Who wore it best? The uniform numbers of KC’s greatest athletes who’ve donned 30-49
Out countdown of Kansas City’s top athletes by uniform number continues today with Nos. 30-49, and this is where the crowding begins.
Check out No. 31.
It was worn by Negro Leagues star and baseball Hall of Famer Hilton Smith with the Monarchs; women’s basketball great Lynette Woodard at Kansas; two-time Royals Cy Young Award-winner Bret Saberhagen; Chiefs Pro Bowl cornerback Kevin Ross and running back Priest Holmes; and hard-throwing Mizzou pitcher Max Scherzer.
The representation of a broader range of sports really picks up with this group, too. It’s not just about football at Nos. 30-49.
30
Bob Boozer: An All-American in 1958 and ‘59, he helped K-State to the 1958 Final Four.
Michael Beasley: Logged 28 double-doubles in 33 games in lone season (2007-08) with K-State.
Benny Feilhaber: Midfielder rekindled career with Sporting KC, helped win 2013 MLS Cup.
Yordano Ventura: Life tragically cut short, made nine postseason starts for Royals in 2014 and 15.
31
Hilton Smith: Seen by many as an equal to Satchel Paige, he’s in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Lynette Woodard: Four-time All-American at KU and member of Naismith Hall of Fame.
Bret Saberhagen: A two-time Cy Young Award winner and the 1985 World Series MVP.
Kevin Ross: Two-time Pro Bowler who had 30 interceptions for the Chiefs.
Priest Holmes: Three-time All-Pro who rushed for 6,070 yards in six seasons with Chiefs.
Max Scherzer: 2005 Big 12 pitcher of the year at Mizzou
32
Curtis McClinton: Three-time All-Big Eight selection at KU and Chiefs star running back
James Wilder: Played pivotal role in Mizzou’s upset of Nebraska in 1978.
Marcus Allen: Ran for 3,698 yards in final five seasons with the Chiefs.
Tyrann Mathieu: In one season with Chiefs helped turn around a terrible defense..
33
Kevin Seitzer: Batted .323 and led the league with 207 hits in his rookie season with Royals in 1987
Bob Cerv: An All-Star with the Kansas City A’s in 1958, when he clubbed 38 homers
34
Paul Splittorff: The left-hander is the Royals’ career-victories leader.
Lloyd Burruss: First player in Chiefs history named team’s top rookie, MVP and elected to its Hall of Fame.
Doug Smith: The only Mizzou player to have 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in a career.
Dale Carter: Chiefs’ four-time Pro Bowl cornerback.
Paul Pierce: Won two Big 12 tournament MVP awards and was a first-team all-America.
35
Christian Okoye: The 1989 NFL rushing champion (1,430 yards) made two Pro Bowls.
Eric Hosmer: RBI machine in two World Series, including the Royals’ 2015 title team.
Udoka Azubuike: Big 12 player of the year for the Jayhawks in 2020.
36
Mack Lee Hill: Led the league in yards per rush in his two seasons with the Chiefs.
37
Joe Delaney: Had 1,121 yards in his rookie season (1981) but died trying to save three drowning children.
38
Kimble Anders: The fullback made three Pro Bowls in 10 seasons with Chiefs.
39
Al Fitzmorris: Won 70 games for the Royals, including 44 in a three-season span.
Brandon Carr: Spent his first four NFL seasons with the Chiefs and was known for his hard hits.
40
Steve Busby: Two no-hitters but promising Royals career cut short by injury.
Steve Stipanovich: Mizzou great was 1983 Big Eight player of the year
Kelvin Herrera: Great reliever was brilliant in Royals’ postseason runs of 2014, 2015.
41
Danny Duffy: Royals’ mound veteran is closing in on 1,000 career strikeouts.
42
Ray Evans: In KU football Ring of Honor; his basketball jersey (15) hangs in Allen Fieldhouse rafters.
Johnny Robinson: Chiefs safety on AFL all-time team and in Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Mark Simoneau: Second K-State player to enter College Football Hall of Fame.
Anthony Sherman: Chiefs’ bulldog fullback and exceptional special teams player.
43
Darren Sproles: KSU great and arguably the best NFL player from a KC-high school (Olathe North).
44
Paul Christman: “Pitchin’ Paul” a two-time All-America quarterback at Mizzou.
Jerrel Wilson: Chiefs’ first great punter made AFL all-time team.
Sam Lacey: Heart and soul player — and an All-Star — for KC Kings.
Anthony Peeler: Mizzou and Paseo High great was Big Eight player of the year in 1992
45
Steve Balboni: His Royals single-season home run record stood for 32 years.
Raef Lafrentz: Kansas’ two-time All-America in basketball (1997, 98).
Chase Coffman: Mizzou tight end won 2008 John Mackey Award.
46
Jim Kearney: Chiefs safety returned four interceptions for touchdowns in 1972.
47
Peter Moylan: Royals reliever led baseball in appearances in 2017.
48
Gale Sayers: “Kansas Comet” was a blur in two All-America seasons (1963, 64) at KU.
Joakim Soria: Most of 162 career saves were logged for Royals teams that didn’t win often.
49
Tony Richardson: Great Chiefs blocking fullback for Priest Holmes, Larry Johnson.
Dan Sorensen: Snuffing out fake punt vs. Texans in 2019 playoffs was a signature moment.
This story was originally published July 28, 2020 at 5:00 AM.