Mike Yelovich

Michael Sebastian Yelovich


Born:
October 7, 1931
Simpson, PA

Died:
July 22, 2002
Mifflin County, PA


Career

1948-49 Fell Township High School - Pennsylvania  (High School)

1951-52 Simpson Monarchs - Pennsylvania (Independent)
1951-52 Carbondale Aces (ABL)

At first wasn't sure on his identity. He was listed as Yellis and Yello.  But when I identified Carbondale player Nick Kitik, I saw that he played high school ball with a Mike Yelovich and then played on various independent and semi-pro teams together. And since coach Red Wallace used them both on numerous occasions, it seems logical that Mike Yelovich is the mystery "Yellis."

A graduate from Fell Township HS, Yelovich went to Lock Haven State and got his Masters in Education at Penn State. He was a teacher for many years.

Mike and his wife had a son and four daughters.

There IS a possibility that it could be Mike's brother Joe, who was also a prominent area athlete, but Mike seems a better fit.

Source:


Stats:

Tom Whipple

Thomas Nathaniel Whipple, Jr.


Born:
December 11, 1927
Central Falls, RI

Died:
December 12, 2002
Lincoln, RI


Career
1950-51 Meriden Sons of Italy (EBL-Ct)
1950-51 Manchester Nassiff Arms (EBL-Ct)
1951-52 Manchester British Americans (ABL)
1952-53 Pawtucket Slaters (ABL)


Pretty sure I have the right man.

Source:


Stats:

Charley or Frank Wexler

Charles or Frank Wexler


Born:



Died:




Career
1945-46 Eighth Avenue Temple - Brooklyn (Independent)
1951-52 Middletown Guards (ABL)

Not many leads here. Not even sure about his first name.

Source:


Stats:

Joe Tubiolo

Giusto L. "Joseph" Tubiolo


Born:
May 18, 1927
Rochester, NY

Died:
April 23, 2012
Maryland


Career
1950-51 University of Toledo (College)
1951-52 Monroe Collegians - New York (Independent)
1951-52 Elmira Colonels (ABL)

A graduate of the University of Toledo, Tubiolo played for the Elmira Colonels in the ABL in the 1951-52 season. He worked for a a few years as a grammar school teacher. He would go on to manage exhibition baseball tours and was also involve in setting up college football bowls games. He was a masterful promoter, and was an agent of sorts for college football players going into the draft, working with his own company, CIMCO, out of Washington, D.C. Sports leagues were hesitant to working with Tubiolo, likening his company to a players' union. He was one of the sports world's earliest agents, although he disliked that classification.

Joe married Virginia Ridgeway in 1953 and they had one son and three daughters.

Source:


Stats:

Earl Sykes

Earl Sykes


Born:



Died:




Career
1949-50 Howard College - Washington, DC (College)
1950-51 Howard College - Washington, DC (College)
1951-52 Saratoga / Schenectady Harlem Yankees (ABL)

Not much to be found. Another source says his name is Gene Sykes. Boxscore of Howard game in Feb 4, 1950, issue of the Baltimore Sun says his name is Earl. Whether it be Earl, Gene or Eugene, I cannot find this guy.

Source:


Stats:

Dick Suprunowicz

Richard Suprunowicz


Born:
December 21, 1927
Schenectady, NY

Died:
March 19, 2019
Schenectady, NY


Career
1944-45 Mont Pleasant High School - New York (High School)
1945-46 Mont Pleasant High School - New York (High School)
1946-47 Mont Pleasant High School - New York (High School)
1948-49 Syracuse University (College)
1949-50 Syracuse University (College)
1950-51 Syracuse University (College)
1951-52 Elmira Colonels (ABL)

Born to Makary and Ida Suprunowicz, Dick graduated from Mont Pleasant High School and got a scholarship to Syracuse. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served during the Korean War. He played one game for the Elmira Colonels of the ABL, and worked for many years as a math teacher and assistant principal. He also coached the basketball team (as well as gold, bowling and tennis) for six years at Mont Pleasant High School before moving on to Linton high school where he taught math and eventually became the assistant principal.

His brother, Makary, played at the University of Michigan and later for the Denver Refiners in the NPBL. His younger brother, Walt, played basketball at Holy Cross. His son, Bill, played for Syracuse University in the 1970's.

Dick married Lorraine MIller in 1951 and they had a son and a daughter.

Source:
Orange Hoops
Daily Gazette, December 23, 2014
https://www.timesunion.com/tuplus-sports/article/Hall-to-induct-14-new-greats-6217939.php
Daily Gazette, March 22, 2019

Stats:

Mort Stagoff

Morton M. Stagoff


Born:
February 18, 1926


Died:
February 20, 2011
Somers, NY


Career
New Utrecht High School - Brooklyn (High School)
1943-44 Long Island University (College)
1946-47 Boston College (College)
1947-48 Boston College (College)
1948-49 Boston College (College)
1949-50 Boston College (College)
1950-51 Union Temple - Brooklyn (Independent)
1951-52 Middletown Guards (ABL)

From Brooklyn, Stagoff graduated from New Utrechet and headed to LIU. He entered the U.S. Navy for World War 2 after his freshman year, and after his military service, he went to Boston College. He would play briefly with the Middletown Guards in the ABL.

Mort and his wife, Joan, had two daughters.

Source:


Stats:

Tom Souran

Thomas C. Souran


Born:
June 3, 1928
New York, NY

Died:
May 29, 2005
Little Falls, NJ


Career
1945-46 Straubenmuller Textile High School - New York City (High School)
1947-48 Long Beach Elks - California (Independent)
1950-51 NYU (College) ??
1951-52 Middletown Guards (ABL)

Tom served in the U.S. Navy after high school, which is what gets him to California to play with the Elks in Long Beach.

Tom and his wife had two daughters.

Source:


Stats:

Arnold Smith

Arnold Smith


Born:
1930


 :




Career
1946-47 James Madison High School - New York City (High School)
1947-48 James Madison High School - New York City (High School)
1949-50 CCNY (College)
1950-51 CCNY (College)
1951-52 CCNY (College)
1951-52 Middletown Guards (ABL)

Smith was at CCNY as the school was involved in the point-shaving scandal that rocked the sport in the early 50's. Arnold was not free of controversy, himself. Although not involved in point shaving, he was booted from the team in December of 1951 when it was discovered that his admission records had been altered. Smith then joined the Guards when they took Carbondale's place in the ABL. He scored six points in his only appearance with Middletown on January 27, 1952. He was drafted by the Rochester Royals in the 1952 NBA Draft, but never suited up with the club.

Source:


Stats:

Don Slattery

Donald Lawrence Slattery


Born:
November 25, 1932
New York, NY

Died:
July 17, 2004
Hempstead, NY


Career
1948-49 John Adams High School - New York City (High School)
1949-50 John Adams High School - New York City (High School)
1950-51 John Adams High School - New York City (High School)
1951-52 Washington Capitols (ABL)

A star at John Adams, Slattery found his high school basketball end abruptly when the coaching staff at Adams HS walked off the job before the end of his senior year. Slattery had been offered scholarships to various colleges (St John's, Ohio State, Bowling Green, Annapolis), but they were all rescinded when his grades dropped during his senior year. In September of 1951, he was dealt more bad luck when his father, Michael, died suddenly. Unable to play college ball, he was approached to play professionally with the Washingon Capitols in December of 1951. He played in three games and the team disbanded shortly thereafter. He joined the New Jersey Americans, an independent club featuring Alex Groza and Gerry Calabrese, but the club disbanded before play. In 1952, he got called in to tryout for the New York Knicks, but was one of the last cuts prior to the 1952-53 season. He would stay in sports as a referee and an umpire (he was even a umpire in Major League Baseball when the regular umpires went on strike and replacement (i.e. scab) umpires were brought in. He worked as a bartender and a host at the Richmond Inn in Queens for many years, well-known for his outgoing personality.


Source:
Daily News (NY), October 12, 1979
thebaseballcube.com
ESPN Baseball Encyclopedia


Stats:

Andy Skvoretz

Andrew Charles Skvoretz

Born:
October 29, 1924
Catasauqua, PA

Died:
July 12, 1988
Allentown, PA


Career
1940-41 Catasauqua High School - Pennsylvania (High School)
1941-42 Catasauqua High School - Pennsylvania (High School)
1944-45 Lafayette College - Pennsylvania (College)
1945-46 Lafayette College - Pennsylvania (College)
1947-48 Sunbury Mercuries (EPBL)
1951-52 Carbondale Aces (ABL)

Born in Catasauqua, Pennsylvania, to Joseph and Katherine Skvoretz, Andy played basketball and football at Lafayette, serving as the basketball team captain in his senior year. He would serve in the  U.S. Army during the Korean War from 1950-51 and after the war would also play some semi-pro football in Wilkes-Barre as well as playing for the Carbondale Aces. He worked for many years as a salesman and in the last ten years of his life as a bartender at the Brass Rail in Allentown.

Andy and his wife Audrey (whom he later divorced) had two sons and a daughter.

Source:
The Morning Call, Allentown, PA, July 13, 1988

Stats:

Al Shiels

Alfred Lawrence Shiels, Jr.


Born:
August 6, 1928
New York, NY ??

Died:
May 19, 2005
Yonkers, NY


Career
1944-45 Regis High School - New York City (High School)
1945-46 Regis High School - New York City (High School)
1946-47 Fordham University (College)
1947-48 Fordham University (College)
1948-49 Fordham University (College)
1949-50 Fordham University (College)
1950-51 Torrington Howards (EBL-Ct)
1951-52 Saratoga / Schenectady Harlem Yankees (ABL)

From the Bronx, Shiels was a basketball star at Fordham, and after graduating he played briefly with the Harlem Yankees. He got his Masters of Law from NYU, and served as a JAG officer in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, stationed in Okohama, Japan. He returned to the states and practiced law in his own private practice in Manhattan. He died in 2005 following a lengthy illness.

Shields married Patricia Turner in 1958 and they had five children.

Source:
Obituary, The Journal News, May 22, 2005

Stats:

Roy Reardon

Roy Leonard Reardon


Born:
July 20, 1929
New York, NY

Died:
January 7, 2022



Career
1948-49 St. Francis College - New York (College)
1949-50 St. Francis College - New York (College)
1950-51 St. Francis College - New York (College)
1951-52 Scranton Miners (ABL)
1951-52 Saratoga / Schenectady Harlem Yankees (ABL)

Rearson would go on to practice law. Reardon later became a partner at Simpson Thacher in New York City.


Source:
https://www.nytimes.com/1993/01/03/style/weddings-patricia-m-hynes-and-roy-l-reardon.html

Stats:

Frank Pozda

Frank J. Pozda


Born:
August 2, 1929


Died:
December 8, 2019



Career
1946-47 Hanover High School - Pennsylvania (High School)
1947-48 East Stroudsberg State Teachers College (College)
1948-49 East Stroudsberg State Teachers College (College)
1949-50 East Stroudsberg State Teachers College (College)
1950-51 East Stroudsberg State Teachers College (College)
1950-51 Wilkes-Barre Barons (Independent)
1951-52 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)
1951-52 Fort Jackson (Military)

The 6'4, 185-pound Pozda joined the Barons once he finished playing at ESTC, but only appeared in non-ABL exhibition games.

Pozda tried out for the New York Knicks but failed to make the club. After playing with Wilkes-Barre, he was drafted and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.

After the war, he would work as a teacher and coach.

Source:


Stats:

Mauro Pannagio

Mauro Pannagio


Born:
January 19, 1928
Rochester, NY ??

Died:
April 11, 2018
Daytona Beach, FL


Career
1943-44 Madison High School - Rochester, NY (High School)
1944-45 Madison High School - Rochester, NY (High School)
1945-46 Madison High School - Rochester, NY (High School)
1946-47 Canisius College - New York (College)
1948-49 SUNY - Brockport (College)
1949-50 SUNY - Brockport (College)
1950-51 SUNY - Brockport (College)
1951-52 Elmira Colonels (ABL)
1956-57 Franklin High School - Rochester, NY (High School) Head coach
1957-58 Franklin High School - Rochester, NY (High School) Head coach
1958-59 Franklin High School - Rochester, NY (High School) Head coach
1959-60 Franklin High School - Rochester, NY (High School) Head coach
1960-61 Franklin High School - Rochester, NY (High School) Head coach
1961-62 East High School - Rochester, NY (High School) Head coach
1962-63 East High School - Rochester, NY (High School) Head coach
1963-64 East High School - Rochester, NY (High School) Head coach
1964-65 East High School - Rochester, NY (High School) Head coach
1965-66 East High School - Rochester, NY (High School) Head coach
1966-67 Rush-Henrietta High School - Rochester, NY (High School) Head coach
1967-68 SUNY - Brockport, New York (College) Freshmen Head coach
1968-69 SUNY - Brockport, New York (College) Head coach
1969-70 SUNY - Brockport, New York (College) Head coach
1970-71 SUNY - Brockport, New York (College) Head coach
1971-72 SUNY - Brockport, New York (College) Head coach
1972-73 SUNY - Brockport, New York (College) Head coach
1973-74 SUNY - Brockport, New York (College) Head coach
1974-75 SUNY - Brockport, New York (College) Head coach
1975-76 SUNY - Brockport, New York (College) Head coach
1976-77 SUNY - Brockport, New York (College) Head coach
1978-79 Rochester Zeniths (CBA) Head coach
1979-80 Rochester Zeniths (CBA) Head coach
1980-81 Rochester Zeniths (CBA) Head coach
1981-82 Rochester Zeniths (CBA) Head coach
1982-83 Rochester Zeniths (CBA) Head coach
1986-87 Quad City Thunder (CBA) Head coach
1987-88 Quad City Thunder (CBA) Head coach
1988-89 Quad City Thunder (CBA) Head coach
1989-90 Quad City Thunder (CBA) Head coach
1990-91 Quad City Thunder (CBA) Head coach
1991-92 Rockford Lightning (CBA) Head coach
1992-93 Rockford Lightning (CBA) Head coach
1993-94 Rockford Lightning (CBA) Head coach
1994-95 Rockford Lightning (CBA) Head coach
1995-96 Rockford Lightning (CBA) Head coach

Pannagio was raised in Rochester and after a year at Canisius, he transferred to SUNY College in Brockport where he lead the basketball team in scoring in each of his three years. After graduating, he played for a season with the Elmira Colonels in the ABL. He coached high school basketball for over a decade, winning various city titles along the way. He returned to Brockport in 1967, first as a freshmen basketball head coach and football assistant coach before taking the reigns of the varsity hoop squad in 1968. Mauro put together a 166-79 record in his nine seasons there, with two appearances in the Division 3 Final Four. He would coach for many years in the CBA, becoming the league's winningest coach.

Mauro died in April of 2018, not a month after his wife, Rita, passed away. They had six children. His son, Dan, was also a coach in the CBA, and when the two faced off against each other in 1992, it made national news.





Source:
Obituary, Democrat and Chronicle, April 11, 2018
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauro_Panaggio
https://www.lohmanfuneralhomes.com/obituary/mauro-panaggio
https://qconline.com/sports/mauro-panaggio-lived-full-hoops-life/article_88391e73-e5a1-5c56-89db-33c0d1654926.html

Stats:

Al Palmieri

Albert George Palmieri


Born:
September 7, 1922
New Bedford, MA

Died:
April 1, 2008
New Bedford, MA


Career
1938-39 New Bedford High School - Massachusetts (High School)
1939-40 New Bedford High School - Massachusetts (High School)
1946-47 Rhode Island College (College)
1947-48 Rhode Island College (College)
1948-49 Rhode Island College (College)
1949-50 Groveton High School - New Hampshire (High School) Head coach
1949-50 Manchester Nassiff Arms (EBL-Ct)
1950-51 Groveton High School - New Hampshire (High School) Head coach
1951-52 Manchester British Americans (ABL)
1951-52 Roosevelt Junior High - New Bedford (Middle School) Head coach
1952-53 Roosevelt Junior High - New Bedford (Middle School) Head coach
1953-54 New Bedford High School - Massachusetts (High School) Assistant coach
1954-55 New Bedford High School - Massachusetts (High School) Assistant coach
1955-56 New Bedford High School - Massachusetts (High School) Assistant coach
1956-57 New Bedford High School - Massachusetts (High School) Assistant coach
1957-58 New Bedford High School - Massachusetts (High School) Assistant coach 
1958-59 New Bedford Vocational - Massachusetts (High School) Head coach
1959-60 New Bedford Vocational - Massachusetts (High School) Head coach
1960-61 Dartmouth High School -  Massachusetts (High School) Head coach
1961-62 Dartmouth High School -  Massachusetts (High School) Head coach
1962-63 Dartmouth High School -  Massachusetts (High School) Head coach 
1963-64 Dartmouth High School -  Massachusetts (High School) Head coach
1964-65 Dartmouth High School -  Massachusetts (High School) Head coach 
1965-66 Dartmouth High School -  Massachusetts (High School) Head coach
1966-67 Dartmouth High School -  Massachusetts (High School) Head coach 
1967-68 Dartmouth High School -  Massachusetts (High School) Head coach
1968-69 Dartmouth High School -  Massachusetts (High School) Head coach  

Palmieri was a star athlete from New Bedford, Massachusetts, starring in high school in baseball, basketball and football. After high school, he entered the U.S. Army, serving in World War 2 as one of General Patton's bodyguards. After the war, he enrolled at Rhode Island College (now URI) and was a key member of coach Frank Keaney's teams that went as far as the NIT title game in 1947. After graduating, he began teaching and coaching in Groveton, New Hampshire before returning home in 1951. He would play basketball for the Manchester BA's in the 1951-52 season, and stayed at Roosevelt JHS before moving up to New Bedford High, teaching as well as being an assistant coach on the basketball team. He eventually was hired as New Bedford Vocational's basketball coach, and a couple years later landed at Dartmouth HS, where he coached for nine seasons before stepping aside. He was hired as athletic director at Wareham High School and moved to Bristol-Plymouth Regional Vocational in 1972, where he would also teach physical education. A natural athlete, Palmieri was also an avid golfer and very popular in many circles in New Bedford.

He and his wife, Gertrude, had one son and one daughter.

