Sports
The public flocked to sporting events in record numbers to be entertained by a
host of sporting celebrities, both male and female.
Sports which grew and flourished in the nineteen twenties due to unprecedented
publicity and promotion included baseball, tennis, golf, swimming, football and
boxing. Newspapers, magazines, radio and movies all played a role in boosting the
profile of sport and the sporting giants.
The 1920’s were a transition period for many sports. Sports that had up until that
time been largely amateur events caught the eye of promoters who could see an
opportunity to capitalize and make money. The professional football league, golf
tours, and tennis circuit were organized. Media publicity ensured large crowds and
guaranteed the financial success of the ventures, allowing new stadiums to be built
and providing steadily increasing salaries for the sports stars.
The sports stars of this era remain well known even today; such was their fame and
the publicity they received. Very few will not have heard of Babe Ruth in baseball,
Jack Dempsey in boxing, Johnny Weissmuller in swimming, Knute Rockne and Red
Grange in football, Bill Tilden and Helen Wills in tennis, and Bobby Jones and
Glenna Collett in golf.
The momentum these sports built up in the 1920's has ensured that these sports
have endured in popularity to the present day. Present day sporting stars are often
compared to the greats of the 1920's and great publicity attends the player who
exceeds the records set 80 years ago, ensuring our old heroes are not forgotten.
Pilgrimages are made to the various halls of fame where the 1920's giants are
immortalized in timeless memorials that showcase their careers.
Annual Sports Highlights
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1920 in sports - National Football League formed; baseball's Negro National
League formed; Babe Ruth sold to New York Yankees and hits 54 home runs,
signaling the arrival of the lively ball era in baseball; Cleveland Indians'
shortstop Ray Chapman is killed by a Carl Mays pitch; the Grand Prix de Paris
horse race changes its name to the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
1921 in sports - The schooner Bluenose begins her undefeated career in
racing, winning the International Fishermen's Trophy
1922 in sports - First sub-one minute 100m freestyle swim
1923 in sports - First 24 hours of Le Mans race; Ty Cobb breaks Honus
Wagner's major league record for career hits
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1924 in sports - First Winter Olympic Games; in the Summer Olympics,
Paavo Nurmi wins 5 golds in Athletics (track and field)
1925 in sports - French Open in tennis opened to non-French players for the
first time; first handball international between Germany and Belgium
1926 in sports - Jack Dempsey loses his world heavyweight boxing title to
Gene Tunney; Gertrude Ederle becomes the first woman to swim the English
channel
1927 in sports - First Ryder Cup of golf
1928 in sports - Women's Olympic athletics and gymnastics are held for the
first time at the 1928 Summer Olympics; "Dixie" Dean scores 60 league
goals in 39 matches as Everton F.C. win the Football League
1929 in sports - Wally Hammond scores 905 runs at an average of 113.12 as
England defeat Australia in The Ashes