Exhibition 3

World Pro Basketball Tournament Official Programs, 1939-1948

The World Championship of Professional Basketball was held in Chicago from 1939 to 1948. The annual event was sponsored by the Chicago Herald-American newspaper, the brainchild of its sports editor, Edward W. Cochrane. “At the time there were no less than a score of professional basketball teams, all advertising themselves as world’s champions,” Cochrane remembered in 1941. The tournament was born “out of the chaos of these conflicting claims,” he said.

So in 1938, the newspaper decided to sponsor an official tournament to determine who was who in professional basketball. The result was the invitation-only World Championship of Professional Basketball, which held its inaugural tournament in 1939 with twelve participating pro teams.

Nicknamed the World Pro Cage Tourney, it became an annual event, with ten championships from 1939 to 1948, each with its own unique history.

Out of the ten tournaments, three titles were won by African American teams: the New York Rens (1939), the Harlem Globetrotters (1940), and the Washington Bears (1943). The Rens would have won again in 1948 against the Minneapolis Lakers if not for some shenanigans.

Now, for the first time ever, from the Black Fives Foundation Archives and presented by PUMA, all ten of the official souvenir programs from those tournaments are displayed together in one exhibition, along with related ephemera.

Join us in celebrating the histories and stories of these historic publications and the events they covered.

1939

The inaugural tournament, held March 26 to 28, was won by the New York Rens, an independent African American basketball team based in Harlem. They defeated the Oshkosh All-Stars of the National Basketball League (NBL) in the title game at Chicago Coliseum, 34-25. Twelve teams were invited and preliminary games were staged at the 132nd Regiment Armory. The other participating squads were the House of David All Stars, Chicago Harmons, Clarksburg Oilers, Fort Wayne Harvesters, Harlem Globe Trotters, Illinois Grads, Kate Smith’s New York Celtics, New York Yankees, and Sheboygan Redskins. The Rens defeated Fort Wayne, the New York Yankees, and the Globetrotters to reach the final. Clarence “Puggy” Bell of the Rens was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. Bell and his teammate Zack Clayton were named to the All-Tournament Team along with Globetrotters star Babe Pressley. The program cost 10¢ and the total prize was $10,000.

1940

The second annual tournament, played March 17 to 20, was won by the Harlem Globetrotters, another independent all-Black team, based in Chicago. They defeated the Chicago Bruins (NBL) in the title game at the Madison Street Armory, 31-29. The field expanded to 15 teams, and the other participating squads were the City of David All-Stars, Canton Bulldogs, Clarksburg Oilers, Fort Wayne Harvesters, Harlem Globe Trotters, Kenosha Bernacchi Drugs, New York Rens, Oshkosh All-Stars, Rochester Seagrams, Sheboygan Redskins, Syracuse Reds, Washington Heurich Brewers, and the Waterloo Wonders. The Globetrotters defeated the Kenosha, the Rens, and Syracuse to reach the championship game. Globetrotters player Wyatt “Sonny” Boswell was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. Boswell was also named to the All-Tournament Team along with New York Rens star William “Pop” Gates. The program cost 15¢ and the total prize was $15,000.

1941

In the third annual tournament, held March 15 to 19, the Detroit Eagles (NBL) won the title. They beat the Oshkosh All-Stars in the final at the Chicago International Amphitheatre, 39-37. The other participants were the Bismark Phantoms, Chicago Bruins, Davenport Turners, Dayton Sucher Wonders, Fort Wayne Zollners, Harlem Globe Trotters, Indianapolis Kautskys, Kenosha Royals, New York Rens, Newark Elks, Philadelphia SPHAs, Rochester Seagrams, and Toledo White Huts. In addition to the Black players on the Rens and on the Globe Trotters, there were two African Americans with the White Huts (William “Billy” Jones and Jimmy Johnson). This was the first time that a racially-integrated team played in this tourney. William “Dolly” King of the New York Rens was named to the All-Tournament team. He had left Long Island University mid-season in January to play with the Rens. The Globe Trotters featured future Basketball Hall of Fame member Wyatt “Sonny” Boswell while the Rens featured future HOF members Zack Clayton, William “Pop” Gates, and Charles “Tarzan” Cooper. The program cost 15¢ and the total tournament prize was $10,000.

1942

The fourth annual tournament, held March 7 to 11, saw a rematch between the Oshkosh All-Stars (NBL) and the independent Detroit Eagles, at the same Chicago International Amphitheatre venue as in 1941 but with the All-Stars winning the title this time, 43-41. The event comprised sixteen teams, with several new entrants. The other squads were the U.S. Army Aberdeen Ordinance Training Center, Chicago Bruins, Columbus Bobb Chevrolets, Davenport Rockets, Detroit AAA, Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons, Hagerstown Conoco Oilers, Harlem Globetrotters, Indianapolis Kautskys, Long Island Grumman Flying V’s, Northern Indiana Steelers, New York Rens, Sheboygan Red Skins, and Toledo Jim White Chevvies. In addition to the Black players on the Rens and on the Globetrotters, there were again two African Americans with Toledo (William “Billy” Jones and Jimmy Johnson), which was the same squad as the previous year’s White Huts team, renamed. There were also two African American players with the Grumman team: future Long Island University Sports Hall of Fame member William “Dolly” King and future Basketball Hall of Fame member William “Pop” Gates. The New York Rens featured future Basketball Hall of Fame members Sonny Boswell, Zack Clayton, and John Isaacs. Boswell of the Rens, Bernie Price of the Globetrotters, and Dolly King of the Flyers each made the All-Tournament Team. This souvenir program cost 15¢ and the total prize money was $15,000.

1943

In the 5th annual tournament, held March 14 to 17, the Washington Bears, an independent African American team, won the championship title by defeating the Oshkosh All-Stars (NBL) at Chicago Stadium, 43-31. Every player on the Bears had previously played for the New York Rens. Opening round games were played at the Michigan Avenue Armory. The other participating teams were the Akron Collegians, Chicago Ramblers, Dayton Dive Bombers, Detroit Eagles, Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons, Harlem Globetrotters, Indianapolis Pure Oils, Minnesota Rock Spring Sparklers, Sheboygan Red Skins, and the Chicago Studebakers. This was the most racially diverse tournament yet. In addition to the African American rosters of the Bears and the Globetrotters, the Chicago Studebakers featured seven Black players in their lineup including future Basketball Hall of Fame member Wyatt “Sonny” Boswell. In addition, the Indianapolis Pure Oils squad included one African American player, future Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame member George Crowe, who had been Indiana’s first Mr. Basketball in 1939. The Bears got a first-round bye and then defeated Rock Spring and Dayton to reach the final. Bears players William “Pop” Gates and William “Dolly” King were named to the All-Tournament First Team, while Zack Clayton was named to the All-Tournament Second Team. The Globetrotters featured future Basketball Hall of Fame members Reece “Goose” Tatum in his first tournament appearance, as well as Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton, while the Bears roster had future Basketball Hall of Fame members Charles “Tarzan” Cooper, William “Pop” Gates, John Isaacs, and Zack Clayton. Box seats were $2.50, mezzanine tickets were $1.75, and first-balcony seating was $1.25. The price of the official souvenir program was 15¢ and the total tournament prize money was $15,000.

1944

In the 6th annual tournament, held March 20 to 25, the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons (NBL) defeated the independent Brooklyn Eagles in the title game at Chicago Stadium, 50-33. The other participating teams were the Akron Collegians, Camp Campbell Tankmen, Cleveland Chase Brassmen, Dayton Aviators, Detroit Suffrins, Harlem Globetrotters, Indianapolis Pure Oils, New York Rens, Oshkosh All-Stars, Pittsburgh Corbetts, Rochester Wings, and Sheboygan Redskins. The Cleveland Chase Brassmen featured one Black player, Willie Smith, who had previously played with the Rens. The Globetrotters featured future Basketball Hall of Fame member Wyatt “Sonny” Boswell while the Rens featured future Basketball Hall of Fame members William “Pop” Gates and Zack Clayton as well as future NBA player Hank DeZonie in his first tournament appearance. Sonny Woods of the New York Rens and Bernie Price of the Harlem Globetrotters were named to the All-Tournament First and Second teams, respectively. This souvenir program cost 15¢ and the total tournament prize money was $15,000.

