A great sports nickname does more than shorten a name. It tells you something about the athlete before the highlights even start: how they played, where they came from, what they looked like or, in a few cases, what their teammates found funny. The best ones become so familiar that the real name almost feels like the footnote.
Some of these names came from reporters. Others were cooked up in clubhouses, school gyms or neighborhood games and somehow followed a player all the way to the Hall of Fame. A few origin stories have been polished by decades of retelling, so when the record is murky, we say so. Sports history already has enough folklore wearing a fake mustache and pretending to be fact.
This is not every memorable nickname ever used in baseball, basketball, football or hockey. That list would be longer than some careers. These are 40 of the names that stuck hardest, along with the stories and achievements that made them last.
1. The Hebrew Hammer
- Player: Al Rosen
- League: MLB
- Team: Cleveland Indians
- Position: Third baseman
- Career: 1947-1956
Al Rosen was a Jewish power hitter who followed fellow slugger Hank Greenberg in carrying the “Hebrew Hammer” label. The nickname had substance behind it. Rosen spent his entire 10-year career in Cleveland, and in 1953 he led the American League with 43 home runs and all of MLB with 145 RBIs. He won the AL MVP award unanimously and missed the Triple Crown by one point of batting average. Not bad for a man whose legacy sometimes gets buried beneath the nickname.
2. Babe
- Player: George Herman Ruth Jr.
- League: MLB
- Teams: Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Boston Braves
- Position: Pitcher/Outfielder
- Career: 1914-1935
George Herman Ruth Jr. was still a teenager when Baltimore Orioles owner and manager Jack Dunn signed him in 1914. The story preserved by baseball historians is that veteran players saw the young, inexperienced Ruth and called him “Dunn’s new babe.” That bit of clubhouse teasing became the most famous nickname in American sports. Ruth first starred as a left-handed pitcher with Boston, then rewrote the possibilities of power hitting after moving to the Yankees. He retired with 714 home runs, a number that stood as the MLB record for nearly four decades, and his larger-than-life reputation produced an entire spare set of names: the Sultan of Swat, the Great Bambino and the Caliph of Clout among them. Plenty of athletes have become bigger than their sport. Ruth helped make his sport bigger.
3. Big Sexy
- Player: Bartolo Colón
- League: MLB
- Teams: Cleveland Indians, Montreal Expos, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, New York Mets, Atlanta Braves, Minnesota Twins, Texas Rangers
- Position: Pitcher
- Career: 1997-2018
Bartolo Colón pitched for 11 MLB teams, won the 2005 AL Cy Young Award and was still taking big-league starts at 45. Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard began calling him “Big Sexy” in 2015, and Colón initially wondered whether it was a shot at his build. He eventually embraced it, as did pretty much everyone watching. His last MLB season came with Texas in 2018, and in 2023 he formally retired as a Met.
4. The Man Nobody Knows
- Player: Bill Dickey
- League: MLB
- Team: New York Yankees
- Position: Catcher
- Career: 1928-1943, 1946
Bill Dickey was the quiet anchor behind the plate for the Yankees teams that ruled much of the 1930s and early 1940s. “The Man Nobody Knows” reflected his reserved, difficult-to-read personality, not a lack of recognition. Dickey was an 11-time All-Star, hit .313 for his career and played on seven World Series champions. He also helped establish a rather unreasonable standard for future Yankees catchers.
5. Boof
- Player: Boof Bonser
- League: MLB
- Teams: Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox, Oakland Athletics
- Position: Pitcher
- Career: 2006-2010
Boof Bonser presents a minor technical problem for a nickname list: Boof became his legal first name. Born John Paul Bonser, he had been called Boof by his family since childhood and legally made the change after the 2001 season. He reached the majors with Minnesota in 2006 and later pitched for Boston and Oakland. Sometimes the nickname wins so completely that the birth certificate has to catch up.
6. The Round Mound of Rebound
- Player: Charles Barkley
- League: NBA
- Teams: Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets
- Position: Power forward
- Career: 1984-2000
Charles Barkley was listed at 6-foot-6—generously, by most accounts—but rebounded like a much taller man. “The Round Mound of Rebound” captured both his build and the relentless work he did around the basket. Barkley won the 1993 NBA MVP award and finished his career with more than 12,000 rebounds. He also collected Sir Charles, the Chuckster and several other names, because one nickname was never going to contain that much Charles Barkley.
7. Piano Legs
- Player: Charlie Hickman
- League: MLB
- Teams: Boston Beaneaters, New York Giants, Boston Americans, Cleveland Bronchos/Naps, Detroit Tigers, Washington Senators, Chicago White Sox
- Position: Infielder/Outfielder/Pitcher
- Career: 1897-1908
Charlie Hickman played all over the diamond for seven teams around the turn of the 20th century, even pitching in 30 games. Old accounts tied “Piano Legs” to his thick legs and stocky frame; one commonly cited playing weight is 215 pounds on a 5-foot-9 body. The nickname sounds like an insult assembled from spare furniture, but Hickman could hit. In 1902 he batted .361 with 110 RBIs for Cleveland.
8. Dr. Dunkenstein
- Player: Darrell Griffith
- League: NBA
- Team: Utah Jazz
- Position: Guard
- Career: 1980-1991
Darrell Griffith’s brother blended his soaring dunks with Parliament’s “Dr. Funkenstein” and landed on “Dr. Dunkenstein.” That is solid nickname engineering. Griffith led Louisville to the 1980 NCAA championship, won NBA Rookie of the Year with Utah and competed in the league’s first Slam Dunk Contest in 1984. He spent his entire 11-year NBA career with the Jazz, who later retired his No. 35.
9. The Admiral
- Player: David Robinson
- League: NBA
- Team: San Antonio Spurs
- Position: Center
- Career: 1989-2003
David Robinson arrived at the U.S. Naval Academy as a 6-foot-4 freshman with limited high-school basketball experience. He grew roughly seven inches, became the best player in Navy history and was the No. 1 pick in the 1987 NBA Draft. His height prevented him from serving as an unrestricted line officer aboard a ship, but the often-repeated version that he was simply “too tall for the Navy” skips most of the story. Robinson was commissioned in the Civil Engineer Corps and served two years on active duty at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay before joining San Antonio in 1989. “The Admiral” was technically a promotion—he did not hold that rank—but it fit his background and commanding presence. He won an MVP, a Defensive Player of the Year award, a scoring title and two NBA championships, all with the Spurs.
10. The Worm
- Player: Dennis Rodman
- League: NBA
- Teams: Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks
- Position: Forward
- Career: 1986-2000
Dennis Rodman’s nickname predates the dyed hair, tattoos and headline-generating NBA years. His mother called him “The Worm” because he wriggled around while playing pinball as a kid. The name turned out to be a neat match for a player who slipped around bigger opponents and treated rebounds like personal property. Rodman led the NBA in rebounding seven straight seasons, won five championships and earned two Defensive Player of the Year awards.
11. Mortimer Snerd
- Player: Dick Selma
- League: MLB
- Teams: New York Mets, San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, California Angels, Milwaukee Brewers
- Position: Pitcher
- Career: 1965-1974
Dick Selma was a hard-throwing pitcher, clubhouse character and world-class talker. That last trait brought him “Mortimer Snerd,” after ventriloquist Edgar Bergen’s chatty, not-exactly-brilliant dummy. Selma pitched for seven teams in 10 seasons and briefly became the ringleader of the Wrigley Field Bleacher Bums during his 1969 stop with the Cubs. He also carried “Moon Man,” because apparently one unusual nickname was insufficient.
12. Muscle Hamster
- Player: Doug Martin
- League: NFL
- Teams: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Oakland Raiders
- Position: Running back
- Career: 2012-2018
Doug Martin’s Boise State teammates gave him “Muscle Hamster” because he was compact, powerful and, according to Martin, the girlfriend of one lineman had already been called that. He repeatedly asked people to retire the name, which naturally guaranteed they would keep using it. Martin made two Pro Bowls with Tampa Bay and rushed for 1,454 yards as a rookie before finishing his career with Oakland in 2018.
13. The Crime Dog
- Player: Fred McGriff
- League: MLB
- Teams: Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres, Atlanta Braves, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers
- Position: First baseman
- Career: 1986-2004
ESPN’s Chris Berman popularized “The Crime Dog,” a play on McGriff and McGruff, the cartoon bloodhound who told kids to “take a bite out of crime.” Fred McGriff did plenty of damage himself: 493 home runs, 10 seasons with at least 30 and a central role on Atlanta’s 1995 World Series winner. He was unanimously elected by the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee and entered the Hall of Fame in 2023.
14. Hacksaw
- Player: Jack Reynolds
- League: NFL
- Teams: Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers
- Position: Linebacker
- Career: 1970-1984
Jack Reynolds earned “Hacksaw” at Tennessee after a 38-0 loss to Ole Miss in 1969. Furious with the result, he reportedly went home and sawed an old car in half. That is a lot of emotional processing, but the name fit the ferocity he brought to linebacker. Reynolds played 15 NFL seasons, made two Pro Bowls and won two Super Bowls with San Francisco at the end of his career.
15. Ugly
- Player: Johnny Dickshot
- League: MLB
- Teams: Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Giants, Chicago White Sox
- Position: Outfielder
- Career: 1936-1939, 1944-1945
Johnny Dickshot already had a surname built for an all-time nickname list, then reportedly promoted himself as “the ugliest man in baseball.” “Ugly” followed. The outfielder played six MLB seasons across two stretches and had his best year with the 1945 White Sox, batting .302 with 10 triples and 18 stolen bases. He remains a reminder that branding did not begin with social media.
16. The Hick from French Lick
- Player: Larry Bird
- League: NBA
- Team: Boston Celtics
- Position: Forward
- Career: 1979-1992
Larry Bird openly leaned into being “The Hick from French Lick,” a reference to his small Indiana hometown and deliberately unglamorous image. Opponents who mistook the presentation for modest talent learned quickly. Bird won three straight MVP awards, three NBA titles and two Finals MVPs with Boston. “Larry Legend” eventually became the more reverent option, but the original had better rhythm and a little more bite.
17. Iron Horse
- Player: Lou Gehrig
- League: MLB
- Team: New York Yankees
- Position: First baseman
- Career: 1923-1939
Lou Gehrig’s “Iron Horse” nickname came from a consecutive-games streak that once looked untouchable. He played 2,130 straight games from 1925 to 1939 before amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ended his career; Cal Ripken Jr. finally passed the mark in 1995. Gehrig was far more than durable. He won two AL MVP awards, hit 493 home runs and drove in 1,995 runs during a career spent entirely with the Yankees.
18. Old Aches and Pains
- Player: Luke Appling
- League: MLB
- Team: Chicago White Sox
- Position: Shortstop
- Career: 1930-1943, 1945-1950
Luke Appling developed a reputation for discussing every sore muscle and minor ailment, so teammates and writers dubbed him “Old Aches and Pains.” The joke was that he was remarkably durable. Appling played 20 seasons for the White Sox, batted .310, won two batting titles and collected 2,749 hits. His .388 average in 1936 remains the best single-season mark by a modern-era shortstop.
19. Scrabble
- Player: Marc Rzepczynski
- League: MLB
- Teams: Toronto Blue Jays, St. Louis Cardinals, Cleveland Indians, San Diego Padres, Oakland Athletics, Washington Nationals, Seattle Mariners
- Position: Pitcher
- Career: 2009-2018
Marc Rzepczynski—pronounced zep-CHIN-skee—was called “Scrabble” because his 11-letter surname looks as though someone emptied a tile rack onto the lineup card. The left-handed reliever appeared in 506 games for seven clubs and helped St. Louis win the 2011 World Series. He also answered to “Zep” and “Zip,” both practical options when the bullpen phone was ringing.
20. Kung Fu Panda
- Player: Pablo Sandoval
- League: MLB
- Teams: San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves
- Position: Third baseman
- Career: 2008-2021
In a 2008 game against the Dodgers, Pablo Sandoval scored from second and made an acrobatic leap to avoid catcher Danny Ardoin’s tag. Giants pitcher Barry Zito compared him to the animated hero from “Kung Fu Panda,” released that summer, and the name stuck immediately. Sandoval became a fan favorite in San Francisco, won three World Series rings and was the MVP of the 2012 Fall Classic.
