Harlem Globetrotters (George Vecsey)

Title: Harlem Globetrotters

Author: George Vecsey

Edition/Year: 1^st Edition / 1970

First Published: 1970

This simple 160-page book talks about the earliest days of the very famous Harlem Globetrotters. George Vecsey narrates the story of how one man, Abe Saperstein, tried to change the face of the game of “Basketball” through the introduction of coloured players and effective marketing. The book also narrates the various hardships faced by the first team, and how they learnt to deal with them in due course.

The primary characters that the book focuses on are Abe Saperstein (Founder Manager), Goose Tatum (original “clown prince”, inventor of the hook shot) and Marques Haynes (Most amazing dribbler of the ball), who are given one chapter each. Their lives and personalities are explained in an easy-to-read format. Fans of the sport would find this book very informative as to the beginnings of this team, and the anecdotes associated with many of the original players and on how their skits were developed.

Although the Globetrotters were known for their comedy skits, Abe always used to emphasize one fact: Winning is the first priority, the clowning can start once we have made sure of a victory by a substantial margin. This was emphasized a lot throughout the book. The book also narrates how the Trotters became “Ambassadors of Goodwill” of the USA and on how they even met the Pope!

One new thing I learnt through this book is about the then called Philadelphia Sphas (now called as Washington Generals). I won’t elaborate as you can click the link to read about them, but one thing is mentioned in the book – Klotz hated to lose, really hated it. He always put up a fight, but his boys were always defeated at length by the Trotters. From 1953 until 1995, the team has played exhibitions against the Globetrotters, winning only six games, the last in 1971, and losing more than 13,000!! Hard to believe Klotz’s claims with this data, but the Trotters were indeed very good.

I recommend this book for all Trotter fans, who would like to know a bit more about the lives of the original men-in-blue.