Two years before Roger Bannister, a British middle-distance athlete, even thought of breaking the mile run record, he broke the British record in the 1500m as a participant in the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki. This would inspire Bannister to go for “The Miracle Mile.”
He couldn’t train as hard as he wanted to because, at the time, he had been working as a junior doctor. The goal was to make the mile run in under four minutes and, while he didn’t quite make his high benchmark, he still accomplished it in four minutes and 59.4 seconds. This photo shows Bannister during the British Empire Commonwealth Games on Aug. 7, 1954 against John Lundy. He snagged Sports Illustrated magazine’s first “Sportsman of the Year” award.
PHIL MICKELSON
Phil Mickelson has won all the major golf tournaments, except for the U.S. Open. For some reason he can’t seem to break through its barrier, although he has been consistently listed in the Top 50 for over 25 years. His highest career ranking is at number two in the world, and he’s achieved that several times.
This photo shows Lefty before winning his first Masters Tournament. Dated April 11, 2004, he leaps victoriously after he made an 18-foot putt on the 18th hole, successfully seizing a grand one-shot victory.
PETE ROSE
This August 1975 photo shows American retired pro-baseball player, Pete Rose, in a Superman position diving into third base. In many ways he is a super athlete, and he still holds the all-time league record in hits, at-bats, and outs. Rose was the perennial player with 3,562 games to his name.
This picture takes us back to his days with the Cincinnati Reds, at Wrigley Field. Unfortunately, Pete Rose’s career has been marred by betting scandals, which have sadly prevented him from being inducted into the Hall of Fame.
PITTSBURGH PIRATES FANS
Oct. 13, 1960 was the biggest day of Bill Mazeroski’s baseball career. He recorded the first and only walk-off home run in the ninth inning of the 7th game of the 1960 World Series, ending the New York Yankees’ bid for the title. Fans went crazy after he cracked that baseball, amplified by the fact that the Pirates would be winning their first World Series in 35 long years.
Oct. 13, 1960 was the biggest day of Bill Mazeroski’s baseball career. He recorded the first and only walk-off home run in the ninth inning of the 7th game of the 1960 World Series, ending the New York Yankees’ bid for the title. Fans went crazy after he cracked that baseball, amplified by the fact that the Pirates would be winning their first World Series in 35 long years. .
JOE NAMATH
Joe Namath’s rise to stardom was propelled by his shocking forecast that his team, the New York Jets, would defeat the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III. In an interview after their win, he was asked if the Colts’ defense was the toughest he has ever faced, he replied, “That would be the Buffalo Bills’ defense.”
This photo shows Joe Namath standing on the sidelines on December 8, 1974. On this day, the Jets faced the Bills in a messy game. They went on to win it 20-10, with Namath scoring 131 yards, and successfully passing two touchdowns.