Meet the 10 Biggest Sports Stars From Pennsylvania

Society has a deep fascination with professional athletes. Sports fans marvel at their athletic abilities. While a lot of it comes from genetics, it takes dedication to become the best at their craft. Thanks to how populated the state is, Pennsylvania is where many great athletes were born. Unlike places in the South where football is the main focus, Pennsylvania is the hometown of athletes who play all sports.

The talent of the Keystone State doesn’t end with sports, either. Click here to read more about the biggest musicians from Pennsylvania.

These athletes made their mark on the sports they play and are still widely regarded as the greatest ever in their respective games. For this article, 24/7 Tempo consulted multiple sports-centered sources. These include MLB.com, NFL.com, and NBA.com. Here are the 10 greatest athletes from Pennsylvania.

For whatever reason, Wilt Chamberlain isn’t always considered one of the greatest basketball player ever despite his undeniable record. He’s a staple in every top five player discussion. He only has two championships, but nearly every scoring, rebounding, or assist record features his name close to the top. Over his entire NBA career, he averaged 30 points and just under 23 rebounds every game.

These days, it’s notable when a player just does this one time. Doing it ever night is almost unfathomable. Chamberlain also holds the single game scoring record, when he put up 100 points in one game. His critics will point to the fact that Bill Russell won the championship almost ever year when Chamberlain was also playing, which is why he doesn’t get the credit he deserves. His 14 year career is one of the most amazing from a statistical standpoint and will be talked about forever.

It’s impossible to tell the story of the Los Angeles Lakers without including Kobe Bryant. The legendary shooting guard was a five time NBA champion and one of the most feared players in history. His tireless work ethic and dedication to the game of basketball helped make him into one of the greatest players ever.

After being born in Philadelphia, Bryant moved to Italy at the age of six where he grew up until 13. He then returned to the Philadelphia area and became a standout at Lower Merion High School. Even with all of his accolades, Bryant’s NBA career might be most remembered for his 60 point performance in his final game before retirement. Bryant and his daughter Gigi died in January 2020.

Sports fans always mention Tom Brady as the greatest draft steal in sports history. While this is true, before Tom Brady, it used to be Joe Montana. After playing his college football at Notre Dame, Montana was a third round pick for the San Francisco 49ers. He played 13 years for the franchise, leading them to four Super Bowl victories and getting two NFL MVP awards. Montana brought a struggling 49ers franchise to relevancy in such a short time.

Most people say that Tom Brady is the greatest NFL player of all time, which is a fair statement to make. However, Montana has a strong argument for being the second greatest player ever. Sports fans are waiting to see how the career of Patrick Mahomes goes. He appears to be the one player who has a legitimate shot at catching Montana.

If someone were to ask what player graces the front of the most valuable baseball card in history, your first answer would probably be Babe Ruth. While this is a great guess, it’s incorrect. Honus Wager is known for being one of the greatest shortstops ever, as well as having the most expensive baseball card ever sold.

The T206 card sold for $7.25 million in 2022, shattering the previous record for the most expensive card, which was also a T206. The reason it’s so expensive is Wagner’s opposition to tobacco products. The card was first produced by a tobacco company that was looking for ways to market themselves.

Wagner refused and only a limited amount of the cards were made between 1909 and 1911. Aside from his card, Wagner’s career included a World Series championship, eight time batting champion, and inauguration into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

The late 2000s and early 2010s Penn State Women’s Volleyball team is talked about as one of the greatest dynasties in all of sports. One of the leaders of the team during this time was Christa Harmotto. She wasn’t just a star in college, she represented the United States for volleyball in 2012 and 2016. Harmotto got silver and bronze in both of these games, respectively. Volleyball has taken Harmotto around the world, and she hasn’t disappointed when the lights have shined brightly on her.

You can’t tell the history of golf or American beverages without Arnold Palmer. During his legendary golf career, Palmer won seven Major Championships, with his four at the Master’s being the most of any tournament. He never could get over the hump at the PGA Championship, though, as he placed second three separate times.

Apart from his golf career, Palmer is also known for being the inspiration and creator behind the legendary “Arnold Palmer” drink that combines lemonade and tea. The story goes he was golfing in Colorado and ordered the drink at the clubhouse. A lady overheard him and said, “I want that Arnold Palmer drink,” and that was all she wrote.

Mike Piazza has one of the most fascinating baseball stories of anyone to ever play the game. He grew up as the son of one of the most successful car dealers in Pennsylvania. After playing in college at Miami-Dade Community College, Piazza was drafted in the 62nd round of the draft.

The only reason he was drafted at all is because his dad was friends with Tommy Lasorda, the manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers at the time. He asked him to be drafted as a favor, but then Piazza quickly rose the ranks. He helped lead the New York Mets to the 2000 World Series, one they came up short in against the Yankees. Piazza is now a Baseball Hall of Famer. Not bad for a guy who was drafted as a favor at the end of the draft.

Women’s basketball has exploded over the last few years, thanks in part to players like Alyssa Thomas. The Harrisburg native has played for the Connecticut Sun as well as multiple overseas teams during the WNBA offseason. During her WNBA career, Thomas has been a four time All-Star and has been one of the best players over the last few seasons. She led the Sun to the WNBA Finals in 2022, where they came up just short to the Las Vegas Aces. Thomas is one leader you’d want on your team any day.

Johnny Unitas pioneered the quarterback position in the early stages of the NFL with the Baltimore Colts. Throughout his career, he won one Super Bowl, three NFL championships, and three MVP awards. Unitas is mostly associated with the expansion of throwing the ball.

Before him, many NFL teams were only running the ball, since not a lot of people knew exactly how to throw it. Unitas is one of the legends in the NFL and made Pennsylvania proud during his playing career. Click here to read more about the biggest movie stars from Pennsylvania.

It’s tough to spot a more dominant defensive player in the NFL over the last decade than Aaron Donald. During this time, he’s won a Super Bowl, been a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, and seven-time First-team All-pro. The most remarkable part about it is Donald isn’t as tall as most defensive tackles.

He only stands at 6’1 but uses his leverage to bully offensive linemen and get to the quarterback. He also is one of the highest paid players in the NFL, after having signed a $135 million deal in 2018. The fact that he’s stayed as dominant for as long as he has is a tribute to his work ethic in the off-season. As long as Donald is around, the Los Angeles Rams defense is going to be frightened. Donald and these sports stars from Pennsylvania are excellent, but so are the impressive movie stars who were born there. Meet the 10 biggest movie stars from Pennsylvania.