The 50 Greatest Sports Figures From Washington

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
John Stockton
SPOKANE
First Gonzaga player to amass 1,000 points and 500 assists; NBA's
alltime assists and steals leader; has played in nine All-Star
Games and two Finals.

#2
Earl Anthony
TACOMA
Six-time PBA Bowler of the Year became first kegler to earn $1
million in a year, in 1982.

#3
Phil Mahre
YAKIMA
U.S.'s most successful ski racer won gold medal in downhill
slalom at 1984 Olympics; three-time World Cup overall champ.

#4
Mel Hein
BURLINGTON
Washington State star had eight interceptions in a game against
Idaho; played for Giants from 1931 to '45.

#5
Ryne Sandberg
SPOKANE
Ten-time All-Star for Cubs hit 277 homers as a second baseman, a
major league record.

#6
Jim Whittaker
REDMOND
In 1963 Mount Rainier climbing guide became the first American
to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

#7
Drew Bledsoe
ELLENSBURG
Walla Walla High and Washington State star has thrown for more
than 25,000 yards in seven seasons with Patriots.

#8
Earl Averill
SNOHOMISH
Hit .318 with 238 homers from 1929 to '41; one of two Hall of
Famers to homer in first at bat in majors.

#9
Michelle Akers
Seattle
Three-time All-America at Shorecrest High; midfielder on 1999
World Cup-champion U.S. women's soccer team.

#10
Ron Santo
SEATTLE
Nine-time All-Star had 342 homers in 15 seasons and led NL third
basemen in assists every year from 1962 to '68.

#11
JoAnne Carner
KIRKLAND
Five-time U.S. Amateur golf champ; won 1971 and '76 U.S. Women's
Opens as a pro.

#12
Ahmad Rashad
TACOMA
All-America running back at Oregon; four-time Pro Bowl wideout
had 6,831 receiving yards and 44 touchdowns in 10 NFL seasons.

#13
Ron Cey
TACOMA
Six-time All-Star and co-MVP with Pedro Guerrero and Steve
Yeager in Dodgers' 1981 World Series win.

#14
Morris (Red) Badgro
KENT
Scored first TD in first NFL Championship Game, in 1933;
outfielder with St. Louis Browns in 1929 and '30.

#15
Fred Couples
SEATTLE
Two-time PGA Tour player of the year (1991 and '92); won the '92
Masters; has been member of five U.S. Ryder Cup teams.

#16
Gretchen Fraser
TACOMA
At 1948 Olympics, won U.S.'s first Alpine skiing gold medal;
helped found the Flying Outriggers, America's first amputee ski
club.

#17
Steve Mahre
YAKIMA
Phil's twin got silver medal in downhill slalom at 1984
Olympics; won giant slalom at '82 world Alpine championships.

#18
Freddie Steele
TACOMA
Won middleweight boxing championship in 1936; retired in '41
with 116-5-9 record.

#19
Chip Hanauer
SEATTLE
Owns 61 career hydroplane victories (second alltime) and 11 Gold
Cups.

#20
Ray Flaherty
SPOKANE
In 1934 Championship Game in New York, All-NFL end suggested
Giants switch to basketball shoes to combat icy surface; New
York won 30-13.

#21
Marv Harshman
TACOMA
Won 654 games as coach at Pacific Lutheran, Washington State and
Washington from 1946 to '85.

#22
Al Hostak
SEATTLE
Two-time National Boxing Association middleweight champ lost
title to Solly Krieger in 1938, then won it back the following
year.

#23
Albert Johnson
SPOKANE
Won Kentucky Derbys aboard Morvich (1922), Bubbling Over ('26);
Belmonts aboard American Flag ('25), Crusader ('26).

#24
Al Ulbrickson Sr.
SPOKANE
Coached at Washington from 1927 to '58; his Huskies eight-oared
crew edged Italy to win gold medal at '36 Olympics.

#25
Mel Stottlemyre
MABTON
Won 164 games for Yankees from 1964 to '74; five-time All-Star;
three 20-win seasons.

#26
Detlef Schrempf
CENTRALIA
German import and Centralia High grad was twice All-Pac-10 at
Washington; has averaged more than 14 points in 15 NBA seasons.

#27
John Olerud
BELLEVUE
As sophomore at Washington State in 1988 hit .464 and was 15-0 as
a pitcher; .301 average in 10 major league seasons.

#28
Kasey Keller
LACEY
All-America soccer goalie at Portland led U.S. into 1998 World
Cup with six shutouts in nine qualifying-game starts.

#29
Mark Rypien
SPOKANE
Three-sport all-stater at Shadle Park High; Washington State
football star; Super Bowl XXVI MVP with Redskins.

#30
Ray Mansfield
KENNEWICK
Lineman played 182 straight games for Steelers from 1964 to '76.

#31
Ted Jones
SEATTLE
Revolutionized unlimited hydroplane racing in 1950 with design of
Slo-Mo-Shun IV, first hydroplane to reach 160 mph.

#32
Pete Rademacher
YAKIMA
Won boxing gold medal in heavyweight division at 1956 Olympics;
lost heavyweight title tilt against Floyd Patterson in pro debut.

#33
Jack Thompson
SEATTLE
Threw for then NCAA-record 7,818 yards at Washington State from
1975 to '78.

#34
Chris Chandler
EVERETT
Averaged 21.5 points in basketball as Everett High senior; led
Falcons to 1998 Super Bowl.

#35
Doris Brown Heritage
GIG HARBOR
Only woman to win five straight world cross-country titles, from
1967 to '71; held U.S. record in 440 and 880 yards, and 1,500
meters.

#36
Turk Edwards
MOLD
Helped lead Washington State to 1931 Rose Bowl; four-time
All-NFL lineman for Redskins.

#37
Harry Givan
SEATTLE
Won 1936 Washington State Open and '42 Northwest Open; five-time
Pacific Northwest Golf Association amateur champ.

#38
Bob Houbregs
SEATTLE
Hook shot guru and 1953 All-America averaged 25.6 points to lead
Washington to '53 Final Four.

#39
Gerry Lindgren
SPOKANE
Set national high school two- and three-mile records at John R.
Rogers High; set world-record 27:11.6 for six miles in 1965.

#40
Hiram Conibear
SEATTLE
Onetime White Sox trainer and "father of Washington rowing"
introduced Conibear Stroke in early 1900s.

#41
Steve Emtman
CHENEY
In 1991 Washington defensive end was first Pac-10 player
to win Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy; top pick
in '91 draft, by Colts.

#42
Don Heinrich
BREMERTON
Led nation in passing in 1950, with Washington; three NFL title
games with Giants.

#43
Bill Buchan
SEATTLE
1984 U.S. yachtsman of the year won '84 Olympic gold medal in
star class.

#44
Randy Myers
VANCOUVER
Lefty's 347 saves is fifth alltime; only reliever to save 30
games for five teams.

#45
Janet Hopps-Adkisson
BELLEVUE
University of Seattle women's tennis coach was No. 1 player on
school's men's team from 1954 to '56; reached '60 Wimbledon
semifinals.

#46
Jeff Durgan
TACOMA
New York Cosmos defender won 1980 NASL rookie of the year and
helped franchise to league titles in '80 and '82.

#47
Russell Baze
GRANGER
Jockey has ridden more than 400 winners seven straight years, a
national record; has more than 6,700 wins in career.

#48
Tom Sneva
SPOKANE
In 1977 became first driver to break 200 mph in Indy 500; USAC
driving champion in '77 and '78; won '83 Indy.

#49
Deborah Armstrong
SEATTLE
Garfield High MVP in basketball and soccer; gold medalist in
giant slalom at 1984 Olympics.

#50
Eddie Feigner
WALLA WALLA
Has more than 135,000 strikeouts, 238 perfect games in 54 seasons
as barnstorming softball pitcher.

COLOR PHOTO: LANE STEWART #2 Earl Anthony