The 13 Best Athletes to Wear No. 13

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Dec 13, 2013

The 13 Best Athletes to Wear No. 13

#1: Wilt Chamberlain

The 7-footer averaged 30.1 points and 22.9 rebounds during his NBA career, and his 100-point game against the Knicks on March 2, 1962 might stand the test of time. Chamberlain won four regular-season MVPs and was selected to 13 All-Star Games.

#2: Dan Marino

The prolific quarterback -- who starred for the Miami Dolphins -- threw for 61,361 yards passing and 420 touchdowns during his career and was the first player to pass for 5,000 yards in a season. Marino finished 13 seasons with at least 3,000 yards passing and was selected to nine Pro Bowls.

#3: Alex Rodriguez

Rodriguez switched to No. 13 when he joined the Yankees in 2004. The following year, he won the American League MVP by batting .321 with 48 home runs. He won his second MVP in New York two years later. A-Rod hit at least 30 home runs and batted in 100 runs or more in each of his first seven years in New York.

#4: Steve Nash

Nash won two MVP awards and was an eight-time NBA All-Star. He led the NBA in total assists six times and retired third all time in assists behind John Stockton and Jason Kidd.

#5: Alessandro Nesta

A world class defender for Italy and star for AC Milan, Nesta was one of Europe's top central defenders during his prime and a member of Italy's 2006 World Cup-winning team.

#6: Kurt Warner

One of the greatest undrafted players in NFL history, Warner won MVP awards in 1999 and 2001 and led the Rams to a championship title in Super Bowl XXXIV. His 414 passing yards against Tennessee in that game is an NFL record. No other quarterback has thrown for more than 400 yards in a Super Bowl.

#7: Pavel Datsyuk

The two-way artist for the Red Wings -- a three-time winner of the Selke Trophy -- Datsyuk has been selected to three All-Star Games and helped Detroit to Stanley Cup victories in 2002 and 2008.

#8: Don Maynard

The sure-handed receiver and a favorite of quarterback Joe Namath, Maynard was a five-time AFL All-Star and retired with 633 receptions for 11,834 yards and 88 touchdowns.

#9: Mats Sundin

An NHL and international great who played 18 seasons with Quebec, Toronto and Vancouver, Sundin ranks in the Top 25 all time in goals and is No. 27 on the all-time points list with 1,349. The Swede was named to eight All-Star Games and he helped lead his country to gold at the 2006 Turin Olympics.

#10: Michael Ballack

A star for Germany and club teams Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich and Chelsea, Ballack was a sensational midfielder, winning the German Footballer of the Year three times. He helped lead Germany to the finals of Euro 2008 before the squad lost to Spain.

#11: Omar Vizquel

A tremendous fielder, Omar Vizquel won 11 Gold Gloves at shortstop and posted a .985 career fielding percentage, an all-time best for a shortstop. Vizquel also holds the MLB record for games played and double plays turned at shortstop, and set the mark for most hits by a Venezuelan player.

#12: Jake Scott

The Dolphins and Redskins safety was a five-time Pro Bowler who won two Super Bowls with Miami. He was named the MVP of Super Bowl VII in Miami's 14-7 win over Washington. In that game, Scott had two interceptions including one in the fourth quarter.

#13: Billy Wagner

The left-handed closer was a seven-time All-Star for five teams. He finished his career with 422 saves, one of only five players in major league history to record 400 or more saves.