From Black Basketball, The Real ‘Hello, Dolly!’


A birthday salute to William “Dolly” King, born on this day in 1916.

King was a star in football, basketball, and baseball at Alexander Hamilton High School in New York City, before starring in all three sports at Long Island University (L.I.U.). He was the captain of that school’s basketball team under legendary coach Clair Bee.

King left college in 1941 and is now enshrined in the L.I.U. Sports Hall of Fame.

Dolly King

William "Dolly" King.

He then played professional basketball with the Harlem Yankees, New York Renaissance, Grumman Flyers and Washington Bears.

He signed with the Rochester Royals of the National Basketball League (N.B.L.) in 1946, becoming the first African American to join the league during its post-World War II period. The N.B.L. was a predecessor to the National Basketball Association.

King also played professional football with the Long Island Indians and pro baseball with the Homestead Grays.

Later, King was a member of the Dayton Rens team which joined the N.B.L. in 1948.

After his playing career, King became a prominent basketball referee and baseball umpire.

“Cocky, egotistical, self-assured and gifted — Dolly had no time for the black man’s impedimenta,” wrote the Pittsburgh Courier upon King’s death in 1969.

Like dark chocolate, the story of Dolly King is bittersweet and rich with lessons. It deserves its own separate attention, which I will give at some other time.

For now, let it sink in that King in his prime was widely considered to be one of the greatest athletes of all time. He also had one of the biggest hearts of all time. You’ll see why as this story unfolds.

In addition, this is one of the all time most amazing photographs I have ever seen.

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Dolly King As A Rochester Royal | The Black Fives Blog
15 years ago

[…] The following year they defended their title, playing with a new edition to the team.  He was William “Dolly” King, the Royals’ first African American […]

[…] the Red Devils). And there was already a trickling of black players into the N.B.L., including William “Dolly” King with the Rochester Royals and William “Pop” Gates with the Tri-City […]

[…] Younger. Here’s a rare photo of Younger with Rens teammates William “Pop” Gates, William “Dolly” King, Sonny Woods, George Crowe, Jim Usry, Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton, Roscoe […]

[…] William “Dolly” King, the star player and captain of the undefeated Long Island University Blackbirds, left his team mid-season to join the Rens so he could play with them in this event. […]

[…] teams (including the Red Devils) and a trickling of black players into the N.B.L., including “Dolly” King and “Pop” […]

Joe Maniaci
16 years ago

Wasn’t Dolly King a basketball coach at (?) Manhattan Community College back in the early 60’s? I remember Lou Carnesseca recommending I spend a year with ‘Dolly King’ and then transferring over to SJU in 1965. That was a long time ago.

This is a great site. Thanks for the information.

Joe Maniaci

Claude
16 years ago

No doubt. I didn’t read those characteristics as negative, in the context they were written.

Trent
16 years ago

“Cocky, egotistical, self-assured and gifted”

I would say he just had a good sense of his own self entitlemant, the same as so many white folks of his day. He stood his ground and demanded to be treated like a man period.

emily
16 years ago

dude, wicked article, mad props to the man.

16 years ago

One of the great athletes of his day, and a basketball official in the NYPS system later.

Black Fives
16 years ago

King was a right fielder and catcher with the Grays. Riley’s gig isn’t “definitive” but to be fair there are many players like King who played bit roles.

steve
16 years ago

Was he a pitcher with the Grays? With hands like that, he could have thrown one heck of a curveball. He’s not listed in Riley’s definitive Bio Encyc. of the Negro Baseball Leagues