Negro Leagues Baseball Player, Hall of Fame Basketball Player. Born in Eldorado, Arkansas, he was a talented multi-sport athlete nicked named “Goose’ for his long arms and legs. He first made his mark in baseball in the 1930s, as a solid hitter first baseman for the Louisville Black Colonels in the Negro Leagues. In 1941, he became a member of the popular Harlem Globetrotters and played two seasons before being drafted. After serving in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II, he returned to baseball playing for the Indianapolis Clowns and was in the East-West All-Star game at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Illinois in 1947. Tatum became owner of the Clowns baseball team in the late 1950s and played several games before hanging up his baseball cleats. Turning to basketball full time, he rejoined the Harlem Globetrotters and played with the team for a total of 12 seasons. He wove numerous comic routines into his play and became a crowd pleaser known as the original ‘clown prince' of the Trotters. He was an outstanding ball handler credited by many as the inventor of the hook shot and poured in 50 points or more a game. In 2002, Tatum's number 50 was retired by the Globetrotters and the entire Globetrotters team is enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame. He died at the age of forty-five in El Paso, Texas.
Negro Leagues Baseball Player, Hall of Fame Basketball Player. Born in Eldorado, Arkansas, he was a talented multi-sport athlete nicked named “Goose’ for his long arms and legs. He first made his mark in baseball in the 1930s, as a solid hitter first baseman for the Louisville Black Colonels in the Negro Leagues. In 1941, he became a member of the popular Harlem Globetrotters and played two seasons before being drafted. After serving in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II, he returned to baseball playing for the Indianapolis Clowns and was in the East-West All-Star game at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Illinois in 1947. Tatum became owner of the Clowns baseball team in the late 1950s and played several games before hanging up his baseball cleats. Turning to basketball full time, he rejoined the Harlem Globetrotters and played with the team for a total of 12 seasons. He wove numerous comic routines into his play and became a crowd pleaser known as the original ‘clown prince' of the Trotters. He was an outstanding ball handler credited by many as the inventor of the hook shot and poured in 50 points or more a game. In 2002, Tatum's number 50 was retired by the Globetrotters and the entire Globetrotters team is enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame. He died at the age of forty-five in El Paso, Texas.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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