Some people are so passionate about sports and its most iconic moments in history, they will try to go back in time to relive those glory days.
That is what Len Ferman, a sports historian and adjunct professor of management at the University of North Florida, has done for the past five years.
“I’ve always been interested in sports and history. When I was 6 years old, the New York Mets won the World Series. It was called The Miracle of the Mets, and I missed it because I was too young,” Ferman said.
In 2019, nearly 50 years later, Ferman was determined to go back and experience the Mets’ World Series win in a way that would make him feel like he had lived through it. His method? He combed through newspaper archives and read articles from 1969 every day for a year.
“I learned if you do this systematically, you have the same experience as you would back then, Ferman said.”I feel like I got to experience it in real time.”
Ferman wanted to share his findings with sports fans of like mind. So, in 2022, he created The Sports Time Traveler e-newsletter, available on Substack. He has written more than 200 articles, created a podcast and published a book titled, “The 1973 Mets’ You’ve Got To Believe.”
Villagers and area residents can learn about iconic moments in sports history during Ferman’s upcoming Enrichment Academy classes.
Ferman will lead the “Sports Time Traveler: Baseball, Football and Basketball” class from 1 to 2:30 p.m.
Jan. 7, followed by “Sports Time Traveler: Golf, Track and Field and The Olympics” from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Rohan Recreation, 850 Kristine Way, The Villages.
Ferman will retell the story of various athletes who played 50 to 100 years ago, and discuss their impact on their individual sports.
“These people never got rich as athletes. They played for the love of the game,” Ferman said. “By doing this, we can help keep their memories alive. “I’m also working to introduce the audience to different sports writers who do incredible work. They deserve recognition.”
Ferman said those who have attended his multimedia presentations in the past have said it was great entertainment and captivated their attention. He often gets feedback on his presentations after a TEA class or on his e-newsletter, thanking him for bringing up old memories or sharing little-known or forgotten facts.
“What a wonderful story. I had no idea that this had happened, said Sandy Webb, a The Sports Time Traveler subscriber. “I really enjoyed reading the story and will be reading it again to get the full depth of it.”
Although Ferman enjoys talking to those interested in sports as much as he is, he said you don’t have to be a sports fan to enjoy his classes.
“There is a life lesson that can be learned from the stories we talk about in the class,” he said. “My lesson is that we have to learn not to drown in our defeat and keep fighting to be great.”
For more information about Ferman’s classes or to register, visit theenrichment academy.org.
Staff writer Brea Jones can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5414, or brea.jones@thevillagesmedia.com.
