Zack Clayton
American basketball player (1913–1997)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Zachary M. Clayton (April 17, 1913 – November 20, 1997) was a basketball player for the New York Rens.[1] He was also a Negro league baseball player and a professional boxing referee. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017.[2]
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
| |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 17, 1913 |
| Died | November 20, 1997 (aged 84) |
| Nationality | American |
| Career information | |
| High school | Simon Gratz (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) |
| Career history | |
| 1934–1935 | Chicago Crusaders |
| 1935–1936 | Philadelphia Palais Royal Big Five |
| 1935–1936 | Philadelphia Commanders |
| 1935–1936 | New York Renaissance |
| 1935–1936 | Harlem Globetrotters |
| 1936–1937 | Philadelphia Commanders |
| 1936–1937 | Philadelphia Giants |
| 1937–1938 | Harlem Globetrotters |
| 1938–1945 | New York Renaissance |
| 1941–1942 | Philadelphia Toppers |
| 1942–1947 | Washington Bears |
| 1943–1944 | Harlem Globetrotters |
| 1945–1946 | Harlem Globetrotters |
| 1946–1947 | New York Renaissance |
| 1946–1947 | Hazleton Mountaineers |
| 1947–1948 | Philadelphia Lumberjacks |
| 1948–1949 | Worcester Table-Talk |
| Basketball Hall of Fame | |
| Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame | |
As a boy, Clayton's family moved from Virginia to Philadelphia. Clayton played at the Christian Street YMCA along with Charles "Tarzan" Cooper, Jackie Bethards and Bill Yancey. There they began four fruitful careers on a squad called the Tribune Men.[3] Clayton also played for the Harlem Globetrotters.[4] Clayton would win world championships with both teams.[4] Clayton is enshrined in the Philadelphia basketball Hall of Fame.[5] Clayton later became a boxing referee. His most famous bout was the 1974 Ali-Foreman "Rumble In The Jungle". Clayton also refereed Muhammad Ali's last fight, against Trevor Berbick in 1981.[6] Clayton was a lieutenant in the Philadelphia Fire Department for 26 years. He retired in 1979.
