Marques Haynes
(1926-2015)
Hall of Fame Induction: 1998
Card Shown:
2012 Ultimate Leaf
Authentic Signature
Position: G
Height: 5’11”
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Marques Haynes was a tremendous basketball player and showman who entertained millions of fans worldwide playing for the Harlem Globetrotters and the Harlem Magicians. He was known as the world’s greatest dribbler. Marques was lightning quick and could dribble the ball an inch off the ground, behind the back, and between his legs while he was standing, running, sitting, kneeling, sliding, or reclining on the floor. Often overlooked because of his great showmanship was the fact that Haynes was a basketball player with serious skills that he displayed in high school, college, and as a professional basketball player.
Awards and Honors
- In 1941, Haynes led his high school team to a national championship.
- Marques attended Langston University in Oklahoma, where he led the team to a 59-game winning streak and an overall record of 112-3. He scored 28 points and Langston upset the favored Harlem Globetrotters in an exhibition game, 74-70. This caught the attention of owner Abe Saperstein, who invited Haynes to join the Globetrotters. Marques, however, waited until he had graduated from college to accept the offer.
- At Langston, Marques led the team in scoring all four years and was a four-time All-Conference and All-State selection.
- Haynes was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2011.
- Haynes’ professional basketball career spanned 51 years from 1946-1998, perhaps the longest ever. He traveled to over 100 countries, played over 12,000 games, and scored over 250,000 points – all while entertaining his fans at the same time.
Points of Interest
- During his storied professional career, Haynes played for the Globetrotters (1947-1953), the Original Harlem Magicians (1953-1972), the Globetrotters again (1972-1979), Meadowlark Lemon’s Bucketeers (1979-1981), the Harlem Wizards (1981-1983), and his Harlem Magicians until he retired in 1998.
- In 1949 and 1949, Marques led the all-black Globetrotters to two victories over the powerful all-white Minneapolis Lakers squad led by George Mikan. It was another step leading to the desegregation of professional basketball in 1950.
- Haynes’ spectacular ball-handling and basketball abilities led Wilt Chamberlain to call Marques “probably the best pure basketball player” that ever played for the Globetrotters.
- Marques traveled an estimated four million miles and played in venues ranging from dirt floors in African villages to Madison Square Garden in New York City. He also played in the Rose Bowl, emptied swimming pools, soccer stadiums, and bullrings.
- Often times Marques and his teammates received better treatment in foreign lands than they did at home. Especially in the south, which was holding onto segregation, Haynes faced racial hatred and the trials that were a part of that time period.
- In 1954, Haynes appeared in the movie “Go Man Go” which told the story of Abe Saperstein and the formation of the Harlem Globetrotters. Also appearing in the movie were Dane Clark, Sidney Poitier and fellow Globetrotters Goose Tatum and Sweetwater Clifton.
- When he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Marques and some other former Globetrotters including Meadowlark Lemon, performed their legendary warm-up circle on the stage. Haynes was the first Globetrotter inducted into the Hall of Fame.