1929 - Sports

Sports

English racetrack bookmakers at Newmarket rage at the installation of an electromechanical totalizator that gives odds 40 percent longer than those offered by the bookies. Invented in 1913 by English-born Australian engineer Sir George (Alfred) Julius, now 57, the tote introduces parimutuel betting and will be installed at U.S. tracks beginning in 1931 by British Automatic Totalisator, Ltd.

Long-distance walker Edward P. Weston dies at New York May 12 at age 90.

Jean Cochet wins in men's singles at Wimbledon, Helen Wills in women's singles; Bill Tilden wins in men's singles at Forest Hills, Wills in women's singles.

Australian cricketer Donald G. Bradman, 21, achieves a world record by scoring 452 runs not out in a single afternoon. The wiry, five-foot-seven-inch, self-taught athlete begins a career that will continue until 1948, dominating the sport with a career average of 99.94 runs per innings.

The New York Yankees become the first team to wear numbers on the backs of their uniforms but win only 88 of their 154 games. Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics win the World Series, defeating the Chicago Cubs 4 games to 1.

The football used in U.S. intercollegiate championship play is reduced in girth to between 22 and 22½ inches.

Yale sophomore Albert J. "Albie" Booth Jr., 21, comes off the bench in the second quarter of the Army game October 26 with Army leading 13 to 0 and quickly scores 14 points to give Yale the lead. Weighing only 144 pounds and not especially swift of foot, the five-foot-six-inch halfback then scores another touchdown on a 70-foot punt return, Yale wins 21 to 13, and sportswriters hail Booth as "Little Boy Blue."

The 4-year-old New York Giants win the National Football League championship with a 10-to-3 won-lost record, but professional football has few fans.