Ninety percent of the population is right-handed. That leaves just 10 percent as left-handed. According to research, a person becomes left-handed due to a combination of genetics, biology and the environment. And in sports, being left-handed has its advantages.
First, many opponents are used to playing, guarding or defending someone who isn’t left-handed. For competitions that rely on aiming and accuracy, like baseball, tennis or boxing, being a lefty is favorable since fewer lefty athletes are in those sports.
Some athletes shift to being a southpaw early in their careers for the advantages that come with being left-handed. One estimate even has the percentage of lefties in baseball being around 30 percent, which is three times the national average.
We’ve found the best lefties throughout sports, from baseball to basketball to golf and many more. Most of these athletes are natural southpaws. Some made the switch due to those advantages. So even though Aug. 13 is International Left-Handers Day, let's celebrate these southpaws any day.
Here are the best left-handed athletes of all time.
Note: All stats are through Jan. 7, 2020.