Louisiana by the Numbers: The best of every uniform (0-9)

Part 10 of a series

This is what happens when history meets numbers.

Crescent City Sports has decided to go back through the list of greatest players to compete on the fields, courts and diamonds of Louisiana and decide who was the best to wear every number from 0 to 99.

Our rules are simple: To be eligible for our list, you had to play for a college or professional team in Louisiana, and the list is based on the number you wore while in Louisiana.

The final installment of our 10-part series looks at Nos. 0-9. While many of the greats in Louisiana sports history wore (or continue to wear) single-digit numbers, the choices don’t get any easier in some cases.

No. 0/00 – Robert Parish, Centenary basketball (1972-76): The march to the Basketball Hall of Fame for the man they called “Chief” began at Centenary, where he was forced to play in virtual anonymity because of a six-year NCAA probation. He averaged 21.6 points and 16.9 rebounds per game for the Gents. Parish holds the NBA record for most games played in a career (1,611), was a nine-time all-star and won four championships – three with the Boston Celtics and one with the Chicago Bulls. Parish is also a member of the College Basketball Hall of Fame, Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and LABC Hall of Fame.

Honorable Mention: Rayshard Allen, Tulane basketball (1993-97); Ken Burrough, Saints (1970); DeMarcus Cousins, Pelicans (2017-18); Glen Davis, LSU basketball (2004-07)

No. 1 – Brian Mitchell, USL football (1986-89): Before the term “dual-threat quarterback” became commonplace in college football recruiting, there was Mitchell, who rushed for 3,335 yards, passed for 5,447 yards and accounted for 70 touchdowns with the Ragin’ Cajuns. As much as the ball was in Mitchell’s hands in Lafayette, he never returned punts or kicks, which would be his ticket to a successful 14-year NFL career with Washington, Philadelphia and the New York Giants. Mitchell holds the NFL career records for kickoff return yards and punt return yards and ranks second only to Jerry Rice in total yards gained. He was twice named first-team All-Pro – once as a punt returner, once as a kickoff returner. Mitchell is a member of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

Honorable Mention: Baron Davis, Hornets (2002-05); Paul Mainieri, LSU baseball coach (2007-present); Bo McCalebb, UNO basketball (2013-18); Zion Williamson, Pelicans (active)

No. 2 – Eddie Kennison, LSU football (1993-95): Kennison was a multiple threat in his three years in Baton Rouge – wide receiver, return specialist and track standout. His 100-yard punt return against Mississippi State in 1994 remains an LSU record. After being chosen 18th overall by the St. Louis Rams in the 1996 NFL Draft, Kennison played with five NFL teams in his 13-year pro career, catching 548 passes for 8,345 yards and 42 touchdowns. Kennison, who recently returned to LSU as director of player development, is a member of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

Honorable Mention: Aaron Brooks, Saints (2000-05); Johnny Giavotella, UNO baseball (2006-08); Elfrid Payton, Louisiana basketball (2011-14)

No. 3 – Ron Guidry, USL baseball (1969-70): Nos. 3 and 7 (more on 7 in a moment) may have more talent associated with it than any other in state history, but Guidry – who wore 3 in Lafayette before donning 49 in pinstripes – sticks out above the others. The southpaw who became known as “Louisiana Lightning” went 12-5 with a 2.03 ERA and averaged a strikeout per inning in two seasons with the Ragin’ Cajuns and was a third-round pick of the Yankees, where he made his major league debut in 1975. Guidry’s Cy Young Award-winning 1978 season is as good as any big-league pitcher has had in the last half century: 25-3 with a 1.74 ERA. He also led the American League with a 2.78 ERA in 1979 and 22 wins in 1985. Guidry went 170-91 with a 3.29 ERA in his Yankee career and was a four-time all-star and five-time Gold Glove winner. He is a member of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and his No. 49 was retired by the Yankees in 2003.

Honorable Mention: Odell Beckham Jr., LSU football (2011-13); John Carney, Saints (2001-06, 09-10); Kevin Faulk, LSU football (1995-98); Bobby Hebert, Saints (1985-92); Wil Lutz, Saints (2016-present); Chris Paul, Hornets (2005-11)

No. 4 – Joe Dumars, McNeese basketball (1981-85): Before becoming a Basketball Hall of Famer after a stellar 14-year career with the Detroit Pistons, Dumars’ path traveled throughout the state. Born in Shreveport, Dumars played at Natchitoches Central High School before heading to McNeese, where he averaged 22.5 points in his career and was sixth in the nation in scoring as a senior at 25.8 points per game. After being selected 18th overall in the 1985 NBA Draft, Dumars won two NBA titles with the Pistons, was a six-time all-star and was a first-team all-defensive selection on four occasions. His number was retired in both Lake Charles and Detroit. Dumars is also a member of the College Basketball Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

Honorable Mention: Charles Alexander, LSU football (1975-78); Grace Daley, Tulane women’s basketball (1996-2000); Stromile Swift, LSU basketball (1998-2000); David Wesley, Hornets (2002-05)

No. 5 – Eun Jung Lee, NLU women’s basketball (1982-86): The South Korea native led Northeast – now ULM – to the Women’s Final Four in 1985. Lee scored 2,208 points and handed out 978 assists as the Indians won 102 games in her four-year career, which included three trips to the NCAA Tournament. Lee was named the Southland Conference player of the year four times and was a three-time All-American. She is a member of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and was the first female inductee into the Southland Sports Hall of Honor. Her jersey was retired by her alma mater in 2014.

Honorable Mention: Steve Ensminger, LSU football (1976-79); Garrett Hartley, Saints (2008-13); Charles Tillman, Louisiana football (1999-2002)

No. 6 – Thomas Morstead, Saints (2009-active): Morstead has not only established himself as the greatest at his specialty in franchise history, but one of the best in NFL history. His career 46.9 punting average ranks third all-time, but somehow, he has only made one Pro Bowl (2012). He has, however, been named first-team All-Pro three times by Pro Football Focus. Though Morstead has punted 630 times in his 11-year career, Saints fans will best remember him for his on-side kick to start the second half of Super Bowl XLIV.

Honorable Mention: Tommy Barnhardt, Saints (1987-94, 1999)

No. 7 – Morten Andersen, Saints (1982-94): Another great group of players at one number – magnified in recent years by the newfound tradition at LSU – is led by a Pro Football Hall of Famer. Andersen spent the first 13 of his 25 NFL seasons with the Saints. The “Great Dane” played in an NFL-record 382 games and earned a slew of honors during his Saints career, including two All-Pro selections and six trips to the Pro Bowl. His 2,544 career points – which included 1,318 in New Orleans – stood as the NFL record until two years ago. In addition to his bust in Canton, Andersen is a member of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and the Saints Hall of Fame.

Honorable Mention: Leonard Fournette, LSU football (2014-16); Roch Hontas, Tulane football (1976-79); Bert Jones, LSU football (1970-72); Pete Maravich, Jazz (1975-79); Tyrann Mathieu, LSU football (2011); Patrick Peterson, LSU football (2008-10); Dani Reis, LSU volleyball (1989-92); Alan Risher, LSU football (1979-82); Britni Sneed, LSU softball (1999-2002)

No. 8 – Archie Manning, Saints (1971-82): The starting quarterback in New Orleans for more than a decade after a brilliant career at Ole Miss, Manning has built a 50-year legacy in the Crescent City that continues to grow. Manning earned the starting job for the season opener of his rookie year and won his first start in dramatic fashion, scoring the winning touchdown on a 1-yard run against the Los Angeles Rams as time expired. Manning – who held virtually every Saints passing record until Drew Brees arrived – passed for 21,734 yards as a Saint, made two trips to the Pro Bowl and was first-team All-NFC in 1978. His career finished in Houston and Minnesota before he retired and remained in New Orleans to raise his family … and what a family. Sons Peyton and Eli each have a pair of Super Bowl rings, and now grandson Arch is a rising sophomore at Newman.

Honorable Mention: Albert Belle, LSU baseball (1985-87); Augie Schmidt, UNO baseball (1980-82); Tookie Spann, Tulane baseball (1985-88); Lionel Washington, Tulane football (1979-82)

No. 9 – Drew Brees, Saints (2006-active): Until a year ago, this was the biggest slam dunk among the 100 possible numbers. Even now, it’s still an easy choice, though it became less of a runaway after Joe Burrow’s Heisman season of 2019. Since signing with the Saints as an unrestricted free agent prior to the 2006 season, all Brees has done is become the NFL’s career leader in every significant passing category – completions (6,867), completion percentage (67.6), yards (77,416) and touchdowns (547) – and shatter a handful of other league records, including most 300-yard games and most 5,000-yard seasons. He was the most valuable player of what has been the greatest moment in Louisiana sports history, the Saints’ win in Super Bowl XLIV. Throughout our series, we’ve waxed about hall of fame honors, retired numbers and the like. Once Brees steps away from the game, every honor possible will no doubt come his way.

Honorable Mention: Joe Burrow, LSU football (2018-19); Grant Delpit, LSU football (2017-18); Devery Henderson, LSU football (2000-03); Russ Johnson, LSU baseball (1992-94); Damon Mason, USL football (1994-96); Ed Murray, Tulane football (1976-79); Danny Murtaugh, Pelicans (player/manager, 1952-54)

Thanks for reading along with us over the last month. Feel free to look back at the first nine parts of our series and send along your comments on any of the picks.