A few weeks ago I was having a sports debate with a few friends A.T, S.S., and M.N., The discussion was about who are the best 3 players to ever play together. Over the years the media has referred to this term as the Big Three. When I give myself a minute to think about this here is what I come up with:
- Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish
- Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito, Johnny Bucyk
- Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada
I lived through both the Celtics and Bruins Big Three and as much as I would love to admit one of them is the greatest of all time I don’t believe it is. The Yankees Big Three is amazing. Mariano and Derek are 100% first time hall of famers and Posada has a chance to get in. All of them have been together for 16 years! Yes 16 years – that will probably NEVER happen again in the history of any sport. In addition they have too many World Series rings… It hurts too much for me to name all the years or count all the rings.
- The question is are they the best of all time?
- Who else should be in the discussion?
I look forward to reading your thoughts and comments.
J.R. says:
You’d also have to consider Bench, Rose, Morgan of the Big Red Machine.
And speaking of Big Red, in College Football you have the “Scoring Explosion” 83 Huskers of Gill, Fryer and Rozier.
Montana, Rice, Craig of the 49′ers or
Bradshaw, Swan and Harris of the Steelers.
Merrill Dubrow says:
J.R.
Good additions – here are a few comments:
Big Red Machine for sure – they probably make the top 10 of all time.
Montana Rice and Craig – I think Craig is the weak link the discussion. Yes he was great but I will be surprised if he ends up in the hall of Fame. In fact he only made the pro bowl 4 times.
I didn’t think of the Steelers. Great players, GREAT TEAMS! An for sure a dynasty. Perhaps top 5 in the discussion?
Merrill
steve says:
I am not sure i can top the three Yankees due to their tenure and all the rings they have collected.
here are some others to consider:
LA Lakers – Kareem, Magic and James Worthy
Celtics – Bill Russell, Bob Cousy and the Jones boys (Sad Sam and KC)
Cincinnati Big Red Machine – Joe Morgan, Tony Perez, Johnny Bench
the last one is not quite right but worth mentioning for a laugh….
Milwaukee Braves – Spahn, Sain and pray for rain
Merrill Dubrow says:
Steve,
I will start with the last one – love it!!! Spahn Sain and pray for rain – I always loved that expression!
Big Red Machine is great – I believe all 3 are in the hall of fame?
The question I have is are the Laker big 3 better than the Celtics big 3?
Merrill
John Sadler says:
A Chicago thought – Toews, Kane, and Keith (all future HOF’s) – Go Hawks! – Jordan, Pippen, and a couple push offs (thanks to the refs)
steve says:
I like the Laker big 3 more but then again i typically go against the celts and the sox any change i get
– for the record my father was a HUGE celtic fan and this caused many debates/arguments during the Bird v. Magic days.
one more to add to the big 3 that i forgot….
NY Knicks – Reed, DeBusshere and Bradley – played together a ton, won a championship and will great ambassadors of the game
John Sadler says:
How about former Cub draft picks who the World Series …
Lou Brock – St. Louis Cardinals (signed before draft)
Ken Holtzman – Oakland A’s
Joe Carter – Toronto Blue Jays (Yes, we did trade for Sutcliffe)
Gretzky, Messier, and Kurri won 4 cups together
Jeremy Bromberg says:
Oh my goodness, there are lots to consider!
Huey, Dooey, and Louie
Dewey, Cheatem, and Howe
Pele, Chinaglia, and Beckenbauer (during the glory days of the NY Cosmos)
Wilt Chamberlin, Elgin Baylor, and Jerry West
Gretzky, Messier, and Fuhr? Lowe? Others from the Oilers?
DiMaggio, Berra, Rizzuto
Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, Frank Beard (aka ZZ Top)
I could go on for hours….
Merrill Dubrow says:
Jeremy,
I wonder if the Gretzky, Messier and Fuhr is the best ever in hockey.
Good addition.
Merrill
Michael Braunberg says:
I always liked the trio of Frank Robinson, Brooks Robinson and Jim Palmer – all are in the Hall of Fame, and played on an Oriole team that went to the World Series three years in a row (1969-1971).
Ed Sugar says:
Michael -
Palmer was also on the 1966 championship team that swept my Dodgers 4 straight. In game 2, he limited the Dodgers to 4 hits and the O’s handed the Dodgers a 6-0 shellacking in Sandy Koufax’s last game.
I still tear up thinking of it.
Michael Braunberg says:
Ed -
That reminds me that the Dodger rotation in 1966 had quite a “big three”. After all, Koufax, Drysdale and Sutton are all in the Hall of Fame.
Dodger fans tear up over 66, Oriole fans tear up over 69, and we all tear up over the damn Yankees – apparently in perpetuity.
Ed Sugar says:
I could come up with trios all afternoon, so I will limited myself to one from each major US team sport and one European football club.
Hockey -
Detroit Red Wings Production Line
Gordie How, Sid Abel, & Ted Lindsay
Football -
Green Bay Packers backfield of
Bart Starr, Paul Hornung & Jim Taylor
Basketball
UCLA’s 1967,1968 & 1969 Championship teams
Lew Alcindor. Mike Warren & Lucius Allen
Manchester United 1998-1999 “Treble” Championship team of
David Beckham, Ryan Giggs & Gary Neville
Finally Merrill, you are such a blinded Red Sox fan that you cannot even off the top of your head cite the greatest trio that ever graced Yankee Stadium – the original Murderers Row:
Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig & Tony Lazzeri
Nothing against Rivera, Jeter, & Posada, but Ruth, Gehrig and Lazzeri have been the Gold Standard in baseball and maybe all of sports.
Remember, I am a Dodger fan and have zero love fro the Bronx Bombers.
Jeff Adler says:
How about the “Big 3″ on the University of North Carolina 1982 NCAA Championship basketball team? They had three players who became perennial all-stars in the NBA: Michael Jordan, James Worthy, and Sam Perkins.
Bob Graham says:
Marcus Camby, Edgar Padilla, Carmelo Travieso
Kelly Christine Delaney says:
It could just be the area I’m in, but the Broad Street Bullies (Bernie Parent, Dave Schultz, and Bobby Clarke of the 74-75 Flyers) have always been held to a high regard in Philadelphia.
Merrill Dubrow says:
For the record the Celtics big “three” is doing pretty well. Pierce, Garnett and Allen look amazing and up 3-0 on the Magic. Although it really could be a big “four” with Rondo. He is playing great!
Next stop the NBA Finals………I hope
Merrill
Tom Mularz says:
I like the Gretzky/ Messier suggestion, but would swap out Fuhr for Jari Kurri. He was very much responsible for those Cups, as he was a superb defensive forward in addition to a big assist guy.
Daniel Allen says:
Hi Merrill –
Bulls: Jordan, Pippen and Rodman – the perfect combination of roles and talent. 3 rings together; best single season record at 72-10, which may never be broken.
Bears: Hampton, Dent and Singletary – backbone of the best defense of all time. And I must include Payton as well even though he played on the other side of the ball.
Hope you are well!
Daniel
Eric Brall says:
Fun one!
i might go with the Islanders of the 80′s and throw in Bossy, Trottier, and Potvin as a trio to consider with their four consecutive cups.
Will Morris says:
Maybe not in the big three of all time category, but as a kid Bart Starr, Paul Hornug, and Jim Taylor were pretty awesome. The power sweep appeared unstoppable.