Art Spoelstra

Arthur Cornelius Spoelstra


Born:
September 11, 1932
Grand Rapids, MI

Died:
April 9, 2008
Evansville, IN


Career
1948-49 Godwin Heights High School - Grand Rapids, MI (High School)
1949-50 Godwin Heights High School - Grand Rapids, MI (High School)
1951-52 Western Kentucky University (College)
1952-53 Western Kentucky University (College)
1953-54 Western Kentucky University (College)
1954-55 Rochester Royals (NBA)
1955-56 Rochester Royals (NBA)
1956-57 Rochester Royals (NBA)
1957-58 Minneapolis Lakers  (NBA)
1957-58 New York Knicks (NBA)
1958-59 Allentown Jets (EPBL)
1959-60 Wilkes-Barre Barons (EPBL)

From Grand Rapids, Michigan, the 6'9 Art Spoelstra would score over 1500 points at Western Kentucky, leading the team to three straight NIT appearances and an 80-14 in his three years on the varsity team.

Drafted by the Rochester Royals, Spoelstra would play four seasons in the NBA, mostly with the Royal before splitting time between the Lakers and the Knicks in 1957-58. He played two years in the Eastern League after that. Art later worked as a stagehand on Broadway.

Art and his wife, Irene, had three sons and a daughter.


Source:


Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/spoelar01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=spoelar01

Boris Nachamkin

Boris Alexander Nachamkin

Born:
December 6, 1933
Brooklyn, NY

Died:
February 14, 2018
Poughkeepsie, NY


Career
1948-49 Thomas Jefferson High School - Brooklyn (High School)
1949-50 Thomas Jefferson High School - Brooklyn (High School)
1951-52 NYU (College)
1952-53 NYU (College)
1953-54 NYU (College)
1954-55 Rochester Royals (NBA)

After setting the school scoring record at NYU with 21.8 games in the 1952-53 season, Boris was drafted in the second round of the 1954 NBA draft by the Rochester Royals. He would only play in six games with them before being drafted by the U.S. Army. After his service, Boris worked for 36 years at Bankers Trust and eventually relocated to their London office where he would eventually be promoted to Head of Global Shipping.

Boris married was married to Anne-Margrete in 1964 and they had one son, Nikolai.

Source:
Obituary, McHoul Funeral Home

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/n/nachabo01.html

https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=nachabo01

Tom Marshall

John Thomas "Tom" Marshall


Born:
January 6, 1931
Coldwater, TN

Died:
May 10, 2024
Fort Myers, FL


Career
1948-49 Mount Juliet - Tennessee (High School)
1949-50 Mount Juliet - Tennessee (High School)
1951-52 Western Kentucky University (College)
1952-53 Western Kentucky University (College)
1953-54 Western Kentucky University (College)
1954-55 Rochester Royals (NBA)
1956-57 Rochester Royals (NBA)
1957-58 Detroit Pistons (NBA)
1957-58 Cincinnati Royals (NBA)
1958-59 Cincinnati Royals (NBA) Head coach / player
1959-60 Cincinnati Royals (NBA) Head coach

From Mount Juliet, Tennessee, Tom Marshall was a two-time All-American at Western Kentucky, averaging well over 20 point per game. Marshall was taken seventh overall in the 1954 NBA Draft by the Rochester Royals. He played a season with the Royals before missing the 1955-56 season to serve in the U.S. Army. Except for a short stint with the Pistons, Marshall played exclusively in the NBA with the Royals, both in Rochester and Cincinnati. He would also serve as the head coach for a couple seasons. Marshall would eventually retired to Fort Myers, Florida.

Source:
Hilltopperhaven.com
wilsonpost.com, February 8, 2011

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/marshto01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=marshto01

1954-55 Rochester Royals (NBA)

1954-55 ROCHESTER ROYALS
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Western Division
Finished: 29-43 .403, 3rd place

Western Division Semi-Finals - Lost to Minneapolis, 2-1

Rochester saw their fortunes totally flip from previous seasons. They went from a a 44-28 record to a 29-43 record. Despite their poor finish, they did grab a playoff spot, losing to the Lakers in 3 games.

• Head Coach: Les Harrison (August 20, 1904 - December 23, 1997) 

PLAYERS:

• Cal Christensen (June 6, 1927 - August 31, 2011)

Biography

• Jack Coleman (May 23, 1924 - December 8, 1997)

Biography 

• Bob Davies (January 15, 1920 - April 22, 1990)

Biography

• Don Henriksen (October 10, 1929 - May 14, 2008)

Biography 

• Tom Marshall (January 6, 1931 - May 10, 2024)

Biography 

• Jack McMahon (December 3, 1928 - June 11, 1989)

Biography

• Boris Nachamkin (December 6, 1933 - February 14, 2018)

Biography 

• Arnie Risen (October 9, 1924 - August 4, 2012)

Biography

• Odie Spears (June 17, 1924 - March 28, 1985)

Biography

• Art Spoelstra (September 11, 1932 - April 9, 2008)

Biography

• Bobby Wanzer (June 4, 1921 - January 23, 2016)

Biography

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

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

1953-54 Rochester Royals (NBA)

1953-54 ROCHESTER ROYALS
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Western Division
Finished: 44-28 .611, 2nd place

Advanced in Western Division Round Robin
Division Semifinals - Lost to Minneapolis, 2-1

The Royals enjoyed their sixth-straight season with a winning percentage over .600. They battled tough with their divisional nemesis, Minneapolis, before losing in the finals, but with the Lakers winning the title again, a Western Division had won seven straight NBA title, including the Royals just a three years ago. This season would mark the end of the Royals prominence, however,. They would have a losing season the next three campaigns before the franchise moves to Cincinnati.

• Head Coach: Les Harrison (August 20, 1904 - December 23, 1997) 

PLAYERS:

• Cal Christensen (June 6, 1927 - August 31, 2011)

Biography

• Jack Coleman (May 23, 1924 - December 8, 1997)

Biography 

• Bob Davies (January 15, 1920 - April 22, 1990)

Biography

• Alex Hannum (July 19, 1923 - January 18, 2002)

Biography

• Al Masino (February 5, 1928 - August 16, 2006)

Biography

• Jack McMahon (December 3, 1928 - June 11, 1989)

Biography

• Frank Reddout (b. March 4, 1931)

Biography 

• Arnie Risen (October 9, 1924 - August 4, 2012)

Biography

• Odie Spears (June 17, 1924 - March 28, 1985)

Biography

• Norm Swanson (October 4, 1930 - November 24, 2016)

Biography

• Bobby Wanzer (June 4, 1921 - January 23, 2016)

Biography

Monk Meineke

Donald E. "Monk" Meineke


Born:
October 30, 1930
Dayton, OH

Died:
September 3, 2013
Dayton, OH


Career
1947-48 Wilbur Wright High School - Dayton (High School)
1949-50 University of Dayton (College)
1950-51 University of Dayton (College)
1951-52 University of Dayton (College)
1952-53 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1953-54 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1954-55 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1955-56 Rochester Royals (NBA)
1957-58 Cincinnati Royals (NBA)

A two-time All-American, Meineke graduated from the University of Dayton having scored 1866 points. He was drafted by the Fort Wayne Pistons and was selected as the Rookie of the Year in 1952-53. He also had the distinction of fouling out of 26 games that season, and NBA record. Monk played three seasons with the Pistons before being traded to Rochester for Odie Spears at the onset of the 1955-56 season. He would retire after that season, but after a year off, he returned to the Royals (now located in Cincinnati) for one more year.

Don died in 2013 following a lengthy illness at the age of 82.

