July 9, 1877 – The First-ever Wimbledon tennis championship tournament began. It was truly a watershed moment as Wimbledon was the first official lawn tennis tournament anywhere. The creators were the All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club as they decided to hold a lawn tennis tournament for men’s singles only that 21 amateurs showed up to participate in the London suburbs.
The club was originally centered around croquet, another lawn sport, but the growing popularity of tennis led it to incorporate tennis lawns into their expansive 4 acres of grounds purchased in 1868. The entrance fee of one pound for each participant could earn them the title of Wimbledon champion and a 25-guinea trophy.
To find more great daily sports history make sure to check out the Sports Jersey Dispatch and Pigskin Dispatch.
More From Sports History Network
Sports History On This Day: September 5
September 5, 1906 – Many claim it was the first legal forward pass in American
Sports History On This Day: September 4
September 4, 1920 – History takes us to the racetrack of thoroughbreds. One of the
Sports History On This Day: September 3
September 3, 1908 – Prize fighter Tommy Burns was the world champion in the heavyweight
Sports History On This Day: September 2
September 2, 1946 – Talk about one of the greatest sports competitors of all time
Sports History On This Day: September 1
September 1, 1999 – It became the first in modern professional sports history. Former NHL
Sports History On This Day: August 31
August 31, 1909 – A. J. Reach Co. patented the cork-centered baseball. Previously the balls
Sports History On This Day: August 30
August 30, 1904 – Perhaps the main staple of the Olympics from ancient Greece carried
Sports History On This Day: August 29
August 29, 1967 – The New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox have been