1946-47 Eastern Basketball League - Connecticut - Revisit

 

Found a few more box scores and articles for the 1946-47 Eastern League of Connecticut. Going to make the notes over the next few days

Some additions:

Bridgeport Lenox: 

Added Chet Gladchuk

Bridgeport Springwoods:

Added Gavlick, Joe Vancisin, Walt Yaskot

Bristol Tramps:

Added Hank Gerhardt, Joe Joyce, Billy Kalosky, Eddie Kobles, Joe Masi, George Redman, Tony Rinaldi, John Utke, Wally Utke.

Identified "Miller" as Robert Gordon Miller

Naugatuck:

Added Ed Mariano, Joe Bannon, Adams, Ralph Damiano, Bill Dunn, Jack Dunn, Frank Furs, John Galeski, Moran, Eddie O'Connor, Chet Wojack

Corrected "Hank Swinsky" to "Julius J. 'Hank' Swrisky"

New Britain:

Hayes identified as Gene Hayes

Removed Jackie Cusick, Nat Gordon, Sidney Starr

Assumed Nueswanger and Meuchanter to be the same player

Stamford:

Added Albert Calotto, Bernie Clay, Jack Cronin, Vito Devito, Phil Iasillo, John Nellie, Yosh

Kowles identified as Nick Koules

Torrington:

Merged Ray Foley with Ray Zucco.

Wallingford

Added Austin and Johnny Norton and Rocky Petrafessa, removed Will LaCroix, Pat Mazzarella, Rebenstein, Fred Norton and Harry Junderford

Identified Joe Kubeck, corrected coaches to Lester LaCroix and Johnny Riccitelli (who filled in as coach for two days while LaCroix was out)

1945-46 New Haven Red Devils (CSL)

1945-46 NEW HAVEN RED DEVILS

CONNECTICUT STATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE
16-6, .727, 2nd place

Semi-Finals: Lost to Bristol, 2-0

Hull's Red Devils put together a great season, starting off winning 12 of fourteen league games. They had a short slump in mid-January, losing 3 of four before finishing the regular season with four straight wins and finishing in second place.  Facing first-place Bristol in the playoffs, the Red Devils were bounced in two games.

Head Coach:

• Herky Rubenstein (October 16, 1902 - October 4, 1975)
  

PLAYERS:

Steve Collins (May 2, 1915 - September 30, 1990)

Sal Concordino  

Freddie Ferrie (April 2, 1917 - April 14, 1995)

George Ferrie (March 2, 1928 - October 18, 2011)

Chet Gladchuk (April 10, 1917 - September 4, 1967)

Frank Iwanski (October 11, 1914 - October 29, 2003)

Chubby Malinconico (November 16, 1921 - March 14, 2007)

John McHugh 

Rocky Petrafessa (February 22, 1917 - February 6, 2003)

Herky Rubenstein (October 16, 1902 - October 4, 1975)

Joe St. John (February 14, 1920 - October 4, 2003)

Johnny Slab (May 1, 1920 - August 20, 1980)

1945-46 Naugatuck Zephyrs (CSL)

1945-46 NAUGATUCK ZEPHYRS
CONNECTICUT STATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE
1-18, .053, 7th place

It was a brutally difficult season for the hapless Zephyrs, only managing a single victory in 19 league games.

Head Coach:

• 
  

PLAYERS:

John Galeski

Adams  

Bill Dunn (July 4, 1926 - October 9, 2013)

Jack Dunn (July 29, 1921 - April 7, 1999)

Tom Edmonds (January 29, 1919 - October 2, 1970)

Frankie Furs (August 18, 1925 - July 15, 1953)

John Galeski (March 22, 1917 - July 19, 1995)

Lyon  

Carl Manti (May 23, 1915 - August 5, 2000)

Ace McDermott (June 13, 1921 - June 14, 2014)

Frank Neary (July 1, 1918 - September 28, 1994)

Eddie O'Connor (March 25, 1921 - December 4, 2010)

Dick Pistarelli (January 4, 1923 - December 19, 2006)

Rafferty  

Buck Reilly (August 9, 1924 - November 20, 1985)

Red Ryan (September 22, 1924 - July 10, 2005)

Chet Wojack (February 19, 1923 - September 4, 1999)

Wally Yackowski (March 24, 1922 - January 29, 2012)

Chet Wojack

1945-46 Middletown Speedboys (CSL)

1945-46 MIDDLETOWN SPEEDBOYS

Drade Bogacz

CONNECTICUT STATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE
3-12, .200, 5th place

Middletown lost their first 5 games and were 1-7 when they revamped the team. They brought in the New Britain Pros to take over the franchise on January 10 and after losing two more they rebounded to grab a pair of wins against Lenox and Hartford. Their good fortune ended there and the lost the remaining games.

Head Coach:

• 
  

PLAYERS:

Eddie Bloom  

Drade Bogacz (December 4, 1917 - May 26, 2010)

John Bransfield (October 12, 1922 - June 22, 1993)

Tommy Bryant  

Joe Burek (December 27, 1923 - March 20, 2013)

Bub Daniels

Bub Daniels (November 12, 1920 - July 20, 2003)

John Emmette (June 8, 1917 - February 11, 2016)

Jack French (July 30, 1924 - November 29, 2004)

Dick Jester (July 29, 1923 - August 9, 2005)

Don Kotter (December 29, 1920 - November 11, 1985)

Buzzy Levin (September 24, 1926 - June 2, 2017)

Chick Marino (November 8, 1923 - February 13, 2010)

Al Moschetti (January 1, 1920 - December 10, 2007)

Bill Nelson (July 2, 1916 - March 3, 1983)

Drade Nolan 

John Nolan (January 8, 1919 - December 8, 1994)

Bernie O'Rourke (November  24, 1918 - May 26, 1986)

Bill Salmonson (August 6, 1919 - July 4, 1968)

Irv Schneider (January 11, 1916 - February 22, 1988)

John Emmette

Joe Burek

1945-46 Hartford Atlantics (CSL)

Jack Wise

1945-46 HARTFORD ATLANTICS
CONNECTICUT STATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE
3-14, .176, 7th place

A long and suffering season for the Atlantics. They would only win one of the first 9 games and only the lowly Naugatuck team kept them from a secure place in the league cellar.

Head Coach:

• Jack Wise (Mar 17, 1916 - June 20, 1995) 3-12 Also played. See below
• Tony Crafa (May 19, 1920 - December 14, 1976) 0-2

PLAYERS:

Joe Bores (January 4, 1926 - March 10, 2018)

Moe Bower (September 5, 1922 - December 10, 1971)

Mike Diakon (March 12, 1917 - December 2, 2006)

Allan Dinnie (April 28, 1921 - April 21, 2015)

Wee Dinnie (March 17, 1923 - March 13, 2015)

Harry Dolinski (November 25, 1922 - May 27, 1996)

Frank Granato (b. September 23, 1924)

Joe Heavey (November 9, 1924 - November 27, 2016)

Sid Himmelstein (September 29, 1914 - January 15, 1982)

George Humphrey (May 20, 1923 - June 18, 1998)

Dick Kelly (September 25, 1922 - May 21, 2000)

Howy Krogh (October 16, 1921 - June 8, 1996)

Win Dinnie

Ed Lasko (Leszczynski)  (August 6, 1918 - January 22, 2013)

Frank Leonard (April 27, 1918 - February 13, 2013)

Red Meade (March 28, 1920 - February 11, 2004)

Al Nelson 

Joe Noce (August 30, 1920 - November 3, 2002)

Danny Norkun (Oct 4, 1917 - September 12, 1991)

Ossie Oswald (February 14, 1911 - August 6, 1960)

Pete Sevetz (September 8, 1919 - November 9, 2004)

Jigger Sitarz (November 24, 1919 - September 21, 2005)

Freddie Ware (March 15, 1915 - October 31, 1996)

Willie Ware (March 19, 1917 - September 14, 1991)

Williams 

Jack Wise (Mar 17, 1916 - June 20, 1995) 

Paul Worobel (July 2, 1919 - June 3, 2004)

Vince Wozniak (January 4, 1921 - February 7, 2003)

Earl Yost (August 14, 1921 - September 3, 2005)

Allan Dinnie

Joe Heavey

Joe Bores

Moe Bower

Harry Dolinski

Vince Wozniak

1945-46 Bristol Tramps (CSL)

1945-46 BRISTOL TRAMPS

Johnny Dobrutsky

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - CONNECTICUT
Finished: 17-3 .850, 1st place
Semi-Finals: Defeated New Haven, 2-0

Finals: Split with Bridgeport Lenox, 1-1 (deciding game not played)

Bristol was a powerhouse. Lead by Johnny Dobrutsky and Walt Kresge, they ran off a 17-3 record to capture the regular season crown. In the playoffs, they swept the Red Devils in the semi finals to earn a berth against Lenox in the finals. After splitting the first two games, the teams failed to meet in a deciding game 3 and neither team won the President's Cup. 

