William “Bill” Fenton Russell
University of San Francisco graduate Bill Russell led the Dons in the 1956 national championship and a string of 61 unbeaten games. Twice named All-American and 1956 College Player of the Year, he was key to the 1956 U.S. Olympic championship at Melbourne. He had an outstanding pro basketball career, bringing the Boston Celtics 11 […]
Ernest “Ernie” A. Nevers
The greatest fullback in Stanford history, Ernie Nevers earned the title “America’s all-time one-man team” for prowess in all aspects of football. An All-American, he was voted to College Football’s All-Time All-America Team by consensus of the Football Writers of America and NCAA in 1969. Nevers earned 11 letters as a collegian, excelling in football, […]
Willie Howard Mays, Jr.
An outstanding outfielder for the New York Giants (which in 1958, became the San Francisco Giants), Willie Mays was named Rookie of the Year in 1951 and, for over 20 years, drew admiration for his hitting, fielding, throwing, and daring base-running. National League’s Most Valuable Player in 1954 and 1965, he was named to an […]
Angelo “Hank” Luisetti
Stanford University, 1935-38 Native San Franciscan and Galileo High School graduate Hank Luisetti revolutionized the game of basketball with his one-handed shot. Recognized as the greatest player in West Coast history, he led Stanford to three consecutive Pacific Coast Championships, from 1936 to 1938. Three-time All-American as a collegian, he scored 1,596 points in his […]
Joseph “Joe” Paul DiMaggio
One of the greatest outfielders of modern baseball, Joe DiMaggio, the “Yankee Clipper,” began his career with the San Francisco Seals in 1932. Hitting safely in 61 consecutive games, which set a Pacific Coast record, he joined New York Yankees in 1936. In 1941, he set the all-time major league consecutive game hitting streak at […]
Jeff Kent
Jeff Kent’s roots in the bay area are double-tiered. He played on two teams that went to the World Series – the Giants in 2002 and Cal in 1988 – and made an impact on both as a power-hitting middle infielder. To acquire Kent, the giants traded popular Matt Williams, and the deal paid off […]
Peter Magowan
No one person has had a greater impact on the San Francisco Giants baseball franchise than Peter Magowan. Peter, a lifelong baseball fan who grew up in New York City, missed his first day of school ever when his father took him to game one of the 1951 world series between the Giants and the […]
Anne Warner Cribbs
The bay area has produced many great Olympic athletes, but if they could all appoint an official ambassador to represent them, Anne warner Cribbs would be the runaway choice. She won a gold medal in the 1960 Rome games as a 15-year-old swimmer, sparking a relationship with the Olympic movement that spanned six decades. Along […]
Raymond Chester
Raymond Chester was selected in the first round of the 1970 NFL draft and became an instant star, winning NFL rookie of the year honors after catching 42 passes for 556 yards and seven touchdowns. He also formed a friendship with owner Al Davis which lasted until Davis’s death in 2011. Chester was traded to […]
Mitch Richmond
He was the subtle superstar, a basketball player who did what was needed by his team—whether the U.S. Olympic squad, the Golden State Warriors, or the Sacramento Kings—rather than what would get him individual acclaim. He wasn’t always overlooked, but it seemed appropriate he was the middle initial in “Run TMC,” the Warriors high-scoring threesome […]