Milestone #6 - National Professional Baksetball League

The National Professional Basketball League was really the last post-war era attempt at another major basketball league, and it's failure, along with the ABL's concurrent dissolution, showed there there was really only a market for one high-tier basketball league in the United States. It would not be until the 1960's when there would be another attempt to match the NBA.

Here are the players of the NPBL by the numbers:


Number of NPBL players:  122
Unidentified/unknown whereabouts: 4
Surviving NPBL players: 10. Definitely possible that of the 4 mystery players, a few could be still alive. Until I am able to identify them, though, it looks like we have ten survivors, six of whom also played in the NBA.

Longevity:
Of the 122 players, 11 players (9.02%) lived to see the age of 90. (Five living player are still in their late 80's as I write this, so this number should tick up a bit in the next couple years). Eight men (6.56%) died before the age of 50.

Stan Weber

Stanley Ray Weber


Born:
July 28, 1925
Pettssville, OH

Died:
January 8, 2011
Rossford, OH


Career
1946-47 Bowling Green State University (College)
1947-48 Bowling Green State University (College)
1948-49 Bowling Green State University (College)
1949-50 Bowling Green State University (College)
1950-51 Waterloo Hawks (NPBL)
1951-52 Toledo Mercuries (Independent)

Born in Pettisville, Ohio, to Andrew and Inez Weber, Stan and the family moved to German Ohio around 1930, and Stan joined in the U.S. Army after high school. He served in Hawaii during World War 2 as a cook. Returning from the war, Weber went to Bowling Green wher ehe played basketball. He was drafted by the Knicks in 1950, but chose to play for the Waterloo club in the NPBL. After the league folded, he joined the Toledo Mercuries, who were a touring opponent of the Harlem Globetrotters. After a year on tour, he returned to Ohio and worked for many years as a teacher and coach in Rossford, Ohio.

He married Avelda "Dolly" Johnson (1926-2016) in 1948 and they had two sons and a daughter.

Source:
Grave and Obit

Stats:
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=weberst01
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/stan-weber/

Bob Vollers

Robert Charles Vollers


Born:
May 15, 1928
Keokuk, IA

Died:
February 4, 1978
Minneapolis. MN


Career
1943-44 Keokuk High School - Iowa (High School)
1944-45 Keokuk High School - Iowa (High School)
1945-46 Keokuk High School - Iowa (High School)
1946-47 University of Iowa (College) Freshmen
1947-48 University of Iowa (College)
1948-49 University of Iowa (College)
1949-50 University of Iowa (College)
1950-51 Waterloo Hawks (NPBL)

Born to Charles and Christina Vollers, Bob grew up in Keokuk, Iowa, and went to the University of Iowa. He played for the Waterloo Hawks in the NPBL. Bob was 49 years old when he died in 1978.

He and his wife, Kaye, had two daughters.

Source:


Stats:
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=vollebo01
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/bob-vollers/

Bill Tom

William Edward Tom


Born:
August 20, 1927
Harlingen, TX

Died:
June 29, 2004



Career
Highland Park High School - Dallas (High School)
1946-47 Rice University (College)
1947-48 Rice University (College)
1948-49 Rice University (College)
1949-50 Denver Chevrolet (AAU)
1950-51 Louisville Alumnites (NPBL)
1950-51 Fort Sam Houston (Military)
1950-51 Brook Medical Center  (Military)
1951-52 Brook Medical Center  (Military)


On September 19, 1950, Tom signed with the Anderon Packers on the NPBL, but on October 27, just a week before the season opener, he was sold to Louisville. He stayed with Louisville for a couple weeks, but on November 14 he left to serve in the U.S. Army, helping to fight the Korean War.

Source:


Stats:
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=tombi01
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/bill-tom/

Warren Switzer

Warren Candler Switzer, Jr. 


Born:
July 4, 1925
Houston, TX

Died:
May 10, 1972
Houston, TX


Career
1942-43 Jefferson Davis High School - Houston, TX (High School)
1943-44 Southwestern Louisiana (College)
1946-47 Rice University (College)
1947-48 Rice University (College)
1948-49 Rice University (College)
1949-50 Rice University (College)
1950-51 St. Joseph Ponies - Missouri (Independent)
1950-51 Anderson Packers (NPBL)
1957-58 Rice University (College) Freshmen head coach
1960-61 Rice University (College) Freshmen head coach

After graduating from Jeff Davis HS in Houston, Switzer served in the U.S. Navy during World War 2 (I am assuming his naval training is why he was at SW Louisiana in 1943-44. After his release from the service in August of 1946, Switzer enrolled at Rice. After 4 years at Rice where he scored over 1000 points, Switzer signed with the St Paul Lights on July 26, 1950.

At some point he was let go by the Lights prior to the start of the season, and played with the independent Ponies of St. Joseph. He signed with the Anderson Packers, making his debut with the club on November 4, 1950. He wound up coaching the freshmen basketball team at Rice a  couple of seasons, and was working as an insurance agent when he died of a heart attack in 46 years of age.

Warren was married to Ursula.

Source:
Corsica Daily Sun, July 26, 1950
Brownwood Bulletin, May 11, 1972

Stats:
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=switzwa01
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/warren-switzer/

Mack Suprunowicz

Makary E. Suprunowicz


Born:
January 17, 1927
Schenectady, NY

Died:
June 4, 2010
Bay City, MI


Career
1943-44 Mont Pleasant High School - Schenectady, NY (High School)
1944-45 Mont Pleasant High School - Schenectady, NY (High School)
1946-47 University of Michigan (College)
1947-48 University of Michigan (College)
1948-49 University of Michigan (College)
1949-50 University of Michigan (College)
1950-51 Denver Refiners (NPBL)

Born to Makary and Ida Suprunowicz, "Mack" grew up in Schenectady and enlisted in the USMC after high school. Discharged because of the end of World War 2, Mack went to the University of Michigan where he teamed with Bob Harrison to form one of the most prolific tandem in Wolverine history. He signed with the Denver Refiners of the NPBL and played with them until the team disbanded.

He was married to Lorraine

Source:
Obituary, Daily Gazette, June 10, 2010

Stats:
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=supruma01
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/mack-supronowicz/

Jim Stone

James Edward "Boxhead" Stone


Born:
March 29, 1924
Nashville, TN

Died:
June 11, 2005
Winter Haven, FL


Career
1942-43 East High School - Nashville (High School)
1946-47 Austin Peay (College)
1947-48 Austin Peay (College)
1948-49 Austin Peay (College)
1949-50 Austin Peay (College)
1950-51 Louisville Alumnites (NPBL)

Born in Nashville to Clarence and Nelda Stone, Stone went to East High School. After high school, he served in the U.S. Navy during World War 2. He played four years at Austin Peay before being signed by the Alumnites in 1950. He was released on November 14, just two weeks into the season.

He moved to Florida not long after, where he was an avid golfer.

Jim married Alice "Louise" Kaylor (1929-2011) in 1951

Source:
Obituary, The Ledger, June 14, 2005
Leaf Chronicle (Clarksville, TN), June 13, 2005

Stats:
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=stoneji01
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/jim-stone/

Jack Shelton

John Earl "Jack" Shelton


Born:
August 7, 1928
Stillwater, OK

Died:
July 23, 2003
Stillwater, OK


Career
1944-45 Stillwater High School - Oklahoma (High School)
1945-46 Stillwater High School - Oklahoma (High School)
1946-47 Oklahoma A&M (College)
1947-48 Oklahoma A&M (College)
1948-49 Oklahoma A&M (College)
1949-50 Oklahoma A&M (College)
1950-51 St Paul Lights (NPBL)
1950-51 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)

Born in Stillwater to Earl and Katherine Shelton, Jack was a natural athlete who played both football and basketball at Stillwater HS, named All-State in both sports in his senior year. Growing to a height of 6'7, Shelton was recruited by Coach Hank Iba to play basketball at Oklahoma S&M (now Oklahoma State University), where he played four seasons. He was drafted by the Boston Celtics of the NBA, but chose to sign with the St. Paul Lights in the NPBL instead. When they folded, Shelton joined the Wilkes-Barre Barons in the ABL to finish out the 1950-51 season.

Figuring there was not much of a future for him in professional basketball, Shelton returned home and enlisted in the Air Force, and was station at Walker Air Force Base in Roswell, New Mexico. When his time was up in 1955, he returned to Stillwater to work at the family lumber company. He would eventually take over the company from his father, and became a skilled builder and designer of houses.

He was married Marguerite Goodpaster in 1952.

Source:
Stillwater HS Memorial

Stats:
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=sheltja01
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/jack-shelton/

Chuck Share

Charles Edward Share


Born:
March 14, 1927
Akron, OH

Died:
June 7, 2012
Chesterfield, MO


Career
1945-46 Western Hills High School - Cincinnati (High School)
1946-47 Bowling Green State University (College)
1947-48 Bowling Green State University (College)
1948-49 Bowling Green State University (College)
1949-50 Bowling Green State University (College)
1950-51 Waterloo Hawks (NPBL)
1951-52 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1952-53 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1953-54 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1953-54 Milwaukee Hawks (NBA)
1954-55 Milwaukee Hawks (NBA)
1955-56 St Louis Hawks (NBA)
1956-57 St Louis Hawks (NBA)

1957-58 St Louis Hawks (NBA)

1958-59 St Louis Hawks (NBA)

1959-60 St Louis Hawks (NBA)

1959-60 Minneapolis Lakers (NBA)

Share was the first pick overall in the 1950 NBA draft, selected by the Boston Celtics, but Share chose to play with the Waterloo Hawks in the NPBL instead. After the league collapsed, Share had his NBA property rights with the Celtics transferred to the Fort Wayne Pistons. In December of 1953, the Pistons sent him to the Milwaukee Hawks for Max Zaslofsky. He spent seven seasons with the Hawks, following them when the team relocated to St. Louis. Share was an important part of the 1958 NBA Champion Hawks, and was one of the more popular players on the squad. He was dealt to the Lakers on February 15, 1960 in exchange for Larry Foust, and initially refused to go and was going to quite the game, but he reconsidered and went to Minneapolis in time for the playoffs. At the end of the season, he retired from the game for good..

He started a corrugated container company whichi he sold in 1985, and then he and his wife purchased a farm. Share was 85 when he died in 2012 following a brief illness.

He and his wife, Rose, had two daughters.


Source:
St Louis Post-Dispatch, June 10, 2012
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/celtics-no-1-pick-draft-1950-didn-article-1.3172878

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sharech01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=sharech01
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/chuck-share/

John Pilch

John A. Pilch


Born:
August 11, 1925
Sheridan, WY

Died:
June 14, 1991
Wyoming


Career
Thermopolis High School - Wyoming (High School)
1947-48 University of Wyoming (College)
1948-49 University of Wyoming (College)
1949-50 University of Wyoming (College)
1950-51 Sheboygan Redskins (NPBL)
1951-52 Minneapolis Lakers (NBA)

Pilch graduated from Thermopolis HS and entered the U.S. Army for World War 2. After the war, he went to the University of Wyoming, where he was the team's leading scorer. Drafted by the NBA's Baltimore Bullets in 1950, he chose the play the the Sheboygan Redskins instead. After the demise of the Redskins, he signed with the Minneapolis Lakers in the NBA.

Pilch later became a very successful entrepreneur in the insurance industry.

Source:
Salt Lake Tribune, May 4, 1968
Wyoming Cowboys Hall of Fame

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/pilchjo01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=pilchjo01
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/john-pilch/

Gene Peterson

Arthur Gene Peterson 


Born:
September 21, 1927


Died:
March 3, 2004



Career
1943-44 Millard High School - Nebraska (High School)
1944-45 University of Nebraska (College)
1945-46 Kansas University (College)
1948-49 Kansas University (College)
1949-50 Kansas University (College)
1950-51 Kansas City Hi-Spots (NPBL)

After his freshman year at Nebraska, he transferred to Kansas to play under Phog Allen, as well as pursue his education in veterinary medicine. His entered the U.S. Army in 1947, and after two years was back at Kansas.

Hailing from Millard, Nebraska, Peterson is listed in newspapers as Art through 1945, but chose to go by Gene around the time he transferred to Kansas.

Source:
Lincoln Journal Star, December 27, 1943
Lincoln Evening Journal, December 29, 1943

Stats:
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=peter01
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/gene-peterson/

Claude Overton

Claudell S. Overton


Born:
December 16, 1927
Temple, OK

Died:
April 29, 1996
Norman, OK


Career
McAlester High School - Oklahoma (High School)
1946-47 East Central Oklahoma (College)
1947-48 East Central Oklahoma (College)
1948-49 East Central Oklahoma (College)
1949-50 East Central Oklahoma (College)
1949-50 College All-Stars (Independent)
1950-51 Waterloo Hawks (NPBL)
1950-51 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)
1952-53 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA)
1955-56 Edmond Memorial High School - Oklahoma (High School) Head coach
1956-57 Bacone Junior College - Muskogee, Oklahoma (College) Head coach
1957-58 Bacone Junior College - Muskogee, Oklahoma (College) Head coach
1958-59 Bacone Junior College - Muskogee, Oklahoma (College) Head coach
1959-60 Bacone Junior College - Muskogee, Oklahoma (College) Head coach

Claude was a baseball and basketball player at East Central Oklahoma, and played minor league baseball in the the Sooner League in 1948 and 1949. Overton was drafted by the Washington Capitols but did not make the team. He played for the Waterloo Hawks and the Wilkes-Barre Barons in 1950-51, and finally made the NBA in 1952 when he signed with the Philadephia Warriors.

Minor League Baseball Stats
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=overto001cla

Source:


Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/overtcl01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=overtcl01
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/claude-overton/

Cas Ostrowski

Kasmer Martin "Cas" Ostrowski


Born:
July 24, 1924
West Wyoming, PA

Died:
March 2, 2000
Wyoming, PA


Career
1939-40 West Wyoming High School - Pennsylvania (High School)
1940-41 West Wyoming High School - Pennsylvania (High School)
1941-42 University of Scranton (College)
1942-43 University of Scranton (College)
1946-47 Wilkes-Barre Barons (EPBL)
1947-48 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)
1948-49 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)
1949-50 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)
1950-51 Allentown Aces (ABL)
1950-51 Grand Rapids Hornets (NPBL)
1950-51 Carbondale Aces (ABL)
1951-52 Carbondale Aces (ABL)
1951-52 Pottsville Packers (EPBL)

1952-53 Wilkes-Barre Aces (EPBL)
1952-53 Berwick Carbuilders  (EPBL)
1954-55 Williamsport Billies (EPBL)

Ostrowski enrolled at the University of Scranton, and after his sophomore year, he entered the U.S. Navy to serve during World War 2. After the war, he signed with Wilkes-Barre and played them for four seasons, including one on the Eastern League before the team moved to the American League.

Cas was sold to the Aces on October 20, 1950. I am not sure how or exactly when, but he moved to play the Grand Rapids Hornets of the NPBL, appearing in the November 16 and November 17 games. He was injured on November 18 along with fellow Hornets Blackie Towery and Bobby McDermott in a car accident traveling to a game in St. Paul. Ostrowski played only two games for the Hornets before returning to the Aces in the ABL, but the team moved to Carbondale on December 2. He played for other teams out east before retiring from the court.

Cas' brother Joe pitched for the New York Yankees.



Source:
Sheboygan Press, November 20, 1950
Morning Call (Allentown, PA), December 3, 1950
Mauch Chunk Times-News, December 19, 1950
Pittston Gazette, December 18, 1951,

Stats:
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=ostroca01
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/cas-ostrowski/

Wally Osterkorn

Walter Raymond Osterkorn


Born:
July 6, 1928
Chicago, IL

Died:
January 11, 2012
Scottsdale, AZ


Career
1944-45 Amundsen High School - Chicago (High School)
1945-46 Amundsen High School - Chicago (High School)
1947-48 University of Illinois (College)
1948-49 University of Illinois (College)
1949-50 University of Illinois (College)
1950-51 St. Paul Lights (NPBL)
1950-51 Sheboygan Redskins (NPBL)
1951-52 Syracuse Nationals (NBA)
1952-53 Syracuse Nationals (NBA)
1953-54 Syracuse Nationals (NBA)
1954-55 Syracuse Nationals (NBA)

Drafted by the Chicago Stags of the NBA after graduating from Illinois, Osterkorn chose to play with the St Paul Lights on the NPBL instead. When the Lights folded in mid-season, Osterkorn was reassigned to the Redskins for the remainder of the season. After the NPBL dissolved, Osterkorn went to the Syracuse Nationals in the NBA, where he played four seasons. After quitting basketball, he moved to Phoenix where he worked for Encyclopaedia Brittanica. He died in 2012 after suffering from Alzheimer's Disease.


Source:
Grave and Obit

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/osterwa01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=osterwa01
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/wally-osterkorn/

Buckshot O'Brien

Ralph Eugene "Buckshot" O'Brien


Born:
April 28, 1928
Henshaw, KY

Died:
August 22, 2018
Clearwater Beach, FL


Career
1943-44 George Washington High School - Indianapolis (High School)
1946-47 Butler University (College)
1947-48 Butler University (College)
1948-49 Butler University (College)
1949-50 Butler University (College)
1950-51 Grand Rapids Hornets (NPBL)
1950-51 Waterloo Hawks (NPBL)
1951-52 Indianapolis Olympians (NBA)
1952-53 Indianapolis Olympians (NBA)
1952-53 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1952-53 Baltimore Bullets (NBA)
1953-54 Indianapolis / Noblesville Mercuries (Indiana Pro Basketball Assoc) Head Coach / Player


The youngest of 13 children, O'Brien set scoring records at Butler before embarking on a professional basketball career. First playing with the Hornets in the NPBL, his contract was reassigned to Waterloo when the Grand Rapids club folded. That summer, with the NPBL being dead, O'Brien headed back home to Indianapolis, signing with the Olympians. In January of 1953, O'Brien was waived and picked up by the Fort Wayne Pistons. His time in Fort Wayne was short, because on February 17, 1953, Fort Wayne traded him along with Jack Kerris and cash to Baltimore for Freddie Scolari and Don Boven. He later worked as an insurance salesman.

Source:
Indianapolis News, December 19, 1982

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/obriera01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=obriera01
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/ralph-obrien/

Lee Nichols

Lee Nichols


Born:



Died:




Career
1950-51 Kansas City Hi-Spots (NPBL)

Played three games for Kansas City.

Source:


Stats:
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=nichole01
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/lee-nichols/

Joe Nelson

Joseph Arthur Nelson


Born:
March 16, 1927 
Richfield, UT

Died:
July 20, 2009
Payson, UT


Career
1944-45 Spanish Fork High School - Utah (High School)
1946-47 Brigham Young University (College)
1947-48 Brigham Young University (College)
1948-49 Brigham Young University (College)
1949-50 Brigham Young University (College)
1949-50 College All-Stars (Independent)
1950-51 St. Paul Lights (NPBL)
1950-51 Waterloo Hawks (NPBL)

A graduate of Spanish Fork HS, where he played football and basketball, and also ran track, Nelson joined the army right out of high school. He returned to BYU after his service, and signed with St. Paul of the NPBL after graduating. When St. Paul folded, his contract was reassigned to Waterloo.

He returned to Utah where he too a job at Dugway Proving Ground for a bit before landing at USS Geneva Steel, where he stayed for 31 years.

He married Phyllis Mae White (1929-2004) in 1949 and they had two daughters and a son.

Source:
Obituary


Stats:
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=nelsojo01
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/joe-nelson/

Chuck Mrazovich

Charles Mrazovich


Born:
February 26, 1924
Ambridge, PA

Died:
November 8, 2020
Hialeah, FL


Career
Ambridge High School - Pennsylvania (High School)
1945-46 Ambridge - Pennsylvania (Indpendent)
1947-48 Eastern Kentucky University (College)
1948-49 Eastern Kentucky University (College)
1949-50 Eastern Kentucky University (College)
1950-51 Indianapolis Olympians (NBA)
1950-51 Anderson Packers (NPBL)
1951-52 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)
1952-53 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)
1952-53 Russell County High School - Kentucky (High School) Head coach
1953-54 Russell County High School - Kentucky (High School) Head coach
1954-55 Russell County High School - Kentucky (High School) Head coach
1955-56 Russell County High School - Kentucky (High School) Head coach
1956-57 Russell County High School - Kentucky (High School) Head coach
1957-58 Russell County High School - Kentucky (High School) Head coach
1958-59 Franklin County High School - Frankfort, Kentucky (High School) Head coach
1959-60 Franklin County High School - Frankfort, Kentucky (High School) Head coach
1960-61 Franklin County High School - Frankfort, Kentucky (High School) Head coach
1961-62 Franklin County High School - Frankfort, Kentucky (High School) Head coach
1964-65 Hialeah High School -  Florida (High School) Head coach
1965-66 Hialeah High School -  Florida (High School) Head coach
1966-67 Hialeah High School -  Florida (High School) Head coach
1967-68 Hialeah High School -  Florida (High School) Head coach
1968-69 Hialeah High School -  Florida (High School) Head coach
1969-70 Hialeah High School -  Florida (High School) Head coach
1970-71 Hialeah High School -  Florida (High School) Head coach
1971-72 Hialeah High School -  Florida (High School) Head coach
1972-73 Hialeah High School -  Florida (High School) Head coach

Born to Croatian immigrants, Mrazovich entered the U.S. Army after high School. Following World War 2, he played basketball and ran track at Eastern Kentucky. Drafted by the Olympians in the NBA, he was released by the club in January and signed with the Anderson Packers on January 16, 1951. He played pro basketball with the Anderson Packers and the Indianapolis Olympians before heading east to the Wilkes-Barre Barons in the ABL.

He would then become a teacher and long-time high school basketball coach in his home state of Kentucky as well as in Florida. He finally stepped down from coaching in 1973.

"We weren't allowed to dunk, but we would just to show off before the game. I wish I could play the game now." - Chuck Mrazovich, 2008 -

Source:
Croatia.org
EKU Sports Hall of Fame

Stats:
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=mrazoch01
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/chuck-mrazovich/

McNamara

McNamara


Born:



Died:




Career
1950-51 Kansas City Hi-Spots (NPBL)

Played one game for Kansas City

Source:


Stats:
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=mcnam01
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/mcnamara/

Don McMillen

Donald Dean McMillen


Born:
May 7, 1927
Windsor, MO

Died:
September 23, 1995
Fort Myers, FL


Career
1947-48 University of Missouri (College)
1948-49 University of Missouri (College)
1950-51 St. Joseph Ponies - Missouri (Independent)
1950-51 Kansas City Hi-Spots (NPBL)

McMillen was the star pitcher on the baseball team at Mizzou, and also played on the basketball team for a couple years. He signed with the New York Giants of baseball's National League in June of 1949, and was immediately sent to the Class-B club in Trenton, New Jersey. He stayed in the Giants system through 1952, but never got higher than A level. In the off-season of 1950-51, he played with the St. Joseph Ponies, and when they merged with the financially-strapped Hi-Spots in the NPBL on December 8, 1950, he played five games for them.

Minor League Baseball Stats:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=mcmill001don

Source:
Mexico Ledger, June 30, 1949

Stats:
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=mcmildo01
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/don-mcmillen/