1948-49 Reading / Allentown Keys (EPBL)

1948-49 READING / ALLENTOWN KEYS

Jeb Stewart

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
18-12, .600, T-1st place

Tie-breaker: Defeated Harrisburg, 68-66

Tie-breaker: Lost to Williamsport, 100-77

Semi-finals: Lost to Harrisburg, 2-1

Owned and coached by local businessman Arlie Robitzer, Reading got off to a hot start, winning six of their first eight. Attendance, however, lagged a bit and the club was moved to Allentown during the week of Christmas. Their attendance and support in Allentown never really took hold, and the team returned to Reading at the end of January. 

The Keys struggled after returning to Reading, and on February 16 fell to 11-11. The team had made a few roster changes, adding Doug Holcomb and Jim Joyce, and they helped the team take off. They would win 6 of 7 plus a forfeit victory over Lancaster to finish in a three--way tie for first place. They failed to win the playoff for the regular season title, and would then lose to Harrisburg in the playoffs, ending their season.

Jim Joyce

Head Coach:

• Arlie Robitzer (April 23, 1915 - April 20, 1988)

PLAYERS:

Oscar Baldwin (January 7, 1925 - October 31, 2005)

Dewey Boltz (May 18, 1920 - September 18, 2015)

Norm Butz (September 28, 1919 - March 21, 1999)

George Dracha (August 18, 1921 - April 6, 1995)

Russ Guensch (January 12, 1924 - June 14, 2014)

Doug Holcomb (February 9, 1921 - February 3, 2008)

Kenny Hopkins (November 2, 1919 - June 12, 2015)

Jim Joyce (October 23, 1924 - October 24, 2006)

Joe Lord (December 28, 1922 - December 1986)

Paul Marcincin (June 22, 1921 - October 26, 2009)

Don Markward (April 2, 1919 - June 14, 1985)

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

Herm Wickel 

Pete Yousaitis (September 10, 1917 - December 23, 1995)

1948-49 Pottsville Packers (EPBL)

1948-49 POTTSVILLE PACKERS

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
16-14, .533, 4th place
Semi-finals: Defeated Williamsport, 2-1

Finals: Defeated Harrisburg, 2-1

The previous season's runner-up, Pottsville came in hoping to achieve what they couldn't last year: a Eastern League title. With Obie O'Brien now the head coach, the Packers stumbled out of the gate O'Brien was fired after six games. Veteran Red Dehnert, who started the season with Saratoga in the New York State league, was brought in as player coach but the team saw little improvement and Dehnert was let go ten games later over a dispute with compensation. Co-owners Felix Kadel and Eddie Romance named veteran player Tommy Bell as player/coach. The Packers played noticeably better and by the first week of March had climbed over .500 and on the verge of a playoff berth when tragedy struck. 

Bell was at home in Philadelphia when he collapsed. Rushed to the hospital, he was in critical condition with internal hemorrhaging. A benefit league-wide All-Star game was played to help defray the hospital costs of Bell, but he remained hospitalized. Kadel took over as coach as the team won their final two games of the regular season and claimed the fourth playoff spot. 

When the playoffs began March 25, Pottsville defeated Williamsport in three games and then dispatched Harrisburg in three games to claim the Eastern League's President's Trophy.

Meanwhile, Tommy Bell's illness turned out to be lymphoma, and he would die in December of 1949 at the young age of 27. The league would name the annual MVP Award after Bell.

Head Coaches:

• Obie O'Brien (January 5, 1909 - August 20, 1978) 2-4
• Red Dehnert (January 24, 1924 - September 23, 1994) 6-5  Also played. See below.
• Tommy Bell (September 11, 1922 - December 17, 1949) 6-5 Also played. See below.
• Felix Kadel (May 30, 1912 - December 7, 2003) 2-0

PLAYERS:

Tommy Bell (September 11, 1922 - December 17, 1949)

Fred Bernhart (September 14, 1923 - June 1, 2011)

Alfy Burch (November 2, 1928 - September 1, 2000)

Neal Conway (November 24, 1924 - February 15, 1997)

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

Joe Dougherty 

Jack Flannery (December 7, 1925 - January 22, 2007)

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

Walt Geoghan (March 28, 1925 - Mar 22, 1997)

Pop Goodwin (December 22, 1920 - May 16, 2005)

John Gozdenovich (March 8, 1924 - July 7, 1997)

Oscar Grossman (June 26, 1923 - September 22, 1993)

Jack Harvey (March 10, 1928 - August 30, 2006)

Bill Henry (May 23, 1924 - April 24, 1999)

Jack Kane (June 18, 1928 - October 12, 1987)

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

Bill McClure (December 21, 1927 - September 7, 2001)

Moon Mullen 

John Murphy (September 13, 1924 - January 29, 2003)

Tom O'Connell (November 10, 1923 - February 5, 2011)

Eddie O'Hallloran (January 4, 1926 - October 11, 2014)

Wally Pendergast 

Johnny Phoenix (April 2, 1924 - August 31, 1988)

Bob Walters (November 15, 1926 - March 21, 1991)

1948-49 Lancaster Red Roses (EPBL)

1948-49 LANCASTER RED ROSES

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
11-18 .379, 6th place

Lancaster started the 1948-49 season in trouble. Even though the team started decently with 2 wins in five games, the financial issues surrounding the club flared up, forcing the league to temporarily suspend the club's actions until they could square things away with the home court, payroll and travel. In early January, owner Roxy Wise replaced Matt Guokas with George Eshelman and the business showed other signs of improvement. The team's suspension was "lifted" and they re-entered league play on January 9. With a new coach and some new personnel (Bells Colone and Johnny Emich), over the few weeks they would continue to add other players to try to bolster their fortunes. They never really put it together, and by season's end they were forced to forfeit their last two games and finished in 6th place, well out of the playoff picture.  Bill Zubic stuck with the team from beginning to end, averaging 22.2 PPG.

 

Head Coaches:

• Matt Guokas (November 11, 1915 - December 9, 1993) 2-3
  
• George Eshelman (April 15, 1913 - June 14, 1989) 9-15

PLAYERS:

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

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

Jim DiGiacomo (b. December 19, 1928)

George Ehemann (September 11, 1918 - July 10, 1991)

Johnnie Emich (January 21, 1918 - May 20, 2001)

Dick Fitzgerald (November 18, 1920 - April 13, 1968)

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

Marshall Gemberling (August 6, 1924 - September 10, 2004)

Art Hillhouse (June 12, 1916 - October 27, 1980)

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

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

Jerry Kelly (June 14, 1918 - July 23, 1996)

Bud Long (February 10, 1924 - January 0, 2009)

Bink Manning (August 29, 1920 - April 7, 1986)

Don Markward (April 2, 1919 - June 14, 1985)

Ed Masterson (January 24, 1923 - May 21, 1991)

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

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

Tom O'Connell (November 10, 1923 - February 5, 2011)

Joe Proksa (June 30, 1914 - October 25, 1999)

Fred Sheffield (November 5, 1923 - December 8, 2009)

George Shoemaker (December 21, 1927 - October 16, 2000)

Mac Simpson (February 28, 1927 - May 17, 2013)

Sammy Van Hook (June 29, 1916 - April 5, 1997)

Bill Zubic (August 7, 1918 - July 24, 1994)

1948-49 Harrisburg Senators (EPBL)

1948-49 HARRISBURG SENATORS

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
18-12, .600, T-1st place

Tie-breaker: Lost to Reading, 68-66

Semi-Finals: Defeated Reading, 2-1

Finals: Lost to Pottsville, 2-1

Hoping to improve on last year's disappointment, Joe Cackovic, star player of the team, took the coaching job at the start of the season, but after 8 games was relieved of his duty so he concentrate on scoring (he would average a team-best 15.0 ppg). After a mediocre 8-8 start, they would go 10-4 the rest of the way to tie for first at the end of the season. They would lose to Reading, 68-66, in a short playoff to determine regular season winner. They would force the same Reading club in the playoffs, beating them in three games to advance to the finals. After splitting the first two with Pottsville, Harrisburg would lose, 88-69, in the rubber game to fall short of the Eastern League championship.

Joe Cackovic

Head Coaches:

• Joe Cackovic (February 21, 1923 - December 16, 1984) 4-4 Also played. See below
• Steve "Pie" Eckhart (December 26, 1912 - September 12, 2002) 2-1
• Russ Tuckey (March 24, 1904 - April 1986) 12-7 

PLAYERS:

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

Jim Coughlin (August 18, 1919 - March 27, 1969)

Dick DeWees (March 18, 1929 - July 19, 1986)

Jackie Goepfert (May 24, 1932 - May 1, 2002)

Stretch Hall (June 23, 1926 - December 10, 1989)

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

Johnny Hopper (January 9, 1923 - June 12, 1996)

Dave McWhite (November 6, 1919 - December 8, 1997)

Danny Sandler (b. March 21, 1927)

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

Vince Smith (August 20, 1922 - January 17, 2019)

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

Johnny Hopper

Danny Sandler

Dave McWhite

Jeb Stewart

1948-49 EPBL

The third season of the EPBL saw the league drop to seven teams. Both the Philadelphia Lumberjacks and the Hazleton Mountaineers dropped, but added the Athletic Association from York.  Reading would move to Allentown to try to find better home court but would return to Reading a few weeks later. It would prove to be a very competitive season, with Williamsport, Harrisburg and Reading all tying for the regular season title with Pottsville only two games back. Williamsport would win the regular season title in a three-team playoff but get knocked out in the playoffs in the opening round to Pottsville. The Packers would go on to win the crown over Harrisburg.

• Harrisburg Senators
• Lancaster Rockets 
• Pottsville Packers
• Reading / Allentown Keys
• Sunbury Mercuries
• Williamsport Billies 
• York A.A.

1947-48 Williamsport Billies (EPBL)

1947-48 WILLIAMSPORT BILLIES
EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
9-18, .333, 7th place

Coach Hal Poust

New to the league, the Billis started off decently, splitting their first 10 games. Unfortunately, they would only win 4 of their remaining 17 games to finish a distant 7th place. Ray Kodish would lead the team in scoring with 377 points (17.1 PPG)

Head Coach:

• Hal Poust (March 14, 1906 - November 23, 1962) 

PLAYERS:

Bernie Bobst (May 25, 1926 - April 30, 1986)

Bob Brenner (March 2, 1923 - November 11, 2013)

Ollie Byers (October 24, 1916 - July 26, 2004)

Paul Coront (July 4, 1921 - February 26, 1994)

Larry Disque (March 27, 1921 - March 3, 1994)

Rocco English (January 30, 1919 - September 14, 2017)

Frank Frascella (July 28, 1922 - December 10, 2014)

Earl Hafner (July 29, 1921 - March 15, 1988)

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

Don Manno (May 4, 1915 - March 11, 1995)

Wes Myers

Fran McGrath (November 29, 1926 - September 21, 2014)

Wes Myers (December 21, 1927 - February 1, 2002)

Emil Piestrak (December 19, 1918 - June 7, 2011)

Frank Sebest (September 24, 1923 - November 28, 2010)

Andy Sember (July 6, 1923 - April 17. 2007)

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

Tom Sweeney (October 15, 1922 - June 27, 2017)

Joey Thomas (November 12, 1919 - November 24, 1997)

Jack Walsh (November 11, 1920 - May 9, 1976)

1947-48 Sunbury Mercuries (EPBL)

1947-48 SUNBURY MERCURIES

Coach Auten

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
13-15, .464, 5th place

First year in the league, the Mercuries won their first two games if the season, including an opening night victory over eventual champions Reading. They would float around the .500 mark for the entire season, never winning more than two in a row and never being more than 2 games within the .500 mark on either side. Johnny Rusinko would score 398 points in the season for an average of 14.2 PPG. 

Head Coach:

• Johnny Auten (April 26, 1903 - September 22, 1981) 

PLAYERS:

Wade Ackley (June 8, 1919 - January 24, 2007)

Paul Chadick (May 25, 1918 - December 28, 1999)

Jack Colberg (February 4, 1924 - December 17, 2013)

Lou Decsi (February 9, 1923 - November 19, 2018)

George Deitrick (November 27, 1917 - April 21, 1996)

Nick Dietterick (May 22, 1921 - May 16, 2014)

Jackie Goepfert (May 24, 1932 - May 1, 2002)

Dave Hornstein (August 16, 1922 - September 25, 1997)

Jesse Mair (January 9, 1919 - June 19, 2003)

Cliff Maunder (June 6, 1920 - March 9, 2006)

Fran McGrath (November 29, 1926 - September 21, 2014)

Charlie Prosser (July 15, 1916 - August 5, 1961)

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

Johnny Shadle (December 26, 1919 - May 4, 1999)

Andy Siket (December 29, 1918 - September 19, 1995)

Johnny Simmons (July 7, 1924 - August 1, 2008)

Andy Skvoretz (October 29, 1924 - July 12, 1988)

Kermit Smith (February 2, 1926 - August 23, 2005)

Red Wallace (July 12, 1918 - July 7, 1977)

Jack Watson (November 6, 1918 - August 2, 1974)