Notable Firsts in Sports

SI Staff | Sep 22, 2008

Notable Firsts in Sports

Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson, Walter Johnson

(from top left) Charles Colon/TSN/Icon SMI, AP, Charles M. Conlon/TSN/Icon SMI, AP

Cobb, Ruth, Wagner, Mathewson and Johnson received at least three-quarters of the votes cast in the election of the Baseball Hall of Fame's first class. The benchmark of 75 percent remains the standard of admission today. <br><br>What Firsts in Sports would you add to the gallery? Send comments to siwriters@simail.com.

Jack Johnson

AP

Johnson became the first African-American to win the world heavyweight championship by defeating Tommy Burns by TKO on Dec. 26, 1908.

Roger Bannister

Getty Images

Approximately 3,000 spectators witnessed Bannister becoming the first man in recorded history to run the mile in under four minutes during a meet between British AAA and Oxford University at Iffley Road Track in Oxford.

Jackie Robinson

Mark Kauffman/SI

Robinson broke the color barrier in the major leagues on April 15, 1947. He went on to play 10 seasons for the Brooklyn Dodgers, winning the NL Rookie of the Year award in 1947 and MVP in 1949.

Sir Barton

AP

Under the handling of trainer H. Guy Bedwell and jockey Johnny Loftus, Sir Barton became the first of 11 horses to win the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes -- an accomplishment which would become known as the Triple Crown.

Althea Gibson

AP

Gibson became the first African-American to win Wimbledon and the U.S. Championships, winning both tournaments in 1957 and 1958.

Ernie Davis

Courtesy of Syracuse University Athletics

Two years after leading Syracuse to its first and only national championship as a sophomore, Davis became the first African-American player to win the Heisman Trophy.

Billie Jean King

Stephen Green-Armytage/SI

One year before she defeated Bobby Riggs in the famous Battle of the Sexes, King became the first woman to be named SI's Sportsperson of the Year.

Art Shell

Andy Hayt/SI

In 1990 the Raiders made Shell the NFL's first African-American head coach in the modern era. He would win AFC Coach of the Year honors in his first season after leading L.A. to the AFC title game

Ashley Martin

AP

Martin became the first woman to score points in a Division I football game when she booted three extra points for Jacksonville State in a 71-0 win over Cumberland. <br><br>What Firsts in Sports would you add to the gallery? Send comments to siwriters@simail.com.