Favorites By The Number…Part Three

Round three in my series of favorite athletes by the number will feature those who wore numbers 41 through 60. Making up this list are thirteen football players, four baseball players, three basketball players and a hockey player.

#41 - Tom Matte, Baltimore Colts. My fondest memory of this Colt running back was when he was forced to play quarterback due to Johnny Unitas and Gary Cuozzo being injured at the end of the 1965 season. Using plays written on his wrist bands, he led Baltimore to victory over the Rams before losing to the Packers in the Western Conference Finals playoff game in overtime.

#42 - Connie Hawkins, Phoenix Suns. One of the original "Sky-Walkers", Hawkins could snatch a quarter off the top of the backboard and leave change. He played for the Harlem Globetrotters and in the ABA prior to his career in the NBA.

#43 - Jack Sikma, Milwaukee Bucks. Sikma was a solid NBA performer for 14 seasons, playing the last 5 with the Bucks. He featured a great head of curly blond locks.

#44 - Gino Cavallini, Milwaukee Admirals. It would have been easy to say Hank Aaron, Reggie Jackson or even Jerry West, but my favorite is Gino Cavallini. He was a "grinder" during his 10 year NHL career before joining the Admirals. In three IHL seasons, Cavallini scored 139 goals and totaled 248 points.

#45 - Carlos Lee, Milwaukee Brewers. You can't help but like "El Cabala." The guy always appears to be having fun and hits the crap out of the ball as well.

#46 - Vince Workman, Green Bay Packers. This former Buckeye running back did not have a great NFL career. What he did have was one of the best nicknames ever - "Pookie".

#47 - Mel Blount, Pittsburgh Steelers. This big cornerback was one of the leaders of the "Steel Curtain" defense for Pittsburgh's quartet of Super Bowl Championships. After retiring in 1983, he has made an impact in the community, establishing the Mel Blount Youth Home of Pennsylvania.

#48 - Ken Ellis, Green Bay Packers. Ellis played defensive back for the Pack from 1970 - 1975 and is a member of the Green Bay Packer Hall of Fame. I can still see Ellis catching Cowboy speedster "Bullet" Bob Hayes from behind on a Thanksgiving Day game.

#49 - Teddy Higuera, Milwaukee Brewers. This "barrel-chested" lefty toed the rubber for the Crew from 1985 - 1994 with a record of 94 wins against 64 losses.

#50 - Pete Vuckovich, Milwaukee Brewers. Vuckovich pitched for the Brewers for six seasons. Definitely a character, "Vuke" portrayed slugging Yankee first baseman Clue Haywood in the film Major League.

#51 and #52 - Jim Ringo and Frankie Winters, Green Bay Packers. This pair of centers are both Hall of Famers. Ringo was first inducted to the Packer HOF in 1974 and was enshrined in Canton in 1981. Winters became a member of the Packer HOF in 2008.

#53 - Darryl Dawkins, Philadelphia 76ers. "Chocolate Thunder", from the planet Lovetron, played 14 seasons in the NBA. He was most famous for naming his monstrous dunks and destroying backboards.

#54 - Randy White, Dallas Cowboys. White was an outstanding defensive tackle for Dallas' "Doomsday Defense" and was tough as nails. Just ask Cowboy linebacker Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson. In Henderson's book, "Out of Control", he tells a story of when he decided to confront White in the locker room. Henderson said that before he knew what had happened, White had slammed him against a locker, holding him there. Not being able to move, "Hollywood" said he was helpless and felt like a child.

#55 - Doug Buffone, Chicago Bears. I know you can't believe that there is a Chicago Bear on my list. Trust me, it's not because of his playing days. It is the way he and fellow former Bear Ed O'Bradovich rant and rave after a Chicago loss on WSCR.

#56 - Nick Barnett, Green Bay Packers. Barnett is a talented linebacker who should have learned by now to stay out of nite clubs. Oh ya, Nick, can you tone down the Samurai stuff?

#57- Ken Bowman, Green Bay Packers. Another center for the Green and Gold made my list. That classic black and white picture of Bowman's muddy, bloodied hands still sticks out in my mind.

#58 - Jack Lambert, Pittsburgh Steelers. This snaggletooth middle linebacker was no one to mess with. I am such a fan of Lambert that I still have a gold-colored 45-rpm record shaped like a football titled "Madman Jack".

#59 - John Anderson, Green Bay Packers. This Waukesha native and former Wolverine played linebacker in Green Bay for 12 seasons. During the off-season he was a salesman for Mid-City Sporting Goods in Milwaukee. That is where I met him while ordering the very first uniforms for The 400 Club. Since 1998, Anderson has taught middle school science and geography in Brookfield.

#60 - Lee Roy Caffey, Green Bay Packers. Caffey was a Green Bay Packer linebacker from 1964 - 1969. He was acquired in the famous "Jim Ringo" trade.

That completes list #3. Next time I will share with you numbers 61 through 80. Here's a sneak preview - they're all football players! Until then…From The Booth.