1945

In the 7th annual tournament, held March 19 to 24, the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons (NBL) repeated as champions by defeating the independent Dayton Acmes in the title game at Chicago Stadium, 78-52. The other participating teams were the Chicago American Gears, Cleveland Allmen Transfers, Detroit Mansfields, Harlem Globetrotters, Hartford Nutmegs, Indianapolis Stars, Long Island Grumman Hellcats, Midland Dow Chemicals, New York Rens, Newark C-O Two Fire Equipment Company, Oshkosh All-Stars, and Pittsburgh Raiders. The Indianapolis Stars squad included one African American player, Ray Crowe, who had previously coached Crispus Attucks High School to two straight state basketball championship titles. Ray was an older brother of George Crowe and it was his first appearance in the tournament. Willie Smith was back with the Rens. The Globetrotters featured future Basketball Hall of Fame member Reece “Goose” Tatum and the program listed Jack Robinson in their lineup, though he did not actually play. Robinson had signed with the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro American League two weeks earlier. The New York Rens featured future Basketball Hall of Fame members Zack Clayton and Wyatt “Sonny” Boswell as well as future NBA player Hank DeZonie. Three former Rens stars who at that time were employed by Grumman Aircraft played for the Grumman Hellcats: John Isaacs, William “Dolly” King, and William “Pop” Gates. Clarence “Puggy” Bell of the New York Rens was named to the All-Tournament Second Team. This souvenir program cost was still 15¢ despite being the largest size to date, with 54 total pages, the majority of the pages devoted to advertising. The total tournament prize money was $15,000.

1946

In the 8th annual tournament, held March 25 to 29 and April 3 to 6, the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons (NBL) won their third straight championship title by defeating the Oshkosh All-Stars (NBL) in a best-of-three finals series at Chicago Stadium, 2-1. The other participating teams were the Anderson Duffey Packers, Baltimore Bullets, Chicago American Gears, Cleveland Allmen Transfers, Dayton Mickeys, Detroit Mansfields, Indianapolis Kautskys, Midland Dow Chemicals, New York Rens, Pittsburgh Raiders, Toledo White Huts, and Sheboygan Redskins. The Cleveland Allmen Transfers featured one Black player, Willie Smith, who had previously played with the Rens. The Rens included future Basketball Hall of Fame member William “Pop” Gates as well as future NBA player Hank DeZonie. The American Gears featured future Basketball Hall of Fame member George Mikan, who ended up with tournament Most Valuable Player and All-Tournament First Team honors. This souvenir program cost 15¢ and the total tournament prize money was $15,000.

1947

In the 9th annual tournament, held April 5 to 7 and April 9 to 10, the Indianapolis Kautskys (NBL) won their first tournament championship by defeating the Toledo Jeeps (NBL) in the title game at Chicago Stadium, 62-47. The other participating teams were the Anderson Duffey Packers, Baltimore Bullets, Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons, Herkimer Mohawk Redskins, Midland Dow Chemicals, New York Rens, Oshkosh All-Stars, Pittsburgh Pirates, Portland Indians, Sheboygan Redskins, Syracuse Nationals, and Tri-Cities Blackhawks. The Tri-Cities team now included former New York Rens and Washington Bears player William “Pop” Gates, a future Basketball Hall of Fame member. The Rens also featured future NBA player Hank DeZonie, future Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame member George Crowe, future Atlantic City mayor Jim Usry, and future Basketball Hall of Fame member Nathaniel Clifton. This souvenir program cost 15¢ and the total tournament prize money was $15,000.

1948

In the 10th and final tournament, held April 8, 9, and 11, the Minneapolis Lakers (NBL) won their first tournament championship by defeating the independent New York Rens in the title game at Chicago Stadium, 75-71. The other participating teams were the Anderson Duffy Packers, Bridgeport Newfields, Fort Wayne Zollners, Indianapolis Kautskys, Moline Tri-Cities Blackhawks, and Wilkes-Barre Barons. The Rens were the only all-Black team in the tournament. The only other squad with African American players on its roster was the Bridgeport Newfields, with John Wilson and Ernie Gomez, both natives of Harlem. The Rens featured future Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame member George Crowe and future Atlantic City mayor Jim Usry as well as future Basketball Hall of Fame member William “Pop” Gates, future Long Island University Sports Hall of Fame member William “Dolly” King, and future NBA player Nathaniel “Sweetwater” Clifton. Clifton played a controversial role in the title game between his Rens squad and the National Basketball League champion Minneapolis Lakers, with future Hall of Fame member George Mikan, after which some teammates stated that he “threw the game.” His dramatic late-game uncharacteristic turnover (with a behind-the-back pass during a three-on-one fast break) squandered a chance for the Rens to tie the game. Instead, the Lakers’ final possession with seconds left in the game resulted in a basket and the four-point lead that was their winning margin. The final score was Lakers 75, Rens 71. This souvenir program cost 15¢ and the total tournament prize money was $15,000.