Dave Young

David Young


Born:



Died:




Career
1948-49 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL)

The forward played one game for the SPHA's on January 12, 1949, scoring two points.

Source:


Stats:

Paul Wallace

Paul "Hook" Wallace


Born:
November 1, 1925
Philadelphia, PA

Died:
September 23, 1998
Philadelphia, PA


Career
1942-43 Overbrook High School - Philadelphia (High School)
1946-47 University of Toledo (College)
1947-48 University of Toledo (College)
1948-49 Philadelphia SPHA's  (ABL)

1949-50 Reading Rangers (EPBL)

Possibly the same Paul Wallace who played for Toledo Chevrolets in 1941-42.

Wallace graduated from Overbrook HS and went into the U.S. Army. After the war, he enrolled at the University of Toledo and played basketball there two years. He played briefly for the SPHA's in the ABL.

He and his first wife, Mollie, had two sons. He later remarried to Carolyn.




Source:
Obituary

Stats:

Frank Stanczak

Frank M. Stanczak


Born:
August 17, 1929
Philadelphia, PA ??

Died:
January 11, 2011
Philadelphia, PA


Career
1945-46 Roxborough High School - Philadelphia (High School)
1946-47 Roxborough High School - Philadelphia (High School)
1948-49 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL)

Scored 55 point in a high school game in 1947, a state record that stood until Wilt Chamberlain broke it with 70 in 1954

Longtime employee for post office

Source:
Philadelphia Daily News, January 13, 2011

Stats:

Leo Marshall

Leo Thomas "The Point" Marchlewicz (Marshall)


Born:
March 1, 1922
Wilmington, DE

Died:
January 1, 2000
Wilmington, DE


Career
1939-40 Brown Technical School - Wilmington (High School)
1947-48 St. Mary's - Wilmington (Independent)
1948-49 St. Mary's - Wilmington (Independent)
1948-49 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL)
1948-49 Milford - Delaware (Independent)

Leo was a star football, baseball and basketball player in high school. He learned to be a pipe fitter after graduating, but entered the U.S. Army for World War 2. After the war, he kept on with basketball, even playing one game with the SPHA's on February 3, 1949 and scoring one point. He played for various semi-pro outfits, but had his eyes set on the political world. In 1952, while chairman of the local Democratic party, Marshall was appointed to be the detective of New Castle County by Delaware governor Elbert Carvel. He would later enter politics, and was eventually was the Wilmington city clerk as well as Democratic chairman. He was known as a colorful authoritarian that you would definitely want on your side if you wanted to get things done in Wilmington. He left behind a legacy in his hometown.


Leo married Elizabeth McMackin (b. 1923) in 1943 and they had four daughters.

Source:
News Journal (Wilmington, DE), January 2, 2000
News Journal (Wilmington, DE), January 4, 2000

Stats:

Dan Markhoff

Daniel Markhoff


Born:
December 19, 1926
New York, NY

Died:
December 14, 2019
Silver Spring, MD


Career
1943-44 Stuyvesant High School - New York (High School)

1944-45 CCNY (College)

1947-48 CCNY (College)

1948-49 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL)



Source:


Stats:

George Herlich

George Herlich


Born:
July 25, 1923
Philadelphia, PA

Died:
February 28, 1985
Houston, TX


Career
1948-49 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL)

Born to Jacob and Tillie Herlich, George played some basketball for the SPHA's. He became a jeweler in New Jersey and would move to Scottsdale, Arizona, around 1972 to open a store there. He died in 1985.

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

Source:


Stats:

Jack Brophy

John Leo "Jack" Brophy


Born:
June 22, 1928
Philadelphia, PA

Died:
June 10, 2015
North Cape May, NJ


Career
1945-46 Roman Catholic - Philadelphia (High School)
1946-47 La Salle University (College) Freshmen
1946-47 Our Lady of Mercy AC - Philadelphia (Independent)
1947-48 La Salle University (College)
1948-49 Crusaders AC - Philadelphia (Independent)
1948-49 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL)
1949-50 Crusaders AC - Philadelphia (Independent)

Played one game with the SPHA's on February 3, 1949, scoring two points. Pretty sure the player listed simply as Brophy is John Brophy, who played at La Salle University.

6'5 180


Source:
Obituary, Godfrey Funeral Home, Ocean City, NY

Stats:

Dave Fox

Dr. David E. Fox


Born:
May 24, 1926
Philadelphia, PA

Died:
May 9, 1984
Philadelphia, PA


Career
1942-43 Southern High School - Philadelphia (High School)
1943-44 Temple University (College)
1944-45 Temple University (College)
1946-47 Temple University (College)
1947-48 Temple University (College)
1948-49 Lancaster Red Roses (EPBL)

1948-49 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL)

1948-49 Pottsville Packers (EPBL)
1949-50 Sunbury Mercuries (EPBL)
1950-51 Sunbury Mercuries (EPBL)
1951-52 Philadelphia SPHA's (Independent)
1951-52 Sunbury Mercuries (EPBL)
1952-53 Service All-Stars (Independent)

1952-53 Sunbury Mercuries (EPBL)

1953-54 Sunbury Mercuries (EPBL)

Th e 6'2 Fox entered the Merchant Marines in January of 1945. Fox became a dentist and practiced in the Philadelphia area until his death in 1984.

