1950-51 Altoona Flyers (AABL)

1950-51 ALTOONA FLYERS

ALL-AMERICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE

8-15 .348, 5th place

With Bobby Artman being the head coach as well as one of the team's top scorers, the Flyers got off to a decent 6-4 start and in the hunt for a playoff spot. However, they hit a six-game losing streak in January and won only two of their final 13 games, capped off by a 54-point loss at Cumberland that saw them barely able to patch enough players together to make the trip. They were forced to pull at least one player (Kluckenheimer) from the stands to play. The player only known as V. Smith may also have been a spectator-turned-player. Altoona financially struggled and at various points were faced with disbanding.

Following the demise of the AABL at season's end, the Flyers existed for a few more years as an independent semi-pro team

Head Coach:

• Bobby Artman (February 8, 1922 - April 9, 1975) Also played. See below.

PLAYERS:

• Bobby Artman (February 8, 1922 - April 9, 1975)

• Dom Asmonga (February 15, 1928 - January 13, 2014)

  

  Jim Atkins

• Jim Atkins (August 25, 1924 - March 10, 2012)

• Al Bair (November 25, 1925 - October 8, 2014)

• Mike Bytzura (June 18, 1922 - January 24, 1989

• Dodo Conterna (October 29, 1926 - June 17, 2016)

• Ed Henk (February 6, 1927 - March 16, 2018)

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

• Junior Kluckenheimer  

• Hank Knoche (January 14, 1925 - July 9, 2010)

• Ed Lally (July 28, 1931 - October 9, 2009)

• Jim Mewhirter (November 13, 1928 - September 7, 2018)

• Walt Miller (July 20, 1915 - January 21, 2001)

• Carl Nordbloom (March 11, 1924 - July 14, 1983)

• Fred Paine (December 7, 1925 - October 26, 2004)

• V Smith  

• Ed Stickel (February 10, 1928 - November 20, 2008)

• Joe Tocci (July 16, 1925 - January 21, 2010)

• Bill Zelinkly (Ron Selenski)