Category: Sports

TENNIS

TENNIS. Tennis clubs were organized in Cleveland during the 1880s, and the first identifiable location for the sport was on the Billings' front lawn on the south side of Euclid Ave. and what is now E. 88th St. Hosting the games were Charles and Frank Billing, joined by Henry Wick, Harry Judd, Orlando Hall, and Sterling Beckwith.

THISTLEDOWN RACE TRACK

THISTLEDOWN RACE TRACK (est. 1925) was the area's major horse running track in 1995. Built by John H. McMillen on land owned by Wilson B. Chisholm in the Village of NORTH RANDALL, Thistledown opened for 1 racing season beginning 20 July 1925; however, legal complications and management quarrels led to its closing in 1926. In 1928 Edward B.

THOMPSON, DONALD SCOUGALL

THOMPSON, DONALD SCOUGALL (27 March 1899-16 May 1994) achieved national repute in both the field of statistics and the sport of fencing. The son of Fred and Marion Scougall Thompson, he was born in Kansas City, Mo., and reared in the Philippine Islands, where his father was working with the U.S. Army. After service in the U.S.

TRACK AND FIELD SPORTS

TRACK AND FIELD SPORTS test the speed, strength, and agility of individuals and teams in running, throwing, and vaulting events, which usually include cross-country running and marathons, although they are not performed on the field.

TROSKY (TROJOVSKY), HAROLD ARTHUR

TROSKY (TROJOVSKY), HAROLD ARTHUR "HAL" (11 Nov. 1912-18 June 1979), first-baseman with over 200 home runs for the CLEVELAND INDIANS (1933-41), was born in Mansay, Iowa and signed to play BASEBALL with the Cleveland Indians farm team at Cedar Rapids in 1931 after completing high school.

TRUEMAN, JAMES R.

TRUEMAN, JAMES R. (25 April 1935-11 June 1986) was the founder of the Red Roof motel chain as well as one of the nation's leading race car drivers, owners, and sponsors. A native of Cleveland, the son of George and Alma Trueman was raised in EUCLID. He was a 1953 graduate of Benedictine High School, where he became an outsrtanding runner in cross country and track.

UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

The UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (UAA) is an Athletic Conference that hosts 20 sports, 10 men's and 10 women's, and competes in the NCAA’s Division III. The men compete in baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, wrestling, and indoor and outdoor track and field. The women compete in all of the same sports, excluding wrestling and baseball but adding volleyball and softball.

VAN HORN, FRANK R.

VAN HORN, FRANK R. (7 Feb. 1872-1 Aug. 1933), mineralogist, geologist, and head of Case School of Applied Science's athletic association for 26 years, was born in Johnsonburg, N.J. to Geo. W. and Ellen Robertson Van Horn, and graduated from Rutgers with a B.S. (1892) and master's degree in mineralogy (1893) before earning his Ph.D. at the University of Heidelberg (1897).

VEECK, WILLIAM (BILL) L.

Veeck, William "Bill" Louis (9 February 1914-2 January 1986) was the owner of the CLEVELAND INDIANS from 1946 until 1949, and assembled the world champion 1948 team.

VOSMIK, JOSEPH FRANKLIN (JOE)

VOSMIK, JOSEPH FRANKLIN "JOE" (4 Apr. 1910-27 Jan. 1962), baseball player for the CLEVELAND INDIANS (1930-36), was considered by baseball experts the best hitter to come from the Cleveland sandlots, he averaged over .300 in his major-league career. Vosmik was born in Cleveland to Anna and Josef Vosmik. A local idol of the fans in the Broadway-E. 55th St.

WAMBSGANSS, WILLIAM (BILL WAMBY)

WAMBSGANSS, WILLIAM (BILL WAMBY) (19 Mar. 1894-8 Dec. 1985) played second base for the CLEVELAND INDIANS (1914-23) and enjoyed lifelong fame for making an unassisted triple play in the 1920s World Series.

WATERFIELD, ROBERT (BOB)

WATERFIELD, ROBERT "BOB" (26 July 1920-25 Mar. 1983), FOOTBALL player with the Cleveland and Los Angeles Rams (see CLEVELAND RAMS), in his rookie season led the Cleveland Rams to the 1945 Natl. Football League championship and was unanimously elected the league's Most Valuable Player.

WENHAM, FREDERICK L.

WENHAM, FREDERICK L. (21 Dec. 1916-22 Sept. 1965) built one of the region's largest trucking firms and sponsored one of the city's most successful amateur baseball teams. He was born in Willoughby, O., the son of Percival and Catherine Burmeister Wenham.

WIRTZ, JOHN J.

WIRTZ, JOHN J. (November 1, 1914 - August 20, 1992) outstanding football and basketball coach for many years at St. Ignatius High School, was born in Columbus, the son of Frederick and Barbara (Greene) Wirtz. He played football, basketball, and baseball at Columbus St. Mary high school and at the University of Dayton where he received his degree in business administration in 1938.

WORKERS GYMNASTIC UNION

The WORKERS GYMNASTIC UNION, known by the initials of its Czech name, Delnicke Telecvicne Jednoty (DTJ), is a Czech gymnastic association formed in Cleveland in 1909 to promote socialism, gymnastics, and to retain Czech heritage among members. The DTJ organized in Prague in 1897. Members of the socialist Ferdinand Lassalle Society dramatic and educational club organized the first American DTJ unit in Cleveland in 1909.

WRESTLING

WRESTLING. See BOXING AND WRESTLING.

YOUNG, DENTON TRUE (CY)

YOUNG, DENTON TRUE "CY" (29 Mar. 1867-4 Nov. 1955), BASEBALL pitcher (1890-11) for the Natl. League CLEVELAND SPIDERS (1890-98) and for Cleveland in the American League (1909-11), winning a major-league record 511 games in his career, was born at Gilmore, Ohio, son of MacKenzie and Nancy Mot Miller Young.