Thorpe won Olympic gold medals for the pentathlon and decathlon and played professional American football , baseball , and basketball .
1888 -- Jim Thorpe ( also known as Wa - Tho - Huk ) , considered one of the most versatile athletes in modern history , was born .
Wa - Tho - Huk won Olympic gold medals for the pentathlon and decathlon and played professional American football , baseball , and basketball .
1888 -- Jim Thorpe ( also known as Wa - Tho - Huk ) , considered one of the most versatile athletes in modern history , was born .