In Memoriam: Red Meinhold

Red Meinhold (1926-2019)



Carl M. "Red" Meinhold, 92, of Exeter Township, passed away on Saturday, February 23, 2019, in Berkshire Center.

He was the husband of Elizabeth A. (Tait) Meinhold, with whom he celebrated 64 years of marriage.

Born in Hazleton, Pa., he was the son of the late Harold and Dorothy (Lauer) Meinhold. Carl graduated from Hazleton High School in 1944 where he was on the first All State Basketball Team. He then attended Long Island University for two years where he was on the All Metropolitan Basketball Team. Carl served in the U.S. Army from June 1946 to April 1947 and then again from September 1950 to September 1952. He played professional basketball with the B.A.A. Baltimore Bullets Championship Team in 1947-1948. The B.A.A. and the N.B.L. merged and became the N.B.A. the following year. Carl then played with the Chicago Stags in the 1948-1949 season and later played in the American Pro Basketball League where he was a player/coach with various teams in the Eastern Pro League. He was inducted into the Hazleton YMCA Sports Hall of Fame, The Pennsylvania Northeast Section Hall of Fame and the Greater Hazelton Area Hall of Fame. Carl was also an honorary member of the Greater Hazleton Hall of Fame Committee. He was the director of warehousing at Boscov's Department Stores for 12 years, retiring in 1990.



Biography

Ray Woodward

Milton Raymond "Ray" Woodward


Born:
September 2, 1920
Laurel, MS

Died:
August 31, 2002
Port Neches, TX


Career
1942-43 Ole Miss (College)
1945-46 Ole Miss (College)
1946-47 Ole Miss (College)
1948-49 Laurel Oilers (SPBL)

Born to John and Maggie Woodward, Ray served during World War 2. He would play briefly for his hometown entry in the Southern Basketball League, the Laurel Oilers. He played minor league baseball for 6 years, pitching for the independent Tampa Smokers after a couple years in the Cubs farm system. He pitched very well with Tampa, winning 17 games in 1950 and 16 in 1951, but at 31 years of age he didn't get shot with a major league club.

He married Edna Yarbrough in 1948 and they had two sons.

Minor League Baseball Stats
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=woodwa001mil

Source:


Stats:

Harold Wilt

Harold Charles Wilt


Born:
December 7, 1927
Knightstown, IN

Died:
April 15, 1995
Maury County, TN


Career
1943-44 West End High School - Nashville (High School)
1944-45 West End High School - Nashville (High School)
1948-49 Nashville Vols (SPBL)

Wilt, a Nashville local, was a basketball star on his high school team. He would play briefly for the Nashville Vols of the Southern League.


Source:


Stats:

T.J. Whittaker

Thomas Joseph "T.J." Whittaker, Jr.


Born:
June 30, 1926
New Orleans, LA

Died:
June 15, 1991



Career
1944-45 Jesuit High School - New Orleans (High School)
1948-49 New Orleans Sports (SPBL)

Whittaker made his name in high school on the baseball diamond. The pitcher and infielder would be signed by the New York Giants after leading his Jesuit team to the American Legion tournament in 1945. After being rocked in two appearances with the Giants' farm club in Class-B Trenton, he was shipped down to their Class-D team in Springfield, Ohio. He would win ten games there but would be let go at the end of the season. He would play basketball with the New Orleans Sports in 1948-49, averaging 6.3 points in the 26 games I could find a box score for.

Minor League Baseball Stats:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=whitta001tho

Source:


Stats:

Cliff Wells

W.R. Clifford "Cliff" Wells


Born:
March 17, 1896
Indianapolis, IN

Died:
August 15, 1977
Garland, TX


Career
1917-18 Bloomington High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1918-19 Bloomington High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1919-20 Bloomington High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1920-21 Bloomington High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1921-22 Columbus High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1922-23 Logansport High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1923-24 Logansport High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1924-25 Logansport High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1925-26 Logansport High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1926-27 Logansport High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1927-28 Logansport High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1928-29 Logansport High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1929-30 Logansport High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1930-31 Logansport High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1931-32 Logansport High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1932-33 Logansport High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1933-34 Logansport High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1934-35 Logansport High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1935-36 Logansport High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1936-37 Logansport High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1937-38 Logansport High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1938-39 Logansport High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1939-40 Logansport High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1940-41 Logansport High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1941-42 Logansport High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1942-43 Logansport High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1943-44 Logansport High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1944-45 Logansport High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach 
1945-46 Tulane University (College) Head coach
1946-47 Tulane University (College) Head coach
1947-48 Tulane University (College) Head coach 
1948-49 New Orleans Sports (SPBL) Head coach / player
1948-49 Tulane University (College) Head coach
1949-50 Tulane University (College) Head coach
1950-51 Tulane University (College) Head coach
1951-52 Tulane University (College) Head coach
1952-53 Tulane University (College) Head coach
1953-54 Tulane University (College) Head coach
1954-55 Tulane University (College) Head coach
1955-56 Tulane University (College) Head coach
1956-57 Tulane University (College) Head coach
1957-58 Tulane University (College) Head coach
1958-59 Tulane University (College) Head coach
1959-60 Tulane University (College) Head coach
1960-61 Tulane University (College) Head coach
1961-62 Tulane University (College) Head coach
1962-63 Tulane University (College) Head coach

NATIONAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME, 1972


Cliff Wells was a legendary coach from Indiana. He coached high school basketball many years in Indiana (winning two state titles.) He would coach at Tulane for 18 years before retiring. In his retirement from coaching, he worked at the Basketball Hall of Fame as a director. He would be inducted into the Hall of Fame himself in 1972.
Wells, while coaching the New Orleans Sports of the Southern League, appeared in one game on January 12, 1949, at the age of 52. Wells is the only player in the Southern Basketball League to be in the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Wells died of a heart attack in 1977.

Source:
http://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/cliff-wells/

Stats:

Sammy Trombatore

Samuel Joseph Trombatore


Born:
March 9, 1924
New Orleans, LA

Died:
July 26, 1991



Career
1940-41 St. Aloysius - New Orleans (High School)
1941-42 Loyola University - New Orleans (College)
1946-47 Loyola University - New Orleans (College)
1947-48 Loyola University - New Orleans (College)
1948-49 New Orleans Sports (SPBL)

Trombatore served in the U.S. Army during World War 2, and after the war, enrolled at Loyola in New Orleans. He played an important part on those talented Loyola teams after the war. After playing professionally with the New Orleans Sports of the Southern League, he worked as an Insurance Salesman for Delahoussaye Insurance for many years. He died of cancer in 1991.

Sammy married Edna and they had a son and two daughters.

Source:
"Fight, Grin and Squarely Play the Game" by Ramon A. Vargas and Peter Finney

Stats:

Wendell Shows

Wendell W. "Hooks" Shows


Born:
May 11, 1921
Laurel, MS

Died:
May 16, 2011
Pleasant Hill, CA


Career
1940-41 Louisiana State University (College)
1941-42 Louisiana State University (College)
1942-43 Louisiana State University (College)
1948-49 Laurel Oilers (SPBL)

Shows was born in Laurel, Mississippi, and went to LSU where he played basketball. He went into the USMC during World War 2, and after the war, he entered the insurance business. He would play pro basketball with the Laurel Oilers (as well as being head coach) before leaving the game to work as District Manager for Jefferson Standard Life in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. His career would take him westward to Denver, and later wound up in California, where he died at the age of 90.

Source:
Hattiesburg American, December 2, 1949


Stats:

Sterling Scott

Sterling Scott


Born:



Died:




Career
1948-49 New Orleans Sports (SPBL)

Not sure of his identity.

Source:


Stats:

Rivoli

Rivoli


Born:



Died:




Career
1948-49 New Orleans Sports (SPBL)

Nothing much given except last name in the box score from

Could be Riviello, Rivolo, Revoli... only Rivoli I found from New Orleans of the right approximate age is Rock Rivoli (1921-1987), but as of now, his identity is a mystery.


Source:


Stats:

Bob Pressley

Robert Gerald "Pap" Pressley


Born:
February 24, 1926
Booneville, MS

Died:
August 2, 1998



Career
1946-47 East Mississippi Community College - Scooba, MS (College)
1947-48 East Mississippi Community College - Scooba, MS (College)
1948-49 Laurel Oilers (SPBL)
1951-52 Delta State Teachers College - Mississippi (College)

From Booneville, Mississippi, the 6'3 Pressley went to East Mississippi CC after serving in World War 2. He would play basketball with the Laurel Oilers of the Southern League. He later played for Delta State, but in February of 1998, his eligibility was called into question due to his time with the Laurel Oilers. His argument in his favor was that although he was paid $270/month to play, he was not under contract and was an employee for the sponsoring company.

Bob was married to Faye Yarbrough and they had at least one daughter.


Source:


Stats:

Maurice Partain

Maurice Reams Partain


Born:
June 11, 1927
Dallas, AL

Died:
December 29, 2011
Hendersonville, TN


Career
1948-49 Nashville Vols (SPBL)

Born to Robert and Kittie Partain, Partain came out of high school and went right into baseball's minor leagues. He would play baseball for 5 years in the low minors, some times with the Reds organization. He would also play basketball with the Nashville Volunteers.

Minor League Baseball Stats
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=partai001mau

Source:


Stats:

Joe "J.T." Parker

Joseph Thrasher "Buddy" "J.T." Parker, Jr.


Born:
November 4, 1921
Birmingham, AL

Died:
November 22, 1983



Career
1941-42 Louisiana Tech (College)
1946-47 Louisiana Tech (College)
1947-48 Louisiana Tech (College)
1947-48 Grayson's - Shreveport, LA (Independent)
1948-49 Birmingham Steelers (SPBL)

Parker, a 6'5 center for Lousiana Tech, entered the U.S. Navy in 1942. After World War 2, he was discharged and finished his schooling back at Tech. After graduating, he returned home to Birmingham, where he would play basketball for the Birmingham Steelers of the Southern League.
6'5 center at LA Tech

Buddy married Lois Branton in 1949.

Source:


Stats:

Oran McKinney

Oran Ernest McKinney


Born:
January 4, 1922
Boonville, IN

Died:
November 16, 2001
Lynneville, IN


Career
1939-40 Lynnville High School - Indiana (High School)
1940-41 Lynnville High School - Indiana (High School)
1942-43 Western Kentucky University (College)
1945-46 Western Kentucky University (College)
1946-47 Western Kentucky University (College)
1947-48 Western Kentucky University (College)
1948-49 Nashville Vols (SPBL)


McKinney, a 6'4, 220-pound player with Western Kentucky, saw his collegiate career interrupted with a stint in the U.S. Marines Corps during World War 2. He returned to WKU after the war and continue to star on the court. McKinney signed with the Baltimore Bullets in October of 1948, but he did not make the final cuts. He went on to play with Nashville in the Southern League that season.

He was married to Maureen Roberts.

Source:


Stats:

Dave Madison

David Pledger Madison


Born:
February 1, 1921
Brooksville, MS

Died:
December 8, 1985
Macon, MS


Career
1940-41 Louisiana State University (College)
1941-42 Louisiana State University (College)
1942-43 Louisiana State University (College)
1948-49 Laurel Oilers (SPBL)

Madison, a baseball pitcher by trade, played football and basketball as well as the national pastime while at LSU. He went into the military during World War 2, and after the war was signed by the New York Yankees. Assigned to the Class-A club in Denver, Madison was promoted to Kansas City in the American Association in 1948, where he went 14-9. That off-season, he played basketball with the Laurel Oilers of the Southern Basketball League. He averaged 5.8 points in 25 games I found box scores of. After throwing two more years with KC, he was brought up by the Yankees at the end of the 1950 season. He appeared in just one game for the pennant-winning American League team, but after the season he was recalled by the Army to head to Korea.

Madison returned state-side in the winter of 1951-52 and was sold to the St. Louis Browns. In August of 1952, the Browns traded him to the Detroit Tigers, where he would pitched though the 1953 season before being released. After two more year of organized baseball, Madison was out of baseball at the age of 34. He would manage a few years in the lower Yankees farm system and worked for many years as a scout. He died following a lengthy illness in 1985.

Major League Baseball Stats:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/madisda01.shtml


Source:


Stats:

Jerry Lewis

Jerry Lewis


Born:
December 14, 1926
Brooklyn, NY

Died:
June 9, 1976



Career
1943-44 Seward Park High School - New York (High School)
1944-45 Long Island University (College)
1945-46 Long Island University (College)
1947-48 Long Island University (College)
1948-49 Montgomery Rebels (SPBL)

Lewis, who was 5'11 and 170 pounds, was born to Max and Frances Lewis and played basketball at LIU. 

Source:


Stats:

Frank Jennings

Frank Jarvis Jennings


Born:
October 8, 1924
Laurel, MS

Died:
January 14, 2011
Venice, FL


Career
1942-43 Laurel High School - Mississippi (High School)
1946-47 Louisiana State University (College)
1948-49 Laurel Oilers (SPBL)

Born in Laurel to Warren and Talmidge Jennings, the 6'5 Jennings would graduate from Laurel HS in 1943 and attend LSU. He played for his hometown entry in the SPBL, the Laurel Oilers, in their only season in the league in 1948-49. Frank married Rose Mesuda in 1951 in Detroit

Source:


Stats:

Red Hultburg

Dr. James Eldon "Red" Hultberg


Born:
October 2, 1926
Burlington, IA

Died:
July 7, 2020
Metairie, LA


Career
1942-43 Warren Easton High School - New Orleans (High School)
1943-44 Warren Easton High School - New Orleans (High School)
1944-45 Loyola University - New Orleans (College)
1945-46 Loyola University - New Orleans (College)
1946-47 Loyola University - New Orleans (College)
1947-48 Loyola University - New Orleans (College)
1948-49 New Orleans Sports (SPBL)

Hultberg played baseball and basketball in high school before attending Loyola in New Orleans. After lettering for four years, he graduated and played with the New Orleans Sports while finishing dental school. He was a dentist for many years in Louisiana before retiring.

Red married Marion Simmons in 1949 and they had two daughters and a son, Jordy, who would play basketball at LSU.

Source:
"Fight, Grin and Squarely Play the Game" by Ramon A. Vargas and Peter Finney

Stats:

Hallie Hudson

Hallie E. Hudson


Born:
October 30, 1919
Enville, TN

Died:
June 9, 1997
Columbia, TN


Career
1947-48 Bethel University - McKenzie, TN (College)
1948-49 Nashville Vols (SPBL)
1950-51 Monsanto Chemical (Independent)

The 6'4 Hudson played baseball and basketball at tiny Bethel University in Tennessee. He would work for many years for Monsanto in Columbia, Tennessee, as a personnel director. Hallie was in the U.S. Army during World War 2.

Hallie married Claire Wiegel in 1946 and three had three daughters and one son.

Source:


Stats:

John Hoffman

John William Hoffman


Born:
November 30, 1923 ??
Buffalo, NY

 :




Career
(High School)
LIU before war?? (College)
1948-49 Birmingham Steelers (SPBL)

Might still be living

Minor League Baseball Stats
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=hoffma003joh

Source:


Stats:

Bob Engle

Robert Herbert Engle


Born:
December 22, 1921
New York, NY

Died:
November 18, 1977
Montgomery, AL


Career
1939-40 George Washington High School - New York (High School)
1946-47 WMGY - Montgomery (Independent)
1948-49 Montgomery Rebels (SPBL)
1948-49 Boys' Club - Montgomery (Independent)

Engle graduated from Washington HS in New York City and signed to play baseball with the Philadelphia Phillies. He played two years in the Phillies farm system before World War 2 intervened and Engle went into the U.S. Navy. He spent part of World War 2 stationed in Panama. After the war, he returned to baseball, signing with the Montgomery Rebels baseball team. The 6'2 205-pound first baseman wound up taking to Montgomery, playing basketball for a local semi-pro team and meeting his wife, Dorothy. In 1947, he was named the playing - manager with nearby Andalusia team, and batted .308 and was named to the all-star team. The Detroit Tigers picked him up and he went to their Class-D affiliate in Thomasville, Georgia. After the 1948 season, Engle found himself playing basketball with the Montgomery Rebels of the Southern Basketball League. He would play one more season of minor league baseball before the Tigers hired him to manage their team in Butler, Pennsylvania, but he was let go after a 13-19 start.

Engle was active in the Montgomery athletic scene, starting work at the Boys Club in Mongtomery in 1954. He would eventually become the director at the Boys' Club in Montgomery. In November of 1977, Engle went to the club to jog in the gymnasium. He suffered a massive heart attack and died almost immediately. He was 55 years of age.

Bob married Dorothy Green (1922-2001) in 1946 and they had two sons.

Minor League Baseball Stats
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=engle-001rob

Source:
Montgomery Advertiser, November 19, 1977

Stats:

Carl Cooper

Clyde Colvin "Carl" Cooper


Born:
October 10, 1924
Mason County, KY

Died:
March 15, 1995
Maysville, KY


Career
1942-43 Brooksville High School - (High School)
1943-44 Brooksville High School - (High School)
1944-45 University of Kentucky (College)
1948-49 Nashville Vols (SPBL)

Cooper started the 1944-45 season with Kentucky but did not return after the first semester ended. He would play with the Nashville Vols in 1948-49. He wound up working as a machinist for General Electric for 35 years.

Cooper married Izora Hinson and they had one daughter and one son.


Source:
http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/Players/Cooper_Clyde.html

Stats:

Foots Compton

Deward Wilson "Foots" Compton


Born:
May 26, 1921
Murfreesboro, TN

Died:
October 30, 2001
Abilene, TX


Career
1938-39 Kittrell High School - Murfreesboto, TN (High School)
1939-40 Castle Heights Military Academy - Lebanon, TN (Prep School)
1943-44 Convair - Nashville (Independent)
1944-45 University of Kentucky (College)
1945-46 University of Kentucky (College)
1946-47 University of Louisville (College)
1947-48 University of Louisville (College)
1948-49 Nashville Vols (SPBL)
1961-62 Kittrell High School - Murfreesboto, TN (High School) Head coach

Deward Compton, a lanky athlete from rural Tennessee, received the nickname "Foots" due to his size 15 feet. He lead small Kittrell High School to the Tennessee State Championship game for basketball and would enter the military for World War 2. After serving, he went to the University of Kentucky before transferring to Louisville. After graduating, he played pro basketball with the Nashville Vols in the Southern Basketball League. He would coach at his old high school as well as working for the Murfreesboro Frieght Lines for 32 years. He would eventually move to Abilene, Texas, to live with his daughter, where he died in 2001 at 80.


Compton had two daughters.

Source:
Daily News-Journal, November 6, 2001

Stats:

Johnny Casteix

John Joseph Casteix, Jr.


Born:
September 1, 1927
New Orleans, LA

Died:
February 2, 1983
New Orleans, LA??


Career
1943-44 Loyola University - New Orleans (College)
1944-45 Loyola University - New Orleans (College)
1945-46 Loyola University - New Orleans (College)
1946-47 Loyola University - New Orleans (College)
1947-48 Loyola University - New Orleans (College)
1948-49 New Orleans Sports (SPBL)

Born to John and Maude Casteix, Johnny starred on the basketball court at Loyola. He would play Johnny's younger brother Hugh also played basketball at Loyola. John would run for state representative for the Seventh Ward in New Orleans in 1966.

John married Lucille Lussa and they had four children.

Source:
"Fight, Grin and Squarely Play the Game" by Ramon A. Vargas and Peter Finney

Stats:

Jim Bonck

James Daniel Bonck


Born:
February 6, 1923
New Orleans, LA

Died:
June 2, 2000
Waveland, MS


Career
1940-41 Warren Easton High School - New Orleans (High School)
1945-46 Loyola University - New Orleans (College)
1946-47 Loyola University - New Orleans (College)
1947-48 Loyola University - New Orleans (College)
1948-49 New Orleans Sports (SPBL)

Bonck played basketball while attending Loyola in New Orleans. He would play after graduation with the New Orleans Sports of the Southern League. I am assuming that with this break in his education he served during World War 2 at some point.

