Great Lakes in Lake County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Great Lakes Athletics

By William Fischer, Jr., September 4, 2010

1. Great Lakes Athletics Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Throughout WWI and WWII, athletic opportunities for recruits included swimming, basketball, hockey, water polo, boxing, wrestling and track and field. But, it was in football that Great Lakes achieved national prominence. Among the thousands of recruits streaming through the gates were players from Notre Dame, Northwestern, Iowa, Washington, Detroit, Ohio State and a host of others. One of the players who would achieve fame in professional football was George Halas (“Papa Bear” of the Chicago Bears). The 1918 undefeated season culminated in Pasadena, California in the [1919] Rose Bowl where Great Lakes defeated the Mare Island Marines, 17-0. During WWII, the Great Lakes Bluejackets twice defeated Notre Dame in football and the baseball team competed well against professional teams.

Erected by Naval Station Great Lakes.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Patriots & Patriotism • Sports • War, World I • War, World II.

Location. 42° 18.706′ N, 87°

Photo on Great Lakes Athletics Marker image. Click for full size.

By William Fischer, Jr., September 4, 2010

2. Photo on Great Lakes Athletics Marker

[Caption reads] Great Lakes against Northwestern in 1918; George Halas and Paddy Driscoll are pictured in center circle.

50.409′ W. Marker is in Great Lakes, Illinois, in Lake County. Marker is on Farragut Avenue near Sampson Road, on the right when traveling east. Marker is in the Historic District of Naval Station Great Lakes. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Great Lakes IL 60088, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. World War II (here, next to this marker); Women at Great Lakes (here, next to this marker); The Post War Era (here, next to this marker); Wings over Great Lakes (here, next to this marker); Great Lakes History Trail (here, next to this marker); Fighting Tradesmen (here, next to this marker); Base Realignment and Closure (here, next to this marker); Origins of the Base / Construction (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Great Lakes.

Also see . . .
1. Naval Station Great Lakes. (Submitted on November 13, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Great Lakes Naval Museum. (Submitted on November 13, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. Great Lakes Naval Training Station. (Submitted on November 13, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)