Lou Spindell

Louis H. Spindell


Born:
December 16, 1908
New York, NY

Died:
December 3, 1997



Career
1927-28 CCNY (College)
1928-29 CCNY (College)
1929-30 CCNY (College)
1930-31 Cleveland Rosenblums (ABL)
1930-31 Toledo Red Men (ABL)
1931-32 Union City Reds (MBL)
1931-32 Philadelphia Moose (EBL)
1931-32 Brooklyn Americans (Independent)
1932-33 Yonkers Knights (BL) Head coach / player
1932-33 Jersey City Palace Diamonds (BL)
1932-33 Brooklyn Visitations (BL)
1932-33 Philadelphia Moose (EBL)
1932-33 Trenton Bengals (EBL)
1933-34 Trenton Moose (ABL)
1933-34 Dunmore (PSL)
1934-35 Newark/New Britain Mules (ABL)
1934-35 Nanticoke (PSL)
1935-36 Nanticoke-Tunkhannock-Freeland (PSL)
1936-37 New York Whirlwinds (Independent)
1937-38 New Haven / New York Jewels (ABL)
1937-38 Tunkhannock-Pittston (NYPA)
1938-39 New York Jewels (ABL)
1938-39 Teacher's Union - New York (Independent)
1939-40 New York Jewels (ABL)
1944-45 New York Westchesters (ABL)

A skilled player both offensively and defensively, Spindell enjoyed a rather long professional basketball career after starring at CCNY. He would also work as a physical education instructor for students for many years. He served in the U.S. Army during World War 2.

He wound up as a phys ed teacher at Straubenmuller Textile High School in New York City. In 1952, he was accused to being a member of the Communist party. When directly asked by the Senate subcommittee, he invoked his Fifth Amendment rights and refused to answer. Spindell, along with 6 other teachers, was fired shortly thereafter.

He married Lora Hays (1910-2009) in 1948.

Source:
Jews In Sports
Indianapolis Star, September 11, 1952
Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle, September 11, 1953

Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/lou-spindell/

Dutch Shudtz

Charles Peter "Dutch" Shudtz


Born:
January 7, 1908
Staten Island, NY

Died:
February 14, 1997
Staten Island, NY


Career
1930-31 Cleveland Rosenblums (ABL)
1930-31 Toledo Red Men (ABL)
1933-34 Trenton Moose (ABL)
1934-35 Trenton (EBL)

Born to Frederick and Louisa Shudtz, Dutch signed with the Rosenblums on November 9, 1930. After the team dissolved in December, he was one of many Cleveland players who signed with Toledo.


Source:


Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/dutch-shudtz/

Fred Jacobs

Fred Francis Jacobs


Born:
September 14, 1907
Howell, MI

Died:
May 9, 1978
Toledo, OH


Career
1927-28 Woodward High School - Toledo (High School)
1928-29 Toledo Red Men (Independent)
1929-30 Toledo Red Men (NPBL)
1930-31 Toledo Red Men (ABL)
1930-31 Dayton Kellys (Independent)
1931-32 Toledo Red Men (Independent)
1932-33 Toledo Red Men (NPBL)

Born in rural Michigan, his family moved to Toledo where Fred played baseball, basketball and football at Woodward HS. He played pro and semi-pro basketball as well as semi-pro football in the early 1930's. He would go on to work at AP Parts company for many years. He died in 1978 following a brief illness.

His brother, Amos Jacobs, would go on to be a very popular actor and entertainer in Hollywood under the stage name Danny Thomas (which makes actress Marlo Thomas Fred's niece). The two of them were instrumental in the building of a St. Jude's Children's Hospital in Tennessee.



Source:
Obituary, Toledo Blade, May 10, 1978

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

Ken Failing

Kendrick Gibbs Failing


Born:
July 4, 1906
Caro, MI

Died:
February 26, 1990
New Port Richey, FL


Career
1926-27 Flint Buick Flyers (Independent)
1927-28 Flint Big Reds (Independent)
1928-29 Flint Buick Flyers (Independent)
1929-30 Canton Orphans (NPBL)
1930-31 Toledo Red Men (ABL)
1930-31 Flint Buick Flyers (Independent)
1932-33 Flint R&S (Independent)
1934-35 Chevrolet Motors - Flint (Independent)
1935-36 St. Mary's - Flint (High School) Head coach
1936-37 St. Mary's - Flint (High School) Head coach
1937-38 St. Mary's - Flint (High School) Head coach
1938-39 St. Mary's - Flint (High School) Head coach

Born in Caro, Michigan, to William and Alice, Ken played pro basketball for a few years around Flint. (He may have played basketball at Central Michigan, but only his older brother Fred appears on the school's all-time roster. and since he was 20 when he started playing with the Flint Flyers, I am not sure he actually played there.) He would also play some organized basketball for Canton and Toledo. He would work for many years at General Motors before retiring and moving to Florida in 1983.

He married Angeline Durkacy (1911-1993) in 1933 and they had two sons, Kenneth (1935-1986) and Robert, and a daughter, Sandra.

Source:
Tampa Bay Times, February 28, 1990

Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/ken-failing/

Red Brandes

Vernon William "Red" Brandes


Born:
October 24, 1902
Toledo, OH

Died:
August 3, 1963
Oregon, OH


Career
1921-22 Woodward High School - Toledo (High School)
1923-24 Toledo (Independent)
1924-25 Toledo (Independent)
1925-26 Oak Harbor Legion Five (Independent)
1926-27 Toledo Red Men (Independent)
1927-28 Toledo Red Men (Independent)
1928-29 Toledo Red Men (Independent)
1928-29 Toledo Red Men (Independent)
1929-30 Toledo Red Men (NPBL)
1930-31 Toledo Red Men (ABL)
1930-31 Cleveland Pennzoils (Independent)
1930-31 Dayton Kellys (Independent)
1931-32 Toledo Redmen (Independent)
1937-38 Toledo Borgelts (Independent)

Born in Toledo to August and Emma Brandes, Brandes played football, basketball and baseball in high school. He would go on to long careers in both basketball and baseball. On the hardwood, we would play many years around the Toldeo area, mainly with the Red Men. He played 13 seasons of minor league baseball, with a few years in the Cleveland Indians' farm system, but never rose above Class A. He was later a minor league baseball manager, and died in 1963 following a brief illness.

Minor League Baseball Stats:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=brande001ver

He married Julia Currente (1906-1994) in 1925 and they had three daughters.

I saw a boxscore for the Redmen in the 1930-31 that listed a player names "Diander." I am pretty certain it was an error and should have said "Brandes".

Source:
News-Messenger (Fremont, OH), August 6, 1963

Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/red-brandes/

1930-31 Toledo Red Men (ABL)

1930-31 TOLEDO RED MEN
AMERICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE (I)
First Half:
8-13 .381, 4th place
Second Half:
4-11 .267, 5th place

When the Cleveland Rosenblums disbanded on December 8, 1930, five of their players signed with Toledo: Joe Lapchick, Pete Barry, Dutch Dehnert, Lou Spindell and Dutch Shudtz. At this point, manager Ed Cannon dismissed Cunningham, Ely, Gillium, Brandes, Shepard and Koehler.


Head Coach:

• Ed Cannon (December 22, 1897 - July 15, 1949) 2-10
• Dutch Dehnert (April 5, 1898 - April 20, 1979) 10-14

PLAYERS:

• Davey Banks (c.1901 - August 24, 1952

Biography

• Pete Barry (November 16, 1896 - August 29, 1968)

Biography 

• Red Brandes (October 24, 1902 - August 3, 1963)

Biography

• Cookie Cunningham (February 4, 1905 - November 3, 1995)

Biography

• Dutch Dehnert (April 5, 1898 - April 20, 1979)

Biography

• Gil Ely (September 27, 1898 - April 5, 1999)

Biography

• Ken Failing (July 4, 1906 - February 26, 1990)

Biography

• Chuck Gillium (May 2, 1905 - August 10, 1935)

Biography 

• Bob Grody (April 25, 1900 - June 21, 1982)

Biography

• Fred Jacobs (September 14, 1907 - May 9, 1978)

Biography 

• Pip Koehler (January 16, 1902 - December 8, 1986)

Biography 

• Joe Lapchick (April 12, 1900 - August 10, 1970)

Biography

• Len Shepherd (March 29, 1897 - January 7, 1991)

Biography

• Dutch Shudtz (January 7, 1908 - February 14, 1997)

Biography

• Lou Spindell (December 16, 1908 - December 3, 1997)

Biography

Horse Gillium

Charles Reed "Horse" Gillium


Born:
May 2, 1905
New Castle, PA

Died:
August 10, 1935
Shenango, PA


Career
1920-21 Montgomery High School - Pennsylvania (High School)
1921-22 Montgomery High School - Pennsylvania (High School)
1922-23 New Castle Five (AAU)
1923-24 New Castle Five (AAU)
1924-25 New Castle Five (AAU)
1925-26 Grove City - Pennsylvania (College)
1926-27 Grove City - Pennsylvania (College)
1927-28 Grove City - Pennsylvania (College)
1928-29 Syracuse All-Americans (Independent)
1928-29 Vic Hanson All-Stars Independent)
1928-29 Rochester Centrals (ABL)
1929-30 Syracuse All-Americans (ABL)
1929-30 Dayton Kellys (NPBL)
1930-31 Toledo Red Men (ABL)
1930-31 Chicago Bruins (ABL)
1930-31 Dayton Kellys (Independent)


Born to Charles and Susanna Gillium, "Horse" was a very popular player around Pennsylvania and New York. Gilliam contracted pulmonary tuberclosis and was only 30 years old when he died in 1935.

He had not married.


Source:


Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/chuck-gillium/

Pip Koehler

Horace Levering "Pip" Koehler


Born:
January 16, 1902
Gilbert, PA

Died:
December 8, 1986
Tacoma, WA


Career
1921-22 Penn State University (College)
1922-23 Penn State University (College)
1923-24 Pittsburgh Morrys (Independent)
1924-25 Pittsburgh Morrys (Independent)
1925-26 Philadelphia Cranes (EBL)
1926-27 Pittsburgh Morrys (CBL)
1927-28 Fort Wayne Hosiers (ABL)
1928-29 Toledo Red Men (Independent)
1929-30 Toledo Red Men (NPBL)
1930-31 Toledo Red Men (ABL)
1930-31 Dayton Kellys (Independent)
1931-32 Toledo Red Men (Independent)
1932-33 Toledo Crimson Coaches (NPBL)
1933-34 Toledo Red Men (Independent)
1934-35 Kingston (NYSL)
1936-37 Kingston Colonials (ABL)
1937-38 Toledo Borgelts (Independent)
1937-38 Brooklyn Visitations (NBL)

A baseball and basketball player at Penn State, Koehler joined up with the well-known Morrys out of Pittsburgh. He managed to sign with John McGraw's New York Giants in 1925, going right to the major leagues after a good showing in spring training. After playing one game with the Giants, he was farmed out to Reading in the American Association. He would return to the Giants later that season, but was let go at the end of the season. He would play professional basketball through 1942, but would never make it back to he major leagues. During this time, he would continue to play professional basketball through 1938. He would later work as a baseball scout in the Pacific Northwest for the Cincinnati Reds before dying of a heart attack.

Pip and his wife, Corrine, had one son.

Major League Baseball Stats
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/koehlpi01.shtml

Source:


Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/pip-koehler/

Joe Lapchick

Joseph Bohomiel Lapchick


Born:
April 12, 1900
Yonkers, NY

Died:
August 10, 1970
Monticello, NY


Career
1917-18 Yonkers Hollywood Inn (Independent)
1918-19 Yonkers Hollywood Inn (Independent)
1919-20 Yonkers Hollywood Inn (Independent)
1920-21 Schenectady Dorpians (NYSL)
1920-21 Holyoke Co. E. (IL)
1921-22 Schenectady Doprians (NYSL)
1921-22 Troy Trojans (NYSL)
1921-22 Brooklyn Visitation (MBL)
1921-22 Holyoke Reds (IL)
1921-22 Mt.Vernon Armory Big Five (Independent)
1922-23 Troy Trojans (NYSL)
1922-23 Brooklyn Visitations (MBL)
1922-23 Holyoke Reds (IL)
1923-24 Original Celtics (Independent)
1924-25 Original Celtics (Independent)
1925-26 Original Celtics (Independent)
1926-27 New York Celtics (NLN)
1926-27 Brooklyn Celtics (ABL)
1927-28 New York Celtics (ABL)
1928-29 Cleveland Rosenblums (ABL)
1929-30 Cleveland Rosenblums (ABL)
1930-31 Cleveland Rosenblums (ABL) Head coach / player
1930-31 Toledo Red Men (ABL)
1931-32 Original Celtics (Independent)
1932-33 Original Celtics (Independent)
1932-33 Yonkers (MBL)
1933-34 Original Celtics (Independent)
1933-34 Plymouth (PSL)
1934-35 Original Celtics (Independent)
1935-36 Original Celtics (Independent)
1936-37 Original Celtics (Independent)
1936-37 St. John's University (College) Head coach
1937-38 St. John's University (College) Head coach
1938-39 St. John's University (College) Head coach
1939-40 St. John's University (College) Head coach
1940-41 St. John's University (College) Head coach
1941-42 St. John's University (College) Head coach
1942-43 St. John's University (College) Head coach
1943-44 St. John's University (College) Head coach
1944-45 St. John's University (College) Head coach
1945-46 St. John's University (College) Head coach
1946-47 St. John's University (College) Head coach 
1947-48 New York Knicks (BAA) Head coach

1948-49 New York Knicks (BAA) Head coach
1949-50 New York Knicks (NBA) Head coach
1950-51 New York Knicks (NBA) Head coach
1951-52 New York Knicks (NBA) Head coach
1952-53 New York Knicks (NBA) Head coach
1953-54 New York Knicks (NBA) Head coach
1954-55 New York Knicks (NBA) Head coach
1955-56 New York Knicks (NBA) Head coach
1956-57 St. John's University (College) Head coach
1957-58 St. John's University (College) Head coach
1958-59 St. John's University (College) Head coach
1959-60 St. John's University (College) Head coach
1960-61 St. John's University (College) Head coach
1961-62 St. John's University (College) Head coach
1962-63 St. John's University (College) Head coach
1963-64 St. John's University (College) Head coach
1964-65 St. John's University (College) Head coach 

NATIONAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME, 1964

One of the first big-men in the game, 6'5 Lapchick was a star for the Original Celtics when that time was the highest-drawing professional team in the country. He would also four many teams at the same time, able to make a decent enough living at the game in an era where the term "professional" was not as independent as later days. He was on the Celtics when they took over the Brooklyn franchise in the ABL, and the Celtics were a dominant force. So dominant, in fact, the team was forced to disband by the other franchises. Lapchick and two other Celtics would join the Cleveland Rosenblums and they won two ABL titles. When the Depression ended the ABL in 1931, Lapchick and the others reformed the Celtics. Lapchick would retire as a play in 1937 when he took the head coaching job at St. John's.
As a coach, Lapchick lead St. John's to four NIT championships in his time there, which was interrupted by nine seasons coaching the Knicks. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1964, and died of heart failure in 1970.


Source:
Basketball Hall of Fame
NY Times Obituary, August 11, 1970
Philadelphia Inquirer, August 11, 1970
Asheville Citizen-Times, August 11, 1970

Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/joe-lapchick/

Dutch Dehnert

Henry Gerard (George?) "Dutch" Dehnert, Jr.


