100 of the Greatest Sports Photos of All Time

SI.com presents 100 of the greatest sports photos of all time.

Author:
Steve Rushin
Publish date:
Mar 18, 2015

100 Greatest Sports Photos of All-Time

Muhammad Ali and Cleveland Williams

Nov. 14, 1966 | Ali knocks out Cleveland 'Big Cat' Williams in three rounds at the Houston Astrodome to defend his heavyweight title in November 1966. The bout drew a record indoor crowd of 35,460.

Willie Mays

World Series, Sept. 29, 1954 | A 12-time Gold Glove winner, Mays made one of his best defensive plays in Game 1 of the 1954 World Series when, running at full speed with his back to home plate, he hauled in a deep fly ball to centerfield to help the Giants hang on to a 5-2 win. Mays had been the NL MVP that year, and he led the Giants to a sweep of Cleveland for the title.

Chuck Bednarik and Frank Gifford

Eagles at Giants, Nov. 20, 1960 | Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Chuck Bednarik celebrates after laying out New York Giants running back Frank Gifford at Yankee Stadium. The hit forced Gifford to temporarily retire from football.

Dwight Clark

NFC Championship Game, Jan. 10, 1982 | Known simply as "The Catch," the reception by San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Dwight Clark resulted in a six-yard touchdown pass from Joe Montana to give the 49ers a 28-27 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. The victory would propel the 49ers to the Super Bowl, where they defeated the Bengals.

David Tyree and Rodney Harrison

Super Bowl XLII, Feb. 3, 2008 | New York Giants receiver David Tyree (left) secures a catch with his helmet as Rodney Harrison (right) tries to wrestle him to the ground. Tyree's catch was instrumental in the New York Giants' upset of the previously undefeated Patriots, 17-14.

Michael Phelps

Beijing Olympics, Aug. 16, 2008 | American swimmer Michael Phelps out-touches Serbian swimmer Milorad Cavic by 0.01 seconds at the finish of the 100-meter butterfly final. It was the seventh of Phelps' record eight golds during the Olympics.

Greg Olson

World Series Game 1, Oct. 19, 1991 | Atlanta Braves catcher Greg Olson goes head over heels after tagging Minnesota left fielder Dan Gladden out at home during Game 1 of the 1991 World Series. The Twins would win Game 1, 5-2, and go on to win the Series in seven games.

Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston

May 25, 1965 | In their heavyweight title rematch Ali defeated Liston by knockout in the first round. Ali would hold the heavyweight title until 1967, when he was stripped of it for refusing to be drafted into the Army.

Antwaan Randle El

AFC Wild Card playoffs, Jan. 5, 2003 | Pittsburgh receiver Antwaan Randle El has his head turned around as Chris Akins (36) of the Cleveland Browns is called for face masking. The Steelers defeated the Browns 36-33 during the AFC Wild Card Playoff game on Jan. 5, 2003, at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.

Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield

Heavyweight Bout, June 28, 1997 | Mike Tyson bites the ear of Evander Holyfield during their 1997 heavyweight fight. Tyson's boxing license was temporarily revoked for the incident and he was fined $3 million.

Bobby Martin

Belmont High at Colonel White High, Sept. 24, 2005 | Three-foot, 112-pound Bobby Martin played on punt and kickoff coverage and was the backup varsity noseguard for Dayton's Colonel White High. Born without legs, he can't wear prosthetics because he has no thighs to affix them to.

Juan Marichal

Spring Training, March 8, 1965 | San Francisco Giants pitcher Juan Marichal winds up for a pitch during a spring training game in Casa Grande, Ariz. Marichal was known for his distinctive windup, which consisted of one of the highest leg kicks in major league history.

Tiger Woods

Masters, April 8, 2001 | Tiger Woods tees off in the final round of the Masters, which he won by two strokes over David Duval. The win completed the "Tiger Slam," Woods' run of four consecutive major championship victories.

Brandi Chastain

Women's World Cup, July 10, 1999 | U.S. women's soccer player Brandi Chastain exults after kicking the World Cup-winning penalty kick in the 1999 Women's World Cup final.

Joe Montana

Super Bowl XXIII, Jan. 22, 1989 | San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana leads his team down the field in the closing minutes against the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XXIII. With only 3:10 left in the game, Montana marched the 49ers 92 yards down the field to beat the Bengals 20-16.

Javier Torres

Paralympic Games, Sept. 21, 2004 | Spain swimmer Vicente Javier Torres starts the 150-meter individual medley at the Paralympic Games. Torres took the silver medal in the race.

Vince Lombardi

Super Bowl II, Jan. 14, 1968 | The Green Bay Packers carry head coach Vince Lombardi off the field after their 33-14 victory over the Oakland Raiders. It was the Packers second consecutive Super Bowl victory.

Don Larsen and Yogi Berra

World Series Game 5, Oct. 8, 1956 | New York Yankees pitcher Don Larsen hugs catcher Yogi Berra (8) after pitching the only perfect game in World Series history, at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees would win the Series in seven games.

Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain

April 5, 1968 | Two giants of the NBA, Bill Russell of the Boston Celtics boxes out Wilt Chamberlain of the 76ers during a game in Philadelphia.

Michael Jordan

All-Star Weekend, Feb. 6, 1988 | Air Jordan takes off from the free throw line and soars to a perfect score of 50 to defeat Dominique Wilkins in the finals of the Slam Dunk Contest. It was the second straight title for the Bulls star, and the '88 contest is widely considered the best ever because of the duel between Jordan and Wilkins.

Bobby Orr

Stanley Cup finals Game 4, May 10, 1970 | Boston Bruins defenseman Bobby Orr celebrates his Cup-winning goal during overtime of Game 4 of the Stanley Cup finals against the St. Louis Blues. Orr would win MVP honors, and the victory was Boston's first Cup in 29 years.

Joe Namath

Super Bowl III, Jan 10, 1969 | Jets QB Joe Namath offered reporters a guarantee: the underdog Jets would shock 18-point favorite Baltimore. Broadway Joe delivered on the field, earning MVP honors in a 16-7 victory.

U.S. Hockey

1980 Olympics, Feb. 22, 1980 | The impossible had been accomplished, and it was time to celebrate. The United States upset the unbeatable Soviet Union 4-3 on Mike Eruzione's game-winning goal to finish Miracle on Ice and advance to the gold medal game (which it also won).

Kerri Strug

Atlanta Olympics, July 23, 1996 | Kerri Strug holds her pose after sticking the landing on her vault despite a painful ankle injury suffered on her first attempt. The United States' gold medal hopes rested on her, and she fought the pain on her second attempt to secure the title for the U.S.

Carmen Basilio and Tony DeMarco

Nov. 30, 1955 | Carmen Basilio (right) celebrates with his cornermen after knocking out Tony DeMarco (left) in the 12th round for the world welterweight title.

Billy Kilmer and Manny Fernandez

Super Bowl VII, Jan. 14, 1973 | Dolphins defensive lineman Manny Fernandez (75) hurdles a Redskins offensive lineman in pursuit of quarterback Billy Kilmer (17). Fernandez would finish the game with 17 tackles as the Dolphins defeated the Redskins 14-7 to become the first and last team to finish an NFL season undefeated.

Wayne Gretzky

New York, April 18, 1999 | Wayne Gretzky waves to the crowd at Madison Square Garden after playing in the final game in of his career.

Usain Bolt

Beijing Olympics, Aug. 20, 2008 | Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt reacts after breaking the world record in the men's 200-meter final with his time of 19.30 seconds. He had broken the 100-meter world record earlier in the games, too.

Babe Ruth

1926 | New York Yankees outfielder Babe Ruth, the Great Bambino, spends time with some fans. The 1926 season was one of Ruth's best as he hit .372 with 47 home runs and 146 RBI.

Jack Nicklaus

The Masters, April 13, 1986 | Jack Nicklaus celebrates making a putt during his historic victory at the 1986 Masters. Nicklaus shot a 65 on Sunday to outlast both Tom Kite and Greg Norman and, at age 46, become the oldest man to ever win the Masters. The victory also marked Nicklaus' record 18th professional major.

Hank Aaron

Spring Training, March 30, 1957 | Braves outfielder Hank Aaron starts to run toward first during a spring training game in 1957. That season, Aaron's fourth in the majors, he won the only MVP award in his Hall of Fame career, and he led the league in home runs for the first time, with 44.

Reggie Bush

USC vs. UCLA, Dec. 3, 2005 | USC running back Reggie Bush jump over UCLA defender Marcus Cassel and into the end zone for a touchdown. Bush's spectacular season earned him the 2005 Heisman Trophy, but the award was later stripped because Bush had received illegal benefits during his time with the Trojans.

Penn State football

Notre Dame at Penn State, Sept. 8, 2007 | Penn State declared a stadium-wide 'White Out' or 'White House' as 110,078 attended the September 2007 game, the second largest attendance in Beaver Stadium history. The Nittany Lions defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 31-10.

Mary Decker

1984 Olympics | World champion Mary Decker, who became tangled with Britain's Zola Budd about halfway through the 3,000-meter run, looks on from the infield after falling from the track. The collision ended Decker's day and shook up Budd, who fell from the lead to seventh place.

Maxwell Fornah and Victor Musa

Sierra Leone, April 6, 2006 | The members of the Single Leg Amputee Sports Club of Sierra Leone chase for the ball in Freetown. A brutal civil war left more than 6,000 amputees in Sierra Leone.

John McEnroe

Wimbledon, July 4, 1981 | The always emotional John McEnroe reacts after beating rival Bjorn Borg for the Wimbledon title. He would win the tournament again in 1983 and 1984.

Lynn Swann

Super Bowl X, Jan. 18, 1976 | Steelers WR Lynn Swann makes an acrobatic catch over Cowboys defender Mark Washington. Swann became the first receiver to win Super Bowl MVP honors after catching four passes for 161 yards and a touchdown during a 21-17 Pittsburgh victory.

Bill Mazeroski

World Series Game 7, Oct. 13, 1960 | Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Bill Mazeroski launches the game-winning home run off New York Yankees pitcher Ralph Terry. To this day, it remains the only walk-off home run in Game 7 history.

Julius Erving

January 1977 | Philadelphia 76ers forward Julius Erving gets full extension on a one-handed dunk against the Denver Nuggets.

John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson

Opening Day, April 10, 1961 | President John Kennedy and Vice President Lyndon Johnson take in Opening Day at Griffith Stadium, Washington, D.C., home to the expansion Senators.

Jacques Plante

Canadiens at Rangers, Dec. 18, 1957 | Montreal Canadiens goalie Jacques Plante surveys the ice without a mask during a game between the Canadiens and the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Plante was the first NHL goalie to wear a goaltender mask on an everyday basis, a practice he started during the 1959-60 season.

John Havlicek and Chet Walker

Eastern Conference Finals, April 15, 1965 | Leading 110-109, Boston Celtics guard John Havlicek stole the ball on the inbounds pass from the Philadelphia 76ers to secure the Celtics victory. The Celtics would go on to the NBA Finals, where they would defeat the Lakers in five games.

Phil Mickelson

Masters, April 11, 2004 | Phil Mickelson celebrates after making an 18-foot putt on the 18th hole to clinch a one-stroke victory at the Masters. After years of being called the best player without a major victory, Lefty broke through with his nine-under-par performance. He won the tournament again in 2006 and 2010.

Pete Rose

Reds vs. Cubs, August 1975 | Cincinnati's Pete Rose dives into third base in a game with the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Baseball's all-time hits leader, Rose was 4-for-9 and drew eight walks during the series with Chicago.

Roger Bannister

British Empire and Commonwealth Games, Aug. 7, 1954 | Roger Bannister, the first man to break four minutes in the mile, races the "Miracle Mile" against John Landy, who was at the time the only other person to have broken four. Bannister won the duel and later took the first ever Sports Illustrated "Sportsman of the Year" honors.

Pittsburgh Pirates Fans

1960 World Series, Oct. 13, 1960 | University of Pittsburgh students cheer as they look down on Forbes Field from the top of their campus's Cathedral of Learning as the Pirates are winning their first World Series in 35 years against the Yankees. In Game 7, Bill Mazeroski hit the first walk-off home run in World Series history, a shot over the left-field fence that gave the Pirates a 10-9 win.

Joe Namath

Bills at Jets, Dec. 8, 1974 | New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath listens on the sidelines during a messy New York Jets-Buffalo Bills Game. The Jets would win 20-10 behind Namath's 131 yards and two passing touchdowns.

Nadia Comaneci

Montreal Summer Olympics, Aug. 2, 1976 | Nadia Comaneci of Romania completes a somersault during the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. Comaneci was the first gymnast to ever be awarded a perfect score in an Olympic gymnastic event, and in total, won three gold medals in Montreal.

Bob Cousy

Pistons at Celtics, Nov. 19, 1955 | Boston Celtics point guard Bob Cousy drives by two Fort Wayne Pistons defenders during a game in 1955. Cousy's unorthodox style, featuring behind-the-back dribbling and no-look passes, stood in marked contrast to the rest of the league, which was then dominated by a more fundamental style of play.

Ted Williams

Spring Training, March, 1956 | Six-time batting champion Ted Williams discusses hitting during the Red Sox's spring training in Florida. Williams, then 37, hit .345 with a major-league best .479 on-base percentage during the season.

Dick Butkus

St. Louis, Sept. 28, 1969 | Chicago Bears linebacker Dick Butkus, who Sports Illustrated anointed "The Most Feared Man in the Game," makes his move during a game against the Cardinals. . Butkus was named the NEA NFL defensive player of the year at the end of the 1969 season.

Carl Lewis

Summer Olympics, Aug. 8, 1992 | U.S. sprinter Carl Lewis celebrates after winning the gold medal and setting the new world record in the 4x100-meter relay. Lewis' final leg, which he covered in 8.85 seconds, stood as the fastest anchor leg on record until 2007.

Brandon Day

NAIA College Football Championship, Dec. 19, 2007 | Carroll College linebacker Brandon Day slides in the mud after Carroll College's 17-9 victory over the University of Sioux Falls for the NAIA college football championship. Since 2002, Carroll College has won six NAIA championships, including one in 2010.

Serena Williams

Australian Open, Jan. 21, 2007 | Serena Williams celebrates a point during the 2007 Australian Open finals against Maria Sharapova. Williams, who was unseeded because of her World no. 81 ranking, continued on to beat Sharapova and win the tournament.

Jackie Robinson

World Series Game 1, Sept. 28, 1955 | Brooklyn Dodgers second baseman Jackie Robinson steals home against the New York Yankees in the eighth inning of Game 1 of the 1955 World Series. Despite Robinson's steal, the Dodgers lost the game 6-5, but they would go on to win the Series in seven games.

Dennis Rodman

Pacers at Bulls, March 7, 1997 | Chicago Bulls power forward Dennis Rodman goes horizontal for a loose ball during a game against the Pacers at the United Center in Chicago, Ill. Rodman won his sixth rebounding title during the 1996-97 season averaging 16.1 total rebounds a game.

Alan Ameche

NFL Championship Game, Dec. 28, 1958 | Baltimore Colts fullback Alan Ameche plows through New York Giants defensive back Jim Patton for the winning touchdown in overtime of the 1958 NFL Championship Game, otherwise known as `The Greatest Game Ever Played.'

Jim Brown

Cleveland, Nov. 29, 1964 | Browns running back Jim Brown weaves his way through the Philadelphia defense during the 1964 season.

Lew Alcindor

FInal Four, April 1, 1968 | Lew Alcindor shoots his trademark skyhook as UCLA drubs Houston 101-69 in the national semifinals. Houston beat UCLA in January in what was dubbed "The Game of the Century," but Lew Alcindor and the Bruins got the last laugh en route to the second of what would be seven straight national titles.

Vasily Alexeyev

Clean & Jerk, January, 1969 | Russia's Vasily Alexeyev completes a Clean & Jerk during a weightlifting competition in 1969. Alexeyev set 80 world records between 1970 and 1977, and is widely considered the greatest heavyweight weightlifter of all time.

Roberto Clemente

Padres at Pirates, June 16, 1972 | Pittsburgh Pirates star Roberto Clemente tracks a ball from a San Diego Padres pitcher during an eventual 2-1 Pirates victory. The 1972 season would be Clemente's last as he would die in a plane crash in December of the same year.

Julien Leparoux and Sanibel Storm

Keeneland Race Course, April 28, 2006 | Jockey Julien Leparoux tries to hold on to the bridle as he is catapulted off Sanibel Storm, which hit the rail during the stretch run. The jockey and horse were both uninjured.

Earvin 'Magic' Johnson and Larry Bird

Salt Lake City, March 26, 1979 | Future NBA Hall of Famers Earvin Johnson and Larry Bird try to figure something out during the 1979 Championship game between Michigan State and Indiana State.

North Carolina and Michigan State

San Diego, Nov. 11, 2011 | North Carolina and Michigan State kicked off the 2011 college basketball season aboard the USS Carl Vinson off the coast of San Diego. The Tar Heels triumphed, 67-55.

Mark McGwire

Busch Stadium, Sept. 7, 1998 | Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire hits his 61st home run of the season to tie Roger Maris' record. McGwire hit the record-breaking 62nd home run the next day, and he finished the season with 70. Barry Bonds later broke the record by hitting 73 homers in 2001.

Randy Moss

Vikings vs. Steelers, Dec. 22, 2001 | Vikings wide receiver Randy Moss makes a fingertip catch for a 62-yard completion during the fourth quarter of a 21-16 Minnesota loss to Pittsburgh.

Rainbow trout

Anchorage, Jan. 22, 2001 | After being swallowed, a rainbow trout fingerling peeks out from the gullet of a northern pike, in a lobby aquarium exhibit at the Alaska Department of Fish & Game in Anchorage. It was part of a demonstration by the ADF&G to illustrate the abundance of northern pike in the region.

LSU baseball team

College World Series, June 17, 2000 | LSU shortstop Ryan Theriot tosses his helmet in celebration after scoring the game-winning run in the 2000 College World Series. LSU rallied from a three-run deficit to top the Stanford Cardinal 6-5 at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Neb.

Ben Johnson

Summer Olympics, Sept. 24, 1988 | Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson pulls ahead of the pack during the men's 100-meter dash at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. Johnson would win gold and set a new world record, only to be stripped of both when he tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs three days later.

Vince Young

Rose Bowl, Jan. 4, 2006 | Texas QB Vince Young celebrates after the Longhorns knocked off USC 41-38 for the national championship. Young threw for 267 yards and ran for 200 more, including the game-winning touchdown.

Bob Beamon

Summer Olympics, Oct. 18, 1968 | U.S. track and field athlete Bob Beamon flies through the air during his world record long jump of 8.9 meters at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. Beamon's jump, which inspired a new adjective for spectacular feats ('Beamonesque'), stood as the world record for 23 years.

Ron Turcotte aboard Secretariat

Belmont Stakes, June 9, 1973 | Ron Turcotte, riding Secretariat, takes a quick peek over his shoulder at his competitors during the running of the 1973 Belmont Stakes. Secretariat would go on to win the race in 2:24 by 31 lengths, the fastest time and largest margin of victory in the history of the race. With the win, Secretariat became the ninth Triple Crown winner in history, and the first winner in 25 years.

Leon Spinks

Feb. 27, 1978 | Leon Spinks, known for his gap-toothed smile, won a 15-round decision over Muhammad Ali on Feb. 15, giving him the heavyweight title in only his eighth professional fight. It was the fastest ascent ever.

Referee Jack Vaughn

Eagles at Bears, Dec. 31, 1988 | Referee Jack Vaughn tries to follow a field goal attempt from Eagles placekicker Luis Zendejas during the Fog Bowl, a 1988 NFC divisional playoff game between the Eagles and the Bears in Chicago, Ill. A heavy sheet of fog rolled over Soldier Field during the second quarter, cutting visibility to around 10-20 yards for the remainder of the game.

Cal Ripken, Jr.

Angels at Orioles, Sept. 6, 1996 | Baltimore Orioles fans congratulate shortstop Cal Ripken, Jr. shortly after he breaks Lou Gehrig's consecutive games played record. Ripken would end his own streak at 2,632 games in 1998, surpassing Gehrig's record by 502 games.

Roger Staubach

Annapolis, Nov. 9, 1963 | Navy quarterback Roger Staubach shows his glee during Navy's win over Maryland.

Joe DiMaggio

Yankees at Senators, June 29, 1941 | Yankee great Joe DiMaggio takes a hack against the Washington Senators during his 1941 AL MVP season. He hit .357 with 30 home runs and 125 RBI during the year.

Tommie Smith and John Carlos

Summer Olympics, Oct. 16, 1968 | American sprinters Tommie Smith (center) and John Carlos (right) raise their black-gloved fists on the Olympic medal podium in Mexico City to signify Black Power. Smith, the gold medalist in the 200-meter race, and Carlos, the bronze medalist, were kicked out of the Games for their overtly political statement.

Casey Sanders and Julius Peppers

Chapel Hill, N.C., March 4, 2001 | Casey Sanders of Duke (20) tries to stop North Carolina's Julius Peppers at the Dean E. Smith Center. No. 2 Duke defeated No. 4 North Carolina 95-81.

Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Summer Olympics, Sept. 29, 1988 | Four-time gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee leaps for a then Olympic record 7.40 meters in the long jump during the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, Korea. Though plagued by steroid accusations at the '88 Games, Joyner-Kersee never tested positive for performance enhancing drugs.

Abebe Bikila

Rome Olympics, Sept. 10, 1960 | Barefooted runner Abebe Bikila of Ethiopia approaches the Arch of Constantine on his way to winning the Olympic marathon in world-record time of 2:15:16.2. The race was held at night due to sweltering summer heat.

Pau Gasol

Celtics at Lakers, Game 7 of NBA Finals, 2010 | Pau Gasol celebrates the Lakers' memorable Game 7 victory over their long-time rivals in front of the home crowd.

Tiki Gelana

London Olympics, Aug. 5, 2012 | After finishing five seconds behind winner Tiki Gelana of Ethiopia in the hard-fought women's marathon, silver medalist Priscah Jeptoo of Kenya paused.

Gordon Hayward

Duke vs. Butler, NCAA Men's Basketball Championship game, 2010 | Trailing 61-59 in the final seconds of the championship game, Butler star Gordon Hayward had a chance to win it all with his half-court heave. The shot hit the backboard and clanged off the rim, giving Duke its fourth title.

Matthias Steiner

London Olympics, Aug. 7, 2012 | Defending Olympic weightlifting champion Matthias Steiner of Germany lost his balance while trying to lift about 432 pounds and was hit in the neck by the barbell. He got up on his feet and waved to the crowd but later withdrew from the competition.

Barry Bonds

San Francisco, Aug. 7, 2007 | Barry Bonds watches career home run No. 756 leave AT&T Park in a game against the Washington Nationals. The blast broke the career home run record held by Henry Aaron for 33 years.

Virginia Tech vs. Boston

Blacksburg, Va., Nov. 26, 1999 | A scenic view of Lane Stadium during a late November football game between the Virginia Tech Hokies and Boston College Eagles.

Santonio Holmes

Super Bowl XLIII, Feb. 1, 2009 | Steelers WR Santonio Holmes's leaping touchdown grab with 42 seconds remaining gave Pittsburgh a 27-23 win over the Arizona Cardinals.

Lorenzo Charles and Jim Valvano

Albuquerque, April 4, 1983 | Lorenzo Charles and N.C. State coach Jim Valvano celebrate with others the Wolfpack's upset win over Houston in the NCAA Championship game.

Kyle Whitaker

Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo, March 17, 2005 | Kyle Whitaker of Chambers, Neb., loses his boot as he is bucked off Dump Wagon at the Circuit Finals Rodeo in Pocatello, Idaho. Whitaker would finish 22nd out of 24 competitors in the saddle bronco riding.

Abel Kirui and Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich

London Olympics, Aug. 12, 2012 | Marathoners Abel Kirui and Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich of Kenya lead Stephen Kiprotich of Uganda through Leadenhall Market at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

Wayne Gretzky

Kings vs. Canucks, March 23, 1994 | Kings center Wayne Gretzky scores his 802nd career goal, passing Gordie Howe as the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer. Gretzky finished his career with 894.

Hank Aaron

Atlanta, April 8, 1974 | Atlanta Braves outfielder Hank Aaron launches career home run No. 715, surpassing Babe Ruth as the all-time home run leader. Aaron would go on to hit 755 home runs, a record broken by Barry Bonds in 2007.

Randy McMichael

Saints at Dolphins, Aug. 15, 2002 | Dolphins tight end Randy McMichael soars over Saints defenders Michael Hawthorne (left) and Mel Mitchell to score a touchdown during a preseason game. The rookie tight end started all 16 games and caught 39 passes for 485 yards and four TDs during the season.

Kirk Gibson

Royals at Tigers, Aug. 9, 1995 | Kirk Gibson collides with Royals catcher Pat Borders.

Maurice Stovall and DeMario Suggs

Notre Dame at Michigan St., Sept. 21, 2002 | Notre Dame wide receiver Maurice Stovall catches a touchdown during his team's 21-17 victory over the Spartans.

Manny Ramirez

Yankees at Red Sox, June 3, 2007 | Manny Ramirez flies into second base after doubling, losing his helmet in the process. Ramirez went 2-for-4 but Boston lost 6-5.

Magic Johnson

Lakers vs. Celtics, Oct. 22, 1991 | Lakers point guard Magic Johnson tosses a no-look pass past Celtics forward Ed Pinckney during a preseason game. About two weeks later, Johnson announced he was HIV-positive and retiring from basketball.

Lou Gehrig

Yankee Stadium, July 4, 1939 | The Iron Horse started 2,130 straight games, but his most famous moment on a baseball field was likely this speech. Gehrig called himself "the luckiest man on the face of this earth" in his 277-word speech to the crowd at Yankee Stadium, only weeks after being diagnosed with the incurable neurological disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (or ALS), which now bears his name.

Michael Jordan

Bulls at Jazz, Game 6, 1998 NBA Finals | Michael Jordan's game-winning buzzer beater is possibly the most memorable shot of his storied career. Jordan retired six months later, but returned to the NBA in 2001 with the Washington Wizards.

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Years ago, after a long flight, I arrived at the Munich airport with the renowned sports photographer Bob Martin, a Londoner whose unbelievable luggage—great steel steamer trunks of cameras and tripods and light-catchers—was taking forever to roll off the carousel.

“Let’s go already,” I said, while the stickered cases kept coming, as if on an endless assembly line. Bob fixed me with a sympathetic look and repliedin his best English butler’s voice: “I’m sorry, Stevie. Have you already claimed your pencil?”

Bobthen turned to an international assembly of strangers and said: “Stevie has his pencil, everybody!”

His point was made, and I never forgot it, and I’d secretly known it all along: In the alchemy of words and pictures that is Sports Illustrated, it’s the photographers who—literally and metaphorically—do the heavy lifting. All told, I’ve spent a month of my life at the world's luggage carousels with some of the best photographers who ever lived, including many of those whose work is in the following gallery of 100 classic sports photographs.

This gallery is a sports lover’s Louvre—without the crowds, but very much with its own Mona Lisa. (Or at least the sports Mona Lisa that is Leon Spinks, in a hoodie, his own enigmatic smile like a two-car garage with the doors up.)

The real Mona Lisa might be the only painting as familiar to you—or at least to me—as many of the photographs here. Neil Leifer’s shot of Ali standing over the supine Sonny Liston is one of the most famous and evocative images of the 20th century. And unlike any of Da Vinci’s masterworks, Leifer composed it in—what?—an eighth of a second?

In that regard, sports photography is like Olympic sprinting, one of the subjects that appears frequently here. In both pursuits, success and failure are separated by hundredths of a second. The photographer got one shot at Bobby Orr, prone in mid-air, looking like Superman at low altitude. The same went for Pete Rose, diving into third at Wrigley while fighting the drag of his own sideburns. The resulting image is the most eloquent imaginable summary of Charlie Hustle’s playing career. A picture is worth 4,256 hits.

It was taken by Heinz Kluetmeier. The names of these photographers inspire awe in me in a way that their subjects seldom do. And not just because the names—Kluetmeier, Iooss, Bruty—are often awesome in their own right.No, I’m an unabashed sports photo fanboy, the kind of weirdo who seeks out the infinitesimal picture credits. Presented with the black-and-white image of Joe DiMaggio’s beautiful swing, I look past Joltin’ Joe to the two daredevil photographers just beyond him, a scant ten yards into foul territory. The skill required of Randy Moss to make a fingertip catch of a football is different, but not greater than, the skill required of Damian Strohmeyer to catch that catch on camera.

And so I’ve spent many of those idle moments at baggage claim envying these photographers their talent. I also envy them their universal ease, which puts them equally at home around left tackles and swimsuit models; I admire their cool vests with many pockets; their universal ability to talk their way into (and out of) any spot in the world; the kind of hubris required to get underwater shots of Olympic swimmers, catwalk views of heavyweight boxing matches and—in the case of Jim Lavrakas of the Anchorage Daily News—a mind-altering portrait of a fish opening its mouth to reveal another fish inside. You’ll see. They resemble Russian nesting dolls.

Think about the contradictory combination of bottomless patience and lightning-quick reflexes required to capture that image. I could stare at it for minutes on end. I have stared at it for minutes on end. It wasn’t shot with a fish-eye lens, but it provides a rare fish-eye view of the world, ushering us in to a place we really don’t belong.

Which is what so many of these pictures do: Get us past the velvet ropes. One of the great pleasures of watching sports on TV—be it Super Bowl or World Cup final—is spotting these colleagues with cameras in ridiculously close proximity to the biggest spectacles on the planet. A photographer who shall remain nameless (and blameless) once smuggled me down to the finish line at Churchill Downs so that I could see—and hear and feel—the horses thunder by at the Kentucky Derby. I couldn’t imagine trying to take timeless photographs in that instant. I was trying not to wet my pants.

So many of these photos still raise the same goosebumps originally produced by the live moment. Kluetmeier’s famous photo of the Miracle on Ice ought to be a U.S. postage stamp by now. It’s one of those “Where’s Waldo” pictures, featuring countless faces wearing varied expressions of wonderment. They seem to change with repeated viewings, like the portraits on the wall at Hogwarts.

Look at the spectators on the periphery of these photos—mouths agape and cell-phone cameras poised, as Barry Bonds goes deep. Contemplate, for a moment, Babe Ruth in a straw boater surrounded by flat-capped children. Every one of their faces expresses different shades of the same emotions: Joy, primarily, and disbelief.

Then pause a moment over President Kennedy and Vice President Johnson, looking into the ether at a ballgame. It’s as if they’re staring into the sky in a Spielberg movie, in which the aliens aren’t seen until the final reel, and don’t need to be, because the faces of the Earthlings tell the whole story.

That’s what each of these pictures does—tells a whole story. Broadcasters calling a big game are often reminded to let the action breathe. A great moment of a televised game doesn’t need any narration, which is why the announcers—the good ones, anyway—shut up at the celebration and let the pictures do the talking. That’s what I’ll do now, with these pictures. They don’t need me, and they sure don’t need my bloody pencil.

(Click here for the full-size version of the gallery.)

GALLERY: 100 OF THE GREATEST SPORTS PHOTOS OF ALL TIME

100 Greatest Sports Photos of All-Time

Muhammad Ali and Cleveland Williams

Nov. 14, 1966 | Ali knocks out Cleveland 'Big Cat' Williams in three rounds at the Houston Astrodome to defend his heavyweight title in November 1966. The bout drew a record indoor crowd of 35,460.

Willie Mays

Chuck Bednarik and Frank Gifford

Dwight Clark

David Tyree and Rodney Harrison

Michael Phelps

Greg Olson

Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston

Antwaan Randle El

Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield

Bobby Martin

Juan Marichal

Tiger Woods

Brandi Chastain

Women's World Cup, July 10, 1999 | U.S. women's soccer player Brandi Chastain exults after kicking the World Cup-winning penalty kick in the 1999 Women's World Cup final.

Joe Montana

Javier Torres

Paralympic Games, Sept. 21, 2004 | Spain swimmer Vicente Javier Torres starts the 150-meter individual medley at the Paralympic Games. Torres took the silver medal in the race.

Vince Lombardi

Don Larsen and Yogi Berra

Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain

April 5, 1968 | Two giants of the NBA, Bill Russell of the Boston Celtics boxes out Wilt Chamberlain of the 76ers during a game in Philadelphia.

Michael Jordan

Bobby Orr

Joe Namath

U.S. Hockey

Kerri Strug

Carmen Basilio and Tony DeMarco

Nov. 30, 1955 | Carmen Basilio (right) celebrates with his cornermen after knocking out Tony DeMarco (left) in the 12th round for the world welterweight title.

Billy Kilmer and Manny Fernandez

Wayne Gretzky

New York, April 18, 1999 | Wayne Gretzky waves to the crowd at Madison Square Garden after playing in the final game in of his career.

Usain Bolt

Babe Ruth

1926 | New York Yankees outfielder Babe Ruth, the Great Bambino, spends time with some fans. The 1926 season was one of Ruth's best as he hit .372 with 47 home runs and 146 RBI.

Jack Nicklaus

Hank Aaron

Reggie Bush

Penn State football

Mary Decker

Maxwell Fornah and Victor Musa

Sierra Leone, April 6, 2006 | The members of the Single Leg Amputee Sports Club of Sierra Leone chase for the ball in Freetown. A brutal civil war left more than 6,000 amputees in Sierra Leone.

John McEnroe

Wimbledon, July 4, 1981 | The always emotional John McEnroe reacts after beating rival Bjorn Borg for the Wimbledon title. He would win the tournament again in 1983 and 1984.

