1947-48 Utica Olympics (NYSL)

1947-48 UTICA OLYMPICS
NEW YORK STATE PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE
Western Division
Finished: 15-18 .455 (18-18 .500*), 1st place

Divisional Semi-finals - Lost to Mohawk, 2-0

The defending champions could never find their groove. However, their mediocre 18-18 record was good enough to win the Western Division, but they lost in the playoffs to Mohawk in two straight games.

 * Utica had three forfeit wins from Oswego


Head Coach: 

• Bob Synnott (September 27, 1912 - November 19, 1985)

PLAYERS:

• Paul Anthony (January 23, 1924 - May 21, 1993)

• Pete Farina (February 28, 1921 - September 29, 2003)

• Tom Flanagan (July 18, 1916 - July 4, 2003)

• Bill Griffin (September 4, 1924 - May 25, 2002)

• Johnny Isaacs (September 15, 1915 - January 26, 2009)

• Jim Joyce (October 23, 1924 - October 24, 2006)

  

  Ben Maley

• Jim Konstanty (March 2, 1917 - June 11, 1976)

• Stan "Fat" Krause (June 22, 1917 - August 12, 2009)

• Ben Maley

• Tom McTiernan (June 14, 1923 - January 6, 2009)

• Johnny Mroczkowski (May 25, 1918 - July 29, 1994)

• Bob Nugent (September 18, 1915 - June 4, 1995)

• Bob O'Shaughnessy (February 2, 1921 - September 5, 1995)

• Bernie Rutledge (October 1, 1923 - April 20, 1954)

• Bob Sherman (January 12, 1920 - December 23, 2016)

• Simonds   

• Frank Soscia (April 10, 1918 - January 6, 1962)

• Red Wallace (July 12, 1918 - July 7, 1977)

• Stan Waxman (May 20, 1922 - February 22, 2013)

• Ted Wyberanec (April 11, 1920 - August 2, 1991)

1947-48 Twin Cities Celtics / Glens Falls Commorodes (NYSL)

1947-48 TWIN CITIES CELTICS (ALBANY / TROY)
1947-48 GLENS FALLS COMMODORES
NEW YORK STATE PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE
Western Division

Finished: 13-14 .481 (22-14 .611*), 3rd place

The Twin Cities Cetlics, who called both Albany and Troy home, won their first four games of the season but hit a little snag and dropped four of their next five. They struggled financially and eventually the franchise would be sold and the new ownership moved their Vermont Vulcans club to become the Glens Falls Commodores. They assumed the 13-7 record left by the Celtics. The Commodores, with a whole new cast of players, performed well but couldn't catch Saratoga for a playoff birth.

 * Twin Cities had five forfeit wins from Oswego. Glens Falls had forfeit wins from Mohawk, Utica and Schenectady.




Head Coaches: 

Coach Danny Mack

• Paul Sahagian (1906 - 1991) 13-7
• Danny Mack a.k.a. Daniel A. McGillicuddy (January 19, 1918  - December 5, 1994) 9-7

PLAYERS: 

TWIN CITIES (ALBANY / TROY) :

• Hank Baietti (October 1, 1920 - June 26, 2006)

• Moe Becker (February 24, 1917 - January 9, 1996)

• Collins

• Chuck Connors (April 10, 1921 - November 10, 1992)

• Larry Dodick (August 15, 1914 - February 11, 1999)

• Johnny Ezersky (March 21, 1922 - February 20, 2012)

• Bob Fitzgerald (March 14, 1923 - July 23, 1983)

• Dick Fitzgerald (November 18, 1920 - April 13, 1968)

• Dick Giles (November 22, 1923 - November 1, 1984)

• Ed Golub (December 25, 1922 - November 3, 2000)

• Bill Henry (May 23, 1924 - April 24, 1999)

• Earl May (February 8, 1919 - July 6, 2004)

• Mike McCarron (March 2, 1922 - October 2, 1991)

• Johnny Mroczkowski (May 25, 1918 - July 29, 1994)

• Moon Mullens (November 1, 1922 - July 15, 1989)

• Dick Murphy (March 10, 1921 - October 22, 1973)

• Tony Orlando (June 10, 1923 - October 9, 1997)

• Willard Rice (July 4, 1919 - October 7, 1992)

• Lee Robbins (February 11, 1922 - April 8, 1968)

• Ossie Schectman (March 30, 1919 - July 30, 2013)

• Art Seguso (May 5, 1927 - January 26, 2000)

• Nat Silverberg (September 6, 1922 - October 8, 1993)

• John Simmons (July 7, 1924 - August 1, 2008)

GLENS FALLS:

• Al Benson  

Joe Fater

• Dom Binetti (May 11, 1924 - January 1, 2001)

• Boomer Casey (May 16, 1925 - June 23, 2004)

• Joe Fater  

• Clarence Forbes (May 29, 1923 - August 31, 2008)

• Tom Gorman (March 16, 1919 - August 11, 1986)

• Bob Jake (January 9, 1923 - November 30, 2013)

• Hank Keller (August 16, 1922 - February 24, 1983)

• Larry Killick (May 31, 1922 - January 31, 2013)

• Steve Murphy  

• Bob Nolan (October 22, 1921 - February 12, 1995)

• Phil Press  

Bob Jake

• Ebba St. Claire (August 5, 1921 - August 22, 1982)

• George Scott 

• Henry Singleton (March 24, 1925 - July 4, 2010)

• Connie Toomb (September 5, 1922 - May 15, 1987)

• Ted or Bill Travers 

• Bill Warneke 

1947-48 Schenectady Comets (NYSL)

1947-48 SCHENECTADY COMETS
NEW YORK STATE PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE
Western Division**
Finished: 8-20 .286 (12-24 .333*), 3rd place

Schenectady got off to a 4-3 start by mid December, but things quickly fell apart and the team stumbled to a 12-24 record.

* Four forfeit wins from Oswego, and forfeit losses were given to Utica, Mohawk and Glens Falls (two) 

** Started the season in the Eastern Division but was moved to the West following the addition of Glens Falls

Head Coaches: 

• Sig Makofski (March 29, 1904 - January 15, 1994) 8-13
• Pete Fox (December 14, 1917 - January 6, 1994) 4-11

PLAYERS:

• Clubby Bennett (January 1, 1921 - November 11, 2019)

• Scotty Conner

• Mike Genevrino (March 4, 1922 - June 17, 2002)

• Dick Giles (November 22, 1923 - November 1, 1984)

• Coulby Gunther (February 5, 1923 - July 14, 2005)

• Jim Konstanty (March 2, 1917 - June 11, 1976)

• Vic Mastriani (January 11, 1921 - January 1, 2010)

• Carl Petroski (April 10, 1920 - February 19, 2004)

• Ed "Pete" Suwinski (September 23, 1919 - August 7, 2005)

• Charlie Swart (June 22, 1920 - January 16, 1987)

• Kayo Waner (Wnorowski) (October 4, 1921 - April 15, 1998)

• Chuck Yund (December 12. 1918 - September 5, 1961)

1947-48 Saratoga Indians (NYSL)

1947-48 SARATOGA INDIANS
NEW YORK STATE PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE
Eastern Division
Finished: 22-10 .688 (26-10 .722*), 2nd place

Divisional Semi-Finals - lost to Cohoes, 2-0

A much-improved and revamped club this year under Dutch Dehnert, Saratoga still couldn't catch the Cohoes team.


 * Four forfeit wins from Oswego 


Head Coach: 

• Dutch Dehnert (April 5, 1898 - April 20, 1979)

PLAYERS:

• Puggy Bell (November 26, 1914 - February 19, 1985)

• Dom Binetti (May 11, 1924 - January 1, 2001)

• Bill Bondanza (July 23, 1925 - March 4, 2021)

• George Collins (January 17, 1925 - March 25, 1974)

• John Dapcic (October 15, 1924 - June 8, 2011)

• Red Dehnert (January 24, 1924 - September 23, 1994)

• Hank DeZonie (February 12, 1922 - January 2, 2009)

• Walt Dropo (January 30, 1923 - December 17, 2010)

• Coulby Gunther (February 5, 1923 - July 14, 2005)

• Jerry Halstead (February 21, 1919 - March 29, 1998)

• Vic Hansen

• Charlie Hoefer (September 16, 1921 - June 12, 1983)

• Bob Holm (January 22, 1919 - April 14, 2002)

• Charlie Isles (September 20, 1913 - October 5, 1987)

• Julie Kasner (October 23, 1917 - February 15, 2007)

• Tony Kelly (February 18, 1919 - March 1, 1987)

• Dick Kraus (September 30, 1926 - February 2, 1995)

• Guy Luciano (March 11, 1923 - August 25, 2007)

• Jim McGrath 

• Harry Miller (July 28, 1923 - April 18, 2007)

• Don Otten (February 6, 1926 - December 10, 2011)

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

• Bill Roberts (March 13, 1925 - January 23, 2016)

• Ebba St. Claire (August 5, 1921 - August 22, 1982)

• Dick Schmeelk (September 7, 1924 - May 19, 2022)

• Nat Silverberg (September 6, 1922 - October 8, 1993)

• Jim Waite

1947-48 Oswego Pontiacs (NYSL)

Coach Joe Friedman

1947-48 OSWEGO PONTIACS
NEW YORK STATE PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE
Eastern Division
Finished: 1-10 .091 (2-34 .055*), 4th place

Lou Bertino

Oswego, coached by Doc Herring from Rochester, got their first win in their third game of the season, a 37-30 win over the Schenectady Comets. They would only win one more game the rest of the way and that was via a forfeit when Cohoes did not play their scheduled game with the Pontiacs on December 26, 1947. Herring was replaced as coach on December 18 by Joe Friedman, also a Rochester native. After the forfeit victory, Friedman would see the get drubbed four more times. The January 8, 1948 game at Mohawk, a 112-51 beatdown, was the swan song for the Oswego team. They folded and forfeited their remaining scheduled games.

Mike Barrett

 * Twenty-four forfeit losses: five to Twin Cities, four to Cohoes, four to Mohawk, four to Saratoga, four to Schenectady and three to Utica. One forfeit win from Cohoes on December 26, 1947, when Cohoes failed to show due to a snowstorm.


