OT: Greatest Player to Never Win a Championship.

[rfournier103]

Okay, sports fans. I’m taking an impromptu non-scientific poll. Who is the greatest player in any sport who never won a championship? There are two choices from each major sport, and am only considering players whose careers have already ended. If you suggest someone not on the list, please explain why.

Ty Cobb - baseball. Career .366 avg; 1,944 RBI. 0-3 in the World Series.

Ted Williams - baseball. Career .344 avg; 521 HR. 0-1 in the World Series.

Barry Sanders - football. 15,269 rushing yds; 99 TDs. Never played in a Super Bowl.

Randy Moss - football. 15,292 receiving yds; 156 TDs. 0-1 in the Super Bowl.

Marcel Dionne - hockey. 731 Goals; 1,040 Assists; 1,771 Points. Never played in Stanley Cup Final.

Joe Thornton - hockey. 430 Goals; 1,109 Assists; 1,539 Points. 0-1 in Stanley Cup Final.

John Stockton - basketball. 19,711 points; 15,806 assists; 4,051 rebounds. 0-2 in NBA Finals.

Karl Malone - basketball. 36,928 points; 5,248 assists; 14,968 rebounds. 0-2 in NBA Finals.

 

[Mr. Make-Believe]

My initial instinct was Ty Cobb. May be the right answer.

Voted Barry Sanders.

 

[RoccoF14]

I think it’s too tough to answer if you include all sports. If we’re sticking strictly to hockey, I’d go with Dionne first, Iginla second and Thornton third.

 

[bruinsfan1968]

Dan Marino played 17 seasons for the Miami Dolphins, throwing for 61,361 yards and 420 touchdowns. He was selected to nine Pro Bowls and won the NFL Most Valuable Player award in 1984.

 

[Aeroforce]

The first name that comes to mind for hockey is Henrik Lundqvist.

Growing up in Houston, you could basically include every local legend with the exceptions of Hakeem Olajuwon and Jose Altuve.

And that includes Earl Campbell, Warren Moon, Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio, Charles Barkley, Yao Ming.

Great players, great teams, great city; but winning championships just isn't our thing. I know the NHL wants a team here, and the Leafs aren't relocating anytime soon. But they'd fit right in.

 

[Fenway]

I think it’s too tough to answer if you include all sports. If we’re sticking strictly to hockey, I’d go with Dionne first, Iginla second and Thornton third.

Brad Park waves

 

[McGarnagle]

Rowdy Roddy Piper

 

[Bruinswillwin77]

Marcus Smart would have himself on this poll.

 

[Mione134]

Marcus Smart would have himself on this poll.

True

 

[quietbruinfan]

Brad Park for hockey
Barry Sanders or Cobb overall.

 

[DKH]

Park hockey
Sanders football
Barkley basketbsll
Williams basebsll

Cobb won I think

 

[KillerMillerTime]

Okay, sports fans. I’m taking an impromptu non-scientific poll. Who is the greatest player in any sport who never won a championship? There are two choices from each major sport, and am only considering players whose careers have already ended. If you suggest someone not on the list, please explain why.

Ty Cobb - baseball. Career .366 avg; 1,944 RBI. 0-3 in the World Series.

Ted Williams - baseball. Career .344 avg; 521 HR. 0-1 in the World Series.

Barry Sanders - football. 15,269 rushing yds; 99 TDs. Never played in a Super Bowl.

Randy Moss - football. 15,292 receiving yds; 156 TDs. 0-1 in the Super Bowl.

Marcel Dionne - hockey. 731 Goals; 1,040 Assists; 1,771 Points. Never played in Stanley Cup Final.

Joe Thornton - hockey. 430 Goals; 1,109 Assists; 1,539 Points. 0-1 in Stanley Cup Final.

John Stockton - basketball. 19,711 points; 15,806 assists; 4,051 rebounds. 0-2 in NBA Finals.

Karl Malone - basketball. 36,928 points; 5,248 assists; 14,968 rebounds. 0-2 in NBA Finals.

Marino belongs as one of the two NFL players way more than Moss.

 

[DKH]

Marino belongs as one of the two NFL players way more than Moss.

Well we got a good offense
QB Marino
RB Sanders
RB Sayers
WR Moss
WR Calvin Johnson
WR Fitzgerald (slot)
TE Gonzalez
G Hannah
C Langer/Stephenson
T Munoz

 

[KillerMillerTime]

Marino belongs as one of the two NFL players way more than Moss.

Move to D and start with Butkus. Bears won NFL Championship in '63 and added Butkus and Sayers a year or two later and never got to a Super Bowl or NFC title game.

 

[Orr Fourever]

Carey Price...Hahahahahaha

Seriously though Jim Kelly.

 

[DKH]

Move to D and start with Butkus. Bears won NFL Championship in '63 and added Butkus and Sayers a year or two later and never got to a Super Bowl or NFC title game.

I was thinking of him when put Sayers down

What a player

DE Deacon Jones
DT Merlin Olson
MLB Dick Butkus

NHL
G Eddie Giacomin
D Brad Park
D Mark Howe
RW Rod Gilbert/Rick Middleton
C Jean Ratelle/Gilbert Perrault
LW Paul Kariya

 

[rfournier103]

Park hockey
Sanders football
Barkley basketbsll
Williams basebsll

Cobb won I think

Good list.

Cobb never won a World Series. His Tigers lost twice to the Cubs in 1907 and 1908, and to the Pirates in 1909.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

I was thinking of him when put Sayers down

What a player

DE Deacon Jones
DT Merlin Olson
MLB Dick Butkus

NHL
G Eddie Giacomin
D Brad Park
D Mark Howe
RW Rod Gilbert/Rick Middleton
C Jean Ratelle/Gilbert Perrault
LW Paul Kariya

DB Larry Wilson Cardinals

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

Good list.

Cobb never won a World Series. His Tigers lost twice to the Cubs in 1907 and 1908, and to the Pirates in 1909.

That one surprised me.

 

[rfournier103]

That one surprised me.

Me too.

 

[BruinDust]

I think it's Karl Malone.

2 time MVP, 14 time all-star, 14 time all-NBA including 11 1st team selections in a row. 3rd all-time in NBA scoring behind only Lebron and Kareem. Most playoff games of any NBA player not to win a title.

Tag team partner of Diamond Dallas Page has to count for something right?

 

[BamBamCam]

The first name that comes to mind for hockey is Henrik Lundqvist.

Growing up in Houston, you could basically include every local legend with the exceptions of Hakeem Olajuwon and Jose Altuve.

And that includes Earl Campbell, Warren Moon, Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio, Charles Barkley, Yao Ming.

Great players, great teams, great city; but winning championships just isn't our thing. I know the NHL wants a team here, and the Leafs aren't relocating anytime soon. But they'd fit right in.

Warren Moon won 5 championships.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

I would think this should be close between Cobb and Williams.

Teddy does have a big home field advantage here, though.

 

[Fenway]

Cobb won I think

Ty Cobb played in three World Series (1907, 1908, and 1909) and lost all three with the Detroit Tigers, despite leading the team to three consecutive American League pennants.

 

[Ludwig Fell Down]

Marcus Smart would have himself on this poll.

As would Mike Greenwell and Antoine Walker