Globetrotter

The captivating biography of Abe Saperstein, creator of the Harlem Globetrotters The original Harlem Globetrotters werent from Harlem, and they didnt start out as globetrotters. The talented all-Black team, started by Jewish immigrant Abe Saperstein, was from Chicagos South Side and toured the region in Sapersteins model-T. But with Sapersteins savvy and the players skills, the Globetrotters would become a worldwide sensation. Globetrotter: How Abe Saperstein Shook Up the World of Sports is the fascinating biography of Saperstein, a five-foot-three promoter who made an amazing impact in a sport where height is at a premium: basketball. When Saperstein first founded the team in the 1920s, they battled everything from blizzards to bigotry as they traveled around the Midwest. But the team steadily built a reputation for talent and comedy, increasing its footprint until it covered the entire world. Abe Sapersteins impact went well beyond the Harlem Globetrotters. He helped keep baseballs Negro Leagues alive, was a force in getting pitching great Satchel Paige his shot at the majors, and befriended Olympic star Jesse Owens when he fell on hard times. And at a time when professional basketball was still struggling to attract fans, Saperstein and his Globetrotters helped the sport grow a devoted audience. Globetrotter reveals the tireless work and impressive achievements of a man and basketball team that made millions of people laugh, gasp, and applaud at their astounding performances and incredible talent.