Head Coaches: 

• John H. "Doc" Herring (July 2, 1915 - February 24, 2002) 1-6
• Joseph H. Friedman (August 1898 - 1993) 1-4 

PLAYERS:

• Mike Barrett (November 2, 1910 - September 25, 1993)

• Lou Bertino  (July 2, 1923 - November 1, 2006)

• Chuck Bonsignore (July 29, 1918 - June 30, 2006)

• Pete Masley (May 12, 1923 - December 9, 2011)

Pete Masley

• Bernie Partyka (April 21, 1924 - May 9, 2014)

• Walt Sether (March 23, 1918 - December 4, 1994)

• Eddie Simms (March 12, 1921 - March 19, 2018)

• Bobby Stewart (July 10, 1916 - July 21, 1972)

• Thomas  

Chuck Bonsignore

1947-48 Mohawk Redskins (NYSL)

1947-48 MOHAWK REDSKINS
NEW YORK STATE PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE
Western Division

Coach Wilbur Crisp in his playing days

Finished: 11-19 .367 (17-19 .472*) , 2nd place

Divisional  Semi-finals - Defeated Utica, 2-0
League Championship - Lost to Cohoes, 3-1

Mohawk struggled most of the season as coach Wilbur Crisp kept tinkering with his roster to find the right combination. They ousted the defending champions Utica in the Divisional Semis and defeated Cohoes in the first game of the league championship series, but the lost the next three to give the title to the Mastadons.

 * Four forfeit wins from Oswego, one from Glens Falls, one from Schenectady

Head Coach: 

• Wilbur Crisp (January 22, 1891 - January 15, 1969)

PLAYERS:

• Paul Anthony (January 23, 1924 - May 21, 1993)

• Hank Baietti (October 1, 1920 - June 26, 2006)

• Chuck Connors (April 10, 1921 - November 10, 1992)

• George Faust (Feigenbaum)  (July 2, 1928 - December 25, 2000) 

• Bob Fitzgerald (March 14, 1923 - July 23, 1983)

• Dick Fitzgerald (November 18, 1920 - April 13, 1968)

• Al Friedman

• Vic Hanson (February 29, 1928 - October 15, 1988)
  

• Billy Hoeppel (July 22, 1921 - October 19, 1995)

• Ed Kassler (July 21, 1923 - March 7, 2011)

• Mike McCarron (March 2, 1922 - October 2, 1991)

• Tom McTiernan (June 14, 1923 - January 6, 2009)

• Chick Meehan (January 9, 1917 - April 9, 2004)

• Johnny Mroczkowski (May 25, 1918 - July 29, 1994)

• Mule O'Shields (May 23, 1921 - January 17, 2001)

• Jim Schults (July 9, 1920 - April 11, 2009)

• Charlie Swart (June 22, 1920 - January 16, 1987)

• John Varsoke (February 8, 1921 - October 28, 2003)

• Vince Verdeschi (March 24, 1925 - August 16, 1965)

1947-48 Cohoes Mastadons (NYSL)

1947-48 COHOES MASTADONS
NEW YORK STATE PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE
Eastern Division
Finished: 25-6 .806 (29-7 .806*), 1st place

Divisional  Semi-finals - Defeated Saratoga, 2-0
League Finals - Defeated Mohawk, 3-0 

Despite an amazing record this year, the Mastadons had to fight off Saratoga and Twin Cities / Glens Falls to win the Eastern Division. They rolled through Saratoga in the playoffs, and after losing the opening contest of the league championship series to Mohawk, rattle off the remaining three to claim the title.

 * Four forfeit wins from Oswego.  One forfeit loss to Oswego from December 26, 1947, when Cohoes failed to show for a game due to snow. The league commissioners determined that travel was not impossible and should have showed up.

Head Coach: 

• Julie Kasner (October 23, 1917 - February 15, 2007) Also played. See below.

PLAYERS:

• Sam Barucci (Roth)

• Red Blumenthal (May 30, 1924 - March 18, 1969)

• Kelly Brofman (June 15, 1923 - July 25, 2011)

• Jim Coward (May 28, 1917 - February 15, 1995)

Paul Schmones

• Ike Dubow (January 15, 1922 - January 16, 1974)

• Frido Frey (October 26, 1921 - May 16, 2000)

• Julie Kasner (October 23, 1917 - February 15, 2007)

• Nat Militzok (May 3, 1923 - May 14, 2009)

• Johnny Mroczkowski (May 25, 1918 - July 29, 1994)

• Tony Orlando (June 10, 1923 - October 9, 1997)

• Hank Rosenstein (June 16, 1920 - February 27, 2010)

• Paul Schmones (January 11, 1926 - February 10, 2016)

• Nick Shaback (September 10, 1918 - January 5, 2010)

• Nat Silverberg (September 6, 1922 - October 8, 1993)

1947-48 NYSL

I found the 1947-48 season to a complete mess. It was hard to find results, let alone box scores. I have many holes in my datas and hard to really piece any sort of history together. It is appropriate, though, because the league itself was a fluid mess. The Albany and Troy clubs merged to become the Twin Cities Celtics. This team closed up shop in January, and the the Vermont Vulcans out of Burlington, Vermont, bought the franchise and moved their club to Glens Falls and played the remainder of the season, picking up the Celtics' record at the time of their departure. The Oswego Pontiacs last into the first week of January, but after a 2-10 start that climaxed with a 61-point pounding by the Mohawks Redskins, folded and forfeited the remainder of their games. Cohoes finished with a 29-7 record, and bumped divisional runner-up Saratoga two games in the divisional playoffs. Mohawk, who finished a game behind the first-place defending champion Utica team in the Western Division, defeated the Olympics to face Cohoes in the championship series. Mohawk won the first game, been then suffered 3-straight losses to hand the title to the Mastadons. Schenectady started the season in the Eastern Division, and Twin Cities was in the Western Division, but when the Glens Falls shift occured, Schenectady was sent to the Western Division while Glens Falls took their spot in the East.

EASTERN DIVISION
Cohoes Mastadons
Oswego Pontiacs*
Saratoga Indians
Twin Cities (Troy/Albany) Celtics * / Glens Falls Commodores

WESTERN DIVISION
Mohawk Redskins
Schenectady Comets
Utica Olympics

* - folded before season's end

1946-47 Utica Olympics (NYSL)

1946-47 UTICA OLYMPICS
NEW YORK STATE PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE
Western Division
Finished: 18-9 .667 (25-9 .735*), 1st place

Divisional  Semi-finals - Defeated Mohawk, 3-1
NYSL Championship - Defeated Cohoes, 3-0

The Utica Olympics, owned by Tommy Ruggiero and coached by Hod Nester, were loaded with talented players like Rob Dewey, Harold Anderson and Ted Wyberanec. They jumped out to a 10-2 start and fought with the Mohawk Redskins all season long for first place before finally taking the flag in the waning weeks of the season. They defeated the 'Skins in the semi-finals before sweeping Cohoes to win the New York League Championship.

 * Seven forfeit wins: six from Gloversville, one from Troy

Head Coach: 

• Horage G. "Hod" Nester (November 5, 1899 - December 17, 1969)

PLAYERS:

• Dick Ahrens (April 11, 1916 - April 2, 1983)

• Lefty Allman (January 22, 1922 - February 13, 2006)

• Harold Anderson (October 12, 1918 - June 14, 2014)

• Paul Anthony (January 23, 1924 - May 21, 1993)

• Rob Dewey (October 24, 1920 - February 18, 1988)

• Pete Farina (February 28, 1921 - September 29, 2003)

• Bill Griffin (September 4, 1924 - May 25, 2002)

• Richard Jackson

Ben Maley

• Jim Konstanty (March 2, 1917 - June 11, 1976)

• Stan "Fat" Krause (June 22, 1917 - August 12, 2009)

• Ben Maley

• Nick Pole

• Dick Rand 

• Bob Shaddock (November 15, 1920 - April 22, 1991)

• Frank Soscia (April 10, 1918 - January 6, 1962)

• Howie Steffens (September 8, 1921 - May 6, 1993)

• Bob Synnott (September 27, 1912 - November 19, 1985)

• Joe Uvanni (April 8, 1917 - February 10, 2010)

• Ted Wyberanec (April 11, 1920 - August 2, 1991)

• Chuck Yund (December 12. 1918 - September 5, 1961)

1946-47 Troy Berkays / Whirlwinds (NYSL)

1946-47 TROY BERKAYS / WHIRLWINDS
NEW YORK STATE PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE
Eastern Division
Finished: 2-12 .143, (2-32 .059*) 4th place

The city of Troy already had a pro basketball team (Troy Celtics) in the American League, so the idea of supporting two teams seemed like a bad one. Harry Fitzpatrick left after four games, and after Moe Goldman filled in, local high school coach and former player Curly Burns took over. The Boston Whirlwinds were brought in to replace the entire squad on January 15. Burns remained on as coach until the team ceased operations following a 101-57 beating at Saratoga. The team forfeited the 20 remaining games.

 * Twenty forfeit losses: four to Albany, five to Cohoes, three to Mohawk, three to Saratoga, one to Schenectady, three to Gloversville and one to Utica.


Head Coaches: 

• Harry Fitzpatrick (May 22, 1913 - November 19, 1979) 0-4
• Moe Goldman (May 30, 1913 - May 7, 1989) 0-1
• Joseph "Curly" Burns (January 1, 1898 - January 15, 1957) 2-7

Bob Duffy

PLAYERS:

• Alvin

• Anderson

• Anthony

• Charlie Bradley (February 4, 1922 - February 12, 1978)

• Herb Brenner (November 23, 1918 - July 2, 2012)

• Ed Buckley (July 2, 1920 - September 15, 1993)

• Tom Connell (April 12, 1921 - January 23, 2010)

• Jackie Curran (b. 1924)

• Dom Denio (March 23, 1919 - June 22, 2011)

• Tony DiBacco (March 24, 1927 - August 30, 2016)

• Harry Donovan (b. September 10, 1926)

Jack Fultz

• Bob Duffy (July 5, 1922 - June 11, 1978)

• Evers 

• Harry Fitzpatrick (May 22, 1913 - November 19, 1979)

• Jack Fultz (July 3, 1922 - October 17, 1952)

• Gardner 

• Moe Goldman (May 30, 1913 - May 7, 1989)

• Gregory 

• Mike Gully (March 22, 1915 - September 14, 1990)

• Art Gurfein (November 18, 1921 - May 3, 2003)

• Bill Henry (May 23, 1924 - April 24, 1999)

Mike Gully

• Ted Heuchling (June 24, 1925 - December 23, 2017)

• Mickey Hogan (February 3, 1923 - May 28, 2010)

• Ed Krause

• Jim Krug (June 13, 1918 - April 8, 2010)

• Pat Marino (April 4, 1926 - October 16, 2014)

• Swede Masin (June 7, 1920 - September 10, 2005)

• Bob McDermott (June 13, 1921 - June 14, 2014)

• McKinstry 

• John McNamee (October 21, 1918 - November 12, 1965)

• Tidy Millen (January 5, 1913 - March 4, 1983)

• Les Mintz (July 27, 1921 - November 10, 2016)

• Jack Pendergast (February 24, 1912 - January 26, 1991)

• Reynolds 

• Bill Ryan (April 25, 1925 - January 22, 1990)

• Jim Sarullo (August 10, 1916 - February 29, 1976)

• Stanko 

Wally Williams

• Ralph Taggart (July 7, 1921 - April 25, 2006)

• Tucker 

• Red Vetters (July 19, 1917 - April 1, 1997)

• Vince 

• Waters 

• Wally Williams (February 12, 1919 - August 8, 1990)

1946-47 Schenectady Comets (NYSL)

1946-47 SCHENECTADY COMETS
NEW YORK STATE PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE
Western Division
Finished: 11-17 .393 (17-17 .500*) 3rd place

Coached by Doug McManus, Schenectady only won two of their first ten, marred by a seven-game losing skid. They never were in the hunt, and their record is only mediocre due to six forfeit wins.


 * Six forfeit wins: five from Gloversville, one from Troy

Head Coach: 

• Doug McManus (January 14, 1910 - December 1983)
  

PLAYERS:

• Clubby Bennett (January 1, 1921 - November 11, 2019)

• John Billy 

• Scotty Conner 

• Ferni 

• Pete Fox (December 14, 1917 - January 6, 1994)

• Jerry Halstead (February 21, 1919 - March 29, 1998)

• Karl Heiner (May 9, 1916 - September 4, 2004)

• Chuck Holley (April 15, 1919 - October 9, 2012)

• Jackson 

• Vic Mastriani (January 11, 1921 - January 1, 2010)

• Earl May (February 8, 1919 - July 6, 2004)

• Carl Petroski (April 10, 1920 - February 19, 2004)

• Ed Petroski (March 16, 1922 - February 6, 2008)

• Reynolds

• Ed Stankewicz 

• Ed "Pete" Suwinski (September 23, 1919 - August 7, 2005)

• Stan Suwinski (April 21, 1924 - January 30, 2002)

• Kayo Waner (Wnorowski) (October 4, 1921 - April 15, 1998)

1946-47 Saratoga Indians (NYSL)

1946-47 SARATOGA INDIANS
NEW YORK STATE PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE
Western Division
Finished: 14-15 .615 (19-15 .559*), 3rd place

Saratoga entered the league with high expectations, but they never were able to put together a decent run. They remained in the playoff hunt until the last couple weeks. Turk Karam had started the seaon as coach, but he left to coach the independent basketball team, the Kingston Chiefs, a few players went with him.

 * Five forfeit wins: two from Gloversville, three from Troy

Head Coaches: 

• Ameen B. "Turk" Karam (1909 - May 29, 1963) 3-4
• Rody Cooney (May 17, 1902 - September 29, 1965) 11-11
  

PLAYERS:

• Jerry Bussell (October 17, 1919 - October 2, 1995)

• George Collins (January 17, 1925 - March 25, 1974)

• Ed Conaty (October 28, 1911 - February 24, 1977)

• Jim Coward (May 28, 1917 - February 15, 1995)

• Joe Dinkwoods (January 21, 1917 - December 26, 1994)

• Larry Dodick (August 15, 1914 - February 11, 1999)

• Fred Ferrie (April 2, 1917 - April 14, 1995)

• Bobby Fisher (October 20, 1919 - March 24, 1992)

• Bill Flanigan (May 1, 1912 - February 27, 2007)

• Dick Gray (May 26, 1921 - December 28, 1973)

Paul Patten

• H.T. Grimes (March 24, 1921 - May 1983)

• Joe Hersch

• Paul Kartluke (February 15, 1918 - January 11, 1985)

• Al Lenowicz (September 25, 1914 - February 18, 1974)

• Art Lockheed (March 4, 1921 - November 22, 2014)

• Don Otten (February 6, 1926 - December 10, 2011)

• Paul Patten (November 14, 1920 - January 24, 1992)

• Rocky Petrafesa (February 22, 1917 - February 6, 2003)

• Norm Rosen (April 13, 1925 - March 1, 1994)

• Bob Rydberg (August 28, 1926 - February 4, 1996)

• Ebba St. Claire (August 5, 1921 - August 22, 1982)

• John Slab (May 1, 1920 - August 20, 1980)

• Ed Stevens 

1946-47 Mohawk Redskins (NYSL)

1946-47 MOHAWK REDSKINS
NEW YORK STATE PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE
Western Division
Finished: 16-10 .615 (24-10 .706*), 2nd place

Divisional  Semi-finals - Lost to Utica, 3-1

One of the strongest teams in the league, Mohawk fought all season long with their Utica counterparts and lost the regular season division crown to the Olympics by one game. They squared off in the playoffs and Utica prevailed in four games.

 * Eight forfeit wins: five from Gloversville, three from Troy

Head Coach: 

• Sheldon Basloe (October 1, 1919 - August 6, 2004)
  

PLAYERS:

• Anderson

John Korniewicz

• Al Friedman

• Billy Hoeppel (July 22, 1921 - October 19, 1995)

• Dick Holub (October 29, 1921 - July 27, 2009)

• John Korniewicz (September 5, 1922 - February 8, 1979)

• Hal Korovin (April 19, 1925 - June 5, 2021)

• John (Clem) McTiernan

• Tom McTiernan (June 14, 1923 - January 6, 2009)

• John Nelle (March 26, 1920 - January 13, 2015)

• Peter Piccola

• Dick Rand (October 16, 1916 - August 30, 1994)

• Royfield

• John Schmitt (February 12, 1917 - January 1, 2012)

• Jim Schults (July 9, 1920 - April 11, 2009)

• Lew Spicer (November 12, 1922 - June 23, 1981)

• Charlie Swart (June 22, 1920 - January 16, 1987)

• Bob Synnott (September 27, 1912 - November 19, 1985)

1946-47 Gloversville Glovers (NYSL)

1946-47 GLOVERSVILLE GLOVERS
NEW YORK STATE PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE
Western Division
Finished: 0-7 .000, (0-34 .000*) 4th place


Coached by Don Dutton, Gloversville got off to a rough start, losing their opening game to Saratoga by 22 points. Over the next five games, they would not finish that close, losing by 31, 25, 25, 34 any 28 points. On January 8, they battled the also-hapless and un victorious Troy team into overtime before falling. Standing at a record of seven losses against zero win, owner Leo Sturm stated that he would either sell the team or turn the franchise back to the league. No buyer was found, and the franchise was terminated. It was eventually ruled that the Glovers would forfeit the games they didn't play, 27 in all (apparently including 3 to Troy, which counted in Troy's record not as wins but also as losses, since the Troy team would meet a similar fate as Gloversville later that season. This is why the final standings don't prove out with wins and losses)

 * Twenty-seven forfeit losses: three to Albany, three to Cohoes, five to Mohawk, two to Saratoga, five to Schenectady, three to Troy and six to Utica.


Head Coach: 

• Don Dutton (September 26, 1908 - May 15, 1973) Also played. See below.
  

PLAYERS:

• Sam Abrams

• Joe Behan (December 1, 1923 - February 21, 1999)

• Jack Briaddy (February 25, 1918 - August 13, 1968)

• Paul Cooney

• Jake Costello (March 21, 1914 - May 15, 1991)

• Allen Dernback (November 8, 1916 - June 28, 1990)

• Jack Dugan

• Don Dutton (September 23, 1918 - May 15, 1973)

• Ray Duval (June 7, 1920 - July 18, 1994)

• Fowler

• Fran Goodness (November 29, 1915 - October 23, 2003)

• Hearney

• Houghton

• Whitey Jensen (August 26, 1918 - August 28, 2009)

• Joe Karpinski (April 28, 1917 - July 30, 2001)

• Paul Kartluke (February 15, 1918 - January 11, 1985)

• Ed Kassler (July21, 1923 - March 7, 2011)

• John Korniewicz (February 5, 1922 - February 8, 1979)

Mike Mashuta

• Mike Mashuta (June 1, 1926 - February 26, 2010)

• Don McInerney (February 12, 1918 - September 7, 2005)

• Leo McInerney (March 3, 1924 - February 3, 1986)

• Rebasti

• Willard Rice (July 4, 1919 - October 7, 1992)

• Rubin

• Bob Shaddock (November 15, 1920 - April 22, 1991)

• Bob Synnott (September 27, 1912 - November 19, 1985)

• Trifilletti
  

1946-47 Cohoes Mastadons (NYSL)

1946-47 COHOES MASTADONS
NEW YORK STATE PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE
Eastern Division
Finished: 17-8 .680 (25-8 .758*), 1st place

Divisional  Semi-finals - Defeated Albany, 3-2
League Finals - Lost to Utica, 3-0

Loaded with talent and coached by Tubby Raskin, the Mastadons won their first five games and seven of their first eight. In early January, Raskin missed a couple games to tend to his sick mother. Kapust filled in awaiting for Raskin's return. However, Raskin decided to resign totally, thus making Kapust the full-time head coach as well as averaging around 10 points per game. Their fortunes continued to improve when they pciked up Paul Kartiluke from the dissolved Gloversville team.

On January 23, the owners of the club, Kenneth Gregory and Ted Carr, sold the team to John A. Brady and William G. Virgil, a Cohoes lawyer and druggist, respectively. On March 2, they returned owner ship and control to Gregory and Carr. They finished the season in first place, and rallied to defeat Albany in the divisional semi-finals after losing the first two games. They squared off against Utica for the League Championship where they were swept in three straight.

 * Eight forfeit wins: three from Gloversville, five from Troy


Head Coaches: 

• Morris "Tubby" Raskin (January 8, 1902 - September 9, 1981) 7-3
• Herb Kapust (November 10, 1920 - 2013) 10-5 (18-5)  Also played. See below.

Pat Bishop

PLAYERS:

• Pat Bishop (April 11, 1921 - July 27, 2005)

• Red Blumenthal (May 30, 1924 - March 18, 1969)

• Kelly Brofman (June 15, 1923 - July 25, 2011)

• Paul Cooney

• Ray Duval (June 7, 1920 - July 18, 1994)

• Bobby Fisher (October 20, 1919 - March 24, 1992)

• Oscar Grossman (June 26, 1923 - September 22, 1993)

• Joe Hirsch

• Red Hume (February 28, 1924 - September 23, 2013)

• Herb Kapust (November 10, 1920 - 2013)

• Paul Kartluke (February 15, 1918 - June 11, 1985)

• Ed Kassler (July 21, 1923 - March 7, 2011)

• Johnny Myrczkowski (May 25, 1918 - July 29, 1994)

• Walt Mysyk (February 24, 1921 - June 23, 1976)

• Willard Rice (July 4, 1919 - October 7, 1992)

• Bob Shaddock (November 15, 1920 - April 22, 1991)

• Nat Silverberg (September 6, 1922 - October 8, 1993)

1946-47 Albany Senators / Red Devils (NYSL)

1946-47 ALBANY SENATORS / RED DEVILS
NEW YORK STATE PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE
Eastern Division

George Duke

Finished: 13-13 .500 (20-13 .606*), 2nd place

Divisional  Semi-finals - Lost to Cohoes, 3-2

The Albany Sentators got off to a sluggish start and were in the midst of a five-game losing streak when the team was sold on February 1, 1948, to local businessmen Milton Crookes and George Lee. The new owners brought in the New Haven team from the Connecticut State League to replace the old club. Now known as the Red Devils, Albany finished in second place, aided with a lot of forfeits from Troy and Gloversville when those teams folded. They lost in the Eastern Divisional playoffs to Cohoes, dropping three straight after going up two games to none.

 * Seven forfeit wins: three from Gloversville, four from Troy



Head Coaches: 

• George Duke (June 23, 1918 - December 24, 1998)  0-2
• Barney Sedran (January 28, 1891 - January 14, 1969) 18-13

Lou Burtnett

PLAYERS:

• Lou Burtnett (April 29, 1921 - April 11, 1983)

• Jimmy Carr (January 8, 1924 - February 8, 1968)

• Frank Crisafi (April 9, 1923 - May 19, 2018

• John Dieckelman (April 22, 1921 - February 20, 1989)

• John Dobrutsky (January 27, 1922 - March 1, 1996)

• Hank Donasky

• George Duke (June 23, 1918 - December 24, 1998)

• Ray Duval (June 7, 1920 - July 18, 1994)

• Pete Farina (February 28, 1921 - September 29, 2003)

• George Fasulas (April 20, 1921 - October 22, 2000)

• Jack Flanigan (February 12, 1918 - November 22, 1988)

• Bill Griffin (September 4, 1924 - May 25, 2002)

• Harest

• Hassman

• Haupt

• Hood

• Frank Iwanski (October 11, 1914 - October 29, 2003)

• Bob Kane (August 29, 1919 - July 5, 1996)

• Don Kotter (December 29, 1920 - November 11, 1985)

• Costa Lazarou (February 27, 1927 - December 5, 2014)

• Bob Leder (July 26, 1925 - May 30, 2012)

• Chubby Malinconico (November 16, 1921 - March 14, 2007)

• John McHugh 

• Jim Monahan (March 14, 1922 - March 23, 2002)

• Murphy

• Nick Parpan (June 28, 1917 - November 9, 1977)

• Tony Parpan (November 9, 1919 - April 10, 1976)

• Willard Rice (July 4, 1919 - October 7, 1992)

• Bill Ryan (April 25, 1925 - January 22, 1990)

  

  Bill Ryan

• Joe St. John (February 14, 1920 - October 4, 2003)

• Shindell

• Ralph Taggart (July 7, 1921 - April 25, 2006)

• Tony Tammaro (September 13, 1920 - June 9, 2009)

• Tighe

• Connie Toomb (September 5, 1922 - May 15, 1987)

• John Varsoke (February 8, 1921 - October 28, 2003)

• Chuck Yund (December 12, 1918 - September 5, 1961)

1946-47 NYSL

The eight-team New York State League started play on November 20, 1946, when Cohoes blew out Albany, 56-32, in front of 3400 people in the state capitol. Cohoes would prove to be a strong team in a league that had a serious division in talent. The Albany Senators weren't playing all that well and the team was sold in January. The new ownership virtually replaced every player with the roster of the New Haven team of the Connecticut League. A similar situation occurred in Troy, where the Berkays, mired in the cellar following an 0-8 start, were replaced with the core of the independent Boston Whirlwinds team. The team in tiny Gloversville, New York, disbanded after seven straight losses to open the season, a fate that befell the afore-mentioned Whirlwinds a month later.

February saw the league down to six teams, with Utica and Mohawk fighting for the Western League title as Cohoes rolled in the East. The Albany, Saratoga and Schenectady hung around the .500 mark all year, with their final records bolstered by forfeit wins awarded them from the departures of Troy and Gloversville.

Utica would bounce Mohawk in the playoffs to face Cohoes, who had rallied to beat Albany, in the finals. The Olympics would then sweep Cohoes for the first NYSL Championship.

EASTERN DIVISION
Albany Senators / Red Devils
Cohoes Mastadons
Saratoga Indians
Troy Berkays / Whirlwinds*

WESTERN DIVISION
Gloversville Glovers*
Mohawk Redskins
Schenectady Comets
Utica Olympics

* - folded before season's end

New York State Professional League (NYSL or NYSPL)

Going to step back about a decade for a bit here.

In 1946, as the BAA and NBL fought for supremacy in the professional basketball world, the number of minor basketball leagues began to dwindle as the sport became more popular and the best players headed to the big paychecks. There were start-up leagues in the Southern United States (Southern Basketball League) and the Pacific Northwest (Pacific Coast League), as well as the established but dwindling American Basketball League now reduced to the Mid-Atlantic States. A few state leagues existed and tried to compete for the remaining scraps of the pro (or semi-pro or even amateur) game. Three leagues, the Connecticut State League, along with the newly-formed Eastern Basketball League of Pennsylvania and newly-formed New York State Basketball League, formed the Eastern Basketball Association. With this association, the three leagues standardized their rules, but more importantly, agreed to respect each other and not raid each other's league for players and prevent team jumping. The Connecticut State League, which had formed around 1945, would eventually become the Eastern League of Connecticut before disbanding, and the Eastern League of Pennsylvania, would eventually become the Continental Basketball Association. I am going to take a quick run through the New York State League.

Formed in 1946, this is a minor league that was not going to compete with any of the larger established leagues. It seemed like a good area to look into a bit, since so many players from good schools in the East played there. The league only last three seasons, and had multiple teams drop. Surprising to me was still the lack of information available in old newspapers. There are a lot of players that I could not positively identify, but I went on anyway.

This is going to be a quick stop. I am not going to do a blog post for every player, but I did do as good of research as I could to identify the players and their teams. I am definitely not going to do this for every minor league.If someone else wants to pick up where I leave off, have at it. Enjoy!

George Yardley

George Harry Yardley III


Born:
November 3, 1928
Hollywood, CA

Died:
August 13. 2004
Newport Beach, CA


Career
1945-46 Newport Harbor High School - Newport Beach, CA (High School)
1947-48 Stanford University (College)
1948-49 Stanford University (College)
1949-50 Stanford University (College)
1950-51 Stewart Chevrolet - San Francisco (Independent)
1951-52 Los Alamitos Naval Base (Military) 
1953-54 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1954-55 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1955-56 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1956-57 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1957-58 Detroit Pistons (NBA)
1958-59 Detroit Pistons (NBA)
1958-59 Syracuse Nationals (NBA)
1959-60 Syracuse Nationals (NBA)
1961-62 Los Angeles Jets (ABL)

NATIONAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME, 1996

Yardley graduated from Stanford in 1950 and was selected by Fort Wayne in the first round of the 1950 NBA Draft. Rather than sign with the Pistons, he wanted to maintain his amateur status in order to play in the 1952 Olympics. He played basketball with the Stewart Chevrolet out of San Francisco who won the 1951 AAU Championship. Yardley entered the U.S. Navy shortly thereafter and played for the Los Alamitos Base team. However, he broke his hand while playing there and was unable to play for the United States in the Helsinki Olympic games.

Out of the navy in 1953, Yardley finally joined the Pistons and five years later when the Pistons moved to Detroit, Yardley became the first NBA player to score 2000 points in a single season.  In the following 1958-59 season, Yardley was traded to the Syracuse Nationals where he played the next season and a half. A six-time all-star, Yardley retired following the 1959-60 season at the age of 31.

In his seven-year career, he finished in the top 16 in scoring in six seasons. He returned to California but was coaxed out of retirement in 1961 by Bill Sharman who was a player and head coach for the New York Jets in the new American Basketball League. When the team failed, he quit playing for good and started up his own engineering company, the George Yardley Company in Santa Ana, California. Yardley was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1996. He died in 2004 from complications of ALS.

George and his wife, Diana, had two daughters and one son.


Source:
NY Times, August 16, 2004

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/y/yardlge01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=yardlge01

Hal Uplinger

Harold Francis "Razor" Uplinger


Born:
September 30, 1929
New Kensington, PA

Died:
February 1, 2011
Dana Point, CA


Career
1945-46 John Marshall High School - Los Angeles (High School)
1946-47 John Marshall High School - Los Angeles (High School)
1947-48 Los Angeles City College (College)
1947-48 Hollywood 20th Century Fox (Independent)
1948-49 University of Arizona (College)
1948-49 Los Angeles City College (College)
1949-50 Los Angeles City College (College)
1950-51 Long Island University (College)
1952-53 Los Alamitos Navy (Military/AAU)
1953-54 Baltimore Bullets (NBA)

Uplinger was a well-known basketball star around Los Angeles, starring at Marshall HS in LA before enrolling at Los Angeles City College. In February of 1948, Uplinger was declared academically ineligible at LACC, so he joined the AAU team out of Hollywood that was sponsored by 20th Century Fox. He would transfer that summer to the University of Arizona, but had to leave school in late December of 1948 due to illness and returned to Los Angeles. He returned to LACC and returned to the court with them in late January of 1949. He stayed at LACC until 1950, when he was lured to LIU by coach Clair Bee. He would graduate from LIU and came back to Los Angeles.


Uplinger entered the U.S. Navy and played for the Los Alamitos Naval Base team, which would also participate in the AAU tournament. He garnered the attention of his former coach, Clair Bee, who brought Uplinger to the Baltimore Bullets in the NBA, who he was now the head coach of. He played in 23 games with the Bullets, scoring only 3.7 points per game.

After leaving the Bullets, he would work for CBS in Los Angeles and New York, eventually becoming the sports producer for CBS Television. He was instrumental in the development of instant reply in sports television production. His expertise in sports production allowed him to be the producer for the American portion of Live Aid in 1985. Hal died of bone cancer in 2011.


Source:
Interview with Jon Eklund, 1993

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/u/uplinha01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=uplinha01