Harlem Globetrotters

Thursday, February 9

80 Years Later, Still "Unstoppable"

The Harlem Globetrotters will come back to Austin February 9 on their 80-year “Unstoppable” anniversary tour. Initially formed in 1926 by Abe Saperstein, the Globetrotters have wowed generations of fans with their on-court antics and stellar skills.

The history of the Globetrotters continues to be made today. This past September, Shamrock Capital Growth Fund, controlled by Roy E. Disney, purchased 80 percent of the world-famous team. Former Trotter Mannie Jackson still maintains ownership of 20 percent of the team and remains the chairman and CEO of the Globetrotters.

The Globetrotters have come a long way over 80 years. First assembled as the Savory Big Five in Chicago by Saperstein, the team disbanded because they were not bringing in the money that their sponsor, Chicago’s Savoy Ballroom, thought they would. Saperstein reorganized the team and named them Saperstein’s New York Globetrotters. They held their first game on January 7, 1927 with 300 fans in attendance and raised $75 that night. Quite a score for those times!

In 1930 the team name changed to the Harlem Globetrotters to illustrate the idea that the team was all black (though players from many different races and ethnicities have been added through the years). Up until 1939, the team had been a purely professional team; but then a whole new aspect was added. Toward the end of one of their games the Globetrotters began to clown around to further entertain the crowd—it worked. Noticing the response, Saperstein told the team that they were allowed to ham it up as long as they had a safe lead. Over the next few decades the team stretched its wings, slowly emerging as the team we know today, culminating in “Sweet Georgia Brown” becoming the official team song in 1952.

The Harlem Globetrotters are more than a basketball team, more than a comedy show and more than a traveling band of players. They are a part of our nation’s fabric, spreading the idea of hard-work, good times and camaraderie.