Vintage photos for Long Island sports fans
Floyd Patterson and Muhammad Ali duke it out at Madison Square Garden on Sept. 20,1972. Credit: Newsday/Dick Morseman
From Madison Square Garden to the Bridgehampton Race Circuit, Newsday photographers have been there to capture the moments that live on for Long Island sports fans.
We dived into Newsday’s photo archives to recall athletes who made us cheer. Sports stars like basketball Hall of Famer Julius “Dr. J” Erving, who hails from Roosevelt, and Sarah Hughes, who grew up in Great Neck and was just 16 when she won a gold medal in figure skating at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. (And yes, the early 2000s count as “vintage” now!)
You can find more photos from Long Island’s past, all curated by Newsday’s librarians, on the Vintage Newsday Instagram account, which you’ll recognize by the circular photo of Newsday’s first female photographer, Edna Murray, circa 1945. — Kim Predham, LI Life Editor
Secretariat
Jockey Ron Turcotte, aboard Secretariat, looks behind for the other horses before winning the first Triple Crown in 25 years at the Belmont Stakes on June 9, 1973. Over 69,000 spectators in the grandstand witnessed history being made. Credit: Newsday/Joe Dombroski
Julius "Dr. J" Erving
Julius Erving, aka Dr. J, about to score at Nassau Coliseum on Oct. 19, 1973. Credit: Newsday / Argeroplos
Bobby Nystrom
An overtime goal by Bobby Nystrom gives the Islanders their first Stanley Cup of four in a row. Credit: Newsday-Staff/David L. Pokress
Pelé
Pelé, the Brazilian soccer great who popularized the sport in the United States during his two years with the New York Cosmos, says farewell to fans at Giants Stadium on Oct. 1, 1977. In his arms is Amy Johnson, of North Babylon, one of many young players who attended the game, during which Pelé played the first half with the Cosmos, the second with the Brazilian club Santos. Credit: Newsday/Jim Peppler
Reggie Jackson
Reggie Jackson swings away in the first inning as he connects with his first home run of the season during the Yankees home opener on April 13, 1978, at Yankee Stadium. Credit: Newsday/Joe Dombroski
Sarah Hughes
Sarah Hughes, of Great Neck, shown jumping as she practices at age 12. Hughes was just 16 when she won a gold medal in figure skating at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Credit: K. Wiles Stabile
Althea Gibson and Jackie Robinson
Tennis great Althea Gibson gives Jackie Robinson some tips at a celebrity tennis tournament in Manhattan in 1951. In 1947, Robinson broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier, and in 1951 Gibson became the first Black player at Wimbledon. She won in 1957. Credit: Newsday/Harvey Weber
Roller derby on Long Island
In the midst of a roller derby bout at the Commack Arena on Dec. 28, 1971, Lydia Clay, #19 of the Texas Red Devils, races down the boards with an unidentified opponent from the New York Chiefs team. Credit: Newsday/Don Jacobsen
Janet Guthrie
Janet Guthrie, who in 1977 would be the first woman to compete in the Indianapolis 500, takes her blue Jaguar around Bridgehampton Race Circuit in 1966. Credit: Newsday/John Cornell
Ed Lynch
New York Mets pitcher Ed Lynch throws snowballs instead of fastballs on the snow-covered playing field at Shea Stadium in April 1982. He was one of a few Mets players who came out for practice before leaving for Philadelphia for the season-opener against the Phillies. Credit: Newsday/Dick Yarwood
'It just feels like there's like a pillow on your head' Long Island high school football players have begun wearing Guardian Caps in an attempt to reduce head injuries. NewsdayTV's Gregg Sarra reports.
'It just feels like there's like a pillow on your head' Long Island high school football players have begun wearing Guardian Caps in an attempt to reduce head injuries. NewsdayTV's Gregg Sarra reports.
