Description
“Babe: The Life and Legend of Babe Didrikson Zaharias” by Susan E. Cayleff is a comprehensive biography that delves into the multifaceted life of one of the 20th century’s greatest athletes. Published in 1995, the book offers an in-depth look at Zaharias’s journey from a multisport athlete to a golfing legend.
The book is meticulous, drawing on interviews with family members, peers, and extensive research. The book not only highlights Zaharias’s athletic prowess, which led her to win two gold medals and a silver in track and field at the 1932 Summer Olympics, but also her dominance in women’s golf, where she won 10 LPGA major championships. The biograhy goes beyond her public persona to explore her personal life, including her marriage to wrestler George Zaharias and her relationship with fellow golfer Betty Dodd. It also addresses the challenges Zaharias faced as a woman in sports during her time, battling sexism and societal expectations.
Zaharias’s legacy is adorned with numerous awards and honours. She was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2021, and her accolades include being named the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year six times. She was also inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974 and received the Bob Jones Award in 1957. Cayleff’s biography is a tribute to Babe Didrikson Zaharias’s enduring impact on sports and society. It’s a must-read for those interested in the history of women in sports and the life of an extraordinary athlete who broke barriers and set new standards of excellence.
About the Author
Susan E. Cayleff is an American academic and author, known for her extensive work in women’s studies. Born in 1954 in Boston, Massachusetts, she has made significant contributions to academia and social activism. Cayleff served as an emeritus professor at San Diego State University from 1987 to 2020, where she was also a co-founder of the SafeZones program, supporting LGBTQ students, faculty, staff, and administrators.
Her research has often focused on women and health, exploring how cultural beliefs and medical policies impact women’s health solutions. Cayleff’s notable works include “Babe: The Life and Legend of Babe Didrikson Zaharias,” which was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize, a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award, and won the GLAAD Outstanding Book Award in 1996.
Cayleff’s dedication to social equality and inclusion has been recognized with awards such as the Ashley L. Walker Social Justice Award of the San Diego Human Relations Commission in 2018. The Cayleff and Sakai Faculty Chair of the Pride Center at San Diego State is named in her honour, reflecting her impact on the community. Her educational background includes a BA from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, an MA in women’s history from Sarah Lawrence College, and a PhD in American civilization from Brown University.