Source:
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/article/20080402/SPORTS/804020351
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/article/19990325/news/303259951

Stats:

Johnny O'Boyle

John William O'Boyle


Born:
March 7, 1928
New York, NY

Died:
March 30, 1984
Porterville, CA


Career
1949-50 Colorado A&M College (College)
1950-51 Colorado A&M College (College)
1950-51 Poudre Valley Creamery - Fort Collins, CO (Independent)
1951-52 Washington Capitols (ABL)
1951-52 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)
1952-53 Milwaukee Hawks (NBA)

1953-54 Hazleton Mountaineers (EPBL)
1958-59 Long Island University (College) Freshmen - Head coach
1963-64 Stockton High School - Illinois (High School) Head coach
1964-65 Stockton High School - Illinois (High School) Head coach

From Brooklyn, O'Boyle went to college at Colorado A&M (now Colorado State University). While out there, he also competed in the AAU tournament. He returned back east after school, signing with the Washington Capitols. He was sold to Wilkes-Barre on December 17, 1951. Next season, he played a brief stint with the Milwaukee Hawks in the NBA, playing in 5 games.



Source:


Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/oboyljo01.html

George Moore

George Phillip Moore


Born:
June 15, 1927
New York, NY

Died:
February 16, 2015
New Jersey


Career
DeWitt Clinton High School - New York City (High School)
1948-49 Lincoln University (College)
1949-50 Lincoln University (College)
1950-51 Lincoln University (College)
1951-52 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1951-52 Saratoga / Schenectady Harlem Yankees (ABL)

After starring on the basketball court at Lincoln University, the 5'11 Moore played for the Globetrotters and for the Harlem Yankees. He went on to work in law enforcement, working for the FBI, DOJ and NYPD.


Source:
http://amsterdamnews.com/news/2015/feb/26/harlem-legend-georgie-moore-takes-his-game-playgro/

Stats:

Tom McLaughlin

Thomas Vincent "Hooks"  McLaughlin


Born:
August 14, 1926
Wilkes-Barre, PA

Died:
August 27, 1998
Philadelphia, PA


Career
1943-44 St. Mary's High School - Wilkes-Barre, PA (High School)
1946-47 King's College - Wilkes-Barre, PA (College)
1947-48 King's College - Wilkes-Barre, PA (College)
1948-49 King's College - Wilkes-Barre, PA (College)
1949-50 King's College - Wilkes-Barre, PA (College)
1950-51 Ashley Fleetwings (PSL)
1951-52 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)

1951-52 Williamsport Billies (EPBL)

Born to Patrick and Helen McLaughlin, the 6'3 Tom went 53 consecutive games scoring double-digit points, a remarkable record at King's College. He played for the Wilkes-Barre Barons in the 1951-52 season before taking work with the Commercial Credit Company in Trenton, New Jersey. 

Source:
Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, Evening Edition, November 28, 1952

Stats:

Bob McGrane

Robert Paul McGrane


Born:
September 28, 1929
Wilkes-Barre, PA

Died:
October 6, 1967
Latham, NY


Career
1943-44 Meyers High School - Wilkes-Barre, PA (High School)
1944-45 Meyers High School - Wilkes-Barre, PA (High School)
1945-46 Meyers High School - Wilkes-Barre, PA (High School)
1950-51 King's College - Wilkes-Barre, PA (College)
1951-52 Carbondale Aces (ABL)

1952-53 Wilkes-Barre Aces (EPBL)
1953-54 King's College - Wilkes-Barre, PA (College) Head coach
1954-55 King's College - Wilkes-Barre, PA (College) Head coach
1955-56 King's College - Wilkes-Barre, PA (College) Head coach
1956-57 King's College - Wilkes-Barre, PA (College) Head coach
1957-58 King's College - Wilkes-Barre, PA (College) Head coach
1958-59 King's College - Wilkes-Barre, PA (College) Head coach
1959-60 King's College - Wilkes-Barre, PA (College) Head coach
1960-61 King's College - Wilkes-Barre, PA (College) Head coach
1961-62 King's College - Wilkes-Barre, PA (College) Head coach
1962-63 King's College - Wilkes-Barre, PA (College) Head coach
1963-64 King's College - Wilkes-Barre, PA (College) Head coach
1964-65 King's College - Wilkes-Barre, PA (College) Head coach
1965-66 King's College - Wilkes-Barre, PA (College) Head coach
1966-67 King's College - Wilkes-Barre, PA (College) Head coach

McGrane, a native and popular figure in Wilkes-Barre, enjoyed a long career in his hometown. A basketball star in high school, McGrane would go on to King's College, a private liberal arts school, where he made a name for himself on the court. He ventured to play with the Carbondale Aces of the ABL for one game, and went to work for Western Electric. He got a Master's Degree from the University of Scranton and was hired as the head basketball coach back at King's College. He would eventually become athletic director in 1963.

On the eve of his fifteenth year at the helm of the Monarchs, McGrane accompanied King's College's golf, tennis, bowling and cross-country teams to a large conference tournament at Siena College in Loudenville, New York. While there, McGrane hanged himself in his room at the Thunderbird Hotel in Latham, New York. Near as I can tell, no motive or reason was ever made public. He was 38.

McGrane married Mary Ann McManus and they had four sons and three daughters.

Source:
Wilkes-Barre Times Leader: Evening News, October 6, 1967

Stats:

John Mazziotta

John B. Mazziotta


Born:
May 15, 1930
New York, NY

Died:
October 11, 2011
Ridgewood, NJ


Career
1945-46 All Hallows Catholic High School - NYC (High School)
1946-47 All Hallows Catholic High School - NYC (High School)
1947-48 Georgetown University (College)
1948-49 Georgetown University (College)
1949-50 Georgetown University (College)
1951-52 Saratoga / Schenectady Harlem Yankees (ABL)
1951-52 Manchester British Americans (ABL)
1952-53 Manchester British Americans (ABL)
1958-59 Bergen Catholic High School - Oradell, NJ (High School) Head coach
1959-60 Bergen Catholic High School - Oradell, NJ (High School) Head coach
1960-61 Bergen Catholic High School - Oradell, NJ (High School) Head coach
1961-62 Bergen Catholic High School - Oradell, NJ (High School) Head coach
1962-63 Bergen Catholic High School - Oradell, NJ (High School) Head coach
1963-64 Bergen Catholic High School - Oradell, NJ (High School) Head coach
1964-65 Bergen Catholic High School - Oradell, NJ (High School) Head coach
1965-66 Bergen Catholic High School - Oradell, NJ (High School) Head coach
1966-67 Teaneck High School - New Jersey (High School) Head coach
1967-68 Teaneck High School - New Jersey (High School) Head coach
1968-69 Teaneck High School - New Jersey (High School) Head coach
1969-70 Teaneck High School - New Jersey (High School) Head coach
1970-71 Teaneck High School - New Jersey (High School) Head coach
1971-72 Teaneck High School - New Jersey (High School) Head coach
1972-73 Teaneck High School - New Jersey (High School) Head coach
1973-74 Teaneck High School - New Jersey (High School) Head coach
1974-75 Teaneck High School - New Jersey (High School) Head coach
1975-76 Teaneck High School - New Jersey (High School) Head coach
1976-77 Teaneck High School - New Jersey (High School) Head coach
1977-78 Teaneck High School - New Jersey (High School) Head coach
1978-79 Teaneck High School - New Jersey (High School) Head coach
1979-80 Teaneck High School - New Jersey (High School) Head coach
1980-81 Teaneck High School - New Jersey (High School) Head coach
1981-82 Teaneck High School - New Jersey (High School) Head coach
1982-83 Teaneck High School - New Jersey (High School) Head coach
1983-84 Teaneck High School - New Jersey (High School) Head coach
1984-85 Teaneck High School - New Jersey (High School) Head coach
1985-86 Teaneck High School - New Jersey (High School) Head coach
1986-87 Teaneck High School - New Jersey (High School) Head coach
1987-88 Teaneck High School - New Jersey (High School) Head coach
1988-89 Teaneck High School - New Jersey (High School) Head coach
1989-90 Teaneck High School - New Jersey (High School) Head coach
1990-91 Teaneck High School - New Jersey (High School) Head coach
1991-92 Teaneck High School - New Jersey (High School) Head coach


Mazziotta went to Georgetown and played basketball there but was forced to leave school folowing the death of his father. He would play a couple of seasons in the ABL while finishing his schooling at Iona. John would go on to get a Masters Degree in History from Columbia before going on to teach and coach for many years. He was one of the winningest coaches in New Jersey state history at the time of his retirement.

John died in 2011 from injuries suffered in a fall at home.


He married Marjory in 1963 and had two daughters, Cassie (1964-2010) and Hannah, and one son.

Source:
Obituary, Record / Herald News, October 13-14, 2011
Obituary, The Record, October 14, 2011

Stats:

Bill Massa

William D. "Hank" Massa


Born:
July 28, 1925
NY

Died:
May 19, 2015
Huntington Station, NY


Career
1947-48 New Britain State Teachers College (College)
1948-49 New Britain State Teachers College (College)
1949-50 New Britain State Teachers College (College)
1950-51 Bristol Tramps (EBL-Ct)
1950-51 Torrington Howards (EBL-Ct) 
1951-52 Manchester British Americans (ABL)
1954-55 Torrington Howards (CSL)

Massa, from Corona, Queens, went into the U.S. Navy after graduating from high school to serve at the end of World War 2. The 6'4 Massa played basketball at State Teachers College in New Britain, Connecticut (now Central Connecticut State University) and played a few seasons of basketball in the American League and the Eastern Professional League in Connecticut. He went on to teach in the Hicksville Public School System.

Bill married Patricia in 1965. He had one son and two daughters.



Source:
https://maconnellfuneralhome.com/tribute/details/3627/William-Massa/condolences.html#content-start

Stats:

Joe Majikes

Joseph S. Majikes


Born:
July 14, 1929
Wilkes-Barre, PA

Died:
March 22, 2007
Kingston, PA


Career
1947-48 Scotland School - Wilkes-Barre (High School)
1949-50 Wilkes-Barre Meat Cutters - (Independent) 

1951-52 Williamsport Billies (EPBL)  
1951-52 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)
1959-60 Shaker's Bowling Supplies - Wilkes-Barre (Independent)
1960-61 Ashley AAA - Wilkes-Barre (Independent)

Majikes, a Wilkes-Barre native, was an athlete who played minor league baseball as well as putting in some time on the hardwood with the ABL's Wilkes-Barre Barons. Fresh out of high school, he signed with the Philadelphia Athletics of baseball's American League. The 18-year old righthanded pitcher was assigned to Federalsburg in the Eastern Shore League, a Class-D farm minor league. After compiling a record of 3-7 in 15 appearances in 1948, he was let go by the Athletics and caught on with the independent Nazareth club in the North Atlantic League. He got hit pretty hard on a regular basis, losing all 12 of his decisions with a 7.46 ERA before being released. He returned to Wilkes-Barre where he played some semi-pro baseball. He signed on with the Barons and started the 1951-52 season there, but was released 5 games into the season. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and would later become a policeman in Wilkes-Barre, dying there in 2007.

Minor League Baseball Stats:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=majike001jos

Source:
Obituary, Citizens Voice, March 24, 2007
Times-Leader (Wilkes-Barre, PA), March 24, 2007

Stats:

Paul Lynner

Paul Kristian Lynner


Born:
September 23, 1927
Floral Park, NY

Died:
June 11, 2009
Vero Beach, FL


Career
1947-48 Rutgers University (College)
1948-49 Rutgers University (College)
1949-50 Rutgers University (College)
1951-52 Middletown Guards (ABL)
Wheatley High School - Old Westbury, NY (High School) Head coach

After graduating from Rutgers with a degree in physical education, Lynner would go n to teach and coach for many years. He was an excellent tennis player, Lynner was regularly ranked on 1 in amateur singles tennis in the Eastern Division in the USTA, and as a senior was the top-ranked tennis player in Florida at age 65 and 70.

He married Claire and they had three daughters and one son.

Source:
Obituary, TC Palm, June 13, 2009

Stats:

Larry Lohneiss

Lawrence William Lohneiss, Jr.


Born:
January 1, 1930
Middletown, CT

Died:
September 27, 1988
Middletown, CT


Career
1945-46 Middletown High School - Connecticut (High School)
1946-47 Middletown High School - Connecticut (High School)
1947-48 Middletown High School - Connecticut (High School)
1951-52 Middletown Guards (ABL)

Lohneiss was a local sports legend in Middletown, playing football, baseball and basketball in high school before playing semi-pro football and basketball around Connecticut. Born to Lawrence and Elsie Lohneiss, Larry would play with the Middletown Guards in the ABL when the Carbondale franchise was transferred there in the 1951-52 season. He would work for 12 years in the Middletown Police Department and later was a business manager for Local 611 of the International Union of North America in Hartford.

