Tuesday, June 23, 2020

1947-48 Youngstown Cubs (AABL)

1947-48 YOUNGSTOWN CUBS
ALL-AMERICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE

Finished: 20-8 .714, 1st place

Semi-finals: Defeated Wheeling, 3-1
AABL Finals: Lost to Dayton, 3-1

When the NBL's Youngstown Bears disbanded following the 1946-47, the end of professional basketball in the Ohio town was short-lived. The town was granted a franchise in the smaller All-American League, and the team took the Cubs moniker, aware that the scope of play was smaller than the NBL. Paul Birch, whose 1946-47 season was his first withut playing, had been the coach of the BAA's Pittsburgh Ironmen but he team folded prior to the 1947-48 season, and Birch would head to Youngstown where he would be the head coach for the Cubs, as well as an active player.

The Bears, playing with a lot of NBL/BAA castoffs, rolled to a regular season title and advanced through the semi-finals before falling to the red-hot Dayton Metros in the AABL Championship series.

Head Coach:
  • Paul Birch  (January 4, 1910 - June 5, 1982) Also played. See below.

PLAYERS:
  • Lou Gabriel (December 13, 1923 - January 4, 1973)
  • George Naples (June 6, 1924 - November 26, 1992)
  • Fred Paine (December 7, 1925 - October 26, 2004)

2 comments:

  1. I have photos from the Youngstown Cubs. My grandfather played for them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'd love to see them if you wouldn't mind sharing

      dbsociety(at)yahoo dot com

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