Joseph Sobek

Joseph Sobek
2021
Born
Joseph George Sobek

(1918-04-05)April 5, 1918
DiedMarch 27, 1998(1998-03-27) (aged 79)
Greenwich, Connecticut, U.S.
OccupationProfessional Tennis player
Years active19371985
Known forInventor of Racquetball and founder of Paddle Rackets Association
SpouseNancy Erlichman
Children1

Joseph Sobek (April 5, 1918 March 27, 1998) was an American professional tennis and handball player, who invented racquetball in 1949; originally called "paddle rackets". Sobek founded the National Paddle Rackets Association in 1952 and was the first person to be inducted into the Racquetball Hall of Fame.