Greatest athletes to have worn each number (1-99)

Freak

This is something I've actually been mulling over myself for the past couple years now -- an idea I might eventually go somewhere with, if it hasn't been done before...

Basically, who would you say are the greatest athletes (in any sport, but probably focus on the big American four) to have worn numbers 1 through 99? For example, I think it's pretty easy to give Michael Jordan #23, Wayne Gretzky #99, Jerry Rice #80.

Don't try to attack it all at once -- let's just come up with an early list of nominees.

EDIT: I'll update the following list of suggested nominees when I find the time. Feel free to debate those nominated, and to suggest alternatives...

00: Robert Parish, Jim Otto
0: Gilbert Arenas
1: Oscar Robertson, Warren Moon, Jacques Plante, Terry Sawchuk
2: Derek Jeter, Moses Malone
3: Babe Ruth
4: Bobby Orr, Lou Gehrig, Brett Favre
5: Joe DiMaggio
6: Bill Russell
7: John Elway, George Best, Mickey Mantle
8: Cal Ripken, Jr., Kobe Bryant
9: Ted Williams, Gordie Howe, Maurice Richard
10: Pele, Guy Lafleur
11: Mark Messier, Isaiah Thomas
12: Tom Brady, Terry Bradshaw
13: Wilt Chamberlain
14: Y.A. Tittle, Ernie Banks, Johan Cruyff, Thierry Henry, Pete Rose
15: Bart Starr
16: Joe Montana
17:
18: Peyton Manning
19: Johnny Unitas, Tony Gwynn, Steve Yzerman
20: Barry Sanders
21: Roberto Clemente, Deion Sanders
22: Emmitt Smith, Mike Bossy
23: Michael Jordan
24: Willie Mays
25: Barry Bonds
26:
27: Juan Marichal
28: Marshall Faulk, Darrell Green
29: Ken Dryden, Eric Dickerson
30: Nolan Ryan, Martin Brodeur
31: Greg Maddux
32: Magic Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal, Jim Brown
33: Larry Bird, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Patrick Roy, Sammy Baugh
34: Walter Payton
35: Tony Esposito
36: LeRoy Butler
37: Doak Walker
38: Curt Schilling
39: Dominik Hasek
40: Gale Sayers
41: Tom Seaver
42: Jackie Robinson
43: Hank Aaron
44:
45:
46:
47: John Lynch
48:
49:
50: Mike Singletary
51: Dick Butkus
52:
53:
54: Randy White
55:
56: Lawrence Taylor
57:
58: Derrick Thomas
59:
60: Otto Graham, Chuck Bednarik
61:
62:
63: Dermontti Dawson
64:
65: Elvin Bethea
66: Mario Lemieux
67: Reggie McKenzie
68: Jaromir Jagr
69: Mark Schlereth
70: Art Donovan
71: Larry Allen
72: Carlton Fisk
73: Joe Klecko
74: Bruce Matthews, Merlin Olsen
75: Deacon Jones, Joe Greene
76: Lou Groza
77: Paul Coffey, Ray Bourque
78: Bruce Smith, Anthony Munoz
79:
80: Jerry Rice
81: Art Monk, Dick Lane, Carl Eller, Terrell Owens
82: Raymond Berry
83: Ted Hendricks
84:
85: Jack Youngblood
86:
87: Dwight Clark
88: Marvin Harrison, Alan Page
89: Mike Ditka
90: Neil Smith
91: Sergei Federov
92: Reggie White
93: Doug Gilmour
94: Charles Haley
95: Richard Dent
96:
97:
98:
99: Wayne Gretzky

Necro

VIP Room Moderator

mario lemieux 66
Jackie Robinson 42
Ted Williams 9
Babe Ruth 3

Freak

Ah, there's gonna be stiff competition at all the single-digits -- Gordie Howe and Rocket Richard, for instance, have a pretty good claim on number 9 as well.

Weird numbers like 68 (Jaromir Jagr) will be easier -- though who knows if there's some HOF offensive lineman who wore that one, maybe there is.

Randy Orton

WC's Resident Alchoholic

12 - tom brady
33 - larry bird
0 - robert parish

Necro

VIP Room Moderator

20 - Barry Sanders
38 - Curt Schilling
88 - Marvin Harrison
91 - Sergei Fedorov

Necro

VIP Room Moderator

33 is rough you got kareem there, and patrick roy

Suntan Superman

WC's Resident Samoan

00 - Jim Otto?
0 - Gilbert Arenas
1 - Oscar Robertson or Warren Moon
4 - Bobby Orr (Yes over Favre)
5 - DiMaggio?
6 - Bill Russell
7 - John Elway
8 - Ripken
12 - Tom Brady
13 - Chamberlain
15 - Bart Starr
16 - Montana
18 - Peyton Manning
19 - Johnny U
20 - Barry Sanders
21 - Clemente
22 - Emmitt Smith
27 - Juan Marchial
30 - Nolan Ryan
31 - Maddux
32 - Magic Johnson
33 - Abdul-Jabbar or Bird or Baugh or Roy
34 - Walter Payton
40 - Gale Sayers
44 - Henry Aaron
50 - Mike Singletary
51 - Dick Butkus
58 - Derrick Thomas
60 - Otto Graham or Chuck Bednarik
72 - Carlton Fisk
75 - Mean Joe Green or Deacon Jones
76 - Lou Groza
78 - Anthony Munoz
81 - Art Monk
82 - Raymond Berry
88 - Alan Page
92 - Reggie White

Suntan Superman

WC's Resident Samoan

Wait didn't Gwynn wear 19 as well?

And I think Parish was 00 but I'm not sure.

Freak

I'm realizing I don't know very many baseball numbers at all, so let me know if there's someone more deserving I'm unaware of.

Football:

16 - Joe Montana
19 - Johnny Unitas
32 - Jim Brown
34 - Walter Payton
56 - LT
75 - Deacon Jones
78 - Bruce Smith
92 - Reggie White

Hockey:

4 - Bobby Orr (sorry Brett!)
29 - Ken Dryden

Basketball:

6 - Bill Russell
13 - Wilt Chamberlain
32 - Uh oh, Magic Johnson or Jim Brown?

This is tough.

Suntan Superman

WC's Resident Samoan

How did I forget Lawrence at 56?