Head Coach: 

• Julie Larese (July 16, 1917 - May 17, 1998) 
• Wally Utke (August 11, 1914 - March 31, 1988)

PLAYERS:

Frank Bores (October 15, 1920 - January 7, 1982)
Johnny Dobrutsky (January 27, 1922 - March 1, 1996)

Hank Gerhardt 

Joe Joyce (March 19, 1915 - March 26, 2013)

Billy Kalosky (December 21, 1921 - December 11, 2008)

Eddie (Kolibczynski) Kobles (November 29, 1915 - October 5, 1971)

Ed Kobles

Walt Kresge (September 25, 1920 - August 14, 2000)

Clarence Lynch (May 1, 1920 - April 14, 2001)

Joe Lynch (March 20, 1922 - March 22, 1983)

Joe Masi (March 19, 1919 - May 16, 1998)

George Redman (October 15, 1924 - March 24, 2009)

Tony Rinaldi (January 3, 1913 - April 13, 1971)

John Utke (October 12, 1922 - November 24, 1986)

Wally Utke (August 11, 1914 - March 31, 1988)

Hank Gerhardt

1945-46 Bridgeport Springwoods (CSL)

1945-46 BRIDGEPORT SPRINGWOODS
CONNECTICUT STATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE
15-8 .652, 3rd place

Semi-finals: Lost to Bridgeport Lenox, 2-1

Slim Kurimsky averaged around 15 points as the Springwoods would finish 15-8 and in third place. They lost in the semifinals for the Presidents Trophy to their crosstown rivals at Lenox.

Head Coach:

• 
  

PLAYERS:

Johnny Barron (May 15, 1920 - November 28, 2017)

George Bilcheck (March 26, 1924 - July 30, 1988)

Marty Hutt

Davis  

Debish  

House  

Marty Hutt (September 26, 1915 - August 28, 2008)

Slim Kurimsky (February 1, 1919 - October 8, 2006)

John Mozzi (February 7, 1922 - December 20, 2019)

Johnny Norko (April 16, 1916 - March 28, 2010)

Johnny Pyrch (May 7, 1919 - March 31, 2018)

Rogers  

Steve Salata (August 25, 1923 - June 5, 2012)

Tony Santone (May 30, 1919 - November 15, 1986)

Irish Sheehy (December 26, 1915 - June 19, 1985)

Vic Swaller (September 13, 1922 - June 19, 2013)

1945-46 Bridgeport Lenox (CSL)

1945-46 BRIDGEPORT LENOX

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - CONNECTICUT
Finished: 13-7 .650, 4th place
Semi-Finals: Defeated Bridgeport Springwoods, 2-1

Finals: Split with Bristol, 1-1 (deciding game not played)

The Lenox Athletic Association of Bridgeport were lead by Norm Ritchel, Joe Oslai and Red Harding. After a sluggish 3-4 start, they started January with a four game winning streak and would win 10 of 13 to climb into fourth place and a spot in the playoffs. Their hot streak continued as the bounced the favored Springwoods from across town. Heading into the championship with the powerhouse Tramps of Bristol, they split the first two games but a third and deciding game was never able to be played. 

Head Coach: 

• 
  

PLAYERS:

Bones Hamilton

George Barney (February 20, 1921 - October 15, 2001)

Mal Baxter (November 10, 1921 - September 17, 2010)

Lenny Cocco (September 10, 1924 - June 14, 2008)

Chuck Cullen (June 7, 1919 - August 13, 1973)

Bones Hamilton (December 30, 1920 - April 28, 2000)

Red Harding (June 6, 1921 - May 26, 1998)

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

Kressti 

Marvin Loewith (March 10, 1919 - October 30, 2001)

Al Mansi (July 14, 1921 - January 3, 2013)

Jim Nilan (September 27, 1924 - September 26, 1990)

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

Norm Ritchel (January 28, 1919 - March 9, 1971)

Dave Roberts (March 18, 1921 - April 17, 1992)

Vin Roddy 

Tony Santone (May 30, 1919 - November 15, 1986)

Roddy Stachecin

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

1945-46 Connecticut State League (CSL)

Coming back after a hiatus for World War 2, the Connecticut League returned with seven teams and optimism as the game of basketball was increasing in popularity. Bristol would roll to a 17-3 finish and a regular season title, despite strong challenges from Hull's Red Devils and the Springwoods. Lenox would upset the Springwoods in the semi-finals as Bristol bounced the Devils, but in the finals Bristol and Lenox would split the first two games but a deciding game was not played, leaving no winner of the President's Cup.

• Bridgeport Lenox
• Bridgeport Springwoods
• Bristol Tramps
• Hartford Atlantics
• Middletown Speedboys
• Naugatuck Zephyrs
• New Haven Hull Red Devils

1942-43 West Haven Red Devils (CSL)

1942-43 WEST HAVEN RED DEVILS
CONNECTICUT STATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE
6-9, .400, 3rd place (3-9 without New Britain contests; one of those New Britain wins was by forfeit)

The Red Devils struggled as a lot of the previous season's players were in the military. A five-game skid in the January pushed them out of the running and the finished a distant third.

Head Coach:

• Herky Rubenstein (October 16, 1902 - October 4, 1975)
  

PLAYERS:

Buccino  

Hank Donesky (January 17, 1919 - May 9, 2004)

Duggan  

George Fasulas (April 20, 1921 - October 23, 2000)

Fritz Graziosa (October 4, 1917 - June 5, 2000)

Chubby Malinconico (November 16, 1921 - March 14, 2007)

Eddie Mucha (June 12, 1919 - November 26, 1944)

Rocky Petrafessa (February 22, 1917 - February 6, 2003)

Herky Rubenstein (October 16, 1902 - October 4, 1975)

Hy Shendell (March 11, 1920 - April 27, 2000)

Charles Teubert (November 27, 1922 - July 31, 2000)

1942-43 New London Electric Boats (CSL)

1942-43 NEW LONDON ELECTRIC BOAT DIESELS

CONNECTICUT STATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE
11-4, .733, 1st place (8-4 without New Britain contests; two of those New Britain wins were by forfeit)

Returning with Red Wallace and George Petrovick, the defending champs took advantage of having Bob Calihan and Nick Shaback in the area for military purposes. With those two added, New London would again win the regular season, finishing 11-4. Calihan, a former all-American at the University of Detroit, averaged 17.3 points and Wallace added 12.4 ppg. 

Head Coach:

• Joe Kane (April 12, 1913 - January 10, 1988) Also played. See below

PLAYERS:

Nello Burian (January 23, 1920 - April 29, 1987)

Bob Calihan  (August 2, 1918 - September 22, 1989)

Perry Carlile (May 19, 1919 - February 11, 1987)

Jack Forrester 

Joe Kane (April 12, 1913 - January 10, 1988)

Ray Kite (September 14, 1918 - December 6, 1993)

George Petrovick (August 23, 1921 - February 10, 2016)

Nick Shaback (September 10, 1918 - January 5, 2010)

Elias Sieger (October 23, 1922 - April 25, 1978)

Eddie Sullivan (February 3, 1919 - May 3, 1987)

Red Wallace (July 12, 1918 - July 7, 1977)

1942-43 New Britain Lutherans (CSL)

1942-43 NEW BRITAIN LUTHERANS
CONNECTICUT STATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE

0-9, .000, 4th place (5 forfeit losses)

The Lutherans were blown out by 33 point in their opener to New London, followed with tan 18 point loss to Bridgeport. After almost beating West Haven at home, they would get drubbed by 29 point at West Haven. After forfeiting their December 10 game with New London, the Lutherans withdrew December 13, citing their inability to keep up with the skill levels of the other club.  They would forfeit 4 more games on the schedule before the league office decided to remove all New Britain games from the official standings.

