Woody Sauldsberry

Woodrow Sauldsberry Jr. (July 11, 1934 – September 3, 2007) was an American National Basketball Association (NBA) player.

Sauldsberry was born in Winnsboro, Louisiana and graduated from Compton Union High School, where he was the star of his basketball team, and then went on to attend Texas Southern University.  In 1957 he was drafted in Round 8 by the Philadelphia Warriors (now the Golden State Warriors). The following year in 1958, he was named the league's Rookie of the Year — the second African American ever to win the award and becoming the lowest overall draft pick ever to win the award, a record he still holds. In 1959 he played in the NBA All-Star Game.  Later in his career he played for the St. Louis Hawks, Chicago Zephyrs and Boston Celtics.

Statistically, Woody Sauldsberry was an extremely poor shooter, having a field goal percentage of just 34.8% for his career.  As a result, he has the lowest number of win shares of any player in NBA history, -7.9.

During the 1950s Sauldsberry was part of the Harlem Globetrotters.

After becoming bitter over discrimination and shunning the basketball world, he died in poverty in Baltimore, Maryland after having a foot amputated due to diabetes.

NBA career statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

References

External links
 Brodie, James Michael "Life and Basketball: The Redemption of Woody Sauldsberry" Baltimore City Paper, March 28, 2001
 Woody Sauldsberry statistics provided by BasketballReference.com
 Fond Farewell – National Basketball Retired Players Association.

Category:1935 births
Category:2007 deaths
Category:African-American basketball players
Category:Basketball players from Louisiana
Category:Boston Celtics players
Category:Chicago Packers players
Category:Chicago Zephyrs players
Category:Compton High School alumni
Category:Harlem Globetrotters players
Category:National Basketball Association All-Stars
Category:New Haven Elms players
Category:People from Winnsboro, Louisiana
Category:Philadelphia Warriors draft picks
Category:Philadelphia Warriors players
Category:St. Louis Hawks players
Category:Texas Southern Tigers men's basketball players
Category:American men's basketball players
Category:Centers (basketball)
Category:Power forwards (basketball)