One opinion: Ten greatest pro athletes in New York/Brooklyn history

[Auggie]

Yahoo.com / 8-2-13

Over the years, there have been plenty of great athletes who've played in New York. Compiling a list of the best of all time is no easy task. To make this list, the athlete obviously had to be an elite player. He also had to play the bulk of his career -- or a good chunk of it at least -- in New York. But all the names on this list have something else in common: They all won championships in New York.

In alphabetical order, here is a list of the top 10 athletes in New York professional sports history:

Joe DiMaggio (Yankees, 1936-42, 46-51)

Joltin' Joe. The man had grace on and off the field. His 56-game hitting streak in 1941 is one of the greatest records in the history of the game, one that may never be broken. DiMaggio took the Yankees to 10 World Series, winning nine. He missed three seasons in the prime of his career due to military service but still won the AL MVP Award three times. His best season came in 1937, his second year in the majors. DiMaggio hit .346 that year with 46 home runs and 167 RBIs. Over his 13 years as a Yankee, he batted over .300 11 times. People who didn't get to see him play know how special he was. The late Bob Sheppard, the Yankees' public address announcer, would introduce DiMaggio as "the greatest living ballplayer."

Walt Frazier (Knicks, 1967-77)

To fans today, Frazier is the guy on television who delivers the colorful, insightful commentary during Knicks telecasts. Before that, however, he established himself as the best point guard in franchise history. He played 10 seasons in New York, averaging 19.3 points per game and more than five assists in nine of those seasons. But it was his performance in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals that is remembered most. Against the Los Angeles Lakers, Frazier carried the Knicks. He scored 36 points and had 19 assists and five steals. He would also lead New York to the 1973 championship. Off the court, Frazier has always been the epitome of style. He's a perfect fit for the city.

MORE: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ten-greatest-professional-athletes-york-brooklyn-sports-history-123700848.html

Lou Gehrig (Yankees, 1923-39)

Derek Jeter (Yankees, 1995-present)

Mickey Mantle (Yankees, 1951-68)

Mark Messier (Rangers, 1991-97, 2000-04)

Joe Namath (Jets, 1965-76)

Jackie Robinson (Dodgers, 1947-56)

Babe Ruth (Yankees, 1920-34)

Lawrence Taylor (Giants, 1981-93)

Jeter? Really? No Ott? No Mays?

[KamaAina]

1. Mays does appear on the list

for San Francisco.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ten-greatest-athletes-san-francisco-sports-history-152400397.html

Willie Mays (Giants, 1958-72)

How spoiled are San Francisco fans? Not only did arguably some of the greatest football players of all time call the city home, but the same can be said for baseball. Mays could do it all on the baseball field. In his prime, he was the best all-around player the game had ever seen. Though fans were slow to embrace Mays after the Giants moved from New York, he won them over with his play and is the ultimate Giants icon today. There's a reason his statue greets people at the entrance to the ballpark, and there's a reason AT&T Park's official address is 24 Willie Mays Plaza. He's without question the greatest player in Giants history.

It would be interesting to see if any athlete made the list for two cities. (The next most obvious candidate, Reggie Jackson, didn't make the NY cut, either.)

[cherokeeprogressive]

2. No Koufax? WTF? He was BORN in Brooklyn.

165-87
7 All-Star Games
4 World Series Rings
2 World Series MVPs
3 Pitching Triple Crowns
4 No Hitters
1 Perfect Game
#32 Retired
Youngest player ever elected to Baseball's Hall of Fame at 36 years, 20 days.

Hello?

[fishwax]

4. But he only played a few (unspectacular) seasons in Brooklyn

He doesn't fit the criteria of having played the bulk of his career there. I assume that is also why Mays is not on the list--he played more years inSF than in NY. (Mays had some good years in New York, though, while Koufax's career didn't take off until after the move.)

[hughee99]

3. I'd take Ott or Mays over Namath,

Namath had ONE huge game, but his career, otherwise, was pretty pedestrian. Mariano Rivera as well, over Namath.

[fishwax]

5. He lost as many as he won, threw more pics than TDs, and barely completed 50%

Yeah, I agree with you that there are better choices. Mays played most of his career in San Francisco. Ott would be good. Nobody has mentioned Roy Campanella yet, so I will.