Born:
April 5, 1898
New York, NY

Died:
April 20, 1979
Far Rockaway, NY


Career
1917-18 Danbury/Jersey City Skeeters (IBL)
1917-18 Norwalk 1st Home Guard (IBL)
1917-18 Wilkes Barre Barons (PSL)
1917-18 Nanticoke Nans (PSL)
1918-19 Newark Turners (Independent)
1918-19 Ansonia (Independent)
1918-19 Downey Shipyard (Independent)
1919-20 Nanticoke Nans (PSL)
1919-20 Bridgeport Blue Ribbons (IBL)
1919-20 Utica Utes (NYSL)
1919-20 De Neri Daisies (EBL)

1919-20 North Philadelphia Americans (EBL)
1919-20 Bridgeport Blue Ribbons (EBL)
1919-20 Thompsonville Big-Harts (IL)
1920-21 Philadelphia Phillies (EBL)
1920-21 Scranton Miners (PSL)
1920-21 Thompsonville Bigelow-Hartfords (IL)
1920-21 Johnny Beckman All Stars (Independent)
1920-21 Original Celtics (Independent)
1921-22 Original Celtics (Independent)
1921-22 Scranton Miners (EBL)
1921–22 New York Celtics (EBL)
1922-23 New York Celtics (MBL)
1923-24 Original Celtics (Independent)
1924-25 Original Celtics (Independent)
1925-26 Original Celtics (Independent)
1926-27 New York Celtics (NLN)
1926-27 Brooklyn Celtics (ABL)
1927-28 New York Celtics (ABL)
1927-28 Utica All-Utica (Independent)
1928-29 Cleveland Rosenblums (ABL)
1929-30 Cleveland Rosenblums (ABL)
1930-31 Cleveland Rosenblums (ABL)
1930-31 Toledo Red Men (ABL) Head coach / player
1931-32 Original Celtics (Independent)
1932-33 Original Celtics (Independent)
1933-34 Original Celtics (Independent)
1933-34 Plymouth (PSL)
1934-35 New Britain Jackaways (ABL)
1934-35 Original Celtics (Independent)
1935-36 Original Celtics (Independent)
1936-37 Original Celtics (Independent)
1937-38 Original Celtics (Independent)
1938-39 Original Celtics (Independent)
1940-41 Detroit Eagles (NBL) Head coach
1941-42 Detroit Eagles (Independent) Head coach
1941-42 Saratoga (NYSL) Head coach
1942-43 Harrisburg Senators (ABL) Head coach
1943-44 Trenton Tigers (ABL) Head coach
1944-45 Sheboygan Redskins (NBL) Head coach
1945-46 Sheboygan Redskins (NBL) Head coach
1946-47 Cleveland Rebels (BAA) Head coach
1947-48 Chattanooga Majors (PBLA) Head coach
1947-48 Saratoga Indians (NYSL) Head coach
1948-49 Saratoga Indians (NYSL) Head coach

NATIONAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME, 1969

New York's Dutch Dehnert was an early star of the game. A long-time star with the legendary Original Celtics, Dehert played with many different teams in the late teens and early 1920's before finally latching on with the Celtics. The most popular barnstorming team, the stocky Dehnert made a name for himself as a player and a leader on the court. It was only natural that he would eventually become a player / coach, and then a head coach.

The Original Celtics joined a few leagues in the east as well as barnstorming, and when the Celtics took the place of the Brooklyn team early into the 1926-27 ABL season, Dehnert stayed with them through the 1927-28 season when he moved to the Cleveland Rosenblums. He would return to the Celtics when the ABL shutdown during the Great Depression. After playing through the 1930's, he quit playing and became a full-time head coach. He lead the Detroit Eagles of the NBL in 1940-41 season, and also the nexst year when the Eagles left the NBL to play independently. He headed back to New York in mid-season, finishing the Saratoga Indians season at the helm. He coached a couple seasons in the reborn ABL before returning to the NBL to lead the Sheboygan Redskins. This lead to him coaching the BAA's Cleveland team in that league's inaugural season in 1946-47, then the Chattamooga Majors in the PBLA in that ill-fated league. Once the PBLA disintegrated, he returned to Saratoga to coach two more seasons. Widely credited with developing the pivot play, Dehnert was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1969.

