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
Tales From Pro Football Hall of Fame Players (My Personal Accounts)
Roughly twenty years ago, while browsing the Pro Football Hall of Fame website, I
7 Of The Biggest Draws In Boxing History
In this, I am going to discuss famous draws that have occurred in the
Super Bowl XXVIII (Bills vs. Cowboys): An Ultimate Recount of the Game
Today we have Super Bowl XXVIII, which was held on January 30, 1994, at
A Brief History of the New York Yankees of the Early 60s (1960-1964)
In a span of ten years, from 1949 to 1958, the New York Yankees
Go West Young Man: The Chicago Cardinals First Extended Road Trip
In the early days of the National Football League, it was not uncommon for
Wayne Maki and Ted Green: A Gruesome Night In Hockey History
Hockey has always been a game that is played with emotion. Within a moment
Super Bowl XXVI (Bills vs. Redskins): An Ultimate Recount of the Game
Today we have Super Bowl XXVI, which was held on January 26, 1992, at
How Changes to the Rules Quietly Changed the History of Modern Sports
Most fans will say that sports look different now than they did 30, 50,