#popculture27: Helen Wills Moody Dominates the Tennis World, Inspires Art

The Michael Jordan of tennis in the early twentieth century was this unassuming Californian who also had ties to the art world.

by Rich Watson 

In a Hall of Fame career that spanned two decades, Helen Wills Moody had a pretty good 1927. 

The tennis superstar already had two Olympic gold medals on her shelf. But in that year, she won the women’s singles at Wimbledon (the first of four in a row and eight in twelve years) and the US (her fourth in five years), plus the Wimbledon doubles, and began a 180-match win streak.

One could argue that the story of American women athletes in the twentieth century begins with her.

When Hollywood Playboy Ralph Kiner Married Tennis Star Nancy Chaffee

The home run king was the darling of Hollywood, but it was a tennis player who turned his head.

by Rich Watson

During the 50s, Pirates slugger Ralph Kiner was often seen with celebrities. He was friends with team co-owner Bing Crosby, and his picture was taken with leading ladies from Hollywood he dated such as Elizabeth Taylor.

He would marry four times in his life, though. His first wife was tennis star Nancy Chaffee.

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