Image via Complex Original
A nation's heroes often take the form of statues so that they can be remembered and commemorated long after they are gone. Athlete heroes are honored for their talent and dedication to games that unite fans in loyalty and pride, since sports are such an important part of culture
These sculptures were built to serve as monuments to the teammates, fans, friends, and family members of the selected famous sports players and coaches. Before the leading players in sports now, there were the forefathers and mothers of the game, such as the legendary Pat Tillman of the Arizona Cardinals, who retired his uniform to fight in the US Army. His act of patriotism, sacrifice, and strength will go down in history forever. To celebrate sports from golf to football, baseball, and basketball, here are The 25 Most Important Sports Statues built by sculptors such as Omri Amrany, Zenos Frudaki, and Susan Wagner.
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25. Nick Saban Statue
Created by: Jeremy Davis
Location: Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Jeremy Davis sculpted a statue of former college football coach Nick Saban clapping his hands and encouraging his team. Saban is known for steering his teams to national championships with two different Football Bowl Subdivision schools. He also made the cover of Forbes Magazine in 2008 for being "The Most Powerful Coach in Sports."
24. Pat Summit Sculpture
Created by: David Adickes
Location: Knoxville, Tenn.
Sculptor David Adickes crafted a nine-foot-tall, five-hundred-pound statue of the former women’s basketball coach of the Tennessee Lady Vols Pat Summit in November 2013. Summit stepped down from her position as head coach on April 18, 2012 due to being diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease.
23. Al Kaline Sculpture
Created by: Omri Amrany
Location: Detroit
Another statue located in Comerica Park is the Al Kaline sculpture by Omri Amrany. Dedicated to him in the year 2000, Kaline was named one of the six greatest players of his team in the Detroit Tigers.
22. Brooks Robinson Statue
Created by: Joseph Sheppard
Location: Baltimore
Former third baseman for the Orioles, Brooks Robinson retired in 1977 after playing 23 consecutive seasons with his team. The legendary third baseman won 16 Gold Glove Awards, 15 All-Star games, and averaged 15 home runs and 76 RBI per season.
21. The Babe's Dream
Created by: Susan Luery
Location: Baltimore
Susan Luery sculpted the famous Babe Ruth statue in Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore. The famous New York Yankee player was named "Baseball's Greatest Player Ever" after 22 years of playing and breaking world records.
20. Unitas Sculpture
Created by: Frederick Kail
Location: Baltimore
The Johnny Unitas statue sculpted by Frederick Kail is located at the Ravens Stadium for fans and tourists to see. The famous player died of a sudden heart attack while working out at the Kernan Physical Therapy Center. Unfortunately he did not get to witness the unveiling of his statue, yet his wife spoke on his behalf at the unveiling stating: "I so wanted this day for him, and for him to see it. I think he's looking down on us. I just wish he could've been here. He certainly worked hard enough for it."
19. Will Stargell Sculpture
Created by: Susan Wagner
Location: Pittsburgh
A twelve-foot tall bronze sculpture stands outside of PNC Park in Pittsburgh,where Willie Stargell played for the Pirates numerous times. The sculptor behind this famous monument is Susan Wagner. She says she used old photographs and film to create this piece which took her one year to complete.
18. Arnold Palmer Statue
Created by: Zenos Frudaki
Location: Latrobe, Pa.
Nicknamed "The King," famous golfer Arnold Palmer has a statue dedicated to him right outside of the airport in Latrobe, Pa. that is kept simple and sweet by being literally named after him.
17. Pat Tillman Memorial Statue
Created by: Omri Amrany and Gary Tillery
Location: Phoenix, Ariz.
Before Pat Tillman enlisted himself in the US Army, he was a proud football player for the Arizona Cardinals. His massive career in football catapulted into super-sports-stardom. He died a fallen soldier in 2004; however, his statue sculpted by Omri Amrany and Gary Tillery remains a symbol of sacrifice, sitting outside the University of Phoenix.
16. Gordie Howe Statue
Created by: Omri Amrany
Location: Detroit
On April 11, 2007 the Gordie Howe statue was unveiled at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit at a commemoration of the Red Wings hockey legend. Sculptor Omri Armany crafted the statue to stand six feet and four inches tall from the base.
15. Payne Stewart Sculpture
Created by: Zenos Frudakis
Location: Pinehurst, N.C.
Professional golfer William Payne Stewart is responsible for winning three championships and 11 PGA Tour events throughout his career. Zenos Frudakis sculpted the Payne Stewart statue that overlooks the 18th hole of Pinehurst, No.2, where he holed a shocking 15-foot putt.
14. The Family Statue
Created by: Brad Oldham
Location: Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre, Brantford, Ontario
The Family Statue of Wayne Gretzky located in Brantford, Ontario was unfortunately defaced days after its unveiling. Sculptor Brad Oldham created this bronze statue in recognition of the former hockey player/coach who holds the title of leading point scorer in NHL history.
13. Vincent Lombardi Statue
Created by: Steve LeBlanc
Location: Green Bay, Wis.
Vince Lombardi, the coach of the Green Bay Packers in the 1970s, guided his team to five NFL Championships and wins in both Super Bowls I and II. In honor of his great coaching is a statue sculpted by Steve LeBlanc outside of the north entrance to Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.
12. Le Magnifique
Created by: Bruce Wolfe
Location: Pittsburgh
Hall of Fame hockey player, Mario Lemieux, was the first to become a player-owner of the Pittsburgh Penguins team in the present day. This statue, sculpted by Bruce Wolfe, is a reminder of all of the accomplishments Lemieux has made throughout his career. The sculpture Le Magnifique stands tall at the CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh.
11. Ty Cobb Statue
Created by: Lou Cella
Location: Detroit
Ty "The Georgia Peach" Cobb was known for being one of the most controversial yet also best baseball players in history. Besides the many altercations he encountered with other players and fans, Cobb was also key in a lot of victories for the Detroit Tigers. Located in Comerica Park in Downtown Detroit is a statue made by Lou Cella honoring the late, great baseball player Ty Cobb.
10. Doug Flutie Statue
Created by: Harry Weber
Location: Boston
Another creation from the sculptor Harry Weber is the famous Doug Flutie Statue located at the front of Boston College. This statue was made in remembrance of the unforgettable "Hail Mary" pass that won the college football game against the University of Miami in 1984.
9. The Goal
Created by: Harry Weber
Location: Boston
Also sculpted by Harry Weber, Bobby Orr's statue stands outside of the TD Garden in Boston and is perhaps one of the most memorable and dramatic statues there. It commemorates Orr's winning goal against the St. Louis Blues that won his team the Stanley Cup. The statue is upright at 100% of Orr's actual size.
8. Arthur Ashe Monument
Created by: Paul DiPasquale
Location: Richmond, Va.
The 12-foot-high statue of tennis player and humanitarian Arthur Ashe stands in his hometown of Richmond, Va. He holds a tennis racket in one hand and books in the other hand to display his belief in sports and education. There was some controversy when the statue was erected in 1996, because it was placed on Monument Avenue, where Confederate heroes are also commemorated.
7. Ted Williams Sculpture
Created by: Franc Talarico
Location: Boston
Ted Williams, famous for his baseball career, as well for his frequent visits to children at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, is memorialized outside Gate B of Fenway Park. The eight and a half-foot-tall statue holds a baseball bat and places a baseball hat on the head of a young boy who adoringly looks up at him. Frank Talarico sculpted the statue in honor of Williams after his death in 2002.
6. Dale Earnhardt Sr. Statue
Created by: John Lajba
Location: Daytona Beach, Fla.
The Dale Earnhardt Sr. Statue was sculpted following his untimely death in 2001 at the Daytona International Speedway. In the statue, Earnhardt is depicted in a victorious stance, holding his winner trophy and standing atop his car numbered #3.
5. The Aaron Monument
Created by: Brian Maughan
Location: Milwaukee
This plaque leaves no doubt about Hank Aaron's success in baseball: it begins with, "HENRY 'Hank' AARON Milwaukee Braves 1954-1965; Milwaukee Brewers 1975-1976. Baseball's all-time home run king with 755 career runs..." and continues with an amazing laundry list of accomplishments. The statue depicts Aaron wearing the winning uniform for the 1957 World Series. It was unveiled in 2001 outside of Miller Stadium.
4. The Rocky Statue
Created by: A.Thomas Schomberg
Location: Philadelphia
Sylvester Stallone himself commissioned the infamous Rocky statue for the filming of Rocky III. Join millions of Philadelphia tourists every year in reenacting the famous scene, where they blast "Eye of the Tiger" and run up the museum steps, then retreat to the grassy area at the bottom and take their picture with this two-ton bronze statue.
3. Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's Sculpture
Created by: Julie Rotblatt Amrany and Omri Amrany
Location: Los Angeles
Sculpted by Julie Rotblatt Amrany and Omri Amrany are the Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar statues located outside of the Staples Center in Los Angeles. These basketball superstars played together on the LA Lakers team and made history by winning 5 NBA Championships.
2. The Say Hey Kid
Created by: William Behrends
Location: San Francisco
Many speculative stories surround the question of exactly how Hall of Famer Willie Mays, Jr. became the “Say Hey Kid,” but one thing is for sure: the name stuck! “The Say Hey Kid” statue in San Francisco depicts Mays' reaction after hitting a baseball. His eyes gaze skyward, his fingers are loosened as if about to drop the bat, and his cleats dig deep into the ground. The bronze statue looks like it’s about to turn and run for first base.
1. The Spirit
Created by: Omri Amrany and Julie Rotblatt-Amrany
Location: Chicago
The Spirit was commissioned in honor of Michael Jordan's three-championship legacy, in response to his retirement announcement. Unveiled in November 1994 outside of the United Center in Chicago, the bronze statue depicts Jordan mid-slam dunk. Its black granite base includes an inscription from the movie A River Runs Through It, "At that moment I knew, surely and clearly, that I was witnessing perfection. He stood before us, suspended above the earth, free from all its laws like a work of art, and I knew, just as surely and clearly, that life is not a work of art, and that the moment could not last."