1948-49 Martinsburg Legionnaires (ESABL)

1948-49 MARTINSBURG LEGIONNAIRES 
EASTERN STATES AMATEUR BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Northern Division
1-12 .077, 7th place

(2-12 after adding a forfeit after season finished)

Martinsburg team never managed to put anything together, only winning a single game on the court all year.

Head Coach:

• 
  

PLAYERS:

Dyke Aston (April 5, 1925- April 15, 1991)

David Fowler (December 1, 1929 - May 15, 1990)

Len Frick/Flick/Fick 

Gerald Gano (September 3, 1927 - March 3, 2014)

Jim Heflin 

Glenn Kline (November 13, 1925 - May 9, 1996)

R Kline 

Charlie Manor (September 20, 1929 - December 14, 2021)

Ralph Morris 

Sonny Shober 

Paul Thompson (September 23, 1927 - February 19, 2005)

Frank Walper (February 12, 1923 - April 10, 2005)

1948-49 Letterkenny / Scotland Generals (ESABL)

1948-49 LETTERKENNY / SCOTLAND GENERALS

Ray Schellhase

EASTERN STATES AMATEUR BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Northern Division
5-9 .357, T-5th place

The Letterkenny team was comprised of military personnel from the supply and training depot in town. They never really were a threat, finishing in a tie for fifth place.  Slim Sommerville averaged over 16 points a game as the club's high scorer.

Head Coach:

• Ray Schellhase (February 16, 1925 - November 12, 2012)

Dick Booz

PLAYERS:

Dick Booz (July 7, 1927 - June 28, 2009)

Elman Brindle (July 4, 1925 - April 27, 2016)

Merle Etter (October 16, 1924 - August 16, 1990)

Bob Fahnestock (December 31, 1927 - August 24, 2016)

Charles Fleming (December 13, 1926 - December 21, 2021)

Mearns Fuller (September 4, 1921 - January 13, 2017)

Tom Geiman (January 21, 1927 - March 27, 2010)

Bill Gipe (June 23, 1923 - December 24, 2010)

Wayne Hartman (March 8, 1925 - December 31, 1997)

Turk Keltner (October 18, 1924 -  March 10, 1988)

Bob Fahnestock

Don Rook (November 16, 1921 - June 12, 2023)

Slim Sommerville (July 2, 1929 - January 7, 2009)

G. Steve Waltz (July 12, 1920 - October 20, 2009)

Clinton Watson (November 23, 1921 - October 4, 1983)

Parker Watson (January 27, 1927 - July 8, 1986)

Jack Young (December 22, 1926 - April 11, 2018)

Bill Gipe

Steve Waltz

Elman Brindle

Merle Etter

Slim Sommerville

Jack Young

Tom Geiman

Charles Fleming

Wayne Hartman

1948-49 Harrisburg Modern Army and Navy (ESABL)

1948-49 HARRISBURG MODERN ARMY AND NAVY
EASTERN STATES AMATEUR BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Northern Division
9-5 .643, 3rd place

Playing out of a military installation, the Harrisburg team, comprised largely with servicemen, got off to a hot start, wining six out of their first seven games. However, when the calendar turned to February, the team hit a lump, losing three straight and with a loss in their closing contest, missed a shot at the playoffs.

Head Coach:

• Joe Mulligan (October 23, 1912 - September 25, 1989)   Also played. See below

PLAYERS:

Dave Conrad (March 10, 1929 - January 1, 2017)

Danny Ernst (b. November 22, 1922)

Harry Hafer (May 27, 1925 - November 5, 1988)

Al Hench 

Clarence Hummel (April 1, 1925 - May 3, 2004)

Dave McWhite (November 6, 1919 - December 8, 1997)

Joe Mulligan (October 23, 1912 - September 25, 1989) 

Bob Nicholson (August 17, 1928 - January 18, 1994)

Newman Silks (October 21, 1927 - January 24, 2014)

Frank Towe (March 9, 1922 - April 23, 1994)

Marvin Walter  (June 4, 1927 - September 17, 2024)

Charles Weller 

Charles Weller

Marvin Walter

Dave Conrad

1948-49 Hanover A.A. (ESABL)

1948-49 HANOVER A.A.

EASTERN STATES AMATEUR BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Northern Division

5-9, .353, T-5th place

Mert Becker and Howard Trite were the high scorers for the Hanover Athletic Association, but with the exception of a 4-1 stretch in mid-season, they failed to make a real dent in the league. 

Head Coach:

• Ray Gray (May 13, 1901 - September 11, 1974)

PLAYERS:

Ken Baublitz (October 3. 1927 - January 11, 2011)

Berl Biddle

Mert Becker (June 12, 1926 - September 6, 2011)

Berl Biddle (October 9, 1928 - December 6, 2006)

Chick Czyzewicz (October 12, 1924 - January 14, 2001)

Bill Fuhrman (October 2, 1921 - August 25, 1986)

Dave LeFevre (February 11, 1930 - January 7, 1996)

Karl Meyers (July 18, 1915 - March 25, 1984)

Frankie Noonan (January 2, 1922 - July 18, 1995)

Dick Reese (September 28, 1930 - July 8, 2016)

Bill Seibert (February 12, 1925 - May 18, 2018)

L.B. Sheppard (July 22, 1922 - June 15, 1949)

Bob Stonesifer (January 26, 1930 - December 8, 2014)

Jack Stonesifer (b. April 15, 1929)

Phil Stonesifer (June 1, 1931 - February 6, 2013

Howard Trite (May 27, 1927 - September 26, 2019)

Dave LeFevre

Red Weaver (August 25, 1929 - July 26, 1970)

Karl Meyers

Bill Fuhrman

Chick Czyzewicz

Jack Stonesifer

Phil Stonesifer

1948-49 Hagerstown Fairchild Aircraft Packets (ESABL)

1948-49 HAGERSTOWN FAIRCHILD AIRCRAFT PACKETS
EASTERN STATES AMATEUR BASKETBALL LEAGUE

Southern Division
8-5, .538, T-1st place

Stewart C. Paxton

(7-6, .538 before game reversals) 

Divisional playoff - Defeated Frederick, 63-57

Championship - Lost to Chambersburg, 3-0

The Fairchild Aircraft squad appeared to be the class of the Southern Division, winning their first five game. However, their fortunes changed quickly, slumping to the end by going 2-6 in their last 8. (One game vs Alexandria would be reversed in their favor, and they would finished tied for first place. They defeated Frederick in a one-game playoff to earn a spot in the finals. They would get swept by Chambersburg rather decidedly.

Head Coach:

• Stewart Paxton (November 18, 1905 - May 25, 1979)

PLAYERS:

Vic Barnhart (September 1, 1922- April 13, 2017)

Jim Brode (June 6, 1923 - December 17, 1997)

Bob Carey (July 5, 1927 - March 2, 1992)

Art Deems (December 31, 1922 - April 16, 2012)

Jack Forsythe (March 14, 1930 - March 19, 2011)

Sam Hankey (May 7, 1923 - July 31, 2019)

Bud Hoffman (December 25, 1923 - March 2, 1997)

Paul Holmes (May 7, 1921 - November 23, 1950)

Chub Keller (June 19, 1917 - November 28, 1991)

Max Kendall (November 4, 1920 - June 12, 2008)

Eugene Marlowe (January 3, 1923 - January 17, 1994)

Peck Martin (July 23, 1927 - June 15, 2007)

Joe Palkovitz (May 9, 1926 - August 20, 2019)

Reno Powell (July 14, 1921 - August 16, 2002)

1948-49 Greencastle VFW (ESABL)

1948-49 GREENCASTLE VFW

EASTERN STATES AMATEUR BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Southern Division
7-6, .538, T-4th place

Largely made up of players from a military supply depot, Greencastle was looking like as contender after wining seven of their first 10, but a three-game losing streak to close the campaign knocked them out of the running.

Head Coach:

  

PLAYERS:

Bill Baer (January 1, 1928 - May 6, 1981)

Wib Bear (March 17, 1925 - October 5, 2008)

Bill or Bobby Grove  

Hoffman  

Shad Hunt (January 9, 1926 - January 22, 1997)

Henry Keller (February 14, 1930 - February 6, 2011)

Toby McDonald (February 16, 1931 - April 7, 2009)

Brad Myers (b. February 14, 1930)

Dizzy Overcash (January 1, 1922 - July 19, 1983)

Parr 

Bill Peck (December 19, 1928 - June 26, 1998)

Sonny Rowe (December 20, 1928 - September 28, 2012)

Mark Sellers (November 12, 1930 - March 15, 2010)

Frank Shinham (September 29, 1925 - June 9. 1991)

Smith 

Sower  

Gerald Warren (June 17, 1928 - November 19, 2010)

Putters Zimmerman (April 11, 1927 - May 12, 2013)

1948-49 Frederick Moose (ESABL)

1948-49 FREDERICK MOOSE
EASTERN STATES AMATEUR BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Southern Division
8-5, .615, T-1st place

Divisional playoff - Lost to Hagerstown, 63-57

Paced by minor league baseball star Slugger Rice, the Frederick Moose were a strong club that would finish in a tie with Hagerstown for the Southern Division title. In a one-game playoff, the Mosse would fall to Hagerstown to end their season.

Head Coach:

• Ed Albaugh  

PLAYERS:

Bill Bruchey (September 15, 1918 - December 1, 1994)

Pete Demchak (December 22, 1919 - May 1, 1979)

Deacon Dutrow (July 6, 1920 - January 7, 1988)

Nield Gordon (November 17, 1930 - May 2, 2022)

Bud Hoffman (December 25, 1923 - March 2, 1997)

Luke Murray (July 10, 1917 - April 27, 1996)

Slugger Rice (September 6, 1917 - June 8, 1979)

Jim Sparks (March 14, 1922 - September 4, 1995)

Dick Vaughan (January 8, 1928 - December 11, 2009)

1948-49 Chambersburg Cardinals (ESABL)

1948-49 CHAMBERSBURG CARDINALS

EASTERN STATES AMATEUR BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Northern Division
13-1, .929, 1st place

Championship - Defeated Hagerstown, 3-0

An absolute powerhouse, the Cardinals rolled through the regular season with the only blemish being a 2-point loss in Harrisburg. They would outscore their opponents by an average of 17 points and in the championship series pounded Hagerstown in three straight games, the last two being 39 and 24-point margins. Joe Howard of Gettysburg College lead the team with 14.2 point per game while Jack Dorsey chipped in 12.2 PPG.

Jack Dorsey

Co-Head Coaches:

L. Kenneth Barbour (May 16, 1904 - March 9, 1968)

Robert Rines (March 1, 1914 - April 16, 2004)

PLAYERS:

Jack Dorsey (March 12, 1926 - December 1, 2002)

Don Flory (December 30, 1929 - September 1, 2007)

Jim Gillespie (July 9, 1929 - November 1, 2003)

Jack Goulding (September 17, 1929 - December 5, 1995)

Bert Henry (May 22, 1929 - November 12, 2012)

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

Nick Koutris

Nick Koutris (June 4, 1927 - February 13, 1989)

Merle Leisher (July 6, 1929 - December 23, 2012)

Clarence Lesher (July 9, 1927 - March 21, 2001)

Ted Lesher (October 12, 1926 - November 9, 2021)

Dick Naugle (January 13, 1930 - December 20, 2011)

Clarence Zweizig (March 23, 1921 - June 23, 1985)

Jim Goulding

Jim Gillespie

Merle "Doggie" Lesher

Dick Naugle

Clarence Lesher

Joe Howard

1948-49 Alexandria WASCO Bullets (ESABL)

1948-49 ALEXANDRIA WASCO BULLETS
EASTERN STATES AMATEUR BASKETBALL LEAGUE

Southern Division
7-6, .538, t-4th place

(10-3, .769, before game reversals) 

At the end of the season, player eligibility issues surfaces league wide and a bunch of games had their results reversed and turned into forfeits. Alexandria was involved in 5 such games, both on the winning and losing side. The reversed scores downgraded their 10-3 finish into a 4th place finish and missing the playoffs.

Head Coach:

• Mike Patterson  
  

PLAYERS:

Aud  

Nose Burling (October 27. 1922 - January 2, 1995)

Cranford

Jack Haggerty

Jimmy Higgins (October 28, 1923 - July 7, 2014)

Laekhart 

Tommy McGuire  

Phillips  

Bill Rorer (January 28, 1930 - March 14, 2019)

John Smerick (April 10, 1918 - October 21, 2004)

Duky Washington 

Jack Washington 

1948-49 Eastern States American Basketball League (ESABL)

The Eastern States American Basketball League was formed in 1948, featuring 16 semi-pro teams split into two divisions. As seemed to be the case with most smaller semi-pro leagues, some teams were very successful at the gate while others faltered and failed to finish the season. After the inaugural season, the Eastern States League would re-organize as the Penn-Maryland League and run two more years before folding. A team from Fort Royal in Virginia disbanded before the seas0on even started.

Northern Division

• Chambersburg Cardinals
• Hanover AA
• Harrisburg Modern Army and Navy
• Letterkenny / Scotland Generals
• McSherrystown Knights of Columbus
• Progress Susquehanna Boosters
• Steelton Friendly Tavern Five
• York Howard Cleaners

Southern Division

• Alexandria WASCO
• Frederick Moose
• Greencastle VFW
• Hagerstown Fairchild Aircraft Packets
• Martinsburg Legionnaires
• Rockville Stars
• Waynesboro VFW
• Winchester Royals

1948-49 Eastern Basketball League - Connecticut - Revisit

Some additions:

Bridgeport:

Added Julie Pereiro

ID'd Tony Rodrigues

Bristol:

Added Walt Kresge, Buzz Barton, Payne, Bob Rafaniello

Removed Ray Dombroski

ID'd Paul Nicoletti, Fred Rosi

Corrected Tom Markham's ID and merged with Tom Henry

Danbury:

Added Johnny Barron, Bruce Gehrke, Bob Gersten, Little John Wilson, Gaynor, Johnny Mills

Manchester:

Added Bob Ermisch, Johnny Gorman

Corrected Lloyd Wilson to Floyd Wilson, John Hazen to Bob Hazen

Middleton:

Added Tody Coleman, Iggy Kania

ID'd Jack Speir

New Haven:

Added John McHugh, Mickiewitz, Peterson, Ronnie and Wally Camp

Torrington:

Added Joe Deutsch, Jinx Oneglia, Brpnc Callahan, Burns, Leo Gottlieb

ID'd Clayton "Slim" Garrett

Coach corrected to Andy Pavlicovic

Wallingford

Added Ken Joost, Albert Vieira

Identified Al Skiff as pseudonym for Danny Finn

Added coaches Joseph Hugret and Fred Ferrie

1948-49 York Victory AA (EPBL)

1948-49 YORK VICTORY A.A.

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
14-15, .483, 5th place

York joined the league in 1948 and wound up hovering around the .500 mark the entire season and despite a late season push, fell short of the playoffs. Art Lentz lead the team at 19.2 PPG.

Head Coaches:

• Bob Hulton (July 10, 1921 - August 25, 1999)  and Les Lehman (May 23, 1917 - May 21, 1997)  co-coached the first four games 1-3
• Eddie Waleski (April 21, 1907 - September 9, 1986)  13-12

PLAYERS:

Jake Ahearn (January 6, 1918 - February 17, 1968) 

Red Bock (September 14, 1925 - November 14, 2002)

Bob Brady (March 27, 1928 - July 8, 2006)

Lee Brymesser (November 8, 1918 - July 25, 2004)

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

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

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

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

Les Lehman (May 23, 1917 - May 21, 1997)

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

Bud Long (February 10, 1924 - January 9, 2009)

Eddie O'Halloran (January 4, 1926 - October 11, 2014)

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

Shaffer   

Bill Stoerrle (December 24, 1927 - October 25, 1987)  

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

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

Tony Yovicsin (June 15, 1921 - December 25, 1983)

Dave Ziegler (August 14, 1923 - March 21, 1991)

1948-49 Williamsport Billies (EPBL)

1948-49 WILLIAMSPORT BILLIES

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA

18-12, .600, T-1st place

Tie-breaker: Defeated Harrisburg, 100-77

Semi-finals: Lost to Pottsville, 2-1

Looking to improve on a horrible inaugural season, the Billies named Larry Disque as their head coach and with a powerful lineup of Ray Kodish, Wes Myers, Frank Sebest and Perk Stabley,  the Billies won their first five games. However, as hot of a start they had, the had as cold of a stretch right after it and found t hemselves at 6-5 heading into the Christmas break.  A couple additions to the team helped spark the club to win 9 of eleven and put them in the thick of the race for first place. They grabbed a share of first place, tied with Reading and Harrisburg. The Billies would win the regular season in a play-off system, but would fall to Pottsville in the semi-finals for the championship, two games to one.

