Tag Archives: Madison Square Garden
Sandy Saddler
Sandy Saddler (Boxing. Born, Boston, MA, June 23, 1926; died, Bronx, NY, Sept. 18, 2001.) Born Joseph Saddler in Boston, where he also began his pro ring career, Sandy Saddler was a boxing dynamo who fought 162 times in a career stretching from 1944-56 and entered the ring no less than 56 times in the New […]
Bob Wolff
Bob Wolff (Sportscaster. Born, New York, NY, Nov. 29, 1920.) Acknowledged as the longest-running sportscaster in television history, Robert A. Wolff has been on the New York sports scene since 1954. Wolff began in Washington, D.C., in 1946 with the old DuMont Network. He became the Knicks television voice in 1954, beginning an association with […]
Stanford White
Stanford White (Architect. Born, New York, NY, Nov. 9, 1853; died, New York, NY, June 25, 1906.) More than an architect, Stanford White (and his firm McKim, Mead & White) functioned as leaders of style and taste in New York for more than two decades. Madison Square Garden existed in a converted railroad depot at […]
Bobby Walthour, Sr.
Bobby Walthour, Sr. (Bicycle racing. Born, Walthourville, GA, Jan. 1, 1878; died, Boston, MA, Sept. 2, 1949.) One of the true folk heroes of American bicycle racing, Robert A. Walthour, Sr., not only set numerous world speed record in his motor-paced specialty but also won two six-day races at Madison Square Garden in the early […]
Mickey Walker
Mickey Walker (Boxing. Born, Elizabeth, NJ, July 13, 1901; died, Freehold, NJ, Apr. 28, 1981.) A local favorite who began a professional boxing career in his hometown, Edward Patrick Walker became the world middleweight champion. Walker, known as “the Toy Bulldog,” reigned from 1926-31. Of his first 23 bouts, 19 were in Elizabeth (the other […]
Jim Trecker
Jim Trecker (Public relations. Born, Los Angeles, CA, May 14, 1945.) A leading soccer executive, James E. Trecker was also a public relations official with such disparate organizations as the Jets and Madison Square Garden. Trecker served as assistant public relations director of the Jets (1969-75) under Frank Ramos (q.v.). He was the vice president […]
Dan Topping
Dan Topping (Baseball, pro football. Born, Grennwich, CT, June 11, 1912; died, Miami, FL, May 18, 1974.) Grandson of a former president of Republic Steel on his father’s side and a tin millionaire on his mother’s, Daniel Reid Topping was an above-average amateur golfer, owner of two pro football teams, and an owner of the […]
Casey Tibbs
Casey Tibbs (Rodeo. Born, Fort Pierre, SD, Mar. 5, 1929; died, Ramona, CA, Jan. 28, 1990.) During his flamboyant career, Casey Tibbs was the premiere saddle bronc rider on the rodeo circuit and was twice the all-around champion of his sport. What perhaps more than his ability attracted the attention of the public was his flair. […]
Tex Rickard
Tex Rickard (Executive. Born, Kansas City, MO, Jan. 2, 1871; died, Miami, FL, Jan. 6, 1929.) “I never seed anything like it,” George Lewis Rickard is reported to have uttered on at least one famous occasion. But while literacy may not have been his longest suit, Tex Rickard was without doubt the greatest promoter of […]
Henry Stoecker
Henry Stoecker (Dog show. Born, Verdan, North Germany, Sept. 29, 1903; died. Holmdel, NJ, Dec. 12, 1998.) Rated over four decades as one of the great judges in the history of American dog shows, Henry Stoecker was born and raised in Germany with a father who bred and showed Airdales, smoot Fox Terriers, and Boxers. He […]