Lynn Swann

Bill Mazeroski

Julius Erving

January 1977 | Philadelphia 76ers forward Julius Erving gets full extension on a one-handed dunk against the Denver Nuggets.

John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson

Opening Day, April 10, 1961 | President John Kennedy and Vice President Lyndon Johnson take in Opening Day at Griffith Stadium, Washington, D.C., home to the expansion Senators.

Jacques Plante

John Havlicek and Chet Walker

Phil Mickelson

Pete Rose

Roger Bannister

Pittsburgh Pirates Fans

Joe Namath

Nadia Comaneci

Bob Cousy

Ted Williams

Dick Butkus

Carl Lewis

Brandon Day

Serena Williams

Jackie Robinson

Dennis Rodman

Alan Ameche

Jim Brown

Cleveland, Nov. 29, 1964 | Browns running back Jim Brown weaves his way through the Philadelphia defense during the 1964 season.

Lew Alcindor

Vasily Alexeyev

Roberto Clemente

Julien Leparoux and Sanibel Storm

Earvin 'Magic' Johnson and Larry Bird

Salt Lake City, March 26, 1979 | Future NBA Hall of Famers Earvin Johnson and Larry Bird try to figure something out during the 1979 Championship game between Michigan State and Indiana State.

North Carolina and Michigan State

San Diego, Nov. 11, 2011 | North Carolina and Michigan State kicked off the 2011 college basketball season aboard the USS Carl Vinson off the coast of San Diego. The Tar Heels triumphed, 67-55.

Mark McGwire

Randy Moss

Vikings vs. Steelers, Dec. 22, 2001 | Vikings wide receiver Randy Moss makes a fingertip catch for a 62-yard completion during the fourth quarter of a 21-16 Minnesota loss to Pittsburgh.

Rainbow trout

LSU baseball team

Ben Johnson

Vince Young

Bob Beamon

Ron Turcotte aboard Secretariat

Leon Spinks

Referee Jack Vaughn

Cal Ripken, Jr.

Roger Staubach

Annapolis, Nov. 9, 1963 | Navy quarterback Roger Staubach shows his glee during Navy's win over Maryland.

Joe DiMaggio

Yankees at Senators, June 29, 1941 | Yankee great Joe DiMaggio takes a hack against the Washington Senators during his 1941 AL MVP season. He hit .357 with 30 home runs and 125 RBI during the year.

Tommie Smith and John Carlos

Casey Sanders and Julius Peppers

Chapel Hill, N.C., March 4, 2001 | Casey Sanders of Duke (20) tries to stop North Carolina's Julius Peppers at the Dean E. Smith Center. No. 2 Duke defeated No. 4 North Carolina 95-81.

Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Abebe Bikila

Pau Gasol

Celtics at Lakers, Game 7 of NBA Finals, 2010 | Pau Gasol celebrates the Lakers' memorable Game 7 victory over their long-time rivals in front of the home crowd.

Tiki Gelana

London Olympics, Aug. 5, 2012 | After finishing five seconds behind winner Tiki Gelana of Ethiopia in the hard-fought women's marathon, silver medalist Priscah Jeptoo of Kenya paused.

Gordon Hayward

Matthias Steiner

Barry Bonds

Virginia Tech vs. Boston

Blacksburg, Va., Nov. 26, 1999 | A scenic view of Lane Stadium during a late November football game between the Virginia Tech Hokies and Boston College Eagles.

Santonio Holmes

Super Bowl XLIII, Feb. 1, 2009 | Steelers WR Santonio Holmes's leaping touchdown grab with 42 seconds remaining gave Pittsburgh a 27-23 win over the Arizona Cardinals.

Lorenzo Charles and Jim Valvano

Albuquerque, April 4, 1983 | Lorenzo Charles and N.C. State coach Jim Valvano celebrate with others the Wolfpack's upset win over Houston in the NCAA Championship game.

Kyle Whitaker

Abel Kirui and Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich

London Olympics, Aug. 12, 2012 | Marathoners Abel Kirui and Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich of Kenya lead Stephen Kiprotich of Uganda through Leadenhall Market at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

Wayne Gretzky

Kings vs. Canucks, March 23, 1994 | Kings center Wayne Gretzky scores his 802nd career goal, passing Gordie Howe as the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer. Gretzky finished his career with 894.

Hank Aaron

Randy McMichael

Kirk Gibson

Royals at Tigers, Aug. 9, 1995 | Kirk Gibson collides with Royals catcher Pat Borders.

Maurice Stovall and DeMario Suggs

Notre Dame at Michigan St., Sept. 21, 2002 | Notre Dame wide receiver Maurice Stovall catches a touchdown during his team's 21-17 victory over the Spartans.

Manny Ramirez

Yankees at Red Sox, June 3, 2007 | Manny Ramirez flies into second base after doubling, losing his helmet in the process. Ramirez went 2-for-4 but Boston lost 6-5.