BY CLAYTON RICHER – FAN FUEL BLOGGER
In a new feature on Fan Fuel, we will look at individual jersey numbers and compile a list of the greatest to wear that number across the four major sports: NHL, MLB, NFL and NBA. Today, it’s the number 8 and it’s an all-star list.
The number 8 is near and dear to my heart because of a former Montreal Expos catcher who wore the number with pride as an ambassador for Canada.
MLB: Gary Carter. Hall of Famer Gary Carter, who was affectionately referred to as “The Kid” because of his youthful exuberance, was my baseball idol while growing up in Northern Ontario. Carter would play 19 years in the major leagues with 12 of those years being with the Expos. Carter smashed 324 career home runs and was an integral piece of 1986 New York Mets World Series team. I was fortunate enough to meet Carter at his Canadian Hall of Fame induction in 2001 and “The Kid” lived up to my all my expectations and then some. Carter tragically succumbed to cancer in 2012 at the age of 57. I realize there are plenty of worthy MLB candidates who wore the #8 Ripken, Berra, Yastrzemski and Joe Morgan however “The Kid” will always get my vote.
NHL: Teemu Selanne. The “Finnish Flash” has somewhere along the way found a fountain of youth and continues to rack up godly numbers for a 42-year-old playing a young man’s game. Selanne is in the midst of another season with the Ducks where he is averaging more than a point a game. Selanne took the NHL world by storm in 1992-93 as member of the Winnipeg Jets, potting 76 goals as a rookie. Selanne is a poster boy for consistency boasting 1,416 career points in 1,350 NHL games.
NBA: Kobe Bryant. Kobe wore the number 8 for 10 years between 1997 and 2006 as a member of the Lakers. Bryant is arguably one of the best players to every play the game since breaking into the league as a fresh faced 18-year-old. The 15-time all-star has scored 30,834 career points in 1,210 games all with the Lakers.
NFL: Steve Young. Hall of Famer Young donned the number 8 jersey for his entire career spent with the Buccaneers and the San Francisco 49ers. Young carried the torch from 49er legend Joe Montana and did not disappoint leading the league in touchdown passes for three straight seasons. Young would play in seven Pro Bowls as a member of the 49ers. Number 8 Honourable mention: Troy Aikman.
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