Origin of Athlete Nicknames


Nicolai âOld One Legâ Andrianov


Jerome âThe Busâ Bettis


Steve âThe Kidâ Cauthen


âJoltinâ Joe DiMaggio

Joe received this name because he hit the baseball very hard.

Maureen âGoldfingerâ Flowers


Bernie âBoom-Boomâ Geoffrion


Jim âCatfishâ Hunter


Julius âDr. Jâ Irving

When Julius Irving was in high school, a teammate began calling him âthe doctorâ as a joke. The name stuck with him throughout his professional basketball career.

Randy âBig Unitâ Johnson


Thomas âPepperâ Johnson


Michael âAirâ Jordan

This former Chicago Bulls basketball star can jump so high and far and spends so much time in the air that he earned this nickname. He has his own sneaker line named âAir Jordans.â

Florence âFlo Joâ Joyner


Sonny âThe Drummer Boyâ Liston


Karl âThe Mailmanâ Malone


Willie âThe Say Hey Kidâ Mays

Willie Mays was one of the most famous baseball players of all time. As a rookie, he would often shout âSay hey over thereâ to people whose names he did not know.

Bill âThe Owl Without a Vowelâ Mlkvy

Bill played forward for the Temple University Owls basketball team. Since his last name does not contain a vowel, he became âthe owl without a vowel.â

Helen Wills âLittle Miss Poker Faceâ Moody


Jack âThe Golden Bearâ Nicklaus


Leroy âSatchelâ Paige


Robert âChiefâ Parish

This basketball star was given the nickname by a teammate because he always had a stern, no-nonsense look on his face. He reminded the teammate of the Indian Chief from the movie, âOne Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.â Hockey player Johnny Bucyk had the same nickname because he is from Native American descent.

William âThe Refrigeratorâ Perry


George Herman âBabeâ Ruth

The New York Yankees' Babe Ruth is one of baseball's all-time legends. As a young boy, he wanted to play baseball with the older neighborhood children. When they wouldn't let him, he'd cry-and was called a baby.

Tom âTerrificâ Seaver


O. J. âThe Juiceâ Simpson

Orenthal James is this football player's given name. His teammates originally believed that his initials stood for âorange juice.â

Kordell âSlashâ Stewart


Mitch âThe Wild Thingâ Williams


Ted âThe Splendid Splinterâ Williams

Tall and thin like a splinter, with a splendid swing, Williams came to be known as âThe Splendid Splinter.â

Ted Williams at bat
Library of Congress

Willie âMookieâ Wilson

His family gave this baseball player his name because of the funny way he said âmilkâ when he was a child.

EldrickâTigerâ Woods


Mildred âBabeâ Didrickson Zaharias
