example of how munchies can have devastating effects on your weight and physical appearance. When he recorded atriple-doubleof 36points, 18reboundsand 16assists. He led the league in runs scored, home runs and RBI in separate seasons. At every turn, Ronaldo has succeeded and proved to be the best. Really? 2 - Secretariat. Fracisco Cordova (Pittsburg Pirates) 8. Rose took the nickname seriously and spent his career as a hard-nosed ball player, known for legging out extra-base hits and splendid play in the field. 10 Tiger Woods Image Credit- PGA Tour. DiMaggio was given the nickname "The Yankee Clipper" by Yankees announcer Arch McDonald in 1939, when he likened DiMaggio's speed and range in the field to the then-new Pan American airliner. 3 He was known as the 'Splendid Splinter' and is considered one of baseball's greatest hitters. He is a nine-time NBA All-Star, was the NBA scoring champion in 1986 and won two dunk contests (1985, 1990). Wayne Gretzky is widely considered the best hockey player ever to play the game, in the same conversations with Gordie Howe and Brett Hull. Rod "He Hate Me" Smart was the shining star of the Vince McMahon's XFL, which lasted all of one season. The nickname "Spider" is a reference to Salley's fear of arachnids, which, according to him, was conquered during his time on the 2009 reality television showI'm a CelebrityGet Me out of Here! Ivan Rodriguez also got his moniker for the same reason. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his nine NFL seasons, led the league in rushing eight times, and earned four MVP awards. For the fourth year running, Cristiano Ronaldo took the crown as the world's most famous sporting icon in ESPN's World Fame 100. Kirilenko's nickname is fairly obvious but still cool because it's the same as the name of a firearm. Moses Malone . He earned the moniker "The Little General" for his leadership abilities on the court and also his fiery, competitive nature as a player. Manager Alfred Lawson chose to put numbers on his teams jerseys in order for fans to easily identify each of th. Athletes have been blessed with some inventive and fun nicknames. Wilkins played 11 seasons of NBA basketball with the Atlanta Hawks and was a nine-time NBA All-Star. "Apparently, White Sox broadcaster Ken Harrelson tagged Thomas with the nickname "Big Hurt" because that's exactly what he does to opposing pitchers. How do you rank the best nicknames of all time? Sometimes, the new moniker comes from an inside joke with . Chamberlain is still holds the NBA record for points scored in a single game, and the paper he is holding is the number of points he dropped on the New York Knicks in 1962 as a member of the Philadelphia Warriors. He won two NBA titles with the Houston Rockets and was the NBA MVP in 1994, also with the Rockets. No list of the best athletes is complete without "The Greatest" Muhammad Ali. Robinson broke Major Leagues Baseball color barrier, becoming the first black man to play in the league since the 1880s. Whether they describe physical appearance, a catch phrase, or an extreme and unique ability, these nicknames follow their host, even beyond the grave. The NBA big man grew up in the small community ofGans, Okla., and attended Oklahoma State University. Quiz Source The big man spent his best NBA days with the Los Angeles Lakers and the Seattle SuperSonics, but he was also on the 1985 NBA All-Rookie First Team roster with the Dallas Mavericks. Whatever you want to call him, McGriff had a solid career in MLB, playing for seven teams and recording three Silver Sluggers, five All-Star appearances and a 1995 World Series Championship with the Atlanta Braves. Jackson was also a prolific hitter, and many historians feel he could have broken several records had he not been banned from baseball after the 1920 season. The defensive back has become known for two things: His "bump-and-run" coverage on receivers that earned him the nickname "Molester" for the brutal way he treated receivers coming off the line of scrimmage and for using Stick 'Em on his hands before the league banned the substance and named the rule after Hayes. This list rewards creativity, and while Ali is the greatest boxer ever, his nickname isn't the most creative moniker in sports. Edson Arantes do Nascimento (Brazilian Portuguese: [ds(w) atiz du nasimtu]; 23 October 1940 - 29 December 2022), better known by his nickname Pel (Portuguese pronunciation: ), was a Brazilian professional footballer who played as a forward.Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, he was among the most successful and popular sports figures of the 20th . Carry on with the slideshow, and impress your friends with your newfound street cred. 50 - Jamie Moyer One of the most flammable pitchers in the league in his 20s, Moyer looked like he might wash out of baseball after spending the . Numbers are now considered a common feature for uniforms in every team sport. Jackson spent 12 years in the majors with thePhiladelphia Athletics(19081909),Cleveland Naps/Indians(19101915) andChicago White Sox(19151920). Publish date: May 25, 2009. . Rickey Henderson. Salley was also a co-host for "Best Damn Sports Show Period," alongside Tom Arnold and Chris Rose. 23: The Human Rain Delay (Mike Hargrove) Hargrove got the nickname for the many time-consuming adjustments he would make between pitches. In 21 total fights, Jeffries had 18 victories and 14 knockouts, with just one loss and two draws. When Magic Johnson was drafted with the first overall pick in the 1979 NBA Draft, he had to change his #33 from Michigan State, which belonged to the legendary Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Pro Football Hall of Famers by Jersey Numbers Class of 2004 inductee Bob Brown wore #76 with the Eagles, Rams, and Raiders. Jackie Robinson passed away on October 24, 1972, at age 53. He built a contraption out of poles that allowed him to carry more bags than his co-workers. 24: Alworth, . Fans of this era only know his name as the legend, but quotes from players of his day tell the story of Wagner as a dirty player, often clueing infielders and holding baserunners by the jersey as they attempted to round a base.