So Cal's All-Time Roster: No. 40
No. 40:
Our pick:
==Elroy Hirsch, Rams ('49-'57)
The Wisconsin native played three years for the Chicago Rockets of the new All American Football Confernece before he joined the Rams. After a year spent mostly on the bench in 1949, he was shifted to end. Not familiar with playing end, he initially struggled. A year later, he became a primary contributor to the Rams' impressive march to the NFL title. Many observers insisted “Crazylegs” was the best end ever but Hirsch modestly downgraded his own case. "I'm just a busted-down, retreaded halfback who happened to get lucky." Hirsch ended up third on the team's all-time receiving yards list with 6,289 and fourth with 343 receptions. In leading the Rams to the 1951 NFL championship, where he caught a league-best 17 touchdown receptions that year and averaged 51.2 yards per catch on them, Hirsch was part of a critical game midway through the season against the Bears. The Rams trailed 14-0 and were deep at their own 9. Quarterback Bob Waterfield faked a handoff, stepped back a few paces and threw far downfield. Hirsch took off at the snap and was running full-throttle at midfield. Waterfield's pass was over his head but Elroy gathered in the ball on his fingertips and raced for a 91-yard touchdown. The Rams went on to an important 42-17 victory. It was a patented "Elroy Hirsch special."
He established a league record for receiving that season with 1,495 yards. He also had a streak of a TD catch in 11 straight games from 1950-51. His 55 touchdown were second on the Rams' career list.
Upon his retirement, he eventually succeeded Pete Rozelle as GM for the Rams (1960-69). According to his Pro Football Hall of Fame bio, Hirsch finished his career with 387 catches for 7,029 yards, 60 TDs and 399 points scored.
Runner ups:
==Frank Tanana, Angels (1973-'80) 
1975 strike out champion and 1977 ERA champion, and the second-most career wins (240) for a pitcher who never won 20 games in a season.
==Troy Percival, Angels ('95-'04) 324 career saves, all but eight of them in Anaheim.
Other No. 40s:
==Bill Singer, Dodgers ('64-'71)
==Roman Phifer, UCLA football ('87-'90)
==Bartolo Colon, Angels ('04- ) 2005 Cy Young Award winner.
==Karl Morgan, UCLA football ('79-'82)
==Manu Tuiasosopo, UCLA football ('75-'78)
==John Vallely, UCLA basketball ('68-'70)
==Adam Kennedy, Cal State Northridge baseball ('94-'97)
Sports Illustrated's choice for the all-time No. 40: Gale Sayers over Hirsch.
Did we miss anyone?
You've got our vote, now let's see yours: