Professional basketball player. Robinson played basketball at San Diego High School in San Diego, California during the 1939-1940 and 1940-1941 seasons. The Cavers, as they were known, posted 16-4 and 15-3 records against their Southern California rivals during that time. After graduating in 1942 Robinson entered the Army and served at Fort Warren, Wyoming where he played on the camp teams that went to the National Amateur Athletic Union tournaments in Denver, Colorado three times. Although he was talented enough to play in the National Basketball Association, opportunities for black players did not exist at that time. Upon his discharge from the Army in 1946 he signed a contract to play with the first Harlem Globetrotters. Standing 6-foot-3 he played forward and guard but did not participate in the Globetrotters' comedy routines. In 1948 Globetrotters owner, Abe Saperstein arranged a dramatic match-up against the Minnesota Lakers in Chicago, Illinois. With seconds left on the clock Robinson sunk the game-winning shot from 30 feet away as the buzzer sounded, giving the team a 61-59 victory. In 1951 he appeared in the movie "The Harlem Globetrotters" starring Thomas Gomez and Dorothy Dandridge. Toward the end of his playing career he managed a branch of the Globetrotters that toured South America, retiring from the organization in 1959. He died at his San Diego home in 1982 after a three year battle with cancer of the larynx, he was 60.
Professional basketball player. Robinson played basketball at San Diego High School in San Diego, California during the 1939-1940 and 1940-1941 seasons. The Cavers, as they were known, posted 16-4 and 15-3 records against their Southern California rivals during that time. After graduating in 1942 Robinson entered the Army and served at Fort Warren, Wyoming where he played on the camp teams that went to the National Amateur Athletic Union tournaments in Denver, Colorado three times. Although he was talented enough to play in the National Basketball Association, opportunities for black players did not exist at that time. Upon his discharge from the Army in 1946 he signed a contract to play with the first Harlem Globetrotters. Standing 6-foot-3 he played forward and guard but did not participate in the Globetrotters' comedy routines. In 1948 Globetrotters owner, Abe Saperstein arranged a dramatic match-up against the Minnesota Lakers in Chicago, Illinois. With seconds left on the clock Robinson sunk the game-winning shot from 30 feet away as the buzzer sounded, giving the team a 61-59 victory. In 1951 he appeared in the movie "The Harlem Globetrotters" starring Thomas Gomez and Dorothy Dandridge. Toward the end of his playing career he managed a branch of the Globetrotters that toured South America, retiring from the organization in 1959. He died at his San Diego home in 1982 after a three year battle with cancer of the larynx, he was 60.
Bio by: pLot Lzrd
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