Young

Young


Born:



Died:




Career
1948-49 Brooklyn Newfield Steelers (ABL)

Played one game for Bridgeport. I can't even find a first name.

Source:


Stats:

Little John Wilson

John Edward "Little John" or "Small John" Wilson


Born:
March 23, 1924
Bridgeport, CT

Died:
July 1, 1986
Bridgeport, CT


Career
1940-41 Central High School - Bridgeport. CT (High School)
1941-42 Central High School - Bridgeport. CT (High School)
1945-46 Danbury JayTees (Independent)

1945-46 Bridgeport Lenox (CSL)

1946-47 Bridgeport Lenox (EBL-Ct)

1946-47 Bridgeport Brass (Independent)
1948-49 Bridgeport Newfield Steelers (ABL)
1949-50 Danbury Hatters (EBL-Ct)

One of two "John Wilson"s to play with Bridgeport.

Wilson graduated from Central HS in his hometown of Bridgeport before serving in the military during World War 2. After the war, he played basketball a few years around Bridgeport and Danbury.

Source:


Stats:

Big John Wilson

John "Big John" Wilson 


Born:
around 1923


Died:
Alive in 1959



Career
Clark / Long Island University (College)
1943-44 New York Rens (Independent)
1944-45 Kansas City Monarchs (Independent)
1945-46 Washington Bears (Independent)
1946-47 Washington Bears (Independent)
1947-48 Bridgeport Newfields (NEBL)
1947-48 Bridgeport Newfields (Independent)
1948-49 Bridgeport Newfield Steelers (ABL)
1949-50 Bridgeport Aer-A-Sols (ABL)
1950-51 Bridgeport Aer-A-Sols (ABL)
1951-52 Bridgeport Aer-A-Sols (ABL)

From New York City. 6'4

Source:


Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/john-wilson/

Buddy Thompson

William "Buddy" Thompson


Born:
c. 1929


Died:




Career
1948-49 Benjamin Franklin High School - New York City (High School)
1948-49 Bridgeport Newfield Steelers (ABL)
1950-51 Saratoga Harlem Yankees (ABL)
1951-52 Broadway Colored Clowns (Independent)
1954-55 New York Rens (Independent)
1954-55 Broadway Colored Clowns (Independent)
1957-58 Wilkes-Barre Barons (EBL)
1958-59 Wilkes-Barre Barons (EBL)
1959-60 Milford Chiefs (Independent)
1960-61 Williamsport Billes (EBL)
1961-62 Wilkes-Barre Barons (EBL)
1961-62 Hazleton Hawks (EBL)

Played one game for Bridgeport, scoring 2 points in 1948/49 season.

6'5 from New York City.

Source:


Stats:

Guinn Phillips

Guinn Williams Phillips


Born:
November 23, 1922
Greenwood, TX

Died:
January 17, 1999
Hurst, TX


Career
1942-43 Texas Wesleyan (College)
1946-47 Texas Wesleyan (College)
1947-48 Texas Wesleyan (College)
1948-49 Bridgeport Newfield Steelers (ABL)

Phillips, 6'3 and 190 pounds, attended Texas Wesleyan, but had to leave to serve in the army during World War 2. He returned to Wesleyan and finished his schooling. Phillips was drafted in the second round by the Boston Celtics in the 1948 draft. He didn't make the Celtics squad, but played for Bridgeport in the ABL before returning to Texas.

Guinn married Billier Harmening (1930-2003) in 1952. They had one son who died in infancy.


Source:



Stats:

George Petrovick

George James "The Cat" Petrovick, Jr.


Born:
August 23, 1921
Bridgeport, CT

Died:
February 10, 2016
Shelton, CT


Career
Harding High School - Connecticut (High School)

1939-40 Stamford Holy Names (CSL)
1940-41 Norwalk Newfields (CSL)
1941-42 New London Electric Boat Diesels (CSL)
1943-44 Hartford Villanovas (Independent)
1946-47 Stamford Pros (EBL-Ct)
1946-47 New Britain Newfields (NEBL)
1947-48 Bridgeport Newfields (NEBL)
1948-49 Bridgeport Newfield Steelers (ABL)
1949-50 Bridgeport Aer-A-Sols (ABL)

After graduating from Harding HS, Petrovick played some semi-pro basketball around Connecticut until the U.S. Navy came a-calling. After World War 2, he returned to the court, including two seasons with Bridgeport in the ABL. George would work at Sikorsky for 33 years, and was an avid golfer and active figure in Bridgeport sporting circle throughout his life. He died in 2016 at 94 years of age.

He married Anne Moyher (1921-1994) and they had two daughters. He remarried to Jean Mosher.

Source:
Obituary

Stats:

Joe Oslai

Joseph Louis Oslai


Born:
January 27, 1923
Bridgeport, CT

Died:
March 10, 1976
Milford, CT


Career
1939-40 Bassick High School - Bridgeport (High School)
1940-41 Bassick High School - Bridgeport (High School)
1941-42 Junior College of Connecticut - Bridgeport (College)
1941-42 Bridgeport Springwoods (CSL)
1942-43 Bridgeport Springwoods (CSL)
1943-44 Fort Devens (Military)

1945-46 Bridgeport Lenox (CSL)
1946-47 New Britain Newfields (NEBL)
1946-47 Stamford Tramps (EBL-Ct)
1947-48 New Britain Newfields (NEBL)
1948-49 Bridgeport Rectors (EBL-Ct)
1948-49 Bridgeport Newfield Steelers (ABL)

Born to Steve and Margaret Oslai, Joe served in the U.S. Army during World War 2. He played semi-pro and pro basketball for a few seasons after the war. He started working at Sealtest Foods in 1946 and was living in Devon, Connecticut, when he died in a Milford hospital in 1976 at 53 years of age.

Joe married Kathleen Duhamel and they had a daughter.


Source:
Bridgeport Post, March 11, 1976

Stats:

Ted Nicksick

Dr. Theodore Nicksick, Jr.


Born:
July 30, 1921
Slovan, PA

Died:
March 27, 1996
Wharton, TX


Career
1938-39 Burgettstown High School (High School)
1939-40 Burgettstown High School (High School)
1942-43 West Virginia University (College)
Mineral Wells - Texas (Military)
1946-47 Texas Wesleyan (College)
1947-48 Texas Wesleyan (College)
1948-49 Bridgeport Newfield (ABL)
1950-51 North Texas State University (College) Head coach - Freshmen
1951-52 North Texas State University (College) Head coach - Freshmen
1952-53 North Texas State University (College) Head coach - Freshmen
1953-54 North Texas State University (College) Head coach - Freshmen
1954-55 North Texas State University (College) Head coach - Freshmen
1955-56 North Texas State University (College) Head coach - Freshmen
1956-57 North Texas State University (College) Head coach - Freshmen

Ted was born in Slovan, Pennsylvania, and was a natural athlete. After graduating from high school, he bypassed an offer to sign with baseball's Cincinnati Reds to attend West Virginia. Ted went to West Virginia for a year before entering the U.S. Army for World War 2. After the war, during which he served stateside, Ted continued his education at Texas Wesleyan. After graduating, Nicksick was signed by the Boston Celtics but did not make the team and the 5'8 guard was farmed out to Bridgeport in the ABL. After three games there, he decided to return to Texas. He earned his doctorate in education at North Texas while also serving as their assistant coach on the basketball team. He worked at Austin College in Sherman, Texas, before moving to Ranger Junior College where he was named the school's president. After a few years, he moved to Wharton Junior College and acted as their president until retiring in 1984.

Ted's older brother, Mike Nixon, was a longtime coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers and for two seasons (1959 & 60) was the head coach for the Washington Redskins.

He married Bernice Stone, whom he met while in the army in North Carolina.

Source:
Obituary
Abilene Reporter-News,  February 28, 1965

Stats:

Ace Lengyel

Edward Geza "Ace" Lengyel


Born:
April 14, 1926
Bridgeport, CT

Died:
March 24, 1992
Branford, CT


Career
1942-43 Ludlowe High School - Fairfield, CT (High School)
1943-44 Ludlowe High School - Fairfield, CT (High School)
1947-48 Danbury Fedoras (EBL-Ct)

1948-49 Bridgeport Newfield Steelers (ABL)

1949-50 Danbury Hatter (EBL-Ct)

1949-50 University of Bridgeport - Connecticut (College)
1950-51 University of Bridgeport - Connecticut (College)
1950-51 Clampett's Sports - Bridgeport (Independent)

Eddie graduated from high school and went right into the U.S. Army. After the army he played for Bridgeport in the ABL, and graduated from the University of Bridgeport in 1951.

He worked for the city of Fairfield, Connecticut, as the Director of Risk Management and died in 1992.

(Note: The Hartford Courant from Feb 4, 1949, says it is Ed Lengyel. Why he played three pro games but was still in college is uncertain to me, but I do feel like I have correct Lengyel.)

Source:


Stats:

Ernie Johnson

Ernest Thorwald Johnson


Born:
June 16, 1924
Brattleboro, VT

Died:
August 12, 2011
Roswell, GA


Career
1940-41 Brattleboro High School - Vermont (High School)
1941-42 Brattleboro High School - Vermont (High School)
1948-49 Bridgeport Newfield Steelers (ABL)
1949-50 Danbury Hatters (EBL-Ct)
1949-50 Bridgeport Aer-A-Sols (ABL)
1949-50 Torrington Howards (EBL-Ct)
1949-50 Manchester Nassiff Arms (EBL-Ct)
1950-51 Manchester Nassiff Arms (EBL-Ct)

Born to Thorvald and Alina Johnson, who came to the U.S. from Sweden, Ernie played baseball and basketball in high school. After high school, where he had a great senior year on the pitcher's mound, Johnson attracted the interest of the Boston Braves, and was offered the option of a minor league contract or travelling with the Braves to throw batting practice. He chose to travel with the big club, getting experience throwing to major league hitter. After about a month, he signed with the Braves and spent the rest of the 1942 season pitching for the team's Eastern League affiliate in Hartford. After the season, he was drafted into the Marines for World War 2, so his baseball career would have to wait.

After the war, Johnson returned to the diamond and would bounce around the Braves system. In winter of 1948/49, he suited up to play basketball with the Bridgeport Steelers in the ABL. After going 15-5 for Denver in the Western League in 1949, he was invited to the Braves' 1950 spring training camp and went north with the parent club. After struggling through 16 appearences with the Braves what saw him with a 6.97 ERA, he was sent back down but would return to the club for good in 1952. He would pitch the next seven seasons with the Braves, who had moved to Milwaukee after the 1952 season, and then one more with the Orioles in 1959. He signed with the Indians in the off-season, but a bad arm prevented him from ever throwing a pitch for them and his pitching career came to an end. He had gone 40-23 in his career, primarily coming out of the bullpen.

Johnson moved in to the Braves broadcast booth, starting with doing 20 games a year, and then in 1962 was brought in to work in the Braves' front office. Eventually, he moved back into broadcasting, and was the full-time voice of the Braves through his semi-retirement in 1989. He was still associated with the Braves in the years that followed, and died of heart failure in 2011.


Major League Baseball Stats:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/johnser02.shtml

Source:
SABR Biography

Stats:

Mickey Homa

Michael Edward Homa


Born:
October 16, 1923
Fairfield, CT

Died:
April 9, 2014
Fairfield, CT


Career
Roger Ludlowe High School - Fairfield, CT (High School)

1945-46 Bridgeport Lenox (CSL)
1946-47 New Britain Newfields (NEBL)
1946-47 Stamford Pros (EBL-Ct)
1946-47 Bridgeport Springwoods (CSL)
1946-47 Bridgeport Newfields (Independent)
1947-48 University of Kentucky (College)
1947-48 Bridgeport Newfields (Independent)
1948-49 Bridgeport Newfield Steelers (ABL)
1949-50 Bridgeport Aer-A-Sols (ABL)
1950-51 Bridgeport Aer-A-Sols (ABL)
1951-52 Bridgeport Roesslers (ABL)

Born in Fairfield, Connecticut, to Peter and Eva Homa, Mickey lettered in basketball, baseball and golf in high school. He entered the Marines after graduating, and served mainly in Iceland during World War 2. After the war, he played basketball for Adolph Rupp at Kentucky, but left school after one year. He would return home and play in the ABL for three seasons.

Aside from being a good basketball player, Homa was an excellent golfer, honing his craft under the instruction of the legendary golfer Tommy Armour. making the cut in two U.S. Opens (1953, '56) and one PGA Championship ('59). He worked for many years at various clubs as the golf pro, retiring in 1995.

He married Wanda Soltys in 1951 and they had two sons.

Source:
Obituary, Connecticut Post, April 11, 2014
https://www.ctpost.com/sports/article/Chris-Elsberry-Hooks-Homa-remembered-as-5396516.php

Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/mickey-homa/

Ernie Gomez

Ernest Mendez Perez (Perry) Gomez


Born:
June 16, 1924
Hartford, CT

Died:
June 19, 1963
West Haven, CT


Career
1942-43 Harding High School - Hartford (High School)
1946-47 New Britain Newfields (NEBL)
1947-48 New Britain Newfields (NEBL)
1948-49 Bridgeport Newfield Steelers (ABL)
1949-50 Danbury Hatters (EBL-Ct)
1949-50 Middletown Guards (EBL-Ct)
1952-53 Bridgeport Savin Jewelers (Independent)
1954-55 Merando's - Bridgeport (Independent)

Gomez graduated from Harding HS in Hartford and went into the Navy to serve during the war. After the war, he played some pro basketball in Connecticut Gomez ran into some trouble with the law in 1953, being sentenced to nine months in Danbury Federal Correctional Facility for forging checks and fraud.

He married Joyce Van Allen in 1944 and they had one son and two daughters before their divorce in 1958. He had just turned 39 when he died in 1963.

Source:
Bridgeport Telegram, June 20, 1963

Stats:

Zeke Fazekas

Zoltan "Zeke" Fazekas


Born:
February 29, 1920
Fairfield, CT

Died:
October 1, 1998
Fairfield, CT


Career
1937-38 Fairfield High School - Connecticut (High School)
1938-39 Fairfield High School - Connecticut (High School)
1939-40 Bridgeport Springwoods (CSL)
1946-47 New Britain Newfields (NEBL)

1946-47 Stamford Pros (EBL-Ct)

1947-48 Bridgeport Brass Bears (NEBL)
1947-48 Bridgeport Newfields (Independent)
1948-49 Bridgeport Newfield Steelers (ABL)

One of seven children born to Hungarian immigrants John and Susan Fazekas

Source:


Stats:

Jim Cascia

James Joseph Cascia


Born:
December 3, 1926
New York, NY

Died:
March 20, 2001



Career
St. John's University (College)
1948-49 Schenectady Packers (NYSL)
1948-49 Brooklyn Gothams (ABL)
1948-49 Bridgeport Newfield Steelers (ABL)
1949-50 New York Celtics (Independent)
1949-50 Long Island Bombers (Independent)
1950-51 Philadelphia SPHA's (Independent)



Source:


Stats:

Jackie Bowden

John Joseph "Jackie" Bowden, Jr. 


Born:
September 7, 1917
Bridgeport, CT

Died:
October 4, 1995
Bridgeport, CT


Career
Central High School - Bridgeport, CT (High School)
1940-41 Bridgeport Springwood (CSL)
1941-42 Bridgeport Springwood (CSL)
1942-43 Bridgeport Springwood (CSL)
1946-47 Stamford Pros (EBL-Ct)
1946-47 New Britain Newfields (NEBL)
1947-48 New Britain Newfields (NEBL)
1948-49 Bridgeport Newfield Steelers (ABL)
1950-51 Bridgeport Aer-A-Sols (ABL)
1950-51 Bridgeport Rosebuds (Independent)



Source:
His brother Ed's Obituary
Grave

Stats:

1948-49 Bridgeport Newfield Steelers (ABL)

1948-49 BRIDGEPORT NEWFIELD STEELERS
AMERICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE (II)
24-17 .585, T-4th place

Lost one-game playoff to Paterson

A new team to the ABL, Bridgeport (Connecticut) won their first 7 games in the league, but then only managed to play .500 basketball the rest of the way, finishing tied for fourth with Paterson. They lost a one-game playoff to Paterson, 99-80, ending their season.

Head Coaches:  

• Perry Pilotti (March 24, 1916 - July 27, 1993)

PLAYERS: 

• Jackie Bowden (September 7, 1917 - October 4, 1995)

Biography

• Jim Cascia (December 3, 1926 - March 20, 2001)

Biography

• Zeke Fazekas (February 29, 1920 - October 1, 1998)

Biography

• Tom Flanagan (July 18, 1916 - July 4, 2003)

Biography

• Ernie Gomez (June 16, 1924 - June 19, 1963)

Biography

• Mickey Homa (October 16, 1923 - April 9, 2014)

Biography

• Ernie Johnson (June 16, 1924 - August 12, 2011)

Biography

• Paul Klapprodt (July 10, 1923 - April 21, 2011)

Biography 

• Bill Kotsores (September 18, 1924 - June 6, 1971)

Biography

• Ace Lengyel (April 14, 1926 - March 24, 1992)

Biography

• Ted Nicksick (July 30, 1921 - March 27, 1996)

Biography

• Joe Oslai (January 27, 1923 - March 10, 1976)

Biography

• George Petrovik (August 23, 1921 - February 10, 2016)

Biography

• Guinn Phillips (November 23, 1922 - January 17, 1999)

Biography

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

Biography

• Johnny Rusinko (March 1, 1925 - October 23, 2013)

Biography

• Jim Springer (June 17, 1926 - February 19, 2018)

Biography

• Buddy Thompson 

Biography

• Big John Wilson

Biography

• Little John Wilson (March 23, 1924 - July 1, 1986)

Biography

• Young

Biography

• Bill Zirkel (July 20, 1927 - October 24, 2011)

Biography

Bill Zirkel

William Frederick Zirkel


Born:
July 20, 1927
New York, NY

Died:
October 24, 2011
Phoenix, AZ ??


Career
1946-47 West Virginia State University (College)
1947-48 Trenton Tigers (ABL)
1948-49 Bridgeport Newfield Steelers (ABL)
1949-50 Bridgeport Aer-A-Sols (ABL)
1951-52 Bridgeport Roesslers (ABL)
1952-53 Middletown Guards (ABL)
1952-53 Scranton Miners (ABL)

Zirkel went to WVSU, scoring 262 points as a freshman, but left school after that year.


Source:


Stats:

Johnny Rusinko

John Rusinko


Born:
March 1, 1925
Berwick, PA

Died:
October 23, 2013
Elmira, NY



Career
1941-42 Berwick High School - Pennsylvania (High School)
1942-43 Berwick High School - Pennsylvania (High School)
Penn State University (College) ??
1945-46 Berwick Weavers (Independent)
1946-47 Hazleton (Independent)
1947-48 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)
1947-48 Sunbury Mercuries (EPBL)
1948-49 Bridgeport Newfield Steelers (ABL)

1948-49 Sunbury Mercuries (EPBL)

1949-50 Berwick Car-Builders (EPBL)

1949-50 Williamsport Billies (EPBL)
1950-51 Allentown / Carbondale Aces (ABL)
1950-51 Berwick Car-Builders (EPBL)

1951-52 Williamsport Billies (EPBL)

1951-52 Hazleton Mountaineers (EPBL)

1952-53 Williamsport Billes (EPBL)

Mansfield State College - Pennsylvania (College) Assistant coach
1960-61 Troy High School - New York (High School) Head coach
1961-62 Troy High School - New York (High School) Head coach
1962-63 Troy High School - New York (High School) Head coach
1965-66 Thomas Edison High School - Elmira Heights, NY (High School) Head coach
1966-67 Thomas Edison High School - Elmira Heights, NY (High School) Head coach
1967-68 Troy High School - New York (High School) Head coach
1968-69 Troy High School - New York (High School) Head coach
1969-70 Sayre High School - Pennsylvania (High School) Head coach
1970-71 Sayre High School - Pennsylvania (High School) Head coach
1971-72 Sayre High School - Pennsylvania (High School) Head coach
1974-75 Thomas Edison High School - Elmira Heights, NY (High School) Head coach
1975-76 Thomas Edison High School - Elmira Heights, NY (High School) Head coach
1976-77 Thomas Edison High School - Elmira Heights, NY (High School) Head coach
1977-78 Thomas Edison High School - Elmira Heights, NY (High School) Head coach
1978-79 Thomas Edison High School - Elmira Heights, NY (High School) Head coach
1979-80 Thomas Edison High School - Elmira Heights, NY (High School) Head coach
1980-81 Thomas Edison High School - Elmira Heights, NY (High School) Head coach
1981-82 Thomas Edison High School - Elmira Heights, NY (High School) Head coach
1982-83 Thomas Edison High School - Elmira Heights, NY (High School) Head coach

A basketball star at Berwick HS, Rusinko spent one year at Penn State and then went to play the game professionally. After a few seasons in the ABL and Eastern League, Rusinko emrolled at Mansfield State to finish his schooling and took a job as an assistant coach while there as well as coaching the freshmen team. From there, he went into teaching and eventually became the coach for Troy HS. He wad to resign in 1963 when it was discovered he was a few credits shy of the state requirement for accreditation. He was able to rectify that situation and started teaching and coaching at Edison HS in Elmira Heights, New York. From there he moved to Troy HS and Sayre HS before returning to Edison.

He married Marilyn Erwin and they had a son and a daughter.

Source:
Star-Gazette (Elmira, NY) May 14, 1974
Star-Gazette (Elmira, NY) June 7, 1983
Obituary, Star-Gazette (Elmira, NY)

Stats:

Paul Klapprodt

Paul Klapprodt


Born:
July 10, 1923
Killingworth, CT

Died:
April 21, 2011
West Hartford, CT


Career
1939-40 Bulkeley High School - Hartford (High School)
1940-41 Bulkeley High School - Hartford (High School)
1946-47 Hartford Pros (NEBL)
1947-48 Hartford Hurricanes (NEBL)
1947-48 Meriden Spurs (Independent)
1947-48 Hartford Hurricanes (ABL)
1948-49 Hartford Hurricanes (ABL)
1948-49 Bridgeport Newfield Steelers (ABL)
1949-50 Middletown Guards (EBL-Ct)
1950-51 Hartford Hurricanes (EBL-Ct)

Klapprodt played baseball and basketball in high school and served in the U.S. Navy during World War 2 after graduating. He would play basketball with the Hartford Hurricanes in 1947-48, averaging 9.6 points per game. He was averaging 8.7 ppg in 1947-49 before being sold to Bridgeport on February 16, 1949. Klapprodt was a successful insurance agent in the Hartford area, and died in 2011.

Paul married Ingrid Anderson in 1949 and they had one son and one daughter.

Source:
Obituary, Hartford Courant, April 23, 2011

Stats:

Marty Powers

Martin John "Red" Powers


Born:
March 27, 1928
New York, NY

Died:
December 21, 1991
North Las Vegas, NV


Career
1946-47 Newark Bobcats / Yonkers Chiefs (ABL)
1946-47 Paterson Crescents (ABL)
1947-48 Paterson Crescents (ABL)
1948-49 Bridgeport Newfield Steelers (ABL)

1948-49 Williamsport Billes (EPBL) 
1949-50 Bridgeport Aer-A-Sols (ABL)

1949-50 Williamsport Billes (EPBL)
1949-50 Danbury Fedoras (EBL-Ct)
1949-50 Torrington Howards (EBL-Ct)
1950-51 Torrington Howards (EBL-Ct)

From NYC. Signed with Williamsport baseball team at 16 years of age. Before that, played baseball for Queens. Pieced this info together to come up with this gentleman.

Powers signed with the Newark Bobcats, and after the team moved to Yonkers and subsequently disbanded, he moved over to play with the Paterson Crescents. He would bounce around baseball's minor leagues and the basketball circuit out east before giving up the games. In baseball, he rose as high as Class-A.


Minor League Baseball Stats
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=powers001mar

Source:
Shamokin (PA) News-Dispatch, October 18, 1944

Stats: