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Top 120 Greatest Athletes of All Time (4 North American Leagues)

This is my list of the 120 greatest athletes to play in the four major American leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL).
For "Decades Played", I'm only really looking at the years in which a player was most active. Ex. a player who played from 1979-2001 would be listed as "1980s-1990s".
Quiz by marccdj
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Last updated: December 13, 2021
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First submittedDecember 11, 2021
Times taken190
Average score45.0%
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Rank
Sport
Position
Primary Team
Decades Played
Answer
1
NBA
SG
CHI Bulls
1980s-2000s
Michael Jordan
2
NBA
SF
CLE Cavaliers
2000s-present
LeBron James
3
NHL
C
EDM Oilers
1980s-1990s
Wayne Gretzky
4
NFL
QB
NE Patriots
2000s-present
Tom Brady
5
MLB
RF
NY Yankees
1910s-1930s
Babe Ruth
6
MLB
CF
NY Giants
1950s-1970s
Willie Mays
7
NFL
OLB
NY Giants
1980s-1990s
Lawrence Taylor
8
NHL
C
PIT Penguins
1980s-2000s
Mario Lemieux
9
NBA
C
PHI Warriors
1950s-1970s
Wilt Chamberlain
10
NBA
C
LA Lakers
1970s-1980s
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
11
NFL
WR
SF 49ers
1980s-2000s
Jerry Rice
12
MLB
LF
BOS Red Sox
1940s-1960s
Ted Williams
13
NHL
D
BOS Bruins
1960s-1970s
Bobby Orr
14
NFL
QB
SF 49ers
1980s-1990s
Joe Montana
15
MLB
1B
NY Yankees
1920s-1930s
Lou Gehrig
16
NFL
RB
CHI Bears
1970s-1980s
Walter Payton
17
NBA
PG
LA Lakers
1980s-1990s
Magic Johnson
18
NHL
D
BOS Bruins
1980s-2000s
Ray Bourque
19
NBA
SG
LA Lakers
1990s-2010s
Kobe Bryant
20
NHL
RW
DET Red Wings
1940s-1980s
Gordie Howe
21
MLB
CF
DET Tigers
1900s-1920s
Ty Cobb
22
NFL
QB
IND Colts
1990s-2010s
Peyton Manning
23
NFL
RB
DET Lions
1990s
Barry Sanders
24
NHL
RW
PIT Penguins
1980s-present
Jaromir Jagr
25
MLB
SP
BOS Red Sox
1990s-2000s
Pedro Martinez
26
NBA
SF
BOS Celtics
1980s-1990s
Larry Bird
27
NHL
C
EDM Oilers
1970s-2000s
Mark Messier
28
NFL
DE
PHI Eagles
GB Packers
1980s-1990s
Reggie White
29
MLB
SP
WAS Senators
1900s-1920s
Walter Johnson
30
MLB
RF
STL Cardinals
1940s-1960s
Stan Musial
31
NBA
PF
SAS Spurs
1990s-2010s
Tim Duncan
32
NFL
RB
CLE Browns
1950s-1960s
Jim Brown
33
NHL
G
MTL Canadiens
COL Avalanche
1980s-2000s
Patrick Roy
34
MLB
LF
SF Giants
1980s-2000s
Barry Bonds
35
NBA
C
HOU Rockets
1980s-2000s
Hakeem Olajuwon
36
NFL
WR
MIN Vikings
1990s-2010s
Randy Moss
37
MLB
RF
MIL Braves
1950s-1970s
Hank Aaron
38
NHL
D
DET Red Wings
1980s-2010s
Nicklas Lidstrom
39
NFL
QB
GB Packers
2000s-present
Aaron Rodgers
40
NBA
C
LA Lakers
1990s-2000s
Shaquille O'Neal
41
NBA
C
BOS Celtics
1950s-1960s
Bill Russell
42
NHL
G
NJ Devils
1990s-2010s
Martin Brodeur
43
NFL
S
SF 49ers
1980s-1990s
Ronnie Lott
44
MLB
SP
HOU Astros
1960s-1990s
Nolan Ryan
45
NHL
LW
WAS Capitals
2000s-present
Alex Ovechkin
46
NBA
PG
CIN Royals
1960s-1970s
Oscar Robertson
47
MLB
3B
PHI Phillies
1970s-1980s
Mike Schmidt
48
NFL
QB
BAL Colts
1950s-1970s
Johnny Unitas
49
NBA
PG
GS Warriors
2010s-present
Stephen Curry
50
MLB
CF
NY Yankees
1950s-1960s
Mickey Mantle
51
NFL
WR
DET Lions
2000s-2010s
Calvin Johnson
52
NHL
C
MTL Canadiens
1950s-1970s
Jean Beliveau
53
NBA
PF
DAL Mavericks
1990s-2010s
Dirk Nowitzki
54
MLB
2B
BRK Dodgers
1940s-1950s
Jackie Robinson
55
NHL
G
BUF Sabres
1990s-2000s
Dominik Hasek
56
NFL
DE
LA Rams
1960s-1970s
Deacon Jones
57
NHL
RW
NY Islanders
1970s-1980s
Mike Bossy
58
MLB
CF
LA Angels
2010s-present
Mike Trout
59
NBA
C
SAS Spurs
1990s-2000s
David Robinson
60
NFL
OT
CIN Bengals
1980s-1990s
Anthony Munoz
Rank
Sport
Position
Primary Team
Decades Played
Answer
61
NHL
C
DET Red Wings
1980s-2000s
Steve Yzerman
62
NBA
PF
MIN Timberwolves
1990s-2010s
Kevin Garnett
63
NFL
ILB
BAL Ravens
1990s-2010s
Ray Lewis
64
MLB
SS
PIT Pirates
1890s-1910s
Honus Wagner
65
NBA
SG
PHI 76ers
1990s-2010s
Allen Iverson
66
NHL
G
MTL Canadiens
1970s
Ken Dryden
67
NFL
CB
ATL Falcons
1990s-2000s
Deion Sanders
68
NBA
PF
PHI 76ers
1970s-1980s
Julius Erving
69
MLB
2B
STL Cardinals
1910s-1930s
Rogers Hornsby
70
MLB
RF
PIT Pirates
1950s-1970s
Roberto Clemente
71
NFL
WR
SF 49ers
1990s-2010s
Terrell Owens
72
NHL
RW
MTL Canadiens
1940s-1950s
Maurice Richard
73
MLB
RP/CL
NY Yankees
1990s-2010s
Mariano Rivera
74
NHL
C
EDM Oilers
2010s-present
Connor McDavid
75
NBA
SF
GS Warriors
OKC Thunder
2000s-present
Kevin Durant
76
NFL
ILB
CHI Bears
1960s-1970s
Dick Butkus
77
MLB
CF
SEA Mariners
1990s-2000s
Ken Griffey Jr
78
NFL
QB
MIA Dolphins
1980s-1990s
Dan Marino
79
NHL
G
BOS Bruins
1960s-1970s
Phil Esposito
80
NBA
SG
MIA Heat
2000s-2010s
Dwyane Wade
81
NFL
CB
PIT Steelers
1980s-2000s
Rod Woodson
82
NHL
LW
CHI Blackhawks
1950s-1970s
Bobby Hull
83
NBA
PF
UTA Jazz
1980s-2000s
Karl Malone
84
MLB
C
CIN Reds
1960s-1980s
Johnny Bench
85
NBA
PG
DET Pistons
1980s-1990s
Isiah Thomas
86
NFL
S
BAL Ravens
2000s-2010s
Ed Reed
87
MLB
SS
NY Yankees
1990s-2010s
Derek Jeter
88
NHL
D
MTL Canadiens
1970s-1990s
Larry Robinson
89
MLB
C
HSD Grays
(Negro Leagues)
1930s-1940s
Josh Gibson
90
NBA
SG
LA Lakers
1960s-1970s
Jerry West
91
NHL
G
MTL Canadiens
1950s-1970s
Jacques Plante
92
MLB
LF
OAK Athletics
1980s-2000s
Rickey Henderson
93
NFL
RB
DAL Cowboys
1990s-2000s
Emmitt Smith
94
NHL
C
CHI Blackhawks
1950s-1970s
Stan Mikita
95
NBA
PG
SEA Supersonics
1990s-2000s
Gary Payton
96
MLB
SS/3B
NY Yankees
1990s-2010s
Alex Rodriguez
97
NFL
TE
KC Chiefs
1990s-2010s
Tony Gonzalez
98
NHL
D
NY Islanders
1970s-1980s
Denis Potvin
99
NFL
DT
LA Rams
2010s-present
Aaron Donald
100
MLB
RF
SEA Mariners
1990s-2010s
Ichiro Suzuki
101
NBA
PG
LA Clippers
NOL Hornets
2000s-present
Chris Paul
102
NBA
C
HOU Rockets
PHI 76ers
1970s-1990s
Moses Malone
103
NHL
C
MTL Canadiens
1920s-1930s
Howie Morenz
104
NHL
RW
STL Blues
1980s-2000s
Brett Hull
105
NFL
OG
DAL Cowboys
1990s-2000s
Larry Allen
106
MLB
SP
ATL Braves
1980s-2000s
Greg Maddux
107
NBA
PG
PHX Suns
1990s-2010s
Steve Nash
108
MLB
RF
NY Giants
1920s-1940s
Mel Ott
109
NHL
C
LA Kings
1970s-1980s
Marcel Dionne
110
NBA
C
CHI Bulls
1970s-1980s
Artis Gilmore
111
MLB
SP
ARI Diamondbacks
SEA Mariners
1980s-2000s
Randy Johnson
112
NFL
RB
LA Rams
1980s-1990s
Eric Dickerson
113
NFL
CB
CHI Cardinals
1950s-1960s
Night Train Lane
114
NHL
RW
MTL Canadiens
1970s-1980s
Guy Lafleur
115
NFL
QB
SF 49ers
1980s-1990s
Steve Young
116
NBA
PG
UTA Jazz
1980s-2000s
John Stockton
117
MLB
SP
BRK Dodgers
1950s-1960s
Sandy Koufax
118
NHL
D
DET Red Wings
1980s-2000s
Chris Chelios
119
NBA
PF
WAS Bullets
1960s-1980s
Elvin Hayes
120
NHL
C
PIT Penguins
2000s-present
Sidney Crosby
Mikasuomi
+1
Level 49
Dec 13, 2021
This was interesting, thank you! As a Finn my knowledge of NHL is far beyond other leagues. NBA is next, especially because of Olympic Games.

Then football and baseball, I missed even many legends. (I know that they are legends when I see their name.) This list made me want to know more about the history of these sports.

Bruin8774
+1
Level 65
Feb 15, 2023
Phil Esposito was not a goalie, he was a Center.

His brother Tony was the goalie.

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