| Robert (Bob) L. Douglas | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 4, 1882 Saint Kitts, British West Indies |
| Died | July 16, 1979 (aged 96) New York, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Hall of Fame, Contributor |
Robert L. "Bob" Douglas (November 4, 1882 - July 16, 1979) was the founder of the New York Renaissance (a.k.a. "Rens") basketball team. Nicknamed the Father of Black Professional Basketball, Douglas owned and coached the Rens from 1923 to 1949, guiding them to a 2,318-381 (.859) record. Douglas was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor in 1972, becoming the first African American enshrined the Basketball Hall of Fame.
The Rens barnstormed throughout the United States, mostly in the Midwest, and played any team -- black or white -- that would schedule them. Traveling as far as 200 miles for a game, they often slept on the bus, ate cold meals, and were barred from many hotels and restaurants due to the climate of racial discrimination and Jim Crow laws which prevailed at the time. Despite these obstacles, the Rens became a dominant team, and in one season, 1932-33, they won 88 straight games.
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