The 100 Greatest: How They Voted

TOP 50 VALLEY PLAYERS

Editor's Note: 12 voters ranked their top 50 players of all time, with the top player receiving 50 points. First-place votes are in parenthesis.

1, Koy Detmer                                              586 (7)

2, Tom Landry                                             582 (4)

3, Bradley Stephens                                          560

4, Bobby Lackey                                          549 (1)

5, Johnnie Jackson                                           514

6, Norm Evans                                                  490

7, Lupe Rodriguez                                            455

8, Nati Valdez                                                   431

9, Jim Helms                                                      412

10, Jim Hudson                                                 390

11, Maurice Hunter                                           380

12, George Strohmeyer                                     378

13, Roberto Garza                                            377

14, Mishak Rivas                                               375

15, Tony Ellis                                                     350

16, Bobby Ply                                                    349

17, Fred Edwards                                             347

18, Willie Crafts                                                 310

19, Jamaar Taylor                                             300

20, Frank Hernandez                                        285

21, Carlos Esquivel                                            284

22, Jim Norris                                                    281

23, Abel Gonzalez                                             263

24, John Mims                                                   253

25, Leo Araguz                                                 247

26, Juan Castillo                                               245

27, Tommy Cox                                                 243

28, Jimmy Lawrence                                          225

29, Luz Pedraza                                               203

30, Billy Garza                                                   202

31, Poppy Rodriguez                                        201

32, Jeremy Springer                                          196

33, Shon Flores                                                163

34, Phil Hetrick                                                  161

35, Joe Marichalar                                             160

36, Alfredo Garza                                              153

37, Charles LeGrange                                      152

38, Alfredo Lugo                                               149

38, Steve Alaniz                                                149

40, Matt Gorges                                                146

41, Justin Springer                                            145

41, Eliseo Pompa                                              145

43, Donald Guillot                                             133

44, Travis Sanders                                            132

45, Gerald Lambert                                           124

45, Gonzalo Garcia                                           124

45, John Lerma                                                124

48, Manny Gomez                                             110

49, Donny Martin                                              109

50, Robert Cortez                                               99

51, Jackie Field                                                   94

52, Joe Mancha                                                  89

53, Jerry Kachtik                                                  87

53, Mike Spratt                                                    87

55, Handel Woods                                              79

56, Ruben Fernandez                                        72

57, Oscar Hinojosa                                              71

57, Randy Reza                                                 71

59, Bobby Losoya                                               68

60, Joey Nuñez                                                  67

61, Corky Crane                                                 66

62, Danny Cross                                                 60

63, Don Kachtik                                                  52

64, Juan Prishker                                                48

65, Hector Gandaria                                           45

66, Jerry Fitzpatrick                                              40

66, Ryan Richardson                                          40

68, Chano Alvardo                                              31

68, Fred Loredo                                                 31

68, Pete Castillo                                                  31

71, Mark Morgan                                                 27

72, Ted Moore                                                    26

73, Celestino Avila                                               25

73, Gary Rankin                                                  25

75, Jose Benavides                                             24

76, Nacho Sauceda                                            22

76, Sone Cavazos                                              22

78, Claude McMillon                                            20

78, Terry Roberts                                                20

80, Don Bunn                                                     19

81, Joe Gonzalez                                                17

82, Kenneth Kachtik                                            16

83, Jerry Bridgewater                                          14

84, Gene Taubert                                               11

85, Cesar Moreno                                                 8

86, Earvin Taylor                                                   7

87, Jerry Bridgewater                                            7

88, Leonel Garza                                                  6

89, Robert Capello                                               4

90, Bucky Rodriguez                                             3

91, Pete Vasquez                                                 3

 

HOW THEY VOTED

Editor's Note: One voter wished to remain anonymous.

 

Wade Baker, The Monitor

1, Koy Detmer

2, Tom Landry

3, Bobby Lackey

4, Bradley Stephens

5, Norm Evans

6, Nati Valdez

7, Johnnie Jackson

8, George Strohmeyer Jr.

9, Lupe Rodriguez

10, Bobby Ply

11, Tony Ellis

12, Fred Edwards

13, Jim Norris

14, Willie Crafts

15, Roberto Garza

16, Maurice Hunter

17, Carlos Esquivel

18, Mishak Rivas

19, Jim Helms

20, Jamaar Taylor

21, Abel Gonzalez

22, Jim Hudson

23, Jimmy Lawrence

24, Steve Alaniz

25, Mike Spratt

26, Poppy Rodriguez,

27, Gerald Lambert

28, Luz Pedraza

29, Tommy Cox

30, John Mims

31, Travis Sanders

32, Danny Cross

33, John Lerma,

34, Corky Crane

35, Billy Garza

36, Don Kachtik

37, Gonzalo Garcia

38, Jerry Kachtik

39, Ryan Richardson

40, Frank Hernandez

41, Robert Cortez

42, Alfredo Garza

43, Jackie Field

44, Gary Rankin

45, Alredo Lugo

46, Hector Gandaria

47, Phil Hetrick

48, Shon Flores

49, Randy Reza

50, Leo Araguz

 

Dave Brown, longtime NewsChannel 5 sports director

1, Koy Detmer

2, Tom Landry

3, Johnnie Jackson

4, Poppy Rodriguez

5, Bradley Stephens

6, Luz Pedraza

7, Maurice Hunter

8, Lupe Rodriguez

9, Tommy Cox

10, Nati Valdez

11, Joe Marichalar

12, Handel Woods

13, Carlos Esquivel

14, Donny Martin

15, Bobby Lackey

16, George Strohmeyer

17, Frank Hernandez

18, Manny Gomez

19, Mishak Rivas

20, Norm Evans

21, Willie Crafts

22, Jim Helms

23, Billy Garza

24, Chano Alvarodo

25, John Lerma

26, Tony Ellis

27, Juan Castillo

28, Alfredo Lugo

29, Sone Cavazos

30, Eliseo Pompa

31, Travis Sanders

32, Jeremy Springer

33, Ryan Richardson

34, Fred Edwards

35, Joey Nuñez

36, Charles LeGrange

37, Donald Guillot

38, Don Bunn

39, Alfredo Garza

40, Randy Reza

41, Jim Hudson

42, Corky Crane

43, Leo Araguz

44, Earvin Taylor

45, Leonel Garza

46, Justin Springer

47, Ruben Fernandez

48, Ted Moore

49, Jose Benavides

50, Nacho Sauceda

 

Oscar Gonzalez, The Monitor

1, Koy Detmer

2, Bobby Lackey

3, Bradley Stephens

4, Tom Landry

5, Lupe Rodriguez

7, Nati Valdez

8, Johnnie Jackson

9, Tony Ellis

10, Bobby Ply

11, Maurice Hunter

12, Mishak Rivas

13, Carlos Esquivel

14, Jamaar Taylor

15, Jim Helms

16, Jim Hudson

17, Alfredo Lugo

18, Steve Alaniz

19, Fred Edwards

20, Frank Hernandez

21, Jim Norris

22, Luz Pedraza

23, Manny Gomez

24, Oscar Hinojosa

25, Mike Spratt

26, Randy Reza

27, Robert Cortez

28, Ted Moore

29, Ruben Fernandez

30, Tommy Cox

31, Willie Crafts

32, Travis Sanders

33, Alfredo Garza

34, Don Kachtik

35, George Strohmeyer

36, Jackie Field

37, Jeremy Springer

38, Jerry Kachtik

39, John Mims

40, Roberto Garza

41, Ryan Richardson

42, Charles LaGrange

43, Jimmy Lawrence

44, Donald Guillot

45, Hector Gandaria

46, Handel Woods

47, Jeremy Springer

48, Joe Nunez

49, Leo Araguz

50, Juan Castillo

 

Roy Hess, longtime Valley sportswriter

1, Bobby Lackey

2, Koy Detmer

3, Bradley Stephens

4, Lupe Rodriguez

5, Mishak Rivas

6, Tom Landry

7, Johnnie Jackson

8, Jim Hudson

9, Norm Evans

10, Maurice Hunter

11, Bobby Ply

12, Fred Edwards

13, Roberto Garza

14, Jim Norris

15, Shon Flores

16, Willie Crafts

17, Nati Valdez

18, Frank Hernandez

19, Abel Gonzalez

20, Billy Garza

21, Joe Marichalar

22, Leo Araguz

23, Jamaar Taylor

24, Tony Ellis

25, Randy Reza

26, George Strohmeyer

27, Juan Castillo

28, Robert Cortez

29, Juan Prishker

30, Jimmy Lawrence

31, Jackie Field

32, Eliseo Pompa

33, Jeremy Springer

34, John Mims

35, Matt Gorges

36, Steve Alaniz

37, Ruben Fernandez

38, Manny Gomez

39, Phil Hetrick

40, Joey Nunez

41, Justin Springer

42, Charles LaGrange

43, Don Kachtik

44, Jerry Kachtik

45, Donald Guillot

46, Bobby Losoya

47, Chano Alvarado

48, Alfredo Garza

49, Danny Cross

50, Jim Helms

 

Manuel Hinojosa, Valley sports historian

1, Tom Landry

2, Koy Detmer

3, Lupe Rodriguez

4, Jim Helms

5, Bobby Lackey

6, Norm Evans

7, Johnnie Jackson

8, Jim Hudson

9, Jeremy Springer

10, Frank Hernandez

11, Poppy Rodriguez

12, Leo Araguz

13,Robert Garcia

14, Bobby Ply

15, Eliseo Pompa

16, Nati Valdez

17, Matt Gorges

18, Don Guillot

19, John Mims

20, John Lerma

21, Phil Hetrick

22, Alfredo Lugo

23, Juan Castillo

24, Billy Garza

25, Luz Pedraza

26, Pete Castillo

27, Oscar Hinojosa

28, Jimmy Lawrence

29, Mike Spratt

30, Fred Loredo

31, Shon Flores

32, Jose Benavides

33, Jim Norris

34, Celestino Avila

35, Mishak Rivas

36, Gonzalo Garcia

37, Fred Edwards

38, Carlos Esquivel

39, Jamar Taylor

40, Charles La Grange

41, Hector Garderia

42, Ruben Fernandez

43, Jerry Bridgewater

44, Randy Reza

45, Tommy Cox

46, Roberto Capello

47, Alfredo Garza

48, Abel Gonzales

49, Tony Ellis

50, Travis Sanders

 

Todd Mavreles, The Monitor

1, Koy Detmer

2, Tom Landry

3, Bobby Lackey

4, Bradley Stephens

5, Jim Helms

6, Jim Hudson

7, Johnnie Jackson

8, Maurice Hunter

9, Norm Evans

10, Tony Ellis

11, Robert Garza

12, Billy Garza

13, Mishak Rivas

14, Poppy Rodriguez

15, Willie Crafts

16, Phil Hetrick

17, Nati Valdez

18, Lupe Rodriguez

19, Jeremy Springer

20, Justin Springer

21, Carlos Esquivel

22, Jimmy Lawrence

23, Leo Araguz

24, Joe Marichalar

25, Joe Mancha

26, Juan Castillo

27, John Mims

28, Gonzalo Garcia

29, Gerald Lambert

30, Jim Norris

31, Jerry Fitzpatrick

32, Frank Hernandez

33, George Strohmeyer

34, Handel Woods

35, Fred Edwards

36, Bobby Ply

37, Charles Lagrange

38, Claude McMillon

39, Abel Gonzalez

40, Fred Loredo

41, Donald Guillot

42, Don Kachtik

43, Corky Crane

44, Manny Gomez

45, Alfredo Lugo

46, Bobby Losoya

47, Eliseo Pompa

48, Bucky Rodriguez

49, Jamaar Taylor

50, Joey Nuñez

 

Jason McDaniel, former Valley sportswriter

1, Koy Detmer

2, Tom Landry

3, Lupe Rodriguez

4, Maurice Hunter

5, Bradley Stephens

6, Mishak Rivas

7, Fred Edwards

8, Norm Evans

9, Nati Valdez

10, Roberto Garza

11, Bobby Lackey

12, Abel Gonzalez

13, Bobby Ply

14, Johnnie Jackson

15, Frank Hernandez

16, Leo Araguz

17, Luz Pedraza

18, Willie Crafts

19, Tommy Cox

20, Alfredo Garza

21, Jim Norris

22, Jim Hudson

23, Jim Helms

24, Donny Martin

25, George Strohmeyer

26, Gonzalo Garcia

27, Jackie Field

28, Jamaar Taylor

29, Jeremy Springer

30, Jerry Fitzpatrick

31, Jimmy Lawrence

32, John Mims

33, Joe Marichalar

34, Joey Nunez

35, Kenneth Kachtik

36, Matt Gorges

37, Mike Spratt

38, Oscar Hinojosa

39, Phil Hetrick

40, Poppy Rodriguez

41, Robert Cortez

42, Tony Ellis

43, Steve Alaniz

44, Ruben Fernandez

45, Billy Garza

46, Charles LaGrange

47, Danny Cross

48, Don Kachtik

49, Juan Castillo

50, Travis Sanders

 

Michael Pullen, longtime Valley sportswriter

1, Tom Landry

2, Koy Detmer

3, Bobby Lackey

4, Nati Valdez

5, Jim Helms

6, Johnnie Jackson

7, Bradley Stephens

8, Lupe Rodriguez

9, Juan Castillo

10, Maurice Hunter

11, Poppy Rodriguez

12, Tony Ellis

13, George Strohmeyer

14, Abel Gonzalez

15, Joe Mancha

16, John Lerma

17, Justin Springer

18, Leo Araguz

19, Lus Pedraza

20, Norm Evans

21, Shon Flores

22, Tommy Cox

23, Jamaar Taylor

24, Frank Hernandez

25, Steve Alaniz

26, Alfredo Garza

27, Donald Guillot

28, Jim Norris

29, Carlos Esquivel

30, Jimmy Lawrence

31, Jeremy Springer

32, John Mims

33, Matt Gorges

34, Mishak Rivas

35, Nacho Sauceda

36, Roberto Garza

37, Fred Edwards

38, Willie Crafts

39, Manny Gomez

40, Joe Marichalar

41, Jerry Fitzpatrick

42, Gerald Lambert

43, Billy Garza

44, Bobby Losoya

45, Charles LeGrange

46, Donny Martin

47, Eliseo Pompa

48, Gonzalo Garcia

49, Hector Gandaria

50, Jim Hudson

 

Peter Rasmussen, The Monitor

1, Tom Landry

2, George Strohmeyer

3, Fred Edwards

4, Bobby Lackey

5, Willie Crafts

6, Bradley Stephens

7, Johnnie Jackson

8, Koy Detmer

9, Tony Ellis

10, Jim Hudson

11, Norm Evans

12, Jim Helms

13, Jimmy Lawrence

14, Roberto Garza

15, Lupe Rodriguez

16, Tommy Cox

17, Jamaar Taylor

18, Abel Gonzalez

19, Eliseo Pompa

20, John Mims

21, Nati Valdez

22, Charles Lagrange

23, Alfredo Garza

24, Alredo Lugo

25, Matt Gorges

26, Phil Hetrick

27, Travis Sanders

28, Juan Castillo

29, Shon Flores

30, Bobby Ply

31, Juan Prishker,

32, Jim Norris

33, Frank Hernandez

34, Maurice Hunter

35, Carlos Esquivel

36, Steven Alaniz

37, Bobby Losoya

38, Corky Crane

39, Manny Gomez

40, Leo Araguz

41, Gerald Lambert

42, John Lerma

43, Mishak Rivas

44, Donny Martin

45, Joe Marichalar

46, Nacho Sauceda

47, Justin Springs

48, Billy Garza

49, Jeremy Springer

50, Randy Reza

 

Pikey Rodriguez, longtime Valley sportswriter

1, Tom Landry

2, Bradley Stephens

3, Norm Evans

4, Bobby Lackey

5, Koy Detmer

6, Johnnie Jackson

7, George Strohmeyer

8, Tony Ellis

9, Maurice Hunter

10, Nati Valdez

11, Bobby Ply

12, Carlos Esquivel

13, Jim Hudson

14, Roberto Garza

15, Jamaar Taylor

16, Mishak Rivas

17, Jim Helms

18, Gerald Lambert

19, Juan Castillo

20, John Mims

21, Billy Garza

22, Robet Cortez

23, Leo Araguz

24, Mark Morgan

25, Abel Gonzalez

26, Alfredo Lugo

27, Alfredo Garza

28, Eliseo Pompa

29, Corky Crane

30, Fred Edwards

31, Danny Cross

32, Frank Hernandez

33, Gary Rankin

34, Jimmy Lawrence

35, Joe Mancha

36, Lupe Rodriguez

37, Shon Flores

38, Ruben Fernandez

39, Willie Crafts

40, Tommy Cox

41, Travis Sanders

42, Celestino Avila

43, Cesar Moreno

44, Claude McMillan

45, Don Bunn

46, Donald Guillot

47, Joe Marichalar

48, Pete Vasquez

49, Hector Gandaria

50, Charles LeGrange

 

Greg Selber, longtime Valley sportswriter/UTPA professor

1, Koy Detmer

2, Bradley Stephens

3, Tom Landry

4, Norm Evans

5, Mishak Rivas

6, Johnnie Jackson

7, Jim Hudson

8, Bobby Ply

9, Roberto Garza

10, Bobby Lackey

11, Lupe Rodriguez

12, Shon Flores

13, Fred Edwards

14, George Strohmeyer

15, Matt Gorges

16, Donald Guillot

17, Phil Hetrick

18, Jim Helms

19, Donnny Martin

20, Carlos Esquivel

21, Nati Valdez

22, Maurice Hunter

23, Tony Ellias

24, John Mims

25, Jamaar Taylor

26, Steve Alaniz

27, Jim Norris

28, Joe Marichalar

29, Travis Sanders

30, Jimmy Lawrence

31, Terry Roberts

32, Charles LeGrange

33, Justin Springer

34, Frank Hernandez

35, Abel Gonzalez

36, Billy Garza

37, Jerry Bridgewater

38, Juan Castillo

39, Jerry Kachik

40, Gene Taubert

41, Corky Crane

42, Willie Crafts

43, Jerry Fitzpatrick

44, Eliso Pompa

45, Tommy Cox

46, Leo Araguz

47, Manny Gomez

48, Robert Cortez

49, Luz Pedraza

50, Ruben Fernandez