Famous 19th Century Sportspersons

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 1 
Babe Ruth
(One of the Greatest Baseball Players of All Time)
Babe Ruth
7
Birthdate: February 6, 1895
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Pigtown, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Died: August 16, 1948
One of the greatest players in the history of baseball, Babe Ruth played 22 seasons between 1914 and 1935 and set monumental records—including 714 home runs—that took decades to be finally broken. Amongst the most celebrated athletes of the world, he became one of the first five players to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
 2 
Cy Young
(Baseball player)
Cy Young
3
Birthdate: March 29, 1867
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Gilmore, Ohio, United States
Died: November 4, 1955
 3 
José Raúl Capablanca
(Cuban Chess Player)
José Raúl Capablanca
5
Birthdate: November 19, 1888
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Havana, Cuba
Died: March 8, 1942
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 4 
Louis Cyr
(Strongman)
Louis Cyr
4
Birthdate: October 10, 1863
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Saint-Cyprien-de-Napierville, Canada
Died: November 10, 1912
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
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 5 
Eugen Sandow
(German Bodybuilder and Showman)
Eugen Sandow
6
Birthdate: April 2, 1867
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Königsberg, Kingdom of Prussia
Died: October 14, 1925
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 6 
Christy Mathewson
(Baseball player)
Christy Mathewson
4
Birthdate: August 12, 1880
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Factoryville, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: October 7, 1925
 7 
Young Tom Morris
(Scottish Professional Golfer)
Young Tom Morris
4
Birthdate: April 20, 1851
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: St. Andrews, Scotland
Died: December 25, 1875
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 8 
William Gilbert Grace
(English Amateur Cricketer)
William Gilbert Grace
4
Birthdate: July 18, 1848
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Downend, England
Died: October 23, 1915
 9 
Grover Cleveland Alexander
(Baseball Player)
Grover Cleveland Alexander
4
Birthdate: February 26, 1887
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Elba, Nebraska, United States
Died: November 4, 1950
 10 
Harry Vardon
(Golfer)
Harry Vardon
3
Birthdate: May 9, 1870
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Grouville, Jersey, Channel Islands
Died: March 20, 1937
 11 
Tom Longboat
(Onondaga Athlete Who Specialized in Distance Running)
Tom Longboat
4
Birthdate: July 4, 1886
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Six Nations Reserve Brantford, Ontario, Canada
Died: January 9, 1949

Tom Longboat was an Onondaga athlete who specialized in distance running. Nicknamed the bulldog of Britannia, Longboat also served in the Canadian Expeditionary Force as a soldier during the First World War. In 1996, Tom Longboat was honored posthumously with an induction into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame. 

 12 
Wilhelm Steinitz
(American Chess Player and the First World Chess Champion)
Wilhelm Steinitz
3
Birthdate: May 14, 1836
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Prague, Czechia
Died: August 12, 1900

Wilhelm Steinitz was an Austrian-born American chess player. He is recognized as the first World Chess Champion, having reigned from 1886 to 1894. A multi-talented personality, Wilhelm Steinitz was also an influential chess theoretician and writer. Steinitz is also remembered for having a huge impact on the game and was a well-known player during his time.

 13 
James Naismith
(The Inventor of the Game of 'Basketball')
James Naismith
4
Birthdate: November 6, 1861
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Almonte, Mississippi Mills, Canada
Died: November 28, 1939
Canadian-American physician and coach James Naismith is considered as the inventor of basketball. He authored the first basksetball rule book and established the University of Kansas basketball team. He served as the Kansas Jayhawks athletic director and coach, and trained legends such as Adolph Rupp and Dean Smith.
 14 
Tris Speaker
(Baseball Player)
Tris Speaker
3
Birthdate: April 4, 1888
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Hubbard, Texas, United States
Died: December 8, 1958
 15 
Wong Fei-hung
(Chinese Martial Artist and Physician)
Wong Fei-hung
4
Birthdate: July 9, 1847
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Foshan, China
Died: April 17, 1925

Wong Fei-hung was a Chinese physician, martial artist, and folk hero. Wong is the subject of many television series and films. Between the 1940s and 1980s, Wong was portrayed by Hong Kong actor Kwan Tak-hing in over 70 films which earned Kwan the nickname Master Wong. Wong was also played by Jet Li in Once Upon a Time in China.

