2. Early Years
• James Francis Thorpe
• Born May 28, 1887
• Prague, Oklahoma
• Native American-Caucasian
• Father - Hiram Thorpe - Irish
• Mother - Charlotte Vieux - Native American
• Haskell Institute - Indian boarding school in Lawrence,
Kansas
3. What Did He Do?
• One of the most versatile athletes of modern sports
• Won olympic gold medals for pentathlon and decathlon
of 1912
• Played American Football - College & Professional
• Played Track and Field - Baseball
• Athletic Teams: Cleveland Indians, Oorang Indians,
Rock Island Independents, New York Giants, Canton
Bulldogs and Chicago Cardinals
4. Facts About Jim Thorpe
• His town, Pennsylvania has an annual birthday
celebration every May 21 & 22
• He hit 3 home runs into three different states in the
same game (Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas)
• One of two men in history to play for the New York
Giants in two different sports - running back and
outfielder
• Football - retired in 1928, age 41
5. Facts About Jim Thorpe
(cont.)
• Played major and minor league baseball for 20 years -
New York Giants in 1913 - later playing for other teams
like the Boston Braves and the Cincinnati Reds
• Was the first president of what is now the National
Football League (NFL)
• Best baseball season - .327 in 60 games for Boston
• Thorpe had a twin named Charlie - died at the age of
nine
6. Death Of Jim Thorpe
Jim Thorpe died due to heart failure for the third time in
March 28, 1953 at the age of 64 in Lomita, California. He
will always be remembered as the world's greatest
athlete.
~ The End
