1948-49 York Victory AA (EPBL)

1948-49 YORK VICTORY A.A.

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
14-15, .483, 5th place

York joined the league in 1948 and wound up hovering around the .500 mark the entire season and despite a late season push, fell short of the playoffs. Art Lentz lead the team at 19.2 PPG.

Head Coaches:

• Bob Hulton (July 10, 1921 - August 25, 1999)  and Les Lehman (May 23, 1917 - May 21, 1997)  co-coached the first four games 1-3
• Eddie Waleski (April 21, 1907 - September 9, 1986)  13-12

PLAYERS:

Jake Ahearn (January 6, 1918 - February 17, 1968) 

Red Bock (September 14, 1925 - November 14, 2002)

Bob Brady (March 27, 1928 - July 8, 2006)

Lee Brymesser (November 8, 1918 - July 25, 2004)

Jim Furey (March 28, 1928 - February 20, 1985)

Don Galloway (November 21, 1924 - July 29, 2002)

Karl Grim (July 30, 1923 - August 3, 2010)

Bob Hulton (July 10, 1921 - August 25, 1999)

Les Lehman (May 23, 1917 - May 21, 1997)

Art Lentz (June 27, 1926 - December 8, 2018)

Bud Long (February 10, 1924 - January 9, 2009)

Eddie O'Halloran (January 4, 1926 - October 11, 2014)

Sid Roche (May 16, 1926 - January 21, 2010)

Shaffer   

Bill Stoerrle (December 24, 1927 - October 25, 1987)  

Bob Walsh (March 31, 1926 - January 21, 2010)

Jack Welsh (August 21, 1925 - December 17, 2007)

Tony Yovicsin (June 15, 1921 - December 25, 1983)

Dave Ziegler (August 14, 1923 - March 21, 1991)

1948-49 Williamsport Billies (EPBL)

1948-49 WILLIAMSPORT BILLIES

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA

18-12, .600, T-1st place

Tie-breaker: Defeated Harrisburg, 100-77

Semi-finals: Lost to Pottsville, 2-1

Looking to improve on a horrible inaugural season, the Billies named Larry Disque as their head coach and with a powerful lineup of Ray Kodish, Wes Myers, Frank Sebest and Perk Stabley,  the Billies won their first five games. However, as hot of a start they had, the had as cold of a stretch right after it and found t hemselves at 6-5 heading into the Christmas break.  A couple additions to the team helped spark the club to win 9 of eleven and put them in the thick of the race for first place. They grabbed a share of first place, tied with Reading and Harrisburg. The Billies would win the regular season in a play-off system, but would fall to Pottsville in the semi-finals for the championship, two games to one.

Head Coach:

• Larry Disque (March 27, 1921 - March 3, 1994) Also played. See below.

PLAYERS:

Bobby Stine

Nick Dietterick (May 22, 1921 - May 16, 2014)

Larry Disque (March 27, 1921 - March 3, 1994)

Mel Flick (Flichtenfeld) (August 24, 1925 - February 19, 2003)

Martie Goldstein (November 20, 1921 - April 8, 1998)

Pop Goodwin (December 22, 1920 - May 16, 2005)

Joe Harrington (May 29, 1924 - January 16, 1987)

Stan Kaufmann (b. October 6, 1926)

Ray Kodish (June 10, 1923 - March 14, 2012)

Paul Marcincin (June 22, 1921 - October 26, 2009)

Johnny Mascavage (January 14, 1918 - April 12, 1990)

Wes Myers (December 21, 1927 - February 1, 2002)

John Padgett (November 14, 1923 - August 27, 2007)

Marty Powers (March 27, 1928 - December 21, 1991)

Howard Sanders (October 27, 1923 - February 5, 2017)

Frank Sebest (September 24, 1923 - November 28, 2010)

Perk Stabley (January 24, 1925 - September 25, 1994)

Bobby Stine (b. 1931)

1948-49 Sunbury Mercuries (EPBL)

1948-49 SUNBURY MERCURIES
EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
9-21, .300, 7th place

Coming into their second season in the league, the Mercuries had a new coach in Johnny Barr and a new lineup. However, even with solid players like Johnny Rusinko, Ray Propianka and Fred Sheffield, they dropped their first four games and continued to flounder. Following a 5-game losing streak, they finished January with a 5-13 record and way out of the running for a playoff spot. They finished the season on another five-game skid and mired deep in last place.

Head Coach:

• Johnny Barr (August 8, 1918 - July 1, 2002)  Also played. See below

PLAYERS:

Wade Ackley (June 8, 1919 - January 24, 2007)

Wes Adams (February 21, 1922? - April 8, 1999?)

John Barr (August 8, 1918 - July 1, 2002)

John Bartos (December 19, 1914 - October 17, 1972)

Al Bradley (May 9, 1919 - September 12, 1997)

Aubrey Davis (March 28, 1921 - November 23, 1996)

Nick Dietterick (May 22, 1921 - May 16, 2014)

Oscar Grossman (June 26, 1923 - September 22, 1993)

Earl Hafner (July 29, 1921 - March 15, 1988)

Bucky Harris (October 28, 1926 - December 6, 2006)

Bob Williams

Stan Kauffman (b. October 6, 1926)

Frank Lupashunski (Lupe) (b. February 3, 1926)

Nelson

Lefty Piercey (January 31, 1924 - August 17, 1990)

Ray Posipanka (March 16, 1927 - February 17, 1998)

John Rusinko (March 1, 1925 - October 23, 2013)

Don Schuerholtz (August 28, 1922 - May 2, 2009)

Fred Sheffield (November 5, 1923 - December 8, 2009)

Andy Siket (December 29, 1918 - September 19, 1995)

Kermit Smith (February 2, 1926 - August 23, 2005)

Tom Sweeney (October 15, 1922 - June 27, 2017)

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

Bob Williams (April 28, 1926 - November 19, 1989)

1948-49 Reading / Allentown Keys (EPBL)

1948-49 READING / ALLENTOWN KEYS

Jeb Stewart

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
18-12, .600, T-1st place

Tie-breaker: Defeated Harrisburg, 68-66

Tie-breaker: Lost to Williamsport, 100-77

Semi-finals: Lost to Harrisburg, 2-1

Owned and coached by local businessman Arlie Robitzer, Reading got off to a hot start, winning six of their first eight. Attendance, however, lagged a bit and the club was moved to Allentown during the week of Christmas. Their attendance and support in Allentown never really took hold, and the team returned to Reading at the end of January. 

The Keys struggled after returning to Reading, and on February 16 fell to 11-11. The team had made a few roster changes, adding Doug Holcomb and Jim Joyce, and they helped the team take off. They would win 6 of 7 plus a forfeit victory over Lancaster to finish in a three--way tie for first place. They failed to win the playoff for the regular season title, and would then lose to Harrisburg in the playoffs, ending their season.

Jim Joyce

Head Coach:

• Arlie Robitzer (April 23, 1915 - April 20, 1988)

PLAYERS:

Oscar Baldwin (January 7, 1925 - October 31, 2005)

Dewey Boltz (May 18, 1920 - September 18, 2015)

Norm Butz (September 28, 1919 - March 21, 1999)

George Dracha (August 18, 1921 - April 6, 1995)

Russ Guensch (January 12, 1924 - June 14, 2014)

Doug Holcomb (February 9, 1921 - February 3, 2008)

Kenny Hopkins (November 2, 1919 - June 12, 2015)

Jim Joyce (October 23, 1924 - October 24, 2006)

Joe Lord (December 28, 1922 - December 1986)

Paul Marcincin (June 22, 1921 - October 26, 2009)

Don Markward (April 2, 1919 - June 14, 1985)

Jeb Stewart (November 15, 1924 - January 10, 1993)

Herm Wickel 

Pete Yousaitis (September 10, 1917 - December 23, 1995)

1948-49 Pottsville Packers (EPBL)

1948-49 POTTSVILLE PACKERS

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
16-14, .533, 4th place
Semi-finals: Defeated Williamsport, 2-1

Finals: Defeated Harrisburg, 2-1

The previous season's runner-up, Pottsville came in hoping to achieve what they couldn't last year: a Eastern League title. With Obie O'Brien now the head coach, the Packers stumbled out of the gate O'Brien was fired after six games. Veteran Red Dehnert, who started the season with Saratoga in the New York State league, was brought in as player coach but the team saw little improvement and Dehnert was let go ten games later over a dispute with compensation. Co-owners Felix Kadel and Eddie Romance named veteran player Tommy Bell as player/coach. The Packers played noticeably better and by the first week of March had climbed over .500 and on the verge of a playoff berth when tragedy struck. 

Bell was at home in Philadelphia when he collapsed. Rushed to the hospital, he was in critical condition with internal hemorrhaging. A benefit league-wide All-Star game was played to help defray the hospital costs of Bell, but he remained hospitalized. Kadel took over as coach as the team won their final two games of the regular season and claimed the fourth playoff spot. 

When the playoffs began March 25, Pottsville defeated Williamsport in three games and then dispatched Harrisburg in three games to claim the Eastern League's President's Trophy.

Meanwhile, Tommy Bell's illness turned out to be lymphoma, and he would die in December of 1949 at the young age of 27. The league would name the annual MVP Award after Bell.

Head Coaches:

• Obie O'Brien (January 5, 1909 - August 20, 1978) 2-4
• Red Dehnert (January 24, 1924 - September 23, 1994) 6-5  Also played. See below.
• Tommy Bell (September 11, 1922 - December 17, 1949) 6-5 Also played. See below.
• Felix Kadel (May 30, 1912 - December 7, 2003) 2-0

PLAYERS:

Tommy Bell (September 11, 1922 - December 17, 1949)

Fred Bernhart (September 14, 1923 - June 1, 2011)

Alfy Burch (November 2, 1928 - September 1, 2000)

Neal Conway (November 24, 1924 - February 15, 1997)

Red Dehnert (January 24, 1924 - September 23, 1994)

Joe Dougherty 

Jack Flannery (December 7, 1925 - January 22, 2007)

Dave Fox  (May 24, 1926 - May 9, 1984)

Walt Geoghan (March 28, 1925 - Mar 22, 1997)

Pop Goodwin (December 22, 1920 - May 16, 2005)

John Gozdenovich (March 8, 1924 - July 7, 1997)

Oscar Grossman (June 26, 1923 - September 22, 1993)

Jack Harvey (March 10, 1928 - August 30, 2006)

Bill Henry (May 23, 1924 - April 24, 1999)

Jack Kane (June 18, 1928 - October 12, 1987)

Jack McCloskey (September 19, 1925 - June 1, 2017)

Bill McClure (December 21, 1927 - September 7, 2001)

Moon Mullen 

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

Tom O'Connell (November 10, 1923 - February 5, 2011)

Eddie O'Hallloran (January 4, 1926 - October 11, 2014)

Johnny Phoenix (April 2, 1924 - August 31, 1988)

George Prendergast (December 8, 1922 - July 1, 2009)

Bob Walters (November 15, 1926 - March 21, 1991)

1948-49 Lancaster Red Roses (EPBL)

1948-49 LANCASTER RED ROSES

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
11-18 .379, 6th place

Lancaster started the 1948-49 season in trouble. Even though the team started decently with 2 wins in five games, the financial issues surrounding the club flared up, forcing the league to temporarily suspend the club's actions until they could square things away with the home court, payroll and travel. In early January, owner Roxy Wise replaced Matt Guokas with George Eshelman and the business showed other signs of improvement. The team's suspension was "lifted" and they re-entered league play on January 9. With a new coach and some new personnel (Bells Colone and Johnny Emich), over the few weeks they would continue to add other players to try to bolster their fortunes. They never really put it together, and by season's end they were forced to forfeit their last two games and finished in 6th place, well out of the playoff picture.  Bill Zubic stuck with the team from beginning to end, averaging 22.2 PPG.

