Share to: share facebook share twitter share wa share telegram print page

Tarzan Cooper

Tarzan Cooper
Personal information
Born(1907-08-30)August 30, 1907
Newark, Delaware, U.S.
DiedDecember 19, 1980(1980-12-19) (aged 73)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High schoolPhiladelphia Central
Playing career1925–1945
PositionCenter
Career history
1925–1928Philadelphia Panthers
1926–1927Philadelphia Giants
1926–1927Philadelphia Scholastics
1929–1941New York Rens
1940–1945Washington Bears
Career highlights and awards
  • 2× WPBL champion (1939, 1943)
Basketball Hall of Fame

Charles Theodore "Tarzan" Cooper (August 30, 1907 – December 19, 1980) was an American professional basketball player and coach who is enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He is best known for his time with the all-Black professional New York Renaissance.[1]

Career

Cooper was born in Newark, Delaware. After playing at Philadelphia Central High School, Cooper turned pro in 1925. He played for the Philadelphia Panthers and Philadelphia Saints until 1929 when he joined the New York Renaissance or Rens for eleven seasons.[2] All were independent teams because the early professional leagues were all-white.[citation needed]

In 1939, he won the World Professional Basketball Tournament with the Rens[3] and again in 1943 with the Washington Bears, which he coached and consisted of many former New York Rens players.[4][5][6]

At 6 ft 4 in (193 cm),[7] Cooper has been called the greatest center that ever played by Hall of Famer Joe Lapchick, center for the rival Original Celtics.[8]

Death

Cooper died at age 73 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from natural causes.[9][10]

References

  1. ^ Tom Fox. "Black heroes on the court". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. B1. Retrieved 16 January 2024 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  2. ^ "The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: Charles Cooper". hoophall.com. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  3. ^ "New York Rens win net title". The South Bend Tribune. Associated Press. 29 March 1939. p. 21. Retrieved 5 April 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  4. ^ Al White (13 March 1943). "Washington Bears are former Rens". The Detroit Tribune. p. 7. Retrieved 6 April 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  5. ^ "Ex-Rens' stars now with Bears". The Pittsburgh Courier. 13 March 1943. p. 19. Retrieved 6 April 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  6. ^ "Busy Bears Five due to return for second appearance soon". The News Journal. 8 March 1945. p. 27. Retrieved 16 January 2024 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  7. ^ "Renaissance coming: Charles "Tarzan" Cooper". The Bryan Democrat. 15 February 1940. p. 4. Retrieved 16 January 2024 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  8. ^ Mike Vaccaro (4 February 2022). "'He made people's wildest dreams come true:' The remarkable life of hoops pioneer Bob Douglas". New York Post. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  9. ^ "Tarzan Cooper dies". New York Daily News. 23 December 1980. p. 57. Retrieved 16 January 2024 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  10. ^ "Tarzan Cooper, basketbal Hall of Famer, dies". The Berkshire Eagle. UPI. 24 December 1980. p. 21. Retrieved 16 January 2024 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon


Stub icon

This biographical article relating to a United States basketball player, coach, or other figure born in the 1900s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
Kembali kehalaman sebelumnya