Fox was married to Bernice and they had two sons and two daughters.


Source:
Philadelphia Inquirer, May 11, 1984

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:

Bobby Barnett

Robert Barnett


Born:



Died:




Career
1947-48 Atlantic City YMHA (Independent)
1948-49 Atlantic City Tides / Philadelphia SPHA's  (ABL)

He was mentioned in one article as being "Charley Barnett."

Source:


Stats:

1948-49 Atlantic City Tides / Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL)

1948-49 ATLANTIC CITY TIDES / PHILADELPHIA SPHA's
AMERICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE (II)
8-26 .235, 8th place

The Philadelphia SPHA's headed to a new hometown for this season: Atlantic City. In January, the Tides (as they were now known), unable to draw that well, returned to Philly and to their SPHA's moniker.

They started the season hot, winning 6 of their first seven games. However, their fortunes turned sour quickly, losing 16 games in a row and only winning twice more for the remainder of the season.

• Head Coach: Harry Litwack (September 20, 1907 - August 7, 1999)

PLAYERS:

• Bobby Barnett  

Biography

• Jack Brophy  (June 22, 1928 - June 10, 2015)
  

Biography

• Stan Brown (June 27, 1929 - August 2, 2009)

Biography

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

Biography

• Gorham Getchell (August 14, 1920 - July 7, 1980)

Biography

• George Herlich (July 25, 1923 - February 28, 1985)

Biography

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

Biography

• Dan Markoff  (December 19, 1926 - December 14, 2019)

Biography

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

Biography

• Elmore Morgenthaler (August 3, 1922 - November 25, 1997)

Biography

• Tommy O'Connell (November 10, 1923 - February 5, 2011)

Biography

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

Biography

• Frank Stanczak (August 17, 1929 - January 11, 2011)

Biography

• Aaron Tanitsky (January 14, 1926 - September 13, 2019)

Biography

• Hook Wallace (November 1, 1925 - September 23, 1998)

Biography

• Lenny Weiner (October 26, 1923 - May 21, 1995)

Biography 

• Dave Young

Biography

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

Biography

Bill Zeiss

William Lawrence Zeiss


Born:
June 7, 1925
Philadelphia, PA

Died:
May 2, 1995
Phoenix, AZ


Career
1941-42 Yeadon High School - Pennsylvania (High School)
1942-43 St. Joseph's University (College)
1945-46 St. Joseph's University (College)
1946-47 Brookline - Philadelphia (Independent)
1947-48 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL)
1948-49 St. Hedwig - Philadelphia (Independent)

Zeiss' time at St. Joseph's was interrupted by his service in World War 2. He played a couple years of pro basketball after the war.

Bill was married to Elizabeth (1925-2014).

Source:


Stats:

Aaron Tanitsky

Aaron Tanitsky


Born:
January 14, 1926
Hazleton, PA

Died:
September 13, 2019
Eagleville, PA


Career
1941-42 Southern High School - Philadelphia (High School)
1942-43 Southern High School - Philadelphia (High School)
1942-43 Neighborhood Center - Philadelphia (Independent)
1943-44 University of Pennsylvania (College)
1943-44 New Cumberland Center - Harrisburg, PA (Independent)
1945-46 Valley Forge Hospital - Pennsylvania (Indpendent)
1945-46 Ohev Shalom - Chester, PA (Indpendent)
1947-48 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL)
1948-49 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL)
1949-50 Sunbury Mercuries (EPBL)


Tanitsky later wound up being a policeman and detective in Philly. He married Renee Berger and they had one daughter and two sons.

Source:


Stats:

Tommy O'Connell

Thomas A. O'Connell II


Born:
November 10, 1923
Philadelphia, PA

Died:
February 5, 2011
Philadelphia, PA


Career
1940-41 Northeast Catholic High School - Philadelphia (High School)
Albright College - Reading, PA (College)
1946-47 Reading Keys (EPBL)
1946-47 Chester Ukrainians - Pennsylvania (Independent)
1946-47 Chester Ukrainians - Pennsylvania (Independent)

1947-48 Lancaster Roses (ABL)
1947-48 Lancaster Red Roses (EPBL)
1946-47 Chester Ukrainians - Pennsylvania (Independent)

1948-49 Lancaster Red Roses (EPBL)
1948-49 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL)

1948-49 Pottsville Packers (EPBL)  

1949-50 York Victory (EPBL)

1949-50 Reading Rangers (EPBL)

From Philadelphia, O'Connell had a lengthy career as a shortstop in the minor leagues, including being a player/manager in the 1950's. I cannot find much for him after 1955, when he was named manager for the Erie baseball club.

He served in the army during World War 2.

O'Connell married Anna Kramer (1928-2006) in 1950.

