Pop Gates

Pop Gates

Gates circa 1952
Personal information
Born	(1917-08-30)August 30, 1917 Decatur, Alabama, U.S.
Died	December 1, 1999(1999-12-01) (aged 82) New York City, New York, U.S.
Nationality	American
Listed height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight	205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school	Benjamin Franklin (Harlem, New York)
Position	Guard
Career history
As player:
1937–1938	New York Harlem Yankees
1938–1941, 1942–1946	New York Renaissance
1941–1946	Washington Licthman Bears
1941–1944	Grumman Flyers
1944–1945	Rochester
1944–1946	Long Island Grumman Hellcats
1945–1946	Chicago Monarchs
1946–1947	Tri-Cities Blackhawks
1947–1949	New York Rens
1949	Dayton Rens
1949–1950	Scranton Miners
1950–1957	Harlem Globetrotters
1951–1952	New York Celtics
As coach:
1949	Dayton Rens
1950–1955	Harlem Globetrotters
Career highlights and awards
NBL All-Time Team 3× All-WPBT Team (1940, 1942, 1943) ABL champion (1950)
Basketball Hall of Fame as player

William Penn "Pop" Gates (August 30, 1917 – December 1, 1999) was an American professional basketball player. Considered one of the top players of his day, he was the first African American player signed to the National Basketball League, the precursor to today's National Basketball Association.