Red Patrick Walsh

Patrick Maurice "Red" Walsh
also played under the name Red Patricks


Born:
March 17, 1924
Carbondale, PA

Died:
March 26, 2002
Noblesville, IN


Career
1946-47 Carbondale Pioneers (PSL)
1947-48 Elizabeth Braves (ABL)
1947-48 Carbondale Pioneers (PSL) 
1947-48 Paterson Crescents (ABL)
1947-48 Scranton Miners (ABL)

1949-50 Berwick Car-Builders (EPBL)
1949-50 St Nicholas High School - Wilkes-Barre, PA (High School) Head coach

First, we have Red Patricks, listed as playing with the Elizabeth Braves and Paterson Crescents of the ABL in 1947-48. Then we have Pat Walsh, who played with the Scranton Miners of the ABL. Turns out it is the same guy. "Red Patricks" or "Red Patrick" lead the PSL in scoring in 1946-47. Oct 6, 1947 issue of Wilkes Barre Record refers to "Red Pat Walsh" trying out with the Barons. Jan 28, 1948 Wilkes Barre Record notes him as Red (Patricks) Walsh. Walsh is also referred to as leading the PSL in the prior season.

Okay, now that we have that straightened out, who is he?

I found a Patrick Walsh of the right approximate age born in Carbondale but dying in Indianapolis. His obituary in the Indianapolis Star lists him as a former phys-ed and health teacher in Carbondale (a good hint) who graduated from East Stroudsburg University in Scranton in 1948. This puts him in the right place at the right time. No mention of playing basketball, however. The obituary also mention his military service, so I went and found his draft papers in ancestry.com. List on his paperwork is his hair color: red. I think we got our man!

Born to Maurice and Ruth Walsh, Red served in the army during World War 2. After the war, he lead the Penn State League in scoring in the 1946-47 season when he played with Carbondale. He worked out with the Wilkes-Barre Barons prior to the 1947-48 season but was not offered a contract. He signed with the Elizabeth Braves, but that franchise folded after just one game. He joined the Paterson Crescents in December, and then in February played with the Scranton Miners (both the Penn State League version AND the ABL version), helping the ABL squad into the playoffs. He graduated from East Stroudsburg University in 1948, and went into teaching. After serving again in the Korean War, he would become a vice-principal and principal in Waymart and West Canaan, Pennsylvania, and would eventually become the superintendent for the Carbondale Area School District.

He married Estalla Osborn (1926-2012) in 1949 and they had one daughter.


Source:
Wilkes-Barre Record, October 6, 1947
Wilkes-Barre Record, January 28, 1948
Noblesville Ledger, March 28, 2002


Stats:

Seekant

Seekant


Born:



Died:




Career
1947-48 Elizabeth Braves (ABL)

Appears in the box score for the Braves only game, scoring zero points in the clubs November 30, 1946, game against Brooklyn.

Name could be Seekamp, which is more common than Seekant.

There was an Arthur Seekamp who played basketball at Colgate on the freshman team in 1941-42 and on the varsity team 1942-43. He was born in 1922 and died in 2006. Possibly him.

Source:


Stats:

1947-48 Elizabeth Braves / Hartford Hurricanes (ABL)

1947-48 ELIZABETH BRAVES / HARTFORD HURRICANES
AMERICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE (II)
11-12 .478, 5th place

The Braves won their first game of the year, and then the franchise was transferred to Hartford as the Braves folded. Jack O'Brien then coached the Hurricanes the rest of the season.

Head coaches:

• Leo Merson (May 1, 1915 - May 8, 2001) 1-0
• Jack O'Brien (July 25, 1916 - June 18, 1994) 10-12 Also played. See below.

PLAYERS:  

Elizabeth Braves:

• Sid Blair 

Biography

• Norm Drucker (July 4, 1920 - February 6, 2015)

Biography

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

Biography

• Len Lesser 

Biography

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

Biography

• Dick Murphy (March 10, 1921 - October 22, 1973)

Biography

• Seekant 

Biography

• Red Walsh ((March 17, 1924 - March 26, 2002)

Biography


Hartford Hurricanes:

• Red Allen 

Biography 

• Frank Bores (October 15, 1920 - January 7, 1982)

Biography 

• Verne Cox (January 2, 1920 - September 7, 1991)

Biography 

• Jack Curran (b. 1924)

Biography

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

Biography

• Bob Fitzgerald (March 14, 1923 - July 23, 1983)

Biography

• Tom Flanagan (July 18, 1916 - July 4, 2003)

Biography

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

Biography

• Jim Hanrahan (September 14, 1923 - May 31, 2006)

Biography 

• Arnold Jones (b. March 2, 1921)

Biography 

• Paul Klapprodt (July 10, 1923 - April 21, 2011)

Biography 

• Bobby Knight (April 30, 1929 - May 23, 2008)

Biography

• Jack O'Brien (July 25, 1916 - June 18, 1994)

Biography

• Bob Sherman (January 12, 1920 - December 23, 2016)

Biography

• Bill Wade (January 31, 1927 - August 30, 1991)

Biography

Jimmy White

James Francis White


Born:
July 14, 1920
Brooklyn, NY

Died:
June 18, 1990
Wilton, CT


Career
1937-38 Alexander Hamilton High School - Brooklyn (High School)
1938-39 St. John's University (College) Freshmen
1939-40 St. John's University (College)
1940-41 St. John's University (College)
1941-42 St. John's University (College)
1946-47 Elizabeth Braves (ABL)
1948-49 Danbury Fedoras (EBL-Ct)
1948-49 Troy Celtics (NYSL)

6'1 172

He received a medical discharge from the army in November of 1943

Inducted into the SJU Hall of Fame in 1992. He eventually became a businessman and served as vice-president in charge of financial affairs of NBC Television

Source:
Star Press (Muncie, Indiana), June 21, 1990

Stats:

Paul Walker

Paul Frederick Walker


Born:
July 9, 1925
Springfield, MO

Died:
October 22, 1972
West Hartford, CT


Career
1942-43 Oak Park High School - Illinois (High School)
1944-45 Yale University (College)
1945-46 Yale University (College)
1946-47 Elizabeth Braves (ABL)


Walker played football, basketball and baseball in high school. He entered the U.S. Navy and was assigned to the V-12 program which put him at Yale. While there, he played football and basketball. After the war, we played for the Elizabeth Braves in the American Basketball League. He moved tom West Hartford where he worked at M. Hart Manufacturing. He died unexpectedly in 1972 at the age of 47.

Paul and his wife, Joan, had two sons.


Source:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/84803393
Oak Park Oak Leaves, October 25, 1972

Stats:

Ross Merrick

Dr. Roswell Davenport Merrick


Born:
July 20, 1922
Brooklyn, NY

Died:
January 24, 2004
Kilmarnock, VA


Career
1939-40 James Madison High School - Brooklyn (High School)
1940-41 Springfield College - Massachusetts (College) Freshmen
1941-42 Springfield College - Massachusetts (College)
1942-43 Springfield College - Massachusetts (College)
1943-44 New Britain Pros - Connecticut (Independent)
1945-46 New Britain Pros - Connecticut (Independent)

1945-46 Middletown Speedboys ?? (CSL)  

1946-47 Nashua Newfields (NEBL)
1946-47 Elizabeth Braves (ABL)
1946-47 New Britain Teachers College - Connecticut (College) Head coach
1947-48 New Britain Teachers College - Connecticut (College) Head coach
1948-49 New Britain Teachers College - Connecticut (College) Head coach
1949-50 New Britain Teachers College - Connecticut (College) Head coach
1950-51 Meriden Sons of Italy (EBL-Ct)
1950-51 New Britain Teachers College - Connecticut (College) Head coach
1951-52 New Britain Teachers College - Connecticut (College) Head coach
1952-53 New Britain Teachers College - Connecticut (College) Head coach 

Merrick played baskeball at Springfield College and then semi-pro before serving in the military during World War 2. After the war, Ross took the head coaching job at New Britain Teachers College (now Central Connecticut State University), a post he held for seven seasons. During this time, he continued his education at NYU and Boston College, eventually getting a doctorate. He left his coaching job to become the Dean for the  College of Education at Southern Illinois University. In 1958, he moved to DC to represent SIU at the American Alliance for Health. Taking to the Washington scene, he would become the Executive Director of the National Association of Sport and Physical Education until his retirement in 1990. He also established the U.S. Fitness and Sports Council and served as Executive Director.

Ross died in 2004.

Source:
Legacy.com

Stats:

Lenny Lesser

Leonard Lesser


Born:



Died:




Career
1942-43 CCNY (College)
1946-47 Paterson Crescents (ABL)
1946-47 Newark Bobcats (ABL)
1946-47 Elizabeth Braves (ABL)
1947-48 Brooklyn Gothams (ABL)

Haven't found him yet. Only thing I am sure of is that he is not Len Lesser who lived 1922-2011. That Len Lesser played Uncle Leo on "Seinfeld."

Source:


Stats:

Freddy Kunz

Fred Kunz


Born:



Died:




Career
1939-40 Good Counsel High School - New Jersey (High School)
1946-47 Elizabeth Braves (ABL)

Is he Fred Kuntz (1921-2005)

Source:


Stats:

Bill Kotsores

William James Kotsores


Born:
September 18, 1924
Astoria, NY

Died:
June 6, 1971
Queens, NY


Career
Andrew Jackson High School - Queens (High School)
1943-44 St. John's University (College)
1944-45 St. John's University (College)
1946-47 Elizabeth Braves (ABL)
1948-49 Bridgeport Steelers (ABL)


He married Jacqueline Perkins (1925-2005) in 1944 and they had two daughters. Bill and Jackie divorced in 1965.

Source:


Stats:

Kane

Kane


Born:



Died:




Career
1946-47 Elizabeth Braves (ABL)

Played one game for Elizabeth, on January 11, 1947

Source:


Stats:

Norm Drucker

Norman F. Drucker


Born:
July 4, 1920
Brooklyn, NY

Died:
February 6, 2015
Plymouth Meeting, PA


Career
1946-47 Troy Celtics (ABL)
1946-47 Trenton Tigers (ABL)
1947-48 Bridgeport Springwoods (EBL-Ct)
1947-48 Elizabeth Braves (ABL)
1948-49 Brooklyn Gothams (ABL)
1948-49 Cohoes Mastadons (NYSL)
1948-49 Mohawk Redskins (NYSL)
1949-50 Waterbury Coppers (EBL-Ct)


Drucker played three seasons in the ABL, Drucker would go on to make his biggest impact as a referee in the ABA and NBA. He served as the supervisor of officials in both leagues, and as integral in helping the leagues merge not just teams and players, but officials also.

He married Shirley Elias and they had one son.

Source:
Obituary

Stats:

Ralph Dolgoff

Ralph Harold Dolgoff


Born:
October 24, 1917
New York, NY

Died:
April 20, 2009
Lake Worth, FL


Career
Tilden High School - Brooklyn (High School)
1936-37 St. John's University (College)
1937-38 St. John's University (College)
1938-39 St. John's University (College)
1943-44 Bendix - New York (Independent)
1946-47 Pottsville Maroons (EPBL)
1946-47 Elizabeth Braves (ABL)
1949-50 Waterbury Coppers (EBL-Ct)
1949-50 Wallingford Veterans (EBL-Ct) 

Dolgoff was a Brooklyn native who starred on the hardcourt at St John's in the late 1930's. After serving in the military during World War 2, he played basketball professionally for the Elizabeth Braves. Dolgoff would become an accountant, and as a CPA he developed the well-known (in accounting circles, at least) Dolgoff Plan in 1962. The plan was developed to help companies with deferring tax deductions and payments. The Plan still exists today in a corporation run by his son. When Dolgoff was brought on as the accountant for the American Basketball Association in the late 1960's, he used a similar plan to help the league compete financially with the established NBA. The ABA began signing players with a salary plus a lengthy annuity, hedging on the league's long-term viability. The gamble paid off as the ABA was able to lure away talent from the NBA, and therefore began to put better teams on the court and this would lead to an eventual merger.

Dolgoff died in 2009 at the age of 91.

Source:
Jews in Sports

Stats:

Jackie Cusick

John Peter Cusick


Born:
June 12, 1928
Weehawken, NJ

Died:
November 17, 1989
Englewood, NJ


Career
1945-46 West New York High School - New Jersey (High School)
1946-47 New Britain Pros (EBL-Ct) ??
1946-47 Elizabeth Braves (ABL)
1947-48 Schenectady Packers (NYSL)

Cusick signed to play baseball with the Philadelphia Phillies out of high school in 1946, and the shortstop would slowly rise through the minors over the next few seasons into the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs and eventually the Boston Barves farm systems. Known as a all-field-no-hit player, he kept in shape in the off-season by working in a shipyard and playing basketball. He played with the Elizabeth Braves in the ABL in 1946-47.

Cusick reached the Major League with the Chicago Cubs in 1951, batting a paltry .177. He was traded to the Boston Braves after the season and only hit .167 with that club in 1952. He found himself out of baseball after the 1952 season, only 24 years old. He became a New Jersey State Trooper in 1953.

Major League Baseball Stats:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cusicja01.shtml

Source:


Stats:

Herb Bloom

Herb Bloom


Born:



Died:




Career
1941-42 Long Beach High School - Lido Beach, NY (High School)

1942-43 Long Beach High School - Lido Beach, NY (High School)
Miami University (College) ???
1944-45 Coast Guard New York District 1 (Military)
1946-47 Elizabeth Braves (ABL)



Source:


Stats:

Larry Baxter

Lionel "Larry" Baxter


Born:
May 28, 1921
New York, NY

Died:
February 24, 2015
Boca Raton, FL


Career
1938-39 James Madison High School - Brooklyn (High School)
1941-42 St. John's University (College)
1942-43 St. John's University (College)
1945-46 St. John's University (College)
1946-47 Elizabeth Braves (ABL)
1946-47 Paterson Crescents (ABL)

Lionel Baxter, better known as "Larry," abruptly quit school to get married. He played pro basketball for a year, signing with the Elizabeth Braves but being sold to Paterson by the end of the season.

Source:


Stats:

1946-47 Elizabeth Braves (ABL)

1946-47 ELIZABETH BRAVES
AMERICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE (II)
Southern Division
15-18 .455, 4th place


Head coaches:

• Abner West (June 4, 1914 - June 19, 2000) 4-3
• Leo Merson (May 1, 1915 - May 8, 2001) 11-15

PLAYERS: 

• Larry Baxter (May 28, 1921 - February 24, 2015)

Biography

• Herb Bloom 

Biography

• Bill Bornheimer (November 25, 1921 - July 2, 1989)

Biography

• Bob Cluggish (September 18, 1917 - September 5, 2008)

Biography

• Jackie Cusick (June 12, 1928 - November 17, 1989)

Biography

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

Biography 

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

Biography

• Bobby Dorn (June 21, 1920 - December 27, 1979)

Biography

• Frank Fucarino (July 24, 1920 - April 3, 2012)

Biography

• Hy Gotkin (August 16, 1922 - April 11, 2004)

Biography 

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

Biography

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

Biography 

• Kane 

Biography

• Bill Kotsores (September 18, 1924 - June 6, 1971)

Biography

• Freddy Kunz 

Biography

• Len Lesser 

Biography

• Frank Mangiapane (August 5, 1925 - July 31, 2005)

Biography

• Ross Merrick (July 20, 1922 - January 24, 2004)

Biography

• Al Moschetti (January 1, 1920 - December 10, 2007)

Biography

• Dick Murphy (March 10, 1921 - October 22, 1973)

Biography

• George Pastushok (July 13, 1922 - December 12, 2003)

Biography

• Les Rothman (August 12, 1926 - July 27, 2022)

Biography

• Paul Walker (July 9, 1925 - October 22, 1972)

Biography

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

Biography

• Jimmy White (July 14, 1920 - June 18, 1990)

Biography

Hy Gotkin

Hyman Gotkin


Born:
August 16, 1922
Brooklyn, NY

Died:
April 11, 2004
Boca Raton, FL


Career
1939-40 Thomas Jefferson High School - Brooklyn (High School)
1942-43 St. John's University (College)
1943-44 St. John's University (College)
1944-45 St. John's University (College)
1945-46 New York Gothams (ABL)
1946-47 Elizabeth Braves (ABL)

Born to Joe and Ida Gotkin in Brooklyn, Gotkin was one of the great guards in the collegiate game during the 1940's. As a sophomore, he lead St. John's to the NIT title in 1943. The following year, with all but himself leaving school for the war, St. John's repeated and won the 1944 NIT. In his senior season, St. John's lost in the NIT semi-finals, denying Gotkin and SJU a third consecutive NIT title.

After graduating, the 5'8 Gotkin played in the ABL for a couple seasons while working at the family business (infant clothing). He got his teaching degree and taught in Brooklyn high schools for 25 years before retiring and moving to Florida.

He married Dolores Miller (1925-2003) in 1946 and they had two sons.

Source:
Obituary, NY Times, April 15, 2004
Jews In Sports


Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/hy-gotkin/

Bobby Dorn

Robert W. Dorn


Born:
June 21, 1920
NJ

Died:
December 27, 1979
Rochelle Park, NJ


Career
1937-38 West New York Memorial High School - New Jersey (High School)
1938-39 West New York Memorial High School - New Jersey (High School)
1940-41 Temple University (College)
1941-42 Temple University (College)
1943-44 District Coast Guard - Long Island (Military) 
1943-44 New York Americans (ABL)
1944-45 Washington Capitols (ABL)
1945-46 Paterson Crescents (ABL)
1946-47 Paterson Crescents (ABL)
1946-47 Elizabeth Braves (ABL)
1947-48 Paterson Crescents (ABL)

Dorn served in the military after leaving Temple.

Source:


Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/bobby-dorn/

Johnny Danyo

John Danyo Jr.


Born:
December 2, 1919
Plainfield, NJ

Died:
January 11, 1993
Dunellen, NJ


Career
1936-37 Plainfield High School (High School)
1937-38 Plainfield High School (High School)
1938-39 Plainfield High School (High School)
Seton Hall University (College)
1940-41 Pasko Association - New Jersey (Independent)
1943-44 New York Americans (ABL)
1946-47 Elizabeth Braves (ABL)
1946-47 Hazelton Mountaineers (EPBL)

Danyo was a baseball and basketball player from Plainfield, New Jersey. He enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard just days before the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Danyo escaped death while in the Coast Guard in 1942. He suffered from appendicitis while on a ship a ship and due to the choppy water and being out at see, it was three weeks before the water was calm enough to perform surgery. During this time, he suffered from jaundice, infections and frostbite. He survived and continued his service. He played baseball in the Florida State League before and after the war, as well as some pro basketball. He would eventually develop diabetes and in later life, lost a leg to the disease.


Minor League Baseball Stats
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=danyo-001joh

Source:
Courier News (Bridgewater, NJ), February 7, 1993

Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/johnny-danyo/

Bill Bornheimer

William Richard Bornheimer


Born:
November 25, 1921
New Brunswick, NJ

Died:
July 2, 1989
New Brunswick, NJ


Career
1937-38 St. Peter's High School - New Brunswick, NJ (High School)
1938-39 St. Peter's High School - New Brunswick, NJ (High School)
1939-40 Georgetown University (College) Freshmen
1940-41 Georgetown University (College)
1941-42 Georgetown University (College)
1942-43 Harrisburg Senators (ABL)
1942-43 Akron Goodyear (Independent)
1942-43 Detroit Eagles (Independent)
1945-46 Boston Goodwins (NEBL)

1945-46 Clinton Irish-Americans (NEBL)
1946-47 Elizabeth Braves (ABL)
1946-47 Jersey City Atoms (ABL)
1946-47 Worcester Irish Americans (NEBL)
1947-48 Worcester Irish Americans (NEBL)
1948-49 Utica Olympics (NYSL)

When the 6'5 Bornheimer entered Georgetown, he was, at the time, the tallest player the Hoyas ever had. He graduated early and because of his January 1943 graduation, he was ineligible to play his senior year. He went pro instead, playing for the Harrisburg Senators in the ABL as well as the Detroit Eagles and Akron Goodyear teams. At first, his height prevented him from military service, but eventually the restrictions were loosened and Bornheimer went to serve his country in World War 2. After the war, Bill returned to the basketball court, playing another three seasons in the American and New England leagues.

Bill is the older brother of NBA player Jake Bornheimer.

Source:
Hoya Basketball

Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/bill-bornheimer/