Top 10 Pittsburgh Sports Figures of All Time

[steel_curtain]

-Saw this being talked about on twitter. Thought it would be fun. My 10

1) Mean Joe Greene
2) Mario Lemieux
3) Barry Bonds
4) Roberto Clemente
5) Honus Wagner
6) Sidney Crosby
7) Jaromir Jagr
8) Tony Dorsett
9) Arnold Palmer
10) Dan Marino

-Really impressive list, probably the best talent of any city all time and Im not sure its even close. I would take Greene #1 overall in football, Lemieux #2 overall after Gretzky, Bonds #1 overall in baseball if I was doing all time first choice draft picks. Jagr is #2 overall in NHL points all time, Crosby is on his way to becoming a legend and Top 5 player all time, Palmer is a Top 4 golfer all time. We all know Dorsett and Marino's records. Then throw in Clemente and Wagner, 2 more Top 10 baseball players all time. Spoiled with riches for all time great players. Ill put that list up against any city anywhere.

 

[King Of All Message Boards]

Where do you think Kithcart will end up on this list?

 

[CrazyPaco]

Smacks of recentism. Only Honus Wagner's career began before 1950.

 

[OH Pete]

Good list overall. But I'm not sure you can put Bonds in there, especially hight than Clemente. Bonds tenure in Pittsburgh wasn't anywhere near as good as Wagner and Clemente. I'd even put Willie Stargell up there. And 3 Penguins and 1 Steeler is a little odd.

Here is mine

1. Mean Joe
2. Mario Lemuiex
3. Tony Dorsett
4. Roberto Clemente
5. Arnold Palmer
6. Sidney Crosby
7. Honus Wagner
8. Willie Stargell
9. Jerome Bettis
10. Mike Webster

 

[Swervin27]

Jagr and bonds don't belong on there. great careers no doubt but little of it was in Pittsburgh. Well jagr maybe but Bonds is a giant, not a pirate..

 

[Jpripper88]

I am a huge Steelers fan, but how in the hell are people putting Mean Joe Greene ahead of Mario Lemuiex? That is criminal.

 

[Jpripper88]

Terry Bradshaw may not have been universally loved, but he would have to be on the list.

 

[OH Pete]

I am a huge Steelers fan, but how in the hell are people putting Mean Joe Greene ahead of Mario Lemuiex? That is criminal.

Because football in the 70s > Hockey in the 90s.

 

[Jpripper88]

Because football in the 70s > Hockey in the 90s.

Except Mario brought two cups, is the 2nd best NHLer of all time, and literally helped saved the team from leaving. An athlete couldn't do more.

 

[steel_curtain]

Jagr and bonds don't belong on there. great careers no doubt but little of it was in Pittsburgh. Well jagr maybe but Bonds is a giant, not a pirate..

-Jagr played for Pittsburgh for 11 seasons, longer than any other team. He broke 120+ points in 3 of those.

-Bonds was in Pittsburgh for 7 years, so you could say he is more a Giant than a Pirate. Bonds did however win 3 Major League MVP's in Pittsburgh.

 

[PantherDave724]

It's crazy Jack Lambert isn't on a Top 10 list. He personified what Pittsburgh was.

 

[OH Pete]

Except Mario brought two cups, is the 2nd best NHLer of all time, and literally helped saved the team from leaving. An athlete couldn't do more.

And everything Lemuiex did still can't trump what the Steelers of the 70s meant to the city. Mario is awesome though. Number 2 only behind Mean Joe.

 

[wbrpanther]

I am a huge Steelers fan, but how in the hell are people putting Mean Joe Greene ahead of Mario Lemuiex? That is criminal.

Have to agree on this. Mean Joe is the greatest Steeler of all time bar none. One of the very best defensive player ever. But Mario is arguably the greatest hockey player of all time. Injury free even better than Gretzky. Coming in second on this list because Lemieux is on it is no slight. In fact you could make a case for Honus Wagner being second. Still considered by many as the greatest shortstop ever and one of only 5 charter members of the baseball hof.

 

[steel_curtain]

And everything Lemuiex did still can't trump what the Steelers of the 70s meant to the city. Mario is awesome though. Number 2 only behind Mean Joe.

-To be fair the Penguins are the best NHL franchise dating back to 1990. With another Stanley cup this year, the Penguins cement themselves as THE juggernaut of the NHL in the new era.

 

[Delpanther]

-Saw this being talked about on twitter. Thought it would be fun. My 10

1) Mean Joe Greene
2) Mario Lemieux
3) Barry Bonds
4) Roberto Clemente
5) Honus Wagner
6) Sidney Crosby
7) Jaromir Jagr
8) Tony Dorsett
9) Arnold Palmer
10) Dan Marino

-Really impressive list, probably the best talent of any city all time and Im not sure its even close. I would take Greene #1 overall in football, Lemieux #2 overall after Gretzky, Bonds #1 overall in baseball if I was doing all time first choice draft picks. Jagr is #2 overall in NHL points all time, Crosby is on his way to becoming a legend and Top 5 player all time, Palmer is a Top 4 golfer all time. We all know Dorsett and Marino's records. Then throw in Clemente and Wagner, 2 more Top 10 baseball players all time. Spoiled with riches for all time great players. Ill put that list up against any city anywhere.

Replace Bonds with Stargell and I like your list.

 

[PittFacts17]

Where do you think Kithcart will end up on this list?

Doubt you will get an answer from Beef Curtain on this one..

Phil likey

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

Except Mario brought two cups, is the 2nd best NHLer of all time, and literally helped saved the team from leaving. An athlete couldn't do more.

Yeah, Lemieux is #1 and there is no question. Not just one of the best players of all time, but he saved the Pens as an owner. I don't care if football is bigger, there would not be hockey here without Lemieux. Joe Greene didn't have that type of impact.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

And everything Lemuiex did still can't trump what the Steelers of the 70s meant to the city. Mario is awesome though. Number 2 only behind Mean Joe.

But the Steelers were so much more than Joe Greene. You are just crediting Greene for the Steeler's success. Mario was the Pens.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

Good list overall. But I'm not sure you can put Bonds in there, especially hight than Clemente. Bonds tenure in Pittsburgh wasn't anywhere near as good as Wagner and Clemente. I'd even put Willie Stargell up there. And 3 Penguins and 1 Steeler is a little odd.

Here is mine

1. Mean Joe
2. Mario Lemuiex
3. Tony Dorsett
4. Roberto Clemente
5. Arnold Palmer
6. Sidney Crosby
7. Honus Wagner
8. Willie Stargell
9. Jerome Bettis
10. Mike Webster

This list is pretty solid, but no way Bettis. No way could or should you put Bettis ahead of Franco. As much as we dislike Franco. No way, not on any list.

My list:
1) Mario
2) Palmer
3) Greene
4) Clemente
5) Dorsett
6) Sid
7) Wagner
8) Bonds
9) Franco
10) Jagr

 

[Parkview57]

Paul Waner needs to be mentioned in the discussion.

 

[Delpanther]

Del puts Big Ben #1

If we were talking about the top 10 diva list, the 10 QBs too dumb to run a QB sneak from the 1 foot line or the 10 nfl players most likely to get their big clown feet tangled up, fall down and thereafter have to wear a boot, you would be correct!

 

[beiglepanther]

Jesus Christ has everyone forgotten about Weegie Thompson?

 

[Delpanther]

Jesus Christ has everyone forgotten about Weegie Thompson?

He's #11...a just miss

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

He's #11...a just miss

Who, Jesus Christ or Weegie Thompson?

 

[steel_curtain]

But the Steelers were so much more than Joe Greene. You are just crediting Greene for the Steeler's success. Mario was the Pens.