Head Coach:

• Dave Schwanke (July 22, 1918 - July 7, 1997) 

PLAYERS:

Ray Alderman (December 6, 1921 - December 7, 1978)

Hal Bradlau (March 11, 1917 - April 8, 1979)

Arnold Cormier (March 29, 1914 - January 24, 1992)

Aldo Fracchia (October 30, 1916 - February 8, 1968)

Stu Holcomb (November 2, 1916 - September 24, 1975)

Whitey Huber (September 22, 1918 - May 17, 1986)

Milt Knowles (July 20, 1922 - September 22, 1945)

Eddie Kozovich (February 2, 1918 - March 15, 2003)

Eddie Markowski (August 2, 1916 - March 18, 1988)

Pat Mazzarella (June 18, 1923 - July 19, 1989)

Alfred Rinas (July 3, 1921 - June 21, 1990)

William Rinas (August 23, 1922 - January 17, 2002)

Pat Mazzarella

1942-43 Bridgeport Springwoods (CSL)

1942-43 BRIDGEPORT SPRINGWOODS

CONNECTICUT STATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE
10-5 .667, 2nd place (7-5 without New Britain contests)

The Springwoods lost some players to the war, so they managed to pick up Jack Mackey, Dennis Conley and Johnny Pyrch from the local Newfields, who failed to field a team this season. The Springwoods home curt, Sokol Hall, was destroyed by fire on December 11, 1942. Al Bike, the team manager, managed to secure Warren Harding High School as their new home court in time for the December 13 game with New London.

Bridgeport was 10-5 when the season was terminated due to the war effort, good enough for second place. New Britain had dropped from the league and all their results, be it a played game or forfeit, were removed from the official league standings. The Springwoods had defeated NB once (60-42 on 12/6) and had been award two forfeit wins, but their overall record was 7-5 after removing those results.

Jackie Bowden averaged 12.4 points in the nine games I found boxes for.

Head Coach:

• 
  

PLAYERS:

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

Dennis Conley (May 29, 1921 - January 7, 1973)

Al Crowley  

Jack Mackey (April 18, 1914 - February 5, 1993)

Len Napoli (January 28, 1925 - May 19, 2008)

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

Johnny Pyrch (May 7, 1919 - March 31, 2018)

Steve Salata (August 25, 1923 - June 5, 2012)

Tony Santone (May 30, 1919 - November 15, 1986)

Muzzy Spalluto (February 29, 1920 - June 28, 1997)

1942-43 Connecticut State League (CSL)

The attack on Pearl Harbor drew the United States into World War 2 at the beginning of the 1941-42 season. By season's end, all resources were being drawn in to the war effort. Almost all semi-pro basketball leagues went into hiatus in the summer of 1942, but the Connecticut State League chose to continue with only four clubs. The plans were for a 32-game season split into halves, but when New Britain withdrew at the end of December, the remaining teams opted to dump the split season and play the remaining games outright. The eastern seaboard and New England turned into a hotbed for military training and development, and there were enough athletes who joined the service who would find themselves stationed in Connecticut and New York. A lot of these players would play with independent teams from their base/station as well as being able to play in off-hours for local teams. Higher-tiered professional basketballers like Bob Calihan and Nick Shaback would play in the CSL while serving stateside, as well as some popular collegiate players from other regions of the country. The league limped to conclusion in late January with no champion crowned. 

• Bridgeport Springwoods
• New Britain Lutherans
• New London Electric Boats
• West Haven Hull Red Devils

1941-42 West Haven Red Devils (CSL)

1941-42 WEST HAVEN RED DEVILS
CONNECTICUT STATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE
11-9, .550, 4th place
Semi-finals: Lost to Hartford, 2-1

West Haven looked good at the start, winning 10 of 14 from the start. They would hit a rough patch in later January, and would only win one of their last 6 games, and that was by forfeit. They managed to pound Hartford, 80-63, in the first game of the league semi-finals, but lost the next two to get eliminated. 

Head Coach:

• Herky Rubenstein (October 16, 1902 - October 4, 1975)
  

PLAYERS:

Eddie Mucha

John Blasczyk (April 8, 1919 - January 21, 1984)

George Fasulas (April 20, 1921 - October 23, 2000)

Frank Iwanski (October 11, 1914 - October 29, 2003)

Chubby Malinconico (November 16, 1921 - March 14, 2007)

John McHugh

Eddie Mucha (June 12, 1919 - November 26, 1944)

Rocky Petrafessa (February 22, 1917 - February 6, 2003)

Franny Piascik (May 29, 1918 - October 20, 2013)

Herky Rubenstein (October 16, 1902 - October 4, 1975)

Eddie Sylvia (July 25, 1918 - May 10, 1999)

Spencer  

1941-42 Waterbury West Side Speedboys (CSL)

Bill Oliver

1941-42 WATERBURY WEST SIDE SPEEDBOYS
CONNECTICUT STATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE
5-15, .250, 5th place

Waterbury hope to do better than their 6-10 record last year, but they fared even worse. They lost 13 of their first 14 and two of their 5 wins were by forfeit.

Head Coach:

• 
  

PLAYERS:

Frank Beauty (June 4, 1913 - August 12, 2000)

Ralph Bradley (August 21, 1916 - March 19, 2007)

John Brady (February 22, 1920 - March 1981)

John Casey (September 16, 1917 - May 4, 1995)

Ted Edelson (December 26, 1916 - September 15, 1995)

Herbie French (March 6, 1921 - April 15, 2000)

Bill Hoystradt (November 21, 1914 - February 15, 1989)

Billy Kalosky (December 21, 1921 - December 11, 2008)

Joe Kalosky (September 3, 1919 - February 3, 2010)

Joe Lynch (March 20, 1922 - March 22, 1983)

Malone   

Pat Mazzarella (June 18, 1923 - July 19, 1989)

Russ McLean (April 23, 1917 - March 1, 2002)

Bill Oliver (November 3, 1914 - July 28, 1992)

Huddie Richard (October 16, 1916 - April 27, 2006)

Jim Roach (May 2, 1923 - May 27, 2033)

Johnny Stollar (April 10, 1917 - June 6, 2003)

Frank Beauty

Joe Lynch

1941-42 New London Electric Boats (CSL)

1941-42 NEW LONDON ELECTRIC BOAT DIESELS
CONNECTICUT STATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE

Joe Murphy

15-5, .750, 1st place

Semi-finals: Defeated Bridgeport Springwoods, 2-1

Finals: Defeated Hartford, 2-1

New London had a good team the previous year, but the additions of players like Red Wallace and Jackie Goldsmith really bolstered the team (although Goldsmith left the team in January after scoring 120 points in ten game). Wallace would average 15.2 points while Chet Jaworski averaged 9.9. New London won the regular season title and would battle through the Springwoods and Hartford to win the cup.

Head Coach:

• Joe Murphy (December 10, 1913 - August 2, 1986) Also played. See below

PLAYERS:

Tony Osinski

Joe Brennan (February 8, 1917 - March 18, 2006)

Moe Dubilier (February 20, 1915 - April 22, 2003)

Jackie Goldsmith (January 18, 1921 - October 23, 1968)

Chet Jaworski (November 8, 1916 - October 16, 2003)

Joe Kane (April 12, 1913 - January 10, 1988)

Joe Maryeski (July 3, 1923 - January 6, 2022)

Joe Murphy (December 10, 1913 - August 2, 1986)

Tony Osinski (January 6, 1918 - May 8, 1991)

George Petrovick (August 23, 1921 - February 10, 2016)

Ash Resnick (March 6, 1916 - January 18, 1989)

Eddie Sullivan (February 3, 1919 - May 3, 1987)

Red Wallace (July 12, 1918 - July 7, 1977)

Jackie Goldsmith

Joe Kane

Joe Maryeski

Red Wallace

Moe Dubilier

George Petrovick

Chet Jaworski

Joe Brennan

Ash Resnick

1941-42 Hartford Gems (CSL)

1941-42 HARTFORD GEMS
CONNECTICUT STATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE
14-6, .700, 2nd place
Semi-finals: Defeated West Haven, 2-1

Dick Kelly

Finals: Lost to New London, 2-1

The Savitt Gems went through a complete rebuild over the last year. Only Joe Noce and Henry Zajac

returned from the previous season (and Zajac was let go after two games.) After dropping three of their first four games, the Gems won 6 of 7 and their last seven games to finish in second place. After defeating West Haven in the league semi-finals, they would lose the championship to New London in a hard-fought three game series. Leo Gottlieb, a popular basketball star from New York City, topped the team with 14.4 point per game.

