1949-50 AABL

The Butler club dropped from the AABL before the 1949-50 season, and the Pittsburgh / McKeesport Pirates returned to independent status. The Sharon (PA) Pioneers came into the fold as did a team from Ford City (PA). However, on the eve of the season, Ford City had trouble securing a suitable home court and withdrew, leaving the league with only five teams.

The season was to be split into two 12-game halves, with the winner of each half to meet in the championship series. The defending champion Wheeling Blues got off to a hot start, but then had to hold off a late-charge from the Altoona team do win the first-half crown. Cumberland, who struggled to s 4-8 finish in the first half, rolled to a 10-2 second half and finished 2 games ahead of  Altoona, who despite having the best composite record  that season were shut out of the playoffs.

Wheeling took a 2-1 lead over Cumberland in the best-of-five championship series before the Dukes won the last two games to win the AABL Championship.

Teams:
Altoona Flyers

Cumberland Dukes

Sharon Pioneers

Washington Jewels
Wheeling Blues

1948-49 Wheeling Blues (AABL)

 1948-49 WHEELING BLUES

ALL-AMERICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE

Finished: 21-9 .700, 1st place
Semi-Finals: Defeated McKeesport, 2-0
Finals: Defeated Cumberland, 2-1

The Wheeling Blues, the AABL entry from the West Virginia city that carried over four players from last year's entry known as the Puritans, put it together to run off with the championship. Winning their first four games and 8 of their first ten, Wheeling weer at the top of the standings from start to finish. They would win 7 of their 8 February games to put the regular season title out of reach, lead by Jim Quinlan with 10.6 PPG. They swept two games from McKeesport in the semi-finals and took down Cumberland in a hard-fought championship series.

Head Coach:

• Julie Rivlin (February 2, 1917 - September 23, 2002)

PLAYERS:

• Ken Becker (November 10, 1923 - February 11, 2014)

• Gene Britt (October 13, 1921 - November 29, 2004)

• Bobby Carroll (July 11, 1925 - January 31, 2022)

• Sam Chickerella (November 2, 1924 - March 30, 2011)

• Hank Ellis (August 18, 1921 - October 29, 2015)

• Hal Geisler (December 24, 1916 - May 12, 1975)

• Paul Herman (July 5, 1921 - July 20, 1972)

• Floats Pelaez (January 3, 1920 - January 29, 1995)

• Jim Quinlan (May 29, 1922 - July 13, 2003)

• Julie Rivlin (February 2, 1917 - September 23, 2002)

• Jim Ruch (August 15, 1920 - July 2, 1984)

• Andy Tonkovich (November 1, 1922 - September 2, 2006)

• Dick Wehr (December 9, 1926 - December 1, 2011)

1948-49 Washington Jewels / Generals (AABL)

 1948-49 WASHINGTON JEWELS / GENERALS

ALL-AMERICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE

Finished: 11-19 .367, 5th place


Moe Becker, who joined Washington on January 7, 1949, after being let go from Altoona, also became the head coach but he could not change the fortunes of the Jewels. 

Head Coaches:

• ??  2-8
• Moe Becker (February 24, 1917 - January 9, 1996)  9-11

PLAYERS:

Elmer Benyak

• Atkins 

• Moe Becker (February 24, 1917 - January 9, 1996)

• Elmer Benyak (January 11, 1922 - June 24, 2011)

• Kenny Blake (December 30, 1924 - January 15, 1998)

• Booth

• Emery

• Bill Feeney (February 7, 1924 - January 31, 1990)

• Ralph Forquer (February 19, 1923 - March 21, 2013)

• 

  Jerry Unites

  Ray Forquer (February 19, 1923 - January 4, 2010)

• Don Graham (August 27, 1925 - April 18, 2009)

• Bud Heatley (December 5, 1916 - May 25, 2007)

• David Hornstein (August 16, 1922 - September 25, 1997)

• Bill Reese (August 24, 1924 - November 24, 2016)

• Art Sandusky (December 1, 1919 - September 14, 1996)

• Bud Sharp

• George Slava (May 8, 1923 - January 7, 1988)

• Eddie Strall (January 1, 1919 - October 29, 1996)

• Jerry Unites (June 10, 1922 - November 8, 1973)

• Watson 

1948-49 Pittsburgh / McKeesport Merchants / Pirates (AABL)

 1948-49 PITTSBURGH / McKEESPORT MERCHANTS / PIRATES

ALL-AMERICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE

Finished: 15-15 .500, T-3rd place
Semi-Finals: Lost to Wheeling, 2-0


The Pittsburgh Pirates (or East Pittsburgh Pirates), named in tribute to the city's baseball team, had been a prominent independent semi-pro team around western Pennsylvania for the better part of a decade when they joined the AABL in the fall of 1948. Lead by popular Pittsburgh basketball figure Freddie Crum, the Pittsburgh club had a core of renown local players but ran hot and cold all season. On February 20, the team shifted their home base to nearby McKeesport to finish out the season. Also referred to as the Merchants or Tubers at various points through the season, they finished tied with Cumberland for third place and thus earned a spot in the playoffs, but lost in the opening round. 


Head Coach:

• Freddie Crum (December 3, 1912 - July 11, 1987) Also played. See below

PLAYERS:

Bill Nunn

• Johnny Alzo (May 10, 1925 - November 27, 2005)

• Freddie Crum (December 3, 1912 - July 11, 1987)

• Ed Dolnack (March 22, 1927 - February 3, 1980)

• Joe Fabel (May 15, 1917 - January 31, 1967)

• Frank Griffin (February 24, 1919 - October 25, 1997)

• Ed Janicki (November 4, 1918 - July 10, 2011)

• Jack Kelly (July 9, 1928 - May 28, 1952)

• Sid Levine (July 9, 1918 - June 10, 1999)

• George Levkulich (March 1, 1917 - July 31, 2003)

Frank Griffin

• Bill McLhinney (August 15, 1920 - February 19, 2019)

• Bill Nunn (September 30, 1924 - May 6, 2014)

• Sam Radakovich (December 13, 1919 - May 10, 2001)

• Mike Semyan (April 3, 1927 - July 20, 1978)

• Joe Urso (September 17, 1916 - April 27, 1991)

• Matt Vaniel (November 14, 1919 - January 1, 1981)

• John Wakefield (April 20, 1920  - February 1, 1973)

John Wakefield

1948-49 Cumberland Dukes (AABL)

1948-49 CUMBERLAND DUKES

ALL-AMERICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE

Finished: 15-15 .500, 4th place

Semi-Finals: Defeated Altoona, 2-1

Finals: Lost to Wheeling, 2-1

The Dukes performed better this season, qualifying for the playoffs with Red Klotz as head coach and player. Klotz averaged 11.4 PPG, second on the team behind Bob Pence's 12.0 PPG*. The Dukes made it to the Finals, losing to Wheeling in three games.

* - based on statstics for games I have found boxscores for, not from official league stats

Head Coach:

• Red Klotz (October 21, 1920 - July 12, 2014) Also played. See below
  

PLAYERS:

Jim Clevenger

• Lou Bell (August 10. 1922 - August 16, 1993)  

• Jim Clevenger (March 16, 1926 - April 10, 2017)  

• Bill Day (June 1, 1920 - August 30, 1989)  

• Gus Frizzell (January 12, 1921 - January 8, 2005)  

• George Geatz (January 26, 1924 - March 9, 1995)  

• Ken Haggerty (January 31, 1924 - April 3, 2009)  

• Dave Hornstein (August 16, 1922 - September 25, 1997)

• Babe Johnson (July 14, 1925 - June 1, 2002)

• 

  Bob Pence

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

• Paul Oberhaus (September 7, 1920 - December 3, 1974)  

• Walt Orndorff (December 18, 1921 - August 25, 2019)  

• Bob Pence (August 10, 1922 - August 17, 1991)  

• Johnny Ross (January 5, 1918 - May 29, 1955)  

1948-49 Butler Cubs (AABL)

 1948-49 BUTLER CUBS

ALL-AMERICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE

Finished: 10-20 .333, 6th place

The Butler Cubs were part of the Pennsylvania town's athletic club, which also fielded a semi-pro football and a baseball team. The Butler Cubs Athletic and Social Association was helmed by Bill Hulton (1914-1980) and the basketball team joined the AABL in September of 1948. The freshman basketball coach of the local college, Slippery Rock, was coached by Jim Gazetos and he was named head coach for the AABL entry. 

