Sport Heroes of the 1950sBy: Cuyler

http://www.newberry.k12.sc.us/mchs/sports_heroes_of_the_1950.htm

Jackie RobinsonBorn in 1919 to a single parent family. Went to UCLA, but was forced out of college.Jackie then went into the army and after 2 years became a 2nd lieutenant but was forced out of the military with an honorable discharge due to racial discrimination.Jackie Roosevelt Robinson was name NL’s most valuable player in 1949.

http://www.umw.edu/greatlives/2012/02/03/jackie-robinson/

Willie MaysBorn on May 6th , 1931Mays started his career at the age of 16, his high school didn’t have a baseball team so he played other sports at the time such as football, track and basketball. But at he end of his high school career it was obvious that his career would be in baseball. Mays had played for the Negro Southern League, where he was restricted to only home games so he could finish school. He was signed by the New York Giants, right after finishing school and sent to their class B farm team in Trenton, New Jersey. Where he played one year before being called to the professional team Mays was only 20 years old at the time.

http://www.bronxbombersbeat.com/2010/05/13/willie-mays-chosen-as-new-yorks-all-time-greatest-center-fielder/

Jim Brown

Jim Brown was born in February 17th, 1936.Brown was named Rookie of the Year in 1957.Awarded NFL’s MVP a total of four times in his nine seasons.Retired at the age of 30 putting up big numbers in rushing and passing for running backs.

http://espn.go.com/classic/biography/s/Brown_Jim.html

Rocky Marciano

Rocky Marciano born on September 1st 1923.Marciano in his early life always wanted to play baseball in 1947 he got that chance. He tried out with the Chicago Cubs but was let go because he couldn’t throw from home to second accurately. Rocky Marciano an American boxer was the Heavyweight Champion from September 23rd 1952- April 27th 1956 was the only Heavyweight Champion to ever hold the title throughout his career and to go undefeated and untied.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocky_Marciano

Bob Cousy

http://boston.sportsthenandnow.com/2009/10/21/bob-cousy/

Bob Cousy was nicknamed “The Cooz” because of his ball handling skills.3 major players names, including Cousy’s, were put in a hat in a hotel room and each of owner one from the Celtics, the New York, and Philadelphia Warriors drew to see who’d they draft in 1950.In 1956-1957 year Cousy won the MVP award.Was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame.

Stan Musial

http://www.art.com/products/p10107243-sa-i936381/-stan-musial-batting-stance-posed-sepia.htm?rfid=765667

Stan Musial born November 21th in 1920 in Pennsylvania.Topped the .300 17 times in his career and won 7 National League batting titles.A 3 time MVP of the N.L and played in 24 all-star games.Was 1 home run away from getting the National League Triple Crown in 1948 and his lifetime batting average was .331.

Sugar Ray Robinson

http://www.boxingscene.com/forums/showthread.php?t=408342&page=5

Sugar Ray Robinson’s real name was Walker Smith Jr.He used his friend’s gym card to train for boxing at a very young age, his friend’s name was Ray Robinson. At the age of 19 Sugar had became a pro boxer.He had a 91 win streak in 1946 the same year he got his first welterweight championAmazingly in over 200 fights Sugar was never physically knocked out, though he did have one technical KO.Altogether, he had 109 Kos.He finished his career with a record of 175-19-6 with two no-decisions.

Maureen Connolly

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maureen_Connolly

Nicknamed “Little Mo” Connolly at the age of 16 was U.S’s youngest women’s champion. She won in1951-53.Connolly won the Wimbledon singles title from 1952 through 1954, was the French champion in 1953 and 1954, and won the Australian championship in 1953, her grand slam year. She was named woman athlete of the year by the Associated Press three years in a row, 1951 through 1953.Just two weeks after she won the 1954 Wimbledon title, a truck brushed against Connolly's right leg while she was horseback riding. She was thrown to the ground and the leg was damaged ending her competitive career.

Works cited• http://www.jackierobinson.com/• http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/may0bio-1• http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.aspx?PLAYER_ID=33• http://www.rockymarciano.net/about/bio.htm• http://www.cmgww.com/sports/cousy/bcousy.html• http://baseballhall.org/hof/musial-stan• http://www.cmgww.com/sports/robinson/about/bio.html