The 1930s Sports: Headline Makers

Mildred "Babe" Didrikson (1911–1956) Mildred "Babe" Didrikson is generally thought to be the greatest female athlete who ever lived. One sportswriter said that short of winning the Kentucky Derby, there was nothing she couldn't do. She could hit home runs, score baskets, and was a record-breaking javelin thrower and hurdler. She was amateur and professional champion in many sports, including golf, and was named American Woman Athlete of the year in 1932. She died of cancer at the age of 54.

Lou Gehrig (1903–1941) Known as "The Iron Horse" because of his willingness to play through injuries, Lou Gehrig was the New York Yankees' star player of the 1930s. At the end of his career he had played 2,130 consecutive games, with a batting average of .340, including 493 home runs. In 1932, he hit four home runs in one game. His consecutive streak of games began on May 31, 1925, and ended on May 2, 1939. On that day he announced to the crowd at the Yankee Stadium that he had a rare muscle disease. He died on June 2, 1941.

Helen Wills Moody (1905–1998) Between 1923 and 1938 tennis star Helen Wills Moody won eight Wimbledon titles, a record that stood until 1990. She also won seven U.S. National titles and four French titles. Although the press described her as refined and pleasant, Moody was in fact a ruthless champion. In the late 1930s, dogged by injuries and past her prime, Moody managed to win several tournaments on determination alone. In 1935, at Wimbledon, she came from down 5-2 at match point against Helen Jacobs (1908–1997) to record one of the greatest comebacks of all time.

Bronko Nagurski (1908–1990) As the Chicago Bears' running back, Bronko Nagurski acquired a reputation for being unstoppable. His coach said the only way to stop him was to shoot him. He blocked punts and dragged players behind him for many yards. His formidable strength inspired stories of him pulling fenders off cars and knocking down walls. He was probably more intimidating than any player before his time. Retiring in 1937, Nagurski concentrated on professional wrestling, but he returned to football in 1943, playing for the Bears as a tackle until World War II (1938–45) ended.

Jesse Owens (1913–1980) Jesse Owens's talent as a sprinter emerged at an early age. He matched the world record of 9.4 seconds for the 100-yard dash in 1932 at the age of nineteen. No colleges would take him, however, until Ohio State recognized his ability. Even so, Owens had to work as an elevator attendant to pay his way. Owens became an international star at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, winning the long jump and the 100-meter and 200-meter races and running as a member of the winning 400-meter relay team. Owens was known as the "colored runner" throughout his career, but he is remembered as the finest runner of his generation.

Satchel Paige (1906–1982) Satchel Paige was the greatest pitcher of the 1930s and a huge box-office draw throughout the decade. Yet racial discrimination kept Paige out of the major leagues until 1948. In 1932 he joined the Pittsburgh Crawfords, the best black team of the period, and was well-known for his "Bee Ball." He joined the (white) Cleveland Indians in 1948, making the all-star team at the age of forty-six and pitched three innings for the Kansas City A's in 1965. He was elected to baseball's Hall of Fame in 1971.