Top 10 Athletes Who Retired Too Early
The Top Ten
1 Bo Jackson
Vincent Edward "Bo" Jackson is a former baseball and American football player. He is the only athlete in history to be named an All-Star in both baseball and football, and one of few to do so in two major sports.
Vincent Edward "Bo" Jackson is a former baseball and American football player. He is the only athlete in history to be named an All-Star in both baseball and football, and one of few to do so in two major sports.
2 Barry Sanders
Barry Sanders is a former American football running back who spent his entire professional career with the Detroit Lions of the National Football League.
Barry Sanders is a former American football running back who spent his entire professional career with the Detroit Lions of the National Football League.
3 Lou Gehrig
Henry Louis Gehrig, nicknamed "the Iron Horse", was an American baseball first baseman who played his entire professional career in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees, from 1923 until 1939. Gehrig was renowned for his prowess as a hitter and for his durability, which earned him his nickname ...read more.
Henry Louis Gehrig, nicknamed "the Iron Horse", was an American baseball first baseman who played his entire professional career in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees, from 1923 until 1939. Gehrig was renowned for his prowess as a hitter and for his durability, which earned him his nickname ...read more.
4 Jim Brown
James Nathaniel Brown was a former professional American football player and actor. He was a running back for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League from 1957 through 1965.
James Nathaniel Brown was a former professional American football player and actor. He was a running back for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League from 1957 through 1965.
5 Elena Dementieva
6 Bobby Orr
Robert Gordon Orr is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player, widely acknowledged as one of the greatest hockey players of all time.
Robert Gordon Orr is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player, widely acknowledged as one of the greatest hockey players of all time.
7 Bjorn Borg
8 Lorena Ochoa
9 Rocky Marciano
10 Serena Williams
Serena Jameka Williams is an American former professional tennis player. The Women's Tennis Association ranked her world No. 1 in singles on eight separate occasions between 2002 and 2017. She reached the No. 1 ranking for the first time on July 8, 2002.
Serena Jameka Williams is an American former professional tennis player. The Women's Tennis Association ranked her world No. 1 in singles on eight separate occasions between 2002 and 2017. She reached the No. 1 ranking for the first time on July 8, 2002. She wanted to focus on a new lifestyle, but she chose to retire just over 3 years before her 30 year anniversary in professional tennis. Worse, she retired just 1 month before her 27 year anniversary. She will be remembered as the best female athlete of all time.
The Contenders
11 Roberto Clemente
Roberto Enrique Clemente Walker was a Puerto Rican professional baseball right fielder who played 18 seasons in Major League Baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Roberto Enrique Clemente Walker was a Puerto Rican professional baseball right fielder who played 18 seasons in Major League Baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
12 Just Fontaine
13 Marco van Basten
Marcel "Marco" van Basten is a Dutch football manager and former football player, who played for Ajax and Milan, as well as the Netherlands national team, in the 1980s and early '90s as a forward.
Marcel "Marco" van Basten is a Dutch football manager and former football player, who played for Ajax and Milan, as well as the Netherlands national team, in the 1980s and early '90s as a forward.
14 Yury Zakharevich
Russian weightliting legend of the 80s,massive world record breaker.His performance in 1988 Olympics was memorable.His career stoped at the age of 27 due to hand problems.
15 Andrew Luck
Andrew Austen Luck is a former American football quarterback who played his entire career for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League.
Andrew Austen Luck is a former American football quarterback who played his entire career for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League.
16 Allen Iverson
Allen Ezail Iverson is an American retired professional basketball player who played for 14 seasons in the National Basketball Association.
Allen Ezail Iverson is an American retired professional basketball player who played for 14 seasons in the National Basketball Association.
17 Larry Bird
Larry Joe Bird is an American retired professional basketball player who played for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association. Bird is a 3x champ, 1x ROTY, 1x Finals MVP, 3x 3PT Contest winner, all with the Boston Celtics. (1979-1992)
Larry Joe Bird is an American retired professional basketball player who played for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association. Bird is a 3x champ, 1x ROTY, 1x Finals MVP, 3x 3PT Contest winner, all with the Boston Celtics. (1979-1992)
18 Cuttino Mobley
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