Rare 1940’s Goose Tatum Single Signed Baseball Negro League Harlem Globetrotters

Rare 1940’s Goose Tatum Single Signed Autographed Baseball. He inscribed his address on the baseball as well. The only known Tatum single signed baseball on earth.

#94417856

Reece “Goose”Tatum(May 31, 1921 January 18, 1967) was anAfrican American multi-sport athlete.

Born inEl Dorado,Arkansas, Tatum playedNegro League Baseball before becoming a starbasketball player with theHarlem Globetrotters.[2]Goose andSatchel Paige were teammates. Tatum is considered to be the original “clown prince”a term first applied to seminal Chicago Crusader/Philadelphia GiantJackie Bethards in 1933[3]of the Trotters. He wove numerous comic routines into his play, of which many would reachcult status. Some of these routines were based on his statureat 6’4”, it is reported that he had an arm span of about 84inches (210cm) and could touch his kneecaps without bending.

He is credited with inventing thehook shot.

Tatum andMarques Haynes, who were bothHarlem Globetrotters superstars, formed a barnstorming basketball team of their own:The Fabulous Harlem Magicians.Dempsey Hovland, owner of 20th Century Booking Agency, was recruited to book the Harlem Magicians’ games. Hovland earlier had managed the barnstormingHouse of David basketball team.

In 1966, Tatum’s son, Goose Jr., was killed in a car accident. Soon after, Tatum began drinking heavily which led to a series of hospital visits. He died at his home inEl Paso, Texas on January 18, 1967 at the age of 45. The official autopsy stated that he died of natural causes. A veteran of theU.S. Army Air Corps duringWorld War II, Tatum was interred in theFort Bliss National Cemetery.[4]

In 2011, Tatum was elected to theBasketball Hall of Fame.

Exported By ExportYourStore