2015 September Memorabilia Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/27/2015
Historical 1938 LA Open Tournament Program-Babe Didrikson First Women In PGA Event!
Almost six years after winning two gold medals in the 1932 Olympics, Babe Didrickson became the first women to play in a PGA Tour event with her appearance at the 1938 Los Angeles Open. Encouraged by sportswriters Grantland Rice, she had taken up golf only three years before entering. Women were not forbidden from playing men's events, so Didrikson, 26, simply filled out an application. In a publicity stunt designed to help the struggling tournament, she was paired with 30-year-old professional wrestler George Zaharias. The largest gallery at tournament site Griffith Park followed that group. As Didrikson and Zaharias walked the first fairway The Babe admitted in her biography that the two exchanged flirtatious glances. When both missed the cut (Didrikson shot 84-81) they watched the third round together and later went dancing at the Cotton Club. They married that December. Harry Cooper and Sam Snead were the favorites entering the event, but Jimmy Thomson when the final putt dropped came out the victor by four strokes over Johnny Revolta. In the long run, it seems that the ultimate winner of this event was "The Babe" and mankind. Program remains fully intact in a strong near mint condition.
Please note: This auction will end at 7:00pm EST on September 27th with extended bidding to follow. All items in the auction will remain open until no items have received a bid within a 15 minute time period. All lots are free to be bid on until extended bidding has ended
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