List RulesThe greatest athletes who were overweight or out of shape in their active years and were competing against other fit athletes
The greatest out-of-shape athletes don't fit the mold of the typical athlete with toned limbs and six-pack abs yet they continue to see success in their respective sports despite their extra pounds. We're not talking exclusively sumo wrestlers here either, but actual baseball, football, basketball and golf stars who excelled at professional sports despite also battling obesity. These are unfit athletes who still rocked their sports.
For some athletes, such as linebackers in the National Football League, having a few extra pounds is a good thing as it provides more leverage for blocking. Still, some NFL players take that to a whole 'nother level with New England Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork and Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth each weighing in well over the three century mark. The same can't be said for "big boned" football players at other positions such as Oakland Raiders placekicker Sebastian Janikowski or 2007 first overall NFL draft pick and quarterback JaMarcus Russell.
It's a similar story in the NBA where many players are well conditioned and fit while others take the definition of big and tall to another level. Shaquille O'Neal fits that description perfectly coming in at 7'1" and 325 pounds during his playing days.
Other athletes can get away with the few extra pounds as their respective sports requires less athleticism than others to compete. Golfers are notorious for being overweight with former fatty John Daly among the most notable.
This also goes for MLB players where one of the greatest of all time, Babe Ruth, proved that success is not directly caused by weight. Baseball just might have the most overweight athletes with the likes of Cecil and Prince Fielder, Miguel Cabrera, David Ortiz, and Bengie Molina all among the MLB's elite despite their large frames.
While a case could be made that at this weight these guys are not athletes or that if a sport allows participants of this size then they are not really sports but until those rules change, these athletes will continue to break the mold and continue to see success despite resembling large household appliances. Yes, William "Refrigerator" Perry, we're talking to you.
Who the greatest out of shape athletes? This list will give you an answer.
1
50396Babe Ruth
Dec. at 53 (1895-1948)2
25466Bartolo Colón
Age: 473
392148John Daly
Age: 544
436174Charles Barkley
Age: 575
399162Shaquille O'Neal
Age: 486
296115Prince Fielder
Age: 367
315127William Perry
Age: 588
261108Vince Wilfork
Age: 399
238101David Ortiz
Age: 4510
258121George Foreman
Age: 7111
20086David Wells
Age: 5712
21096Cecil Fielder
Age: 5713
225105Sebastian Janikowski
Age: 4214
12240Alisa Kleybanova
Age: 3115
18686John Kruk
Age: 5916
19093Tony Siragusa
Age: 5317
15367CC Sabathia
Age: 4018
18196Jerome Bettis
Age: 4819
1688720
13872Tony Gwynn
Dec. at 54 (1960-2014)21
12062Donovan McNabb
Age: 4422
9138Liván Hernández
Age: 4523
10251LenDale White
Age: 3624
8233Grant Fuhr
Age: 5825
10464Fernando Valenzuela
Age: 60One of the best lefty pitchers in the 1980s.