Larry married Angelina Napolitano and the had three sons and four daughters.

Source:
Hartford Courant, September 29, 1988

Stats:

Frank Lewis

Frank N. Lewis


Born:
January 1, 1930
New York, NY

 :




Career
1949-50 Columbia University (College)
1950-51 Columbia University (College)
1951-52 Bridgeport Roesslers (ABL) 
1951-52 Carbondale Aces (ABL)

1951-52 Lancaster Rockets (EPBL)
1951-52 Middletown Guards (ABL)

After graduating from Columbia in 1951, Lewis played in the ABL while going to Columbia law school. He played one game for Bridgeport before being sent to Carbondale.He would eventually move to Arizona to practice law.

Source:
https://www.college.columbia.edu/cct/issue/spring18/article/letters-editor

Stats:

Roger Layne

Roger Harriss Layne


Born:
February 20, 1929
Seminole County, OK

Died:
June 16, 2005
Oklahoma City, OK


Career
1945-46 Stamps High School - Arkansas (High School)
1946-47 Stamps High School - Arkansas (High School)
1947-48 University of Arkansas (College) ??
1948-49 Magnolia A&M - Arkansas (College)
1949-50 University of Kentucky (College)
1950-51 University of Kentucky (College)
1951-52 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)
1952-53 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)

Born to William and Anna Layne in Oklahoma, Layne grew up in McKamie, Arkansas. After graduating from Stamps HS, he went to Magnolia A&M (now known as Southern Arkansas University) before transferring over to the University of Kentucky. After college, he played a couple season with the Wilkes-Barre Barons. After his basketball-playing days, he moved to Middlesboro, Kentucky, to work with a gas exploration company.


Source:


Stats:

Jack Laub

Jack Laub


Born:
May 9, 1926
Brighton Beach, NY

Died:
June 29, 2023
Delray Beach, FL



Career
1941-42 Abraham Lincoln High School - Brooklyn (High School)
1942-43 Abraham Lincoln High School - Brooklyn (High School)
1943-44 CCNY (College)
1944-45 CCNY (College)
1946-47 University of Cincinnati (College)
1947-48 University of Cincinnati (College)
1948-49 University of Cincinnati (College)
1949-50 University of Cincinnati (College)
1950-51 University of Cincinnati (College) Assistant coach
1951-52 Scranton Miners (ABL)
1952-53 Pawtucket Slaters (ABL)
1959-60 U.S. King's Point Merchant Marine Academy (Military) Head coach

Laub graduated from Lincoln HS and enrolled at CCNY. After two seasons in school, he enlisted in the U.S. Merchant Marines for the remainder of World War 2, and would eventually be moved to the U.S. Coast Guard. After the war, he saw his eligibility reset, as was the case with so many college players who served in the war. He went to the University of Cincinnati and played four years, becoming the first (and to our knowledge, the only) college athlete to compete in six seasons of one the same sport. Laub was selected in the 9th round of the 1950 NBA draft by the Baltimore Bullets. However, he did not make the team and never played in the NBA. He would played with the Scranton Miners instead in 1951-52, and with the Pawtucket Slaters in the 1952-53 swan song season of the ABL. He left basketball in 1954 to work for Pfizer, which was the beginning of a long and celebrated career in the pharmaceutical industry. He was a leader in the movement to provide generic drugs and fighting the high price for medical treatment with pharmaceuticals.

Source:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Laub

Stats:

Sam Lackaye

Samuel William Lackaye


Born:
December 8, 1926
Orange, NJ

Died:
August 25, 2010
Summit, NJ


Career
1946-47 Hillenbach - East Orange, NJ (Independent)
1947-48 Hillenbach - East Orange, NJ (Independent)
1948-49 Seton Hall University (College)
1949-50 Seton Hall University (College)
1950-51 Seton Hall University (College)
1951-52 Elmira Colonels (ABL)

Lackaye joined the army at the tail end of World War 2, and after being discharged, headed to Seton Hall. After graduating from SHU, Lackaye played one season with the Elmira Colonels in the ABL, He moved to Summit, New Jersey, in 1957 and worked as a Claims Adjuster for Hartford Insurance Company, retiring in 1992.

Sam married Carold and they had two sons and two daughters.

Source:
Obituary, Ippolito Funeral Homes

Stats:

Joe Kubachka

Joseph Kubachka


Born:
March 21, 1924
Avella, PA

Died:
January 23, 2012
Rocky Hill, CT


Career
Avella High School - Pennsylvania (High School)
1948-49 Springfield College - Massachusetts (College)
1949-50 Springfield College - Massachusetts (College) Assistant coach
1949-50 New Britain Rios (EBL-Ct)
1950-51 Springfield College - Massachusetts (College) Assistant coach
1950-51 Hartford Hurricanes (EBL-Ct)
1951-52 Manchester British Americans (ABL)
1952-53 Manchester British Americans (ABL)
1952-53 Lenox Merchants - Connecticut (Independent)
1951-52 Hartford Public High School - Connecticut (High School) Head coach
1952-53 Hartford Public High School - Connecticut (High School) Head coach
1953-54 Hartford Public High School - Connecticut (High School) Head coach
1954-55 Hartford Public High School - Connecticut (High School) Head coach
1955-56 Hartford Public High School - Connecticut (High School) Head coach
1956-57 Hartford Public High School - Connecticut (High School) Head coach
1957-58 Hartford Public High School - Connecticut (High School) Head coach
1958-59 Hartford Public High School - Connecticut (High School) Head coach
1959-60 Hartford Public High School - Connecticut (High School) Head coach
1960-61 Hartford Public High School - Connecticut (High School) Head coach
1961-62 Hartford Public High School - Connecticut (High School) Head coach
1962-63 Hartford Public High School - Connecticut (High School) Head coach
1963-64 Hartford Public High School - Connecticut (High School) Head coach
1964-65 Hartford Public High School - Connecticut (High School) Head coach
1965-66 Hartford Public High School - Connecticut (High School) Head coach
1966-67 Hartford Capitols (EBL) Head coach

Born to John and Katherine Kubachka, Joe graduated from Avella HS and headed to Waynesburg College but joined the U.S. Army after one year to fight World War 2. He went to Springfield College after the war where he starred on the school's basketball team. After receiving his Bachelor's Degree, he stayed on at Springfield as an assistant coach for the basketball team. He also played for the  Manchester team in the American Basketball League at this time. He became a coach and teacher at Hartford HS, where he won two state titles. He also helped run summer camps with member of the Boston Celtics and coached the Hartford Capitols of the Eastern League.

