Greatest Athletes of the 1960s
The greatest sports people who defined the 1960s — across football, boxing, athletics, tennis, basketball and more.
1960s by Sport
The leading athletes across every discipline in the 1960s.
Athletes of the 1960s
Browse all 332 athletes who defined sport in the 1960s.
American
Alan Page
Defensive Tackle
American football defensive tackle who became the first defensive player to win NFL MVP in 1971 and …
American
Chuck Noll
Head Coach
American football coach who led the Pittsburgh Steelers to four Super Bowl victories in the 1970s, t…
American
Dan Fouts
Quarterback
American NFL quarterback who played for the San Diego Chargers (1973-1987), known for his prolific p…
American
Dick Butkus
Linebacker
American football linebacker widely considered one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history,…
American
Franco Harris
Running Back
The Immaculate Reception — the most famous play in NFL history, and four Super Bowl rings as the wor…
American
Gale Sayers
Running Back
American football running back who played for Chicago Bears, known for his explosive speed and agili…
American
Gene Upshaw
Guard / Tackle
American football guard who played 15 seasons with Oakland Raiders, Hall of Fame inductee and longti…
American
Jack Ham
Linebacker
American football linebacker who anchored the Pittsburgh Steelers' legendary Steel Curtain defense d…
American
Jim Brown
Running Back
American football running back widely considered the greatest of all time, played nine seasons with …
American
Jim Parker
Guard / Tackle
American football offensive lineman who played for the Baltimore Colts (1957-1967) and was the first…
American
Joe Namath
Quarterback
American football quarterback who guaranteed and delivered victory in Super Bowl III, leading the Ne…
American
John Hannah
Guard
American football guard who played his entire NFL career with the New England Patriots, widely consi…
American
Mean Joe Greene
Defensive Tackle
American football defensive tackle who anchored Pittsburgh Steelers' dominant defense during 1970s, …
American
Mel Blount
Cornerback
American football Hall of Fame cornerback who dominated the 1970s with the Pittsburgh Steelers, winn…
American
Mike Ditka
Tight End / Head Coach
The greatest tight end of his era and the only man to win a Super Bowl as both a player and a head c…
American
O.J. Simpson
Running Back
American former NFL running back who won the 1968 Heisman Trophy and became the first player to rush…
American
Patricia Palinkas
Holder
American football player who became the first woman to play in a professional American football game…
American
Ray Nitschke
Linebacker
American football linebacker who played 15 seasons for Green Bay Packers, winning 5 NFL Championship…
American
Ted Hendricks
Linebacker
American NFL linebacker known as 'The Mad Stork' who won four Super Bowls and was inducted into the …
American
Terry Bradshaw
Quarterback
American NFL quarterback who led the Pittsburgh Steelers to four Super Bowl victories in the 1970s, …
American
Vince Lombardi
Head Coach
American football coach who led the Green Bay Packers to five NFL championships in the 1960s, includ…
American
Tommie Smith
Sprinter
American sprinter who won Olympic gold in 200m at 1968 Mexico City Olympics with world record, famou…
Indonesian
Rudy Hartono
Badminton Player
Indonesian badminton legend who dominated men's singles in the 1970s, winning 8 All England Champion…
American
Al Kaline
Outfielder
American baseball right fielder and Hall of Famer who spent his entire 22-year MLB career with the D…
American
Bob Gibson
Pitcher
American baseball pitcher who dominated the late 1960s, winning two Cy Young Awards and two World Se…
American
Carlton Fisk
Catcher
American baseball catcher who played 24 MLB seasons, famous for his 1975 World Series home run and h…
American
Dave Winfield
Outfielder
American baseball outfielder and Hall of Famer known for his 22-year MLB career, 3,110 hits, and bei…
American
Don Drysdale
Pitcher
American baseball pitcher who played 14 seasons in MLB, renowned for his intimidating style and reco…
American
Ernie Banks
Shortstop
American baseball player known as 'Mr. Cub', beloved Chicago Cubs shortstop/first baseman who hit 51…
Canadian
Fergie Jenkins
Pitcher
Canadian baseball pitcher who won the 1971 NL Cy Young Award and became the first Canadian inducted …
American
Frank Robinson
Outfielder
American baseball player who became the first to win MVP awards in both leagues and first African Am…
American
Gaylord Perry
Pitcher
American baseball pitcher who won Cy Young Awards in both leagues and became the first pitcher to ac…
American
Hank Aaron
Right Field
American baseball legend who broke Babe Ruth's home run record and became one of the greatest hitter…
American
Harmon Killebrew
Third Baseman
American baseball slugger who hit 573 career home runs, earning the nickname 'The Killer' and rankin…
American
Jim Palmer
Pitcher
American baseball pitcher who won three Cy Young Awards and helped the Baltimore Orioles capture thr…
American
Johnny Bench
Catcher
American baseball catcher widely regarded as the greatest of all time, two-time National League MVP …
Dominican
Juan Marichal
Pitcher
Dominican baseball pitcher who won 243 MLB games and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in …
American
Lou Brock
Left Field
American baseball outfielder and Hall of Famer who revolutionized base stealing, holding the stolen …
American
Mickey Mantle
Center Field
American baseball legend who played his entire 18-year MLB career with the New York Yankees, winning…
American
Mike Schmidt
Third Base
The greatest third baseman in baseball history — three NL MVP awards, ten Gold Gloves and 548 home r…
American
Nolan Ryan
Pitcher
American baseball pitcher widely regarded as one of the greatest power pitchers in MLB history, hold…
American
Pete Rose
Multiple Positions
American baseball player known as 'Charlie Hustle' who holds the all-time MLB hits record with 4,256…
American
Reggie Jackson
Outfielder
American baseball outfielder known as 'Mr. October' for his clutch World Series performances, winnin…
Puerto Rican
Roberto Clemente
Right Field
Puerto Rican baseball right fielder who became the first Latin American player to reach 3,000 hits a…
Panamanian
Rod Carew
First Baseman / Second Baseman
Panamanian baseball legend and Hall of Famer, renowned as one of the greatest contact hitters in MLB…
American
Sandy Koufax
Pitcher
The most dominant five-year stretch in pitching history — three Cy Young Awards, four no-hitters inc…
American
Satchel Paige
Pitcher
American baseball pitcher renowned as one of the greatest players in Negro League history and MLB's …
American
Stan Musial
Left Field/First Base
American baseball legend who played 22 seasons with St. Louis Cardinals, achieving 3,630 career hits…
Showing top 48 of 332 athletes from this era.