Top 5 Greatest Baltimore Athletes Of All Time
The city of Baltimore has made its mark on sports history with a plethora of championships with larger than life athletes leading the way in the process. But who's the greatest athlete ever to play for the city of Baltimore? Here's a look at the top five:
- Cal Ripken Jr. (Baltimore Orioles) "1981-2001" - Mr. Iron Man himself tops the list as the greatest Baltimore sports figure of all time. While he's best known around the world for his streak of 2,632 consecutive games played, he was also a phenomenal baseball player overall. He was elected Rookie of the Year in 1982 and helped Baltimore win the world series the following year in 1983. He was elected to 19 straight All-Star Games. He's won 2 MVP Awards along with 8 Silver Slugger awards and 2 Gold Glove awards. He's also a member of the 3,000 hit club with 3,184 hits registered in his career. Ripken drove in over 431 home runs along with 1,695 RBI's. These stats are simply out of this world. He was elected to Baseball's Hall of Fame in 2007 to cap off a legendary career.
- Johnny Unitas (Baltimore Colts) "1956-1972" - Many consider Johnny Unitas to be the greatest quarterback of all time. He was a three-time NFL Champion prior to the merger. Unitas won Super Bowl V for the Baltimore Colts back in 1971 when they defeated the Dallas Cowboys. He threw for over 40,000 yards in an era where throwing the ball meant getting pummeled on the field with no yellow flags to be found. But what cements his legacy in Baltimore the most, may be what he did after he was done with the game. When the Baltimore Colts left for Indianapolis in 1984, Unitas was so upset that he cut all ties to the Indianapolis Colts franchise while settling in Baltimore to raise his family. He'll always be remembered as a Baltimore athlete and rightfully deserves to be mentioned in the conversation of All-Time greats.
- Michael Phelps (Olympic Swimmer) - Michael Phelps may not necessarily play for a Baltimore sports team, but similar to Cal Ripken, he was born and raised in the area. Phelps, a product of Towson, Maryland, is widely known as the greatest Olympian of all-time. His greatest achievement is the 8 gold medals he earned in the 2008 Beijing Games. Mark Spitz once held the record for 7 gold medals in 1972 and many believed that record would stand the test of time. Phelps holds a grand total of 18 gold medals and may be due for more in the 2016 games set to begin later this year. His fondness of the Orioles and Ravens coupled with his enormous achievement in the water helps give him legendary status in the city of Baltimore.
- Ray Lewis (Baltimore Ravens) "1996-2012" - Ray Lewis was the second Raven ever drafted in the short history of the franchise. Since then, he's been considered the face of Baltimore sports. Lewis led the Baltimore Ravens to two Super Bowl Championships, including his last game as a professional back in 2012. Announcing his retirement days before the start of the playoffs, Ray Lewis gave his team the drive necessary to catapult them to the top of the football world. But it wasn't just his motivation that makes Lewis a Baltimore icon, his accolades on the football field are very impressive. He's a two-time defensive player of the year. He's a 13-time Pro Bowl participant with 1,336 tackles in his career to go along with 41.5 sacks and 31 interceptions. His presence on the field had to be respected at all times by opposing players and coaches. His ability to manage the entire defense as well as make plays on the field makes his Hall of Fame induction an absolute certainty.
- Brooks Robinson (Baltimore Orioles) "1955-1977" - Although Cal Ripken Jr. tops the list as the greatest Baltimore athlete of All-Time, a case can be made that Brooks Robinson is actually the greatest Baltimore Orioles player. The fact that Robinson is fifth on the list should tell you how slim the margin is between these great athletes. Brooks Robinson is without question the greatest third baseman to ever live. His accolades speak volumes to what he was able to do on the field as an Oriole. He's a two-time World Series Champion and was voted MVP for the game won in 1970. He's an 18-time All Star and a near unprecedented 16-time Gold Glove winner. Greg Maddux is the only player to have won more gold gloves with 18 as a pitcher. Robinson's career was cemented with his Hall of Fame induction in 1983. To put it simply, Brooks Robinson changed the game for the better.
Which athletes would make your top list?
