Roy Case | Writer

On the 2 November 1998, Australian cricketer Fred Freer, died in Melbourne, Australia, aged 82.

Born in 1915, Freer was a fast-medium bowler, said to be more accurate than Keith Miller, who was called into the Australian team for the Second Test in 1946 against England, after the leading Australian fast bowler Ray Lindwall was struck down by chickenpox.

In the one and only Test Freer played in, who bowled Cyril Washbrook for one and claimed the wickets of  Jack Ikin and Denis Compton, who was caught out by Don Bradman.

Freer hit 3 fours and a 6 in his 28 not out, the only time he batted for Australia.

 Australia made 659 for 8 declared, and  won by an innings and 33 runs.

Freer also played Australian Rules Football for Victorian Football Association side Yarraville.

2 November, 2019

On the 1 November 1938, jockey George Woolf rode Seabiscuit to victory over the former Triple Crown winner War Admiral by 3 lengths in a Pimlico Race Track record time of 1 minute 56.7 seconds, to win $15,000 in what is regarded as one of the greatest match races in horse racing history.

President Franklin D Roosevelt halted a cabinet meeting, to listen to the radio broadcast of the race. More than 40,000 people descended on the Pimlico track, with an estimated 40 million more captivated by the race, in one of the most anticipated sporting events of the 20th century.

War Admiral was the regal ruler of racing. An aristocratic horse that seemed unbeatable. The cult hero Seabiscuit was the underdog, a horse from the other side of the tracks who became a champion.

War Admiral hated starting gates, and a bell was used to start the race, which gave the advantage to War Admiral.

In one of the greatest match races ever run in the history of the turf, the valiant Seabiscuit got off to a stunningly fast start, and ran the great War Admiral into the dirt and dust, to win the race.

1 November 2019

On the 31 October 1920, former steeplechase jockey, and crime writer, Richard ‘Dick’ Francis CBE, FRSL, was born in Coedcanlas, Pembrokeshire, Wales. (31 October 1920 – 14 February 2010), whose novels centre on horse racing in England.

After wartime service in the RAF, working as ground crew, and later piloting Spitfire and Hurricane fighters, and later Wellington and Lancaster bombers, Francis became a full-time jump-jockey, winning over 350 races and becoming champion jockey of the British National Hunt. In 1956, riding Devon Loch for Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother in the Grand National, which famously fell when close winning.

Francis retired from the turf and became a journalist and novelist, which featured crime in the horse-racing world.

The son of a jockey and stable manager, Francis left school at 15, without any qualifications, ^[to become a jockey; and by the time he was 18, he also was training horses. In the 1980s, Francis moved to Florida in the USA, and In 1992, to the Cayman Islands, where he died of natural causes on in February 2010.

31 October 2019

On the 23 September 1868, Tom Morris, Jr. won the 1868 Open Championship for the first time, beating his father Tom Morris, Sr. by 3 shots.

Tom Morris, Jr. was just 17 years old when he  won the 9th Open Championship, which was held at the Prestwick GC, and remains the youngest winner.

Tom Morris, Jr. led after the first round with a score of 51. Robert Andrew was in second place on 53 with John Allan and Tom Morris, Sr. tied for third on 54. Tom Morris, Sr. and Willie Park, Sr. both scored 50 in their second rounds. This gave Tom Morris, Sr. a one stroke lead over his son, who then scored 49 in his final round for a total of 154, a new record for the Open Championship, the old record was 162, set by Andrew Strath in 1865.

Twelve players competed in the Championship for a total prize fund of £ 12.

1. Tom Morris, Jr. Scotland, 51-54-49-154 – £ 6.00
2. Tom Morris, Sr. Scotland, 54-50-53-157 – £ 4.00
3. Robert Andrew, Scotland, 53-54-52-159 – £ 2.00
4. Willie Park, Sr, Scotland, 58-50-54-162
5. Bob Fergson, Scotland, 57-54-54-165
6. Tom Dunn, Scotland, 59-54-54-167

23 September, 2019

On the 22 September 1880, English first-class cricketer, George Frederick Grace (1850-1880)  died from pneumonia aged 29. After being exposed to wet weather, he developed a cold, shortly after playing for England against Australia in his one and only Test match at the Oval.

Although the England v Australia match was granted Test status retrospectively, it is the first instance of three brothers playing together in a Test match with EM, WG and Fred all members of the England team.

