11/23/24
September 15, 2009
American Tennis Legend Jack Kramer Dies: Jack Kramer, the No. 1 men's tennis player in the world during most of the '40s and the 1947 Wimbledon champ, has died at age 88 in Los Angeles. The first executive director of the Association of Tennis Professionals, Kramer led the 1973 Wimbledon boycott, had his name on the best-selling wooden racket for decades and helped create women's tennis by giving them such miserly prizes on his tour. "The single most significant figure in the history of his game," writes Frank Deford. "Now, with Kramer's death, the only other significant athlete from the pre-war era who is still living is Bob Feller, the baseball pitcher."
I honestly didn't know who this individual was until I read the article. Nonetheless, rest in peace.
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posted by BornIcon at 03:51 PM on September 15, 2009
I used to own a Wilson "Jack Kramer" when I was in high school.
Me too.
posted by Spitztengle at 04:17 PM on September 15, 2009
I believe the Kramer Club in Rolling Hills Estates, CA is where Sampras blossomed.
posted by sbacharach at 04:40 PM on September 15, 2009
Down here, his name is associated with the professional game that gave a generation of Australians the opportunity to tour the world and make a living from tennis. This was in contrast to the bunch of amateur administrators who treated players like children.
RIP.
posted by owlhouse at 10:25 PM on September 15, 2009
I used to own a Wilson "Jack Kramer" when I was in high school. "OK, call it, M or W." If you know what that's all about, you'll probably remember Jack Kramer, not necessarily as a player, but certainly as one of the forces behind the huge change in the game from the amateurs to the professional era.