Sport Stars #2

Gunder Hagg's love of running began in the Swedish countryside, where the fleet-footed boy raced through forests and fields as naturally as other children walked—until coach Fridolf Westman recognized his true gift and convinced him to train seriously for the track. When the young runner arrived in America in 1943, his unconventional approach and effortless stride earned him the nickname "Gunder the Wonder," and he quickly proved himself against Europe's and America's finest distance runners, setting records across multiple events. This is the story of how a lumberjack's son became one of history's greatest long-distance champions.

Cornelius McGillicuddy, known to baseball fans as Connie Mack, climbs from semi-professional ball in Massachusetts to become one of the sport's most influential managers, leading the Philadelphia Athletics since 1901. From his early days as a catcher through his transformation into a shrewd builder of championship teams, Mack demonstrates the patience, integrity, and baseball acumen that earn him the title "Mr. Baseball." This biographical portrait traces his journey from the diamond to the dugout, showing how a tall, skinny kid from East Brookfield grew into a legend.

At just sixteen with only sandlot and high school experience, Mel Ott caught the eye of Giants manager John McGraw in 1925—and despite his small stature, the young prospect proved he belonged on a major league field. Through determination and McGraw's steady guidance, Ott worked his way from pinch hitter to one of baseball's most powerful sluggers, eventually becoming the home-run king of the National League. By 1941, the "Little Giant" had earned not only a night in his honor but also the manager's chair of the very team that took a chance on him as a kid.

Jim Thorpe, a young student at Carlisle College for Indians in Pennsylvania, discovers an unexpected gift for athletics when a coach invites him to try football—and his natural talent soon carries him to national prominence. From leading Carlisle's teams against the country's best colleges to dominating the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm with victories in both the pentathlon and decathlon, Thorpe's rise seems unstoppable, until a revelation threatens everything he's worked for. This biographical account traces how one athlete navigated the pressures and complexities of amateur sport in the early twentieth century.

Jack Dempsey, the Manassa Mauler, carved out one of boxing's greatest legacies—starting at just nineteen years old with his first professional bout and climbing toward championship glory. By 1919, four years into his pro career, Dempsey's brutal assault on champion Jess Willard earned him the title and cemented his place as an idol of the sport. This look at his ring achievements shows why Dempsey remains one of the all-time greats of the boxing world.