The Few, The Proud, The Lifers

They are the ones who stayed. They are those who have known one city, one fanbase, and one arena (usually) as home in their professional careers. In today's sports' world, full of greed, free agency, and egotistical athletes who insist on clashing with their coaches, GMs, or fellow players, constant movement from one franchise to the next is considered the norm rather than the exception. The exception now is staying with a team for one's entire career. In fact, it's a down-right rarity. So this post is dedicated to those players whether they fought to stay with their team or because circumstances allowed them to.



I'm not trying to fault guys for going somewhere for a little extra money or leaving a team if they didn't feel quite appreciated enough (Torii Hunter with the Twins for example), I'm just trying to celebrate something that is rare in sports by recognizing those individuals who have done something that around only 2% of their peers do. That's an impressive percentile to be able to call yourself a part of.

The following is a list of players in the four major sports (within the American sporting landscape) who are A) currently active B) have only played in games within their league (for example a lot of NHL players went elsewhere during the lockout year to play hockey) for one team C) Have completed at least 10 years of service in that league. The criteria doesn't seem all that strict but it is more elite than just about any group an athlete ever strives to be a part of.

Notes: 1."Total player calculations" were calculated by multiplying number of teams in the league by normal roster size. Example: MLB rosters get expanded after September 1st for the rest of the season (so only a month). These numbers were not taken into account.
2. These are as of July 13th, 2011. If a trade happens or something between now and when you read it I'm sorry I couldn't tell the future.
3. Also, this took a long time to compile so.... you're welcome.

THE LIFER LIST

MLB (15): Chipper Jones 3B Braves, Mariano Rivera RP Yankees, Derek Jeter SS Yankees, Jorge Posada C Yankees, Todd Helton 1B Rockies, Jason Varitek C Red Sox, Michael Young Util Rangers, Jimmy Rollins SS Phillies, Mark Buehrle SP White Sox, Carlos Zambrano SP Cubs, Ichiro Suzuki OF Mariners, Albert Pujols 1B Cardinals, Michael Cuddyer Util Twins, Brandon Inge Util Tigers, Brian Roberts 2B Orioles

15 lifer players/ 750 players total = 2% of current players are lifers

NBA (8): Tony Parker G Spurs, Andrei Kirilenko F Jazz, Michael Redd G Bucks, Jeff Foster F Pacers, Paul Pierce G Celtics, Dirk Nowitzki F Mavericks, Tim Duncan F Spurs, Kobe Bryant G Lakers

8 lifer players/ 360 players total = 2.2% of current players are lifers

NFL (45): Andre Gurode C Cowboys, Rich Seubert OG Giants, David Akers K Eagles, Adrian Wilson S Cardinals, Olin Kreutz C Bears, Brian Urlacher LB Bears, Dominic Raiola C Lions, Jeff Backus OL Lions, Jared DeVries DE Lions, Jason Hanson PK Lions, Nick Harris P Lions, Donald Driver WR Packers, Chad Clifton OT Packers, Mark Taucher OT Packers, Jimmy Kleinsasser TE Vikings, Todd McClure C Falcons, Steve Smith WR Panthers, Ronde Barber CB Buccaneers, Brian Moorman P Bills, Tom Brady QB Patriots, Kevin Faulk RB Patriots, Matt Light OT Patriots, Shaun Ellis DE Jets, Bryan Thomas LB Jets, Brian Waters OG Chiefs, Sebastian Janikowski PK Raiders, Shane Lechler P Raiders, Quentin Jammer CB Chargers, Todd Heap TE Ravens, Ray Lewis LB Ravens, Ed Reed S Ravens, Chad Ochocinco WR Bengals, Phil Dawson PK Browns, Hines Ward WR Steelers, Brett Keisel DE Steelers, Aaron Smith DE Steelers, Casey Hampton DT Steelers, Chris Hoke DT Steelers, Peyton Manning QB Colts, Reggie Wayne WR Colts, Jeff Saturday C Colts, Ryan Diem OT Colts, Dwight Freeney DE Colts, David Garrard QB Jaguars, Brad Meester C Jaguars

45 lifer players/ 1696 players total = 2.6% of current players are lifers

NHL (17): Patrik Elias LW Devils, Martin Broduer G Devils, Colin White D Devils, Tomas Holmstrom LW Red Wings, Nicklas Lindstrom D Red Wings, David Legwand C Predators, Jarome Iginla RW Flames, Milan Hejduk RW Avalanche, Shawn Horcoff C Oilers, Daniel Sedin LW Canucks, Henrik Sedin C Canucks, Brenden Morrow LW Stars, Shane Doan RW Jets/Coyotes, Patrick Marleau C/LW Sharks, Daniel Alfredsson RW Senators, Chris Phillips D Senators, Vincent Lecavalier C Lightning

17 lifer players/ 690 players total = 2.5% of current players are lifers

MLB notes: Technically, this is the most elite group of lifers if going purely on the percentage of the total player population within their league (by a small .2%). And they are probably the most recognizable. In baseball, you usually only stay with one team if you are really good and you can agree with your front office on how valuable you are. Just about everyone on the list (with the possible exception of Inge, Roberts, and Cuddyer) are all above average players who have performed consistently enough to become a mainstay of a franchise. These are the guys who people buy jerseys of because you know that jersey is never going to become outdated.

NBA notes: This is the smallest group, obviously because the NBA has the smallest roster size of the four leagues. But it's also interesting to see that in the NBA, once you've been in the league at least ten years your prime is starting to pass you due to all the minutes the players have logged on their knees and the athletic demands of the game (different from say, baseball). So the guys on this list, though still very good, aren't really the top tier of the league anymore (Dirk and Kobe are great but are they still top five? Dumb question after Dirk's playoff run but in an 82 game season he isn't your first pick to build a team around is he?). I was surprised to find Foster on the list because when a team has been as mediocre or bad as the Pacers in the last ten years, you wouldn't expect to find someone on that team throughout the turn-over that occurred.

NFL notes: Due to the massive size of NFL rosters (comparatively) there are a lot of players who made the lifer list. The list seems heavily saturated with lineman (almost 29%), which is interesting because O-lineman are very susceptible to knee and head injuries which could derail their careers, decrease their value, and make them difficult to resign or keep for a team. Another interesting note is that only 3 QBs made the list. Because the league has become so QB driven, this position has become one of constant scrutiny and change. Strange to see Garrard on the same list as Brady and Manning, especially while comparing their career statistics.

NHL notes: Nearly half (7) of the players on this list yield from the Devils, Red Wings, and Canucks, three franchises which have enjoyed considerable success in the last 10 years. Where season-ending injuries can occur on every play, being a lifer in the NHL is part-luck as well as part-skill. Many of those on the list are their respective teams' captains and leaders within their locker rooms and these are the types of guys whose numbers will end up in the rafters when it's all said and done. It would be a sad day if the Sedin twins ever played for a different team.

I enjoy seeing the lifers play. I love knowing Stan Musial was a Cardinal in every game he ever played at the professional level. Think of the legends that can't say they were a lifer.You could argue the greatest players of all time in each sport weren't lifers. MJ, the Babe, the Great One, and Jerry Rice/Joe Montana/Reggie White (just examples of great NFL players who weren't lifers, not who I think is the greatest of all time don't get crazy upset with me). Most of the guys listed above might (their careers are not over remember) accomplish something in their careers that some of the greatest in their respective sports could even do. And I think that's pretty amazing. And should be celebrated and recognized. So here's to you. The lifer. The ones the fans know. The ones on the backs of jerseys. The ones with numbers in the rafters of only one arena. The ones who stayed.

Here's to you.