 16 
Bob Fitzsimmons
(British Professional Boxer Who was the Sport’s First Three-Division World Champion)
Bob Fitzsimmons
5
Birthdate: May 26, 1863
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Helston, England
Died: October 22, 1917

British boxer Bob Fitzsimmons initially spent a lot of time in his family’s blacksmith’s forge in New Zealand, thus later earning the nickname The Fighting Blacksmith. He later scripted history as the first boxer to win world titles in three categories, the middleweight, the light-heavyweight, and the heavyweight divisions.

 17 
Honus Wagner
(Baseballer)
Honus Wagner
0
Birthdate: February 24, 1874
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Chartiers, Pennsylvania, USA
Died: December 6, 1955
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 18 
Cap Anson
(Baseball Player)
Cap Anson
3
Birthdate: April 17, 1852
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Marshalltown, Iowa, United States
Died: April 14, 1922
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 19 
Frank Gotch
(Wrestler)
Frank Gotch
3
Birthdate: April 27, 1877
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Humboldt, Iowa,United States
Died: December 16, 1917
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 20 
Nap Lajoie
(Baseball player)
Nap Lajoie
3
Birthdate: September 5, 1874
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Woonsocket, Rhode Island, United States
Died: February 7, 1959
 21 
Gichin Funakoshi
(Karateka)
Gichin Funakoshi
3
Birthdate: November 10, 1868
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Shuri, Naha, Okinawa, Japan
Died: April 26, 1957
 22 
George Halas
(American football player)
George Halas
5
Birthdate: February 2, 1895
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Died: October 31, 1983
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 23 
Wesley Branch Rickey
(Baseball player)
Wesley Branch Rickey
3
Birthdate: December 20, 1881
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Portsmouth, Ohio, United States
Died: December 9, 1965
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 24 
Emanuel Lasker
(German Chess Player, Mathematician, and Philosopher)
Emanuel Lasker
4
Birthdate: December 24, 1868
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Barlinek, Poland
Died: January 11, 1941
 25 
John L. Sullivan
(Boxer recognized as the first heavyweight champion of gloved boxing)
John L. Sullivan
4
Birthdate: October 15, 1858
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Died: February 2, 1918
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 26 
Paul Morphy
(American Chess Player)
Paul Morphy
0
Birthdate: June 22, 1837
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Died: July 10, 1884
 27 
James Forrestal
(1st United States Secretary of Defense (1947 - 1949))
James Forrestal
3
Birthdate: February 15, 1892
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Beacon
Died: May 22, 1949

James Forrestal was an American financier who served as the first US Secretary of Defense from 1947 to 1949. He is also remembered for his service as the US Secretary of the Navy from 1944 to 1947. James Forrestal was honored with the Medal of Merit and the Distinguished Service Medal by President Harry S. Truman.

 28 
Walter Johnson
(American Professional Baseball player)
Walter Johnson
1
Birthdate: November 6, 1887
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Humboldt, Kansas, United States
Died: December 10, 1946
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 29 
Connie Mack
(Baseball manager)
Connie Mack
3
Birthdate: December 22, 1862
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: East Brookfield, Massachusetts, United States
Died: February 8, 1956
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 30 
Juan Belmonte
(Bullfighter)
Juan Belmonte
3
Birthdate: April 14, 1892
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Seville, Spain
Died: April 8, 1962
 31 
Stephen Crane
(Writer, Journalist, Poet, Baseball player, Novelist, Screenwriter)
Stephen Crane
3
Birthdate: November 1, 1871
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Newark
Died: June 5, 1900
 32 
Jigoro Kano
(Japanese Educator, Athlete, and the Founder of Judo)
Jigoro Kano
1
Birthdate: December 10, 1860
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Hyogo, Japan
Died: May 4, 1938

Legendary Japanese athlete Jigoro Kano is remembered as the founder of judo. A fine educator, he had also had a 23-year stint as the principal of 2 schools, which later became the University of Tsukuba. He was also the first Asian to be part of the International Olympic Committee.

 33 
Eddie Collins
(Baseball Player)
Eddie Collins
3
Birthdate: May 2, 1887
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Millerton, New York, United States
Died: March 24, 1951
 34 
John Heisman
(Coach)
John Heisman
3
Birthdate: October 23, 1869
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Cleveland Cleveland, Ohio
Died: October 3, 1936
 35 
Benny Leonard
(Boxer)
Benny Leonard
3
Birthdate: April 7, 1896
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Lower East Side, New York City, United States
Died: April 18, 1947
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
 36 
Spyridon Louis
(Greek Water Carrier, Marathon Runner and Olympic Gold Medalist)
Spyridon Louis
3
Birthdate: January 12, 1873
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Marousi, Greece
Died: March 26, 1940

Spiridon Louis was a Greek water carrier-turned-national hero. Louis achieved widespread popularity after becoming the first person to win the modern-day Olympic marathon at the 1896 Olympics in Athens. A former soldier, Louis is an example of an early rags-to-riches story where he wins the Olympic medal at a crucial moment and later becomes a police officer.

 37 
Rube Waddell
(Baseball Player)
Rube Waddell
4
Birthdate: October 13, 1876
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Bradford, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: April 1, 1914
 38 
Li Ching-Yuen
(Chinese Herbalist and Martial Artist)
Li Ching-Yuen
4
Birthplace: Chongqing, China
Died: May 6, 1933

Li Ching-Yuen was a Chinese martial artist, herbalist, and tactical advisor. Li Ching-Yuen, who is believed to have lived off a diet of rice wine and exotic herbs throughout his life, is best remembered for his extreme longevity claim. According to his claim, Li Ching-Yuen lived for 250 years, although gerontologists consider that to be a myth.

 39 
Howard Staunton
(English Chess Master)
Howard Staunton
3
Birthdate: April 1, 1810
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: London, England, United Kingdom
Died: June 22, 1874
 40 
Stanley Ketchel
(Boxer)
Stanley Ketchel
3
Birthdate: September 14, 1886
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Died: October 15, 1910
 41 
Kenesaw Mountain Landis
(American Jurist and 1st Commissioner of Baseball (1920 - 1944))
Kenesaw Mountain Landis
4
Birthdate: November 20, 1866
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Millville, Ohio, United States
Died: November 25, 1944

The son of a Union soldier, Kenesaw Mountain Landis was successful US federal judge. He was also the first Commissioner of Baseball and is remembered for his role in the Black Sox scandal, in which he removed eight Chicago White Sox players for deliberately losing the 1919 World Series.

 42 
The Great Gama
(Amateur wrestler)
The Great Gama
4
Birthdate: May 22, 1878
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Amritsar
Died: May 22, 1963

A world-renowned Indian pehlwan, or wrestler, Ghulam Mohammad Baksh Butt competed using the ring name The Great Gama. Also known as Rustam-e-Hind, he remained undefeated over an illustrious career of almost 5 decades and even saved many Hindus during the communal riots at the time of the Partition of India.

 43 
Joe Gans
(Boxer)
Joe Gans
3
Birthdate: November 25, 1874
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Died: August 10, 1910
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 44 
Billy Sunday
(The Most Influential American Evangelist During the First Two Decades of the 20th Century)
Billy Sunday
4
Birthdate: November 19, 1862
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Story County, Iowa, U.S
Died: November 6, 1935
 45 
Frankie Frisch
(Baseball Player)
Frankie Frisch
3
Birthdate: September 9, 1898
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: The Bronx, New York, United States
Died: March 12, 1973
 46 
Siegbert Tarrasch
(German Chess player)
Siegbert Tarrasch
3
Birthdate: March 5, 1862
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Wrocław, Poland
Died: February 17, 1934
 47 
Adolf Anderssen
(German Chess Master)
Adolf Anderssen
3
Birthdate: July 6, 1818
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Wrocław, Poland
Died: March 13, 1879
 48 
James Jackson Jeffries
(Boxer)
James Jackson Jeffries
4
Birthdate: April 15, 1875
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Carroll, Ohio, United States
Died: March 3, 1953
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 49 
George Hackenschmidt
(Estonian Professional Wrestler)
George Hackenschmidt
4
Birthdate: August 1, 1877
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Tartu, Estonia
Died: February 19, 1968
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 50 
Pop Warner
(American Football coach)
Pop Warner
4
Birthdate: April 5, 1871
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: New York, United States
Died: September 7, 1954