Head Coach:

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

PLAYERS:

Bobby Stine

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

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

Mel Flick (Flichtenfeld) (August 24, 1925 - February 19, 2003)

Martie Goldstein (November 20, 1921 - April 8, 1998)

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

Joe Harrington (May 29, 1924 - January 16, 1987)

Stan Kaufmann (b. October 6, 1926)

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

Paul Marcincin (June 22, 1921 - October 26, 2009)

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

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

John Padgett (November 14, 1923 - August 27, 2007)

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

Howard Sanders (October 27, 1923 - February 5, 2017)

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

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

Bobby Stine (b. 1931)

1948-49 Sunbury Mercuries (EPBL)

1948-49 SUNBURY MERCURIES
EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
9-21, .300, 7th place

Coming into their second season in the league, the Mercuries had a new coach in Johnny Barr and a new lineup. However, even with solid players like Johnny Rusinko, Ray Propianka and Fred Sheffield, they dropped their first four games and continued to flounder. Following a 5-game losing streak, they finished January with a 5-13 record and way out of the running for a playoff spot. They finished the season on another five-game skid and mired deep in last place.

Head Coach:

• Johnny Barr (August 8, 1918 - July 1, 2002)  Also played. See below

PLAYERS:

Wade Ackley (June 8, 1919 - January 24, 2007)

Wes Adams (February 21, 1922? - April 8, 1999?)

John Barr (August 8, 1918 - July 1, 2002)

John Bartos (December 19, 1914 - October 17, 1972)

Al Bradley (May 9, 1919 - September 12, 1997)

Aubrey Davis (March 28, 1921 - November 23, 1996)

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

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

Earl Hafner (July 29, 1921 - March 15, 1988)

Bucky Harris (October 28, 1926 - December 6, 2006)

Bob Williams

Stan Kauffman (b. October 6, 1926)

Frank Lupashunski (Lupe) (February 3, 1926 - December 18, 2025)

Nelson

Lefty Piercey (January 31, 1924 - August 17, 1990)

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

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

Don Schuerholtz (August 28, 1922 - May 2, 2009)

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

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

Kermit Smith (February 2, 1926 - August 23, 2005)

Tom Sweeney (October 15, 1922 - June 27, 2017)

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

Bob Williams (April 28, 1926 - November 19, 1989)

1948-49 Reading / Allentown Keys (EPBL)

1948-49 READING / ALLENTOWN KEYS

Jeb Stewart

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
18-12, .600, T-1st place

Tie-breaker: Defeated Harrisburg, 68-66

Tie-breaker: Lost to Williamsport, 100-77

Semi-finals: Lost to Harrisburg, 2-1

Owned and coached by local businessman Arlie Robitzer, Reading got off to a hot start, winning six of their first eight. Attendance, however, lagged a bit and the club was moved to Allentown during the week of Christmas. Their attendance and support in Allentown never really took hold, and the team returned to Reading at the end of January. 

The Keys struggled after returning to Reading, and on February 16 fell to 11-11. The team had made a few roster changes, adding Doug Holcomb and Jim Joyce, and they helped the team take off. They would win 6 of 7 plus a forfeit victory over Lancaster to finish in a three--way tie for first place. They failed to win the playoff for the regular season title, and would then lose to Harrisburg in the playoffs, ending their season.

