Tunnell, the First Colored Football Player
If the Yankees were famous for their history of amazing players such as Ruth, then the Giants are famous for their history of racial tolerance. The man to the left is Emlen Tunnell. In 1949, he became the first Afro-American player for the New York Giants, and the first Afro-American to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Tunnell was a defensive lineback and safetyman for the New York Giants and then for the Green Bay Packers. Like Ruth, Tunnell also established a lot of records during his NFL career: Interceptions, interception return yards, punts, and punt return yards. Not only was he named into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but also into the NFL’s 1950’s All-Decade Team, and was ranked 70 on The Sporting News’ Top Football Players of All Time list.
When mentioning something amazing about this player, we cannot only mention his records, but also the fact that he was an Afro-American. He was the first Afro-American to hold a professional NFL career and hold so much records. He’s also recognized as one of the most important players in the history of the sport. The NFL’s history of racial tolerance would continue, and shine a light in the middle of a world dominated by racial segregation.
London 1948: The Austere Games
In 1948, international athletes had something gathered in London for the XIV Olympic Games, between July 29th and August 14th of that year. A twelve-year hiatus between 1936 and 1948 due to World War II saw the cancellation of the 1940 Tokyo Games and the 1944 Helsinki Games. But, then, in 1948, after the end of the war, London was able to host the games after 12 years. London also became the first city to host the Games three times (1908, 1948, and 2012). This competition introduced the world to talented athletes, such as Bob Mathias, who became the youngest American to win Olympic gold at the decathlon, aged 17. Due to World War II, Germany and Japan were not invited to participate, while the Soviet Union was invited but chose not to assist. It was also the second time that a torch relay had been held for the Olympic Games, after Berlin 1936.
The Olympic Games, held since 1896, are not as popular as other sport pinnacles (FIFA World Cup, Super Bowl, etc.) However, these games are a representation of international cooperation, which is very important in the post-war world. This competition also gave the world of sport some of its most important representatives, and due to the post-war atmosphere, they came to be known as the Austere Games.
R.I.P. Ruth:
A Living Legend
In 1948, the world celebrated the London Olympics. But America also mourned the death of one of its greatest heroes that year: George Herman Ruth Jr., known to the world of sport as Babe Ruth. Ruth was possibly the greatest player in Major League Baseball. He started his career in the Boston Red Sox, but had his leap to fame during his career with the New York Yankees. During his career, he established various MLB records, such as career home runs, runs batted in, bases on balls, slugging percentage, on-base plus slugging, etc. He won 23 games in a season as pitcher twice, and was a member of 3 World Series with the Red Sox. As time passed, he became the most celebrated figure in the field and one of the most fundamental figures in the world of sports. By the time of his death, he had left a legacy for many.
Ruth was popular during the 1910’s-1920’s period, but after his death, a lot of people wanted to be like him. His career inspired those of other professional MLB players, such as Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds. Also, in 2018, he was awarded the Medal of Presidental Freedom by the US Government, alongside Elvis Presley, as the government noted his relevance in American culture. Ruth certainly has left a legacy for baseball, sports, and the postwar world.
NBA: The Merger that Changed Sports History
On the photo to the left, representatives from the National Basketball League (NBL) and the Basketball Association of America (BAA) are shaking hands with each other. They’re reaching the agreement of a merger between the two leagues. By the time, the BAA was greatly favored over the NBL due to higher salaries and bigger arenas. Pressured, the NBL decided that a merger was the best solution to the problem. As a result of the merger, the National Basketball Association (NBA) was established in 1949. Since that year, it has become the primary professional basketball association in America and worldwide.
This historical moment has resulted in a great era for the sport of basketball. The NBA has produced some of the greatest teams, such as the Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knickerbockers, Philadelphia 76ers and the Sacramento Kings. At the same time, it has produced some of the greatest basketball players, such as Michael Jordan during the 80’s and 90’s. Of course, without the merger, this wouldn’t have been possible.