Athletes Who Brought a Title to Their Hometown

RealClearLife breaks down the elite group LeBron James just entered

June 19, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) celebrates with the Larry O'Brien championship and Bill Russell MVP trophies following the 93-89 victory against the Golden State Warriors in game seven of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports - RTX2H3O6
(Cary Edmondson/USA TODAY/Getty Images)

LeBron James had solidified a place in the Hall of Fame before returning to Cleveland. By bringing the Cavaliers their first title in franchise history (and the city’s first since 1964), he cemented his spot in the upper echelon of sports history. It isn’t talent alone that put James there. He has become among a proud few that won a championship for their hometown. Below are ten athletes who had such an honor.

CINCINNATI - OCTOBER 1972: Pete Rose #14 of the Cincinnati Reds swings hard against the Oakland Athletics during the World Series at the Riverfront Stadium on October 1972 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
(Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
Focus on Sport/Getty Images

1. Pete Rose: Back-to-back titles for the Cincinnati Reds in 1975, 1976

 

(GERMANY OUT) Philipp Lahm (Bayern) in Aktion waehrend dem 6. Spieltag der Gruppe D, UEFA Champions League FC Bayern Muenchen gegen Manchester Ctiy in der Allianz Arena am 10. Dezember 2013 in Muenchen. Endstand 2:3. (Photo by GASPA/ullstein bild via Getty Images)
(GASPA/ullstein bild via Getty Images)
ullstein bild via Getty Images

2. Philipp Lahm: Led Bayern Munich to three titles (DFB-Pokal, Bundesliga, and Champions League) in 2013

 

CHICAGO - 1938. Lou Gehrig whacks a double into left center in a game at Yankee Stadium in 1938. Luke Sewell is the catcher for the opponent White Sox. (Photo by Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images)
(Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics/Getty Images)
Getty Images

3. Lou Gehrig: Helped the New York Yankees win six titles (1927, 1928, 1932, 1936, 1937, 1938)

 

BALTIMORE, MD - OCTOBER 1983: Cal Ripken Jr. #8 of the Baltimore Orioles bats against the Philadelphia Phillies during the 1983 World Series October 1983 at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. Baltimore won the series 4 games to 1.. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
(Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
Getty Images

4. Cal Ripken: Won a World Series with the Baltimore Orioles in 1983

 

Montreal Canadiens' hockey player Maurice Richard.
(Getty Images)
Bettmann Archive

5. Maurice Richard: Helped the Montreal Canadiens win eight Stanley Cups (1944, 1946, 1953, 1956-1964)

 

PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 30, 1979: Linebacker Jack Ham #59 of the Pittsburgh Steelers in action against the Philadelphia Eagles during an NFL football game September 30, 1979 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Ham played for the Steelers from 1971-82. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
(Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
Getty Images

6. Jack Ham: Won the Pittsburgh Steelers four Super Bowls (1975, 1976, 1979, 1980)

 

BOSTON, MA - MAY, 1990: Mark Messier #11 of the Edmonton Oilers skates on the ice against the Boston Bruins during the 1990 Stanley Cup Finals in May, 1990 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images)
(Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images)
Getty Images

7. Mark Messier: Led the Edmonton Oilers to five Stanley Cups (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990)

 

CINCINNATI, OH - 1990: Rickey Henderson of the Oakland Athletics runs the bases during the 1990 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Sporting News via Getty Images)
(Sporting News via Getty Images)
Sporting News via Getty Images

8. Rickey Henderson: Played for the Oakland Athletics in four separate stints, winning a World Series in 1989

 

American baseball player, John Peter "Honus" Wagner (1874-1955) swinging bat at game. Undated photograph. (Photo by George Rinhart/Corbis via Getty Images)
(George Rinhart/Corbis via Getty Images)
Corbis via Getty Images

9. Honus Wagner: Won a World Series with the Pittburgh Pirates in 1909

 

(Original Caption) Philadelphia: 76ers' Wilt Chamberlain, jumps high as Cincinnati Royal, Jerry Lucas (16) and Wayne Embry (15) can only look on during first period action, March 20th at convention hall.
(Bettmann/Contributor/Getty Images)
Bettmann Archive

10. Wilt Chamberlain: Led the Philadelphia 76ers to a title in 1967

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