Harlem Globetrotters vs House of David Barnstorming Tour (1954)

This program was from the 1954 barnstorming tour of the Harlem Globetrotters and House of David. This game was played at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C.

During the early to mid 1950’s, the Harlem Globetrotters and House of David were the two biggest drawing barnstorming teams in professional baseball.

Abe Saperstein who also owned the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team owned the Harlem Globetrotters baseball team. The 1954 Harlem Globetrotters baseball team was managed by Negro League veteran Wingfield S. Welch. The starting lineup and batting order for the Harlem Globetrotters for the Griffith Stadium game were:

             Sylvester Carlise                second base

             Sammy Gee                        short stop

             John Britton                       third base

             Lacey Guise                       left field

             Ezell King                           first base

             Alex Triggs                         right field

             Jim Bolden                          center field

             Vernon Lee Scott               catcher

             Satchel Paige                     pitcher

Reserve pitchers for the game for the Globetrotters included John Williams, Riley Stewart, Al Spearman, Lee Childress and Alexandria Williams. Ulysses Redd was also on the team as a backup utility player.



The House of David baseball team was sponsored by the House of David religious colony in Benton Harbor, Michigan. The House of David team was led by George ”Andy” Anderson who played for the team from 1928-1956. Frank “Bobo” Nickerson also traveled with the House of David and performed a 15-20 minute comedy routine before each game.