The graves of the inventor of baseball, founder of an international tennis tournament, dominant heavyweight boxer and Negro League legend can all be seen in one place. And they’re not even the most famous people in the cemetery.
Memorial Day brings large crowds to Arlington National Cemetery, where the president annually talks of the sacrifice by soldiers buried on the grounds of Gen. Robert E. Lee’s former home. But after watching the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns and touring the eternal flame where president John F. Kennedy lies, sports fans should visit four men who defined their sports.
Joe Louis was heavyweight champion. Spot Poles once hit .487 in the Negro Leagues. Abner Doubleday supposedly created baseball, though that’s now disputed. And Dwight Davis unquestionably created the Davis Cup.
Louis’ grave gets the most attention, evidenced by many rocks atop the brown granite stone that represent a Jewish tradition of remembering the dead. Just below the Tomb of the Unknowns, the large marker partly financed by singer Frank Sinatra features a pose of Louis boxing.
The “Brown Bomber” was the longest-tenured heavyweight champion ever at 140 months while defending his title 25 times. He was a sergeant during World War II but was barred from combat for fear of his death or capture becoming a major propaganda coup for the Germans. Instead, Louis fought 96 exhibitions before two million troops and raised $100,000 for Army and Navy relief charities.
Doubleday’s obelisk atop a granite base lies in Section 1 near the cemetery’s rear that includes many creative markers. A baseball lying on the grave is common; perhaps a gift by fans.
Doubleday was an Army Brevet Brigadier General during the Civil War, firing the first cannon in the defense of Fort Sumter and later fighting at Gettysburg. He received a patent for a cable car railway in San Francisco that still operates. Doubleday received fame after being credited for creating baseball in Cooperstown, N.Y.
Davis was Secretary of War under President Calvin Coolidge after serving in the Army during World War I. A three-time doubles champion, singles runner-up at the U.S. Championships and 1904 Olympian, he donated a silver bowl to the winner of a newly formed International Lawn Tennis Championship, now known as the Davis Cup. He’s buried in Section East.
Poles played from 1906 to 1917 and 1919 to 1923. He batted above .400 three times, including hitting .487 in 1914. Poles batted .610 against white major league teams, including having three consecutive hits against Grover Cleveland Alexander. He’s credited with 2,238 hits and a lifetime average above .400.
Poles fought with the Army’s 369th Infantry Regiment (Harlem Hellfighters) that was attached to the French Army during World War I. The sergeant received five battle stars and a Purple Heart. His marker is the traditional white marble stone often seen in Arlington. Poles is buried in Section 42 on the cemetery’s northern edge.
Examiner columnist Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more on Twitter @Snide_Remarks or email [email protected].
