Harlem Globetrotters

Nothing Like It!

Who hasn’t heard of the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters? With an
80-year history and more than 20,000 games under their belt, this team holds up to its name – the Globetrotters were the first team in basketball history to hold a world tour. And that was in 1952! The Trotters were also the first and only sports team to be honored with their own star on Hollywood’s famous Walk of Fame.

The Globetrotters were founded in 1927 by Abe Saperstein as a serious competitive all-black basketball team. In 1950, however, the team began seeing a large number of exceptional members leave. The reason? This was the first year that the NBA (National Basketball Association) recruited black players. From that point on, the Globetrotters had more and more trouble recruiting and keeping top talent. Among the players who have been Globetrotters are NBA greats Wilt “The Stilt” Chamberlain, Connie “The Hawk” Hawkins and Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton, as well as Marques Haynes, George “Meadowlark” Lemon, Jerome James, former Temple coach John Chaney, and Reece “Goose” Tatum.

Much of the Globetrotters’ fame as comical entertainers can be traced to Tatum, who developed many of the team’s classic routines back in the 1940s. Since Goose, the Globetrotters have had numerous famous faces among its lineup. Even Bill Cosby has played on the team! Come to the Erwin Center on February 8 and whistle along with other Globetrotter fans as the team astounds you with their on-court antics and incredible moves!