REECE "GOOSE" TATUM

Sixty years after his first season, the Harlem Globetrotters retired jersey number 50, worn by Reece "Goose" Tatum, and inducted him into the Globetrotters’ “Legends” Ring, on Feb. 8, 2002, at Madison Square Garden in New York.
 
Tatum played with the Globetrotters during the 1941-42 season, then was drafted into the Air Force during World War II.  After he completed his tour, Tatum came back to play with the team for a total of 12 seasons. He was the "Clown Prince" of the Globetrotters and was considered by many to be the template for future comics and one of the best Showmen in team history.

Tatum started his career in the 1940s as a baseball player for the Birmingham Black Barons and the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro National League.  It was during this time that he started clowning around on the field to amuse the crowds. Once Globetrotters’ founder Abe Saperstein spotted Tatum's antics, he knew he wanted Tatum to play for his team.  When he joined the Globetrotters, Tatum brought his natural athletic ability, uncannily accurate hook shot and comedic timing and applied them to basketball.  Those still help to define the Globetrotters today.
 
He loved to entertain and often said, "My goal in life is to make people laugh."  Laugh they did, whether he was playing hide and seek with the referee or substituting the real basketball with a trick one.  Tatum passed away on Jan. 18, 1967.