The 100 Greatest Black Athletes Of The 20th Century

Ebony, Oct, 1999 by Walter Leavy

IT is an amazing collection of talent, so impressive and unparalleled that it took 100 years to develop. During that period of development came the emergence of icons like Mays and Aaron, Payton and Brown, Rudolph and Joyner-Kersee, and Russell and Chamberlain. But at the same time, pioneer superstars like Josh Gibson and jockey Jimmy (The Wink) Winkfield are also included among the 100 greatest Black athletes of the 20th century.

Throughout the century, Black athletes have been such a distinct and integral part of the Black social fabric that our lives have been greatly influenced and enriched by their triumphs and near triumphs. They have thrilled us, inspired us, sustained us, renewed us. And as the new millennium approaches, discussions and arguments abound about just who should be on a list that includes the greatest.

First, it must be understood that "great" is many things to many people. It begins with incredible ability that is fortified by the intangibles. From the courage and determination of Jackie Robinson to the class and resolve of Althea Gibson to the confidence and cockiness of Muhammad Ali to the flash and style of Florence Griffith Joyner, they are all elements included in a package called greatness.

During the past 100 years, the sports world has presented an abundance of entertaining, larger-than-life performers who raised the level of competition and enjoyed a range of influence that extended far beyond the playing field. The most spectacular ,,f those figures--selected by EBONY editors, sports experts and sports enthusiasts--are included on a list of the 100 greatest Black athletes of the 20th century. While it's understood there won't be complete agreement with the selections, there is no question that each individual on the list has made major contributions and has been extraordinary in his or her own distinctive way.

The best of the best athletes of the 20th century include Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, who were the participants in the March 8, 1971, "Fight of the Century"; Jesse Owens, who won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics and dashed Hitler's theory of Aryan supremacy; Joe Louis, who held the heavy-weight boxing title longer than any other person; the first Black Wimbledon champion Althea Gibson, who later became an accomplished golfer; Jackie Robinson, who broke baseball's color barrier in the modern era and was named Rookie of the Year in 1947; and Michael Jordan, who led the Chicago Bulls to six championships, was a 10-time scoring champion and is considered by many to be the best player in NBA history.

At the 1960 Olympics in Rome, Wilma Rudolph became the first woman to win three gold medals at a single Olympiad. Jack Johnson became the first Black heavyweight champion. Many spectators still consider Willie Mays the best all-around player in baseball history. Carl Lewis won nine gold medals and one silver medal as a sprinter and long jumper in four Olympics.

The NFL's all-time rushing leader, Walter Payton, has the record, but Jim Brown, the Cleveland Browns star who retired at age 29, is still the standard by which all running backs are judged. Despite the odds and racism, Hank Aaron broke baseball's "unreachable" home run record on April 8, 1974. Jackie Joyner-Kersee, who won two gold medals in the heptathlon, has been called "the greatest female athlete in history."

The century's greatest Black athletes also include such spectacular performers as Florence Griffith Joyner, who was known as "the world's fastest woman" after setting world records in the 100- and 200-meter dashes. Arthur Ashe, who was the U.S. singles champion in 1968, became the first Black male to win the Wimbledon title when he defeated Jimmy Connors in 1975. Sugar Ray Robinson, a five-time middleweight champion who previously held the welterweight title, is still considered by many to be the best pound-for-pound boxer in history. Before Michael Jordan, the NBA was the battleground for Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain. Hall of Famer Chamberlain, a four-time MVP, once scored 100 points in a game in 1962. At left, Tiger Woods ignited Tigermania and solidified his status as a golf phenomenon when he won the prestigious Masters tournament by a record 12 strokes in 1997.

RELATED ARTICLE: THE 100 GREATEST BLACK ATHLETES OF THE 20TH CENTURY

1. Hank Aaron--Baseball's all-time home run and RBI leader

2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar--NBA's all-time scoring leader and six-time MVP

3. Marcus Allen--Scored more touchdowns than anyone else in NFL history

4. Muhammad Ali--"The Greatest" dominated boxing for 20 years

5. Henry Armstrong--Held three boxing titles at the same time

6. Arthur Ashe--First and only African-American male to win Wimbledon title

7. Ernie Banks--Perennial All-Star and member of baseball's Hall of Fame

8. Elgin Baylor--Hall of Famer and 10-time NBA All-Star

9. Cool Papa Bell--Negro Leaguer and Hall of Famer once called baseball's fastest man

10. Barry Bonds--Three-time National League MVP who some call the best left fielder in history