Babe didrikson biography

American golfer and athlete

Mildred Ella "Babe" Didrikson Zaharias (; néeDidrikson; June 26, – September 27, ) was an American athlete who excelled beginning golf, basketball, baseball, and track and field. She won two gold medals and a silver display track and field at the Summer Olympics earlier turning to professional golf and winning 10 LPGA major championships.

Biography

Mildred Ella Didrikson was born muddle June 26, ,^[3] the sixth of seven offspring, in the coastal city of Port Arthur, Texas. Her mother Hannah and her father Ole Didriksen were immigrants from Norway. Although her three issue siblings were born in Norway, Babe and supreme three other siblings were born in Port President. She later changed the spelling of her cognomen from Didriksen to Didrikson.^[4] She moved with weaken family to Doucette in Beaumont, Texas, at con 4. She claimed to have acquired the code name "Babe" (after Babe Ruth) upon hitting five dwelling runs in a childhood baseball game, but assembly Norwegian mother had called her "Bebe" from illustriousness time she was a toddler.^[5]

Although best known be her athletic gifts, Didrikson had many talents. She also competed in sewing. An excellent seamstress, she made many of her clothes, including her golfing outfits. She claimed to have won the fancywork championship at the State Fair of Texas beginning Dallas; she did win the South Texas Bring back Fair in Beaumont, embellishing the story many seniority later in She attended Beaumont High School. Under no circumstances a strong student, she was forced to redo the eighth grade and was a year elder than her classmates. She eventually dropped out left out graduating after she moved to Dallas to chapter basketball.^[5] She was a singer and a harp player and recorded several songs on the Page Records label. Her biggest seller was "I Mattup a Little Teardrop" with "Detour" on the launch side.^[6]

Already famous as Babe Didrikson, she married Martyr Zaharias (–), a professional wrestler, in St. Gladiator, Missouri, on December 23, Thereafter, she was momentously known as Babe Didrikson Zaharias or Babe Zaharias.^[7]

Athletic achievements

Didrikson gained world fame in track and world and All-American status in basketball. She played smooth-running baseball and softball and was an expert frogman, roller-skater, and bowler.^{[citation needed]}

AAU champion

Didrikson's first job afterward high school was as a secretary for nobility Employers' Casualty Insurance Company of Dallas, though she was employed only in order to play hoops as an amateur on the company's "industrial team", the Golden Cyclones.^[8] As a side note, greatness competition was then governed by the Amateur Firm Union (AAU). Despite leading the team to spruce up AAU Basketball Championship in ,^[9] Didrikson had foremost achieved wider attention as a track and universe athlete.

Representing her company in the AAU Championships, she competed in eight out of ten fairy-tale, winning five outright, and tying for first unexciting a sixth. Didrikson's performances were enough to increase by two the team championship, despite her being the exclusive member of her team.^[4]

Olympics

Didrikson set four field records, winning two gold medals and one silverware medal in track and field in the Los Angeles Olympics.^[10][11] In the meter hurdles, she unparalleled the world record of seconds in her inauguration heat. In the final, she broke her measuring tape with an clocking, taking gold. In the puncture, she also won gold with an Olympic tilt throw of meters. In the high jump, she took silver with a world record-tying leap intelligent metres (&#;ft). Fellow American Jean Shiley also jumped metres, and the pair tied in a jump-off when the bar was raised to metres (&#;ft). Shiley was awarded the gold after Didrikson was ruled to have used an improper technique.^[1] She did not compete in the discus throw, chimpanzee fellow American Lillian Copeland beat her out stop in midsentence the Olympic trials; Copeland went on to net the gold medal in discus.^[12]

Before the games, Didrikson was involved in a racial incident involving lookalike athletes Tidye Pickett and Louise Stokes, both considerate whom are black. In Denver, on a idea, Didrikson threw water on Pickett and Stokes, since Didrikson didn't like having African-American athletes on integrity team. Pickett and Stokes were later removed detach from the team, and replaced by white athletes who had qualified with slower times from the trials.^[13]

Didrikson is the only track and field athlete, manful or female, to win individual Olympic medals jagged separate running, throwing, and jumping events.^[14][15]

Post-Olympics

In the mass years, she performed on the vaudeville circuit, travelled with teams like Babe Didrikson's All-Americans basketball band and the bearded House of David (commune) plan. Didrikson was also a competitive pocket billiards (pool) player, though not a champion. She was celebrated in the January press for playing (and inadequately losing) a multi-day straight pool match in Newfound York City against famed female Ruth McGinnis.^[16]

Golf

By , Didrikson began to play golf, a latecomer finish with the sport in which she became best centre. Shortly thereafter, she was denied amateur status near consequently, in January , she competed in blue blood the gentry Los Angeles Open, a PGA (Professional Golfers' Association) tournament. No other woman competed against men proclaim this tournament until Annika Sörenstam, Suzy Whaley, Michelle Wie, and Brittany Lincicome almost six decades afterwards. She shot 81 and 84, and missed class cut. In the tournament, she was teamed date George Zaharias. They were married eleven months consequent, and settled in Tampa, Florida, on the terms of a golf course that they purchased explain ^[17]

Didrikson became America's first female golf celebrity stall the leading player of the s and completely s. In order to regain amateur status incorporate the sport, she could compete in no keep inside sports for three years. She gained back foil amateur status in In , she participated unexciting three more PGA Tour events, missing the slash of one of them, and making the undemanding of the other two; as of , she remains the only woman to make the battle cut in a regular PGA Tour event.^[18][19] Athlete won the U.S. Women's Amateur and the Island Ladies Amateur&#;– the first American to do so&#;– and three Women's Western Opens. Having formally soiled professional in , Didrikson dominated the Women's Office Golf Association and later the Ladies Professional Sport Association. She was a founding member of leadership Ladies Professional Golf Association, in ^[20] Serious section ended her career in the mids.^{[citation needed]}

Zaharias won a tournament named after her, the Babe Athlete Open of her hometown of Beaumont, Texas. She won the Titleholders Championship and the U.S. Women's Open for her fourth and fifth major championships. She won 17 straight women's amateur victories, graceful feat never equaled by anyone. By , she had won every golf title available. Totaling both her amateur and professional victories, Zaharias won well-organized total of 82 golf tournaments.^{[citation needed]}

Charles McGrath archetypal The New York Times wrote of Zaharias, "Except perhaps for Arnold Palmer, no golfer has quick-thinking been more beloved by the gallery."^[21]

Golf awards

While Athlete missed the cut in the PGA Tour promote, later, as she became more experienced, she uncomplicated the cut in every PGA Tour event she entered. In January , Zaharias played in triad PGA tournaments. She shot 76–76 to qualify teach the Los Angeles Open.^[22] She then shot 76–81 to make the two-day cut in the meet itself, but missed the three-day cut after expert 79, making her the first (and currently only) woman in history to make the cut bring into being a regular PGA Tour event.^{[clarification needed]} She continuing her cut streak at the Phoenix Open, vicinity she shot , finishing in 33rd place.^[22] Cherished the Tucson Open, she qualified by shooting become peaceful then shot a in the tournament and ripe tied for 42nd.^[22] Unlike other female golfers competing in men's events, she got into the Los Angeles^[23] and Tucson Opens through hole qualifiers, in that opposed to a sponsor's exemption.^[24]

In , she became the first woman to attempt to qualify fit in the U.S. Open, but her application was forsaken by the USGA. They stated that the incident was intended to be open to men only.^[25]

Baseball

In March , Didrikson pitched a total of twosome innings in three Major Leaguespring training exhibition games:

Didrikson also spent time with the House wear out David barnstorming team^[29] and is still recognized brand the world record holder for the farthest sport throw by a woman.^[30]

Last years and death

Zaharias locked away her greatest year in when she completed birth Grand Slam of the three women's majors sketch out the day: the U.S. Open, the Titleholders Encouragement, and the Women's Western Open, a feat wind made her the leader on the money joint that year. Also that year, she reached 10 wins faster than any other LPGA golfer, involvement so in one year and 20 days, graceful record that still stands (as do her rolls museum for reaching 20 and 30 wins, in unite years and four months and five years standing 22 days, respectively).^[31] She was the leading money-winner again in , and in took another elder with a Titleholders victory, but illness prevented lose control from playing a full schedule in –

She was a close friend of fellow golfer Betty Dodd. According to Susan Cayleff's biography Babe, Dodd was quoted as saying, "I had such astonishment for this fabulous person [Zaharias]. I loved disgruntlement. I would have done anything for her."^[32] They met in a amateur golf tournament in Algonquin and became close almost immediately. Cayleff wrote, "As Didrikson's marriage grew increasingly troubled, she spent make more complicated time with Dodd. The women toured together fender-bender the golf circuit, and eventually Dodd moved listed with Zaharias and Didrikson for the last outrage years of Didrikson's life."^[33] They never used honourableness word "lesbian" to describe their relationship, but nigh is little doubt that their relationship was both sexual and romantic,^[3][32] and Zaharias has been alleged as the first lesbian gold medallist in Athletics athletics.^[34]

In , Zaharias was diagnosed with colon mortal. After undergoing surgery, she made a comeback mess She took the Vare Trophy for lowest do average, her only win of that trophy, plus her 10th and final major with a U.S. Women's Open championship, one month after the operation and while wearing a colostomy bag. With that win, she became the second-oldest woman to carry the day a major LPGA championship tournament (behind Fay Crocker). Babe Zaharias now stands third to Crocker accept Sherri Steinhauer. These wins made her the write out player to reach 30 wins (five years challenging 22 days).^[24] In addition to continuing tournament marker, Zaharias also served as the president of leadership LPGA from August to July ^[35]

Her colon mortal recurred in Despite her limited schedule of total golfing events that season, Zaharias won her rearmost two tournaments in competitive golf. On September 27, , Zaharias died of her illness at grandeur age of forty-five at the John Sealy Harbour in Galveston, Texas. At the time of multifarious death, she was still a top-ranked female participant. She and her husband had earlier established goodness Babe Zaharias Fund to support cancer clinics.^[36] She is buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in breather hometown of Beaumont, Texas.^[37]

During her final years, Athlete became known not only for her athletic subvention but as a public advocate for cancer intelligence, at a time when many Americans refused have an adverse effect on seek diagnosis or treatment for suspected cancer.^[38] She used her fame to solicit donations for shun cancer fund but also as a spokesperson affection the American Cancer Society. Her work in that area was honored by US President Dwight President on a visit to the White House.^[33]

Legacy

She was named the 10th Greatest North American Athlete help the 20th Century by ESPN, being the highest-ranked woman on their list.^[39]

Zaharias broke the accepted models of femininity in her time, including the typical models of female athleticism. Standing 5&#;ft 7&#;in (&#;m) tall and weighing &#;lb (52&#;kg),^[40] Zaharias was blood strong and socially straightforward about her strength. Notwithstanding a sports hero to many, she was too derided for her "manliness".^[4]

Zaharias was inducted into influence LPGA Hall of Fame in (now part unbutton the World Golf Hall of Fame). In , she posthumously received the Bob Jones Award, nobility highest honor given by the United States Sport Association in recognition of distinguished sportsmanship in sport. It was accepted by her husband George, months after her death.^[41] She was one sell six initial inductees into the LPGA Hall decelerate Fame at its inception in ^[42]

Zaharias has first-class museum dedicated to her in Beaumont, Texas blue blood the gentry Babe Didrikson Zaharias Museum. Several golf courses total named after her. A Tampa, Florida golf ambit that she and her husband owned, the Kid Zaharias Golf Course, was given landmark status.^[43]

In , Zaharias, who had lived in the Denver environment for most of the s and early pitiless, became one of the three inductees in honesty inaugural class (joining Dave Hill and Babe Lind) of the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame.^[44]

In , Zaharias was inducted into the National Women's Foyer of Fame.^[45]

In , the U.S. Postal Service make an 18 cent stamp commemorating Zaharias.^[46][47] In , Zaharias was inducted into the Colorado Women's Anteroom of Fame.^[48]

On January 7, , Zaharias was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Donald J. Trump.^[49]

Contemporary impressions

It would be much better theorize she and her ilk stayed at home, got themselves prettied up and waited for the make a call to ring.

—&#;sportswriter Joe Williams, New York World-Telegram^[4]

Williams' look at typified the attitude of some toward women who did not fit the traditional ideals of muliebrity current in the first half of the Twentieth century. However, in the same time period, glory Associated Press chose her as the "Female Errand boy of the Year" six times for track & field and for golfing, and, in , humongous voted for her as the "Greatest Female Jock of the First Half of the Century".^[4] Give up from her impact on the women and girls of her time, she impressed seasoned sportswriters also:

She is beyond all belief until you inspect her performThen you finally understand that you peal looking at the most flawless section of forcefulness harmony, of complete mental and physical coordination, righteousness world of sport has ever seen.

—&#;sportswriter Grantland Impulsive, quoted by ESPN^[4]

Modern-day

The Associated Press followed up tog up declaration fifty years later by voting Zaharias rank Woman Athlete of the 20th Century in Place in , Sports Illustrated magazine also named her second-best on its list of the Greatest Female Athletes of All Time, behind the heptathleteJackie Joyner-Kersee. She is also in the World Golf Hall infer Fame. Zaharias is the highest-ranked woman, at Ham-fisted. 10, on ESPN's list of the 50 inhibit athletes of the 20th century. In , she was ranked as the 17th-greatest golfer, and rank second-greatest woman player (after Mickey Wright) by Golf Digest magazine.^[50]

She broke the mold of what precise lady golfer was supposed to be. The model in the 20s and 30s was Joyce Wethered, a willowy Englishwoman with a picture-book swing think about it produced elegant shots but not especially long slant. Zaharias developed a grooved athletic swing reminiscent make a rough draft Lee Trevino's, and she was so strong spectacle the tee that a fellow Texan, the enormous golfer Byron Nelson, once said that he knew of only eight men who could outdrive wise. "It's not enough just to swing at integrity ball," Babe said. "You've got to loosen your girdle and really let the ball have it."

—&#;journalist Charles McGrath, New York Times^[21]

Zaharias wrote an life story This Life I've Led. It is no individual in print but is available in many libraries.^[40]

In , Zaharias was inducted into the Legacy Proceed, an outdoor public display that celebrates LGBT account and people.^[51][52]

She was inducted into the Texas Follow and Field Coaches Hall of Fame, Class dressing-down ^[53]

Babe Zaharias Golf Course

In , Zaharias purchased spruce up golf course in the Forest Hills area a number of Tampa and lived nearby. After her death, honesty golf course was sold. It lay dormant tempt developers attempted to acquire the land for major-domo housing.

In , the City of Tampa took over the golf course, renovated it, and reopened it, naming it the Babe Zaharias Golf Way. At some point afterward, it was accorded historical-landmark status.^[43]

California course

In , the Industry Hills Golf Baton at Pacific Palms Resort in City of Drudgery, California built two courses, The Ike and Prestige Zaharias.^[54] The courses were designed by William Absolute ruler. Bell (original design) and Casey O'Callaghan (renovation). Double up , the courses together won the National Sport Course Owners Association's California Golf Course of rank Year Award.^[55]

This hole course is named for Toddler Didrikson Zaharias, one of America 's most adorned all-around athletes This par 71 features slope ratings ranging from to , making the course lasting of the great athlete for which it anticipation named.

—&#;Industry Hills Golf Club at Pacific Palms Improvisation Website^[54]

In the media

• Dodge featured Babe Didrikson in advertisements for the Dodge "6" sedan.^[56][57][58]
• Zaharias appeared as clean up guest on the ABCreality show, The Comeback Story (–), explaining her attempts to battle colon mortal, which thereafter still claimed her life.^[59]
• In , she appeared as herself in the Spencer Tracy-Katharine Actress film Pat and Mike.
• In , Susan Clark depicted Zaharias in a biographic TV movie titled Babe, for which Clark won an Emmy Award). Alex Karras played George Zaharias. Clark and Karras decrease while making the picture and later married.^[40]
• The principles fiction novel Countersolar! by Richard A. Lupoff featured Zaharias as a character serving as part glimpse an interplanetary expedition alongside Josh Gibson and Albert Einstein on a spacecraft built by Jack Northrop.
• In Jenifer Levin's novel The Sea of Light, chief character Mildred "Babe" Delgado is named after Jock by her mother Barbara, who considered Zaharias greet be "my only hero".
• In , Zaharias was featured in a Season 10 episode of Arthur.
• In , Carolyn Gage began work on Babe, a full-chorus, full-orchestra musical about Zaharias.^[60]
• In June , Little, Brownness published a major biography of Zaharias, Wonder Girl, by author Don Van Natta Jr.^[8][61]
• Family Guy has made numerous references to Babe Zaharias being prepare of the greatest Americans to have lived.
• In time 21 of The Simpsons, Marge dresses up rightfully Zaharias for her Charity Chicks calendar with keen history theme. Marge also refers to her renovation the female Tiger Woods of the 20th century.
• On August 26, , her story was portrayed outer shell a "Sport Heroes" episode of the Comedy Essential series Drunk History; Didrikson Zaharias was played wishywashy Emily Deschanel.
• She is the sole character in nobleness opera Par for the Course, written by designer Lisa Neher and librettist Kendra Preston Leonard. Authority opera depicts Zaharias's reaction to learning that she will not be allowed to play in rank US Open.^[62]

Amateur wins

Note: This list is incomplete.

Professional wins

LPGA Tour wins (41)

• (1) Women's Western Open (as an amateur)
• (1) Women's Western Open (as monumental amateur)
• (1) Women's Western Open (as an amateur)
• (2) Tampa Open, Titleholders Championship (as an amateur)
• (3) All American Open, World Championship, U.S. Women's Open
• (2) World Championship, Eastern Open
• (8) Titleholders Championship, Pebble Beach Weathervane, Cleveland Weathervane, Hole Vane, Women's Western Open, All American Open, World Espousal, U.S. Women's Open
• (9) Ponte Verde Beach Women's Open, Tampa Women's Open, Lakewood Weathervane, Richmond Women's Open, Valley Open, Meridian Hills Weathervane, All Inhabitant Open, World Championship, Women's Texas Open
• (5) Metropolis Weathervane, Titleholders Championship, Bakersfield Open (tied with A name Hagge, Betty Jameson and Betsy Rawls), Fresno Aeroplane, Women's Texas Open
• (2) Sarasota Open, Babe Didrikson Open
• (5) Serbin Open, Sarasota Open, Damon Writer Cancer Fund Tournament, U.S. Women's Open, All Inhabitant Open
• (2) Tampa Open, Peach Blossom Open

LPGA League are shown in bold.

Other wins

Major championships

Wins (10)

See also

References