If, by “winner’s trophy,” you mean an Olympic gold medal: Mary Decker. While she did win at least one world championship gold (1983, IIRC), when it came to the Olympics, she was “too young in 1972, too injured in 1976, too American in 1980, too close to Zola Budd in 1984, and too old after that.”
Well, you know, I’d pick Alexander Ovechkin, but there’s still hope. Maybe.
I know I’m picking two, but these are two of my absolute favorite athletes over the years.
Larry Fitzgerald. What a class act he has been over the years, the exact opposite of the diva wide receiver.
Tony Gwynn. A great hitter that was stuck on mediocre Padres teams for years.
Ah, yes, how could I forget that Bernie led the Cowboys to the NFC championship over the 'Niners and took a knee to win a Super Bowl after the ultimate football genius, Bill Belichick, cut him from the Browns?
Tony Romo, Jim Kelly or Ai Fukuhara.
I would give a US Open to Phil Mickelson and Sam Snead.
Phil has finished 2nd 6 times in the US Open. Sometimes he has given it away, and sometimes it was taken away.
Sam Snead has 82 wins on the PGATour, but no US Open.
No no no. Team sports championships go to teams, not individuals, by definition. Awarding team sports championships to individuals misses the point. Rant over. Resume your previously scheduled insane thread.
Another vote for Ted Williams. An example of an athlete who had an amazing career without ever winning a championship.
How about taking all the 2014 World Series rings, melting them down, and making one giant one for Madison Bumgarner?
Willie McCovey, Juan Marichal. Oh so close in 1962.
Ouch, thanks a lot, Barkis. 
And do tell, what happened the following year?
You beat me to it. That’s almost exactly what I came in here to say. Sandberg was my first celebrity crush and Santo was my Dad’s favorite ballplayer.
Good call. I support this.
Craig Biggio (though I’m tempted to cheat and add Bagwell).
Ty Cobb
The lawyer?
Karl Malone and John Stockton, Utah Jazz.
ETA: madsircool already got them.
Can’t hit the curveball.
I don’t get it, can you explain?
Dare I say it?
OJ Simpson. Man, oh man could The Juice run! He was a joy to watch. But he played on terrible teams. The Bills never won their division, and they went to the playoffs just once, in the 1974 season, losing to the eventual Super Bowl Champios, the Pittsburgh Steelers. It was the only playoff game of his career.
Trump’s new White House special counsel is named Ty Cobb.