How Many 1960s Sports Stars Can You Name?

By: Elizabeth Wilson
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People have always looked up to professional athletes as heroes. As a child, you probably played sports, counting the buzzer down to zero and making the game-winning shot. Perhaps you dreamt of hitting a walk-off home run or scoring the winning PK. People turn to professional sports for a source of inspiration. They look up to them as role models. This was just as true back in the 1960s as it is to this day.

If you watched sports during the 1960s, you probably have memories of huddling around a TV set to watch some of the biggest sporting events of all time. Maybe you grew up a fan of boxing, watching one of the greatest athletes ever write his own history in the ring. Everyone who watched Muhammad Ali compete knew that he was fighting against so much more than just the guy in the other corner.

Of course, baseball was truly America’s pastime during the 1960s. Anyone who tuned in to watch a baseball game knew what Willie Mays was Can't-miss TV. Many people still believe that Willie Mays is the greatest baseball player of all time. He could hit for power and average in addition to displaying blazing speed around the base paths and was sure-handed in the mitt. When people say that baseball players need to be five-tool players, Willie Mays is what they have in mind. If you have a debate with anyone today, the will instantly point at Willie Mays and some of his contemporaries as the greatest baseball players of all time. They helped grow the game into what it is today!

While the NFL is the pastime of today, it wouldn’t be where it is today without contributions from some of the greatest athletes of the 1960s, such as Jim Brown. While his career might have been short, it is hard to overstate the impact of his legacy on the field today. Football today wouldn’t exist without Jim Brown. When you watch football today, images of Jim Brown likely flood through your mind. This is quite the standard to live up to!

Of course, these are only a few of the numerous sports stars that graced us with their presence during the 1960s. How many of these top sports stars from the 1960s can you name? Give it a shot by challenging yourself with our trivia!