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]
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 30, 1907 Newark, Delaware, U.S. |
| Died | December 19, 1980 (aged 73) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Listed weight | 215 lb (98 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Philadelphia Central |
| Playing career | 1925–1945 |
| Position | Center |
| Career history | |
| 1925–1928 | Philadelphia Panthers |
| 1926–1927 | Philadelphia Giants |
| 1926–1927 | Philadelphia Scholastics |
| 1929–1941 | New York Rens |
| 1940–1945 | Washington Bears |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Basketball Hall of Fame | |
Career
editCooper 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
editCooper died at age 73 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from natural causes.[9][10]
References
edit- ^ Tom Fox. "Black heroes on the court". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. B1. Retrieved 16 January 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: Charles Cooper". hoophall.com. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
- ^ "New York Rens win net title". The South Bend Tribune. Associated Press. 29 March 1939. p. 21. Retrieved 5 April 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Al White (13 March 1943). "Washington Bears are former Rens". The Detroit Tribune. p. 7. Retrieved 6 April 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Ex-Rens' stars now with Bears". The Pittsburgh Courier. 13 March 1943. p. 19. Retrieved 6 April 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Renaissance coming: Charles "Tarzan" Cooper". The Bryan Democrat. 15 February 1940. p. 4. Retrieved 16 January 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Tarzan Cooper dies". New York Daily News. 23 December 1980. p. 57. Retrieved 16 January 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Tarzan Cooper, basketbal Hall of Famer, dies". The Berkshire Eagle. UPI. 24 December 1980. p. 21. Retrieved 16 January 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
External links
edit- "Charles T. Cooper" at the Basketball Hall of Fame.
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