Abe Saperstein

Abe Saperstein. Basketball promoter (1902-1966). Born in London, Abe Saperstein grew up in Chicago and began coaching basketball in college. He went on to become the owner, promoter, coach, and occasionally, at 5'3", substitute player of the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters. Saperstein had coached many local basketball teams in Chicago, including the Giles Post American Legion Quintet, an African- American semi-pro team, and the Savoy Big Five, which played at the famous Savoy Ballroom. When the Big Five lost its sponsorship, Saperstein renamed them the Globetrotters and took the team on the road. , , Saperstein lived at 3828 North Hermitage Avenue when the Globetrotters debuted on January 7, 1927 in Hinckley, Illinois, before a crowd of 300. Inman Jackson, Lester Johnson and Walter Wright formed the nucleus of the first Globetrotters, who won 101 of 117 games in their first season. , , The Globetrotters played regular, competitive basketball until 1929, when, fearing that fans would tire of their predictable victories, they began clowning on the court for pure entertainment. , , Saperstein guided and promoted the all-black team for 39 years, providing opportunities for black players who were excluded by professional leagues. At the time of his death in 1966, the Globetrotters had played in 87 countries.