Ranking the 20 Biggest One-Hit Wonders In Sports History

By Brian Kalchik

Athletes Who Were One-Hit Wonders

Buster Douglas — For some athletes, it takes years to establish their names in the sports world. For others, it takes just one play, game or year. There are some who are remembered more for one fantastic play or year than the rest of their career. Here are 20 athletes who are the biggest one-hit wonders in sports history.

20. Dallas Braden

Dallas Braden Athletics

20. Dallas Braden

Dallas Braden Athletics — On Mother's Day 2010, Oakland Athletics pitcher Dallas Braden had his most memorable game. Braden threw the 19th perfect game in Major League history as he shut out the Tampa Bay Rays. Following the perfect game, Braden went on to finish the 2010 season with an 11-14 record in 30 starts.

19. Michael Chang

Michael Chang

19. Michael Chang

Michael Chang — At 17, Michael Chang became the youngest male player to ever win a Grand Slam singles title when he captured the French Open at Roland Garros in 1989. And while Chang would go on to win 34 titles in his career, he never managed to lift another Grand Slam trophy.

18. Brady Anderson

Brady Anderson Orioles

18. Brady Anderson

Brady Anderson Orioles — In 1996, Brady Anderson hit 50 home runs for the Baltimore Orioles. For the rest of his career, Anderson would never even approach that number again as he became one of baseball's biggest flops.

17. Tommy Maddox

Tommy Maddox Steelers

17. Tommy Maddox

Tommy Maddox Steelers — Ben Roethlisberger's predecessor in Pittsburgh, Tommy Maddox was originally drafted by the Broncos in the first round of the 1992 NFL Draft. He left the NFL after not having much success, before eventually returning to have an amazing 2002 season with the Steelers. He had 20 touchdowns, threw for 2,836 yards and earned the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award. Maddox also led the Steelers to a comeback win against Cleveland in the playoffs.

16. Armando Galarraga

Armando Galarraga

16. Armando Galarraga

Armando Galarraga Tigers — On June 2, 2010, Armando Galarraga was robbed of perfection. Facing the Cleveland Indians, Galarraga was perfect for 8 2/3 innings, but lost a perfect game in a controversial decision. An incorrect call by umpire Jim Joyce gave Cleveland's Jason Donald a hit when it was clear that he was out. During the 2010–11 offseason, Galarraga was traded to the Diamondbacks, and failed to stick with the team.

15. Armanti Edwards

Armanti Edwards

15. Armanti Edwards

Armanti Edwards — One of the best players in FCS history, Appalachian State's Armanti Edwards spearheaded one of the biggest upsets in sports history in 2007. Facing Michigan in "The Big House," Edwards threw for 227 yards and three touchdowns, while also totaling 62 yards and a touchdown on the ground as the Mountaineers upset the Wolverines 34-32. A third-round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, Edwards was a flop for the Carolina Panthers.

14. Mike Jones

Mike Jones Rams

14. Mike Jones

Mike Jones Rams — A journeyman linebacker for most of his career, Mike Jones made the most memorable defensive play in Super Bowl history. With the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXIV, Jones prevented Tennessee's Kevin Dyson from scoring on the final play of the game. The play gave St. Louis its only Super Bowl championship with a 23-16 win. Jones concluded his career with two unspectacular seasons in Pittsburgh.

13. Maurice Clarett

Maurice Clarett Ohio State

13. Maurice Clarett

Maurice Clarett Ohio State — Maurice Clarett had everything going for him. He was the running back for the 2002 National Championship Ohio State Buckeyes, and was only a freshman. But it was nothing but downhill after this one moment of stardom for Clarett. He tried to leave Ohio State early to go to the NFL, but faced problems in challenging the league’s rule. Clarett also had legal troubles, which cost him any chance at an NFL career.

12. Lehigh & Norfolk State

C.J. McCollum Lehigh

12. Lehigh & Norfolk State

C.J. McCollum Lehigh — 2012 was the year of the upset in college basketball. In the NCAA tournament, two No. 15 seeds upset No. 2 seeds in the first round. Lehigh, led by future NBA first-round pick C.J. McCollum, upset Duke 75-70. On that same night, Norfolk State, led by Kyle O'Quinn, upset Missouri 86-84. Both teams have not done much since.

11. Tim Tebow

Tim Tebow Florida

11. Tim Tebow

Tim Tebow Florida — Tim Tebow is a good guy, a competitor and a great "college" player, but as a first-round pick at quarterback, he was a flop. His finest days came with the Florida Gators, where he won a Heisman Trophy and two national titles. Outside of an overrated six-game winning streak and home playoff win in 2011, Tebow did nothing in the pros. After failing to make a mark with the Jets and Patriots, Tebow is now out of the NFL.

