The 15 Most Stylish On-Field Athletes of All Time

Deion Sanders once said, "If you look good, you feel good. If you feel good, you play good. If you play good, they pay good." Besides being a multi-sport athlete, Primetime is also a damn good philosopher and makes a compelling case for steezing your way to early retirement.

Recently, players have become prevailing influencers in everyday style, but they've been the predominant force behind on-field looks for much longer. From how socks are worn on the baseball diamond to the signature shoes that stampede across high school basketball courts, our favorite athletes serve as muses for our weekend warrior stunting. But, of course, some players are bigger #influencers than others. From sneaker gawds to sweatband legends, these are The 15 Most Stylish On-Field Athletes of All Time.

Written by Sean Evans (@seanseaevans)

Sport: Baseball
Years Active: 1979-2003

Between Dennis Eckersley, Jose Canseco, and Mark McGwire, the 1990 Oakland Athletics were loaded with cocksure, borderline psychotic brutes. But no player personified the unapologetic vanity of that clubhouse like Rickey Henderson. Sporting knee-high stirrups and wraparound shades, this guy patrolled the vast outfield of Oakland Coliseum with the flagrant confidence of a professional wrestler. When stealing a base, Henderson slid headfirst every time in a seemingly concerted effort to wear infield dirt like an accessory, which only made his neon green batting gloves pop even more.

Sport: Football
Years Active:: 1982-1996

Jim McMahon played with a barbaric chip on his shoulder, and The Punky QB's game day style sheathed that homicidal energy. This guy rocked a mirrored visor at the quarterback position in the mid-'80s, which is the fashion-forward equivalent of Benjamin Franklin in a bucket hat and selvedge denim.

At a time when Bernie Kosar and Neil Lomax stood in the pocket like swaggerless crash test dummies, this guy sprinted around Soldier Field with a Bally Total Fitness gym's worth of sweatbands. Bottom line, McMahon pioneered a look that's since been jacked by Michael Vick, Cam Newton, and—to considerately less fanfare—Colt Brennan.

Sport: Tennis
Years Active: 1972-1982

Bjorn Borg has the look of a Scandanavian rock star with the understated charm of a Wes Anderson movie. If you want to convey the image of someone who has a playful relationship with controlled substances AND can run a five minute mile, then The Iceman is your style spirit animal.

Sport: Football
Years Active: 1974-1984

It's not easy to be stylish as a linebacker. One has to balance intimidating accents with pragmatic minimalism, while—silmulatenously—protecting against cut blocks and head-hunting fullbacks. Jack Lambert wore more protective padding than a bomb disposal expert, but he was able to maintain the crazed likeness of a man that breaks his own fingers for sport.

Sport: Baseball
Years Active:: 1973-1993

Before we begin, shout out to Wade Boggs, Robin Yount, and Don Mattingly. In the '90s, baseball players started huffing bull moose testosterone and it ushered in an era of juice heads dressed like they were about to attempt a one-rep max on a Gold's Gym squat rack.

But in the '80s, there were a handful of beer guzzling everymen and George Brett was that group's Cary Grant. This dude did more with pine tar and a mouthful of chewing tobacco than most guys do with a fitted peacoat and a custom Breitling watch. Take a cue from the legendary Royals third baseman by packing a lipper and rocking some eye black on your next Tinder date. You won't be sorry.

Sport: Basketball
Years Active:: 1971-1987

Before Julius Erving, being a stylish basketball player meant 13 ounces of pomade in your hair and color coordinating the belt in your shorts with your canvas sneakers. Dr. J was a transcendent figure athletically, but he also changed the aesthetics of the sport. With acrobatic dunks and dynamic style, Erving helped shape basketball into the shameless demonstration of machismo that it is today. If you stare at this picture long enough, an Al Green bassline will emanate from your computer screen. The steez of Dr. J is that powerful.

Sport: Soccer
Years Active: 1991-1998

Soccer vaunts the cleanest kit in sports, so Alexi Lalas has a decided advantage over other athletes on this list. That said, this guy's rawboned Viking look is totally unfuckwithable. If you're a rock star chef who wants a reality show on the Bravo network or a graduate student in sociology who's looking to lose their virginity, rip this dude's whole persona and your dream will be realized.

Sport: Golf
Years Active: 1953-2006

The suburban dad is the worst dressed subset in America, which is especially disheartening when you consider the country club's many great style icons. Instead of wearing quarter-zip pullovers and pleated shorts to the links, the Fox News demographic would be wise to take a page from Arnold Palmer. This is the look of a man that shines his own shoes but doesn't pump his own gas, and—if it came down to it—would coldcock a stranger in the mouth for using foul language around his wife. To the Connor's, Andy's and Luke's of the world, put down the Titleist visor and pick up a varsity cardigan. You're welcome.

Sport: Football
Years Active: 2001-2011

Ladainian Tomlinson has an on-field look that shouts, "I'm good as fuck at football." In uniform, he looks like a robot alien sent to earth for the sole purpose of trucking linebackers and taking swing passes to the house. If you're worried about making your high school football team, show up for two-a-days with a murdered out windshield and gigantic thigh pads. If you follow our advice, you'll get the tailback position and be declared homecoming king on-site.

Sport: Football
Years Active: 1965-1977

Joe Namath is what happens when you mix the DGAF hubris of Johnny Manziel with the palpable sexual energy of Burt Reynolds. Like the '55 Chevrolet Bel Air, he's an infallible American classic. If the NFL allowed it, Broadway Joe would have played Super Bowl III in a full length fur coat and snakeskin oxfords. He's the epitome of talent beating hustle in football, style, and life.

Sport: Basketball
Years Active:: 1996-2010

Allen Iverson entered the league at a time when Michael Jordan was on his way out, which created a celebu-star void that A.I. was bold enough to fill. Like Iverson, most of us would be the smallest guy on an NBA court and that's what made A.I.'s style especially relateable. Dude's tattoos, braids, and extra-baggy shorts ushered in the post-Jordan era. What was your legacy as a 21-year-old? Nothing, that's what.

Sport: Tennis
Years Active: 1986-2006

Andre Agassi wore a Joe Dirt-style wig and, by his own admission, the fear of it falling off cost him some matches, including the 1990 French Open. Combine that inspiringly shallow commitment to appearances with a signature line of timeless, loud ass tennis apparel and you have the makings of an icon. Fred Perry, Rene Lacoste, and Rod Laver were all incredibly crispy players, but no one delivered a screaming backhand to fashion's face like The Las Vegas Kid.

Sport: Baseball
Years Active:: 1989-2010

At a time when barrel chested, steroid-addled baseball players took batting practice with their shirts off, Ken Griffey Jr. was a stylish voice of reason. Besides a signature collection of dope ass cleats, The Kid exuded a general coolness that permeated throughout the Mariner clubhouse and helped offset the sorrow-ridden, melancholy vibes of John Olerud.

Sport: Football/Baseball
Years Active: 1989-2005 (NFL); 1989-2001 (MLB)

Even by the standards of professional athletes, Deion Sanders is a thundering egomaniac and his bold sense of self really shines through in his on-field style. Instead of tackling dudes, Primetime would just shove guys out of bounds to keep his jersey grass stain free. While other players rattled around in bulky shoulder pads, Deion had his safety equipment custom fitted by a Caraceni tailors in Milan. Okay, we're joking. But if it meant looking more badass than Michael Irvin on Monday Night Football, Neon Deion would have absolutely booked a flight to Italy.

Sport: Basketball
Years Active: 1984-1993; 1995-1998; 2001-2003

There are a lot of moving parts to Michael Jordan's brand, but chief among them is playing once-in-a-lifetime basketball during a mostly unblemished career. MJ's style was so unique and his feats were so extraordinary that if he wore a wool turtleneck under his jersey and do-rag on the court, every amateur baller in the country would've follow suit.

But instead, the stars aligned to create an unmatched basketball paragon. He had an incredible creative team at Nike, a flawless brand strategy, and style instincts that appear to have abandoned him in post-retirement. Still though, dude's follicle-less dome, various accessories, and Jordans cemented basketball's place as the sport that stylish fans continue to take cues from.