Watch CBS News

Ranking The Best Local Athletes In History By Jersey/Uniform Number: 49-40

By Daniel Friedman
» More Columns

Continuing on with our weekly rankings of the best local athletes by uniform/jersey number, we forge ahead with 49-40.

MORE: 99-90, 89-80, 79-70, 69-60, 59-50

49. Ron Guidry, Yankees

Ron Guidry
Ron Guidry (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

A Yankee for 14 years, he won a Cy Young in 1978, appeared in four All-Star Games and was a five-time Gold Glover. The Bronx Bombers retired his number and gave him a plaque in Monument Park in 2003.

Runner-up: Erich Barnes, Giants

48. Ken Schroy, Jets

The Jets' safety was third in the league with eight interceptions in the 1980 NFL season.

Runner-up: Randy Myers, Mets

47. Jesse Orosco, Mets

Jesse Orosco
Jesse Orosco (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

The All-Star relief pitcher will forever be remembered for recording the final out in the 1986 World Series. He's pitched in more games (1,252 to be exact) than anyone else in MLB history, too.

Runner-up: Tom Glavine, Mets

46. Andy Pettitte, Yankees

Andy Pettitte
Andy Pettitte (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

He was a big part of the rotation on the dynastic Yankees of the 90s and early 2000s. He came back later in his career and helped them win it all again in 2009.

Runner-up: Bill Baird, Jets

45. Pedro Martinez, Mets

Pedro Martinez
Pedro Martinez (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

This was a close call, even among the honorable mentions. That said, Pedro Martinez  is one of the most dominant pitchers of his era, and his mere arrival revitalized the Mets.

Runner-up: Tug McGraw, Mets

44. Reggie Jackson, Yankees

Reggie Jackson
Reggie Jackson (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

Jackson was once quoted as saying that one of his home runs "was an insurance run, so I hit it to the Prudential building." He was brash, but he always lived up to the hype.

Runner-up: John Riggins, Jets

43: R.A. Dickey, Mets

R.A. Dickey
R.A. Dickey (Photo by Alex Trautwig/Getty Images)

Dickey won the NL Cy Young Award in 2012, and he did it while playing on a horrendous Mets team. His style might have been odd, but it worked.

Runner-up: Spider Lockhart, Giants

42. Jackie Robinson, Dodgers

Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images)

This is likely the most debatable pick I'll make throughout this entire series, but as far as I'm concerned, what Jackie Robinson did off the field surpasses anything one might accomplish within the actual sport. Rivera is a legend and undoubtedly the best closer in baseball history, but he too owes Robinson for breaking the barrier.

Runner-up: Mariano Rivera, Yankees

41. Tom Seaver, Mets

Tom Seaver
Tom Seaver (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

"Tom Terrific" was just that for the Mets. The best pitcher in franchise history and certainly one of the greatest in the history of baseball. Seaver's No. 41 is retired in Flushing, and he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992.

Runner-up: Matt Snell, Jets

40. Dainard Paulson, Jets

The former Jets and (NY) Titans defensive back was a two-time AFL All-Star (1964, 1965).

Runner-up: Kurt Thomas, Knicks

You May Also Be Interested In These Stories

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.