Amanda Knapp
Abe Saperstein, the founder and longtime head coach of the Harlem Globetrotters, is best known for introducing the three-pointer to the game of basketball. However, his influence on the sport goes far beyond this signature shot. Saperstein played a crucial role in elevating basketball from a second-tier American sport to a global powerhouse. He was a great innovator, advocate for fans, and advocate for African-American players, urging team owners to charge more for games against better teams and pushing the NBA to expand to the West Coast. Saperstein also served as a booking agent, coach, driver, and PR director for his team, showcasing his dedication and involvement in the sport.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Height | 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m) |
| Hall of Fame | Inducted in 1971 |
| Founder | Harlem Globetrotters |
| Coach | Harlem Globetrotters |
| Promoter | Harlem Globetrotters |
| Booking agent | Harlem Globetrotters |
| Chauffeur | Harlem Globetrotters |
| Trainer | Harlem Globetrotters |
| Player | Harlem Globetrotters |
| Commissioner | American Basketball League (ABL) |
| Owner | Chicago Majors team |
| Introduction of three-point shot | 1961 |
| Widening of free throw lane | 18 feet |
| Elevated basketball | Second-tier American sport to a global powerhouse |
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What You'll Learn
Founder of the Harlem Globetrotters
Abe Saperstein is best known as the founder and longtime head coach of the Harlem Globetrotters. He was a leading figure in black basketball and baseball from the 1920s through the 1950s, primarily before those sports were racially integrated. Saperstein was born in London, England, to a Jewish family originally from Poland. His family moved to Chicago in 1907, and he settled just north of the city's Jewish area.
The Harlem Globetrotters originated in 1926 at the Giles American Legion Post #87, on the South Side of Chicago, where all the original players were raised and went to Wendell Phillips High School in the Bronzeville neighbourhood. They began as the Savoy Big Five, one of the premier attractions of the Savoy Ballroom. In 1928, several players left the team and formed the "Globe Trotters". Saperstein became involved with the team as its manager and promoter. By 1929, he was touring Illinois and Iowa with his basketball team called the New York Harlem Globe Trotters. Saperstein selected the name Harlem because it was considered the centre of Black American culture, and the name Globetrotter to mythologize the team's international venues.
The Globetrotters played their first game in Hinckley, Illinois, netting a grand total of $8, which was split evenly among the six members of the team, including Saperstein. Over the next several years, in the midst of the Great Depression, Saperstein served as the team's coach, driver, booking agent, PR director, and occasional substitute player. The Globetrotters continued to easily win games due to Harlem monopolizing the entire talent pool of the best black basketball players in the country. Once one of the most famous teams, the Globetrotters were eventually eclipsed by the rise of the NBA, particularly when NBA teams began recruiting black players in the 1950s.
In addition to founding the Harlem Globetrotters, Saperstein also introduced the three-pointer to the game and played a crucial role in elevating basketball from a second-tier American sport to a global powerhouse. He pushed the NBA to expand to the West Coast years before the Minneapolis Lakers moved to Los Angeles in 1960. He also started the American Basketball League (ABL) in 1961 and served as its commissioner, as well as owner of the league's Chicago Majors team.
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Introduction of the three-point shot
Abe Saperstein is best known as the founder and longtime head coach of the Harlem Globetrotters. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1971 and is its shortest male member at 5 ft 3 in.
In 1961, Saperstein started the American Basketball League (ABL) and served as its commissioner and owner of the league's Chicago Majors team. He introduced several innovations to differentiate the ABL from the NBA and to promote the new league, including widening the free-throw lane to 18 feet and creating the three-point shot.
Saperstein wanted to add excitement to the game and provide players with new challenges. He envisioned the three-pointer as basketball's equivalent of the home run in baseball, famously saying, "We must have a weapon, and this is ours." To determine the distance of the new shot line, Saperstein and DePaul University coach Ray Meyer measured 25 feet from the basket as the appropriate length. Despite initial criticism and resistance, the three-point shot endured and became a feature of modern basketball.
The three-point shot was first introduced in the ABL during its inaugural season in 1961. However, the NBA did not adopt the three-point line until 1979, when it was introduced on a one-year trial basis for the 1979-80 season. In the early years, the three-point shot was considered a gimmick or desperation tactic, and it took time for it to gain wider acceptance and utilization. By the late 1980s, the three-pointer emerged as a significant offensive strategy, with players specializing in this skill.
Today, the three-point shot has revolutionized the game, with players like Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors incorporating it as a key component of their winning strategy. The three-point shot has not only changed the way basketball is played but also contributed to its global popularity and appeal. Saperstein's innovation and legacy continue to shape and influence the sport, leaving an indelible mark on the world of basketball.
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Elevating basketball to a global sport
Abe Saperstein is best known as the founder and longtime head coach of the Harlem Globetrotters. Standing at only 5'3", he is the shortest man in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, into which he was inducted in 1971. Saperstein's impact on basketball and sports as a whole is undeniable, and he played a crucial role in elevating basketball from a second-tier American sport to a global phenomenon.
Saperstein's career in basketball began in 1928 when he became the coach of the Savoy Big Five, a team named after Chicago's famous Savoy Ballroom. He soon branched out to form his own team, which he named the New York Harlem Globetrotters. The name was chosen to indicate that the players were black, as Harlem was the epicentre of African-American culture at the time. Saperstein's team played their first game in Hinckley, Illinois, and over the next several years, he served as their coach, driver, booking agent, PR director, and occasional substitute player.
The Harlem Globetrotters played a different brand of basketball than all-white teams. They played with a more freewheeling style, dunking the ball rather than relying solely on the set shot. The team was much better than their opposition, often winning by wide margins, so Saperstein introduced a fancy, comedic, razzle-dazzle type of play to make the games more exciting. The Globetrotters became a must-see attraction on the professional basketball barnstorming circuit, and their unique playing style helped to popularise basketball across the globe.
In addition to his work with the Globetrotters, Saperstein also founded the American Basketball League (ABL) in 1961 and served as its commissioner. He introduced several innovations that have endured as features of modern basketball, including widening the free-throw lane to 18 feet and creating the three-point shot. These contributions further elevated the sport's global appeal, with the three-pointer becoming a fan favourite in today's NBA.
Saperstein's legacy in basketball is far-reaching, and he is credited with introducing the three-pointer, a signature long-distance shot that has become a crucial part of the sport. He advocated for fans and wanted sports and sports teams to constantly reassess their operations to put fans first. Saperstein's impact extended beyond the game itself, as he played a crucial role in advancing the civil rights movement by providing a platform for African-American athletes to showcase their talent. He faced discrimination himself as a Jewish man and understood the challenges and endurance required to rise above circumstances.
Abe Saperstein's contributions to basketball were significant, and he played a pivotal role in elevating the sport to a global level. His innovations as a coach, team owner, and league commissioner, combined with his inclusive vision for the sport, helped basketball gain worldwide popularity and solidifies his legacy as one of the great innovators in sports history.
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Advocacy for African-American players
Abe Saperstein is best known as the founder and longtime head coach of the Harlem Globetrotters. He was also a Jewish immigrant from England, who settled in Chicago as a child. Saperstein's key contribution to basketball was the acceptance and advocacy of African-American players.
Saperstein first became aware of the potential of African-American athletes while working as a supervisor in the Chicago parks system. He soon assembled his own basketball team, the Harlem Globetrotters, which included black players. Saperstein chose the name 'Harlem' to indicate that the players were black, as Harlem was the epicentre of African-American culture at the time. The Globetrotters played their first game in Hinckley, Illinois, which was an all-white town. Saperstein did not want the team or spectators to be surprised that his team was black, so he was upfront about this from the start.
The Globetrotters played a different style of basketball than the all-white teams, with a more freewheeling and dynamic approach, which included dunking the ball. They soon became a must-see attraction on the professional basketball circuit. Saperstein acted not only as the team's coach but also as their chauffeur, trainer, and substitute player. He also provided his players with an income during the Great Depression, and he witnessed first-hand the racism that his players endured, especially in the Jim Crow South. Saperstein had to find places for his players to eat and sleep, as many places did not accommodate black people.
The Globetrotters' success helped to showcase the talent of African-American athletes, challenging racial stereotypes and advancing civil rights. In 1948, the Globetrotters defeated the Minneapolis Lakers, who won three consecutive national championships from 1948 to 1950 in the NBA and its predecessor leagues. This victory proved that black athletes could compete with anyone, even when many white people did not believe that.
In addition to the Harlem Globetrotters, Saperstein and his partner, Pollack, created the Negro Major Baseball League of America (NMBLa) in 1942. This league included teams such as the Baltimore Black Sox, Boston Royal Giants, and Chicago Brown Bombers. Saperstein also co-owned the Black Barons baseball team in Birmingham, Alabama. While some have criticised Saperstein for not doing enough to advance the equality of his black players, his advocacy and support for African-American athletes in basketball and baseball were significant contributions to racial integration in sports.
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Formation of the American Basketball League
The American Basketball League (ABL) was formed in 1925 and was the first attempt to create a major professional basketball league in the United States. The league was organised by Joseph Carr, the then-president of the National Football League, and consisted of nine of the best independent pro teams from the East and Midwest. The teams included the Chicago Bruins, owned by George Halas of the NFL Chicago Bears, the Cleveland Rosenblums, financed by department store magnate Max Rosenblum, and the Washington Palace Five, owned by future NFL (Washington Redskins) owner George Preston Marshall. The Boston Whirlwinds, Brooklyn Arcadians, Buffalo Bisons, Detroit Pulaski Post Five, Fort Wayne Hoosiers, and Rochester Centrals were also part of the league.
The ABL's inaugural game was played on November 15, 1925, at the Brooklyn Arcade, with the Washington Palace Five defeating the Brooklyn Arcadians 32-30. The format of the season was to play two half-seasons, with the winners of each half advancing to a championship series. The ABL continued operations until the 1930-31 season, when the stock market crash and economic slump took their toll, and Max Rosenblum's Cleveland team ceased operations.
In 1961, Abe Saperstein started a new league called the American Basketball League (ABL), serving as its commissioner and owner of the Chicago Majors team. This league, however, only lasted two seasons, with significant financial losses, before ceasing operations at the end of 1962. Despite its short tenure, Saperstein's ABL introduced two innovative rule changes that left a lasting impact on the sport: the three-point field goal and a widened free-throw lane, both of which were later adopted by other leagues, including the NBA.
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Frequently asked questions
Abe Saperstein is best known for founding and coaching the Harlem Globetrotters, a team that elevated basketball from a second-tier American sport to a global phenomenon.
Saperstein acted as the team's chauffeur, trainer, and only substitute player. He also introduced a unique playing style, which included a focus on entertainment and comedic, razzle-dazzle type of play.
Saperstein founded the American Basketball League (ABL) in 1961 and served as its commissioner. He introduced several innovations that are still used in modern basketball, including the three-point shot.
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