If you're looking to impress your friends with arcane trivia or indulge your love of fun facts, you'll find a well of interesting information in the world of sports. The history of sports has a fascinating a varied history, and sports trivia and fun facts, such as unbeatable records, notable players and famous follies, can both amuse and enrich your trivia-loving mind.
Invention of Baseball
Though Union general Abner Doubleday has often been credited with inventing the game of baseball in Cooperstown, New York, Dave Zirin, author of the book "A People's History of Sports in the United States," says this story is mostly legend. According to Zirin, sporting goods executive Albert Spalding made up the legend of Doubleday in 1895, thinking the decorated veteran would make an admirable founding father. The real man behind America's pastime, whom Zirin calls "baseball's Prometheus," was a volunteer fireman and New York City bank teller named Alexander Cartwright. Further, America's first baseball game took place in Hoboken, New Jersey, not Cooperstown, New York.
Unbeatable Records
A few notable players have achieved feats that may prove unbeatable, claims Houston Chronicle sportswriter Brian McTaggart. These sports legends include Baltimore Orioles baseball star Cal Ripken, who played a record 2,632 consecutive games, and basketball great Wilt Chamberlain. Playing for the Philadelphia Warriors in a 1962 game against the New York Knicks, Chamberlain scored a single game record of 100 points, and made nine consecutive free throws. "I hate to think where we'd be without him, with just a mere human being in his place," said team coach Frank McGuire of Chamberlain's astonishing performance that night in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
African American Legends
Before Jackie Robinson famously broke Major League Baseball's color barrier when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, the African American Oberlin College graduate Moses Fleetwood Walker played 42 games for the Toledo, Ohio Blue Stockings in 1884. Walker's time on the team represented the first and last stint with a major league baseball club for an African American player until Robinson came along in 1947.
"Babe" Didrikson
One standout in the long list of notable females in the world of sports, Mildred "Babe" Didrikson Zaharias was voted the greatest female athlete of the first half of the 20th century by the Associated Press. Babe's career highlights include one silver and two gold track and field medals in the 1932 Olympics, and two Olympic records in the 80 meter hurdle and javelin. Later, Didrikson became a celebrated golfer, winning every major professional golf championship at least once. "She is beyond all belief until you see her perform. Then you finally understand that you are looking at the most flawless section of muscle harmony, of complete mental and physical coordination, the world of sport has ever seen," said sportswriter Grantland Rice of Didrikson.
Broadcast Trivia
The American Football League's infamous "Heidi game" between the New York Jets and the Oakland Raiders was broadcast on television in November 1968. With just 65 seconds left in the game and the Jets leading by three points, NBC cut the broadcast short to begin their regular pre-scheduled programming, which on that evening was a made-for-TV version of the classic children's tale "Heidi." After the broadcast was terminated, the Raiders literally won the game at the last minute by scoring two touchdowns in nine seconds. Fans watching at home missed the whole thing.
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