History of the Sport of Paddleball
The Beginning of the Sport of Paddleball
Based on Chris Lecakes article, the actual beginning of the sport of paddleball can be traced back to the 1900’s.
Chris Lecakes, Paddleball champion of the 60s, wrote..
“In the years before and after World War I, handball was the rage for men in cities and towns throughout the U.S. Among those attracted to the sport was Dr. Frank Peer Beale of Brooklyn, N.Y. However, Dr. Beale soon discovered that his brittle hands could not take the punishment of hitting the hard ball used for he game. So that he might continue his enjoyment of the sport, he devised a paddle stick with which he and his friends would use to bat the ball against any expanse of wall that was available to them.
Dr. Beale’s interest and enthusiasm for the game continued as its rules and equipment were developed. When the U.S Paddleball Association, then known as the Metropolitan Paddleball Association, was formed in 1959, some of its members consulted with Dr. Beale who was then in his seventies. His recollections and reminiscence of the game were both inspiring and helpful to its modern proponents.”
According to Mr. Lecakes, Dr. Beale died in the 1960’s, and at that time he was known to many of those that played the game as an important individual that helped popularized the game. Dr. Beale was also known as the “Father of Paddleball’
Paddleball Players Early Champions
Early Champions of the Game
Based on Chris Lecakes author of the Unites States Paddleball Association, the following individuals were some of the first Champions recorded in the annals of Paddleball:
- Howard Eisenberg – Won the U.S Paddleball Association Men’s singles titles from 1961 thru 1964 and Doubles(with Victor Niederthoffer) titles in 1964 & 1965.
- Chis Lacakes – Won the U.S Paddleball Association Men’s Doubles titles in 1961, 62 & 1966 with Barky Boodakian and 1968 with John Bruschi.
- Blanche Schacter – Won the U.S Paddleball Association Women’s singles & Doubles(with Hilda Yablok) title in 1963
- Victor Niederthoffer – Won the U.S Paddleball Association singles & doubles titles in 1965 & 1966
- Howard Hammer – Won the U.S Paddleball Association singles in 1967 & 1968 and Doubles in 1963, with Hy Kaplowitz,, & 1967 with Morty Wolkorff. Howard also won The American Paddleball Association Doubles title in 1971 & 1972 with John Bruschi.
- Dorothy Wasser & Dinah Stoller – Won the U.S Paddleball Association Women’s Doubles in 1971.
- .Robert Schwarz & Andrew Krosnick won The American Paddleball Associations Doubles in 1973 & 1974