So Cal's All-Time Roster: No. 25
No. 25:
Our pick:
==Gail Goodrich, UCLA basketball ("63-'65), Lakers ('66-'68, '71-'76)
Trivia question: Who was traded to the New Orleans Jazz in 1977 for a '79 first-round draft choice, which ended up being Magic Johnson? Goodrich, the former Poly High star who (while wearing No. 12) led his team to the L.A. City title in 1961 and made Southern California his basketball home from preps to pros.
The Basketball Hall of Fame inducted him in '96, calling him in its website bio: "A tenacious and fiery competitor, Gail Goodrich used intelligent ball-handling skills and excellent court vision to lead two of the most successful teams in basketball history. The crafty, left-handed guard guided the 1963-64 UCLA Bruins to a 30-0 record, helped compile a 78-11 three-year record, and win the 1964 and 1965 national championships. In both of those championship seasons, Goodrich was named to the NCAA Final Four All-Tournament team and he finished as UCLA's all-time leading scorer (1,690 points).
"With the Lakers, Goodrich guided the 1971-72 team to a 69-13 record and the NBA title as well as an NBA record 33 consecutive wins while playing with fellow Hall of Famers Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain. Although many believed Goodrich was too small for the college game and too frail for the pros, Goodrich, through perseverance and discipline, proved his doubters wrong."
We couldn't have written it better ourselves. When he retired in 1979, Goodrich was 11th all-time in scoring and 10th all-time in assists. The four-time NBA star had his number retired by both the Lakers (in '96) and UCLA (in '04).
Runner-ups:
==Don Baylor, Angels ('77-'82, '79 AL MVP)
==Troy Glaus, Angels ('98-'04)
==Jim Abbott, Angels ('89-'92, '95-'96)
==Paul Westphal, USC basketball ('69-'72)
==Tommy John, Dodgers ('72-'78), Angels ('82-'85)
==J.K..McKay, USC football ('72-'74)
Other No. 25s:
==Bernie Casey, Rams ('67-'68)
==Rickey Henderson, Dodgers ('03)
==John Lee, UCLA football ('82-'85)
==Rafer Johnson, UCLA basketball ('56-'59)
==Danny Manning, Clippers ('88-'94, also wore No. 5)
==Pete Trgovich, UCLA basketball ('72-'75)
==Earl Watson, UCLA basketball ('97-'01)
==Bobby Bonds, Angels ('76)
==Jim Edmonds, Angels ('93-'99)
Sports Illustrated's choice for the all-time No. 25: Barry Bonds over (ironically) Mark McGwire.
Did we miss anyone?
You've got our vote, now let's see yours: