Bob McGrane

Robert Paul McGrane


Born:
September 28, 1929
Wilkes-Barre, PA

Died:
October 6, 1967
Latham, NY


Career
1943-44 Meyers High School - Wilkes-Barre, PA (High School)
1944-45 Meyers High School - Wilkes-Barre, PA (High School)
1945-46 Meyers High School - Wilkes-Barre, PA (High School)
1950-51 King's College - Wilkes-Barre, PA (College)
1951-52 Carbondale Aces (ABL)

1952-53 Wilkes-Barre Aces (EPBL)
1953-54 King's College - Wilkes-Barre, PA (College) Head coach
1954-55 King's College - Wilkes-Barre, PA (College) Head coach
1955-56 King's College - Wilkes-Barre, PA (College) Head coach
1956-57 King's College - Wilkes-Barre, PA (College) Head coach
1957-58 King's College - Wilkes-Barre, PA (College) Head coach
1958-59 King's College - Wilkes-Barre, PA (College) Head coach
1959-60 King's College - Wilkes-Barre, PA (College) Head coach
1960-61 King's College - Wilkes-Barre, PA (College) Head coach
1961-62 King's College - Wilkes-Barre, PA (College) Head coach
1962-63 King's College - Wilkes-Barre, PA (College) Head coach
1963-64 King's College - Wilkes-Barre, PA (College) Head coach
1964-65 King's College - Wilkes-Barre, PA (College) Head coach
1965-66 King's College - Wilkes-Barre, PA (College) Head coach
1966-67 King's College - Wilkes-Barre, PA (College) Head coach

McGrane, a native and popular figure in Wilkes-Barre, enjoyed a long career in his hometown. A basketball star in high school, McGrane would go on to King's College, a private liberal arts school, where he made a name for himself on the court. He ventured to play with the Carbondale Aces of the ABL for one game, and went to work for Western Electric. He got a Master's Degree from the University of Scranton and was hired as the head basketball coach back at King's College. He would eventually become athletic director in 1963.

On the eve of his fifteenth year at the helm of the Monarchs, McGrane accompanied King's College's golf, tennis, bowling and cross-country teams to a large conference tournament at Siena College in Loudenville, New York. While there, McGrane hanged himself in his room at the Thunderbird Hotel in Latham, New York. Near as I can tell, no motive or reason was ever made public. He was 38.

McGrane married Mary Ann McManus and they had four sons and three daughters.

Source:
Wilkes-Barre Times Leader: Evening News, October 6, 1967

Stats:

Corky Stanton

Frederick Marvin "Corky" Stanton, Jr.


Born:
February 21, 1914
Schenectady, NY

Died:
October 13, 1961
Schenectady, NY


Career
1932-33 Union College - New York (College)
1934-35 Schenectady (NYSL)
1935-36 Kingston Colonials (ABL)
1936-37 Kingston Colonials (ABL)
1937-38 Kingston Colonials (ABL)
1938-39 Troy Haymakers (ABL)
1939-40 Troy Celtics (ABL)
1941-42 Wilmington Blue Bombers (ABL)

A graduate of Union College, Stanton was a minor league baseball player as well as a pro basketball player. While spending six seasons on the courts with three teams in the ABL, he spent three summers in the Philadelphia Athletics' farm system. Outside of basketball, he worked at General Electric in his hometown of Schenectady,

In October of 1961, Stanton was found dead in his garage. He had committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning.

He was married to Edith. 

Minor League Baseball Stats
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=stanto001fre

Source:
Troy Times Record, October 13, 1961

Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/corky-stanton/

Harry Passon

Harry Joseph Passon


Born:
April 1, 1897
Kiev, Russia

Died:
February 16, 1954
Philadelphia, PA


Career
1917-18 De Neri Duddies (EBL)
1917-18 Philadelphia YMCA (ALP)
1918-19 Philadelphia SPHA's (ALP)
1919-20 De Neri Daisies (EBL)
1920-21 Philadelphia SPHA's (ALP)
1921-22 Philadelphia SPHA's (Independent)
1926-27 Philadelphia Elks (PBL)
1926-27 Philadelphia Quakers (ABL) Head coach / player

Passon was born in Kiev, but after the family came to the United States (including fellow future pro baskball players / brother Chick and Nat), Harry took to sports and quickly became on of the larger figures in the semi-pro and pro sports world in Philadelphia. He organized various leagues and tournaments for baseball and basketball, and opened a very successful sporting good store in Philly. Passon owned and managed all-black baseball teams and also worked with other black semi-pro teams in the city. Passons' own team, the Bacarach Giants, competed with the established Negro League Philadelphia Stars and was able to secure fields of play in a time when that was difficult for black-owned sports teams. Passon also fought against the "Blue Laws" in the state, which prevented sports from being played on Sunday. This law was appealed in 1934.

Passon was approached by Cumberland Posey to have his baseball team, the Giants, to join to new National Negro Association being formed. However, the Philly Stars, owned by Ed Bolden and Ed Gottlieb, raised a protest against Passon's team joining. (Gottlieb was both a friend and a rival of Passon. Gottlieb was one of the co-founders of the SPHA's along with Harry.)

On February 16, 1954, Passon was supposed to meet with his brother Nat at a bank conference, but did not show. The next morning, Nat arrived at the store to open for business and intended to turn off the burglar alarm, but since the alarm was not turned on the night before, it went off and the police answered the alarm. Nat thought it was odd the alarm was not turned on, but did not think much of it at the time. Later in the day, with still no sign of his brother Harry and thinking back about the alarm, Nat and his employees began to look around the shop to see if maybe something was wrong. One of his employees found the body of Harry inside the store's gun vault. He had shot himself in the head.

He and his wife, Tillie, had two daughters.

Source:
Courier-Post (Camden, NJ), February 17, 1954
Philadelphia Inquirer, February 17, 1954
SABR.org

Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/harry-passon/

Lefty Topel

Harry "Lefty" Topel
born Harry Isador Natapow


Born:
March 25, 1896
Russia

Died:
March 29, 1943
Rochester, NY


Career
1919-20 Rochester Centrals (Independent)
1920-21 Rochester Centrals (Independent)
1921-22 Rochester Centrals (Independent)
1922-23 Rochester Centrals (Independent)
1923-24 Rochester Centrals (Independent)
1924-25 Rochester Centrals (Independent)
1925-26 Rochester Centrals (ABL)
1926-27 Rochester Centrals (ABL)
1927-28 Rochester Centrals (ABL)
1928-29 Chicago Bruins (ABL)
1928-29 New York Hakoahs (ABL)
1928-29 Paterson Whirlwinds (ABL)
1929-30 Fort Wayne Hoosiers (ABL)
1929-30 Rochester Centrals (ABL)
1930-31 Rochester Centrals (ABL)

Born in Russia, Natapow (largely under the name "Topel") played with the Rochester Centrals through the 1920's and as the team joined the ABL. He bounced to a few other teams for a bit before returning to Rochester in 1929.

Despondent over the fatal illness of a close family member, Lefty committed suicide in 1943 by carbon monoxide poisoning.

He and his wife, Mollie, had one daughter.

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

Source:
Obituary, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, March 30, 1943

Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/Lefty-Topel/

Carl Shaeffer

Carl Edgel Shaeffer


Born:
October 25, 1924
Delphi, IN

Died:
October 25, 1974
Delphi, IN


Career
1942-43 Delphi High School - Indiana (High School)
1945-46 University of Alabama (College)
1946-47 University of Alabama (College)
1947-48 University of Alabama (College)
1948-49 University of Alabama (College)
1949-50 Indianapolis Olympians (NBA)
1950-51 Indianapolis Olympians (NBA)

Born to Lee and Pauline Shaeffer, Carl planned on going to Indiana University, but shortly into his freshman year, he entered the army to serve his country in World War 2. Schaeffer reported missing in action on January 18, 1945 in Belgium, and was later found to be a prisoner of war. He was released by the Germans at the end of the war. He returned home, and enrolled at the University of Alabama. After a stellar four-year career with the Crimson Tide, he played two seasons with the Indianapolis Olympians.

Shaeffer, owner and operator of Shaef's Place, a local tavern in Brookston, Indiana, shot himself on his 50th birthday.

He married Mary Lee Zinn in 1945 and he had three sons and a daughter.

Source:
Journal and Courier (Lafayette, Indiana), April 9, 1945
Journal and Courier (Lafayette, Indiana), July 30, 1945
Journal and Courier (Lafayette, Indiana), October 26, 1974

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/shaefca01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=schaufr01

Bob Royer

Robert Dee Royer


Born:
October 15, 1927
Indiana

Died:
May 30, 1973
Lafayette, IN


Career
1944-45 Bowling Green High School - Indiana (High School)
1945-46 Indiana State University (College)
1946-47 Indiana State University (College)
1947-48 Indiana State University (College)
1948-49 Indiana State University (College)
1949-50 Denver Nuggets (NBA)

A basketball player at Bowling Green HS and Indiana State, Royer played for the Denver Nuggets in 1949-50. He later was a real estate salesman and an investment counselor, working out of Lafayette and Chicago. 

On May 29, 1973, Royer walked the office of Cosden Oil in Calumet City, Illinois, and shot a 32-year old receptionist, Elizabeth Conde Darling, twice, killing her. He fled the scene, and police began an intensive manhunt for him. He drove home to Lafayette, Indiana, and the next day, fired a shotgun into his abdomen, killing himself instantly. There was a note found on him that read, "To whom it may concern. Someone will understand." Royer and Darling had been having an affair prior to the murder, and when Royer said he was going to leave his wife and wanted to marry Elizabeth, she declined, after which Royer threatened her.

Gary was married to Gloria and they had three sons and a daughter.

Source:
Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN), May 31, 1973
The Times (Munster, IN), May 31, 1973
Star Press (Muncie, IN), June 1, 1973
Terre Haute Tribune, June 1, 1973
The Times (Munster, IN), June 1, 1973

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/royerbo01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=royerbo01

Bob Doll

Robert William Doll


Born:
August 10, 1919
Steamboat Springs, CO

Died:
September 13-14, 1959
Rabbit Ears Pass, CO


Career
1935-36 Chaffey High School - Ontario, California (High School)
1936-37 Chaffey High School - Ontario, California (High School)
1937-38 Chaffey High School - Ontario, California (High School)
1939-40 Colorado University (College)
1941-42 Colorado University (College)
1942-43 Denver American Legion (AAU)
1946-47 St. Louis Bombers (BAA)
1947-48 St. Louis Bombers (BAA)
1948-49 Denver Nuggets (NBL)
1948-49 Boston Celtics (BAA)
1949-50 Boston Celtics (NBA)

Born to Henry and Mary Ellen Doll in Colorado. He attended Chaffey HS in Ontario before returning to Colorado to go to college. As a sophomore he lead CU to the NCAA tournament and the NIT. He apparently missed a year for reasons unknown before returning to the court in 1941-42. He served in the U.S. Army during World War 2, and then played for four seasons professionally. After his playing career, he returned to Steamboat Springs where he worked as a salesman.

On September 14, 1959, Doll was reported missing by his wife. His body was found on September 18 on Rabbit Ears Pass in Colorado. He apparently shot himself with a .45 cailber handgun he purchased the day he disappeared. A lot of different dates are given for his death (Sept 5, 8, 18) so I am going with the newspaper articles to estimate. He was only 40 years of age. He left behind a wife and his mother.

Source:
Oregon Statesman, September 19, 1959

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/d/dollro01n.html
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/dollbo01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=dollbo01

Buck Lamme

Emerald Ford "Buck" Lamme


Born:
July 2, 1905
Delaware, OH

Died:
September 4, 1957
Dublin, OH

Career
1922-23 Ostrander High School - Ohio (High School)
1923-24 Ohio Wesleyan (College)
1924-25 Ohio Wesleyan (College) 
1925-26 Ohio Wesleyan (College)
1926-27 Columbus West High School - Ohio (High School) Head coach
1927-28 Uhrichsville High School - Ohio (High School) Head coach
1928-29 Newsies - New Philadelphia, Ohio (Independent)
1928-29 Columbus (Independent)
1928-29 Coshocton (Independent)
1928-29 Columbus West High School - Ohio (High School) Head coach
1929-30 Canton Orphans (NPBL)
1931-32 Cleveland Penzoils (Independent)
1932-33 Cleveland Penzoils (Independent)
1933-34 Coshocton (Independent)
1934-35 Coshocton Buckeyes (Independent)
1935-36 Dayton Metropolitans (MBC)
1936-37 Richmar Sterling Oils (Independent)
1937-38 Columbus Athletic Supply (NBL)
1946-47 Shea's Insurance - Columbus, Ohio (Independent)

Emerald "Buck" Lamme was born in Delaware, Ohio. He attended Ohio Wesleyan and afterwards played for Cleveland in the NFL in 1931, prior to playing basketball professionally. Lamme married Irene Mitchell (1905-??) and had two sons, Gene (1930-1962) and John (1928-2014). In 1957, Lamme was found dead at the foot of the O'Shaughnessy Dam located in Dublin, Ohio. He had jumped to his death and it was reported as suicide. He was the owner of the Brown Jug Restaurant in Delaware, Ohio, at the time of his death.

He also played minor league baseball briefly.


Source:
Daily Times, (New Philadelphia, OH) , December 19, 1928
Daily Reporter (Dover, OH), September 5, 1957
Marysville Journal Tribune, September 5, 1957


NFL Career:
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LammBu20.htm

Minor League Baseball Stats
http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.cgi?id=lamme-001---

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/l/lammeem01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=lammebu01
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/buck-lamme/