So Cal's All-Time Roster: No. 4
No. 4:
Our pick:
==Rob Blake, Kings (1989-01, 2006- )
Do Kings fans still hold it against team management that it let the star defenseman go away for five years to Colorado before returning him to his proper place in the NHL? You betcha. "Rob Blake is a special player and more importantly a special person ... he belongs in a Kings' uniform," team general manager Dean Lombardi said at a July, 2006 press conference to announce his return as an unrestricted free agent. Blake was the highest-scoring defenseman in team history for 12 seasons before he was traded to Colorado in 2001 with Steven Reinprecht for Adam Deadmarsh, Aaron Miller, Jared Aulin and a first-round draft pick. Blake helped the Avalanche win the 2001 Stanley Cup, and made three All-Star appearances. All of which killed Kings fans who still wore his No. 4 sweater to games, remembering his career as a four-time All-Star who helped the team to the 1993 Stanley Cup finals, and won the Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenseman in 1998. He was the team's captain from 1996-2001 and one of its most popular players. The fact fans booed him every time he returned to play at Staples Center -- you'd think it was Robert Blake handling the puck -- was a sign of anger as much as it was respect. The 37-year-old was given the "C" again this season, the last of a two-year contract, and the team's first designated captain since Wayne Gretzky.
Blake recently stopped off in Toronto to for a small part in the new Mike Myers movie, "The Love Guru." He plays a Kings defenseman who is on the ice when a Stanley Cup is won. Yup, it's not based on real life.
Runner up:
==Duke Snider, Dodgers (played five years in L.A. from '58 to '62 after the 11 previous in Brooklyn, which really are why his number is retired by the franchise and he's in the Hall of Fame)
Others No. 4s:
==Bobby Grich, Angels ('77-'86)
==Byron Scott, Lakers ('83-'93, '96-'97)
==Luke Walton, Lakers ('03- )
==Mike Lansford, Rams (’82-’90) (also wore No. 1)
==Aaron Afflalo, UCLA basketball ('04-'07)
==Jimmy Piersall, Angels ('63-'67)
==Tony Conigliaro, Angels ('71) also No. 10 that season
==Trevor Wilson, UCLA basketball ('86-'90)
==Gene Handley, Hollywood Stars (PCL)
==Penny Toler, Long Beach State women's basketball ('86-'89; number retired by team)
Sports Illustrated's choice for the all-time No. 4: Bobby Orr, over Lou Gehrig and Snider.
Did we miss anyone?
You've got our vote, now let's see yours: