Chris Boucher\, author of Harry &ldquo \;Bucky&rdquo\; Lew: \;A Biography of Basketball&rsquo\;s Fir st Black Professional\, will host a thoughtful\, interactive discussi on about Massachusetts' own Harry &ldquo\;Bucky&rdquo\; Lew and to learn m ore about how the city's early athletes\, team managers\, and fans ultimat ely influenced the full integration of major league sports that came a gen eration later.
\nHarry &ldquo\;Bucky&rdquo\; Lew was basketball&rsqu o\;s first black professional. In a career that spanned a quarter century\ , Lew was the first Black player\, coach\, manager\, referee\, and franchi se owner in the integrated pro game. \;The Worcester Whirlwind was an early hero of Lew's. He too tried cycling and his hometown paper in Lowell described him as &ldquo\;Harry Lew\, the Major Taylor of this city.&rdquo \; Louis Sockalexis\, who played baseball at Holy Cross\, and became the f irst Native American to play major league baseball when Lew was a teen\, w as also a source of inspiration. \;Lew ultimately chose basketball\, a nd when he signed his first pro contract in 1902\, Worcester had a team in the league. The city was the site of more history in 1915 when Lew was aw arded a franchise. While he was one of two Lowell men applying for a team\ , and the other owned the city's arena\, it was Lew's bid that won! Lew's larger legacy includes his connection to the integration of the Dodgers' o rganization. The move was ultimately a success\, and the full integration of major league sports soon followed.
\nChris Boucher has written tw o books about Bucky Lew. A lifelong basketball fan\, Chris Boucher hadn&rs quo\;t heard of Lew until he started researching early basketball in his b ackyard. He was shocked to learn all his hometown hero accomplished and no w hopes to get Lew his proper due.
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