Evening star., 1939-12-31
High Lights Of Brilliant and Stirring Athletic Year Are Given Briefs
Fans Are Kept Dizzy
By Great Exploits,
Stunning Upsets
Nearly Every Postime
Provides Drama; Ten
Main Episodes Cited
By DILLON GRAHAM,

"uIH IPISooeS StSo
BY DILLON GRAHAM.
Sports Editor Of A. P. Feature Service.
For amazing exploits. melodramat-
ic scenes, and stunning upsets, 1899
produced a sports whirl that kept
spectators dizzy with thrills and sur
prises.
Perhaps the biggest spine-tingler
Of them all came when Tony Galen-
to toppled Joe Louis for few
feeting seconds. Then there was
the Lou Ambers-Henry Armstrong
brawl in which Hank lost five rounds
on fouls and Lou became the first
ex-champion to regain the title.
Along the line were the Henry
Picard-Byron Nelson duels for pro-
fessional golf laurels, the Aus
tralians' Davis Cup rally, Challe-
don's turf triumph, Wilbur Shaw's
roaring win at Indianapolis, Amer
ica's polo sweep over the British,
Joe Burks sculling victories, John
Cobb's 1853 mp.h. speed drive, Cali
fornia's .Poughkeepsie triumph, the
threatened strike of P. G. A. stars,
Johnny Woodruff's 44O and $50 track
wins, Tennessee's unbeaten, united,
unscored on football march and out
standing baseball performances by
Bob Feller and Bucky Walters.
Some Great Events.
What were the 10 leading episodes
or accomplishments of the sports
year, taking into account the ele-
ments of drama, excitement, and
caliber of performance?
Here they are and why we pick
them:
l. Tony Galento's knockdown of
Joe Louis-because it was boxing's
big moment, the first time in eight
title defenses that the invincible
Brown Bomber had been down. Fans,
scenting a giant upset, cheered Tony,
but Louis knocked him out.
2. Welby Van Horns string OF
tennis upsets-because the Califor-
mia kid came back in great rallies
to whip three ballyhooed favorites,
including Australia's great Davis
Cup ace, John Bromwich, and reach
the final round as the sensation OF
the national singles.
3. Marvin (Bud Wards golflng
feats-because he was the best ama-
teur to come along since Lawson
Little. He won the United States
amateur title easily and came within
q stroke of getting into the National
Open championship playoft with the
professional stars.
Illinois Leads Upsetters.
4. Illinois gridiron triumph over
Michigan-because it was probably
the biggest upset of the year. An
Illinois team that hadn't won a
game shocked the football world by
shackling a Wolverine club that ap-
peared headed for a national title.
5. Sam Snead's blowup in the Ma
tional Open-because it was COLTS
most dramatic scene. The hand
some young star had the greatest
prize of the links in his bag-and
then, while spectators gasped, he
flubbed and dubbed for an on the
last hole to kick it away.
6. Alice Marbles tennis conQuests
because she was queen of the world
courts. victor at Wimbledon and
In the American championships.
Never threatened throughout the
year, compared with the greatest,
she was voted the Nations No. l
girl star.
7. Nile Kinnick's gridiron exploits
because he was an iron man" and
q standout triple threat who in
spired Iowa's hardy handful to be-
come the sensation of the Middle
West. This scholarly, modest ath-
lete was voted the No. l male star
In an Associated Press poll.
Conn Spices Pugilism.
8. Billy Conn's pugilistic perform
ances-because he was the classiest
boxer the ring has seen in years,
q youngster so handsome as to be
almost matinee idol With clever,
darting left hand he easily won the
light heavyweight title easily, ably
defended 1t twice.
9. The New York Yankee sweep
because they again dominated base
ball, made another runaway of the
American League race, won the
world series from Cincinnati in four
straight games, scored their final
run as Ernie Lombardi, Reds
catcher, sat dazed beside the plate.
They were paced by the leagues
eratest batter and all-around star,
Joe Di Maggie, and slugging
rookie, Charles Keller.
10. Sidney Wooderson's Prince
ton mile-because this race, built up
as the mile of century" between
Britain's world record-holder and
Americas best, turned out to be the
years biggest flop. Wooderson, ruin
ing all hope for new record by his
slow pace, charged he had been
bumped on the last curve. The
Britain ran a poor last after col
liding with Blaine Rideout. Chuck
Fenske won.
I~....v 2+91 900 see Southern
JohuoTy California whip Duke,
7-3, in Rose Bowl; West upsets East
14-0, at San Francisco; st. Mary's
(Calif0 beats Texas Tech, 20-13, in
Cotton Bowl; Texas Christian stops
Carnegie Tech, 1877, in Sugar Bowl;
Tennessee blanks Oklahoma, ITO,
in Orange Bowl. Don Lash wins
1888 Sullivan Memorial award as
outstanding athlete of year. 3
Don Bulge makes pro tennis debut,
beating Ellsworth Vines, 6-3, Ga,
4 T;y,,v,,x, Tan, q rat ,syiy,s tS nm