This Day in History: 2017-05-10
May 15, 2003 – “Mexican-American Becomes First Owner of a Major Sport Team” Arturo “Arte” Moreno purchased the Anaheim Angels, becoming the first Mexican-American to own a major sports team. Moreno purchased the team from the team from the Walt Disney Corporation. He made the
majority of the wealth he used to buy the Angels by growing the billboard company Outdoor Systems and then
selling it to Infinity Broadcasting for $8 billion. Prior to purchasing the Angels, Moreno purchased the Salt Lake Trappers minor league baseball team with a team of 17 other investors.
May 12, 1902 - "Joe Gans Becomes World's First African-American Boxing Champion" Joe Gans defeated Frank Erne to become the world's first African-American
to win World Championship in any weight class. He became a world champion a full six years before famed boxer Jack Johnson. This is because Johnson's attempts at challenging for the heavyweight title were thwarted as James J. Jeffries refused to face him. Gans and Johnson were two early champions in a sport dominated by African-Americans throughout the 20th century.