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"Literally speaking," writes the Union on January 1, 1912, "there are no indoor sports in San Diego. There is no need for any, as outdoor sports hold sway every month in the year. Be it January or June, those who follow athletics have ample opportunity to indulge in their favorite pastimes: baseball, tennis, golf, motor boating, football, polo, yachting, and many others."
FOOTBALL. Russ High School (in the process of becoming San Diego High), hosts a "gridiron battle that promises to be a hard tussle": a team of sailors from the submarine station versus the Parks Department. The game's at 2:30 on the "Russ oval."
WATER SPORTS: YACHTING. Twenty yachts compete over a 10 mile course on the bay. "San Diego is the only city in the United States, " writes the Union, "where a great yacht race is the regular thing every New Year's Day."
The favorite: Aeolus, number 11. It will run at scratch.The other yachts will have an allowance. The Claire, for example, has 14 minutes and 13 seconds.
On his power cruiser Norma Mae, Captain E. B. Hall will have a "motion picture machine to take pictures of the start, which will be made between the yawl Redwing and the Custom House wharf."
[The Trilby finished one minute, 43 seconds behind Aeolus. With an allowance of one minute 44 seconds, Tribly won the coveted Sun Cup by one second].
EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL NEW YEAR'S SWIM. Right after the yacht race, approximately at noon, at least 100 members of the Rowing Club will have their annual "dip." They must wear "midsummer" bathing suits and, writes the San Diego Sun "spring from the club quarters" at the boathouse and "into the blue Pacific." If swimmers balk and refuse to dip, they must pay a fine of $5.00.
As part of the tradition, first in the water will be O. J. Stough. He's 94. Right behind him, J. Price, 78. Then the ocean will come alive with "laughing, wriggling swimmers."
[Owing to another engagement, O.J. Stough couldn't make the dip on New Year's Day. So he did it the day before, amid thunderous applause].
POLO. The season opens at the Coronado Country Club field, where the Coronado team plays one of the best in the world, from Calgary, Canada. The locals will have help. "Coronado is now entertaining Lord Tweedmouth," writes the Union, "who is one of the most noted polo players in the world. He played here last year and will be in this afternoon's game, wearing the Coronado colors."
The match promises to be among the highlights of the season and "will be attended by a brilliant assemblage of society folk."
[Even a deftly struck goal, by Lord Tweedmouth, couldn't turn the tide against the classy Canadians].
Next time: auto racing, track and field, and basketball 100 years ago.
"Literally speaking," writes the Union on January 1, 1912, "there are no indoor sports in San Diego. There is no need for any, as outdoor sports hold sway every month in the year. Be it January or June, those who follow athletics have ample opportunity to indulge in their favorite pastimes: baseball, tennis, golf, motor boating, football, polo, yachting, and many others."
FOOTBALL. Russ High School (in the process of becoming San Diego High), hosts a "gridiron battle that promises to be a hard tussle": a team of sailors from the submarine station versus the Parks Department. The game's at 2:30 on the "Russ oval."
WATER SPORTS: YACHTING. Twenty yachts compete over a 10 mile course on the bay. "San Diego is the only city in the United States, " writes the Union, "where a great yacht race is the regular thing every New Year's Day."
The favorite: Aeolus, number 11. It will run at scratch.The other yachts will have an allowance. The Claire, for example, has 14 minutes and 13 seconds.
On his power cruiser Norma Mae, Captain E. B. Hall will have a "motion picture machine to take pictures of the start, which will be made between the yawl Redwing and the Custom House wharf."
[The Trilby finished one minute, 43 seconds behind Aeolus. With an allowance of one minute 44 seconds, Tribly won the coveted Sun Cup by one second].
EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL NEW YEAR'S SWIM. Right after the yacht race, approximately at noon, at least 100 members of the Rowing Club will have their annual "dip." They must wear "midsummer" bathing suits and, writes the San Diego Sun "spring from the club quarters" at the boathouse and "into the blue Pacific." If swimmers balk and refuse to dip, they must pay a fine of $5.00.
As part of the tradition, first in the water will be O. J. Stough. He's 94. Right behind him, J. Price, 78. Then the ocean will come alive with "laughing, wriggling swimmers."
[Owing to another engagement, O.J. Stough couldn't make the dip on New Year's Day. So he did it the day before, amid thunderous applause].
POLO. The season opens at the Coronado Country Club field, where the Coronado team plays one of the best in the world, from Calgary, Canada. The locals will have help. "Coronado is now entertaining Lord Tweedmouth," writes the Union, "who is one of the most noted polo players in the world. He played here last year and will be in this afternoon's game, wearing the Coronado colors."
The match promises to be among the highlights of the season and "will be attended by a brilliant assemblage of society folk."
[Even a deftly struck goal, by Lord Tweedmouth, couldn't turn the tide against the classy Canadians].
Next time: auto racing, track and field, and basketball 100 years ago.