answersLogoWhite

0

Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Athlete

* Born: 26 June 1914

* Birthplace: Port Arthur, Texas

* Died: 27 September 1956 (cancer)

* Best Known As: Hall of Fame woman golfer and athletic champ

Name at birth: Mildred Didrikson

Mildred 'Babe' Didrikson Zaharias was voted the outstanding woman athlete of the century in a 1950 Associated Press poll. Though she gained her greatest professional fame as a golfer, she rivalled Jim Thorpe in her remarkable ability to excel at nearly any sport. She began as a Basketball All-American, then won two Track and Field golds at the 1932 Olympics. Next she turned professional and began touring the country, exhibiting her prowess in track, swimming, tennis, baseball, and even billiards. In 1935 Zaharias took up golf and excelled at that, too, winning 82 tournaments in a 20-year career. She died of cancer in 1956. Her autobiography, This Life I've Led, was published in 1955.

Zaharias claimed she earned the nickname 'Babe' for Babe Ruth after hitting five home runs in one baseball game... She married professional wrestler George Zaharias in 1938... The Babe Zaharias Museum opened in Beaumont, Texas in 1976... Zaharias was played by actress Susan Clark in the 1975 TV movie Babe. The next year Clark played the title role in the TV movie Amelia Earhart... Golfer Annika Sorenstam played in a men's professional tournament, The Colonial, in 2003 -- making her the first woman to play a PGA tournament since Zaharias played in the 1945 Los Angeles Open.

Above retrieved from Answers.com

Viper1

User Avatar

Wiki User

16y ago

Still curious? Ask our experts.

Chat with our AI personalities

BeauBeau
You're doing better than you think!
Chat with Beau
EzraEzra
Faith is not about having all the answers, but learning to ask the right questions.
Chat with Ezra
RafaRafa
There's no fun in playing it safe. Why not try something a little unhinged?
Chat with Rafa
More answers

Babe Didrikson excelled in basketball, swimming, diving, rifle shooting, boxing, softball, Bowling, track and field, Golf, hurdles, volleyball, handball, tennis and more. She also established American and World records in discus, javelin, and shot put just between 1925 and 1932.

User Avatar

Wiki User

8y ago
User Avatar

In 1938 she became the first woman to play a mens professional golf tournament, the LA Open, she missed the cut. She won 82 professional tournaments. She also achieved high status in basketball and track and field. In the 1932 Olympics she won 2 gold medals in the 80m hurdles and Javelin. As well as silver in the high jump.

User Avatar

Wiki User

16y ago
User Avatar

She played basketball, bowling, biking, golf, boxing, and track.

User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago
User Avatar

bocce ball

User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: What sports did Babe Zaharias play?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp