In this book, babe didrikson zaharias completely changed what was possible for women in sportsshe conquered golf, won gold medals in track and field, and was an allamerican basketball player. Historic photos and easytoread text take readers into the athletes life. In her childhood, she used to play baseball with neighbourhood boys in beaumont. She won two gold medals in track and field at the 1932 summer olympics, before turning to professional golf. An extraordinarily gifted athlete, babe didrikson zaharias starred in track and field and won three olympic. Her father ole didriksen was a sailor based in oslo, who saw port arthur from the bow of a ship and resolved to move his wife hannah and their three children there. Babe didrikson zaharias jennifer strand a dominant athlete in an era when women were discouraged from playing sports, babe didrikson zaharias was a true trailblazer. Aligned to common core standards and correlated to state standards. There are questions placed in boxed sections throughout the book. Babe didrikson zaharias was one of historys greatest athletes as an allamerican basketball player, an olympic gold medalist in track and field, and a championship golfer who won eightytwo amateur and professional tournaments. She is widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes. Her memory lives on in the usa in the form of stamps, films, documentaries and books, as well as the streets and golf courses named after her. Babe didrikson zaharias was one of the most versatile and talented athletes of all time.
One of americas foremost female athletes, mildred ella babe didrikson zaharias was an olympic gold medal winner who broke world records in multiple sports and went on to found the ladies pro golf association born on june 26, 1911 in port arthur, texas, she was the sixth of seven children born to norwegian immigrants hannah marie and ole. The only problem that i had with the book was that the sidebars were sometimes multiple. She was famous for her remarkable performance in basketball and golf. Athlete and olympic champion babe didrikson zaharias was born mildred ella didrikson on june 26, 1911, in port arthur, texas, the daughter of ole didrikson and hannah marie olsen. A dominant athlete in an era when women were discouraged from playing sports, babe didrikson zaharias was a true trailblazer. Books to challenge gifted 7th grade readers greatschools. June 26, 1911 september 27, 1956 was an american athlete who achieved a great deal of success in golf, basketball and track and field. June 26, 1911 september 27, 1956 was an american athlete who excelled in golf, basketball, baseball and track and field. This brief book provides a quick overview of the life of babe didrikson zaharias. The life and legend of babe didrikson zaharias 1995, earned a pulitzer nomination, shows us a gifted, driven, and often lonely woman who polarized the press and wowed the fans as easily as she alienated teammates and competitors.
When babe didrikson zaharias was a child, her goal was to be. She competed in several events during this competition. Babe the life and legend of babe didrikson zaharias awards and recognition. She won two gold medals in track and field at the 1932 summer olympics, before turning to professional golf and winning 10 lpga major championships. When babe didrikson zaharias was a child, her goal was to be the greatest athlete who ever lived. She was an olympic track star in the 1932 games, a noted professional basketball player, and a formative member of the lpga. The authors do an excellent job of telling her story. An olympic gold medalist and worldrecordholder in track and field, zaharias was also an allamerican in basketball, and competed in tennis, baseball, bowling, and most. Although she won two gold medals and one silver medal in track and field events at. She also mastered tennis, played exhibition baseball, and was an. Her dedication to training and practicing resulted in her becoming one of the greatest woman athletes of the century. Didrikson zaharias s autobiography, this life ive led, appeared in 1955. Zaharias, babe didrikson, 19111956juvenile literature.
She first came to national prominence at the 1932 aau championships, when her team, employers casualty, won the team title. Zaharias, babe didrikson, 19111956 juvenile literature, zaharias, babe didrikson, 19111956, zaharias, babe didrikson, 19111956, zaharias, babe didrikson, 19111956 juvenile literature, athletes united states biography juvenile literature, women athletes united states biography juvenile literature, athletes, women. Babe didrikson zaharias was born mildred ella didriksen on june 26, 1911, in port arthur, texas to a workingclass, east texan, norwegian immigrant family. Babe didrikson zahararias redefined what it meant to be a sports hero. The making of a champion paperback january 7, 2014. Babe didrikson zaharias story is an important one, and for too long it has been brushed aside in favor of the male athletes of her day. Babe didrikson zahariass legacy fades the new york times. Few people come as close to their childhood goals as babe. Find all the books, read about the author, and more.
Mildred ella didrikson zaharias babe height 5 5, weight 145 lb throws right, bats unknown. Babe didrikson zaharias 2 olympic athletic golds, 10 lpga majors. Cayleff also shows the strain of being a celebrity. Mildred didrikson zaharias was born june 26, 1911, and earned her nickname babe by hitting five homeruns in one childhood baseball game. Her father and mother were from norway, where her mother had been an outstanding skier and skater. She won four other tournaments in 1954, and the following year she claimed two more victories, which were the last of her career. With her highlevel accomplishments in multiple sports, she embodied a true athlete. She was an allamerican basketball player, an olympic gold medalist in track and field, and a championship golfer who won eightytwo amateur and professional tournaments. Mildred ella babe didrikson is considered by many authorities to be the greatest allround sportswoman in history. Babe didrikson zaharias, who was born 100 years ago sunday, is perhaps americas greatest multisport star. One of the most gifted athletes in the world, babe didrikson zaharias dominated.
Mildred didrikson zaharias was born june 26, 1911, and earned her nickname babe by hitting five home runs in one childhood baseball game. Babe didrikson zaharias biography, life, interesting facts. Babe didrikson zaharias athlete, track and field athlete. Babe didrikson zaharias was a female athlete of america. Babe didrikson zaharias is considered the greatest female athlete of the first half of the 20th century. Mildred didrikson olympic athletics united states of. Mildred ella babe didrikson zaharias june 26, 1911 september 27, 1956 was an american athlete who achieved outstanding success in. The life and legend of babe didrikson zaharias sport and society. Although she wore a colostomy bag, didrikson zaharias dominated the event, winning by 12 strokes. She developed a penchant for sports since her childhood days and she played various types of sports like tennis, volleyball and swimming. Historic photos and easytoread text take readers into the athletes. She was elected woman athlete of the year six times, and in 1950 was named woman athlete of the half century. The magnificent sporting life of babe didrikson zaharias.
Zoom in even deeper with quick stats, a timeline, and bolded glossary terms. The life and legend of babe didrikson zaharias sport and. In my mind she surely was the greatest woman,s athlete and this book truly does. Russell freedman a biography of babe didrikson, who broke records in golf.
She was elected woman athlete of the year six times, and in 1950 was named woman athlete of the. Babe didrikson zaharias was a worldfamous athlete at the time of her death from cancer. Delete from selected list scholastic books for kids. Russell freedman a biography of babe didrikson, who broke records in golf, track and field, and other sports, at a time when there were few opportunities for female athletes. Babe didrikson was running and jumping hedges at the age of eight. She played basketball and baseball, was champion swimmer and diver, a goldmedalist at the 1932 olympics in track and field and professional golfer who founded the lpga. She was always the tomboy type until she was in her twenties. As she got older, she had to be the center of all the attention. At the 1932 olympics, she won medals in the hurdles. Ask sports fans to choose the greatest athletes of the 20th century and one name is sure to pop up on the list.
No other female athlete has achieved such feats or reached such a high level in. In another exemplary biography, newbery medalist freedman martha graham turns to mildred babe didrikson zaharias 19111956, arguably the preeminent woman athlete of the 20th century. Babe didrikson zaharias died on september 27, 1956, with her husband george at her side and her best friendprobably lover, betty dodd doing what babe wanted her to do. Babe didrikson zaharias is perhaps the most accomplished athlete that young people have never heard of. Few people come as close to their childhood goals as babe did. The life and legend of babe didrikson zaharias by susan e.