On January 7, 1927, the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team
traveled 48 miles west from Chicago to play their first game
in Hinckley, Illinois.

The Globetrotters were the creation of Abe Saperstein of
Chicago, who took over coaching duties for a team of
African American players originally known as the Savoy
Big Five (after the famous Chicago ballroom where they
played their early games).

At a time when only whites were allowed to play on
professional basketball teams, Saperstein decided to
promote his new team’s racial makeup by naming them
after Harlem, the famous African American neighborhood
of New York City.

The earliest known team photo of the Globetrotters,
from the 1930–1931 season. Standing from left: Abe        
Saperstein, Walter “Toots” Wright, Byron “Fat” Long,
Inman  Jackson, and William “Kid” Oliver. Seated: Al
“Runt” Pullins.