Source:


Stats:

Back

Back


Born:



Died:




Career
1948-49 Nashville Vols (SPBL)

Played one game for Nashville on February 20, 1949, scoring two points. Not sure who he is. He could be "Beck" or "Bock."

There was a Dale Beck in Nashville who played basketball and football at Howard HS. However, he graduated in 1949 and likely did not play for the Vols while still in HS. He went on to Vanderbilt where he played football. His older brother Dick was an athlete who is a more likely age to be the mystery Beck, but it appears he was strictly a baseball player.


Source:


Stats:

1948-49 New Orleans Sports (SPBL)

1948-49 NEW ORLEANS SPORTS
SOUTHERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE
7-24 .226, 5th place


New Orleans, with a population at the time of over 500,000 people, was a logical selection for a new team in the Southern League. They had competed in the PBLA the year prior But despite being the largest host city in the circuit, the Orleans residents didn't take to the team, despite the popularity of the collegiate version of the game being played in-town at Tulane and Loyola. After a 3-3 start, the Sports hit the skids and won only four of their last 25 games and were mired deeply in last place.

Head Coaches:

• Cliff Wells (March 17, 1896 - August 15, 1977) Also played. See below
  
• Herb Pailet  (March 10, 1894 - June 9, 1978)

PLAYERS:

• Greek Athas (October 6, 1922 - April 29, 2009)

Biography

• Jim Bonck (February 6, 1923 - June 2, 2000)

Biography

• Johnny Casteix (September 1, 1927 - February 2, 1983)

Biography 

• Bill Dwyer

Biography 

• Red Huitburg (October 2, 1926 - July 7, 2020)

Biography 

• Whitey Jackson (June 16, 1923 - October 13, 1995)

Biography

• Ralph Jones (February 14, 1922 - February 18, 1995)

Biography

• Jack Parkinson (March 4, 1924 - May 29, 1997)

Biography

• Rivoli

Biography

• Sterling Scott

Biography

• Sammy Trombatore (March 9, 1924 - July 26, 1991)

Biography

• Cliff Wells (March 17, 1896 - August 15, 1977)

Biography

• T.J. Whittaker (June 30, 1926 - June 15, 1991)

Biography
 

1948-49 Nashville Vols (SPBL)

1948-49 NASHVILLE VOLS
SOUTHERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE
15-23 .395, 4th place

The Vols expected big things coming into this season, hoping to challenge the Rebels' supremacy. However, they dropped their first five games and 8 out their first 10. They played a little better when 1949 was rung in, and by February 2 had improved to 13-15. Unfortunately, the bottom and Nashville dropped seven straight and 8 of their last ten to bury themselves in 4th place.

Head Coach:

• Jess Mallory (December 27, 1912 - September 28, 2004)

PLAYERS:

• Back 

Biography 

• Joe Casey (July 31, 1926 - July 31, 2022)

Biography

• Foots Compton (May 26, 1921 - October 30, 2001)

Biography

• Carl Cooper (October 10, 1924 - March 15, 1995)

Biography 

• Bill Duvier (June 16, 1927 - September 2, 2018)

Biography

• Hallie Hudson (October 30, 1919 - June 9, 1997)

Biography 

• Dan Manning (September 11, 1919 - July 19, 2009)

Biography

• Oran McKinney (January 4, 1922 - November 16, 2001)

Biography

• Maurice Partain (June 11, 1927 - December 29, 2011)

Biography 

• Felix Ray (October 20, 1921 - September 4, 1982)

Biography

• Ken Redmond (January 8, 1926 - June 4, 2018)

Biography

• Harold Wilt (December 7, 1927 - April 15, 1995)

Biography

1948-49 Montgomery Rebels (SPBL)

1948-49 MONTGOMERY REBELS
SOUTHERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE
26-13 .667, 1st place


The defending champion Rebels. who had blistered all opponents the year before, running away with the SPBL title, were poised to repeat under head coach Lenny Rader. A lot of the personnel changed between seasons, and the Rebs saw a challenge to their supremacy from Birmingham. Eventually, Montgomery would hang on to win the regular season, and upon the cancellation of the playoffs, be crowned the SPBL champions again. The Rebels won the SPBL title in the league's only two seasons of existence.

Head Coach: Lenny Rader (March 29, 1921 - December 29, 1996) Also played. See below


PLAYERS: 

• Darrel Brown (March 14, 1923 - October 7, 1990)

Biography

• Bob Engle (December 22, 1921 - November 18, 1977)

Biography 

• Shorty Erwin (November 11, 1921 - June 20, 2005)

Biography 

• Art Grove (March 17, 1923 - May 25, 1984)

Biography

• John Hitson (July 7, 1927 - January 10, 1999)

Biography

• Hal Kottman (August 22, 1922 - November 30, 2004)

Biography

• Jerry Lewis (December 14, 1926 - June 9, 1976)
  

Biography 

• Bobby Lowther (December 14, 1923 - March 23, 2015)

Biography

• Howie Rader (March 29, 1921 - February 2, 1991)

Biography

• Lenny Rader (March 29, 1921 - December 29, 1996)

Biography

• Pat Rooney

Biography

• Julie Silverman (October 20, 1926 - February 27, 2019)

Biography

• Ken Spiker (October 27, 1925 - June 1, 2016)

Biography

• Jack Watkins (October 27, 1923 - May 22, 1998)

Biography

1948-49 Laurel Oilers (SPBL)

1948-49 LAUREL OILERS
SOUTHERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE
22-17 .564, 3rd place

Laurel, a tiny Mississippi town of around 25,000 people, was awarded a SPBL franchise in the fall of 1948. The preformed pretty well on the court, even defeating the defending and eventual champion Montgomery four times during the season. Lead by Johnny Stroud and Russell Reid, the Oilers won 8 of 11 down the stretch to secure their position in third place and merely a game behind Birmingham.

Head Coach:

• Wendell Shows (May 11, 1921 - May 16, 2011) Also played. See below.

PLAYERS:

• Pete Caldwell (February 21, 1921 - September 23, 1998)

Biography

• Art Grove (March 17, 1923 - May 25, 1984)

Biography

• Frank Jennings (October 8, 1924 - January 14, 2011)

Biography

• Ralph Jones (February 14, 1922 - February 18, 1995)

Biography

• Dave Madison (February 1, 1921 - December 8, 1985)

Biography

• Bob Pressley (February 24, 1926 - August 2, 1998)

Biography

• Russell Reid (February 1, 1920 - February 28, 2008)

Biography 

• Wendell Shows (May 11, 1921 - May 16, 2011)

Biography

• John Stroud (August 30, 1926 - November 29, 1969)

Biography

• Ray Woodward (September 2, 1920 - August 31, 2002)

Biography

1948-49 Birmingham Steelers (SPBL)

1948-49 BIRMINGHAM STEELERS
SOUTHERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE
22-15 .595, 2nd place


The Steelers were born from the ashes of the previous year's Birmingham Vulcans. Local businessman Jim Price revamped his team, bringing in baseball's Ben Chapman to coach. Chapman resigned on December 21, and the club finished the season with Price and another baseball luminary, Walt Dropo, coaching. The Steelers won 6 of seven games in early February to climb past first-place Montgomery, but that ascent was short lived as Birmingham dropped their last four games and fell back into second place. The league determined there was not enough financial viability for playoffs and they championship was awarded to the regular season champions in Montgomery.

Head Coaches:

• Ben Chapman (December 25, 1908 - July 7, 1993)
• Walt Dropo (January 30, 1923 - December 17, 2010)
• Jim Price ( )

PLAYERS:

• John Hoffman (b. November 30, 1923)

Biography 

• Merrill Hubbard (October 19, 1925 - December 3, 2002)

Biography

• Ralph Jones (February 14, 1922 - February 18, 1995)

Biography

• Darrell Lorance (February 28, 1928 - October 20, 2013)

Biography

• Bob Murphy 

Biography

• John Murphy (September 13, 1924 - January 29, 2003)

Biography

• Lindsey Oden (August 27, 1929 - November 2, 2019)

Biography

• Joe "J.T." Parker (November 4, 1921 - November 22, 1983)

Biography 

• Herb Spitzer (January 12, 1928 - August 10, 2011)

Biography

• Lloyd Spitzer (September 6, 1925 - February 8, 2002)

Biography


Source:
Birmingham Pro Sports

Everett Williams

Everett Holland Williams, Jr.


Born:
August 7, 1918
Jacksonville, FL

Died:
August 4, 2006



Career
1947-48 Jackson Senators (SPBL)
1948-49 Jacksonville Junior College - Florida (College)

From Jacksonville, Florida, Williams served in the U.S. Army during World War 2. He would play basketball with the Jackson Senators in 1947-48, and returned home to attend Jacksonville JC.

Source:


Stats:

Clyde Whitehead

Clyde Leon Whitehead


Born:
May 24, 1915
Belmont, MS

Died:
May 18, 1987
Nashville, TN


Career
1938-39 Red Aces - Nashville (Independent)
1940-41 Cook's All Stars - Nashville (Independent)
1946-47 Square Deal Service Station - Nashville (Independent)
1947-48 Nashville Vols (SPBL)

Whitehill was a talented local athlete who was offered a contract with the New York Yankees to play baseball. He decided to attend the University of Tennessee instead on an athletic scholarship. However, in his first year, he was  diagnosed with a heart murmur and high blood pressure which ended his athletic career at UT. He would play semi-pro baseball and basketball in the 1940's, remaining one of the more popular athletes in Nashville in the 1940's. He would later work for many years as an engine foreman for the L&N Railroad.

Whitehill married Mary Washburn in 1940.

Source:
Nashville Tennessean, February 4, 1968

Stats:

Cas Weinacker

Casimir P. Weinacker


Born:
January 2, 1921
Alabama

Died:
December 29, 2001
Mobile, AL


Career
1940-41 McGill High School - Mobile, AL (High School)
1947-48 Mobile Gulls (SPBL)
1950-51 Mobile AC (Independent)
1950-51 Weinacker Hornets - Mobile (Independent)

Born to Charles and Catherine Weinacker, Cas was the oldest of five children. He was an active basketball player around Mobile in the late 40's and 50's, even sponsoring and playing on his own team.

Source:


Stats:

Charles Ward

Charles Lipsey Ward


Born:
July 12, 1918
Pelahatchie, MS

Died:
September 20, 2007
Pelahatchie, MS


Career
Copiah-Lincoln High School - Wesson, MS (High School)
1937-38 Copiah-Lincoln JC - Wesson, MS (College)
1938-39 Copiah-Lincoln JC - Wesson, MS (College)
1939-40 Millsaps College - Jackson, MS (College)
1940-41 Millsaps College - Jackson, MS (College)
1944-45 Norfolk Air Station (Military)
1946-47 Jackson Sanderites - Mississippi (Independent)
1946-47 Jackson Lancers - Mississippi (Independent)
1947-48 Jackson Senators (SPBL)

Ward played football, baseball and basketball at Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War 2. After the war, he would play pro basketball with the Jackson Senators as well as a myriad of other semi-pro teams. He also played semi-prob baseball and would be inducted into the Mississippi Semi-Pro Baseball Hall of Fame. He would work at Western Union for many years as well as Aetna and Zurich American.

He married Erlyne Snyder (1918-1980) and they had one son and one daughter. Widowed, he remarried to Reba Butler Comer.

Source:
Clarion Ledger, September 22, 2007

Stats:

Frank Wadsworth

Frank Ard Wadsworth, Jr.


Born:
December 14, 1922
Cedar Springs, AL

Died:
November 7, 2006
Bagley, AL


Career
1946-47 Howard College - Alabama (College)
1947-48 Howard College - Alabama (College)
1947-48 Birmingham Vulcans (SPBL)

Wadsworth played at Howard College and joined the depleted Birmingham Vulcans in time for the playoffs after the collegiate season ended. He scored seven points in his only Vulcan appearance,  a 99-61 loss to Nashville that ended the Birmingham season. He went on to be an assistant football coach at West Jefferson High School in Montgomery.

Source:


Stats:

Nelson Vinal

Nelson Corrie Vinal


Born:
March 8, 1925
Jacksonville FL

Died:
March 10, 1998
Jacksonville FL


Career
Jacksonville Naval Air Station (Military)
1946-47 Stetson University (College)
1947-48 Jackson Senators (SPBL)
1948-49 Jacksonville JC - Florida (College)
1950-51 University of Florida (College)
1951-52 Robert E. Lee High School - Jacksonville (High School) Assistant coach
1952-53 Robert E. Lee High School - Jacksonville (High School) Head coach
1953-54 Robert E. Lee High School - Jacksonville (High School) Head coach
1953-54 Gibbs Vikings / Shipbuilders - Jacksonville (Independent)
1954-55 Robert E. Lee High School - Jacksonville (High School) Head coach
1955-56 Robert E. Lee High School - Jacksonville (High School) Head coach
1956-57 Robert E. Lee High School - Jacksonville (High School) Head coach
1957-58 Robert E. Lee High School - Jacksonville (High School) Head coach
1958-59 Robert E. Lee High School - Jacksonville (High School) Head coach
1959-60 Robert E. Lee High School - Jacksonville (High School) Head coach
1960-61 Robert E. Lee High School - Jacksonville (High School) Head coach
1961-62 Robert E. Lee High School - Jacksonville (High School) Head coach
1962-63 Robert E. Lee High School - Jacksonville (High School) Head coach
1963-64 Robert E. Lee High School - Jacksonville (High School) Head coach
1964-65 Robert E. Lee High School - Jacksonville (High School) Head coach
1965-66 Robert E. Lee High School - Jacksonville (High School) Head coach
1969-70 Jacksonville University (College) Assistant coach
1970-71 Jacksonville University (College) Assistant coach

A Jacksonville, Florida, native, 5'9 Vinal played basketball while in the U.S. Navy during World War 2. After the war, he attended Stetson but dropped in 1947. He would go on to play with the Jackson Senators of the Southern League, and in the following year returned home to Jacksonville to attend the local community college. Apparently the Southern League didn't hamper his eligibility because he would later play for the University of Florida before finishing his educations and coach the team at Lee HS in his home town. AFter a long stint at Lee, he became the assistant coach at Jacksonville University and would eventually be appointed the Dade County Athletic Adinistrator.

Vinal died in 1998 a few days after his 73rd birthday.

Nelson was married to Doris and they had at least one daughter.


Source:


Stats:

Bob Teubert

Bob Teubert


Born:



Died:




Career
1947-48 Birmingham Vulcans (SPBL)

Appears in the box score as "Toubert." The story refers to him as "Bob Teubert." Could be other variations of spelling his name. Taubert. Tauber. Either way, can't ID him.

