Theodore Pell

Born on March 12, 1879, Theodore Roosevelt Pell was an American tennis player from Yonkers, New York who rose to fame by winning indoor tennis matches in the 1900s. Pell won the US indoor singles tournaments in 1907, in 1909 and 1911, as well as doubles titles in four occasions from 1905 to 1912. Pell, who stood at a slender 6 feet was also known for his strong backhand, which he used to his advantage in indoor as well as outdoor matches while playing at the New York Lawn Tennis Club.

The right-handed player was ranked five times in the US Top Ten between 1910 and 1918. He also enjoyed his outdoor matches, winning a few sets to advance to the semis in Newport beating Watson Washburn and Beals Wright, only to succumb to Maurice ‘The Comet’ McLoughlin. He also reached ranked at number 5 in 1913 and 1915. Pell was also the only American participant during the 1912 Summer Olympics tennis events held in Stockholm, Sweden, the first time that participants from all the countries in the Olympic rings were represented in the Games. Known as the Games of the V Olympiad, the Summer Olympics was the third appearance of American tennis players in the Games.

Pell advanced to the 16th round before he was finally defeated in the men’s outdoor singles, marching past Albert Canet of France before facing German opponent Ludwig Heyden. The summer Olympics of 1912 were also the last time that sold gold medals were awarded to winners.

Pell was inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame in 1966, a year before his death on August 18, 1967 in Sands Point, New York.