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Harlem Globetrotters

The Harlem Globetrotters have played in over 115 countries for more than 120 million fans. They have scored over 20,000 victories, and only 332 losses. They surpass every other team in the history of sports for number of games played. Today they are best known for their wildly-entertaining comedic routines and ball-handling skills on the court, and of course that famous song, "Sweet Georgia Brown." But the Harlem Globetrotters have a long history of serious basketball play and their beginnings were modest.

Founded in 1926 in Chicago by a 24 year-old named Abe Saperstein, the original team was called the "Savoy Big Five," named after Chicago's famous Savoy Ballroom, where they played many of their early games. The first game they ever played was in Hinckley, Illinois on January 7, 1927, during which the team sported jerseys with the words "'NEW YORK" printed on them, to give the impression that they were from the city. Eventually their name evolved from "Savoy Big Five" to "Saperstein's New York Globetrotters" to the "Harlem New York Globetrotters" and finally just the "Harlem Globetrotters," all in an effort to make it clear that they were an all-black team that traveled the world. In fact, they didn't actually play a game in Harlem until 1968.

By 1934, eight years after their founding, the Globetrotters had played 1,000 games. This was quite a feat for an all-black team at the time — professional teams were "whites only," so Saperstein had to work very hard to book games for his team. Saperstein acted as owner, manager, coach, publicity agent and even substitute for the team. With each passing year the Harlem Globetrotters' playing strengthened, their popularity increased, and their tours lengthened. By 1936, they hit Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, Montana, Washington, and North and South Dakota.

In 1939 the Globetrotters played in their first professional basketball championship tournament. They lost to the New York Renaissance (the Rens), but would return year after year to be victorious. 1939 also saw the beginnings of the now-classic Globetrotters' antics. During a regular season game they were leading an opponent 112 to 5. The lead was so outrageous that it made for a boring game, so team members entertained themselves and the crowd by being a little silly. The crowd loved it and Saperstein was pleased. He told his team that the clowning around was acceptable, only after they had secured a safe lead.

Saving their comic routines for strong-lead games, the Globetrotters continued serious ball play. 1946 saw both the team's first overseas trip to the US Territory of Hawaii, and the establishment of the National Basketball Association (NBA), which was a "whites only" league that allowed game play against the all-black Globetrotters. From this point on, the Globetrotters toured internationally and would also, throughout the 50s, continuously compete against NBA teams.

In 1951, the Globetrotters were called upon by the US State Department to help counteract a communist youth rally in East Germany. They played in the Allied section of Berlin to an enthusiastic crowd. In following years they played for three different popes, for the Hollywood cameras during the making of the 1951 film "The Harlem Globetrotters," on the Ed Sullivan show and for sold-out crowds in the USSR and Eastern Europe. In 1958, they won their ninth-straight World Series of Basketball, and in 1959 they achieved their 7,000th career game and finished the season undefeated. They had risen to become one of the finest basketball teams in the world.

The world-famous Harlem Globetrotters were originally formed from the Wendell Phillips High School. The team played in the Negro American Legion League as the "Giles Post," and in 1927 turned professional as the Savoy Big Five under manager Dick Hudson. Later that year, promoter Abe Saperstein (Hall of Fame, 1971) bought the team and re-named it the Harlem Globetrotters. With players such as Geese Ausbie, Goose Tatum, 1998 Hall of Famer Marques Haynes, Curly Neal and Meadowlark Lemon, the Globetrotters quickly became ambassadors of bringing their showmanship to millions.

A turning point came when the NBA broke their "whites only" ruling in 1950, and began to draft black players. This made it more difficult for Saperstein to keep the competitive edge in the Globetrotters, because many black players began to receive flashy offers from the NBA. Nonetheless, by the time owner Abe Saperstein passed away in 1966, the Globetrotters had played 8,945 games, in more than 1,200 cities and 82 foreign countries. They were known as serious athletes, but their image was evolving towards an entertainment troupe and national icon.

This reached a height during CBS's 1970s production of a cartoon called "The Harlem Globetrotter Show" — later "The Harlem Globetrotter Popcorn Machine" show — and with Globetrotter "appearances" on Scooby-Doo. President Gerald Ford called them "America's Ambassadors of Goodwill." In the 80's they were given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Smithsonian Institute's National Museum of American Social History opened a permanent exhibit honoring them.

In 1985, the Globetrotters signed the first woman to play official basketball with men, Olympic gold medalist Lynette Woodard. In 1996 two Globetrotters, Michael "Wild Thing" Wilson and Fred "Preacher" Smith set a Guinness World Record for dunking at 11 feet and 8 inches.

Today there are at least three different Harlem Globetrotters teams touring the country. In September of 2002 the Harlem Globetrotters were inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. They continue to entertain across the country and, more recently, in an effort to gain back some of their serious ball-playing reputation, they have scheduled games against college teams and pick-up teams like Magic Johnson's All Stars. "Sweet Georgia Brown" is still playing and so are the Harlem Globetrotters.

