History#

Joe Sobek (picturesd below), commonly referred to as "The Father of Racquetball" started with an idea of paddle rackets with strings. His racquet was the first of its kind.

During the Korean war, Sobek asked NJ Magnum Co. (North Attleboro, Massachusetts) to make up 25 racquets during their downtime due to the war. Additionally, Sobek called upon a friend at Canfield Rubber Company who ended up going to Seamless Rubber Co. to have a ball created. After many prototypes, the "Joe Sobek" ball was produced.

The racquetball racquet has come a long way since the days of the Joe Sobek model, which was made of wood with a leather wrap grip. Racquet frames shortly after transitioned to alloy then fiberglass and now graphite composite. Every year manufacturers are striving to be the leader in new racquet technology by releasing new frame designs, stronger and lighter materials in which to construct the racquet. 

• 1971 - Aluminum alloy frames introduced.
• 1972 - Fiberglass frames enter the sport
• 1979 - Graphite frames introduced.
• 1984 - Oversize frames forever changed the game

·The very first “Racquetball” magazine (Volume I Number 1) was published in November 1972 (cost 50 cents).  The magazine was called “RACQUETBALL”  

and the national association was IRA (International Racquetball Association) and on the front cover it was stated “The Official Voice of Racquetball and Paddleball”.

In 1971, the First model in the line of Ektelon Racquets was introduced, with the Bud Muehleisen Autograph model as the prototype. NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – May 1976 – page 70.

Robert W. Kendler was the President of the “National Paddleball Association” (NPA), President of the “United States Handball Association” (USHA), and President of the “International Racquetball Association” (IRA) all in 1972.  February 1972 – Handball.

The very first “National Racquetball” magazine (Volume 1 Number 1) was published in September 1973 (cost 50 cents).  The magazine was called “National Racquetball” and the national association was NRC (National Racquetball Club) and on the front cover it was stated “The Official Voice of Pro-Am Racquetball”.

The Very First NRC Pro Stop was on September 27-30, 1973 at the Downtown YMCA in Houston, Texas.  Steve Serot defected Bill Schmidtke.

Article of Paul Haber, a handball player, playing against Dr. Bud Muehleisen, a racquetball player, in the “Hands against Racquets Game”.  Paul Haber won in a 3 game match (10-21, 21-15, 21-16) on January 29, 1972 at Memphis State University.  February 1971 – Handball – page 51.

·The very first Official Annual “International Three-Wall Singles Championships” in June 28-30, 1974 at Orange Coast College of Costa Mesa, CA.  Article in “RACQUETBALL” March 1974 magazine. (PS Charlie Brumfield defected Steve Serot)

Results of the “First Annual USRA National 3-Wall Tournament” on Aug. 29-Sept. 1, 1975 at Maumee, Ohio.  NATIONAL RACQUETBALL November 1975 page 34.

·Joe Sobek (the father of racquetball) and Dr. Bud Muehleisen are the first two people to be placed in the “Racquetball Hall of Fame.  “RACQUETBALL” Summer 1974 IRA magazine.  The HOF, in 1974, was called “Citizens Savings Hall of Fame” and formerly it was called “Helms Hall of Fame” article on page 21.

·The very first “Racquetball Championships” was held in 1969.  It was called the “International Racquetball Association (IRA) Championships”.  There was another “Big Tournament” in 1968 in Milwaukee, WI and it was call “National Paddle Racquets Tournament.  “RACQUETBALL” Summer 1974 IRA and the article is on page 30.

·Terry Fancher does a good job in, “This History of Racquetball” part 2, explaining the May 23-26, 1968 “National Paddle Rackets Tournament” in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and the “First Official International Racquetball Association Championships” in 1969 in St. Louis, Missouri.

·The Very First NRC Pro Stop was on September 27-30, 1973 at the Downtown YMCA in Houston, Texas and Steve Serot won against Bill Schmidtke and took home $1,500. National Racquetball Jan-Feb 1974.

·First Professional Tournament was the “IRA Pro-Am Tournament” and it was held on October 25-27, 1974 at the Louisville Athletic Club.

·In the “NRC Midwest Pro-Am Open” in Aurora, Illinois YMCA on November 14-17, 1974 Kathy Williams, of Hazel Park, Michigan, became the first female player ever to win prize money in a racquetball tournament ($250.) be defecting Sue Carow.  “NATIONAL RACQUETBALL” – December 1974 – page 17.

·The NRC Pro Stop at “Racquetime” in Livonia, Michigan (Dec.12-15, 1974) was the first time the Seamco 559 (green ball) came in a two-ball pressurized can.