He was 81 when he died of a heart attack in 1979.


Dutch married Anna Geier (1899-1996) and they had two daughters and one son.

Source:
San Bernadino County Sun, April 26, 1979
http://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/dutch-dehnert/

Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/dutch-dehnert/

Pete Barry

John Peter "Pete" Barry


Born:
November 16, 1896
New York, NY

Died:
August 29, 1968
New York, NY


Career
1914-15 Original Celtics (Independent)
1915-16 Original Celtics (Independent)
1916-17 Original Celtics (Independent)
1917-18 Military Service
1918-19 Military Service
1919-20 Original Celtics (Independent)
1919-20 Bridgeport Blue Ribbons (EBL)
1920-21 Original Celtics (Independent)
1920-21 Pittsfield Hillies (NYSL)
1920-21 Westfield Whip City AC (IL)  
1921-22 Original Celtics (Independent)
1921-22 New York Celtics (EBL)
1922-23 Original Celtics (Independent)
1922-23 Atlantic City Sandsnipers (EBL)
1922-23 New York Celtics (MBL)
1923-24 Original Celtics (Independent)
1924-25 Original Celtics (Independent)
1925-26 Original Celtics (Independent)
1926-27 New York / Hackensack (NYNL)
1926-27 Brooklyn Celtics (ABL)
1927-28 New York Celtics (ABL)
1928-29 Cleveland Rosenblums (ABL)
1929-30 Cleveland Rosenblums (ABL)
1930-31 Cleveland–Toledo (ABL)
1931-32 Original Celtics (Independent)
1932-33 Original Celtics (Independent)
1933-34 Original Celtics (Independent)
1934-35 Original Celtics (Independent)
1935-36 Paterson Panthers (ABL)
1936-37 New York Celtics (ABL)
1937-38 New York Celtics (ABL) Head coach
1944-45 Washington Capitols (ABL) Head coach

Pete played in over 2300 games over his 20+ years of pro basketball. He was known for being tough and scrappy, even playing one game with a broken collarbone.

After quitting basketball, Barry worked in the checking department of the Grace Lines until retiring in 1965. He died after suffering a heart attack in 1968.

He had at least one son, John.

Source:
Chicago Tribune, August 30, 1968

Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/pete-barry/

Davey Banks

David I. Banks


Born:
1901
New York, NY

Died:
August 24, 1952
Waterford, NY


Career
1919-20 Mt. Vernon Armory Big-Five (Independent)
1920-21 New York Celtics (Independent)
1921-22 New York Celtics (EBL)
1921-22 Ware Wonders (Interstate League)
1922-23 Brooklyn Visitations (MBL)
1922-23 Springfield Gunners (Interstate League)
1922-23 Holyoke Reds (Interstate League)  
1923-24 Brooklyn Visitations (MBL)
1923-24 Philadelphis SPHAs (PBL)
1924-25 Brooklyn Visitations (MBL)
1924-25 Philadelphis SPHAs (PBL)
1925-26 Brooklyn Visitations (MBL)
1925-26 Philadelphis SPHAs (EBL) 
1926-27 New York Celtics (NLN)
1926-27 Brooklyn Celtics (ABL)
1927-28 New York Celtics (ABL)
1928-29 New York Hakoahs (ABL)
1928-29 Philadelphis SPHAs (Independent)
1929-30 New York Celtics (ABL)
1929-30 Fort Wayne Hoosiers (ABL)
1930-31 Toledo Red Men (ABL)
1931-32 Original Celtics (Independent)
1932-33 Original Celtics (Independent)
1933-34 Original Celtics (Independent)
1934-35 Original Celtics (Independent)
1934-35 Boston Trojans (ABL)
1935-36 Original Celtics (Independent)
1936-37 Original Celtics (Independent)
1937-38 Original Celtics (Independent)
1938-39 Original Celtics (Independent)
1939-40 Original Celtics (Independent)
1940-41 Original Celtics (Independent)
1941-42 Original Celtics (Independent)
1942-43 Original Celtics (Independent)
1946-47 Chicago American Gears (NBL) Head coach
1946-47 Troy Celtics (ABL) Head coach

Born in the Lower East Side to Samuel and Rose Banks, Davey was a popular player who played for many years around New York and Philadephia before joining up with the Original Celtics. He would later retire and become the head coach for the American Gears for a season in the NBL.
In August of 1952, Banks was killed in an auto accident when the car he was in veered off the road and struck a tree.

