Baltimore's Boxing Legacy: 1893-2003 (MD) (Images of Sports) [Paperback]

Thomas Schaif (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 21, 2003

The boxing history of Baltimore dates back over a century. Over that time the Monumental City has produced seven world champions and numerous top contenders. Joe Gans, the first Baltimorean and African-American ever to win a world title, in 1902, learned his boxing science in the city, earning him the title of "The Old Master" while he shucked oysters on Broadway.

Baltimore's Boxing Legacy: 1893 to 2003 chronicles the evolution of fistiana from venues such as the Eureka Athletic Club, Gayety Theatre, Lyric Theatre, Carlin's Park, Baltimore Coliseum, Oriole Park, Steelworkers' Hall, to the Civic Center. It is a tale of ethnicity and race, of color barriers broken, and near-champions and contenders remembered. The likes of Johnny Kid Williams, the Dundee brothers Joe and Vince, Benny Schwartz, Jack Portney, Harry Jeffra, Red Burman, Joe Poodles Sr., Mack Lewis, Vincent Pettway, Hasim Rahman, and many more are showcased in addition to trainers, managers, matchmakers, and promoters.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Author Thomas Scharf is a boxing historian and member of the International Boxing Research Organization, and also serves as an elector to the International Boxing Hall of Fame. His compilation of more than 200-rarely seen photographs skillfully illustrates Baltimore's heritage as an elite boxing city.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing (September 21, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738515612
• ISBN-13: 978-0738515618
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,687,046 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Book, November 6, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Baltimore's Boxing Legacy: 1893-2003 (MD) (Images of Sports) (Paperback)

Baltimore and Maryland have a rich history of amateur and professional boxing and its recorded in pictures with comments in Arcadia Publishing's "Images of Sports:Baltimore's Boxing Legacy 1893-2003" by Thomas Scharf. This is a great book and would make an excellent gift to any of your friends who like boxing.

Baltimore has had seven world champions starting with Joe Gans, the first Baltimorean and African American to win a world championship.

On page 109 there is a picture showing lightheavyweight champion Bobby Foster signing for a June 27, 1970 title defense at the Baltimore Civic Center against Mark Tessman, in the picture is the greatest chairman the Maryland State Athletic Commission has ever had the late D. Chester O'Sullivan.

Sugar Ray Leonard is shown before his first pro fight that was held at the Baltimore Civic Center on February 5, 1977. He earned a six round win over Luis Vega. Leonard went on to win World Championships and was named the "Fighter of the Decade for the 1980's."

There are so many great pictures and comments I could go on forever.

Mack Lewis the great trainer and manager is covered in this book. Other boxers pictures appear in the book, fighters like Leo "Kid" Saenz, Vince Pettway (a great fighter and champion), Buddy Boggs, Al Flora, Archie Moore, Holly Mims, Henry Jeffra, Earl Bayne, Jack Portney (considered Baltimore's best Southpaw fighter) and the fighting Dundees.

There is a great picture on page 44 showing Jack Dempsey on March 3, 1926 as he boxed at Baltimore's Fifth Regiment Armory.

Fights were held at Carlins Park, Memorial Stadium, the Gayety Theater (Terry Maher, John Pavlides, Don Saccardi and I went there but not to see boxing), Lyric Theater, the Coliesum, Eureka Athletic Club, Steelworkers Hall, Oriole Park as well as the Fifth Regiment Armory and the Civic Center. I love this book and strongly recommend it to you!