-Greene was the Steelers. The Steelers had 6 winning seasons in 25 years Prior to Greene. He anchored the best defense of all time forming a dynasty team in the 70's and was the main reason why. He was the reason for the Steel Curtain defense and turnaround. The same can be said about Mario leading the Pens into greatness. He won 4 Superbowls and was 2 Time MVP of the entire league on top of 10 Pro Bowls and the greatest football defense ever. I wouldnt have a problem with Mario #1, but you seem to be shortchanging a player that turned around a terrible franchise prior to his arrival.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

was 2 Time MVP of the entire league

Joe Greene NEVER won the NFL MVP award, or at least not one given by anyone creditable.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Football_League_Most_Valuable_Player_Award

The only Stiller player ever to win the AP NFL MVP, which is the one that the league recognizes as it's semi-official award, is Terry Bradshaw in 1978.

 

[steel_curtain]

Joe Greene NEVER won the NFL MVP award, or at least not one given by anyone creditable.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Football_League_Most_Valuable_Player_Award

The only Stiller player ever to win the AP NFL MVP, which is the one that the league recognizes as it's semi-official award, is Terry Bradshaw in 1978.

**Defensive MVP in 72 and 74

 

[King Of All Message Boards]

League MVP, defensive MVP. Whatever.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

**Defensive MVP in 72 and 74

Which is, of course, not the same thing as MVP of the entire league.

 

[King Of All Message Boards]

Which is, of course, not the same thing as MVP of the entire league.

Oh I agree. Doesn't matter in his world. Say whatever then move the goalposts seems to be the way he operates.

 

[DrTongue]

Ernie Stautner.

 

[Las Panteras]

no mention of Dick Groat??

Sheer idiocy

greatest athlete to ever come out of Western PA

 

[jtownknowitall]

Joe Greene and Terry Bradshaw are 1-2 on the list. Roberto Clemente is 3. Then Mario Lemieux at 4. Hockey is a distant third to football and baseball.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

Roberto Clemente isn't the greatest Pirate. Honus Wagner is, and it isn't even really close. The only reason you can argue that Clemente is ahead of Bonds is if you hold the fact that Bonds was only here for seven season against him. And I'm not saying you shouldn't, but two posts ago someone posited that a guy who didn't play in Pittsburgh all that much longer than Bonds should be on the list. If Dick Groat is on someone's list then Bonds better be on that list as well, and much higher on the list at that.

 

[steel_curtain]

Roberto Clemente isn't the greatest Pirate. Honus Wagner is, and it isn't even really close. The only reason you can argue that Clemente is ahead of Bonds is if you hold the fact that Bonds was only here for seven season against him. And I'm not saying you shouldn't, but two posts ago someone posited that a guy who didn't play in Pittsburgh all that much longer than Bonds should be on the list. If Dick Groat is on someone's list then Bonds better be on that list as well, and much higher on the list at that.

-Roberto Clemente is a 15X All Star with 12 Golden Gloves. He has more Golden Gloves then any other outfielder to ever play the game. He has 4 more Gloves then Bonds. I could make the argument with ease Clemente is a Top 5 Baseball player in the history of the game regardless of position, and that is to take nothing away from Wagner.

 

[TheOldDirtyPanther]

Lemieux is the only reason this black dude started watching hockey and loves it to this day! So he gets my vote!

 

[maxwell#1]

Lemieux is the only reason this black dude started watching hockey and loves it to this day! So he gets my vote!

Top

 

[ChazzMo]

Bonds over Clemente? Laughable. Clemente would have thrown out Sid Bream by 4 steps.

 

[maxwell#1]

Top three are easy in my view, place in any order Mario, Arnie or Honus. Mario for obvious reasons, Arnie ushered in the modern era of golf, not the best but the reason the game became so big today. Honus played the most demanding position in his game and was outstanding, some were better defensively some better offensively but none did it all as well as him. First class of baseball hall of fame inductee enough said. Sometimes we get blinded by the modern players, you can only compare them against those in his era and in his no one did till Ruth came along in the 20s.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

I could make the argument with ease Clemente is a Top 5 Baseball player in the history of the game regardless of position

Well sure, you COULD make that argument. Of course it would be a batshit crazy argument, but you could make it.