Coach Jim Gazetos

The season started off decent enough for the Cubs, winning 3 of their first 5 including a thrilling upset of the powerful Wheeling club on their home court. Following that game, though, the Cubs went into a tailspin, losing 8 straight games and sending the team into last place. They never really regained their way, and finished the season buried deep in the cellar. Overmatched, the Cubs dropped from the league following the season.



Head Coach:

• Jim Gazetos (February 24, 1916 - November 15, 2002)

PLAYERS:

Mike Glowacki

• Nate Apple (February 16, 1925 - December 1, 2001)

• Dom Canterna (September 16, 1917 - February 21, 2008)

• Larry Duffy (February 12, 1918 - July 17, 1992)

• Joe Frick (June 24, 1923 - August 7, 2020)

• Mike Glowacki (November 16, 1923 - December 27, 1985)

• Merle Iannotti (December 4, 1923 - May 30, 1998)

• George Mavromatis (September 15, 1921 - October 21, 1994)

• Roy Miller 

• Larry Paffrath (August 5, 1919 - October 26, 1978)

• John Pataky (February 6, 1919 - July 24, 2003)

• Earl Paul (August 1, 1924 - January 30, 1969)

• Mike Pucci (September 7, 1920 - November 20, 1995)

  

  Earl Paul

• Steve Shuber (January 20, 1920 - October 30, 2003)

• Emil Sotnyk (August 21, 1921 - July 2, 2004)

• Frannie Webster (September 28, 1916 - January 3, 2003)

• Fred Wimer (January 16, 1927 - January 5, 1998)

1948-49 Altoona Flyers (AABL)

1948-49 ALTOONA FLYERS

ALL-AMERICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE

Finished: 18-12 .600, 2nd place
Semi-Finals: Lost to Cumberland, 2-1

Altoona had good lineup featuring Dom Asmonga, Mike Bytzura and Bobby Artman. BAA cast-off Moe Becker was released by Altoona on December 21 and he would move on to coach the Pittsburgh team. After a slow 2-4 start, the Flyers rattled off six straight wins and 12 of 15 to make a charge at frontrunning Wheeling. However, after dropping four of five, the Flyers were relegated to remain in second place. They would lose to Cumberland in the league semi-finals, having to forfeit the final game of the series when they could not procure a court to play on.

Moe Becker

Head Coach:

• Walt Miller (July 20, 1915 - January 21, 2001)

PLAYERS:

• Bobby Artman (February 8, 1922 - April 9, 1975)

• Dom Asmonga (February 15, 1928 - January 13, 2014)

• Jim Atkins (August 25, 1924 - March 10, 2012)

• Al Bair (November 25, 1925 - October 8, 2014)

• 

  John Karpinski

  Jack Barry (November 20, 1922 - July 26, 2011)

• Moe Becker (February 24, 1917 - January 9, 1996)

• Mike Bytzura (June 18, 1922 - January 24, 1989

• Herb Currie (April 23, 1921 - June 18, 2005)

• Joe Cypher (September 5, 1926 - February 22, 1975)

• Red Davies (March 5, 1917 - April 21, 2001)

• Don Graham (August 27, 1925 - April 18, 2009)

• Ed Humeniuk (December 17, 1920 - May 15, 2006)

• Ed Janicki (November 4, 1918 - July 10, 2011)

  

  Walt Miller

• John Karpinski (March 5, 1923 - August 7, 2002)

• Jack Kelly (July 9, 1928 - May 28, 1952)

• John Kolodziek (January 24, 1926 - May 12, 1969)

• Tom Lytle (October 10, 1927 - January 25, 2005)

• Walt Miller (July 20, 1915 - January 21, 2001)

• Wy Paris (August 5, 1908 - May 21, 2001) 

• George Slava (May 8, 1923 - January 7, 1988)

• Eddie Strall (January 1, 1919 - October 29, 1996)

• Fred Wimer (January 16, 1927 - January 5, 1998)

Herb Currie