He married Dorothy Dermotta in 1945 and they had three chuildren.

Source:
Hartford Courant, January 23, 2012

Stats:

Nick Kitik

Nicholas Kitik


Born:
November 30, 1931
Simpson, PA

Died:
October, 1979
Simpson, PA


Career
1947-48 Fell Township High School - Pennsylvania  (High School)

1948-49 Fell Township High School - Pennsylvania  (High School)

1951-52 Carbondale Aces (ABL)

1951-52 Simpson Monarchs - Pennsylvania (Independent)

1956-57 Archibald Rheumatics - Pennsylvania (Independent)

1957-58 Simpson Fab-Weld - Pennsylvania (Independent)

1958-59 Wilkes-Barre Barons (EBL)

A high school basketball star at Fell Township High, Kitik joined the Carbondale Aces of the ABL and played before the club disbanded. Kitik joined the United States Air Force shortly after that, serving in the Korean Conflict. After leaving the service, Kitik played basketball sparingly around the Scranton / Wilkes-Barre area while working as a welder.

Kitik drowned in Lackawanna River in 1979. He had been missing a few days and his death was determined to be accidental. He was 47 years old and left behind two daughters.

Source:


Stats:

Henry Jacocks

Henry H.S. Jacocks


Born:
January 11, 1928
New York, NY

Died:
February 25, 2003
New York, NY


Career
DeWitt High School - Brooklyn (High School)
1948-49 Harlem Yankees (NYSL)
1948-49 Torrington Howards (EBL-Ct)
1951-52 Saratoga / Schenectady Harlem Yankees (ABL)
1952-53 Philadelphia Colored Giants (Independent)



Found a photo of him in the New York Age, Oct 27, 1951. Calls him Henry H.S. Jacox and he is a product of the Harlem Boy's Club. 6'1 175

Pretty sure he is Henry Jacocks, son of Virginia, brother of Elizabeth (1917), Rudolph (1920), Louise (1922), and Catherine (1924). Virginia is from NC, others are from Virginia, Henry born in NY

Source:


Stats:

Gene Janis

Eugene Gerard Janis
born Eugene Janiszewski


Born:
May 19, 1926
Scranton, PA

Died:
February 25, 1986
Martinez, CA


Career
1947-48 La Salle University (College)
1948-49 Mount St. Mary's University - Maryland (College)
1949-50 Mount St. Mary's University - Maryland (College)
1950-51 Mount St. Mary's University - Maryland (College)
1951-52 Washington Capitols (ABL)
1954-55 Panhandle Fliers - Alaska (Independent)
1955-56 Sportland Bees - Anchorage, AK (Independent)
1957-58 Sportland Bees - Anchorage, AK (Independent)

Born in Scranton to Henry and Margaret Janiszewski, Gene enrolled at La Salle after serving in the military during World War 2, but transferred at the beginning of his sophomore school year to Mount St. Mary's. He was eventually eligible to play by the end of the 1948-49 campaign. The 6'5 center was the captain of the basketball team at MSM in his junior and senior year, and played with the Washington Capitols in 1951-52. He moved to Anchorage, Alaska, shortly thereafter, playing on a few semi-pro teams up there.

Gene married Sally Wilson (1923-1997) and they had three daughters. Gene and Sally divorced in 1974.

Source:


Stats:

Leroy Ishman

Elmer Leroy Ishman


Born:
November 30, 1926
Baxter, PA

Died:
November 29, 2008
Tampa, FL


Career
1943-44 Bradford High School - Pennsylvania (High School)
1944-45 Bradford High School - Pennsylvania (High School)
1947-48 American University - Washington, DC (College)
1948-49 American University - Washington, DC (College)
1949-50 American University - Washington, DC (College)
1950-51 American University - Washington, DC (College)
1951-52 Washington Capitols (ABL)

Ishman entered the military in 1945 to serve, but he war ended shortly after. He would go to American University where he played on the basketball team. Drafted by the Baltimore Bullets in 195 fifth round of the 1951 NBA draft.

Source:


Stats:

Harold Hunter

Harold Hunter


Born:
April 30, 1926
Kansas City, KS

Died:
March 7, 2013
Hendersonville, TN


Career
1942-43 Sumner High School - Kansas City, KS (High School)
1943-44 Sumner High School - Kansas City, KS (High School)
1946-47 North Carolina College at Durham (College)
1947-48 North Carolina College at Durham (College)
1948-49 North Carolina College at Durham (College)
1949-50 North Carolina College at Durham (College)
1950-51 Williston High School - Wilmington, NC (High School) Head coach
1951-52 Washington Capitols (ABL)
1952-53 P.S. Jones High School - Washington, NC (High School) Head coach
1953-54 P.S. Jones High School - Washington, NC (High School) Head coach
1954-55 Williston High School - Wilmington, NC (High School) Head coach
1955-56 Williston High School - Wilmington, NC (High School) Head coach
1956-57 Williston High School - Wilmington, NC (High School) Head coach
1957-58 Tennessee State University (College) Assistant coach
1958-59 Tennessee State University (College) Assistant coach
1959-60 Tennessee State University (College) Head coach 
1960-61 Tennessee State University (College) Head coach 
1961-62 Tennessee State University (College) Head coach  
1962-63 Tennessee State University (College) Head coach 
1963-64 Tennessee State University (College) Head coach  
1964-65 Tennessee State University (College) Head coach 
1965-66 Tennessee State University (College) Head coach  
1966-67 Tennessee State University (College) Head coach 
1967-68 Tennessee State University (College) Head coach  
1970-71 Vanderbilt University (College) Assistant coach 
1974-75 Xavier University - Louisiana (College) Head coach - Men's and Women's
1975-76 Xavier University - Louisiana (College) Head coach - Men's and Women's
1976-77 Xavier University - Louisiana (College) Head coach - Men's and Women's
1980-81 Dillard University -  (College) Assistant coach - Women's team
1981-82 Dillard University -  (College) Assistant coach - Women's team
1982-83 Dillard University -  (College) Assistant coach - Women's team
1983-84 Dillard University -  (College) Assistant coach - Women's team
1984-85 Dillard University -  (College) Assistant coach - Women's team
1985-86 Dillard University -  (College) Assistant coach - Women's team
Southern University - Louisiana (College) Assistant coach

