Jeter Voted NY's Greatest Athlete Ever

[Giantmetfan07]

Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter was voted the greatest New York athlete ever, with Babe Ruth coming in a close second, according to a poll released Tuesday. Jeter — a five-time World Series champion — earned 14 percent of the vote, while 11 percent tipped their hats to Ruth, according to the poll conducted by the Siena College Research Institute. Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and former Jets quarterback Joe Namath rounded out the top five. Jeter — 74 hits away from becoming the only player to get 3,000 all in a Yankees uniform — earned 17 percent of the female vote and 10 percent of the male vote. Ruth, the Hall of Fame slugger who retired in 1935, topped Jeter among men with 14 percent. DiMaggio, Mantle and Namath all earned 4 percent, according to the poll. With the start of the 2011 baseball season two weeks away, the poll also found that 30 percent of New Yorkers said the Yankees are their favorite team. The Mets and Knicks were named fans’ first choice by 11 percent, according to the poll. “It doesn’t matter, upstate or downstate, young or old, rich or poor, crazed sports fan or uninterested, the Yankees are New York’s favorite team. About a third follow the Giants, Jets, Mets and Knicks, but a majority of every demographic count themselves among the Yankee faithful,” said Don Levy, director of the Siena College Institute. As for the greatest athlete poll, 24 athletes — including former Knicks star Patrick Ewing and Brooklyn Dodgers legend Jackie Robinson — received mention from at least 1 percent of the New Yorkers who were polled.

NY Post


[font="'Helvetica Neue"]Complete proof that each year less and less people remember about the players of the past, the guys who changed the game and revolutionized it and made it what it is today. #1 should be Babe Ruth. No doubt in my mind. Jeter isn't even in my top 5. He's in top 10, no doubt, but not top 5. [/font]

 

[bosoxlover12]

smh NY

it should be

1. Ruth
2. Mantle
3. Gehrig
4. DiMaggio
5. Yogi
6. Ewing
7. Jeter

whats next, NY fans decide the SB catch vs NE was better than the called shot at Wrigley? lol

 

[bosoxlover12]

actually, he should be ahead of Jeter by lightyears

born in Brooklyn

 

[Giantmetfan07]

Mine would be:

1. Ruth
2. Mantle
3. Robinson
4. LT
5. Gehrig
6. DiMaggio
7. Willis Reed
8. Patrick Ewing
9. Derek Jeter
10. Tom Seaver
11. Willie Mays

Then if you really wanna make it interesting you throw in names of people who were born/grew up in NY -- Sugar Ray Robinson, Mike Tyson, etc.

 

[bosoxlover12]

see i think people overrated jackie

he was very very good, dont get me wrong on that. but people overvalue him because he was a black inspirationist. If he was white, he would not be considered as good.

he still might crack the top 10, but #3 is way too high

 

[Giantmetfan07]

well when I view greatest athlete i take into account how they changed the game. Thats why I put him up so high.

 

[Elite]

smh NY

it should be

1. Ruth
2. Mantle
3. Gehrig
4. DiMaggio
5. Yogi
6. Ewing
7. Jeter

whats next, NY fans decide the SB catch vs NE was better than the called shot at Wrigley? lol

Why the fuck is Yogi on this list? Stick to New England sports, let New Yorkers handle this one.

Mine would be:

1. Ruth
2. Mantle
3. Robinson
4. LT
5. Gehrig
6. DiMaggio
7. Willis Reed
8. Patrick Ewing
9. Derek Jeter
10. Tom Seaver
11. Willie Mays

Then if you really wanna make it interesting you throw in names of people who were born/grew up in NY -- Sugar Ray Robinson, Mike Tyson, etc.

Lou Gehrig below Jackie and LT? Not a chance. If Lou wasn't playing on the same team as arguably the greatest player of all-time, he would have been the face of baseball during his time period the way Babe and Mickey were (Mickey may not have been better than Willie, but due to his personality he was huge).

And this is probably more popularity than anything

 

[Rice18]

this is probably more popularity than anything

 

[cruzg24]

All great NY athletes, but let us not forget hockey and Wayne Gretzky.

 

[Phil The Thrill]

Yeah I was going to say Greztky has to be up there too. Even though his glory days weren't with the Rangers, he is still the greatest hockey player to ever play.

 

[Elite]

He played in NY for 3 years, he's not making the top 50

 

[Phil The Thrill]

Considering how much you hate hockey, he could have put up 10 straight 50 goal seasons in NY and you would think the same.

 

[Elite]

Lmao, 3 years wouldn't get Albert Pujols a top 50 spot in NY's greatest athletes ever.

 

[Phil The Thrill]

Gretzky would have made it over Pujols anyways.

 

[Elite]

Gretzky would have made it over Pujols anyways.

I don't understand. Are you saying that 3 years of this current Pujols wouldn't be higher than Gretzky's last 3 years?

 

[Phil The Thrill]

I don't understand. Are you saying that 3 years of this current Pujols wouldn't be higher than Gretzky's last 3 years?

No. I was saying that Gretzky would make it over Pujols if they both played their prime years in New York.

And you can't deny Gretzky is also well remembered for his years in NY.

 

[Elite]

Doesn't matter if people remember him for playing his 3 worst seasons as a Ranger, he still isn't going to crack the top 50 NY athletes of all-time. You could probably find 50 better NY athletes that weren't even hockey players to put over Gretzky's 3 mediocre seasons

 

[Phil The Thrill]

Yeah because putting up 97 points one year and 90 another are medicore. SMFH. I never said he should be the top, but he is definitely one of the top.

 

[bosoxlover12]

Gretzky makes this list before A-Rod does, easily.

 

[Elite]

Funny guy.

A-Rod was an integral part of a World Series victory and has two MVP trophies in a Yankee uniform. He could have not won anything here (including the MVPs) and still be higher than Gretzky simply for the number of productive seasons.