20 Things You Didn't Know About Stan Smith

It's not just a sneaker.

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Here's what the average sneakerhead knows about Stan Smith: His face appears on the tongue of his eponymous tennis shoe (which re-releases worldwide today), and he had a heck of a mustache. Advanced types may recognize that, since the Stan Smith started life as a tennis shoe, that Stan Smith was probably a tennis player. But seeing that he played in the long-ago days of all-white outfits and wooden rackets, it's unlikely that anyone wearing his shoes actually saw him play (although here's the entire 1972 Wimbledon final). How good was he? Really, really good. Want details? Check out 20 Things You Didn't Know About Stan Smith.

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He currently wears the Stan Smith Millennium.

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19. Stan Smith played tennis at USC.

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He recommended making the Stan Smith in blue rather than the traditional green.

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He won his final singles title in Frankfurt in 1980.

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He faced Rod Laver in four singles finals, winning each time.

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Stan Smith never had his name on a racket.

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His nickname was "The Leaning Tower of Pasadena."

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Stan Smith was not the inspiration behind Eminem's "Stan."

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He won 54 doubles titles, and published "Stan Smith's Winning Doubles" in 2002.

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He won less than $2 million in prize money over the course of his career.

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His first singles title came in a win over Arthur Ashe in 1969.

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The adidas Stan Smith was the first leather tennis shoe.

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His face never changed on the tongue of the Stan Smith.

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He won four U.S. Open doubles titles alongside Bob Lutz, the first in 1968, the last in 1980.

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Stan Smith played in three Grand Slam singles finals, winning twice.

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His four children all played tennis in college.

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His suggestions for the Stan Smith led to the lace going through the tongue.

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The adidas Stan Smith wasn't originally made for Stan Smith.

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The original "Stan Smith" still featured Robert Haillet's name.

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He was rejected as a ballboy at the Davis Cup for being too clumsy.

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