1952-53 Williamsport Billies (EPBL)

1952-53 WILLIAMSPORT BILLIES

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
13-7, .650, 2nd place
Semi-finals: Defeated Lancaster, 1-0

Finals: Defeated Berwick, 2-1

Local sports figure Hod Springman was brought in to coach the Billies, and the stumbled to a woeful 2-6 start. Floundering near the bottom of the standings in early January, the team was revamped, adding Billy Chanecka, Jack Leighton and Chink Crossin (who were available following the dissolution of the Wilkes-Barre Aces). Williamsport would win 11 of the remaining 12 games and climb all the way into second place. They met Lancaster in the semi-finals and after winning game 1 of the scheduled best-of-three series, they wer edeclared winner after Lancaster failed to find a home court. Facing Berwick (who had just upset Sunbury) in the finals, Williamsport lost the opener by a basket at home, but would rebound to win the next two to claim the Presidents Cup.

Head Coach:

• Hod Springman (August 10, 1915 - August 13, 1996) 

PLAYERS:

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

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

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

Jack Crossin (June 7, 1927 - December 6, 2005)

Joe Gallagher (May 25, 1928 - April 10, 2013)

Ed Jones (July 8, 1928 - April 28, 2020)

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

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

Marty McKibbin (August 24, 1927 - December 6, 2009)

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

Bob Smith (October 8, 1930 - April 19, 2018)

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

1952-53 Wilkes-Barre Aces (EPBL)

1952-53 WILKES-BARRE ACES

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
1-3, .250

The Packers, the defending champions of Pottsville, moved to Wilkes-Barre for the 1952-53 season. They would defeat Berwick in the opener, but then lose their next three games on the road. Unable to find a secure place for home games, they kept moving and rescheduling games until realizing that their viability was just not there and the team dropped after Christmas. Having played only four contests, their games were removed from the official league record.

Head Coach:

Bob McGrane

• Chink Crossin (July 4, 1923 - January 10, 1981) Also played. See below

PLAYERS:

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

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

Hank Dudek (September 11, 1925 - September 14, 2015)

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

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

Bob McGrane (September 28, 1929 - October 6, 1967)

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

Bob Patton (July 19, 1928 - October 17, 2012)

Art Spector (October 17, 1918 - June 18, 1987)

1952-53 Sunbury Mercuries (EPBL)

1952-53 SUNBURY MERCURIES
EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
17-3*, 850, 1st place
Semi-finals: Lost to Berwick, 2-1

* doesn't include victory over Wilkes-Barre Aces

Stan Novak's Sunbury Mercuries scored 200 points combined in their first two games of the season, both lopsided victories over Lebanon before being stunned at Harrisburg. From that point on, the Mercuries were essentially unstoppable. They rattled off 11-straight wins (not including a vacated win over Wilkes-Barre) before falling at Lancaster over 2 months after their Harrisburg loss. They won another four before losing the last game of the year to the Williamsport Billies. Their 17-3 record was a whole four games ahead of the second-place Billies, and the Mercuries were poised to roll through to the cup but were upset by the underdog Berwick club. Veteran star of the state Jack McCloskey averaged 20.5 points, with Jack Ramsay (15.7), Hank Dudek (13.8) and Jerry Rullo (13.7) contributing a large share of points.

Head Coach:

• Stan Novak (April 10, 1923 - October 21, 2006)  Also played. See below

PLAYERS:

Art Nazigian

Bart "Jabbo" Adams 

Hank Dudek (September 11, 1925 - September 14, 2015)

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

Dick Koecher (March 30, 1926 - February 4, 2020)

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

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

Art Nazigian (March 24, 1930 - December 21, 2014)

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

Jack Ramsay (February 21, 1925 - April 28, 2014)

Jerry Rullo (June 23, 1922 - October 21, 2016)

John Weglicki (August 13, 1928 - September 4, 1985)

Dave Werther (December 4, 1928 - October 24, 1997)

John Weglicki

1952-53 Lebanon Seltzers (EPBL)

1952-53 LEBANON SELTZERS
EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
5-15, .250, 6th place

Frank Shupper

Joining the Eastern League from the town of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, the over-matched Seltzers lost their first 8 games en route to a last place 5-15 finish. Floyd Becker lead the team averaging 19.6 PPG white Eddie Krause shipped in 14.6 PPG.

