Sports Illustrated names 5 all-time best athletes from Alabama

To celebrate the country’s 250th birthday, Sports Illustrated highlighted the five best athletes from all 50 states and our state has a loaded list.

For Alabama, the prestigious sports outlet named:

• Hank Aaron
• Willie Mays
• Bo Jackson
• Satchel Paige
• Charles Barkley

See why each athlete made the cut + let us know which Alabama star you think should’ve made the list.

Hank Aaron

One of the greatest hitters in the history of the sport was born in Mobile and played some of his early career with the Mobile Black Bears, an independent Negro League team.

By the end of his playing career, Aaron racked up:

• 3,771 hits
• 755 home runs
• 25x All-Star
• MVP
• World Series champion

Aaron was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982.

Willie Mays

Willie Mays’ connection to his hometown of Birmingham has returned to the spotlight in recent years, thanks to MLB’s trip to Rickwood Field.

Mays is widely considered one of the sport’s all-time greats. His long list of accolades includes:

• 3,292 hits
• 660 home runs
• 2x MVP
• 12x Gold Glove winner
• Hall of Fame Class of 1979

“Alabama boasts a rich baseball history, as the Yellowhammer State is where two of MLB’s greatest players ever, Willie Mays and Henry Aaron spent their formative years, with Aaron starring for the semi-pro Mobile Black Bears and Mays for the legendary Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro League before both enjoyed Hall of Fame careers.”

Tim Capurso, Sports Illustrated

Satchel Paige

Satchel Paige was born in Mobile but started his career playing four seasons with the Birmingham Black Barons. That career ended up spanning five decades across the Negro Leagues and Major League Baseball.

Paige still holds the record as the oldest player to ever play in an MLB game, pitching in a game at 59 years old.

“Long before Mays suited up in Birmingham, Satchel Paige also starred for the Black Bears as well as eight other franchises across his Hall of Fame career.”

Tim Capurso, Sports Illustrated

Although his career numbers may never be truly known, some key stats from Paige’s career include:

• 2x MLB All-Star
• 6x Negro League All-Star
• World Series champion
• Negro League World Series champion
• Hall of Fame Class of 1971

Bo Jackson

One of the biggest “what if” careers in the history of sports belongs to Bo Jackson.

The multi-sport athlete was born in Bessemer and attended McAdory High School before going to Auburn. His career would eventually be cut short by injuries but not before racking up plenty of accolades including:

• Heisman Trophy (1985)
• MLB All-Star (1989)
• NFL Pro Bowl (1990)
• MLB Comeback Player of the Year (1993)
• College Football Hall of Fame member

“The state also produced one of the greatest athletes in the history of American sports in Bo Jackson, a Heisman Trophy winner in college, a Pro Bowl running back in the NFL and an All-Star slugger in MLB.”

Tim Capurso, Sports Illustrated

Charles Barkley

Barkley, who was born in Leeds and became a star at Auburn, is still very active in the state from sporting events to public appearances.

The “Round Mound of Rebound” never got himself an NBA title but he’s still considered an all-time great, most recently being named to the league’s 75th Anniversary Team highlighting the 75 best players of all time.

During his career on the hardwood, Barkley averaged 22.1 points and 11.7 rebounds per game. His career included:

• NBA MVP
• 11x NBA All-Star
• 5x All-NBA First Team
• 2x Olympic gold medalist

His No. 34 jersey has been retired by the Auburn basketball program.

“Hall of Famer Charles Barkley was born and raised in Leeds and established his playing career at Auburn before entering the 1984 NBA Draft. During his 16 seasons in the league, Barkley was an 11-time All-Star and the 1993 MVP, and he is also a two-time Olympic gold medalist.”

Tim Capurso, Sports Illustrated