1950 - Sports

Sports

The Frank J. Zamboni Co. is founded by Utah-born California ice-skating rink operator Zamboni, 49, who has designed and patented the first self-propelled, single-operator machine to resurface ice. Skater Sonja Henie has seen the machine and ordered one, Zamboni has driven it to Chicago for her, and by 1954 he will have sold his machines to the Boston Garden, Boston Arena, Worcester Arena, Providence Arena, and other venues.

English jockey Gordon Richards rides his 4,000th winner May 4, the day before his 46th birthday, setting a world record that will stand until 1956.

J. Edward "Budge" Patty, 26, (U.S.) wins in men's singles at Wimbledon, Louise Brough in women's singles; Arthur Larsen, 25, wins in men's singles at Forest Hills, Mrs. duPont in women's singles.

Florence Chadwick, 31, swims the English Channel August 20 and beats the record set by Gertrude Ederle in 1926. The San Diego stenographer crosses from France to England in 13 hours, 20 minutes (see 1951).

The New York Yankees win the World Series, defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4 games to 0. The Phillies have won the National League pennant on the last day of the regular season, defeating the Brooklyn Dodgers with a 10th inning three-run homer by Dick Sisler.

Baseball's Negro League ends as major league teams sign up more black players. North Carolina-born Pittsburgh Home Grays slugger Walter Fenner "Buck" Leonard, 43, hangs up his spikes after 16 years with the Grays, having helped that team win nine Negro League pennants.

Uruguay wins the fourth World Cup football (soccer) championship, edging Brazil 5 to 4 in the first competition since 1938. Some 200,000 spectators fill the three tiers of Rio's unfinished Maracana Stadium for the opening games and the finals; Germany is excluded.

Scottish golfer James Braid dies at London November 27 at age 80, having won the British Open five times, the French Open once, and designed several golf courses.