During the Cold War Americans needed to get away from the threat of nuclear devastation from the Russians. There escape was sports and other athletic events.
1950's and 1960's Athletes: Sport: Baseball
Jackie Robinson - Jack Roosevelt Robinson was the second Baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the First African-American Baseball Player in the MLB. Robinson stood for equal rights long before he did in baseball. Robinson was arrested for refusing to sit at the back of a segregated bus but was acquitted of the charges. Jackie was the first person in the UCLA to letter in four sports in the same year.
Yogi Berra- Lawrence Peter Berra was a catcher for the Yankees that was always was in the MVP player talk. He also has ten World Series Wins. Berra got the nickname Yogi during his teenage years when his friend Jack Maguire said he looked like a Yogi from the movie they just finished watching. He was know to talk to opposing batters to throw them off their games.
Stan Musial - Stanley Frank Musial was the First Baseman for the Cardinals that won 3 World Series but left to serve in the Navy in World War Two before returning after his service was up. Musial played in 24 all star games through out his career. In 1954, he hit a record of five home runs in a double header against the Giants.
Roberto Clemente- Roberto Clemente Walker was the Right fielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates that won Two World Series and was known for his charity work in Puerto Rico that ultimately got him killed in a plane crash. Clemente excelled at athletes as a young child. At the age of 18, he was playing baseball for the Dodgers. He earned 12 consecutive gold glove medal for his excellence in the right field.
Willie Stargell - Wilver Dornel Stargell was the Left fielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates that helped the Pirates acquire a World Series in 1979. Stargell was a feared power hitter and a leader on the field. Stargell was the first to get the National League MVP, The NCLS MVP and The World Series MVP all in the same year. He was nicknamed Pops because he was the spiritual father of the 1979 Pirates.
Hank Aaron- Henry Louis Aaron was the right fielder for the Braves and was a 25 time all star and helped the Braves win one World Series in 1957. Aaron grew up in Mobile, Alabama. He passed through the sandlot with brief stops in the negro leagues before he settled in with the Braves. He is one of baseball's most iconic figures.
Willie Mays- Willie Howard Mays, Jr. was the center fielder and played for the Giants and Mets. He is best know for stealing bases. He also served in the U.S. Army in 1952 and 1953. At sixteen, Mays joined the Birmingham Baron and later won the NL rookie of the year award. Mays was the on-deck batter when Bobby Thompson hit his famous Pennant-winning home run.
1950's and 1960's Athletes: Sport: Football
Jim Brown- Brown was the running Back for the Cleveland Browns that helped them win an AFL title. He made the Pro Bowl every year of his 1957-1966 Career. He was named rookie of the year in 1957 and was recognized as the NFL's Most valuable Player by many. he earned four MVP honors. He never missed a game in his nine seasons of playing football.
Bobby Layne- Layne was the quarterback for the Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers. He is known for the Curse he put on Detroit after he was traded to Pittsburgh. Detroit has never come close to winning a title since. Layne did well statistically but was exceptional at leadership, determination, competitiveness, and guts. His success hinged on on a relationship he developed with Raymond "Buddy" Parker. In 1957, He left the Lions.
Dick Butkus- Butkus was the linebacker for the Chicago Bears. He made the Pro Bowl every year of his 8 year career. He was named first team All-NFL his first season and five other times. He was a clean player who was devoted to his career and played like it was his last game. He retired three years after a serious right knee injury that was never fully healed.
Joe Greene-Green was the left tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was drafted by the Steelers in 1969 as their first pick and helped them win their first Super Bowl in 1974. He was named NFL Defensive Rookie Of The Year in 1969. he was name All-NFl five times and all-conference 11 straight years. He was named NFL defensive Player of the year in 1972 and 1974.
Bart Starr- Starr was the quarterback for the Green Bay Packers that won the first two Super Bowls. He also played in the "Ice Bowl" against the Dallas Cowboys. He was a 17th round draft choice and didn't play much his first three years. This all changed when Vince Lombardi became Coach and saved his career. Lombardi helped Starr gain confident to become on the NFl's great field leaders. He won MVP honors in Super Bowl I and II. The Packer never lost another play off under Starr.
Vince Lombardi- Coach of the Packers that helped them win Two Super Bowls. He is proclaimed as one of the best coaches in football's history. At the ge of 45, he was the head coach and general manager of the Green Bay Packers. He spent five years as an assistant coach or the New York Giants. In 1959, he was approached by the Packers about the coaching job and became their head coach. Before he could help the Redskins, he was struck down by cancer.
1950's and 1960's Athletes Sport: Basketball
Vern Mikkelsen: He was an important piece of the four NBA Championships for the Lakers. Four times he was selected to the All-NBA Second Team. The part of Mikkelsen's game that stood out the most was his ability to accumulate personal fouls, leading the league three times during the 1950's in Personal Foul's. His career went on a slight slope due to Mikan retiring.
George Mikan: He may have been the most talented player of the 1950's, but he only played to 1956. He dominated at Center for the Minneapolis Lakers. He was a First-Team All-NBA selection four times in the 1950's, while leading his team to four NBA Championships with Vern.
Harry Gallatin: Harry "The Horse" Gallatin spent almost the entire 1950's with the NY Knicks, during the time which he was a seven-time All-Star and a one-time rebounding champ. The Knicks made the NBA Finals three consecutive times to begin the 1950's, but was never able to bring home a ring.
Larry Foust: Foust played the majority of his time during the 1950's with the Fort Worth Pistons. The big man was an All-Star every year from 1951 to 1959. During that time, he also led the league in total rebounds once.
Bill Sharman: Sharman is the only pure guard to make the list. He was essentially a member of the Boston Celtics for the entire decade, where he helped them win two NBA Championships during the 1950's. This eight-time All Star rarely missed a free throw. In his career, Sharman shot 88.3 percent from the line, leading the league in free throw percentage six times during the 1950's.
Ed Macauley: Easy Ed split his playing days between the Boston Celtics and the St. Louis Hawks. It was not until his final productive season as a player that he finally won an NBA Championship, with the Hawks. He was the third best player on a team led by Bob Pettit and Cliff Hagan. Still, he contributed 10 points and six rebounds per game during their playoff run. Macauley was a seven-time All Star and three-time All-NBA First Team pick.
Bob Pettit: Pettit played every year but one for the St. Louis Hawks during the 1950s. While he did not begin playing until halfway through the decade, Pettit was one of the top 50 players of all time. Some of his best seasons were also during the 1950s. Throughout his NBA career, Pettit filled up his trophy case. He was an All-Star five times in the 1950s, as well as winning NBA Rookie of the Year, two NBA MVPs and six All-NBA First Team selections. Pettit was a two-time scoring champion as well, and he led his team to the 1958 NBA Championship.