The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1921-07-28
Claims One Man in the Big
League Now, holds Wrest-
ling Championships and
Has Great Football His
tory.

Not only has Lake county been tho
scene Of historic sporting events but
many notables who excelled in their re
lpecttve spheres were local products
Jimmy Clabby. famous welterweight
tighter. who was too clever for the
best OF the men of his weight and
fought scores of battles. learned the
game in Hammond, his home town
Johnny MostI of the Chicago White
Sox has always lived in Whiting.
Spot Blair. the only Indiana sprint
er 10 do the 100 yard dash In "a was
ten secnd man in the Harlmnd high
school.
"Rube" Hicks. the pole vaulter who
did - feet at the University of Mich
igan. was a Gary high school athlete.
GREAT FOOTBALL MEN
Pete Henning former federal league
pitcher. who is still winning games in
fast senIi-pro company. halls from
Crown Point which is also the home OF
Ralph Young. famous Washington JEFF
ferson football star. Other football
stars of recent years are Frank Blocker
captain of the Purdue university team
when he attended that school: Wallie
and Art Hess. Indiana university stars:
Walter Sohl. one Of the greatest col
lege half backs of his day and a star
punter and Fred Heintz. another OF the
college stars. These men came from
the Hammond high school which has
produced scores Of university letter
men Many college athletes including
Bernard Szohi. football player and
track man OF Illinois university. have
had their early experience, in the Gary.
EpAf-
Whiting high schools. Szohl was
Gary man.
FOUGHT BARE-FTSTED
Since the days when the hoss's raced
on the Rebey track the Calumet region
has been great sporting center In
the early days when prize fighters ris-
dained gloves, this was the mecca for
the night game. A sixty-seven round
fight without gloves occurred in West
Hammond about thirty-hve years ago
There were cock-hghts in those DAYS.
Lake county was the scene OF the
famous CODE road race which was won
by Chevrolet The route of the race
was between Crown Point and Lowell
by way of Cedar Lake. The speed OF
the winning car was something like 20
miles an hour and a hundred thous-
and people viewed the event from the
granS stand and places OF advantage
along the course.
The fame OF the county in the sport
ingworld has been enhanced by the rep
utation of the basketball team repre-
senting the owl club of Whiting Each
season the Owl team is matched to play
the best OF the midwestern teams in
Guiding the I. A. c. OF Chicago The
Gary Works Athletic Association al
ways has a strong basketball aggre-
Satien in the field
STATE CHAMPIONS
In professional football Hammond
ranks high For years the city has
had professional team but II was not
until 1916 and II that II became a top
noteher. playing only the best elevens
in, Ohio Indiana and Illinois. The
Hammond profe ssional club beat the IA
nous FIT Wayne Friars and took the
championship of the state away from
the Pine Village club in 1917. defeating
the Cincinnati Celts. Toledo Maroons
and the best professional clubs of Chi
cago as we'll. Frank Blocker. Palmer
OF Gary: King. Of Harvard: Paddy Dris-
coll: the Hess brothers and many other
stars were on the winning teams of II
and IL.
The Hammond club will go on the