1953-54 Williamsport Billies (EPBL)

1953-54 WILLIAMSPORT BILLIES
EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
20-10, .667, 2nd place
Semi-finals: Defeated Hazleton, 2-1
Finals: Defeated Lancaster, 2-1

Williamsport was ready to defend their title but dropped their first two games and after 13 games there record sat at 6-7. That is when the Billies, now back under coach Hod Springman, added George Feigenbaum and Roy Belliveau and the team fortunes shifted. They won 12 of 13 (with two forfeit wins courtesy of the failed Lebanon franchise) and found themselves on the doorstep of the Sunbury Mercuries. They split their remaining 4 games and fell a single game short of first place. In the President's Cup, they fought they way past Hazleton to face Lancaster in the finals. After winning Game 1 by a score of 99-89, the Billies got pounded at Lancaster by 34 points. In the deciding Game 3, the Billies routed Lancaster, 110-87, to win their second cup in as many seasons and third in team history.

Head Coach:

• Chink Crossin (July 4, 1923 - January 10, 1981) 5-5 Also played. See below
• Hod Springman (August 10, 1915 - August 13, 1996) 15-5 

PLAYERS:

Roy Belliveau (b. April 12, 1929)

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

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

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

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

George Everett (November 3, 1928 - May 7, 1981)

George Feigenbaum (July 3, 1928 - December 25, 2000)

Ed Kassler (July 21, 1923 - March 7, 2011)

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

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

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

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

Bob Smith (October 8, 1930 - April 19, 2018)

Don Strassner (November 14, 1927 - June 29, 2010)

Vince Verdeschi (March 24, 1925 - August 16, 1965)

1953-54 Sunbury Mercuries (EPBL)

1953-54 SUNBURY MERCURIES

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
21-9, 700, 1st place
Semi-finals: Lost to Lancaster, 2-0

Once again, Sunbury was the team to beat in the regular season. And once again, they exiting in the tournament for the President's Cup. The Mercuries won 12 of their first 14 and 19 of 24 (including to forfeit wins) behind stars like Bells Colone and Jack McCloskey. However, the Mercuries would limp to the finish line, losing four of 6 including their last two. They couldn't regroup when it came time for the playoffs and were swept out by Lancaster.

Head Coach:

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

PLAYERS:

Andy Maddox

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

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

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

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

Norm Grekin (June 22, 1930 - September 29, 1981)

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

Ed Jones (July 8, 1928 - April 28, 2020)

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

Andy Maddox (November 20, 1933 - August 27, 2006)

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

Cecil Mosenson (December 11, 1929 - September 6, 2020)

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

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

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

1953-54 Lebanon / Pottsville Seltzer Bologna (EPBL)

Norm Grekin

1953-54 LEBANON / POTTSVILLE SELTZER BOLOGNA

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA

4-26*, .133, 6th place

* forfeit last ten games

The Seltzer Bologna team struggled last season, and this year would be no different. The team moved to Pottsville to start the season, now playing under veteran coach Cy Kaselman. The Seltzers played it pretty close with their opponents in the first 8 games, winning 3 and only once losing by over ten points. But that us when the wheels fell off.  They dropped six straight games, ending this skid with a triple-overtime win over Lancaster. That was the last good day for the club. At this point, the franchise  moved back to Lebanon for their home games, where they played last season. They dropped another 5 games before folding, forfeiting their last ten games. Norm Grekin lead the team with 225 points (15.0 ppg)

Head Coach:

• Cy Kaselman (May 1, 1909 - July 3, 1971) 4-15
• H. Jack Seltzer (August 12, 1922 - February 28, 2011) 0-1

PLAYERS:

John Brunner

Ed Altieri  (June 2, 1930 - February 27, 2019)

Floyd Becker (February 7, 1922 - March 7, 2008)

Nelson Bobb (February 25, 1924 - December 8, 2003)

Ed Brunner (February 26, 1929 - December 9, 1990)

John Brunner (October 10, 1927 - April 23, 2025)

Bill Dougherty  

Bob Gainey (June 29, 1932 - June 9, 2004)

Cal Gardner (December 25, 1926 - December 27, 2016)

Bob Gearhart (May 19, 1932 - December 10, 2020)

Norm Grekin (June 22, 1930 - September 29, 1981)

Leon Miller

Claude Gross (December 19, 1934 - February 17, 2017)

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

Eddie Krause (October 26, 1926 - March 25, 2011)

Leon Miller (November 23, 1931 - June 14, 2015)

Cecil Mosenson (December 11, 1929 - September 6, 2020)

Jim Phelan (March 19, 1929 - June 16, 2021)

Don Smith (January 12, 1927 - May 23, 2024)

Jim Sottile (March 22, 1930 - June 23, 2019)

Ed Wagner (July 5, 1929 - September 7, 2002)

Bob Gearhart

1953-54 Lancaster Rockets (EPBL)

1953-54 LANCASTER ROCKETS

Brooks Ricca

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
15-15 .500, t-3rd place
Semi-finals: Defeated Sunbury, 2-0

Finals: Lost to Williamsport, 2-1

The Rockets played pretty mediocre basketball over the first couple months, going 5-10 before reversing their record to win 10 of their last 15. (Three of those wins were by was of forfeited game from Lebanon). Player / coach Eddie Lyons scored 486 points in 25 games. 

Lancaster surprised Sunbury in the playoffs, knocking them out in two games. They would meet Williamsport on the finals, but after splitting the first two games, they got drubbed 110-87 in the deciding game

 

Bob Gainey

Head Coaches:

• Ed Lyons (July 1, 1926 - October 28, 2011) Also played. See below

PLAYERS:

Bart "Jabbo" Adams  

Pete Carill (July 10, 1930 - August 15, 2022)

Bob Gainey (June 29, 1932 - June 9, 2004)

Sammy Glassmire (July 26, 1930 - July 7, 1994)

Herm Hedderick (January 10, 1930 - August 20, 2014)

Walt Hirsch (July 15, 1929 - May 10, 2022)

Eddie Krause (October 26, 1926 - March 25, 2011)

John Russell

Walt Lenz (August 21, 1931 - March 28, 2010)

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

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

Paul Reibold (November 24, 1930 - March 30, 2019)

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

John Russell (March 18, 1930 - September 4, 2020)

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

Herm Hedderick

Sammy Glassmire

1953-54 Hazleton Mountaineers (EPBL)

1953-54 HAZLETON MOUNTAINEERS
EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA

15-15, .500, t-3rd place
Semi-finals: Lost to Williamsport, 2-1

Ed Warner

Hazleton started the season under George Feigenbaum and only won two of their first 8 before replacing Feigenbaum with Jim Brasco. By the end of January, the team climbed back to within a game of .500 with a record of 7-8 before hitting a four-game skid. Desperate for a change, the Mountaineers dropped a large portion of their squad and brough on the core of the travelling Jersey City Titans. The Titans had been a member of the defunct American Basketball League the prior season before the league disintegrated. The Titans had players like Sherman White who was implicated in the point-shaving scandals the wrecked the college game a few years prior. Under Paul Zeitin, the Jersey City coach now at the helm of the new Mountaineers, they would win 8 of their last 11 to grab a playoff spot. However, they were defeated by Williamsport in the semi-finals.

Abe Becker

Head Coach:

• George Feigenbaum (July 3, 1928 - December 25, 2000) 2-6  Also played. See below
• Jim Brasco (February 3, 1931 - March 21, 2014) 5-6  Also played. See below
• Paul Zeitlin (February 13, 1919 - May 1, 1974 ) 8-3

PLAYERS:

Abe Becker (d. October 7, 2018) 

Bill Berens 

Jim Brasco (February 3, 1931 - March 21, 2014)

Sherman White

Tommy Breslin (July 2, 1929 - February 25, 1962)

Nick Bruckner (August 20, 1930 - March 30, 1984)

Gerry Calabrese (February 4, 1925 - April 13, 2015)
Neil Cusate (November 2, 1933 - September 11, 1995)

Jim Davis (b. April 22, 1932)

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

George Feigenbaum (July 3, 1928 - December 25, 2000)

Jack Hageman (July 14, 1931 - July 12, 2007)

Buddy Hatchett (September 10, 1927 - October 14, 2011)

Lou Hill (March 22, 1936 - October 13, 2009)

Bob McDonald 

Johnny O'Boyle (March 7, 1928 - March 30, 1984)

Henry Singleton (March 24, 1925 - July 4, 2010)

Jack Stein (December 30, 1929 - May 21, 2015)

Rabbit Walthour (August 25, 1930 - September 10, 1977)

Ed Warner (July 5, 1929 - September 7, 2002)

Leroy Watkins (October 3, 1925 - September 23, 2008)

George Wenz (May 30, 1930 - August 30, 2018)

Charley Whiteman  

Sherman White (December 16, 1928 - August 4, 2011)

Jim Davis

Jack Hageman

Charley Whiteman

1953-54 Berwick Carbuilders (EPBL)

1953-54 BERWICK CARBUILDERS

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
15-15, .500, t-3rd

Berwick added NBA veterans Red Meinhold and Bucky McConnell in hopes of finally making a run in the League. After a 6-6 start, they ran six games in a row to improve to 12-6 and were knocking at the door of the league lead 

but then went ice cold, losing 7 of their last 8 and finishing 15-15 and tied for third. However, They were the odd team out as Lancaster and Hazleton, both with identical 15-15 records, gained the two remaining playoff spots.

Carl Ternosky

Head Coach:

• Paul Stenn (Stenko)  (July 12, 1918 - August 2, 2003) Also played. See below.

PLAYERS:

Paul Arizin (April 9, 1928 - December 12, 2006)

Tommy Breslin (July 2, 1929 - February 25, 1962)

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

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

Claude Gross

Claude Gross (December 19, 1934 - February 17, 2017)

Ed Jones (July 8, 1928 - April 28, 2020)

Bucky McConnell (July 1, 1928 - April 1, 2019)

Red Meinhold (March 29, 1926 - February 23, 2019)

Johnny Murphy  

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

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

Wally Sheil (April 15, 1929 - June 23, 2002)

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

Carl Ternosky (August 12, 1926 - February 3, 2016)

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

Gene/Judy Woodlock  

Mike Zedalis (January 5, 1927 - April 25, 2017)

1953-54 EPBL

The Eastern League was down to six teams for the 1953-54 season. The Harrisburg team dropped after one season, and Lancaster's representatives were now the Red Roses and the Rockets also dropped. The Lebanon Seltzers, after two dismal seasons, moved to Pottsville early on in the season. The shift to Pottsville did little for the team's finances and they would quit the league and forfeit their last ten games.

The regular season was largely a battle between Sunbury and last year's champions, Williamsport.  Hazleton and Lancaster snuck in to the last to playoff spots with 15-15 records. Lancaster upset Sunbury while Williamsport bounced Hazleton but not without a struggle. In the finals, Williamsport defeated Lancaster wo win their second straight President's Cup.

• Berwick Carbuilders
• Hazleton Mountaineers
• Lancaster Red Roses
• Lebanon / Pottsville Seltzer Bologna
• Sunbury Mercuries
• Williamsport Billies

George Yardley

George Harry Yardley III


Born:
November 3, 1928
Hollywood, CA

Died:
August 13. 2004
Newport Beach, CA


Career
1945-46 Newport Harbor High School - Newport Beach, CA (High School)
1947-48 Stanford University (College)
1948-49 Stanford University (College)
1949-50 Stanford University (College)
1950-51 Stewart Chevrolet - San Francisco (Independent)
1951-52 Los Alamitos Naval Base (Military) 
1953-54 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1954-55 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1955-56 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1956-57 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1957-58 Detroit Pistons (NBA)
1958-59 Detroit Pistons (NBA)
1958-59 Syracuse Nationals (NBA)
1959-60 Syracuse Nationals (NBA)
1961-62 Los Angeles Jets (ABL)

NATIONAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME, 1996

Yardley graduated from Stanford in 1950 and was selected by Fort Wayne in the first round of the 1950 NBA Draft. Rather than sign with the Pistons, he wanted to maintain his amateur status in order to play in the 1952 Olympics. He played basketball with the Stewart Chevrolet out of San Francisco who won the 1951 AAU Championship. Yardley entered the U.S. Navy shortly thereafter and played for the Los Alamitos Base team. However, he broke his hand while playing there and was unable to play for the United States in the Helsinki Olympic games.

Out of the navy in 1953, Yardley finally joined the Pistons and five years later when the Pistons moved to Detroit, Yardley became the first NBA player to score 2000 points in a single season.  In the following 1958-59 season, Yardley was traded to the Syracuse Nationals where he played the next season and a half. A six-time all-star, Yardley retired following the 1959-60 season at the age of 31.

In his seven-year career, he finished in the top 16 in scoring in six seasons. He returned to California but was coaxed out of retirement in 1961 by Bill Sharman who was a player and head coach for the New York Jets in the new American Basketball League. When the team failed, he quit playing for good and started up his own engineering company, the George Yardley Company in Santa Ana, California. Yardley was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1996. He died in 2004 from complications of ALS.

George and his wife, Diana, had two daughters and one son.


Source:
NY Times, August 16, 2004

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/y/yardlge01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=yardlge01

Hal Uplinger

Harold Francis "Razor" Uplinger


Born:
September 30, 1929
New Kensington, PA

Died:
February 1, 2011
Dana Point, CA


Career
1945-46 John Marshall High School - Los Angeles (High School)
1946-47 John Marshall High School - Los Angeles (High School)
1947-48 Los Angeles City College (College)
1947-48 Hollywood 20th Century Fox (Independent)
1948-49 University of Arizona (College)
1948-49 Los Angeles City College (College)
1949-50 Los Angeles City College (College)
1950-51 Long Island University (College)
1952-53 Los Alamitos Navy (Military/AAU)
1953-54 Baltimore Bullets (NBA)

Uplinger was a well-known basketball star around Los Angeles, starring at Marshall HS in LA before enrolling at Los Angeles City College. In February of 1948, Uplinger was declared academically ineligible at LACC, so he joined the AAU team out of Hollywood that was sponsored by 20th Century Fox. He would transfer that summer to the University of Arizona, but had to leave school in late December of 1948 due to illness and returned to Los Angeles. He returned to LACC and returned to the court with them in late January of 1949. He stayed at LACC until 1950, when he was lured to LIU by coach Clair Bee. He would graduate from LIU and came back to Los Angeles.


Uplinger entered the U.S. Navy and played for the Los Alamitos Naval Base team, which would also participate in the AAU tournament. He garnered the attention of his former coach, Clair Bee, who brought Uplinger to the Baltimore Bullets in the NBA, who he was now the head coach of. He played in 23 games with the Bullets, scoring only 3.7 points per game.

After leaving the Bullets, he would work for CBS in Los Angeles and New York, eventually becoming the sports producer for CBS Television. He was instrumental in the development of instant reply in sports television production. His expertise in sports production allowed him to be the producer for the American portion of Live Aid in 1985. Hal died of bone cancer in 2011.


Source:
Interview with Jon Eklund, 1993

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/u/uplinha01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=uplinha01

Norm Swanson

Norman Paul Swanson


Born:
October 4, 1930
Chicago, IL

Died:
November 24, 2016
Indian Shores, FL


Career
1946-47 Schurz High School - Chicago (High School)
1947-48 Schurz High School - Chicago (High School)
1950-51 University of Detroit (College)
1951-52 University of Detroit (College)
1952-53 University of Detroit (College)
1953-54 Rochester Royals (NBA)

Swanson was a two-time All-American while at the University of Detroit, leading the Missouri Valley Conference in scoring twice. He was drafted by the Rochester Royals, playing in 63 games in 1953-54. After leaving the Royals, he would work for 43 years for the Stroh's Brewery in Detroit, becoming Vice President of Sales.

Norm and his first wife, Catherine (d. 1968) had two daughters and one son. In 1974, he remarried to Mary, who died three months before he did.

Source:
Biography

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/swansno01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=swansno01

Don Sunderlage

Don James Sunderlage


Born:
December 20, 1929
Roselle, IL

Died:
July 15, 1961
Lake Geneva, WI


Career
1944-45 Elgin High School - Illinois (High School) JV
1945-46 Elgin High School - Illinois (High School)
1946-47 Elgin High School - Illinois (High School)
1947-48 University of Illinois (College) Freshmen
1948-49 University of Illinois (College)
1949-50 University of Illinois (College)
1950-51 University of Illinois (College)
1953-54 Milwaukee Hawks (NBA)
1954-55 Minneapolis Lakers (NBA)

Born in Illinois, Sunderlage's father Alfred died suddenly when Don was 2 years old. Don would grow up to play basketball at Elgin HS and then the University of Illinois. He helped the Illini to the 1951 NCAA Championship. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Warriors in the 1951 NBA Draft, but military service delayed the start of his professional basketball career. He finally settled with the Milwaukee Hawks, and in his rookie season of 1953-54 scored 11.2 points per game and was named to the All-Star team. In September of 1954, Sunderlage was traded to the Lakers for Pep Saul. His playing time diminished quickly with the Lakers and he was released on February 3, 1955. He returned to Elgin where he would work at an insurance firm.

In July of 1961, Don and his wife Mary were driving in a terrible thunderstorm near Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, when their car collided with another, killing both Don and Mary. They left behind a 18-month old son.

Source:


Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sundedo01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=sundedo01

Joe Smyth

Joseph George Smyth


Born:
May 22, 1929
New York, NY

Died:
June 10, 1999
Montauk, NY


Career
1946-47 Franklin Lane High School - Brooklyn (High School)
1948-49 Niagara University (College)
1949-50 Niagara University (College)
1950-51 Niagara University (College)
1953-54 New York Knicks (NBA)
1953-54 Baltimore Bullets (NBA)

Smyth graduated from Niagara and went straight into the military. After serving his country, he returned to the USA and was drafted by the New York Knicks in the 1953 Draft. He would play for the Washington Generals before joining the Knicks in the beginning of January, 1954. Smyth played in 8 games with the Knicks before being sold to the Baltimore Bullets on January 22, 1954. He finished the season with the Bullets but was released by the club before the start of the 1954-55 season.

Source:


Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/smythjo01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=smythjo01

Ed Smith

Edward Bernard Smith


Born:
July 5, 1929
West Jefferson, OH

Died:
November 26, 1998
Marietta, GA


Career
1945-46 Grandview High School - Columbus, Ohio (High School)
1946-47 Grandview High School - Columbus, Ohio (High School)
1948-49 Harvard University (College)
1949-50 Harvard University (College)
1950-51 Harvard University (College)
1953-54 New York Knicks (NBA)

Ed Smith was a athlete and scholar from Columbus. Aside from playing basketball, football and baseball at Grandview HS, he also graduated at the head of his class, earning admission into Harvard. Smith was the first baseman on the Harvard baseball team as well as a high scorer on the basketball team. He was the captain of the basketball team at Harvard in his senior year but broke his leg in December of 1950, Smith was drafted by the New York Knicks in the 1951 NBA Draft but wound up in the U.S. Army instead, stationed at Fort Knox in Kentucky. After the Korean War, he was discharged and joined the Knicks. He would play in 11 games for the Knicks before being let go.

Smith married Mayme Stackhouse in 1952 (1935-2016) and they had three daughters.

Source:
Newark Advocate, December 25, 1950

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/smithed01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=smithed01

Al Roges

Albert Andreu Roges


Born:
October 25, 1930
Ohio

Died:
February 23, 2009
Los Angeles, CA


Career
1945-46 Roosevelt High School - Los Angeles (High School)
1949-50 Los Angeles City College (College)
1950-51 Long Island University (College)
1951-52 Los Alamitos Naval Base (Military)
1953-54 Baltimore Bullets (NBA)
1954-55 Baltimore Bullets (NBA)
1954-55 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)

Roges was born in Ohio but the family moved to Los Angeles with Roges was young. After attending Los Angeles City College, Roges was recruited by Long Island basketball coach Clair Bee to transfer in 1950. However, continuing personal problems between Bee and Roges lead Roges to quit the team in late December of 1950. They managed to settle their differences and Roges returned to the team a week later.
Roges would serve in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War before being signed by the Baltimore Bullets in 1953. He was with the Bullets until the team folded shortly into the 1954-55 season. He finished the season with the Fort Wayne Pistons. After he left basketball, we would work for over 30 years for Bank of America.

Al married Nancy in 1954 and they had two sons.

Source:



Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/rogesal01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=rogesal01

Frank Reddout

Franklin Parker Reddout


Born:
March 4, 1931
Naples, NY

 :




Career
1947-48 Naples High School - Naples, NY (High School)
1948-49 Naples High School - Naples, NY (High School)
1949-50 Syracuse University (College) Freshmen
1950-51 Syracuse University (College)
1951-52 Syracuse University (College)
1952-53 Syracuse University (College)
1953-54 Rochester Royal (NBA)
1963-64 Newark Central High School - New York (High School) Head coach - Freshmen

While at Syracuse, Reddout would record 34 rebounds in a single game.

Reddout played seven games for the Royals before military service called. After leaving the service, he would work many years as a teacher and guidance counselor in Newark, New York.

Source:


Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/reddofr01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=reddofr01

Connie Rea

Connie Mack Rea


Born:
January 27, 1931
Marion, IN

Died:
May 5, 2020
Winter Haven, FL


Career
1947-48 Central High School - Muncie, IN (High School)
1948-49 Central High School - Muncie, IN (High School)
1949-50 Vanderbilt University - Tennessee (College) Freshmen
1950-51 Vanderbilt University - Tennessee (College)
1951-52 Centenary College - Louisiana (College)
1952-53 Centenary College - Louisiana (College) 
1953-54 Baltimore Bullets (NBA)
1954-55 Washington Generals (Independent)
1965-66 California State Teachers College - Pennsylvania (College) Assistant coach

Born in in Marion, Indiana, to Harry and Thelma Rea, Connie grew up in Muncie and starred on the Central HS basketball team. Rea went to Vanderbilt and played basketball and baseball. He would transfer to Centenary College in Louisiana in 1951, leading the team in scoring in his senior year. He was drafted by the Baltimore Bullets in the 1953 NBA draft. He joined the team in January of 1954 and would appear in 20 games with the Bullets. After a year with the Washington Generals and touring with the Harlem Globetrotters, Rea was signed by the Fort Wayne Pistons in 1955 but was cut from the squad before the 1955-56 season began. He attended Louisiana State University, pursuing a Masters and Doctorate in English, but finished his Masters at the University of Colorado in 1958. He became an associate professor at California State College in Pennsylvania in 1963 where he also was an assistant coach for the basketball team.

Rea married Olga Miller in 1955.


Source:


Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/reaco01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=reaco01

Jim Phelan

James Joseph Phelan


Born:
March 19, 1929
Philadelphia, PA

Died:
June 16, 2021
Emmitsburg, MD


Career
1945-46 La Salle Collegiate - Philadelphia (High School)
1946-47 La Salle Collegiate - Philadelphia (High School)
1947-48 La Salle College - Philadelphia (College)
1948-49 La Salle College - Philadelphia (College)
1949-50 La Salle College - Philadelphia (College)
1950-51 La Salle College - Philadelphia (College)
1953-54 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA)
1953-54 Pottsville Packers (EPBL)
1953-54 La Salle College - Philadelphia (College) Assistant coach
1954-55 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach
1955-56 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach
1956-57 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach
1957-58 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach
1958-59 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach
1959-60 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach
1960-61 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach
1961-62 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach
1962-63 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach
1963-64 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach
1964-65 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach
1965-66 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach
1966-67 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach
1967-68 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach
1968-69 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach
1969-70 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach
1970-71 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach
1971-72 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach
1972-73 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach 
1973-74 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach
1974-75 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach 
1975-76 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach
1976-77 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach 
1977-78 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach
1978-79 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach 
1979-80 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach
1980-81 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach 
1981-82 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach 
1982-83 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach  
1983-84 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach 
1984-85 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach  
1985-86 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach 
1986-87 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach  
1987-88 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach 
1988-89 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach  
1989-90 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach 
1990-91 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach  
1991-92 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach
1992-93 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach
1993-94 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach
1994-95 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach
1995-96 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach
1996-97 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach
1997-98 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach
1998-99 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach
1999-00 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach
2000-01 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach
2001-02 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach
2002-03 Mount St. Mary's College - Maryland (College) Head coach


After starring at La Salle Collegiate, Phelan went on to La Salle College and after graduating served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War. After the war, Phelan was drafted by the Philadelphia Warriors and appeared in four games before being released. He signed on to play with the Pottsville Packers of the Eastern League. After that season, he was offered the head coaching job at Mount St. Mary's, a small college in Emmitsburg, Maryland. This was the beginning of a legendary tenure at MSM that last 49 seasons. He would lead the school to the NCAA Division 2 Basketball Championship in 1961-62, and over his career would attain a 830-524 record. MSM would eventually move up to Division 1 status and in 1995 the school entered the NCAA tournament for the first time. Known for his signature bowtie as well as his coaching ability, Phelan finally retired in 2003 at the age of 74.

Jim and his wife, Dottie, married in 1954 and they have five children.

Blogger Note:
I anticipate adding "HALL OF FAME" to this page one day. Hopefully it is when Jim is alive to enjoy the honor he deserves.

Source:
Mount Athletics
Washington Post, Februalry 23, 2019

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/phelaja02.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=phelaja02

Bob Peterson

Robert Peterson


Born:
January 25, 1932
Menlo Park, CA

Died:
July 30, 2011
San Jose, CA


Career
1947-48 Sequoia High School - Redwood City, CA (High School)
1948-49 Sequoia High School - Redwood City, CA (High School)
1949-50 College of San Mateo (College)
1950-51 University of Oregon (College)
1951-52 University of Oregon (College)
1953-54 Baltimore Bullets (NBA)
1953-54 Milwaukee Hawks (NBA)
1954-55 New York Knicks (NBA)
1955-56 New York Knicks (NBA)

Born in Menlo Park, California, Peterson went to school in Redwood City before graduating and playing a year at the College of San Mateo. He transferred to Oregon where his basketball prowess would catch the interest of the Baltimore Bullets who drafted him in 1952. He served in the army before being selected again by the Bullets in 1953. After four games he was let go and joined the Milwaukee Hawks. He was signed as a free agent by the New York Knicks in January of 1955 and played for the Knicks for two seasons. His career was on an upswing as he averaged 14.3 points in the 1955-56 season. Sadly, injuries would eventually shorten Big Pete's basketball career,and he returned to California to work in the mortgage and finance industry. After retiring, he started BBQ Boys, a catering company with his son.

Bob married his high school sweetheart Jo in 1953 and they had one son and three daughters

Source:


Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/peterbo01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=peterbo01

Paul Nolen

Paul Edward Nolen


Born:
September 3, 1929
Tulia, TX

Died:
May 7, 2009
Fort Worth, TX


Career
1946-47 Alvarado High School - Texas (High School)
1950-51 Texas Tech University (College)
1951-52 Texas Tech University (College)
1952-53 Texas Tech University (College)
1953-54 Balitmore Bullets (NBA)
1953-57 Washington Generals (Independent)

As a sophomore at Texas Tech, Nolen led the conference in scoring, would repeat as a junior and finish second in his senior year. The 6'10 center would play one game for the Baltimore Bullets before being released. He toured with the Washington Generals (the opponents of the Harlem Globetrotters) for a season before leaving basketball to enter the grocery business in Burleson, Texas.


Source:


Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/n/nolenpa01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=nolenpa01

Jim Neal

James Ellerbe Neal


Born:
May 21, 1930
Silverstreet, SC

Died:
October 3, 2011
Greer, SC


Career
1947-48 Silverstreet High School - South Carolina (High School)
1948-49 Silverstreet High School - South Carolina (High School)
1949-50 Wofford College (College)
1950-51 Wofford College (College)
1951-52 Wofford College (College)
1952-53 Wofford College (College)
1953-54 Syracuse Nationals (NBA)
1954-55 Baltimore Bullets (NBA)

The 6'11 Neal was a legend at small Wofford College, averaging 32.6 points per game as a senior. He left Wofford having scored over 2000 points (including a school-record 57 in one game) and 1500 rebounds. Neal was drafted by the Syracuse Nationals and played one season with the Nats before playing with the Baltimore Bullets in 1954. When the Bullets folded, Neal's NBA career came to an end. He worked for American Enka Textile as a construction manager and later worked at BASF as an engineer prior to retiring.

Neal married Maxine Clyde and they had one son, Jim (d. 2012), and one daughter, Susan (1955-2012). Following Maxine's death, he married Suella Clyde Van Doren who remained his wife until Jim's death.

Source:
Greenville News, October 5, 2011

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/n/nealji01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=nealji01