The Longest Player Names in Sports History

I'm sure I'm not the only person wondering who has the longest names in sports.

After seeing one, pictured, in person and trying to figure out how they fit so many letters on the back of a jersey, I decided to compile a quick list of the longest player names in the history of the MLB, NBA, NHL, and NFL.

MLB: 20 Letters—Two Players

Jarrod Saltalamacchia, catcher and first baseman for the Texas Rangers.

Due in part to the length of his surname, which at 14 letters is the longest in Major League Baseball history, he is often referred to by his nickname, "Salty."

His full name, at 20 letters, is tied for the longest in major league history with former San Francisco Giants pitcher William Van Landingham.

NHL: 26 Letters—Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond

For the NHL, the record longest name is 26 letters and belongs to New Jersey Devils left winger Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond.

Leblond was drafted 216th overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the New Jersey Devils.

In eight games this past season, Leblond scored zero goals and had only one assist.

NFL: 26 Letters—Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, cornerback for the Arizona Cardinals, was drafted by the Cardinals 16th overall in the 2008 NFL Draft.

Cromartie has recorded 42 tackles and four interceptions thus far in his career.

NBA: 49 Letters—Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo

Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo, commonly referred to as Dikembe Mutombo, last played for the Houston Rockets. He was the oldest player in the NBA at the time of his most recent season.

The 7'2" center is generally regarded as one of the greatest shot blockers and defensive players of all time, winning the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award four times.

On Jan. 10, 2007, he surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the second most prolific shot blocker in NBA history, behind only Hakeem Olajuwon.

In the second quarter of Game Two of Houston's first round playoff series against Portland, Mutombo landed awkwardly and had to be carried from the floor. After the game, he said, "It’s over for me for my career," and that surgery would be needed.

It was later confirmed that the quadriceps tendon of his left knee was ruptured in Game Two. Mutumbo announced his retirement on Apr. 23, 2009, after 18 seasons of playing basketball.

Mutombo also achieved a certain level of on-court notoriety.

After a successful block, he was known for taunting his opponents by waving his index finger, like a parent would approach a disobedient child. Later in his career, NBA officials would respond to the gesture with a technical foul for unsportsmanlike conduct.

To avoid the technical foul, Mutombo took to waving his finger at the crowd after a block, which is not considered taunting by rules.

In addition, his flailing elbows are known for injuring several NBA players, including Michael Jordan, Dennis Rodman, Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Chauncey Billups, Ray Allen, Yao Ming, LeBron James, and Tracy McGrady.

His teammate Yao once made a joke about it, saying, "I need to talk to Coach to have Dikembe held out of practice, because if he hits somebody in practice, it's our teammate. At least in the games, it's 50/50."