Source:
Des Moines Register, August 25, 1952

Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/davey-banks/

Len Shepherd

Leonard Frederick Shepherd


Born:
March 29, 1897
Northampton, MA

Died:
January 7, 1991
Tarpon Springs, FL


Career
1917-18 Easthampton (Independent)
1918-19 Easthampton (Independent)
1919-20 Easthampton Easters (IL)
1920-21 Westfield Whip City AC (IL)
1921-22 Westfield Whip City AC (IL)
1922-23 Turners Falls AC Athletics (IL)
1923-24 Cleveland Rosenblums (Independent)
1924-25 Cleveland Rosenblums (Independent)
1925-26 Cleveland Rosenblums (ABL)
1926-27 Fort Wayne Hoosiers(ABL)
1927-28 Beloit Fairies (Independent)
1928-29 Beloit Fairies (Independent)
1929-30 Toledo Red Men (NPBL)
1930-31 Toledo Red Men (ABL)
1930-31 Dayton Kellys (Independent)
1933-34 Toledo Crimson Coaches (Independent)
1947-48 Omaha Tomahawks (PBLA) Head coach

Born to Leonard and Bridgett Shepherd in Northampton, Massachusetts, he moved to Ohio in the 1920's to play basketball, and stayed Napoleon, Ohio, until moving to Florida in 1971. An owner of a tobacco manufacturing business, Shepherd died in 1991 at 93.

Shepherd served in the U.S. Army during World War 2.

Source:
Tampa Tribune, January 9, 1991

Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/Len-Shepherd/

Bob Grody

Robert William Grody


Born:
April 25, 1900
Brooklyn, NY

Died:
June 21, 1982
West Palm Beach, FL


Career
Stuveysant High School - New York City (High School)
1918-19 Hamilton College - New York (College)
1919-20 Brooklyn (Independent)
1920-21 New York Big-Five (Independent)
1921-22 New York Big-Five (Independent)
1922-23 New York Big-Five (Independent)
1923-24 Glens Falls Garries (NYSL)
1924-25 Philadelphia Cathedral (PBL)
1924-25 Paterson Legionaires (MBL)
1924-25 Brookyn Visitations (MBL)
1925-26 Washington Palace Five (ABL)
1925-26 NY Lou Gehrig All Stars (Independent)
1926-27 Brooklyn Visitations (NLN)
1926-27 Brooklyn Visitations (MBL)
1927-28 Brooklyn Visitations (MBL)
1927-28 Detroit Cardinals (ABL)
1927-28 Rochester Centrals (ABL)
1928-29 Rochester Centrals (ABL)
1929-30 Paterson Whirlwinds (ABL)
1929-30 Brooklyn Visitations (ABL)
1930-31 Toledo Red Men (ABL)
1930-31 Bridgeton (TSL)
1930-31 Dunmore (PSL)
1931-32 Brooklyn Jewels (MBL)
1931-32 Bridgeton Moose (EBL)
1931-32 Brooklyn Americans (Independent)
1932-33 Brooklyn Americans (MBL)
1932-33 Jersey City Palace Diamonds (MBL)
1932-33 Brooklyn Visitation (MBL)
1932-33 Dumore (PSL)
1933-34 Brooklyn Visistations (ABL)
1933-34 Trenton Moose (ABL)
1933-34 Dunmore (PSL)
1934-35 Brooklyn (Independent)
1935-36 Brooklyn Visitations (ABL)
1935-36 Dongan Caseys (Independent)
1935-36 Bay Ridge Pros (Independent)
1936-37 Brooklyn Americans (Independent)
1936-37 Yonkers (Independent)
1936-37 NY National City Bank (Independent)
1937-38 Brooklyn (NBL)
1937-38 Brooklyn Visitation (Independent)
1938-39 Brooklyn Americans (Independent)
1939-40 Brooklyn Visitation (Independent)
1940-41 Glens Falls (NYSL)

Grody was a basketball player and a baseball pitcher from New York. He tried to make good with John McGraw and the Giants in 1921, but was sent to Waterbury in the Eastern League. He was later pitching Jersey City and Montreal in the Internation League in the later 1920's. Despite his attempts at baseball, it was on the basketball court where he really made his impact. He played for dozens of professional and semi-professional hoop teams over his 20-plus yeat career.

He married Margaret Edgar (1904-1999) and they had two daughters and a son.

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

Source:
Leavenworth Times, May 22, 1921

Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/Bob-Grody/

Gil Ely

Gilbert Clerc Ely


Born:
September 27, 1898
West Unity, OH

Died:
April 5, 1999
Bryan, OH


Career
1922-23 University of Michigan (College)
1923-24 Detroit Pulaski Post (Independent)
1924-25 Detroit Pulaski Post (Independent)
1924-25 Huntginton Legionaires (Independent)
1925-26 Detroit Pulaski Post (ABL)
1925-26 Cleveland Rosenblums (ABL)
1926-27 Cleveland Rosenblums (ABL)
1927-28 Flint Big Reds (Independent)
1927-28 Toledo Redmen (Independent)
1928-29 Chicago Bruins (ABL)
1929-30 Chicago Bruins (ABL)
1930-31 Toledo Red Men (ABL)
1930-31 Chicago Bruins (ABL)
1930-31 Dayton Kellys (Independent)
1937-38 Toledo Borgelts (Independent)


Born to George and Ada Ely in West Unity, Ohio, Gil grew up in nearby Pioneer, Ohio, and enlisted the army on October of 1918, but World War 1 ended a month later and Ely was discharged in December. He attended the University of Michigan after afterwards played basketball professionally for many years. He splayed with the Pulaski Post team in Detroit for many years, including with the team when they entered the ABL. He left the team before the end of the season, and joined Cleveland just in time for the playoffs.

He later became a physician and was 100 years old when he died in 1999.

Source:


Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/Gil-Ely/

Cookie Cunningham

Harold Brewer "Cookie" Cunningham

Born:
February 4, 1905
Mount Vernon, OH

Died:
November 3, 1995
Leesburg, FL

Career
1926-27 Cleveland Rosenblums (ABL)
1927-28 Cleveland Rosenblums (ABL)
1928-29 Toledo Red Man Tobaccos (Independent)
1928-29 Richmond Pals (Independent) 
1929-30 Cleveland Rosenblums (ABL) 
1929-30 Toledo Red Man (NPBL)
1930-31 Toledo Red Man Tobaccos (ABL)
1931-32 Chicago Bruins (Independent)
1931-32 Toledo (Independent)
1931-32 Chicago Bruins (Independent)
1931-32 Original Celtics (Independent)
1932-33 Akron Firestone (NPBL)
1933-34 Akron Firestone (Independent)
1934-35 Akron Firestone (Independent)
1934-35 Cleveland Blepp-Combs (Independent)
1935-36 Dayton Metropolitans (MBC) 
1935-36 Lancaster (Semi-Pro)
1937-38 Columbus Athletic Supply (NBL) - also Head Coach
1937-38 Toledo Borgelts (Independent)

Cunningham was a football and basketball star at Ohio State before playing professional football in the first AFL and then the NFL. He also played some pro basketball in the ABL before becoming player/coach for Columbus in the NBL. He died in 1995 at 90.

NFL Stats:
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CunnCo20.htm

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/c/cunniha01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=cunnico01
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/cookie-cunningham/