New updates, identifications, corrections, May 2024

 Taking some time and looking back to fill in some holes or close some things out.

DETAILS ADDED:

Al Biolsi, ABL - Died 2018

Cecil Gabriel, ABL, EBL-Ct - Added middle name, city of birth

Ed Schurmann, ABL - Added middle name, exact date and city of death

Nick Shaback, BAA, ABL, NYSL, - Added Cities of birth and death

PROPERLY IDENTIFIED:

Willie Flynn, ABL

Fran Maury, MBC, NBL 

Whitey Wilson, ABL

CORRECTED:

Sid Blair, ABL - Removed biographical information. Wrong man.

NEW LEADS UNRESOLVED:

1949-50 York Victory AA (EPBL)

1949-50 YORK VICTORY A.A.
EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
Southern Division

9-17, .346, 3rd place

York started 0-4, after which they fired coach Les Lehman and replaced him with Sam Dellinger. Dellinger got help from some new players in Bill Brown, Ken Haggerty, Danny Kraus and Ben Cantwell and immediately won 4 of their next five. However, that was a close to success as York would have. The slumped the rest of the season and finished a distant third and well out of the playoffs.

Head Coaches:

• Les Lehman (May 23, 1917 - May 21, 1997) 0-4
• Sam Dellinger (May 3, 1926 - March 15, 2021) 9-13 Also played. See below
   

  

  Ben Cantwell

PLAYERS:

Joe Biros (February 14, 1920 - July 10, 2011)

Bill Brown (August 2, 1922 - January 15, 2007)

Bill Cantwell 

Al Cihocki (May 7, 1924 - March 27, 2014)

Jim Coughlin (August 18, 1919 - March 27, 1969)

Sam Dellinger (May 3, 1926 - March 15, 2021)

Tony Derago (October 11, 1928 - March 21, 2006)

Gene Evans (May 15, 1927 - January 8, 2010)

Jim Furey (March 28, 1928 - February 20, 1985)

John Lumpkin

Don Galloway (November 21, 1924 - July 29, 2002)

Joe Gillinger (November 24, 1921 - January 24, 1967)

Karl Grim (July 30, 1923 - August 3, 2010)

Ken Haggerty (January 31, 1924 - April 3, 2009)  

Maynard Haithcock (June 17, 1923 - November 19, 2016)

Joe Howard (June 4, 1928 - December 17, 1993)

Bob Hulton (July 10, 1921 - August 25, 1999)

Stan Kauffman (b. October 6, 1926)

Danny Kraus (February 13, 1923 - December 28, 2012)

Art Lentz (June 27, 1926 - December 8, 2018)

John Lumpkin (September 6, 1921 - November 27, 2011)

Tom O'Connell (November 10, 1923 - February 5, 2011)

Miggs Reilly (June 30, 1923 - January 30, 2020)

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

Fred Sheffield (November 5, 1923 - December 8, 2009)

Jeb Stewart (November 15, 1924 - January 10, 1993)

Evan Zlock (January 17, 1924 - May 8, 2003)

Joe Howard

1949-50 Williamsport Billies (EPBL)

1949-50 WILLIAMSPORT BILLIES
EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
20-8, .714, 1st place
Northern Division

Semi-finals: Defeated Pottsville, 2-1

Finals: Defeated Harrisburg, 2-1

After falling in the semi-finals the year before, the Billies were determined to win the championship and Larry Disque beefed up his team with the addition of Johnny Rusinko and Milt Simon. They ran off to a 6-1 start and held on the first place in the Northern Division the rest of the way. Perk Stabley led the team with a 15.9 PPG average. Once in the playoffs, they defeated Pottsville before squaring up with Harrisburg in the finals. After splitting the first two games, Williamsport dropped Harrisburg in the deciding game, winning 100-94 and claiming the Eastern League title.

Head Coach:

• Larry Disque (March 27, 1921 - March 3, 1994) Also played. See below.

PLAYERS:

Wally Hatkevich

Larry Disque (March 27, 1921 - March 3, 1994)

Pop Goodwin (December 22, 1920 - May 16, 2005)

John Gozdenovich (March 8, 1924 - July 7, 1997)

Wally Hatkevich (November 7, 1924 - June 10, 2006)

Ray Kodish (June 10, 1923 - March 14, 2012)

Johnny Mascavage (January 14, 1918 - April 12, 1990)

Wes Myers (December 21, 1927 - February 1, 2002)

Marty Powers (March 27, 1928 - December 21, 1991)

John Rusinko (March 1, 1925 - October 23, 2013)

Frank Sebest (September 24, 1923 - November 28, 2010)

Milt Simon (July 31, 1925 - March 17, 2018)

Perk Stabley (January 24, 1925 - September 25, 1994)

1949-50 Sunbury Mercuries (EPBL)

1949-50 SUNBURY MERCURIES

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA

Northern Division
14-14, .500, 3rd place

After a disappointing 1948-49 season, the Mercuries did a complete rebuild of their line-up. Veteran player Stan Novak was brought on as player-coach, and with him a new roster of all new players. With Bart Adams, Dave Fox, Frank Martello, Gil Swartz and Ed Lerner, the improved Mercuries enjoyed a hot 7-3 start to the season before a seven-game losing streak in January undid their early success. The played better through February but finished two games out of the playoffs with a .500 record.

Head Coach:

• Stan Novak (April 10, 1923 - October 21, 2006)  Also played. See below

PLAYERS:

John Lose

Bart "Jabbo" Adams  

Charlie Bellak (July 3, 1927 - March 18, 1998)

Stan Brown (June 27, 1929 - August 2, 2009)

Dave Fox  (May 24, 1926 - May 9, 1984)

Gorham Getchell (August 14, 1920 - July 7, 1980)

Jack Kane (June 18, 1928 - October 12, 1987)

Ed Lerner (March 23, 1926 - January 19, 2022)

John Lose  

Frank Martello (b. March 11, 1926)

Stan Novak (April 10, 1923 - October 21, 2006)

Marty Quinn  

Jerry Rullo (June 23, 1922 - October 21, 2016)

Andy Siket (December 29, 1918 - September 19, 1995)

Gil Swartz  

Aaron Tanitsky (January 14, 1926 - September 13, 2019)

1949-50 Reading Rangers (EPBL)

1949-50 READING RANGERS
EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
Southern Division

7-18, .280, 4th place

With the dissolution of the Reading Keys from the previous season, Reading was granted another team which was named the Rangers. Coached by local figure Lenny Bilger, who was  a stove manufacturer, the Rangers struggled mightily following an opening victory over York. The Rangers dropped 8 straight games and 11 of their next 12 to find themselves shouldering a 2-11 record. Adding veteran players Tommy O'Connell and Johnny "Moe" Murphy, their fortunes improved over the next seven games by winning five of them, but wound up losing their last 5 games to finish with the worst record in the league (albeit only barely worse than Berwick.)

Ossie Kriebel

Head Coach:

• Lenny Bilger (December 19, 1904 - August 6, 1971)

PLAYERS:

Dewey Boltz (May 18, 1920 - September 18, 2015)

Jimmy Bunn (September 2, 1923 - January 22, 2009)

Norm Butz (September 28, 1919 - March 21, 1999)

John Daley  

Elmer Davis (November 4, 1924 - April 3, 1997)

George Dracha (August 18, 1921 - April 6, 1995)

Wade Duym (August 6, 1925 - September 27, 2013)

John Gozdenovich (March 8, 1924 - July 7, 1997)

Russ Guensch (January 12, 1924 - June 14, 2014)

Hops Guldin (October 10, 1922 - August 21, 1984)

Dick Koecher (March 30, 1926 - February 4, 2020)

Ozzie Kriebel (May 20, 1925 - November 15, 1997(

Joe Lord (December 28, 1922 - December 1986)

Johnny Murphy (September 13, 1924 - January 29, 2003)

Tom O'Connell (November 10, 1923 - February 5, 2011)

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

Paul Wallace (November 1, 1925 - September 23, 1998)

Hal Warnecke 

Elmer Davis

Pete Yousaitis (September 10, 1917 - December 23, 1995)

1949-50 Pottsville Packers (EPBL)

1949-50 POTTSVILLE PACKERS
EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA

Northern Division
16-12, .571, 2nd place
Semi-finals: Lost to Williamsport, 2-1

The defending Eastern League champions, now coached by local favorite Bill DImmerling, started off cold, falling to 2-5 on New Years Day 1950. The Pack added Eddie Lyons and Jack Hewson and the team's fortunes turned brighter. They would rattle off nine win in the next ten games  and climbed in 2nd place in the Northern Division. They would maintain second place and a birth in the playoffs, but were bounced by eventual champion Williamsport in the semi-finals.

