It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words and without any doubt it is true. Pictures are the best source to explain any plot or remember any memory. Whenever we look at the pictures that were taken on any special event, an unintentional smile runs on our faces. So we took advantage of this and compiled some events with some memorable photos in sports history. Some of these will put a smile on your face while some of them are destroyed careers for the players.
Memorable Photos in Sports History
The Baseball Game
On August 18, 1923, Yankees batter, Babe Ruth, was on his way to an exhibition game and stopped by Syracuse, NY. There was a boy’s baseball match going on at Burnet Park, so Babe Ruth stood by and umpired a few innings. As Babe Ruth began to leave, boys rushed up to him and started pulling at his coat, but Babe Ruth just smiled.
Record-Breaking
Due to the intolerable heat in Rome, the 1960 Olympics had to hold their marathon at night. Abebe Bikila, from Ethiopia, not only set a world record, but he was also the first black African Olympic champion, and he did it barefoot. Successfully defending his title, and breaking his own world record, Bikila ran again in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
On Top of the World
During the 1960 World Series, a climactic contest ensued between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the New York Yankees, held at the University of Pittsburgh. The Pirates took the title, putting an end to their 20-year losing strip. Pirates’ fans, who were watching the match on top of the University’s Cathedral of Learning, became overwhelmed with emotion by the victory.
Glitter and Grit
The Texas Track Club was one of the best all-girl track teams in Texas during the 1960s, but something else brought them recognition. The girls’ coach, Margaret “Flamin’ Mamie” Ellison, asked the girls to wear lots of makeup, have out-of-this-world hairstyles, and wear striking attire. The attention they got helped pave the way for women’s track in America.
Take a Chill Pill
January 15, 1967, was the day that the first-ever Super Bowl was played. The Kansas City Chiefs were beaten by the Green Bay Packer, with a score of 35-10. The quarterback of the Chiefs, Len Dawson, seemed to be very comfortable since he spent the game smoking cigarettes and drinking Fresca. He would lead the Chiefs to a Super Bowl victory and three AFL Championships!
A Failed Attempt
American boxer and basketball player, Wilt Chamberlain, challenged Muhammad Ali to a boxing match for his heavyweight title in 1967. It was to be held at the Madison Square Garden. Chamberlain and Ali were invited by ABC to announce their fight during a special sports segment. As it turns out, even though they had already recorded the segment, Ali’s manager passed on the deal and the fight never happened.
Go Larry Go
The Indiana University Hoosiers gave Larry Bird a scholarship in 1974. This picture is of Larry Bird when he received the Eastman Award for being the Distinguished Player of the Year in 1979. That was the year he became a member of the Boston Celtics. Bird later moved on to become MVP three consecutive times and a 12-time NBA All-Star.
A New Horizon
In 2013, the World Aquatics Championships were held in Barcelona, Spain. Previously, Dubai was supposed to host the tournament, but they retired in 2010 and Barcelona won the new bid. The high diving part of the Championships was held in Port Vell, with a striking backdrop that included many medieval cathedrals and the Torre Glories. This famous photo from sports history shows divers in action.
Knockout Kick
After strongly transitioning from Judo Olympian to UFC fighter, Ronda Rousey went through 12 Championship fights entirely undefeated. In November 2015, Rousey defended her title for the seventh time against veteran MMA fighter Holly Holm. Rousey was knocked out by a strong kick to the head in the second round, and Holm became the new champion.
Such Silly Peeps
In 2013 a Reddit user uploaded this photo and told the story behind it. Apparently, Andre the Giant, who was famous for paying for people’s meals, caught Arnold Schwarzenegger trying to pay for his own meal on the set of ‘Conan The Barbarian.’ Arnold approved the story! He even said that Wilt Chamberlain acted like he was going to pay and helped Andre bring him outside.
Smile Everyone
The Summer Olympics in 1992 was held in Barcelona, Spain. This is one of the memorable photos in sports history of the 4×100 relay race. Carl Lewis, a member of the U.S. team, ran the fastest 100 meters ever at the time. The silver and bronze medals were taken by Nigeria’s Davidson Ezinwa and Jorge Aguilera from Cuba respectively. Though there is a difference in the medals, one thing is common and that is a smile.
Career-Ending Weights
Austrian weightlifter, Matthias Steiner, got German nationality so he could compete for Germany. Steiner won the gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. In 2012, Steiner tried lifting 432 pounds to defend his title at the London Olympics. But Steiner lost control of his balance and the barbell hit him in the neck. Unluckily, due to the injury, he was obliged to quit the match and he ended up retiring from the sport a year later.
