Sunday, April 19, 2026

1948-49 Martinsburg Legionnaires (ESABL)

1948-49 MARTINSBURG LEGIONNAIRES 
EASTERN STATES AMATEUR BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Northern Division
1-12 .077, 7th place
(2-12 after adding a forfeit after season finished)

Martinsburg team never managed to put anything together, only winning a single game on the court all year.

Head Coach:

PLAYERS:

Dyke Aston (April 5, 1925- April 15, 1991)
David Fowler (December 1, 1929 - May 15, 1990)
Len Frick/Flick/Fick 
Gerald Gano (September 3, 1927 - March 3, 2014)
Jim Heflin 
Glenn Kline (November 13, 1925 - May 9, 1996)
R Kline 
Charlie Manor (September 20, 1929 - December 14, 2021)
Ralph Morris 
Sonny Shober 
Paul Thompson (September 23, 1927 - February 19, 2005)
Frank Walper (February 12, 1923 - April 10, 2005)

Wednesday, April 8, 2026

1948-49 Letterkenny / Scotland Generals (ESABL)

1948-49 LETTERKENNY / SCOTLAND GENERALS
Ray Schellhase
EASTERN STATES AMATEUR BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Northern Division
5-9 .357, T-5th place

The Letterkenny team was comprised of military personnel from the supply and training depot in town. They never really were a threat, finishing in a tie for fifth place.  Slim Sommerville averaged over 16 points a game as the club's high scorer.

Head Coach:

  • Ray Schellhase (February 16, 1925 - November 12, 2012)
Dick Booz

PLAYERS:

Dick Booz (July 7, 1927 - June 28, 2009)
Elman Brindle (July 4, 1925 - April 27, 2016)
Merle Etter (October 16, 1924 - August 16, 1990)
Bob Fahnestock (December 31, 1927 - August 24, 2016)
Charles Fleming (December 13, 1926 - December 21, 2021)
Mearns Fuller (September 4, 1921 - January 13, 2017)
Tom Geiman (January 21, 1927 - March 27, 2010)
Bill Gipe (June 23, 1923 - December 24, 2010)
Wayne Hartman (March 8, 1925 - December 31, 1997)
Turk Keltner (October 18, 1924 -  March 10, 1988)
Bob Fahnestock
Don Rook (November 16, 1921 - June 12, 2023)
Slim Sommerville (July 2, 1929 - January 7, 2009)
G. Steve Waltz (July 12, 1920 - October 20, 2009)
Clinton Watson (November 23, 1921 - October 4, 1983)
Parker Watson (January 27, 1927 - July 8, 1986)
Jack Young (December 22, 1926 - April 11, 2018)

Bill Gipe

Steve Waltz

Elman Brindle

Merle Etter










Slim Sommerville






Jack Young

Tom Geiman



Charles Fleming


Wayne Hartman

Tuesday, April 7, 2026

1948-49 Harrisburg Modern Army and Navy (ESABL)

1948-49 HARRISBURG MODERN ARMY AND NAVY
EASTERN STATES AMATEUR BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Northern Division
9-5 .643, 3rd place

Playing out of a military installation, the Harrisburg team, comprised largely with servicemen, got off to a hot start, wining six out of their first seven games. However, when the calendar turned to February, the team hit a lump, losing three straight and with a loss in their closing contest, missed a shot at the playoffs.

Head Coach:
  • Joe Mulligan (October 23, 1912 - September 25, 1989)   Also played. See below

PLAYERS:

Dave Conrad (March 10, 1929 - January 1, 2017)
Danny Ernst (b. November 22, 1922)
Harry Hafer (May 27, 1925 - November 5, 1988)
Al Hench 
Clarence Hummel (April 1, 1925 - May 3, 2004)
Dave McWhite (November 6, 1919 - December 8, 1997)
Joe Mulligan (October 23, 1912 - September 25, 1989) 
Bob Nicholson (August 17, 1928 - January 18, 1994)
Newman Silks (October 21, 1927 - January 24, 2014)
Frank Towe (March 9, 1922 - April 23, 1994)
Marvin Walter  (June 4, 1927 - September 17, 2024)
Charles Weller 

Charles Weller

Marvin Walter

Dave Conrad


Saturday, March 7, 2026

1948-49 Hanover A.A. (ESABL)

1948-49 HANOVER A.A.
EASTERN STATES AMATEUR BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Northern Division
5-9, .353, T-5th place

Mert Becker and Howard Trite were the high scorers for the Hanover Athletic Association, but with the exception of a 4-1 stretch in mid-season, they failed to make a real dent in the league. 

Head Coach:
  • Ray Gray (May 13, 1901 - September 11, 1974)
PLAYERS:

Ken Baublitz (October 3. 1927 - January 11, 2011)
Berl Biddle
Mert Becker (June 12, 1926 - September 6, 2011)
Berl Biddle (October 9, 1928 - December 6, 2006)
Chick Czyzewicz (October 12, 1924 - January 14, 2001)
Bill Fuhrman (October 2, 1921 - August 25, 1986)
Dave LeFevre (February 11, 1930 - January 7, 1996)
Karl Meyers (July 18, 1915 - March 25, 1984)
Frankie Noonan (January 2, 1922 - July 18, 1995)
Dick Reese (September 28, 1930 - July 8, 2016)
Bill Seibert (February 12, 1925 - May 18, 2018)
L.B. Sheppard (July 22, 1922 - June 15, 1949)
Bob Stonesifer (January 26, 1930 - December 8, 2014)
Jack Stonesifer (b. April 15, 1929)
Phil Stonesifer (June 1, 1931 - February 6, 2013
Howard Trite (May 27, 1927 - September 26, 2019)
Dave LeFevre
Red Weaver (August 25, 1929 - July 26, 1970)

Karl Meyers

Bill Fuhrman

Chick Czyzewicz

Jack Stonesifer

Phil Stonesifer


Friday, February 20, 2026

1948-49 Hagerstown Fairchild Aircraft Packets (ESABL)

1948-49 HAGERSTOWN FAIRCHILD AIRCRAFT PACKETS
EASTERN STATES AMATEUR BASKETBALL LEAGUE

Southern Division
8-5, .538, T-1st place
Stewart C. Paxton
(7-6, .538 before game reversals) 
Divisional playoff - Defeated Frederick, 63-57
Championship - Lost to Chambersburg, 3-0


The Fairchild Aircraft squad appeared to be the class of the Southern Division, winning their first five game. However, their fortunes changed quickly, slumping to the end by going 2-6 in their last 8. (One game vs Alexandria would be reversed in their favor, and they would finished tied for first place. They defeated Frederick in a one-game playoff to earn a spot in the finals. They would get swept by Chambersburg rather decidedly.

Head Coach:
  • Stewart Paxton (November 18, 1905 - May 25, 1979)
PLAYERS:

Vic Barnhart (September 1, 1922- April 13, 2017)
Jim Brode (June 6, 1923 - December 17, 1997)
Bob Carey (July 5, 1927 - March 2, 1992)
Art Deems (December 31, 1922 - April 16, 2012)
Jack Forsythe (March 14, 1930 - March 19, 2011)
Sam Hankey (May 7, 1923 - July 31, 2019)
Bud Hoffman (December 25, 1923 - March 2, 1997)
Paul Holmes (May 7, 1921 - November 23, 1950)
Chub Keller (June 19, 1917 - November 28, 1991)
Max Kendall (November 4, 1920 - June 12, 2008)
Eugene Marlowe (January 3, 1923 - January 17, 1994)
Peck Martin (July 23, 1927 - June 15, 2007)
Joe Palkovitz (May 9, 1926 - August 20, 2019)
Reno Powell (July 14, 1921 - August 16, 2002)

Monday, February 16, 2026

1948-49 Greencastle VFW (ESABL)

1948-49 GREENCASTLE VFW
EASTERN STATES AMATEUR BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Southern Division
7-6, .538, T-4th place


Largely made up of players from a military supply depot, Greencastle was looking like as contender after wining seven of their first 10, but a three-game losing streak to close the campaign knocked them out of the running.

Head Coach:

  

PLAYERS:

Bill Baer (January 1, 1928 - May 6, 1981)
Wib Bear (March 17, 1925 - October 5, 2008)
Bill or Bobby Grove  
Hoffman  
Shad Hunt (January 9, 1926 - January 22, 1997)
Henry Keller (February 14, 1930 - February 6, 2011)
Toby McDonald (February 16, 1931 - April 7, 2009)
Brad Myers (b. February 14, 1930)
Dizzy Overcash (January 1, 1922 - July 19, 1983)
Parr 
Bill Peck (December 19, 1928 - June 26, 1998)
Sonny Rowe (December 20, 1928 - September 28, 2012)
Mark Sellers (November 12, 1930 - March 15, 2010)
Frank Shinham (September 29, 1925 - June 9. 1991)
Smith 
Sower  
Gerald Warren (June 17, 1928 - November 19, 2010)
Putters Zimmerman (April 11, 1927 - May 12, 2013)



Sunday, February 15, 2026

1948-49 Frederick Moose (ESABL)

1948-49 FREDERICK MOOSE
EASTERN STATES AMATEUR BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Southern Division
8-5, .615, T-1st place
Divisional playoff - Lost to Hagerstown, 63-57

Paced by minor league baseball star Slugger Rice, the Frederick Moose were a strong club that would finish in a tie with Hagerstown for the Southern Division title. In a one-game playoff, the Mosse would fall to Hagerstown to end their season.

Head Coach:
  • Ed Albaugh  
PLAYERS:

Bill Bruchey (September 15, 1918 - December 1, 1994)
Pete Demchak (December 22, 1919 - May 1, 1979)
Deacon Dutrow (July 6, 1920 - January 7, 1988)
Nield Gordon (November 17, 1930 - May 2, 2022)
Bud Hoffman (December 25, 1923 - March 2, 1997)
Luke Murray (July 10, 1917 - April 27, 1996)
Slugger Rice (September 6, 1917 - June 8, 1979)
Jim Sparks (March 14, 1922 - September 4, 1995)
Dick Vaughan (January 8, 1928 - December 11, 2009)