Old School Pics Showing Famous Athletes In A Different Era
While famous athletes have existed since the age of the gladiators of ancient Rome (and possibly even earlier), the 20th century was the dawn of the modern-day famous athlete - megastars so recognizable that even non-sports fans know who they are.
We've gone deep into the archives to unearth various pics from the past century or so showing some of the most recognizable sports figures of all time. Some are candid, some are staged, but all show athletes who transcended their individual sports to become household names.
Muhammad Ali, 1970.
We'll start out with an interesting one, which was posted by a Redditor. Far from being a wire photo, this is from the user's personal archive, and commemorates a time when Muhammad Ali came to dinner with their family in 1970.
Ali, of course, was in the midst of his prime in 1970. Born Cassius Clay in Louisville, Kentucky, Ali would go on to fight Joe Frazier the following year in the Fight of the Century - widely recognized as the biggest boxing match in history up to that point.
Wayne Gretzky, 1978.
From an early age, Wayne Gretzky was seen as a can't miss hockey prospect, and it's safe to say that he lived up to the billing - after all, he's essentially the Michael Jordan of hockey, and holds many records that will likely never be broken.
At the time this photo was taken, Gretz was 16 years old. Despite his young age, he was on the cusp of signing his first pro contract with the Indianapolis Racers of the World Hockey Association.
Babe Ruth, 1935.
Even 80 years after his retirement, and 70 years after his death, Babe Ruth is probably still the baseball player whose name is most recognized by casual fans.
This bittersweet photo shows the Babe not at the height of his fame, but towards the end of his career. He was playing a final season with the Boston Braves, and had just hit a home run. He would retire later that season, and would die just 13 years later.
Lou Gehrig, 1930s.
Outside of baseball, Lou Gehrig is probably best remembered for his tragic battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which is best known as Lou Gehrig's disease. The incurable condition cut short Gehrig's career and then his life.
During his playing career, though, Gehrig set a record that took more than half a century to break. He played every single game between 1925 and 1939, taking himself out of the lineup after his disease had progressed too far for him to play any longer.
Larry Bird, 1979.
Before he was Larry Legend, he was just Larry Bird - or, if you prefer, the "Hick from French Lick." Bird's humble beginnings in rural Indiana were followed by a dominant collegiate career with the Indiana State Sycamores, in which he had his first matchups against Magic Johnson.
From there, of course, Bird became one of the most dominant players of the 1980s, helping his Boston Celtics to three NBA championships and taking home three MVP awards along the way.
Red Grange, 1925.
The very earliest days of the NFL were a far cry from the glitzy enterprise we know today. In those primordial days, Red Grange may have been the league's biggest star, and someone who helped bring legitimacy to the new league.
Grange is seen here during his college days with the Illinois Fighting Illini, but his NFL career was spent almost entirely with the Chicago Bears. His offseason barnstorming tours helped bring new attention to what was then a niche sport.
Jesse Owens, 1936.
Sprinter Jesse Owens famously dominated the 1936 Olympics, winning four gold medals for the United States. His exploits were particularly noteworthy, because these Olympics were hosted by Nazi Germany - and it's safe to say that Hitler was chagrined to see a black athlete dominate the white competition.
While Owens received a muted hero's welcome upon returning home, racial prejudice still played a major role in his life. He was spurned by the sitting president, and it wasn't until decades later that he would finally be welcomed to the White House by President Gerald Ford.
Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf, 1992.
The glorious manes on display belong to Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf, two of the biggest tennis stars of all time. Agassi was involved in several high-profile relationships in the early '90s, but it wasn't until 2001 that he and Graf tied the knot.
Today, Graf and Agassi are still happily married, spending most of their time in the Las Vegas area. While their two kids have some impressive tennis genes, the Graf-Agassi family has said they don't intend to push their kids towards tennis careers.
Bobby Orr, 1970s.
This pic shows Boston Bruins legend Bobby Orr in a lighter moment, cavorting with a mascot dressed as Snoopy during an Ice Follies event at the Boston Garden. The shy, unassuming Orr essentially reinvented the position of defenceman.
While his playing career was cut short by injuries, Orr holds numerous NHL records. Most notably, he's the only defenceman in league history to lead the league in scoring, and also holds the record for most points and assists in a season by a defenceman.
Joe Louis, 1930s.
Like many black athletes in the early part of the 20th century, Joe Louis achieved fame thanks to his athletic gifts, but was never fully accepted by the largely white sporting press.
The "Brown Bomber" had an incredible streak, going 25-0 in title defenses, on his way to the longest single title reign of any boxer, across any weight class, covering any title, in history. Louis had a tumultuous retirement and passed away at the age of 66 in 1981.
Magic Johnson, 1980s.
Before Michael Jordan, Earvin "Magic" Johnson was probably the most recognizable basketball player in the world. His legacy is truly multifaceted - he was one of the main cogs driving the "Showtime" Lakers of the '80s, and also had a legendary rivalry with the Boston Celtics and Larry Bird.
Later in his career, Johnson joined forces with Bird on the legendary U.S.A. "Dream Team" at the 1992 Olympics. Following his playing career, he became a part-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, 1962.
At the time, this photo might have represented the passing of a torch, as 22-year-old Jack Nicklaus had just defeated 32-year old Arnold Palmer at the 1962 U.S. Open Playoff. But as it turned out, this was just the beginning of a legendary rivalry.
Both men would dominate the top flight of golf through the 1960s and '70s, trading wins and competing fiercely. In the end, Nicklaus would finish with 117 professional wins, edging Palmer's 95 pro wins.
Bill Russell, 1950s.
In basketball's early era, no player revolutionized the game more than Bill Russell. The 6-foot-10 center is seen here during his collegiate career with the University of San Francisco Dons, with whom he won two NCAA championships.
Russell went on to play 13 seasons with the Boston Celtics, winning an incredible 11 championships during his tenure to go along with 5 MVP awards and 12 All-Star game appearances. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975.
Jim Brown, 1957.
Jim Brown is better remembered today as a football legend and civil rights activist. But before his Hall of Fame career as a Cleveland Browns fullback, Brown was known as one of the greatest multi-sport athletes in history.
This photo shows Brown playing field lacrosse with the University of Syracuse. At that point, he was seen as perhaps the greatest lacrosse player in college sports. In addition to football and lacrosse, Brown also played basketball and ran track during his time at Syracuse.
Wilt Chamberlain, 1954.
This image of young Wilt Chamberlain gives an idea of just how lanky he was, and how well that body translated to the basketball court. In high school, he took part in the high jump, long jump, shot put and basketball - but eventually focused entirely on basketball.
To this day, "Wilt the Stilt" owns 72 NBA records, including most points scored in a game. This marker also makes him the only player in NBA history to ever drop more than 100 points in a single game.
Ted Williams, 1940s.
Ted Williams was an enigmatic figure who, for decades, had an antagonistic relationship with the media that covered him and the fans who loved him. Widely known as the greatest hitter of all time (just ask him), Teddy Ballgame spent his entire career with the Boston Red Sox.
Following his retirement, he became an avid sportsman who spent most of his time hunting and fishing. Even in death, he remains a notable figure as he's perhaps the most famous person to ever be cryogenically frozen.
Jackie Robinson, 1955.
One of the most important athletes of the 20th century, Jackie Robinson famously broke baseball's modern color barrier in 1946 for the newly integrated Montreal Royals of the International League. The following year, he made his big league debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Robinson not only withstood intense racial prejudice throughout his career, he also helped spur the once-hapless Dodgers to World Series glory in 1955. While he didn't follow the team to Los Angeles, he's perhaps the most iconic player to ever wear Dodger blue.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 1960s.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, born Lew Alcindor, is seen here with his father Ferdinand Alcindor, a transit police officer. Widely seen as one of the greatest basketball players ever, Abdul-Jabbar's trademark "sky hook" was a nearly unstoppable shot for defenders.
Following his long playing career, Abdul-Jabbar showed himself to be a true renaissance man, authoring numerous books and thinkpieces across different mediums. He even dabbled in Hollywood with a star turn in Airplane! and a writing credit on Veronica Mars.
Carl Lewis, 1983.
One of several elite American track and field athletes to emerge in the '80s, Carl Lewis is remembered as one of the best sprinters and long jumpers of all time. His peak came at the 1984 Olympic Games, in which he won three gold medals and set records.
Somewhat unusually for track athletes, Lewis enjoyed a long career in the sport. He competed in events from 1979 to 1996, and is one of a handful of Olympians to win gold medals in four consecutive Olympic Games.
Jim Thorpe, 1912.
It's no exaggeration to say that Jim Thorpe may be the greatest athlete to ever live. He's seen here following a hurdles event in France back in 1912, but his career took him far beyond track and field.
Thorpe grew up in the Sac and Fox Nation in present-day Oklahoma and went on to achieve success as an Olympian, and also played three of today's big four sports - baseball, football, and basketball - at the highest levels.
Michael Jordan, 1982.
There's little to say about Michael Jordan that hasn't been said before - he's perhaps the most famous athlete who's ever lived. This contemplative 1982 shot shows MJ in a quieter moment, playing an arcade game.
At the time, Jordan was a well regarded college basketball player for the North Carolina Tar Heels, but was not seen as the next great basketball legend. It would take a couple more seasons at UNC, and a couple of years in the NBA, before he was a true international superstar.
Hank Aaron, 1974.
Hank Aaron's baseball career was a true odyssey, starting with the Indianapolis Clowns in 1951, in the waning days of segregation. He moved to Major League Baseball in 1954 and quickly established himself as a dominant power hitter.
Aaron's long career led him to his signature moment in 1974: playing for the Atlanta Braves, he hit a home run to left-center field to overtake Babe Ruth as Major League Baseball's all-time home run leader. To some, his record - untainted by steroid allegations - remains the "true" record.
Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova, 1990.
These two legends held a stranglehold on women's tennis through much of the 1970s and '80s. To give an idea of their dominance, during a 12-year period from November 1975 to August 1987, there were only 23 total weeks in which one of the two did not hold the WTA's top ranking.
The two had different strengths and weaknesses - Evert was better on hard courts, while Navratilova was better on grass. With their intermingled history, it's no surprise that they became good friends in retirement.
Gordie Howe, 1980.
If Gordie Howe looks like an old man in this photo, that's because he is. He was about 52 years old when this photo was taken in 1980, and was playing in his unprecedented fifth decade of pro hockey.
Howe's career began all the way back in 1946 with the Detroit Red Wings, and wrapped up in 1980. Incredibly, he came back for a minor league game with the Detroit Vipers in 1997, making him the only player in hockey history to play in six decades.
Mia Hamm, 1993.
Mia Hamm became immediately iconic following her heroics at the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup Final. Following a marathon game, Hamm scored in the penalty shootout against China, securing the win for the United States, and collapsing to the field in celebration.
Of course, Hamm's career didn't start with that 1999 goal. It came after more than a decade of hard work with the U.S. Women's National Team, a time period in which women's soccer struggled to gain mainstream recognition.
Joe DiMaggio (and Marilyn Monroe, 1954).
In modern times, we're used to seeing celebrity couples - the partnerships where it's hard to say who's more famous. Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe are an early example of this phenomenon.
Even though their union lasted just nine short months, something about these two famous figures captivated the public's imagination. While DiMaggio was reportedly jealous and controlling during their brief time together, he also maintained a certain infatuation with Monroe - and was devastated when she died in 1962.
Babe Didrikson Zaharias, 1940s.
The early 20th century saw numerous athletes who excelled in multiple sports, and Babe Didrikson Zaharias may be the most accomplished of all. Born Mildred Ella Didrikson in 1911, she was elite at every sport she tried: golf, basketball, baseball, and track.
While she's gone down as the first LPGA superstar, her success on the golf course came after winning two gold medals, and one silver, at the 1932 Summer Olympics. Sadly, she died of cancer at the young age of 45.
Billie Jean King (and Elton John), 1974.
Billie Jean King's record on the court is hard to match: 39 Grand Slam titles across singles and doubles competition, along with a much-heralded win in the 1973 "Battle of the Sexes" versus Bobby Riggs.
Off the court, however, King also made a mark. She was an outspoken feminist throughout her pro tennis career, and when she came out of the closet in 1981, she was perhaps the most prominent female professional athlete to do so. Her legacy of activism of social justice continues to this day.
Florence Griffith Joyner, 1996.
Florence Griffith-Joyner, better known as Flo-Jo, burned bright during her short life. She reached a level of celebrity rarely seen for female sprinters in the '80s, owing not just to her status as the fastest woman alive, but also her larger-than-life personality.
In 1989, at the age of 30, Flo-Jo retired from athletics competition. A series of ugly rumors about performance-enhancing steroids followed her in retirement, and she died suddenly at the age of 38 from an epileptic seizure.
Jackie Joyner-Kersee, 1996.
Jackie Joyner-Kersee stands as a role model not only for young women in track and field, but also for anyone who's ever had asthma. Incredibly, despite living with severe asthma, Joyner-Kersee had an unmatched career for the U.S. Track & Field team.
Following a lengthy career as a heptathlete and long jumper, Joyner-Kersee became a philanthropist and activist, dedicating herself to encouraging young people in and around her hometown of East St. Louis to pursue academics and athletics.