Head Coach:

• Bill Dimmerling (February 21, 1913 - March 24, 2004) 

PLAYERS:

Sonny Boyer (August 7, 1923 - April 23, 2005)

Jack Colberg (February 4, 1924 - December 17, 2013)

Aubrey Cole (November 29, 1927 - July 27, 2021)

Joe Dougherty 

Hank Dudek (September 11, 925 - September 14, 2015)

Jack Flannery (December 7, 1925 - January 22, 2007)

John Gozdenovich (March 8, 1924 - July 7, 1997)

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

Jack Hewson (September 7, 1924 - June 26, 2012)

Dick Koecher (March 30, 1926 - February 4, 2020)

Ed Lyons (July 1, 1926 - October 28, 2011)

Billy Maher (November 25, 1925 - January 16, 1962)

Jack McCloskey (September 19, 1925 - June 1, 2017)

Bill McClure (December 21, 1927 - September 7, 2001)

Danny Murphy  

Bob Russ  

Jeb Stewart (November 15, 1924 - January 10, 1993)

Bill Thomas (May 2, 1825 0 October 27, 1999)

Jack Welsh (August 21, 1925 - December 17, 2007)

1949-50 Lancaster Rockets (EPBL)

1949-50 LANCASTER ROCKETS
EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA

Southern Division
18-10 .643, 1st place

Season Title: Lost to Williamsport, 90-87

Semi-finals: Lost to Harrisburg, 2-1

The former Lancaster team, the Red Roses, folded and a new club took its place. George Eshelman, former Roses player and coach, was names head coach, and he brought a couple players back but the rest of the team was new to town. The Rockets were a much better team and started the season 7-2. Going into January, the team hit a small three-game skid and Eshelman was replaced with Max Bishop. Under Bishop, the Rockets regained their winning form and finished in first place in the Southern Division, but they would lose to Harrisburg in the semi-finals.

 

Head Coaches:

• George Eshelman (April 15, 1913 - June 14, 1989) 7-5
• Richard W. "Max" Bishop (June 27, 1915 - August 25, 1981) 11-5

PLAYERS:

Paul Gordon

Dick Adair (October 14, 1927 - July 10, 2011)

Ken Campbell (June 10, 1926 - October 6, 1999)

Chick Craig (July 23, 1922 - June 21, 2008)

Marshall Gemberling (August 6, 1924 - September 10, 2004)

Paul Gordon (April 8, 1927 - November 2, 2002)

Junie Hamme (September 11, 1930 - June 23, 2014)

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

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

Don Markward (April 2, 1919 - June 14, 1985)

Bill McCahan (June 7, 1921 - July 3, 1986)

Jack McLaughlin (August 20, 1923 - March 28, 2002)

Marv Schatzman (February 18, 1927 - September 19, 2006)

Bill Zubic (August 7, 1918 - July 24, 1994)

1949-50 Harrisburg Senators (EPBL)

1949-50 HARRISBURG SENATORS

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA

Southern Division

16-12, .600, 2nd place

Semi-Finals: Defeated Lancaster, 2-1

Finals: Lost to Williamsport, 2-1

Johnny Hopper

Coming back as the runner-up last year, Harrisburg had their sights squarely on the championship. Billy Binder, a basketball star from Steelton, Pennsylvania who starred on the collegiate courts at Lehigh, was brought on to coach. Originally, the 29-year old was expected to be a player-coach, but wound up only guiding the team. The Senators got off to a hot start, winning 4 of their first five games and 10 of their first 14 to find themselves in a tight battle with Lancaster for the top of the Southern Division. They would drop five-straight games to start February to drop behind Lancaster and despite playing better down the last weeks of the season were unable to catch the Rockets. Still, their second-place finish, bolstered by Joe Cackovic and Jack Ramsay, garnered them a playoff spot and a first-round matchup with Lancaster.

The Rockets won the first game of the best-of-three set easily, drubbing the Sens 85-65. However, the Senators returned the favor in game 2 with a 24-point win before winning the deciding game, 71-67, on Lancaster's court. Heading back to the finals for the second straight year, Harrisburg faced Williamsport and dropped the opener, 92-74. They would bounce back to take a hard-fought second game, 73-67, to even up the series. In the deciding contest, Cackovic would score 37 points but it was not enough to overcome the hot play of Williamsport who reached the 100-point mark for the 5th time this year in a 100-94 Williamsport win. Harrisburg was the runner-up for the second straight season.

Head Coach:

• Billy Binder (June 12, 1920 - June 25, 2001)

PLAYERS:

Steve Ferraro

Joe Cackovic (February 21, 1923 - December 16, 1984)

Dick DeWees (March 18, 1929 - July 19, 1986)

Hank Dudek (September 11, 925 - September 14, 2015)

Steve Ferraro (September 29, 1922 - May 7, 2003)

Joe Gillinger (November 24, 1921 - January 24, 1967)

Jackie Goepfert (May 24, 1932 - May 1, 2002)

Stretch Hall (June 23, 1926 - December 10, 1989)

Jimmy Hernjak (June 10, 1927 - December 27, 1980)

Johnny Hopper (January 9, 1923 - June 12, 1996)

Tony Kazokas (October 9, 1930 - April 7, 2021)

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

Ray Posipanka (March 16, 1927 - February 17, 1998)

Jack Ramsay (February 21, 1925 - April 28, 2014)

Burt Silverman (b. 1930 or 1931)

1949-50 Berwick Car-Builders (EPBL)

1949-50 BERWICK CAR-BUILDERS
EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA

Al Belinsky

Northern Division
8-17, .320, 4th place

New to the league, Berwick stunned the Pennsylvania basketball community by drubbing the defending champion Pottsville club in their opener. Unfortunately, this would be the high-mark of the season. they would lose 5 of their next 7 heading into January, and their slide continued.  Despite having stalwarts like Bink Manning and Johnny Rusinko, the Car-Builders would go 8-17 and finished in last place in the Northern Division.

Head Coaches:

• Frank Serany (May 4, 1911 - April 27, 1982) 2-3
• Paul Stenn (Stenko)  (July 12, 1918 - August 2, 2003) 6-14 Also played. See below

PLAYERS:

Al Belinsky (September 22, 1928 - September 24, 2013)

Syl Bozinski (September 7, 1927 - June 30, 2001)

Joe Chepulis (July 26, 1917 - June 25, 2009)

Bells Colone (January 23, 1924 - July 1, 2009)

Mike DeNoia (April 24, 1927 - May 27, 2009)

Nick Dietterick (May 22, 1921 - May 16, 2014)

Joe Fialko (February 1, 1925 - February 24, 2022)

Bernie Griggs (October 1, 1977 - June 27, 2001)

Doug Holcomb (February 9, 1921 - February 3, 2008)

Frank Keath (August 4, 1927 - January 5, 2016)

Elmer Kreiser

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

Elmer Kreiser (June 30, 1927 - June 23, 1992)

Billy Letcher (February 10, 1929 - October 21, 2010)

Frank Lupashunski (Lupe) (b. February 3, 1926)

Bink Manning (August 29, 1920 - April 7, 1986)

Johnny Murphy  

Dick Olshefski (March 27, 1928 - June 14, 2015)

Ralph Palmero (June 2, 1926 - March 6, 2019)

Sid Roche (May 16, 1926 - January 21, 2010)

John Rusinko (March 1, 1925 - October 23, 2013)

Milt Simon (July 31, 1925 - March 17, 2018)

Paul Stenn (Stenko)  (July 12, 1918 - August 2, 2003)

Norm Tener (March 8, 1927 - January 25, 2003)

Bob Walsh (March 31, 1926 - January 21, 2010)

Bob Smith

Pat Walsh (March 17, 1924 - March 26, 2002)

Leroy Watley (March 11, 1925 - January 15, 1996)

Al Widmar (March 20, 1925 - October 15, 2005)

Paul Zlonkiewicz (March 4, 1922 - ????)

Pete Zlonkiewicz (March 4, 1922 - April 18, 1998)

1949-50 (EPBL)

Going into the fall of 1949, the Eastern League of Pennsylvania was holding together. Five of the sven teams returned, and the two teams that dropped were replaced with new teams in the same cities. Reading lost the Keys, but the Rangers took their place. The Lancaster Roses also split, but wer ereplaced with a stronger team in the Rockets.  The league also split into two division, the Northern and the Southern, The top two teams from each division would make the playoffs.

Williamsport would wind up with the best record in the regular season and followed that up by defeated defending champion Pottsville in the semis before defeating Harrisburg to win their first Eastern League title.

SOUTHERN DIVISION

• Harrisburg Senators
• Lancaster Rockets 
• Reading Rangers
• York A.A. Victory

NORTHERN DIVISION

• Berwick Car-Builders
• Pottsville Packers
• Sunbury Mercuries
• Williamsport Billies