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LeBron James had solidified a place in the Hall of Fame before returning to Cleveland. By bringing the Cavaliers their first title in franchise history (and the city’s first since 1964), he cemented his spot in the upper echelon of sports history. It isn’t talent alone that put James there. He has become among a proud few that won a championship for their hometown. Below are ten athletes who had such an honor.
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Focus on Sport/Getty Images
1. Pete Rose: Back-to-back titles for the Cincinnati Reds in 1975, 1976
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ullstein bild via Getty Images
2. Philipp Lahm: Led Bayern Munich to three titles (DFB-Pokal, Bundesliga, and Champions League) in 2013
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3. Lou Gehrig: Helped the New York Yankees win six titles (1927, 1928, 1932, 1936, 1937, 1938)
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Getty Images
4. Cal Ripken: Won a World Series with the Baltimore Orioles in 1983
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Bettmann Archive
5. Maurice Richard: Helped the Montreal Canadiens win eight Stanley Cups (1944, 1946, 1953, 1956-1964)
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Getty Images
6. Jack Ham: Won the Pittsburgh Steelers four Super Bowls (1975, 1976, 1979, 1980)
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Getty Images
7. Mark Messier: Led the Edmonton Oilers to five Stanley Cups (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990)
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Sporting News via Getty Images
8. Rickey Henderson: Played for the Oakland Athletics in four separate stints, winning a World Series in 1989
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Corbis via Getty Images
9. Honus Wagner: Won a World Series with the Pittburgh Pirates in 1909
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10. Wilt Chamberlain: Led the Philadelphia 76ers to a title in 1967
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