Dude Champions

Puck, Volume 14, Number 342, September 26, 1883, page 53.

In September 1883, Harper's Weekly magazine published a portrait of Richard, Dudley Sears, who had just won his third of what would become seven consecutive United States National Championships of Lawn Tennis.  He was, at that time, the only champion tennis player of the United States ever - having won the first such championship in 1881, and every one since.

 THE LAWN TENNIS CHAMPION.

Mr. Richard D. Sears, whose portrait is given on page 581, enjoys the distinction of being the first and only lawn tennis champion of the United States.  The championship was instituted in the summer of 1881, and was won by Mr. Sears, who succeeded in defending his title to the honor in the following year, and again in the National Tournament lately held at Newport.

Harper's Weekly, Volume 27, Number 1395, September 15, 1883, page 587.

 

Being a "champion" of lawn tennis seemed such a dubious feat to be commemorated with a portrait in a national magazine that the humor magazine, Puck, lampooned the editorial decisions of its more serious competitor with six portraits of "Champion Dudes" of similarly dubious distinction. 

 Champion Dudes:

Miss Mamie Taff, American Chewing-Gum Champion.

 

Mr. Hildebrandt Montrose Brown. Champion Polo Player.

 

Miss Dizzy Williams. Champion Caramel Destroyer.

 

Mr. Ferdinand La Belle Smith. Champion Cigarette Smoker.

 

Mr. Cholly Sill. Champion Tight Trousers Wearer, with Portrait of Legs.

 

Miss Flossy Johnson. Champion Pearl Powder Slinger.

 

Puck may have scored a few cheap laughs to take the game, but tennis took the set and the match - the US Open is still contested every year as one of the four "Grand Slam" tournaments, whereas for many readers, this may be the first they've ever heard of Puck, which put out its last issue in 1918.