·The back page cover had a large color ad picture of a “Seamco 558 IRA can that you could not buy.  This was in the magazine “RACQUETBALL” May-June 1975 – IRA.

·First RACQUETBALL MARATHON was set at 38 ½ hours by Gary Lusk of California in June 1975.  “RACQUETBALL” December 1975 IRA page 26.

·Second RACQUETBALL MARATHON was set at 48 hours by John Rodriguez at the Supreme Court IV Sport Center in Hayward.  He beat the old record by 9 ½ hours.  All of the racquetball marathon rules are listed here.  “RACQUETBALL” September/October 1976 – IRA page 47.

·Despite a technical foul at 0-0 which put him (Charlie Brumfield) at negative one, (the first player in pro racquetball history to achieve such a dubious distinction).  NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – July 1976 – page 18.

·Mission Cable Television enabled viewers in 26 states to watch an hour and a half of live racquetball in prime time four nights of the tournament, the NRC National Championships in California in June of 1976.  NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – July 1976 – page 31.  ????

·The Seamco 444 is the Official Ball for all IRA sanctioned tournaments. Jan./Feb. 1977 - RACQUETBALL - on page 5.  Also first full page color ad of the Seamco 444. Page 10.

·Another RACQUETBALL MARATHON was set at 51 hours and 5 minutes by the doubles team of Al Lewis and Tim Tripp on Dec. 10 to Dec. 12, 1976.  January/February 1976 of RACQUETBALL on page 50.

·The Ninth IRA National Singles Championships was held at “Racquetime” in Southfield, Michigan on May 28-31, 1977.  This club had 30 courts and this tournament had the largest draw ever, at this time, of 430 players.  Also Luke St. Onge join the IRA board of directors at this even.  May-June 1977 of RACQUETBALL.  Many pictures in this article.  Pages 10 to 19.

·RACQUETBALL MARATHON was set at 60 hours and 20 minutes by “Tiger Bill” Holden on April 24, 1977 in Woodland Hills, CA..  May-June 1977 – RACQUETBALL - on page 33.

·Join the IRA and get a free can of seamco 444.  The IRA’s “Official” racquetball, offer ends Sept. 30, 1977.  May-June 1977 - RACQUETBALL - page 51.

·Marty Hogan, 19 years old, hits the ball 142 MPH against a radar gun.  July 1977 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 60.

·Time, Inc., Announces plans to develop a national chain of racquetball clubs.  These clubs will be called “Sports Illustrated Court Clubs”.  August-September 1977 - RACQUETBALL - page 34.

·Article on Leonard Marks being elected as the new National Rules Commissioner and some new rule changes.  One example is the three bounce rule has been deleted and been replace by the 10 second rule.  August-September 1977 - RACQUETBALL -  page 38.

·RACQUETBALL MARATHON was set at 61 hours and 10 minutes by Jim Easterling on September 17, 1977.  Jim, who was 26 from Taylor, Michigan, started on Thursday September 15th at 9:00am and stopped on Saturday September 17^th at 10:10pm.  He played at the Racquetball Plus in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  November 1977 - National Racquetball - page 22.

·Ektelon was founded in 1968.  March-April 1978 - RACQUETBALL in article titled “Ektelon Presented Marketing Excellence Award”.

·First full page color ad of “Super Z Racquetball” along with the gage and pump and other Trenway racquetballs.  May-June 1978 - RACQUETBALL - page 23.

·The total Handball/Racquetball Courts in the United States is 17,000.  June – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 55.

·Very first “National Racquetball” was September 1973 and cost 50 cents.  This magazine came about when Robert Kendler resigned from IRA in April 1973.  Mr. Kendler then started the NRC, which ran Pro Tournaments, and he came up with “National Racquetball” magazine to advertise his Pro Stops.  He also came up with the Seamco 559 (green ball) which was the “Official Ball of the NRC”.

·The USRA came about when Robert Kendler started an amateur association, to go along with his NRC, which completed with the IRA at that time.  September 1974 - NATIONAL RACQUETBALL - page 9.

·Joe Sobek invited “Paddle Rackers” (Racquetball) in 1950.  In 1959 they organized the “First National Invitational Amateur Championships” in New Britain, Connecticut.  This tournament drew players from as far away as Cleveland, OH, Chicago, IL, and Memphis, TN.  January-February 1979 - RACQUETBALL - page 15.

·Chuck Leve’s article “Television Update: We Did It!”  The first Truly National Broadcast of racquetball was shown by the Public Broadcasting System on November 27, 1977.  Page 88.

·The First Women’s Only Pro Tour Stop in NRC history was in Gresham, Oregon on January 19-22, 1978.  April 1978 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 58.

·As of this date the Illinois State Racquetball Association staged the largest racquetball tournament in history with 803 entrants.  August 1978 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 56.

·Jokari is “Racquetball Without the Walls” is a game set with 2 racquets and a ball attached to an anchor block. It was designed so people could play a “racquetball type game” and not have to rent a court.  “Racquetball Without the Walls” is endorsed by the IRA.  March 1979 - RACQUETBALL - page 20.

·Thirty instructors attended the First Clinic For Teachers Only sponsored in December 1978 by the American Professional Racquetball Organization (APRO) at the Forest Grove Swim and Racquet Club in Palatine, Illinois. April 1979 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 63.

·Article by, Executive Director, Luke St. Onge states that there is 145,000 members of the United States Tennis Association and 45 per cent of the members are juniors.  Racquetball has less than 15 per cent of their members are juniors.  June 1979 - RACQUETBALL - page 9.

·Article on women’s pro players’ association and it is called “Ladies Professional Racquetball Association (LPRA).  This is the second players organization to be formed on the NRC tour.  The first players organization to be formed, on the NRC tour, was the “Association of Racquetball Professionals (ARP), which will continue to represent most of the men pros. June 1979 - RACQUETBALL - page 10.

·An instruction court designed so players can practice by themselves and improve at their own pace.  The racquetball court has colored squares and rectangles covering the front wall and giant red, blue, and green alphabet blocks decorate the service zone.  This court was designed by Jim Easterling, the racquetball program director, at Franklin Racquet Club in Southfield, Michigan.  August 1979 - NATIONAL RACQUETBALL  page 76.

·First full page color ad for the “Seamco Assassin” racquetball.  This was the only “Dimpled” racquetball ever made.  October 1979 - RACQUETBALL inside front cover.

·American Amateur Racquetball Association (AARA) was formed October 17, 1979 has taken the place of the IRA.  November 1979 - RACQUETBALL - page 10.

·Women’s Professionals Racquetball Association (WPRA) and National Association of Racquetball Professionals (NARP) form – November 1979 -RACQUETBALL - page 9.

·There is a lawsuit being filed against Bob Kendler and the NRC by Dr. Bud Muehleisen.  This is in the article “People to watch in 1980” – January -RACQUETBALL - page 15.

·Shannon Wright defected Lynn Adams at the “1^st Women’s Professional Racquetball Association Tournament” on Jan. 10-13, 1980 and took home $2500. – February 1980 - RACQUETBALL - page 13.

·New “Winn Blu” (blue racquetball) comes with 2 balls in a cardboard box.  November 1980 - RACQUETBALL

·Last year’s first Sun-Times Shootout drew 1,260 players, the most ever to participate in a racquetball tournament in one city.  This tournament was held in Lombard, IL.  – April 1981 - RACQUETBALL - page 10.

·The “RACQUETBALL TODAY” (a racquetball tabloid) ask for a 30-day “revolution” where they wanted all “State Associations” to quit both of the “National Associations” at that time, which were USRA/NRC and IRA. – July/August 1981 - RACQUETBALL - page 9.

·Brian Hawkes won the Men’s Open Singles title of the “Eighth Annual Racquetball 3-Wall National Championships” July 4-7, 1981.  Hawkes was 17 years old at this tournament and he won the Juniors title last year.  There were 420 entries at this tournament.  October 1981 – RACQUETBALL - page 7.

·“5^th Annual Long Island Open” on November 13-15, 1981 had 712 entrants.  This tournament was run by Al Seitelman, from New York, and had 27 separate categories and from 14 different states.  February 1982 – RACQUETBALL – page 31.

·The Geostar racquet has a “tri-radial stringing pattern” (like the Omega racquet).  February 1982 – RACQUETBALL – page 35 also v

·A new manner of line judging racquetball matches has been invented by Jim Hanna, an Australian squash referee.  The machine features a 3 button key board to be held by each linesman.  When a call is appealed, the linesman responds by pushing a button labeled “agree”, “disagree”, or “undecided”.  March 1982 – RACQUETBALL – page 6.

·RACQUETBALL MARATHON was set at 102 hours, 58 minutes and 30 seconds by Phil Ciarco on September 1, 1978.  December 1978 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 66.

·The first glass court was built in Chicago in 1943.  July 1979 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 8.

·Results of the “USRA-NRC National Singles Championships” on June 9-16, 1979 in Tempe, Arizona at the Arizona Athletic Club where Carl Porter was the owner.  This tournament had 829 official entries – this was the largest tournament and largest Nationals ever held in the same place at the same time.  August 1979 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 32.

·REFEREES COMMITTEE TEST, by the Illinois State Racquetball Association, of 41 questions.  (I think this is the very first “Referees Test” that has been printed in a racquetball magazine).  August 1979 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 49.

·Illinois became the first state with mandatory eye protection rule for Juniors.  Also Illinois had the largest State Championship Tournament ever held, a total of 803 entries, in 1978.  December 1979 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 63.

·RACQUETBALL MARATHON of 155 hours from 7:00am Oct. 18 to 6:00pm Oct. 24, 1979.  The record was set by Ken Eagel who played at the Mill Creek Park Racquetball Club in Feasterville, Pennsylvania.  January 1980 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 69.

·Over 100 women entered the “First Annual Women’s Turkey Tournament” on November 16-17, 1979 at the Stadium Racquetball Club in San Diego, California.  February 1980 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 60.

·Article “Billboard Players” is about the Gulf Coast Fitness and Racquet Club in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.  This club has a glass wall facing the highway so each day 22,000 drivers on Highway 90 pass by.  March 1980 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 44.

·In Coral Gables, Florida in Dade County the Vice-Mayor Harvey Ruin presented a “Proclamation”  of “U.S. Racquetball Association and Sportrooms Day” to Dan Bertolucci who accepted on the behalf of Bob Kendler.  April 1980 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 67.

·Article “The New Wave” is dealing with Norwegian Caribbean Lines has put racquetball courts into the S/S Norway.  May 1980 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 29.

·A full page color add for the “Merco-West Bob Kendler Family Handball”.  June 1980 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 13.

·Article “Racquetball in Central Park” deals with Jim Pruitt, who is organizing the “USRA’s (and the country’s) First National One Wall Racquetball Tournament on June 26-29, 1980 on 12 courts in New York City’s Central Park.  June 1980 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 29.

·RACQUETBALL MARATHON of 168 hours from April 6 at 2:00pm to April 12 at 2:00pm (7 days) 1980.  The record was set by Frank Araque who played at the Edgewater Park Racquetball Club in Edgewater Park, New Jersey.  June 1980 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 34.

·A total of 537 players play at the “Michigan Racquetball Association (MRA) Tournament” at Franklin Racquet Club in Southfield, Michigan on March 7-9, 1980.  This was the 7^th MRA Tournament (last one before the State Singles Championships) of the season.  This was the largest amateur tournament ever in the state ofMichigan, that was not a National or Pro Stop.  Bill Gottleib (Radiation Man) defected Bob Wilhelm in the Men’s Open.  Jim Hiser (Pass Executive Director 2002-2013) won the Men’s C division which had over 140 people in this one division.  June 1980 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 70.

·Marty Hogan received a check for $30,000 for winning the Men’s Pro division at the “Leach National Pro-Am Championships” in Las Vegas, Nevada.  The Nationals was June 1-7, 1980 and the check for $30,000 is the largest 1^st place amount ever.  August 1980 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 62.  There is a picture of Hogan holding the check.

·RACQEUTBALL MARATHON of 240 hours (ten days) from noon on Monday Sept. 8 and ended 12:01pm Thursday Sept. 18, 1980.  The record was set by Gary Eisenbooth at the Martin Racquetball and Athletic Club in Novato, California.  November 1980 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 27.

·RACQEUTBALL MARATHON of 240 hours (ten days) from noon on Monday Sept. 8 and ended 12:01pm Thursday Sept. 18, 1980.  The record was set by Gary Eisenbooth at the Martin Racquetball and Athletic Club in Novato, California.  November 1980 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 49.

·Article about the King’s Court, in Lyndhurst, New Jersey, is the first racquetball club anywhere with a Twin-Vue three wall glass exhibition court.  March 1981 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 14.

·A half page ad on “The Racqueton Meter Court”.  The World’s First Coin Operated Modular racquetball court.  March 1981 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 47.

·Article “Sean’s Space Game” deals with Sean Connery playing racquetball in outer space in the movie “Outland”.  May 1981 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 28.

·First full page color ad about “Silver Tanning Center” and it has a NAKED LADY laying on it.  March 1982 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 41.

·USRA/NRC declare bankruptcy (14 years) and sold the magazine Oct. 1981.  July 1982 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 16.

·There were THREE PRO NATIONAL RACQUETBALL CHAMPIONSHPS IN 1982.  Plus there was an AMATEUR RACQUETBALL SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIPS IN 1982.

1. Ektelon/Pony Racquetball Championships – July 82 – National RB – page 36.

2.$40,000 Catalina Nation Championships – July 82 – National RB – page 40.

3.$70,000 DP Leach National Championship – Aug. 82 – National RB – page 33.

4.AAAR National Singles Championships – Aug. 82 – National RB – page 36.

*    Diversified Products has dropped its annual $100,000 National Championships, the biggest prize money event of the year.  This is in Chuck Leve’s “From The Editor” article.  January 1983 – NATIONAL RACQEUTBALL – page 4.

1.In 1983 there were FIVE NATIONAL RACQUETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS.

(1)Ektelon Racquetball Championships – May 12-15

(2)WPRA National Championships – May 21-26

(3)AARA U.S. National Championships – May 25-30

(4)DP Leach/Catalina Pro-Am Racquetball Series Championships – May 30-June 4

(5)DP/Leach National Championships – June 14-19

May 1983 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 9 to 11

·The “U.S. Amateur Singles Championships” on May 26-30, 1983 in Houston, Texas had over 750 amateur players from all over the U.S., Canada, and even West Germany.   August 1983 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 32.

·Article “Cruise Your Way To Racquetball Enjoyment” deals with an outdoorracquetball three-wall court on the S/S Norway Cruise Ship.

·Dianne Driver (my girlfriend at the time) and myself (Jim Easterling) run a tournament in January 1984 at the Oakland Racquet Club, in the Detroit area.  This was the first MRA Serious Tournament in Detroit area to offer Prize money.  The prize money was based on sponsor money plus the number of players in the prize money divisions.  There were more players sign up for the Women’s Pro Division then in the Men’s Pro Division.  As a result of this we gave the Men’s 1^st place winner a check for $150 and the Women’s 1^st place winner a check for $200.  As far as I know this was the only time in the state of Michigan (and maybe anywhere else) that the Women received more money than the Men did at the same racquetball tournament.  March 1984 MRA Newsletter.

·Results on the “First Annual Deaf Tournament” on April 27-29, 1984 at the Charlie Club in Palatine, Illinois.  July 1984 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 41.

·Referee Certification – adopted by AARA – developed by Michael Arnolt, of Indiana, and Jim Hiser, of Michigan.  Aug. 1984 - National Racquetball (+RB Illustrated) – page 34.

·Mike Yellen and Steve Strandemo will be instructing for a week aboard the SS Norway of the Norwegian Caribbean Lines.  The SS Norway has one, 3-wall court.  Sept. 1984 – National Racquetball (+RB Illustrated) – page 31.

·The AARA National Singles Championships (in Houston, TX on May 24-28, 1984) boasted the LARGEST DRAW EVER, FOR THIS EVENT, WITH 922 ENTRIES.

              June/July 1984– Racquetball in Review

·Results of the “Toyota-Lite Beer East Coast Classic” on July 20-22, 1984 at the Merritt Security Club in Baltimore, Maryland.  Marty Hogan, who won this tournament, won a $10,000 TOYOTA 4X4 VEHICLE.  October 1984 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 48.

Results of the AARA National Juniors Championships held at the Davison Racquet Club (in Davison, Michigan) on June 23-27, 1984.  This National Junior Championships boasted the LARGEST DRAW EVER, AT THIS EVENT, WITH 584 ENTRIES.                      Aug./Sept. 1984 – Racquetball in Review.

·Article “Heavy Dose of Intensity at 1^st Elite Training Camp”.  The 1^st Elite Training Camp was held at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  The Camp was overseen by AARA executive director Luke St. Onge.  October 1984 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 21.

·When Mike Yellen won “Three National Championships” in 1983, this made Mike Yellen the “FIRST GRAND SLAM” Champion.  March 1985 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 34.

·Results of the “8^th Long Island Open” on November 15-18, 1984.  This tournament had 933 entries from 21 states.  March 1985 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 36.

·Article, under “EXTRA”, about Ektelon has a contact with Mike Yellen for a span of at least 10 years at $100,000 per year – the first million dollar contract in racquetball.  April 1985 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 33.

·Results of the “1985 Toyota/Head Pro-Am” on April 17-21, 1985 at the Merrit Security Racquetball Club in Baltimore, Maryland.  Jerry Hilecher won this tournament and walked away with a 1985 Toyota mini-van with a sticker price of over $13,000.  July 1985 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 19.

·Results of the 9^th Annual Long Island Open on Nov. 8-10, 1985.  This tournament had 964 ENTRIES.   Jan. 1986 – RACQUETBALL IN REVIEW – Front page.

·Squash had the 1985 North American Open on a portable Squash court set on the state of Manhattan’s Town Hall Theater.  This apparently marked the first official tournament use of a portable court in the United States.  A four-glass-wall portable squash court has been in use on the European Squash circuit for over a year.  August 1985 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 41.                                                                                                                 

·(This article, above, was NOT CORRECT as stated in a letter in the November issue of NATIONAL RACQUETBALL ON PAGE 3).        

Results of the “10^th Annual Long Island Open” on November 13-16, 1986 at the Sportset Clubs in Long Island, New York.  This tournament had 894 entries from 18 states including California, Texas, Massachusetts and Florida.  March 1987 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 44.

Under “New Products” section is “The Perfect Practice Partner” called the RACQUETEER.  A machine that shoots out racquetballs, up to 95 m.p.h., and sets you up so you can practice.  Also there is an ad, on page 28, to buy the RACQUETEER.  April 1987 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 33.      

·Article “Portable Court Debuts in Southern California” is about Joe Garcia unveiling the nation’s FIRST PORTABLE COURT.  It’s valued at about $70,000.  August 1987 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 15.

·A full page ad for the “AARA Visa Credit Card”.  Every time a person makes a purchase using this card MBNA, the issuing bank, will make donations to AARA.  January 1988 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 7.                                                            

·TWO PAGE FULL COLOR PHOTO OF FIRST GLASS COURT (Pages 4 & 5) and article about Joe Garcia’s court.  The PORTABLE GLASS COURT            was put together at the Santa Anita Fashion Shopping Center in Arcadia, California and it was estimated that 200,000 people had a chance to see the action during a weeklong exhibition in August 1987.  The court weighed over 14,000 pounds and assembling took six men more than 40 hours, not including the packing, dismantling and repacking time.  November 1987 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 4.

·Results of the “Long Island Open”, 1987, in New York is the BIGGEST racquetball tournament in the country.  This tournament had over 900 entrants compared to the 750 at the AARA Nationals.  January 1988 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 14.

·Article “The Future Looks Good” by Jim Hiser, states that there was a sanctioned professional event (RMA) at the BQE Club of Woodside, New York that for the first time professional racquetball was broadcast LIVE!  (The finals was LIVE).  February 1988 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 36.      

·Article “Starting It All:  The First National “Gut Paddleball” Tournament”.  In May 1968, at the Milwaukee Jewish Community Center, was the “First National United States Gut Paddleball Championships.  June 1988 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 47.      

·World Professional Racquetball Tour (WPRT) will govern professional racquetball for the 1988-89 season.  Inclusion of a television contract for each of the guaranteed ten tournament stops.   Article, by Jim Hiser, is all about this organization.  October 1988 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 51.

·PORTABLE COURT AT WORLD CORPORATE GAMES.  The portable court, invented by Joe Garcia, was put up at the Embarcadero Center in San Francisco – set up right in the middle of the financial district.  This was the second time that the court has been set up, the first time was at the Santa Anita Fashion Mall.  January 1989 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 10.

·Results of the “12^th Annual Long Island Open” at the Sportset Clubs in Syosset and Rockville Center in New York.  This tournament lives up to its reputation as the largest racquetball tournament in the world with 967 PLAYERS IN 39 CATEGORIES.  Feb/March 1989 – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – page 9.

·Effective January 1, 1991 there will be a liability and accident insurance coverage at all AARA sanctioned tournaments to protect all players, sponsors and host facilities.  Also the “Competitive License” will cost $15. and will replace the current $10. AARA membership. Sept/Oct 1990 – RACQUETBALL USA – page 6.

·Results of the “14^th Annual Long Island Open” at the Sportset Clubs in Syosset and Rockville Center on November 9-11, 1990.  This tournament drew a record 964 PLAYERS FROM 18 STATES.  March/April 1991 – RACQUETBALL MAGAZINE – page 27.

Mike Arnolt, from Indiana, ran a tournament called “U.S. OPEN” on Feb. 17-19, 1995.  Jan./Feb. – RACQUETBALL MAGAZINE – page 60-61.

2^nd Annual U.S. OPEN – WPRT – NATIONAL RACQUETBALL – Nov. 1988 – full page ad on page 50.