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Alicia Meynell Thornton Beats Male Jockey
Alicia Meynell Thornton won a horse race against a well-known jockey by the name of William Flint. The race took place on a local track in England in September of 1804. However, there was much controversy over who had the better horse in this landmark race. -
First Women's Golf Tournament
The very first women's golf tournament was held in Musselburgh, Scotland in 1811. A well known ladies golf club, known as the Ladies Club of St. Andrews were the first to participate and draw attention to this venue. Also, it is believed that this was where the word "caddy" was invented. -
First Native-Born Americans to Ascend in Hot Air Ballon Was Woman
On October 4th, 1825, Madame Johnson ascended in a hot air balloon from New York to landing in a New Jersey swamp. It was very common for women to be more so of balloonist daredevils than men. When this event took place there was a large crowd that witnessed records being broken. -
First Lacrosse Games
The first modern lacrosse games are played amongst men and women. The sport didn't become a major scholarship sport for women until 1990. It was originally played by North American Indians. -
First Women's Croquet Championship
The first womens croquet championship was held in England in 1869. Mrs. Joad won the championship triumphantly. The sport was first introduced as lawn tennis but was soon introduced as "croquet" by Englishmen because there was so much controversy over which game was better: Tennis or Croquet. -
Early Rowing for Women
In a sculling contest held on the Monongahela River, Lottie McAlice and Maggie Lew, all 16, rowed 1 mile. This was a big event in the beginning of women's rowing and the winner, McAlice had a winning time of 18:54. She won a gold watch and $2,000 purse. -
First Women's Excersize Manual, "The Housekeeper's Manual"
Catherine Beecher, a well-known author and promoter of fitness, led a movement of physical fitness education in 1873. During the 1848 Revolution, German immigrants came into the United States and Fred Jahn unified excercise and sports in German History. His movement leaked to the United States, thus creating an educational movement of fitness in the United States which is why this popular book was created. -
First Woman to Cross the Gorge on Tightrope
Maria Spelterina becomes the first woman to cross the gorge across Niagra Falls on a tightrope. She was an Italian daredevil who drew attention by her attire while walking. She was wearing woven baskets for shoes and a paper bag on her head to increase difficulty. -
Ladies Day
After many years of women having to be escorted by men into ball games, there was finally a 'ladies day.' On June 16th, 1883 the Giants were playing Cleveland and ladies were now allowed to enter games on their own. This was a monumental case of women's rights and allowing them to freely enjoy a ball game. -
First Women's Hockey Assosciation Game
The first women's hockey game traced back to the 1890s where it was played at a Univeristy level. The University of Toronto and University of Queens were the first teams to duke it out in Toronto. There have been many controversies over when the actual first game was played, but this is what the Women's Hockey Assosciation claims. -
First 19 Women in Modern Olympics
Women in Sports History
The first 19 women competed in the modern Olympic Games in Paris, France. They played in 3 sports: tennis, golf, croquet. Margaret I. Abbott was the first American woman to win the Olympic gold medal. She won nine-hole golf tournament by shooting a 47. -
Take Me Out to the Ball Game
History of Woman's Sports
The national anthem of baseball was written. It was about a young girl's love of the game. This is still used as the national anthem for baseball to this day. -
Time Magazine Cover
Women in Sports History
In 1924, Edith Cummings was the first woman athlete to appear on the cover of Time Magazine. Edith was a popular womans golfer. Back then and still to this day, Time Magazine is very popular and so this was a very big deal for women athletes. -
Strikeout!
Women in Sports History
Baseball Commissioner Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis banned females from professional baseball. This happened after the 17 year old pitcher, Virne Beatrice "Jackie" Mitchell strikes out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in an exhibition game for the Chattanooga Lookouts. Landis voids Mitchell's contract, saying baseball is "too strenuous" for women. -
Record Breaking Speed
Women in Sports History
Kitty O'Neil breaks the woman's world land-speed record. She broke the old record by almost 300 mph. Kitty's new record that she had set was 612 mph. -
Girls and Women in Sports Day
History of Women in Sports
The first National Girls and Women in Sports Day was celebrated in the U.S. This was a very big event to all American female athletes. They felt very special to have a day to celebrate what they have achieved and accomplished. -
LLWS Female Star
History of Women in Sports
Victoria Bruckner is the first girl to play in the Little League World Series. She played first base, batted cleanup and pitched in the final game. This was probably the most memorable thing about this young girl's life and she'll never forget it. -
A League of Their Own
History of Women in Sports
A League of Their Own is a movie about the first year of the All American Girls Professional Baseball League. It was a box office hit, due in large part to the many women who went to see female sports role models on the screen. This league started while most men were overseas fighting World War 1. -
Colorado Silver Bullets
Women in Sports History
The Colorado Silver Bullets were an all female professional baseball touring club. They played against men's professional, college, semi-pro and amateur teams. They were the first all female team to play all men teams of different calibers. -
Head Athletic Trainer
Women in Sports History
The Los Angeles Dodgers name Sue Falsone the head athletic trainer-physical therapist. She is the first woman in professional sports history to hold that position.
