By Stacy Reyer
Special to the Herald
From the early 1930s, when she gained fame in the Olympics as a gold medal-winning track star, until her untimely death in 1956, Mildred “Babe” Didrikson was a household name. Born 99 years ago yesterday, she excelled at a multitude of sports, but is perhaps best-known for her prestigious career in golf.
Reflecting some of the unenlightened ideas at the time, sportswriter Joe Williams said of Didrikson, “It would be much better if she and her ilk stayed at home, got themselves prettied up and waited for the phone to ring.” Although such thoughts were common early in the 20th century, Didrikson proved a pioneer for future generations. To find out more about this inspiring athlete, check out the following titles: “American Heroines: The Spirited Women Who Shaped Our Country” by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison; “Why Michael Couldn’t Hit: And Other Tales of the Neurology of Sports” by Harold Klawans; and “Idols Of The Game: A Sporting History Of The American Century” by Robert Lipsyte and Peter Levine.
Didrikson’s story is still inspiring to today’s young female athletes, as are the following nonfiction titles for teens. “The Matchless Six: The Story of Canada’s First Women’s Olympic Team” by Ron Hotchkiss tells the story of the “flying four,” Canada’s first women’s relay team. Jane Bell, Myrtle Cook, Bobbie Rosenfeld and Ethel Smith may have traveled to the Olympics in 1928, but it wasn’t until 1972 that American girls were guaranteed fair play in the school yard. “Let Me Play: The Story Of Title IX: The Law That Changed the Future Of Girls in America” by Karen Blumenthal explores the history of Title IX legislation. Signed into law in 1972, Title IX banned sex discrimination in U.S. education, forever changing girls’ participation in sports. One athlete benefiting from Title IX was former U.S. Women’s Bobsled team member and martial artist Alexandra Powe Allred. Her book “Atta Girl!: A Celebration of Women in Sports” explores the camaraderie female athletes have with each other, the relationships they have with their families, and the frustration felt when fighting for fair play.
For a more mature audience, try “Making Her Mark: Firsts and Milestones in Women’s Sports” by women’s sports historian Ernestine Miller. This work celebrating women’s accomplishments in American sports from the 1870s to 2002 is an inspiring exploration of female athletic ability.
Speaking Volumes, written by Manatee County Public Library System staff members, is published each Sunday. Access the library online at www.mymanatee.org/library.html.
