July 9 Birthday
On July 9, 1877, the first Wimbledon Championships began at the All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club. Twenty-two players competed in the Gentlemen's Singles. The winner was Spencer Gore, a twenty-seven-year-old rackets player who entered on a whim. The final was watched by 200 spectators. The winner's prize was a silver cup worth 25 guineas. The tournament is now the oldest tennis championship in the world and is watched by over a billion people. The All England Club's grass courts are still maintained by the same techniques — the grass is 100% perennial ryegrass, cut to 8mm. Tom Hanks, born this day in 1956, has won two consecutive Best Actor Oscars — for Philadelphia (1993) and Forrest Gump (1994). He is the only actor in the last forty years to do so. He dropped out of college to intern at a theater festival. He has appeared in films that have grossed over $9 billion worldwide. He was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 2013. People born on July 9 fall under the zodiac sign of Cancer. The birthstone is Ruby and the birth flower is Larkspur. Historical events on July 9 include 1816: Argentina declares independence from Spain, 1877: First Wimbledon tennis championship begins at All England Club, 1995: Sri Lankan Cricket Team... hmm, let me use: 1995: Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia performs final concert. Famous people born on July 9 include Elias Howe (1819), Tom Hanks (1956), Jimmy Smits (1955).