21. Never Nervous Pervis
- Player: Pervis Ellison
- League: NBA
- Teams: Sacramento Kings, Washington Bullets, Boston Celtics, Seattle SuperSonics
- Position: Center/Power forward
- Career: 1989-2001
“Never Nervous Pervis” arrived during Louisville’s run to the 1986 NCAA championship, when freshman center Pervis Ellison played with uncommon calm and won the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player award. Sacramento selected him first overall in 1989, but injuries repeatedly interrupted his NBA career. Danny Ainge later supplied the cruel counter-nickname “Out of Service Pervis.” Sports can be efficient that way.
22. The Big Unit
- Player: Randy Johnson
- League: MLB
- Teams: Montreal Expos, Seattle Mariners, Houston Astros, Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants
- Position: Pitcher
- Career: 1988-2009
Randy Johnson stood 6-foot-10 and threw a fastball that looked particularly unfriendly coming from that altitude. He has credited Montreal teammate Tim Raines with “The Big Unit,” saying Raines bumped into the towering rookie near the batting cage and looked up. Johnson needed time to harness his stuff, but once he did, hitters had a long evening ahead of them. The left-hander finished with 303 wins and 4,875 strikeouts, second only to Nolan Ryan in MLB history. He won five Cy Young Awards, including four straight from 1999 through 2002, and shared 2001 World Series MVP honors as Arizona beat the Yankees. In 2004, at age 40, he became the oldest pitcher to throw a perfect game. The nickname was obvious. The career behind it was anything but ordinary.
23. Babe Ruth’s Legs
- Player: Sam Byrd
- League: MLB
- Teams: New York Yankees, Cincinnati Reds
- Position: Outfielder
- Career: 1929-1936
Sam Byrd was often sent in to run for Babe Ruth late in games, earning “Babe Ruth’s Legs.” He also answered to “Babe Ruth’s Caddy,” which turned out to be strangely prophetic. After eight MLB seasons with the Yankees and Reds, Byrd became a professional golfer and won six events now recognized by the PGA Tour. He played in the 1932 World Series, then finished third at the 1941 Masters and fourth the following year.
24. The Human Rain Delay
- Player: Steve Trachsel
- League: MLB
- Teams: Chicago Cubs, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, Baltimore Orioles
- Position: Pitcher
- Career: 1993-2008
Steve Trachsel became “The Human Rain Delay” because of the deliberate pace between his pitches. The right-hander worked 16 MLB seasons and finished 143-159 with a 4.39 ERA. He also threw a one-hitter and made the 1996 All-Star team, accomplishments that can disappear beneath the pace jokes. To be fair, the jokes had plenty of time to develop while he held the ball.
25. Vinsanity
- Player: Vince Carter
- League: NBA
- Teams: Toronto Raptors, New Jersey Nets, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks
- Position: Guard/Forward
- Career: 1998-2020
“Vinsanity” captured the spectacle of early-career Vince Carter, especially after his unforgettable win in the 2000 Slam Dunk Contest. Toronto fans also knew him as “Air Canada,” while Shaquille O’Neal helped spread “Half-Man, Half-Amazing.” Carter eventually proved far more durable than the aerial act suggested. He played an NBA-record 22 seasons across four calendar decades, made eight All-Star teams and entered the Hall of Fame in 2024.
26. No Neck
- Player: Walt Williams
- League: MLB
- Teams: Houston Colt .45s, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees
- Position: Outfielder
- Career: 1964, 1967-1975
At 5-foot-6 and about 165 pounds, Walt Williams had a compact, muscular build that made his head appear to sit directly on his shoulders. “No Neck” was blunt, but accurate enough to become permanent. Williams batted .270 over 10 MLB seasons, primarily with the White Sox, and hit .304 in 1969. He had little home-run power, but he rarely struck out and could put the bat on the ball.
27. The Great One
- Player: Wayne Gretzky
- Leagues: WHA/NHL
- Teams: Indianapolis Racers, Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues, New York Rangers
- Position: Center
- Career: 1978-1999
Calling someone “The Great One” invites an argument. Wayne Gretzky answered most of those arguments with the record book. He retired as the NHL’s career leader in goals, assists and points, and his 1,963 assists alone exceed every other player’s career point total. Gretzky won the Hart Trophy as league MVP nine times, including eight in a row, led Edmonton to four Stanley Cups and posted four seasons with at least 200 points. His NHL career also included Los Angeles, St. Louis and the New York Rangers after beginning professionally in the WHA. The league retired his No. 99 across every team in 2000, an honor no other NHL player has received. “The Great One” may not be the most imaginative nickname here, but finding a more accurate one would be difficult.
28. The Refrigerator
- Player: William Perry
- League: NFL
- Teams: Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles
- Position: Defensive tackle
- Career: 1985-1994
William Perry picked up “The Refrigerator” at Clemson, where his enormous frame reminded a teammate of the kitchen appliance. The 1985 Bears turned the rookie defensive tackle into a national celebrity by using him as a goal-line runner. He scored three rushing touchdowns that season, including one in Super Bowl XX. Perry was also surprisingly nimble for a man listed around 335 pounds. “Biscuit”—as in one biscuit short of 350—was the backup nickname.
29. Rocket
- Player: Maurice Richard
- League: NHL
- Team: Montreal Canadiens
- Position: Right wing
- Career: 1942-1960
Maurice Richard recalled that “Rocket” began at a Canadiens practice, when opponents saw him gathering speed and yelled, “Here comes the Rocket.” Reporters heard it, printed it and did the rest. Richard became the first NHL player to score 50 goals in 50 games and the first to reach 500 career goals. He won eight Stanley Cups and led the league in goals five times. The NHL now gives its annual goal-scoring title the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy.
30. The Greek Freak
- Player: Giannis Antetokounmpo
- League: NBA
- Teams: Milwaukee Bucks, Miami Heat
- Position: Forward
- Career: 2013-present
“The Greek Freak” refers to Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Greek roots and a combination of length, speed and skill that did not look sensible in one human body. It was not coined because people could not pronounce his Nigerian surname, as the story is sometimes told. Antetokounmpo won back-to-back MVP awards, the 2020 Defensive Player of the Year award and the 2021 championship and Finals MVP with Milwaukee. In July 2026, the Bucks traded him to Miami, beginning the first new NBA chapter of his career.
31. Yogi
- Player: Lawrence “Yogi” Berra
- League: MLB
- Teams: New York Yankees, New York Mets
- Position: Catcher
- Career: 1946-1965
Lawrence Berra became Yogi as a teenager. After seeing a short film about India, friend and teammate Jack Maguire thought Berra resembled the yogi on screen when he sat with his arms and legs folded. The name fit so well that Lawrence largely disappeared. Berra won three AL MVP awards and 10 World Series championships as a player, both remarkable totals, and his famous Yogi-isms made him a cultural figure well beyond baseball.
32. Sweetness
- Player: Walter Payton
- League: NFL
- Team: Chicago Bears
- Position: Running back
- Career: 1975-1987
Walter Payton picked up “Sweetness” while playing at Jackson State, although no single origin story has been nailed down. Some tie it to his smooth running style, others to his personality. The name understated how punishing he could be. Payton rushed for 16,726 yards, an NFL record when he retired, scored 125 total touchdowns and missed one game in 13 seasons. He won the 1977 NFL MVP award and a Super Bowl with the 1985 Bears.
33. The Glove
- Player: Gary Payton
- League: NBA
- Teams: Seattle SuperSonics, Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat
- Position: Point guard
- Career: 1990-2007
Gary Payton credits his cousin Glen with “The Glove,” a perfect description of the way Payton smothered opposing guards. He made the All-Defensive First Team nine consecutive times and in 1995-96 became the first point guard to win Defensive Player of the Year. Payton was hardly a specialist: he retired with more than 21,000 points and 8,900 assists, then won a championship with Miami in 2006.
34. The Man of Steal
- Player: Rickey Henderson
- League: MLB
- Teams: Oakland Athletics, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres, Anaheim Angels, New York Mets, Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers
- Position: Outfielder
- Career: 1979-2003
“The Man of Steal” was not clever wordplay searching for a résumé. Rickey Henderson stole 1,406 bases, 468 more than second-place Lou Brock, and set the single-season record with 130 in 1982. He also holds MLB records for runs scored, unintentional walks and leadoff home runs, which is why reducing him to speed misses how complete and disruptive he was. Henderson played 25 seasons for nine clubs, won the 1990 AL MVP award, made 10 All-Star teams and collected World Series rings with Oakland and Toronto. He died in December 2024, days before his 66th birthday, leaving behind numbers that still look slightly fictional. He did not merely steal bases; he changed the geometry of a game as soon as he reached first.
35. Pistol Pete
- Player: Pete Maravich
- League: NBA
- Teams: Atlanta Hawks, New Orleans/Utah Jazz, Boston Celtics
- Position: Guard
- Career: 1970-1980
Pete Maravich began shooting from his hip as a young player, the motion resembling a gunslinger drawing a six-shooter. “Pistol Pete” followed him from high school to LSU, where he scored 3,667 points in only three varsity seasons and averaged 44.2 per game—still the men’s Division I career records. The NBA had no 3-point line for most of his career, but Maravich still won the 1976-77 scoring title and made five All-Star teams.
36. Magic
- Player: Earvin Johnson Jr.
- League: NBA
- Team: Los Angeles Lakers
- Position: Point guard
- Career: 1979-1991, 1996
Lansing sportswriter Fred Stabley Jr. gave 15-year-old Earvin Johnson the name “Magic” after watching him produce a 36-point triple-double for Everett High School. His mother reportedly disliked the nickname, but it was not going anywhere. Johnson won five championships and three MVP awards with the Lakers while turning the fast break into theater. “Earvin” remained his name; “Magic” became the public identity.
37. Dr. J
- Player: Julius Erving
- Leagues: ABA/NBA
- Teams: Virginia Squires, New York Nets, Philadelphia 76ers
- Position: Small forward
- Career: 1971-1987
Julius Erving was already Dr. J before the ABA gave him a wider stage, and the title suited a player whose game looked years ahead of schedule. He won three straight ABA MVP awards, two ABA championships, the 1981 NBA MVP and the 1983 NBA title with Philadelphia. Erving made above-the-rim play central to basketball’s modern visual language. Long before every star had a personal brand, “Dr. J” sounded like one and played like one.
38. Shoeless Joe
- Player: Joe Jackson
- League: MLB
- Teams: Philadelphia Athletics, Cleveland Naps/Indians, Chicago White Sox
- Position: Outfielder
- Career: 1908-1920
Joe Jackson was not habitually barefoot. The traditional account says new spikes gave him blisters during a minor-league game in Greenville, South Carolina, so he played in his stocking feet and heard “Shoeless Joe” from the crowd. One uncomfortable afternoon became permanent. Jackson batted .356 over his MLB career, but his name remains inseparable from the 1919 Black Sox scandal and the lifetime ban that followed.
39. Mr. Hockey
- Player: Gordie Howe
- Leagues: NHL/WHA
- Teams: Detroit Red Wings, Houston Aeros, New England/Hartford Whalers
- Position: Right wing
- Career: 1946-1971, 1973-1980
Gordie Howe became “Mr. Hockey” because no smaller title could cover the career. He won six Hart trophies as NHL MVP, six scoring titles and four Stanley Cups with Detroit. After retiring in 1971, he returned in the WHA to play beside sons Mark and Marty, then completed one final NHL season with Hartford at age 52. Howe combined scoring, durability and a famously sharp elbow, although he recorded only two actual “Gordie Howe hat tricks”—a goal, an assist and a fight.
40. Broadway Joe
- Player: Joe Namath
- Leagues: AFL/NFL
- Teams: New York Jets, Los Angeles Rams
- Position: Quarterback
- Career: 1965-1977
Joe Namath’s move to New York brought “Broadway Joe,” a nickname made for his charisma, nightlife and fur-coat swagger. The image would have been empty without the arm. In 1967, Namath became the first pro quarterback to pass for 4,000 yards in a season. A year later he guaranteed the AFL Jets would beat the heavily favored Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III, then delivered a 16-7 win and earned game MVP honors. The nickname sold the star; the guarantee made him immortal.