I have thought about this for a month or so. The thought was to start writing a series on who was the greatest athlete to wear each number. Today is Wayne Gretzky’s 52nd birthday. I can’t think of a better time to start that series than on The Great One’s birthday.

The Greatest Athlete To Wear #99 is one of the easiest calls of any I will have. It is one I don’t even have to think about. The answer is Wayne Gretzky.

Before writing a little about Gretzky I will mention some other #99’s who are worthy of some recognition. To be honest if you could mix all of the others together and times them by a million they couldn’t equal the greatness of Wayne Douglas Gretzky.

Other notable #99’s-

George Mikan was one of the early stars in the NBA. He was the first great ‘big man” at 6’10” a great rebounder and shot blocker who was known on offense for his great hook shot.

Dan Hampton was a great defensive lineman for the Chicago Bears and was a key member of their great defense which led the Bears to their only Super Bowl title in 1986. He is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Warren Sapp was a great defensive tackle in the NFL mostly for the Tampa Bay Bucs. He is a likely Pro Football Hall of Famer in the near future. His 96.5 sacks is the second highest ever by a defensive tackle in NFL history. He led the Bucs to their only Super Bowl title in 2003.

Jason Taylor was another great defensive lineman from the National Football League. He ranks 6th in NFL history in most sacks. He is remembered mostly for his years as a Miami Dolphin. He will be a candidate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame when he becomes eligible.

Ricky “Wild Thing” Vaughn was signed out of the California Penal League in 1989 and helped the Cleveland Indians to an unlikely pennant in 1989. After a 20 game season in 1992 he blew out his arm and was never the same pitcher.

THE GREATEST #99

Wayne Gretzky is by far the greatest #99. Wayne Gretzky re-wrote the NHL record book. He will always be remembered for his days in Edmonton where he led the Edmonton Oilers to 5ive Stanley Cups in a period of 7 seasons. He was the greatest hockey player who ever lived. If there were a Mount Rushmore for the Greatest North American Team Athletes Ever- he would be on it. I have another post on The Great Gretzky so I will limit what I write here. There will never be another Gretzky. There were other hockey players who were more exciting to watch- Bobby Orr and Mario Lemieux come to mind but no one was better or more effective.