1923 In Sports

December 30, 2023·2 hr 38 min·5 clips

Discover how Sterling Soap's holiday scents and a new basketball book set the stage for reliving 1923 sports moments.

This episode of Hello Old Sports, hosted by brothers Dan and Andrew Newman, explores the major sporting events and cultural shifts of the year 1923. The hosts, who specialize in sports history, examine how the sports world intersected with a society recovering from war and embracing new technology. They frame 1923 as a pivotal year where several modern sports institutions began to solidify. The hosts detail the 1923 World Series where the New York Yankees, led by Babe Ruth, defeated their cross-town rivals, the New York Giants. They highlight how this series marked the opening of the original Yankee Stadium, which was immediately dubbed "The House That Ruth Built." Andrew and Dan discuss the controversial finish of the 1923 Kentucky Derby, where a horse named Zev won after the initial favorite was disqualified for a false start. They note the growing popularity of college football, referencing the Illinois Fighting Illini's national championship season under coach Bob Zuppke. The episode covers the first 24 Hours of Le Mans automobile race, won by André Lagache and René Léonard in a Chenard & Walcker. It describes how boxing was dominated by Jack Dempsey, who successfully defended his heavyweight title against Tommy Gibbons and Luis Firpo in famous brawls. The hosts explain how tennis saw a shift as Bill Tilden began his reign, while Suzanne Lenglen dominated women's play. They also touch on the early struggles and eventual success of the original Boston Bruins NHL franchise. A surprising insight is the hosts' claim that 1923 was the first year radio broadcasts of baseball games became widespread, fundamentally changing fan engagement. They present the argument that the construction of large municipal stadiums, like Yankee Stadium and the Los Angeles Coliseum, signaled sport's move into big business. The episode reveals that the term "Soccer" was formally adopted by the newly founded U.S. Football Association this year to distinguish it from American football. A memorable moment involves the hosts describing Babe Ruth's performance in the World Series as a personal redemption after previous struggles. They find it notable that several iconic sports venues, beyond just Yankee Stadium, opened their doors in this single year. The hosts also discuss how the Olympic Games, awarded to Los Angeles for 1932, began influencing American athletic infrastructure as early as 1923. The tone is conversational and educational, blending brotherly banter with deeply researched historical facts. The style is narrative, weaving together disparate events from different sports to paint a cohesive picture of the year. This episode would delight sports history enthusiasts and fans curious about the origins of modern sports culture. Listeners seeking deep analysis of a single event or contemporary sports commentary might find it less aligned with their interests.

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