# The 1950s

In: [Learn](https://handball.theperfectship.com/learn.md) > [History](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history.md) > [Years and decades](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/years.md) > The 1950s

32 dated items, 3 rulebook editions and 42 championship result rows are in the record for the 1950s.

## Years with their own page

- [1950](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/years/1950.md) (4 dated items)
- [1951](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/years/1951.md) (4 dated items)
- [1954](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/years/1954.md) (3 dated items)
- [1957](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/years/1957.md) (5 dated items)
- [1958](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/years/1958.md) (7 dated items)
- [1959](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/years/1959.md) (4 dated items)

## Dated items

### [1950](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/years/1950.md)

- **1950-1966**: Provincial councils revived (GAA Handball Ireland, "History" (seen 28 October 2026)). Source: [GAA Handball Ireland, "History" (seen 28 October 2026)](https://www.gaahandball.ie/about/gaa-handball/history)
- **1950**: ushandball.org's champions list marks 1950 as the last A.A.U. year: 'All future years are USHA' (H-101). Source: [US Handball Association, "National Champions" (seen 28 October 2026)](https://www.ushandball.org/about/national-champions/)
- **1950-1969**: Irish handball grows strongly in the 1950s and 1960s: provincial councils are revived (1950-66), schools and local competitions multiply, and the first American-style court follows in 1969 Source: [GAA Handball Ireland, "History" (seen 28 October 2026)](https://www.gaahandball.ie/about/gaa-handball/history)
- **1950-1951**: A group of leading handball players and administrators forms a Players' Fraternity in 1950 under Bob Kendler: the USHA's own texts date its start 1950 or 1951 (conflicting) Sources date the start of the USHA to 1950 (a 1972 magazine and a 1998 letter counting 48 years) or to 1951 (the USHA website and its numbering of the 1997 nationals as the 47th), so the date is given as 1950 to 1951. Source: [Handball (USHA), June 1972](https://archive.teamusa.com/-/media/usa_racquetball/documents/magazine/archived-issues/handball-magazine/1972/1972_hb_june1bc3.pdf?la=en&hash=9D26F4A7CBAD5CB11FD9F1F28B8407F5F171D84B)

### [1951](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/years/1951.md)

- **1951**: First USHA national championships listed: four-wall at Chicago (Plekan) and three-wall at Detroit (USHA national four-wall handball championships, USHA national three-wall handball championships, firstHeld 1951; US Handball Association, Source: [US Handball Association, "National Champions" (seen 28 October 2026)](https://www.ushandball.org/about/national-champions/)
- **1951-1953**: The USHA says its first Collegiate National Championships were held at Evanston, Illinois, in 1951, but its champions roll lists a collegiate title only from 1953 (conflicting) The USHA's collegiate history page says the first Collegiate Nationals were held in 1951 at Evanston, but its champions page first shows a Collegiates section in the 1953 block, so the date is given as 1951 to 1953. Source: [US Handball Association, "History of Collegiate Nationals" (seen 28 October 2026)](https://www.ushandball.org/history-of-collegiate-nationals/)
- **1951**: Bob Kendler breaks with the A.A.U. in 1951 'to form' the players' fraternity (by a 1972 USHA cover note): the first USHA four-wall (Chicago) and three-wall (Detroit) nationals; Avery Brundage was most instrumental in mediating a lasting agreement Source: [Handball (USHA), June 1972](https://archive.teamusa.com/-/media/usa_racquetball/documents/magazine/archived-issues/handball-magazine/1972/1972_hb_june1bc3.pdf?la=en&hash=9D26F4A7CBAD5CB11FD9F1F28B8407F5F171D84B), PDF p. 3
- **1951-1959**: From 1951 the USHA's national roll carries a three-wall tournament at Detroit every year of the decade beside the travelling four-wall nationals Source: [US Handball Association, "National Champions" (seen 28 October 2026)](https://www.ushandball.org/about/national-champions/)

### 1952

- **1952**: The National Y.M.C.A. Handball Committee's 1952 rules, issued courtesy of Champion Handball Gloves of Des Moines, keep the Y.M.C.A. as a separate rule-maker on the eve of the unified rules Source: [eBay listing 237044877541: seller photographs of Y.M.C.A. handball rules (1952) (seen 30 October 2026)](https://www.ebay.com/itm/237044877541)

