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Arts & Life / Community Voices

Brothers Matthew and Mark Jacob explain the surprising origins of the Harlem Globetrotters in Illinois

NPR Illinois | 91.9 UIS | By Vanessa Ferguson

Published January 24, 2025 at 2:45 PM CST

While many might think the Harlem Globetrotters hail from New York, their roots actually belong to Chicago’s South Side. The team was founded by Jewish immigrant Abe Saperstein, a man whose incredible foresight led to a shake up in the world of sports and a legacy enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame. Matthew and Mark Jacob, brothers and authors of the book “Globetrotter: How Abe Saperstein Shook Up the World of Sports,” spoke to a crowd at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in January about Saperstein and his instrumental role in basketball and baseball.