Mamie Johnson Professional Pitcher
She was given that name derisively by an opposing player: she struck him out.
From This is True for 24 December 2017
sports
Sport figures, including coaches and managers
Sammy Lee Olympic champion
Sammy wasn’t a friend of mine, but he was a friend of my mother.
From This is True for 4 December 2016
Ken Sailors The jumpy
One specific person actually invented the jump shot in basketball: Sailors.
From This is True for 31 January 2016
Alice Coachman Olympic medalist
The mayor refused to shake a Black woman’s hand, even a local heroine’s.
From This is True for 13 July 2014
Tom Sims Snowboard inventor
Sims came up with the idea for the snowboard, and then made it happen.
From This is True for 16 September 2012
Peter Lunn Skiing spymaster
Lunn was a spymaster, but that was not his passion.
From This is True for 4 December 2011
George Nissen Supertramper
Nissen invented the Trampoline, and lived to see it become an Olympic sport.
From This is True for 18 April 2010
Bill Powell Equal-opportunity golfer
Powell opened up the world of golf to the people excluded from playing it: well over half of all citizens.
From This is True for 3 January 2010
Rusty Kanokogi Seventh-degree black belt
Kanokogi shamed the Olympics (and the YMCA) into letting women compete in Judo.
From This is True for 22 November 2009
Glenn Sundby Gymnastics pioneer
Sundby co-founded the U.S. Gymnastics Federation.
From This is True for 22 March 2009