Eddie Younger

Edward Younger


Born:
January 7, 1923
Harlem, NY

Died:
March 18, 1985
Brooklyn, NY


Career
1939-40 Benjamin Franklin High School - New York City (High School)
1943-44 Long Island University (College)
1945-46 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1945-46 New York Rens (Independent)
1946-47 New York Rens (Independent)
1947-48 New York Rens (Independent)
1948-49 Scranton Miners (ABL)
1948-49 Mohawk Redskins (NYSL)
1949-50 Scranton Miners (ABL)
1949-50 New York Whirls (Independent)
1950-51 Saratoga Yankees (ABL)
1951-52 Carbondale Aces (ABL)
1952-53 Saratoga (ABL)

The speedy basketball star played for the Globetrotters and the Rens before joining the ABL. He played in the ABL for 5 seasons, and later would work the the NYV Parks and Rec department to work with youngsters as a coach and mentor. His father, Clarence, was a talented semi-pro player in his own right.

Source:
Black Fives

Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/eddie-younger/

Young

Young


Born:



Died:




Career
1948-49 Brooklyn Newfield Steelers (ABL)

Played one game for Bridgeport. I can't even find a first name.

Source:


Stats:

Dave Young

David Young


Born:



Died:




Career
1948-49 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL)

The forward played one game for the SPHA's on January 12, 1949, scoring two points.

Source:


Stats:

Al Young

Al Young


Born:



Died:




Career
1948-49 Brooklyn Gothams (ABL)



Source:


Stats:

Little John Wilson

John Edward "Little John" or "Small John" Wilson


Born:
March 23, 1924
Bridgeport, CT

Died:
July 1, 1986
Bridgeport, CT


Career
1940-41 Central High School - Bridgeport. CT (High School)
1941-42 Central High School - Bridgeport. CT (High School)
1945-46 Danbury JayTees (Independent)

1945-46 Bridgeport Lenox (CSL)

1946-47 Bridgeport Lenox (EBL-Ct)

1946-47 Bridgeport Brass (Independent)
1947-48 Bridgeport Newfields (NEBL)
1948-49 Bridgeport Newfield Steelers (ABL)
1949-50 Danbury Hatters (EBL-Ct)

One of two "John Wilson"s to play with Bridgeport.

Wilson graduated from Central HS in his hometown of Bridgeport before serving in the military during World War 2. After the war, he played basketball a few years around Bridgeport and Danbury.

Source:


Stats:

Big John Wilson

John "Big John" Wilson 


Born:
around 1923


Died:
Alive in 1959



Career
Clark / Long Island University (College)
1943-44 New York Rens (Independent)
1944-45 Kansas City Monarchs (Independent)
1945-46 Washington Bears (Independent)
1946-47 Washington Bears (Independent)
1947-48 Bridgeport Newfields (NEBL)
1947-48 Bridgeport Newfields (Independent)
1948-49 Bridgeport Newfield Steelers (ABL)
1949-50 Bridgeport Aer-A-Sols (ABL)
1950-51 Bridgeport Aer-A-Sols (ABL)
1951-52 Bridgeport Aer-A-Sols (ABL)

From New York City.

Source:


Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/john-wilson/

Dave Williams

Dave Williams


Born:



Died:




Career
CCNY (College)
1948-49 New York Rens (Independent)
1948-49 Brooklyn Gothams (ABL)



Source:


Stats:

Al Widmar

Albert Joseph Widmar


Born:
March 20, 1925
Cleveland, OH

Died:
October 15, 2005
Tulsa, OK


Career
Cathedral Latin High School - Cleveland (High School)
1946-47 Binghamton Triplets (EPBL)
1948-49 Scranton Miners (ABL)

1948-49 Sunbury Mercuries (EPBL)

1949-50 Berwick Car-Builders (EPBL)
1950-51 Allentown / Carbondale Aces (ABL)

Born to Slovenian immigrants, Widmar played both baseball and basketball in high school. He was offered scholarships to college due to his basketball skills, but chose to play pro baseball instead. He signed with the Boston Red Sox in 1942, and would pitch well and eventually through the minor leagues to the parent club for a cup of coffee in 1947. After the season, he was part of a trade that sent him to the St. Louis Browns. He would pitch for the Browns in 1948 before being sent back to the minors, but a 22-win season in the minors 1949 saw him brought back up to the Browns in 1950. He would also, at this time, play some pro basketball in the off-season in the ABL. His major league career lasted through 1952 but would stick with minor league baseball through 1958. He would then become a coach for many years in minor and major league capacities.



Source:
SABR biography

Stats:

Ed Whalen

Edward Whalen


Born:



Died:




Career
St. Michael's High School - New York (High School)
1946-47 St. Francis Xavier - Brooklyn (CYO)
1946-47 Prospect - Brooklyn (YMCA)
1947-48 Long Island University (College)
1947-48 Prospect - Brooklyn (YMCA)
1948-49 Long Island University (College)
1948-49 Brooklyn Gothams (ABL)
1949-50 Wallingford Vets (EBL-Ct)
1952-53 Terriers - Brooklyn (Independent)

Some programs for LIU say he is "James Whalen" but newspaper articles say "Ed Whalen"

6' 170

Source:


Stats:

Bob Smith

Robert Austin Smith


Born:
December 28, 1923
Newark, NJ

Died:
August 20, 2014
Petaluma, CA


Career
1942-43 Long Island University (College)
1943-44 Muhlenberg College - Pennsylvania (College)
1945-46 Camp Lejeune (Military)
1946-47 Long Island University (College)
1947-48 Long Island University (College)
1948-49 Paterson Crescents (ABL)
1949-50 Cohoes Marras (ABL)

The 6'5, 200-pound Smith attended LIU but entered the Marines after in 1943, training at Muhlenberg College. He served in World War 2, and after the war, made his way back to LIU, where he was the basketball team captain. He was there during the point-shaving scandal, and when two of the crooked players, Eddie Gard and Nate Miller, approached Coach Bee asking Smith be benched, Bee knew something odd was up. Smith was a hard-nosed leader and definitely not one gamblers would approach to fix games, and Gard and Miller knew their point-shaving task would be made easier without the skilled Smith on the court. Bee met with Smith and they began to piece together what was happening. Smith graduated that year and played a season with the Paterson Crescents. Bee would resign in 1951 amidst the point-shaving scandal which grew outside of LIU to CCNY and beyond. (I want to make clear that Bee was not involved in the fixing of games, but resigned from LIU because it happened under his watch. He was a very respected coach who to coach the Baltimore Bullets in the NBA and  was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1968.)

Smith became an officer in the USMC and continued to serve for 27 until his retirement in 1969, achieving the rank of lieutenant colonel. He served not just in WW2, but in the Korean War as well as the war in Vietnam.

Source:
Hoop Crazy: The Lives of Clair Bee and Chip Hilton, by Dennis Gildea, pg 215-216
Obituary, Press-Democrat, August 28-31, 2014

Stats:

Jimmy Weston

James L. Weston


Born:
November 2, 1922
New York, NY

Died:
February 6, 1997
New York, NY


Career
1947-48 St. John's University (College)
1948-49 Scranton Miners (ABL)
1948-49 Utica Olympics (NYSL)
1948-49 Paterson Crescents (ABL)
1949-50 New Britain Rios (EBL-Ct)
1950-51 Torrington Howards (EBL-Ct)
1951-52 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)

A popular athlete at St. John's, the amiable Weston would play some pro basketball before becoming a police officer and detective in New York city, also working as a bartender. He would eventually gain such a network of friends that in 1967, he decided to quit the force and open his own club. Weston would be friends with many celebrated club guests like Richard Nixon, Frank Sinatra, Muhammed Ali and Howard Cosell.

Source:
Obituary

Stats:

Paul Wallace

Paul "Hook" Wallace


Born:
November 1, 1925
Philadelphia, PA

Died:
September 23, 1998
Philadelphia, PA


Career
1942-43 Overbrook High School - Philadelphia (High School)
1946-47 University of Toledo (College)
1947-48 University of Toledo (College)
1948-49 Philadelphia SPHA's  (ABL)

1949-50 Reading Rangers (EPBL)

Possibly the same Paul Wallace who played for Toledo Chevrolets in 1941-42.

Wallace graduated from Overbrook HS and went into the U.S. Army. After the war, he enrolled at the University of Toledo and played basketball there two years. He played briefly for the SPHA's in the ABL.

He and his first wife, Mollie, had two sons. He later remarried to Carolyn.




Source:
Obituary

Stats:

Al Vogel

Alfred Richard Vogel


Born:
September 27, 1924
New York, NY

Died:
October 3, 1994
Marin County, CA


Career
1941-42 Bishop Loughlin High School - Flushing, NY (High School)
1942-43 Bishop Loughlin High School - Flushing, NY (High School)

1945-46 Columbia University (College)
1946-47 Columbia University (College)
1947-48 Columbia University (College)
1948-49 Hartford Hurricanes (ABL)


The 6'1, 170 pound athlete from Flushing NY served in the U.S. Navy during  World War 2. After the war, he played basketball and tennis at Columbia. After his undergraduate studies, he played a little basketball for the Hartford Hurricanes. He would get his medical degree and in 1970 he moved to the San Francisco area to continue to practice medicine.

He married Frances (1928-2019) and they had three daughters.

Source:
Frances' obituary

Stats:

Buddy Thompson

William "Buddy" Thompson


Born:
c. 1929


Died:




Career
1948-49 Benjamin Franklin High School - New York City (High School)
1948-49 Bridgeport Newfield Steelers (ABL)
1950-51 Saratoga Harlem Yankees (ABL)
1951-52 Broadway Colored Clowns (Independent)
1954-55 New York Rens (Independent)
1954-55 Broadway Colored Clowns (Independent)
1957-58 Wilkes-Barre Barons (EBL)
1958-59 Wilkes-Barre Barons (EBL)
1959-60 Milford Chiefs (Independent)
1960-61 Williamsport Billes (EBL)
1961-62 Wilkes-Barre Barons (EBL)
1961-62 Hazleton Hawks (EBL)

Played one game for Bridgeport, scoring 2 points in 1948/49 season.

6'5 from New York City.

Source:


Stats:

Stan Starkman

Stanley "Stitch" Starkman


Born:
April 2, 1925
New York, NY

Died:
May 7, 2007
Pompano Beach, FL


Career
1942-43 Monroe High School - Brooklyn (High School)
1948-49 Brooklyn Gothams (ABL)



Source:


Stats:

Frank Stanczak

Frank M. Stanczak


Born:
August 17, 1929
Philadelphia, PA ??

Died:
January 11, 2011
Philadelphia, PA


Career
1945-46 Roxborough High School - Philadelphia (High School)
1946-47 Roxborough High School - Philadelphia (High School)
1948-49 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL)

Scored 55 point in a high school game in 1947, a state record that stood until Wilt Chamberlain broke it with 70 in 1954

Longtime employee for post office

Source:
Philadelphia Daily News, January 13, 2011

Stats:

Red Speicher

Sanford Emerson Speicher


Born:
September 20, 1923
Akron, OH

Died:
December 6, 2010
Akron, OH


Career
Ellet High School - Ohio (High School)
1944-45 Iceland (Military)
1947-48 Bowling Green State University - Ohio (College)
1948-49 Bowling Green State University - Ohio (College)
1948-49 Hartford Hurricanes (ABL)
1949-50 Bridgeport Aer-A-Sols (ABL)
1949-50 Bristol Tramps (EBL-Ct)
1949-50 New Britain Rios (EBL-Ct)
1950-51 Goodyear Wingfoots - Akron, OH (Independent)

Red played basketball at Bowling Greens and played for the Hurricanes in a couple of games late in the 1949 season, appearing in the box scores at "Spiers." He was drafted by the Boston Celtics (48th overall) but did not make the team. He played for Bridgeport before returning home to Akron. He worked for many years at Goodyear.

Not sure how Emerson wound up in New England to not just play for Hartford but to be mentioned in various articles at the time prior to his selection by the Celtics. It IS quit possible that "Spiers" of the Hurricanes is a different player than Speicher, but there is no record of any Bill Spiers in basketball in New England at that time, and Speicher is just too close of a name and was featured in articles in Massachusetts and Connecticut at that time.

He and his wife, Marjorie, had one son and one daughter.

Source:
North Adams Transcript, March 23, 1949

Stats:

Tony Sisti

Tony Sisti


Born:



Died:




Career
(High School)
1946-47 Seton Hall University (College)
1947-48 Seton Hall University (College)
1948-49 Brooklyn Gothams (ABL)
1948-49 New Jersey Reds (Independent)
1949-50 Bristol Tramps (EBL-Ct)
1949-50 Schenectady Packers (ABL)

6'6

I see pictures of a Anthony J. Sisti at Riverdale / Manhattan Prep 1946 and that dude is tall. It could be him, but he did not play on the basketball team there, according to the yearbook

Not Anthony Joseph Sisti (1926-2011) from New Jersey.

Source:


Stats:

Shaw

Shaw


Born:



Died:




Career
1948-49 Brooklyn Gothams (ABL)

Unidentified player for Brooklyn, three games

Source:


Stats:

Ira Shain

Ira J. (or L) Shain


Born:
February 12, 1926
New York, NY

Died:
October 3, 2017
Paramus, NJ


Career
1942-43 Midwood High School - Brooklyn (High School)
1945-46 Brooklyn College (College)
1946-47 Brooklyn College (College)
1947-48 Brooklyn College (College)
1948-49 Brooklyn Gothams (ABL)

The 6'5 190-pound Shain played basketball and baseball at Brooklyn College. He would go one to work in the chain drug industry for many years.

He and his wife, Sylvia, had one daughter and two sons.


Source:
Obituary, Schoems Chapel

Stats:

Howard Sanders

John Howard "Howdy" Sanders


Born:
October 27, 1923
Springfield, MO

Died:
February 5, 2017
St. Louis, MO ??


Career
1939-40 Maplewood - Richmond Heights High School - Missouri (High School)
1940-41 Maplewood - Richmond Heights High School - Missouri (High School)
1946-47 Miami University - Ohio (College)
1947-48 Miami University - Ohio (College)
1948-49 Scranton Miners (ABL)

1948-49 Williamsport Billies (EPBL)

After graduating from High School in Missouri, Sanders entered the USMC to serve during World War 2. He would go to school and play basketball at Miami University in Miami, and played one year of basketball with the Scranton Miners in the ABL. "Howdy" returned to Maplewood where he taught and coached until retiring in 1987.

He married Shirley Peterson and they had one son and one daughter.

Source:
MRH News, September 22, 2017


Stats:

Aaron Rosovsky

Aaron I. Rosovky


Born:
May 14, 1929
New York, NY

Died:
November 8, 2015
West Palm Beach, FL


Career
1945-46 DeWitt Clinton High School - Bronx, NY  (High School)
1948-49 Scranton Miners (ABL)
1949-50 Iona College - New York (College)
1950-51 Iona College - New York (College)

Source:


Stats:

Harold Reis

Harold Edward "Dutch" Reis


Born:
October 31, 1923
Charlestown, IN

Died:
July 17, 1986
Charlestown, IN


Career
1938-39 Charlestown High School - Indiana (High School)
1939-40 Charlestown High School - Indiana (High School)
1940-41 Charlestown High School - Indiana (High School)
1941-42 Kentucky Wesleyan (College)
1945-46 Kentucky Wesleyan (College)
1946-47 Kentucky Wesleyan (College)
1947-48 Kentucky Wesleyan (College)
1948-49 Scranton Miners (ABL)
1949-50 Charlestown High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1950-51 Charlestown High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1951-52 Charlestown High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1952-53 Charlestown High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1953-54 Charlestown High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1954-55 Charlestown High School - Indiana (High School) JV Head coach
1955-56 Charlestown High School - Indiana (High School) JV Head coach
1956-57 Charlestown High School - Indiana (High School) JV Head coach
1957-58 Charlestown High School - Indiana (High School) coach
1958-59 Charlestown High School - Indiana (High School) coach
1959-60 Charlestown High School - Indiana (High School) coach

Reis served in the Coast Guard during World War 2 and the Korean War. He would become a teacher and coach, and eventually principal.

Reis died of a heart attack in 1986 at the age of 62.

married Vaye Hoshor (1929-1984) in 1955 and they had one son and two daughters.

Source:


Stats:

Fred Price

Dr. Frederick A. Price, Jr.


Born:
August 12, 1924
Trenton, NJ

Died:
September 29, 2012
Ewing, NJ


Career
1941-42 Catholic High School - Trenton (High School)
1945-46 Fleet City - California (Military)
1946-47 Villanova University (College)
1947-48 Villanova University (College)
1948-49 Trenton Tigers (ABL)
1949-50 Trenton Tigers (ABL)
1953-54 Catholic High School - Trenton (High School) Head coach
1954-55 Catholic High School - Trenton (High School) Head coach
1955-56 Catholic High School - Trenton (High School) Head coach
1956-57 Catholic High School - Trenton (High School) Head coach
1957-58 Catholic High School - Trenton (High School) Head coach
1958-59 Catholic High School - Trenton (High School) Head coach
1959-60 Catholic High School - Trenton (High School) Head coach
1960-61 Catholic High School - Trenton (High School) Head coach
1961-62 Catholic High School - Trenton (High School) Head coach
1962-63 Catholic High School - Trenton (High School) Head coach
1963-64 Catholic High School - Trenton (High School) Head coach
1964-65 Catholic High School - Trenton (High School) Head coach
1965-66 Catholic High School - Trenton (High School) Head coach
1966-67 Catholic High School - Trenton (High School) Head coach
1967-68 Catholic High School - Trenton (High School) Head coach
Rider College (College) Assistant coach

Price graduated from Trenton Catholic and served in the U.S. Navy during World War 2. He enrolled at Villanova where he played baseball and basketball. He signed with the Philadelphia Phillies Baseball Club and spent the 1948 season in their farm system, but was let go after the season. He played pro basket ball with the Trenton Tigers while he finished his education at Villanova, graduating in 1950. He would get his Masters Degree from Rutgers in 1955, and his doctorate from Southern Mississippi in 1970. He had been teaching at Catholic, but in 1972 became a professor at Rider University and a couple years after that, a director in the New Jersey Department of Education.

He married Vivian Stroman and they had two sons.

Minor League Baseball Stats
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=price-002fre

Source:
Obituary, Trenton Times, October 10, 2012

Stats:

John Phoenix

John Jasper Phoenix III


Born:
April 2, 1924
Greensboro, NC

Died:
August 31, 1988
Los Angeles, CA


Career
1940-41 American Falls High School - Idaho (High School)
1946-47 University of Idaho (College)
1947-48 University of Idaho (College)
1948-49 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)

1948-49 Pottsville Packers (EPBL)
1948-49 Scranton Miners (ABL)

Phoenix, a 6'9 center who grew up in Idaho, served in the military before finishing college at the University of Idaho. He signed with the Syracuse Nationals in October of 1948 but didn't make the opening day roster. He played with Wilkes-Barre in the the ABL, averaging 5.7 points in 14 games before being let go. He finished the season with the Scranton Miners.

Source:


Stats:

Guinn Phillips

Guinn Williams Phillips


Born:
November 23, 1922
Greenwood, TX

Died:
January 17, 1999
Hurst, TX


Career
1942-43 Texas Wesleyan (College)
1946-47 Texas Wesleyan (College)
1947-48 Texas Wesleyan (College)
1948-49 Bridgeport Newfield Steelers (ABL)

Phillips, 6'3 and 190 pounds, attended Texas Wesleyan, but had to leave to serve in the army during World War 2. He returned to Wesleyan and finished his schooling. Phillips was drafted in the second round by the Boston Celtics in the 1948 draft. He didn't make the Celtics squad, but played for Bridgeport in the ABL before returning to Texas.

Guinn married Billier Harmening (1930-2003) in 1952. They had one son who died in infancy.


Source:



Stats:

George Petrovik

George James "The Cat" Petrovick, Jr.


Born:
August 23, 1921
Bridgeport, CT

Died:
February 10, 2016
Shelton, CT


Career
Harding High School - Connecticut (High School)

1939-40 Stamford Holy Names (CSL)
1940-41 Norwalk Newfields (Independent)
1941-42 New London Diesels (CSL)
1943-44 Hartford Villanovas (Independent)
1946-47 Stamford Pros (EBL-Ct)
1946-47 New Britain Newfields (NEBL)
1947-48 Bridgeport Newfields (NEBL)
1948-49 Bridgeport Newfield Steelers (ABL)
1949-50 Bridgeport Aer-A-Sols (ABL)

After graduating from Harding HS, Petrovick played some semi-pro basketball around Connecticut until the U.S. Navy came a-calling. After World War 2, he returned to the court, including two seasons with Bridgeport in the ABL. George would work at Sikorsky for 33 years, and was an avid golfer and active figure in Bridgeport sporting circle throughout his life. He died in 2016 at 94 years of age.

He married Anne Moyher (1921-1994) and they had two daughters. He remarried to Jean Mosher.

Source:
Obituary

Stats:

John Padgett

John Clarence Padgett


Born:
November 14, 1923
Hardin, KY

Died:
August 27, 2007
Lexington, KY



Career
1939-40 Hardin High School - Kentucky (High School)
1940-41 Hardin High School - Kentucky (High School)
1941-42 Murray State Teachers College - Kentucky (College)
1946-47 Murray State Teachers College - Kentucky(College)
1947-48 Murray State Teachers College - Kentucky(College)
1948-49 Scranton Miners (ABL)
1948-49 Utica Olympics (NYSL)

1948-49 Williamsport Billies (EPBL)  
1949-50 Frankfort High School - Kentucky (High School) Head coach
1949-50 Frankfort High School - Kentucky (High School) Head coach
1949-50 Frankfort High School - Kentucky (High School) Head coach
1949-50 Frankfort High School - Kentucky (High School) Head coach

After leading Hardin HS to the state championship game in 1941, Padgett had a basketball scholarship at Murray State but had to leave school to serve in World War 2 where he was award the bronze star for his expolits in Anzio. After the war, he returned to MSU where he was one of the school's highest scorers. Padgett was signed by the Providence Steamrollers after graduating from Murray State, but did not make the team. He went to play with the Scranton Miners that season instead. After teaching and coaching at Frankfort HS, he left education to work for the Atomic Energy Commission in Paducah, Kentucky. He later worked for the Department of Education. Padgett died in 2007 of kidney failure.

He married Roberta Peak in 1949 and they had three sons.

Source:
Obituary, State-Journal (Frankfort, KY), 2007

Stats:

Ed Kosior

Edward S. Kosior


Born:
September 30, 1923
Hadley, MA

Died:
January 3, 1976
Springfield, MA


Career
1940-41 Hopkins Academy - Massachusetts (High School)
1945-46 American International (College)
1946-47 American International (College)
1947-48 American International (College)
1948-49 Hartford Hurricanes (ABL)
1950-51 Westfield State University - Massachusetts (College) Head coach
1951-52 Westfield State University - Massachusetts (College) Head coach
1952-53 Westfield State University - Massachusetts (College) Head coach
1953-54 Westfield State University - Massachusetts (College) Head coach
1954-55 Westfield State University - Massachusetts (College) Head coach
1955-56 Westfield State University - Massachusetts (College) Head coach
Holyoke Community College - Massachusetts (College) Head coach
Trade High School - Springfield, MA (High School) Head coach

Kosior went to Hopkins Academy where he played basketball, baseball and soccer. After graduating, he enlisted in the Marines and served his country during World War 2. After the war, he went to American International College in Springfield. He graduated in 1948 with a degree in accounting, and played basketball with the Hartford Hurricanes in 1948-49. He was announced to be the first head coach for Westfield State in 1950, where he also taught and coached baseball. He would coach and teach at Holyoke and Trade HS before becoming a school administrator.

He married Agnes Aubey in 1966.


Source:
Westfield State Hall of Fame

Stats:

Joe Oslai

Joseph Louis Oslai


Born:
January 27, 1923
Bridgeport, CT

Died:
March 10, 1976
Milford, CT


Career
1939-40 Bassick High School - Bridgeport (High School)
1940-41 Bassick High School - Bridgeport (High School)
1941-42 Junior College of Connecticut - Bridgeport (College)
1941-42 Bridgeport Springwoods (Independent)
1942-43 Bridgeport Springwoods (Independent)
1943-44 Fort Devens (Military)
1946-47 New Britain Newfields (NEBL)
1946-47 Stamford Tramps (EBL-Ct)
1947-48 New Britain Newfields (NEBL)
1948-49 Bridgeport Rectors (EBL-Ct)
1948-49 Bridgeport Newfield Steelers (ABL)

Born to Steve and Margaret Oslai, Joe served in the U.S. Army during World War 2. He played semi-pro and pro basketball for a few seasons after the war. He started working at Sealtest Foods in 1946 and was living in Devon, Connecticut, when he died in a Milford hospital in 1976 at 53 years of age.

Joe married Kathleen Duhamel and they had a daughter.


Source:
Bridgeport Post, March 11, 1976

Stats:

Ted Nicksick

Dr. Theodore Nicksick, Jr.


Born:
July 30, 1921
Slovan, PA

Died:
March 27, 1996
Wharton, TX


Career
1938-39 Burgettstown High School (High School)
1939-40 Burgettstown High School (High School)
1942-43 West Virginia University (College)
Mineral Wells - Texas (Military)
1946-47 Texas Wesleyan (College)
1947-48 Texas Wesleyan (College)
1948-49 Bridgeport Newfield (ABL)
1950-51 North Texas State University (College) Head coach - Freshmen
1951-52 North Texas State University (College) Head coach - Freshmen
1952-53 North Texas State University (College) Head coach - Freshmen
1953-54 North Texas State University (College) Head coach - Freshmen
1954-55 North Texas State University (College) Head coach - Freshmen
1955-56 North Texas State University (College) Head coach - Freshmen
1956-57 North Texas State University (College) Head coach - Freshmen

Ted was born in Slovan, Pennsylvania, and was a natural athlete. After graduating from high school, he bypassed an offer to sign with baseball's Cincinnati Reds to attend West Virginia. Ted went to West Virginia for a year before entering the U.S. Army for World War 2. After the war, during which he served stateside, Ted continued his education at Texas Wesleyan. After graduating, Nicksick was signed by the Boston Celtics but did not make the team and the 5'8 guard was farmed out to Bridgeport in the ABL. After three games there, he decided to return to Texas. He earned his doctorate in education at North Texas while also serving as their assistant coach on the basketball team. He worked at Austin College in Sherman, Texas, before moving to Ranger Junior College where he was named the school's president. After a few years, he moved to Wharton Junior College and acted as their president until retiring in 1984.

Ted's older brother, Mike Nixon, was a longtime coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers and for two seasons (1959 & 60) was the head coach for the Washington Redskins.

He married Bernice Stone, whom he met while in the army in North Carolina.

Source:
Obituary
Abilene Reporter-News,  February 28, 1965

Stats:

Jack McLaughlin

John Joseph McLaughlin


Born:
August 20, 1923
Philadelphia, PA

Died:
March 28, 2002
Norristown, PA


Career
1940-41 Bartram High School - Philadelphia (High School)
1941-42 Bartram High School - Philadelphia (High School)
1942-43 Temple University (College)
1945-46 McCall Post - Philadelphia (Independent)
1946-47 Temple University (College)
1947-48 Temple University (College)
1948-49 Trenton Tigers (ABL)
1949-50 Trenton Tigers (ABL)

1949-50 Lancaster Rockets (EPBL)  

Listed as 6'4 210. I found a John Joseph McLaughlin who was listed as 6'3 in his WW2 draft papers. His military career coincides with Jack McLaughlin's time at Temple. Most likely him (1923-2002). Could use some ironclad proof, though.

Married Marie Logrippo and they had four sons and a daughter.

Source:


Stats:

Pat Mazzarella

Pasquale Michael "Pat" Mazzarella


Born:
June 18, 1923
New Britain, CT

Died:
July 19, 1989
Hartford, CT


Career
1942-43 New Britain Machine (Independent)
1946-47 Bristol Tramps (EBL-Ct)
1946-47 Wallingford Vets (EBL-Ct)
1946-47 New Britain Pros (EBL-Ct)
1947-48 Hartford Hurricanes (NEBL)
1947-48 Meriden Spurs (Independent)
1948-49 Wallingford Veterans (EBL-Ct)
1948-49 Hartford Hurricanes (ABL)
1949-50 Bristol Tramps (EBL-Ct)

The 5'9, 140 pound Pat Mazzarella served in the Army from 1943 to 1946 as the country was in World War 2. After the war, he played some pro basketball. He was the leaguye MVP in the 1948-49 season with the Wallingford Veterans of the Eastern League (also known as the Connecticut League and not to be confused with the larger Eastern Basketball League). He also played for the Hurricanes, appearing in a couple of games late in the ABL season. He would return to military duty in 1950 as the U.S. became involved in the Korean War.
Mazzarella was also quite a golfer in the area. In 1949, he came out of nowhere to challenge for the Connecticut Amateur Golf title, losing in the finals. He would go on to win many golf tournaments over the years, and served as the vice-president of the Central Connecticut Golf Association. He would work many years as a grammar school teacher in New Britain, dying in 1989.

He married Antonia (Ann) Gagliardi (1922-2012) and they had one daughter, Patricia.

Source:
Hartford Courant, November 28, 1947

Stats:

Leo Marshall

Leo Thomas "The Point" Marchlewicz (Marshall)


Born:
March 1, 1922
Wilmington, DE

Died:
January 1, 2000
Wilmington, DE


Career
1939-40 Brown Technical School - Wilmington (High School)
1947-48 St. Mary's - Wilmington (Independent)
1948-49 St. Mary's - Wilmington (Independent)
1948-49 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL)
1948-49 Milford - Delaware (Independent)

Leo was a star football, baseball and basketball player in high school. He learned to be a pipe fitter after graduating, but entered the U.S. Army for World War 2. After the war, he kept on with basketball, even playing one game with the SPHA's on February 3, 1949 and scoring one point. He played for various semi-pro outfits, but had his eyes set on the political world. In 1952, while chairman of the local Democratic party, Marshall was appointed to be the detective of New Castle County by Delaware governor Elbert Carvel. He would later enter politics, and was eventually was the Wilmington city clerk as well as Democratic chairman. He was known as a colorful authoritarian that you would definitely want on your side if you wanted to get things done in Wilmington. He left behind a legacy in his hometown.


Leo married Elizabeth McMackin (b. 1923) in 1943 and they had four daughters.

Source:
News Journal (Wilmington, DE), January 2, 2000
News Journal (Wilmington, DE), January 4, 2000

Stats:

Dan Markhoff

Daniel Markhoff


Born:
December 19, 1926
New York, NY

Died:
December 14, 2019
Silver Spring, MD


Career
1943-44 Stuyvesant High School - New York (High School)

1944-45 CCNY (College)

1947-48 CCNY (College)

1948-49 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL)



Source:


Stats:

Ace Lengyel

Edward Geza "Ace" Lengyel


Born:
April 14, 1926
Bridgeport, CT

Died:
March 24, 1992
Branford, CT


Career
1942-43 Ludlowe High School - Fairfield, CT (High School)
1943-44 Ludlowe High School - Fairfield, CT (High School)
1947-48 Danbury Fedoras (EBL-Ct)

1948-49 Bridgeport Newfield Steelers (ABL)

1949-50 University of Bridgeport - Connecticut (College)
1950-51 University of Bridgeport - Connecticut (College)
1950-51 Clampett's Sports - Bridgeport (Independent)

Eddie graduated from high school and went right into the U.S. Army. After the army he played for Bridgeport in the ABL, and graduated from the University of Bridgeport in 1951.

He worked for the city of Fairfield, Connecticut, as the Director of Risk Management and died in 1992.

(Note: The Hartford Courant from Feb 4, 1949, says it is Ed Lengyel. Why he played three pro games but was still in college is uncertain to me, but I do feel like I have correct Lengyel.)

Source:


Stats:

Walt Kaplowitz

Walter Kaplowitz


Born:
June 24, 1924
Bronx, NY

Died:
August 22, 1998



Career
1946-47 Pratt Institute - New York City (College)
1947-48 Pratt Institute - New York City (College)
1948-49 Saratoga Indians (NYSL)
1948-49 Brooklyn Gothams (ABL)
1948-49 Paterson Crescents (ABL)
1950-51 Bridgeport Aer-A-Sols (ABL)

Walt started the 1949-49 season with Brooklyn, but finished the season with Paterson. Walt tried out with the Hartford Hurricanes in 1949 but didn't make the club.

Walt's cousins, Ralph and Danny, also played pro basketball.

