All-Star Athletes: 10 Best Players Born In California

Today we continue the series that looks at each state's ten best players with one of the biggest states, California. This state was chock full of athletes that deserved mention and that's why the honorable mention section is going to be so huge. This list was also one of the hardest to rank due to how great the players are here. Let's take a look at the top ten players from California.

Honorable Mentions

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SAN DIEGO - OCTOBER 24: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots passes in the pocket against the San Diego Chargers during the first quarter at Qualcomm Stadium on October 24, 2010 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Here's the many athletes who just missed the cut:

Tom Brady                            Eddie Murray

Phil Mickelson                       Gary Payton

Terrell Davis                          Paul Pierce

John Daly                              Jimmy Rollins

Amanda Beard                      CC Sabathia

Baron Davis                          Junior Seau

Jeff Gordon                           Tom Seaver

Jimmie Johnson                     Darryl Strawberry

Keyshawn Johnson               Bill Walton

Jason Kidd                            Anthony Munoz

Mark McGwire                       Billie Jean King

Reggie Miller                         Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson

Randall Cunningham

10. Warren Moon

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CANTON, OH - AUGUST 05: Quarterback Warren Moon poses with his bust after his induction during the Class of 2006 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony at Fawcett Stadium on August 5, 2006 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)

Born: Los Angeles

Sport: Football

Position: Quarterback

Notable Stats: 9 time Pro Bowl selection, 3 time All-Pro, 2 time Grey Cup MVP, 5 time Grey Cup Champion

If you put Moon's stats from the Canadien Football League and the NFL together he has 70,553 yards and 494 total touchdowns. His CFL numbers are probably a little higher than they would of been in the NFL, but it's still pretty obvious that Moon is one of the best quarterbacks to ever play.

9. (tie) Trevor Hoffman

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CINCINNATI - MAY 18: Trevor Hoffman #51 of the Milwaukee Brewers throws a pitch in the 9th inning during the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on May 18, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Reds won 5-4. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Im

Born: Bellflower

Sport: Baseball

Position: Pitcher

Notable Stats: 7 time All-Star selection, 2 time NL Reliever of the Year, All-time leader in saves

Hoffman has 601 saves to his name, which is 42 more than the next closest man, Mariano Rivera. He has simply been one of the best closers to ever play throughout his career. This guy is a sure-fire Hall of Famer whose records might not be challenged for a while.

9. (tie) Randy Johnson

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SEATTLE - APRIL 12: Former Mariners star Randy Johnson walks on to the field to throw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the Mariners' home opener against the Oakland Athletics at Safeco Field on April 12, 2010 in Seattle, Washington. The Athletics

Born: Walnut Creek

Sport: Baseball

Position: Pitcher

Notable Stats: 10 time All-Star selection, 5 time Cy Young winner, 2001 World Series Champion

Randy Johnson might be the most intimidating guy to ever step on the mound. The man is 6'10 and has a blazing fastball; if there's a more feared guy during the 1990s I'd like to meet him. Johnson was a great pitcher who will soon be in the Hall of Fame.

8. Barry Bonds

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SAN FRANCISCO - OCTOBER 19: Former San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds acknowledges the crowd prior to Game Three of the NLCS against the San Francisco Giants during the 2010 MLB Playoffs at AT&T Park on October 19, 2010 in San Francisco, Califor

Born: Riverside

Sport: Baseball

Position: Left Fielder

Notable Stats: All-time leader in home runs, 14 time All-Star selection, 8 time Gold Glove Winner, 12 time Silver Slugger, 7 time NL MVP

Okay, Bonds' stats are obviously a little tainted because of his steroid use, but you can't deny how great he was throughout his career. Regardless of how you feel about the man, you have to recognize that he was a dominate player in two different decades. That kind of production gets him on the list and probably in the Hall of Fame.

7. (tie) O.J. Simpson

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8 Dec 1991: NBC reporter O.J. Simpson looks on during a game between the Los Angeles Raiders and the Buffalo Bills at the Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. The Bills won the game, 30-27. Mandatory Credit: Gary Newkirk /Allsport

Born: San Fransisco

Sport: Football

Position: Running Back

Notable Stats: 6 time Pro Bowl selection, 5 time All-Pro selection, 1973 MVP, 1968 Heisman Trophy

O.J. Simpson is another controversial athlete, but his production on the field is what gets him here. The man was a dominant player in college and the pros. He was the first running back to rush for more than 2,000 yards. All this and more got him elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.

7. (tie) Marcus Allen

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ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - MARCH 09: Marcus Allen looks on during the Laureus World Sports Awards Golf Challenge at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club on March 9, 2010 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images for Laureus)

Born: San Diego

Sport: Football

Position: Running Back

Notable Stats: 6 time Pro Bowl selection, 3 time All-Pro selection, 1985 MVP, 1981 Heisman winner, 1983 Super Bowl champion

As you can see, Marcus Allen and O.J. Simpson led very similar statistical careers. The only major difference is that Allen never rushed for 2,000 yards in a season and Simpson never won a Super Bowl. Both guys are remarkable players and in 2003, Allen joined Simpson in the Hall of Fame.

6. Tony Gwynn

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COOPERSTOWN, NY - JULY 29: 2007 inductee Tony Gwynn poses with his plaque at Clark Sports Center during the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony on July 29, 2007 in Cooperstown, New York. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

Born: Los Angeles

Sport: Baseball

Position: Right Fielder

Notable Stats: 15 time All-Star selection, 5 time Gold Glove winner, 7 time Silver Slugger

Gwynn is the opposite of Barry Bonds. He was never a power hitter and never had any controversy during his career. He has a lifetime batting average of .338 and never batted below .309 in a full season. He also has over 3,000 hits in his career and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2007.

5. Pete Sampras

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INDIAN WELLS, CA - MARCH 12: Former tennis player Pete Sampras and Roger Federer of Switzerland,during Hit for Haiti, a charity event during the BNP Paribas Open on March 12, 2010 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Born: Los Angeles

Sport: Tennis

Notable Stats: 64 career titles, 762 career wins

Sampras has won seven Wimbletons and five US Opens. From 1993 to 1998 he was the year end No. 1 player. He also had the most total Grand Slam single wins until 2009, when Roger Federer finally overtook him. The man is simply one of the greatest tennis players ever.

4. Tiger Woods

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NEWPORT, WALES - OCTOBER 04: Tiger Woods of the USA hits a shot on the first hole in the singles matches during the 2010 Ryder Cup at the Celtic Manor Resort on October 4, 2010 in Newport, Wales. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Born: Cypress

Sport: Golf

Notable Stats: 97 professional wins, 14 Major Championship wins.

Tiger Woods is another athlete on this list that has been rocked by scandal in his career; however, he is one of the best golfers to ever play. The man is one of the most intimidating presences on the golf course and is still a threat to win any tournament even though he hasn't been playing up to par as of late.

3. Ted Williams

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BOSTON - CIRCA 1955: (UNDATED FILE PHOTO) Baseball legend Ted Williams (1918 - 2002) of the Boston Red Sox holds a bat circa 1955. The 83-year-old Williams, who was the last major league player to bat .400 when he hit .406 in 1941, died July 5, 2002 at C

Born: San Diego

Sport: Baseball

Position: Left Fielder

Notable Stats: 19 time All-Star selection, 2 time AL MVP

Ted Williams might be the best all-around hitter ever. He boasts a career .344 batting average and hit 521 home runs. Williams is the last player to post over a .400 batting average in a season, batting .406 in 1941. Not only was he inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame in 1966, but he also was put into the Pro Fishing Hall of Fame.

2. Mark Spitz

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NEW YORK - AUGUST 20: Swimmer Mark Spitz holds up a copy of the new issue of Sports Illustrated featuring a picture of Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps at Grand Central Station August 20, 2008 in New York City. Spitz's record of breaking seven world record

Born: Modesto

Sport: Swimming

Notable Stats: 9 total Gold Medals

This guy was Michael Phelps 38 years ago. Spitz was an amazingly dominate Olympic swimmer, who just shattered records and acquired tons of medals. The man won seven gold medals in one Olympics; a record that stood until Phelps beat it in 2008.

1. Joe Dimaggio

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20 Oct 1996: Baseball great Joe Dimaggio walks out to the pitchers mound to throw out the first pitch of the 1996 World Series Game One between the Atlanta Braves and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York. The Braves defeated the

Born: Martinez

Sport: Baseball

Position: Center Field

Notable Stats: 13 time All-Star selection, 9 time World Series Champion, 3 time AL MVP

DiMaggio is remembered for many things, but the most important thing might be his 56 game hitting streak. That might be one of the records that is never broken and if it is broken, that player will have to be amazing. DiMaggio is one of the best baseball players to ever live and well deserving of his spot atop the list.

Well, that's all for California's list. Check the next page for links to the past lists and tell me what players were left out in the comments.