Born in Kansas City, Kansas, to Claude and Alta Hunter played at the North Carolina College at Durham (now known as North Carolina Central University). In 1950 he was drafted in the 10th round of the NBA draft by the Washington Capitols. He became the first black player to sign a contract with an NBA team, but he was cut prior to the start of the season. In 1951, after the Capitols had dropped from the NBA and joined the lesser ABL, Hunter signed with the club again, playing in all 22 games before the team folded in January of 1952. In 1957, he was hired as an assistant coach for the Tennessee State basketball team, and two years later became the school's head coach He held that post for nine seasons, leading the Tigers to a 172-67 record in his tenure. 17 of his players were NBA draft picks. He left TSU to coach the U.S. National team on a pre-Olympic tour of Europe and the Soviet Union. When he was hired as an assistant coach at Vanderbilt in 1970, he became the first black member of a coaching staff in the SEC. He went on to coach at Xavier University in Louisiana, both the men's and women's teams. After Xavier, he was an assistant coach for the women's team at Dillard University and later coached at Southern University.

He and his wife, Jacqueline, had a son and a daughter.

Source:
Obituary, Hendersonville Standard, March 7, 2013
Obituary, tsutigers.com, 2013
The Tennessean, March 11, 2013
nola.com, March 2013


Stats:

Harris

Harris


Born:



Died:




Career
1951-52 Washington Capitols (ABL)

I can't find the identity of this player named "Harris" who scored three points on a New Years Day game in Manchester.

Source:


Stats:

Grasnicka

Grasnicka


Born:



Died:




Career
1951-52 Carbondale Aces (ABL)

No idea on who this is, or if the name is even spelled correctly. No record of anyone with Grasnicka or Grashnicka. There was a family the the surname Graziano in the Carbondale area around that time/ Might be worth looking into that possibility.

Source:


Stats:

John Gozdenovich

John Vincent Gozdenovich (Gvozdenovich)
aka John Goz


Born:
March 8, 1924
North Bergen, NJ

Died:
July 7, 1997
Edgewater, NJ


Career
1941-42 Cliffside Park High School - New Jersey (High School)
1944-45 Long Island University (College)
1948-49 Pottsville Packers (EPBL)
1949-50 Pottsville Packers (EPBL) 
1949-50 Reading Rangers (EPBL)

1949-50 Williamsport Billies (EPBL)
1950-51 Williamsport Billies (EPBL)
1950-51 Bristol Tramps (EBL-Ct)
1951-52 Bridgeport Roesslers (ABL)
1952-53 Elmira Colonels (ABL)
1952-53 New Jersey Titans (Independent)

Born in New Jersey to Antonio (Anthony) and Vinka Gozdenovich. A football and basketball player in high school, Goz would play a year at LIU before dropping out of school. He tried out with the Wilkes-Barre Barons in fall of 1948, but did not make the team so he signed with the Pottsville Packers. He would play basketball for a few years in the Eastern and American Leagues.

John married Rita Judge and they had at least one son.

Source:


Stats:

Kenny Goodwin

Kenneth Clark Goodwin


Born:
November 4, 1927
Somerville, MA

Died:
October 8, 2013
Dunedin, FL


Career
1946-47 University of Rhode Island (College)
1947-48 University of Rhode Island (College)
1948-49 University of Rhode Island (College)
1949-50 Manchester Nassif Arms (EBL-Ct)
1949-50 Hamilton Standard Propeller - Hartford (Independent)
1951-52 Manchester British Americans (ABL)
1952-53 Manchester British Americans (ABL)

Born in Somerville, Massachusetts to Alonzo and Anna Goodwin, Ken was a star basketball player in high school before playing at URI. After graduating, Goodwin received interest from the Boston Celtics and was assigned by them to play with the Hartford Hurricanes. However, Goodwin's lack of defensive skills lead to him being cut but by the Hurricanes prior to the start of the season.. In 1950, he entered the army and served during the Korean War. He played a couple seasons with the Manchester British Americans in the ABL, teaming up with his older brother Don for a season. While back in New England, he got his master's degree in education from Springfield College and worked for many years as a teacher, administrator and coach in Springfield, Vermont, and South Windsor, Connecticut. He left education to go into business, and retired and moved to Florida in 1990.


Ken married Sally Keleher in 1950 and they had four sons and a daughter.



Source:
Hartford Courant, November 25, 1949
Obituary, Journal Inquirer, October 22-26, 2013

Stats:

Don Goodwin

Donald M. Goodwin


Born:
June 16, 1925
East Orange, NJ

Died:
March 17, 2008
Westerly, RI


Career
1941-42 Somerville High School - Massachusetts (High School)
1942-43 Somerville High School - Massachusetts (High School)
1948-49 Tufts University - Massachusetts (College)
1949-50 Tufts University - Massachusetts (College)
1950-51 Tufts University - Massachusetts (College)
1951-52 Manchester British Americans (ABL)

The 6'4 Goodwin was born to Alonzo and Maude Goodwin in East Orange, New Jersey, and thefamily moved to Somerville, Massachusetts shortly after Don was born. He served in the military after World War 2, and enrolled at Tufts University after the war. He was selected all-New England in basketball while at Tufts and after graduating he would play basketball with the Manchester British Americans in the ABL. He would work at Rex Lumber Company in South Windsor, Connecticut, eventually being promoted to General Manager and Vice President. He retired and split his retirement between Charlestown, Rhode Island, and Long Boat Key, Florida. Goodwin died in 2008.

Don's brother Kenny also played pro basketball, teaming up with Don on the BA's.

Don married Ruth Fitzgerald and they had five sons.

Source:
Obituary, Hartford Courant, March 18, 2008

Stats: