1950-51 Altoona Flyers (AABL)

1950-51 ALTOONA FLYERS

ALL-AMERICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE

8-15 .348, 5th place

With Bobby Artman being the head coach as well as one of the team's top scorers, the Flyers got off to a decent 6-4 start and in the hunt for a playoff spot. However, they hit a six-game losing streak in January and won only two of their final 13 games, capped off by a 54-point loss at Cumberland that saw them barely able to patch enough players together to make the trip. They were forced to pull at least one player (Kluckenheimer) from the stands to play. The player only known as V. Smith may also have been a spectator-turned-player. Altoona financially struggled and at various points were faced with disbanding.

Following the demise of the AABL at season's end, the Flyers existed for a few more years as an independent semi-pro team

Head Coach:

• Bobby Artman (February 8, 1922 - April 9, 1975) Also played. See below.

PLAYERS:

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

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

  

  Jim Atkins

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

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

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

• Dodo Conterna (October 29, 1926 - June 17, 2016)

• Ed Henk (February 6, 1927 - March 16, 2018)

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

• Junior Kluckenheimer  

• Hank Knoche (January 14, 1925 - July 9, 2010)

• Ed Lally (July 28, 1931 - October 9, 2009)

• Jim Mewhirter (November 13, 1928 - September 7, 2018)

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

• Carl Nordbloom (March 11, 1924 - July 14, 1983)

• Fred Paine (December 7, 1925 - October 26, 2004)

• V Smith  

• Ed Stickel (February 10, 1928 - November 20, 2008)

• Joe Tocci (July 16, 1925 - January 21, 2010)

• Bill Zelinkly (Ron Selenski)  

1950-51 AABL

The fourth season of the AABL would wind up being its last. Altoona, Cumberland and Wheeling returned, but Sharon and Washington both departed. The league was able to coax clubs from three other Pennsylvanian towns (Beaver Falls, Erie and Johnstown) to join to bring the league back to six teams. 

Tragedy struck the sport after midnight on January 11. The Johnstown club, coached by veteran basketball figure Nat Hickey, had finished a game in Wheeling that saw the Clippers on the losing end of a 107-72 pounding. On the way back towards Johnstown, a car driven by coach Nat Hickey slid on ice near Ligonier, Pennsylvania, and hit a guardrail and then slid into oncoming traffic and hit another vehicle head-on. A third car, driven by Clippers business manager Harry Finley, also hit a guardrail trying to avoid hitting other vehicles. Coach Hickey, along with players Jim Reynolds, Bill Zitalie Jackie Joll, Bill Pavlick and Chuck Karmakovich, were injured and hospitalized. Karmakovich died the following afternoon, having a fractured skull. The Johnstown team announced an immediate suspension of the season, and on January 24, they chose to not continue the season.

Defending champions Cumberland changed their moniker to the SPHA's, and with dwindling attendance and an early six-game skid, they failed to make the playoffs and defend their title. The Wheeling Blues returned to form, going 18-6 to win the regular season crown before defeating upstart Erie in the championship series.

It was evident by the end of the season that the league would not survive, and although it wasn't until late summer of 1951 that it became apparent none of the remaining teams had interest in continuing in this fashion.

Teams:
Altoona Flyers
Beaver Falls Tommies
Cumberland SPHA's
Erie Admirals
Johnstown Clippers
Wheeling Blues

1949-50 Wheeling Blues (AABL)

1949-50 WHEELING BLUES

ALL-AMERICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE

1st Half: 9-3 .750, 1st place
2nd Half: 5-6 .455 3rd place
Finals: Lost to Cumberland, 3-2

The defending champions started off on fire, winning 7 of their first 8 games en route to winning the first half-title. They slumped in the second half, finishing a distant third. They valiantly fought to defend their title, but lost to Cumberland in five games. Gee Walker lead the team in scoring, approaching 18 PPG in the regular season and 34.7 PPG in the four games I found box scores for in the playoffs.

Head Coach:

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

PLAYERS:

• Gee Becker (March 7, 1922 - April 29, 1996)

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

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

• 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)

• 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)

1949-50 Washington Jewels (AABL)

1949-50 WASHINGTON JEWELS / GUNNERS

ALL-AMERICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE

1st Half: 3-8 .273, 5th place

2nd Half: 4-8 .333, 4th place


Like Sharon, Washington is another Pennsylvania town with a population around 26,000 in 1950 that would be cut in half over the next 70 years. Their basketball team, the Jewels (also referred to as the Gunners) would finish in last place in the first half, and second-to-last in the second. Billy Reese was the main star all season long, but Marion Levers joined the team heading into the second half and was the teams- leading scorer from there on, averaging almost 18 PPG over the last 14 games.

