1949: Joe Sobek invents racquetball in Greenwich, Connecticut.
He designs a ‘strung paddle racket,’ combines the rules of handball and squash
and calls his variation ‘paddle rackets.’

1950: The sport gains a following among cross over handball enthusiasts.
Robert Kendler, president of the U.S. Handball Association,
takes an interest in the game, both as a player and a promoter.

1960: Increasing popularity of the game attracts new players in all age groups.
Administrative structure begins to evolve.

1968: The First Gut Strung Paddle Rackets National Championship
held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Joe Sobek turns sport over to Robert Kendler.
Bill Schultz wins first Men’s Open national title.

1969: Paddle rackets renamed Racquetball.
International Racquetball Association incorporated.
Ken Porco named IRA Executive Secretary.
The first official Racquetball Championship was organized in St. Louis
and won by a San Diego dentist named Bud Meuhleisen.
First IRA National Singles held in St. Louis, Missouri.

1970: First Metal racquet introduced by Bud Held and Ektelon.
Robert Kendler elected president of IRA. 50,000 amateur players estimated in the U.S.
The women had their own division and Fran Cohen was the first national champion.
National Singles held in St. Louis, MO.

1971: National Singles Championships held in Salt Lake City.
Aluminum alloy frames introduced.

1972: Inaugural issues of Racquetball Magazine published in November.
First Pro Tour formed. Chuck Leve named IRA Executive Secretary .
Fiberglass frames introduced. National Singles held in Memphis, TN.

1973: Robert Kendler leaves IRA to form National Racquetball Club pro group.
DeWitt Shy named IRA President. Myron Roderick named Executive Director of IRA.
New Age groups established in Juniors, Masters and Golden Masters.
National Singles held in St. Louis Missouri.

1974: IRA holds first pro tournament.
Membership requirement established for all sanctioned tournaments.
IRA membership cost was $3.00 dollars per year.
Number of amateur players in the U.S. jumps to 3 millions.
National Singles held in San Diego, CA.
Joe Sobek, Charles Brumfield, Peggy Steding, and Bud Muehleisen inducted into RB Hall of Fame.

1975: Canadian Wayne Bowes wins Men’s International Singles.
Tom McKie named IRA Executive Director. IRA offices move to Memphis, TN.
Official IRA patch issued. Muehleisen, Porco, and Sellers leave IRA board after five years.

1976: U.S. Racquetball Association (USRA) founded a rival amateur organization.
William Tanner takes over as IRA president. IRA headquarters move to Dallas, Texas.
IRA membership fees double to $6.00 dollars per year.
Seamco 444 becomes the official racquetball of the IRA.
National Singles held in Chattanooga, TN.

1977: Racquetball becomes an American fitness rage.
Tom McKie resigns as IRA Executive Director.
IRA headquarters move back to Memphis, TN.
National Singles held in Southfield, MI.

1978: National Singles held in Denver, CO.
IRA re-organized in Denver, CO.
Luke St. Onge takes over as IRA Executive Director.
Bob Folsom named as President.
 

1979: Open ball policy adopted.
International Amateur Racquetball Federation founded with 13 member countries.
IRA changes name to the American Amateur Racquetball Association (AARA).
AARA applies for U.S. Olympic Committee membership.
Graphite frames introduced.
National Singles held in Las Vegas.

1980: Keith Calkins becomes Board President.
Han van der Hiejden of Holland becomes IARF President.
Boron and graphite frames introduced.
Women’s Professional Racquetball Association and pro tour founded.
National Singles held in Miami, Fl.

1981: World Games One and First Racquetball World Championships held in Santa Clara, CA.
U.S.A. wins first World Cup title over six other countries.
Penn introduced the ‘Ultra Blue’ racquetball.

1982: AARA accepted a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee.
USRA organization folds. Racquetball Magazine sold.
AARA signs racquet sponsorship with Diversified Products.
Paul Henrickson elected Board President.
National Singles held in Buffalo, NY.

1983: AARA headquarters relocated to Colorado Springs, CO.
U.S.A. dominates first IARF Regional Games.
Downtown YMCA in Houston, Texas established as long term National Singles site.

