Binghamton has a long and storied sporting pedigree. The city is passionate about sports, whether it is hockey’s Black Bears, baseball’s Rumble Ponies, basketball’s Bulldogs, or soccer’s Broome County Stallions. Many Binghamton youngsters grow up dreaming of representing one of these four teams before embarking on a professional career that sees them compete in one of North America’s top-tier competitions and earn untold riches.
Dozens of Binghamton athletes have earned their stripes in the National Football League (NFL), National Hockey League (NHL), and Major League Baseball (MLB) over the years, playing for teams featured on the best sports betting websites and having millions of in-stadium fans and television viewers watching their every move. Here are just five such players.
DaQuan Jones – American football
DaQuan Jones was born and raised in Johnson City, New York, in late December 1991 and attended Johnson City Senior High School. Due to his size and physique, Jones played basketball and football and shot put throughout high school, eventually settling on football.
While attending Penn State, Jones stood at 6ft 4in and weighed 302lb, which resulted in the coaching staff converting him from an offensive guard to a defensive tackle. Although he struggled for game time during his freshman and sophomore seasons, Jones showed the Binghamton spirit and never gave up. Indeed, he committed to losing weight and gaining a place in the team’s starting lineup.
Jones’ work paid off, and ESPN called him Penn State’s defensive MVP in 2013. This led to several NFL franchises scouting him. One of those teams, the Tennessee Titans, selected Jones as the 112th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He played seven games (starting once) during his rookie season and registered eight tackles and a sack.
Apart from missing four games in 2017 due to a torn biceps, Jones was ever-present for the Titans between 2015 and 2020. He played 99 games in a Titans uniform and registered 327 tacks, 14.5 sacks, and 48 quarterback hits.
Jones signed a one-year contract with the Carolina Panthers in 2021, two years into a three-year, $21 million contract extension. After 38 tackles and 1.0 sacks in 17 games, Jones joined the Buffalo Bills on a two-year, $14 million deal. At the end of last season, the Bills awarded Jones another two-year contract worth $16 million.
Mike Dunham – Ice hockey
Mike Dunham was born in Johnson City in June 1972. He then moved to Connecticut and Maine, where he attended college. Dunham was a talented goaltender the New Jersey Devils selected as the 53rd overall pick of the 1990 NHL Entry Draft.
Dunham played for the Albany River Rats during the 1993-94 season and made his NHL debut for the New Jersey Devils three seasons later. He spent seven seasons with the Nashville Predators after joining them for the 1998-99 season, had two seasons with the New York Rangers, and ended his professional hockey career with the New York Islanders in 2006-07.
Although Dunham did not win the coveted Stanley Cup, he won a silver medal with the United States at the 2002 Winter Olympics and a bronze medal at the 2004 World Championships. Today, Dunham is the goalie development coach for the Boston Bruins, continuing his love affair with hockey.
Jim Johnson – Baseball
Jim Johnson was born in June 1983 in Johnson City, although he was raised in nearby Endicott. The Baltimore Orioles selected Johnson 143rd overall in the fifth round of the 2001 MLB draft, but it took five long years for the right-armed pitcher to play for the Orioles in the MLB. Jonson found himself in and out of the team and suffered for consistency, but enjoyed a breakout season in 2012.
The Orioles gave Johnson a one-year, $2,625,000 contract to avoid arbitration. Whether it was the offer of the one-year deal or putting himself in the shop window, Johnson was superb throughout 2012, winning the Rolaids Relief Man Award, leading the MLB in saves, and being named an All-Star.
After leaving the Orioles in 2013, Johnson played for the Oakland Athletics, Detroit Tigers, Atlanta Braves (twice), and Los Angeles Dodgers before finishing his career in 2018 with the Los Angeles Angels. Johnson hung up his glove with a 38-46 MLB record, an ERA of 3.79, 531 strikeouts, and 178 saves.
Johnny Logan – Baseball
Only readers of a certain age will have heard of Johnny Logan because he was an MLB star during the 1950s and early 1960s. Born in March 1926, Logan played baseball throughout his youth, including while serving in the army during World War II.
Logan, a shortstop, played for the Boston/Milwaukee Braves from 1951 to 1961, won the World Series in 1957, and was a four-time All-Star. He retired in 1963 with the Pittsburgh Pirates, having hit 93 home runs, 548 runs batted in, and a batting average of .268.
Sadly, Logan passed away in August 2013 at age 86.
Billy Gabor – Basketball
Billy Gabor was born in May 1922 in Binghamton, attended Binghamton Central, and spent his entire professional basketball career in the NBA with Syracuse. He also played college basketball for Syracuse University, graduating with a then-team-record 1,344 career points.
Gabor played 307 games for Syracuse in the NBA between 1949 and 1955. He was named an NBA All-Star in 1953, became an NBA champion in 1955, and finished his playing days with 2,997 points (9.8 pg), 448 rebounds (1.8 rpg), and 626 assists (2.0 apg).
Conclusion
These five athletes are shining examples of Binghamton’s rich sporting heritage. DaQuan Jones, Mike Dunham, Jim Johnson, Johnny Logan, and Billy Gabor all came from Binghamton or neighboring towns and made it to the big time through sheer perseverance and determination.
All five stars prove to young Binghamton athletes that with hard work and talent, it is possible to rise from local fields and rinks and forge a career on the grand stages of professional sports.
