Marty Hogan

Background

He was born in Saint Louis, Missouri, where he was taught to play racquetball by his mother, Goldie.

Education

He eventually attended San Diego State University.

Career

Hogan was ranked either number one or number two in the world from 1976 to 1990. While still a teenager, Hogan relocated to San Diego, California, in order to pursue professional racquetball. Hogan is credited with revolutionizing the game of racquetball, with a serve that drove the ball as fast as 142 miles per hour.

This speed measurement is a reference to the ball speed after hitting the front wall and then bouncing as it returned.

He went on to become the first millionaire in the history of racquetball. Hogan was so dominant that he lost only four matches in three years during his prime.

He lost only one match in 1977, two matches in 1978, and one match in 1979. Hogan captured his final national racquetball championship in 1989, retiring the following year.

After retiring from the professional game, Hogan competed in a handful of national amateur events.

Achievements

• Hogan was named the Professional Racquetball Player of the Year eight times, in 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1986 and 1989. Ranked as the number one racquetball player of all time by National Racquetball Magazine, Hogan was inducted into the United States of America Racquetball of Fame in 1997. In 2002, Hogan founded The Legends Racquetball Tour. He won the most victories of any participant in the Legends Tour, winning 14 events. Hogan won the Legends Racquetball Nationals 35+ in 2002 and 2003. Moreover, he won the Legends 45+ National Championship in 2005, and the 2004 United States Open Legends Racquetball Championship. In addition, he teamed with Cliff Swain to win the Legends National Doubles Championships in 2004 and 2005.