# Pro-athletes who only played for one team in their entire career? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [January 27, 2013, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-athletes-who-only-played-for-one-team-in-their-entire-career/648508 "2013-01-27T02:55:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Shearer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/57b2e6/32.png) [@Shearer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shearer)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2013, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-athletes-who-only-played-for-one-team-in-their-entire-career/648508/21 "2013-01-27T21:57:18Z")
Here’s a shipload of them. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List\_of\_one-club\_men](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_one-club_men) ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2013, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-athletes-who-only-played-for-one-team-in-their-entire-career/648508/22 "2013-01-27T23:12:48Z")
I don’t think I’m mistaken here, but didn’t Walter Payton play for the Chicago Bears only? ---
**Author:** ![cmosdes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cmosdes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmosdes)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2013, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-athletes-who-only-played-for-one-team-in-their-entire-career/648508/23 "2013-01-27T23:35:00Z")
Ron Guidry of the New York Yankees. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-athletes-who-only-played-for-one-team-in-their-entire-career/648508/24 "2013-01-28T00:29:38Z")
Al Kaline, Detroit Tigers (22 years). ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-athletes-who-only-played-for-one-team-in-their-entire-career/648508/25 "2013-01-28T03:15:32Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > There have been a LOT of one-team players in the free agent era - . . . Ozzie Smith. . . Ozzie Smith played his first four seasons for the Padres before going to the Cardinals. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-athletes-who-only-played-for-one-team-in-their-entire-career/648508/26 "2013-01-28T04:47:52Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > Ozzie Smith played his first four seasons for the Padres before going to the Cardinals. Duh. What was I thinking? ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-athletes-who-only-played-for-one-team-in-their-entire-career/648508/27 "2013-01-28T04:51:05Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > I don’t think I’m mistaken here, but didn’t Walter Payton play for the Chicago Bears only? Payton did, along with teammates Dan Hampton and Mike Singletary. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-athletes-who-only-played-for-one-team-in-their-entire-career/648508/28 "2013-01-28T14:56:12Z")
Magic Johnson - LA Lakers ---
**Author:** ![cncdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/958977/32.png) [@cncdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cncdad)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-athletes-who-only-played-for-one-team-in-their-entire-career/648508/29 "2013-01-28T17:57:14Z")
HOFers Barrry Larkin and Johnny Bench for the Reds. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-athletes-who-only-played-for-one-team-in-their-entire-career/648508/30 "2013-01-28T18:36:35Z")
Nobody’s mentioned Walter Johnson (Washington Senators) yet, so I will. Ken Dryden for the Montreal Canadiens. Mike Bossy for the Islanders. ---
**Author:** ![Asympotically\_fat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@Asympotically\_fat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asympotically_fat)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-athletes-who-only-played-for-one-team-in-their-entire-career/648508/31 "2013-01-28T18:54:19Z")
Another interesting thing about Maldini as well as playing for AC Milan for 25 years (and winning the European Cup 5 times with them, more than any other player in history) or 31 years if you count the youth level, his father also played for AC Milan from 1954-1966 (winning the European Cup with them) and managed them in 1973-1974 and again in 2001. Currently both of Paolo Maldini’s sons play for AC Milan’s youth teams. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-athletes-who-only-played-for-one-team-in-their-entire-career/648508/32 "2013-01-28T20:47:37Z")
> [@bup](#): > > Ken Dryden for the Montreal Canadiens. > > Mike Bossy for the Islanders. I mentioned both in my first post. 😉 Willie O’Ree for the Boston Bruins Milt Schmidt for the Bruins Henri Richard for the Canadiens Jack Lambert of the Pittsburgh Steelers (Sorry if most of my knowledge tends toward football and hockey) ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-athletes-who-only-played-for-one-team-in-their-entire-career/648508/33 "2013-01-28T20:55:01Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > Magic Johnson - LA Lakers A few more Lakers Hall of Famers: Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, James Worthy ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-athletes-who-only-played-for-one-team-in-their-entire-career/648508/34 "2013-01-28T23:13:23Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Duh. What was I thinking? You were thinking of Bob Gibson, who played 16 seasons, all with the Cardinals. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-athletes-who-only-played-for-one-team-in-their-entire-career/648508/35 "2013-01-29T00:46:46Z")
Martin Brodeur has played his entire career with the New Jersey Devils. I believe this is his 22nd season. ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-athletes-who-only-played-for-one-team-in-their-entire-career/648508/36 "2013-01-29T03:44:01Z")
Roger Wehrli 14 seasons, Larry Wilson 13 seasons labored in obscurity for the St Louis Football Cardinals. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-athletes-who-only-played-for-one-team-in-their-entire-career/648508/37 "2013-01-29T04:35:43Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Martin Brodeur has played his entire career with the New Jersey Devils. I believe this is his 22nd season. If we’re now talking current players, let us not forgot Daniel Alfredsson is now in his 17th season with Ottawa (13 as captain, a league high.) Jarome Iginla is enjoying his 16th season in Calgary. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-athletes-who-only-played-for-one-team-in-their-entire-career/648508/38 "2013-01-29T06:21:56Z")
Doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll finish with that team yet – Franco Harris played his last season in Seattle and Mike Modano signed with the Red Wings before he retired. (Although Dallas gave him a one-day contract so he could officially retire a Star) So technically, current players probably don’t count. ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-athletes-who-only-played-for-one-team-in-their-entire-career/648508/39 "2013-01-29T07:26:16Z")
The Captain…# 19 Steve Yzerman Longest Captain of ANY North American sports team. ---
**Author:** ![Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dread_pirate_jimbo/32/3897_2.png) [@Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dread_Pirate_Jimbo)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-athletes-who-only-played-for-one-team-in-their-entire-career/648508/40 "2013-01-29T17:36:53Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > I don’t think I’m mistaken here, but didn’t Walter Payton play for the Chicago Bears only? I was coming in to mention Sweetness but you beat me to it. In addition to being the best point guard of all time, my Main Man, John Stockton spent his career with the Utah Jazz. My other Main Man from the same period was David Robinson. The Admiral spent his entire career with the San Antonio Spurs. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-athletes-who-only-played-for-one-team-in-their-entire-career/648508.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-athletes-who-only-played-for-one-team-in-their-entire-career/648508.md?page=3)