Source:


Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/meinemo01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=meinedo01

Jack McMahon

John Joseph "Jack" McMahon


Born:
December 3, 1928
Brooklyn, NY

Died:
June 11, 1989
Chicago, IL


Career
1945-46 St. Michael's High School - Brooklyn (High School)
1949-50 St. John's University (College)
1950-51 St. John's University (College)
1951-52 St. John's University (College)
1952-53 Rochester Royals (NBA)
1953-54 Rochester Royals (NBA)
1954-55 Rochester Royals (NBA)
1955-56 Rochester Royals (NBA)
1955-56 St. Louis Hawks (NBA)
1956-57 St. Louis Hawks (NBA)
1957-58 St. Louis Hawks (NBA)
1958-59 St. Louis Hawks (NBA)
1959-60 St. Louis Hawks (NBA)
1961-62 Kansas City Steers (ABL) Head coach
1962-63 Chicago Zephyrs (NBA) Head coach
1963-64 Cincinnati Royals (NBA) Head coach
1964-65 Cincinnati Royals (NBA) Head coach 
1965-66 Cincinnati Royals (NBA) Head coach
1966-67 Cincinnati Royals (NBA) Head coach 
1967-68 San Diego Rockets (NBA) Head coach
1968-69 San Diego Rockets (NBA) Head coach

1969-70 San Diego Rockets (NBA) Head coach
1970-71 Pittsburgh Condors (ABA) Head coach 
1971-72 Pittsburgh Condors (ABA) Head coach 
1974-75 Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) Assistant coach
1975-76 Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) Assistant coach
1976-77 Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) Assistant coach
1977-78 Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) Assistant coach
1978-79 Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) Assistant coach
1979-80 Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) Assistant coach
1980-81 Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) Assistant coach
1981-82 Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) Assistant coach
1982-83 Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) Assistant coach
1983-84 Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) Assistant coach
1984-85 Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) Assistant coach
1985-86 Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) Assistant coach
1986-87 Golden State Warriors (NBA) Assistant coach
1987-88 Golden State Warriors (NBA) Assistant coach
1988-89 Golden State Warriors (NBA) Assistant coach

A scrappy player who played on the strong St. John's teams of the earl 1950's, Jack McMahon was drafted by the Rochester Royals of the NBA. The 6'1 guard would play three full season with the Royals and was halfway through his fourth when he was traded to the St. Louis Hawks. In his second full season with the Hawks, he was a key part of the team as they won the NBA championship. He would finish his 8-year NBA career with the Hawks, and continue in the game as a coach, scout and administrator.

McMahon was hired to coach the Kansas City Steers in the fledgling American Basketball League in 1961. After the season, he was hired to coach the Chicago Zephyrs in the NBA. He unfortunately only lasted half-way into the 1962-63 season, being fired in December of 1962 after a 12-26 start. He was not out of coaching for long, as in June of 1963, the 33-year old McMahon was hired to lead the Cincinnati Royals, the team who drafted him when they resided in Rochester. He coached the Royals for fours seasons, making the playoffs each year, before leaving the club in 1967 to become the head coach and general manager for the expansion San Diego Rockets.

After a rough inaugural season (which is normal for first-year teams), the Rockets improved in McMahon's second year at the helm and made the playoffs, losing to the Hawks in 6 games. A slow start in 1969 lead to another December dismissal for McMahon, and the next two seasons would see him lead the Pittsburgh Condors in the ABA. He was hired by the 76ers in 1972 as the director of player development, and eventually became an assistant coach as well. In his decade-plus with the Sixers, McMahon played a key part in scouting and developing the players that lead to many great teams. In 1986, he parted ways with Philadelphia to join the Golden State Warriors. In June of 1989,
he was attending a pre-draft camp in Chicago in order to scout for the Warriors. He fell asleep in his hotel room while reading a book one night, and never awoke. He was 60 years old.

Jack and his wife, Katherine, had three children.

