The 50 Greatest Sports Figures From South Carolina

There's a difference between loyalty to the home team--athletes
imported to play for our local colleges and pro franchises--and
the deep emotional bond we share with hometown heroes, the local
legends we knew back when. They are the boys and girls from next
door, or the next town. We watched them grow up, watched them
play when it was still play. Unfortunately, these luminaries are
almost inevitably dispersed because of sport's mercenary nature,
lured away by scholarships or contracts. Well, we're bringing 'em
all back home for the millennium--not necessarily to where they
were born, but to where they first showed flashes of the
greatness to come. Thus, Broadway Joe is in Pennsylvania, not
Alabama or New York; and the Mailman is in Louisiana, not Utah.
The result: the top 50 from your state and, on the following
pages, a list of those from all 50 states. In short, the ultimate
home teams.

#1
Joe Frazier
BEAUFONT
Won heavyweight gold medal at 1964 Olympics; in boxing's
greatest heavyweight rivalry, beat Muhammad Ali in '71, then
lost two other bouts.

#2
"Shoeless" Joe Jackson
PICKENS COUNTY
His .356 career average is third alltime but involvement in 1919
Black Sox scandal keeps him from Hall of Fame.

#3
Pete Maravich
CLEMSON
Averaged NCAA-record 44.2 points over four seasons at Louisiana
State (1966 to '70) and 24.2 in 10 years in the NBA.

#4
Art Shell
CHARLESTON
Eight-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman (1973 to '79, '81);
two-sport star at Bonds-Wilson High.

#5
Felix (Doc) Blanchard
BISHOPVILLE
Army fullback bulled his way to 1945 Heisman Trophy; led Army to
national titles in 1944 and '45.

#6
Betsy Rawls
SPARTANBURG
Won 55 LPGA events, including eight majors, from 1951 to '75;
fifth on LPGA career win list and fifth in victories in majors.

#7
David Pearson
WHITNEY
Winner of 105 NASCAR races, three Winston Cup titles over 27-year
career (1960 to '86).

#8
Alex English
COLUMBIA
Eight-time NBA All-Star averaged 21.5 points in 15-year NBA
career; had career-high 29.8 ppg in 1985-86 as forward for
Nuggets.

#9
Jim Rice
ANDERSON
Seven-time All-Star for Red Sox and 1978 AL MVP led league in
home runs three times; retired in '89 with 382 homers.

#10
Harry Carson
FLORENCE
Two-time MEAC MVP at South Carolina State; starred as linebacker
for Giants' Super Bowl XXI champions.

#11
Marty Marion
RICHBURG
The Octopus, six-time All-Star, won 1944 NL MVP award; led
league shortstops in fielding percentage three times.

#12
Beth Daniel
CHARLESTON
Winner of 32 LPGA events, including 1990 LPGA Championship; won
two U.S. Women's Amateurs.

#13
Al Rosen
SPARTANBURG
All-Star third baseman four times; 1953 AL MVP with
league-leading 43 homers, 145 RBIs.

#14
Cale Yarborough
SARDIS
All-state fullback at Timmonsville High in 1957 won 83 NASCAR
races and three Winston Cup titles.

#15
Kevin Garnett
MAULDIN
Jumped straight from high school to NBA's Timberwolves in 1995;
has averaged 16.5 points in first four-plus seasons; named to two
All-Star teams.

#16
Chino Smith
GREENWOOD
Batted .423 with Negro leagues' New York Lincoln Giants (1924 to
'31); also hit .423 in exhibition games against big leaguers.

#17
Bob Montgomery
SUMTER
Defeated Beau Jack in 1943 to win world lightweight championship;
career record of 75-19-3, with 37 knockouts.

#18
Larry Nance
ANDERSON
Won inaugural NBA Slam Dunk contest in 1984 as forward for
Phoenix; two-time All-Star had his number retired by Cavaliers.

#19
Bobby Richardson
SUMTER
Seven-time All-Star second baseman collected 1,432 career hits
(1955 to '66); batted .305 in 36 World Series games.

#20
Katrina McClain
CHARLESTON
Two-time Olympic gold medalist with U.S. women's basketball team
helped Georgia to a 116-15 record from 1984 to '87.

#21
Charlie Waters
NORTH AUGUSTA
Two-position star at North Augusta High spent 11 seasons as
Cowboys safety (1970 to '81); three-time Pro Bowl selection.

#22
Mookie Wilson
BAMBERG
Mets outfielder had 1,397 hits and 327 stolen bases over 12
seasons (1980 to '92).

