Latest / Sports History Network / This Week in NDN All-Stars History: August 16–22, 2026

Transcript

This Week in NDN All-Stars History: August 16–22, 2026 · Sports History Network

• 0:58
  One day, five stories, three different sports.
• 1:04
  A Shinnecock golfer takes down one of the greatest players in the world.
• 1:09
  A future heavyweight champion steps into the professional ring for the very first time.
• 1:16
  One of America's greatest athletes changes baseball uniforms.
• 1:21
  And two Native boxing legends score victories on the very same night.
• 1:26
  All of that happens on August 18th.
• 1:29
  And that's just one day in this week of Indian All Stars history.
• 1:36
  Welcome to Indian All Stars.
• 1:38
  I'm Bill Black, and every week we travel back to discover how Native athletes help shape the world of sports.
• 1:44
  Because history isn't trapped behind museum glass, it comes alive.
• 1:49
  Indian All Stars celebrates great Native American athletes from the past and the present, bringing these great All Stars back into the spotlight for new generations.
• 1:59
  Now let's look back and find out what happened.
• 2:02
  Here's what happened the week of August 16th through August 22nd in Indian All Stars history.
• 2:08
  It's August 16th, and we begin in 1937 with Iroquois boxer Henry Armstrong.
• 2:15
  Armstrong is in the middle of a remarkable climb through the boxing ranks.
• 2:19
  And today Johnny Cabellos stands across the ring from him.
• 2:23
  Not for long.
• 2:24
  After the opening round, Cabello cannot answer the bell for round two.
• 2:29
  The victory goes to Armstrong.
• 2:31
  Another win for the Iroquois fighter who is rapidly becoming one of boxing's most relentless forces.
• 2:38
  We jump ahead to 2013, where Navajo and Yaqui fighter Huaqim Spirit Wolf brings us into the MMA cage.
• 2:45
  Spirit Wolf takes on James Cheney at Shinzo Fight Sport and finishes the bout in the second round, earning the victory by technical knockout.
• 2:54
  Then in 2020, Cherokee pitcher Robbie Ray reaches a major career milestone.
• 3:01
  Ray records the 1,000th strikeout of his major league career.
• 3:04
  For a power pitcher who makes his living, missing bats 1000 career strikeouts is an impressive achievement.
• 3:12
  The calendar turns to August 17th in 1938.
• 3:17
  Iroquois boxing great Henry Armstrong is back.
• 3:20
  And this time, the stakes could hardly be higher.
• 3:23
  Across the ring is Lou Ambers.
• 3:26
  When the fight is over, Armstrong earns a split decision victory, capturing the New York State Athletic Commission, National Boxing association and the Ring Welterweight Championships.
• 3:37
  Armstrong isn't simply winning another fight.
• 3:40
  He's adding championship gold to a career that is becoming one of the most extraordinary in boxing history.
• 3:47
  Then we move ahead to 2004.
• 3:50
  Lakota pitcher Bobby Madrid takes the mound for the Seattle Mariners against the Kansas City Royals.
• 3:56
  The left hander works seven innings, allowing just one earned run.
• 4:01
  His performance leads Seattle to the victory and gives Madrid his third major league win.
• 4:07
  And then comes August 18th.
• 4:09
  This is one of those dates when native sports history seems to be happening everywhere at once.
• 4:15
  We begin all the way back in 1900 at Shinnecock Hills on Long Island.
• 4:21
  Shinnecock golfer Oscar Bunn steps onto the course for a nine hole exhibition match against Harry Varden, one of the most celebrated golfers in the world.
• 4:30
  Bunn shoots a 33.
• 4:32
  Varden shoots a 38.
• 4:35
  Oscar Bunn wins by five strokes.
• 4:38
  Fourteen years later, in 1914, another famous career is just beginning.
• 4:44
  Representing his Cherokee heritage, Jack Dempsey steps into the ring for his first professional boxing match.
• 4:51
  Dempsey faces young Harriman in a six round bout.
• 4:55
  The fight ends in a draw.
• 4:57
  But a professional career has begun that will eventually take the Cherokee fighter to the heavyweight championship of the world.
• 5:05
  Three years later, August 18th brings us to baseball.
• 5:09
  In 1917, Sac and Fox outfielder Jim Thorpe is returned to the New York Giants by the Cincinnati Reds following Cincinnati's earlier purchase of his contract.
• 5:20
  For Thorpe, it is another turn in a professional baseball journey taking place during one of the most remarkable multi sport careers America has ever seen.
• 5:31
  Now we move ahead to 1936.
• 5:34
  Henry Armstrong, Iroquois, faces Mexican fighter Juan Zarita.
• 5:39
  Armstrong doesn't need the judges.
• 5:41
  He stops Zurita by technical knockout in the fourth round.
• 5:45
  And on that very same August 18, another native boxing story is unfolding.
• 5:51
  Cherokee heavyweight Joe Louis steps into the ring against former heavyweight champion Jack Sharkey.
• 5:58
  Lewis takes control.
• 6:00
  One minute and two seconds into the third round, it is over.
• 6:05
  Jack Sharkey is knocked out.
• 6:08
  Joe Louis has another emphatic victory.
• 6:10
  And the heavyweight division has another reminder of just how dangerous the Brown bomber has become.
• 6:16
  Five stories, three sports, 36 years, all sharing the same date.
• 6:23
  August 18th.
• 6:24
  We move ahead to August 20th, 1975.
• 6:29
  Salish and Kootenai boxer Marvin Campbell steps into the ring against Ron Wilson.
• 6:34
  The fight goes the full 10 rounds.
• 6:37
  There is no knockout to settle it, so the decision belongs to the judges.
• 6:42
  All three agree.
• 6:43
  Camel earns the unanimous decision victory.
• 6:46
  It is another step in a career that will eventually carry Marvin Campbell into boxing history.
• 6:53
  On August 21, we travel back to 1917.
• 6:57
  Ojibwe pitcher Charles Chief Bender takes the mound for Philadelphia against Chicago.
• 7:03
  Bender is nearly untouchable.
• 7:05
  Chicago manages only one hit.
• 7:07
  Philadelphia wins 60 as Bender adds a one hitter to his already remarkable major league career.
• 7:15
  Then we jump ahead to 1944.
• 7:18
  Iroquois boxing legend Henry Armstrong steps into the ring against Willie Joyce.
• 7:24
  The two fighters battle through 10 rounds and Armstrong comes away with the victory.
• 7:29
  More than seven years after his first appearance in this week's journey, Henry Armstrong is still fighting and still winning.
• 7:37
  Finally, we arrive at August 22nd.
• 7:40
  We began in 1943 with Cherokee pitcher Earth Charlie Winn Wein is known for what he can do from the mound, but today he contributes with the bat.
• 7:50
  He hits the first home run of his major league career.
• 7:55
  Then we move ahead to 1977.
• 7:58
  Salish and Kootenai boxer Marvin Campbell meets Ron Wilson once again.
• 8:03
  It is Camel's 24th professional fight, and once again the bout lasts all 10 rounds.
• 8:09
  Camel earns the victory on points.
• 8:13
  One year later in 1978, Camel is back in the ring.
• 8:17
  This time, the Salish and Kootenai fighter takes on Ibar Arrington in Coeur d', Alene, Idaho.
• 8:23
  Again, Camel goes 10 rounds and again his hand is raised.
• 8:28
  He earns the victory by unanimous decision.
• 8:32
  Our final stop comes in 1989.
• 8:35
  Anka and Oto heavyweight Tommy Morrison steps into the ring against Jesse Shelby.
• 8:41
  Morrison doesn't let the fight last long.
• 8:43
  One minute and 55 seconds into the second round, he earns the technical knockout victory and another chapter is underway in a professional career that will eventually carry Morrison onto boxing's biggest stages.
• 8:57
  If you enjoyed today's look back, I invite you to visit IndianAllStars.com where you'll find more athlete stories, blog articles, videos, podcast episodes and exclusive merchandise celebrating great Native American athletes from the past and the present.
• 9:14
  I hope you'll join me again next week as we bring more great Native athletes back into the spotlight.
• 9:20
  Until then, this is Indian All Stars.