Happy Birthday John ‘Boy Wonder’ Isaacs
Today we send Happy Birthday remembrances to former professional basketball star John “Boy Wonder” Isaacs! Isaacs was a pioneering pro hoopster with the New York Renaissance, Washington Bears, and other teams.
He was born in Panama on September 30, 1915.
One of our fondest memories of John is the day that we visited him at the Madison Square Boys and Girls Club in the Bronx to unveil our reproduction of his old New York Rens basketball jersey, a sample of which had just arrived from the factory. John had helped us make sure we got the colors right, and other details.
We also brought him a matching fitted cap.
Although he tried not to show it, we believe that John was just as excited as the kids in the clubhouse to see the new Rens “throwback.” In fact, it always seemed as though he felt most “himself” when he was around them.
From the photographs below — taken that day — it’s easy to see why “Mr. I” was and is timeless.
John Isaacs and some friends at the Madison Avenue Boys and Girls Club in the Bronx, August 2003.
the rens were quite a team the first fifty years of pro basketball I would rate and you can pick the order the 4 greatest teams all time first 50 years. New york rens original celtics,ft wayne zollners,
A true Icon of the American Invented game and a pioneer of black basketball and much much much more Happy Birthday Mr. Isaacs and I keep thanking Claude for giving me so much understanding the what the Black Fives is all about.
God Bless You Mr. Isaacs
Kent