4. Ray Nitschke, MLB
Last time anyone say Pro Football Hall of Fame middle linebacker Ray Nitschke play a game of football, it was in Burt Reynolds’ version of “The Longest Yard.” He played a prison guard named Bogdanski and simply terrorized the “Mean Machine” before he was knocked of the game thanks to a pair of illegal procedure calls by quarterback Paul Crewe.
Google it. It’s complicated.
What isn’t hard to figure out is why Nitschke was one of the best player in the history of the franchise. During his days in the NFL, the legendary middle linebacker was a terror to opposing offenses during the Green Bay Packers’ dynasty of the 1960s. A third-round draft choice from the University of Illinois in 1958, he wasn’t a performer that received a lot of accolades. But in 15 seasons with the franchise, he made more than his share of plays and was an intimidating force. Talk about a nose for the football? There were 25 interceptions and 23 fumble recoveries, an impressive 48 takeaways in 190 regular-season contests.
Of course, he was part of the team’s five NFL title teams of the 1960s. It’s safe to say that today’s Packers’ defensive unit could use an enforcer of his nature.