Final answer:
The first sporting goods corporation was formed by Albert Spaulding (Option 1). He not only created the corporation but also played a key role in popularizing baseball in America.
Step-by-step explanation:
Albert Spaulding formed the first sporting goods corporation, aligning the rise of sports and celebrity athletes in America.
Spaulding's company, Spaulding Sporting Goods, provided the necessary equipment for various sports and helped to promote and commercialize sports in the United States.
The rise of professional and college sports during the late nineteenth century was also marked by icons like John L. Sullivan in boxing, who became a cultural mainstay.
Sports figures like Jim Thorpe, Gertrude Ederle, and Babe Ruth became household names and fueled Americans' love for sports and their fascination with superstars.
Hence, the correct answer is Option 1.