1948-49 Pittsburgh / McKeesport Merchants / Pirates (AABL)

 1948-49 PITTSBURGH / McKEESPORT MERCHANTS / PIRATES

ALL-AMERICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE

Finished: 15-15 .500, T-3rd place
Semi-Finals: Lost to Wheeling, 2-0


The Pittsburgh Pirates (or East Pittsburgh Pirates), named in tribute to the city's baseball team, had been a prominent independent semi-pro team around western Pennsylvania for the better part of a decade when they joined the AABL in the fall of 1948. Lead by popular Pittsburgh basketball figure Freddie Crum, the Pittsburgh club had a core of renown local players but ran hot and cold all season. On February 20, the team shifted their home base to nearby McKeesport to finish out the season. Also referred to as the Merchants or Tubers at various points through the season, they finished tied with Cumberland for third place and thus earned a spot in the playoffs, but lost in the opening round. 


Head Coach:

• Freddie Crum (December 3, 1912 - July 11, 1987) Also played. See below

PLAYERS:

Bill Nunn

• Johnny Alzo (May 10, 1925 - November 27, 2005)

• Freddie Crum (December 3, 1912 - July 11, 1987)

• Ed Dolnack (March 22, 1927 - February 3, 1980)

• Joe Fabel (May 15, 1917 - January 31, 1967)

• Frank Griffin (February 24, 1919 - October 25, 1997)

• Ed Janicki (November 4, 1918 - July 10, 2011)

• Jack Kelly (July 9, 1928 - May 28, 1952)

• Sid Levine (July 9, 1918 - June 10, 1999)

• George Levkulich (March 1, 1917 - July 31, 2003)

Frank Griffin

• Bill McLhinney (August 15, 1920 - February 19, 2019)

• Bill Nunn (September 30, 1924 - May 6, 2014)

• Sam Radakovich (December 13, 1919 - May 10, 2001)

• Mike Semyan (April 3, 1927 - July 20, 1978)

• Joe Urso (September 17, 1916 - April 27, 1991)

• Matt Vaniel (November 14, 1919 - January 1, 1981)

• John Wakefield (April 20, 1920  - February 1, 1973)

John Wakefield