Accomplishments

• In 1934, the Globetrotters play their 1,000 career game in Iron Mountain, Michigan. The team finished with an incredible 152-2 record.
• In 1939, the team plays in its first professional basketball championship tournament and was defeated by the New York Rens. The Globetrotters begin to clown around and the crowd loved it. After the game, Saperstein informed his players that it was OK to add more clowning in the games, but only when they had established a safe lead on the scoreboard. Inman Jackson initiates the team's "Clown Prince" of basketball role and created the pivot position now used by all levels of basketball.
• In 1940, The Globetrotters play their 2,000th career game in Bellingham, Washington, and conclude the regular season tour with a 159-8 record. Returning to Chicago, the team accepts an invitation to compete in the World Professional Basketball tournament. The Harlem Globetrotters even up the score with the New York Rens, defeating the Rens in the semi-finals. In the finals, the Globetrotters defeat George Halas' Chicago Bruins in overtime, 31-29, and capture their first-ever World Basketball Championship. The Globetrotters return to Chicago Stadium and play a game against the College All-Stars before a crowd of 22,000
• In 1942, one of the all-time Harlem Globetrotter greats, Reece "Goose" Tatum, signs with the Globetrotters. He quickly establishes himself as a basketball genius and an inspired comedian. "Goose" originates and develops most of the team's classic comedy routines.
• In 1946, The Harlem Globetrotters celebrate their 20th season, as they play their 3,000th career game in Vancouver, British Columbia. With the end of World War II, the Globetrotters make their first-ever overseas trip to the United States Territory of Hawaii. The team plays in front of American GI's and huge crowds during a 17-game series. After 20 years, 3,000 games, a World Championship, and a .927 winning percentage, the Globetrotters begin gaining national and international recognition for themselves and the sport. Time LIFE Magazine features the team in the Dec. 2, 1946, issue.
• On February 20, the Cinderella team, consisting of Ermer Robinson, Ducky Moore, Sam Wheeler, Goose Tatum, Marques Haynes, Babe Pressley, Ted Strong, Vertes Ziegler, and Wilbert King defeat George Mikan, Jim Pollard and the World Champion Minneapolis Lakers, 61-59, before a crowd of 17,823 at Chicago Stadium. The Globetrotters finish the year with a 152-5 overall record.
• In 1951, the 25th anniversary tour begins and is highlighted by the team's 4,000th career game. On April 9, a United States record crowd of 31,684 fans watched the Globetrotters defeat the College All-Stars, 55-34 at the Rose Bowl. On April 25, Globetrotters embark on their first South America tour. The tour highlight is when the team played before a crowd of 50,041 fans at Rio de Janeiro's Estadio Municipal. On August 21, the Globetrotters play before 75,000 fans packed into Berlin's Olympic Stadium. Just prior to the game, a helicopter lands on the field and emerging from the helicopter was the Globetrotters' special guest, 1948 U.S. Olympian Jesse Owens.
• In 1952, The Silver Anniversary is celebrated with a 108-game around the world tour, the first in the history of basketball. In April, the Globetrotters receive a letter from Meadowlark Lemon requesting a tryout with the team. Lemon was given a look, and after serving two years in the Army was signed to a contract. He played his first season with one of the Globetrotter developmental teams, the Kansas City Stars. Sweet Georgia Brown became the team's official them song in 1952.
• In 1961, Hubert "Geese" Ausbie joins the Globetrotters. "Geese" gains a reputation as one of the funniest, most outrageous players in team annals. He would serve as the team's "Clown Prince" from 1961 to 1985.
  · In a stunning upset, the Globetrotters lost a game to the Washington Generals, in 1962. This is one of the two games the team will lose over the next 8,964 games.
• On December 6,1974, the Globetrotters played in their 12,000th career game at the Capital Centre in Landover
• In 1977, the Globetrotters celebrate their 50th season.
• In 1978, the Globetrotters make their first trip to West Africa, visiting Dakar (Senegal), Abidjan (Ivory Coast) and Libreville (Gabon), increasing the number of countries visited to 97.
• In 1982, the Globetrotters become the first and only sports team to be honored with their own star on Hollywood's famous "Walk of Fame."
• In 1985, the Globetrotters sign their first female player, Olympic Gold Medallist Lynette Woodard from Kansas.
• In 1993, Mannie Jackson becomes the first African-American and former player to own a sports/entertainment organization with his acquisition of the Harlem Globetrotters.
• In 1976, Celebrating their 70th anniversary, the Harlem Globetrotters become history's first professional basketball squad to play in a free democratic South Africa in June.
• In 1998, the Harlem Globetrotters play their 20,000th career game at Tri-County High School near Remington, Indiana, on Jan. 12.
• In 2000, Wilt Chamberlain becomes the first Globetrotter to have his jersey retired at a March ceremony at his alma mater Overbrook High School in Philadelphia.
  

Spinning the Globe: The Rise, Fall, and Return to Greatness of the Harlem Globetrotters The Harlem Globetrotters have long been a staple of American basketball. However, their origins and their renaissance are largely unknown. They began not in Harlem, but Chicago's South Side as the brainchild of Abe Saperstein. The team sustained the early days of the NBA only to be overshadowed by it, yet ultimately reemerging as national and global stars.

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