Tommy Armour (1895 - 1968)

Tommy Armour was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and educated at Fettes College and the University of Edinburgh. During his service in World War I, Armour rose from a private to Staff Major in the Tank Corps. His conduct earned him an audience with George V. However, he lost his sight to a mustard gas explosion […]

Paul “Pitchin’ Paul” Arizin (1928 - 2006)

Hall of Fame Professional Basketball Player. In 1996, he was named to the NBA’s All-Time 50 Greatest Players List. For ten seasons (1950 to 1952, 1954 to 1962), he played at the forward and center positions in the National Basketball Association with the Philadelphia Warriors. Born Paul Joseph Arizin, he attended LaSalle High School, at […]

Hank “Bow Wow” Arft (1922 - 2002)

Major League Baseball Player. He played first base for the St. Louis Browns from 1948 to 1952. Batted .253 with a .352 on base percentage in 300 career games. After retiring, he became co-owner of Schrader Funeral Home in Ballwin, Missouri, and wrote for the Browns’ Fan Club newsletter. (bio by: HMS)  Family links:  Spouse: […]

Walt Arfons (1916 - 2013)

Walter Charles “Walt” (Poppy) Arfons (December 10, 1916 – June 4, 2013) was the half brother of Art Arfons, his former partner in drag racing, and his competitor in jet-powered land speed record racing. Along with Art, he was a pioneer in the use of aircraft jet engines for these types of competition. Walt Arfons was […]

Ray Arcel (1899 - 1994)

Hall of Fame Professional Boxing Trainer. One of the most respected men in the history of boxing, Ray Arcel trained a record twenty world champions. Born in Terre Haute, Indiana in 1899, Arcel grew up in a tough New York City neighborhood. Ray handled more than 2,000 fighters during his 70-year career in the ring, […]

Eddie Arcaro (1916 - 1997)

Horseracing Jockey. He rode Whirlaway and Citation to Triple Crown winners, the only jockey to ever accomplish this feat. Acaro won the Kentucky Derby five times, the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes six times. Forced retirement was mandated in 1962 because of severe Bursitis in his right arm. In his career of 24,092 races, Arcaro […]

Amos “Butch” Arbour (1895 - 1943)

Professional Hockey Player. A native of Victoria Mines, Ontario, Arbour played the position of Left Wing for teams in the NHL, OHA-Jr, NHA, and the St-Cup hockey leagues. At 5’08, and 160lbs, Arbour played for the Victoria Harbour Station from 1914 to 1915, Montreal Canadiens from 1915 to 1916, 1918 to 1921, Toronto 228th Battalion […]

Al Arbour (1932 - 2015)

Professional Hockey Player, Coach, Executive. Arbour, born Alger Joseph Arbour, was a professional hockey player, coach, and executive who coached the National Hockey League’s New York Islanders to four consecutive Stanley Cups (1980 to 1983). He played for four different teams, winning three Stanley Cups, during his professional playing career (Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Black […]

Art “Golden Boy” Aragon (1927 - 2008)

Professional Boxer, Actor. He was a former lightweight contender. Born in Belen, New Mexico and later residing in Los Angeles, he fought such notable opponents as Billy Graham, Johnny Gonsalves, Jimmy Carter and Carmen Basilio. He would retire from boxing in 1960 after compiling a record of 90 wins, 20 losses with 6 draws in […]

Sylvanus “Syl” Apps (1915 - 1998)

Hall of Fame Professional Hockey Player. A native of Paris, Ontario, Apps played for teams in the National Hockey League (NHL). At 6’00”, and 185lbs, he played the position of Center for the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1936 to 1943, and 1945 to 1948. He was the recipient of the Calder Memorial Trophy for 1936 […]

Luke Appling (1907 - 1991)

Hall of Fame Major League Baseball Player. Known as “Old Aches and Pains”, played shortstop 20 seasons (1930 to 1950), all with the Chicago White Sox. His finest season came in 1936 when he led the American League with a .388 batting average (the highest average ever for a shortstop) and drove in 128 runs. […]

Peter William Appleton (1904 - 1974)

Major League Baseball Player. He played Major League baseball as a pitcher for fourteen seasons (1927 to 1928, 1930 to 1933, 1936 to 1942, 1945) with the Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Washington Senators, Chicago White Sox, and St. Louis Browns. Born Peter William Jablonski, he legally changed his name […]

Amy I. “Lefty” Applegren (1926 - 2011)

Professional Baseball Player. A pitcher and first baseman, she played for 10 years in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL). Raised in Peoria, she manifested her athletic talent early, playing organized softball at 11. Following her high school graduation Amy tried out for the AAGPBL and was assigned to the Rockford Peaches for whom […]

Fred Apostoli (1913 - 1973)

Professional Boxer. Known as the “Boxing Bell Hop”,  he became the middleweight world champion when he defeated Marcel Thil on September 23, 1937. He held the middleweight crown until he was defeated by Ceferino Garcia on October 2, 1939. Born in San Francisco’s North Beach district, Apostoli was a classmate and lifelong friend of baseball […]

Houston Antwine (1939 - 2011)

Professional Football Player. For twelve seasons (1961 to 1972), he played at the defensive-tackle position in the American and National Football Leagues with the Boston/New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles. Raised in Tennessee where he attended Manassas High School, he played collegiate football at Southern Illinois University, while also earning the NAIA Wrestling Champion title. […]

Elías Antúnez (1907 - 1957)

Horseracing Jockey. Between 1933 and 1957 he won many Argentine classic races, like the Carlos Pellegrini (twice), and Jockey Club (three times). He also won three Argentine Jockey´s Championships (1937, 1938 and 1951). (bio by: 380W)

Earl Roderick Anthony (1938 - 2001)

Professional Bowler. He was Professional Bowling’s all-time biggest winner with 41 titles in his career.  While on the Pro Bowlers Tour he bowled 24 perfect games in competition.  He was National Champion from 1973 to 1975 and 1981 to 1983, and was named Bowler of the Year from 1974 to 1976 and from 1981 to […]

Adrian Constantine “Cap” Anson (1852 - 1922)

Hall of Fame Major League Baseball Player. Born in Marshalltown, Iowa, he began to play professionally in the National Association (NA) as an infielder at the age of 19. Regarded as one of the greatest players of his era, he played a record 27 consecutive seasons 1876 to 1897, with the Chicago Cubs franchise, then […]

Joaquin Andujar (1952 - 2015)

Major League Baseball Player. For thirteen seasons (1976 to 1988), he was a pitcher with the Houston Astros, St. Louis Cardinals and Oakland Athletics. Signed by the Cincinnati Reds as an amateur free agent in 1969, he was acquired by the Astros (via a trade) prior to the 1976 season. He secured a spot within […]

Plato Gus Andros (1921 - 2008)

Professional Football Player. Selected in the seventh round of the 1947 National Football League draft by the Los Angeles Rams, he appeared in 45 games over four seasons with the Chicago Cardinals. A standout defensive guard at the University of Oklahoma, he earned All-American honors in 1946. He served in the United States Coast Guard […]

(1924 - 2003)

Acclaimed Football Coach. Born Demosthenes Konstandies Andrecopoulos, he was a legend at Oregon State University where he coached the Beaver football team to some of the biggest wins in OSU history. He coached from 1965 to 1975 and then was the OSU athlectic director from 1975 until his retirement in 1985. He was known affectionately […]

Nate Andrews (1913 - 1991)

Major League Baseball Player. He was a right-handed pitcher with the St.Louis Cardinals, Cleveland Indians, Boston Braves, Cincinnati Reds and New York Giants between 1937 and 1946. His greatest success came in 1943 and 1944 as a starting pitcher with the Boston Braves. In 1943 he won 14 games while losing 20 but had a […]

Ivy Andrews (1907 - 1970)

Major league baseball player 1931-1938. Pitcher for the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Browns and the Cleveland Indians.  (bio by: Patricia Wilbert)  Family links:  Parents:  John William Andrews (1869 – 1931)  Rebeacca Pairlee Wilson Andrews (1872 – 1953)  Spouse:  Josephine Gwin Andrews (1912 – 1994)  Siblings:  Ray Andrews (1891 – 1954)*  Leola […]

Eric Thomas Andolsek (1966 - 1992)

Professional Football Player. Played with the Detroit Lions as a lineman. He was killed when a truck went off the road and ran over him as he was working in his yard. (bio by: Joel Manuel)  Family links:  Parents:  Mary Jacqueline Levert Andolsek (1938 – 2011)

William Law Anderson (1879 - 1910)

Professional Golfer. He holds the all time record for winning the U.S. Open Golf Championship in three consecutive years. He sailed for America at the age of 16 aboard the S.S. Pomeranian from Glasgow, Scotland arriving at Ellis Island in March of 1896. He is the first golfer to win four U.S. Opens, with victories […]

Sparky Anderson (1934 - 2010)

Hall of Fame Major League Baseball Manager. For twenty-six seasons (1970 to 1995), he served as manager of the Cincinnati Reds and Detroit Tigers. Born George Lee Anderson, he moved to Los Angeles with his family as a child, and was a star baseball player at Dorsey High School. He was signed as an amateur […]

Paul Edward Anderson (1932 - 1994)

Olympic gold medalist in weightlifting. Widely regarded to be the world’s strongest man, he established national, Olympic, and world records in the superheavyweight class of weightlifting in the 1950s and early 1960s. He won the gold medal in the Munich Olympics of 1955 and the Melbourne Olympics of 1956. In addition, he visited the Soviet […]

Paul Anderson (1932 - 2005)

Professional Football Player. A native of Vancouver, British Columbia, he played football for the Hilltop Football Club, and the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders from 1953 to 1958. He also coached the Regina Rams. He passed away at the age of 72. (bio by: K)

Lorne “Lefty” Anderson (1931 - 1984)

Professional Hockey Player. A native of Renfrew, Ontario, Anderson played the position of Goalie for teams in the EHL, NHL, and the EOHL Hockey Leagues. He played for the Atlantic City Sea Gulls from 1947 to 1948, and 1950 to 1951, New York Rangers in 1952, New York Rovers from 1951 to 1952, and the […]

Ferrell J “Andy” Anderson (1918 - 1978)

Major League Baseball Player. A catcher, he appeared in two seasons with the majors, with the Brooklyn Dodgers (1946) and the St. Louis Cardinals (1953). An all-conference football tackle at the University of Kansas, he entered the New York Yankees’ minor league system in 1939 and was acquired by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1942. His […]