Nathaniel "Sweetwater" Clifton (October 13, 1922 – August 31, 1990) was an American multi-sport athlete best known as one of the first African Americans to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
During a part of the war he played Basketball for Wright Patterson's team in Dayton, Ohio. After the war, some of them stayed on in Dayton and played for The Dayton Metropolitans, a team of pros, but it was not as organized then.
"The Dayton Metropolitans was a professional basketball team in Dayton, Ohio. The team was one of the founding organizations of the National Basketball League, which formed in 1937. In 1949, this league joined with the Basketball Association of America to form the National Basketball Association. The Dayton Metropolitans played for just one season (1937-1938). During the season, the team finished last in the the National Basketball League’s Western Division. The Metropolitans won just two and lost eleven games. Due to its dismal performance, the Dayton Metropolitans disbanded at the end of the season."
I saw most of their local games at the old Fairgrounds Coleseum, and watch several of their practices there. My brother was coaching a high school team at the time and also practiced there occasionally. After one practice, I got to meet ... Big Sweet .... a 14 inch hand, I feared for mine.
He had also played some baseball with the Harlem Globetrotters, was signed and played a few games with the Dayton Indians. Not sure of how it all came about. It was either Bill Veech or Hank Greenberg brought him to Cleveland and he played a few games with the Indians. On one occasion, he hit one home run that Greenberg said was the longest ball he had ever seen hit.
He was a very quiet, mil mannered giant of a man. He has received some recognition for his achievements, but, is basically forgotten. So, I am remembering Nathaniel "Sweetwater" Clifton.
