AMERICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE (II)
12-11 .522, 4th place
Scranton's time in the ABL was tumultuous, to say the least. On various occasions over the years, they had quit the league, come back in, protested games, had protests against them. and had many player revolts against the management. This year would feature more controversy. After losing in the ABL finals in 1951-52, they were poised to contend again this year. Long-time player Elmore Morgenthaler was announced as head coach, and the team beat the Hazleton Yankees in the opener. The success was short lived, as they dropped the next four games. On December 20, the Miners dropped out of the league, with owner Joe "Speed" Maloney charging other owners with evading the leagues minimum $300 per game guarantee. The franchise was reorganized in late December under new management, and the new group brought Red Sarachak back as head coach. The revamped club returned to the court on January 11, 1953, and won four of five games. They wrapped up the campaign with a 4th place finish and headed into the playoffs to meet Manchester.
After losing the opener, they won the second game over Manchester on March 15. Prior to the series, the Miners had added Perry del Purgatorio, who scored 13 points in the Miners' 100-94 victory. Manchester protested the addition of del Purgatorio to the roster so late in the season, and the league sided with Manchester. Scranton quit the series in protest, and Manchester was declared the winner. Manchester would go on the ABL title, while Scranton wrapped up the final ABL season in yet another cloud of controversy.
Head coaches:
- Elmore Morgenthaler (August 3, 1922 - November 25, 1997) 1-4
- Bernie Sarachak (October 19, 1912 - November 14, 2005) 11-7
PLAYERS:
- John Azary (October 14, 1929 - September 16, 1981)
- Ed Bartels (October 8, 1925 - November 4, 2007)
- Roy Belliveau (b. April 12, 1929)
- Bergen
- Al Biolsi (March 14, 1929 - June 24, 2018)
- Tommy Birch (May 18, 1928 - July 29, 1987)
- Jack Curran (b. 1924)
- Perry Del Purgatorio (August 29, 1928 - February 4, 2018)
- Ditomonsin??
- George Feigenbaum (July 2, 1928 - December 25, 2000)
- Danny Finn (May 29, 1928 - February 18, 2007)
- Red Fitzsimmons (October 2, 1932 - August 27, 2022)
- Jerry Fleishman (February 14, 1922 - June 20, 2007)
- Marv Jaffe (June 17, 1928 - September 19, 2001)
- Ed Kassler (July 21, 1923 - March 7, 2011)
- Joel Kaufman (March 8, 1927 - June 22, 1972)
- Bobby Kelly (September 12, 1926 - December 23, 2014)
- Carl Meinhold (March 29, 1926 - February 23, 2019)
- Nat Militzok (May 3, 1923 - May 14, 2009)
- Elmore Morgenthaler (August 3, 1922 - November 25, 1997)
- Bill Mullineaux (February 3, 1927 - July 22, 2007)
- Paul Nolan (July 16, 1930 - December 3, 1960)
- Offerman
- Bill Pless (June 3, 1928 - October 25, 2001)
- Roy Rubin (December 9, 1925 - August 5, 2013)
- Herb Scherer (December 21, 1928 - June 28, 2012)
- Mel Seeman (November 21, 1930 - August 27, 1989)
- Wally Sheil (April 15, 1929 - June 23, 2002)
- Vince Verdeschi (March 24, 1925 - August 16, 1965)
- Bill Zirkel (July 20, 1927 - October 24, 2011)
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