Athletes
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Len Bias Baltimore born Bias is best remembered for dying of a cocaine overdose before what would have been his first year as a professional basketball player. Beth Botsford Baltimore born Beth won 2 gold medals in swimming at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. She was only 15 years old at the time. Beth grew up in Timonium and went to garrison Forest High School. She trained at the same North Baltimore Aquatic Club dynasty that has produced Michael Phelps and Katie Hoff.
Josh CulbreathBorn in Pennsylvania, Josh became a champion in the 400 meter hurdles while attending Morgan State University in Baltimore, graduating in 1955 with a degree in Political Science. He was the 1956 summer Olympics bronze medalist.
Joe Gans Born Joseph Gant in east Baltimore, Joe was the first African-American world boxing champion, a title he held continuously from 1902-1908. In his early career, his manager sometimes had Joe 'go easy' on white opponents for fear the crowd would lynch them if he won. There is a statue of Joe in Madison Square Gardens and he has been inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. He is buried in historic Mount Auburn Cemetery in the Westport section of Baltimore City.
Jack Pierce Olympic runner and Vice-President of the Greater Lowell Road Runners, Jack was born in Baltimore.
Cal Ripken Jr. Born in Nearby Havre de Grace. Baltimore's most famous Oriole won national acclaim when he broke Lou Gehrig's 2130 game record for consecutive games played, earning him the nickname 'Iron Man'. He worked his entire 21 year major League Baseball career for the Baltimore Orioles and through 17 seasons played either shortstop or third base. He played in an additional 501 straight games over the next three years, and his streak ended at 2,632 games. A foreshadowing of the Iron Man legend occurred in a lesser know event early in his career. Cal played all 33 innings in what is believed to be the longest professional baseball game as a member of the Orioles Triple-A farm club Rochester Red Wings vs. the Pawtucket Red Sox.
George Herman 'Babe' Ruth He was also know as "The Bambino" and "The Sultan of Swat", and often called "the greatest baseball player of all time" with 714 career home runs and a .342 lifetime batting average. Born at 216 Emory Street in Pigtown, a rough neighborhood of Baltimore, his childhood home is now a local museum. It's also said that, next to Baseball, his favorite spots was duck-pin bowling, another Baltimore tradition!
Earl Weaver One of baseball's most well know and colorful characters, the long time Baltimore Orioles Manager has been inducted into Baseball's Hall of Fame.
Micheal PhelpsMichael made history in Beijing, besting Mark Spitz record number of medals by winning 8 gold medals in 8 events. He's from north Baltimore and attended Towson High School.
Gino Marchetti Born in Smithers, West Virginia, Hall of Famer Gino played his last year of pro football for the Baltimore Colts. Afterwards he and a couple of friends started a very successful fast food franchise called Gino's. The franchise was very popular in Maryland and a few surrounding states but eventually folded when McDonald's came along. More recently, Gino and friends have re-started the franchise and there are currently five Gino's restaurants in Maryland.
Kimmie MeissnerBorn in Towson in Baltimore County, Kimmie is a world champion figure skater and the youngest American athlete to compete at the 2006 winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.
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Baltimore's 2012 Olympic ContendersAngel McCoughtry / 25 / Forward / Women’s Basketball TEAM GOLD Carmelo Anthony / 28 / Forward / Men’s Basketball TEAM GOLD Michael Phelps / 27 / Men’s Swimming / 200m IM; 400m IM; 100m fly; 200m fly; 4 GOLD 2 Silver |