"Tommy Hitchcock An American Hero" 1984 ALDRICH, Nelson W. Jr.

"Tommy Hitchcock An American Hero" 1984 ALDRICH, Nelson W. Jr.ALDRICH, Nelson W. Jr.[304] pp. Fleet Street Corporation19849 1 4" x 6 1 8" Fine FineThomas Hitchcock Jr. (February 11, 1900 April 18, 1944) was an American polo player who was killed in an air crash during World War II. He was inducted into the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame. Born in Aiken, South Carolina, he learned the sport from his parents, Louise and Thomas Hitchcock Sr. His father was a U. S. Racing Hall of Fame horse trainer who had been a 10

ALDRICH, Nelson W. Jr.

[304] pp.

Fleet Street Corporation

1984

9 1/4" x 6 1/8"

Fine/ Fine

Thomas Hitchcock Jr. (February 11, 1900 – April 18, 1944) was an American polo player who was killed in an air crash during World War II. He was inducted into the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame.

Born in Aiken, South Carolina, he learned the sport from his parents, Louise and Thomas Hitchcock Sr. His father was a U.S. Racing Hall of Fame horse trainer who had been a 10-goal player who helped found the Meadowbrook Polo Club on Long Island, New York, and who captained the American team in the inaugural 1886 International Polo Cup. Tommy Jr. played in his first tournament at age 13 and was part of the Meadowbrook Polo Club that won the 1916 U.S. national junior championship.

After the war, Hitchcock studied at Harvard University and Oxford University. In polo, he led the U.S. team to victory in the 1921 International Polo Cup. From 1922 to 1940, Hitchcock carried a 10-goal handicap, which is the highest ranking in polo, from the United States of America Polo Association. Playing with notable stars such as Pete Bostwick, Jock Whitney, and Gerald Balding, he led teams to U.S. National Open Championships in 1923, 1927, 1935 and 1936.

Author F. Scott Fitzgerald modeled two characters in his books on Tommy Hitchcock Jr.: Tom Buchanan in The Great Gatsby (1925) and the Tommy Barban character in Tender Is the Night (1934).