Jimmy Jacobs (handballer)

Jimmy Jacobs
Born	February 18, 1930 St Louis, Missouri
Died	March 23, 1988 (aged 58) New York City
Nationality	American
Occupation	Handball player, Boxing manager
Spouse(s)	Lorraine Atter

James Leslie 'Jimmy' Jacobs (February 18, 1930 – March 23, 1988) was an American handball player, boxing manager, Academy Award nominee and comic book and fight film collector.

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Jacobs grew up in a single-parent family in Los Angeles. He dropped out of high school before completing his education but excelled at numerous sports, including baseball, basketball, football and handball. He was credited with running 100 yards (91 m) in under ten seconds, winning a skeet shooting championship and shooting rounds of golf in the low 70s. Jacobs was offered the chance to try out for the US Olympic basketball team but declined in order to focus on handball. Jacobs was drafted into the army during the Korean War and was awarded a Purple Heart.

In four-wall handball, Jacobs won his first American singles championship in 1955, defeating Vic Hershkowitz in the final in Chicago. In total, he won six American singles championships and six doubles championships (partnering Marty Decatur). He was additionally a three time national champion in three-wall handball. Between 1955 and 1969, he won every national handball competition match he played in. In 1966, Robert H. Boyle of Sports Illustrated wrote: "Jacobs is generally hailed as the finest player of all time. Indeed, there are those who say Jacobs is the best athlete, regardless of sport, in the country." In 1970, he was recognised by the US Handball Association as the "Greatest Handball Player of the Generation."

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