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Many observers dub the Chicago Cubs lovable losers since they have gone 106 years without winning the World Series, but the Illinois-situated athletes have nothing on the Washington Generals, who, under the guidance of Louis “Red” Klotz, dutifully dueled against the Harlem Globetrotters for decades. No matter how many losses he and his charges endured, the coach maintained a persistence-pays-off mentality consistent with his South Philly upbringing. The 93-year-old pioneer, who inspired so many cheers, prompted the flow of tears Saturday, as he died at his Margate, N.J. home.
“The Harlem Globetrotters organization is extremely saddened by the passing of Red Klotz, and our deepest sympathies go out to his entire family,” CEO Kurt Schneider said in a press release of the figure’s clan, which includes wife Gloria, six children, 12 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. “His love of the game — and his love of people — will certainly be missed.”
Mr. Klotz honed his hoops passion at South Philadelphia High School, 2101 S. Broad St., leading the Rams to city titles in 1939 and ’40 while twice claiming Player of the Year honors. He furthered his fascination as a Villanova University registrant and a member of the American Basketball League-based Philadelphia SPHAS, which he joined after a World War II Army stint. He helped the Baltimore Bullets to top the Philadelphia Warriors, helmed by fellow Southern alumnus and SPHAS icon Eddie Gottlieb, for the ’48 Basketball Association of America title and reveled with the South Philly-heavy SPHAS the next year when saddling the Globetrotters with two defeats during their barnstorming tour. Abe Saperstein, the New York club’s founder and owner, three years later courted Mr. Klotz to create a competitive team to tussle with his stars, and for the next four decades, he and the Generals strategized and agonized in dropping more than 14,000 contests to the balanced ballers.
His outfits, who in addition to the Generals went by such names as the Boston Shamrocks and the New Jersey Reds, faced their foes in more than 100 countries, with their lone win coming Jan. 5, ’71 in Tennessee thanks to a waning-seconds shot by Mr. Klotz, who often doubled as a player well into his 60s. A 2001 inductee into the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, he received another accolade a decade later when the Globetrotters made him the first non-member of their organization to have his jersey retired when they made his No. 3, which he wore with the Generals, Southern and Villanova, an immortal digit.
“Red was truly an ambassador of the sport and as much a part of the Globetrotters’ legacy as anyone ever associated with the organization,” Schneider said. “He was a vital part in helping the Globetrotters bring smiles and introduce the game of basketball to fans worldwide.” ■
Contact Managing Editor Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124. Comment at southphillyreview.com/news/features.
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