July 21, 1957 – A milestone moment in sports history. A young lady by the name of Althea Gibson became the African-American to win a major US tennis tournament. Miss Gibson opened the door and inspired many black athletes to compete at sports that had in the past not been available for them to participate in.
In 1956, she became the first African American to win a Grand Slam title when she took home the French Championships. The following year she won both Wimbledon and this US Nationals (precursor of the US Open). It wasn’t a fluke either as she repeated and won them both again in 1958 and was voted Female Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press.
To find more great daily sports history make sure to check out the Sports Jersey Dispatch and Pigskin Dispatch.
More From Sports History Network
The Thrilla in Manila: A Grudge Match For Ali and Frazier
‘The Thrilla in Manila’ would be the third time that Muhammed Ali and Joe Frazier
Jimmy Conzelman: The NFL’s Most Unique Coach
How would you like to have this guy for your football coach? He looks
Super Bowl XVIII (Raiders vs. Redskins): An Ultimate Recount of the Game
Today we have Super Bowl XVIII, which was held on January 22, 1984, at
Remembering the 1974 New England Patriots
The NFL is replete with numerous teams over the years who have had good
1972 Munich Summer Games (Memorable For Many Reasons)
The world will always look forward to the Summer Games, but the world will
Fastest Man in Baseball History – Was a Pro Football Player!
Baseball is a timeless game. We love it because the basic rules have changed
What Is The USFL Project Trying To Accomplish?
The USFL was a wildly popular league for many football fans during the mid-1980s.
Super Bowl XVII (Dolphins vs. Redskins): An Ultimate Recount of the Game
Today we have Super Bowl XVII, which was held on January 30, 1983, at