Frank Stanzi

Francis Stanzi


Born:



Died:




Career
1932-33 Bronx (MBL)
1933-34 Bronx Americans (ABL)

Not much to be found. His name could very well be shortened from somthing much more ethnic (or even could have been "Stanz").


Source:


Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/frank-stanzi/

Johnny Spellacy

John J. Spellacy


Born:
Jan 30, 1908
New York, NY

Died:
March 8, 1986
Palm Beach, FL


Career
1925-26 St. Anslem (Independent)
1926-27 MacDowell Lyceum (Independent)
1927-28 Brooklyn Lithunaians (Independent)
1927-28 New York Whirlwinds (Independent)
1928-29 Jersey Separates (Independent)
1929-30 St.Martin Big-Five (Independent)
1929-30 New York Pros (Independent)
1930-31 New York Pros (Independent)
1931-32 Bronx St.Martin’s (Independent)
1932-33 Bronx St.Martin’s (Independent)
1933-34 Bronx Amercians (ABL)

Spellacy served in the U.S. Navy during World War 2. His name has been seen in a couple newspaper articles spelled "Spellessi."

Source:


Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/johnny-spellacy/

Mike Michelotti

Michael Rudolfo "Mike" Michelotti


Born:
February 1, 1909
New York, NY

Died:
March 12, 1950
Queens, NY


Career
1930-31 Honesdale (PSL)
1931-32 Long Island Pro-Imps (MBL)
1931-32 Carbondale (PSL)
1932-33 Long Island Pro-Imps (MBL)
1932-33 Yonkers Knights (MBL)
1932-33 Wilkes Barre (PSL)
1933-34 Bronx Americans (ABL)
1933-34 Wilkes Barre-Carbondale (PSL)
1933-34 Astoria L.I. Pro-Imps (Independent)
1934-35 Freeland (PSL)
1934-35 Astoria L.I. Pro-Imps (Independent)
1935-36 Jersey Reds (ABL)
1936-37 Jersey Reds (ABL)
1937-38 Jersey Reds (ABL)
1939-40 New York Firemen (Independent)
1946-47 Long Island (NYNJ)

Michelotti was born to Italian immigrants Raniere and Cortese Michelotti. He was a long-time-professional basketball player and also a fireman for Ladder 116 in New York City.

He was injured in a firefight on April 9, 1948, and eventually died of his injuries almost two years later. He was only 41. He was honored before a Long Island basketball game with a gold watch in gratitude for his years of basketball prowess. This occurred just a month before the incident that would eventually take his life.

He was married to Grace.

Source:


Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/mike-michelotti/

Tom Hutchinson

Thomas J. Hutchinson


Born:
June 26, 1912
New York, NY

Died:
September 30, 1979



Career
1930-31 St. John's Prep - New York City (High School)
1931-32 St. John's Prep - New York City (High School)
1932-33 Manhattan College (College) Freshmen
1933-34 Bronx Americans (ABL)

Pretty sure I have the right guy.



Source:


Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/tom-hutchinson/

Moe Frankel

Morris Frankel


Born:
January 25, 1913
New York, NY

Died:
March 9, 2008
Hackensack, NJ


Career
1931-32 New York Vesa Club (AAU)
1931-32 Fitchburg Reipas (AAU)
1932-33 Bronx (MBL)
1933-34 Bronx Americans (ABL)
1934-35 New Britain Jackaways (ABL)
1934-35 Jersey Reds (ABL)
1935-36 Jersey Reds (ABL)
1936-37 Jersey Reds (ABL)
1936-37 Plymouth (PSL)
1936-37 New York Whirlwinds (Independent)
1937-38 Jersey Reds (ABL)
1937-38 Plymouth (NYPA)
1938-39 Troy Haymakers (ABL)
1939-40 Troy Celtics (ABL)
1940-41 Brooklyn Celtics (ABL)
1940-41 Troy (NYSL)
1941-42 Wilmington Blue Rombers (ABL)
1942-43 Wilmington Clippers (Independent)
1942-43 Camden / Brooklyn Indians (ABL)
1943-44 Wilmington Blue Bombers (ABL)
1944-45 Wilmington Bombers (ABL) Head coach / player
1945-46 Paterson Crescents (ABL) Head coach / player
1946-47 Newark Bobcats (ABL) Head coach / player
1946-47 Troy Celtics (ABL)

Moe wasn't even 20 years old when he signed on to play for the Bronx team in the MBL. A good defender and team leader, Frankel played basketball professionally through 1947, with most of his time spent in the ABL. He filled in as head coach for a handful of games with Wilmington and Paterson.

He is not related to another pro hoopster from the era, Nat Frankel.

Source:


Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/moe-frankel/

Lefty Budnetz

David H. "Lefty" Budnetz (Budde)


Born:
March 5, 1910
New York, NY

Died:
November 17, 1984
Lake Worth, FL


Career
1932-33 Bronx St. Martins / Americans (MBL)
1933-34 Bronx Americans (ABL)
1933-34 Newark Joe Fays (ABL)
1935-36 Alabama Pitts All-Stars (ABL)
1935-36 Hartford YMHA - Connecticut (Independent)
1938-39 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)

Budnetz would eventually go by the name "Budde."

Source:


Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/lefty-budnetz/

Fred Brunelli

Alfred E. Brunelli


Born:
April 8, 1908
New York, NY

Died:
September 21, 1965
Brooklyn, NY


Career
1932-33 Manhattan College (College)
1932-33 Bronx St. Martins / Americans (MBL)
1933-34 Bronx Americans (ABL)
1934-35 Bronx Nationals (Independent)



Source:


Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/fred-brunelli/

Mike Arrasate

Michael Joseph Arrasate


Born:
July 11, 1904
Lequeitio, Spain

Died:
May 24, 1992
New York, NY


Career
1923-24 Brooklyn Trinty (Independent)
1924-25 Brooklyn Waynes (Independent)
1925-26 Brooklyn Waynes (Independent)
1926-27 Brooklyn Waynes (Independent)
1927-28 Brooklyn Visitations (MBL)
1927-28 Brooklyn Knights of St.Anthony (Independent)
1927-28 Brooklyn Waynes (Independent)
1928-29 Long Island Pro-Imps (Independent)
1929-30 Carbondale (PSL)
1929-30 Long Island Pro-Imps (Independent)
1930-31 Chester (TSL)
1930-31 Carbondale (PSL)
1930-31 Long Island Pro-Imps (Independent)
1931-31 Long Island Pro-Imps (MBL)
1931-32 Carbondale (PSL)
1932-33 Jamaica Corbetts (MBL)
1932-33 Yonkers Knights (MBL)
1932-33 Wilkes Barre (PSL)
1933-34 Bronx Americans (ABL)
1933-34 Wilkes Barre (PSL)
1933-34 Carbondale (PSL)
1933-34 Dunmore (PSL)
1933-34 Long Island Pro-Imps (Independent)
1934-35 Long Island Pro-Imps (Independent)
1934-35 Albany (NYSL)

Arrasate was born in Spain and his family moved to the USA when Mike was 7 years old. Aside from playing basketball, Arrasate was also a amateur boxer and later worked as a policeman.

Source:


Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/mike-arrasate/

1933-34 Bronx Americans (ABL)

1933-34 BRONX AMERICANS
AMERICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE (II)
First Half:
10-15 .400, 5th place
Second Half:
2-6 .250, 7th place

• Head Coach: Frank Lombardo 

PLAYERS:

• Mike Arrasate (July 11, 1904 - May 24, 1992)

Biography

• Fred Brunelli (April 8, 1908 - September 21, 1965)

Biography

• Lefty Budnetz (March 5, 1910 - November 17, 1984)

Biography

• Moe Frankel (January 25, 1913 - March 9, 2008)

Biography 

• Sonny Gluck (April 20, 1902 - February 1, 1973)

Biography 

• Tom Hutchinson (June 26, 1912 - September 30, 1979)
  

Biography 

• Al Kellett (October 30, 1901 - July 14, 1960)

Biography

• Willie McDonald

Biography

• Mike Michelotti (February 1, 1909 - March 12, 1950)

Biography

• Johnny Spellacy (Jan 30, 1908 - March 8, 1986)

Biography

• Frank Stanzi  

Biography 

• Bob Synnott (September 27, 1912 - November 19, 1985)

Biography

Sonny Gluck

Edward H. "Sonny" Gluck


Born:
April 20, 1902
New York, NY

Died:
February 1, 1973
New York, NY


Career
1922-23 Bronx Dodgers (Independent)
1922-23 Dexter Big Five (Independent)
1924-25 New York Cliftons (Independent)
1927-28 Philadelphia Warriors (ABL)
1928-29 New York Hakoahs (ABL)
1928-29 Brooklyn Dodgers (Independent)
1929-30 Philadelphia SPHA's (EBL)
1929-30 Passaic (Independent)
1930-31 Camden (EBL)
1931-32 Union City Reds (MBL)
1932-33 Brooklyn Americans (MBL)
1932-33 Jersey City Palace Diamonds (MBL)
1933-34 Bronx Americans (ABL)
1934-35 Albany (NYSL)
1935-36 Passaic Reds (ABL)

Gluck played a little bit of basketball before signing with the Philadelphia Warriors in the 1927-28 season. He played one day with the club, coming off the bench in both games of a doubleheader against the Detroit Cardinals on January 2, 1928. He would go one to play another 8 seasons.

After a lengthy basketball career, Gluck became president of Gotham Pressed Steel Corporation. When the company was purchased by Servotronics, we would become involved in electronic games and was behind the development of electronic sports games.

Source:
N.Y. Times, February 3, 1973

Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/sonny-gluck/

Willie McDonald

Willie McDonald


Born:




Died:
Last saw he was alive in May 1941



Career
1924-25 Brooklyn Visitations (MBL)
1925-26 Brooklyn Visitations (MBL)
1926-27 Newburgh Hillsides / Jersey City Skeeters (NLN)
1926-27 Brooklyn Celtics (ABL)
1926-27 West Brooklyn Assumption Triangles (MBL)
1926-27 Youngstown Bentleys (CBL)
1927-28 Catskill Howitzers (MBL)
1928-29 Brooklyn Visitations (ABL)
1928-29 New York Hakoahs (ABL)
1928-29 New York Hakoahs (Independent)
1929-30 New York Celtics (ABL)
1929-30 Chicago Bruins (ABL) Did he play??
1929-30 Paterson Whirlwinds (ABL)
1930-31 Brooklyn Americans (Independent)
1931-32 Brooklyn Americans (Independent)
1932-33 Brooklyn Americans (MBL)
1933-34 Bronx Americans (ABL)
1934-35 Brooklyn Americans (Independent)
1935-36 Brooklyn Americans (Independent)
1936-37 Brooklyn Americans (Independent)
1937-38 New York Gaels (Independent)

McDonald played basketball at St. Francis Prep. After at least one year at St. Francis College, McDonald would player pro basketball for many years. Not much else to be found. Alive in December of 1949, appearing at at St Francis Prep reunion game.

UPDATE 1/23/2018
I thought maybe I had identified Willie, but an astute anonymous reader here told me I was wrong. Looking into it more, I agree. A player named "Squire McDonnell" has been confused with "Willie McDonald," mainly stemming from information I had the the McDonald who played in the ABL went by the name "Squire" and went to St. Francis Prep and St. Francis College. This is not the case. James "Squire" McDonnell went to those schools and played some teams around Brooklyn (lke the Columbus Caseys) but is NOT the same player as Willie McDonald who played for the Visitations and Americans. Near as I can tell, Willie McDonald never was called "Squire." So I have put McDonald back in the "unknown" category and separated his record from McDonnell. Sorry for any confusion, and thank you to the anonymous poster for the clarification and correction. Identifying these players is a group effort, so all comments, suggestions and leads are appreciated, even if they prove my wrong.

Source:


Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/willie-mcdonald/

Al Kellett

Alfred Henry Kellett


Born:
October 30, 1901
New York, NY

Died:
July 14, 1960
New York, NY


Career
1917-18 Morris High School - New York (High School)
1918-19 Columbia University (College)  - Not sure he actually played basketball
1922-23 Bronx Dodgers (Independent)
1922-23 Brooklyn Dexter Big Five (Independent)
1923-24 Brooklyn Americans (Independent)
1924-25 Brooklyn (MBL)
1924-25 Eddie Holly’s Majors (Independent)
1924-25 New York Nationals (Independent)
1924-25 New York Cliftons (Independent)
1925-26 New York–Newark (MBL)
1925-26 Pottsville (EBL)
1925-26 Brooklyn Fernwoods (Independent)
1925-26 Philadelphia SPHAS (Independent)
1925-26 New York Nationals (Independent)
1926-27 Newburgh / Jersey City–Ridgewood / Newburgh (NLN)
1926-27 Youngstown (CBL)
1926-27 Philadelphia Quakers (ABL)
1927-28 Philadelphia Warriors (ABL)
1928-29 Trenton Royal Bengals (ABL)
1928-29 Chicago Bruins (ABL)
1929-30 Chicago Bruins (ABL)
1929-30 Philadelphia SPHAS (Independent)
1930-31 Brooklyn Visitations (ABL)
1930-31 Carbondale (PSL)
1930-31 Bridgeton (TSL)
1931-32 Brooklyn Visitations (MBL)
1931-32 Carbondale (PSL)
1932-33 Brooklyn Visitation (MBL)
1932-33 Bronx St. Martin (MBL)
1932-33 Bridgeton Gams (EBL)
1932-33 Carbondale (PSL)
1933-34 Bronx Americans (ABL)
1933-34 Dunmore (PSL)
1934-35 Boston Trojans (ABL)
1934-35 Kingston Legionnaires (Independent)
1935-36 Paterson Panthers / Trenton Moose / Passaic Reds (ABL)
1936-37 New York Celtics (ABL)
1937-38 New York Celtics (ABL)
1938-39 Troy Haymakers (ABL)
1939-40 New York Celtics (Independent)
1940-41 New York Celtics (Independent)

After graduating from high school, Kellett enrolled at Princeton but after one year there he entered the U.S. Army. After his discharge from the service, he began playing semi-pro baseball and was signed by Connie Mack and the Philadelphia Athletics in June of 1923. He had five unimpressive outings with the Athletics, and end the end of the season was sold to Portland in the PCL, but stayed east and found his way into one game with the Boston Red Sox, but walked both batters he faced without a strike before getting the hook. His basketball career, though, was flourishing. He would spend 18 seasons playing professionally mainly around New York City. He played 11 seasons in the ABL, and before retiring from the game in 1941 to join the Merchant Marines, played with the New York Celtics, too.

Kellett suffered a fractured skull and a laceration of the brain and died at the age of 58 in 1960.

MLB Stats:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kelleal01.shtml

Source:
SABR.org

Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/al-kellett/