Head Coach:

• Frank Shupper (January 14, 1923 - February 25, 2012) 

PLAYERS:

Frankie Ail (April 6, 1933 - February 18, 2021)

Eddie Frazier

Floyd Becker (February 7, 1922 - March 7, 2008)

Bob Bowman (August 17, 1928 - August 9, 2005)

John Brunner (October 10, 1927 - April 23, 2025)

Hank DiJohnson (May 18, 1924 - September 21, 2003)

Eddie Frazier (May 30, 1926 - November 24, 2008)

Cal Gardner (December 25, 1926 - December 27, 2016)

Jimmy "Honey Boy" Harris (January 29, 1934 - September 5, 1994)

Frank Keath (August 4, 1927 - January 5, 2016)

Nels King (March 15, 1928 - August 11, 2010)

Eddie Krause (October 26, 1926 - March 25, 2011)

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

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

Chuck Zimmerman (June 11, 1927 - December 11, 2004)

John Brunner

Floyd Becker

Bob Bowman

Honey Boy Harris

Hank DiJohnson

Ed Krause

Chuck Zimmerman

Cal Gardner

1952-53 Lancaster Rockets (EPBL)

1952-53 LANCASTER ROCKETS
EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
9-10* .474, 3rd place
Semi-finals: Lost to Williamsport, 1-0

Coached by the popular Whitey Von Nieda, who would also average 7.8 points per game, HArry Donovan and Eddie Lyons contributed over 10 points all season long, helping Lancaster off to a 6-3 start. They didn't play well in the second half of the season, but finished in third place. They were to face Williamsport in the semi-finals and got crushed in the first game of the series, 90-64. Unfortunately, Lancaster could not secure a home court to host game two and the league declared Williamsport the victor based on the one game played.

 

Head Coaches:

• Whitey Von Nieda (June 19, 1922 - September 7, 2023) Also played. See below

PLAYERS:

Don Keener

Dick Adair (October 14, 1927 - July 10, 2011)

Eddie Donovan (September 3, 1925 - May 7, 1999)

Harry Donovan (b. September 10, 1926)

Tom Frein (September 20, 1926 - February 4, 2006)

Al Guokas (August 7, 1925 - August 2, 1990)

Jack Haggerty (July 6, 1926 - December 19, 2010)

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

Don Keener (June 23, 1930 - March 5, 2025)

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

Frank Martello (b. March 11, 1926)

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

1952-53 Harrisburg Senators (EPBL)

1952-53 HARRISBURG SENATORS

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
7-12*, .368, 4th place

* doesn't include win over Wilkes-Barre Aces

Harrisburg bolted out to a 6-1 start (7-1 if you count the vacated win over Wilkes-Barre). Walt Hirsch, star from the University of Kentucky helped the team to its solid start, as well as Kermit Weiske and player-coach Joe Cackovic. Following the team's second loss of the season at Sunbury, Hirsch got into an altercation with a referee after the game and punched him. He was suspend by the league for the remainder of the season and Harrisburg fell into a tailspin. They went 1-10 after Hirsch's suspension and fell out of the playoff chase. 

Head Coach:

• Joe Cackovic (February 21, 1923 - December 16, 1984)  Also played. See below

PLAYERS:

Rags Furjnic

Ed Brunner (February 26, 1929 - December 9, 1990)

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

Leo Corkery (February 7, 1930 - January 3, 2011)

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

Fred Diute (January 9, 1929 - July 19, 2004)

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

Rags Furjnic (August 8, 1910 - July 4, 1991)

Harper 

Wally Hatkevich (November 7, 1924 - June 10, 2006)

Hedrick 

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

Walt Hirsch (July 15, 1929 - May 10, 2022)

Bill Hoffer (b. November 17, 1931)

Cecil Mosenson (December 11, 1929 - September 6, 2020)

Art Richards  

Kermit Weiske (May 18, 1929 - March 17, 2016)

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

Zimmerman 

Bill Zlogar (February 21, 1928 - November 12, 2013)

1952-53 Berwick Carbuilders (EPBL)

1952-53 BERWICK CARBUILDERS
EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
8-12*, .400, 5th

Semi-finals: Defeated Sunbury, 2-1

Finals: Lost to Williamsport, 2-1

* doesn't include loss to Wilkes-Barre Aces

Back in the league after a year absence, the could only manage 3 wins in the ir first 11 games. They rallied and went 5-4 the rest of the way but didn't climb into the playoffs. Brooks Ricca averaged 14.2 PPG before leaving the team in late January. Bells Colone took his spot on the roster and averaged 13.2 PPG in 9 games.

