Tombstone
Born: 1993 – World Team Tennis expansion franchise
Folded: Postseason 1993
First Game:
Last Game:
World Team Tennis Championships: None
Venue
Flagship Athletic Club (2,000)
Branding
Team Colors:
Ownership
Owner/Operator: International Management Group
WTT Wear
World Team Tennis
Logo T-Shirt
World Team Tennis has been around in one form or another for nearly fifty years now, but this chill logo tee from our partners at Old School Shirts pays tribute to the original league and its mid-70’s glory days when Billie Jean King, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Bjorn Borg and Ilie Nastase suited up for their WTT clubs in between Grand Slam finals at Wimbledon and Flushing Meadows.
Also available in women’s scoop neck and women’s racerback tank styles!
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Background
The Minnesota Penguins were a One-Year Wonder that existed for one season in the co-ed World Team Tennis promotion. The team derived its name from a title sponsorship with Munsingwear, a now-defunct Minnesota-based manufacturer of underwear, golf shirts and bowling shirts who had a penguin in their logo.
The Penguins played their home matches at the 2,000-seat Flagship Athletic Club in Eden Prairie and had a 14-match schedule during July and August of 1993. World Team Tennis had 12 franchises across the U.S. in 1993. The Penguins were the only team to play their home matches on clay.
The team’s 4-player roster included male players Paul Annacone and Johan Kriek. Kriek was a former Top 10-ranked singles player and two-time Australian Open champion (1981 & 1982). The Penguins’ female players were Jessica Emmons and Ginger Helgeson. Tammy Whittington also saw actions for the Pens after Hegleson missed matches with a midseason injury.
The team finished 6-8 and out of playoff contention in 1993. The Penguins did not return to play for the 1994 WTT season.
World Team Tennis Shop
Links
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