Professional Sports 1953

Professional wrestler Freddie Blassie coins term "Pencil neck geek" which lives on to be adopted by Right-wing radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh half a century later. Freddie Blassie

1953 Baseball

Mickey Mantle and Billy Martin

World Series – New York Yankees won 4 games to 2 over the Brooklyn Dodgers. "The Bronx Bombers" and "The Bums from Brooklyn" returned for yet another "Subway Series" with the Yankees winning their 5 consecutive championship with the help of Billy Martin and Mickey Mantle who hit a grand slam in game 5. 1953 World Series

Ted Williams drafted into the Korean War in 1952 safely crash-lands his damaged Panther jet fighter and returns to Red Sox from the military for the last half of the 1952 season. Ted Williams jet Pilot

The Boston Braves move to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to become the Milwaukee Braves where Henry Aaron first made a name for himself.

1953 Football

NFL Championship – Detroit Lions won 17–16 over the Cleveland Browns, the stars of the game were Detroit quarterback Bobby Layne and receiver Jim Doran. 1953 NFL championship Hall of Fame

1953 Basketball

NBA Finals – Minneapolis Lakers with their star player George Malin won 4 games to 1 over the New York Knicks. Lakers win NBA encyclopedia

1953 Hockey

Stanley Cup – Montreal Canadiens win 4 games to 1 over the Boston Bruins

Art Ross Memorial Trophy as the NHL's leading scorer during the regular season: Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings

Hart Memorial Trophy for the NHL's Most Valuable Player: Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings

World Hockey Championship: Sweden defeated the heavily favoured Soviet Union

1953 Boxing

New York City – Rocky Marciano retains his World Heavyweight title with a TKO over Roland La Starza in the 11th round.

Athletes of the Year 1953

Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year: Ben Hogan, golf

Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year:
Maureen Connolly, tennis



Professional Sports 1953

1953 Golf

Masters Tournament – Ben Hogan
U.S. Open – Ben Hogan
PGA Championship – Walter Burkemo
British Open – Ben Hogan
PGA Tour money leader – Lew Worsham – $34,002

Ryder Cup – United States wins 6 1/2 to 5 1/2 over the British team.

Women's Western Open – Louise Suggs
U.S. Women's Open – Betsy Rawls
Titleholders Championship – Patty Berg
LPGA Tour money leader – Louise Suggs – $19,816

Grand Slam Tennis

Australian Open – Ken Rosewall
French Open – Ken Rosewall
Wimbledon championships – Vic Seixas
US Open – Tony Trabert

Australian Open – Maureen Connolly
French Open – Maureen Connolly
Wimbledon championships – Maureen Connolly
US Open – Maureen Connolly

1953 Horseracing

Kentucky Derby – Dark Star
Preakness Stakes – Native Dancer
Belmont Stakes – Native Dancer

College Sports 1953

Football 1953

1953 Heisman Trophy - Johnny Lattner, Notre Dame HB

1953 SUGAR BOWL: #8 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 42 over #10 West Virginia Mountaineers 19

1953 COTTON BOWL: #6 Rice Owls     28 over #13 Alabama Crimson Tide 6

1953 ROSE BOWL: #3 Michigan State Spartans over 28 #5 UCLA Bruins 20

1953 ORANGE BOWL: #4 Oklahoma Sooners 7 over   #1 Maryland Terrapins 0

1953 college football champions - Maryland Terrapins

Basketball 1953

Longest collegiate basketball game (6 OTs) Niagara beats Siena 88-81

NCAA Men's Basketball Championship – Indiana wins 69–68 over Kansas