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+--- Thread: Basketball Pioneer Earl Lloyd (/thread-1570336.html)
Basketball Pioneer Earl Lloyd - hlc1949 - 02-03-2015
I saw players warming up tonight wearing shirts reminding me of February being Black History Month. I decided to post my Earl Lloyd basketball card.
Earl Lloyd was the first African American to play in the NBA, October 31, 1950. That's only 64 years ago....
The 1957 Topps is his RC.
![[Image: img573.jpg]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/hlc1949/Sports%20Cards/img573.jpg)
http://www.beckett.com/forums/thread-1570337.html
Earl Lloyd: A Basketball Pioneer | THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
Earl Lloyd | biography - American basketball player | Encyclopedia Britannica
RE: Basketball Pioneer Earl Lloyd - newfiecomicguy1 - 02-03-2015
Great card, I love reading about the older players and seeing cards of them.
RE: Basketball Pioneer Earl Lloyd - djohn - 02-04-2015
I love reading up on history like this. I was wondering if anyone knows the address to send an autograph request to for Earl Lloyd. I would love to add his autograph to my collection.
RE: Basketball Pioneer Earl Lloyd - djohn - 02-05-2015
I got interested in finding out more and came to find out that there were 2 other players, Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton and Charles Cooper, that were also in the NBA in 1950. In fact each one is credited as being the 1st depending on which website you read, though I think it is semantics regarding 1st to play, 1st to sign a contract, 1st to be drafted, etc.
Earl Lloyd played in a game on the night of October 31, 1950
Charles Cooper played in a game on November 1st, 1950
Nat Clifton played in a game on November 3rd, 1950
Cooper was the 1st to be drafted, as he was selected in the 2nd round of the NBA draft on April 25th, 1950, however both Clifton and Llyod were also drafted that year, just in later rounds.
Of the 3, Clifton was the 1st to sign to an NBA contract, on May 24, 1950.
So while Lloyd would get the distinction as being the 1st to play in a game (literally by a matter of days), I think all 3 players should be mentioned when it comes to breaking the color barrier in the NBA.
RE: Basketball Pioneer Earl Lloyd - killlereye - 02-09-2015
In fact each one is credited as being the 1st depending on which website you read, though I think it is semantics regarding 1st to play, 1st to sign a contract, 1st to be drafted, etc. ???
RE: Basketball Pioneer Earl Lloyd - djohn - 02-09-2015
(02-09-2015, 04:04 AM)killlereye Wrote: In fact each one is credited as being the 1st depending on which website you read, though I think it is semantics regarding 1st to play, 1st to sign a contract, 1st to be drafted, etc. ???Cooper was the 1st drafted
Clifton was the 1st to sign a contract
Lloyd was the 1st to play in a game
However, all 3 were drafted in the same draft, signed contracts the same year, and played in a game within a few days of each other. So the distinction is not as clear cut as it was with Jackie Robinson in baseball.
RE: Basketball Pioneer Earl Lloyd - hlc1949 - 02-27-2015
I just read this......RIP
Earl Lloyd, first black player in NBA history, dead at 86 - NY Daily News