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Cumberland Posey Elected To The Naismith Hall Of Fame

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced its Class of 2016 inductees on Monday. Many big names were listed including Shaquille O’Neill, Allen Iverson, Tom Izzo, Yao Ming, and Sheryl Swoopes.

Buried in the class among these big names is Cumberland “Cum” Posey, one of the first African American student-athletes at Penn State. He played basketball and baseball — the latter of which he is also a Hall of Fame member — for the Nittany Lions from 1909 to 1911 before transferring to the University of Pittsburgh, and later Duquesne.

Posey has been elected to the Naismith Hall of Fame through the Early African American Pioneers Committee. The Hall of Fame is recognizing him as an “exceptional multisport athlete” and “the greatest African American basketball player of his time.” He’s the first person to be named to both the Basketball and the Baseball Hall of Fames.

Aside from his athleticism, many recognize Posey’s business and managing qualities that made him such an important part of sports in his time.

Posey played for and operated the Loendi Big Five, who went on to win four straight Colored Basketball World Championships from 1920-1923. He also played for and later owned a top Negro League baseball team, the Homestead Grays. He was with the organization until his death in 1946.

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About the Author

Steve Connelly

Unfortunately, former editor Steve Connelly has graduated. Where is he now? He might be doing something related to that PR degree he got in 2019. Maybe he finally opened that sports bar named after one of his photos, the Blurry Zamboni. Or he might just be eating chicken tenders and couch surfing. Anything’s possible. If you really want to know, follow him on Twitter @slc2o.

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