Athlete History

A reference library of the 48 athletes we feature — their lives, eras, and words. Sports Quote Tees is a commercial and educational project; this section exists to inform. Pick anyone to read their story and quotes.

Early Pioneers

Babe Ruth

Babe Ruth

Early Pioneers Baseball
Bobby Jones

Bobby Jones

Early Pioneers Golf
Cy Young

Cy Young

Early Pioneers Baseball
Honus Wagner

Honus Wagner

Early Pioneers Baseball
Jack Johnson

Jack Johnson

Early Pioneers Boxing
Jesse Owens

Jesse Owens

Early Pioneers Track & Field
Jim Thorpe

Jim Thorpe

Early Pioneers Track & Field
Knute Rockne

Knute Rockne

Early Pioneers Football

Golden Age

Arnold Palmer

Arnold Palmer

Golden Age Golf
Billie Jean King

Billie Jean King

Golden Age Tennis
Dawn Fraser

Dawn Fraser

Golden Age Swimming
Gordie Howe

Gordie Howe

Golden Age Hockey
Jack Nicklaus

Jack Nicklaus

Golden Age Golf
Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson

Golden Age Baseball
Joe Louis

Joe Louis

Golden Age Boxing
Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali

Golden Age Boxing
Pele

Pele

Golden Age Soccer
Vince Lombardi

Vince Lombardi

Golden Age Football
Wilt Chamberlain

Wilt Chamberlain

Golden Age Basketball

Modern Era

Arthur Ashe

Arthur Ashe

Modern Era Tennis
Bobby Orr

Bobby Orr

Modern Era Hockey
Carl Lewis

Carl Lewis

Modern Era Track & Field
Diego Maradona

Diego Maradona

Modern Era Soccer
Joe Montana

Joe Montana

Modern Era Football
Larry Bird

Larry Bird

Modern Era Basketball
Magic Johnson

Magic Johnson

Modern Era Basketball
Mark Spitz

Mark Spitz

Modern Era Swimming
Martina Navratilova

Martina Navratilova

Modern Era Tennis
Mike Tyson

Mike Tyson

Modern Era Boxing
Wayne Gretzky

Wayne Gretzky

Modern Era Hockey

Dynasty Era

Brett Favre

Brett Favre

Dynasty Era Football
Derek Jeter

Derek Jeter

Dynasty Era Baseball
Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant

Dynasty Era Basketball
Mario Lemieux

Mario Lemieux

Dynasty Era Hockey
Mia Hamm

Mia Hamm

Dynasty Era Soccer
Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan

Dynasty Era Basketball
Serena Williams

Serena Williams

Dynasty Era Tennis
Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods

Dynasty Era Golf
Zinedine Zidane

Zinedine Zidane

Dynasty Era Soccer

Analytics Age

Katie Ledecky

Katie Ledecky

Analytics Age Swimming
LeBron James

LeBron James

Analytics Age Basketball
Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi

Analytics Age Soccer
Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps

Analytics Age Swimming
Patrick Mahomes

Patrick Mahomes

Analytics Age Football
Simone Biles

Simone Biles

Analytics Age Track & Field
Stephen Curry

Stephen Curry

Analytics Age Basketball
Tom Brady

Tom Brady

Analytics Age Football
Usain Bolt

Usain Bolt

Analytics Age Track & Field