Twenty-Plus Years with One Team

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Dec 2, 2011

Twenty-Plus Years with One Team

Jason Hanson

At the end of the 2011 season Jason Hanson will become the third NFL player to play 20 seasons with the same franchise. The three-time Pro Bowl kicker has never played for another team. Here are the other athletes who are part of the "20-plus years with one team" club.

Nicklas Lidstrom

Detroit captain Nicklas Lidstrom, a seven-time Norris Trophy winner, is playing his 20th season in a Red Wings uniform.

John Smoltz

Smoltz also played for the Red Sox and Cardinals, but during his time in Atlanta he was an eight-time All-Star, 1996 NL Cy Young winner and 1995 World Series champion.

Craig Biggio

Biggio was a seven-time All-Star, five-time Silver Slugger winner and four-time Gold Glove winner. He is one of nine players to amass over 3,000 hits with the same team.

Steve Yzerman

Yzerman was named captain of the Red Wings in 1986 at 21 and is the longest serving captain of any professional sports team. He led the Red Wings to the Stanley Cup title in 1997, 1998 and 2002.

Darrell Green

The cornerback won two Super Bowls and played in seven Pro Bowls during his career.

Tony Gwynn

The first-ballot Hall of Famer won eight batting titles with the San Diego Padres. He also won seven Silver Sluggers, five Gold Gloves and was a 15-time All-Star.

Ray Bourque

Bourque won a Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2001 and waited longer than any other NHL champion to hold the Cup over his head. The long-time Bruin leads all defensemen in goals, assists and points.

Jackie Slater

The seven-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle played his entire 20 NFL seasons with the Rams.

George Brett

Brett was the 1980 AL MVP and a 1985 World Series Champion. The first-ballot Hall of Famer played his entire career in Kansas City.

Willie Stargell

Stargell won two World Series with the Pirates, the only team for which he ever played professional baseball. In 1979 the Hall of Fame first baseman won the NL MVP, World Series MVP, Babe Ruth Award and NLCS MVP.

Carl Yastrzemski

The Hall of Famer left fielder played his entire 23-year career with the Boston Red Sox. The 18-time All-Star won seven Gold Gloves and the 1967 AL MVP award.

Stan Mikita

The Hall of Famer won two Hart trophies and the 1961 Stanley Cup. Only Alex Delvecchio and Steve Yzerman had a longer career playing for only a single NHL team.

Brooks Robinson

"The human vacuum cleaner" won 16 Gold gloves, two World Series, an AL MVP award and a World Series MVP award during his 23 seasons with the Orioles.

Hank Aaron

Aaron played his first 21 seasons with the Braves franchise before finishing his career with the Milwaukee Brewers. He was a four-time NL home-run champion and won the NL MVP and a World Series in 1957.

Gordie Howe

Howe also holds the record for oldest NHL player. In 1980 he played an entire season for the Hartford Whalers at 52. He played in the NHL in five decades and won four Stanley Cups, six Hart trophies and six Art Ross trophies.

Stan Musial

Musial's 22 seasons are non-consecutive because he served in the Navy in 1945, but the first ballot Hall of Famer played his entire career with the Cardinals. He won three World Series, seven batting titles and three MVP awards.

Mel Ott

The Hall of Fame outfielder also managed the Giants from 1942 to '48. He won a World Series in 1933 and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1951.

Cal Ripken Jr.

The Iron Man played his entire 21-year career in Baltimore and set the record for consecutive games played with 2,632. He was a two-time AL MVP and 19-time All-Star.

Cap Anson

Anson started his career with the Rockford Forest Citys and played four seasons for the Philadelphia Athletics before becoming a White Stocking. The Hall of Fame first baseman played a record 27 consecutive seasons, the final 22 with the Chicago franchise.

Robin Yount

Yount spent all 20 of his MLB season with the Milwaukee Brewers, where he won two AL MVPs and three Silver Slugger Awards. The centerfielder was elected to the Baseball Hall of Famer in 1999.

Twenty-Plus Years with One Team