Source:
UPI Obituary, June 11, 1989
Obituary, Washington Post, June 12, 1989

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mcmahja01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=mcmahja01

Don Henriksen

Dr. Donald Anton Henriksen


Born:
October 10, 1929
Illinois

Died:
May 14, 2008
Menlo Park, CA


Career
1948-49 University of California (College)
1949-50 University of California (College)
1952-53 Baltimore Bullets (NBA)
1954-55 Baltimore Bullets (NBA)
1954-55 Rochester Royals (NBA)

The 6'7 Henriksen played for the Baltimore Bullets after leaving Cal, averaging 8.4 PPG in his rookie season as the Bullets' center. He quit basketball after that season to go to Stanford to work on his doctorate. He earned his Ph.D. from Stanford in geology, and was working in Oklahoma when he was recruited to rejoin the Bullets. The Bullets disbanded on November 27, 1954, and Henriksen was selected by the Rochester Royals in the dispersal draft. When the season ended, Henriksen left the NBA for good.

Don married Marilyn Martin in 1955.

Source:
Baltimore Sun, August 14, 1954





Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/henrido01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=henrido01

1952-53 Rochester Royals (NBA)

1952-53 ROCHESTER ROYALS
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Western Division
Finished: 44-26 .629, 2nd place

Division Semifinals - Lost to Fort Wayne, 2-1

Lead by future Hall of Famers Bob Davies, Bobby Wanzer and Arnie Risen, the Royals continued to be one of the best teams in the NBA. However, after winning the NBA Championship two years prior, the Royals once again found themselves being ousted in the playoffs, with this year being upset by the Fort Wayne Pistons in the first round.

• Head Coach: Les Harrison (August 20, 1904 - December 23, 1997) 

PLAYERS:

• Cal Christensen (June 6, 1927 - August 31, 2011)

Biography

• Jack Coleman (May 23, 1924 - December 8, 1997)

Biography 

• Bob Davies (January 15, 1920 - April 22, 1990)

Biography

• Alex Hannum (July 19, 1923 - January 18, 2002)

Biography

• Red Holzman (August 10, 1920 - November 13, 1998)

Biography

• Arnie Johnson (May 16, 1920 - June 6, 2000)

Biography

• Jack McMahon (December 3, 1928 - June 11, 1989)

Biography

• Arnie Risen (October 9, 1924 - August 4, 2012)

Biography

• Odie Spears (June 17, 1924 - March 28, 1985)

Biography

• Bobby Wanzer (June 4, 1921 - January 23, 2016)

Biography

Al Masino

Alfred Albert Masino


Born:
February 5, 1928
Richmond, NY

Died:
August 16, 2006
Wesbter, NY


Career
1945-46 East High School - Rochester (High School)
1947-48 Canisius College - New York (College)
1948-49 Canisius College - New York (College)
1949-50 Canisius College - New York (College)
1950-51 Utica Pros (ABL)
1951-52 Elmira Colonels (ABL)
1952-53 Milwaukee Hawks (NBA)
1953-54 Rochester Royals (NBA)
1953-54 Syracuse Nationals (NBA)
1963-64 Eastridge High School - New York (High School) Head coach
1964-65 Eastridge High School - New York (High School) Head coach
1965-66 Eastridge High School - New York (High School) Head coach
1966-67 Eastridge High School - New York (High School) Head coach
1967-68 Eastridge High School - New York (High School) Head coach
1968-69 Eastridge High School - New York (High School) Head coach
1969-70 Eastridge High School - New York (High School) Head coach
1970-71 Eastridge High School - New York (High School) Head coach
1971-72 Eastridge High School - New York (High School) Head coach
1972-73 Eastridge High School - New York (High School) Head coach
1973-74 Eastridge High School - New York (High School) Head coach
1974-75 Eastridge High School - New York (High School) Head coach
1975-76 Eastridge High School - New York (High School) Head coach
1976-77 Eastridge High School - New York (High School) Head coach
1977-78 Eastridge High School - New York (High School) Head coach
1978-79 Eastridge High School - New York (High School) Head coach
1979-80 Eastridge High School - New York (High School) Head coach
1980-81 Eastridge High School - New York (High School) Head coach
1981-82 Eastridge High School - New York (High School) Head coach
1982-83 Eastridge High School - New York (High School) Head coach

Masino, who played basketball at Canisius, played pro basketball in the ABL for two seasons before getting his shot in the NBA. He lasted two season in the NBA, but played on the 1953-54 Syracuse Nationals who lost the NBA Championship to Minneapolis in 7 games. He went on to be a fixture in the Rochester Community, being a long-time coache, teacher and principal at Eastridge High School.  For 35 years, Masino ran a summer basketball camp with Al Cervi. He died of heart failure in 2006.


Al and his wife Lorraine had three children.

Source:


Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/masinal01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=masinal01

Sam Ranzino

Samuel Salvadore Ranzino


Born:
June 23, 1928
Gary, IN

Died:
March 13, 1994
Winnabow, NC


Career
1945-46 Emerson High School - Gary, IN (High School)
1946-47 Emerson High School - Gary, IN (High School)
1947-48 North Carolina State (College)
1948-49 North Carolina State (College)
1949-50 North Carolina State (College)
1950-51 North Carolina State (College)
1951-52 Rochester Royals (NBA)

Starring for four season at NC State, Ranzino is still among the top of the school's all-time field goal totals. He played for one season with the Rochester Royals. He died in 1994 at 66 years of age.

He married Ann Brigman (1932-1983) and they had one son and one daughter.

Source:
Obituary, Ashville Citizen-Times, March 16, 1994

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/ranzisa01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=ranzisa01

Ray Ragelis

Raymond Ernest Ragelis


Born:
December 10, 1928
East Chicago, IN

Died:
September 19, 1983
Chicago, IL


Career
1944-45 Washington High School - East Chicago, IN (High School)
1945-46 Washington High School - East Chicago, IN (High School)
1946-47 Washington High School - East Chicago, IN (High School)
1948-49 Northwestern University (College)
1949-50 Northwestern University (College)
1950-51 Northwestern University (College)
1951-52 Rochester Royals (NBA)
1954-55 Lake Forest College (College) Head coach

Ragelis lettered in basketball, football and baseball at Washington HS in East Chicago, and then went on to play at Northwestern. Playing center despite his 6'4 height, Ragelis lead the Big 10 in scoring in his senior season. After playing for the Rochester Royals, Ragelis served in the U.S. Army for two years. Once out the army, he worked as a teacher, coach and ironworker. He was only 54 years old when he died in 1983.

Source:
Obituary, Chicago Tribune, September 23, 1983

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/ragelra01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=ragelra01

Lew Hitch

Lewis Rufus Hitch


Born:
July 16, 1929
Griggsville, IL

Died:
February 8, 2012
Wamego, KS


Career
1945-46 Griggsville High School - Illinois (High School)
1946-47 Griggsville High School - Illinois (High School)
1947-48 Culver-Stockton College - Missouri (College)
1948-49 Kansas State University (College)
1949-50 Kansas State University (College)
1950-51 Kansas State University (College)
1951-52 Minneapolis Lakers (NBA)
1952-53 Minneapolis Lakers (NBA)
1953-54 Milwaukee Hawks (NBA)
1954-55 Milwaukee Hawks (NBA)
1954-55 Minneapolis Lakers (NBA)
1955-56 Minneapolis Lakers (NBA)
1956-57 Rochester Royals (NBA)
1956-57 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA)
1957-58 Ellis High School - Kansas (High School) Head coach
1958-59 Ellis High School - Kansas (High School) Head coach
1959-60 Ellis High School - Kansas (High School) Head coach
1960-61 Ellis High School - Kansas (High School) Head coach
1961-62 Wichita Heights High School - Kansas (High School) Head coach
1962-63 Wichita Heights High School - Kansas (High School) Head coach
1963-64 Wichita Heights High School - Kansas (High School) Head coach
1964-65 Wichita Heights High School - Kansas (High School) Head coach
1965-66 Wichita Heights High School - Kansas (High School) Head coach
1966-67 Wichita Heights High School - Kansas (High School) Head coach

Born to Rufus and Maurine Hitch, Lew went to Griggsville HS before being awarded a basketball scholarship at Culver-Stockton Junior College. After a year there, he transferred to Kansas State, playing three years.Graduating from KSU, Hitch was a second-round draft pick of the Lakers, where he won two NBA championships in his two years there before being sold to the Hawks in October of 1953.He played with the Hawks until February 15, 1955, when he was traded back to the Lakers in exchange for Bobby Watson and the rights to unsigned players Carl McNulty and Dick Rutherford. He played two more seasons the the Lakers until May of 1956 when he was traded to the Rochester Royals for the draft rights of Bob McKeen. In January of 1957, he was sold to the Philadelphia Warriors. He finished the year with the Warriors and then retired from playing.

His basketball career done, Hitch moved to Ellis, Kansas, and then on to Wichita to teach and coach high school basketball. He moved to Westmoreland, Kansas, in 1971, and eventually became a superintendent until retiring in 1990. Hitch died on 2012 following a long illness.

He married Danna Jean Foltz (d. 2004) in 1953 and they had three sons.

Source:
Chicago Tribune, February 17, 1955
Family Tree
Obituary

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/hitchle01.html
www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=hitchle01

1951-52 Rochester Royals (NBA)

1951-52 ROCHESTER ROYALS
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Western Division
Finished: 41-25 .621, 1st place

Division Semifinals - Defeated Fort Wayne, 2-0
Division Finals - Lost to Minneapolis, 3-1

• Head Coach: Les Harrison (August 20, 1904 - December 23, 1997) 

PLAYERS: 

• Jack Coleman (May 23, 1924 - December 8, 1997)

Biography 

• Bob Davies (January 15, 1920 - April 22, 1990)

Biography

• Alex Hannum (July 19, 1923 - January 18, 2002)

Biography

• Red Holzman (August 10, 1920 - November 13, 1998)

Biography

• Arnie Johnson (May 16, 1920 - June 6, 2000)

Biography

• Joe McNamee (September 24, 1926 - July 16, 2011)

Biography

• Paul Noel (August 17, 1924 - November 16, 2005)

Biography

• Ray Ragelis (December 10, 1928 - September 19, 1983)

Biography

• Sam Ranzino (June 23, 1928 - March 13, 1994)

Biography

• Arnie Risen (October 9, 1924 - August 4, 2012)

Biography

• Odie Spears (June 17, 1924 - March 28, 1985)

Biography

• Bobby Wanzer (June 4, 1921 - January 23, 2016)

Biography

Joe McNamee

John Joseph McNamee


Born:
September 24, 1926
San Francisco, CA

Died:
July 16, 2011
Greenbrae, CA


Career
St. Ignatius High School - San Francisco (High School)
1944-45 McClellan Field (Military)
1947-48 San Francisco University (College)
1948-49 San Francisco University (College)
1949-50 San Francisco University (College)
1950-51 Rochester Royals (NBA)
1951-52 Rochester Royals (NBA)
1951-52 Baltimore Bullets (NBA)

Born in San Francisco to Joseph and Rose McNamee, John graduated from St. Ignatius HS. After serving in the military during World War 2, McNamee went to USF and was a member of the great teams there in the late 1940's. He was drafted by the Rochester Royals in 1950, and on December 28, 1951 was sold to the Baltimore Bullets. After the 1952-53 season, McNamee returned to the Bay Area to raise a famil,y working for many years as a sales manager at Watson and Meehan.

He married Alice Keenan (1930-2010) in 1951 and they had eight children.

Source:
Obituary, Marin Independent Journal, July 19, 2011

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mcnamjo01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=mcnamjo01

Cal Christensen

Calvin Lawrence Christensen


Born:
June 6, 1927
Toledo, OH

Died:
August 31, 2011
Waterville, OH


Career
1943-44 Macomber High School - Toledo, OH (High School)
1944-45 Macomber High School - Toledo, OH (High School)
1946-47 University of Toledo (College)
1947-48 University of Toledo (College)
1948-49 University of Toledo (College)
1949-50 University of Toledo (College)
1950-51 Tri-Cities Blackhawks (NBA)
1951-52 Milwaukee Hawks (NBA)
1952-53 Rochester Royals (NBA)
1953-54 Rochester Royals (NBA)
1954-55 Rochester Royals (NBA)

Cal started playing basketball in his junior year of high school, and right after graduating Macomber, he was drafted into the U.S> Army, but the day he went in, the war ended. After a year before being discharged, Christensen enrolled at the University of Toledo where he was a high-scorer. He was drafted by Tri-Cities and played five years in the NBA. After his playing career ended, he worked for many years as a salesman at Johns-Manville. Cal died of congestive heart failure in 2011.

He married Sharon in 1960 and they had three children.

Source:
Toledo Blade, September 7, 2011

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/chrisca01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=chrisca01

1950-51 Rochester Royals (NBA)

1950-51 ROCHESTER ROYALS
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Western Division
Finished: 41-27 .603, 1st place

Division Semifinals - Defeated Fort Wayne, 2-1
Division Finals - Defeated Minneapolis, 3-1
NBA Finals - Defeated New York, 4-3 

• Head Coach: Les Harrison (August 20, 1904 - December 23, 1997) 

PLAYERS: 

• Bill Calhoun (November 4, 1927 - December 17, 2024)

Biography

• Jack Coleman (May 23, 1924 - December 8, 1997)

Biography 

• Bob Davies (January 15, 1920 - April 22, 1990)

Biography

• Red Holzman (August 10, 1920 - November 13, 1998)

Biography

• Arnie Johnson (May 16, 1920 - June 6, 2000)

Biography

• Joe McNamee (September 24, 1926 - July 16, 2011)

Biography

• Ed Mikan (October 20, 1925 - October 22, 1999)

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• Paul Noel (August 17, 1924 - November 16, 2005)

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• Arnie Risen (October 9, 1924 - August 4, 2012)

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• Pep Saul (February 16, 1924 - November 7, 2019)

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• Bobby Wanzer (June 4, 1921 - January 23, 2016)

Biography

Pep Saul

Frank Benjamin "Pep" Saul


Born:
February 16, 1924
West Orange, NJ

Died:
November 7, 2019
Livingston, NJ


Career
1939-40 Holy Trinity High School - Hackensack, NJ (High School)
1940-41 Holy Trinity High School - Hackensack, NJ (High School)
1941-42 Seton Hall Prep - Bergen County, NJ (High School)
1942-43 Seton Hall University (College)
1943-44 7th AAF (Military)
1944-45 7th AAF (Military)
1945-46 7th AAF (Military) 
1946-47 Seton Hall University (College)
1947-48 Seton Hall University (College)
1948-49 Seton Hall University (College)
1949-50 Rochester Royals (NBA)
1950-51 Rochester Royals (NBA)
1951-52 Baltimore Bullets (NBA)
1951-52 Minneapolis Lakers (NBA)
1952-53 Minneapolis Lakers (NBA)
1953-54 Minneapolis Lakers (NBA)
1954-55 Milwaukee Hawks (NBA)

Frank "Pep" Saul was born in New Jersey and starred in basketball and baseball at Holy Trinity HS in Hackensack, New Jersey. Afte a year at Seton Hall Prep, he went to Seton Hall University in 1942, but after his freshman year went into the army. He was stationed in Hawaii, where he organized an 8-team military basketball league. After the war, he returned to SHU, where he became the first player from that school to score 1000 point. He went on the NBA, playing with the Royals, Bullets, Lakers and Hawks, and was a member of four NBA championship teams. He decided to retire from the court after a leg injury and return to New Jersey, where he worked as an insurance agent until retiring in 1994.

Pep was also a decent pitcher, and played semi-pro baseball during the basketball off-season, and also played professionally one year, in Ogdenburg, New York, going 13-5 with a 3.25 ERA.

He and his wife Mary were married in 1948 and they had four sons and four daughters.

Minor League Baseball Stats:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=saul--001fra

Source:
Where Are They Now?- northjersey.com, February 9, 2016

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/saulpe01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=saulpe01