In Memoriam: Gene Berce

Biography

Obituary


Gene Berce, Marquette's first 1,000-point scorer and professional basketball draft pick, died last Saturday (November 17, 2018) at 91, the university said.

Berce was a standout basketball player at Milwaukee Marquette High School. He initially headed to the University of Wisconsin in 1944, but the school did not guarantee him a scholarship.

He then headed to MU and head coach Bill Chandler.

“So I left Wisconsin, I was there one day, then we played them a week later and I had 22 points against them,” Berce told the Journal Sentinel in 2017. “Bud Foster, who was coach then, said that was the worst mistake he'd ever made in his life."

Berce also played one season at Cornell in 1945 while he was in officer training during World War II.

After the war, Berce came back to MU and led the team in scoring in three seasons before graduating in 1948. He ended up with 1,171 points at MU.

Berce was drafted in 1948 by the New York Knicks in the Basketball Association of America, a precursor to the NBA. Berce later played for the Tri-Cities Hawks and the National Basketball League's Oshkosh All-Stars.

Milestone #8 - American Basketball League II

What I call the ABL II is the same organization as ABL I. There was a two-season break in the league due to the depression, but when it came back, it was still lead by John O'Brien who reformed it from the Metropolitan League. The scope of ABL II was much smaller geographically. ABL 1 covered a large swath of the Eastern US, from Chicago to Boston; roughly a thousand-mile diameter footprint. When ABL II came along, it was a much smaller footprint, with the largest distance between two teams being about 300 miles apart. A prominent league in the beginning, after World War 2, it was relegated to minor league status, and by the early 50's, was barely even the largest minor league.

Epilogue:

It was clear after the 1952-53 season the American Basketball League was in dire condition. Teams were failing to sell tickets, secure home courts and fighting with the league office. In May of 1953, Eddie White announced that his Wilkes-Barre Barons were leaving the ABL. Granted, he had made claims prior to this before, but he went so far to sell the actual bleachers in the Kingston Armory, the Barons home court.  A week later, the Pawtucket club was sold to George Patrick Duffy who was the publicity director for the Providence club in the American Hockey League. . In June of 1953, Elmira’s ownership was dealt a blow with the death of Harl Robacher. Robacher was the principal owner of the Colonels and had taken over the team prior to the 52-53 season. He died suddenly from a heart attack at 51 years of age. 

By the end of summer, it didn’t appear there would be another season. President John O’Brien made efforts to reorganize, despite his public claims he wanted to pass the presidency to someone else, specifically Matty Begovich, the former player who now was the chief of the referees. Finally, On October 16, 1953, the announcement was made that the league had suspended operations.

The Scranton Miners, a two-time ABL champion and two-time runner up in 5-and-a-half seasons in the league (they moved from Jersey City partway into the 1947-48 season) would reform in 1954 as a member of the Eastern Basketball League. The won that league title in 1956-57, and would continue to play through 1970, when the league renamed itself as the Eastern Basketball Association. The club changed their moniker to the Scranton Apollos. They won the EBA championship in 1971, and again in 1977. After winning that title, the club dissolved, with a lot of their personnel moving to Wilkes-Barre. relocated to Wilkes-Barre Barons to become the Wilkes-Barre Barons, of all things. When the league changed to the Continental Basketball Association in 1978, the team would play the 1978-79 season under that name before changing their name to the Pennsylvania Barons (1979-80 season) then to the Scranton Aces (1980-81) before disbanding.

The Wilkes-Barre Barons had won three ABL crowns in their six seasons in the league.  After the league folded, the team joined the Eastern League in 1954 along with Scranton. The club quickly became a powerhouse in that league, winning 4 EBL Championships in their first five seasons in the league. They would win the title again in 1969, and yet again in 1973 as the EBA, The team folded in midseason of the 1973-74 season. During the 1975-76 season, the Brooklyn Pros team of the EBA moved to Wilkes-Barre in mid—season and took the Barons name. This incarnation, not tied to the ABL team any more, would play the 1978-79 season under that name before changing their name to the Pennsylvania Barons (1979-80 season) then to the Scranton Aces (1980-81) before disbanding.

The Manchester British Americans would continue play in the much smaller Eastern Basketball League of Connecticut for the 1953-54 season before disbanding.

The impact of the ABL is mainly in its foundation. It was the first attempt at a major basketball league in the lines of the NHL, NFL, AL and NL. The sport was barely 30-years old at the time of the ABL's formation in 1925. It was also the first league to serve as a minor league support system to the NBA (some franchises, at least.) However, grander vision and deep pockets possessed by the owners of the BAA/NBA/NBL spelled the leagues doom. Solidifying itself as the top major league, the NBA would enjoy years without a serious run at its hegemony.

As for ABL-II, here are the numbers for the six season run:


Number of ABL-II players:  951
Unidentified/unknown whereabouts:168
Surviving ABL-II players: 50. It is quite possible that a few of the guys I have listed as living have indeed passed, but I haven't found that information yet. Compared to other sports' longevity data I have, that number should be around 40. It is also possible that of the 130+ unideintified players who debuted after the 1930's, a few of them could very well be alive. I wouldn't take the number of surviving players as definitive number.

Longevity:
Of the 951 players, 127 players (13.35%) lived to see the age of 90. 46 men (4.84%) died before the age of 50. (Numbers could obviously change as unknown players get identified.

ABL-I and ABL-II Longevity numbers combined:
1225 player
155 (12.65%) saw the age of 90.
68 (5.55%) died before 50.

Earl Hill ('26) and Gil Ely ('26) both lived to be 100. Hubs McCord ('29) made it to 101.

So there you go. I started this journey with the ABL back on October 10, 2017, so a little over 13 months. I'm tired. Have a good Thanksgiving and Christmas and Happy New Year, too.

Yogi Yokabaskas

Vincent Stanley "Yogi" Yokabaskas


Born:
May 17, 1929
Bloomfield, CT

Died:
April 13, 2014
Simsbury, CT


Career
1946-47 Bloomfield High School - Connecticut (High School)
1947-48 Bloomfield High School - Connecticut (High School)
1948-49 University of Connecticut (College) Freshmen
1949-50 University of Connecticut (College)
1950-51 University of Connecticut (College)
1951-52 University of Connecticut (College)
1952-53 Manchester British Americans (ABL)

The first UConn player to score 1000 points in his career, Yokabaskas served in the Korean War after graduating. He also managed to play a bit with the Manchester BA's during basic training. After the war, Yogi worked at Hamilton Standard, Kaman Aircraft and East Granby Machine. His number 22 was retired by the Huskies in 2007.

Vin had four sons and one daughter.

Source:
UConn Hoop Legends
Hartford Courant, April 21, 2014

Stats:

Wally Widholm

Wallace R. Widholm


Born:
August 6, 1927
Astoria, Queens, NY

Died:
March 4, 2005
Glastonbury, CT




Career
1949-50 University of Connecticut (College)
1950-51 University of Connecticut (College)
1951-52 University of Connecticut (College)
1952-53 Manchester British Americans (ABL)

Born to John and May Widholm, Wally played baseball and basketball growing up and at the University of Connecticut. He served in the U.S. Navy prior to going to college. He played catcher in the Milwaukee Braves organization as well as a pro-basketball stint with the Manchester British Americans. He worked at Hamilton Standard until retirement.

Wally married Joyce Papetti and they had a son and a daughter.


Minor League Baseball Stats
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=widhol001wal

Source:
Obituary, Hartford Courant, March 6, 2005

Stats:

Mike Webb

George Henry "Mike" Webb III


Born:
July 23, 1927
Pawtucket,  RI

Died:
August 15, 2017
Providence, RI


Career
Pawtucket West High School (High School)
1950-51 Pawtucket Boys Club Grads (Independent)
1952-53 Pawtucket Slaters (ABL)

Webb was the captain of his high school baseball, football and basketball teams before joining the navy to serve in World War 2. He played baseball, basketball and softball around Pawtucket for many years, and worked as a foreman at Blackstone Valley Electric Company for 47 years before retiring in 1992.

He married Catherine Healy in 1950 and they had seven children.

Source:
https://www.bellowsfuneralchapel.com/notices/GeorgeH-WebbIII

Stats:

Jimmy Thompson

James William Thompson


Born:
December 4, 1930
Kane, PA

 :




Career
1947-48 Kane High School - Pennsylvania (High School)
1948-49 Kane High School - Pennsylvania (High School)
1950-51 Kane Moose - Pennsylvania (Independent)
1952-53 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)
1958-59 Cameron County High School - Pennsylvania (High School) Head coach
1959-60 Cameron County High School - Pennsylvania (High School) Head coach
1960-61 Cameron County High School - Pennsylvania (High School) Head coach
1961-62 Cameron County High School - Pennsylvania (High School) Head coach
1962-63 Cameron County High School - Pennsylvania (High School) Head coach
1963-64 Cameron County High School - Pennsylvania (High School) Head coach
1964-65 Cameron County High School - Pennsylvania (High School) Head coach
1965-66 Cameron County High School - Pennsylvania (High School) Head coach
1966-67 Cameron County High School - Pennsylvania (High School) Head coach
1967-68 Cameron County High School - Pennsylvania (High School) Head coach
1968-69 Cameron County High School - Pennsylvania (High School) Head coach
1969-70 Cameron County High School - Pennsylvania (High School) Head coach
1970-71 Cameron County High School - Pennsylvania (High School) Head coach
1971-72 Cameron County High School - Pennsylvania (High School) Head coach
1972-73 Cameron County High School - Pennsylvania (High School) Head coach
1973-74 Cameron County High School - Pennsylvania (High School) Head coach
1974-75 Cameron County High School - Pennsylvania (High School) Head coach
1975-76 Cameron County High School - Pennsylvania (High School) Head coach
1976-77 Cameron County High School - Pennsylvania (High School) Head coach  

Born to Lloyd and Edith Thompson, Jimmy was a minor league baseball and basketball player who wound up being a popular coach at Cameron County High School in Pennsylvania.

Minor League Baseball Stats:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=thomps001jam

Source:
Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, December 2, 1952

Stats:

Stivers

Stivers


Born:



Died:




Career
1952-53 Pawtucket Slaters (ABL)

Played one unknown game for Pawtucket.

Source:


Stats:

Chuck Stewart

Charles Meade Stewart

Born:
October 20, 1929
Brooklyn, NY

Died:
September 10, 1989
Southbury, CT


Career1946-47 Erasmus Hall (High School)- Brooklyn, NY

1947-48 Erasmus Hall (High School)- Brooklyn, NY
1949-50 University of Rhode Island (College)
1950-51 University of Rhode Island (College)
1951-52 University of Rhode Island (College)
1952-53 Pawtucket Slaters (ABL)



The 5'9 guard lead Erasmus to a PSAL title before playing at URI. He would later move to Connecticut and was working as a bartender when he died short of his 60th birthday in Southbury.

Source:


Stats:

Randy Sharp

Bolling Randolph Sharp III


Born:
June 8, 1929
Far Rockaway, NY

Died:
October 15, 2019
Atlanta, GA


Career
Valley Stream Central High School - Long Island, NY (High School)
1949-50 Canisius College - New York (College)
1950-51 Canisius College - New York (College)
1951-52 Canisius College - New York (College)
1952-53 Pawtucket Slaters (ABL)

The 6'9 center from Canisius is listed by a family member as dying in Georgia, but the date is unknown at this time.

He was married to Patricia Anne O'Brien in 1959 and they had five daughters and two sons.

Source:


Stats:

Mel Seeman

Melvin David Seeman


Born:
November 21, 1930
New York, NY

Died:
August 27, 1989
Hendersonville, NC


Career
1947-48 Lincoln High School - New York City (High School)
1949-50 New York University (College)
1950-51 New York University (College)
1951-52 New York University (College)
1952-53 Scranton Miners (ABL)
1980-81 Jefferson High School - New York City (High School) Head coach
1981-82 Jefferson High School - New York City (High School) Head coach
1982-83 Jefferson High School - New York City (High School) Head coach
1983-84 Jefferson High School - New York City (High School) Head coach 



Source:
Jews In Sports

Stats:

Frank Sebest

Frank Michael Sebest


Born:
September 24, 1923
Cliffside Park, NJ

Died:
November 28, 2010
Fair Lawn, NJ


Career
1941-42 Cliffside Park High School - New Jersey (High School)
1942-43 Temple University (College)
1943-44 Cliffside AC - New Jersey (Independent)
1943-44 Bainbridge Naval Station (Military)
1944-45 Cliffside AC - New Jersey (Independent)
1946-47 St. John's University (College)
1947-48 Williamsport Billies (EPBL)
1948-49 Williamsport Billies (EPBL)
1948-49 Utica Olympics (NYSL)
1949-50 Williamsport Billies (EPBL)
1952-53 Elmira Colonels (ABL)
1952-53 Jersey City Titans (Independent)

After leaving Cliffside Park HS, Sebest entered Temple but left after a year to serve in the U.S. Navy during WW2. Stationed at Bainbridge, he was able to play basketball with his neighborhood friends at Cliffside AC when on leave. After the war, he enrolled at St. John's and played there. Sebest would play professionally for a few seasons. He would leave basketball and take employment with Hemingway Trucking where he would stay until retiring.

