Wrestling Cards Collection RG 93
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10464/7284
Collection consists of 42 wrestling cards. Each card features a photograph of an individual wrestler, identified by name. A number is stamped on the back of each card. Some names featured are "Whipper" Bill Watson, Bronko Nagurski, The Masked Marvel, Mike Sharpe and Ben Sharpe. Many of these wrestlers worked in the Niagara area in the 1950s and 1960s.
Browse
Recent Submissions
Item Open Access Wrestling Card - Kay Bell(1950s)The wrestler's name is Kay Bell and the number stamped on the reverse of the card is 959.Item Open Access Wrestling Card - Strangler Lewis(1950s)The wrestler's name is Strangler Lewis and the number stamped on the reverse of the card is 471.Item Open Access Item Open Access Wrestling Card - Terry McGinnis(1950s)The wrestler's name is Terry McGinnis and the number stamped on the reverse is 834.Item Open Access Wrestling Card - Larry Moquin(1950s)The wrestler's name is Larry Moquin and the number stamped on the reverse is 458.Item Open Access Item Open Access Wrestling Card - "Wee" Willie Davis(1950s)The wrestler's name is "Wee" Willie Davis and the number stamped on the reverse is 649.Item Open Access Wrestling Card - Cardiff Giant(1950s)The wrestler's name is Cardiff Giant and the number stamped on the reverse is 649.Item Open Access Item Open Access Wrestling Card - Jack Claybourne(1950s)The wrestler's name is Jack Claybourne and the number stamped on the reverse is 230.Item Open Access Wrestling Card - Ben Sharpe(1950s)The wrestler's name is Ben Sharpe and the number stamped on the reverse of the first card is 341, the second is 219, and the third is 704. Ben Sharpe was born in Hamilton and part of one of the most successful wrestling tag tames in history (with brother Mike Sharpe). Ben was on the Canadian Olympic rowing team in 1936. Honours include the Canadian Wrestling Hall of Fame.Item Open Access Wrestling Card - Mike Sharpe(1950s)The wrestler's name is Mike Sharpe and the number on the reverse is 142, the second card is stamped 704, the third is stamped 599, and the fourth is stamped 615. He was born in Hamilton, Ontario and was part of one of the most successful tag teams in history (with brother Ben Sharpe). Mike's son, Mike Jr. also had a successful career as a pro wrestler under the name Iron Mike Sharpe through the 1970s and 1980s. The honours include the Canadian Wrestling Hall of Fame.Item Open Access Wrestling Card - The Masked Marvel(1950s)The wrestler's name is The Masked Marvel and the number stamped on the reverse is 742. There were several wrestlers who used the Masked Marvel identity through the years. This individual cannot be identified.Item Open Access Wrestling Card - Yukon Eric(1950s)The wrestler's name is Yukon Eric and the number stamped on the reverse is 40. Yukon Eric's real name is Eric Holmback and he was born in Monroe, Washington. He wrestled all over the world and often in the Golden Horseshoe. He took part in the first televised wrestling match in Canada in 1953. During his best years in the 1950s, he lived in Ridgeway, Ontario and Buffalo.Item Open Access Wrestling Card - Bronko Nagurski(1950s)The wrestler's name is Bronko Nagurski and the number stamped on the reverse of the card is 764. He was born in Rainy River, Ontario and wrestled from 1939 to 1960. He also played football for the Chicago Bears as a fullback under George Halas in the 1930s. His honours include Pro Football Hall of Fame, College Football Hall of Fame, Canadian Wrestling Hall of Fame. He was voted 35th of the top 100 football players of all time (the highest ranking non-American on the list).Item Open Access Wrestling Card - "Whipper" Bill Watson(1950s)The wrestler's name is "Whipper" Bill Watson and the number stamped on the reverse of the card is 692. His real name is William Potts and he was born in East York, Ontario. He is one of the best known Canadian wrestlers of all time and is a two time world champion. His honours include the Canadian Wrestling Hall of Fame.Item Open Access Wrestling Card - John Katan(1950s)The wrestler's name is John Katan and the number stamped on the reverse is 341. He was born in the Ukraine and moved to Lethbridge, Alberta and became a coal miner. He wrestled after work until he was discovered and went pro. He bought two wrestling franchises based in Hamilton and became a promoter when he retired from active wrestling. His honours include the Canadian Wrestling Hall of Fame.Item Open Access Wrestling Card - Earl McCready(1950s)The wrestler's name is Earl McCready and the number stamped on the reverse is 928. McCready was born in Lansdowne, Ontario and won three straight NCAA wrestling championships in the 1920s. He was dubbed the greatest amateur wrestler Canada ever produced. He went on to be a flag bearer at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam and his honours included: Canadian Wrestling Hall of Fame, Canadian Sports Hall of Fame, US Wrestling Hall of Fame.Item Open Access Wrestling Card - Maurice "The Angel" Tillet(1950s)The wrestler's name is Maurice "The Angel" Tillet and the number stamped on the reverse of the card is 459. He was born in France and moved to North America to start a wrestling career. He suffered from acromegaly - a condition where bones continue to grow uncontrollably. His appearance made him a classic villain in the wrestling ring.Item Open Access Wrestling Card - Dr. Ed. Meske(1950s)The wrestler's name is Dr. Ed. Meske and the number stamped on the reverse (wearing suit and tie) is 301. The number on the reverse of the other card is 704.