 

Head Coaches:

• Matt Guokas (November 11, 1915 - December 9, 1993) 2-3
  
• George Eshelman (April 15, 1913 - June 14, 1989) 9-15

PLAYERS:

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

Red Dehnert (January 24, 1924 - September 23, 1994)

Jim DiGiacomo (b. December 19, 1928)

George Ehemann (September 11, 1918 - July 10, 1991)

Johnnie Emich (January 21, 1918 - May 20, 2001)

Dick Fitzgerald (November 18, 1920 - April 13, 1968)

Dave Fox  (May 24, 1926 - May 9, 1984)

Marshall Gemberling (August 6, 1924 - September 10, 2004)

Art Hillhouse (June 12, 1916 - October 27, 1980)

Bill Hoover (September 27, 1920 - October 17, 1999)

Steve Juenger (February 10, 1915 - November 18, 2003)

Jerry Kelly (June 14, 1918 - July 23, 1996)

Bud Long (February 10, 1924 - January 9, 2009)

Bink Manning (August 29, 1920 - April 7, 1986)

Don Markward (April 2, 1919 - June 14, 1985)

Ed Masterson (January 24, 1923 - May 21, 1991)

Jack McCloskey (September 19, 1925 - June 1, 2017)

Stan Novak (April 10, 1923 - October 21, 2006)

Tom O'Connell (November 10, 1923 - February 5, 2011)

Joe Proksa (June 30, 1914 - October 25, 1999)

Fred Sheffield (November 5, 1923 - December 8, 2009)

George Shoemaker (December 21, 1927 - October 16, 2000)

Mac Simpson (February 28, 1927 - May 17, 2013)

Sammy Van Hook (June 29, 1916 - April 5, 1997)

Bill Zubic (August 7, 1918 - July 24, 1994)

1948-49 Harrisburg Senators (EPBL)

1948-49 HARRISBURG SENATORS

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
18-12, .600, T-1st place

Tie-breaker: Lost to Reading, 68-66

Semi-Finals: Defeated Reading, 2-1

Finals: Lost to Pottsville, 2-1

Hoping to improve on last year's disappointment, Joe Cackovic, star player of the team, took the coaching job at the start of the season, but after 8 games was relieved of his duty so he concentrate on scoring (he would average a team-best 15.0 ppg). After a mediocre 8-8 start, they would go 10-4 the rest of the way to tie for first at the end of the season. They would lose to Reading, 68-66, in a short playoff to determine regular season winner. They would force the same Reading club in the playoffs, beating them in three games to advance to the finals. After splitting the first two with Pottsville, Harrisburg would lose, 88-69, in the rubber game to fall short of the Eastern League championship.

Joe Cackovic

Head Coaches:

• Joe Cackovic (February 21, 1923 - December 16, 1984) 4-4 Also played. See below
• Steve "Pie" Eckhart (December 26, 1912 - September 12, 2002) 2-1
• Russ Tuckey (March 24, 1904 - April 1986) 12-7 

PLAYERS:

Joe Cackovic (February 21, 1923 - December 16, 1984)

Jim Coughlin (August 18, 1919 - March 27, 1969)

Dick DeWees (March 18, 1929 - July 19, 1986)

Jackie Goepfert (May 24, 1932 - May 1, 2002)

Stretch Hall (June 23, 1926 - December 10, 1989)

Jimmy Hernjak (June 10, 1927 - December 27, 1980)

Johnny Hopper (January 9, 1923 - June 12, 1996)

Dave McWhite (November 6, 1919 - December 8, 1997)

Danny Sandler (b. March 21, 1927)

Jeb Stewart (November 15, 1924 - January 10, 1993)

Vince Smith (August 20, 1922 - January 17, 2019)

Mike Yovic (July 23, 1923 - July 19, 2001)

Johnny Hopper

Danny Sandler

Dave McWhite

Jeb Stewart

1948-49 EPBL

The third season of the EPBL saw the league drop to seven teams. Both the Philadelphia Lumberjacks and the Hazleton Mountaineers dropped, but added the Athletic Association from York.  Reading would move to Allentown to try to find better home court but would return to Reading a few weeks later. It would prove to be a very competitive season, with Williamsport, Harrisburg and Reading all tying for the regular season title with Pottsville only two games back. Williamsport would win the regular season title in a three-team playoff but get knocked out in the playoffs in the opening round to Pottsville. The Packers would go on to win the crown over Harrisburg.

• Harrisburg Senators
• Lancaster Rockets 
• Pottsville Packers
• Reading / Allentown Keys
• Sunbury Mercuries
• Williamsport Billies 
• York A.A.

1947-48 Williamsport Billies (EPBL)

1947-48 WILLIAMSPORT BILLIES
EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
9-18, .333, 7th place

Coach Hal Poust

New to the league, the Billis started off decently, splitting their first 10 games. Unfortunately, they would only win 4 of their remaining 17 games to finish a distant 7th place. Ray Kodish would lead the team in scoring with 377 points (17.1 PPG)

Head Coach:

• Hal Poust (March 14, 1906 - November 23, 1962) 

PLAYERS:

Bernie Bobst (May 25, 1926 - April 30, 1986)

Bob Brenner (March 2, 1923 - November 11, 2013)

Ollie Byers (October 24, 1916 - July 26, 2004)

Paul Coront (July 4, 1921 - February 26, 1994)

Larry Disque (March 27, 1921 - March 3, 1994)

Rocco English (January 30, 1919 - September 14, 2017)

Frank Frascella (July 28, 1922 - December 10, 2014)

Earl Hafner (July 29, 1921 - March 15, 1988)

Ray Kodish (June 10, 1923 - March 14, 2012)

Don Manno (May 4, 1915 - March 11, 1995)

Wes Myers

Fran McGrath (November 29, 1926 - September 21, 2014)

Wes Myers (December 21, 1927 - February 1, 2002)

Emil Piestrak (December 19, 1918 - June 7, 2011)

Frank Sebest (September 24, 1923 - November 28, 2010)

Andy Sember (July 6, 1923 - April 17. 2007)

Perk Stabley (January 24, 1925 - September 25, 1994)

Tom Sweeney (October 15, 1922 - June 27, 2017)

Joey Thomas (November 12, 1919 - November 24, 1997)

Jack Walsh (November 11, 1920 - May 9, 1976)

1947-48 Sunbury Mercuries (EPBL)

1947-48 SUNBURY MERCURIES

Coach Auten

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
13-15, .464, 5th place

First year in the league, the Mercuries won their first two games if the season, including an opening night victory over eventual champions Reading. They would float around the .500 mark for the entire season, never winning more than two in a row and never being more than 2 games within the .500 mark on either side. Johnny Rusinko would score 398 points in the season for an average of 14.2 PPG. 

