Boston fans are passionate about sports and are proud of their players and teams, all of which have enjoyed tremendous success through the years. In The 50 Greatest Athletes in Boston Sports History, Martin Gitlin ranks the top 50 superstars in the city's rich sports history with legends like Tom Brady, Bill Russell, Bobby Orr, Ted Williams, and Larry Bird. Reaching beyond Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics, and Bruins heroes, it ranks many stars who emerged from the Boston area such as Rocky Marciano, Pat Bradley, Marvin Hagler, and Rebecca Lobo as well.

The 50 Greatest Athletes in Boston Sports History details their contributions to championships, records broken, sheer athletic brilliance, leadership traits, big events in which the athletes rose to the occasion, and overall impact on the Boston sports scene.