Major League Stars by City - NFL, NBA, MLB & NHL Athletes Born Where You Live

Major League Stars by City - NFL, NBA, MLB & NHL Athletes Born Where You Live

The US is blessed with an incredibly rich history in sports. We have been graced with some fantastic teams, some dramatic games, and some iconic players. It takes so much hard work to make it into one of the major leagues, so much that it fills your heart with pride if a player makes it out of your hometown. 

We all have different ways of showing that pride, whether you buy their jersey, bet on their success on US betting sites, or visit the stadium to cheer them on. 

With so many players in the major leagues’ history, we wanted to know which city has produced the most athletes. We’ve looked at US-born athletes in football, basketball, baseball, and hockey to find out which cities are supplying the most talent. 

Chicago has produced over 1,000 major league athletes, more than any other city

Chicago

We’ve looked at every US-born player to play in the four major leagues, and looked at the city they were born in to reveal which city has produced the most athletes. 

Rank City State NFL Athletes NBA Athletes MLB Athletes NHL Athletes Total Number of Athletes born in City
1 Chicago Illinois 494 155 387 25 1,061
2 Los Angeles California 460 113 240 5 818
3 Philadelphia Pennsylvania 216 122 372 7 717
5 New York New York 169 104 262 11 546
6 Houston Texas 340 43 143 2 528
7 Detroit Michigan 275 71 126 41 513
8 Brooklyn New York 102 107 248 1 458
9 Dallas Texas 258 48 95 * 401
10 Cincinnati Ohio 175 20 204 1 400
11 Miami Florida 314 15 69 * 398
12 Cleveland Ohio 220 27 137 11 395
13 Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 212 23 139 14 388
14 New Orleans Louisiana 235 30 99 * 364
15 Baltimore Maryland 123 44 178 * 345
16 Atlanta Georgia 175 49 107 2 333
17 San Francisco California 125 25 180 1 331
18 San Diego California 151 19 134 2 306
19 Birmingham Alabama 147 27 87 * 261
20 Boston Massachusetts 85 15 100 35 235
21 Columbus Ohio 137 23 55 4 219
21 Louisville Kentucky 95 37 87 * 219
23 Oakland California 93 25 92 2 212
24 Minneapolis Minnesota 103 23 41 38 205
26 Jacksonville Florida 132 11 56 1 200
28 Indianapolis Indiana 95 34 56 3 188
30 Milwaukee Wisconsin 89 33 58 4 184
31 Long Beach California 78 17 80 6 181
32 Sacramento California 81 10 88 * 179
33 San Antonio Texas 106 11 49 * 166
34 Buffalo New York 60 17 65 22 164
35 Seattle Washington 72 30 59 1 162
36 Portland Oregon 73 22 63 3 161
37 Baton Rouge Louisiana 107 25 28 * 160
38 Denver Colorado 88 8 42 13 151
39 Mobile Alabama 88 10 52 * 150
40 Fort Worth Texas 101 8 35 * 144
41 Kansas City Missouri 71 12 59 1 143
42 Shreveport Louisiana 90 10 39 * 139
43 Oklahoma City Oklahoma 76 12 47 3 138
44 Dayton Ohio 78 22 37 * 137
46 Richmond Virginia 74 13 44 1 132
47 Newark New Jersey 68 23 40 * 131
49 Phoenix Arizona 76 10 37 4 127
51 Omaha Nebraska 65 8 39 4 116
52 Fort Lauderdale Florida 87 2 25 1 115
53 Charlotte North Carolina 57 19 36 1 113
54 Orlando Florida 61 11 32 3 107
55 Austin Texas 53 1 50 * 104
55 Fresno California 57 10 37 * 104
55 Montgomery Alabama 61 8 35 * 104

*means no players born here

Chicago - 1,061 major league athletes produced

Taking the top spot is Chicago in Illinois producing over 1,000 major league athletes. Chicago produced the most NFL, NBA, and MLB athletes, and the fifth-highest number of NHL athletes. Chicago is home to five teams in the major leagues and is one of ten cities to have at least one sports team in each of the four leagues. 


Los Angeles - 818 major league athletes produced

Los Angeles is the city that has produced the second highest number of major league athletes, with 818. Over half of this total made it to the NFL, with over 100 making it to the NBA, and over 200 making it to the MLB. Los Angeles has the second-highest number of sports teams with eight, just behind New York with nine. 


Philadelphia - 717 major league athletes produced

In third place is Philadelphia, where 717 major league athletes have been born. The Pennsylvania city proved to be a hotspot for MLB athletes, accounting for over half of Philadelphia’s total. Philly isn’t short of sports teams either, with one team in each major league in the US.

Almost 500 NFL athletes were born in Chicago, the most of any US city

NFL athletes Chicago

Rank City State Number of athletes born in city
1 Chicago Illinois 494
2 Los Angeles California 460
3 Houston Texas 340
4 Miami Florida 314
5 Detroit Michigan 275
6 Dallas Texas 258
7 New Orleans Louisiana 235
8 Cleveland Ohio 220
9 Philadelphia Pennsylvania 216
10 Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 212
11 Washington Columbia 203
12 St. Louis Missouri 187
13 Atlanta Georgia 175
13 Cincinnati Ohio 175
15 New York New York 169
16 San Diego California 151
17 Birmingham Alabama 147
18 Columbus Ohio 137
19 Jacksonville Florida 132
20 San Francisco California 125
21 Baltimore Maryland 123
22 Baton Rouge Louisiana 107
23 San Antonio Texas 106
24 Minneapolis Minnesota 103
25 Brooklyn New York 102
25 Tampa Florida 102
27 Fort Worth Texas 101
28 Indianapolis Indiana 95
28 Louisville Kentucky 95
30 Oakland California 93
31 Shreveport Louisiana 90
32 Milwaukee Wisconsin 89
33 Denver Colorado 88
33 Mobile Alabama 88
35 Fort Lauderdale Florida 87
36 Boston Massachusetts 85
37 Sacramento California 81
38 Dayton Ohio 78
38 Long Beach California 78
38 Toledo Ohio 78
41 Oklahoma City Oklahoma 76
41 Phoenix Arizona 76
43 Richmond Virginia 74
44 Portland Oregon 73
45 Seattle Washington 72
45 Youngstown Ohio 72
47 Honolulu Hawaii 71
47 Kansas City Missouri 71
49 Newark New Jersey 68
50 Akron Ohio 65

Chicago - 494 NFL athletes produced

Out of all the US-born players to play in the NFL, almost 500 of them were born in Chicago, which gives them the top spot. Two of the NFL’s best, Dick Butkus and Charles Tillman, were not only born in Chicago but spent the majority of their careers playing for the Chicago Bears. 

Los Angeles - 460 NFL athletes produced

Following closely behind with 460 athletes produced, is Los Angeles which takes second place. Los Angeles is the birthplace of some great NFL players, including Bobby Wagner, Tyron Smith, and David Long. 

Houston - 340 NFL athletes produced

Houston completes our top three producing 340 NFL athletes. Vince Young, Payton Turner, and Jalen Hurts are some of the best players to be born in Houston and play in the NFL. The Houston Texans are Houston’s very own NFL team. Despite struggling during the early 2000s, the Texans experienced some success in 2011 winning a division championship. 

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155 NBA players were born in Chicago, more than any other US city

155 NBA players were born in Chicago

After looking at the birthplaces of all US-born NBA athletes, we can reveal the most common city that NBA athletes are born in. 

Rank City State Number of athletes born in city
1 Chicago Illinois 155
2 Philadelphia Pennsylvania 122
3 Los Angeles California 113
4 Brooklyn New York 107
5 New York New York 104
6 Washington District of Columbia 76
7 Detroit Michigan 71
8 Atlanta Georgia 49
9 Dallas Texas 48
10 Baltimore Maryland 44
11 Houston Texas 43
12 Memphis Tennessee 40
13 Louisville Kentucky 37
14 St. Louis Missouri 35
15 Indianapolis Indiana 34
16 Milwaukee Wisconsin 33
17 New Orleans Louisiana 30
17 Seattle Washington 30
19 Birmingham Alabama 27
19 Cleveland Ohio 27
21 Bronx New York 26
22 Baton Rouge Louisiana 25
22 Oakland California 25
22 San Francisco California 25
25 Columbus Ohio 23
25 Minneapolis Minnesota 23
25 Newark New Jersey 23
25 Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 23
29 Dayton Ohio 22
29 Portland Oregon 22
31 Cincinnati Ohio 20
31 Queens New York 20
33 Charlotte North Carolina 19
33 Nashville Tennessee 19
33 San Diego California 19
36 Gary Indiana 18
36 Jackson Mississippi 18
36 Toledo Ohio 18
39 Buffalo New York 17
39 Flint Michigan 17
39 Long Beach California 17
42 Boston Massachusetts 15
42 Jersey City New Jersey 15
42 Miami Florida 15
45 Akron Ohio 14
45 Fort Wayne Indiana 14
45 Winston-Salem North Carolina 14
48 Las Vegas Nevada 13
48 Raleigh North Carolina 13
48 Richmond Virginia 13

Chicago - 155 NBA athletes produced

The city that produced the most NBA athletes is Chicago, with a total of 155 players, 30 more than any other city. Chicago has produced some fine talents, including Dwayne Wade, Reggie Jordan, and Terry Cummings. Chicago is, of course, home to the Chicago Bulls, where Michael Jordan spent most of his career. 

Philadelphia - 122 NBA athletes produced

In second place is Philadelphia which has produced 122 NBA athletes. Kobe Bryant, Kyle Lowry, and Wilt Chamberlain are some of the top picks among the 122 athletes produced. Wilt Chamberlain also went on to play for the Philadelphia 76ers for three seasons and was one of the star players during the 1966/67 season, a team that is considered one of the best the NBA has ever seen. 

Los Angeles - 113 NBA athletes produced

Los Angeles completes our top three, producing 113 NBA athletes. Los Angeles is home to two NBA teams, the LA Clippers, and the LA Lakers. Among the 113 athletes born in LA, Kawhi Leonard, Klay Thompson, and Baron Davis are some of the best, with Leonard and Thomspon playing for the Clippers at some point in their career. 

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Chicago is the main birthplace of MLB athletes, home to almost 400 athletes

400 MLB players were born in Chicago

We’ve looked at the birthplaces of US born MLB athletes to reveal the most common birthplaces.

Rank City State Number of athletes born in city
1 Chicago Illinois 387
2 Philadelphia Pennsylvania 372
3 St. Louis Missouri 317
4 New York New York 262
5 Brooklyn New York 248
6 Los Angeles California 240
7 Cincinnati Ohio 204
8 San Francisco California 180
9 Baltimore Maryland 178
10 Houston Texas 143
11 Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 139
12 Cleveland Ohio 137
13 San Diego California 134
14 Detroit Michigan 126
15 Washington District of Columbia 111
16 Atlanta Georgia 107
17 Boston Massachusetts 100
18 New Orleans Louisiana 99
19 Dallas Texas 95
20 Oakland California 92
21 Sacramento California 88
22 Birmingham Alabama 87
22 Louisville Kentucky 87
24 Long Beach California 80
25 Tampa Florida 78
26 Miami Florida 69
27 Buffalo New York 65
28 Portland Oregon 63
29 Memphis Tennessee 60
29 Nashville Tennessee 60
31 Kansas City Missouri 59
31 Seattle Washington 59
33 Milwaukee Wisconsin 58
34 Indianapolis Indiana 56
34 Jacksonville Florida 56
36 Columbus Ohio 55
37 Mobile Alabama 52
38 Tulsa Oklahoma 51
39 Austin Texas 50
40 San Antonio Texas 49
41 Oklahoma City Oklahoma 47
42 Richmond Virginia 44
43 Denver Colorado 42
43 Santa Monica California 42
45 Minneapolis Minnesota 41
46 Newark New Jersey 40
47 Omaha Nebraska 39
47 Shreveport Louisiana 39
49 Dayton Ohio 37
49 Fresno California 37

Chicago - 387 MLB athletes produced

Chicago is once again in the top spot, producing a total of 387 MLB athletes. Jim Clancy, Phil Collins, and Freddie Lindstrom are three of a selection of great MLB players born in Houston. There are two baseball teams in Chicago, the Chicago Cubs, and the Chicago White Sox. 

Philadelphia - 372 MLB athletes produced

Philadelphia takes second place as the birthplace of 372 MLB athletes. Philadelphia has a great history of producing baseball legends, with Roy Campanella, Bucky Walters, and Rubén Amaro Jr. on that list. The Philadelphia Phillies, the local team, have won two World Series. 

St. Louis - 317 MLB athletes produced

St. Louis completes our top three, with 317 MLB athletes born in the Gateway to the West. Bernard Gilkey, Ken Holtzman, and Pete Reiser are the best among the St. Louisans to make it to the MLB. St. Louis has just two teams competing in the major leagues. One of which is the St. Louis Cardinals in the MLB.

More NHL players were born in Detroit than any other US city

NHL players Detroit

Rank City State Number of athletes born in city
1 Detroit Michigan 41
2 Minneapolis Minnesota 38
3 Boston Massachusetts 35
4 St. Paul Minnesota 34
5 Chicago Illinois 25
6 Buffalo New York 22
7 Duluth Minnesota 15
8 Edina Minnesota 14
8 St. Louis Missouri 14
8 Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 14
8 Madison Wisconsin 14
12 Denver Colorado 13
13 Anchorage Alaska 12
14 Hibbing Minnesota 11
14 New York New York 11
14 Cleveland Ohio 11
17 Grand Rapids Minnesota 10
17 Bloomington Minnesota 10
19 Cambridge Massachusetts 9
19 Eveleth Minnesota 9
19 Roseau Minnesota 9
19 Rochester Minnesota 9
19 Rochester New York 9
19 Syracuse New York 9
25 New Haven Connecticut 8
25 Melrose Massachusetts 8
25 Livonia Michigan 8
25 Ann Arbor Michigan 8
25 Dearborn Michigan 8
30 Winchester Massachusetts 7
30 Lansing Michigan 7
30 Burnsville Minnesota 7
30 Grand Forks North Dakota 7
30 Philadelphia Pennsylvania 7
30 Spokane Washington 7
36 Long Beach California 6
36 Hartford Connecticut 6
36 Virginia Minnesota 6
36 Lakeville Minnesota 6
40 Los Angeles California 5
40 Weymouth Massachusetts 5
40 Waltham Massachusetts 5
40 Springfield Massachusetts 5
40 Trenton Michigan 5
40 Moorhead Minnesota 5
40 Minnetonka Minnesota 5
40 Eden Prairie Minnesota 5
40 Cranston Rhode Island 5
49 Phoenix Arizona 4
49 Park Ridge Illinois 4

Detroit - 41 NHL athletes produced

Detroit was the birthplace of 41 NHL athletes, which is enough to give them the top spot in our list. Detroit is home to Mark Howe, Kevin Hatcher, and David Legwand, who are some of the best players to come out of the city in Michigan. Hockey has always been huge in Detroit. The Detroit Red Wings were one of the six teams to form the NHL. 

Minneapolis - 38 NHL athletes produced 

Falling just three athletes behind Detroit, is Minneapolis, where 38 NHL athletes were born. Zach Parise, Jake Gardiner, and Dustin Byfuglien are some of the best to come out of Minneapolis. Despite having some great talent come out of Minneapolis, Minnesota Wild have only won one division championship. 

Boston - 35 NHL athletes produced

Just three athletes separate the places in our top three, with Boston producing 35 NHL athletes. Some of the top picks from Boston include Noah Hanifin, Colin White, and Jeremy Roenick. Not only has Boston produced some great players, but the Boston Bruins have won the Stanley Cup six times in their history. 

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Methodology

For the NFL we used Pro Football Reference to get the birthplaces of each US-born player.

For the NBA we used Basketball Reference to get the birthplaces of each US-born player.

We used Baseball Reference for the birthplaces of each US-born player.

Finally, we used Hockey Reference for the birthplaces of each US-born player. 

Players were removed from the data if no city was included. Only US-born players were included. 


*represents 0 players born here.

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