Head Coach:

• Johnny Auten (April 26, 1903 - September 22, 1981) 

PLAYERS:

Wade Ackley (June 8, 1919 - January 24, 2007)

Paul Chadick (May 25, 1918 - December 28, 1999)

Jack Colberg (February 4, 1924 - December 17, 2013)

Lou Decsi (February 9, 1923 - November 19, 2018)

George Deitrick (November 27, 1917 - April 21, 1996)

Nick Dietterick (May 22, 1921 - May 16, 2014)

Jackie Goepfert (May 24, 1932 - May 1, 2002)

Dave Hornstein (August 16, 1922 - September 25, 1997)

Jesse Mair (January 9, 1919 - June 19, 2003)

Cliff Maunder (June 6, 1920 - March 9, 2006)

Fran McGrath (November 29, 1926 - September 21, 2014)

Charlie Prosser (July 15, 1916 - August 5, 1961)

John Rusinko (March 1, 1925 - October 23, 2013)

Johnny Shadle (December 26, 1919 - May 4, 1999)

Andy Siket (December 29, 1918 - September 19, 1995)

Johnny Simmons (July 7, 1924 - August 1, 2008)

Andy Skvoretz (October 29, 1924 - July 12, 1988)

Kermit Smith (February 2, 1926 - August 23, 2005)

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

Jack Watson (November 6, 1918 - August 2, 1974)

1947-48 Reading Keys (EPBL)

1947-48 READING KEYS

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
19-9 .679, 2nd place

Lost to Pottsville in one-game playoff for regular-season championship

Semi-finals: Defeated Lancaster, 2-1

Finals: Defeated Hazleton, 2-1

With very little resemblance to last years bluc, including a new coach in Stan Schwiemler, the improved Reading Keys added talented players like Russ Guensch and Joe Lord, complemented by Dewey Boltz and Billy Budd. They would possession of first place in late December and  held it through January. Entering the final month of the season, they would win 8 of their final 11 but that was still not enough to keep Pottsville from catching them in the final days of the season.

Wrapping up the season with a 19-9 record that was identical to the Packers, the two teams would meet in a one-game playoff to determine the regular season champions. Played in neutral Hazleton, Reading would fall to Pottsville, 60-57. 

Three days later, the Eastern League semi-finals began, with Reading stunned by a ten-point defeat at Lancaster in the series opener. The club rallied to beat Lancaster in the next two games on their home court to salt away the series victory. Facing Hazleton in the finals, Reading once again stumbled on the series opener on the road 61-53. However, just like the semis, the Keys bounced back to win the next two games at home to claim the Eastern League championship, two games to one.

Head Coach:

• Stan Schweimler (October 15, 1897 - March 6 , 1974)

PLAYERS:

Dewey Boltz (May 18, 1920 - September 18, 2015)

Bill Budd (January 24, 1921 - July 31, 2016)

Jimmy Bunn (September 2, 1923 - January 22, 2009)

Norm Butz (September 28, 1919 - March 21, 1999)

George Dracha (August 18, 1921 - April 6, 1995)

Johnny Dracha (July 20, 1927 - January 13, 2008)

George Dries (June 9, 1926 - August 1, 1991)

Russ Guensch (January 12, 1924 - June 14, 2014)

Kenny Hopkins (November 2, 1919 - June 12, 2015)

Joe Lord (December 28, 1922 - December 1986)

Jack McGaffney (April 1, 1924 - February 3, 2020)

Chin Rhoads (September 11, 1918 - April 1, 2007)

Bob Rothenberger (May 4, 1918 - April 2, 1994)

Woozy Smith (January 13, 1915 - June 3, 1971)

1947-48 Pottsville Packers (EPBL)

1947-48 POTTSVILLE PACKERS

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
19-9, .259, 1st place
Defeated Reading in one-game playoff for regular-season championship

Semi-finals: Lost to Hazleton, 2-1

Taking over from the defunct franchise that moved to Pottsville from Binghamton during the previous season, this iteration of Pottsville's team was coached by George Syby.  After a mediocre start of 6-6, the tPackers caught fire, winning four straight. They would then win 3 of their next six before winning the last six games of the regular season and catching Reading to tie for first place. A one-game playoff game against Reading was scheduled to determine the regular season champion, and Pottsville snuck off with a 60-57 win. 

The Pack headed in to the playoffs with a seven-game winning streak and 9 of the last ten, and beat Hazleton on the road in the opener of their best-of-three game series. However, Pottsville would drop both games at home to lose the series in three games.

The Packers were lead this season by Bill McClure, who averaged 11.1 PPG, and Jack Flannery with 10.9 PPG.Player/coach Syby would finish fourth on the team in scoring, behind Joe Doherty.

Head Coach:

• George Syby (November 26, 1915 - December 27, 2000)  Also played.  See below

PLAYERS:

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

Alfy Burch (November 2, 1928 - September 1, 2000)

Eddie Deitch (December 1, 1910 - June 20, 1997)

Joe Dougherty 

Jack Flannery (December 7, 1925 - January 22, 2007)

Jack Harvey (March 10, 1928 - August 30, 2006)

Joe Kelly (November 27, 1924 - August 27, 2009)

Bill McClure (December 21, 1927 - September 7, 2001)

Bob Morris (February 17, 1913 - June 1, 1985)

Dan Murphy  

Al Palatella 

Ossie Prokopic (December 21, 1919 - March 19, 2010)

Bogey Rosenberger (July 12, 1923 - October 26, 2000)

Woozy Smith (January 13, 1915 - June 3, 1971)

George Syby (November 26, 1915 - December 27, 2000)

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

Al Yanushonis (June 20, 1927 - February 27, 2014)

Pete Yousaitis (September 10, 1917 - December 23, 1995)

1947-48 Philadelphia Lumberjacks (EPBL)

1947-48 PHILADELPHIA LUMBERJACKS
EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA

8-20, .286, 8th place

The Eastern League got its first franchise in the state' largest city, Philadelphia, for the second season of its existence. Being a hotbed of basketball for two decades, much was expected from the Lumberjacks. Coached by Skeets Fiorella, who would later operate his father's sausage company with his sons, the Lumberjacks started off admirably enough, winning 8 of their first 15 games. However, they hit the skids on January 25 when they began a 13-game losing streak to finish the season. They plummeted to last place and the franchise would fold shortly after the season.

Head Coach:

• Lou "Skeets" Fiorella (May 30, 1922 - January 29, 2008) 
  

PLAYERS:

Billy Chappell 

Sidney Chilnick (June 19, 1922 - August 1, 1965)

Zack Clayton (April 17, 1918 - November 20, 1997)

Milt Cohen (August 12, 1926 - November 8, 1999)

Jim Coughlin (August 18, 1919 - March 27, 1969)

Tony Derago (October 11, 1928 - March 21, 2006)

Dick DeWees (March 18, 1929 - July 19, 1986)

Jim Furey (March 28, 1928 - February 20, 1985)

Ken or Jim McAndrews  

Rocco Parisi (October 27, 1923 - February 8, 2015)

Pepper Petrella (May 7, 1920 - December 21, 1991)

Max Siani (Ju;y 2, 1919 - February 26, 1988)

Frank Washington (April 4, 1921 - January 24, 2013)

1947-48 Lancaster Red Roses (EPBL)

1947-48 LANCASTER RED ROSES

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
14-14 .500, 4th place

Semi-finals: Lost to Reading, 2-1

Lancaster started the 1947-48 season in the American Basketball League. After starting 1-5, they dropped for the ABL and returned to the Eastern League December 3. Coming back from a season that saw them be the runner-up to the crown, the Red Roses had high aspirations but could not put together the hot streak they needed to compete.  Never being more than two games over .500 or one game under, they finished the season at 14-14 and a fourth place finish. They would lose in the first round of the playoffs.

 

Head Coaches:

• Woody Sponaugle (September 24, 1915 -  April 30, 1967)
  

PLAYERS:

Tommy Bell (September 11, 1922 - December 17, 1949)

Hen Burger (November 18, 1922 - July 25, 2009)

Norm Butz (September 28, 1919 - March 21, 1999)

Jim DiGiacomo (b. December 19, 1928)

George Ehemann (September 11, 1918 - July 10, 1991)

Walt Funk (October 13, 1922 - January 13, 2015)

Steve Juenger (February 10, 1915 - November 18, 2003)

Bud Long (February 10, 1924 - January 9, 2009)

Don Markward (April 2, 1919 - June 14, 1985)

Ed Masterson (January 24, 1923 - May 21, 1991)

Jack McCloskey (September 19, 1925 - June 1, 2017)

Ken McKee (June 7, 1926 - June 19, 1950)

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

Tom O'Connell (November 10, 1923 - February 5, 2011)

Fred Sheffield (November 5, 1923 - December 8, 2009)

Stan Waxman (May 20, 1922 - February 22, 2013)

Pete Yousaitis (September 10, 1917 - December 23, 1995)

Bill Zubic (August 7, 1918 - July 24, 1994)

1947-48 Hazleton Mountaineers (EPBL)

1947-48 HAZLETON MOUNTAINEERS
EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA

18-10 .643, 3rd place

Semi-finals: Defeated Pottsville, 2-1

Finals: Lost to Reading, 1-2

Looking to improve on the past season, Hazleton started the season with a 44-36 loss at Harrisburg. Head coach Frank Serany immediately released almost his entire roster, letting go of Tommy Gorman, Hal Korovin, John Kostic, Billy Letcher, and Eddie McCluskey and bringing back Rookie Brown and Pete Yousaitis as well as signing a new batch of players like Bink Manning and Moon Mullen. It still took a little while for the new-look lineup to pick things up, only winning 3 games at the end of calendar year 1947. But after that 3-5 start, Hazleton would go 6-2 in both January and February and win 9 of eleven before losing the season finale at Pottsville. They entered the playoffs and defeated those same Pottsville Packers in a hard-fought best of three that went all three games. In the championship against Reading, Hazleton defeated Reading, 61-53, in the opener at home, but would lose games 2 and 3 on the road, ending the season as the runner-up. 