Source:


Stats:

Neil Tanner

Neil Tanner


Born:



Died:




Career
1947-48 Birmingham Vulcans (SPBL)

Neil Tanner played in a couple games for the Birmingham Vulcans.

Source:


Stats:

Jack Tanner

Jack Russell Tanner


Born:
July 29, 1920
Dora, AL

Died:
June 28, 1988
Dora, AL


Career
1939-40 Auburn University (College)
1940-41 Auburn University (College)
1941-42 Auburn University (College)
1947-48 Gadsden / Bessemer Whiz Kids (SPBL) Head coach / player
1948-49 Birmingham Steelers (SPBL)


A graduate from Auburn, Tanner went into the U.S. Army after graduating, serving for two years during World War 2. He would be hired to coach Tanner the Whiz Kids in the Southern Basketball League. (He allegedly played a few games, but I have not found all of the box scores and haven't seen his name in a game yet.) He would go on to play for the Birmingham Steelers in the next season. Jack was involved with Alabama's agricultural industry, serving with the Jefferson County Bureau and the Farmer's Market of Birmingham.

Jack and his wife, Dorothy, had one son and two daughters.

Source:


Stats:

Buck Tanner

William John "Buck" Tanner


Born:
August 1, 1924
Pittsburgh, PA

Died:
June 5, 1978
Tampa, FL


Career
1941-42 Jefferson High School - Tampa, FL (High School)
1942-43 Jefferson High School - Tampa, FL (High School)
1944-45 Tampa Fisherman (Independent)
1944-45 McCloskey Shippers - Tampa (Independent)
1947-48 Memphis Legionnaires / Memphis Gulls (SPBL)

Born to Ishmael and Juanita Tanner, the Tanner family moved to Tampa, Florida, by 1935.

Scouted and signed by Brooklyn Dodgers scout Wid Matthews, he left high school one credit shy of graduating in order to pursue a baseball career. Classified by the draft board af 4-F due to an ear issue, Tanner bounced around the Dodgers organization for years. He was suspended by organized baseball by jumping his contract and signing to play in the Mexican League in 1946, but that suspension was lifted and he resumed his baseball career. He was thought to certainly be a member of the Dodgers one day, but it never came to be, only reaching AAA level of the minor leagues. A very good basketball player in high school, his 6'6 frame got him a contract with Memphis in the Southern Basketball League in 1947, averaging 3.8 points in the 14 games I found he played in.
After ending his baseball career, Tanner stayed around Tampa, coaching and raising his family and scouting for the Cincinnati Reds. He died in 1978 at the age of 53 following a lengthy illness.

He and his wife, Barbara, had five sons and one daughter. One son, Jim, was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 3rd round of the 1967 draft but he never got higher than their Class-AA team in Montgomery. His brother, Rudy, also played minor league baseball.


Minor League Stats:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=tanner000buc
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=tanner001wil

Source:


Stats:

Jim Tankersley

James O'Neal Tankersley


Born:
September 26, 1927
Chapel Hill, TN

Died:
May 1, 2009
Paducah, KY


Career
1947-48 Nashville Vols (SPBL)
1947-48 Dixie Stars - Nashville (Independent)

Sometimes listed as Bill or by his middle name O'Neal.

Born to Glen and Ethel Tankersley, Jim played some basketball for the Nashville Vols in the Southern League while teaching at Dale Carnegie. He left teaching when he got his calling from God, and went into ministry and spent 50 years preaching the Word at various churches throughout the South.

He married Martha Norwood and they had two sons and four daughters.

Source:
Paducah Sun, May 3, 2009

Stats:

John Stroud

John Ralph Stroud


Born:
August 30, 1926
Myrtle, MS

Died:
November 29, 1969
New Albany, MS


Career
1942-43 Macedonia High School - Mississippi (High School)
1943-44 Macedonia High School - Mississippi (High School)
1944-45 Macedonia High School - Mississippi (High School)
1945-46 Macedonia High School - Mississippi (High School)
1946-47 Kessler Field (Military)
1947-48 Jackson Senators (SPBL)
1948-49 Laurel Oilers (SPBL)
1950-51 Northeast Community College - Booneville, MS (College)
1950-51 Prairie - Mississippi (Independent)
1952-53 Whiskered Wizards (Independent)
1953-54 Whiskered Wizards (Independent)
1954-55 Whiskered Wizards (Independent) 


In 1951, Northeast Community College in Booneville, Mississippi, was trying to win the JuCo National Basketball Championship. Coach Bonner Arnold recruited is friend, Johnny Stroud, to play for him. Stroud, who averaged 20.8 and 17.3 PPG in the Southern League a couple years prior, was a dominant force in the tournament, scoring 24 points in the semi-finals and 44 games in the final, which Northeast lost. Later, the school had to forfeit its runner-up trophy due to Stroud's professional stint in the Southern League.

Stroud died of a massive heart attack in 1969 at the age of 43.

Source:


Stats: