Ranking The Best Local Athletes In History By Jersey/Uniform Number: 19-10
By Daniel Friedman
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Continuing with our weekly rankings of the best local athletes by jersey/uniform number, here are numbers 19-10.
MORE: 99-90, 89-80, 79-70, 69-60, 59-50, 49-40, 39-30, 29-20
19. Bryan Trottier, Islanders
The Hall of Fame center was a key component in the Islanders' dynasty during the 1980s.
Runner-up: Willis Reed (Knicks), Jean Ratelle (Rangers)
18. Darryl Strawberry, Mets/Yankees
An outstanding player for the Mets, he helped them win a World Series in 1986.
Runner-up: Scott Brosius (Yankees), Don Larsen (Yankees), Walt Tkaczuk (Rangers), Ed Westfall (Islanders)
17. Keith Hernandez, Mets
He was a five-time All-Star, an 11-time Gold Glover and a true leader. Another big part of the '86 Mets.
Runner-up: Carl Erskine (Dodgers), Plaxico Burress (Giants, Jets), Ilya Kovalchuk (Devils)
16. Whitey Ford, Yankees
He helped the Yankees win six World Series titles during his career, was a 10-time All-Star and won the Cy Young Award in 1961.
Runner-up: Dwight Gooden (Mets, Yankees), Pat LaFontaine (Islanders, Rangers), Zigmund Palffy (Islanders), Vinny Testaverde (Jets), Bobby Holik (Devils, Rangers)
15. Earl Monroe, Knicks
Earl "The Pearl" Monroe made an instant impact after arriving from Baltimore. In 1973 he helped the Knicks win a championship, and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1990.
Runner-up: Thurman Munson (Yankees), Dick McGuire (Knicks), Carlos Beltran (Mets, Yankees), John MacLean (Devils, Rangers), Jamie Langenbrunner (Devils), Vince Carter (Nets), Billy Harris (Islanders)
14. Gil Hodges, Dodgers/Mets
As a player and a manager, he was one of the most respected and talented baseball people in this town's history.
Runner-up: Bob Bourne (Islanders), Richard Todd (Jets), Brian Gionta (Devils)
13. Don Maynard, Jets
Joe Namath's go-to receiver was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 1987.
Runner-up: Alex Rodriguez (Yankees), Ralph Branca (Dodgers, Yankees), Edgardo Alfonzo (Mets), Lee Mazzilli (Mets/Yankees)
12. Joe Namath, Jets
Years later, the Jets still haven't figured out how to replace him.
Runner-up: Dick Barnett (Knicks), Alfonso Soriano (Yankees), Mark Johnson (Devils), Don Maloney (Rangers)
11. Mark Messier, Rangers
One of the greatest hockey players of all time, he captained the Rangers to a Stanley Cup title in 1994, ending the team's 54-year championship drought.
Runner-up: Phil Simms (Giants), Carl Hubbell (Giants), Dixie Walker (Dodgers, Yankees), Vic Hadfield (Rangers)
10. Walt Frazier, Knicks
Frazier swished and dished, swooped and hooped and stopped and popped his way to an outstanding career. He helped the Knicks win a pair of titles (1970, 1973) and was voted into the Hall of Fame in 1987.
Runner-up: Eli Manning (Giants), Fran Tarkenton (Giants), Ron Duguay (Rangers), Phil Rizzuto (Yankees), Chris Chambliss (Yankees)
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