1946-47 Wilkes-Barre Barons (EPBL)

1946-47 WILKES-BARRE BARONS
EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA  
22-5, .815, 1st place

Semi-finals: Defeated Reading, 2-0

Finals: Defeated Lancaster, 2-1

With a strong roster composed of some of the best players in the area, the Wilkes-Barre Barons won 10 of the first eleven games, grabbing first place and never looking back. They'd win 18 of 21 and finish with a 22-5 record and 3.5 games ahead of Lancaster. The Chanecka brothers (Billy and Steve) combined for over 19 point per game while Cas Ostrowski added 15.9 PPG on his own. They would battle past a difficult Reading team in the playoffs to mett Lancaster in the finals. After a stunning 59-54 set-back in the opener, they crushed Lancaster in games 2 and 3 to win the inaugural Eastern League crown. 

Eddie White would not give his charges a chance to repeat next year. Feeling his team was too strong for the Eastern League, he applied for a franchise in the American League and was accepted The Barons moved to the east coast pro circuit for the 1947-48 where they won the ABL championship in the next two seasons/

Head Coach:

• Eddie White (February 4, 1910 - December 9, 1988) 

PLAYERS:

Billy Chanecka

Al Brightman (September 22, 1923 - June 10, 1992)

Billy Chanecka (April 21, 1924 - January 27, 2010)

Steve Chanecka (February 6, 1918 - February 1, 2000)

Chick Craig (July 23, 1922 - June 21, 2008)

Larry Disque (March 27, 1921 - March 3, 1994)

Paul Eike (August 15, 1919 - February 22, 2003)

Rocco English (January 30, 1919 - September 14, 2017)

Carl Frank (January 28, 1925 - May 18, 2023)

Earl Hafner (July 29, 1921 - March 15, 1988)

Ted Hanauer (January 1, 1924 - October 1, 2013) 

Joe Karpinski (April 28, 1917 - July 30, 2001)

Walter "Jake" Konitski (August 25, 1917 - February 27, 1975)

Johnny Mascavage (January 14, 1918 - April 12, 1990)

Billy Mock (November 2, 1920 - November 1, 2004)

Cas Ostrowski (July 24, 1924 - March 2, 2000)

Carl Zavada (June 6, 1929 - April 15, 2009)

Jimmy Thompson

James William Thompson


Born:
December 4, 1930
Kane, PA

 :




Career
1947-48 Kane High School - Pennsylvania (High School)
1948-49 Kane High School - Pennsylvania (High School)
1950-51 Kane Moose - Pennsylvania (Independent)
1952-53 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)
1958-59 Cameron County High School - Pennsylvania (High School) Head coach
1959-60 Cameron County High School - Pennsylvania (High School) Head coach
1960-61 Cameron County High School - Pennsylvania (High School) Head coach
1961-62 Cameron County High School - Pennsylvania (High School) Head coach
1962-63 Cameron County High School - Pennsylvania (High School) Head coach
1963-64 Cameron County High School - Pennsylvania (High School) Head coach
1964-65 Cameron County High School - Pennsylvania (High School) Head coach
1965-66 Cameron County High School - Pennsylvania (High School) Head coach
1966-67 Cameron County High School - Pennsylvania (High School) Head coach
1967-68 Cameron County High School - Pennsylvania (High School) Head coach
1968-69 Cameron County High School - Pennsylvania (High School) Head coach
1969-70 Cameron County High School - Pennsylvania (High School) Head coach
1970-71 Cameron County High School - Pennsylvania (High School) Head coach
1971-72 Cameron County High School - Pennsylvania (High School) Head coach
1972-73 Cameron County High School - Pennsylvania (High School) Head coach
1973-74 Cameron County High School - Pennsylvania (High School) Head coach
1974-75 Cameron County High School - Pennsylvania (High School) Head coach
1975-76 Cameron County High School - Pennsylvania (High School) Head coach
1976-77 Cameron County High School - Pennsylvania (High School) Head coach  

Born to Lloyd and Edith Thompson, Jimmy was a minor league baseball and basketball player who wound up being a popular coach at Cameron County High School in Pennsylvania.

Minor League Baseball Stats:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=thomps001jam

Source:
Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, December 2, 1952

Stats:

Moe Radovich

George Lewis "Moe" Radovich


Born:
May 5, 1929
Hot Springs, WY

Died:
June 18, 2004
Las Vegas, NV



Career
1948-49 Northwest College - Powell, WY (College)
1949-50 University of Wyoming (College)
1950-51 University of Wyoming (College)
1951-52 University of Wyoming (College)
1952-53 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA)
1952-53 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)
1955-56 Sheridan Junior College - Wyoming (College) Head coach
1956-57 Sheridan Junior College - Wyoming (College) Head coach
1957-58 Wayne State Junior College - Nebraska (College) Head coach
1958-59 Wayne State Junior College - Nebraska (College) Head coach
1967-68 University of Wyoming (College) Assistant coach
1968-69 University of Wyoming (College) Assistant coach
1969-70 University of Wyoming (College) Assistant coach
1970-71 University of Wyoming (College) Assistant coach
1971-72 University of Wyoming (College) Assistant coach 
1972-73 Fullerton Junior College - California (College) Head coach
1973-74 University of Wyoming (College) Head coach
1974-75 University of Wyoming (College) Head coach
1975-76 University of Wyoming (College) Head coach

Radovich spent one year at Northwest College before transferring to the University of Wyoming. Moe was drafted in the 4th round by the Philadelphia Warriors, but only played in four games before being sent to the Wilkes-Barre Barons in the ABL. He entered the army and served at the end of the Korean War. When he came back to the U.S., he began a long coaching career that started at Sheridan JC. He would work his way back to the University of Wyoming, first as an assistant and later as head coach. After three consecutive 8th-place finishes, he was let go in 1976.

Source:


Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/radovmo01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=radovmo01

Bob Priddy

Robert Benjamin Priddy


Born:
March 24, 1930
Altus, OK

Died:
October 8, 2021
Amarillo, TX


Career
1948-49 Cameron JC - Oklahoma (College)
1949-50 Cameron JC - Oklahoma (College)
1950-51 New Mexico A&M  (College)
1951-52 New Mexico A&M  (College)
1952-53 Baltimore Bullets (NBA)
1952-53 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)

Priddy, a graduate from New Mexico A&M (now New Mexico State University) would be drafted by the Bullets in the 1952 NBA draft. He started the 1952-53 season with the Bullets, but after six games, he was sent down to the Wilkes-Barre Barons of the ABL. In 24 games with the Barons, he averaged 8.4 points per game before rejoining the Bullets. He played sparingly with the Bullets for the remainder of the season before being let go.

Source:


Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/priddbo01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=priddbo01

1952-53 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)

1952-53 WILKES-BARRE BARONS
AMERICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE (II)
20-11 .645, 2nd place

The defending-champion Barons were focused on repeating their title, and the team won their first six game and 9 or their first 11. The went on to a second-place finish, only a half-game behind Manchester. They defeated Elmira in a tough-fought semi-final series before losing to Manchester in the championship series. The quest for a fourth ABL title had fallen short.

ABL Semi-finals: Defeated Elmira, 4-3
ABL Finals: Lost to Manchester, 2-0


Head Coaches:

• Eddie White (February 4, 1910 - December 9, 1988)

PLAYERS:

• Gerry Calabrese (February 4, 1925 - April 13, 2015)

Biography

• Jim Cathcart (November 22, 1926 - March 14, 2015)

Biography 

• Joe "Bells" Colone (January 23, 1924 - July 1, 2009)

Biography

• Shag Hawkins (September 23, 1920 - March 10, 2005)

Biography

• Roger Layne (February 20, 1929 - June 16, 2005)

Biography

• Chuck Mrazovich (February 26, 1924 - November 8, 2020)

