We often debate who qualifies as a true Sacramentan. Sam Elliott, no, left at a young age. Pat Morita, no, was born in Isleton. Tom Hanks, just passed through. Joan Didion, you bet.
So here’s your chance to decide. We have set up an arbitrary bracket of 32 movers and shakers with Sacramento roots. As with any list, slights and omissions and “qualifications” are part of the game, so Tesla, Jack Gallagher, Cake, Brie Larson and Adrienne Barbeau fans, we didn’t forget you, we just had to pare down the list.
As for the exceptions, this is Marcos’ list, he made the call. Then we gave you the chance to vote. Thousands of votes later, you’ve cut his list from 32 to two.
So here’s the choice: The most famous Sacramentan is either former baseball player and manager Dusty Baker or former U.S. Supreme Court justice Anthony Kennedy. You make the call.
Voting for the final round ends Sunday night. Come back Monday to find out the winner.
VOTE HERE
Make your choices in the final contest and then click the button at the bottom.
Famous Faceoff
Who do you think is the most famous Sacramentan? Here's a look at our bracket so far.
Round 1 Sept. 19-23
Fun & games
Dusty BakerFormer MLB player and manager
Larry BowaFormer MLB player and manager
Derek LeeFormer MLB player
Greg VaughnFormer MLB player
John McNamaraFormer MLB manager
Debbie MeyerOlympic swimmer
Rhys HoskinsMLB player
Tony LopezFormer boxer
Screen gems
Greta GerwigActress, writer, director
Lisa LingTV personality
Channing DungeyTV executive
Lester HoltTV news anchor
Joan LundenTV personality
LeVar BurtonActor
Jessica ChastainActress
Max Baer Jr.Actor
Round 2 Sept 24-25
Dusty Baker
Greg Vaughn
Debbie Meyer
Tony Lopez
Greta Gerwig
Lester Holt
LeVar Burton
Jessica Chastain
Round 3 Sept 26-30
Dusty Baker
Debbie Meyer
Lester Holt
LeVar Burton
semifinals Oct 1-2
Dusty Baker
Joan Didion
championship Oct 3-6
Dusty Baker
Anthony Kennedy
semifinals Oct 1-2
Lester Holt
Anthony Kennedy
Round 3 Sept 26-30
Joan Didion
Cornel West
Russ Solomon
Anthony Kennedy
Round 2 Sept 24-25
Joan Didion
Wayne Thiebaud
Cornel West
Timothy B. Schmit
Russ Solomon
Kevin Johnson
Eleni Kounalakis
Anthony Kennedy
Round 1 Sept 19-23
Express yourselves
Joan DidionAuthor
Richard RodriguezAuthor
Wayne ThiebaudArtist
Herb CaenColumnist
Cornel WestProfessor
Ward ConnerlyAdvocate
Chino MorenoDeftones
Timothy B. SchmitEagles
The towers of power
Russ SolomonTower Records
Hiram JohnsonGovernor
Tani Cantil-SakauyeJudge
Kevin JohnsonFormer mayor and NBA player
John MossCongressman
Eleni KounalakisLt. Governor
Anthony KennedyFormer Supreme Court Justice
Xavier BecerraCalifornia Attorney General
This story was originally published September 19, 2019 at 5:00 AM.
