James Van Alen, founder of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, was also a poet, publisher, civic leader, and champion tennis player with deep knowledge of the game.
George Allen was a successful NFL coach who turned two struggling teams, including the Los Angeles Rams, into winners. He was named Coach of the Year in 1967 before being dismissed.
Bert Blyleven is a Dutch-born Major League Baseball pitcher who starred for six teams over 22 seasons, won two World Series, recorded 3,000 strikeouts, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Dan Bylsma transformed the struggling Pittsburgh Penguins midseason, leading them to an improbable 2009 Stanley Cup victory, becoming an NHL legend despite limited coaching experience that shocked fans.
Steve Van Buren was a Hall of Fame running back for the Philadelphia Eagles and one of the NFL’s early rushing stars. He led the league in rushing four times and helped the Eagles win two championships.
Amy Van Dyken is an American Olympic swimmer who won six gold medals in the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games. Despite severe childhood asthma, she became one of the most successful U.S. female swimmers in Olympic history
Lenny Dykstra was an American Major League Baseball outfielder who played for the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies. A key player in the Mets’ 1986 World Series victory, he was known for strong hitting and multiple All-Star selections.
Jim Kaat (born 1938) is a Dutch American former Major League Baseball pitcher and broadcaster. Over a 25-year career he won 16 Gold Glove Awards and later became an Emmy-winning baseball analyst for NBC, ESPN, and the Yankees Network.
Arie Luyendyk (born 1953) is a Dutch-American race car driver and two-time Indianapolis 500 champion, winning in 1990 and 1997. A former Formula Ford champion, he later competed successfully in IndyCar and major endurance races.
Mark Mulder (b. 1977) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher best known for his years with the Oakland Athletics and St. Louis Cardinals. A two-time All-Star, he led the American League with 21 wins in 2001 and was one of baseball’s top pitchers in the early 2000s.
