Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-12-30
1924 IS RECORD SCATTERING
YEAR IN SPORTING HISTORY

Sportdom has closed it's greatest
year. Over tweivemonth that has
brought the farthest ends Of this
world into competition, the remark
able growth Of athletics in the past
few years reached its most notable
heights in 1924 with a Kaleidoscope
array OF colorful events, record
shattering performances and new
bounds Of popular interest.
From universal viewpoint the
the Olympic games at Paris, where
America again demonstrated her
athletic supremacy In tests with
more than two score rival nations,
overshadowed all else, while on this
countrys own fields Of competition,
the sensational triumph Of the
Washington Senators in the worlds
baseball championship provided the
most stirring spectacle Of a pictur-
esque carnival of sport.
The United States was all-con-
querinx on the Olympic fields of
competition. capturing champion
ships in eight major branches Of
rivalry. although the chief track
glory went to a little band Of Firms,
led by the marvellous Paavo Nurmi
and redoubtable Willie Ritola, who
cleaned UP at all distances from l.
500 meters to the marathon.
Nurmis feat in winning four
olympic races was the high-spot OF
individual achievement over the
formances that held The spotlight
were Walter Hagen's brilliant golf
Victories here and abroad, the
spectacular triun1phs Of Yale's un-
beaten crew on home and foreign
waters, Walter Johnson's great
pitching come back in the final
game OF the worlds series, the un-
defeatedS march of Notre Danes
football eleven. and the astonishing
versatility of Mary X. Browne. who
reached the semi finals OF the ma
tionai women's tennis championship
and then the finals Of the national
title golf tournament within the span
OF a few weeks.
Attendance records at events
Throughout the country testified to
mounting public interest. Nam
moth gatherings saw the Kentucky
DERBY, tho indianapolis speedway
race and the worlds series. whiie 3
new record for football crowds Was
set when 10000 witnessed the Can
fornia- Stanford struggle at berkeley
Calf. ..,s.
America swept international nelds
other than those at Paris. britaih
poloists were turned back oy 1ahhe.
riders in the internatiopai series a,
Meadow Brook before the fIihcS VI
| Wales and In one OF the most I Ieao.,s
FIJI of all sport settings. The DAVIS
and Walker Cups. emblems OF team
tennis and golf supremacy. were oe'
tended successfully, while interna-
| ttonoI turf laurels remained IN tne
I-nitad states with the defeat OF
! T,ninard. great. French Thoroughbred
In three successive special races.
New Champions arose In mans
ovants but the year was notapIe
FOR the number OF titleholders Ksep.
,ne their places at the top. Inree
ah,,nn,ons ruled their respective
4, snIda Tor the Attn straight season
,rhan the United states deienoes
W. Davis Cup, William I. IlioeH
n,,,nsd his national tennis crow
n,;nst ,,l corners, and when KoseIs
ainrnshv led all National heasue
botsmen with a record modern ">e'
cgc. ,,or,d's series
With Johnson pitching the se msaut.
20 victory over the New ork
In n thrilling come-back u1 w. In.
| wildly demonstrative crowo 'n I1a,tad
| Guided the President OK tne Ma IN
states, has never peen r;,s,nr aus
diamond annals for thri ! ~
! pense and spectacular CHINA e., vhic,
Inst prior to the series. IN VIZ" ~.
JUS. .tton's capital figured for tht
tne tn. the baseball world MAJ
n .,ssr thrown into turmoil by ser
peen aai charges OF attempte'
sa,nnr~ which resulted in the pan.
,"hmant of two members OF w.
ish,n t. cozv Dolan and Jimmy
The baseball season also was .s, no
| -, he ,or the sensational pitcnIns
80. ~ Daxxy VANCE. Brookyn s
Iea s sormsr castoff. who leo 81
au ior league moundsmen IN Nic.oa
a' "a sfrikeouts and was aWalu.O
i Zee National Leagues most Ha'u
| tne ,.,ar.r" nrize. Pitchers mon
ap.S these awards as Johnson rs-
osp,~td similar honors in the Amer''
can League. wb,ch failed
"n,,ai or surpass previous sta',I ,,
~ snss Of competition. was no p.s.ml
ah,aav for the defeat OF LUIS s.,,t,
~ Harry Wills and the SUI ~n,
nt rapid decline iron
heishts to which he soareu ws.
snectacularly in 1898. I ne,e
Tttie activity among t'tte sn rn,d.
n , crown was lost when Aoe "V az.
s,a;n dislodged Joe Lynch IN W,
hantamweight ranks, ana 1 nmnde.
p '.. fnrfeited when Johnny Dunes.
Msa d,S retired as featherwelEn,
voiun nndee lost his remaining
,amre,.. the Junior lightweight 'o
10 n Nta notable tennis achievem mem.
~. recorded by Miss Helen WIN" -,
W., VIZ ra,ned q formidable stEias ~.
ME-, ME- in England. France ana IN, .ns
t.i s,a states. and vincent Ricnares
nhn won the Olympic champ, S. cs,i,
w m ridden one Of the closes. en- ~.
KS champion has ever hao IN a ~.
n .n title tournament, eno e04 r.
n aaraS "Little Bill Johnston ~
quesSsnen his claims to the secohp
s.nn,na American position. r,n.,
Tn golf, Hagen ana boy ,at,.r Iosi
s.,,,,nated the Aeld. the ia'ts ,Ee,
u a.. nnen crown to Cyrn na' ~.
ms, M, broke through to wsn srs,
ou. .s,'r Championship for tne M. s,
ama'euIY TIC zen won the British open
time. ,;onshin for the second ttns
E ~ three years. and also eap :. nn;eushir
AMERICAN professional c"a''
n,>,a more,