The Chicago Studebaker Flyers (also known as the Chicago Studebakers) were a National Basketball League team from 1942 to 1943.Charley Rosen.
The First Tip-Off
'. McGraw-Hill, 2008. 105. They were funded by the

United Auto Workers The International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, better known as the United Auto Workers (UAW), is an American Labor unions in the United States, labor union that represents workers in the Un ...

and replaced

George Halas George Stanley Halas Sr. (; February 2, 1895October 31, 1983), nicknamed "Papa Bear" and "Mr. Everything", was an American professional football player, coach, and team owner. He was the founder and owner of the National Football League's Chi ...

Chicago Bruins The Chicago Bruins were an American basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois. Owned by Chicago Bears football team owner George Halas, the Bruins were a member of the American Basketball League, a league that also featured other National Football ...

, who folded in 1942.Douglas Stark.
Paving the Way - history of integration of African Americans into professional basketball league
. '' Basketball Digest''. February 2001. Retrieved on October 2, 2008. During the 1942–1943 NBL season, the Studebakers and the Toledo Jim White Chevrolets became the first teams in the league to racially integrate. The Studebakers did so by signing six former

Harlem Globetrotters The Harlem Globetrotters are an American exhibition basketball team. They combine athleticism, theater, and comedy in their style of play. Created in 1926 by Tommy Brookins in Chicago, Illinois, the team adopted the name ''Harlem'' because of ...

Tony Peyton Charles Anthony Peyton (March 3, 1921 – July 23, 2007) was an American professional basketball player. He played for the Chicago Studebaker Flyers in the National Basketball League during the 1942–43 season and averaged 2.4 points per game. H ...

, Duke Cumberland,

Bernie Price Bernard Burnice Price (September 20, 1915 – January 24, 2002) was an American professional basketball player. He played for the Harlem Globetrotters for many years. He also played for the Chicago Studebaker Flyers The Chicago Studebaker Flyers ...

Sonny Boswell Wyatt "Sonny" Boswell (May 19, 1919 – October 19, 1964) was an early African American professional basketball player. He was born in Greenville, Mississippi and grew up in Toledo, Ohio, where he attended Scott High School. He played for the Ha ...

, Roosie Hudson, and

Hillery Brown Hillery L. Brown (July 30, 1912 – February 8, 1991) was an American professional basketball player. Brown played for one season in the National Basketball League (United States), National Basketball League for the Chicago Studebaker Flyers, aver ...

. Though some claimed that the former Globetrotters experienced racism from their white teammates, coach Johnny Jordan insisted that "there was no strife", adding, "All the blacks were treated well by players and fans. People knew the Globetrotters were great ballplayers. They were well received."

References

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