Former Harlem Globetrotters foe Louis “Red” Klotz dies at 93

Jan 18, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Harlem Globetrotter guard Handles performs his dribbling tricks during a timeout in a game between the Houston Rockets and the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana defeats Houston 105-95. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 18, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Harlem Globetrotter guard Handles performs his dribbling tricks during a timeout in a game between the Houston Rockets and the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana defeats Houston 105-95. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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To some of us, the name Louis “Red” Klotz won’t ring any bells.  Others remember him as the last player to beat the Harlem Globetrotters.

Klotz made the game-winning shot for the Washington Generals as a 50 year old player/coach to beat the Globetrotters 100-99 on January 5, 1971 in Martin, Tennessee.

That was the last time that the famed Globetrotters lost.

The 93 year old Klotz died of natural causes on Sunday in his home in Margate, New Jersey.  He was the oldest living NBA Champion.

At 5’7″, Klotz was the third shortest person to play in an NBA game, and the shortest to play for a championship team.  He played for the 1948 Baltimore Bullets team that defeated the Philadelphia Warriors in six games for the 1948 NBA title.

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Red Klotz meant much more than that to the Globetrotters.  Klotz was the mastermind that put together teams like the Generals, Boston Shamrocks, New Jersey Reds, New York Nationals, International Elite, Global Select, and World All-Stars.  These were the teams that would face the Globetrotters on their famous tours.

The relationship between Klotz and the Globetrotters started in 1952, when he formed the Generals to become their travelling partners.  He participated as player, coach, and manager of the Generals and other teams that he assembled to play – and mostly lose – to the great Globetrotters.  He joked that he lost more than 14,000 games in his coaching career.

This earned him the distinction of being the first non-Globetrotter to have his number retired by the team.  He joined Curly Neal, Goose Tatum, Marques Haynes, Meadowlark Lemon, and Wilt Chamberlain as the only retired numbers in franchise history.  They gave him the honor in his native Philadelphia back in 2011.