Did you know that quite a few of pro sport’s greats were either born in Oklahoma or have strong ties to the Sooner State? It’s true, there are countless professional athletes who’ve spent quite a bit of their time in the Panhandle state and below we share some of the biggest names. Let us know if we’ve left one of your favorite sports figures off this list who you think should be included.
1. Mickey Mantle
“The Mick,” Mickey Mantle, was a legendary baseball player who was born in Spavinaw, Oklahoma, on October 20, 1931.
Mantle’s baseball prowess was evident in Oklahoma, and the New York Yankees signed him directly out of high school. He played with the Yankees from 1951 through 1968.
Mantle’s baseball achievements are plentiful. For example, he was a 20-time All-Star and MVP (1956, 1957, and 1962). His best year was 1956, when he won the Triple Crown by leading the American League in batting average (.353), home runs (52), and RBI (130). Mantle helped the Yankees win seven of 12 World Series.
Mantle hit 536 home runs and batted .298. In 1974, he became a Baseball Hall of Famer. Mantle’s hard-playing approach led to multiple injuries, which ruined his career despite his on-field greatness.
Mantle never forgot his Oklahoma roots and neither did the city of Commerce. To commemorate him, Commerce created the Mickey Mantle Classic high school baseball tournament in 1994.
Mickey Mantle died August 13, 1995.
2. Jim Thorpe
One of the most versatile athletes of the 20th century was Jim Thorpe, also known as Wa-Tho-Huk (“Bright Path”). He was born near Prague, Indian Territory (now Oklahoma), on May 28, 1887. He was Sac-Fox.
Thorpe attended Pennsylvania’s Carlisle Indian Industrial School, where he excelled in football and track and field. Thorpe became a football star while still playing Pop Warner.
Thorpe won gold in the pentathlon and decathlon in the 1912 Stockholm Olympics, demonstrating his flexibility and agility. In 1913, his medals were revoked because he had been paid to play two seasons of semi-professional baseball before the Olympics, breaching amateur status standards. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) restored his amateur status and two gold medals posthumously in 1983.
From 1913 through 1919, Thorpe played MLB for the New York Giants, Cincinnati Reds, and Boston Braves. He also played professional football and was the NFL’s first president.
Jim Thorpe’s narrative involves Oklahoma. His birth in Indian Territory and Native American history have inspired many, and he is widely considered one of the state’s best athletes. After his 1953 death in California, Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania, renamed itself Jim Thorpe.
The Oklahoma City-based Jim Thorpe Association gives the Jim Thorpe Award to college football’s greatest defensive back.
3. Barry Sanders
Barry Sanders is a legendary American football running back. Sanders played collegiate football at Oklahoma State University (OSU) in Stillwater, despite being born in Wichita, Kansas.
Sanders had a historic junior year at OSU in 1988 where he won the Heisman Trophy after setting NCAA records for running, scoring, and total yards.
Sanders was the third overall choice in the NFL draft, playing for the Lions from 1989 to 1998. Sanders became one of the NFL’s most elusive and explosive running backs. He was a 10-time Pro Bowler, six-time All-Pro, and 1997 NFL MVP. Sanders led the NFL in running yards four times and was one of seven players to sprint for over 2,000 yards in a season (1997).
Sanders retired in 1999, just shy of Walter Payton’s all-time running record. Sanders was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004 for his impact on the game despite his brief career.
Due to his Heisman-winning season at OSU, he is widely connected with the state. Oklahomans and American football fans alike adore him.
4. Troy Aikman
Troy Aikman was a legendary NFL quarterback who was born in West Covina, California, on November 21, 1966. He played college football at the University of Oklahoma.
Barry Switzer coached Aikman at Oklahoma, where Aikman shattered his leg in a sophomore game. While sidelined, his club switched to an option-style approach that didn’t fit Aikman’s passing. He transferred to UCLA, where he thrived as a quarterback and guided the team to the 1987 Aloha Bowl and 1989 Cotton Bowl. UCLA’s success made him an NFL potential.
In 1989, the Dallas Cowboys drafted Aikman first overall. Aikman helped the Cowboys go from a losing club to an NFL powerhouse. Super Bowl XXVII MVP, he guided the squad to three Super Bowl titles (XXVII, XXVIII, and XXX). Aikman has 32,942 throwing yards and 165 touchdowns.
Aikman joined Fox NFL broadcasts after retiring. 2006 saw his Pro Football Hall of Fame induction.
Aikman’s early collegiate stint at Oklahoma connects him to the state. Despite transferring to UCLA, his experience at Oklahoma was vital to his growth and NFL career.
5. Blake Griffin
Basketball player Blake Griffin, born March 16, 1989, in Oklahoma City is noted for his agility, scoring, and rebounding. Born and reared in Oklahoma, he played collegiate basketball at OU.