Jim Joyce

Head Coach:

• Arlie Robitzer (April 23, 1915 - April 20, 1988)

PLAYERS:

Oscar Baldwin (January 7, 1925 - October 31, 2005)

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

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

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

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

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

Kenny Hopkins (November 2, 1919 - June 12, 2015)

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

Joe Lord (December 28, 1922 - December 1986)

Paul Marcincin (June 22, 1921 - October 26, 2009)

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

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

Herm Wickel 

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

1948-49 Pottsville Packers (EPBL)

1948-49 POTTSVILLE PACKERS

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
16-14, .533, 4th place
Semi-finals: Defeated Williamsport, 2-1

Finals: Defeated Harrisburg, 2-1

The previous season's runner-up, Pottsville came in hoping to achieve what they couldn't last year: a Eastern League title. With Obie O'Brien now the head coach, the Packers stumbled out of the gate O'Brien was fired after six games. Veteran Red Dehnert, who started the season with Saratoga in the New York State league, was brought in as player coach but the team saw little improvement and Dehnert was let go ten games later over a dispute with compensation. Co-owners Felix Kadel and Eddie Romance named veteran player Tommy Bell as player/coach. The Packers played noticeably better and by the first week of March had climbed over .500 and on the verge of a playoff berth when tragedy struck. 

Bell was at home in Philadelphia when he collapsed. Rushed to the hospital, he was in critical condition with internal hemorrhaging. A benefit league-wide All-Star game was played to help defray the hospital costs of Bell, but he remained hospitalized. Kadel took over as coach as the team won their final two games of the regular season and claimed the fourth playoff spot. 

When the playoffs began March 25, Pottsville defeated Williamsport in three games and then dispatched Harrisburg in three games to claim the Eastern League's President's Trophy.

Meanwhile, Tommy Bell's illness turned out to be lymphoma, and he would die in December of 1949 at the young age of 27. The league would name the annual MVP Award after Bell.

Head Coaches:

• Obie O'Brien (January 5, 1909 - August 20, 1978) 2-4
• Red Dehnert (January 24, 1924 - September 23, 1994) 6-5  Also played. See below.
• Tommy Bell (September 11, 1922 - December 17, 1949) 6-5 Also played. See below.
• Felix Kadel (May 30, 1912 - December 7, 2003) 2-0

PLAYERS:

Tommy Bell (September 11, 1922 - December 17, 1949)

Fred Bernhart (September 14, 1923 - June 1, 2011)

Alfy Burch (November 2, 1928 - September 1, 2000)

Neal Conway (November 24, 1924 - February 15, 1997)

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

Joe Dougherty 

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

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

Walt Geoghan (March 28, 1925 - Mar 22, 1997)

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

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

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

Jack Harvey (March 10, 1928 - August 30, 2006)

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

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

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

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

Moon Mullen 

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

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

Eddie O'Hallloran (January 4, 1926 - October 11, 2014)

Johnny Phoenix (April 2, 1924 - August 31, 1988)

George Prendergast (December 8, 1922 - July 1, 2009)

Bob Walters (November 15, 1926 - March 21, 1991)

1948-49 Lancaster Red Roses (EPBL)

1948-49 LANCASTER RED ROSES

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
11-18 .379, 6th place

Lancaster started the 1948-49 season in trouble. Even though the team started decently with 2 wins in five games, the financial issues surrounding the club flared up, forcing the league to temporarily suspend the club's actions until they could square things away with the home court, payroll and travel. In early January, owner Roxy Wise replaced Matt Guokas with George Eshelman and the business showed other signs of improvement. The team's suspension was "lifted" and they re-entered league play on January 9. With a new coach and some new personnel (Bells Colone and Johnny Emich), over the few weeks they would continue to add other players to try to bolster their fortunes. They never really put it together, and by season's end they were forced to forfeit their last two games and finished in 6th place, well out of the playoff picture.  Bill Zubic stuck with the team from beginning to end, averaging 22.2 PPG.

 

Head Coaches:

• Matt Guokas (November 11, 1915 - December 9, 1993) 2-3
  
• George Eshelman (April 15, 1913 - June 14, 1989) 9-15

PLAYERS:

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

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

Jim DiGiacomo (December 19, 1928 - November 18, 2025)

George Ehemann (September 11, 1918 - July 10, 1991)

Johnnie Emich (January 21, 1918 - May 20, 2001)

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

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

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

Art Hillhouse (June 12, 1916 - October 27, 1980)

Bill Hoover (September 27, 1920 - October 17, 1999)

Steve Juenger (February 10, 1915 - November 18, 2003)

Jerry Kelly (June 14, 1918 - July 23, 1996)

Bud Long (February 10, 1924 - January 9, 2009)

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

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

Ed Masterson (January 24, 1923 - May 21, 1991)

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

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

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

Joe Proksa (June 30, 1914 - October 25, 1999)

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

George Shoemaker (December 21, 1927 - October 16, 2000)

Mac Simpson (February 28, 1927 - May 17, 2013)

Sammy Van Hook (June 29, 1916 - April 5, 1997)

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

1948-49 Harrisburg Senators (EPBL)

1948-49 HARRISBURG SENATORS

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
18-12, .600, T-1st place

Tie-breaker: Lost to Reading, 68-66

Semi-Finals: Defeated Reading, 2-1

Finals: Lost to Pottsville, 2-1

Hoping to improve on last year's disappointment, Joe Cackovic, star player of the team, took the coaching job at the start of the season, but after 8 games was relieved of his duty so he concentrate on scoring (he would average a team-best 15.0 ppg). After a mediocre 8-8 start, they would go 10-4 the rest of the way to tie for first at the end of the season. They would lose to Reading, 68-66, in a short playoff to determine regular season winner. They would force the same Reading club in the playoffs, beating them in three games to advance to the finals. After splitting the first two with Pottsville, Harrisburg would lose, 88-69, in the rubber game to fall short of the Eastern League championship.

Joe Cackovic

Head Coaches:

• Joe Cackovic (February 21, 1923 - December 16, 1984) 4-4 Also played. See below
• Steve "Pie" Eckhart (December 26, 1912 - September 12, 2002) 2-1
• Russ Tuckey (March 24, 1904 - April 1986) 12-7 

PLAYERS:

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

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

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

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)

Dave McWhite (November 6, 1919 - December 8, 1997)

Danny Sandler (b. March 21, 1927)

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

Vince Smith (August 20, 1922 - January 17, 2019)

Mike Yovic (July 23, 1923 - July 19, 2001)

Johnny Hopper

Danny Sandler

Dave McWhite

Jeb Stewart

1948-49 EPBL

The third season of the EPBL saw the league drop to seven teams. Both the Philadelphia Lumberjacks and the Hazleton Mountaineers dropped, but added the Athletic Association from York.  Reading would move to Allentown to try to find better home court but would return to Reading a few weeks later. It would prove to be a very competitive season, with Williamsport, Harrisburg and Reading all tying for the regular season title with Pottsville only two games back. Williamsport would win the regular season title in a three-team playoff but get knocked out in the playoffs in the opening round to Pottsville. The Packers would go on to win the crown over Harrisburg.

• Harrisburg Senators
• Lancaster Rockets 
• Pottsville Packers
• Reading / Allentown Keys
• Sunbury Mercuries
• Williamsport Billies 
• York A.A.

1948-49 Two Rivers Krisea's (WSBL)

1948-49 TWO RIVERS KRISEA'S

WISCONSIN STATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE

1st Half: 8-3, .727, 2nd place

2nd Half: 7-4, .636, 3rd place

Two Rivers had a very competitive team, but couldn't quite get past the front-runners.They finished both halves on a winning streak, but too late to catch the first place clubs.

Vic Gauthier

Head Coach:

• 
  

PLAYERS:

• Ed Fessler (November 30, 1921 - August 31, 2000)
• Vic Gauthier (February 4, 1922 - January 13, 2001)
• Lewis Hrdina (May 25, 1923 - January 5, 1999)
• Ken Kirchman (March 10, 1930 - May 28, 2023)
• Carl Kuehl (b. March 14, 1927)

  

  Lewis Hrdina

  
  
• Danny LeClair (June 6, 1927 - September 22, 2003)
• Hilary LeClair (December 18, 1918 - September 22, 2003)
• Rube LeClair (September 7, 1923 - January 18, 2009)
• Ernie Lupie (August 19, 1917 - March 23, 1995)
• Bill Maigatter (March 18, 1928 - December 11, 2004)
• Charlie Pelnar (September 9, 1927 - January 12, 2007)
• Don Spletter (February 10, 1930 - January 11, 2022)
• George Stangel (May 28, 1924 - March 28, 2009)

George Stangel

Ken Kirchman