Ted Strong

Theodore Roosevelt Strong, Jr.


Born:
January 2, 1914
South Bend, IN

Died:
March 1, 1978
Chicago, IL



Career
1935-36 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1936-37 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1937-38 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1938-39 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1939-40 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1940-41 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1941-42 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)

1942-43 Chicago Studebaker Flyers (NBL)
1945-46 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1946-47 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1947-48 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1948-49 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)


Strong was a star baseball player in the Negro Leagues, playing from 1937-1951 with an interruption to serve his country in World War 2. His drinking may have kept him out of the major leagues, but he was a fine athlete, playing for twenty years for the Globetrotters.

He died penniless in 1978 at 62 years of age.



Source:
http://www.southbendtribune.com/sports/shining-a-light-on-an-ex-star/article_7093d8bc-eb04-11e3-b36b-0017a43b2370.html
Grave and Obit

Minor/Negro League stats
http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.cgi?id=strong000ted


Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/s/stronth01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=stronte01

Bernie Price

Bernard Burnice Price


Born:
September 20, 1915
Toledo, OH

Died:
January 24, 2002
Chicago, IL

Career
Libbey High School - Toledo (High School)
1934-35 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1935-36 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1936-37 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1937-38 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1938-39 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1939-40 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1940-41 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1941-42 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1942-43 Chicago Studebaker Flyers (NBL)
1942-43 South Bend Studebaker (WBT)
1943-44 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1944-45 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1945-46 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1946-47 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1947-48 Seattle Athletics (PCBL)
1948-49 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1949-50 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1950-51 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1951-52 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)

The brother of Al Price, Bernard grew up in Toledo but relocated with the family to Chicago. He played for many years with the Globetrotters, and also put in one season with the Flyers in the NBL. After his years with the Globetrotters (the exact seasons are not quite certain), he worked for Ford and Yellow Freight. He died of kidney failure in 2002.
He was married to Joan and had four sons; Bernard, Michael, Steven and Vincent.

Source:
Chicago Tribune Obituary
Toledo Blade, February 2, 2002

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/p/pricebe01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=pricebe01

Babe Pressley

Louis Pressley


Born:
September 21, 1916


Died:
September 15, 1965
Cleveland, OH


Career
1933-34 Central High School - Cleveland (High School)
1934-35 Central High School - Cleveland (High School)
1935-36 Central High School - Cleveland (High School)
1936-37 Cleveland Penzoil (Independent)
1936-37 Jesse Owens Collegians (Independent)
1937-38 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1937-38 Jesse Owens Collegians (Independent)
1938-39 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent) 
1938-39 Jesse Owens Collegians (Independent)
1939-40 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent) 
1940-41 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)  
1941-42 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent) 
1942-43 New York Rens (Independent)
1942-43 Chicago Studebaker Flyers (NBL)
1943-44 Cleveland Buckeyes (Independent)
1943-44 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent) 
1944-45 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent) 
1945-46 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1945-46 Chicago Monarchs (Independent) 
1946-47 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent) 
1947-48 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent) 
1948-49 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent) 
1949-50 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent) 
1950-51 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent) 
1951-52 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent) 
1952-53 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent) 
1953-54 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent) 

He joined the Flyers for the NBL playoffs in 1942-43.

Pressley died of a heart attack just a week short of his 49th birthday. He and his wife, Vera, had one son and the were owners of a deli in Cleveland.

Source:
Pittsburgh Courier, September 25, 1965


Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/p/presslo01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=pressba01

Tony Peyton

Charles Anthony "Tony" Peyton



Born:
March 3, 1921
Elyria, OH

Died:
July 23, 2007
Midland, TX


Career

Scott High School - Toledo (High School)
1938-39 University of Michigan (College)
1939-40 University of Michigan (College)
1940-41 University of Michigan (College)
1941-42 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1942-43 Chicago Studebaker Flyers (NBL)
1944-45 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1945-46 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1945-46 Kansas City Stars (Independent)
1946-47 Chicago Colored Collegians (Independent)
1947-48 Chicago Colored Collegians (Independent)
1948-49 Chicago Colored Collegians (Independent)
1949-50 Chicago Colored Collegians (Independent)
1950-51 Chicago Colored Collegians (Independent)
New York Rens (Independent)


His obituary say he was born in 1922, but the SSDI has 1921. He went to Scott HS in Toledo, and then moved on to the University of Michigan. He entered the navy for World War 2, where he was one of the first black ensigns. After the war, he returned to the Globetrotters. He retired from basketball in 1956, and later moved to Lubbock, and was eventually became a High Priest for the Church of Latter-Day Saints.
Tony was married three times. First marriage was to Chulla Hutchinson, and they had two chidren, Leonard and Marilyn. His second wife, Marlowe Ann Goins, died during the birth of their daughter, Antio. His third marriage was to Neville Sires, and they had two sons, Tyler and Terrance.



Source:
Obituary
Another Obituary


Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/p/peytoch01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=peytoto01

Johnny Orr

John Edward Orr


Born:
June 4, 1918
Chicago, IL

Died:
July 12, 1982
Tucson, AZ


Career
1933-34 St. Rita's - Chicago (High School)
1934-35 St. Rita's - Chicago (High School)
1935-36 St. Rita's - Chicago (High School)
1937-38 St. Benedicts - Kansas (College)
1939-40 Chicago Duffy Florals (Independent)
1942-43 South Bend Studebakers (Independent)
1942-43 Detroit Eagles (Independent)
1942-43 Chicago Studebaker Flyers (NBL)
1943-44 Sheboygan Redskins (NBL)
1944-45 Chicago American Gears (NBL)
1945-46 Chicago American Gears (NBL)
1945-46 Anderson Chiefs (Independent)
1946-47 Chicago Shamrocks (Independent)
1947-48 Chicago Shamrocks (Independent)
1948-49 Chicago Shamrocks (Independent)
1949-50 Chicago Shamrocks (Independent)
1950-51 Racine Knights (Independent)



A lot of the problem of looking for him is the multitude of article on Johnny Orr, who coached at Michigan.

Orr was a pitcher who played for a few seasons in the Yankees and Cardinals farm systems.

Orr signed with Sheboygan on November 6, 1943.

He is in the St Rita's Hall of Fame
http://www.stritahs.com/hall-of-fame-1/?rq=orr

Minor League Baseball Stats
http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.cgi?id=orr---001joh

Update: 12/21/2018

Concluded he is John R. Orr (1918-1981).  - later determined to be incorrect man

Update: 4/17/2020
Conclusions of December 21, 2018 are incorrect. Found a 1940 census record for John Orr whose occupation was listed as "baseball" so this gets us on a different direction.  Parents are Frank (b. 1892) and Helen (b. 1896). This John Orr's draft registration lists him as playing baseball with Joplin club so this definitely excludes the previous person we had identified. So this points us to a different man. Obituary confirms ii, so his identity is corrected.

Orr moved to Tucson, Arizona, from Chicago in 1956 and was a prominent figure in local union organizations. He died of cancer in 1982.

Source:
Arizona Daily Star, July 13, 1992


Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/o/orrjo01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=orrjo02

Al Johnson

Albert C. "Big Train" Johnson, Jr.


Born:
August 20, 1913
Chicago, IL

Died:
February 2, 1991



Career
(High School)
1933-34 Chicago Crusaders (Independent)
1934-35 Chicago Crusaders (Independent)
1935-36 Chicago Crusaders (Independent)
1936-37 Chicago Crusaders (Independent)
1936-37 Palmer House Indianas (Independent)

1937-38 New York Rens (Independent)
1938-39 New York Rens (Independent)
1939-40 New York Rens (Independent)
1939-40 Chicago Crusaders (Independent)
1940-41 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1941-42 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1942-43 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1942-43 Chicago Studebaker Flyers (NBL)
1945-46 Chicago Colored Collegians (Independent)
1946-47 Chicago Colored Collegians (Independent)

Played one game for Flyers.

He is listed in places that he played for Univ of Illinois, but that is found to not be the case. That would have made him the first black basketball player in the Big Ten.



Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/j/johnsal01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=johnsal02

Roosie Hudson

Roosevelt Hudson


Born:
July 15, 1915
Mississippi

Died:
February 1, 1985
Chicago, IL


Career
Morris Brown (College) 
1936-37 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1937-38 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1938-39 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1939-40 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1940-41 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1941-42 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1942-43 Chicago Studebaker Flyers (NBL)

1946-47 Chicago Monarchs (Independent)


Hudson served in the U.S. Army during World War 2.



Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/h/hudsoro01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=hudsoro01

Duke Cumberland

Roscoe Franklin "Duke" Cumberland


Born:
November 20, 1915
Fostoria, OH

Died:
October 16, 1974 
Chicago, IL


Career
Scott High School - Toledo (High School)
Knoxville (College)
1935-36 Toledo's Brown Bombers (Independent)
1936-37 Jesse Owen's Olympians (Independent)
1937-38 Jesse Owen's Olympians (Independent)
1938-39 Jesse Owen's Olympians (Independent)
1938-39 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1939-40 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1940-41 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1941-42 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1941-42 New York Rens (Independent) 
Ciralsky Meat Packers (Independent)
1942-43 Chicago Studebaker Flyers (NBL)
1942-43 New York Rens (Independent)
1943-44 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1944-45 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1945-46 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1945-46 New York Rens (Independent)
1946-47 New York Rens (Independent)
1946-47 Columbus Collegians (Independent)  
1946-47 Dayton Metropolitans (Independent)
1947-48 Dayton Metropolitans (AABL)
1948-49 Dayton Rens (Independent)
1949-50 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1951-52 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1961-62 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)  

According to his draft records, Duke was born in Fostoria, Ohio, in 1915. the 6'1.5, 185 pound basketball player played many years for the Harlem Globetrotters. Duke married Hazel Turner on May 12, 1942. 

Source
Post-Crescent (Appleton, WI), April 1, 1938
Family member

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/c/cumbero01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=cumbedu01

Hillery Brown

Hillery L. Brown


Born:
July 30, 1912
Jackson, MS 

Died:
February 8, 1991
Chicago, IL


Career
Wendell Phillips High School - Chicago (High School)
1931-32 Chicago Savoy Big-Five (Independent)
1933-34 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1934-35 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1935-36 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1936-37 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1937-38 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1938-39 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1939-40 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1939-40 Chicago Crusaders (Independent)
1940-41 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1942-43 Chicago Studebaker Flyers (NBL)
1942-43 New York Rens (Independent)
1943-44 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1944-45 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1945-46 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1946-47 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1946-47 New York Rens (Independent)
1947-48 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)


Born to Johnnie and Edwina Brown. Married to Annie Bell. His name is misspelled "Hillary" in many places. Served in the army during World War 2.



Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/b/brownhi01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=brownhi01

Sonny Boswell

Wyatt "Sonny" Boswell


Born:
May 19, 1919
Greenville, MS 

Died:
October 19, 1964
Chicago, IL


Career
Scott High School - Toledo (High School)
1937-38 Jesse Owen's Olympians (Independent)
1938-39 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1939-40 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1940-41 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1941-42 New York Rens (Independent) 

1942-43 Chicago Studebaker Flyers (NBL)
1942-43 New York Rens (Independent)
1943-44 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1944-45 New York Rens (Independent)
1945-46 Chicago Monarchs (Independent)
1945-46 Anderson Chiefs (Independent)
1946-47 Dayton Mets (Independent)
Ciralsky Meat Packers (Independent)

Born to Starling and Ardinia Boswell in Mississippi, Boswell, one of the first black players in the NBL, grew up in Toledo. After high school, he joined the Globetrotters where he was known for his deep shooting. After his playing days, he managed a hotel in Chicago and owned a bowling alley on the South Side. Boswell died suddenly of a heart attack at home in 1964. He was only 45.

He married Jean Boswell.

Source:
Toledo Blade, February 11, 1941
Post-Crescent (Appleton, WI), April 1, 1938

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/b/boswewy01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=bosweso01

1942-43 Chicago Studebaker Flyers (NBL)

1942-43 CHICAGO STUDEBAKER FLYERS
NATIONAL BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Finished: 8-15 .349, 4th place

Semifinals - Lost to Fort Wayne, 2-1

• Head Coach: Johnny Jordan (October 23, 1910 - June 13, 1991)

PLAYERS:

• Sonny Boswell (May 19, 1919 - October 19, 1964)

Biography

• Hillery Brown (July 30, 1912 - February 8, 1991)

Biography

• Duke Cumberland (November 20, 1915 - October 23, 1966)

Biography

• Dick Evans (May 31, 1915 - May 26, 2008)

Biography

• Roosevelt Hudson (July 15, 1915 - February 1, 1985)

Biography

• Al Johnson  (August 20, 1913 - February 2, 1991)

Biography

• Mike Novak (April 23, 1915 - August 15, 1978)

Biography

• John Orr (June 4, 1918 - July 12, 1982)

Biography

• Charles Peyton (March 3, 1921 - July 23, 2007)

Biography

• Babe Pressley (September 21, 1916 - September 15, 1965)

Biography

• Bernie Price (September 20, 1915 - January 24, 2002)

Biography

• Paul Sokody (August 18, 1914 - May 12, 1992)

Biography

• Ted Strong (January 2, 1914 - March 1, 1978)

Biography

Dick Evans

Richard Jacob Evans


Born:
May 31, 1915
Chicago, IL 

Died:
May 26, 2008
Sarasota, FL


Career
De Paul Academy - Chicago (High School)
1939-40 Iowa University (College)
1940-41 Hammond Ciesar All-Americans (NBL)
1940-41 Sheboygan Redskins (NBL)
1941-42 Chicago Bruins (NBL)
1942-43 Chicago Studebaker Flyers (NBL)


Evans was a football star at Iowa who played basketball professionally as well as playing end for Green Bay and the Chicago Cardinals in the NFL during World War 2. He later was the defensive back coach for the Packers.

He married Miriam in 1943 and they had a daughter and two sons.

Some sources list him as being born in 1917, but his SSDI record and 1930 and 1940 census record indicated he was born in 1915.

NFL Stats:
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/E/EvanDi20.htm

Stats:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/e/evansri01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=evansdi01