BY KYLE MYERS – FAN FUEL BLOGGER
The number 19 is one that holds significant meaning for me, a Detroit sports fan, because of one man known as “The Captain.” But the number has also adorned many a prolific athlete in other major sports as well. Without further ado, here are the greatest athletes to ever wear 19 in the four major North American sports:
NHL: Steve Yzerman. Known to fans as “The Captain,” Steve Yzerman is one of the greatest players to ever don an NHL jersey. Drafted fourth overall by a struggling Detroit Red Wings franchise in 1983, Yzerman was the guy who brought them to prominence. He is the longest serving captain in North American pro sports history, serving for 19 seasons until his retirement in 2006. Yzerman has won essentially every award an NHL player can win, and led his team to five President’s trophies and three Stanley Cups. Stevie Y is without a doubt the most beloved athlete in Detroit sports history, and was as prolific a scorer as he was a leader. Yzerman is currently sixth overall in NHL points, eight in goals and seventh in assists. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2009, and his #19 will be forever sacred in Detroit. Yzerman will forever live on the hearts of Wings’ fans, and go down as arguably the greatest player to ever wear the winged wheel on his chest.
NBA: Willis Reed. His basketball dominance began at Grambling State University, where Reed amassed over 2,200 points over his four year career, capped by a senior season in which he averaged 26 points and 21 rebounds a game. Reed carried this success into the NBA, where he posted over 12,000 career points, averaging almost 19 points and 13 rebounds per game. He was a two-time World Champion with the New York Knicks, and was named the NBA Finals MVP both years. He was a seven-time all-star, and won the Rookie of the Year award after the 1964 season. He was named the NBA MVP in 1970 and is considered one of the 50 greatest NBA players of all time. Reed was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1982, and his #19 has been retired by the Knicks.
MLB: Tony Gwynn Sr. He is one of the greatest hitters ever, so this decision was an easy one. Gwynn had a career batting average of .338, and is a member of the elite 3,000 hit club. He was the NL batting champion seven times in his career, never hit under .309 in a full season, and had three consecutive titles two different times. He was an all-star 15 times during his career, and won seven Silver Sluggers to go along with five Gold Gloves. He was the epitome of a player who excelled both at the plate and in the outfield, and was a near-unanimous Hall of Fame inductee in his first year of eligibility in 2007. He played his entire career with the San Diego Padres, and they retired #19 in his honour in 2004.
NFL: Johnny Unitas. “The Golden Arm” was the first elite quarterback in the NFL’s history. During his tenure with the Baltimore Colts, Unitas was named to 10 Pro Bowls, named the NFL MVP three times, and was named the NFL Man of the year in 1970. He passed for 290 touchdowns and over 40,000 yards in his career, with a lifetime QB rating of 78. Before the NFL-AFL merger Unitas won two NFL World Championships, and added a Super Bowl title in 1970. Between 1956 and 1960, Unitas threw a touchdown in 47 consecutive games, an NFL record which stood until 2012 when it was broken by Drew Brees. His number 19 jersey is retired by the Colts, and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979.
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