| 100% | PETE | 4 | With 27-Down, his #14 has been informally retired by the Reds (although his own son later wore it) |
| 32% | JOE | 3 | ___ Morgan, second baseman with the jersey number 8 that was retired by the Cincinnati Reds |
| 32% | HODGES | 6 | His #14 was retired by the Mets |
| 31% | DOMBEYANDSON | 12 | Novel by Charles Dickens that deals with the story of a shipping firm owner who is frustrated at not having a son to take care of the business: 3 wds. |
| 30% | MABARKER | 8 | Midwest woman with four gangster sons who was gunned down by the FBI in 1935: 2 wds. |
| 30% | ONE | 3 | It was retired by the Yankees in 1986 |
| 30% | JERRYWEST | 9 | His No. 44 jersey was retired by the Lakers |
| 30% | ONEAL | 5 | His numbers were retired by the Lakers and Heat |
| 29% | HARDAWAY | 8 | Tim ___, former basketball player who is known for the "UTEP two step" move and had his No. 10 jersey retired by Miami Heat |
| 29% | CSONKA | 6 | His #39 was retired by the Miami Dolphins in 2002 |
| 29% | YOGIBERRA | 9 | Catcher whose #8, once worn by his mentor, former catcher Bill Dickey, was retired by the Yankees in a 1972 ceremony honoring both players: 2 wds. |
| 29% | ORR | 3 | His #4 was retired by the N.H.L.'s Bruins |
| 29% | GITMO | 5 | Its Subway is owned by the Navy |
| 28% | KAREEM | 6 | His number 33 is retired by the Lakers |
| 28% | OTT | 3 | His number 4 was retired by the Giants |
| 28% | TORRE | 5 | His number 6 was retired by the Yankees |
| 28% | RIO | 3 | With 21-Down, John Wayne western that was the last film directed by Howard Hawks |
| 28% | LUCY | 4 | "___ in the Sky with Diamonds," 1967 song by The Beatles which was inspired by a drawing that Lennon's son made of his classmate |
| 28% | BARRYLARKIN | 11 | Hall of Fame shortstop whose #11 jersey was retired by the Reds in 2012: 2 wds. |
| 28% | MICHAELJORDAN | 13 | His #23 was retired by the Chicago Bulls and the Miami Heat: 2 wds. |
| 28% | HOMEMADE | 8 | With 27-Down, single by 53-Across on 45-Across with the lyric "Now you know it's really gonna blow" |
| 28% | MARINO | 6 | His #13 was retired in 2000 by the Miami Dolphins |
| 28% | PETEMARAVICH | 12 | His #7 was retired by the Utah Jazz and the New Orleans Pelicans: 2 wds. |
| 28% | PEYTON | 6 | ___ Manning, NFL player who had his number officially retired by the Indianapolis Colts |
| 28% | SANDERS | 7 | Barry ___, NFL player who had his number officially retired by the Detroit Lions |
| 28% | ETNA | 4 | It has been designated a Decade Volcano by the U.N. |
| 28% | MOON | 4 | It has phases that are represented by the starts of 18-, 29-, 47- and 61-Across ... and by 1-Down |
| 27% | JERRY | 5 | ___ Rice, NFL player who had his number officially retired by the San Francisco 49ers |
| 27% | LEN | 3 | ___ Dawson, NFL player who had his number officially retired by the Kansas City Chiefs |
| 27% | TAYLOR | 6 | Lawrence ___, NFL player who had his number officially retired by the New York Giants |