This is a black and white photograph of the Harlem Globetrotters on the stairs of a Belgian Airlines airplane from their flight to Brussels during their 1952 World Tour. The players are dressed in suits and ties and carry travel bags. Some are wearing hats. Joseph Lyles can be seen in the back row near the top middle of the stairs waving. The tail and back wing of the plane are also in the photograph.The word "SABEN(A)" is visible on the stairs in the middle of the photograph.
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Lyles was a member of the U.S. All Stars and the New York Celtics. This team and the Harlem Globetrotters were the first professional basketball teams to ever tour the globe. The Harlem Globetrotters were celebrating their 25th anniversary in 1952 by touring the World. They played in 44 countries in 168 days and covered 58,849 miles! Lyles was born on Oct. 28, 1929. Some of the locations on the tour included London, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triumph, the grave of General Patton, St. Peter’s in Rome, Egypt, Hong Kong, Athens, Singapore, Tokyo and Osaka.
From the back of the photograph "Section photographique, Sabena, reproduction autorisee" - translated--photographic section, sabena, reproduction authorized; Published in the book "Around the World with the Harlem Globetrotters" by Dave Zinkoff with Edgar Williams, appearing on photograph pages between page 62 and 63;