Head Coach:

• George Stavinitsky (May 6, 1906 - December 5, 1978) 

PLAYERS:

Bob Barton 

Dave Bass (June 21, 1911 - December 13, 1996)

Ike Cole

Ike Cole (September 21, 1921 - September 19, 2006)

Ike Eikenberry (May 5, 1917 - January 16, 1992)

Freddie Ferrie (April 2, 1917 - April 14, 1995)

Leo Gottlieb (November 28, 1920 - August 16, 1972)

Russ Granger (January 4, 1914 - March 11, 2007)

Joe Keating (December 28, 1919 - February 25, 1995)

Dick Kelly (September 25, 1922 - May 21, 2000)

Johnny Kershaw (June 27, 1915 - June 6, 1988)

Leo Levine 

Bobby Lynch (October 21, 1916 - March 13, 1982)

Joe Noce (August 30, 1920 - November 3, 2002)

Bill Oliver (November 3, 1914 - July 28, 1992)

George Pajak (August12, 1916 - June 26, 2011)

Marty Scheinkman (April 20, 1920 - June 19, 2015)

Stan Wilson (September 6, 1917 - February 6, 1995)

Earl Yost (August 14, 1921 - September 3, 2005)

Henry Zajac (April 6, 1914 - September 23, 1977)

Ike Eikenberry

Henny Zajac

1941-42 Bridgeport Springwoods (CSL)

1941-42 BRIDGEPORT SPRINGWOODS
CONNECTICUT STATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE
13-7 .625, 3rd place

Semi-finals: Lost to New London, 2-1

Bridgeport started the season strong, winning 7 of their first nine before a 2-4 spot knocked them out of first. They rallied to win four of their last five (including a forfeit win over the Newfields) to lock a third-place finish. However, they would lose to New London in the semi-finals, ending their season.

Head Coach:

• Eddie Reilly (March 26, 1886 - December 4, 1964) 

PLAYERS:

George Barney (February 20, 1921 - October 15, 2001)

Mal Baxter (November 10, 1921 - September 17, 2010)

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

Joe Binkert (February 18, 1922 - January 14, 1987)

Red Harding (June 6, 1921 - May 26, 1998)

Slim Kurimsky (February 1, 1919 - October 8, 2006)

Johnny Norko (April 16, 1916 - March 28, 2010)

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

Charlie Petrushonis (January 8, 1921 - d. 1987-2010)

Johnny Pyrch (May 7, 1919 - March 31, 2018)

Norm Ritchel (January 28, 1919 - March 9, 1971)

Dave Roberts (March 18, 1921 - April 17, 1992)

Jim Whaley (May 6, 1915 - ????)

1941-42 Bridgeport Newfields (CSL)

1941-42 BRIDGEPORT NEWFIELDS

CONNECTICUT STATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE
2-18, .100, 6th place

After their first CSL season in Norwalk, the Newfields moved to Bridgeport in the fall of 1941. Only Lynch, Ritchel, Santone and Sheehy stayed with the club into this season. Al Mansi, part of last year's team, only played one game before leaving the team.

Head Coach:

• 
  

PLAYERS:

Joe Binkert (February 18, 1922 - January 14, 1987)

Dennis Conley (May 29, 1921 - January 7, 1973)

John Cybul (January 9, 1920 - January 14, 2006)

Frank Dobek (October 28, 1918 - March 23, 1999)

Lindy Dobek (January 29, 1917 - February 23, 2015)

Dickie Fontaine (May 3, 1918 - October 10, 1998)

Pat Kiely 

Bobby Lynch (October 21, 1916 - March 13, 1982)

Jack Mackey (April 18, 1914 - February 5, 1993)

Al Mansi (July 14, 1921 - January 3, 2013)

Gene Marko

Jack O'Brien (July 25, 1916 - June 18, 1994)

Phelan  

Johnny Pyrch (May 7, 1919 - March 31, 2018)

Ken Ritchel (August 28, 1914 - October 1, 1988)

Jack Selavka (March 26, 1923 - January 4, 2012)

Tony Santone (May 30, 1919 - November 15, 1986)

Irish Sheehy (December 26, 1915 - June 19, 1985)

Muzzy Spalluto (February 29, 1920 - June 28, 1997)

Pete Sulzicki (August 21, 1919 - February 28, 2004)

Vic Swaller (September 13, 1922 - June 19, 2013)

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