Baseball, basketball, boxing, soccer, football, hockey, golf, gymnastics, rugby, swimming, track, tennis . . . the kinds of sports we participate in are innumerable. These are 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!
A photo of James Naismith. He created the game of Basket Ball in 1891 at the... more
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on Mar 28, 2017 by
A photo of Gerald McGee
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on Feb 24, 2017 by
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in France in .
A photo of 3 Olympic skaters in the 1924 Olympics in France. They are Herma... more
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on Feb 1, 2017 by
A photo of two of the players in the All-American Girls Professional Ball... more
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on Jun 17, 2016 by
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in John Day, Grant County, OR in .
A photo of Horace Lucas and his high school football team in John Day, Grant,... more
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on Jan 19, 2016 by
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in .
A photo of the Hi-Y Champs 1945-46 Pitman, NJ. 1st row-Ken Reeves, Francis... more
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on Jul 15, 2015 by
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in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA in .
A photo of "Indian Red" Lopez, Ernie, at the LA Gym training
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on Jul 2, 2015 by
A photo of a Wilson or Dowling boy in football gear, California
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on May 30, 2015 by
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in .
A photo of Karl Fredrik Albert Thommessen as a gymnast. Karl Thommessen is... more
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on Apr 20, 2015 by
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in Hammond, Lake County, IN in .
Jimmy Clabby posing circa 1910-1915. Photo is captioned: "Jimmy Clabby... more
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on Dec 31, 2014 by
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at Churchill Downs,
700 Central Ave, Louisville, KY on .
Beautiful thoroughbred racehorse Paul Jones w/ jockey Ted Rice after winning... more
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on May 2, 2014 by
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in .
A photo of Nancy Lena (Walker) Dyer
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on Oct 29 by
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in Dalton, Sumner County, KS.
A photo of Joseph Randall of Dalton, KS - Born: December 8 1892
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on Jul 5 by
The first winner of what became known as the Triple Crown - winner of the... more
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on Jun 9 by
A photo of James Francis Thorpe
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on May 19 by
A photo of James Francis Thorpe
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on May 19 by
A photo of Steven Wayne Golowski
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on Apr 11 by
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in .
A photo of a polo player - from Suitcase in the attic
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on Mar 3 by
A photo of Chris Mazdzer in 2010
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on Feb 11 by
A photo of Chris Mazdzer. At the 2018 Winter Olympics, he won the Silver... more
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on Feb 11 by
A photo of "Rocky Graziano" and old buddy Jake winking for the press.
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on Jan 29 by
A photo of "Rocky Graziano"
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on Jan 29 by
A photo of "Rocky Graziano" - Thomas Rocco Barbella
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on Jan 29 by
A photo of Arthur Ashe and Gerald Ford
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on Jan 23 by
A photo of Arthur Ashe
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on Jan 23 by
A photo of Arthur Ashe
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on Jan 23 by
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in .
Jets vs Raiders, 1968 - the last two minutes of the game, in which the... more
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on Jan 17 by
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in Baltimore, MD in .
Found this photo on a collage in Antique Bookstore Old Ellicott City,... more
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on Dec 4, 2017 by
A photo of Alberto G Cuen, Boxer in Los Angeles Ca who went from local to... more
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on Nov 6, 2017 by
A photo of Wright Tharrett
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on Nov 5, 2017 by
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at Colby tennis courts,
Waterville, ME USA .
Silas B Dunklee at right, coach
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