1949-50 Eastern Basketball League - Connecticut - Revisit

Some additions:

Bristol:

Raff is Bob Rafianello

Rosen is Norm Rosen

Danbury:

Added Ace Lengyel, Billy Smith, Sal Bafuma, Ed or John Ochman

Manchester:

Added Tommy Mason, Moe Felis, Norm Burke

Removed Bob Stefanowski (May 24, 1930 - November 27, 2022) (did not play in league game) and Bruce Gehrke

Meriden:

Added Jim Teagle, Connie Zimmer, Bob Jankowski, Bruce Gehrke

Middleton:

Added Larry Lohneiss, Bob Shea, John Seagrust, Sal Bafuma

New Britain:

Added Kelly Brofman, Jacovsky, Al Vieira, Pete Labanowski

Torrington:

Hawron is Jim Hanrahan

Added Adda Krulicki, Sam Ponzi, Frank Samele, Rosenko, Ed Krulicki, Luke Sapan

Wallingford

Added Wee Dinnie, Joe Stepanski, Weiss

Identified Allen Friedman and Nat Miller

Waterbury:

Added McGrath, Tom Gallagher, Pete Labanowski, Barnett, Ed Whalen, John Dolan, Cory, Emil Mele, Norm Brucker

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) 0-3
• John Krutulis (May 3, 1912 - June 12, 1991) 0-1
• 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 (May 12, 1921 - May 25, 2008)

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 (January 28, 1931 - May 8, 2025)

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) (February 3, 1926 - December 18, 2025)

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 

1949-50 Two Rivers Seals (WSBL)

 1949-50 TWO RIVERS SEALS

WISCONSIN STATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE

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

Harold Krizizke

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

Two Rivers, under a new sponsor and name, put together a solid team and performed well in both halves, but could not catch the front-runner.

Head Coach:

• 
  

PLAYERS:

• Del Burke (September 1, 1927 - December 29, 1980)
• Dana

• 

  Ken Wondrash

  Ed Fessler (November 30, 1921 - August 31, 2000)
• Vic Gauthier (February 4, 1922 - January 13, 2001)
• Ken Kirchman (March 10, 1930 - May 28, 2023)
• Art Klabunde (April 1, 1926 - October 19, 2003)
• Harold Krizizke (March 20, 1925 - April 19, 2018)
• Carl Kuehl (b. March 14, 1927)
  
• Jerry LeClair (July 13, 1929 - February 19, 2016)
• Rube LeClair (September 7, 1923 - January 18, 2009)
• Ernie Lupie (August 19, 1917 - March 23, 1995)
• Russ Smikle (b. December 13, 1926)
• George Stangel (May 28, 1924 - March 28, 2009)
• Ken Wondrash (December 11, 1921 - February 14, 1981)
• Chet Wisniewski (January 31, 1927 - March 24, 2003)
  

Russ Smikle

1949-50 Oshkosh All-Stars (WSBL)

1949-50 OSHKOSH ALL-STARS 

WISCONSIN STATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE

1st Half: 9-3, .750, 2nd place

2nd Half: 6-6, .500, 3rd place

When the BAA merged with the NBL to form the NBA in the summer of 1949, the Oshkosh All-Stars, who had just lost the NBL championship series, were left out. The NBA leadership cited the size of Oshkosh's population as well as its home facility as the main reason, although the team ownership considered a move to Milwaukee to pacify the NBA. They were denied entry and joined the Wisconsin State League. Given their pedigree of playing in the much-more talented NBL for years, were expected to runaway with the title. A few players (Gene Berce, Leroy Edwards) had stuck around from the previous year with solid professional experience, while other local players filled in the rest of the roster. Under a new coach, David Leibsenson, who was a star player in the area in the 30's and 40's, Oshkosh had an impressive 9-3 record in the first half, but fell short of first place. They struggled in the second have and finished a distant third. The club disbanded after the season, ending the legacy of the Oshkosh AllStars. One of the more successful teams in the NBL, they had made it to the NBL championship in the first 5 season of the NBL's existence, winning the title in 1940-41 and 1941-42. 

There had been belief over the years the had Oshkosh been allowed to remain as an NBA team, they could have continued to compete in the league. Wisconsin as a state is very supportive of their local teams, drawing from all around, as the Green Bay Packer's success would show over the years.

Head Coach:

•  Dave Leibenson (December 25, 1910 - February 23, 1981

PLAYERS:

• Gene Berce (November 22, 1926 - November 17, 2018)
• Ken Buehler (November 19, 1919 - April 18, 2019)
• Paul Cloyd (June 13, 1920 - December 26, 2005)
• Leroy Edwards (April 11, 1914 - August 25, 1971)
• Gene Englund (October 21, 1917 - November 5, 1995)
• Charlie Erban (October 20, 1926 - May 15, 1995)
• Eddie Erban (July 6, 1921 - May 17, 2008)
• Jug Girard (January 25, 1927 - January 17, 1997)
• Gil Hertz (May 23, 1922 - December 25, 1999)
• Bill McDonald (November 5, 1916 - February 7, 1994)
• Bob Mulvihill (March 9, 1924 - May 17, 2016)
• Joe Rahn (June 28, 1922 - January 2, 2012)
• Billy Reed (November 12, 1922 - December 5, 2005)
• Spencer Van Ess (April 30, 1924 - September 16, 1982)
• Don Weaver (September 2, 1926 - June 9, 1996)

Uncertain the Hertz and Girard appeared in a game. They were signed, but haven't seen them appears in a league box score. The only league game I do not have boxscores for is the December 28, 1949 game at New Holstein. I will keep them on the roster until this last game is located.

1949-50 New Holstein Athletics (WSBL)

1949-50 NEW HOLSTEIN ATHLETICS

WISCONSIN STATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE

1st Half: 6-6, .500, T-3rd place

2nd Half: 9-3, .750, 2nd place

New Holstein started the season with a 4-6 record before adding Glen Selbo. Selbo, who would average 16 points the rest of the year, was a jumpstart to the lineup. They won last last two games of the first half and 9 of 12 in the second half, giving them an 11-3 with Selbo. They fell short of catching the powerful Fond du Lac club, missing out on a possible championship series.

Head Coach:

• 
  

Kurt Weber

PLAYERS:

• Ken Buehler  November 19, 1919 - April 18, 2019)
• Ray Heim (June 23, 1926 - November 4, 2011)
• Kenny Kurtz (December 15, 1928 - June 28, 1999)
• Larry Luft (February 24, 1928 - December 3, 1987)
• John Meier (November 24, 1923 - March 4, 2006)
• Benny Nord (November 30, 1927 - October 5, 1991)
• Charlie Ryan (August 16, 1923 - January 20, 2005
• Hank Schuette (July 5, 1927 - April 10, 2008)
• Dick Schroeder (December 30, 1928 - January 1, 2023)
• Glen Selbo (March 29, 1926 - May 29, 1995)
• Ed Shimon (April 17, 1923 - October 22, 2007)
• Stephany
• Bob Vander Putten (November 1, 1924 - December 9, 1996)
• Kurt Weber (January 9, 1929 - November 6, 1996)

1949-50 Neenah Bluejackets (WSBL)

1949-50 NEENAH BLUEJACKETS

Vern Wollerman

WISCONSIN STATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE

1st Half: 6-6, .500, T-3rd Place

2nd Half: 5-7, .417, T-4th place

With a largely revamped roster, the Bluejackets failed to repeat their success from the prior season, falling short of a winning record in either half. Chuck Shepard lead the team with 14 points per game. Following the last game of the season, the Bluejackets announced they were leaving the league.

On February 23, 1950, Neenah didn't have enough players and pulled a couple local players in attendance, Jerry Schmidt and Tom Rosenow, to suit up.

Bob Brandt

Head Coach:

• Vern Wollerman (March 14, 1926 - January 24, 1992)

PLAYERS:

• Bob Brandt (May 22, 1930 - July 31, 2015)
• Bill Ciske (b. May 23, 1928)
• Bob Kloss (November 13, 1921 - October 21, 1988)
• Bob Koser (November 21, 1926 - January 2, 2012)
• Pat McCullough (April 13, 1926 - July 14, 2019)
• Matt Otte (September 8, 1925 - April 25, 2012)
• Claude Peotter (October 14, 1924 - July 15, 2002)

• 

  Jerry Schmidt

  Rube Prunuske (June 21, 1921 - May 26, 1996)
• Tom Rosenow (b. January 7, 1928)
• Jerry Schmidt (July 30, 1931 - November 29, 1987)
• Chuck Shepard (January 19, 1924 - October 21, 2011)
• Carlton Springer (July 4, 1930 - March 25, 2020)
• Jim Stern  (December 14, 1931 - February 25, 1996)
• Bob Wessenberg (February 25, 1928 - December 13, 1999)
• Jim Young (May 19, 1926 - June 7, 1996)

Jim Stern

Tom Rosenow

1949-50 Manitowoc Braves (WSBL)

1949-50 MANITOWOC BRAVES

WISCONSIN STATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE

1st Half: 4-8, .333, 5th place

2nd Half: 4-8, .333, 6th place

The defending champions fell out of contention quick with a 1-4 start. They would finish both halves with an identical 4-8 record and no where near repeating the WSBL championship.  

Fred Biesecker

Head Coach:

• Adolph Gorychka (April 8, 1911 - October 6, 2004) Also played. See below
  

PLAYERS:

• Fred Biesecker (October 3, 1923 - February 1, 2010)
• Ron Blomberg (December 17, 1927 - December 7, 2015)
• Joe Chavez (June 22, 1922 - October 4, 2014)
• Art Edinger (April 3, 1924 - January 22, 2001)
• Buck Edinger (February 26, 1930 - January 31, 2016)
• Adolph Gorychka (April 8, 1911 - October 6, 2004)
• Hal Haberman (December 28, 1927 - November 6, 2009)
• Dick John (October 21, 1919 - September 9, 1983)
• Stan Kramer (June 3, 1921 - June 23, 1997)
• Herman Reckelberg (October 24, 1927 - July 19, 2019)
• Dewey Rogala (January 21, 1922 - September 17, 2013)
• Bob Sullivan (July 1, 1921 - April 12, 2007)
• Gordy Wotruba (November 19, 1928 - April 6, 1999)
• Jim Young  (May 19, 1926 - June 7, 1996)

1949-50 Kimberly Papermakers (WSBL)

 1949-50 KIMBERLY PAPERMAKERS

WISCONSIN STATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE

1st Half: 2-10, .167, 7th place
2nd Half: 2-10, .167, 7th place

Kimberly never could get anything going, finishing a dismal 2-10 and mired in last place in both halves of the season. The March 18 game against Oshkosh was a reported victory for Kimberly as a forfeit, but he official standings at the end of the year seemed to indicate Oshkosh got the win. I will stick with a Kimberly victory in the game for now until I can find evidence of it being reversed.

Dick Fieweger

Head Coach:

• 
  

PLAYERS:

• Adams
• John Bartmann (July 26, 1923 0 April 18, 2004)
• Alan Dietzler (b. October 6, 1928)
• Dick Fieweger (December 15, 1930 - October 31, 2009)
• Bill Goffard (June 13, 1929 - May 20, 2013)
• Elwood Harke (June 18, 1929 - April 15, 1999)

  

  John Bartmann

• Cliff Hinkens (January 2, 1931 - October 17, 2020)
• Pete Valentyne (March 30, 1930 - August 19, 2019)
• Frank Van Boeckel (May 1, 1929 - April 28, 1995)
• Carl Vanden Boom (June 29, 1929 - February 8, 2005)
• Wilfred Vandenberg (March 14, 1931 - November 20, 1992)
• Don Vander Zenden (November 6, 1930 - September 9, 1980)
• Francis Vander Velden (January 27, 1922 - February 6, 2008)
• Driek Van Dyke (November 13, 1920 - March 29, 2011)
• Nig Van Dyke (June 6, 1922 - September 3, 1990)
• Bob Wahlers (March 31, 1932 - June 27, 2009)

Cliff Hinkens

1949-50 Fond du Lac Rockets (WSBL)

1949-50 FOND du LAC ROCKETS

WISCONSIN STATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE

1st Half: 10-2, .833, 1st place

2nd Half: 11-1, .917, 1st place

Exner Menzel

Fond du Lac entered the WSBL in the place of the North Fondy club, and immediately turned into the powerhouse of the league, winning their first 9 games. They battled with the similarly-powerful Oshkosh club for the first place title, finishing ahead of Oshkosh by a single game. They also started the second half with nine straight wins before falling to Neenah, but finished the second half 11-1 and two games ahead of New Holstein. As the winner of both halves of the season, they were declared the champions, without the need for a playoff series.

Head Coach:

• 
  

PLAYERS:

Les Sander

• Ed Goodwin 
• Bob Krueger (September 8, 1922 - March 8, 2005)
• Land
• Arlin Leonhardt (March 24, 1924 - March 9, 2013)
• Bill Manis (September 24, 1930 - June 8, 2007)
• Ambrose McTrusty (August 29, 1927 - January 22, 2019)
• Exner Menzel (September 9, 1922 - October 10, 2016)
• Ray Patterson (January 15, 1922 - August 3, 2011)
• Doug Richie (April 24, 1926 - January 2, 2015)
• Les Sander (January 6, 1920 - February 18, 2005) 
• Al Skat (October 7, 1921 - January 13, 2001)
• Don Sudkamp (March 10, 1926 - August 6, 2019)
• Gale Zimmerman (April 7, 1926 - March 24, 1987)

Al Skat

1949-50 WSBL

The summer of 1949 saw a major shift in t he world of professional basketball: The merger of the BAA and the NBL, forming the NBA. Four teams from the NBL joined the new NBA, and the other teams were left to their own devices. One such club was the Oshkosh All-Stars. In the 1948-49 season, Oshkosh won the NBL's Western Division and made the NBL championship, losing to Anderson in the finals. Despite the club's success, Oshkosh was too small of a city to be permitted to be part of the NBA. The All-Stars, or what was left of them, joined the WSBL for the 1949-50 season. Despite their pedigree, they could not muster a playoff spot and after the season they disbanded.

Oshkosh had taken the place of the Sheboygan Dicks, who left the WSBL following a couple disappointing seasons. North Fond du Lac also dropped and were replaced by neighboring Fond du Lac. An 8th team was awarded to Green Bay, to be coached by Russ Young, but the team withdrew before the start of the season, forcing league president George Johansen to revamp the schedule at the last minute.

Oshkosh dropped their opener by a single point to Neenah but then went on to win 7 of eight. Heavily expected to win the league, they were bested by Fond du Lac who won their first nine contest and finished the first half 10-2, one game ahead of Oshkosh. In the second half, Fond du Lac continued rolling, winning 11 of twelce and capturing the second half title as well. Oshkosh stumbled after a 3-1 start and finished third. New Holstein showed life in the second half with a 9-3 record but were in no position to catch the loaded Rockets of Fond du Lac.

Having won both halves of the season, Fond du Lac was declared champion without a championship series required.

There was a lot of weird events near the end of the season with New Holstein allegedly losing illegal players in a game against Manitiwoc. There was also a disputed game between Kimberly and Oshkosh that was declared a forfeit, but the official league standings don't match what newspaper articles seemed to indicate. Any remaining information about the results of this questioned games is scarce. Until that gets sorted out in research (which may never be uncovered), I am using the records I have from my research any not the standings listed in newspaper accounts.

Teams

Fond du Lac Rockets

Kimberly Papermakers 
Manitowoc Braves

Neenah Bluejackets 

New Holstein Cheesemakers or Athletics

Oshkosh All-Stars

Two Rivers Seals

1949-50 Wheeling Blues (AABL)

1949-50 WHEELING BLUES

ALL-AMERICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE

1st Half: 9-3 .750, 1st place
2nd Half: 5-6 .455 3rd place
Finals: Lost to Cumberland, 3-2

The defending champions started off on fire, winning 7 of their first 8 games en route to winning the first half-title. They slumped in the second half, finishing a distant third. They valiantly fought to defend their title, but lost to Cumberland in five games. Gee Walker lead the team in scoring, approaching 18 PPG in the regular season and 34.7 PPG in the four games I found box scores for in the playoffs.

Head Coach:

• Julie Rivlin (February 2, 1917 - September 23, 2002)

PLAYERS:

• Gee Becker (March 7, 1922 - April 29, 1996)

• Gene Britt (October 13, 1921 - November 29, 2004)

• Bobby Carroll (July 11, 1925 - January 31, 2022)

• Hank Ellis (August 18, 1921 - October 29, 2015)

• Hal Geisler (December 24, 1916 - May 12, 1975)

• Paul Herman (July 5, 1921 - July 20, 1972)

• Floats Pelaez (January 3, 1920 - January 29, 1995)

• Julie Rivlin (February 2, 1917 - September 23, 2002)

• Jim Ruch (August 15, 1920 - July 2, 1984)

• Andy Tonkovich (November 1, 1922 - September 2, 2006)

• Dick Wehr (December 9, 1926 - December 1, 2011)

1949-50 Washington Jewels (AABL)

1949-50 WASHINGTON JEWELS / GUNNERS

ALL-AMERICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE

1st Half: 3-8 .273, 5th place

2nd Half: 4-8 .333, 4th place


Like Sharon, Washington is another Pennsylvania town with a population around 26,000 in 1950 that would be cut in half over the next 70 years. Their basketball team, the Jewels (also referred to as the Gunners) would finish in last place in the first half, and second-to-last in the second. Billy Reese was the main star all season long, but Marion Levers joined the team heading into the second half and was the teams- leading scorer from there on, averaging almost 18 PPG over the last 14 games.

Head Coaches:

• Bud Heatley (December 5, 1916 - May 25, 2007)

PLAYERS:

• Nate Apple (February 16, 1925 - December 1, 2001)

• Elmer Benyak (January 11, 1922 - June 24, 2011)

• Kenny Blake (December 30, 1924 - January 15, 1998)

• Buchanan  

• Bob Coudrec (October 4, 1925 - February 23, 2008)

• Sammy David (November 19, 1928 - May 8, 1999)

• Ralph Forquer (February 19, 1923 - March 21, 2013)

• Joe Frick (June 24, 1923 - August 7, 2020)

• Bud Heatley (December 5, 1916 - May 25, 2007)

• David Hornstein (August 16, 1922 - September 25, 1997)

• Marion Levers (December 1, 1929 - January 3, 2002) 

• Tay Malarkey (November 6, 1920 - March 3, 1996)

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

• Midge Mitchell

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

• Bill Reese (August 24, 1924 - November 24, 2016)

• Bob Renovich (August 23, 1925 - October 13, 2013)

• Bud Sharp 

• Harvey Stuart (March 30, 1928 - July 1968)

• Jimmy Stuart (July 1, 1929 - January 25, 2000)

• Lyman Stough (December 29, 1928 - December 16, 2001)

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

• Labe Wardle (January 16, 1908 - October 25, 1991)

• Peck White

• Stan Yaros (February 23, 1924 - March 24, 2016)

• Casimir Ziarko (October 10, 1924 - March 18, 2001)