So this idea came to me as I was watching the 2016 ESPYS, and everyone that won was thanking God. So I decided to put together a list of the top 10 Jewish athletes. These athletes wont be in order, and Bleacher Report had a list with its top 25, so it might be similar.
1. Sandy Koufax
Koufax is one of the best Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers ever. In his 12 seasons with the Dodgers, his record was 165–87, with a career era of 2.76. In his career, Koufax was selected to the all-star team seven times, won four world series, three Cy Young Awards and pitched four no-hitters. Along with his four no-hitters, Koufax threw a perfect game in 1965. When you think of Jewish athletes, most people think of Koufax, because he refused to pitch in a World Series game because the game landed on Yom Kippur.
2. Sue Bird
Sue played 12 years in the WNBA, all with the Seattle Storm, and before playing professionally, she dominated at UConn. While at UConn, her career record was 114–4, also winning two national championships. She was selected with the first overall pick in the 2002 pick. She played 12 seasons in the WNBA, where she won two championships, nine all-star game selections, and four-time all WNBA first team selection. Sue didn't just dominate the professional and collegiate level but also the national level, adding three gold medals with Team USA.
3. Jordan Farmar
In 2004, Jordan Farmar was named high school player of the year by the LA Times, after that we played his college ball at UCLA. While at UCLA he was 2005 Pac-10 freshman of the year, and in 2006 was named to the all Pac-10 first team. Now his pro career hasn't been the best, but he has won two championships with the Lakers. Farmar has had a better career over seas then he has had playing in the NBA.
4. Sid Luckman
Most people have never heard of Sid Luckman before, because he played in the NFL in the 1940s. Luckman was selected second overall in the 1939 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears. He spent his entire 11-year career with the Bears. Luckman was selected to the all-pro team five times, won the MVP in 1943 and is a four-time champion. His number 42 is retired by the Bears. He is a member of the Pro and College Football Hall of Fame. Luckman also served in the Marines during World War II.
5. Omri Casspi
Omri's stats aren't that impressive, but the reason he is on my list is because he was the first person from Israel to be drafted in the NBA. Before joining the NBA, Casspi had a successful career playing in Israel for Maccabi Tel Aviv, where he was a two-time Israeli Super League Champion. His best NBA season was this last one with the Sacramento Kings, where he averaged 11.8 points per game, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists.
6. Dara Torres
Dara is the first swimmer on this list, but not the last one. Dara was Olympic swimmer who competed in five Olympic games. In those five games, she won 12 medals. She holds the record for in the 50-meter freestyle. In her last Olympic Games in 2008, she took home three silver medals. Now she is an author, and her book is a New York Times bestseller
7. Ian Kinsler
Ian Kinsler is a current MLB player, playing for the Detroit Tigers. Kinsler made his major league debut in 2006 with the Texas Rangers. His career batting average is .277, and has 200 career home runs. He spent the first seven years of his career with the Rangers before being traded to the Tigers for Prince Fielder in 2014. Kinsler is a four time all-star.
8. Dolph Schayes
Schayes was selected fourth overall by the New York Knicks in 1948. His basketball career lasted 18 years, where he averaged about 18 points per game. Schayes is a 12 time all-star, NBA champion, and a six-time All NBA first-team selection. His jersey humber 4 is retired by the Philadelphia 76ers. After playing, he went coaching where in 1966 he won Coach of the Year. He is a member of the College Basketball/NBA Hall of Fame.
9. Hank Greenberg
Greenberg played 12 seasons in the MLB, mostly with the Detroit Tigers. He won two World Series rings, and was selected to five all-star teams. Greenberg's career batting average was .313, and drove in 1276 RBI. Greenberg is a two-time MVP, and his jersey number 5 is retired by the Tigers. He eventually made it into the Hall of Fame in 1956.
10. Mark Spitz
Lastly, he have the second greatest swimmer in Team USA history, Mark Spitz. Spitz's competed in two olympic games, and his most famous games were in 1972, where he won seven gold medals and set seven world records. Michael Phelps broke Spitz's record in 2008 for most gold medals in a single Olympics. Spitz was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1977 and was inducted into the United States Olympic Hall of Fame in 1983.
