Dick Shrider

Richard Guy Shrider


Born:
February 7, 1923
Glass Rock, OH

Died:
January 14, 2014
Somerville, OH


Career
1938-39 Glenford High School - Ohio (High School)
1939-40 Glenford High School - Ohio (High School)
1940-41 Glenford High School - Ohio (High School)
1942-43 Ohio State University (College)
1943-44 University of Michigan (College)
1946-47 Ohio University (College)
1947-48 Ohio University (College)
1948-49 Detroit Vagabond Kings (NBL)
1948-49 New York Knicks (BAA)
1957-58 Miami University (Ohio) Head coach
1958-59 Miami University (Ohio) Head coach
1959-60 Miami University (Ohio) Head coach
1960-61 Miami University (Ohio) Head coach
1961-62 Miami University (Ohio) Head coach
1962-63 Miami University (Ohio) Head coach
1963-64 Miami University (Ohio) Head coach
1964-65 Miami University (Ohio) Head coach
1965-66 Miami University (Ohio) Head coach 


Born to Guy and Pansy Shrider, Dick served in the miliary during World War 2, and played basketball professionally for the Vagabonds and Knicks before becoming the head coach at Miami. He later wound up as the AD at Miami Universoity of Ohio from 1964 to 1988.

He married Carol Farley and they had a son and a daughter.




Source:
Obituary
Obituary, Journal-News



Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/s/shridri01n.html
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/shriddi01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=shriddi01

Ollie Shoaff

Oliver Richard Shoaff


Born:
November 10, 1923
Mt. Carmel, IL

Died:
October 5, 2001
Mt. Carmel, IL


Career
1938-39 Mt. Carmel at Mt. Carmel, IL (High School)
1939-40 Mt. Carmel at Mt. Carmel, IL (High School)
1940-41 Mt. Carmel at Mt. Carmel, IL (High School)
1942-43 Illinois University (College)
1946-47 Southern Illinois (College)
1947-48 Southern Illinois (College)
1948-49 Detroit Vagabond Kings (NBL)
1948-49 Hammond Calumet Buccaneers (NBL)
1949-50 Norris City (High School) Head coach
1950-51 Norris City (High School) Head coach
1950-51 Evansville Agogans (NPBL)
1951-52 Norris City (High School) Head coach
1952-53 Norris City (High School) Head coach

Born and raised in Mt. Carmel, Shoaff enrolled in Illinois, but enlisted in the army in 1943. After a few seasons of pro basketball, he became a basketball and baseball coach at the high school level and also officiated games.

Source:


Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/s/shoafol01n.html
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/c/campbfr01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=bakerbo01

Ben Schadler

Bernard Rudolph "Ben" Schadler


Born:
March 9, 1924
Benton Harbor, MI

Died:
January 30, 2015
Vancouver, WA


Career
1939-40 Benton Harbor High School - Michigan (High School)
1940-41 Benton Harbor High School - Michigan (High School)
1941-42 Benton Harbor High School - Michigan (High School)
1942-43 Northwestern University (College) Freshmen
1943-44 Northwestern University (College)
1944-45 Northwestern University (College)
1946-47 Northwestern University (College)
1947-48 Chicago Stags (BAA)
1948-49 Detroit Vagabond Kings (NBL)
1948-49 Waterloo Hawks (NBL)

A three-sport star at Northwestern (football, baseball and basketball), Schadler was drafted by the NFL's Detroit Lions in 1945, while Schadler was serving his country in the war effort. When he returned, he opted to finish his education instead of a pro football career. He finished at NU and signed with the Stags. After being granted his release, he signed on to play with the Detroit Vagabond Kings in 1948. However, the King's season was doomed, and the team folded 19 games into their schedule. He then signed with Waterloo and finished the season with them. He signed with Sheboygan but was cut before the start of the season.
He took a job with Rexall and moved out to San Carlos, California. He owned and operated two pharmacies before retiring and moving to Camus, Washington. Ben died in 2015.

He was married to Polly in 1950 and they had a son and a daughter.

Source:
My Grandpa Was a Baller - blog post by Matt Kallman
Obituary

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/s/schadbe01n.html
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/schadbe01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=schadbe01

Tony Kaseta

Anthony Joseph Kaseta


Born:
September 9, 1923
Hamtramck, MI

Died:
January 19, 1995
Livonia, MI


Career
Detroit Northern High School (High School)
1943-44 Clinton County Army Airfield - Ohio (military)
1945-46 Kelly Air Field (military)
1946-47 Detroit Mansfields (Independent)
1947-48 Grand Rapids Rangers (PBLA)
1947-48 Detroit Vagabonds (Independent)
1947-48 House of David (Independent)
1948-49 Detroit Vagabond Kings (NBL)

The 6'8 center served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War 2.

He married Wanda Kralik in 1952. They had three sons, including Tony Jr. who played baseball and basketball at the University of Detroit.

Source:
Wilmington News Journal, December 2, 1943

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/k/kasetan01n.html

http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=kasetto01

Hal Devoll

Harold Reed Devoll


Born:
September 29, 1923
Detroit, MI

Died:
January 12, 2010
Allen Park, MI


Career
Michigan State (College) ??
1946-47 Lawrence Tech (College)
1948-49 Detroit Vagabond Kings (Independent)
1948-49 Detroit Vagabond Kings (NBL)
1948-49 Hammond Calumet Buccaneers (NBL)
1953-54 Detroit Vagabond Kings (Independent)

Devoll grew up in Pontiac, Michigan. He is listed as trying to make the Michigan State basketball team, but a month later he was putting up points for Lawrence Tech. I think he changed schools after failing to make the Spartans. Nothing indicates he ever actually played for MSU.

He married Joyce Nelson on April 1, 1950. They had a daughter and two sons.

Source:
Traverse City Record-Eagle, November 19, 1946
Detroit Free Press, January 18, 1947

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/d/devolha01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=devolha01

Dillard Crocker

James Dillard Crocker


Born:
January 19, 1925
Coffee County, TN

Died:
September 1, 2014
Niles, MI


Career
1940-41 Niles High School - Michigan (High School)
1941-42 Niles High School - Michigan (High School)
1942-43 Niles High School - Michigan (High School)
1945-46 Niles American Legion (amateur)
1947-48 Western Michigan University (College)
1947-48 Benton Harbor Naval Armory (military)
1948-49 Fort Wayne Pistons (BAA)
1948-49 Detroit Vagabond Kings (NBL)
1948-49 Anderson Duffey Packers (NBL)
1949-50 Denver Nuggets (NBA)
1950-51 Denver Refiners (NPBL)
1950-51 Anderson Packers (NPBL)
1951-52 Indianapolis Olympians (NBA)
1951-52 Milwaukee Hawks (NBA)
1952-53 Milwaukee Hawks (NBA)
1953-54 House of David (Independent)
1954-55 House of David (Independent)

Born in Tennessee to John and Sarah Crocker, Dillard's family moved to Niles, Michigan, when he was young. He lead Niles High School to the state basketball championship in 1943, and enlisted in the army after graduating. He enrolled at Western Michigan after the war, and after school, played professional basketball for five years. After his playing days, he owned and operated Crocker Sheet Metal Shop in Niles. I haven't found anything saying he actually played basketball at the collegiate level (Western Michigan or otherwise).

He married Dorothy Beck (d. 2002) on April 28, 1944. He and "Dot" had two sons and two daughters.

Source:
Obituary

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/c/crockja01n.html
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/crockdi01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=crockdi01

Doyle Cofer

Doyle Cofer


Born:
January 18, 1923
Bruceville, IN

Died:
January 15, 1999
Noblesville, IN


Career
1945-46 Indiana State University (College)
1946-47 Terre Haute Commercial Solvents Norways (Independent)
1947-48 Terre Haute Flamingos (Independent) 
1948-49 Detroit Vagabond Kings (NBL)
1948-49 House of David (Independent)
1949-50 New York Celtics (Independent)
1949-50 Indiana Clark Twins (Independent)

Born to John and Mary Cofer, Doyle played basketball for Indiana State as well as serving in the Marines during World War 2. He played professional basketball for the House of David and the Vagabond Kings. Cofer became a civil engineer and owned Cofer Construction Company. He was killed in an accident on a construction site when the bulldozer he was trying to load onto a flatbed toppled over and crushed him. He was just three days short of his 76th birthday.

He had a son and three daughters.

Source:
Grave and Obituary
Sandusky Register, December 19, 1949
Daily Clintonian, December 20, 1946
Independent Record (Montana), February 20, 1950
Indianapolis Star, January 16, 1999

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/c/coferdo01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=coferdo01

Art Bakeraitis

Arthur H. Bakeraitis


Born:
February 19, 1925
Bay City, MI

Died:
July 4, 2014
Auburn, MI


Career
1942-43 Central High School - Bay City (High School)
Bay City JC (College)
1948-49 Detroit Vagabond Kings (NBL)

Born in Bay City or Floyd and Anna Bakeraitis, Art was an prominent athlete in the Bay City area, playing basketball, football and baseball. He signed with the Vagabond Kings, playing one season in the NBL before the Kings left the league. Art served in the Pacific during World War 2, spending time in the Philippines and the Solomon Islands.

He was married to Grace Borchart in 1953.

Source:
MLive Obituary

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/b/bakerar01n.html

http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=bakerbo01

1948-49 Detroit Vagabond Kings (NBL)

1948-49 DETROIT VAGABOND KINGS
NATIONAL BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Western Division
Finished: 2-17 .105, 5th place

The Kings were a barnstorming professional team for years before joining the NBL prior to the 1948-49 season. Following the December 16, 1948, loss to Anderson, the Kings, citing financial problems, withdrew from the league. They were replaced by the barnstorming Dayton Rens for the remainder of the NBL season.

• Head Coach: Del Loranger (March 17, 1920 - March 24, 2003) - also played (see below)

PLAYERS:

• Art Bakeraitis (February 19, 1925 - July 4, 2014)

Biography

• Fred Campbell (August 8, 1920 - December 3, 2008)

Biography

• Doyle Cofer (January 18, 1923 - January 15, 1999)

Biography

• Dillard Crocker (January 19, 1925 - September 1, 2014)

Biography

• Hal Devoll (September 29, 1923 - January 12, 2010)

Biography

• Paul Juntunen (February 13, 1921 - October 16, 2004)

Biography

•  Tony Kaseta (September 9, 1923 - January 19, 1995)

Biography

• Dave Latter (January 5, 1922 - October 28, 2000)

Biography

• Del Loranger (March 17, 1920 - March 24, 2003)

Biography

• Ben Schadler (March 9, 1924 - January 30, 2015)

Biography

• John Sebastian (November 20, 1921 - April 26, 2003)

Biography

• Oliver Shoaff (November 10, 1923 - October 5, 2001)

Biography

• Dick Shrider (February 7, 1923 - January 14, 2014)

Biography

Johnny Sebastian

John T. Sebastian, Jr.


Born:
November 20, 1921
Odin, IL

Died:
April 26, 2003
Champaign, IL


Career
1936-37 Odin High School - Illinois (High School)
1937-38 Odin High School - Illinois (High School)
1938-39 Salem High School - Illinois (High School)
1941-42 Southern Illinois University (College)
1942-43 Southern Illinois University (College)
1946-47 Southern Illinois University (College)
1947-48 Syracuse Nationals (NBL)
1947-48 St. Paul Saints (PBLA)
1948-49 Detroit Vagabond Kings (NBL)
1948-49 Hammond Calumet Buccaneers (NBL)
House of David (Independent)
1949-50 Detroit Vagabond Kings (Independent)
1949-50 Boston Whirlwinds (Independent)
1950-51 Detroit Vagabond Kings (Independent)
1950-51 Boston Whirlwinds (Independent)
1951-52 Boston Whirlwinds (Independent) 
1951-52 Chicago Majors (Independent) 
1952-53 Lakeview High School - Decatur, Illinois (High School) - Head coach

Born to John (1896-1948) and Anna (1898-1941) Sebastian. His collegiate career was interrupted by his service in the U.S. Navy. After, he played basketball professionally for many years, both in the NBL and with various touring and barnstorming teams. He quit playing to coach at Lakeview, and after a year there, he moved over Maine Township High School to teach (and maybe coach?).

At one time, he held a Guinness Record for hitting 63 consecutive free-throws while blindfolded.

He married Marie Petek.



Source:
Southern Illinoisian (Carbondale) July 3, 1952
http://salemwildcathalloffame.com/1988/john-sebastian/
Ancestry

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/s/sebasjo01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=sebasjo01

Del Loranger

Delbert Loranger


Born:
March 17, 1920
Detroit, MI

Died:
March 24, 2003
St. Clair, MI


Career
1936-37 Fordson High School - Dearborn, MI (High School)
1937-38 Fordson High School - Dearborn, MI (High School)
1938-39 Fordson High School - Dearborn, MI (High School)
1939-40 Western Michigan University (College) freshman
1940-41 Western Michigan University (College)
1941-42 Western Michigan University (College)
1942-43 Western Michigan University (College)
1944-45 College All-Stars (Exhibition)
1944-45 Midland Dow Chemical (Independent) 
1944-45 Detrtoit Mansfields (Detroit Basketball Association)
1945-46 Detrtoit Mansfields (Detroit Basketball Association) 
1946-47 Detroit Gems (NBL)
1947-48 Kansas City Blues (PBLA)
1947-48 Indianapolis Kautskys (NBL)
1947-48 Detroit Vagabonds (Independent)
1948-49 Detroit Vagabond Kings (NBL) - Player / head coach
1948-49 Detroit Jerry Lynch All-Stars (Independent)  

Grew up in Dearborn, Michigan, Loranger went to WMU where he played basketball and baseball.He later worked as a teacher and principal in Dearborn, Michigan.

He was married to Margaret Fotser (b. 1923) in 1945 and they had a son and a daughter.

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/l/lorande01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=lorande01

Dave Latter

David James Latter, Jr.


Born:
January 5, 1922
Leslie, MI

Died:
October 28, 2000
Leslie, MI


Career
Leslie High School - Michigan (High School)
1946-47 Detroit Gems (NBL)
1947-48 St. Joseph Outlaws (PBLA)
1948-49 Detroit Vagabond Kings (NBL)

From Leslie, Michigan, Latter was a minor league pitching prospect who signed with the Detroit Tigers. He left the team to join the U.S. Army for World War 2, where he was wounded and received a Purple Heart. After the war, he resumed his baseball career as well as playing professional basketball. In baseball, he never made it higher than AA ball in the Yankees' organization.


Minor League Baseball Stats
http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.cgi?id=latter001dav

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/l/latteda01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=latteda01

Paul Juntunen

Paul Juntunen (Jayson)


Born:
February 13, 1921
Sault Ste. Marie, MI

Died:
October 16, 2004
Pensacola, FL


Career
(High School)
1939-40 Wayne State University (College)
1940-41 Wayne State University (College)
1940-41 Winston (Detroit Basketball Association)
1941-42 Wayne State University (College)
1945-46 Detroit Mansfields (Detroit Basketball Association)
1946-47 Detroit Gems (NBL)
1946-47 Detroit (Independent)
1948-49 Detroit Vagabond Kings (NBL)

Update 5/17/2016
Part of the mystery of our guy, as indicated by records at ancestry.com, was because he later went by the name Paul Jayson. Once I found that, it was an easier route.

Born to Henry and Rauha Juntunen, Paul went to Wayne State University, and then entered the U.S. Navy. He later worked for WKMH in Detroit as a news editor. He served his country not only in World War 2, but in the Korean and Vietnam wars. At some point he changed his name to "Jayson," which is the name he and his wife are buried under.

He married Mary Elizabeth Forsbach (1924-2007) on August 22, 1943.

Source:
Mary's Obituary
Ancestry (Mem. req.)

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/j/juntupa01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=juntupa01

Fred Campbell

Fred Gaines Campbell


Born:
August 8, 1920
Alabama

Died:
December 3, 2008
Austin, Texas



Career
1937-38 Herrin High School - Indiana (High School)
1938-39 Herrin High School - Indiana (High School)
1939-40 Herrin High School - Indiana (High School)
1940-41 Southern Illinois University (College)
1941-42 Southern Illinois University (College)
1946-47 Detroit Gems (NBL) - Player / head coach
1947-48 Detroit Vagabond Kings (Independent) - Player / head coach
1948-49 Detroit Vagabond Kings (NBL)
1949-50 Detroit Mansfield (Independent)
1949-50 Detroit Vagabond Kings (Independent) - Player / head coach
1950-51 Detroit Vagabond Kings (Independent) - Player / head coach
1951-52 Detroit Vagabond Kings (Independent) - Player / head coach
1952-53 Detroit Vagabond Kings (Independent) - Player / head coach 
1953-54 Detroit Vagabond Kings (Independent) - Player / head coach

Some places have Fred as born July 27, 1921, and dying December 2, 2001. This obituary from the Register News of Mt Vernon (Dec 3 2001) does not mention his basketball or baseball career, or attending Southern Illinois, or being from Herrin, Illinois.
http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/ILFRANKL/2001-12/1008090080
This is not him.

The Biographical Coaches Guide has him born on August 8, 1920.

1940 Census records has him born to Clarence (c.1894-1943) and Gazetta (1897-1971) Campbell, with brothers Paul (born c. 1918) and Clarence (born 1925, killed in car accident in 1972)
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KWTS-1PD

According to Gazetta's obituary in the Southern Illinoisan from April 21, 1971 (she remarried after Clarence's death and became Gazetta Shaw), Fred was a resident of Austin, Texas.

A search of the SSDI gives us the date of death.
http://death-records.mooseroots.com/l/133466656/Fred-Gaines-Campbell

Campbell wound up as a player coach for the Kings for many years, including after they left the NBL before the season even ended. (They had a brutal 1-27 record under him). He still played minor league baseball for years, eventually winding up with the team in Austin, Texas, where he stayed once his playing days were through.


Minor League Baseball Stats
http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.cgi?id=campbe001fre


Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/c/campbfr01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=campbfr01