Gotch Wanted Hack in St. Louis

frank-gotch

Frank Gotch took the American Heavyweight Wrestling Championship from Tom Jenkins in December 1903.  Gotch intended on following up this triumph with a match for World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship from George Hackenschmidt. Gotch wanted to meet “Hack” in St. Louis during the 1904 World’s Fair.  Unfortunately for Gotch and St. Louis, the match would not occur until 1908 in Chicago,

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Oliver Kirk and the 1904 St. Louis Olympics

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Oliver Leonard Kirk has the distinction of being the only Olympic boxer to win a gold medal in two separate weight classes in the same Olympic Games.  Oliver Kirk accomplished this feat at his hometown Olympics in 1904. St. Louis hosted the third Olympiad during the 1904 World’s Fair Exposition.  Like the Paris Games four years before, St. Louis gave

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Alexander Baptiste Passes at 100

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On September 15, 1919, St. Louis citizens woke up to read about the death of one of their oldest citizens, Alexander Baptiste.  Just a few months before his 101st or 102nd birthday depending on which source you believed, Alexander Baptiste passed away from intestinal disease. For years, Alexander was known as one of the fittest St. Louisans.  An early advocate

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George Baptiste Dies

george-baptiste

On December 1, 1938 at 5:15 pm, former professional wrestler and all-around athlete George Baptiste passed away at 74 years of age.  While enjoying robust strength his whole life, Baptiste’s doctor discovered he had stomach cancer in June 1938.  The doctor operated on Baptiste but was unable to remove all the cancer. Baptiste had been living at his country home

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George Baptiste’s Heartbreak

george-baptiste

During February 1901, St. Louis professional wrestler and local businessman George Baptiste reluctantly filed for divorce from his wife, Nellie May Baptiste, alleging desertion.  It was actually the second time, Baptiste filed for divorce from Mrs. Baptiste. During the summer of 1896, Baptiste was vacationing in Millford, Connecticut.  The 31-year-old was a powerful swimmer and all-around athlete in addition to

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Wrestler Saves Drowning Priest

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George Baptiste spent about twenty years serving as St. Louis’ resident all-around athlete before taking over the company, Baptiste Tent and Awning, founded by his father Alexander Baptiste.  Besides plying his trade as an occasional but accomplished professional wrestler, Baptise was a powerful swimmer.  On August 11, 1900, Baptiste used his swimming skills to save another St. Louisan from drowning.

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Prelude to 1912 Presidential Election

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Theodore Roosevelt made a fateful decision on Election Day 1904. He announced after being elected to the Presidency in his own right after ascending to the office upon the assassination of William McKinley that he would not run for another term in 1908. Roosevelt had served almost a full term before his election as McKinley was assassinated in September 1901.

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