Greatest American Sports Stars of All Time

American·Basketball

Michael Jordan

American basketball legend widely regarded as the greatest player of all time, leading Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships in the 1990s.

6× champion · 30.1 ppg career

Read bio →

2

MA

American·Boxing

Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali became the first boxer to win the heavyweight championship on three separate occasions across a storied career.

56-5-0 · 3 world titles

Read bio →

3

TB

American·American Football

Tom Brady

Tom Brady is the NFL's all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns, winning a record seven Super Bowl championships across 23 seasons wi

7× Super Bowl · 649 TDs

Read bio →

4

LJ

American·Basketball

LeBron James

American basketball superstar, 4-time NBA champion and all-time leading scorer. Known for versatility, basketball IQ, and longevity across m

4× champion · 26.8 ppg career

Read bio →

5

BR

American·Baseball

Babe Ruth

Babe Ruth was a legendary Yankees slugger and pitcher widely regarded as the greatest baseball player of all time.

714 home runs · .0342 avg

Read bio →

6

SW

American·Tennis

Serena Williams

American great who won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, the most of any player in the Open Era, and four Olympic gold medals.

23 Grand Slams · 319 weeks at No.1

Read bio →

7

JN

American·Golf

Jack Nicklaus

American golfer widely regarded as the greatest of all time, holding the record for most men's major championships won.

18 majors · 73 tour wins

Read bio →

8

TW

American·Golf

Tiger Woods

Dominant American golfer who held the World No.1 ranking for a record 683 weeks and won 15 professional majors.

15 majors · 82 tour wins

Read bio →

9

JR

American·American Football

Jerry Rice

49ers/Raiders/Seahawks wide receiver considered the greatest of all time, holding nearly every major career receiving record.

3× Super Bowl · 208 TDs

Read bio →

10

JB

American·American Football

Jim Brown

Cleveland Browns running back and NFL legend who dominated the league in the late 1950s and 1960s before retiring at his peak.

126 TDs · 9× Pro Bowl

Read bio →

11

SB

American·Gymnastics

Simone Biles

American artistic gymnast widely considered the greatest of all time with 7 Olympic golds and 25 World Championship medals including 19 gold

7 Olympic golds · 23 world titles

Read bio →

12

MP

American·Swimming

Michael Phelps

American swimmer who won a record 23 Olympic gold medals and 28 total across five Games (2000-2016).

23 Olympic golds · 28 Olympic medals

Read bio →

13

KA

American·Basketball

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

American basketball legend and NBA's all-time leading scorer for 39 years, known for his unstoppable skyhook shot and six NBA championships.

6× champion · 24.6 ppg career

Read bio →

14

BR

American·Basketball

Bill Russell

American basketball center and coach, widely regarded as the greatest winner in NBA history with 11 championships in 13 seasons with the Bos

11× champion · 14522 career points

Read bio →

15

JO

American·Athletics

Jesse Owens

Won four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

4 Olympic golds · 6 world records

Read bio →

16

CL

American·Athletics

Carl Lewis

Nine-time Olympic gold medallist across four Games.

9 Olympic golds · 8 world titles

Read bio →

17

WC

American·Basketball

Wilt Chamberlain

The most statistically dominant player in NBA history — scored 100 points in a single game and averaged 50.4 points per game in 1961-62.

2× champion · 30.1 ppg career

Read bio →

18

MJ

American·Basketball

Magic Johnson

American basketball legend who revolutionized the point guard position, leading the Lakers to five NBA championships and becoming one of the

5× champion · 19.5 ppg career

Read bio →

19

LB

American·Basketball

Larry Bird

Boston Celtics legend and three-time champion whose rivalry with Magic Johnson revived the NBA in the 1980s.

3× champion · 24.3 ppg career

Read bio →

20

PS

American·Tennis

Pete Sampras

American who won 14 Grand Slam singles titles, a men's record that stood until Roger Federer surpassed it, and finished world No. 1 six cons

14 Grand Slams · 286 weeks at No.1

Read bio →

21

WM

American·Baseball

Willie Mays

Willie Mays was a transcendent five-tool center fielder for the Giants, famed for his glove, arm, power and speed.

660 home runs · .0301 avg

Read bio →

22

HA

American·Baseball

Hank Aaron

Hank Aaron was a Hall of Fame outfielder who held the MLB career home run record for decades and remains the RBI leader.

755 home runs · .0305 avg

Read bio →

23

KB

American·Basketball

Kobe Bryant

American basketball legend who spent entire 20-year NBA career with Lakers, winning 5 championships and scoring 81 points in single game

5× champion · 25 ppg career

Read bio →

24

TP

American·Horse Racing

Todd Pletcher

American thoroughbred horse trainer, multiple Eclipse Award winner and trainer of Kentucky Derby winners including Super Saver and Always Dr

5737 wins · 6 classics

Read bio →

25

MS

American·Horse Racing

Mike Smith

American Hall of Fame jockey born in 1967, winner of multiple Breeders' Cup races and major stakes, known for riding longshot Kentucky Derby

5791 wins

Read bio →

26

BB

American·Baseball

Barry Bonds

Barry Bonds is MLB's all-time home run leader and a record 7-time NL MVP.

