Baseball Catcher’s Mask: How It Was Invented
The baseball catcher’s mask is a fundamental piece of equipment in the game. The catcher is positioned behind home plate and is needed there, but it is a dangerous position …
Sports, Cars & Other Pastimes
Pop culture is as American as apple pie. Enjoy the stories behind favorite hobbies, sports, and collectibles.
Dorothy Arzner, First Female Director in Hollywood Studio System
Dorothy Arzner (1897-1979) was a Hollywood film director. A woman director was a rarity in the early days of filmmaking. She directed films from 1926-1943 and amassed a considerable body …
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Black Jockey Hall of Famer Isaac Burns Murphy
Isaac Burns Murphy (1861-1896) is considered one of the all-time great jockeys in Thoroughbred racing. He was the first black jockey to be inducted into the National Museum of Racing …
Kenny Washington: Broke Color Line in NFL
Kenny Washington (1918-1971) was the first African American to sign with an NFL team after a 13-year unspoken pact among owners to bar black football players from teams. Kenny Washington …
Scrabble: How It Began
The Scrabble Brand Crossword Game began as the idea of Alfred Mosher Butts (1899-1993), an architect who found himself unemployed during the Great Depression. Butts was not one to feel …
Route 66 Opening Celebrated with Mixed-Race Contest
The First International Transcontinental Foot Race was held in the United States in 1928. The event was organized through the combined efforts of the Route 66 Association and sports promoter, …
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