Source:


Stats:

Ernie Johnson

Ernest Thorwald Johnson


Born:
June 16, 1924
Brattleboro, VT

Died:
August 12, 2011
Roswell, GA


Career
1940-41 Brattleboro High School - Vermont (High School)
1941-42 Brattleboro High School - Vermont (High School)
1948-49 Bridgeport Newfield Steelers (ABL)
1949-50 Danbury Hatters (EBL-Ct)
1949-50 Bridgeport Aer-A-Sols (ABL)
1949-50 Torrington Howards (EBL-Ct)
1949-50 Manchester Nassiff Arms (EBL-Ct)
1950-51 Manchester Nassiff Arms (EBL-Ct)

Born to Thorvald and Alina Johnson, who came to the U.S. from Sweden, Ernie played baseball and basketball in high school. After high school, where he had a great senior year on the pitcher's mound, Johnson attracted the interest of the Boston Braves, and was offered the option of a minor league contract or travelling with the Braves to throw batting practice. He chose to travel with the big club, getting experience throwing to major league hitter. After about a month, he signed with the Braves and spent the rest of the 1942 season pitching for the team's Eastern League affiliate in Hartford. After the season, he was drafted into the Marines for World War 2, so his baseball career would have to wait.

After the war, Johnson returned to the diamond and would bounce around the Braves system. In winter of 1948/49, he suited up to play basketball with the Bridgeport Steelers in the ABL. After going 15-5 for Denver in the Western League in 1949, he was invited to the Braves' 1950 spring training camp and went north with the parent club. After struggling through 16 appearences with the Braves what saw him with a 6.97 ERA, he was sent back down but would return to the club for good in 1952. He would pitch the next seven seasons with the Braves, who had moved to Milwaukee after the 1952 season, and then one more with the Orioles in 1959. He signed with the Indians in the off-season, but a bad arm prevented him from ever throwing a pitch for them and his pitching career came to an end. He had gone 40-23 in his career, primarily coming out of the bullpen.

Johnson moved in to the Braves broadcast booth, starting with doing 20 games a year, and then in 1962 was brought in to work in the Braves' front office. Eventually, he moved back into broadcasting, and was the full-time voice of the Braves through his semi-retirement in 1989. He was still associated with the Braves in the years that followed, and died of heart failure in 2011.


Major League Baseball Stats:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/johnser02.shtml

Source:
SABR Biography

Stats:

Joe Howard

Joseph Francis Howard


Born:
June 4, 1928
Fairfield, PA

Died:
December 17, 1993
Hagerstown, MD


Career
1942-43 Chambersburg High School - Pennsylvania (High School)

1943-44 Chambersburg High School - Pennsylvania (High School)

1944-45 Chambersburg High School - Pennsylvania (High School)

1945-46 Gettysburg College - Pennsylvania (College)

1947-48 Cumberland Valley - Pennsylvania (Independent)

1947-48 Fairchild Packets - Maryland (Independent)

1948-49 Trenton Tigers (ABL)

1948-49 Chambersburg Cardinals - Pennsylvania (Independent)

1949-50 Chambersburg Cardinals - Pennsylvania (Independent)

1949-50 York Victory (EPBL)

1949-50 Fairchild Packets - Maryland (Independent)

1949-50 Greencastle VFW - Pennsylvania (Independent)

1952-53 Chambersburg Knights - Pennsylvania (Independent)

The 6'2 177-pound athlete from Chambersburg starred for the local high school team before playing some independent basketball around his area. He would play one game with the Trenton Tigers of the ABL, scoring five points. He would also play one game a year later for York in the Eastern League.

Source:


Stats:

Mickey Homa

Michael E. Homa


Born:
October 16, 1923
Fairfield, CT

Died:
April 9, 2014
Fairfield, CT


Career
Roger Ludlowe High School - Fairfield, CT (High School)
1946-47 New Britain Newfields (NEBL)
1946-47 Stamford Pros (EBL-Ct)
1946-47 Bridgeport Springwoods (CSL)
1946-47 Bridgeport Newfields (Independent)
1947-48 University of Kentucky (College)
1947-48 Bridgeport Newfields (Independent)
1948-49 Bridgeport Newfield Steelers (ABL)
1949-50 Bridgeport Aer-A-Sols (ABL)
1950-51 Bridgeport Aer-A-Sols (ABL)
1951-52 Bridgeport Roesslers (ABL)

Born in Fairfield, Connecticut, to Peter and Eva Homa, Mickey lettered in basketball, baseball and golf in high school. He entered the Marines after graduating, and served mainly in Iceland during World War 2. After the war, he played basketball for Adolph Rupp at Kentucky, but left school after one year. He would return home and play in the ABL for three seasons.

Aside from being a good basketball player, Homa was an excellent golfer, honing his craft under the instruction of the legendary golfer Tommy Armour. making the cut in two U.S. Opens (1953, '56) and one PGA Championship ('59). He worked for many years at various clubs as the golf pro, retiring in 1995.

He married Wanda Soltys in 1951 and they had two sons.

Source:
Obituary, Connecticut Post, April 11, 2014
https://www.ctpost.com/sports/article/Chris-Elsberry-Hooks-Homa-remembered-as-5396516.php

Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/mickey-homa/

Doc Hurley

Walter J. "Doc" Hurley


Born:
March 2, 1922
Albany, GA

Died:
February 8, 2014
Hartford, CT


Career
1938-39 Weaver High School - Hartford  (High School)
1939-40 Weaver High School - Hartford (High School)
1940-41 Weaver High School - Hartford (High School)
Virginia State University (College)
1948-49 Bristol Tramps (EBL-Ct)
1948-49 Hartford Hurricanes (ABL)
1950-51 Norfolk County High School - Virginia (High School) Head coach

Doc Hurley was a larger-than-life figure in the Hartford sporting community. Nicknamed "Doc" by his father at the age of six, Hurley would letter in four sports (football, baseball, basketball and track) in high school. The 6'6, 220-pound Hurley would star at Virginia State before returning to Hartford, where he played with the ABL's Hartford team. He also played semi-pro football and baseball in Connecticut as well as Virginia. (Hurley also served in the Marines during World War 2.)

Back in Hartford, Hurley set up the Doc Hurley Scholarship Fund to help disadvantaged youths in Hartford realize their dream of going to college. Using events such as basketball tournaments to raise money, Hurley was able to help hundreds of kids.



Hurley died in 2014 at the age of 91.

Source:


Stats:

George Herlich

George Herlich


Born:
July 25, 1923
Philadelphia, PA

Died:
February 28, 1985
Houston, TX


Career
1948-49 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL)

Born to Jacob and Tillie Herlich, George played some basketball for the SPHA's. He became a jeweler in New Jersey and would move to Scottsdale, Arizona, around 1972 to open a store there. He died in 1985.

George and his wife, Josephine, had two daughters and one son.

Source:


Stats:

Verl Heap

Parley Verl Heap


Born:
September 6, 1924
St. John's, AZ

Died:
December 24, 2008
St. John's, AZ


Career
1939-40 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School)
1940-41 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School)
1941-42 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School)
1942-43 Arizona State University (College)
1945-46 Arizona State University (College)
1946-47 Arizona State University (College)
1947-48 Arizona State University (College)
1948-49 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)
1949-50 Arizona State University (College) Assistant coach
1950-51 Duncan High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1951-52 Duncan High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1952-53 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1953-54 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1954-55 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1955-56 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1956-57 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1957-58 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1958-59 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1959-60 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1960-61 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1961-62 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1962-63 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1963-64 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1964-65 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1965-66 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1966-67 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1967-68 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1968-69 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1969-70 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1970-71 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1971-72 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1972-73 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1973-74 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1974-75 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1975-76 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1976-77 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach

Heap was a high scoring threat with Arizona State, with his tenure there interrupted by his service in the Army Air Corps during World War 2. He returned to school after the war, leading the conference in scoring. Out of college, Heap signed to play with the Providence Steamrollers in the BAA in 1948, but wound up playing with the ABL's Wilkes-Barre club that season instead. He would be an assistant coach at ASU before taking a head coaching and teaching job at Duncan High School. After two years there, he returned to St. John's to coach and teach, as well as farm and raise livestock. He won over 500 games as a high school coach and was elected to the Arizona Basketball Hall of Fame.


He married Dawn Sherwood in 1945 and they had three sons and two daughters.



Source:
Obituary, White Mountain Independent, December 30, 2008

Stats:

Marshall Gemberling

Marshall Luther Gemberling, Jr. 


Born:
August 6, 1924
Elizabethtown, PA

Died:
September 10, 2004
State College, PA


Career
1942-43 Quartermaster - Florida (Military)
1944-45 U.S. Army - Iceland (Military)
1945-46 Lebanon Valley (College)
1946-47 Lebanon Valley (College)
1947-48 Lebanon Valley (College)
1948-49 Scranton Miners (ABL)

1948-49 Lancaster Red Roses (EPBL)

1949-50 Lancaster Rockets (EPBL)

1950-51 Lancaster Rockets (EPBL)

1951-52 Lancaster Red Roses (EPBL)

Gemberling was drafted by the Baltimore Bullets of the BAA in 1948, but did not make the team. He would sign with the Scranton Miners and averaged about five point per game. He also tried his hand at baseball, pitching for the New Bern Bears in the Coastal Plain League in 1950 and 1951. He would go on to become a teacher at Donegal High School in Mt. Joy, Pennsylvania. He later worked at Penn State as director for the Institute for Motor Fleet Training in Division of Outreach and Cooperative Extension from 1967 to his 1984 retirement.

Minor League Baseball Stats:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=gember001mar

Source:


Stats:

Ernie Gomez

Ernest Mendez Perez (Perry) Gomez


Born:
June 16, 1924
Hartford, CT

Died:
June 19, 1963
West Haven, CT


Career
1942-43 Harding High School - Hartford (High School)
1946-47 New Britain Newfields (NEBL)
1947-48 New Britain Newfields (NEBL)
1948-49 Bridgeport Newfield Steelers (ABL)
1949-50 Danbury Hatters (EBL-Ct)
1949-50 Middletown Guards (EBL-Ct)
1952-53 Bridgeport Savin Jewelers (Independent)
1954-55 Merando's - Bridgeport (Independent)

Gomez graduated from Harding HS in Hartford and went into the Navy to serve during the war. After the war, he played some pro basketball in Connecticut Gomez ran into some trouble with the law in 1953, being sentenced to nine months in Danbury Federal Correctional Facility for forging checks and fraud.

He married Joyce Van Allen in 1944 and they had one son and two daughters before their divorce in 1958. He had just turned 39 when he died in 1963.

Source:
Bridgeport Telegram, June 20, 1963

Stats:

Alan Friedman

Alan or Allen Friedman


Born:



Died:




Career
1946-47 Mohawk Redskins (NYSL)
1947-48 Mohawk Redskins (NYSL)
1948-49 Brooklyn Gothams (ABL)
1949-50 Wallingford Vets (EBL-Ct)

6'3 from Brooklyn

Source:


Stats: