Origins & Early Life

Abraham Michael Saperstein (July 4, 1902 – March 15, 1966) was the founder, owner and earliest coach of the Harlem Globetrotters. Saperstein was a leading figure in black basketball and baseball from the 1920s through the 1950s, primarily before those sports were racially integrated. Saperstein revolutionized the game of basketball and took the Globetrotters from an unknown team touring small farm towns in the Midwestern United States during the height of the Great Depression to a powerhouse that went on to beat the best team in the all-white National Basketball Association. He also introduced the three-point shot, which went on to become a mainstay of modern basketball.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Saperstein was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1971 and, at 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m), is its shortest male member. In 1979, he was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and in 2005, he was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. Saperstein was born in the East End of London, England, to a Jewish family originally from Łomża, Poland. His family moved from London to Chicago in 1907, when Abe was five years old. They settled just north of the city's Jewish area,...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alfred Kastler — Contemporary (Born in 1902) (1902): Pioneering physicist known for developing the technique of optical pumping.
• Allen Lane — Contemporary (Born in 1902) (1902): Pioneering British publisher who founded Penguin Books, bringing literature to the masses.
• Ansel Adams — Contemporary (Born in 1902) (1902): Iconic photographer and environmentalist celebrated for the American West's landscapes.
• A. R. Rahman — Contemporary (Born in 1966) (1966): Visionary Indian composer celebrated for blending global sounds with cinematic emotion.
• Adam Sandler — Contemporary (Born in 1966) (1966): Acclaimed comedian and actor known for his prolific career in Hollywood comedy.
• Alain Mabanckou — Contemporary (Born in 1966) (1966): Congolese novelist and academic exploring contemporary Africa and the diaspora experience.
• Abbas Kiarostami — Shared historical date (07-04 · Died) (2016): Master Iranian filmmaker known for blending fiction and documentary styles.
• Alfredo Di Stéfano — Shared historical date (07-04 · Born) (1926): Argentine and Spanish legend, 'The Blond Arrow,' pivotal to Real Madrid's golden era.
• Alia Bhatt — Shared historical date (03-15 · Born) (1993): Acclaimed British-Indian actress known for versatile roles in Hindi cinema.
• Andrew Jackson — Shared historical date (03-15 · Born) (1767): Seventh U.S. President, champion of Jacksonian democracy and controversial figure.
• 1902 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1902
• July 4 (07-04) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on July 4
• 1966 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1966
• March 15 (03-15) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on March 15