1984: First National Elite Training Camp held at U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.
U.S.A. wins World Championship over 13 countries in Sacramento, CA.
Ektelon introduces and test markets the oversize racquet frame.
Match rules changed form 21 points to 15 per game, with 11 point tiebreaker.

1985: Racquetball is recognized by the International Olympic Committee.
World Junior Racquetball Championships added to Junior Orange Bowl in Miami, FL.

1986: Mandatory eyeguard rules passed.
Twenty countries competed at 3^rd World Championships in Orlando, FL.
U.S.A. ties with Canada to share World Cup.
Pan American Racquetball Confederation formed.
AARA membership dues increase to $10.00 dollars per year.
Van Dubolsky named Board President.

1987: U.S.A. wins Pan American Championships
at U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.
First AARA National Leadership Conference held at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.

1988: U.S. National Team wins 4^th World Cup over 22 countries.
AARA televises its National Championships for the first time.
IARF drops the word "amateur" from its title and logo.
SGMA releases study setting the number of U.S. amateur players at 10 million.

1989: Racquetball granted full member status within USOC.
As the 38^th sport, racquetball makes premiere
U.S. Olympic Festival appearance in Oklahoma City.
Random drug testing of athletes instituted.
First World Seniors/Masters Championships held in Albuquerque, NM.
First AARA instructional video produced.
AARA membership increase to $15.00 per year.

1990: U.S.A. wins 5^th World Cup in Caracas, Venezuela, over 28 countries.
AARA produces and telecasts five national championships on cable television.
Keith Calkin named Board President.
AARA assumes publication of Racquetball Magazine after 12 years.

1991: AARA telecasts ten national events on cable sports channels.
U.S. Team Alumni Association is formed.
Junior Team USA takes it first international title at the Junior World Championships.
Racquetball placed on the schedule for the Pan American Games in 1995.

1992: U.S.A. wins 6^th World Cup in Montreal over 33 countries.
National Singles celebrates 10^th year at the Downtown YMCA in Houston.

1993: AARA celebrates its 25^th Silver Anniversary.
National offices move to new building in Colorado Springs.

1994: U.S.A. wins 7^th World Cup in San Luis Potosi over 27 countries.
New Skill Level National Championship introduced.
Competitive license fees increase to $20.00 per year. I
RF adopts "one serve" rule in international competition.
Van Dubolsky elected Board President.

1995: Racquetball makes it debut in the Pan American games
in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
U.S. National Team "sweeps" medal count.
Instructor certification program renamed
the American Professional Racquetball Organization (AmPRO).

1996: Promus Hotel Corporation U.S. Open Racquetball Championships debut
in Memphis with pros and amateurs in a single event,
played on a specially constructed "made for TV" glass court.
Sudsy Monchik won first U.S. Open Racquetball Championship
in Memphis, TN over Andy Roberts.
First live coverage of racquetball finals broadcast at World Championships in Phoenix.
U.S. wins 8^th World Cup team title. Nationwide regional weekend established.
AARA debuts two websites on the internet.

1997: The AARA changes its name to the United States Racquetball Association, adopts new logo.
National Singles and Doubles Championships celebrate 30^th anniversaries.
USRA rule change allows oversize frames 22" in length.

1998: U.S. wins 9^th World Cup team title, over 32 opponent countries in Bolivia.
Otto Dietrich elected Board President.
Skill Level competition added to National Singles and Doubles Championships.
Joseph Sobek, Father of RB, died of congestive heart failure Friday, March 27. He was 79 years old.

2001: Today, the game of racquetball has over eleven million players and
has settled in as one of America’s favorite recreational activity with over 15000 courts nationally.
The United States Olympic Committee has granted Group "A" membership to racquetball,
making it the youngest sport ever to achieve that status.

2002: The sport of racquetball went prime time
with the showing of the premier United States Racquetball Open on ESPN.
Velocity Racquetball website went online.

(1.) Racquetball: Steps to Success. Stan Kittleson. 1992 (2.) Sports Illustrated Racquetball. Victor I. Spear. M.D. 1979  (3.) Skills and Strategies for Winning Racquetball. Turner and Hogan. 1988.  (4.) Racquetball Magazine. September/October 1998. Pages F3-F7.