6'5 or 6'2, depending on source


Minor League Baseball Stats:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=oconne001tho

Source:
Delaware County Daily Times, March 27, 1947

Stats:

Jack McGaffney

John Joseph "Red" McGaffney


Born:
April 1, 1924
Atlantic City, NJ

Died:
February 3, 2020
Egg Harbor Township, NJ


Career
Atlantic City Trade Scbool -  NJ (High School)
1947-48 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL)
1947-48 Reading Keys (EPBL)
1948-49 Atlantic City (Independent)

McGaffney played basketball for the SPHA's and the Reading Keys before joining the USMC. After hisservice, he worked for Swift and Company in Egg Harbor, New Jersey, for many years until retiring.

John married Virginia (d. 2012) in 1950 and they had four children.

Source:
Obituary

Stats:

Joe Della Monica

Joseph G. Della Monica


Born:
September 28, 1927
Brooklyn, NY

Died:
January 17, 2013
Garden City, NY


Career
1947-48 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL)

The shortstop who played at Penn went on to a 7-year minor league baseball career, with an interruption to serve his country in the Korean War. He also played one game for the SPHA's in 1947, failing to score in his short time on the court. He would go on to form Creative Food Corporation which owned 27 Burger King Franchises.


Minor League Baseball Stats
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=dellam001jos

Source:


Stats:

Oscar Baldwin

Oscar Raymond "Red" Baldwin


Born:
January 7, 1925
London, KY

Died:
October 31, 2005
Greentown, PA


Career
1943-44 Union College - Barbourville, KY (College)
1944-45 Muhlenberg College - Pennsylvania (College)
1945-46 Muhlenberg College - Pennsylvania (College)
1946-47 Muhlenberg College - Pennsylvania (College)
1947-48 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL)

1948-49 Allentown Keys (EPBL)
Washington Generals (Independent)

Born to John and Della Baldwin, Oscar was going to Union College in Kentucky when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy to serve during World War 2. He entered the V-12 program at Muhlenberg and after the war he stayed on until graduating. He played pro basketball for the SPHA's and the Washington Generals. He would settle in Allentown, Pennsylvania, working as branch manager for Wilson Meat as well as being a partner at Lenhart Electric. He retired from Wilson and worked for the city of Allentown as a Code Enforcement Officer.

He married Adele Fegley (d. 1993) and they had two daughters.

Source:
Altoona Tribune, March 1, 1945
Morning Call (Allentown, PA), November 1, 2005

Stats:

1947-48 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL)

1947-48 PHILADELPHIA SPHA's
AMERICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE (II)
13-19 .406, 6th place

• Head Coach: Harry Litwack (September 20, 1907 - August 7, 1999)

PLAYERS:

• Oscar Baldwin (January 7, 1925 - October 31, 2005)

Biography 

• Si Boardman (August 24,1915 - March 24, 1950)

Biography 

• Stan Brown (June 27, 1929 - August 2, 2009)

Biography

• Joe Della Monica (September 28, 1927 - January 17, 2013)

Biography 

• George Feigenbaum (July 2, 1928 - December 25, 2000)

Biography 

• Red Klotz (October 21, 1920 - July 12, 2014)

Biography

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

Biography

• Jack McGaffney (April 1, 1924 - February 3, 2020)

Biography

• Elmore Morgenthaler (August 3, 1922 - November 25, 1997)

Biography

• John Murphy (September 13, 1924 - January 29, 2003)

Biography

• Jack Rocker (August 12, 1922 - November 27, 2010)

Biography

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

Biography

• Butch Schwartz (February 14, 1919 - May 22, 2008)

Biography 

• Mendy Snyder (January 31, 1915 - June 23, 2002)

Biography 

• Aaron Tanitsky (January 14, 1926 - September 13, 2019)

Biography

• Lenny Weiner (October 26, 1923 - May 21, 1995)

Biography 

• Bill Zeiss (June 7, 1925 - May 2, 1995)

Biography

Mendy Snyder

Morris "Mendy" Snyder


Born:
January 31, 1915
Philadelphia, PA

Died:
June 23, 2002
Columbus, OH?


Career
1939-40 Temple University (College)
1940-41 Temple University (College)
1941-42 Temple University (College)
1943-44 Will Rogers Air Field - Oklahoma (Independent)
1946-47 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL)
1947-48 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL)

The Temple University basketball served in World War 2, and then would play for the SPHA's for a couple season. I am pretty certain I have identified the correct Morris Snyder, but I wonder why he waited so long to enter college?

Source:


Stats:

Bill Kobler

William Kobler


Born:



Died:




Career
1944-45 St. John's University (College)
1945-46 St. John's University (College)
1946-47 Troy Celtics (ABL)
1946-47 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL)
1946-47 Paterson Crescents (ABL)

Kobler signed with Troy in the ABL, but was released after playing in three games (despite putting up 14 point in the season opener.) He joined the SPHA's a few weeks later but was used sparingly in four games, scoring only two points. He bounced over to the Crescents in January for a brief stint before being let go again.

Source:


Stats: