Wednesday, January 8, 2025

1940-41 Bridgeport Springwoods (CSL)

1940-41 BRIDGEPORT SPRINGWOODS
CONNECTICUT STATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE
1st Half: 3-5, .375, t-6th place
2nd Half: 6-2, .750, t-1st place

Lost to New London in 2nd Half Tie-breaker, 2-1

John Norko took over as coach at the onset of the season, but Eddie Reilly returned to coach the second half. Under Reilly, the Springwoods returned to form and finished in a tie for first in the second place. Unfortunately, they lost to New London in a tie-breaker and their season came to an end.

Head Coach:
  • Johnny Norko (April 16, 1916 - March 28, 2010) 3-5  Also played. See below
  • Eddie Reilly (March 26, 1886 - December 4, 1964)  6-2
PLAYERS:

Mal Baxter (November 10, 1921 - September 17, 2010)
Jackie Bowden (September 7, 1917 - October 4, 1995)
Johnny Chirsky (August 20, 1928 - June  27,2002)
Diker  
Slim Kurimsky (February 1, 1919 - October 8, 2006)
Frank Macey (December 21, 1914 - July 7, 2000)
Steve Nemergut (September 22, 1915 - June 22, 1996)
George Norko (January 20, 1916 - October 10, 2000)
Johnny Norko (April 16, 1916 - March 28, 2010)
Charlie Petrushonis (January 8, 1921 - d. 1987-2010)
Dave Roberts (March 18, 1921 - April 17, 1992)
Jim Whaley (May 6, 1915 - unknown)




Tuesday, January 7, 2025

1940-41 Connecticut State League (CSL)

New season and still nine teams, with a few new teams replacing dropped squads. Again, the season was split into two halves, with the winners of each half slated to face each other for a series to win the President's trophy. The Norwalk Bluefields (also called the Newfields) entered the circuit from the barnstorming world, and after splitting their first 2 games, rattled off 6 straight wins to claim the first half title.  Norwalk would struggle in the second half while New London, West Haven and Bridgeport battled for the second half crown. All three clubs finished with 6 wins, but West Haven shut their season down so New London and Bridgeport would meet in a tie-breaking series.

New London dropped the opener of the best-of-3 series before besting the Springwoods in the next two matches to earn the right to play Norwalk for the Cup. Norwalk won the opener on the road, but dropped the next to (played in Bridgeport to handle larger attendance) to give the Cup to the Boats.

  • Bridgeport Springwoods
  • Danbury Gaels
  • Hartford Gems
  • New Britain Emeralds
  • New London Electric Boats
  • Norwalk Bluefields
  • Waterbury West Side Speedboys
  • West Haven Hull Red Devils
  • Willimantic Lounsbury Aces

Tuesday, December 3, 2024

1939-40 Willimantic Lounsbury Aces (CSL)

1939-40 WILLIMANTIC LOUNSBURY ACES
CONNECTICUT STATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE
1st Half: 1-7, .125, t-8th place
2nd Half: 2-6, .250, t-8th place

The city of Willimantic, Connecticut, was a small municipality of about 12,000 people. The smallest hometown of the league, they managed a single win (over New London) in the first half, finishing 1-7. The fared slightly better in the second half, including a big upset win over Bridgeport, but still finished tied for last place. 

Head Coach:
  • uncertain
PLAYERS:

Clovis Beausoleil (April 5, 1917 - August 19, 1985)
Andy Carey (April 23, 1916 - May 26, 1984)
Ralph Crostwaite (February 11, 1916 - April 12, 1993)
Jean Hall (June 16, 1911 - January 14, 1976)
Jimmy Hoffman (May 9, 1917 - October 24, 2001)
Iggy Lombardo (November 29, 1921 - November 9, 2008)
Willie Monroe (December 8, 1914 - January 11, 1993) 
Stan Morrill (June 13, 1916 - March 29, 1944)
Harold Oates (May 2, 1918 - July 5, 2003)
Chick Rowan (January 10, 1916 - May 1996)
Ben Sagal (May 9, 1919 - July 2, 2001)
Joe Syzdek (September 17, 1918 - December 8, 2007)
Ray Truska (September 1, 1920 - January 18, 2002)

1939-40 West Haven Red Devils (CSL)

Larry Fair
1939-40 WEST HAVEN RED DEVILS
CONNECTICUT STATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE
1st Half: 3-5, .375, 7th place
2nd Half: 3-5, .375, t-6th place

Last year's runners-up to the title, to say this year was a disappointment for the famed Red Devils is a huge understatement. They finished both halves with a 3-5 record and a long way from the championship. Coach Herky Rubenstein's club started 1-4 and failed to score 40 points in four of those games. Ferrie and Collins were the high scorers, but the lack of depth spelled disaster for the Devils.

Head Coach:
  • Herky Rubenstein (October 16, 1902 - October 4, 1975)
PLAYERS:
Steve Collins

John Blasczyk (April 8, 1919 - January 21, 1984)
Ernie Collins (January 17, 1916 - January 3, 2001)
Steve Collins (May 2, 1915 - September 30, 1990)
Aurelio Damiani (July 24, 1916 - January 7, 1957)
Larry Fair (February 19, 1912 - December 20, 1991)
Freddie Ferrie (April 2, 1917 - April 14, 1995)
Dick Ferriter (October 21, 1916 - April 23, 1993)
John McHugh
Milt Northrop (June 14, 1912 - January 18, 2004)
Rocky Petrafessa (February 22, 1917 - February 6, 2003)
Herky Rubenstein (October 16, 1902 - October 4, 1975)
Skip Woerner (February 22, 1912 - March 18, 2000)

Fred Ferrie


1939-40 Stamford Holy Names (CSL)

1939-40 STAMFORD HOLY NAMES
CONNECTICUT STATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE
1st Half: 6-2, .750, t-1st place
2nd Half: 2-6, .250, t-8th place
Lost to Meriden in First Half tiebreaker, 2-0

Stanford got off to a cold start, dropping their first two games by a total of four points, before catching fire and winning the last six games of the first half. Lead by Al Mansi and Irish Sheehy, the Holy Names finished in a tie for first place but lost the tiebreaking series to Meriden. The second half was a complete reversal; Stamford would only win twice and finished tied for last place.

Head Coach:
  • Bob Noonan (January 17, 1915 - September 4, 1969) 
PLAYERS:
George Petrovich

John Cybul (January 9, 1920 - January 14, 2006)
Frank Fonk (March 11, 1920 - July 10, 2006)
Mike Gorelick (July 24, 1918 - May 28, 1983)
Walter Gurlasky (March 17, 1921 - October 21, 1960)
Joe Hoha (January 9, 1915 - August 27, 1986)
John Kvancz (May 19, 1919 - September 24, 1989)
Al Mansi (July 14, 1921 - January 3, 2013)
John Olsavsky (November 9, 1920 - May 16, 2004)
George Petrovich (August 23, 1921 - February 10, 2016)
Tony Santone (May 30, 1919 - November 15, 1986)
Irish Sheehy (December 26, 1915 - June 19, 1985)
Tom Wood (June 27, 1915 - January 26, 2013)









Saturday, November 23, 2024

1939-40 New London Electric Boats (CSL)

1939-40 NEW LONDON ELECTRIC BOATS
CONNECTICUT STATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE
1st Half: 1-7, .125, t-8th place
2nd Half: 4-4, .500, t-4th place

Joe Murphy

The Electric Boats were a local semi-pro team that joined the CSL for the 1939-40 season after a few years of barnstorming around New England. Despite a decent enough history, the Electric Boats faltered and finished the first half in a tie for last place. After dumping Jim Butler, George Chihowski and John LaCastro, they picked up Mike Severin, Eddie Sullivan and Bill Tuneski for the second half.The addition of these players, especially Sullivan who would average a team-best 10 points per game, bolstered the team in the second half but not enough to overcome the top teams. They finished the second have 4-4 and tied for 4th place.


Head Coach:
  • Joe Murphy (December 10, 1913 - August 2, 1986) Also played. See below
PLAYERS:
John LaCastro

Henry Apanaschik (August 9, 1919 - November 30, 1993)
Charlie Brown (April 24, 1913 - Juner 14, 1974)
Mike Butchka (February 25, 1915 - April 2, 2008)
Jim Butler (April 16, 1915 - April 3, 2004)
George Chihowski (August 18, 1917 - December 20, 1987)
John LaCastro (July 29, 1917 - March 24, 1944)
Abe Lariviere (February 15, 1920 - May 1, 1997)
Francis Murphy (May 12, 1907 - December 6, 1997)
Joe Murphy (December 10, 1913 - August 2, 1986)
Tony Osinski (January 6, 1918 - May 8, 1991)
Billy Rose (June 18, 1917 - October 7, 1951)
Mike Severin (November 20, 1919 - September 9, 1989)
Eddie Sullivan (February 3, 1919 - May 3, 1987)
Bill Tuneski (April 23, 1919 - December 17, 2000)

Charlie Brown

Tony Osinski

Billy Rose

Eddie Sullivan

Henry Apanschik


1939-40 New Britain Cremos (CSL)

Henry Ferony
1939-40 NEW BRITAIN CREMOS
CONNECTICUT STATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE
1st Half: 5-3, .625, t-3rd place
2nd Half: 6-2, .750, t-1st place

Won in Round Robin 2nd Half Tie-breaker
Won Finals over Meriden, 3-2

New Britain was a streaky team, winning three straight then losing three straight. At 3-3, they would win the last two of the half and enter the second half with five wins. In the final game against Danbury, a win would give them the second half title outright but Danbury routed them to force a three-way tie. New Britain would win the round robin tie breaker and move on to face Meriden, who they would clip in five games for the President's Cup.



Head Coach:
  • Jimmy Murphy ( - ) 
PLAYERS:
Joe Joyce

Vic Baylock (January 18, 1913 - March 22, 1990)
Joe Boley (August 27, 1915 - January 1, 2000)
Lindy Dobek (January 29, 1917 - February 23, 2015)
Henry Ferony (April 29, 1915 - September 13, 2002)
Bob Gair (April 13, 1910 - August 10, 1992)
Joe Glownia (December 20, 1915 - July 2, 1962)
Joe Gurnicki (March 22, 1920 - June 27, 1983)
Pete Gut (January 12, 1916 - March 8, 2006)
Gene Hayes (July 24, 1920 - June 21, 2009)
Chick Jacobi (June 29, 1920 - July 11, 2014)
Joe Joyce (March 19, 1915 - March 26, 2013)
Henry Parsons (February 23, 1917 - April 29, 2010)
Matty Sheehan (November 15, 1908 - August 31, 1998)
King Zaleski (February 1, 1915 - December 4, 1977)