Al Gifford

Alan Ralph Gifford


Born:
November 20, 1925
Boonton, NJ

Died:
April 9, 2016
Raleigh, NC


Career
Mountain Lakes High School - New Jersey (High School)
1946-47 Montclair State College - New Jersey (College)
1947-48 Montclair State College - New Jersey (College)
1948-49 Montclair State College - New Jersey (College)
1949-50 Montclair State College - New Jersey (College)
1950-51 Carbondale Aces (ABL)
Wayne High School - New Jersey (High School) Head coach

Born to Arthur and Elizabeth Gifford, Al went into the U.S. Navy after graduating high school. After serving in the South Pacific during World War 2, he returned home to New Jersey and went to Montclair where we would be the first basketball player in New Jersey to score 1000 points during a collegiate career. After graduating, he played a little pro ball with the Carbondale Aces but was focused on a career as an educator. He got his masters degree in education from Rutgers University and spent over 40 years as a teacher, coach and administrator.

Al and his wife Linda had a son and two daughters.

Source:
Obituary, Star-Ledger, April 17, 2016

Stats:

Joe Galiber

Joseph Lionel Galiber


Born:
October 26, 1924
New York, NY

Died:
November 21, 1995
New York, NY


Career
1946-47 CCNY (College)
1947-48 CCNY (College)
1948-49 CCNY (College)
1949-50 CCNY (College)
1950-51 New York College All-Stars (Independent)
1950-51 Saratoga Harlem Yanks (ABL)

Galiber served in the U.S. Army during World War 2. He went to CCNY after the war, and was a co-captain in his senior year. He would play the next season with the Harlem Yankees. He would later enter politics and in 1968 was elected to the  New York State Congress as a representative of one of the New York's poorest districts. He sponsored many bills in the legislature that decriminalized drugs. In 1994 he suffered a heart attack from which he never truly recovered, and died about a year later.

Source:
Obituary, November 23, 1995

Stats:

Matty Forman

Matthew John Forman


Born:
February 18, 1929
Bridgeport, CT

Died:
February 24, 1991



Career
Fairfield Prep - Connecticut (High School)
1947-48 College of the Holy Cross (College)
1948-49 College of the Holy Cross (College) did he miss this season?
1949-50 College of the Holy Cross (College)
1950-51 Bridgeport Aer-A-Sols (ABL)
1951-52 Bridgeport Roesslers (ABL)
1952-53 Middletown Guards (ABL)
1953-54 Hamilton Standard - Windsor Locks, CT (Independent)
1953-54 Manchester British Americans (EBL-Ct)
1955-56 Frankie's Drive-In - Hartford (Independent)
1957-58 Hamilton Standard - Windsor Locks, CT (Independent)

A graduate of Fairfield Prep School, Forman played baseball and basketball at Holy Cross. He would play some pro and semi-pro basketball after college around Connecticut.

Source:


Stats:

Harry Foley

Harry Edward Foley


Born:
August 27, 1928
Bronx, NY

Died:
July 16, 1988
Briarcliff Manor, NY


Career
1945-46 Pleasantville High School - New York (High School)
1946-47 Yonkers Trojans (NYNJ)
1946-47 Niagara University (College)
1947-48 Niagara University (College)
1948-49 Niagara University (College)
1949-50 Niagara University (College)
1950-51 Utica Pros (ABL)
1951-52 Manchester British Americans (ABL)
1955-56 Pleasantville Foleys - New York (Independent)
1956-57 Pleasantville Foleys - New York (Independent)
1957-58 Pleasantville Foleys - New York (Independent) 

Foley played baseball and basketball at Niagara.

Foley was drafted by the Rochester Royals of the NBA in the 10th round of the 1950 draft. He wound up with the Utica Pros in the ABL that season, and next year played in Manchester. He would later buy at lounge in Pleasantville which continued operation under this name after he sold it. He served in the U.S. Army in Counter Intelligence and also work with Metropolitan Life Insurance.He became a restauranteur, owning Foley's Loune, the Rail and Terrace View at the Pleasantville Country Club. He died of a heart attack at his home in 1988.


Source:
Daily Times (Mamaroneck, NY), July 17, 1988

Stats:

Danny Finn

Daniel Lawrence Finn


Born:
May 29, 1928
Brooklyn, NY

Died:
February 18, 2007
Coconut Beach, FL


Career
1945-46 New Utrecht High School - Brooklyn (High School)
1946-47 New Utrecht High School - Brooklyn (High School)
1947-48 St. John's University (College)
1947-48 Boro Park A.C. - Brooklyn (Independent)
1948-49 St. John's University (College)
1949-50 Wallingford Veterans (EBL-Ct)
1950-51 Wallingford Veterans (EBL-Ct)
1950-51 Scranton Miners (ABL)
1951-52 Scranton Miners (ABL)
1952-53 Scranton Miners (ABL)
1952-53 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA)
1953-54 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA)
1954-55 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA)
1954-55 Wilkes-Barre Barons (EPBL)
1955-56 Wilkes-Barre Barons (EPBL)
1956-57 Wilkes-Barre Barons (EPBL)
1957-58 Wilkes-Barre Barons (EPBL)
1958-59 Wilkes-Barre Barons (EPBL)
1959-60 Allentown Jets (EPBL)
1959-60 Hazleton Hawks (EPBL)
1960-61 Hazleton Hawks (EPBL)
1961-62 Hazleton Hawks (EPBL)
1961-62 Wilkes-Barre Barons (EPBL)

Finn left St John's after the 1948-49 season. He would play three seasons in the ABL with the Scranton Miners before finding his way to the Philadelphia Warriors in the NBA. He would play three seasons in Philly before being released. Finn spent the next seven seasons playing in the Eastern League, primarily with Wilkes-Barre and Hazleton.

Source:


Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/f/finnda01.html 
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=finnda01

Perry Del Purgatorio

Perry J. Del Purgatorio


Born:
August 29, 1928
North Bergen, NJ

Died:
February 4, 2018
Hasbrouck Heights, NJ


Career
1944-45 Emerson High School - New Jersey (High School)
1946-47 Villanova University (College)
1947-48 Villanova University (College)
1948-49 Villanova University (College)
1949-50 Villanova University (College)
1950-51 Bridgeport Aer-A-Sols (ABL)
1951-52 Bridgeport Roesslers (ABL)
1953-54 Manchester British Americans (EBL-Ct) 

Born to Frank and Rose, Perry played basketball at Emerson HS before moving on to Villanova. After a successful stint at Nova, he played two seasons in Bridgeport in the ABL. He went into the army in 1952 and served during the Korean war.

Perry and his wife, Alice, had four sons and a daughter.

Source:


Stats:

Irwin Dambrot

Irwin Dambrot


Born:
May 24, 1928
New York, NY

Died:
January 21, 2010
Summit, NJ


Career
1945-46 Willian Howard Taft High School (High School)
1946-47 CCNY (College)
1947-48 CCNY (College)
1948-49 CCNY (College)
1949-50 CCNY (College)
1950-51 Paterson Crescents (ABL)

The very talented Dambrot was integral in the CCNY team that won the NIT and the NCAA tournament in 1950, become the first (and likely only team ever) to win both tournaments in the same season. Dambrot was drafted by the New York Knicks but passed on the league in order to go to dental school at Columbia. He would go play for the Paterson Crescents while at school, since the ABL's travel schedule was much more local and easier to do while in school. However, just a year after his achievement with CCNY, Dambrot was arrested and charged with point shaving while at CCNY. The ABL season had ended, but he was immediately booted from the team and banned by the ABL. He wound up facing misdemeanor charges and received a suspended sentence. He went on to have a successful dental practice. In December on 2009, Dambrot was on-hand at Madison Square Garden when they honored the CCNY team from 1950. Suffering from Parkinson's disease, Dambrot died six months later.

Married and divorced twice, Dambrot had two sons and one daughter.

Source:
NY Times Obituary, January 23, 2010
Jews in Sports

Stats:

Pete Clark

Francis J. "Pete" Clark


Born:
October 13, 1925
New Brunswick, NJ

Died:
May 26, 2012
Somerset, NJ


Career
1941-42 Saint Peter's - New Brusnwick, NJ (High School)
1942-43 Saint Peter's - New Brusnwick, NJ (High School)
1943-44 Mount St. Mary's (College)
1946-47 Mount St. Mary's (College)
1947-48 Mount St. Mary's (College)
1948-49 Mount St. Mary's (College)
1950-51 Allenbeth / Carbondale Aces (ABL)
1951-52 Carbondale Aces (ABL)

Born to Thomas and Rose Clark, "Pete" was a gifted athlete, playing football, baseball and basketball in high school and then at Mount St. Mary's. After his freshmen year, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in the European theater in World War 2 and after as a medic. He returned to Mount St Mary's after the war where the 6'4 center finished his career with over a 1000 points. After graduating, he played a couple years of pro basketball with the Carbondale Aces. He would be the owner and vice-president of the Brunswick Rubber Company until retiring in 1987.

Pete married Pauline Mazellan (d. 2007) in 1953 and they had four sons and two daughters. Sadly, one of his sons, Douglas, passed away in 1956 at four months of age.

Source:
Obituary, Home News Tribune, May 30, 2012

Stats:

Jack Byrnes

John A. "Jack" Byrnes


Born:
1928


Died:




Career
Xavier High School - Bronx, NY (High School)
1946-47 Manhattan College (College)
1948-49 Manhattan College (College)
1949-50 Manhattan College (College)
1950-51 Bridgeport Aer-A-Sols (ABL)

On January 17, 1951, Byrnes was arrested along with fellow player Hank Poppe and three gamblers for trying to fix a collegiate basketball game between Manhattan and DePaul. Byrnes was immediately booted from the Bridgeport team and barred from the ABL. Their arrest was the catalyst that brought to the point shaving scandal that destroyed college basketball's reputation not just in New York but all along the eastern seaboard. Poppe confessed that he and Byrnes has fixed games the previous season. Byrnes and Poppe wound up getting suspended sentences and were placed on probation.

I really don't know what became of him after the ban.

Possibly John Aloysious Byrnes, Jr. 1928-1997



Source:
NY Times, March 22, 1998
Cheating the Spread by Albert Figone

Stats:

Puggy Bell

Clarence Randolph "Puggy" Bell


Born:
November 26, 1914
New York, NY

Died:
February 19, 1985
New York, NY


Career
1938-39 New York Rens (Independent)
1939-40 New York Rens (Independent)
1940-41 New York Rens (Independent)
1941-42 New York Rens (Independent)
1942-43 New York Rens (Independent)
1942-43 Washington Bears (Independent)
1943-44 New York Rens (Independent)
1943-44 Washington Bears (Independent)
1944-45 New York Rens (Independent)
1944-45 Washington Bears (Independent)1945-46 New York Rens (Independent)
1945-46 Washington Bears (Independent)1945-46 Wilkes-Barre Barons (PSL)
1946-47 New York Rens (Independent)
1947-48 Saratoga Indians (NYSL)
1947-48 Bridgeport Springwoods (EBL-Ct)
1948-49 Troy Celtics (NYSL)
1948-49 Sarasota Indians (NYSL)
1948-49 Bristol Tramps (EBL-Ct)
1949-50 Bristol Tramps (EBL-Ct)
1950-51 Bristol Tramps (EBL-Ct)
1950-51 Manchester Nassiff Arms (EBL-Ct)
1950-51 Saratoga Harlem Yankees (ABL)
1951-52 Saratoga Harlem Yankees (ABL)
1951-52 Manchester British Americans (ABL)
1952-53 Manchester British Americans (ABL) Head coach / player

Bell was a long-time basketball star with independent clubs like the New York Rens and the Washington Bears. In 1939, the Rens won the World Basketball Championship and Bell became the first black player to be selected MVP. In the late 1940's, he played a few seasons in the Eastern League and the New York State League before joining the Harlem Yankees in 1950. Already 36, Bell played sparingly that first year but would spend three season in the ABL, with his last year seeing him coach the Manchester team as well as playing on it occasionally.

Source:


Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/puggy-bell/

Leroy Banks

Leroy Banks


Born:
April 3, 1924
Rocky Mount, NC

Died:
June 23, 2009
Virginia Beach, VA


Career
1941-42 Huntington High School - (High School)
1946-47 Virginia State University (College)
1949-50 Virginia State University (College)
1950-51 Utica Pros (ABL)

Born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Banks grew up in Newport News and graduated from high school in 1942. He entered the US Navy after high school and served during World War 2. He want to Virginia State College where he played basketball. After a brief stint in pro basketball with the Utica Pros, Banks went on to be come and accountant with the IRS before turning his focus to teaching while getting a Master's degree at CCNY. He would work for many years with youths as a counselor, teacher and coach.


Source:
http://www.halefuneralhome.com/obituary/386378

Stats:

Ed Anderson

Ed Anderson


Born:



Died:




Career
1947-48 Long Island University (College)
1948-49 Long Island University (College)
1949-50 Torrington Howards (EBL-Ct)
1950-51 Wallingford Veterans (EBL-Ct)
1950-51 Saratoga Harlem Yankees (ABL)
1952-53 New York Rens (Independent)



Source:


Stats:

Bob Anderson

Robert Howard Anderson


Born:
February 15, 1928
Newark, NJ

Died:
July 23, 1983
San Francisco, CA


Career
1945-46 Panzer College - East Orange, NJ (College)
Fort Sam Houston (Military)
1948-49 Loyola University - Maryland (College)
1949-50 Loyola University - Maryland (College)
1950-51 Bridgeport Aer-A-Sols (ABL)
1950-51 Hartford Hurricanes (EBL-Ct)
1951-52 Bridgeport Reosslers (ABL)

Bob went to West Side High School in Newark, New Jersey, where he played football but never played basketball. He went to Panzer for a year before joining the U.S. Army in 1945. After his service, the 6'5, 195-pound athlete went to Loyola University in Baltimore. After graduating, he was drafted in the sixth round by the NBA's Tri-Cities team in 1950. Unable to make the team, Anderson played one game with Bridgeport in 1950-51. He signed with Carbondale January 23, 1951, but not sure if he ever played for them. Next year, he was back for one more run in Bridgeport.

Anderson would attend law school at Rutgers and in 1972 would move out west to Alamo, California. He worked worked as a stock broker at Dean Witter Reynolds, rising to Senior Vice President. In early 1983, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor and died that July at 55 years of age. He and his wife, Ginny, had five sons and a daughter.



Source:
Baltimore Sun, March 7, 1949

San Francisco Examiner, July 26, 1983

Stats:

Italo Ablondi

Italo H. "Al" Ablondi


Born:
August 25, 1925
Parma, Italy

Died:
June 16, 2001
Baltimore, MD


Career
Stuyvesant High School - New York, NY (High School)
1947-48 Georgetown University (College)
1948-49 Georgetown University (College)
1949-50 Georgetown University (College)
1950-51 Scranton Miners (ABL)

1950-51 Harlem Hurricanes (EBL-Ct)
1950-51 Torrington Howards (EBL-Ct)
1951-52 Saratoga Harlem Yankees (ABL)
1951-52 Middeltown Guards (ABL)

Ablondi was born in Italy, and his family immigrated to the U.S., settling in Hell's Kitchen in New York City. He attended Georgetown on a athletic scholarship, and played a couple seasons in the ABL after graduating. He got his law degree from St. John's University in 1950 and focused his practice on international trade la, moving to Washington, D.C. He would be appointed by President Richard Nixon to the U.S. International Trade Commission in 1972, and in 1978 founded his own fime, Ablondi, Foster, Sobin & Davidow. 

Albondi died of cancer in 2001.

He was married to Unalane Carter and they had two daughters and a son.

Source:
Obituary, Washington Post, June 18, 2001

Stats:

1950-51 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)

1950-51 WILKES-BARRE BARONS
AMERICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE (II)
28-11 .718, 2nd place

Eddie White's Barons remained one of the league's dominant forces. He had to step down from coaching in December, saying he would only coach home games and Marty Zippel would handle the club on the road. Near as I can tell, Zippel only coached the New Year's Day game at Saratoga. White would not coach for the remainder of the season after the February 6, 1951, loss to Paterson. After a dispute with the league over a secured payment that game, which was played in neutral Scranton, White announced that Shag Hawkins lead the club the rest of the way. The team battled with the league over $1500 dollars, and when it came time to play the season finale at Scranton on March 4, the Barons abruptly quit the league, starting a chain of events that would lead to a cancellation of the playoffs.

Head Coaches:

• Eddie White (February 4, 1910 - December 9, 1988) 22-10
• Marty Zippel (February 7, 1922 - October 17, 2018) 1-0 Also played. See below
• Shag Hawkins (September 23, 1920 - March 10, 2005) 5-1 Also played. See below

PLAYERS:

• Ed Bartels (October 8, 1925 - November 4, 2007)

Biography

• Bill Chanecka (April 21, 1924 - January 27, 2010)

Biography

• Steve Chanecka (February 6, 1918 - February 9, 2000)

Biography

• Joe "Bells" Colone (January 23, 1924 - July 1, 2009)

Biography

• Chink Crossin (July 4, 1923 - January 10, 1981)

Biography

• Harry Donovan (b. September 10, 1926)

Biography 

• Ray Ellefson (November 18, 1922 - October 7, 1994)

Biography

• Bill Erickson (June 8, 1928 - September 21, 1987)

Biography

• Johnny Ezersky (March 21, 1922 - February 20, 2012)

Biography

• Shag Hawkins (September 23, 1920 - March 10, 2005)

Biography

• Jack Leighton (January 25, 1928 - August 2, 1996)

Biography

• Johnny Ludka (January 28, 1926 - February 24, 2013)

Biography 

• Ariel Maughan (February 23, 1923 - August 4, 1997)

Biography

• Bobby O'Brien (January 26, 1927 - September 19, 2008)

Biography 

• Claude Overton (December 16, 1927 - April 29, 1996)

Biography

• Jack Shelton (August 7, 1928 - July 23, 2003)

Biography 

• Milton Ticco (September 22, 1922 - January 26, 2002)

Biography

• Butch Van Breda Kolff (October 28, 1922 - August 22, 2007)

Biography

• Marty Zippel (February 7, 1922 - October 17, 2018)

Biography

1950-51 Utica Pros (ABL)

1950-51 UTICA PROS
AMERICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE (II)
16-23 .410, 5th place

Chollet was the head coach for the team as well as one of their best players. He was recalled by the NBA's Syracuse Nationals on February 13 and the club named Chuck Harmon to lead the team through the last five games.

Head Coach: 

• Leroy Chollet (March 5, 1925 - June 10, 1998) 15-19 Also played. See below
• Chuck Harmon (b. April 23, 1924) 1-4 Also played. See below

PLAYERS:

• Greek Athas (October 6, 1922 - April 29, 2009)

Biography

• Leroy Banks (April 3, 1924 - June 23, 2009)

Biography

• Ed Bartels (October 8, 1925 - November 4, 2007)

Biography

• Gerry Calabrese (February 4, 1925 - April 13, 2015)

Biography

• Leroy Chollet (March 5, 1925 - June 10, 1998)

Biography

• Ray Corley (January 14, 1928 - February 5, 2007)

Biography

• Harry Foley (August 27, 1928 - July 16, 1988)

Biography

• Jerry Fowler (June 20, 1927 - June 15, 2008)

Biography

• Chuck Harmon (April 23, 1924 - March 19, 2019)

Biography

• Bob Healey (April 10, 1924 - July 21, 2010)

Biography

• Al Henningsen (June 9, 1928 - May 7, 2016)

Biography

• Don Lofgran (November 8, 1929 - June 17, 1976)

Biography

• Bob MacKinnon (December 5, 1927 - July 7, 2015)

Biography

• Al Masino (February 5, 1928 - August 16, 2006)

Biography

• Dave Miller (February 18, 1927 - November 17, 1981)

Biography

• Mike Novak (April 23, 1915 - August 15, 1978)

Biography

• Dermie O'Connell (April 13, 1928 - October 5, 1988)

Biography

• Bob Roper (August 25, 1928 - September 13, 2008)

Biography

• John Rucker (b. November 21, 1930)

Biography

• Dick Smuin (November 14, 1925 - September 25, 2001)

Biography

• Ed Stanczak (August 15, 1921 - May 30, 2004)

Biography

1950-51 Scranton Miners (ABL)

1950-51 SCRANTON MINERS
AMERICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE (II)
28-8 .778, 1st place


The Miners managed to hold of rival Wilkes-Barre through the regular season, winning the ABL pennant. However, when the league's playoff-system was abandoned due to the withdrawal of the Wilkes-Barre team and Paterson and Bridgeport's failure to secure a home court, Scranton was declared the ABL champions.

Head coaches:

• Bernie Sarachak (October 19, 1912 - November 14, 2005) 

PLAYERS:

• Italo Ablondi (August 25, 1925 - June 16, 2001)

Biography

• Ed Bartels (October 8, 1925 - November 4, 2007)

Biography

• Ray Ellefson (November 18, 1922 - October 7, 1994)

Biography

• Danny Finn (May 29, 1928 - February 18, 2007)

Biography

• Jerry Fleishman (February 14, 1922 - June 20, 2007)

Biography

• Joe Hannon (September 18, 1926 - April 7, 1982)

Biography

• Ed Kassler (July 21, 1923 - March 7, 2011)

Biography 

• Dolly King (November 15, 1916 - January 29, 1969)

Biography

• Nat Militzok (May 3, 1923 - May 14, 2009)

Biography

• Elmore Morgenthaler (August 3, 1922 - November 25, 1997)

Biography

• Alex Petersen (July 20, 1924 - June 23, 2014)

Biography

• Bill Roberts (March 13, 1925 - January 23, 2016)

Biography

• Hank Rosenstein (June 16, 1920 - February 27, 2010)

Biography

• Vince Verdeschi (March 24, 1925 - August 16, 1965)

Biography

1950-51 Saratoga Harlem Yankees (ABL)

1950-51 SARATOGA HARLEM YANKEES
AMERICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE (II)
5-25 .167, 6th place

Eddie Younger took over the team on January 14, 1951.

Head Coaches: 

• Charley Isles ( ) Also played. See below
• Eddie Younger (January 7, 1923 - March 18, 1985) Also played. See below
  
• Art Joseph 

PLAYERS:

• Ed Anderson 

Biography 

• Puggy Bell (November 26, 1914 - February 19, 1985)

Biography

• Hank DeZonie (February 12, 1922 - January 2, 2009)

Biography

• Joe Galiber (October 26, 1924 - November 21, 1995)

Biography

• Vic Hanson (February 29, 1928 - October 15, 1988)

Biography

• Buddy Hatchett (September 10, 1927 - October 14, 2011)

Biography 

• John Isaacs (September 15, 1915 - January 26, 2009)

Biography

• Charlie Isles (September 20, 1913 - October 5, 1987)

Biography

• Benny McNeil 

Biography

• John Rucker (b. November 21, 1930)

Biography

• Henry Singleton (March 24, 1925 - July 4, 2010)

Biography

• Norm Skinner (b. June 15, 1926)

Biography

• Charlie Smallwood

Biography 

• Buddy Thompson 

Biography

• James Usry (February 2, 1922 - January 25, 2002)

Biography

• Rabbit Walthour (August 25, 1930 - September 10, 1977)

Biography

• Leroy Watkins (October 3, 1925 - September 23, 2008)

Biography

• Preston Wilcox (December 27, 1923 - August 12, 2006)

Biography

• Winfield

Biography 

• Sonny Woods (December 31, 1922 - July 11, 1970)

Biography

• Eddie Younger (January 7, 1923 - March 18, 1985)

Biography


(NOTE: Henry Jaycock signed with the team at the start of the season, but I am not sure if he played with them in any ABL games.)

1950-51 Paterson Crescents (ABL)

1950-51 PATERSON CRESCENTS
AMERICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE (II)
22-15 .595, 3rd place



Head Coach: 

• Herbie Gershon (October 30, 1916 - September 24, 1997)

PLAYERS:

• Len Cohen (October 30, 1928 - May 30, 2017)

Biography

• Irwin Damrot (May 24, 1928 - January 21, 2010)

Biography 

• Harry Donovan (b. September 10, 1926)

Biography

• Buddy Hatchett (September 10, 1927 - October 14, 2011)

Biography 

• Howie Janotta (October 19, 1924 - November 22, 2010)

Biography 

• Joel Kaufman (March 8, 1927 - June 22, 1972)

Biography 

• Tom Kelly (March 5, 1924 - March 20, 2008)

Biography

• Kore 

Biography 

• Herb Krautblatt (November 19, 1926 - February 10, 1999)

Biography

• Bob Mullens (November 1, 1922 - July 15, 1989)

Biography

• Tom Muller (July 4, 1924 - December 21, 1965)  

Biography

• Don Parsons (October 25, 1929 - January 26, 2019)

Biography 

• Irv Rothenberg (December 31, 1921 - July 18, 2009)

Biography

• Ed Sadowski (July 11, 1915 - September 18, 1990)

Biography

• Red Wallace (July 12, 1918 - July 7, 1977)

Biography

1950-51 Bridgeport Aer-A-Sols (ABL)

1950-51 BRIDGEPORT AER-A-SOLS
AMERICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE (II)
18-15 .545, 4th place

Bridgeport was very optimistic going into the 1950-51 season, but found themselves losing their first five games. They turned themselves around, and two months later battled back, winning 12 of 18. After losing for of their next five, they finished the season on a five game winning streak and qualified for the playoffs. However, the Are-A-Sols found themselves without a home court, a predicament that also befell Paterson. When Wilkes-Barre withdrew late in the season due to a dispute with the league by-laws, coupled with the home-court issues in Paterson and Bridgeport, Commissioner O'Brien cancelled the playoffs.

Head Coaches:  

• Jerry Rizzo (March 12, 1918 - August 27, 2011) Also played. See below

PLAYERS:

• Bob Anderson (February 15, 1928 - July 23, 1983)
  

Biography 

• Hank Baietti (October 1, 1920 - June 26, 2006)

Biography 

• Jackie Bowden (September 7, 1917 - October 4, 1995)

Biography

• Jack Byrnes 

Biography

• Perry Del Purgatorio (August 29, 1928 - February 4, 2018)

Biography

• Matty Forman (February 18, 1929 - February 24, 1991)

Biography 

• Jack Hewson (September 7, 1924 - June 26, 2012)

Biography

• Dick Holub (October 29, 1921 - July 27, 2009)

Biography

• Ralph Kaplowitz (May 18, 1919 - February 2, 2009)

Biography

• Walt Kaplowitz (June 24, 1924 - August 22, 1998)

Biography

• George Lindeman (October 31, 1924 - June 8, 1990)

Biography 

• Mike McCarron (March 2, 1922 - October 2, 1991)

Biography

• Tom Muller (July 4, 1924 - December 21, 1965)

Biography

• Jerry Rizzo (March 12, 1918 - August 27, 2011)

Biography

• Tom Tolan (August 15, 1924 - May 17, 2021)

Biography

• Big John Wilson

Biography

1950-51 Allenbeth / Carbondale Aces (ABL)

1950-51 ALLENBETH / CARBONDALE ACES

Coach Crum in 1927

AMERICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE (II)
4-24 .143, 7th Place

The AllenBeth team, named for their dual-hometowns of Allentown and Bethlehem, moved to Carbondale on December 28, 1950. The team was 1-13 at that point. Owner Jim Nolan took over the head coaching duties when Crum resigned on November 30, 1950. It was rumored that Chink Crossin was going to come to the Aces when he quit the Wilkes-Barre team in early December, but that never occurred as he returned to the Barons later that month.

Head Coaches: 

• Jay Birney Crum (March 28, 1899 - December 25, 1981) 1-8
• Jim Nolan ( - ) 3-16

PLAYERS:

• Pete Clark (October 13, 1925 - May 26, 2012)

Biography 

• Joe "Bells" Colone (January 23, 1924 - July 1, 2009)

Biography

• Harry Donovan (b. September 10, 1926)

Biography

• George Feigenbaum (July 2, 1928 - December 25, 2000)

Biography

• Al Gifford (November 20, 1925 - April 9, 2016)

Biography 

• Coulby Gunther (February 5, 1923 - July 14, 2005)

Biography

• Ted Hanauer (January 1, 1924 - October 1, 2013)

Biography 

• Herb Lyon (August 4, 1927 - October 21, 1966)

Biography

• Ed Lyons (July 1, 1926 - October 28, 2011)

Biography

• Dick McGee (December 30, 1923 - August 19, 2015)

Biography 

• Jack McLaughlin (August 20, 1923 - March 28, 2002)

Biography

• Bob O'Brien (January 26, 1927 - September 19, 2008)

Biography

• Andy O'Donnell (March 10, 1925 - April 22, 2019)

Biography 

• Dick O'Keefe (September 29, 1923 - December 17, 2006)

Biography

• Cas Ostrowski (July 24, 1924 - March 2, 2000)

Biography 

• Frank Pfeiffer (June 5, 1927 - July 1, 1997)

Biography 

• Bill Pless (June 3, 1928 - October 25, 2001)

Biography

• Hank Poppe (July 29, 1924 - May 6, 2000)

Biography 

• Johnny Rusinko (March 1, 1925 - October 23, 2013)

Biography

• Al Saemmer (January 21, 1925 - June 3, 2000)

Biography 

• Herb Scherer (December 21, 1928 - June 28, 2012)

Biography

• Wally Sheil (April 15, 1929 - June 23, 2002)

Biography

• Jackie Swartz (November 14, 1924 - May 12, 1998)

Biography

• Milton Ticco (September 22, 1922 - January 26, 2002)

Biography

• Al Widmar (March 20, 1925 - October 15, 2005)

Biography

Marty Zippel

Martin D. Zippel


Born:
February 7, 1922
Philadelphia, PA

Died:
October 17, 2018
Jupiter, FL


Career
1938-39 South High School - Philadelphia (High School)
1945-46 Lafayette College (College)
1946-47 Lafayette College (College)
1947-48 Lafayette College (College)
1948-49 Lafayette College (College)
1949-50 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)
1950-51 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL) Head coach / player

Zippel was born to Hyman and Clara Zippel in Philadelphia. He served in the Army Air Corps during World War 2, and attended Lafayette after the war where lettered four years in basketball. After a couple years with the Wilkes-Barre Barons, even filling in as the head coach for a game, Zippel would become a successful business man, as president of Martin Zippel Inc. in Phillipsburg, Pennsylvania.

Marty married Doris Levin (d. 2003) and they had a son and a daughter.



Source:
mcall.com, April 26, 1990
Jews In Sports
Jewish Exponent, June 24, 2013
Obituary, Express Times, October 19, 2018

Stats:

George Zelie

George Harvey "Zeke" Zelie


Born:
January 2, 1926
Woodstock, NY
 
 :




Career
1942-43 Kingston High School (High School)
1943-44 Kingston High School (High School)
1946-47 Hartwick College - New York (College)
1947-48 Hartwick College - New York (College)
1948-49 Glens Falls Commodores (NYSL)
1949-50 Schenectady Packers (ABL)
1949-50 Oneonta Indians (Independent)
1959-60 Poughkeepsie YMCA - New York (Independent)

From Kingston, NY. Son of George Zelle, Zelle served in the U.S. Navy during World War 2. After the war, he finished schooling at Hartwick College while earning a bachelors' degree in business administration. He played pro basketball for Glens Falls, Schenectady and Oneonta.

George married Doris Leibfried in September of 1949.

Source:


Stats:

Rabbit Walthour

Isaac "Ike" "Rabbit" Walthour


Born:
August 25, 1930
New York, NY

Died:
September 10, 1977
Montrose, NY


Career
1946-47 Benjamin Franklin High School - Brooklyn (High School)
1947-48 Benjamin Franklin High School - Brooklyn (High School)
1948-49 Carlton YMCA - Brooklyn (High School)
1949-50 New York Harlem Yankees (ABL)
1950-51 Saratoga Yankees (ABL)
1953-54 Milwaukee Hawks (NBA)

1953-54 Hazleton Mountaineers (EPBL)  

Wathour was a high school phenom and at the age of 19 started professional play with the Harlem Yankees. He would finish fifth in the ABL in scoring that season with 15.2 points per game. After two years with the Yankees, we entered the U.S. Army to serve during the Korean War. After the war, he would play four games in the NBA with the Milwaukee Hawks.



Source:


Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/walthis01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=walthis01

Fran Walsh

Francis Xavier "Inga" Walsh


Born:
August 8, 1927
Milton, MA??

Died:
June 29, 2009
Boston, MA


Career
1942-43 Milton High School (High School)
1943-44 Milton High School (High School)
1944-45 Northeastern University (College)
1947-48 Northeastern University (College)
1948-49 Northeastern University (College)
1949-50 Hartford Hurricanes (ABL)
1950-51 Manchester Nassiff Arms (EBL-Ct)


Fran (or Frank) didn't make the Milton HS basketball team in his freshman or sophomore year, but once he finally succeeded, he didn't stop through college. After his freshman year, Walsh went into the Navy at the end of World War 2 and was stationed in Okinawa. He returned to Northeastern, playing both baseball and basketball and would be invited to tryout with the New York Knicks. He was assigned to the Hartford affiliate in the ABL, but never made it to the NBA. He finished his degree at Northeastern served in the navy again during the Korean War. He became a successful bankerat South Boston Savings, being promoted to Vice President before retiring in 1989. In retirement, he spent his winter months in Naples, Florida. He died after suffering a stroke in 2009 at 81 years of age.

He married Carolyn Turner in 1954 and they had three sons.

Source:
Northeastern Hall of Fame
Boston Globe, July 3, 2009




Stats:

Sandmeyer

Sandmeyer


Born:



Died:




Career
1949-50 Paterson Crescents (ABL)

Name is also listed as Vandemeyer, Sandemeyer and Sondemeyer. Played two games for Paterson. That's all I have.


Source:


Stats:

Tom Tolan

Thomas Matthew Tolan


Born:
August 15, 1924
New York, NY

Died:
May 17, 2021



Career
1942-43 Manhattan College (College)
1946-47 St. John's University (College)
1947-48 St. John's University (College)
1948-49 St. John's University (College)
1949-50 Bridgeport Aer-A-Sols (ABL)
1950-51 Bridgeport Aer-A-Sola (ABL)
1950-51 Torrington Howards (EBL-Ct)


Tolan went to Manhattan prior to going off to serve in World War 2. After the war, he became a policeman while also going to St. John's, becoming eligible in February of 1947. Tolan graduated in 1949, after playing a couple years with his younger brother John on the squad. He later became an FBI agent.

Tolan would later work for over 40 years for UPI, where he would become the sports editor. Married to Barbara.

Tom Tolan (1924), son of James (1898) and Mary (1898), brother of James (1923) Francis (1926) John P. (1929-2008) Matthew (1931-1997) Robert (1937-2010)


Source:
qgazette.com December 26, 2007

Stats:

Henry Singleton

Henry Singleton


Born:
March 24, 1925
Philadelphia, PA

Died:
July 4, 2010
Savannah, GA


Career
1947-48 Glens Falls Commodores (NYSL)
1948-49 Glens Falls Commodores (NYSL)
1949-50 New York Harlem Yankees (ABL)
1950-51 Saratoga Harlem Yankees (ABL)
1951-52 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1952-53 Hazleton/Saratoga/Glens Falls Yankees (ABL)
1952-53 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1953-54 Hazleton Mountaineers (EPBL)

The 6'4 Singleton joined the U.S. Army in 1943, serving in World War 2. After the war, he would go on to play basketball with the Harlem Yankees and the Harlem Globetrotters. He would work with the New York Transit Authority until retiring in 1986, and moved to Savannah, Georgia, after the death of his wife.

Henry and his wife had two sons and two daughters.

Also has been listed as Ben Singleton in some newspaper stories.

Source:
Savannah Morning News, July 8, 2010

Stats:

Burt Silverman

Burton D. Silverman


Born:
1930 or 1931


 :




Career
1947-48 Simon Gratz High School - Philadelphia (High School)
Temple University (College) ??
1949-50 Trenton Tigers (ABL)

1949-50 Harrisburg Senators (EPBL)

Born to Herman and Sara Silverman, Burt set scoring records while playing basketball at Gratz HS in Philly. He would go on to play for the Trenton Tigers in the ABL. Some sources say he went to Temple, but I can't find any record of that. Served in US Army during Korean War, stationed in Fort Myer, Virginia.

He is married to Irene Barow (d. 2019) and they had three daughters.

They is a well-known artist out of NYC named Burton Silverman (b. 1928). He is not the same guy.

Brother Irving (d. 2018) and sister Barbara (c. 1935)

Source:


Stats:

John Seagrist

John Frederick Seagrist


Born:
August 12, 1923
Woodstock, IL

Died:
September 9, 2019
Knoxville, TN


Career
1945-46 Auto-Lite - Woodstock, IL (Independent)
1947-48 Northern Illinois (College)
1947-48 Elburn - Illinois (Independent)
1948-49 Texas Wesleyan (College)
1949-50 Hartford Hurricanes (ABL)
1949-50 New Britain Rios (EBL-Ct)
1949-50 Bristol Tramps (EBL-Ct)


Seagrist was a teammate with future major league pitcher Howie Judson on the Auto-Lite basketball team. He went to Northern Illinois where he was hampered by a shoulder injury for a good part of his freshman year. In February of 1948, it was discovered that Seagrist had been playing semi-pro basketball in a tournament in Aurora, Illinois, and was declared ineligible and booted from the Northern squad. He transferred to Texas Wesleyan next season, and after a decent sophomore season, the 6'8 center got the interest of the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks. Seagrist signed with the Celtics and was assigned to the Hartford Hurricanes for the start of the 1949-50 ABL season. He appeared in three games before being let go. He caught in the Eastern League of Connecticut with New Britain to finish the season. He left basketball and worked for many years as a successful salesman and sales executive.

John married Barbara "Cookie" Kuhn, the daughter of Frances Kuhn, former mayor of Woodstock, Illinois, in 1958 and they had three sons.


Source:
Daily Chronicle (DeKalb, IL), February 13, 1948
Obituary, Chicago Suburban Daily Herald, Sept 14, 2019

Stats:

Mel Rothbart

Melvin G. "Bones" Rothbart


Born:
April 11, 1928


Died:
November 7, 2019
Delray Beach, FL


Career
1946-47 Lincoln High School - New York City (High School)
1947-48 CCNY (College) fresh
1948-49 CCNY (College) soph
1948-49 New York Gunners (Independent)
1949-50 Union Temple - Brooklyn (Independent)
1949-50 Paterson Crescents (ABL)
1949-50 Waterbury Coppers (EBL-Ct)

Rothbart played at CCNY as a freshman and sophomore before leaving school. He played some pro and semi-pro basketball around New York City shortly after school.

Source:


Stats: