Friday, January 17, 2025

1940-41 Norwalk Newfields (CSL)

Ike Kern
1940-41 NORWALK NEWFIELDS
CONNECTICUT STATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE
1st Half: 7-1, .875, 1st place
2nd Half: 4-4, .500, t-4th place

Lost to New London finals, 2-1


New to the league, the Newfields rolled through the first half, with only a 4-poinmt loss in New London as a blemish on their record.  They only managed a .500 record in the second half, and the poor momentum seemed to carry into the Presidents Cup. They would lose to New London in 3 games.

Head Coach:
  • Eugene "Ike" Kern (November 26, 1909 - November 28, 1978) 
PLAYERS:

Bobby Lynch
Anso "Al" Belardinelli (January 1, 1915 - March 22, 2001)
Jack Burns 
George Fasulas (April 20, 1921 - October 23, 2000)
Jim Impilito
Bobby Lynch (October 21, 1916 - March 13, 1982)
Al Mansi (July 14, 1921 - January 3, 2013)
George Petrovich (August 23, 1921 - February 10, 2016)
Al Raslavsky (April 24, 1917 - November 11, 1993)
Ken Ritchel (August 28, 1914 - October 1, 1988)
Tony Santone (May 30, 1919 - November 15, 1986)
Irish Sheehy (December 26, 1915 - June 19, 1985)
Stan Wilson (September 6, 1917 - February 6, 1995)











Wednesday, January 15, 2025

1940-41 New London Electric Boats (CSL)

1940-41 NEW LONDON ELECTRIC BOAT DIESELS
CONNECTICUT STATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Joe Murphy
1st Half: 6-2, .750, t-2nd place
2nd Half: 6-2, .750, t-1st place
Defeated Bridgeport in 2nd Half Tie-breaker, 2-1
Defeated Norwalk in Finals, 2-1


After a disappointing season, the Diesels were loaded for battle this year. They would go 6-2 in both halves, with the first half being a second place finish while the second was good enough to tie for first. They defeated Bridgeport in the tie-breaker for the second half title, and beat Norwalk for the President's Cup. Chet Jaworski, Rhode Island College phenom, joined the team after Christmas and averaged 15.1 points down the stretch.

Head Coach:
  • Joe Murphy (December 10, 1913 - August 2, 1986) Also played. See below
PLAYERS:
Mike Petrosky

Jimmy Hoffman (May 9, 1917 - October 24, 2001)
Chet Jaworski (November 8, 1916 - October 16, 2003)
Joe Kane (April 12, 1913 - January 10, 1988)
Joe Murphy (December 10, 1913 - August 2, 1986)
Tony Osinski (January 6, 1918 - May 8, 1991)
Ed Petro (July 3, 1915 - July 8, 1987)
Mike Petrosky (April 15, 1915 - June 21, 1980)
Billy Rose (June 18, 1917 - October 7, 1951)
Mike Severin (November 20, 1919 - September 9, 1989)
Eddie Sullivan (February 3, 1919 - May 3, 1987)
Bill Tuneski (April 23, 1919 - December 17, 2000)


Tony Osinski


Ed Petro

Joe Kane




Tuesday, January 14, 2025

1940-41 New Britain Emeralds (CSL)

1940-41 NEW BRITAIN EMERALDS
CONNECTICUT STATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE
1st Half: 4-4, .500, t-6th place
2nd Half: 2-6, .250, t-8th place


New Britain's Cremos won the Cup last season, but this year known as the Emeralds and returned a the core and coach so everyone expected the Emeralds to be competitive. Unfortunately, however, they dropped their first four games and quickly fell out of contention. They rallied to finish they last four of the half and took the first contest of the second half. However, the momentum ended there as they would drop 6 of their remaining 7 games and finish the second half in a tie for last place.

Head Coach:
  • Jimmy Murphy ( - ) 
PLAYERS:

Vic Baylock (January 18, 1913 - March 22, 1990)
Joe Bellis (November 30, 1913 - May 27, 1967)
Joe Capodice (January 12, 1918 - July 4, 1998)
Jack Cronin 
Lindy Dobek (January 29, 1917 - February 23, 2015)
Henry Ferony (April 29, 1915 - September 13, 2002)
Joe Glownia (December 20, 1915 - July 2, 1962)
Joe Gurnicki (March 22, 1920 - June 27, 1983)
Pete Gut (January 12, 1916 - March 8, 2006)
Chick Jacobi (June 29, 1920 - July 11, 2014)
Walt Kresge (September 25, 1920 - August 14, 2000)
Henry Parsons (February 23, 1917 - April 29, 2010)
Art Pfeiffer (October 5, 1915 - July 15, 1969)
Hermie Schmarr (October 10, 1912 - March 13, 1989)
George Weber  





Friday, January 10, 2025

1940-41 Hartford Gems (CSL)

1940-41 HARTFORD GEMS
CONNECTICUT STATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE
1st Half: 4-4, .500, 4th place
2nd Half: 4-4, .500, 4th place
Herb Peterson

Sponsored by Bill Savitt, local jeweler, Hartford had local basketball figure John Malin at the helm. Last year's Hartford entry was a disappointment, but this years Gems couldn't fare much better than breaking even in both halves and missing the championship series. Malin would be replaced by Herb Peterson two games into the second half.

Head Coach:
  • John Malin (May 21, 1910 - January 20, 1988) 5-5
  • Herb Peterson (December 25, 1915 - May 12, 1975) Also played. See below

PLAYERS:

Joe Bellis (November 30, 1913 - May 27, 1967)
Harry Smith
Larry Bernabeo (November 7, 1916 - January 25, 1984)
Jack Cronin 
Ed Gormley (April 1, 1916 - September 29, 2006)
Sid Himmelstein (September 29, 1914 - January 15, 1982)
Joe Kaslauskas (November 1, 1918 - June 14, 2006)
Frank Klimas (July 28, 1918 - March 21, 1997)
Wendell Kristofak (December 19, 1919 - October 7, 1992)
John Lachovich (KIA c. 1944)
Frank Leonard (April 27, 1918 - February 13, 2013)
Joe Noce (August 30, 1920 - November 3, 2002)
Herb Peterson (December 25, 1915 - May 12, 1975)
Harry Smith (December 2, 1921 - October 19, 20210)
Walt Urban (June 27, 1915 - December 8, 1994)
George Wamsley (August 25, 1919 - December 17, 2013)
Freddie Ware (March 15, 1915 - October 31, 1996)
Paul Worobel (July 2, 1919 - June 3, 2004)
Henry Zajac (April 6, 1914 - September 23, 1977)


Thursday, January 9, 2025

1940-41 Danbury Gaels (CSL)

1940-41 DANBURY GAELS
CONNECTICUT STATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE
1st Half: 2-6, .250, 8th place

2nd Half: 3-5, .375, t-6th place

The Danbury Guards dropped from the state league, but the Gaels stepped in to represent the Hat City. Eddie Sadlon was the only carry-over from the Guards. They were never in the running and finsihed the season poorly.

Jake May

Head Coach:

PLAYERS:

Alexander Baran (November 15, 1919 - June 15, 1944)
Mike Baran (December 4, 1914 - February 18, 2002)
John "Carl" Baur (July 10, 1915 - January 3, 1965)
Jim Feeley (February 13, 1915 - May 3, 1984)
John Gillotte (May 6, 1916 - June 25, 1996)
Bob Lougheed (March 19, 1919 - October 15, 1993)
Joe Maggiola (January 9, 1918 - December 20, 1969)
Jake May (February 6, 1921 - February 3, 1984)
Miller 
George Morgan (February 22, 1921 - October 11, 2006)
Eddie Sadlon (February 5, 1920 - December 16, 1993)
Dick Thompson (May 28, 1914 - November 26, 1993)
Ace Vince (October 19, 1916 - December 15, 2002)
Jack Walsh (March 22, 1916 - August 6, 1987)


Wednesday, January 8, 2025

1940-41 Bridgeport Springwoods (CSL)

1940-41 BRIDGEPORT SPRINGWOODS
CONNECTICUT STATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE
1st Half: 3-5, .375, t-6th place
2nd Half: 6-2, .750, t-1st place

Lost to New London in 2nd Half Tie-breaker, 2-1

John Norko took over as coach at the onset of the season, but Eddie Reilly returned to coach the second half. Under Reilly, the Springwoods returned to form and finished in a tie for first in the second place. Unfortunately, they lost to New London in a tie-breaker and their season came to an end.

Charlie Petrushonis
Head Coach:
  • Johnny Norko (April 16, 1916 - March 28, 2010) 3-5  Also played. See below
  • Eddie Reilly (March 26, 1886 - December 4, 1964)  6-2
PLAYERS:

Mal Baxter (November 10, 1921 - September 17, 2010)
Jackie Bowden (September 7, 1917 - October 4, 1995)
Johnny Chirsky (August 20, 1928 - June  27,2002)
Diker  
Slim Kurimsky (February 1, 1919 - October 8, 2006)
Frank Macey (December 21, 1914 - July 7, 2000)
Steve Nemergut (September 22, 1915 - June 22, 1996)
George Norko (January 20, 1916 - October 10, 2000)
Johnny Norko (April 16, 1916 - March 28, 2010)
Charlie Petrushonis (January 8, 1921 - d. 1987-2010)
Dave Roberts (March 18, 1921 - April 17, 1992)
Jim Whaley (May 6, 1915 - ????)

Dave Roberts





Tuesday, January 7, 2025

1940-41 Connecticut State League (CSL)

New season and still nine teams, with a few new teams replacing dropped squads. Again, the season was split into two halves, with the winners of each half slated to face each other for a series to win the President's trophy. The Cremos of New Britain withdrew and their franchise went to the Emeralds from the same city. The Hartford Dovers also withdrew, being replaced by the Gems. Merdien and Stamford also dropped, leaving more room for new teams. Waterbury Speedboys were granted admission., as were the Newfields from Norwalk. The Newfields (also occasionally referred to as the Bluefields) entered the circuit from the barnstorming world, and after splitting their first 2 games, rattled off 6 straight wins to claim the first half title. Norwalk would struggle in the second half while New London, West Haven and Bridgeport battled for the second half crown. All three clubs finished with 6 wins, but West Haven shut their season down so New London and Bridgeport would meet in a tie-breaking series.

New London dropped the opener of the best-of-3 series before besting the Springwoods in the next two matches to earn the right to play Norwalk for the Cup. Norwalk won the opener on the road, but dropped the next to (played in Bridgeport to handle larger attendance) to give the Cup to the Boats.

  • Bridgeport Springwoods
  • Danbury Gaels
  • Hartford Gems
  • New Britain Emeralds
  • New London Electric Boats
  • Norwalk Newfields
  • Waterbury West Side Speedboys
  • West Haven Hull Red Devils
  • Willimantic Lounsbury Aces