Head Coach:

• Frank Serany )May 4, 1911 - April 27, 1982) Also played. See below

PLAYERS:

Tommy Bell (September 11, 1922 - December 17, 1949)

William "Rookie" Brown - (February 15, 1925 - May 22, 1971)

Joe Chepulis (July 26, 1917 - June 25, 2009)

Tommy Gorman (March 16, 1919 - August 11, 1986)

Bernie Griggs (October 1, 1977 - June 27, 2001)

Louis Hilf (March 24, 1920 - May 27, 2002)

Hal Korovin (April 19, 1925 - June 5, 2021)

John Kostic (April 5, 1926 - October 17, 2011)

Billy Letcher (February 10, 1929 - October 21, 2010)

Bink Manning (August 29, 1920 - April 7, 1986)

Johnny Mascavage (January 14, 1918 - April 12, 1990)

Eddie McCluskey (January 29, 1926 - March 2, 2016)

Moon Mullen 

Fred Paine (December 7, 1925 - October 26, 2004)

Emil Piestrak (December 19, 1918 - June 7, 2011)

Ossie Prokopic (December 21, 1919 - March 19, 2010)

Gene Resnick (December 26, 1924 - December 13, 2019)

Pete Schneider (June 29, 1919 - September 22, 1996)

Frank Serany )May 4, 1911 - April 27, 1982)

Leroy Watley (March 11, 1925 - January 15, 1996)

Pete Yousaitis (September 10, 1917 - December 23, 1995)

1947-48 Harrisburg Senators (EPBL)

1947-48 HARRISBURG SENATORS
EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
11-16, .407, 6th place

The Harrisburg Senators joined the league this season, with Barney Goldberg as player / head coach and lead by Fran and Vinny Bock, Sid Roche and former Penn State star Herb Currie. After stunning Hazleton in their opener, the Senators would then drop their next six games before Goldberg was fired and released and replaced by Duke Maronic, an offensive lineman for the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles. Only Joe Cackovic, the Steelton HS star who j9ined the team in their fourth game, and Roche, survived the coaching change. A new and revamped Harrisburg won 3 of their first 5 under Maronic, but the team's fortunes did not change enough to claim a playoff spot. Cackovic averaged 17.9 PPG and Jimmy Hernjak would average 10.6.  They finished 11-16, good enough for sixth place.

Head Coaches:

• Barney Goldberg (October 14, 1921 - December 12, 2011)  1-6 Also played. See below
• Duke Maronic (October 19, 1918 - November 13, 2009) 10-10 

PLAYERS:

Franny Bock (September 29, 1921 - October 2, 2006)

Vic Bock (August 31, 1920 - September 3, 1951)

Joe Cackovic (February 21, 1923 - December 16, 1984)

Herb Currie (April 23, 1921 - June 18, 2005)

Harry DeFrank (January 27, 1926 - June 26, 2007)

Danny Ernst (b. November 22, 1922)

Dick Giles (November 22, 1923 - November 1, 1984)

Barney Goldberg (October 14, 1921 - December 12, 2011)

Frankie Haas (June 1, 1926 - April 16, 2015)

Stretch Hall (June 23, 1926 - December 10, 1989)

Art Heffner (December 12, 1916 - August 12, 2010)

Jimmy Hernjak (June 10, 1927 - December 27, 1980)

Albie Kitch (December 31, 1915 - March 14, 1980)

Sid Roche (May 16, 1926 - January 21, 2010)

Don Schuerholz (August 28, 1922 - May 2, 2009)

Wilson Schuerholz (December 13, 1920 - September 3, 1997)

Andy Siket (December 29, 1918 - September 19, 1995)

Vince Smith (August 20, 1922 - January 17, 2019)

Mike Yovic (July 23, 1923 - July 19, 2001)

1947-48 EPBL

The Eastern Penn League went into it second season with 8 teams. The Pottsville Maroons (aka Pros) and Allentown Rockets disbanded, and the Wilkes-Barre Barons left the league to join the ABL, which was no longer a top-tier league but more of a feeder league for the BAA.  The Harrisburg Senators joined the league EPBL as did a different Pottsville club known as the Packers. The largest city in the state, Philadelphia, would also be represented by the Lumberjacks. Also joining the league were the Sunbury Mercuries and the Williamsport Billies.

The season commences on November 30, 1947, and with the exception of the Senators, the league was tightly bunched at the end of the calendar year, with only three games separating first place from seventh. Once the new year began, Reading began to pull away and enjoyed a three-game cushion in early February, but late charges from Pottsville and Hazleton brought the regular season to an exciting climax. The Packers won their last six games and 13 of their last 16 to catch Reading on the final weekend of the season with both clubs sporting a 19-9 record. The Mountaineers had a 9-1 stretch and lost to Pottsville in the season finale, keeping them just one game back at 18-10. Lancaster grabbed the 4th playoff spot, and on March 16, 1948, Pottsville defeated Reading, 60-52, in a playoff game that served to determine the regular season champion.

The playoffs began On March 18, with Pottsville facing Hazleton, followed the next day with Reading and Lancaster. Pottsville  won the hard-fought opener against Hazleton, but the Mountaineers came back to win the next two and steal the series from the regular-season champions. Meanwhile, Lancaster stunned Reading with an opening-game victory, but would drop the next two to allow the Keys to win. 

Reading was  to face Hazleton in the best-of-three series to determine the champion. As was the case with the semi-final series, the team that won the opener wound up losing the series. After falling, 61-53, to Hazleton, Reading would rebound to win the second and third game, and therefore the championship of the league for the 1947-48 season.

• Harrisburg Senators
• Hazleton Mountaineers
• Lancaster Red Roses
• Philadelphia Lumberjacks
• Pottsville Packers
• Reading Keys
• Sunbury Mercuries
• Williamsport Billies

New updates, identifications, corrections, January 2024

Taking some time and looking back to fill in some holes or close some things out.

DETAILS ADDED:

Red Morrison, NBA - Died 2023

Johnny O'Boyle, NBA, ABL, EPBL - Died 1984

Bob Priddy, NBA, ABL - Died 2021, middle name added

Wally Sheil, ABL, EPBL - Added middle name

Devon Smith, ABL, EPBL - Full name added

Vince Vereschi, ABL, EPBL, NYSL - Added middle name

Leroy Watkins, ABL, EPBL - Middle name, place of birth added

PROPERLY IDENTIFIED:

George Faust, NYSL, EPBL - This was the name occasionally used by George Feigenbaum when he was double-dipping in two leagues at roughly the same time. George Faust and George Feigenbaum are the same player.

