1951-52 York White Roses / Ashland Greens / Hazleton Mountaineers (EPBL)

1951-52 YORK WHITE ROSES / ASHLAND GREENS / HAZLETON MOUNTAINEERS
EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
Southern Division
6-24, .300, 6th place

With York Victory departing, the White Roses of York Athletic Club stepped in to take their place in the league. Under Jabbo Adams, the White Roses got off to a decent start, winning 6 of their first ten games. Despite the team's play, they attendance figures were just to low and the club moved to Ashland  and renamed to the Greens. Their fortunes there did not brighten and after three game they were on the move again; this time to Hazleton. Under the moniker of the Mountaineers, Jabbo was let go and Joe Hannon took over as head coach. The new town and a slew of new players did not improve the fortune of the club. The continued to slide and would drop the first 8 games as the Mountaineers before deciding to forfeit the remaining nine games on the schedule and call it a season.

YORK WHITE ROSES

Snitz Osherow

Head Coach:

• Bart "Jabbo" Adams - 6-4. Also played. See below

PLAYERS:

Bart "Jabbo" Adams

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

Hank Dudek (September 11, 1925 - September 14, 2015)

Tom Frein (September 20, 1926 - February 4, 2006)

Joe Hannon (September 18, 1926 - April 7, 1982)

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

Paul McDermitt (June 2, 1923 - August 20, 2007)

Pete Monska (February 23, 1926 - March 17, 2005)

Snitz Osherow (January 1, 1925 - January 20, 1995)

Shy Raiken (October 29, 1928 - January 16, 2009)

Harold Swayze (June 3, 1930 - July 28, 1980)

Jackie Williams  

Joe Hannon

ASHLAND GREENS

Head Coach:

• Bart "Jabbo" Adams - 0-3. Also played. See below

PLAYERS:

Bart "Jabbo" Adams

Tom Frein (September 20, 1926 - February 4, 2006)

Joe Hannon (September 18, 1926 - April 7, 1982)

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

Paul McDermitt (June 2, 1923 - August 20, 2007)

Mullin  

Snitz Osherow (January 1, 1925 - January 20, 1995)

Shy Raiken (October 29, 1928 - January 16, 2009)

Harold Swayze (June 3, 1930 - July 28, 1980)

Bill Thomas (May 2, 1925 - October 27, 1999)

Bill Wetzel (June 16, 1930 - September 27, 2004)

Leo Wolf (September 25, 1926 - November 27, 2006)

HAZLETON MOUNTAINEERS

Head Coach:

• Bart Adams - 0-1. Also played. See below
• Joe Hannon (September 18, 1926 - April 7, 1982) - 0-16. Also played. See below

PLAYERS:

Bart "Jabbo" Adams

Johnny Ballots

Johnny Ballots (November 28, 1927 - April 18, 1989)

Gene Belletiere (September 7, 1931 - October 15, 1996)

Ike Borsavage (July 25, 1924 - January 10, 2014)

Neil Cusate (November 2, 1933 - September 11, 1995)

Al DeGatis (March 8, 1926 - February 10, 2001)

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

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

Tom Frein (September 20, 1926 - February 4, 2006)

Joe Hannon (September 18, 1926 - April 7, 1982)

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

Chick Lamonica (May 17, 1928 - October 1, 1999)

Paul McDermitt (June 2, 1923 - August 20, 2007)

Andy O'Donnell (March 10, 1925 - April 22, 2019)

Snitz Osherow (January 1, 1925 - January 20, 1995)

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

Don Smith (b. January 12, 1927)

Harold Swayze (June 3, 1930 - July 28, 1980)

Shy Raiken

Don Smith

Leo Wolf

1951-52 Williamsport Billies (EPBL)

1951-52 WILLIAMSPORT BILLIES
EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
17-12, .586, 3rd place
Semi-finals: Lost to Pottsville, 2-0

Jack Crossin

Williamsport continued to be one of the better teams in the circuit, lead again by Perk Stabley (20.7 PPG) and  Ray Kodish (18.0 PPG). Wally Hatkevich and Jack Crossin also played huge roles, but they managed to only finish third and lost in the semi-finals for the Cup. 

Head Coach:

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

PLAYERS:

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

Jack Crossin (June 7, 1927 - December 6, 2005)

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

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

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

Jerry Hayes (January 2, 1926 - October 12, 1993)

Stu Kane (August 19, 1923 - March 3, 1973)

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

Joe Majikes (July 14, 1929 - March 22, 2007)

Tom McLaughlin (August 14, 1926 - August 27, 1998)

Pete Pasko (September 9, 1919 - March 31, 2004)

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

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

1951-52 Sunbury Mercuries (EPBL)

1951-52 SUNBURY MERCURIES

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
20-10, 667, 2nd place

Semi-finals: Defeated Lancaster, 3-0

Finals: Lost to Pottsville, 2-1

The defending Cup-winners in Sunbury looked to repeat in 1951-52. Loaded with talented veterans like Jack McCloskey, Jack Ramsay, Jerry Rullo, Dave Fox and Stretch Hall, they held on to first place for most of t he season until Pottsville caught fire and passed them in the season's twilight. The Mercuries defeated Lancaster in the semi-finals before falling to the Pottsville PAckers in the finals.

Head Coach:

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

PLAYERS:

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

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

Pug Heinz (September 8, 1929 - November 11, 2018)

Herb Lyon (August 4, 1927 - October 21, 1966)

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

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

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

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

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

Paul Senesky (January 24, 1925 - July 11, 1994)

Dave Werther (December 4, 1928 - October 24, 1997)

Eddie Lyons

1951-52 Reading Merchants (EPBL)

1951-52 READING MERCHANTS

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
11-18, .379, 5th place

After losing their representatives in the Rangers, Reading gained a new club in the league to replace them. The Merchants brought on Dewey Boltz to coach and play. Boltz is the only player from the previous season's Rangers to be asked to join the Merchants.

The Merchants got off to decent start and won their first two games and were a respectable 5-5 after ten games. They would stumble and only win 5ive games over the last two months and missed the playoffs.

Lee Cappel

Head Coach:

• Dewey Boltz (May 18, 1920 - September 18, 2015) Also played. See below.

PLAYERS:

Hank Belber (November 27, 1926 - December 25, 2014)

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

Lee Cappel (July 20, 1927 - September 25, 2003)

George Davidson (October 17, 1925 - March 5, 2017)

Matt Fanning (January 22, 1927 - November 29, 2018)

Bill Gallagher  (December 1, 1921 - July 28, 2004)

Joe Greenberg (January 7, 1927 - December 8, 2007)

Jack Haggerty (July 6, 1926 - December 19, 2010)

Dick Hall (September 27, 1930 - June 18, 2023)

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

Ace McCann (November 23, 1926 - August 23, 2011)

Brooks Ricca (April 22, 1827 - January 28, 2000)

Joe Greenberg

Jack Haggerty

Brooks Ricca

Matt Fanning

1951-52 Pottsville Packers (EPBL)

1951-52 POTTSVILLE PACKERS
EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
21-9, .700, 1st place

Joe Huth

Semi-finals: Defeated Williamsport, 3-0

Finals: Defeated Sunbury, 2-1

With Chink Crossin at the helm again, the Packers got off to a horrible start, dropping 4 of their first 5. They added Milt Ticco, Billy Chacka and Hank Dudek, and the fortunes of the club changed slightly. They got evened their record at 5-5 by the end of January but dropped two games to defending champion and first-place occupier Sunbury to leave them at 5-7. Adding college star Jack Leighton and Art Lentz, the Packers went on a tear. They won their next nine games before falling to Sunbury yet again, then won another 7 and passed the Mercuries for first place in the last week of the regular season.

Pottsville swept through Williamsport in the semi-finals for the President's Trophy and would defeat Sunbury to stake their claim as the Eastern League champions.

Head Coach:

• Chink Crossin (July 4, 1923 - January 10, 1981) Also played. See below

PLAYERS:

George Kinek

Hank Belber (November 27, 1926 - December 25, 2014)

Jack Booros (May 4, 1928 - December 2, 2018)

Billy Chanecka (April 21, 1924 - January 27, 2010)

Chink Crossin (July 4, 1923 - January 10, 1981)

Hank Dudek (September 11, 1925 - September 14, 2015)

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

Joe Huth (September 28, 1927 - June 11, 2014)

Karl Kauterman (January 4, 1932 - January 15, 1994)

George Kinek (January 13, 1928 - January 21, 1995)

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

Jack Leighton (January 25, 1928 - August 2, 1996)

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

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

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

Cas Ostrowski (July 24, 1924 - March 2, 2000)

Milt Ticco (September 22, 1922 - January 26, 2002)

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

Jack Leighton

Jack Booros

1951-52 Lancaster Rockets (EPBL)

1951-52 LANCASTER ROCKETS

Al Rubbert

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
14-16 .467, 4th place
Semi-finals: Lost to Sunbury, 2-0

Revamped and rebuilt, Whitey Von Nieda didn't double his duty as head coach this year, and they added firepower like Joe Cackovic and Harry Donovan. However, they didn't improve much over last season, finish fourth and getting bounced from the playoffs yet again in the semi-finals.

 

Head Coaches:

• George Eshelman (April 15, 1913 - June 14, 1989)

PLAYERS:

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

George Davidson (October 17, 1925 - March 5, 2017)

Eddie Donovan (September 3, 1925 - May 7, 1999)

Harry Donovan (b. September 10, 1926)

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

Al Guokas (August 7, 1925 - August 2, 1990)

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

Frank Lewis (b. January 1, 1930)

Joe Lord (December 28, 1922 - December 1986)

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

Frank Martello (b. March 11, 1926)

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

Al Rubbert (March 1, 1928 - February 9, 2018)

Chuck Theisen (February 28, 1927 - June 9, 2010)

Whitey Von Nieda (June 19, 1922 - September 7, 2023)

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

Eddie Donovan

Chuck Theisen

1951-52 EPBL

The Eastern League trimmed down to six teams for the 1951-52 season. Gone were Berwick and Harrisburg. The Reading Rangers dropped but were replaced by the Mountaineers and York Victory was replaced by a team sponsored by Howard's Cleaners who would briefly move to Ashland in January before moving again to Hazleton a week later. They would completely from out by season's end, forfeiting all their remaining games. Defending champions Sunbury fought with Pottsville the entire way with Pottsville claiming the regular season title by a single game. Pottsville would meet Sunbury in the Cup finals and win in 3 games.

• Lancaster Rockets 
• Pottsville Packers
• Reading Merchants
• Sunbury Mercuries
• Williamsport Billies
• York White Roses / Ashland Greens / Hazleton Mountaineers

Mike Yelovich

Michael Sebastian Yelovich


Born:
October 7, 1931
Simpson, PA

Died:
July 22, 2002
Mifflin County, PA


Career

1948-49 Fell Township High School - Pennsylvania  (High School)

1951-52 Simpson Monarchs - Pennsylvania (Independent)
1951-52 Carbondale Aces (ABL)

At first wasn't sure on his identity. He was listed as Yellis and Yello.  But when I identified Carbondale player Nick Kitik, I saw that he played high school ball with a Mike Yelovich and then played on various independent and semi-pro teams together. And since coach Red Wallace used them both on numerous occasions, it seems logical that Mike Yelovich is the mystery "Yellis."

A graduate from Fell Township HS, Yelovich went to Lock Haven State and got his Masters in Education at Penn State. He was a teacher for many years.

Mike and his wife had a son and four daughters.

There IS a possibility that it could be Mike's brother Joe, who was also a prominent area athlete, but Mike seems a better fit.

Source:


Stats:

Tom Whipple

Thomas Nathaniel Whipple, Jr.


Born:
December 11, 1927
Central Falls, RI

Died:
December 12, 2002
Lincoln, RI


Career
1950-51 Meriden Sons of Italy (EBL-Ct)
1950-51 Manchester Nassiff Arms (EBL-Ct)
1951-52 Manchester British Americans (ABL)
1952-53 Pawtucket Slaters (ABL)


Pretty sure I have the right man.

Source:


Stats:

Charley or Frank Wexler

Charles or Frank Wexler


Born:



Died:




Career
1945-46 Eighth Avenue Temple - Brooklyn (Independent)
1951-52 Middletown Guards (ABL)

Not many leads here. Not even sure about his first name.

Source:


Stats:

Earl Sykes

Earl Sykes


Born:



Died:




Career
1949-50 Howard College - Washington, DC (College)
1950-51 Howard College - Washington, DC (College)
1951-52 Saratoga / Schenectady Harlem Yankees (ABL)

Not much to be found. Another source says his name is Gene Sykes. Boxscore of Howard game in Feb 4, 1950, issue of the Baltimore Sun says his name is Earl. Whether it be Earl, Gene or Eugene, I cannot find this guy.

Source:


Stats:

Dick Suprunowicz

Richard Suprunowicz


Born:
December 21, 1927
Schenectady, NY

Died:
March 19, 2019
Schenectady, NY


Career
1944-45 Mont Pleasant High School - New York (High School)
1945-46 Mont Pleasant High School - New York (High School)
1946-47 Mont Pleasant High School - New York (High School)
1948-49 Syracuse University (College)
1949-50 Syracuse University (College)
1950-51 Syracuse University (College)
1951-52 Elmira Colonels (ABL)

Born to Makary and Ida Suprunowicz, Dick graduated from Mont Pleasant High School and got a scholarship to Syracuse. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served during the Korean War. He played one game for the Elmira Colonels of the ABL, and worked for many years as a math teacher and assistant principal. He also coached the basketball team (as well as gold, bowling and tennis) for six years at Mont Pleasant High School before moving on to Linton high school where he taught math and eventually became the assistant principal.

His brother, Makary, played at the University of Michigan and later for the Denver Refiners in the NPBL. His younger brother, Walt, played basketball at Holy Cross. His son, Bill, played for Syracuse University in the 1970's.

Dick married Lorraine MIller in 1951 and they had a son and a daughter.

Source:
Orange Hoops
Daily Gazette, December 23, 2014
https://www.timesunion.com/tuplus-sports/article/Hall-to-induct-14-new-greats-6217939.php
Daily Gazette, March 22, 2019

Stats:

Mort Stagoff

Morton M. Stagoff


Born:
February 18, 1926


Died:
February 20, 2011
Somers, NY


Career
New Utrecht High School - Brooklyn (High School)
1943-44 Long Island University (College)
1946-47 Boston College (College)
1947-48 Boston College (College)
1948-49 Boston College (College)
1949-50 Boston College (College)
1950-51 Union Temple - Brooklyn (Independent)
1951-52 Middletown Guards (ABL)

From Brooklyn, Stagoff graduated from New Utrechet and headed to LIU. He entered the U.S. Navy for World War 2 after his freshman year, and after his military service, he went to Boston College. He would play briefly with the Middletown Guards in the ABL.

Mort and his wife, Joan, had two daughters.

Source:


Stats:

Tom Souran

Thomas C. Souran


Born:
June 3, 1928
New York, NY

Died:
May 29, 2005
Little Falls, NJ


Career
1945-46 Straubenmuller Textile High School - New York City (High School)
1947-48 Long Beach Elks - California (Independent)
1950-51 NYU (College) ??
1951-52 Middletown Guards (ABL)

Tom served in the U.S. Navy after high school, which is what gets him to California to play with the Elks in Long Beach.

Tom and his wife had two daughters.

Source:


Stats:

Arnold Smith

Arnold Smith


Born:
1930


 :




Career
1946-47 James Madison High School - New York City (High School)
1947-48 James Madison High School - New York City (High School)
1949-50 CCNY (College)
1950-51 CCNY (College)
1951-52 CCNY (College)
1951-52 Middletown Guards (ABL)

Smith was at CCNY as the school was involved in the point-shaving scandal that rocked the sport in the early 50's. Arnold was not free of controversy, himself. Although not involved in point shaving, he was booted from the team in December of 1951 when it was discovered that his admission records had been altered. Smith then joined the Guards when they took Carbondale's place in the ABL. He scored six points in his only appearance with Middletown on January 27, 1952. He was drafted by the Rochester Royals in the 1952 NBA Draft, but never suited up with the club.

Source:


Stats:

Don Slattery

Donald Lawrence Slattery


Born:
November 25, 1932
New York, NY

Died:
July 17, 2004
Hempstead, NY


Career
1948-49 John Adams High School - New York City (High School)
1949-50 John Adams High School - New York City (High School)
1950-51 John Adams High School - New York City (High School)
1951-52 Washington Capitols (ABL)

A star at John Adams, Slattery found his high school basketball end abruptly when the coaching staff at Adams HS walked off the job before the end of his senior year. Slattery had been offered scholarships to various colleges (St John's, Ohio State, Bowling Green, Annapolis), but they were all rescinded when his grades dropped during his senior year. In September of 1951, he was dealt more bad luck when his father, Michael, died suddenly. Unable to play college ball, he was approached to play professionally with the Washingon Capitols in December of 1951. He played in three games and the team disbanded shortly thereafter. He joined the New Jersey Americans, an independent club featuring Alex Groza and Gerry Calabrese, but the club disbanded before play. In 1952, he got called in to tryout for the New York Knicks, but was one of the last cuts prior to the 1952-53 season. He would stay in sports as a referee and an umpire (he was even a umpire in Major League Baseball when the regular umpires went on strike and replacement (i.e. scab) umpires were brought in. He worked as a bartender and a host at the Richmond Inn in Queens for many years, well-known for his outgoing personality.


Source:
Daily News (NY), October 12, 1979
thebaseballcube.com
ESPN Baseball Encyclopedia


Stats:

Andy Skvoretz

Andrew Charles Skvoretz

Born:
October 29, 1924
Catasauqua, PA

Died:
July 12, 1988
Allentown, PA


Career
1940-41 Catasauqua High School - Pennsylvania (High School)
1941-42 Catasauqua High School - Pennsylvania (High School)
1944-45 Lafayette College - Pennsylvania (College)
1945-46 Lafayette College - Pennsylvania (College)
1947-48 Sunbury Mercuries (EPBL)
1951-52 Carbondale Aces (ABL)

Born in Catasauqua, Pennsylvania, to Joseph and Katherine Skvoretz, Andy played basketball and football at Lafayette, serving as the basketball team captain in his senior year. He would serve in the  U.S. Army during the Korean War from 1950-51 and after the war would also play some semi-pro football in Wilkes-Barre as well as playing for the Carbondale Aces. He worked for many years as a salesman and in the last ten years of his life as a bartender at the Brass Rail in Allentown.

Andy and his wife Audrey (whom he later divorced) had two sons and a daughter.

Source:
The Morning Call, Allentown, PA, July 13, 1988

Stats:

Al Shiels

Alfred Lawrence Shiels, Jr.


Born:
August 6, 1928
New York, NY ??

Died:
May 19, 2005
Yonkers, NY


Career
1944-45 Regis High School - New York City (High School)
1945-46 Regis High School - New York City (High School)
1946-47 Fordham University (College)
1947-48 Fordham University (College)
1948-49 Fordham University (College)
1949-50 Fordham University (College)
1950-51 Torrington Howards (EBL-Ct)
1951-52 Saratoga / Schenectady Harlem Yankees (ABL)

From the Bronx, Shiels was a basketball star at Fordham, and after graduating he played briefly with the Harlem Yankees. He got his Masters of Law from NYU, and served as a JAG officer in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, stationed in Okohama, Japan. He returned to the states and practiced law in his own private practice in Manhattan. He died in 2005 following a lengthy illness.

Shields married Patricia Turner in 1958 and they had five children.

Source:
Obituary, The Journal News, May 22, 2005

Stats:

Roy Reardon

Roy Leonard Reardon


Born:
July 20, 1929
New York, NY

Died:
January 7, 2022



Career
1948-49 St. Francis College - New York (College)
1949-50 St. Francis College - New York (College)
1950-51 St. Francis College - New York (College)
1951-52 Scranton Miners (ABL)
1951-52 Saratoga / Schenectady Harlem Yankees (ABL)

Rearson would go on to practice law. Reardon later became a partner at Simpson Thacher in New York City.


Source:
https://www.nytimes.com/1993/01/03/style/weddings-patricia-m-hynes-and-roy-l-reardon.html

Stats:

Frank Pozda

Frank J. Pozda


Born:
August 2, 1929


Died:
December 8, 2019



Career
1946-47 Hanover High School - Pennsylvania (High School)
1947-48 East Stroudsberg State Teachers College (College)
1948-49 East Stroudsberg State Teachers College (College)
1949-50 East Stroudsberg State Teachers College (College)
1950-51 East Stroudsberg State Teachers College (College)
1950-51 Wilkes-Barre Barons (Independent)
1951-52 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)
1951-52 Fort Jackson (Military)

The 6'4, 185-pound Pozda joined the Barons once he finished playing at ESTC, but only appeared in non-ABL exhibition games.

Pozda tried out for the New York Knicks but failed to make the club. After playing with Wilkes-Barre, he was drafted and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.

After the war, he would work as a teacher and coach.

Source:


Stats: