Category: Sports

JIRSA, FERDINAND "FERD" (18 May 1893-29 Nov. 1971), attorney and active member of the CUYAHOGA COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY, participated in the local and national Czech Sokol movement.

JOSEPH BERTMAN, INC., is a wholesale grocery firm best known for their Bertman's Original Ball Park Mustard. The company was founded in 1920 by JOSEPH BERTMAN who was born in Lublin, Poland, and came to Cleveland as a child with his parents. He began the company in a garage at the Bertman home at E. 147th near Kinsman, where spices and pickles were processed and packaged.

JOSS, ADRIAN "ADDIE" (12 Apr. 1880-14 Apr. 1911), major-league baseball pitcher for Cleveland in the American League between 1902-10, whose career earned-run average of 1.88 per 9-inning game is the 2d-lowest in major-league history, was born in Juneau, Wis., son of Jacob and Theresa Joss. Unlike many early ball players, Joss attended college, both at St. Mary's College and at the University of Wisconsin.

KILBANE, JOHN PATRICK "JOHNNY" (18 Apr. 1889-31 May 1957), world featherweight boxing champion (1912-23), was born in Cleveland to John and Mary (Gallagher) Kilbane. He trained with Jimmy Dunn and had his first fight in 1907, a 3-round decision, which paid him $1.50 and carfare. Kilbane fought featherweight champion Abe Attell on 22 Feb. 1912, winning a 20-round decision. The 5'5" 120 lbs.

The KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS TRACK MEET was an annual sporting event that brought national and international track and field athletes to Cleveland for competition between 1941 and its last meet in 1993. It reportedly was the 2nd-oldest indoor meet in the U.S. when it was suspended for lack of a sponsor in Jan. 1987.

KUTH, BYRON D. (ca. 1895 - 18 July 1965) was a prominent lawyer and owner of one of the country's finest harness racing stables. His horses toured the Grand Circuit and were world record holders, winning numerous trotting championships and taking top purses at leading tracks.

LAJOIE, NAPOLEON "NAP" (5 Sept. 1875-7 Feb. 1959), BASEBALL player with Cleveland (1902-14), was born in Woonsocket, R.I., to John and Celina Guerton Lajoie. He worked in cotton mills and completed his education to the 9th grade. Playing semipro baseball in 1895, Lajoie signed with the Fall River team in the New England League.

The LAKE COUNTY CAPTAINS, a Minor League Baseball team based in Eastlake, Ohio, are the High-A Central affiliate of the CLEVELAND GUARDIANS.

LAKE ERIE MONSTERS see CLEVELAND MONSTERS


LEAGUE PARK was a venue at the corner of East 66th Street and Lexington Avenue that hosted sports events including baseball, football and boxing.

LEBOVITZ, HAROLD (HAL) (11 September 1916-18 October 2005) was a longtime sports writer and editor for Cleveland-area newspapers.

LEBRON JAMES BANNER.  LeBron James, the NBA superstar who played for the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2003-2010 and again from 2014-2018 was portrayed on several large banners hanging from the Sherwin Williams building in downtown Cleveland.

LERNER, ALFRED "AL"  (8 May 1933-23 October 2002) was a businessman, philanthropist and former owner of the CLEVELAND BROWNS.

LEVINE, LESTER “LES” (12 November 1946-3 February 2021) was a Cleveland sports media personality.

LEWIS, FRANKLIN ALLAN "WHITEY" (18 Jan. 1904-12 Mar. 1958), sports editor of the CLEVELAND PRESS from 1939-58, was born in Lafayette, Ind., to John R. and Mae (Armacost) Lewis and grew up on Cleveland's east side. Lewis was an All-Senate football halfback at Glenville High School and the catcher for the Edelweiss Cream Cheese sandlot baseball team.

MANNING, THOMAS EDWARD "RED" (27 Sept. 1899-4 Sept. 1969), a radio sportscaster, was born in Cleveland to John and Catherine (Cahill) Manning. Winning a Euclid Beach contest for the newsboy with the loudest voice led to Manning's career as an announcer.

MAXIM, JOEY (28 March 1922-2 June 2001) was a professional boxer who held the light heavyweight crown in the 1950s, one of two Cleveland natives to win BOXING titles.

The MAYFIELD COUNTRY CLUB ,an invitational golf club located on approx.

MCAULEY, EDWARD J. "ED" (24 Aug. 1903-25 Oct. 1961), sportswriter and columnist for the CLEVELAND NEWS (1925-59), was born in Hazelwood, Pa., to Charles E. and Anna Logan. He grew up in Cleveland and graduated from JOHN CARROLL UNIVERSITY in 1925.

MCBRIDE, ARTHUR B. "MICKEY" (20 Mar. 1888-10 Nov. 1972), founder of the CLEVELAND BROWNS, was born in Chicago and moved to Cleveland in 1913 as circulation manager of the CLEVELAND NEWS.

McCORMACK, MARK HUME (Nov. 6, 1930 - May 16, 2003) was called "the most powerful man in sports." Beginning in 1960 - when he spotted the underutilized endorsement potential of his friend, golfer Arnold Palmer, his first client -until his death, McCormack became a major figure in sports management and in global sports marketing.

MCLEOD, FRED (1 September 1952-9 September 2019) was a television sportscaster, most notably for the CLEVELAND CAVALIERS.

The MERRILL LYNCH HUNTER JUMPER CLASSIC is the most important equestrian sporting event in Greater Cleveland. First held in 1965, the competition was the first major equestrian grand prix in the Western Hemisphere. In 1981 the Cleveland Grand Prix became part of a series of 33 North American competitions overseen by the American Grand Prix Assn.

MODELL, ARTHUR B.

The NEWMAN-STERN CO. was one of the nation's largest and best-known sporting-goods stores. The company began as the Electro-Set Co., organized in 1915 by brothers Arthur S. and JOSEPH S. NEWMAN and Arnold L. Stern, which specialized in radio parts and electrical toys for boys. Located in a small store on E.