Athletes and Coaches

Ray Allen on the free throw line.

Ray Allen

Raised in Dalzell, SC, Ray Allen is an NBA All-Star basketball player who has played with the Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle SuperSonics, Miami Heat, and Boston Celtics.

Buck Baker wearing a light and dark color racing helmet

Buck Baker

Born in Richburg, SC, Elzie Wylie Baker Sr., better known as Buck Baker, was a stock car racer. He was the first driver to win consecutive NASCAR premier series championships. 

A young Doc Blanchard in a uniform

Doc Blanchard

Doc Blanchard was best known as the college football player who became the first junior to win the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award and was the first football player to win the James E. Sullivan Award, all in 1945. 

Color photograph of Bennie Cunningham

Bennie Lee Cunningham, Jr.

Bennie Lee Cunningham, Jr. was a professional football player for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

A older woman in a red jacket.

Beth Daniel

Beth Daniel is a professional golfer.

Larry Doby practice swing.

Larry Doby

Lawrence "Larry" Doby was the first African American to play baseball in the American League and the second African American to manage a major league team.

Moolah holding the NWA World Women's Championship belt.

The Fabulous Moolah

Born in Kershaw County, SC, Lillian Ellison was a female professional wrestler better known as "The Fabulous Moolah."

Alex English wearing a dark grey shirt with a yellow eight on the right side of the shirt.

Alex English

Alex English was a basketball player at the University of South Carolina and the Denver Nuggets and a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Joe Frazier wearing a black and white tuxedo.

Joe Frazier

Joe Frazier was a professional boxer from Beaufort, SC who defeated such greats as Muhammad Ali.

Kevin Garnett wearing the green and black Boston Celtics basketball uniform.

Kevin Garnett

Kevin Garnett is an accomplished basketball player in the NBA. He has played with the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Boston Celtics.

A smiling Althea Gibson

Althea Gibson

Althea Gibson was the first African-American player to win Wimbledon and U.S. National tennis championships.

Gordon Glisson

Gordon Glisson

Gordon Glisson was a Champion Thoroughbred horse racing jockey.

AJ Green wearing a white football uniform accented with orange and black. A black 18 outlined in orange is on the front of his uniform.

AJ Green

AJ (Adriel Jeremiah) Green is a football wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals. 

Joe Jackson holding a bat and wearing a baseball uniform.

"Shoeless" Joe Jackson

Considered one of the most outstanding hitters in the history of baseball, Joe Jackson's career .356 batting average is the third highest in history, after Ty Cobb and Rogers Hornsby.

Willie Jeffries holding football with stadium in background

Willie Jeffries

Union native Willie Jeffries was the head football coach at South Carolina State University.

Mamie wearing a baseball uniform and pitching.

Mamie "Peanut" Johnson

Born in Ridgeway, SC, Mamie "Peanut" Johnson was the only woman to pitch for Negro Major League.

Elizabeth Mahon wearing a baseball uniform.

Elizabeth Mahon

Elizabeth "Lib" Mahon was a baseball player in the 1940s in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.

Katrina in a red basketball uniform with the basketball

Katrina McClain

Charleston, SC native Katrina McClain is a retired basketball player. She played for the University of Georgia and many other USA Basketball teams, including three Olympic teams.

A smiling William "The Refrigerator" Perry flexing his arm while in his Chicago Bears uniform

William "The Refrigerator" Perry

William "The Refrigerator" Perry was a former college and professional football player.

Willie Randolph wearing a black and orange baseball cap with an orange outline bird in the middle.

Willie Randolph

Willie Randolph is a former professional baseball second basement coach and manager.

Betsy Rawls in a light blouse

Betsy Rawls

Elizabeth Earle "Betsy" Rawls is a former LPGA Tour professional golfer.

Jim Rice wearing a red baseball cap.

Jim Rice

Jim Rice is a former Boston Red Sox baseball player, coach, and sports commentator.

Bobby Richardson in a light and dark New York Yankees baseball uniform

Bobby Richardson

Bobby Richardson is a former professional baseball second baseman.

George Rogers in a red and white football uniform holding a football.

George Rogers

George Rogers won the Heisman Trophy in 1980 while playing for the University of South Carolina.

Al Rosen wearing a Cleveland Indians baseball uniform and dark baseball cap.

Al Rosen

Al Rosen was a Major League Baseball player in the 1940s and 1950s, and was the president of several teams in his career.

Color photograph of Mike Sharperson holding a bat in his right hand

Mike Sharperson

Mike Sharperson was an MLB infielder who played for the Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Atlanta Braves.

A smiling black man with a red, white, and blue American flag over his shoulders.

Jerome Singleton, Jr.

Jerome Singleton, Jr. is a Paralympic gold medalist from South Carolina.

Louise Smith in a racecar.

Louise Smith

Louise Smith was known as “the first lady of racing.” Louise Smith was the first professional woman race car driver.

Color photograph of Dawn Staley

Dawn Staley

Dawn Staley is a three-time Olympic Gold medalist and head coach for the South Carolina Gamecocks Women's Basketball team.

A smiling man in a baseball uniform

Bill Voiselle

Bill Voiselle was a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball.

The professional wrestler The Big Show with his arms raised in the ring in a crowded arena.

The Big Show

Paul Wight, better known as The Big Show, is a WWE professional wrestler and actor.

A'ja Wilson smiling and preparing to throw a wrapped up t-shirt to a crowd

A'ja Wilson

A'ja Wilson is a professional basketball player for the Las Vegas Aces.

William Hayward Mookie Wilson is wearing a blue and orange baseball uniform and swinging a wooden bat

William Hayward "Mookie" Wilson

William Hayward "Mookie" Wilson is a former Major League Baseball player who played with the New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays.

Cale Yarborough wearing a tan racing suit. Fans stand in the background behind a wired mesh fence.

Cale Yarborough

William Caleb “Cale” Yarborough is a former NASCAR driver who won the 1976, 1977, and 1978 Winston Cup.