Goose Tatum
Inducted:
2011
Player Stats
Born:
May 31, 1921
El Dorado, Arkansas, U.S.
Died:
January 18, 1967
El Paso, Texas, U.S.
Position:
Forward
Center
College:
Indiana Central College
Reece “Goose” Tatum was one of the most influential figures in early professional basketball and a defining star of the Harlem Globetrotters. Renowned as the original “Clown Prince of Basketball,” Tatum combined remarkable athletic ability with showmanship, helping turn the Globetrotters into a worldwide phenomenon in the 1940s and 1950s. His inventive plays, smooth ball-handling and comedic routines captivated audiences and inspired generations of players and fans.
Tatum’s impact went far beyond wins and losses—he helped shape how basketball was played and enjoyed around the globe at a time when the sport was still evolving. After a career that blended elite skill with entertainment, Tatum was honored for his contributions to the sport with induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011. His legacy lives on in both the game’s culture and its pioneers who followed in his footsteps.
Tatum's Awards and Records
- Harlem Globetrotters jersey number retired (#50)
- Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame inductee (1974)
- Harlem Globetrotters "Legends" Ring (1993)
- Helped globalize professional basketball’s popularity
NBA Teams
Harlem Globetrotters (1941–42, 1946–1954)
NBA Draft
NA
Numbers Worn
50
NBA Stats
Active Years:
1941–1955 (Globetrotters era)
Specialty:
Inventor of the "Skyhook"
Known for:
Exhibition and barnstorming play