10. Larry Brown

Larry Brown Cowboys

10. Larry Brown

Larry Brown Cowboys — The cornerback who lined up opposite Deion Sanders in 1995, Larry Brown had his one shining moment in Super Bowl XXX. Facing Pittsburgh, Brown recorded two interceptions (which Neil O'Donnell threw right to him by the way) and was named MVP in the Cowboys' 27-17 win. Brown then signed a lucrative free agent deal with Oakland, but played just 12 games in two seasons for the Silver and Black.

9. George Mason Patriots

George Mason Patriots

9. George Mason Patriots

George Mason Patriots — 2006 was the only time in school history that the George Mason Patriots were relevant in basketball. The Patriots reached the NCAA Final Four after having a magical run. After their selection into the tournament was questioned, the Patriots shocked the world. George Mason defeated Michigan State, North Carolina, Wichita State and UCONN before losing to Florida, the eventual National Champions, in the Final Four.

8. Jeremy Lin

Jeremy Lin Knicks

8. Jeremy Lin

Jeremy Lin Knicks — When injuries thrust Jeremy Lin into a starting role in 2012 with the Knicks, he became a media sensation. With Carmelo Anthony out of the lineup, Lin helped keep the Knicks in the postseason race before succumbing to injuries of his own. Lin signed with the Houston Rockets in 2013, but was a major flop. In the 2013 postseason, the Rockets won two games that Lin did not play in, and lost four that he did play in. Lin is now a Los Angeles Laker.

7. Christian Laettner

Christian Laettner Dream Team

7. Christian Laettner

Christian Laettner Dream Team — Christian Laettner made one of the most famous shots in college basketball history as he drained a buzzer beater to knock off the Kentucky Wildcats in the 1992 men's basketball tournament. A member of the 1992 Olympic Dream Team, Laettner was picked No. 3 overall in the NBA draft, but was mostly a reserve big man in his NBA career.

6. Ickey Woods

Ickey Woods Bengals

6. Ickey Woods

Ickey Woods Bengals — Perhaps better known for the "Ickey Shuffle," Ickey Woods propelled the Cincinnati Bengals to Super Bowl XXIII after a prolific rookie season. The Bengals lost that game to the San Francisco 49ers, but Woods was supposed to continue his greatness. The following season, Woods tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and was never the same.

5. Don Larsen

Don Larsen Yankees

5. Don Larsen

Don Larsen Yankees — When you've thrown one of only 23 perfect games in Major League history, you become a legend of the game regardless of what you did for the rest of your career. Add to the fact that Don Larsen's perfect game came in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series against the Dodgers, and it is the stuff of legends. However, Larsen finished his career with a sub .500 record of 81-91, but that gets pushed aside compared to his one great performance.

4. David Tyree

David Tyree Giants

4. David Tyree

David Tyree Giants — A journeyman receiver and special teams standout for most of his career, David Tyree was the most unlikely hero for the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII. Tyree scored the Giants' first touchdown of the game and also made his famous "Helmet Catch" on the Giants' game-winning drive to upset the undefeated New England Patriots. After Super Bowl XLII, Tyree would never play again for the Giants.

3. Timmy Smith

Timmy Smith Redskins

3. Timmy Smith

Timmy Smith Redskins — An unproven rookie in 1987, Timmy Smith became very well known in Super Bowl XXII. A surprise starter in Super Bowl XXII, Smith ran for 204 yards and two touchdowns as the Redskins trounced the Broncos 42-10. Smith became a full-time starter in 1988 and failed miserably. After the 1988 season, Smith never played for the Redskins again.

2. Mark Fidrych

Mark Fidrych Tigers

2. Mark Fidrych

Mark Fidrych Tigers — In 1976, Mark "The Bird" Fidrych took the baseball world by storm. The pitcher went 19-9 with a 2.34 ERA and came in second in AL Cy Young voting. Shortly after that, injuries piled up and his major league career ended after five seasons.

1. Buster Douglas

James (Buster) Douglas

1. Buster Douglas

James (Buster) Douglas — Buster Douglas literally turned the world on its head by knocking out "Iron" Mike Tyson for the first loss of his professional career. Tyson was not just the best at the time of the fight, but was considered to be one of the best champions in history. Douglas was a 42-1 underdog going into the fight, but boxed a perfect fight. Douglas would eventually fall out of the sport, but Tyson's career began to spiral downward after the loss.

Brian Kalchik is a Detroit Lions writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter, like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google+.

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