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We’re back, y’all. And for today’s sports history lesson, we take you to Paris and the Paris of Northeast Ohio.
On this day, an historic Grand Slam win
And an iconic header for a home run
We’re back, y’all. And for today’s sports history lesson, we take you to Paris and the Paris of Northeast Ohio.
On this day, an historic Grand Slam winAnd an iconic header for a home run
It was on May 26, 1956 when Althea Gibson became the first black person to win one of tennis’ major tournaments. At the famed Roland Garros courts in Paris, Gibson beat Angela Mortimer, 6-0, 12-10. It was the first Grand Slam win in a stretch of three-year dominance.
Gibson, who grew up in Harlem and started playing tennis as a teenager, appeared in her first major on the day of her 23rd birthday in 1950. After dominating the amateur ranks, she was invited to play at the U.S. Nationals, now known as the U.S. Open.
It took, in part, the pleas of mentors and journalists who stated her case and qualifications in print to finally get the US Tennis and Lawn Association to accept her membership, after decades of denying entry to blacks.
The day of her U.S. Nationals debut, Gibson beat Barbara Knapp in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2.
Gibson competed professionally for eight years, hitting her stride near the end of them. From 1956-58, she appeared in 19 major-tournament finals, winning 11 times. Among the 11 wins are five singles victories, five doubles victories and a mixed doubles title.
After winning in Paris, she was the women’s singles champion at Wimbledon in 1957 and 1958. She won the U.S. Nationals those same years, too.
Gibson was so well-rounded and talented in areas other than tennis. In 1958, she utilized her singing skills to record an album.
She retired from tennis in 1958, and by 1960, took up golf. Still a trailblazer, she became the first black woman to compete on the LPGA tour.
Gibson’s last Grand Slam title came in 1958. No black woman would win a Grand Slam championship until 1999 ... when 17-year-old Serena Williams did it at the U.S. Open.
Here’s a very informative and worthwhile read on black tennis history from a couple years ago from @InstantRHIplay https://theundefeated.com/features/black-tennis-history-timeline/amp/
Also on this day in 1993, Jose Canseco’s header helps Cleveland get a win ...
... Canseco played for Texas.
... Canseco played for Texas.
You’ve undoubtedly seen the video before, but it was on this day now 27 years ago when the onetime Bash Brother was unable to corral a fly ball off Carlos Martinez’s bat with his glove. It was in the bottom of the fourth when a leadoff F9 became a leadoff HR.
Texas ended up losing the game, 7-6.
Cleveland manager Mike Hargrove later quipped:
“I can’t believe he was still standing. If I got hit with a ball like that, I’d be knocked flat.”
“I can’t believe he was still standing. If I got hit with a ball like that, I’d be knocked flat.”
Added Canseco:
“I’ll be on ESPN for a month. I’m entertaining. How can I be embarrassed? I’ve been through it all in baseball.”
“I’ll be on ESPN for a month. I’m entertaining. How can I be embarrassed? I’ve been through it all in baseball.”
