#79: The Palmer Era
Sports Illustrated debuted the same year Arnold Palmer turned pro, and in 1960—early in both of their careers—it named him "Sportsman of the Year."
As the magazine had it, “For dominating the game of golf with a bold determination while adding to its splendor with genuine graciousness and charm, the editors of Sports Illustrated award the Grecian amphora, a classic symbol of pure excellence, to 1960s star Arnold Palmer.” SI mentioned heavyweight Floyd Patterson, Pirates pitcher Vernon Law, Yankees great Casey Stengel and a few Olympians before concluding, with an astute measure of crystal ball-gazing, that “nowhere did a 1960 sports personality command the field with quite the overwhelming ability and natural charm of that 31-year-old golf professional from Latrobe, PA… He has ended his sport’s long wait for a fresh, vibrant personality, bringing a new age to golf: The Palmer Era.” And so he did.