762 home runs · .0298 avg

Read bio →

27

LG

American·Baseball

Lou Gehrig

Lou Gehrig was a dominant Yankees first baseman whose consecutive-games streak and career cut short by ALS made him a baseball icon.

493 home runs · .034 avg

Read bio →

28

AR

American·Baseball

Alex Rodriguez

Alex Rodriguez was a power-hitting shortstop/third baseman who ranks among the all-time home run leaders.

696 home runs · .0295 avg

Read bio →

29

SM

American·Baseball

Stan Musial

Stan Musial was one of the greatest and most beloved hitters in baseball history, spending his entire 22-year career with the St. Louis Card

475 home runs · .0331 avg

Read bio →

30

RJ

American·Baseball

Reggie Jackson

Reggie Jackson was a charismatic slugger renowned for his postseason heroics with the Athletics and Yankees.

563 home runs · .0262 avg

Read bio →

31

MM

American·Baseball

Mickey Mantle

Mickey Mantle was one of the greatest switch-hitters ever, leading the Yankees to seven World Series titles.

536 home runs · .0298 avg

Read bio →

32

FR

American·Baseball

Frank Robinson

Frank Robinson was a Hall of Fame outfielder and the first Black manager in MLB history, winning MVP awards in both the NL and AL.

586 home runs · .0294 avg

Read bio →

33

EM

American·Baseball

Eddie Murray

Eddie Murray was a consistent switch-hitting Hall of Fame first baseman for the Baltimore Orioles and other clubs.

504 home runs · .0287 avg

Read bio →

34

KG

American·Baseball

Ken Griffey Jr.

Ken Griffey Jr. was one of the most beloved and talented players of his era, admired for his smooth swing and highlight-reel defense.

630 home runs · .0284 avg

Read bio →

35

MR

American/Dominican·Baseball

Manny Ramirez

Manny Ramirez was one of the most prolific run producers of his generation, starring for Cleveland, Boston and the Dodgers.

555 home runs · .0312 avg

Read bio →

36

YB

American·Baseball

Yogi Berra

Yogi Berra was a beloved Yankees catcher who won more World Series titles as a player than anyone in MLB history.

358 home runs · .0285 avg

Read bio →

37

JD

American·Baseball

Joe DiMaggio

Joe DiMaggio was a Hall of Fame Yankees center fielder famous for his record 56-game hitting streak and postseason success.

361 home runs · .0325 avg

Read bio →

38

BB

American·Horse Racing

Bob Baffert

American horse racing trainer known for training two Triple Crown winners, American Pharoah (2015) and Justify (2018), among seven Kentucky

3524 wins · 17 classics

Read bio →

39

DW

American·Baseball

Dave Winfield

Dave Winfield was a powerful and athletic Hall of Fame outfielder who played 22 MLB seasons.

465 home runs · .0283 avg

Read bio →

40

CR

American·Baseball

Cal Ripken Jr.

Cal Ripken Jr. is a Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame shortstop famous for breaking Lou Gehrig's consecutive games streak.

431 home runs · .0276 avg

Read bio →

41

TW

American·Baseball

Ted Williams

Ted Williams was widely regarded as the greatest pure hitter in baseball history, twice interrupting his career for military service.

521 home runs · .0344 avg

Read bio →

42

JT

American·Baseball

Jim Thome

Jim Thome was a beloved Hall of Fame slugger known for his prodigious power and good sportsmanship across five teams.

612 home runs · .0276 avg

Read bio →

43

DJ

American·Baseball

Derek Jeter

Derek Jeter was the longtime captain and shortstop of the New York Yankees, winning five World Series titles.

260 home runs · .031 avg

Read bio →

44

CJ

American·Baseball

Chipper Jones

Chipper Jones was a switch-hitting Atlanta Braves third baseman and one of the greatest switch hitters in MLB history.

468 home runs · .0303 avg

Read bio →

45

MS

American·Baseball

Mike Schmidt

Mike Schmidt is considered the greatest third baseman in MLB history, leading the Phillies to their first World Series title in 1980.

548 home runs · .0267 avg

Read bio →

46

FT

American·Baseball

Frank Thomas

Frank Thomas, nicknamed 'The Big Hurt', was a dominant Hall of Fame first baseman/DH for the Chicago White Sox.

521 home runs · .0301 avg

Read bio →

47

KL

American·Swimming

Katie Ledecky

First woman to win four Olympic golds in a single individual event (800 free), and holds the record for most World Championship golds in swi

9 Olympic golds · 14 Olympic medals

Read bio →

48

EB

American·Baseball

Ernie Banks

Ernie Banks, nicknamed 'Mr. Cub', was a beloved Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame shortstop/first baseman and two-time MVP.

512 home runs · .0274 avg

Read bio →

49

AK

American·Baseball

Al Kaline

Al Kaline was a Detroit Tigers Hall of Fame outfielder known for his all-around excellence and defensive brilliance.

399 home runs · .0297 avg

Read bio →

50

TC

American·Baseball

Ty Cobb

Ty Cobb was a fierce, brilliant hitter and baserunner for the Detroit Tigers, holding MLB's career batting average record.

117 home runs · .0366 avg

Read bio →