Major Taylor was pretty well paid too, he only raced til 1910 I believe, I find it hard to believe he wasn't the highest paid cyclist of his time. They loved him in Europe and Australia, and he was a big hit in the states too. Worcester, MA, his adopted hometown, just dedicated a pretty major street to him, no pun intended. I was there with my family and a few highwheels, I figured it was an important day as he was a great man that has been mostly forgotten, though I'm sure not on this list.
You can see the dedication here:
http://www.majortaylorassociation.org/
If you go to the picture with me in in the people are from left to right Richard Toppin, my dad, Alexa Toppin, my daughter, Me & My Wife Jen, Andrew Toppin, my son, and Cortney Toppin, my daughter
It was a moving day. I feel sad that Major Taylor was so forgotten given all his achievements under such harsh circumstances, I am glad to see him being recognized finally. They are also building a statue for him what will be the end of the street, in front of the Worcester Public Library
David Toppin dave@pelletizer.com http://www.pelletizer.com <see our complete, searchable inventory
The Pelletizer Group, Inc. 4 LaChance Street Gardner, MA 01440-2476
(978) 669-0060 (978) 669-0061 fax
-----Original Message----- From: classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org [mailto:classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org] On Behalf Of Chuck Schmidt Sent: Friday, August 04, 2006 1:13 AM To: classic rendezvous Subject: [CR]Now: Frank Kramer Was: Pierce Kramer Special
Craig Montgomery wrote:
>
>> Also Pierce survived the bike crash of the first decade of the 20th
> century annd I believe they continued to make this model for some
> time, maybe until the1920's as Kramer was still quite a popular
> figure........
>
>> Joe Bender-Zanoni
>> Great Notch, NJ
>
>
> Frank Kramer was the highest paid sports figure in the U.S. until Babe
> Ruth out incomed him in the late twenties. Don't ask me the source of
> this, just trust me. I remember it from a caption, but can't go
> looking for it.
I think he was possibly the most popular American cyclist ever (yes, even more popular than Lance)! Here's the caption I came up with for the Frank Kramer t-shirt I sell: "Frank Kramer (1880-1958) was possibly the most popular cyclist in American History. He won the National Sprint Championship an unprecedented 18 times, including 16 in a row from 1901 to 1916, the Golden Age, when cycling was more popular than baseball. He won his first National Sprint Championship in 1898 at the age of fifteen." Pretty amazing rider wouldn't you all agree???
Picture of Frank Kramer poster (thanks Brett) on t-shirt:
http://www.velo-retro.com/
Anyone have any more Kramer info?
Chuck Schmidt South Pasadena, Southern California http://www.velo-retro.com (catalog reprints, timelines & t-shirts)
.