We’re counting down the jersey numbers of KC’s greatest athletes. Who wore them best?
So, we conjured up this idea for a story on uniform numbers and planned to run the entire list at once.
But the names and numbers kept flowing, so here we are, instead starting a five-part series that begins today.
The idea was to find the best athletes who‘ve played for (or still play for) Kansas City-area teams wearing every jersey number from 00 to 99.
We see the appeal here. Over the years, uniform numbers have become part of athletes’ identities. Quick: What was George Brett’s number? What’s Patrick Mahomes’?
Of course, any true KC sports fan knows that those digits are Nos. 5 and 15.
As you might imagine, there are many more choices from 1-49 than there are from 50-99, but we found at least one athlete for every number.
So over the next few days in our five-part series, you’ll read about a long list of athletes who suited up for (deep breath!) the Chiefs, Royals, Sporting KC/Wizards, Jayhawks, Tigers, Wildcats, Kangaroos, Kings, Scouts, Athletics, Monarchs, Blues, Blades, Comets, FC Kansas City and the Spurs.
(Yes, the Spurs, who ended their three-year run in the North American Soccer League 50 seasons ago this year.)
We even included auto racing. How could you leave out the No. 99 of Carl Edwards, the back-flipper from Columbia, Missouri?
Today, we start with selections in the lower 50 — mostly the extra-large jerseys of football players, especially the Chiefs. There wasn’t necessarily a household name-type player for every number, but no number is left untouched.
Be sure to tell us who we missed!
50
Justin Houston: Four-time Pro Bowler owns Chiefs’ single-season record with 22 sacks.
51
Jim Lynch: Linebacker started every Chiefs game in a nine-season span, including Super Bowl IV.
52
Bill Robinzine: One of Kings’ better defensive players, he led the NBA in games in 1979.
53
Kendra Wecker: K-State star was Big 12 player of the year in 2005
Anthony Hitchens: Trivia: Who led this year’s Super Bowl Chiefs in tackles? Hitchens, with 88.
54
Brian Waters: Five of six Pro Bowl seasons for this guard came in Kansas City with Chiefs.
55
E.J. Holub: Played linebacker and center in 1960s during All-Pro Chiefs career.
Kevin Appier: Workhorse starter remains the Royals’ career strikeouts leader.
Dee Ford: Had a nice career building for Chiefs ... until an offsides penalty and departure via trade.
Frank Clark: Eight sacks for Chiefs in 2019 regular season, five in NFL playoffs.
56
Dino Hackett: NFL All-Rookie linebacker in 1986 and Chiefs Pro Bowler in 1988.
Derrick Johnson: Fan favorite became Chiefs’ career tackles leader in 2015.
Greg Holland: Closer for the 2014 Royals team that nearly won the World Series.
Shane Ray: Mizzou and Bishop Miege linebacker was 2014 SEC Defensive Player of Year before NFL career.
57
Jerry Blanton: Great special-teams player worked his way to Chiefs’ starting linebacker.
Doug Henry: Finished his 11-year big-league career with the Royals.
58
Jack Rudnay: Four time Pro-Bowl center with 171 career Chiefs starts.
Derrick Thomas: NFL Hall of Famer; his seven sacks in a game is still an NFL record..
59
Gary Spani: Tackles machine wore same number for Chiefs and Kansas State.
Donnie Edwards: Two stints with the Chiefs, but best seasons came in San Diego.
60
Matt Herkenhoff: Started 122 games for Chiefs at left tackle.
61
Curley Culp: Hall of Fame Chiefs defensive tackle and NCAA wrestling champion.
Tim Grunhard: Chiefs Pro Bowl center of the 1990s.
62
Casey Wiegmann: Succeeded Grunhard at center for Chiefs and made 2008 Pro Bowl.
63
Willie Lanier: Among game’s greatest middle linebackers with Chiefs.
Bill Maas: NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1984 with Chiefs.
64
Ryan Lilja: K-State interior lineman from Kansas City won Super Bowl ring with Colts.
Mike Pennel: Chiefs’ Super Bowl defense improved when Pennel arrived in 2019.
65
Tom Condon: Staple on Chiefs’ offensive line is now an NFL super-agent.
66
Brad Budde: All-America guard at USC spent all seven of his NFL seasons with Chiefs.
67
Art Still: Four-time Pro Bowl defensive end with Chiefs of the 1980s.
68
Will Shields: Rode Pro Bowl consistency at right guard with Chiefs into Pro Football Hall of Fame.
69
Sherrill Headrick: Five-time AFL All-Star with Texans/Chiefs in 1960s
Jared Allen: Sack-master spent first four NFL seasons in Kansas City.
70
Jim Nicholson: Chiefs right tackle of 1970s played six NFL seasons.
71
Ed Budde: Dominant guard spent all 14 NFL seasons with Chiefs.
Dana Stubblefield: Dominant defensive tackle for KU in early 1990s before distinguished NFL career.
Mitchell Schwartz: All-Pro Chiefs O-lineman has missed just three snaps in eight NFL seasons.
72
Dave Lutz: Chiefs offensive lineman for a decade (1983-92).
Eric Fisher: Chiefs were 11-0 when Fisher started last season.
73
Dave Hill: Chiefs Hall of Famer had excellent Super Bowl IV.
74
Derrick Graham: Five seasons, 51 games on Chiefs’ offensive lines of 1990s.
75
Jerry Mays: Seven Pro Bowls for Chiefs end who starred on three AFL-title teams.
76
John Alt: All-Pro tackle appeared in 179 games for Chiefs.
Branden Albert: Chiefs Pro Bowl left tackle.
Laurent Duvernay-Tardif: The doctor from Quebec is a fixture at right guard for Super Bowl-champion Chiefs.
77
Jim Tyrer: Best left tackle in AFL history with Chiefs.
Rich Baldinger: Most NFL games and starts of Baldinger brothers, with Chiefs.
Willie Roaf: Finished Hall of Fame career on great Chiefs offensive line.
78
Bobby Bell: First Chiefs player elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Auerlien Collin: 2013 MLS Cup MVP after scoring equalizing goal and match-winning penalty kick.
79
Dave Szott: Chiefs All-Pro guard in 1997.
80
Johnnie Morton: Productive seasons with Chiefs toward end of career.
Lake Dawson: Had a playoff touchdown reception in 1995.
81
Marvin Upshaw: Best NFL seasons came with Chiefs in early 1970s.
82
Dante Hall: Among greatest return specialists in NFL history. Was the Chiefs “Human Joystick.”
Dwayne Bowe: Led NFL with 15 touchdown receptions in 2010 for Chiefs.
Martin Rucker: Mizzou’s 2007 All-America tight end.
83
Kellen Winslow: All-America tight end at Mizzou in 1978.
John Zook: Kansas’ All-America defensive end on 1968 Orange Bowl team.
Stephone Paige: Productive Chiefs career; lone 1,000-yard season came in last full year (1990).
Kevin Lockett: Left Kansas State with nearly every receiving record.
Kendall Gammon: First pure long-snapper selected to Pro Bowl (2004, with Chiefs).
84
Fred Arbanas: Six-time All-AFL tight end of the 1960s Chiefs.
85
Jonathan Hayes: Longtime Chiefs tight end went on to coaching career.
Marc Boerigter: Owns a record that can’t be broken: 99-yard reception from Trent Green in 2002.
86
Buck Buchanan: Overpowering defensive tackle was heart of Chiefs’ defense.
87
Travis Kelce: Today’s standard at tight end, chasing Gonzalez’s records.
88
Chris Burford: Was Chiefs’ career receptions leader when he finished career in 1967.
Carlos Carson: Averaged 18.1 yards per reception in 10 Chiefs seasons.
Tony Gonzalez: First-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer. NFL’s greatest tight end ever?
89
Otis Taylor: Many say he’s the best of the Chiefs not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
90
Neil Smith: Star Chiefs D-lineman had one of the best-ever sack celebrations: the baseballs swing.
91
Tamba Hali: Six-time Pro Bowl linebacker who led Chiefs in sacks six times.
92
Dontari Poe: Forever remembered for “Hungry Pig Right” touchdown for Chiefs.
Tanoh Kpassagnon: Started half of team’s games in Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIV season.
93
Gilbert Brown: Stalwart defensive lineman of Kansas’ early 1990s teams.
Soni Mustavar: Sporting KC midfielder with 64 appearances (2015-17).
94
Tyson Jackson: Highest Chiefs draft pick (No. 3 overall) from 1989-2012.
95
Chris Jones: Gets better every season, just got paid, helped turn Super Bowl LIV in Chiefs’ favor.
96
Justin Smith: Left Mizzou as the program’s career sacks leader.
97
Dan Saleaumua: Pro Bowl defensive tackle with Chiefs in 1995.
98
Eric Hicks: Undrafted free agent twice led Chiefs in sacks.
99
Mike Bell: Twelve seasons with Chiefs produced 51 career sacks.
Carl Edwards: Columbia, Missouri native spent 13 years racing in NASCAR Cup Series, with 28 victories, two season-points runner-up finishes.
This story was originally published July 27, 2020 at 5:00 AM.