The 10 Best Nicknames in Sports, Ranked

• Real Name: Earvin Johnson
• Years Active: 1979- 1991

When talking about the best nicknames in sports, it's hard to start anywhere except with Los Angeles Lakers legend, Magic Johnson. This nickname is so perfect that it has outlived 'Earvin' in the minds of all fans, media, and anyone in between.

Known for his other-worldly skills with the ball, it looked like watching a magician perform spells when Magic had the ball in his hands. He was named an all-star 12 times and secured five championship rings along the way before his career was cut short due to contracting HIV.

• Real Name: George Herman Ruth
• Years Active: 1914- 1935

There are few sports icons who are as important to the history of American pop culture as Babe Ruth. Playing over 20 seasons in the MLB, Ruth helped grow the sport of baseball to new heights while pitching and putting up crazy home run numbers. Babe was so iconic, he earned more than one nickname including 'The Great Bambino' and 'The Sultan of Swat'.

• Real Name: Julius Erving
• Years Active: 1971- 1987

Julius Erving entered the NBA during a tumultuous period. The league was seeing declining viewership, attendance, and a general lack of interest amongst fans. They were also battling a growing ABA league until the two leagues merged.

In the merger, the NBA acquired the ABA's best player in Julius Erving, who would truly carve out his legacy with the Philadelphia 76ers. Dr. J will always be remembered as one of the NBA's greatest dunkers.

• Real Name: Joe Namath
• Years Active: 1965- 1977

If you want to solidify yourself as a sports icon, all you have to do is bring a Super Bowl to the New York Jets. Joe Namath did exactly that in his fifth season in the NFL, he even guaranteed it!

After winning the Superbowl, Namath almost retired because he had also owned a nighclub, which became an issue with the league. However, he sold the nightclub and continued playing, but not before earning the nickname 'Broadway' for the whole fiasco.

• Years Active: 1984-2003
• Real Name: Michael Jordan

No basketball player has transcended the game like the great Michael Jordan has. Winning a national title at UNC, six championships with the Bulls, and two gold medals with Team USA, Jordan has won at virtually every level of basketball.

He was known for his high-flying acrobatic dunking style, and paired with his iconic shoe line, Jordan earned the nickname 'Air'. We haven't looked back since.

• Real Name: William Perry
• Years Active: 1985- 1994

Love them or hate them, the 1985 Chicago Bears will always remain one of the NFL's greatest teams and defenses ever put on a football field. An integral part of that lineup was the 6'2", 355 pound Defensive Tackle, William Perry.

"The Refrigerator" was a monster in the trenches and was such a force that coach Dikta regularly let him play offense, even scoring a few rushing touchdowns. One of them came during the Superbowl XX, making for one of the most iconic touchdowns in NFL history.

• Real Name: Pete Maravich
• Years Active: 1970- 1980

No collegiate basketball player has scored more points in their career than the great Pistol Pete, and he remarkably did it in only three years. Maravich was years ahead of his time, inventing numerous dribbling techniques and pushing what being a shooting guard in the NBA meant. Pistol Pete was lethal at the mid-range and regularly knocked down big shots, tallying some insane scoring totals in the process.

• Years Active: 1972- 1986
• Real Name: George Gervin

Similar to Julius Erving, the Iceman entered the NBA during a rough stretch for the NBA that saw declining fan interest in the sport. Gervin and Erving are two huge reasons why the NBA didn't go bankrupt during this time.

Gervin played the majority of his career with the San Antonio Spurs and regularly was one of the leagues top scorers. He earned the 'Iceman' moniker for his calm and cool demeanor on the court.

• Real Name: Walker Smith Jr.
• Years Active: 1940- 1965

When talking about early American sports icons, boxing is one of the first places to look. One of its greatest champions is 'Sugar' Ray Robinson, and how he earned the nickname is wild. The young boxer didn't have a Amateur Athletic Union Card when he moved to Harlem so he borrowed another boxers who had the name Ray Robinson. Once he earned the 'Sugar' moniker, he never looked back.

• Real Name: Joe Jackson
• Years Active: 1908- 1920

One of the first American sports icons, 'Shoeless' Joe Jackson was at one point the biggest baseball player in the world. He led the league in hits, on base, and slugging percentage for numerous years throughout his career. He earned the nickname 'Shoeless' because he played a minor league game in just his stockings after the cleats from a previous game had given him blisters.