McConnell (1937-38 Columbus - NBL) Identified

Using some new sources, I was able to figure that the player previously known just by the surname "McConnell" is most likely Bob McConnell, Dayton area athlete who played at Denison University.



Bob McConnell

Little Moose Meyer Identified

Digging deep into some old newspapers from Illinois, I found an article that references a mystery player for the NBL Kankakee team in 1937-38. It gives us the given name of a man formerly recorded only as "Little Moose" Meyer: LaVerne. An ancestry search gave me a little more direction, but it was his obituary at the Kankakee Valley Genealogical Society that give me the 100% certainty.

http://peachbasketsociety.blogspot.com/2015/08/little-moose-meyer.html

Sam Busich vs. Pete Basich

Looking through more old newspapers, I am 99% certain that the player listed as Peter Basich with the NBL's Columbus team in 1937-38 is Sam Busich, football and basketball player for Ohio State in the mid 1930's. Sam played some semi-pro basketball at this time and was likely the NBL player. Peter Basich just doesn't fit the timeline smoothly.

http://peachbasketsociety.blogspot.com/2015/08/pete-basich.html

Pete Jordan

Maurice Cammack "Pete" Jordan


Born:
July 17, 1913
Fountain City, IN

Died:
March 5, 1992
Richmond, IN


Career
1932-33 Fountain City High School (High School)
1934-35 Earlham College - Indiana (College)
1935-36 Earlham College - Indiana (College)
1937-38 Richmond King Clothiers/Cincinnati Comellos (NBL)



Jordan was a top scorer at Earlham College, and played with the Richmond Clothiers in the NBL. When the club disbanded and the franchise moved to Cincinnati, the club signed another played with the surname "Jordan" (Ken Jordan of Xavier University). I previously thought it was the same guy, but further research says otherwise.

He married Margaret Hammers in 1939 and they had one son.

Source:


Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/pete-jordan/

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:

Von Derlinde

Von Derlinde or Van der Linden or Vonder Linden


Born:



Died:




Career
(High School)
(College)
1938-39 Effert AA - Brooklyn (Independent) ?? 
1946-47 Jersey City Atoms (ABL)

Played one game.

Their was a Leonard Vonder Linden (married to Delphine Krum in 1945) from Union City, New Jersey, who served in the coast guard during World War 2. Not saying he is necessarily the player, because I have no information he was an athlete. But given his name and location, he could be related to the player and is worth digging into. His father is L. Vonder Linden and his cousin is named Russell.

Source:


Stats:

John Van Belle

John Thomas Van Belle


Born:
January 21, 1921
Philadelphia, PA

Died:
March 8, 2000
Jenkintown, PA


Career
1938-39 St. Joseph's Prep - Philadelphia (High School)
1941-42 St. Joseph's University - Philadelphia (College)
1942-43 St. Joseph's University - Philadelphia (College)
1944-45 Traux Field - Wisconsin (Military)
1946-47 Wilmington Bombers (ABL)

A graduate of St. Joe's Prep and University, he served in the military during World War 2. Van Belle played one game with the Wilmington Bombers.

He was married to Elizabeth Hatcher and they had two daughters.

Source:


Stats:

Connie Toomb

Cornelius Edward "Neil" "Connie" Toomb


Born:
September 5, 1922
New York, NY

Died:
May 15, 1987
New York, NY


Career
1938-39 Power Memorial Academy - Manhattan (High School)
1939-40 Power Memorial Academy - Manhattan (High School)
1946-47 Albany Senators (NYSL)
1946-47 Brooklyn Gothams (ABL)
1946-47 Allentown Rockets (EPBL)
1947-48 New England Hoboes (Independent)
1947-48 Vermont Vulcans (Independent)
1947-48 Glen Falls Commodores (NYSL)
1948-49 Glen Falls Commodores (NYSL)

Born to John and Frances Toomb in New York City. He enlisted in the U.S. Army at the onset of World War 2, in April of 1942.

Played one game for Brooklyn.

6'4.5 in high school, 6'7 when he suited up to play with the Gothams.

Sometimes his name is spelled Toombs


Source:


Stats:

George Syby

George Syby


Born:
November 26, 1915
Jersey City, NJ

Died:
December 27, 2000
Hackettstown, NJ


Career
Long Island University (College) ??
1945-46 Boca Raton Bombers (Military) Head coach / player
1945-46 Dayton Mickeys (Independent)
1946-47 Jersey City Atoms (ABL)
1946-47 Binghamton Triplets / Pottsville Maroons (EPBL)
1947-48 Pottsville Packers (EPBL) Head coach / player
1948-49 Brooklyn Gothams (ABL)

Born to Michael and Anastasia Syby, George served in the U.S. Army during World War 2. He played baseball and basketball while in the military. He played with Jersey City in the ABL in 1946-47 as well as Binghamton and Pottsville in the Eastern League. After a stint as a playing head coach with Pottsville in 1957-48, he joined the Brooklyn Gothams in 1948.

Source:


Stats:

Dink Irwin Identified

I was looking through the Temple media guide and was looking at their all-time roster and decided to see if I had any unidentified Temple alums on this blog. I saw Dink Irwin was still incomplete, and having been six months I gave him a new look with a fresh mindset. Knowing he was from Downington, Pennsylvania, I found a June 2017 issue of the Downington Historical Society that had a picture and indeed confirmed his given name as George (as well as a cool high school photo!) Further searching lead me to his obituary from Arizona in 1978. So now I have full birth and death dates and places.

Dink Irwin
1906-1978

Mendy Snyder

Morris "Mendy" Snyder


Born:
January 31, 1915
Philadelphia, PA

Died:
June 23, 2002
Columbus, OH?


Career
1939-40 Temple University (College)
1940-41 Temple University (College)
1941-42 Temple University (College)
1943-44 Will Rogers Air Field - Oklahoma (Independent)
1946-47 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL)
1947-48 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL)

The Temple University basketball served in World War 2, and then would play for the SPHA's for a couple season. I am pretty certain I have identified the correct Morris Snyder, but I wonder why he waited so long to enter college?

Source:


Stats: