Who is the most UNDER RATED athlete in Pittsburgh Sports History?

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

I think that the OP was referring to his playing time while at PITT. Ricky went on to a long, illustrious NFL career with the Saints.

Again, the title of the subject was "most underrated athlete in Pittsburgh sports history", not "my favorite player who maybe did not get as much recognition as others but still was highly decorated for his career."

Jackson made some AA teams maybe as HM, was a 2nd rd pick in the NFL and eventually wound up with his bust in Canton. Not sure how that qualifies as "underrated". Great, yes. Underrated? No.

 

[Jpripper88]

Marc Andre Fleury.

 

[Burgh15]

I know he picked up a ton of accolades in college and is recognized as the best defensive player in the NFL by some now, but Aaron Donald was not truly appreciated for how dominant of a player he was in college by people outside of the Pitt circles.

 

[Jpripper88]

I know he picked up a ton of accolades in college and is recognized as the best defensive player in the NFL by some now, but Aaron Donald was not truly appreciated for how dominant of a player he was in college by people outside of the Pitt circles.

???

 

[ameoba defense]

I know he picked up a ton of accolades in college and is recognized as the best defensive player in the NFL by some now, but Aaron Donald was not truly appreciated for how dominant of a player he was in college by people outside of the Pitt circles.

All of those awards he got were voted on by people outside of Pitt circles. He didn't get a bunch of press because players on mediocre teams rarely do, unless they're a qb or running back.

 

[Gary77]

Gene Alley

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

Sam Young

 

[Joe Pa Thetic]

Harry Greb. In 2002, Ring Magazine rated Greb as the seventh best pound for pound boxer of the past 80 years. Greb, who was known as "the Pittsburgh Windmill," is almost always ranked in the top 10-15 on such lists, yet few people today even know his name.

I had read previously that Greb rarely to never trained because he fought so often that there was no need to train to stay in shape. In 1919 alone, Greb fought 45 times. By the time, he died on an operating table at age 32, Greb had officially fought in 298 bouts and was world middleweight and light heavyweight champion in an era when there was just one world champion in each weight class and just eight weight classes overall. Greb was also the only man to ever defeat future heavyweight champion Gene Tunney.

The International Boxing Research Organization ranks Greb as the greatest middleweight of all-time and the second greatest pound for pound fighter of all time (behind Sugar Ray Robinson).


http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2014/01/human-windmill-best-boxer-never-seen-fighting/

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

http://coxscorner.tripod.com/greb.html

https://www.thoughtco.com/ring-magazines-best-fighters-424112

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

I know he picked up a ton of accolades in college and is recognized as the best defensive player in the NFL by some now, but Aaron Donald was not truly appreciated for how dominant of a player he was in college by people outside of the Pitt circles.

He won like every award possible. Again, "underrated" does not mean "my favorite player".

Using this logic, I will say Mario Lemieux because people always ranked Gretzky ahead of him.

 

[Burgh15]

He won like every award possible. Again, "underrated" does not mean "my favorite player".

Using this logic, I will say Mario Lemieux because people always ranked Gretzky ahead of him.

Not my favorite player at all. Overshadowed by every offensive player in the nation when in reality he was a generational defensive talent in college football.

 

[Jpripper88]

Not my favorite player at all. Overshadowed by every offensive player in the nation when in reality he was a generational defensive talent in college football.

And that was acknowledged by winning basically every award he could possibly win. He played DT for a 6-6 Pitt team, who was 11th in the ACC and had a HC who couldn't string 3 sentences together. You expect that guy to be covered more than Jameis Winston, AJ McCarron, and Johnny Manzeil?

 

[paulbl99]

Not my favorite player at all. Overshadowed by every offensive player in the nation when in reality he was a generational defensive talent in college football.

Maybe can see your thinking of him, but only as he's arriving at Pitt

But then...
He won every defensive award they hand out. He is the most honored defensive college player.........ever.
That's sorta disqualifies him.

 

[steel_curtain]

-Just my opinion, but this thread starts and ends with Roberto Clemente.

1) Because of his story and how he was originally was a bench player in Puerto Rico

2) He is the most underrated baseball player in MLB history in my opinion. Top 5 All time, my opinion. A lot of lists now recently, even recently by ESPN, have put him in the Top 10 All time regardless of position, but it took forever for him to get his due because of Willie Mays and the hype for Mays. Its to a degree like Crosby overshadowing Malkin.

3) He had arguably the greatest arm in MLB history with an absolute cannon from the outfield, surpassed 3000 hits, is a 12 time gold glove winner which is the most in MLB history for an outfielder (tied with Mays), a 15 Time All Star, has the most triples in MLB history dating back to 1950, etc...

4) He got hit by a drunk driver his rookie season and that what his lowest batting average season. In his last 13 seasons, his lowest batting average as a player was .291.

5) He learned to hit with a broomstick and bottle caps, which makes the story even cooler

 

[Rugger]

Ike Taylor. He'd be in the HOF if he could catch a football.

 

[Cap pitt]

Gene Alley

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

Ike Taylor. He'd be in the HOF if he could catch a football.

Fair

 

[Swervin27]

CArnell lake

 

[steelcurtain55.]

A couple of Steelers come to mind who were really excellent players but didn't get a ton of national recognition.

Dan Kreider
Brian Hinkle
Ike Taylor
Tim Lester
Chris Hoke

Bill Fralic and Hugh Green imo are underrated to this generation of cfb fans and media. Most have no clue just how dominate they were. Under appreciated might be better.

 

[DiehardPanther]

A couple of Steelers come to mind who were really excellent players but didn't get a ton of national recognition.

Dan Kreider
Brian Hinkle
Ike Taylor
Tim Lester
Chris Hoke

Bill Fralic and Hugh Green imo are underrated to this generation of cfb fans and media. Most have no clue just how dominate they were. Under appreciated might be better.

Levon Kirkland - another guy who did not get enough credit

 

[steelcurtain55.]

Jim Sweeney
Troy Benson

 

[upj87]

Ill lead off with Jerry Olsavsky......recruited by Pitt and Carnegie Mellon

ends up an All American Linebacker and only spent ten years in the League with the Steelers.....

So....before we stack up 12 + pages ........ask yourself.....is there anyone that tops Jerry O?

Bob Koepka

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

-Just my opinion, but this thread starts and ends with Roberto Clemente.

1) Because of his story and how he was originally was a bench player in Puerto Rico

2) He is the most underrated baseball player in MLB history in my opinion. Top 5 All time, my opinion. A lot of lists now recently, even recently by ESPN, have put him in the Top 10 All time regardless of position, but it took forever for him to get his due because of Willie Mays and the hype for Mays. Its to a degree like Crosby overshadowing Malkin.

3) He had arguably the greatest arm in MLB history with an absolute cannon from the outfield, surpassed 3000 hits, is a 12 time gold glove winner which is the most in MLB history for an outfielder (tied with Mays), a 15 Time All Star, has the most triples in MLB history dating back to 1950, etc...

4) He got hit by a drunk driver his rookie season and that what his lowest batting average season. In his last 13 seasons, his lowest batting average as a player was .291.

5) He learned to hit with a broomstick and bottle caps, which makes the story even cooler

Your opinion is wrong. The baseball HOF waived their waiting period for Clemente to be inducted into the HOF. How is that "underrated'? Again, some of you need a dictionary. "Underrated" is not a synonym for "favorite player".

 

[ynzrnuts213]

Larry Brown.Offensive Tackle, Steelers.

 

[upj87]

Again, the title of the subject was "most underrated athlete in Pittsburgh sports history", not "my favorite player who maybe did not get as much recognition as others but still was highly decorated for his career."

Jackson made some AA teams maybe as HM, was a 2nd rd pick in the NFL and eventually wound up with his bust in Canton. Not sure how that qualifies as "underrated". Great, yes. Underrated? No.

Armen Gilliam

 

[WiseAndGlorious]

 

[ynzrnuts213]

Funniest one has to be Bobby Bonilla, I think he still gets a million dollars a year from the Mets, every year, until 2025, but I could be wrong about that date. Must of had a fantastic agent!

 

[Ronnyp91]

Funniest one has to be Bobby Bonilla, I think he still gets a million dollars a year from the Mets, every year, until 2025, but I could be wrong about that date. Must of had a fantastic agent!

Bobby Bonilla day. Every July 1st through 2035!

 

[TempleBAPittMPA]

Ike Taylor. He'd be in the HOF if he could catch a football.

Or cover anyone.

 

[TempleBAPittMPA]

-Just my opinion, but this thread starts and ends with Roberto Clemente.

1) Because of his story and how he was originally was a bench player in Puerto Rico

2) He is the most underrated baseball player in MLB history in my opinion. Top 5 All time, my opinion. A lot of lists now recently, even recently by ESPN, have put him in the Top 10 All time regardless of position, but it took forever for him to get his due because of Willie Mays and the hype for Mays. Its to a degree like Crosby overshadowing Malkin.

3) He had arguably the greatest arm in MLB history with an absolute cannon from the outfield, surpassed 3000 hits, is a 12 time gold glove winner which is the most in MLB history for an outfielder (tied with Mays), a 15 Time All Star, has the most triples in MLB history dating back to 1950, etc...

4) He got hit by a drunk driver his rookie season and that what his lowest batting average season. In his last 13 seasons, his lowest batting average as a player was .291.

5) He learned to hit with a broomstick and bottle caps, which makes the story even cooler

:Love Clemente, just don't agree with considering him ":underrated"., but if memory serves me right, that .291 season was the one in which he was plagued by a case of malaria that caused him to miss spring training. As a result,the right fielder on opening day was a younger. sleeker Willie Stargell than the one we came to know..

 

[DruidTM]

Mark Schubb....


Dude was a legend.... you'd think he get some talk once in awhile.... but no... never Schubb....

It's always Dudes like Marino..Bradshaw...Bettie...Lambert....Stargell...

It's actually a shame

 

[TempleBAPittMPA]

The baseball HOF waived their waiting period for Clemente to be inducted into the HOF. How is that "underrated'? .

Ass I said, I don't agree with considering Clemente "underrated" either, but the waiver of the "waiting period" in his case was due to sentiment that that was the proper way to commemorate his heroic death.

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

Chase Clowser

Dan Stephens

 

[BuffetParrothead]

Anthony Gonzales we know him . He came in as a QB/safety thats what he played at Liberty HS in Bethlehem PA but waited for his turn at LB and did a great job!

 

[ynzrnuts213]

Here's another. Sam Clancy. What a beast!!!

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

Bobby Bonilla day. Every July 1st through 2035!

That's it. July 1 is officially now known as Bobby Bonilla Day!

 

[BradlyPitt]

ron francis

 

[NTOP]

How many non-sports fans locally or even younger sports fans in the area, or for that matter current Pitt students, know the accomplishments of Suzie McConnell-Serio and Roger Kingdom?

Well....that wasn't Suzie that Roger beat out for MVP at the GA state T&F meet.