It appears Sebest played under the name "Frank Cobb" in January of 1948 when he first joined the Billies. (re: Sunbury Daily Item, March 1, 1948)

Frank married Christine Capitelli and they had a son and a daughter.


Source:
Obituary, Record/Herald News, November 30, 2010

Stats:

Roy Rubin

Roy Rubin


Born:
December 9, 1925
The Bronx, NY

Died:
August 5, 2013
Miami, FL


Career
1948-49 Long Island University (College)
1949-50 University of Louisville (College)
1950-51 University of Louisville (College)
1952-53 Scranton Miners (ABL)
1952-53 Columbus High School - New York City (High School) Head coach
1953-54 Columbus High School - New York City (High School) Head coach
1954-55 Columbus High School - New York City (High School) Head coach
1955-56 Columbus High School - New York City (High School) Head coach
1956-57 Columbus High School - New York City (High School) Head coach
1957-58 Columbus High School - New York City (High School) Head coach
1958-59 Columbus High School - New York City (High School) Head coach
1959-60 Columbus High School - New York City (High School) Head coach
1960-61 Columbus High School - New York City (High School) Head coach 
1961-62 Long Island University (College) Head coach
1962-63 Long Island University (College) Head coach
1963-64 Long Island University (College) Head coach
1964-65 Long Island University (College) Head coach
1965-66 Long Island University (College) Head coach
1966-67 Long Island University (College) Head coach
1967-68 Long Island University (College) Head coach
1968-69 Long Island University (College) Head coach
1969-70 Long Island University (College) Head coach
1970-71 Long Island University (College) Head coach
1971-72 Long Island University (College) Head coach
1972-73 Philadelphia 76'ers (NBA) Head coach

Rubin transferred from LIU to Louisville, and after graduating, played in the first three games of the Scranton Miner's 1952-53 season, scoring 19 point before leaving the team to take a coaching job in New York. Rubin spent nine years at Columbus HS where he developed an ingenious style of defense that lead him back to LIU as head coach. He revitalized the LIU team, sparking the club to a 174-94 record in his time there.

In 1972, the Sixers were so desperate to find a head coach that they placed an ad in the paper. A friend, Jules Love, recommended Rubin to the 76'ers, and Rubin was hired. The 76'ers lost their first 15 games, and Rubin was canned half-way into the season with a 4-47 record. The team would finish with only nine wins, and Rubin never coached again. He would own and operate an International House of Pancakes franchise in Florida. He died of cancer in 2013.

He married Marsha and they never had any children.

Source:
Obituary, NY Times, August 11, 2013
Obituary, Brooklyn Eagle, August 8, 2013

Stats:

Ray Rossi

Raymond Robert Rossi


Born:
April 29, 1931
Pawtucket, RI

Died:
July 9, 2008
Ocala, FL


Career
1948-49 Pawtucket East (High School)
1950-51 University of Rhode Island (College)
1951-52 University of Rhode Island (College)
1952-53 University of Rhode Island (College)
1952-53 Pawtucket Slaters (ABL)

Scored 22 points in his only game with Pawtucket. Not sure which game it was, but there are two box scores of the Slaters that are missing that occur late in the season after he would have graduated.

Source:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/28304327

Stats:

Buck Ross

"Buck" Ross


Born:



Died:




Career
1952-53 Elmira Colonels (ABL)

According to a newspaper article, he went to school with Hank Rosenstein, so probably from New York City.

Source:


Stats:

Kenny Reeves

Dr. Kenneth Harlan Reeves


Born:
January 31, 1928
Manchester, OH

Died:
June 25, 2017
Louisville, KY ??


Career
1945-46 Maysville High School - Kentuckey (College)
1946-47 University of Louisville (College)
1947-48 University of Louisville (College)
1948-49 University of Louisville (College)
1949-50 University of Louisville (College)
1950-51 Fort Knox (Military)
1951-52 Fort Knox (Military)
1952-53 Pawtucket Slaters (ABL)

A basketball star at Louisville as well as a Korean War veteran, Reeves became a dentist in Louisville, retiring in at 88 years of age in 2016. He played some basketball in the military as well as a stint with the Pawtucket Slaters.

He married Jan Elaine and they had one daughter.

Source:
Obituary, Courier-Journal, July 2, 2017

Stats:

Moe Radovich

George Lewis "Moe" Radovich


Born:
May 5, 1929
Hot Springs, WY

Died:
June 18, 2004
Las Vegas, NV



Career
1948-49 Northwest College - Powell, WY (College)
1949-50 University of Wyoming (College)
1950-51 University of Wyoming (College)
1951-52 University of Wyoming (College)
1952-53 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA)
1952-53 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)
1955-56 Sheridan Junior College - Wyoming (College) Head coach
1956-57 Sheridan Junior College - Wyoming (College) Head coach
1957-58 Wayne State Junior College - Nebraska (College) Head coach
1958-59 Wayne State Junior College - Nebraska (College) Head coach
1967-68 University of Wyoming (College) Assistant coach
1968-69 University of Wyoming (College) Assistant coach
1969-70 University of Wyoming (College) Assistant coach
1970-71 University of Wyoming (College) Assistant coach
1971-72 University of Wyoming (College) Assistant coach 
1972-73 Fullerton Junior College - California (College) Head coach
1973-74 University of Wyoming (College) Head coach
1974-75 University of Wyoming (College) Head coach
1975-76 University of Wyoming (College) Head coach

Radovich spent one year at Northwest College before transferring to the University of Wyoming. Moe was drafted in the 4th round by the Philadelphia Warriors, but only played in four games before being sent to the Wilkes-Barre Barons in the ABL. He entered the army and served at the end of the Korean War. When he came back to the U.S., he began a long coaching career that started at Sheridan JC. He would work his way back to the University of Wyoming, first as an assistant and later as head coach. After three consecutive 8th-place finishes, he was let go in 1976.

Source:


Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/radovmo01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=radovmo01

Bob Priddy

Robert Benjamin Priddy


Born:
March 24, 1930
Altus, OK

Died:
October 8, 2021
Amarillo, TX


Career
1948-49 Cameron JC - Oklahoma (College)
1949-50 Cameron JC - Oklahoma (College)
1950-51 New Mexico A&M  (College)
1951-52 New Mexico A&M  (College)
1952-53 Baltimore Bullets (NBA)
1952-53 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)

Priddy, a graduate from New Mexico A&M (now New Mexico State University) would be drafted by the Bullets in the 1952 NBA draft. He started the 1952-53 season with the Bullets, but after six games, he was sent down to the Wilkes-Barre Barons of the ABL. In 24 games with the Barons, he averaged 8.4 points per game before rejoining the Bullets. He played sparingly with the Bullets for the remainder of the season before being let go.

Source:


Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/priddbo01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=priddbo01

Claude Price

Claude Wellington Price, Jr.


Born:
June 24, 1930
Portland, CT

Died:
March 13, 2009
Ocala, FL


Career
1947-48 East Hampton High School - Connecticut (High School)
1948-49 Teachers College of Connecticut (College)
1952-53 Middletown Guards (ABL)

Born to Claude and Gertrude Price in Portland, Connecticut, Claude junior moved with the family to Canada shortly thereafter. They returned the U.S. a few years later, settling in East Hampton, Connecticut. Price attended East Hampton HS and played basketball at the Teachers College of Connecticut (now Central Connecticut State University.) Price served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War and he played one game for the Middletown Guards in the ABL after his service. He would move from East Granby, Connecticut, to Dunnellon, Florida, in 1974.

Claude married Alice in 1956 and they had one son, Scott (1965-2010) and two daughters.

Source:


Stats:

Ralph Polson

Ralph Mathewson Polson


Born:
October 26, 1929
Riverside, CA

Died:
May 6, 2022
Spokane, WA ?


 
Career
1948-49 Riverside City College - California (College)
1949-50 Riverside City College - California (College)
1950-51 Whitworth University - Spokane, WA (College)
1951-52 Whitworth University - Spokane, WA (College)
1952-53 Manchester British Americans (ABL)
1952-53 New York Knicks (NBA)
1952-53 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA)

Polson was selected fifth overall in the 1952 NBA draft by the New York Knicks. He played in the first three games of the season for the Knicks, scoring a total of ten points. He was sent down to the Manchester BA's in the ABL for some seasoning, and after scoring 33 points in two games, he was sole to the Philadelphia Warriors back in the NBA, where he played the rest of the season.



Source:


Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/polsora01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=polsora01

Mike Pappas

Michael Pappas
born Michael Pappadopoulos

Born:
September 16, 1925
Pawtucket, RI

Died:
December 29, 2011
New Bedford, MA


Career
1952-53 Pawtucket Slaters (ABL)

Wound up playing for Slaters in two games in mid-February of 1953. Pappas was a Pawtucket sports figure, playing in various baseball semi-pro circuits in the area. He would stay active in the community, serving as an Executive Vice President for the Pawtucket Boys and Girls Club. He would also work as a sportscaster and a public address announcer for various events in Pawtucket.

He was married to Enid.

Source:


Stats:

Offerman

Offerman


Born:



Died:




Career
1952-53 Scranton Miners (ABL)

Played one game for Scranton, but I have not seen which game.

Source:


Stats:

Paul Nolan

Paul Francis Nolan


Born:
July 16, 1930
Scranton, PA

Died:
December 3, 1960
Johnson City, NY


Career
1946-47 St. Mary's High School - Scranton (High School)
1947-48 St. Mary's High School - Scranton (High School)
1948-49 St. Bonaventure (College) Freshmen
1949-50 St. Bonaventure (College)
1950-51 St. Bonaventure (College)
1951-52 St. Bonaventure (College)
1952-53 Scranton Miners (ABL)
1954-55 Johnson City High School - New York (High School) JV - Head coach
1955-56 Johnson City High School - New York (High School) JV - Head coach
1956-57 Griswold Grill - New York (Independent)
1956-57 Johnson City High School - New York (High School) JV - Head coach
1957-58 Chenango Valley High School - Binghamton, NY (High School) Frosh Head coach
1958-59 Chenango Valley High School - Binghamton, NY (High School) Frosh Head coach
1959-60 Chenango Valley High School - Binghamton, NY (High School) Frosh Head coach

Nolan was a high-scoring basketabll star at St. Mary's HS on Scranton's south side. He turned that into a terrific stint at St. Bonaventure, helping the school to the NIT in his junior and senior years. He played with the Scranton Miners in 1952-53, and from there, he turned to coaching, leading the Johnson City HS JV team to a conference title. After three years there, he was coaching the freshmen team at Chenango Valley as well as officating basketball game in the area.

On December 3, 1960, Nolan refereed a grammar school league game in Johnson City, and headed home to shower before heading out that evening to officiate another game. He suffered a cerebral hemorrhage at his home and taken to the hospital where he would die. He was only 30 years old.

Paul married Eleanor Miller (1931-2014) and they had one son and two daughters.




Source:
Press and Sun Bulletin (Binghamton, NY), March 24, 1957
Press and Sun Bulletin (Binghamton, NY), December 4, 1960
Star-Gazette (Elmira), December 5, 1960

Stats:

Bill Mullineaux

William Wesley Mullineaux


Born:
February 3, 1927
Baltimore, MD

Died:
July 22, 2007
Sykesville, MD


Career
1946-47 Washington College - Maryland (College)
1947-48 Washington College - Maryland (College)
1952-53 Scranton Miners (ABL)

Bill joined the army in March of 1944, serving for two years at the end of World War 2. He returned to Washington College where he played baseball and basketball. He would play minor league and semi-pro baseball for a few years, with a stop to play 3 games of basketball with the Scranton Miners in 1952.

Minor League Baseball Stats:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=mullin001wil

Source:


Stats:

Joe Monteiro

Joseph Jolin Monteiro


Born:
July 2, 1926
Saylesville, RI

Died:
May 29, 2001
Providence, RI


Career
1952-53 Pawtucket Slaters (ABL)

Pretty sure the "Monterro" or "Mantiero" that is listed as playing briefly for the Pawtucket Slaters is Rhode Island's Joseph Monteiro, who played many league baseball for years.

Monteiro served in the U.S. Navy during World War 2, and in 1947, signed with the Lawrence/Lowell baseball club in the New England League. In 1948, he began a four-season stint with Granby in Quebec, with 1951 being his best years with a .353 batting average and 28 home runs. He moved up to Richmind in the Class-B Piedmont league in 1952. In the off-season between 1952 and 1953, the 6'3 athlete played sporadically with his hometown basketball team, the Pawtucket Slaters. In 1954, he finally got the interest of a major league baseball club, signed by the Cincinnati Reds and assigned to the Colonial Heights farm team. Despite batting .301 and hitting 25 home runs, he was sold to the Phillies who sent him to the Class-C team in Trois-Rivieres in Quebec. He was released part-way into the season, and after playing some independent baseball in North Dakota, ended his baseball career.

Minor League Baseball Stats
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=montei001jos

Source:


Stats:

George McLeod

George Lee McLeod


Born:
January 3, 1931
Greenville, TX

Died:
January 15, 2023



Career
1949-50 Texas Christian University (College)
1950-51 Texas Christian University (College)
1951-52 Texas Christian University (College)
1952-53 Pawtucket Slaters (ABL)
1952-53 Baltimore Bullets (NBA) 

Born in Texas to Ralph and Ora McLeod, George was the first TCU player to reach 1000 points for his career, which lead to him being drafted in the 1952 NBA draft by the Milwaukee Hawks. After playing three games with the ABL's Pawtucket Slaters, McLeod was traded to the Baltimore Bullets, and he made is NBA debut in January of 1953. He played 10 games with the Bullets, scoring 12 points.

Source:


Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mcleoge01.html

Bobby McLarnon

Robert J. McLarnon, Jr.


Born:
October 24, 1926
New York, NY

Died:
August 8, 2009
West Palm Beach, FL


Career
1949-50 College of the Holy Cross (College)
1950-51 College of the Holy Cross (College)
1951-52 College of the Holy Cross (College)
1952-53 Manchester British Americans (ABL)
1953-54 Manchester British Americans (EBL-Ct) 

Born to Robert and Caroline McLarnon, Bob went to St. Nicholas of Tolentine High School but did not play basketball there. He entered the U.S. Army after graduating, and it was there that he grew into his basketball-playing frame, playing while stationed in the Philippines. By the time he left the army and went to Holy Cross, he was a tough player with good offensive skills. In 1952, McLarnon signed with the Manchester BA's in the ABL.

He was married to Kathleen (d. 2008)

Source:
Boston Globe, March 27, 1950

Stats:

McGraw

McGraw


Born:



Died:




Career
1952-53 Pawtucket Slaters (ABL)

Played one game for the Slaters. Identity unknown.

Source:


Stats:

Gary May

Gary Lee May


Born:
March 10, 1933
Elmira, NY

Died:
September 7, 1996
Elmira Heights, NY


Career
1947-48 Edison High School - Elmira Heights, NY (High School) JV
1948-49 Edison High School - Elmira Heights, NY (High School)
1949-50 Edison High School - Elmira Heights, NY (High School)
1950-51 Edison High School - Elmira Heights, NY (High School)
1952-53 Area All-Stars - Elmira (Independent)
1952-53 Elmira Colonels (ABL)

May was a three-sport star at Edison, playing baseball, football and basketball. He signed a minor league contract to play baseball with the Brooklyn Dodgers, but when his father died, he returned home to ran the family business, May's Dairy. He played basketball for Elmira Colonels in one game, December 20, 1952, failing to score a point. He continued to work hard and run the business until his death from lung cancer in 1996.

He married Rosemarie Bahantka in 1953 and they had three daughters and two sons. Sadly, both of his sons died shortly after birth.

Source:
Star-Gazette (Elmira), September 9, 1996

Stats:

Leo Makovitch

Leo Anthony Makovitch


Born:
May 2, 1923
Elmira, NY

Died:
December 29, 1991
Elmira, NY


Career
1941-42 Elmira High School - New York (High School)
1942-43 Eclipse Machines - Elmira (Independent)
1945-46 YMCA Hawks - Elmira (Independent)
1945-46 Clate's - Elmira (Independent)
1947-48 Union Social Club - Elmira (Independent)
1949-50 Horseheads Merchants - New York (Independent)
1949-50 Knapp's - Elmira (Independent)
1952-53 Elmira Colonels (ABL)

Born to Stanley and Mary Makovitch, Leo served in the U.S. Army during World War 2. He played basketball around Elmira after the ear for various semi-pro clubs.

Source:
Star Gazette, December 30, 1991

Stats: