Thursday, February 21, 2019

1948-49 Birmingham Steelers (SPBL)

1948-49 BIRMINGHAM STEELERS
SOUTHERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE
22-15 .595, 2nd place


The Steelers were born from the ashes of the previous year's Birmingham Vulcans. Local businessman Jim Price revamped his team, bringing in baseball's Ben Chapman to coach. Chapman resigned on December 21, and the club finished the season with Price and another baseball luminary, Walt Dropo, coaching. The Steelers won 6 of seven games in early February to climb past first-place Montgomery, but that ascent was short lived as Birmingham dropped their last four games and fell back into second place. The league determined there was not enough financial viability for playoffs and they championship was awarded to the regular season champions in Montgomery.

Head Coaches:
  • Ben Chapman (December 25, 1908 - July 7, 1993)
  • Walt Dropo (January 30, 1923 - December 17, 2010)
  • Jim Price ( )


PLAYERS:
  • John Hoffman (b. November 30, 1923)
Biography 

  • Merrill Hubbard (October 19, 1925 - December 3, 2002)
Biography

  • Ralph Jones (February 14, 1922 - February 18, 1995)
Biography

  • Darrell Lorance (February 28, 1928 - October 20, 2013)
Biography

  • Bob Murphy 
Biography

  • John Murphy (September 13, 1924 - January 29, 2003)
Biography

  • Lindsey Oden (August 27, 1929 - November 2, 2019)
Biography

  • Joe "J.T." Parker (November 4, 1921 - November 22, 1983)
Biography 

  • Herb Spitzer (January 12, 1928 - August 10, 2011)
Biography

  • Lloyd Spitzer (September 6, 1925 - February 8, 2002)
Biography


Source:
Birmingham Pro Sports

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