In 1943 the Washington Bears, an all-black basketball team, went 41-0 while winning the World Professional Basketball Tournament, the nation’s highest basketball title. “Winning the World’s title, the Washington team performed a feat that NO PREVIOUS WINNER HAS RECORDED. They finished the 1943 season with a perfect record having won every one of their 41 [...]
In 1943 the Washington Bears, an all-black basketball team, went 41-0 while winning the World Professional Basketball Tournament, the nation’s highest basketball title.
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“Winning the World’s title, the Washington team performed a feat that NO PREVIOUS WINNER HAS RECORDED. They finished the 1943 season with a perfect record having won every one of their 41 starts. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE TURN OF THE CENTURY THAT A PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL TEAM HAS ENJOYED A SEASON WITHOUT A SINGLE DEFEAT.”
– Leo Fischer, Sports Editor, Chicago Herald-American, writing in the 1942-43 Converse Basketball Yearbook.
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That says a lot coming from Fischer, who was the chairman of the tournament itself, and considering that it was sponsored and staged by the Herald-American, one of Chicago’s leading newspapers.
The Bears, often called the Washington “Lichtman” Bears, was sponsored by Abe Lichtman, who owned a chain of “colored” movie theaters around D.C. They played home games at the old Turner’s Arena, which once stood on the northeast corner of 14th and W Streets.
Winning the championship was hard enough, but going undefeated was an especially difficult accomplishment when one factors in all the challenges the Bears had to face, both on and off the court.
Also, videotaping wasn’t possible in 1943.
In the title game, John Isaacs led both teams in scoring as the Bears beat the Oshkosh All Stars of the National Basketball League.
Isaacs has been considered for enshrinement in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
“Yes sir,” wrote Chicago Defender sports columnist Eddie Gant, “the Bears are the best.”
John Isaacs.
This was eye catching! What a great way to tie history into current events.
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[...] in from New York City, is the former star basketball player who helped lead the New York Rens and Washington Bears to World Professional Basketball Tournament championship titles in 1939 and 1943, [...]
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[...] was a double honor because the other recipients were former New York Rens and Washington Bears star John Isaacs, author and historian James Henderson, who’s book Molder of Men chronicles [...]
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[...] the anniversary of his tragic accidental death. Sidat-Singh played for the New York Rens and Washington Bears, as well as other top pro basketball [...]
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john – boy wonder-issacs and the rest of the washington bears a/k/a-new york rens-should never be forgotten in the history of basketball-they were mentors to many of us who grew up in harlem-usa…
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[...] of his time, was born in Wilmington, Delaware on August 30, 1907. Playing for the New York Rens and Washington Bears, he led his teams to win the World Professional Basketball Tournament in 1939 and 1943, [...]
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[...] a month earlier, the all-black Washington Bears team had won the World Professional Basketball Tournament. This time the world pro champions made [...]
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[...] Isaacs, a star player for the New York Rens, Washington Bears, and other professional teams, was born on September 30, 1915. Related Posts:Happy Birthday John [...]
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