Just about every discipline you can think of has a hall of fame. Every actor, musician and athlete are moving one step closer to being immortalized by their peers and supporters as they work to make it to top of their game. Not everyone aims at a place in the hall of fame, but it’s a good place to lay down your hat if you can make the cut. For every legend that has walked those hallowed halls, there is no doubt on the world stage that they are among the best in their respective fields. These 10 entries are no exception, and they all proudly go by the name Ken.
- Ken Griffey Jr. – Some call him the greatest Seattle Mariners player of all time. Well, that accolade was given a lot more weight when Ken Griffey Jr. was inducted into the team’s hall of fame on August 10, 2013. He spent most of his career with the team as a star outfielder. Griffey is an All-Star 13 times over, and is renowned as one of the foremost home-run hitters of all time. Hopefully, he will make it into Cooperstown as well when he is eligible in 2016!
- Ken DeStefanis – The National Wrestling Hall of Fame’s Connecticut chapter honored Ken DeStefanis with an induction on Saturday, April 20, 2013. A successful wrestler and part of a family wrestling franchise, DeStefanis has coached at high school, college and wrestling camps, rolling out programs that have helped countless young wrestlers find success.
- Ken Buchanan – In the year 2000, Ken Buchanan was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame. He is a former Boxing Undisputed World Lightweight Champion, with a career spanning over 15 years in professional boxing. He is currently retired and living in his homeland of Edinburgh, Scotland.
- Ken Shamrock – The mixed martial arts and UFC legend Ken Shamrock is known as the most dangerous man in the world. He earned the title after countless victories in the sport during its early professional outings. Ken is also one of the few people who officially holds a place in the UFC hall of fame.
- Ken Curtis – Festus from Gunsmoke would be mighty proud to know that the actor who played him made it into the cowboy hall of fame. Ken Curtis was inducted into The Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1981. For a guy who was initially brought in for a bit part, that’s pretty good going.
- Ken Jennings – Inductee into the Trivia Hall of Fame for 500? In case you haven’t guessed, the answer is: Who is Ken Jennings? This is a man with a winning streak so long on Jeopardy that he actually wins a place in the hall of fame as well.
- Ken Dryden – Some know him as a Canadian member of Parliament, however, others will remember that Ken Dryden had a cool career in ice-hockey before turning to politics. That humble career earned him a place in the Hockey Hall of Fame, which makes him quite possibly the most famous Canadian politician of all.
- Kenneth Treadway – With a surname like Treadway, it’s no wonder that this Ken made it into the International Swimming Hall of Fame. Along with being an accomplished swimmer in his own right, Ken Treadway is a passionate ambassador for the sport he loves and the people who participate in it, too. Besides all his awards, Ken has also served on a number of committees, including during the Olympics.
- Ken Nelson – As the person in charge of A&R for Capitol Records, Ken Nelson was used to working behind the scenes. However, his contributions did not go unnoticed, and he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001. Nelson was, in part, responsible for launching the hugely popular Hank Thompson, with his number one hit “The Wild Side of Life.” Ken passed away in 2007 at the grand ol’ age of 96 years old.
- Ken Anderson – The hall of famer of the fans who, unfortunately, never was. Anderson spent his entire career playing for the Cincinnati Bengals and, despite being nominated for a place in the hall of fame on several occasions, Anderson has yet to make the touchdown. However, Ken is in the top 10 of those who should have made it into the hall of fame, which means he’s gaining yards. For the travesty that he is not in the hall of fame alone, Ken Anderson has earned a mention.