Griffin showed early athletic prowess. He led Oklahoma Christian School to four state titles in basketball. Griffin played two seasons at Oklahoma after high school. He earned the Naismith College Player of the Year and consensus national player of the year in his second year.
Griffin was drafted first overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in 2009 after his second season. A knee injury sidelined him for the 2009–10 season. Griffin won NBA Rookie of the Year in 2010–2011. He won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest with a vehicle dunk.
Griffin played with the Clippers until 2018. He had several high-flying dunks and outstanding performances with the organization, but was also plagued by injuries. When healthy, he played for the Detroit Pistons in 2018. Griffin joined the Brooklyn Nets in 2021.
Griffin is one of Oklahoma’s top basketball players and frequently talks about how his background shaped his career.
6. Bobby Murcer
MLB player Bobby Murcer was very successful at the sport. Murcer was born in Oklahoma City on May 20, 1946, and signed with the Yankees in 1964.
Murcer made his MLB debut with the Yankees in 1965 before participating in the Vietnam War for two years. In 1969, he joined the Yankees as a regular. In the early 1970s, Murcer was a vital Yankees center fielder and subsequently right fielder.
Murcer spent two seasons with the San Francisco Giants before being dealt to the Chicago Cubs in 1975. He was a 1977 Cubs All-Star. He rejoined the Yankees in 1979 and played until 1983.
Throughout his career, Murcer was a five-time All-Star and 1972 Gold Glove winner. His career stats were 252 home runs, 1,043 RBI, and.277.
Murcer began broadcasting after retirement and his fans enjoyed his intelligent and kind Yankees color analysis.
Murcer never forgot his Oklahoma upbringing and In 1996, he was inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame.
Brain cancer led to Bobby Murcer’s death on July 12, 2008. Both as a player and a broadcaster, his Oklahoma origins are a strong part of his legacy.
7. Johnny Bench
Johnny Bench, born December 7, 1947, in Oklahoma City is one of MLB’s finest catchers. Bench became a teenage baseball prodigy while playing in Binger.
The Cincinnati Reds drafted Bench in 1965, becoming the Reds’ starting catcher in 1968. Bench changed the game throughout his 17-year stint with the Reds. Power hitting, defense, and leadership were his trademarks.
Bench was the 1968 National League Rookie of the Year and MVP of the National League in 1970 and 1972. Bench helped the Reds win the 1975 and 1976 World Series as part of the “Big Red Machine” lineup. He was the 1976 World Series MVP.
Bench collected 10 Gold Gloves and 14 All-Star selections. He retired in 1983 with 389 home runs, an MLB catcher record.
Bench loves Oklahoma. In 1986, the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame inducted him. The National Baseball Hall of Fame inducted him in 1989, his first year of eligibility.
Bench is a baseball broadcaster, motivational speaker, and advocate. His Oklahoma background is part of his success and effect on the catcher’s position.
8. Steve Owens
Steve Owens, born in Gore, Oklahoma on December 9, 1947, played professional football. He is most known as a running back at Oklahoma and in the NFL.
Owens had a great career at Oklahoma, ending with a school record 4,041 running yards in 1969. He won the Heisman Trophy for greatest college football player, which was his second recognition.
Owens was drafted by the Detroit Lions in 1970. He played five seasons with the Lions, 1970 through 1974. In 1971, he carried for 1,035 yards and scored 14 touchdowns. Unfortunately, injuries ended his career earlier than he’d have liked.
Owens was the Athletic Director at his alma mater from 1996 to 1998 after retiring from professional football. In 2020, Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium’s “Steve Owens Field” was named after him.
Owens was also a wealthy businessman and Oklahoma state legislator. Oklahomans adore him for his sports heritage.
9. Matt Kemp
MLB star Matt Kemp was born in Midwest City, Oklahoma, on September 23, 1984. Kemp, an outfielder known for his power and speed, has had a successful career.
Kemp excelled in baseball and basketball at Midwest City High School in Oklahoma. The Los Angeles Dodgers chose him in the 6th round of the 2003 MLB Draft. Kemp excelled with the Dodgers for much of his career.
Kemp’s greatest season was 2011, when he finished second in National League MVP voting. He batted .324, leading the league in runs scored (115), home runs (39), and RBI (126). He won a Gold Glove for outfield defense and a Silver Slugger for offense.
Kemp played for the Padres, Braves, and Reds after the Dodgers. Most recently, Kemp played for the Colorado Rockies beginning in 2020.
Kemp’s roots in Oklahoma are deep. He frequently discusses how growing up in Oklahoma affected his athleticism and baseball strategy.