CORRECTED:

NEW LEADS UNRESOLVED:

1946-47 Wilkes-Barre Barons (EPBL)

1946-47 WILKES-BARRE BARONS
EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA  
22-5, .815, 1st place

Semi-finals: Defeated Reading, 2-0

Finals: Defeated Lancaster, 2-1

With a strong roster composed of some of the best players in the area, the Wilkes-Barre Barons won 10 of the first eleven games, grabbing first place and never looking back. They'd win 18 of 21 and finish with a 22-5 record and 3.5 games ahead of Lancaster. The Chanecka brothers (Billy and Steve) combined for over 19 point per game while Cas Ostrowski added 15.9 PPG on his own. They would battle past a difficult Reading team in the playoffs to mett Lancaster in the finals. After a stunning 59-54 set-back in the opener, they crushed Lancaster in games 2 and 3 to win the inaugural Eastern League crown. 

Eddie White would not give his charges a chance to repeat next year. Feeling his team was too strong for the Eastern League, he applied for a franchise in the American League and was accepted The Barons moved to the east coast pro circuit for the 1947-48 where they won the ABL championship in the next two seasons/

Head Coach:

• Eddie White (February 4, 1910 - December 9, 1988) 

PLAYERS:

Billy Chanecka

Al Brightman (September 22, 1923 - June 10, 1992)

Billy Chanecka (April 21, 1924 - January 27, 2010)

Steve Chanecka (February 6, 1918 - February 1, 2000)

Chick Craig (July 23, 1922 - June 21, 2008)

Larry Disque (March 27, 1921 - March 3, 1994)

Paul Eike (August 15, 1919 - February 22, 2003)

Rocco English (January 30, 1919 - September 14, 2017)

Carl Frank (January 28, 1925 - May 18, 2023)

Earl Hafner (July 29, 1921 - March 15, 1988)

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

Joe Karpinski (April 28, 1917 - July 30, 2001)

Walter "Jake" Konitski (August 25, 1917 - February 27, 1975)

Johnny Mascavage (January 14, 1918 - April 12, 1990)

Billy Mock (November 2, 1920 - November 1, 2004)

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

Carl Zavada (June 6, 1929 - April 15, 2009)

1946-47 Reading Keys (EPBL)

1946-47 READING KEYS
EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
15-13 .536, 3rd place

Coach Bill Horine

Semi-finals: Lost to Wilkes-Barre, 2-0

Lead by the legendary Pennsylvania player Bill Zubic, Reading did a major personnel change after losing the first two games.  More adjustments would occur over the season, most notably the addition of Fred Sheffield in January. He averaged 14.8 points down the stretch and the Keys finished 3rd. They would meet regular season champions Wilkes-Barre in semi-finals and fought the Barons hard but lost both games to be eliminated.

Head Coach:

• Bill Horine (November 28, 1910 - July 3, 1997)

PLAYERS:

John Browne (August 24, 1917 - May 13, 1999)

Frankie Burns (August 22, 1923 - November 18, 2010)

Jack Carpien (October 29, 1918 - November 13, 2009)

Tommy Carroll (September 4, 1918 - May 13, 1990)

Joe Dougherty 

Kenny Hopkins (November 2, 1919 - June 12, 2015)

Bill Koehler (December 24, 1924 - June 17, 2006)

Matt Kratochwill (December 16, 1916 - November 21, 2006)

Bill Landis (June 25, 1925 - September 26, 1997)

Lee Logan (April 1, 1919 - August 8, 1988)

Bill Zubic

Ed Masterson (January 24, 1923 - May 21, 1991)

Tom O'Connell (November 10, 1923 - February 5, 2011)

Gene Resnick (December 26, 1924 - December 13, 2019)

Chin Rhoads (September 11, 1918 - April 1, 2007)

Bob Rothenberger (May 4, 1918 - April 2, 1994)

Fred Sheffield (November 5, 1923 - December 8, 2009)

Woozy Smith (January 13, 1915 - June 3, 1971)

Sammy Van Hook (June 29, 1916 - April 5, 1997)

Bill Zubic (August 7, 1918 - July 24, 1994)

1946-47 Lancaster Red Roses (EPBL)

1946-47 LANCASTER RED ROSES
EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
20-10 .667, 2nd place

Semi-finals: Defeated Hazleton, 2-0

Finals: Lost to Wilkes-Barre, 2-1

Expected to be a league leader, the Lancaster club, coached by Woody Sponaugle,  jumped out to a 3-0 start, but the Wilkes-Barre Barons were also a team expected to challenge for the crown. By mid-January, the Roses and Barons separated themselves from the rest of the league. Despite a stretch of 13 wins in 17 games, Lancaster couldn't catch the Barons and finished second. 

With Whitey Von Nieda averaging 22.7 PPG, Lancaster would meet with Hazleton in the playoffs, and knocked them off in two games. The Barons were their opponents in the championship series, and Lancaster eclipsed the Barons in the opener, 59-54, but would get trounced in game 2, 65-37. The third and deciding game was played at a neutral site (Allentown), and Von Nieda scored 25 but the rest of the team was ineffective as the Barons won, 70-54, to give the title to Wilkes-Barre.

 

Head Coaches:

• Woody Sponaugle (September 24, 1915 -  April 30, 1967)
  

PLAYERS:

Don Markward

Tommy Bell (September 11, 1922 - December 17, 1949)

Max Bishop (June 27, 1915 - August 25, 1991)

Bob Boylan (April 11, 1920 - May 9, 2013)

Norm Butz (September 28, 1919 - March 21, 1999)

Herb Currie (April 23, 1921 - June 18, 2005)

John DeBold (September 18, 1918 - December 26, 2002)

George Ehemann (September 11, 1918 - July 10, 1991)

Johnnie Emich (January 21, 1918 - May 20, 2001)

Walt Funk (October 13, 1922 - January 13, 2015)

Russ Herrmann (September 27, 1914 - July 28, 1976)

Bink Manning (August 29, 1920 - April 7, 1986)

Don Markward (April 2, 1919 - June 14, 1985)

Joe Proksa (June 30, 1914 - October 25, 1999)

Woody Sponaugle (September 24, 1915 -  April 30, 1967)

Whitey Von Nieda (June 19, 1922 - September 7, 2023)

1946-47 Hazleton Mountaineers (EPBL)

1946-47 HAZLETON MOUNTAINEERS
EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
21-17 .393, 4th place

Semi-finals: Lost to Lancaster, 2-0

Hazleton, owned by Nate Glassberg and Chic Sacco and coached by Frank Serany, added one of the area's most prolific players in Joe "Bells" Colone three games into the season, but despite Colone's efforts, he had little support to try to lead the team into the playoffs. Three promising players, Bill Brown, Zach Clayton and Tom McCollam, were suspended after two games for playing for another local team, in violation of their contracts. Clayton never returned to the Mountaineers and McCollam didn't return until late February.