A right-handed batsman, who bowled right arm fast round-arm, Grace played for Gloucestershire  and the United South of England XI. He appeared in 195 matches rated first-class for statistical purposes, in which he scored 6,906 runs, his highest score being 189 not out.

He took 329 wickets with a best performance of 8 for 43. An outstanding fielder and occasional wicket-keeper, he held 170 catches and completed three stumpings. Grace was always praised for his fielding and, in that Test match, he held what has been called ‘the most famous deep field catch in history’.

Widely known as Fred, he was the youngest member of the Grace family. He had four elder brothers who all played cricket, including the famous Dr. ‘WG’ Grace. Like his brothers, he learned how to play cricket at home on the practice pitch his family created on the site of a former orchard. He was coached by his father, Dr. Henry Grace, and his uncle, Alfred Pocock. His mother, Martha, was also a keen participant, and she provided the driving force and the motivation which led to the competitive edge EM, WG and Fred Grace had as players

His earliest appearance in a match rated first-class was in 1866, aged 15, at the Magdalen Ground, Oxford for a hastily organised Gentlemen of England XI against Oxford University,

In June 1868, Grace played for the new Gloucestershire CCC in its first-ever match, a two-day game at Lord’s against the MCC. The county club was not actually new because it had pre-existed for over 20 years as the West Gloucestershire CC, based in Bristol, and was effectively run by the Grace family.

Fred Grace was unquestionably a top-class cricketer but, like everyone else, was overshadowed by WG. 

Born in Downend, near Bristol in 1850, he died in Basingstoke, Hampshire.

22 September, 2019

On the 21 September 1955, professional boxer Rocky Marciano  (1923-1969), KO’d light-heavyweight Archie Moore, in the 9th round of his last fight at Yankee Stadium, NYC.

Marciano held the world heavyweight title from 1952 to 1956, and is the only Heavyweight champion to retire undefeated after 49 professional fights .

He had a 12-fight career as an amateur during which he won the New England Golden Gloves title before losing to Coley Wallace in the Eastern Championships. His last defeat inside a boxing ring.

He turned pro with a third-round knockout win over Lee Epperson in March, 1947 in Massachusetts. Marciano was smaller and slower than most heavyweights, but had power, desire and a solid chin.

One day before his 46th birthday, on August 31, 1969, Marciano died tragically in a plane crash near Newton, Iowa, en route to a birthday party.

21 September, 2019

On the 20 September 1969, the 18th Ryder Cup Matches began at the Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England. The competition ended in a tie at 16 points each, the first tie in Ryder Cup history.

The US team retained the Cup when America’s Jack Nicklaus conceded a three-foot putt to Britain’s Tony Jacklin at the 18th hole, in one of the most famous gestures of sportsmanship in all sport. After holing his final putt for par, Nicklaus picked up Jacklin’s ball marker and told him, ‘I don’t think you would have missed it, but I wasn’t going to give you the chance, either.’

The matches were marred by considerable acrimony and unsportsmanlike behavior by players on both sides. This led to Nicklaus conceding Jacklin’s final putt with the knowledge that the overall competition would end in a draw. 

Jacklin had won the Open Championship two months earlier at nearby Royal Lytham & St Annes to become the first British champion in eighteen years. Playing in his first Ryder Cup at age 29, Nicklaus’ gesture became known as ‘the concession’ and marked the beginning of a lasting friendship that spanned a half century.

The Ryder Cup is a match play event, with each match worth one point.

From 1963 through 1971 the competition format was:

Day 1 — 8 foursomes (alternate shot) matches, 4 each in morning and afternoon sessions

Morning foursomes: GB 3 ½ – USA ½

Afternoon foursomes: GB 1- USA 3

GB 4 ½ – USA 3 ½

Day 2 — 8 four-ball (better ball) matches, 4 each in morning and afternoon sessions

Morning fourballs: GB 2 1/2 – USA 1 ½

Afternoon fourballs: GB 1 – USA 3

GB 3 ½ – USA 4 ½  

Day 3 — 16 singles matches, 8 each in morning and afternoon sessions

Morning singles: GB 5 – USA 3

Afternoon singles: GB 3- USA 5

GB 8 – USA 8

RESULT: GB 16 – USA 16

All matches were played to a maximum of 18 holes.

Teams:

Great Britain: Eric Brown, Scot. [Non-playing captain]; Peter Alliss, Eng; Brian Barnes, Scot; Maurice Bembridge, Eng; Peter Butler, Eng; Alex Caygill, Eng; Neil Coles, Eng; Bernard Gallagher, Scot; Bernard Hunt, Eng; Tony Jacklin, Eng, Christy O’Connor, Snr, Ire; Peter Townsend, Eng.

USA: Sam Snead [Non-playing captain]; Tommy Aaron; Miller Barber; Frank Beard; Billy Casper; Dalel Douglass; Raymond Floyd; Dave Hill, Gene Littler; Jack Nkcklaus; Dan Sikes; Ken Still; Lee Trevino.

20 September 2019

On the 19 September 1922, the long-distance runner, Emil Zátopek was born in  Kopřivnice, Moravia, Czechoslovakia [1922-2000].

Zátopek was the seventh child in a modest family. Aged 16, he began working in a Bata shoe factory in Zlín, where the factory sports coach, ordered 4 boys to run in a race. When he got started, he wanted to win, but only came in second out of the field of 100.

As a result he began to take a serious interest in running and joined the local athletic club. Four years later, in 1944, Zátopek broke the Czechoslovak records for 2,000, 3,000 and 5,000 metres.

Zátopek was selected for the Czechoslovak national team for the 1946 European Championships in Oslo and finished fifth in the 5,000 m. At the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, Zátopek won the 10,000 m and finished in driving rain in the 5,000 m.

The following year Zátopek broke the 10,000 m world record twice

His wife Dana Zátopková, who was born on the same day and year as her husband, won a gold medal in the javelin throw at the 1952 Olympics.

A hero in his native country, Zátopek died in Prague on 22 November 2000 at the age of 78.

19.September, 2019

On the 18 September, 1949, former goalkeeper, Peter Shilton, OBE, was born in Leicester.

Considered by pundits as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, and as one of England’s greatest ever keepers players.

With 125 caps, Shilton currently holds the record for playing the most games for England, and the all-time record of 1,390 for competitive appearances in world football.

Shilton also represented England at the UEFA Euro 1980, the 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 1986 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 1988, and the 1990 FIFA World Cup. He made his World Cup finals debut at the age of 32, played in 17 finals matches, and shares the record of 10 clean sheets in World Cup finals matches.

Despite playing at a lower level, Shilton impressed England manager Alf Ramsey sufficiently to give him his debut in England’s win 3-1 against East Germany in 1970.

Shilton was a 13-year-old pupil at King Richard III Boys School, Leicester, when he started training as a schoolboy Leicester City in 1963. And in 1966, the 16-year-old Shilton made his debut for against Everton. 

His 30-year career included spells at 11 clubs and he had the distinction of playing over 100 league games for five clubs. During his spell with Nottingham Forest, Shilton won the First Division championship, two European Cups, a UEFA Super Cup, and the Football League Cup.

18 September, 2019

On the 17 September 1929, former Formula One racing driver, Sir Stirling Moss, OBE, was born in London. The son of  a dentist and amateur racing driver, he was brought up at Long White Cloud house on the banks of the River Thames.

Stirling was also a gifted horse rider, as was his younger sister, Pat Moss, who later became a successful rally driver and married Erik Carlsson.

Moss was educated at several independent schools, Shrewsbury House School in Surbiton, Clewer Manor Junior School, and the linked senior school, Haileybury and Imperial Service College, located at Hertford Heath, near Hertford.

Moss began his career at the wheel of his father Alfred’s 328 Frazer Nash, DPX 653. His first major international race victory came on the eve of his 21st birthday at the wheel of a borrowed Jaguar XK120 in the 1950 RAC Tourist Trophy on the Dundrod circuit in Northern Ireland. His first World Championship victory was in the 1955 British Grand Prix at Aintree, a race he was also the first British driver to

An inductee into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, Moss won 212 of the 529 races he entered, including 16 Formula One Grands Prix, and was described as ‘the greatest driver never to win the World Championship’. In a seven-year span (1955-1961) Moss finished runner-up four times and third three times.

He would compete in as many as 62 races in a single year, and drove 84 different makes of car over the course of his racing career. He remained the English driver with the most Formula One victories until 1991 when Nigel Mansell overtook him after competing in more races.

In 1960, Moss was found guilty of dangerous driving and fined £50 and banned from driving for twelve months.

During his driving career, Moss was one of the most recognised celebrities in Britain.

Away from driving, in 1962 he acted as a commentator for Formula One and NASCAR races.Moss also narrated the official 1988 Formula One season review along with Tony Jardine.

In the New Year Honours 2000 List, Moss was made a Knight Bachelor for services to motor racing.

17 September, 2019