#23
Bobo Newsom
HARTSVILLE
Twenty-year major league pitcher went 211-222 with 3.98 ERA; was
21-5 with 2.83 ERA for Tigers in 1920.

#24
Xavier McDaniel
COLUMBIA
Led nation in scoring and rebounding at Wichita State in 1984-85;
had career year with Seattle in '86-87, averaging 23.0 points and
8.6 rebounds.

#25
Stanley Morgan
EASLEY
Star running back, receiver and wingback at Tennessee (1973 to
'76); played in four Pro Bowls with Patriots.

#26
Gorman Thomas
JAMES ISLAND
Led AL in home runs in 1979 with Brewers and tied for lead in
'82; hit 268 homers over 13 seasons.

#27
Donnie Shell
WHITMIRE
Signed by Steelers as undrafted free agent out of South Carolina
State in 1974; five-time Pro Bowl safety; member of Alltime
Black College Football Team.

#28
Dave Meggett
CHARLESTON
Two-way star at Bonds-Wilson/North Charleston High; played in two
Super Bowls, with Giants (XXV) and Pats (XXXI).

#29
Levon Kirkland
LAMAR
Two-time (1990, '91) All-America linebacker at Clemson; played
in two Pro Bowls as a Steeler.

#30
LaMarr Hoyt
COLUMBIA
Righthander won 1983 Cy Young Award with 24-10 record, 3.66 ERA.

#31
William Perry
AIKEN
All-America defensive lineman at Clemson; member of Bears' Super
Bowl XX winners.

#32
Robert Porcher
CAINHOY
Defensive end had 15 sacks as senior at South Carolina State;
first MEAC player picked in first round of NFL draft, by Lions
in 1992.

#33
Steve Fuller
SPARTANBURG
Clemson QB was 1978 Gator Bowl MVP; Jim McMahon's understudy on
'85 Bears team that won Super Bowl.

#34
Dan Driessen
HILTON HEAD
Reds first baseman had 1,464 hits, 153 home runs over 15
seasons (1973 to '87).

#35
Charlie Brown
JOHN'S ISLAND
Won a Super Bowl ring and appeared in two Pro Bowls as member of
Redskins in mid-1980s; led team with 78 catches in '83.

#36
Robert Brooks
GREENWOOD
Set University of South Carolina mark with 19 TD catches; caught
102 balls with Packers in 1995.

#37
Terry Kinard
SUMTER
In 1982 Clemson safety became only Tiger ever voted unanimous
All-America and AP first-team All-America twice; made '89 Pro
Bowl with Giants.

#38
Freddie Solomon
SUMTER
University of Tampa QB played in two Super Bowls as a receiver
with 49ers from 1979 to '85.

#39
Harold Green
STRATFORD
Ranks third in South Carolina history with 3,005 yards rushing;
ran for 4,250 yards in seven NFL seasons from 1990 to '96.

#40
Bill Spiers
CAMERON
Clemson punter; hit .320 with Astros in 1997; has played every
position except catcher and pitcher.

#41
Tony Rice
WOODRUFF
Woodruff High quarterback led Notre Dame to 12-0 record and 1988
national title.

#42
Stanford Jennings
SUMMERVILLE
Three-time Southern Conference Player of Year (1981 to '83) at
Furman; returned kickoff 93 yards for Bengals in Super Bowl
XXIII.

#43
Willie Mays Aikens
SENECA
First baseman hit four home runs for Royals in 1980 World Series.

#44
Brian Williams
LANCASTER
Starting pitcher at South Carolina from 1988 to '90 led team at
least once in doubles, triples and steals as well as in wins,
innings and strikeouts.

#45
J.C. Caroline
COLUMBIA
Star running back at Booker T. Washington High; played 10 seasons
with Bears; appeared in 1957 Pro Bowl.

#46
Jim Stuckey
COLUMBIA
Clemson standout defensive lineman was first-round draft pick of
49ers in 1980; won two Super Bowls with San Francisco.

#47
Anthuan Maybank
GEORGETOWN
Ran anchor leg in gold- medal-winning 4X400 relay at 1996
Olympics.

#48
George Webster
ANDERSON
Two-time All-America roverback at Michigan State; 1967 AFL Rookie
of the Year with Oilers; three-time All-Pro.

#49
Billy O'Dell
WHITMIRE
Holds Clemson mark for ERA (1.51) and strikeouts in a game (21);
two-time major league All-Star (1958, '59) went 105-100 over 13
seasons.

#50
Van Lingle Mungo
PAGELAND
Pitcher for Dodgers and Giants had 120-115 record over 14
seasons in 1930s and '40s.

B/W PHOTO: AP #5 Doc Blanchard