I’ve been looking for a somewhat ambitious project to work on and I decided on this. I know some people find lists tiring, but I don’t, and I think more as a celebration of our sports history rather than a debate over who is the 37th or 38th best athlete.
Certainly some debate will ensue, but that’s part of the fun.
The twist with this list is that it is based around the city. So in addition to the Phillies, Sixers, Flyers and Eagles, I am also taking into account the Warriors, Athletics (while they were in the city) and Big-5 basketball.
It is based on people who played in the city, so I didn’t include people who were born here, or people in sports like Boxing or Track and Field.
I used 8 different criteria to create the rankings, with grades from 1 to 5…
1. Longevity – How long the athlete played in Philadelphia. The minimum to be considered for the list is 4 years.
Grading Criteria…
5 – 11+ years
4 – 9-10 years
3 – 7-8 years
2 – 5-6 years
1 – 4 years
2. Peak - The highest level the athlete played at, for at least a year. When I say “all-star,” I don’t mean actual all-star appearances, rather they played at an all-star level.
Grading Criteria…
5 – Top-3 player in the sport
4 – Top-10 player in the sport
3 – High-level all-star
2 – All-star
1 – Near all-star
3. Popularity - How the player is currently received in the city. It would be impossible for me to gauge how popular a player was when they played, so I can only go by current level. Subjective, but important I think. As this is Philly, very few players receive “5″ in this category.
Grading Criteria…
5 – Universally beloved
4 – Mostly loved
3 – Some love, some hate, some don’t care
2 – Not that well known
1 – Completely off the radar
4. Team Success - Very simple. How did his team perform when he played here?
Grading Criteria…
5- Multiple titles and multiple playoff runs
4- At least 1 title, several playoff runs
3 – 1 title or conference title, and not much else or several playoff runs
2 – A couple playoff runs
1 – Not so good
5. Awards - MVPs? Pro Bowls? Silver Sluggers? All-star games etc..
Grading Criteria…
5- Multiple awards, 8-10 all-stars games
4 – An MVP or couple awards, multiple all-star games
3 – Several all-star games
2 – A couple all-star games
1 –Nothing
6. Stats - Where do they rank in the team record books? I say “top-5/top-10″ below, but it varies by sport and position. But this gives you an idea.
Grading Criteria…
5- #1 in several categories, top-5 in several others
4 – Top-5 in several categories, top-10 in others
3 – Top-10 in several categories, top-25 in others
2 – Top-10 in one or two categories, top-25 in several others
1 –Nothing
7. Historical Standing - This is mostly based around the hall-of-fame, or, how is the athlete looked at on a national level outside the city.
Grading Criteria…
5- One of the best ever
4 – 1st ballot type HOFer
3 – HOFer
2 - Borderline HOFer
1- Not on the radar
8. Excitement - Another subjective category
Grading Criteria…
5- Must-see TV
4 – Often spectacular
3 – Occasionally spectacular
2 - Rarely spectacular
1- Never spectacular
So that is how I chose the 50, and created the rankings. Obviously I considered a lot of guys for the list, so let’s take a quick look at who didn’t make it, and who might be added to list later on…
Who you won’t find on the list…
Considered, but fell short (alphabetical)
Bobby Abreu, Phillies
Larry Bowa, Phillies
Jim Bunning, Phillies
Johnny Callison, Phillies
Gavvy Cravath, Phillies
Eric Desjardins, Flyers
Ken Durrett, LaSalle
Del Ennis, Phillies
Cole Hamels, Phillies
Ron Jaworski, Eagles
Neil Johnston, Warriors
Tim Kerr, Flyers
Kerry Kittles, Villanova
John LeClair, Flyers
Mark Macon, Temple
Sherry Magee, Phillies
John Pinone, Villanova
Howard Porter, Villanova
Scott Rolen, Phillies
Clyde Simmons, Eagles
Curt Simmons, Phillies
Jerry Sisemore, Eagles
Tra Thomas, Eagles
Jimmy Watson, Flyers
Cy Williams, Phillies
Not considered, or not yet eligible, but could be added in future
Nnamdi Asomugha, Eagles
Trent Cole, Eagles
Claude Giroux, Flyers
Roy Halladay, Phillies
Jrue Holiday, Sixers
Desean Jackson, Eagles
Cliff Lee, Phillies
Lesean McCoy, Eagles
Chris Pronger, Flyers
Asante Samuel, Eagles
Michael Vick, Eagles
Shane Victorino, Phillies
I will start this week with #50, and create a page where the rankings will live as I add to the list.
I opened this anticipating a list of the 50. Why, who knows, but that was my purpose. I was curious to see where Billy Cunningham would rate.
I didn’t read the criteria, and it’s not my project, so I’m not gonna question them. But I will say this.
Kenny Durett is one of the greatest athletes to ever play in Philadelphia. He’s specifically mentioned as not being on the list.
And I’m sure high school careers won’t be a factor, but Andre McCarter had a phoenomenal career at Overbrook, and based on come kind of criteria that specified for hiigh school careers, would be there.
Not having followed basketball for a number of years now, it’s possible that a handful of athletes have surpassed their accomplishments, and maybe would eliminate them from the top 50 based on their performances in Philly. But I greatly doubt it.
They were both awesome, and that’s good enough for me. Exit the soapbaox, and cue the director to fade to black.
Yeah, I couldn’t really count High School – though it will be mentioned with Chamberlain.
College bball players (Durrett) were the hardest to grade. I think only 4 made the cut.
What number is Smarty Jones?
HAHA!
I have Carlton, Howard, Schmidt, Lindros, Clarke, Parent, Chamberlain, Irving, REggie White as 9 of the top 10.
Eagles are the toughest to evaluate. They carry the greatest popularity in town over the longest period of time, but have any amazing paucity of real superstars that have orginated or have had long all-star careers in Philly. Van Brocklin, Bednarik, may sneak in there. But I would guess the Eagles populate the 10-25 range more than the upper echelon. McNabb would be in the 15 area for me.
Really interested to see how high Hextall ranks on this list.
Higher than I expected when I started…
I’ll leave it at that!
I look forward to it.
I’m surprised Hextall made thsi list, and not Tim Kerr. Pete, if Hextall didnt almost singlehandedly beat the Oilers in the Stanley Cup while winning the Vezina (sp) trophy would he still have made the list? I’m also thinking his ability score empty net goals while also changing the way goalies handle the puck moved his “rating” up a bunch.
and playing the most important position on the ice!
If you have/had a statute in the sporting complex, you should be high on the list. So we should see people like Schmidt, Dr. J, Ashburne, and of course ROCKY!!!
but seriously, ashburn must be high. If i where my Ashburne Jersey out in Philly I ALWAYS get comments from people about how much they loved him/ there family loved him, from both young and old, frequently its from girls ar Deliah’s after a game or a similar place, who i would definately call casual fans
I hope you didn’t pay too much money for that “Ashburne” jersey.
thats why it was so cheap! soryy, I can’t spell furshit. Still, Rocky, Rocky, Rocky!!!
I really like Ashburn too. I never even saw him play. He seemed like he would be so much fun to watch leading off (and I think his personality was “magnetic”)
wow, this is a great concept. I tried to avoid reading comments, so I can think of who would be in the top 10, or at least make the top 50.
I look forward to reading the stories. Pete, how do you research or start/finish the blogs? I am wondering if you use your own memory and then fact check (or speak with others prior to finalizing the list to get the opinion of others)
I also wanted to ask, you’re definitely not choosing managers or owners right? I have noticed that some managers such as Buddy Ryan and larry Brown maxed out philly sports in coordination with athletes. I highly doubt AI would’ve played so well if L Brown didnt create a team around him and do just about everything imaginable to keep the team together (and P croce). maybe you would have to create a whole new list just for owners, coaches, gms etc.
No managers/coaches – though that would have been interesting for sure… John Chaney would have been pretty high.
I love John Chaney. His matchup D was awesome.
I’m starting to think the 76ers may have the most players on this list.
Wilt, obviously. Erving. Iverson. Billy Cunningham and Bobby Jones kinda run together. Huge fan of Billy that I was, he was instrumental as a 6th man on not just any championship team, but really didn’t play here all that long. So he’s prolly on the list, but not a definite. Bobby Jones was a non headliner, and I don’t recall how long he was here. I don’t know how this list will treat Hal Greer. Certainly better than Kevin Loughery.
I’d be inclined to rate harold close to must include. Is Moses all that definite? As a player, absolutely. Length of time, iffy.
So I see it as 4 definites, maybe as many as like 7 or 8. I guess World Free and Doug Collins are discussable.
Maybe even Steve Mix. I guess World was an all star after here. Doug, skill wise, yes, injury wise, probably knocked out.
I actually liked George McGinnis. But he was so fair by the time 2 years here rolled around, it’s tough to think of him. But he gets a lot of credit for leaving 9-73 behind. I could see him on impact, short term that it was.
I doubt Chet Walker makes the list, but boy was he valuble to 2 franchises.
Pretty hard to imagine the 76ers being the top representation of the 4 most attended pro teams in the city.
I’ll guess it’s the Eagles, based on a point I think makes a lot of sense. Number of positions. OL and DL aside, you still have maybe 12-14 psotions from which to choose. Baseball, you have 8 (9), hockey 6, basketball 5.
Too bad Archie Clark likely won’t make it. I didn’t forget Wilt off Archie’s work, but he made that trade at least interesting with his strong, thrilling to watch game.
obviously forgot Barkley and Cheeks. Both probable locks, if probable can go in thesame sentence as locks.
Iggy getting “locked out”?
Yes, because he’s seldom been locked-in. Please keep mention of him to a minimum as I’m enjoying the summer.
Pretty much all research – not a lot of memory.
I love your method, its not going to trend recent or old, or be the guy you idolized growing up. It’s really a brilliant way for us younger, and not at all younger readers to learn the history of this city’s sports.
Realistically if you are in your 20s your sports knowledge only really goes back to the 80s I mean you were probably first conscious of sports in Philadelphia around 93 at the earliest and don’t know a whole lot of anything about sports other then what your parents told you about the 70s and 80s.
You stole atleast top3 spot for Frazier and top10 for Hopkins.
While it’s already a matter of public record that Smokin’ Joe Frazier will not make this list, it’s presence is (to me) finally served in providing a forum to write about the man.
It’s a little uncomfortable reflecting on memories in obituary like fashion before the fact, but with the very sad news reported this weekend of Joe’s condition (DAS ran a tweet Saturday saying he wasn’t expected to make it through the night), it appears imminent. Putting thought to keyboard then might still be pacifying when it happens, but so does the thought of just soaking in all the reflections of the rare combination of looking at two of the great, great competitors and feeling most comfortable thinking of either as “Champ.”
Time and a number of other factors have diminished both Joe and Ali from public limelight over the years. Perhaps part of the reason is their respective physical conditions, and to a degree combined with those that are my contemporaries putting forth some effort to remember them as they were. When Muhammed’s time comes, the world will stop in Princess Di wedding fashion, and a multiple generations will gain even further information on just how big he was. Joe probably wouldn’t have had anything close to that level of publicity on his own, but his passing will still have more stop the world tempo to it than most people find imaginable.
Phil Mushnick has a terrific NYP story today on the lessone he learned from Joe Frazier. I too found myself betwixt and between on choosing sides among these 2 great warriors. I was a little less politically driven than Phil’s indecision, but there was just something about these 2 cats that made them both magnetic. The absolutely stupidest decision of my life was having available a 20 dollar ticket to Ali-Frazier I, at the Garden, and choosing not to use it because I didn’t want to be caught in that environment not knowing who to root for. A few years later, it was okay to spend money on a freaking wrestling match between Muhammad and some Prince Iokaya character, because I knew who I would cheer for, but not Ali-Frazier. My 10 stupidest decisions in life don’t add up to the stupidity of that.
Even before Joe whupped Ali that night, he was a well respected figure. But the chance to visit his gym with my boy Diamond Don Leventhal a few years later, and watch Joe work out in what seemed unique sparring conditions before Joe let Diamond interview him was a real treat. From that day on, I’ve often thought of the name Joe Frazier when the easily bandied about description of nicest guy in the world was tossed around.
I’m sure that Joe on the whole wasn’t a model of consistency with the high esteem with which I viewed him that day. The sport itself is only going to attract guys with limits of niceties. And Joe was raised of different rules than many that saw fit to spend money and time watching his fight career. But like Ali, in life, and no doubt death, in victory, and defeat, he will always mark an image of one of several that I can proudly say was part of my time. Past and future generations might measure up with their best, but they’ll never do better. God Bless, Joe Frazier. I thank you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dpwiiqe2830