50 from Philly
Editor’s note: There are some truly great athletes that are synonymous with Philly that aren’t included here (Orel Hershiser, Joe Frazier, Carl Lewis etc) as they were born elsewhere. This list contains some of the best that were BORN in the metro Philly area.
Herb Adderley (b. Philly – football) Only player to appear in four of the first six Super Bowls, five-time Pro Bowler, three-time Super Bowl Champ, Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame, Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Doug Allison (b. Philly – baseball) played on the first fully-professional baseball team, the Cincinnati Red Stockings (1868). Allison, as a catcher, was the 1st player to ever wear a glove.
Ruben Amaro, jr. (b. Philly – baseball) Phillies batboy, outfielder, AGM, and GM.
Paul Arizin (b. Philly – basketball) Arizin played his entire NBA career with his hometown Philadelphia Warriors. The Villanova star was a ten-time NBA All Star, two-time scoring champ, 1952 NBA All Star Game MVP, and named to the NBA’s 50th Anniversary Team. Arizin is in both the College Hall of Fame and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Bert Bell (b. Philly – football) NFL Commissioner 1945-59, Eagles Head Coach 1936-40, Eagles Hall of Fame, Pro Football Hall of Fame, created the NFL Draft, founded the Maxwell Club. Bert Bell Award given to NFL Player of the Year by the Maxwell Club.
Mohini Bhardwaj (b. Philly – Olympic gymnast) Mohini Bhardwaj won a Silver Medal with the US Women’s Gymnastics Team at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. She is the first Indian-American gymnast to medal at the Olympics.
Tyrell Biggs (b. Philly – boxer) Tyrell Biggs was a Super Heavyweight Gold Medal-winning boxer at the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles. He also won Gold as a Super Heavyweight at the 1982 Munich World Championships. He had 20 KOs in 40 professional fights.
Kobe Bryant (b. Philly – basketball) Kobe Bryant was simply one of the greatest basketball players to ever play the game. He is the 1st guard in NBA history to play 20 seasons. The 18-time NBA All Star also holds the NBA record for Most Seasons playing for one franchise for the entire career. Bryant won 5 NBA Championships.
Joe Bryant (b. Philly – basketball) Joe Bryant was more than just Kobe’s father. Jellybean played 4 seasons for the Sixers after his standout career with LaSalle.
Roy Campanella (b. Philly – baseball) One of the greatest catchers of all time. Eight-time All Star, three-time NL MVP. His career was cut short by a tragic car accident that left him paralyzed.
Fred Carter (b. Philly – basketball) “Mad Dog” Carter played parts of six seasons with the Sixers averaging 35.4 Minutes per game, and 18.8 points.
Wilt Chamberlain (b. Philly – basketball) Wilt Chamberlain was the most dominating basketball player ever. Wilt played for both the Philadelphia Warriors and the Philadelphia 76ers. The Warriors, Sixers and Lakers all retired his #13. Chamberlain is in both the College Hall of Fame and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Jeff Chandler (b. Philly – boxer) 5’7” Joltin’ Jeff had a professional record of 33 wins 2 losses and 2 draws with 18 wins by KOs. Held the bantamweight title and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Angelo Dundee (b. Philly – boxing trainer) Angelo Dundee was one of the greatest boxing trainers and cornermen of all-time. His stable of boxers include Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, George Foreman, and Trevor Berbick. Dundee trained Russell Crowe for his role in Cinderella Man. Dundee was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1994.
Tyreke Evans (b. Chester, PA – basketball) Tyreke Evans was a fourth overall selection of the Sacramento Kings in the 2009 NBA Draft. He was the 2010 NBA Rookie of the Year, NBA Rookie Challenge co-MVP in 2010 and is still currently playing in the NBA.
Irving Fryar (b. Mt. Holly, NJ – football) five-time Pro Bowler, 1st player to record a TD in 17 straight seasons.
Johnny Gaudreau (b. Salem, NJ) “Johnny Hockey” 2014 Hobey Baker Award Winner, three-time All Star, Calder Trophy Finalist, Lady Byng Memorial Trophy winner 2017.
Eddie George (b. Philly – football) 1995 Heisman Award Winner, four-time Pro Bowler, NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year 1996, 10,441 career rushing yards.
Tom Gola (b. Philly – basketball) Tom Gola was considered one of the all-time greatest in NCAA history. He was a five-time NBA All Star and won an NBA Championship with the Philadelphia Warriors. Gola is in both the College Hall of Fame and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Matt Goukas – (b. Philly – basketball) Goukas was drafted 9th overall in the 1966 NBA Draft by the Sixers. Goukas was part of the last two Sixers NBA Championships. Goukas was a player on the 1967 NBA champs, and in 1983 as a Sixers assistant coach. Goukas also served as the Sixers Head Coach from 1985-88.
Randy Grossman (b. Philly – football) four-time Super Bowl Winner with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Mark Gubicza – (b. Philly – baseball) Two-time All Star, 1985 World Series Champ. Inducted into Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame.
Richard Hamilton (b. Coatesville, PA – basketball) Rip Hamilton was the 7th overall selection in the 1999 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards. He won an NBA Title with the Detroit Pistons in 2004, and was a three-time NBA All Star. Hamilton was noted for the clear plastic protective face mask he wore. His #32 was retired by the Detroit Pistons.
Brendan Hansen (b. Haverford – swimmer) Brendan Hansen is a 6-time Olympic medalist winning 3 Gold, 1 Silver, and 2 Bronze. He has won 25 medals in major international competitions.
Franco Harris (b. Fort Dix, NJ – football) NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year 1972, nine-time Pro Bowler, Super Bowl IX MVP, four-time Super Bowl Champ, Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Marvin Harrison (b. Philly – football) One of the greatest wide receivers ever. Eight-time Pro Bowler, Super Bowl XLI Champ, Indianapolis Colts Ring of Honor, Pro Football Hall of Fame 2016.
Bernard Hopkins (b. Philly – boxer) “The Executioner” was one of the greatest boxers of the last quarter-century. He is the oldest boxer in history (49) to win a world championship.
Reggie Jackson (b. Wyncote, Pa – baseball) Mr. October, fourteen-time All Star, 1973 AL MVP, 1973, 1977 World Series MVP, four-time AL HR leader, five-time World Series Winner, #9 retired by Oakland A’s, #44 retired by New York Yankees, inducted into Hall of Fame in 1993.
John B. Kelly, sr. (b. Philly – Olympic rower) Jack Kelly was a three-time Olympic rowing Gold Medalist. Kelly was the father of Grace Kelly, (movie star and Princess of Monaco) and John B. Kelly jr. who was also an Olympic rower.
Leroy Kelly (b. Philly – football) Two-time rushing leader, six-time Pro Bowler, Pro Football Hall of Fame, Bert Bell Award 1968.
Tommy Loughran (b. Philly – boxer) Loughran was a World Light Heavyweight Champ. He was top ten all-time in his weight class. He had 121 wins, 32 losses, and 14 draws and 14 KOs.
Kyle Lowry (b. Philly – basketball) Kyle Lowry was a graduate of Cardinal Dougherty HS and played under Jay Wright at Villanova. Lowery is still an active player in the NBA and has been an All Star each of the last four seasons (2015-2018)
Aaron McKie (B. Philly – basketball) Aaron McKie was a Temple University standout. He won the NBA’s 6th Man Award in 2001 while with the Sixers. McKie spent six seasons as Sixers assistant coach.
Earl Monroe (b. Philly – basketball) Earl the Pearl was the 2nd overall pick in the 1967 NBA Draft. His number was retired by both the Baltimore Bullets, and the New York Knicks. Monroe was NBA Rookie of the Year in 1968, and a four-time All Star.
Jamie Moyer (b. Sellersville, PA – baseball) Jamie Moyer’s career spanned four decades (1986-2012). He pitched for eight teams in his 25 year career. He is the oldest Major Leaguer to record a win and an RBI.
Matthew Saad Muhammad (b. Philly – boxer) born Maxwell Antonio Loach, Matthew Saad Muhammad overcame incredible childhood traumas to become a WBC Light heavyweight champ. He had 32 KOs in 68 professional fights.
Jameer Nelson (b. Chester, PA – basketball) Jameer Nelson was the National College Player of the Year with the St. Joe’s Hawks in 2004. Nelson was an NBA All Star in 2009.
Vince Papale (b. Glenolden, Pa – football) the oldest NFL rookie (30yrs old) to never play college ball. Eagles walk-on, played for Philadelphia Bell. Feature film “Invincible” with Mark Walhberg based on Papale’s exploits in the NFL.
Mike Piazza (b. Norristown, Pa – baseball) twelve-time All Star, ten-time Silver Slugger, NL Rookie of the Year 1993, New York Mets Hall of Fame, #31 retired by NYM, Baseball Hall of Fame 2016.
Mike Powell (b. Philly – Olympic Track and Field) Mike Powell won two Gold Medals at the World Championships in Long Jump, and a Silver Medal at both the 1988 Summer Olympic Games in Seoul, and the 1992 Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona.
Jack Ramsey (b. Philly coach – basketball) Jack Ramsey is among the top ten NBA coaches of all time. He coached the Sixers for four seasons, won an NBA title with the Portland Trail Blazers, and was NBA All Star Head Coach in 1978. Ramsey is in both the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, and the College Basketball Hall of Fame.
Merril Reese (b. Philly – football broadcaster) Voice of the Eagles since 1977, longest tenured play-by-play announcer in NFL.
Mike Richter (b. Abington, PA – hockey) Grew up in Flourtown, PA. Three-time All Star, 1994 Stanley Cup winner, 1994 NHL All Star Game MVP, US Hockey Hall of Fame 2008, Silver Medal 2002 Olympics, his #35 retired by New York Rangers in 2004.
Mike Rozier (b. Camden, NJ – football) 1983 Heisman Award Winner, 1983 Maxwell Award, two-time Pro Bowler.
Matt Ryan (b. Exton, Pa – football) “Matty Ice”, four-time Pro Bowler, NFL Offensive Player of the Year 2016, NFL MVP 2016, Bert Bell Award 2016.
Dawn Staley (b. Philly – women’s basketball) Staley was a three-time Olympic Gold Medalist with the US Women’s Basketball Team. She was the United States flag-bearer at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, in Athens, Greece. Staley was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013.
Mike Trout (b. Vineland, NJ – baseball) The “Millville Meteor”, six-time All Star, two-time AL MVP, five-time Silver Slugger, AL Rookie of the Year, AL RBI Leader 2014.
Jersey Joe Walcott (b. Pennsauken, NJ – boxer) Arnold Raymond Cream, AKA Jersey Joe Walcott, was a heavyweight boxer who, upon winning the World Heavyweight Title at age 37, was the oldest heavyweight boxer to do so (since surpassed by George Foreman). Walcott had 32 KOs in 71 fights.
Rasheed Wallace (b. Philly – basketball) 4th overall pick i9n the 1995 NBA Draft. 1993 USA Today’s High School Player of the Year. “Sheed” was a four-time NBA All Star.
Erik Williams (b. Philly – football) four-time Pro Bowler, three-time Super Bowl Champ.