Head Coach:

• Paul Stenn (Stenko)  (July 12, 1918 - August 2, 2003) Also played. See below.

PLAYERS:

Henry Goodman

Bill Byham (December 12, 1928 - May 30, 2017)

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

Henry Goodman (November 22, 1930 - November 24, 2023)

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

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

Lockland  

Johnny Mazur (June 17, 1930 - November 1, 2013)

Bucky McConnell (July 1, 1928 - April 1, 2019)

Bob Moroski (June 15, 1930 - January 3, 2011)

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

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

Shy Raiken (October 29, 1928 - January 16, 2009)

Brooks Ricca (April 22, 1827 - January 28, 2000)

Art Spector (October 17, 1918 - June 18, 1987)

Paul Stenn (Stenko)  (July 12, 1918 - August 2, 2003)

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

Leo Wolf (September 25, 1926 - November 27, 2006)

Gene/Judy Woodlock  

Mike Zedalis (January 5, 1927 - April 25, 2017)

Brooks Ricca

1952-53 EPBL

Defending champion Pottsville relocated to Wilkes-Barre for the 1952-53 Eastern League season and became the Aces, but the new locale didn't work out and the team dropped four games into the season. The Sunbury Mercuries, last years runner-up, rolled off an 18-3 record and ran away with the regular season crown. Williamsport finished a distant second. The Berwick Carbuilders returned to the league after a year absence and slipped past Harrisburg for the final spot in the playoffs. The Harrisburg Senators, in what would be their only year in the league, finished a half-game out of the playoffs. The new entry from Lebanon, Pennsylvania, the Seltzers, dropped their first 8 en route to a last-place finish.

In the playoffs, Berwick shocked Sunbury, beating them in 3 games in the semi-finals. Lancaster was unable to secure a home court for the playoffs, so their series with Williamsport was converted to a single game, which the Billies won. Williamsport dropped the opening game to Berwick in the best-of-three championship series before Williamsport won games 2 and 3 to win the title.

• Berwick Carbuilders
• Harrisburg Senators
• Lancaster Rockets 
• Lebanon Seltzers
• Sunbury Mercuries
• Wilkes-Barre Aces
• Williamsport Billies

Larry Matthews

Frank Lawrence "Larry" Matthews III

Born:
January 12, 1934
Elmira, NY

Died:
October 18, 2005
Chattanooga, TN


Career
1949-50 Horseheads High School - New York (High School)
1950-51 Horseheads High School - New York (High School)
1951-52 Horseheads High School - New York (High School)
1952-53 Elmira Colonels (ABL)
1971-72 Notre Dame High School - Elmira (High School)  Head coach - freshmen
1972-73 Notre Dame High School - Elmira (High School)  Head coach - freshmen
1973-74 Notre Dame High School - Elmira (High School)  Head coach - freshmen

Larry Matthews was a prep star from Horseheads, New York, earning 11 letters at Horseheads HS. The football and basketball star played one game for the ABL's Elmira Colonels in November of 1952. After serving in the USAF, he would work for many years as a teacher, coach and administrator. He eventually accepted a post in Nashville, and died in Tennessee in 2005.



