The 1960s Sports: Headline Makers

Muhammad Ali (1942–) Boxer Muhammad Ali was one of the decade's most charismatic, controversial personalities. In 1964, he became heavyweight champ upon beating Sonny Liston (1932–1970). He knocked out Liston in a rematch and defeated a string of contenders. Then in 1967 Clay, who had earlier become a Black Muslim and changed his name to Muhammad Ali, was stripped of his title and banned from fighting for refusing induction into the U.S. military, claiming conscientious objector status. He regained the crown in 1974, when he knocked out George Foreman (1949–).

Jim Brown (1936–) Jim Brown was one of the most dominant NFL players of the 1960s. A fullback for the Cleveland Browns, he played in the league for only nine seasons, beginning in 1957, but he led the NFL in rushing eight times. He amassed 12,312 yards, rushed for 106 touchdowns, and scored 756 points. Brown was named Rookie of the Year in 1957, and the league's Most Valuable Player (MVP) the following season and in 1965. He rushed for more than 100 yards in 58 games, and reached 200 on four occasions.

[Image not available for copyright reasons]

Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) Roberto Clemente was the first Hispanic ballplayer elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. But during his lifetime, he was underappreciated by America's baseball fans and his contemporaries. He won four National League batting titles and twelve straight Gold Gloves for his fielding. One reason was because of prejudice against Hispanic ballplayers. On the final day of the 1972 season, Clemente smacked his three-thousandth major league hit. On New Year's Eve 1972, he was killed in a plane crash while flying relief supplies to Nicaraguan earthquake victims.

Sandy Koufax (1935–) Many hard-throwing young pitchers show much promise, but quickly fizzle in their major league careers. Not so Sandy Koufax. After a rocky start in the mid-1950s, he matured and became one of the all-time great hurlers. Between 1962 and 1966, Koufax pitched four no-hitters (including a perfect game), earned five earned run average titles, and won three Cy Young Awards and one MVP title. After winning 27 games in 1966, an arthritic elbow caused Koufax to retire, at the age of 30.

Vince Lombardi (1913–1970) Long a losing team, the Green Bay Packers hired New York Giants assistant Vince Lombardi as head coach in 1959. It was a smart move. Lombardi was a tough, bullying coach who goaded top performances out of his players. He remained with the team for nine seasons, leaving with a record of 89 and 24 and 2, six conference titles, five NFL championships, and two Super Bowl victories. Eleven of Lombardi's Packers made it to the Football Hall of Fame.

Al Oerter (1936–) During the 1960s Al Oerter excelled at discus throwing. He earned four world records, as well as four Olympic gold medals and was the first man to ever throw the discus more than 200 feet. Oerter participated in the 1956 Olympic games where he won his first gold medal. In 1957 Oerter was involved in a serious automobile accident that almost took his life. Although he regained his strength, he was never able to compete again without pain. Oerter won two more medals in the 1960 and 1964 Olympics. During the 1968 Olympics, Oerter threw the discus 212 feet, 6 inches to win his fourth gold medal.

Frank Robinson (1935–) Frank Robinson broke into the major leagues in 1956 and for the next decade starred for the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds then believed his career was on the downside, so they traded him to Baltimore. The Reds were mistaken, however. Not only did Robinson lead the Orioles to the World Championship in 1966, but he won the Triple Crown with 49 homeruns, 122 runs batted in, and a .316 batting average. Robinson was the first player to win MVP awards in both the American and National leagues, and he finished his career with 586 homeruns.

Bill Russell (1934–) When Bill Russell signed with the Boston Celtics in 1957, the team became a dominant force within the NBA during the 1960s. The Celtics won their first championship during Russell's rookie year, and in the next twelve years they won ten times more. Russell was named league MVP five times during those years. When Red Auderbach retired as the Celtics' coach in 1967, he named Russell to succeed him. He was the first black man in history to coach a major league professional team. Russell retired at the start of the 1970 season.