Head Coach:

• Frank Serany )May 4, 1911 - April 27, 1982) Also played. See below

PLAYERS:

"Bells" Colone

Rex Antinozzi (December 28, 1919 - April 14, 1951)

William "Rookie" Brown - (February 15, 1925 - May 22, 1971)

Art Campo 

George Cheverko (July 29, 1920 - November 14, 1977)

Zack Clayton (April 17, 1918 - November 20, 1997)

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

Johnny Danyo (December 2, 1919 - January 11, 1993)

Eddie Deitch (December 1, 1910 - June 20, 1997)

Jimmy Doran (August 10, 1925 - January 9, 2000)

Harry Dorneman (May 15, 1919 - March 12, 1971)

Bernie Griggs (October 1, 1977 - June 27, 2001)

Johnny Isaacs (September 15, 1915 - January 26, 2009)

Billy Kerchusky (October 15, 1919 - August 7, 1997)

Chick Lamonica (May 17, 1928 - October 1, 1999)

Bill Law (September 15, 1916 - May 24, 1989)

Jack McCloskey (September 19, 1925 - June 1, 2017)

Eddie McCluskey (January 29, 1926 - March 2, 2016)

Tom McCollam (October 6, 1920 - July 2, 2001)

Red Meinhold (March 29, 1926 - February 23, 2019)

Morrison 

Emil Piestrak (December 19, 1918 - June 7, 2011)

Al Pietkiewicz (November 27, 1923 - August 13, 2019)

Joe Podany (April 18, 1917 - April 8, 1980)

Ossie Prokopic (December 21, 1919 - March 19, 2010)

Frank Serany )May 4, 1911 - April 27, 1982)

Charlie Trinkle (August 2, 1920 - November 3, 2015)

Ed Trubin (September 8, 1920 - April 19, 2004)

Billy Woods (b, 1918 - unknown)

Franny Woods (b. 1916 - unknown)

Pete Yousaitis (September 10, 1917 - December 23, 1995)

1946-47 Binghamton Triplets / Pottsvile Maroons (EPBL)

1946-47 BINGHAMTON TRIPLETS / POTTSVILLE MAROONS
EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
7-20, .259, 6th place

The league's only non-Pennsylvanian entry, the Binghamton club of New York was owned by Jimmy (Dennis) Gallagher. After losing their first two games of the season, Gallagher fired the entire team and restocked it with many players from a New York City team, the Bronx Indians. The "new" Triplets would only win once in the next four games before Gallagher surrendered the team back to the league on December 20, 1946.  The franchise was sold  to a new ownership group in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, headed by local sportsman Herwood E. Hobbs. On January 6, 1947, Hobbs and his associates then sold the team to Clarence Messner, operator of the Minserville store chain. Jake Pitler, the GM in Binghamton, would move with the team to Pottsville. The hapless club struggled the rest of the season, save for winning 3 of their last four games.

BINGHAMTON:

Head Coaches:

• Ted Hanauer (January 1, 1924 - October 1, 2013) 0-2  Also played.  See below
• Pete Savio (September 3, 1922 - August 25, 2005) 1-4 Also played.  See below  

PLAYERS:

Joe Bellis )November 30, 1913 - May 27, 1967)

Vic Brandi )October 26, 1922 - July 4, 2002)

John Charno (December 11, 1920 - October 20, 2006)

Danny Murphy

Davis 

Melvin Flichtenfeld (August 24, 1925 - February 19, 2003)

Moe Goldberg (July 16, 1922 - August 1, 1996)

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

Marv Haspil aka Mel Haskell (February 11, 1924 - October 26, 2004)

Carl Kolosna (June 17, 1924 - January 30, 1992)

Tom Larkin  (January 21, 1923 - December 28, 1996)

Bob Morgan  

Dan Murphy  

Reagen 

Pete Savio (September 3, 1922 - August 25, 2005)

Sterling 

George Syby (November 26, 1915 - December 27, 2000)

Jack Walsh (November 11, 1920 - May 9, 1976)

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

Jim Zeravich (February 17, 1920 - August 16, 1998)

POTTSVILLE:

Head Coach:

• Hughie Hoke (October 15, 1908 - May 4, 1984)  6-14

PLAYERS:

Jack Collins 

Eddie Deitch (December 1, 1910 - June 20, 1997)

Bob Morris

Ralph Dolgoff (October 24, 1917 - April 20, 2009)

Joe Dougherty 

Jack Gillespie (November 13, 1923 - July 24, 1986)

Habinski  

Marv Haspil aka Mel Haskell (February 11, 1924 - October 26, 2004)

Art Heffner (December 12, 1916 - August 12, 2010)

Bill Law (September 15, 1916 - May 24, 1989)

Dick Maberry (October 15, 1923 - July 18, 2000)

Carl Macur (September 15, 1918 - January 1, 1988(

Eddie McCluskey (January 29, 1926 - March 2, 2016)

Bob Morris (February 17, 1913 - June 1, 1985)

Dan Murphy 

Bogey Rosenberger (July 12, 1923 - October 26, 2000)

Saeger 

George Syby (November 26, 1915 - December 27, 2000)

George Tepo (March 14, 1920 - October 3, 2005)

Charlie Trinkle (August 2, 1920 - November 3, 2015)

Whiteman