Sports

Baseball, basketball, boxing, soccer, football, hockey, golf, gymnastics, rugby, swimming, track, tennis...photos of people playing sports over the past century and a half.

No, we don't have photos of the first Olympic Games in 776 BC but since the invention of photography, sports activities have been popular subjects for photographers. Just look at the popularity of baseball and football cards! From horse races to football and baseball games to archery and swimming and golf and from professional adult teams to children's teams, the equipment and clothing may change but the joy of the people participating and those watching them remains the same.

Some fascinating facts about various sports:

• The first baseballs had something like a walnut or a rock in the center for weight. Yarn or string was then wrapped around the center.
• Olympic Gold medals aren't all - or even mostly - gold: they are at least 92.5% silver but must contain a minimum of 6 grams of gold.
• In baseball, lending a bat to a fellow player is a serious jinx.
• NFL referees also receive Super Bowl rings.
• Despite running about three hours, actual playing time in a Major League Baseball game has been clocked at under 18 minutes.
• In basketball, bouncing the ball before taking a foul shot is considered good luck.
• Former 49er quarterback Steve Young is the great-great-great-grandson of Brigham Young, second president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the founder of Salt Lake City.

These photos are as much fun - and sometimes as surprising - as watching an entire game!