Seattle craved for a professional sports team but lacked a stadium big enough to hold the kinds of crowds that NFL and MLB games typically attract. The battle for the stadium and its tenants raged on for years but gradually Seattle began to come around on the subject. In one fell swoop, Seattle gained a baseball team, a football team and a stadium to call its own: the Kingdome. Conception and Construction It all began with David L. Cohn. In 1959, the President of Barb Restau

The 49ers and Cowboys have enjoyed a riveting and illustrious rivalry that has spanned for decades. Of course, no rivalry can truly be...

On October 22, 1972, Pete Rose launched Rollie Fingers' pitch to left-field, hoping that it would be enough to bring his beloved...

In the world of athletics, there are certain players that belong with one team, nowhere else, and when they do move on it just feels different, like they're losing a limb. Like Michael Jordan playing for the Wizards and Joe Montana with the Chiefs, while they may have had something left in the tank, most of the public just never accepted them in another jersey. By 1973 and 1977, Johnny Unitas and Joe Namath were two has-beens that had yet to give up the sport that had define

Few in baseball could compare to Don Drysdale in the 1960s. From his record five All-Star Game starts to his 58.2 consecutive scoreless innings late in his career, he aged like fine wine. But perhaps his greatest accomplishment, aside from his three World Series rings and a near record-setting contract, was the fact that he was the first California-born player to win the Cy Young. This is his story. Early Years Don Drysdale was born on July 3, 1936 in Van Nuys, California

The Philadelphia Sports Complex has held countless sporting events since its birth in 1926, but it was one venue that drew crowds beyond the realm of athletics: Philadelphia Municipal Stadium.. Later known as John F. Kennedy Stadium, it held numerous events in its 73 years of existence. From boxing matches and concerts to countless football games, it had a way of bringing the entire City of Brotherly Love together and drawing the attention of America on any given night. From

Jim Otto was an original Raider. Taken out of Miami in 1960, he was an underdog from the start but quickly adapted to his environment by...

For nearly a decade, the city of Cleveland enjoyed the rare privilege of having three future Hall of Famers taking the pitcher's mound. With Bob Feller, Bob Lemon and Early Wynn pitching, the Indians enjoyed an era of success that they have rarely seen since. The Build-Up Bob Feller was born on November 3, 1918 in Van Meter, Iowa. As a shortstop and outfield as a youth, he mimicked Rogers Hornsby's batting stance, dreaming of the day that he would be able to bash a mighty

The list of men who have won both the World Series and an NBA championship is short. Very short. But in the annals of great athletic achievements, Gene Conley is one of only two men to win both in baseball and basketball, enjoying a thrilling World Series triumph with the 1957 Milwaukee Braves and a trifecta of good fortune with the Boston Celtics. This is his story. The Early Years Gene Conley was born on November 10, 1930 in Muskogee, Oklahoma. After his family moved to

While most associate the name "Jimmy Johnson" with the fiery-tempered, uber successful coach of the Dallas Cowboys, there is another...

"I was no hero. There were maybe 75 pilots in our two squadrons and 99% of them did a better job than I did" - Ted Williams While the Splendid Splinter is known more for his batting average, he also served in both World War II and the Korean War. Each of those wars brought life experiences that would impact his life in very powerful ways. This is his story. World War II It was late in 1942 and the world was at war. Meanwhile in Boston, Ted Williams was enjoying one of his

Few fielders could compare to Bobby Doerr in the 1940's. In 14 years with the Boston Red Sox, the second baseman from Los Angeles, California led the A.L. in fielding percentage among second baseman four times. But his legacy went beyond simply catching grounders. Over the years, he built a reputation as an intelligent player, as well as a leader and a gentleman. This is his story. The Early Years Robert "Bobby" Pershing Doerr was born to a telephone company supervisor and h

The Res Sox were in a chaotic state. Years after selling off Babe Ruth and the rest of a championship roster, the team's books were in dire straights. It took the financial might of one man's inheritance to pull them out of the doldrums of the majors and into regular contenders that just couldn't win the big one. That man was Tom Yawkey and this is his story. The Early Years Thomas Yawkey Austin was born on February 21,1903 in Detroit, Michigan. His father, Thomas J. Austin,

Few things in sports compare to a massive home run, the kind that can either ignite a stadium ablaze or take the air out of the facility. There's just something about the power of the swing, the crack of the bat and the velocity of the ball that attracts everyone near and far. The longer the ball travels, the bigger the moment. Let's take a look at 10 of baseball's longest home runs. 10. Mo Vaughn, 505 ft. (2008) On June 26, 2002, the Mets hosted the Atlanta Braves at the ca

Few people have begun their athletic careers as impressively as Fernando Valenzuela. In 1981, the rookie from Mexico took Los Angeles and the rest of the baseball world by storm. Incredibly, the precocious pitcher won both the National League's Rookie of the Year Award and the Cy Young Award, a rare feat that has yet to be duplicated. Let's take a look back at that memorable year. Prelude The Dodgers were in a pickle. When Dodger Stadium was first constructed, it was done s

Necessity is the mother of all invention. In the early days of baseball, catchers didn't wear a chest guard, shin guards, glove or mask. The only form of protection the most dangerous position in baseball was granted was a simple rubber mouth guard. It took a Harvard man to invent one of the most important pieces of equipment in all of sports. The Inventor Fred Thayer was born on August 14, 1854 in Boston, Massachusetts. He enrolled in Harvard in 1875 where he played footbal

Mascots have carved their own niché in the world of sports. From the Philly Phanatic to Steely Steeler, each hold a special place in the hearts of their fans. One of the more unique mascots is the San Diego Chicken. The Conception In 1974, San Diego's KGB-FM Radio decided to produce a television commercial. Cartoonist Brian Narelle drew the image of an acrobatic chicken which subsequently drew interest from viewers. A short while later, the station was doing a promotion at

Bill Cartwright led a fascinating life in basketball. As one of the finest products to ever come out of the Sacramento area, he always seemed to be in the right place at the right time, whether it was winning back-to-back state titles at Elk Grove High School or raising the Larry O'Brien Trophy high above his head five times as a Chicago Bull, Bill Cartwright's fingers could only grow weary from wearing all of those championship rings. This is his story. The Early Years Jame

Life has a way of preparing you for grander adventures. Growing up in a rough section of San Diego, Kevin Mitchell faced the daunting...

In the heart of a bustling business district within South Boston once stood a ballpark. While the old ballpark was around, Boston was very different. While historically fascinating, it lacked a true center for commerce and trade. The Congress Street Grounds changed that and Boston has never looked back. An Idea In the late 1880's, South Boston was a place without an identity, an area with many privately owned railroads and few buildings. Seeing an opportunity, the Boston Wha