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Hall of Fame talent can be found in every state in America. Some produce that talent at different rates than others. Areas like Texas, California, and Florida often snag the headlines when speaking on most athletes churned out as a whole.
Smaller states, however, also have a seat at the table. While they may not stack up in terms of sheer numbers, they outmatch those larger hotbeds in success rate.
That can be seen across all leagues. Here, we’ll break down the states that produce Hall of Famers at the highest rates in major US sports.
States that produce the most Hall of Fame talent.
This list will look at the top three states that produce Hall of Fame talent at the highest rates in the NFL, MLB, NBA, and Professional Boxing. These numbers include both players and coaches.
The Sports Geek ranked each state by sport with an adjustment for population. The standings might surprise you!
We’ll start with football, where the small state of West Virginia reigns supreme.
NFL
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West Virginia
The state has a population of just over 1.7 million. It has produced seven NFL Hall of Famers. That’s good for an average of 3.96 Hall of Famers per 1 million people.
Notable West Virginians to receive the football recognition include Randy Moss, Sam Huff, Chuck Howley, and Frank Gatski.
Pennsylvania
The state has 41 NFL Hall of Famers to go along with a population of 13.1 million. That total ranks near the top in both overall and per capita numbers.
Pennsylvania produces 3.12 Hall of Fame players per 1 million people. That list is headlined by names like Mike Ditka, Joe Montana, Dan Marino, Joe Namath, and Johnny Unitas.
Mississippi
The Magnolia State has produced nine NFL Hall of Famers. That equates to 3.06 players per 1 million people given its 2.9 million population.
Mississippi is full of respected college football programs at both the FCS and FBS levels. Hall of Fame members include Jerry Rice, Brett Favre, and Walter Payton.
MLB
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Nebraska
The state boasts six MLB Hall of Famers while having a population just over 2 million. That equates to a 2.97 player per 1-million-person ratio.
Included in the list of baseball superstars to hail from the Cornhusker State are Wade Boggs, Bob Gibson, and Richie Ashburn.
Rhode Island
The nation’s smallest state is home to three MLB Hall of Famers. With a population of 1.1 million, Rhode Island produces 2.68 MLB Hall of Famers per 1 million residents.
Hugh Duffy, Gabby Hartnett, and Nap Lajoie make up the trio. Each was inducted either in or prior to the class of 1955.
Alabama
While known more for football, the Yellowhammer State has been a baseball hotbed over the years. Alabama’s produced 13 MLB Hall of Famers dating back to the 1960s.
Notable names include Ozzie Smith, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Satchel Paige, and Don Sutton. The state boasts a Hall of Fame rate of 2.5 players per 1 million people while have a population of 5.2 million.
NBA
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Louisiana
The Boot is home to 10 NBA Hall of Famers, including some of the best bigs in league history. Bill Russell, Karl Malone, and Robert Parrish headline the group alongside Clyde Drexler.
Louisiana has a population of 4.6 million residents. It leads the way with a rate of 2.17 Hall of Famers per 1 million people.
New York
The state is known for its basketball history and has produced more NBA Hall of Famers than any other across the nation. New York has 34 Hall of Famers alongside a population just under 20 million.
The 1.7 Hall of Famer per 1-million-person ratio ranks second in the country. You’d be hard-pressed to find a stronger list of names, which include Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, and Julius Irving.
Illinois
Illinois also has a strong basketball history evidenced by 18 NBA Hall of Famers. With a population about 60% the size of previously mentioned New York, it gives the state 1.41 Hall of Famers per 1 million people.
Hall of Fame members that hail from the Prairie State are headlined by Isaiah Thomas and George Mikan. That number could soon grow thanks to players like Dwyane Wade and Anthony Davis.
Boxing
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Mississippi
Mississippi already landed a spot on this list due to its football success rate. It leads the way with a 1.02 International Boxing Hall of Fame per 1-million-person ratio.
The state has three HoF members with a population of 2.9 million. It’s proven to be one of the most athletically rich areas in the US.
South Carolina
The Palmetto State is close behind with 0.72 Hall of Fame boxers per 1 million residents. South Carolina boasts four HoF members with a total population of 5.5 million.
Former undisputed heavyweight champ Joe Frazier is the most popular of quartet He beat Muhammad Ali in the Fight of the Century after securing a gold medal in the 1964 Olympics.
Hawaii
Hawaii has one Hall of Fame boxer, which is impressive given a total population of just 1.4 million. It falls just behind South Carolina at No. 3 with a rate of 0.69 Hall of Famers per 1 million people.
The lone member is Carl ‘Bobo’ Olson, who was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1999. He held the World Middleweight belt from October 1953 to December 1955.
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