Sports

On January 25, 1932, the US Post Office Department issued its first stamp honoring the Olympic Games.  Those games were the first to be held in the US.

On January 1, 1911, Henry Benjamin Greenberg was born in New York City, New York. One of the greatest sluggers in baseball history, he put his career on hold to serve 47 months with the Army during World War II, the most of any major league player.

Roy “Campy” Campanella was born on November 19, 1921, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Considered one of the greatest catchers in baseball history, he was the first catcher to break organized baseball’s color line when he debuted in the Majors in 1948.

Basketball inventor James Naismith was born on November 6, 1861, in Almonte, Ontario, Canada. He developed the game in 1891 as a safe sport for children to play indoors.

Mickey Charles Mantle was born on October 20, 1931, in Spavinaw, Oklahoma.  Considered the best switch hitter in history, he was a Triple Crown winner, won seven World Series, and was a three-time MVP.

On September 30, 1927, Babe Ruth became the first baseball player in US history to hit 60 home runs. His record would stand for 34 years, but it remains a historic moment in sports history.

Maureen Catherine Connolly-Brinker, also known as “Little Mo,” was born on September 17, 1934, in San Diego, California.  For four years, she dominated women’s tennis, winning nine Grand Slam singles titles, over 50 consecutive matches, and was named Female Athlete of the year – three years in a row.

Baseball player Roger Eugene Maris was born on September 10, 1934, in Hibbing, Minnesota.  He went on to break Babe Ruth’s home run record – and his own record stood for over 35 years.

On August 26, 1972, the Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, opened in Munich, West Germany.  The first games held in Germany since 1936, they were overshadowed by the “Munich Massacre.”