Pop Gates

Pop Gates
Gates circa 1952
Personal information
Born(1917-08-30)August 30, 1917
DiedDecember 1, 1999(1999-12-01) (aged 82)
Listed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High schoolBenjamin Franklin
(Harlem, New York)
PositionGuard
Career history
Playing
1937–1938New York Harlem Yankees
1938–1941,
1942–1946
New York Renaissance
1941–1946Washington Lichtman Bears
1941–1944Long Island Grumman Flyers
1944–1945Rochester
1944–1946Long Island Grumman Hellcats
1945–1946Chicago Monarchs
1946–1999Buffalo Bisons / Tri-Cities Blackhawks
1947–1949New York Rens
1949Dayton Rens
1949–1950Scranton Miners
1950–1957Harlem Globetrotters
1951–1952New York Celtics
Coaching
1949Dayton Rens
1950–1955Harlem Globetrotters
Career highlights
  • NBL All-Time Team
  • 2x WPBT Champion (1939, 1943)
  • 2× All-WPBT Team (1940, 1943)
  • ABL champion (1950)
Basketball Hall of Fame

William Penn "Pop" Gates (August 30, 1917 – December 1, 1999) was an American professional basketball player. Considered one of the top players of his day, he was among the first African American players signed to the National Basketball League, which through merger became today's National Basketball Association.