Source:


Stats:

Zeke Zawoluk

Robert Michael "Zeke" Zawoluk


Born:
October 13, 1930
Brooklyn, NY

Died:
January 9, 2007
Spring Valley, NY


Career
1947-48 Saint Francis Prep - Brooklyn (High School)
1949-50 St. John's University (College)
1950-51 St. John's University (College)
1951-52 St. John's University (College)
1952-53 Indianapolis Olympians (NBA)
1953-54 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA)
1954-55 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA)
1998-99 Lehman College - The Bronx (College) Assistant coach

Standing 6'6, Zawoluk averaged 20.1 points per game and graduated from St. John's with a school-record 1826 points, a mark which stood until broken by Chris Mullin. 65 of those points came against St. Peter's in 1950. An agile big-man, Zeke played in the NBA for three seasons before a knee injury ended his career. His life was filled with high and lows. In 1986, he was fired from his job as a car salesman and retaliated by setting fire to a few of the dealership's cars and rammed his car in 19 others. He pleaded guilty to attempted arson and received probation on the condition he received treatment for his alcoholism. He did not succeed in fighting his alcohol problem, and spiraled into drugs and crack cocaine. He was arrested for shoplifting, but since he was carrying a knife on him at the time, it was considered armed robbery and he served two years in a state prison in New York.

In a late-life attempt to straighten out his life, he managed to get a job as an assistant coach at Lehman College in the Bronx, but was fired after a month when he made would were referred to as "inappropriate" phone calls to other members of the athletic department.

Zawoluk died of a heart attack in 2007 at 76 years of age.

Zeke and his wife, Alice, had four daughters.

Source:
Obituary, N.Y. Times January 18, 2007

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/z/zawolze01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=zawolze01

Mark Workman

Marcus Cecil Workman


Born:
March 10, 1930
Logan, WV

Died:
December 21, 1983
Bradenton, FL


Career
1945-46 Charleston High School - West Virginia (High School)
1946-47 Charleston High School - West Virginia (High School)
1947-48 Charleston High School - West Virginia (High School)
1949-50 West Virginia University (College)
1950-51 West Virginia University (College)
1951-52 West Virginia University (College)
1952-53 Milwaukee Hawks (NBA)
1952-53 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA)
1953-54 Baltimore Bullets (NBA)

Workman was born and raised in Logan, West Virginia, but the family eventually moved to Charleston where Workman was a basketball and track star. At 6'8, we not only lead Charleston HS to the state title in his junior year, he also threw shotput, discuss and javelin. Receiving an athletic scholarship from West Virginia University, he averaged over 20 points per game and graduated with 1553 points, 50 of them coming in one game against Salem College in 1951. He was drafted in the first round by the Milwaukee Hawks. He played overseas, touring with the Harlem Globetrotters, and would play one season with the Philadelphia Warriors and another with the Baltimore Bullets. He eventually would leave the game and go into sales, and would work with Brunswick Bowling and helped bring the game to the Far East like Japan and China. He retired and moved to Florida, where he died in 1983.

Mark was married to Jane.


Source:


Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/workmma01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=workmma01

Dick Surhoff

Richard Clifford Surhoff, Jr.


Born:
November 16, 1929
Union City, NJ

Died:
May 1, 1987
Harrisburg, PA


Career
1946-47 Grover Cleveland High School - Queens, NY (High School)
1947-48 Grover Cleveland High School - Queens, NY (High School)
1948-49 John Marshall College - Jersey City, NJ (College)
1949-50 John Marshall College - Jersey City, NJ (College)
1950-51 Long Island University (College)
1951-52 Long Island University (College)
1952-53 New York Knicks (NBA)
1953-54 Milwaukee Hawks (NBA)

Born to Richard and Eleanor Surhoff, Dick went to John Marshall and LIU before playing two seasons in the NBA. He would become an avid softball player in Long Island and would work for the town of Rye, New York, in their recreation department. He died in 1987 following a short illness

Dick married Nancy Dowling in 1960 and the had four sons and two daughters. One son is B.J. Surhoff, who played major league baseball with the Milwaukee Brewers, and another son, Rich, pitched for Philadelphia and Texas. 

Source:
The Journal News (White Plains, NY), May 3, 1987

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/surhodi01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=surhodi01

Gene Rhodes

Eugene Stephen Rhodes


Born:
September 2, 1927
St. Louis, MO

Died:
March 10, 2018
Louisville, KY


Career
1943-44 Male High School - Louisville, Kentucky (High School)
1944-45 Male High School - Louisville, Kentucky (High School)
1945-46 Male High School - Louisville, Kentucky (High School)
1948-49 Western Kentucky University (College)
1949-50 Western Kentucky University (College)
1950-51 Western Kentucky University (College)
1951-52 Western Kentucky University (College)
1952-53 Indianapolis Olympians (NBA)
1953-54 Trinity High School - Louisville, Kentucky (High School) 
1954-55 St. Xavier High School - Louisville, Kentucky (High School) Head coach
1955-56 St. Xavier High School - Louisville, Kentucky (High School) Head coach
1956-57 St. Xavier High School - Louisville, Kentucky (High School) Head coach
1957-58 St. Xavier High School - Louisville, Kentucky (High School) Head coach
1958-59 St. Xavier High School - Louisville, Kentucky (High School) Head coach
1959-60 St. Xavier High School - Louisville, Kentucky (High School) Head coach
1960-61 St. Xavier High School - Louisville, Kentucky (High School) Head coach
1962-63 Male High School - Louisville, Kentucky (High School) Head coach
1963-64 Male High School - Louisville, Kentucky (High School) Head coach
1964-65 Western Kentucky University (College) - Head coach
1965-66 Western Kentucky University (College) - Head coach
1966-67 Western Kentucky University (College) - Head coach
1967-68 Western Kentucky University (College) - Head coach
1967-68 Kentucky Colonels (ABA) - Head coach
1968-69 Kentucky Colonels (ABA) - Head coach
1969-70 Kentucky Colonels (ABA) - Head coach
1970-71 Kentucky Colonels (ABA) - Head coach

Born to Leslie and Lorena Rhodes in St. Louis, Gene grew up in Louisville, Kenutcky, and was a natural athlete, playing multiple sports at Male HS. He entered the U.S. Army after graduating and served two years before returning home and enrolling at Western Kentucky.

Rhodes played basketball and baseball at WKU before being drafted by the Indianapolis Olympians of the NBA. After ones season with the Olympians where he played 65 games, he returned home to Louisville to coach basketball at Trinity High School. A year later, he saw an opening at St. Xavier HS and immediately jumped on that opportunity. In the 1958, his coached St. Xavier won the state basketball title. After a stint at his old high school, Male HS in Louisville, he took an assistant coaching job under John Oldham at WKU.

After the getting off to a slow 5-12 start in the 1967-68 ABA season, The Kenutcky Colonels fired head coach John Givens on November 22, 1967, and hired Rhodes away from WKU. Rhodes would save the Colonels season and get them into the playoffs, and the team improved over the next two seasons. In 1970, the Colonels were off to a 10-5 start when Rhodes was fired and replaced with former Celtic great Frank Ramsey. Mike Storen, the Colonel's GM, would be named in a lawsuit, along with the ownership of the team (Athletic Enterprises, Inc) in a defamation lawsuit filed by Rhodes in 1971. Rhodes claimed statements made by the organization with regards to his dismissal injured and defamed him maliciously. The two-million dollar lawsuit would be settled for an undisclosed sum in 1973. When Storen resigned a short-time after the settlement, Rhodes was hired to replace him as GM. Rhodes was named vice-president in 1975. With the ABA floundering through its 1975-76 season, the NBA agreed to take four ABA teams into its fold. The Kentucky Colonels were not one of those teams. The Colonels dissolved in the summer of 1976, and Rhodes took a job as special projects manager at Canada Dry Bottling in Louisville and left basketball behind.

Rhodes died in 2018 at the age of 90.


Source:
https://www.newcomerkentuckiana.com/Obituary/155126/Eugene-Rhodes/Louisville-Kentucky
https://www.wbko.com/content/sports/WKU-hall-of-famer-Rhodes-dead-at-90-476464533.html

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/rhodege01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=rhodege01

Sherwin Raiken

Sherwin Herman "Shy" Raiken


Born:
October 29, 1928
Philadelphia, PA

Died:
January 16, 2009
Philadelphia, PA


Career
1945-46 Dobbins Tech - Philadelphia (High School)
1946-47 Villanova University (College)
1947-48 Villanova University (College)
1948-49 Villanova University (College)
1949-50 Villanova University (College)
1950-51 Berwick Carbuilders (EPBL)
1951-52 York A.C. White Roses (EPBL)

1951-52 Ashland Greens (EPBL)

1951-52 Fort Jackson - South Carolina (Military)

1951-52 Camp Holabird - Maryland (Military)
1952-53 New York Knicks (NBA)

1952-53 Berwick Carbuilders (EPBL)

1953-54 Berwick Carbuilders (EPBL)

Raiken went to Villanova and after graduating, played for Berwick in the Eastern League before serving two years in the Army. Raiken signed with the New York Knicks on February 5, 1953 when the Knicks lost Max Zaslofsky for the rest of the season with a broken hand. on February 5, 1953. Shy would play six games for them, scoring nine points.

Sherwin married Phyllis Clark and they had one son and one daughter.

Source:


Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/raikesh01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=raikesh01

Mike O'Neill

Charles Michael "Mike" O'Neill


Born:
August 11, 1928
Berkeley, CA

Died:
March 24, 1993
Mill Valley (?), CA


Career
1944-45 Lowell High School - San Francisco (High School)

1946-47 San Francisco Community College (College)
1948-49 University of California (College)
1949-50 Oakland Nuggets (Independent)

1949-50 Oakland Biitners (AAU)
1950-51 Oakland Blue and Gold Brewers (Independent)
1951-52 Oakland Engineers (Independent)
1952-53 Milwaukee Hawks (NBA)
1952-53 Young Men's Institute - San Francisco (Independent)
1953-54 Young Men's Institute - San Francisco (Independent)
1954-55 Presidio of San Francisco (Military)
1954-55 San Francisco Olympic Club (Independent)
1955-56 Presidio of San Francisco (Military)


The 6'3.5 O'Neill was signed by the Minneapolis Lakers and trained with the team prior to the 1952-53 season but was sold to the Hawks on December 28, 1952, and played four games for Hawks. He went into the U.S. Army after the season. He played a lot of AAU basketball around the Bay Area through the 1950's, and would become a real estate salesman and bartender in Mill Valley, California.

In 1965, O'Neill was indicted by a Federal Grand Jury on charges of running a bookmaking ring in San Mateo County.  He was charged with conspiracy, tax evasion and failing to report a wagering tax. He, along with seven others, were found guilty in an October 1966 trial.

Source:
Oakland Tribune, June 11, 1965

San Francisco Examiner, March 26, 1993

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/oneilmi01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=oneilmi01

Bob Naber

Robert Edward Naber


Born:
September 3, 1929
Covington, KY

Died:
February 8, 1998
Covington, KY


Career
1946-47 Covington Catholic High School - Kentucky (High School)
1947-48 Covington Catholic High School - Kentucky (High School)
1949-50 University of Louisville (College)
1950-51 University of Louisville (College)
1951-52 University of Louisville (College)
1952-53 Indianapolis Olympians (NBA)

A product of Covington, Kentucky, Naber went to Louisville and after graduating he played 4 games with the Indianapolis Olympians.

Source:


Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/n/naberbo01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=naberbo01

Jim Mooney

James J. Mooney


Born:
July 8, 1930
Philadelphia, PA

Died:
October 29, 2015
Upland, PA


Career
1945-46 Bartram High School - Philadelphia (High School)
1946-47 Bartram High School - Philadelphia (High School)
1947-48 Bartram High School - Philadelphia (High School)
1948-49 Columbia Institute - Philadelphia (College)
1950-51 Villanova University (College)
1951-52 Villanova University (College)
1952-53 Villanova University (College)
1952-53 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA)
1955-56 Sunbury Mercuries (EPBL)
1956-57 Sunbury Mercuries (EPBL)
1957-58 Chester Ukrainians - Pennsylvania (Independent)

Mooney went to Villanova after graduating from Bartram High School. He set the Villanova sophomore rebounding record with 455 in 1950-51. He was declared eligible in February of 1953, and immediately joined the Philadelphia Warriors and finished out the 1952-53 season in the NBA, playing in 18 games and averaging 7.5 points. He was drafted in the Marine Corps after the season eneded and served two years in Korea. In September of 1955, he was released from the Marines and re-signed with the Warriors but did not make the final cuts. He would play a couple seasons in the Eastern League with Sunbury as well as a few seasons of semi-pro basketball. He moved to Wilmington, Delaware and would work in sales for many years.

Jim married Joan Cushing in 1956 and they had three children.

Source:
Philadelphia Inquirer, February 8, 1953
Obituary, Wilmington News Journal, Online, November 1, 2015


Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mooneji01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=mooneji01

Bill Mlkvy

William Paul Mlkvy


Born:
January 19, 1931
Palmerton, PA

Died:
December 12, 2024



Career
1947-48 Stephen F. Palmer High School - Palmerton, PA (High School)
1949-50 Temple University (College)
1950-51 Temple University (College)
1951-52 Temple University (College)
1952-53 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA)

Known during his days at Temple as the "Owl Without A Vowel," Mlkvy  lit up college basketball in his junior year, averaging 29.2 points per game and setting a Temple record with 73 markers in one game against Wilkes College (at one point, he had scored 53 of Temple's points in a row). He finished Temple with over 1500 points, at the time the career record at Temple. He was a territorial draft pick of the Philadelphia Warriors, in 1952, and he played in 31 games for them in the 1952-53 season. Mlkvy was still attending

Temple at this time, going into dentistry. Coach Eddie Gottlieb told Bill he would have to choose between basketball and school. He was going to chose basketball, but when he found out he was going to be drafted into the army if he stayed in basketball, he chose to continue school and delay his entry into the army. When his schooling was finished, he went in as a dental officer. and served six years, most of the time stationed in Korea. When he returned home, he set up a private dental practice and would work there for a quarter of a century.

Bill married Barbara Harper in 1954 and they had three children.

Bill's younger brother, Bob, was also a collegiate basketball player who became a dentist.

Source:
City of Basketball Love, September 23, 2014

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mlkvybi01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=mlkvybi01

Eddie Miller

Edwin B. Miller


Born:
June 18, 1931
New Rochelle, NY

Died:
April 9, 2014
Boca Raton, FL


Career
1945-46 New Rochelle High School - NY (High School)
1946-47 New Rochelle High School - NY (High School)
1947-48 New Rochelle High School - NY (High School)
1949-50 Syracuse University (College)
1950-51 Syracuse University (College)
1951-52 Syracuse University (College)
1952-53 Milwaukee Hawks (NBA)
1952-53 Baltimore Bullets (NBA)
1953-54 Baltimore Bullets (NBA)

Born to Herman and Ruth Miller, the 6'8 Miller was basketball star at New Rochelle HS in New York. He would attended Syracuse, and on December 1, 1951, he became the first Orangeman to score 40 points in a game. Eddie was drafted by the Milwaukee Hawks in 1952, but was traded to the Baltimore Bullets a mere 10 games into the season. During the next season, the Bullets dissolved in mid-season. Miller was selected by the Boston Celtics in the dispersal draft, but he would never play an NBA game with the Celts. He left basketball to start a career in the toy industry, eventually forming a partnership, Miller-Sperber Inc. He retired after 40 years in the toy business, and died in Florida in 2014.

Ed married Helaine Miller in 1970 and they had one son.


Source:
New York Times, April 13, 2014

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/milleed01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=milleed01

Monk Meineke

Donald E. "Monk" Meineke


Born:
October 30, 1930
Dayton, OH

Died:
September 3, 2013
Dayton, OH


Career
1947-48 Wilbur Wright High School - Dayton (High School)
1949-50 University of Dayton (College)
1950-51 University of Dayton (College)
1951-52 University of Dayton (College)
1952-53 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1953-54 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1954-55 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1955-56 Rochester Royals (NBA)
1957-58 Cincinnati Royals (NBA)

A two-time All-American, Meineke graduated from the University of Dayton having scored 1866 points. He was drafted by the Fort Wayne Pistons and was selected as the Rookie of the Year in 1952-53. He also had the distinction of fouling out of 26 games that season, and NBA record. Monk played three seasons with the Pistons before being traded to Rochester for Odie Spears at the onset of the 1955-56 season. He would retire after that season, but after a year off, he returned to the Royals (now located in Cincinnati) for one more year.

Don died in 2013 following a lengthy illness at the age of 82.

Source:


Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/meinemo01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=meinedo01