The Best Athletes Who Wore #23
The best players to wear 23 as their jersey numbers are sprinkled across all major sports. It has been a popular jersey number for decades with success of athletes across the board. Iconic NBA players with number 23 jerseys include Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis, all Hall of Fame-level players whose career highlights are among the greatest moments in basketball history.
Baseball stars have had success with the number as well with Don Mattingly, Ryne Sandberg, and Zach Greinke thriving with the number 23 in the MLB. Football and hockey are not too far behind with many superstars rocking the number in NFL and NHL history. It's all proof that anyone who wears #23 has a major legacy to live up to.
So check out the list of famous athletes who wore 23 and help decide who deserves to rank the highest for wearing this iconic jersey number. Vote up your favorite athletes to wear the number 23.
League: MLB
Years active: 1926-1939
Stats: .292 career batting average, 178 home runs, 1,191 RBIsCareer Highlights
- 1991 Baseball Hall of Fame inductee
- 1933 All-Star selection
- 5-time World Series champion (1927-1928, 1932, 1936-1937)
League: MLB
Years active: 1989-2004
Stats: .267 career batting average, 294 home runs, 1,182 RBIsCareer Highlights
- 2-time All-Star selection (1992-2002)
- 1988 Olympic gold medalist
League: MLB
Years active: 1985-1998
Stats: .255 career batting average, 319 home runs, 1,008 RBIsCareer Highlights
- 3-time All-Star selection (1990-1991, 1993)
- 1996 World Series champion
League: NHL
Years active: 1973-1989
Stats: 1,160 games played, 239 goals, 262 assistsCareer Highlights
- 1992 Hall of Fame inductee
- 1979 Conn Smythe Trophy winner
- 4-time Frank J. Selke Trophy winner (1978-1981)
- 4-time NHL All-Star (1977-1978, 1980-1981)
- 5-time Stanley Cup champion (1976-1979, 1986)
League: NBA
Years active: 1996-2013
Stats: 973 career games played, 9.5 points per game, 9.8 reboundsCareer Highlights
- 2007 Defensive Player of the Year
- 2-time All-Defensive first team selection (2007-2008)
- 1996-97 All-Rookie first team selection
League: MLB
Years active: 1986-2001
Stats: .279 career batting average, 287 home runs, 1,173 RBIsCareer Highlights
- 6-time All-Star selection (1988-1991, 1993, 1995)
- 1997 World Series Champion
League: NHL
Years active: 2004-present (Los Angeles Kings)
Stats: 1,111 games played, 281 goals, 334 assistsCareer Highlights
- 2009 NHL All-Star
- 2-time Stanley Cup champion (2012, 2014)
League: NBA
Years active: 2004-present (Cleveland Cavaliers)
Stats: 971 career games, 12.5 points per gameCareer Highlights
- 2013 Sixth Man of the Year
- 2016 NBA champion
Troy Vincent
League: NFL
Years active: 1992-2006
Stats: 207 games played, 47 career interceptions, 3 return touchdowns, 12 fumble recoveriesCareer Highlights
- 5-time Pro Bowl selection (1999-2003)
- 2002 first-team All-Pro selection
- 2002 Walter Payton Man of the Year award winner
- 2012 Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame inductee
League: NHL
Years active: 1972-1986
Stats: 900 games played, 235 goals, 278 assistsCareer Highlights
- 1977 NHL All-Star
- 4-time Stanley Cup champion (1980-1983)
Ronnie Brown
League: NFL
Years active: 2005-2014
Stats: 5,391 career rushing yards, 38 rushing touchdownsCareer Highlights
- 2008 Pro Bowl selection
- 2005 All-Rookie team
League: NHL
Years active: 1968-1977
Stats: 606 games played, 18 goals, 113 assistsCareer Highlights
- 2014 Hall of Fame inductee
- 2002 Olympic gold medalist, as coach of Team Canada
League: MLB
Years active: 1916-1934
Stats: 270 wins, 3.53 career ERA, 1,512 strikeoutsCareer Highlights
- 1964 Baseball Hall of Fame inductee
- 1931 World Series champion
League: NHL
Years active: 1958-1975
Stats: 1,047 games played, 239 goals, 226 assistsCareer Highlights
- 3-time NHL All-Star (1962-1964)
- 4-time Stanley Cup champion (1962-1964, 1967)
League: NHL
Years active: 1950-1970
Stats: 1,206 games played, 88 goals, 257 assistsCareer Highlights
- 1978 Hall of Fame inductee
- 11-time NHL All-Star (1950, 1954-1955, 1957-1961, 1963, 1965, 1968)
- 5-time Stanley Cup champion (1950, 1952, 1954-1955, 1967)
League: NFL
Years active: 2015-present
Stats: 2,516 career yards rushing, 13 rushing touchdownsCareer Highlights
- 2016 Pro Bowl selection
- 2017 Super Bowl champion
League: NHL
Years active: 1998-2013
Stats: 1,020 games played, 375 goals, 430 assistsCareer Highlights
- 3-time NHL All-Star (2000-2001, 2009)
- 2003 Maurice Richard Trophy winner
- 1999 first-team NHL All-Rookie team
- 2001 Stanley Cup champion
- 1998 Olympic gold medalist
League: NHL
Years active: 1987-1999
Stats: 804 games played, 30 goals, 129 assistsCareer Highlights
- 3-time Stanley Cup champion (1988, 1990, 1994)
League: NHL
Years active: 1988-2008
Stats: 1,273 games played, 309 goals, 351 assistsCareer Highlights
- 1990 Stanley Cup champion
League: NHL
Years active: 1984-2001
Stats: 1,028 games played, 58 goals, 341 assistsCareer Highlights
- Selected to All-Star team in 2000
- 1986 Stanley Cup champion
- First player from Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic to play 1,000 career games
League: NHL
Years active: 1982-1999
Stats: 1,188 games played, 485 goals, 537 assistsCareer Highlights
- 3-time NHL All-Star (1984, 1988, 1992)
- 1993 Stanley Cup champion
Quentin Jammer
League: NFL
Years active: 2002-2013
Stats: 183 games played, 21 career interceptions, 1 touchdown returnCareer Highlights
- 2002 All-Rookie team selection
League: NHL
Years active: 2002-2018
Stats: 903 games played, 76 goals, 212 assistsCareer Highlights
- 2012 NHL All-Star
- 2007 Stanley Cup champion
