Jimmie McDaniel facts for kids

Jimmie McDaniel (born September 4, 1916 – died March 8, 1990) was an amazing African-American tennis player. He was known as one of the best Black tennis players before World War II. Jimmie was very tall, about 6 feet 5 inches, and played tennis left-handed. He won the American Tennis Association (ATA) singles championship four times!

Early Life and Tennis Start

Jimmie grew up in Los Angeles, California. His father, Willis McDaniel, used to play baseball in the Negro leagues. His mother, Ruby McDaniel, worked hard to support their seven children.

Jimmie started playing tennis when he was in elementary school. He learned by hitting balls against a wall or practicing on a simple dirt court at his school. He never had a tennis lesson! In high school, he first focused on track and field. But in his last year, he joined the tennis team. Even though he was the only Black player, he helped his team win the league championship.

In 1935, Jimmie played a practice match against Bobby Riggs. Bobby was the top junior player in the country at the time. Bobby Riggs later became very famous, winning Wimbledon in 1939. Jimmie had only been playing tennis for two years when he played Bobby. Jimmie lost a very close match, but it showed how talented he was!

College and Championships

In 1938, Jimmie won the Southern California Men's Singles Open title. He also shared the Doubles title with his brother, Al McDaniel.

Later that year, Jimmie went to Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans. He got a scholarship for track, as he was a great runner and high jumper. But he soon spent most of his time on the tennis courts. Back then, tennis was segregated, meaning Black players could not compete in the same tournaments as white players. Jimmie played in a special circuit for Black colleges and players. He became a champion among these players.

Between 1939 and 1941, Jimmie won many important titles. He won the National Open Men's Singles Championship in 1939. He also won the Singles title at the Prairie View Intercollegiate, the Southwestern Open, the North Carolina Open, and the New York Open. He won the American Tennis Association National Tournament multiple times.

Jimmie often played doubles with his schoolmate, Richard Cohen. They won many doubles titles together, including the National Doubles title in 1939. Jimmie finished his college tennis career at Xavier University in 1942.

A Historic Match

On July 29, 1940, Jimmie McDaniel made history. He played an exhibition match against Don Budge. Don Budge was a huge star in tennis, having won the Grand Slam in 1938. This match was special because it was the first time a top white player and a top Black player met in a major tennis event in the United States.

The match took place at The Cosmopolitan Club in Harlem, New York. Two thousand people packed the stands, and others watched from windows and fire escapes! Everyone was excited to see this important moment. Don Budge won the match, but it was a big step forward for Black tennis players. However, the start of World War II soon overshadowed this event. It would be another 10 years before Althea Gibson broke more barriers in tennis.

Later Life and Legacy

After the historic match, Jimmie continued to play tennis for about ten more years. But he often faced unfair treatment because of his race. Sometimes he was not allowed to enter tournaments. Other times, he was given wrong directions to a club so he would arrive late and lose his chance to play. Because it was so hard to move up in the sport, Jimmie eventually stopped playing tennis. He then enjoyed playing golf and bowling.

During World War II, Jimmie worked at the Lockheed Corporation aircraft factory in Los Angeles. He started as a janitor and worked his way up to become a line supervisor before he retired.

In the late 1950s, Jimmie returned to tennis. By this time, he was allowed to play in tournaments that were once only for white players. He even earned a Top 20 national ranking in the 60-and-over age group! He also enjoyed giving tennis lessons to both adults and children.

Jimmie McDaniel passed away on March 8, 1990, at the age of 73. In 2009, he was honored by being inducted into the Black Tennis Hall of Fame. His life showed great talent and courage in breaking down barriers in sports.

Accolades

• ATA National Men’s Singles title: 1939, 1940, 1941, and 1946.
• ATA National Men’s Doubles title: 1939 and 1941 with his college teammate Dr. Richard Cohen.
• ATA National Men’s Doubles title: 1946 with James Stocks.
• ATA National Men’s Doubles title: 1952 with Earthna Jacquet.