Posts Tagged Sports

Riders ready to race, Daytona Beach, Florida, March 1948. (Joseph Scherschel—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)

“For years, from its inception in 1937 until the early ’60s, the prestigious Daytona 200 motorcycle race wasn’t merely run at Daytona Beach. Along with other high-speed, high-risk clashes, the 200 was run on Daytona Beach.”

"Norman Teleford (No. 161) streamlines himself during a motorcycle race at Daytona Beach, March 1948." (Joseph Scherschel—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)

“In 1948, LIFE magazine covered the races, both amateur and pro, at Daytona (the Road Course opened in 1936) and reported, in its April 19 issue, that ‘for four days last month the resort city of Daytona Beach could hardly have been noisier — or in more danger — if it had been under bombardment.’”

“Now, with unpublished and rarely seen photos by Joseph Scherschel (brother of another LIFE photographer, Frank Scherschel), LIFE.com opens a window on a long, loud weekend 70 years ago: a weekend that thrilled racing fans; and — as if proof was needed that the young sport was still in the hands of rebels and scofflaws — saw two people killed and 30 more injured in the midst of all the high-octane fun.”

A racer and his bike violently part company in March 1948. Quite often nothing but a narrow strip of sand separated riders from spectators when the Daytona races were in full swing. (Joseph Scherschel—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)

“The 1948 event, which attracted “375 helmeted daredevils and plenty of non-racing hell-raisers,” was marred not only by deaths and injuries but, as LIFE duly noted, by classic knuckleheadism. “Because the antics of an unruly minority reflect on the dignity of motorcycling,” the magazine observed, “the American Motorcycle Association may hire special police at future races. One duty will be to restrain sophomoric cyclists who amused themselves this year by tossing firecrackers into the crowd.”

“Ultimately, as LIFE tersely reported, “155 motorcycles started, only 45 finished. Winning rider, Floyd Emde, averaged 84 mph, got $2,000.” What LIFE failed to mention is that Emde (who was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998) won by the sliver-thin margin of 12 seconds; 1948 was the first time a rider led the race from flag to flag; and it was the last time an Indian Motorcycle won the 200.”

Floyd Emde rests on his Indian motorcycle after winning the 1948 running of the Daytona 200. (Joseph Scherschel—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)

LIFE

Alfred Eisenstaedt—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

“Thirsty young football players drink water from a garden hose in Denver, Colorado, in 1939.”

LIFE

(Zim’s Note: The pictures below only show a portion of the actual cards, click on the pictures for the full view.)

Baseball cards were first issued during the 1880s when tobacco companies used them to promote sales. Although they also served periodically to stiffen soft cigarette packages, advertising was their primary function, for as early as 1887 cards and cigarettes were packed in more rigid “slide and shell” boxes which had no need for reinforcement. Although the cards vary in design and format, most are 2 5/8 x 1 1/2 inches, much smaller than today’s trading cards.

Information and photos via the Library of Congress’ Benjamin K. Edwards Collection.

Robert (Bob) Kurland

Georgeann Wells

From 1967 to 1976, it was illegal to slam-dunk in basketball games.

The first person to dunk regularly in games was Robert Kurland. Kurland played for the Oklahoma A&M and Phillips 66 Oilers in the 1940s. In 1961, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

The first slam dunk by a woman in a college game was Georgeann Wells on December 21, 1984. The 6-foot-7 West Virginia center made this historical dunk during a women’s basketball game between West Virginia and the University of Charleston. The first woman to dunk in a WNBA game was Lisa Leslie.

Albergotti, Reed, “The Dunk That Made History,” The Wall Street Journal, March 20, 2009. Article and Georgeann Wells’ photo can be found here.

Lowe, Charlote. History Fact-O-Pedia.” New York: Skyhorse Publishing, 2011, 241.

Robert Kurland’s information and photo can be found on the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame website