Best By Position Since 1970

Why 1970? Born in 1965, my earliest memories of professional sports began around the age of 5.  The exact date was probably May 10, 1970, when this happened…

So, my point of reference goes back 45 years. To be eligible for this list, the majority of the athlete’s career must have taken place after 1970. As usual, my picks will reflect what I value most in team sports; eye popping numbers are nice, and there will be plenty of impressive stats—old school, mostly— represented here, but in my opinion, leadership and dedication to winning are the true hallmarks of athletic greatness. Also, as usual, every effort will be made to avoid watering down the list by mentioning who did not make it.

National Football League

Quarterback: Tom Brady

.771 winning percentage as a starter (best all-time). 13 division titles (most all-time). 6 conference championships (most all-time). 4 Super Bowl victories (tied for most all-time). 22 postseason victories (most all-time). Stats? You want stats? He’s in the top five all-time in passing yards and TD passes. The biggest winner. The best leader. The perfect quarterback.  Brady’s done it all, and his story’s ending has yet to be written…

Running Back: Emmitt Smith

Smith is the NFL’s all-time leading rusher, but it’s his 5-year peak, from 1991 to 1996, that stands as the most dominant of any running back since 1970. During that span, he averaged 1,604 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns per season. In the playoffs, he ran for another 1,215 yards and scored 18 touchdowns for Cowboys teams that went 11-2 and won 3 Super Bowls.

Fullback: Daryl Johnson

Paving the way for Smith during the first ten seasons of his career – not to mention all 3 of those Super Bowls – was Daryl Johnson. A devastating blocker, Johnson was a dependable teammate at an underappreciated position, who played in 149 straight games to begin his career. He was a gifted receiver, known for picking up crucial first downs in short yardage situations. The prototype fullback of the modern era.

Wide Receiver: Jerry Rice

There’s really no other choice. Rice owns every meaningful career receiving record for both regular season and playoffs. He’s also the all-time leader in regular season touchdowns (208) and playoff touchdowns (22). But most importantly, Rice owns 3 Super Bowl rings; in those 3 games, he averaged 9 receptions for 171 yards and 2 TDs.

Tight End: Mark Bavaro

This one may raise a few eyebrows (depending on how many people actually read this).  Bavaro did not have the most catches, yards, or touchdowns, but he played his position the way I believe it should be played. A crushing run blocker, Bavaro possessed soft hands, brute strength and an obvious contempt for anyone who lined up across from him. If 2 yards were needed, he drove his opponent 3 yards downfield. If 7 yards were needed, he caught an 8-yard pass. A 2-time Super Bowl champion, his relatively short career (126 games in 9 seasons) does not diminish his greatness.

*In another season or two, Rob Gronkowski, who plays a lot like Bavaro, will take over this position.

A few words about offensive linemen: I’m not going to pretend to be an expert on play in the trenches (at least not as much as I pretend to be an expert on everything else). I haven’t studied the all-22 film reels on the great offensive linemen of my lifetime. But I’ve seen enough football to know that the three players I’ve chosen are among the greatest at their positions over the last 45 years.

Tackle: Anthony Munoz

Guard: John Hannah

Center: Mike Webster

Defensive End: Reggie White

Speed. Power. Strength. Quickness. White had it all; including a vast array of signature moves designed to keep offensive linemen on their heels, wondering how they’d be victimized. His 3 second half sacks of Drew Bledsoe in Super Bowl XXXI had as much, if not more, to do with the Packers victory over New England as Desmond Howard’s 99-yard kickoff return. White was a dominant force for 15 seasons.

Defensive Tackle: Joe Greene

When I think of those great Steelers teams of the 1970s, Joe Greene’s is the first face I see. In fact, Greene may have been the single greatest football player of that decade. The relentless leader of one of the best defenses in history, Greene was the cornerstone of the only team of the Super Bowl era to win 4 titles in 6 seasons.

Outside Linebacker: Lawrence Taylor

Still the single most disruptive force I’ve ever seen on a football field. People talk about an athlete’s “motor”, well LT’s was wide open, full throttle, all the time. If you’re into MVP awards, Taylor is one of only two defensive players to ever be voted that honor (the other was Alan Page). Two-time Super Bowl champ. Best defensive player of my lifetime.

 Middle Linebacker: Jack Lambert

At a position loaded with worthy candidates, Lambert gets the nod for the way he came into the league, joined a very good defense, and made it great. A ferocious competitor, he was the final piece to the legendary Steel Curtain defense. The Cowboys were my NFC team back then and Lambert broke my heart more than once. 4 Super Bowl titles and a toothless snarl; he was an unforgettable character.  

Cornerback: Mel Blount

Yup, another Steeler. Remember, this is not about my favorite teams or players; it’s about the best players I ever saw. And Mel Blount fits the bill at cornerback. A master at bump-and-run coverage, Blount finished his career with 57 interceptions and 13 fumble recoveries. His physical style of play has been legislated out of today’s NFL, but in his day, he was the best. Another member of the 4-time Super Bowl champs.

Safety: Ronnie Lott

During Lott’s 10 seasons with the 49ers, they won 8 division titles and 4 Super Bowls. Like Blount, he was a hard-hitting, ball-hawking (63 career interceptions, 17 fumble recoveries) menace to the opposition. Former teammates speak reverently of his legendary leadership skills. What Joe Montana was to the 49er offense, so was Ronnie Lott to its defense.

Kicker: Adam Vinatieri

Outdoors. Indoors. Bad weather. Bright sunshine. Under any condition or circumstance, Adam Vinatieri is the best kicker of the last 45 years. He has 4 Super Bowl rings, 2 Super Bowl winning kicks, 10 overtime winning kicks (NFL record) and is the only NFL player to score 1,000 points with 2 teams. His 45-yard game-tying field goal in a driving snow storm in the 2002 divisional playoff game against Oakland is still the greatest kick I’ve ever seen.

Punter: Ray Guy

If it weren’t for Ray Guy, I probably would’ve just skipped this position. But for most of my childhood, there was never any question that Guy was the best punter in the NFL. He remains the only pure punter to be taken in the first round of the NFL draft (23^rd overall in 1973), as well as the only punter enshrined in the Pro Football Hall Of Fame. He played 13 seasons on some pretty great Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders teams, including 3 Super Bowl winners.

Punt Returner: Deion Sanders

His self-promoting antics aside, Sanders could change the flow of a game like no other player. No one was more dangerous when turning the ball the other way. Whether by interception fumble recovery, kickoff return, or punt return, Sanders ability to accelerate and avoid would-be tacklers was astounding. In the years 1994-95, Sanders single handedly controlled the balance of league power by jumping from the 49ers to the Cowboys and winning Super Bowls in each season. His 19 return touchdowns stood as an NFL record until it was broken by…

Kickoff Returner: Devin Hester

Devin Hester’s ten-year career as a kick returner can be broken down into two chapters; the first five years were spent returning kickoffs from the opponent’s 30 yard line, the next five, from the opponent’s 35. In his first five seasons, Hester returned 4 kickoffs for touchdowns. He’s returned one since. But even as the league has reduced most kickoff returners into kneel-down specialists, Hester remains a threat, leading the league in kickoff return yardage in 2013 and 2014. His biggest play was a 92-yard touchdown return of the opening kickoff of Super Bowl XLI (a 29-17 loss to Indianapolis). His 20 all-time return touchdowns breakdown: 5 kick offs, 14 punts, 1 blocked field goal.

Special Teamer: Steve Tasker

Tasker was an undersized wide receiver who played himself into a household name by excelling as a special teams gunner. Using speed, toughness and determination, Tasker became one of the most valuable members of the 4-time AFC Champion Buffalo Bills of the early 1990s. He was named All-Pro special teamer seven times.

National Hockey League

Center: Wayne Gretzky

I’m actually more of a Lemieux/Messier guy, but Gretzky just had too many goals, too many assists and too many 200-point seasons to ignore when choosing the top center. The 4 Stanley Cups solidify his case. The Great One owns nine of the top eleven single-season point totals in NHL history, and four of the top five single season playoff point totals. According to the NHL’s Official Guide and Record Book, Gretzky owns or shares 55 regular season and playoff scoring records. He has more career assists (1963) than anyone else has points. I could go on, but you get the picture.

Right Wing: Guy Lafleur

The best forward on the best team of my lifetime. Lafleur dominated the second half of the 1970s the way Bobby Orr dominated the first half. A five time Stanley Cup winner with Montreal, he’s the franchise leader in career points (1246) and assists (728), and single season record holder for points (136) and goals (60, tied with Steve Shutt). During the Canadiens’ run of 4 straight Stanley Cup championships from 1976 to 1979, Lafleur averaged 56 goals and 75 assists for 131 points per season.

Left Wing: Brendan Shanahan 

Of all the positions on this list, this is the one least populated by legends and signature moments, and represents the narrowest margin between the top two players. And here, I will break from tradition and also name the runner up. Brendan Shanahan and Luc Robitaille are a virtual statistical wash. For his career, Shanahan scored 656 goals and assisted on 698 for 1354 points, while Robitaille compiled a 668-726-1394 line. In football, my choice of Mark Bavaro at tight end was based more on style of play than on statistical production. And here, Shanahan gets the nod for the same reason; his physical presence made him a more complete player. And finally, Shanahan played on 3 Stanley Cup winners, Robitaille, just one.

Defenseman: Bobby Orr

I’ve written of the greatness of Bobby Orr on this site many times, sighting his revolutionary offensive gifts, his legendary skating skills and his far-reaching impact on the game of hockey. Here, I’ll discuss his plus/minus ratings. In 7 full seasons, Orr led the NHL in plus/minus a record 6 times (records were not kept in his rookie season). In 1970-71, he set a still-standing single-season record of +124. On the all-time list, Orr (+597) is second only to Larry Robinson (+730), who played in 753 more games. Orr was The Greatest. Period.

Goaltender: Ken Dryden

He won six Stanley Cups in eight seasons. He won every individual award a goaltender can win. The Canadiens were 258-57-74 with him in net during the regular season, and an incredible 80-32 in the playoffs. So, how is it that Ken Dryden is underrated? It’s not a topic beyond debate, but Dryden’s the best goaltender I’ve ever seen.

National Basketball Association

Center: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

I never saw Bill Russell, so I’ll have to settle for the 2^nd-greatest center of all-time. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played on 6 NBA Championship teams and reached the Finals 10 times. He’s still the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, and his Sky Hook is the most recognizable and unstoppable move in all of sports. In spite of what I said about Russell, Abdul-Jabbar is in the conversation for greatest high school, college and professional basketball player of all-time. He was never less than great.

Power Forward: Tim Duncan

Like Tom Brady, Tim Duncan’s story is not yet complete. Duncan may be the most consistent superstar in team sports history. His career regular season per-game averages through the first half of this, his 16^th, season: 19.2 pts, 10.9 rebs, 3.0 assts, 2.2 blks. And playoffs: 21.2, 11.7, 3.1, 2.3. The numbers are remarkably steady, and reflect one of the most productive players in league history. Notice the slight increases during the playoffs? Duncan has been the cornerstone member of 5 NBA Championship teams.

Small Forward: Larry Bird

Were you expecting someone else? Bird was as tough, fearless and skilled as any basketball player I’ve ever seen.  From the moment he joined the Celtics in 1979, he became their inspirational leader, and filled the void of Legendary Boston Sorts Superstar left vacant by Bobby Orr a few years prior. With Bird as their guide, the Celtics played in 8 Eastern Conference Finals, 5 NBA Finals and won 3 Championships. As for LeBron James; he might have been able to beat Bird one-on-one, but basketball is a team game, and I’d take 5 Birds over 5 LeBrons every time.

Point Guard: Magic Johnson

A winner from the very start; as a rookie, Magic filled in for an injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in Game 6 of the 1980 NBA Finals against Philadelphia and scored 42 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and dished out 7 assists, clinching the first of his 5 championships with the Lakers. Versatility aside, he revolutionized the point guard position with his size, court vision and will to succeed. Magic’s skill and determination transcended the glitz and glamour of the environment he played in. 

Shooting Guard: Michael Jordan

The first half of Michael Jordan’s career was spent scoring lots of points and producing breathtaking highlights. The second half was spent scoring lots of points, producing breathtaking highlights and dominating the NBA like no one since Bill Russell. Jordan’s obsession with winning was the equal of Bird’s and Magic’s, as was his distaste for losing.  He played 6 full seasons between 1991 and 1998 and the Bulls won the NBA Championship in all 6 of them. Jordan was the biggest star the NBA has ever known.

Sixth Man: John Havlicek

Okay, so it’s not an official position, but there is an award given to the NBA’s best sixth man, and the person most responsible for that is John Havlicek. His stamina was legendary. As the Celtics’ first man off the bench, he would often remain in the game until the final whistle, and maintain a level of production and intensity equal to that of a fresh player. Havlicek played on 8 Celtics championship teams and is still the franchise’s all-time leading scorer.

Major League Baseball

First Base: Albert Pujols

A superb fielder, Albert Pujols is best known for his production at the plate, especially during his first 10 seasons. From 2001 to 2010, Pujols had arguably the best 10-year offensive stretch of the last 50 years. His seasonal averages over that span: 119 runs, 190 hits, 41 HR, 123 RBI, .331 BA, .426 OBP, .624 SLG, 1.050 OPS. Those are staggering numbers. And he’s had some pretty good years since then, too. Pujols was a 2-time World Series champion in St Louis (2006, 2010).

Second Base: Joe Morgan

Second Base was almost as close as Left Wing. So, I’m going to mention a runner up one last time. Joe Morgan’s and Roberto Alomar’s career statistics are remarkably similar. Both played on back-to-back World Series championship teams. Both were outstanding fielders. Both played with flair, intelligence and fierce determination. In the end, I chose Joe Morgan for his slight edge in power, and because he had the winning hit in the greatest World Series of my lifetime.

Third Base: Mike Schmidt

Mike Schmidt was the best right-handed power hitter, and best fielding third baseman, of my childhood. Before the Great Steroid Flood of the 1990s and 2000s, Schmidt’s 548 career homeruns placed him 7^th on the all-time list. In 1980, he led the Phillies to their first ever World Series title. Schmidt led the National League in homeruns eight times, and his career total is the most of any player who spent his entire career with one team.

Shortstop: Derek Jeter

Right up there with Tim Duncan and Tom Brady among the best team sports winners and leaders of the past 20 years is Derek Jeter. The all-time Yankees hits leader was the stabilizing force on 5 World Series championship teams. Overall, Jeter batted .321 in seven World Series appearances. If this were an actual team, Derek Jeter would be my captain. He was the perfect Yankee.

Leftfielder: Rickey Henderson

Baseball’s all-time leader in runs scored, Rickey Henderson was also the game’s most disruptive base runner. His 1406 career stolen bases are nearly 50% more than that of the next closest player (Lou Brock 938). He was also disruptive at the plate, where 81 of his 297 career homeruns came as the game’s leadoff hitter. Henderson was the starting leftfielder on 2 World Series championship teams: the 1989 As and the 1993 Blue Jays.

 Centerfielder: Ken Griffey Jr.

Of all the major league baseball players I’ve seen, no one else matched the grace and elegance of Ken Griffey Jr. He had the smoothest swing, made the most acrobatic catches and ran with the easiest stride. His 630 career homeruns place him 4^th among players not linked to steroids. Griffey’s the only baseball player on this list who does not own a World Series ring, but his athletic brilliance set him apart from other centerfielders. You really had to see him to appreciate how great he was.

Rightfielder:  Reggie Jackson

The straw that stirs the drink. Just as Mike Schmidt was the best right-handed power hitter of my childhood, so was Reggie Jackson the best left-handed power hitter. His 563 career homeruns placed him 6^th all-time before steroids corrupted the all-time leader board. Most impressively, however, is that between the years 1972 and 1978, Jackson was the central figure on 5 World Series championship teams. Included in those 5 titles, were 3 in a row with Oakland (1972-74); the only non-Yankees team to win 3 straight.

Catcher: Johnny Bench

Among catchers, only Yogi Berra was more accomplished than Johnny Bench. Trained by his father to throw 254 feet—twice the distance to second base—from a squatting position, the strength and accuracy of Bench’s arm was legendary. He led the Major Leagues in RBI during the decade of the 1970s, averaging 101 per season. The backbone of Cincinnati’s Big Red Machine, Bench led the Reds to back-to-back World Series titles in 1975 and 1976.

Designated Hitter: David Ortiz

The greatest DH of all-time (the position is younger than me, so in this case, I’ve seen them all). Ortiz has the numbers. He’s got the big moments. And he did some of his best work against the Yankees, helping, at least for a while, to slow the decades-long momentum of one of pro sports most lopsided rivalries. His lifetime .455 average in World Series play helped lead the Red Sox to 3 titles in 10 seasons after the franchise had gone nearly a century without one.

Right Handed Pitcher: Pedro Martinez

So many to choose from in this category. But I’m going with Pedro Martinez. At his peak, Martinez was simply extraordinary. From 1997-2003, he was 118-36 (.766) with a 2.20 ERA and averaged 11.3 strikeouts per 9 innings. In 2000, his league leading 1.74 ERA was less than half that of Roger Clemens, who was second with 3.70. In 2004, he helped the Red Sox win their first World Series in 86 years. Pedro’s lifetime winning percentage of .687 is the highest of any right hander since 1893. If you were lucky enough to see him pitch at Fenway in the years 1999-2003, you truly saw something special.

Left Handed Pitcher: Randy Johnson

Johnson was the most intimidating pitcher I’ve ever seen. At 6’ 10”, he often threw over 100 mph and hit 188 batters in his career. But he also mustered enough control to amass 4,875 career strikeouts, placing him second all-time and first among lefties. In 10 seasons from 1993 to 2002, Johnson was 175-58 (.751) with a 2.73 ERA and averaged 12.03 Ks/9.  In 2001, he led Arizona to their only World Series title, going 3-0 with a 1.04 ERA, while striking out 19 batters in 17.1 innings. 

Closer: Mariano Rivera

The term closer was popularized in the early 1990s. Before that, pitchers who were counted on to get the final outs of a close game were referred to as firemen or short relievers. Regardless of what you call them, only one athlete came to mind when filling out the last position on this list. Like Wayne Gretzky and Jerry Rice, Mariano Rivera owns every meaningful record for his position in both the regular season and post season. His regular season ERA of 2.21 is the lowest of any pitcher in the live-ball era (min. 1,000 innings pitched) and his 42 postseason saves are more than double that of second place Brad Lidge (18). Rivera was a constant source of stability for 5 Yankees World Series championship teams.