Sports in the 1920s Just as movies became popular culture entertainment, sports became big hits of their own drawing great crowds.

Sports for Entertainment With many Americans having more leisure time in the 1920s, they took to watching sports for entertainment. From baseball to boxing and football to golf, events that had previously been for the participants were now for observers, as well. And sports would not only be familiar pastimes, but would open the door to all new adventures.

America’s Sport Sports heroes erupted from every sport imaginable in the 1920s. Americans loved competition, and they loved watching athletes find success and break barriers. Babe Ruth became an American hero with his many great “at bats” as everyone listened to the games on the radio and read the updates in the daily news. Boxing brought Jack Dempsey to the ring, Helen Wills wowed everyone on the tennis courts, and Red Grange ran the football field. Favorites arose in every arena, and all had fans to support them in their athletic endeavors.

Setting Records Whether it was Babe Ruth hitting three home runs un one game or Gertrude Ederle swimming across the English Channel, athletes were setting records around the world and entertaining their fans along the way. Still, Oscar Charleston was considered one of the greatest players of all time, but in the 1920s, he was not allowed to play in the major leagues because of the color of his skin. It would take another 20 years before those barriers would be broken.

New Types of Sport The Roaring Twenties was a time of athleticism and fun. Swimming became a popular pastime, and biking was again popular among the youth. Many Americans even took sport one step further with by taking on great adventures, such as flag-pole sitting or stunt flying. Even Charles Lindberg, or Lucky Lindy, took on flying solo across the Atlantic Ocean.