Eddie Younger Inducted in 2008

Eddie "The Eel" Younger (1923-1985) began his playing career at Frederick Douglass 139 High School and led his school to the Manhattan Junior High School Championship. In 1939 he played in the PSAL championship for Franklin winning the game for his team. Later in college, he played for Long Island University where he was named captain in his sophomore year and then named to the All-Metropolitan team. In his professional career, he played for the  New York Rens the team compiled a 2588-529 record from 1923 to 1948. Important players on the Rens roster included Clarence "Fats" Jenkins, Pappy Ricks, Eyre Saitch, Bill Yancey, "Wee" Willie Smith, Charles "Tarzan" Cooper, Zack Clayton, John Isaacs, Dolly King, Pop Gates, and Nat Clifton. In 1936, the Renaissance became the first top-level team to sign a four-year African American college star, David "Big Dave" DeJernett of Indiana Central.