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{{Short description|American basketball player}}
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'''Wyatt "Sonny" Boswell''' (born c. 1919; died 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 (Toledo, Ohio)|Scott High School]]. He played for the [[Harlem Globetrotters]] from 1939 to 1942.
{{Infobox basketball biography
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| name = Sonny Boswell
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| position = [[Guard (basketball)|Guard]]
| number =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 1
| weight_lb = 180
| birth_date = {{birth date|1919|5|19}}
| birth_place = [[Greenville, Mississippi]], U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1964|10|19|1919|5|19}}
| death_place = [[Chicago|Chicago, Illinois]], U.S.
| high_school = [[Scott High School (Ohio)|Scott]] ([[Toledo, Ohio]])
| college =
| draft_year =
| years1 = 1937–1938
| team1 = Jesse Owens Olympians
| years2 = 1938–1941
| team2 = [[Harlem Globetrotters]]
| years3 = 1941–1943
| team3 = [[New York Rens]]
| years4 = 1942–1943
| team4 = [[Chicago Studebaker Flyers]]
| years5 = 1943–1944
| team5 = Harlem Globetrotters
| years6 = 1944–1945
| team6 = New York Rens
| years7 = 1945–1946
| team7 = Chicago Monarchs
| years8 = 1945–1946
| team8 = Anderson Chiefs
| years9 = 1946–1947
| team9 = Dayton Mets
| years10 = 1947–1948
| team10 = Ciralsky Meat Packers
| HOF_player = sonny-boswell
| highlights =
* [[All-National Basketball League (United States) Team|All-NBL Second Team]] (1943)
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}}
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'''Wyatt''' "'''Sonny'''" '''Boswell''' (May 19, 1919 – October 19, 1964)<ref>''U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007''</ref><ref>''1930 United States Federal Census''</ref> 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 (Toledo, Ohio)|Scott High School]]. He played for the [[Harlem Globetrotters]] from 1939 to 1941 and again from 1943 to 1944.


Boswell was known for taking long distance trick shots to entertain the fans. [[Abe Saperstein]], the manager of the Globetrotters, described Boswell as "one of the great long shot artists of his day".<ref name=defender>"Ex-Trotter suffers fatal heart attack". ''Chicago Defender''. October 20, 1964. 21.</ref> In 1940, Boswell was named MVP of the [[World Professional Basketball Tournament]] after scoring eleven points in the Globetrotters' 31-29 championship win over the [[Chicago Bruins]].<ref>"Globe Trotters cop world pro cage crown". ''Chicago Defender''. March 30, 1940. 22.</ref><ref name=toledo>Ryan E. Smith. "[http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081026/ART16/810250269/-1/ART At least 11 men with Toledo ties played for the Harlem Globetrotters]". ''Toledo Blade''. October 2008. Retrieved on January 31, 2009.</ref>
Boswell was known for taking long distance trick shots to entertain the fans. [[Abe Saperstein]], the manager of the Globetrotters, described Boswell as "one of the great long shot artists of his day".<ref name=defender>"Ex-Trotter suffers fatal heart attack". ''Chicago Defender''. October 20, 1964. 21.</ref> In 1940, Boswell was named MVP of the [[World Professional Basketball Tournament]] after scoring eleven points in the Globetrotters' 31–29 championship win over the [[Chicago Bruins]].<ref>"Globe Trotters cop world pro cage crown". ''Chicago Defender''. March 30, 1940. 22.</ref><ref name=toledo>Ryan E. Smith. "[http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081026/ART16/810250269/-1/ART At least 11 men with Toledo ties played for the Harlem Globetrotters]". ''Toledo Blade''. October 2008. Retrieved on January 31, 2009.</ref>


During the 1942-43 season, Boswell played for the [[Chicago Studebaker Flyers]] of the [[National Basketball League (United States)|National Basketball League]]. He was one of a group of former Harlem Globetrotters who joined the previously all-white NBL to replace players who had recently been drafted for [[World War II]].<ref>Todd Gould. ''Pioneers of the Hardwood''. Indiana University Press, 1998. 116.</ref> Over the years, Boswell also appeared in games for the [[New York Renaissance]]<ref>"Rens win in $3,000 cage tournament". ''Chicago Defender''. March 27, 1943. 21.</ref> and the [[Chicago Monarchs]].<ref>"Collegians and Monarchs win". ''Chicago Defender''. January 19, 1946. 7.</ref>
During the 1942–43 season, Boswell played for the [[Chicago Studebaker Flyers]] of the [[National Basketball League (United States)|National Basketball League]]. He was one of a group of former Harlem Globetrotters who joined the previously all-white NBL to replace players who had recently been drafted for [[World War II]].<ref>Todd Gould. ''Pioneers of the Hardwood''. Indiana University Press, 1998. 116.</ref> Over the years, Boswell also appeared in games for the [[New York Renaissance]]<ref>"Rens win in $3,000 cage tournament". ''Chicago Defender''. March 27, 1943. 21.</ref> and the [[Chicago Monarchs]].<ref>"Collegians and Monarchs win". ''Chicago Defender''. January 19, 1946. 7.</ref>


After his basketball career, Boswell settled in Chicago, where he managed the Pershing Hotel and later owned his own [[bowling alley]], called Sonny Boswell's South Park Bowl. He died of a [[heart attack]] at age 45 in 1964.<ref name=defender/>
After his basketball career, Boswell settled in Chicago, where he managed the Pershing Hotel and later owned his own [[bowling alley]], called Sonny Boswell's South Park Bowl. He died of a [[heart attack]] at age 45 in 1964.<ref name=defender/>
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{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


{{Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame members}}
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
{{2022 Basketball HOF}}
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| NAME = Boswell, Sonny
{{World Professional Basketball Tournament MVPs}}
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =

| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH =
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH = 1964
| PLACE OF DEATH =
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}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Boswell, Sonny}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Boswell, Sonny}}
[[Category:1919 births]]
[[Category:1964 deaths]]
[[Category:1964 deaths]]
[[Category:deaths from heart attack]]
[[Category:American men's basketball players]]
[[Category:African American basketball players]]
[[Category:Chicago Studebaker Flyers players]]
[[Category:Guards (basketball)]]
[[Category:Harlem Globetrotters players]]
[[Category:Harlem Globetrotters players]]
[[Category:Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:New York Renaissance players]]
[[Category:New York Renaissance players]]
[[Category:Chicago Studebaker Flyers players]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Greenville, Mississippi]]
[[Category:Basketball players from Toledo, Ohio]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportspeople]]


{{1910s-US-basketball-bio-stub}}

Latest revision as of 19:22, 12 November 2023

Sonny Boswell
Personal information
Born(1919-05-19)May 19, 1919
Greenville, Mississippi, U.S.
DiedOctober 19, 1964(1964-10-19) (aged 45)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Listed weight180 lb (82 kg)
Career information
High schoolScott (Toledo, Ohio)
PositionGuard
Career history
1937–1938Jesse Owens Olympians
1938–1941Harlem Globetrotters
1941–1943New York Rens
1942–1943Chicago Studebaker Flyers
1943–1944Harlem Globetrotters
1944–1945New York Rens
1945–1946Chicago Monarchs
1945–1946Anderson Chiefs
1946–1947Dayton Mets
1947–1948Ciralsky Meat Packers
Career highlights and awards
Basketball Hall of Fame as player

Wyatt "Sonny" Boswell (May 19, 1919 – October 19, 1964)[1][2] 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 Harlem Globetrotters from 1939 to 1941 and again from 1943 to 1944.

Boswell was known for taking long distance trick shots to entertain the fans. Abe Saperstein, the manager of the Globetrotters, described Boswell as "one of the great long shot artists of his day".[3] In 1940, Boswell was named MVP of the World Professional Basketball Tournament after scoring eleven points in the Globetrotters' 31–29 championship win over the Chicago Bruins.[4][5]

During the 1942–43 season, Boswell played for the Chicago Studebaker Flyers of the National Basketball League. He was one of a group of former Harlem Globetrotters who joined the previously all-white NBL to replace players who had recently been drafted for World War II.[6] Over the years, Boswell also appeared in games for the New York Renaissance[7] and the Chicago Monarchs.[8]

After his basketball career, Boswell settled in Chicago, where he managed the Pershing Hotel and later owned his own bowling alley, called Sonny Boswell's South Park Bowl. He died of a heart attack at age 45 in 1964.[3]

References[edit]

  1. ^ U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
  2. ^ 1930 United States Federal Census
  3. ^ a b "Ex-Trotter suffers fatal heart attack". Chicago Defender. October 20, 1964. 21.
  4. ^ "Globe Trotters cop world pro cage crown". Chicago Defender. March 30, 1940. 22.
  5. ^ Ryan E. Smith. "At least 11 men with Toledo ties played for the Harlem Globetrotters". Toledo Blade. October 2008. Retrieved on January 31, 2009.
  6. ^ Todd Gould. Pioneers of the Hardwood. Indiana University Press, 1998. 116.
  7. ^ "Rens win in $3,000 cage tournament". Chicago Defender. March 27, 1943. 21.
  8. ^ "Collegians and Monarchs win". Chicago Defender. January 19, 1946. 7.


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