### [1954](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/years/1954.md)

- **1954-1979**: A GAA Handball roll of honour for the Gael Linn 60x30 adult competition, 1954-1979 (saved as a dataset, not read into the record): the Council era's one competition record besides the All-Irelands. Source: [GAA Handball Ireland, 60 x 30 adult Gael Linn, 1954-1979 roll of honour (seen 28 October 2026)](https://www.gaahandball.ie/competitions/rolls-of-honour)
- **1954-1979**: A GAA Handball roll of honour for the Gael Linn 60x30 adult competition, 1954-1979, is saved but not read into the record: the only Irish competition record between the All-Ireland rolls and the yearbooks. Source: [GAA Handball Ireland, 60 x 30 adult Gael Linn, 1954-1979 roll of honour (seen 28 October 2026)](https://www.gaahandball.ie/competitions/rolls-of-honour)
- **1954-2004**: The USHA's Hall of Fame list opens in 1954 with Al Banuet and Joe Platak and holds 35 player inductions by 2004, but the 1971 magazine places both names in the Helms Hall of Fame (conflicting) The USHA's 2004 Hall of Fame list begins its player inductions in 1954, while 1971 magazine items refer to the Helms Hall of Fame and give a 1957 entry for O'Connell; the two lists have not been reconciled. Source: [US Handball Association, Hall of Fame page (Wayback snapshot of 3 August 2004)](https://web.archive.org/web/20040803121533/http://ushandball.org:80/Halloffame/index.html)

### 1955

- **1955-1960**: The A.A.U. still prints 'Official Handball A.A.U. Rules' (copyright registration A189064, 10 Apr 1955, Official Handball A.A.U. Rules (1955)) and volumes for 1957 and 1960 (Official Rules, Handball (A.A.U.) (1957), Official Rules, Handball Source: [New York Public Library, Catalog of Copyright Entries registrations 1931-1964, handball hits](https://github.com/NYPL/catalog_of_copyright_entries_project)
- **1955**: Official Handball A.A.U. Rules (1955) Source: [New York Public Library, Catalog of Copyright Entries registrations 1931-1964, handball hits](https://github.com/NYPL/catalog_of_copyright_entries_project)

### 1956

- **1956**: Jimmy Jacobs of the Los Angeles A.C. becomes the first player to hold the 'Triple Crown': the A.A.U., USHA and Y.M.C.A. four-wall national titles in the same year, 1956 Source: [eBay listing 286432748460: seller photographs of an A.A.U. handball rules booklet (1960) (seen 30 October 2026)](https://www.ebay.com/itm/286432748460)
- **1956-1965**: Charles J. O'Connell chairs the A.A.U. National Handball Committee from 1956 to 1965; Robert Quinn follows for 1966-68 Source: [eBay listing 800810243429: seller photographs of "Handball Official Unified Playing Rules" (A.A.U., J.W.B., Y.M.C.A., 1968) (seen 30 October 2026)](https://www.ebay.com/itm/800810243429)

### [1957](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/years/1957.md)

- **1957**: An international match in Ireland in 1957, 'the first in over twenty years', New York A.C. players winning four of seven, per the A.A.U.'s 1962 rule book (H-128; seller photographs). Source: [eBay listing 178429923015: seller photographs of an A.A.U. handball rules booklet (1962) (seen 30 October 2026)](https://www.ebay.com/itm/178429923015)
- **1957**: The A.A.U.'s 1962 rule book says the first international match in over twenty years was played in Ireland in 1957, New York Athletic Club players winning four of seven matches (H-128; seller photographs of the book). Source: [eBay listing 178429923015: seller photographs of an A.A.U. handball rules booklet (1962) (seen 30 October 2026)](https://www.ebay.com/itm/178429923015)
- **1957-1959**: The A.A.U.'s 1962 rule book (seller photographs, H-128) dates three things this record has nowhere else: an international match in Ireland in 1957, the first all-glass court at the Aurora, Illinois, Y.M.C.A. in 1958, and the official Source: [eBay listing 178429923015: seller photographs of an A.A.U. handball rules booklet (1962) (seen 30 October 2026)](https://www.ebay.com/itm/178429923015)
- **1957**: Official Rules, Handball (A.A.U.) (1957) Source: [HathiTrust Digital Library, catalog record 102896696 (seen 28 October 2026)](https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/102896696)
- **1957**: Three New York Athletic Club players play seven matches in Ireland in 1957 and win four: the first international match in over twenty years, by the A.A.U.'s account Source: [eBay listing 178429923015: seller photographs of an A.A.U. handball rules booklet (1962) (seen 30 October 2026)](https://www.ebay.com/itm/178429923015), p. 45

### [1958](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/years/1958.md)

- **1958-1959**: The A.A.U.'s 1962 book (H-128; seller photographs) dates the first all-glass court (Aurora Y.M.C.A., 1958) and the official opening of a three-wall 'jai-alai type' court at Forrest Park Playground, Queens (the book's spelling) (29 November Source: [eBay listing 178429923015: seller photographs of an A.A.U. handball rules booklet (1962) (seen 30 October 2026)](https://www.ebay.com/itm/178429923015)
- **1958**: The A.A.U.'s 1962 book dates the first all-glass court to the Aurora, Illinois, Y.M.C.A. in 1958 (H-128; seller photographs). Source: [eBay listing 178429923015: seller photographs of an A.A.U. handball rules booklet (1962) (seen 30 October 2026)](https://www.ebay.com/itm/178429923015)
- **1958-1960**: A Unified Handball Rules Committee of four bodies (USHA, Y.M.C.A., A.A.U., Jewish Welfare Board) prepares the unified four-wall rules that the A.A.U.'s 1960 and 1962 books print; the Champion Glove booklet names the committee and its Source: [HathiTrust Digital Library, catalog record 102896696 (seen 28 October 2026)](https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/102896696)
- **1958 or 1959**: Common rules: secondary sources say the A.A.U., USHA and Y.M.C.A. agreed unified rules and held one tournament in 1958 (H-19) or 1959 (H-03); the USHA 'broke away again in 1961' (H-19). Source: [eBay listing 206605328625: seller photographs of the unified handball playing rules (Y.M.C.A., 1960) (seen 30 October 2026)](https://www.ebay.com/itm/206605328625)
- **1958 or 1959**: Common rules between the A.A.U., USHA and Y.M.C.A. (H-03, H-19; secondary, undated by any primary source). Source: [eBay listing 206605328625: seller photographs of the unified handball playing rules (Y.M.C.A., 1960) (seen 30 October 2026)](https://www.ebay.com/itm/206605328625)
- **1958**: The A.A.U.'s 1962 book dates the first all-glass handball court to the Aurora, Illinois, Y.M.C.A. in 1958 Source: [eBay listing 178429923015: seller photographs of an A.A.U. handball rules booklet (1962) (seen 30 October 2026)](https://www.ebay.com/itm/178429923015), pp. 66-67
- **1958**: The Y.M.C.A., A.A.U., Jewish Welfare Board and USHA adopt common 'Unified' four-wall rules in 1958, with Charles J. O'Connell as chairman of the rules committee Source: [eBay listing 800810243429: seller photographs of "Handball Official Unified Playing Rules" (A.A.U., J.W.B., Y.M.C.A., 1968) (seen 30 October 2026)](https://www.ebay.com/itm/800810243429)

### [1959](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/years/1959.md)

- **1959**: First USHA one-wall national (New York; Oscar Obert in open singles) in the champions list (USHA national one-wall handball championships, firstHeld 1959). Source: [US Handball Association, "National Champions" (seen 28 October 2026)](https://www.ushandball.org/about/national-champions/)
- **1959**: Seawall Ball, the Atlantic Beach Navy Official... (title truncated) (1959) Source: [Library of Congress catalog record 64005993 (seen 28 October 2026)](https://lccn.loc.gov/64005993)
- **1959**: The USHA champions roll lists its first one-wall national championship in 1959, in New York, with the Obert brothers taking the open titles Source: [US Handball Association, "National Champions" (seen 28 October 2026)](https://www.ushandball.org/about/national-champions/)
- **29 November 1959**: The first three-wall 'jai-alai type' handball court officially opens at Forrest Park Playground, Queens, New York, on 29 November 1959 Source: [eBay listing 178429923015: seller photographs of an A.A.U. handball rules booklet (1962) (seen 30 October 2026)](https://www.ebay.com/itm/178429923015), p. 62

## Championships held

- [AAU national four-wall handball championships](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/championships/aau-national-four-wall-championships.md)
- [AAU national three-wall handball championships](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/championships/aau-national-three-wall-championships.md)
- [All-Ireland 60x30 Softball Championships](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/championships/gaa-all-ireland-60x30-softball.md)
- [All-Ireland Hardball Championships](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/championships/gaa-all-ireland-hardball.md)
- [USHA national four-wall handball championships](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/championships/usha-national-four-wall-championships.md)
- [USHA national one-wall handball championships](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/championships/usha-national-one-wall-championships.md)
- [USHA national three-wall handball championships](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/championships/usha-national-three-wall-championships.md)

## Neighboring decades

- Previous: [The 1940s](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/years/1940s.md)
- Next: [The 1960s](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/years/1960s.md)
- [All years and decades](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/years.md)

## Corrections

Found a mistake, or a source we missed? Email perfectshipllc@gmail.com with the subject "History correction: The 1950s (/history/years/1950s/)". Please name the page and, if you can, the source.