Biography

• Kevin O'Shea (July 10, 1925 - February 21, 2003)

Biography

• Bob Priddy (March 24, 1930 - October 8, 2021)

Biography

• Moe Radovich (May 5, 1929 - June 18, 2004)

Biography 

• Wally Sheil (April 15, 1929 - June 23, 2002)

Biography

• Tom Smith (July 5, 1927 - May 31, 1996)

Biography

• Jimmy Thompson (b. December 4, 1930)

Biography 

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

Biography

Frank Pozda

Frank J. Pozda


Born:
August 2, 1929


Died:
December 8, 2019



Career
1946-47 Hanover High School - Pennsylvania (High School)
1947-48 East Stroudsberg State Teachers College (College)
1948-49 East Stroudsberg State Teachers College (College)
1949-50 East Stroudsberg State Teachers College (College)
1950-51 East Stroudsberg State Teachers College (College)
1950-51 Wilkes-Barre Barons (Independent)
1951-52 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)
1951-52 Fort Jackson (Military)

The 6'4, 185-pound Pozda joined the Barons once he finished playing at ESTC, but only appeared in non-ABL exhibition games.

Pozda tried out for the New York Knicks but failed to make the club. After playing with Wilkes-Barre, he was drafted and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.

After the war, he would work as a teacher and coach.

Source:


Stats:

Johnny O'Boyle

John William O'Boyle


Born:
March 7, 1928
New York, NY

Died:
March 30, 1984
Porterville, CA


Career
1949-50 Colorado A&M College (College)
1950-51 Colorado A&M College (College)
1950-51 Poudre Valley Creamery - Fort Collins, CO (Independent)
1951-52 Washington Capitols (ABL)
1951-52 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)
1952-53 Milwaukee Hawks (NBA)

1953-54 Hazleton Mountaineers (EPBL)
1958-59 Long Island University (College) Freshmen - Head coach
1963-64 Stockton High School - Illinois (High School) Head coach
1964-65 Stockton High School - Illinois (High School) Head coach

From Brooklyn, O'Boyle went to college at Colorado A&M (now Colorado State University). While out there, he also competed in the AAU tournament. He returned back east after school, signing with the Washington Capitols. He was sold to Wilkes-Barre on December 17, 1951. Next season, he played a brief stint with the Milwaukee Hawks in the NBA, playing in 5 games.



Source:


Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/oboyljo01.html

Tom McLaughlin

Thomas Vincent "Hooks"  McLaughlin


Born:
August 14, 1926
Wilkes-Barre, PA

Died:
August 27, 1998
Philadelphia, PA


Career
1943-44 St. Mary's High School - Wilkes-Barre, PA (High School)
1946-47 King's College - Wilkes-Barre, PA (College)
1947-48 King's College - Wilkes-Barre, PA (College)
1948-49 King's College - Wilkes-Barre, PA (College)
1949-50 King's College - Wilkes-Barre, PA (College)
1950-51 Ashley Fleetwings (PSL)
1951-52 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)

1951-52 Williamsport Billies (EPBL)

Born to Patrick and Helen McLaughlin, the 6'3 Tom went 53 consecutive games scoring double-digit points, a remarkable record at King's College. He played for the Wilkes-Barre Barons in the 1951-52 season before taking work with the Commercial Credit Company in Trenton, New Jersey. 

Source:
Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, Evening Edition, November 28, 1952

Stats:

Joe Majikes

Joseph S. Majikes


Born:
July 14, 1929
Wilkes-Barre, PA

Died:
March 22, 2007
Kingston, PA


Career
1947-48 Scotland School - Wilkes-Barre (High School)
1949-50 Wilkes-Barre Meat Cutters - (Independent) 

1951-52 Williamsport Billies (EPBL)  
1951-52 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)
1959-60 Shaker's Bowling Supplies - Wilkes-Barre (Independent)
1960-61 Ashley AAA - Wilkes-Barre (Independent)

Majikes, a Wilkes-Barre native, was an athlete who played minor league baseball as well as putting in some time on the hardwood with the ABL's Wilkes-Barre Barons. Fresh out of high school, he signed with the Philadelphia Athletics of baseball's American League. The 18-year old righthanded pitcher was assigned to Federalsburg in the Eastern Shore League, a Class-D farm minor league. After compiling a record of 3-7 in 15 appearances in 1948, he was let go by the Athletics and caught on with the independent Nazareth club in the North Atlantic League. He got hit pretty hard on a regular basis, losing all 12 of his decisions with a 7.46 ERA before being released. He returned to Wilkes-Barre where he played some semi-pro baseball. He signed on with the Barons and started the 1951-52 season there, but was released 5 games into the season. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and would later become a policeman in Wilkes-Barre, dying there in 2007.

Minor League Baseball Stats:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=majike001jos

Source:
Obituary, Citizens Voice, March 24, 2007
Times-Leader (Wilkes-Barre, PA), March 24, 2007

Stats:

Roger Layne

Roger Harriss Layne


Born:
February 20, 1929
Seminole County, OK

Died:
June 16, 2005
Oklahoma City, OK


Career
1945-46 Stamps High School - Arkansas (High School)
1946-47 Stamps High School - Arkansas (High School)
1947-48 University of Arkansas (College) ??
1948-49 Magnolia A&M - Arkansas (College)
1949-50 University of Kentucky (College)
1950-51 University of Kentucky (College)
1951-52 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)
1952-53 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)

Born to William and Anna Layne in Oklahoma, Layne grew up in McKamie, Arkansas. After graduating from Stamps HS, he went to Magnolia A&M (now known as Southern Arkansas University) before transferring over to the University of Kentucky. After college, he played a couple season with the Wilkes-Barre Barons. After his basketball-playing days, he moved to Middlesboro, Kentucky, to work with a gas exploration company.


Source:


Stats:

1951-52 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)

1951-52 WILKES-BARRE BARONS
AMERICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE (II)
20-19 .513, 3rd place

Semi-finals: Defeated Elmira, 4-3
ABL Finals: Defeated Scranton, 4-2

The Barons were back in the ABL after a snit with the league over money at the close of the previous campaign. The Barons, regularly a contender for the league title. got off to a poor start and played at a mediocre level for the first three months. Closing January with a 10-14 record, the Barons got rid of Eddie Bartels and Jackie Leighton and picked up veteran star Red Wallace from the defunct Middletown franchise. This helped spark the club to a strong finish, winning 10 of their last 15 games and headed into the playoffs. After a tough seven-game series with Elmira, winning in seven games after being down 3 games to 2, they faced their rivals in Scranton for the ABL Championship. They would defeat the Miners in six games to win their third ABL crown.


Head Coaches:

• Eddie White (February 4, 1910 - December 9, 1988)

PLAYERS:

• Ed Bartels (October 8, 1925 - November 4, 2007)

Biography

• Jim Cathcart (November 22, 1926 - March 14, 2015)

Biography
 

• Joe "Bells" Colone (January 23, 1924 - July 1, 2009)

Biography

• Ray Corley (January 14, 1928 - February 5, 2007)

Biography

• Ray Ellefson (November 18, 1922 - October 7, 1994)

Biography

• Johnny Ezersky (March 21, 1922 - February 20, 2012)

Biography

• Shag Hawkins (September 23, 1920 - March 10, 2005)

Biography

• Roger Layne (February 20, 1929 - June 16, 2005)

Biography

• Jack Leighton (January 25, 1928 - August 2, 1996)

Biography

• Joe Majikes (July 14, 1929 - March 22, 2007)

Biography

• Tom McLaughlin (August 14, 1926 - August 27, 1998)

Biography 

• Chuck Mrazovich (February 26, 1924 - November 8, 2020)

Biography

• Johnny O'Boyle (March 7, 1928 - March 30, 1984)

Biography

• Frank Pozda (August 2, 1929 - December 8, 2019)

