The Best No. 53 Jerseys To Rep At THON No. 53

Happy THON Weekend, folks!
THON is notorious for random numbers. This year, 708 dancers took the floor in the 46-hour dance marathon with a goal of raising over last year’s record total of $16,955,683.63. In the spirit of the 53rd edition of the event, here are the best athletes to ever wear jersey No. 53. If you’re going to THON at any point during the weekend, consider pulling up in these jerseys to celebrate another great event!
Don Drysdale
Donald Scoot Drysdale, or “Big D,” was a pitcher for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers who spent his entire 14-year career with the ballclub. Drysdale won the Cy Young Award in 1962 and the World Series in 1959, 1963, and 1965. Big D was a nine-time All-Star and led the league in strikeouts three times. As one of, if not the best athlete to wear No. 53, his jersey is retired by the Dodgers.
Harry Carson
Harry Donald Carson was a linebacker for the New York Giants from 1976 to 1988. Carson made nine Pro Bowl selections, four second-team All-Pro selections, and won Super Bowl XXI. After a storied career, Carson was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, Pro Football Hall of Fame, and New Jersey Hall of Fame.
Mick Tingelhoff
Hall of Fame center Henry Michael Tingelhoff was a Minnesota Viking for the entirety of his 16-year career. Tingelhoff started all 240 games he played, setting the all-time NFL record for most consecutive starts for an offensive lineman. The Viking is a six-time Pro Bowler, a five-time first-team All-Pro, and won the NFL Championship in 1969. Tingelhoff was inducted into the Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor and had his No. 53 jersey retired in 2001.
Artis Gilmore
Artis Gilmore Sr. played in both the American Basketball Association (ABA) and the National Basketball Association (NBA). After becoming the top player in rebounds per game in Division I history at Jacksonville University, Gilmore became an ABA Champion in 1975, an ABA Most Valuable Player, a five-time ABA First Team selection, a four-time ABA All-Defensive First Team selection, a four-time ABA rebounding champion, an ABA Rookie of the Year, and an ABA All-Time Team selection. Additionally, Gilmore has six All-Star selections and is a part of the Chicago Bulls Ring of Honor. Gilmore’s No. 53 jersey is retired at Jacksonville University.
Maurkice Pouncey
Maurkice Pouncey spent 11 years playing center for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was a first-round draft pick out of Florida in 2010. With the Gators, Pouncey won a BCS national title, won the Dave Rimington Trophy as the nation’s best center, and was a consensus All-American. With Pittsburgh, Pouncey was a two-time first-team All-Pro selection, a three-time second-team All-Pro selection, a nine-time Pro Bowl choice, and reached the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team.
Nick Dawkins
We had to shout out the Penn State football captain and the future governor of Pennsylvania. Dawkins has one year left of eligibility at Penn State, and he’s already made 42 appearances, including 16 starts. Most recently, he claimed the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy, which recognizes community service. Dawkins is also the son of former NBA star Daryll Dawkins, who was known in his prime as “Chocolate Thunder.”
Your ad blocker is on.
Please choose an option below.
Purchase a Subscription!