Rec and Sports

The Five Best Athletes Ever

Considering that just about none of us were alive at the turn of the 20th century, it’s hard to write this article without at least a trace of bias.

After all, we weren’t there to see most of the athletes of the 1900s so it’s hard to completely realize what they meant to society at the time. What you should know is that many of the men from the past paved the way for the big stars we enjoy today.

With that said, I’m going to do my best to list five of the athletes who I believe had profound impacts on the world and within their sport. Feel free to chime in with your comments if you disagree with these. Here goes.

Ty Cobb. A pioneer in the baseball world, his time came before Babe Ruth’s. He was one of the first true superstars of the sport and still remains one of the greatest hitters to ever play the game.

Next, we’ll rewind by about 40 years and recognize the impact that Muhammad Ali had on the entire world. While boxing isn’t as big today as it was back then, it’s partly due to the fact that no boxer today possesses the blend of talent and character that Muhammad Ali had.

In the soccer world, most will agree that Pele was the best man to ever play the sport. While soccer isn’t as big in the US, this is the world’s biggest sport. Pele could by and large be considered the most influential athlete in the world.

Babe Ruth. The Babe officially put baseball on the map and made it America’s pastime for nearly a century. He was a legend of his time and still remains the king of the home run in the minds of many. If not for Babe Ruth, baseball wouldn’t be as big as it is today.

In the basketball world, everyone wants to be like Mike. Many of us were fortunate enough to see him in action, and Jordan was the kind of athlete whose talent is witnessed once in a lifetime.

More about the author: A major sports fan, he also enjoys writing about bathroom light fixtures and bathroom ceiling lights.