USA by Year: 1950s Sports Trivia

1. In September 1950, who defeated the great Joe Louis for the heavyweight boxing championship?

From Quiz The 1950s: Sports in America

Answer: Ezzard Charles

Nicknamed the "Brown Bomber", Louis first gained the heavyweight championship in 1937, and kept it throughout the 1940s. Joe retired, but due to IRS audits, he had to come back to the ring. On September 27, Charles and Louis went at it for the title at Yankee Stadium. Charles won the 15-round bout in a unanimous decision.

From Quiz The 1950s: Sports in America

Answer: New York Giants

Thomson's shot came in the bottom of the ninth inning in a playoff game between the Dodgers and Giants to decide the National League pennant. The Giants went on to lose in the World Series against the Yankees.

From Quiz The 1950s: Sports in America

Answer: Dallas Texans

The Texans were a rebirth of the New York Yankees who lasted from 1946-1949. The Texans were led by quarterback Frank Tripucka who threw for 769 yards. Coached by Jimmy Phelan, the Texans were never shutout in a game in 1952, but finished the season in last place at 1-11. The team folded after its first season in Texas.

From Quiz 1950s All-American Sports

Answer: He was recalled to active duty as a naval pilot in the Korean War

Williams, like many other soldiers who were recalled for service in a second war, was resentful that inactive pilots were taken before those in active reserve. During this time he served as wingman to fellow naval pilot John Glenn. When he returned to the Red Sox in August, 1953 he batted .407 for the remainder of the season and had 13 home runs. His play was affected by age and injuries for the remainder of his career, but he finished on top, hitting a home run his last time at-bat in 1960, a phenomenal feat for a 42-year old player who had twice missed years of play to serve his country. NBC sportsman Bob Costas said of Williams, that his prowess not only at the plate but also as a fisherman and naval hero made him the kind of character who would have been played by John Wayne, to which Williams is said to have simply replied, "Yea, I know".

From Quiz The 1950s: Sports in America

Answer: New York Yankees

With Hall of Fame greats galore in the names of Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio and a host of others, the Yankees ran their streak from 1949-1953. They defeated the Phillies, Giants, and Dodgers three times.

From Quiz 1950s All-American Sports

Answer: Win all four Grand Slam tennis matches in a calendar year

Maureen Connolly Brinker (1934 - 1969) was the the second person, after Don Budge, to win all four Grand Slam tennis events, Wimbledon, US, French and Australian Opens in the same year. She won the US Championship (now the US Open) at the age of 16, which at the time made her the youngest woman to have done so. She has held the record (tied with Martina Navratilova, Margaret Court and Budge) for the most consecutive Grand Slam wins at 6. "Little Mo's" career was cut short by a horse riding accident in 1955, and she died of cancer when she was just 34.

From Quiz The 1950s: Sports in America

Answer: Babe Didrikson Zaharias

After her Olympic endeavors, Babe Didrikson married professional wrestler George Zaharias, then took up golf. After being diagnosed with cancer, and after surgery in 1953, Babe returned to golf to win her third U.S. Women's Open and a Vare Trophy in 1954. She was also the first recipient of the Ben Hogan Award. After serving as LPGA President from 1952-1955, she lost her battle with cancer and died in 1956.

From Quiz The 1950s: Sports in America

Answer: Rocky Marciano

Marciano and Moore went at it in September. Moore had won 20 consecutive fights which led to this heavyweight championship bout. Marciano beat up Moore rather bad in the eighth round, then knocked him out in the ninth. Rocky retired after the fight with his perfect professional boxing record of 49-0.

From Quiz 1950s All-American Sports

Answer: Howard "Hopalong" Cassady

Cassady is said to have received "Hopalong" tag while a freshman at Ohio State. A local sportswriter wrote that in his first game, "he hopped all over the field like the performing cowboy", the comic book cowboy 'Hopalong Cassidy' made famous by actor William Boyd in films of the 1930s-40s. In addition to being named an All-American while playing for the Buckeyes, Cassady also lettered in baseball. In his official Heisman.com biography, he is said to have won by the largest margin at the time, beating out fellow gridiron great Paul Hornung.

From Quiz The 1950s: Sports in America

Answer: Pat Flaherty

Juan Manuel Fangio won a total of five F1 championships. His first was in 1951, then four from 1954-1957. Pat Flaherty won the 1956 Indianapolis 500 over runner-up Sam Hanks. Flaherty raced in five Indy 500s in his career. The 1956 race was the first which was governed by the United States Automobile Club (USAC).

From Quiz The 1950s: Sports in America

Answer: St. Louis Hawks

The Celtics defeated the Hawks four games to three. The Boston club would go on to lose to the Hawks in the 1958 NBA Finals, then run off eight consecutive NBA titles for their Celtic fans.

From Quiz 1950s All-American Sports

Answer: Jockey

Bill Hartack, who is said to have disliked the name 'Willie' as it reminded him of his better known rival, Willie Shoemaker, won the Kentucky Derby five times. At the time of Hartack's death in 2007 this feat was equalled only by Eddie Arcaro. Hartack twice won two out of the three races of the Triple Crown, winning the Preakness a total of three times and the Belmont Stakes once. When he was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 1959 at the age of 26 he was the youngest jockey to be so honored.

From Quiz The 1950s: Sports in America

Answer: Montreal Canadiens

After taking care of the Black Hawks in the semi-finals, the Canadiens disposed of the Maple Leafs four games to one. Left winger Dickie Moore led the team with 96 points along with center Jean Beliveau's 91.

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