Head Coaches:

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

PLAYERS:

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

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

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

• Buchanan  

• Bob Coudrec (October 4, 1925 - February 23, 2008)

• Sammy David (November 19, 1928 - May 8, 1999)

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

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

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

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

• Marion Levers (December 1, 1929 - January 3, 2002) 

• Tay Malarkey (November 6, 1920 - March 3, 1996)

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

• Midge Mitchell

• Fred Paine (December 7, 1925 - October 26, 2004)

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

• Bob Renovich (August 23, 1925 - October 13, 2013)

• Bud Sharp 

• Harvey Stuart (March 30, 1928 - July 1968)

• Jimmy Stuart (July 1, 1929 - January 25, 2000)

• Lyman Stough (December 29, 1928 - December 16, 2001)

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

• Labe Wardle (January 16, 1908 - October 25, 1991)

• Peck White

• Stan Yaros (February 23, 1924 - March 24, 2016)

• Casimir Ziarko (October 10, 1924 - March 18, 2001)

1949-50 Sharon Pioneers (AABL)

 1949-50 SHARON PIONEERS

ALL-AMERICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE

1st Half: 5-5 .500, 3rd place

2nd Half: 2-9 .182,  5th place

The Pioneers played out of Sharon, Pennsylvania, a town of 26,000 (the town's population would be cut in half by the time of this post.)  After a decent first half where they finished in 3rd and scored victories over Altoona and Cumberland. It all fell apart in the second half, using a 7-game losing streak to throw them into the cellar.

Head Coach:

• Steve Magula (December 26, 1924 - September 4, 2016)

PLAYERS:

• Don Blue 

• John Bosak (September 9, 1922 - December 6, 1994)

• Charlie Butler (August 15, 1920 - October 5, 2014)

• Alex Chrobak (January 19, 1925 - October 4, 2011)

• Steve Chuba (September 2, 1927 - May 16, 2022)

• Carmen DiMuzio (March 31, 1926 - January 1, 1999)

• Lou Gabriel (December 13, 1923 - January 4, 1973)

• Gene Koss (November 6, 1928 - August 29, 2008)

• Larry Kukura (September 1, 1927 - January 10, 2015)

• Gus Magula (July 24, 1920 - September 21, 1997)

• Steve Magula (December 26, 1924 - September 4, 2016)

• Harry Miller (July 28, 1923 - April 18, 2007)

• Mike (or Jack) Tebuck (Or T.Buck)

• Stan Wasik (December 24, 1919 - November 6, 2005)

1949-50 Cumberland Dukes (AABL)

1949-50 CUMBERLAND DUKES

ALL-AMERICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE

1st Half: 4-8 .333, 4th place

2nd Half: 10-2 .833, 1st place

Finals: Defeated Wheeling, 3-2

With a new coach for the new season, Cumberland looked to improve on their finish the previous season and contend for the AABL title. David Kauffman, a Cumberland-area lawyer who was a huge sports booster and figure in town, was named coach and he added some pieces to accent the returning players. They struggled in the first half of the season, only winning a third of the games and putting Kauffman on the hot seat. Come the second half, though, the club gelled, winning ten of twelve to pit them against first-half champ Wheeling in the championship series.

After losing Game 1 on the road by 53 points, they returned home to split Game 2 and 3, putting them on the brink of elimination. However, they out-scored the potent Wheeling offense in game 4, 112-106, before winning again in the rubber game to give Cumberland the AABL Championship.

George Geatz

Head Coach:

• Dave Kauffman (March 30, 1915 - October 10, 1956) 
  

PLAYERS:

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

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

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

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

• Tom Geatz (September 1, 1926 - May 5, 2003)

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

• Don Lilya (June 24, 1930 - April 25, 2010)

• George Lucia (March 2, 1928 - September 18, 1994)

Jack Thomas

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

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

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

• Bob Snaith (December 5, 1926 - January 28, 2014)

• Jack Thomas (January 20, 1923 - January 18, 2004)

• Jack Wright (July 13, 1920 - May 30, 2000)

Jack Wright

Bob Snaith

1949-50 Altoona Flyers (AABL)

1949-50 ALTOONA FLYERS

ALL-AMERICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE

1st Half: 7-4 .636, 2nd place

2nd Half: 8-4 .667, 2nd place

Wy Paris, who coached the Altoona entry two season ago, was back as head coach and Walt Miller returned to just being a full-time player. The Flyers would have the best overall record in the AABL this season, but finished second in both halves so therefore did not qualify for the playoffs.

Head Coach:

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

PLAYERS:

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

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

  

  Mike Bytzura

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

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

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

• John Gallagher* (June 24, 1923 - December 12, 2006)

• Bunny Gjurich (February 26, 1923 - September 3, 2013)

• Chuck Karmarkovich (March 17, 1927 - January 11, 1951)

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

• George Kerlik (February 1, 1924 - December 1, 2003)

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

  

  Ron Richard

• Stan Noszka (September 9, 1920 - November 15, 1991)

• Ron Richard (June 8, 1926 - June 30, 2019)

• Ed Stickel (February 10, 1928 - November 20, 2008)

• Sam Zeman (April 30, 1927 - December 12, 2003)

* - I am uncertain Gallagher appeared in a game. He does not appear in any box score I found. He was signed to the team, and the only box score I do not have for Altoona is their opening game against Washington.