Simply the Best

Exhibition Label: In the late winter of 1985, the cover of Time magazine featured this double portrait of basketball star Larry Bird and hockey great Wayne Gretzky. The image ran with the headline "Simply the Best," and in the accompanying article, the magazine described the pair as athletes whose excellence had "transcended the competition." The praise was certainly well deserved. During twenty-one years of professional play, Gretzky recorded more goals, assists, and total points than any hockey player in history and was named to the All-Star team eighteen times. As for Bird, his achievements with the Boston Celtics included three Most Valuable Player awards, appearances in twelve All-Star games, and a points-scored record that placed him among the leading scorers of all time. Through the brilliance of their play, Bird and Gretzky both dominated and defined their respective sports for a generation of fans.

Credit Line: National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Time magazine

1985

Topic: Costume\Headgear\Helmet; Equipment\Sports Equipment\Basketball; Equipment\Sports Equipment\Skates; Larry Joe Bird: Male; Larry Joe Bird: Sports and Recreation\Athlete\Basketball; Larry Joe Bird: Sports and Recreation\Coach\Basketball; Wayne Gretzky: Male; Wayne Gretzky: Sports and Recreation\Athlete\Hockey; Portrait

Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Dimensions: Stretcher: 63.5 x 48.3 x 3.2cm (25 x 19 x 1 1/4"); Frame: 76.2 x 60.6 x 6.7cm (30 x 23 7/8 x 2 5/8")

National Portrait Gallery

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