Biography 

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

Biography

• Jimmy Weston (November 2, 1922 - February 6, 1997)

Biography

Wally Sheil

Walter Nicholas Sheil


Born:
April 15, 1929
Jersey City, NJ

Died:
June 23, 2002
Cuddlebackville, NY


Career
1946-47 St. Peter's College - Jersey City, NJ (College)
1947-48 St. Peter's College - Jersey City, NJ (College)
1948-49 St. Peter's College - Jersey City, NJ (College)
1949-50 St. Peter's College - Jersey City, NJ (College)
1950-51 Allenbeth / Carbondale Aces (ABL)
1951-52 Carbondale Aces (ABL)
1951-52 Scranton Miners (ABL)
1952-53 Scranton Miners (ABL)
1952-53 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)
1952-53 Pawtucket Slaters (ABL)
1953-54 Berwick Carbuilders (EPBL)
1953-54 Meriden Kaplan-Townies (EBL-Ct)

Shiel, a high-scoring basketball player at St Peter's College and later in the ABL, would get his Masters from St. John's in 1952 and went into college administration. He served in the New Jersey State Senate from 1978 through 1982. He would move to Florida where he run unsuccessfully for County Commissioner in Sarasota, Florida.

Source:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wally_Sheil

Stats:

Johnny Ludka

John Francis Ludka


Born:
January 28, 1926
Johnson City, NY

Died:
February 24, 2013
Binghamton, NY


Career
1944-45 Syracuse University (College)
1945-46 Syracuse University (College)
1946-47 Syracuse University (College)
1950-51 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)

The 6'11 Ludka was not a particularly skilled athlete but due to his height he gave basketball a try. He struggled though most of his college career, leaving school after his junior year due to the death of his father. He would play for the House of David for a few years and played two games with the Wilkes-Barre Barons, not scoring a point.

He married Marie DellaRocca in 1949 and they had four daughters.

Source:
http://www.orangehoops.org/JLudka.htm

Stats:

Jack Leighton

John Charles Leighton


Born:
January 25, 1928
Wilkes-Barre, PA

Died:
August 2, 1996
Wilkes-Barre, PA


Career
1945-46 St. Nicholas High School (High School)
1947-48 University of Scranton (College)
1948-49 University of Scranton (College)
1949-50 University of Scranton (College)
1950-51 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)
1951-52 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)
1951-52 Pottsville Packers (EPBL)
1952-53 Williamsport Billies (EPBL)
1953-54 Williamsport Billies (EBL)
1954-55 Williamsport Billies (EBL) 
1955-56 Williamsport Billies (EBL) 
1956-57 Wilkes-Barre Barons (EBL)
1959-60 Brandt's - Wilkes-Barre (CYC) Head coach

Born to Carl and Marie Leighton, Jack was at the time of his graduation the highest-scoring player at the University of Scranton. He would go one to a lengthy career in pro basketball in the ABL and Eastern League. He would go on to be a successful realtor in Wilkes-Barre and was active in youth sports including the Little League for baseball.

Jack married Nancy Dougherty and they had one daughter and three sons.





Source:
Citizen's Voice (Wilkes-Barre), August 4, 1996

Stats:

1950-51 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)

1950-51 WILKES-BARRE BARONS
AMERICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE (II)
28-11 .718, 2nd place

Eddie White's Barons remained one of the league's dominant forces. He had to step down from coaching in December, saying he would only coach home games and Marty Zippel would handle the club on the road. Near as I can tell, Zippel only coached the New Year's Day game at Saratoga. White would not coach for the remainder of the season after the February 6, 1951, loss to Paterson. After a dispute with the league over a secured payment that game, which was played in neutral Scranton, White announced that Shag Hawkins lead the club the rest of the way. The team battled with the league over $1500 dollars, and when it came time to play the season finale at Scranton on March 4, the Barons abruptly quit the league, starting a chain of events that would lead to a cancellation of the playoffs.

Head Coaches:

• Eddie White (February 4, 1910 - December 9, 1988) 22-10
• Marty Zippel (February 7, 1922 - October 17, 2018) 1-0 Also played. See below
• Shag Hawkins (September 23, 1920 - March 10, 2005) 5-1 Also played. See below

PLAYERS:

• Ed Bartels (October 8, 1925 - November 4, 2007)

Biography

• Bill Chanecka (April 21, 1924 - January 27, 2010)

Biography

• Steve Chanecka (February 6, 1918 - February 9, 2000)

Biography

• Joe "Bells" Colone (January 23, 1924 - July 1, 2009)

Biography

• Chink Crossin (July 4, 1923 - January 10, 1981)

Biography

• Harry Donovan (b. September 10, 1926)

Biography 

• Ray Ellefson (November 18, 1922 - October 7, 1994)

Biography

• Bill Erickson (June 8, 1928 - September 21, 1987)

Biography

• Johnny Ezersky (March 21, 1922 - February 20, 2012)

Biography

• Shag Hawkins (September 23, 1920 - March 10, 2005)

Biography

• Jack Leighton (January 25, 1928 - August 2, 1996)

Biography

• Johnny Ludka (January 28, 1926 - February 24, 2013)

Biography 

• Ariel Maughan (February 23, 1923 - August 4, 1997)

Biography

• Bobby O'Brien (January 26, 1927 - September 19, 2008)

Biography 

• Claude Overton (December 16, 1927 - April 29, 1996)

Biography

• Jack Shelton (August 7, 1928 - July 23, 2003)

Biography 

• Milton Ticco (September 22, 1922 - January 26, 2002)

Biography

• Butch Van Breda Kolff (October 28, 1922 - August 22, 2007)

Biography

• Marty Zippel (February 7, 1922 - October 17, 2018)

Biography

Marty Zippel

Martin D. Zippel


Born:
February 7, 1922
Philadelphia, PA

Died:
October 17, 2018
Jupiter, FL


Career
1938-39 South High School - Philadelphia (High School)
1945-46 Lafayette College (College)
1946-47 Lafayette College (College)
1947-48 Lafayette College (College)
1948-49 Lafayette College (College)
1949-50 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)
1950-51 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL) Head coach / player

Zippel was born to Hyman and Clara Zippel in Philadelphia. He served in the Army Air Corps during World War 2, and attended Lafayette after the war where lettered four years in basketball. After a couple years with the Wilkes-Barre Barons, even filling in as the head coach for a game, Zippel would become a successful business man, as president of Martin Zippel Inc. in Phillipsburg, Pennsylvania.

Marty married Doris Levin (d. 2003) and they had a son and a daughter.



Source:
mcall.com, April 26, 1990
Jews In Sports
Jewish Exponent, June 24, 2013
Obituary, Express Times, October 19, 2018

Stats:

1949-50 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)

Coach Eddie White

1949-50 WILKES-BARRE BARONS
AMERICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE (II)
21-17 .553, 3rd place

Semi-finals: Lost to Scranton, 2-1


The two-time defending champs started off on a torrid 7-1 stretch before coach Eddie White stepped down. After two losses with Steve Chanecka leading the team, White returned. Following a five game skid, the Barons turned it on in late December, winning 8 of 9 and 13 of 17. However, they limped through the last month of the season by losing 7 of 8 and finishing six games out of first. In a first round playoff battle that was a rematch of the ABL championship series the prior season, Wilkes-Barre was bounced with a deciding thriller that went into triple overtime.




Head Coaches:

• Eddie White (February 4, 1910 - December 9, 1988) 7-1, 14-14
• Steve Chanecka (February 6, 1918 - February 9, 2000) 0-2  Also played. See below

PLAYERS:

• Greek Athas (October 6, 1922 - April 29, 2009)

Biography

• Herky Baltimore (June 21, 1921 - January 1, 1968)

Biography

• Ike Borsavage (July 25, 1924 - January 10, 2014)

Biography

• Bill Chanecka (April 21, 1924 - January 27, 2010)

Biography

• Steve Chanecka (February 6, 1918 - February 9, 2000)

Biography

• Joe "Bells" Colone (January 23, 1924 - July 1, 2009)

Biography

• Ted Hanauer (January 1, 1924 - October 1, 2013)

Biography 

• Shag Hawkins (September 23, 1920 - March 10, 2005)

Biography

• Bobby McDermott (January 7, 1914 - October 14, 1963)

Biography

• Cas Ostrowski (July 24, 1924 - March 2, 2000)

Biography 

• Pete Pasko (September 9, 1919 - March 31, 2004)

Biography

• Milton Ticco (September 22, 1922 - January 26, 2002)

Biography

• Marty Zippel (February 7, 1922 - October 17, 2018)

Biography

Jimmy Weston

James L. Weston


Born:
November 2, 1922
New York, NY

Died:
February 6, 1997
New York, NY


Career
1947-48 St. John's University (College)
1948-49 Scranton Miners (ABL)
1948-49 Utica Olympics (NYSL)
1948-49 Paterson Crescents (ABL)
1949-50 New Britain Rios (EBL-Ct)
1950-51 Torrington Howards (EBL-Ct)
1951-52 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)

A popular athlete at St. John's, the amiable Weston would play some pro basketball before becoming a police officer and detective in New York city, also working as a bartender. He would eventually gain such a network of friends that in 1967, he decided to quit the force and open his own club. Weston would be friends with many celebrated club guests like Richard Nixon, Frank Sinatra, Muhammed Ali and Howard Cosell.

Source:
Obituary

Stats:

John Phoenix

John Jasper Phoenix III


Born:
April 2, 1924
Greensboro, NC

Died:
August 31, 1988
Los Angeles, CA


Career
1940-41 American Falls High School - Idaho (High School)
1946-47 University of Idaho (College)
1947-48 University of Idaho (College)
1948-49 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)

1948-49 Pottsville Packers (EPBL)
1948-49 Scranton Miners (ABL)

Phoenix, a 6'9 center who grew up in Idaho, served in the military before finishing college at the University of Idaho. He signed with the Syracuse Nationals in October of 1948 but didn't make the opening day roster. He played with Wilkes-Barre in the the ABL, averaging 5.7 points in 14 games before being let go. He finished the season with the Scranton Miners.

Source:


Stats:

Verl Heap

Parley Verl Heap


Born:
September 6, 1924
St. John's, AZ

Died:
December 24, 2008
St. John's, AZ


Career
1939-40 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School)
1940-41 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School)
1941-42 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School)
1942-43 Arizona State University (College)
1945-46 Arizona State University (College)
1946-47 Arizona State University (College)
1947-48 Arizona State University (College)
1948-49 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)
1949-50 Arizona State University (College) Assistant coach
1950-51 Duncan High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1951-52 Duncan High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1952-53 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1953-54 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1954-55 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1955-56 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1956-57 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1957-58 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1958-59 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1959-60 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1960-61 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1961-62 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1962-63 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1963-64 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1964-65 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1965-66 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1966-67 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1967-68 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1968-69 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1969-70 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1970-71 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1971-72 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1972-73 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1973-74 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1974-75 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1975-76 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach
1976-77 St. John's High School - Arizona (High School) Head coach

Heap was a high scoring threat with Arizona State, with his tenure there interrupted by his service in the Army Air Corps during World War 2. He returned to school after the war, leading the conference in scoring. Out of college, Heap signed to play with the Providence Steamrollers in the BAA in 1948, but wound up playing with the ABL's Wilkes-Barre club that season instead. He would be an assistant coach at ASU before taking a head coaching and teaching job at Duncan High School. After two years there, he returned to St. John's to coach and teach, as well as farm and raise livestock. He won over 500 games as a high school coach and was elected to the Arizona Basketball Hall of Fame.


He married Dawn Sherwood in 1945 and they had three sons and two daughters.



Source:
Obituary, White Mountain Independent, December 30, 2008

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