When you think of popular New York City sports in the 19th century, baseball, tennis, and cycling come to mind. But one of the most popular activity was the now forgotten pedestrianism, a form of race walking that spawned the idea of celebrity athletes.
The top pedestrians earned a fortune in prize money and endorsement deals […] their images appeared on some of the first cigarette trading cards, which children collected as avidly as later generations would collect baseball cards.
Read the full article for more on pedestrianism, New York City's forgotten sport.
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