1950-51 Erie Admirals (AABL)

1950-51 ERIE ADMIRALS

ALL-AMERICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE

11-6 .647, 2nd place

Semi-finals: Defeated Beaver Falls, 2-1

Finals: Lost to Wheeling, 3-0

The Erie Admirals (also referred to as the Commodores at various points)  brought in veteran player Paul Birch to coach and he brought with him some new talent. Fred Schwab, Lennie Rhodes and Don McCullough were the top scorers as the club finished in second place. The battled a tough Beaver Falls club in the semifinals and were off to meet Wheeling for the championship. Unfortunately, Birch's crew was no match for the powerful Wheeling club, getting swept in the best-of-five series.

Head Coach:

• Paul Birch  (January 4, 1910 - June 5, 1982)  Also played. See below
  

Mark Calak

PLAYERS:

• Paul Anthony (January 23, 1924 - May 21, 1993)

• Moose Billingham (October 29, 1916 - December 21, 1998)

• Paul Birch (January 4, 1910 - June 5, 1982)

• Frank Bohun (April 2, 1915 - February 19, 2014)

• Mark Calak (October 15, 1923 - August 6, 2005)

• Jim Farrell (April 25, 1924 - October 22, 2017)

• John Lipchik (June 21, 1922 - February 13, 2011)

• Donald McCullough (March 24, 1926 - March 13, 2021)

Jim White

• Henry O'Keeffe (December 12, 1923 - December 27, 2011)

• Lennie Rhodes (May 18, 1927 - October 18, 2014)

• Bill Roach (September 25, 1927 - January 14, 2022)

• Fred Schwab (May 13, 1924 - January 28, 2008)

• Naz Servidio (October 25, 1920 - February 1, 2003)

• Steve Skendronch (September 9, 1925 - September 9, 2008)

• George Washington (November 29, 1925 - December 9, 1971)

• Jim White (June 3, 1929 - December 24, 2004)

1950-51 Cumberland SPHA's (AABL)

1950-51 CUMBERLAND SPHA's

ALL-AMERICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE

13-12 .520, 3rd place

Semi-finals: Lost to Wheeling, 2-0

The defending champions underwent a few changes. First, a change of sponsor lead to them dropping the Dukes moniker and would go by the SPHA's. This lead to a new coach, Bill Keegan. From Elk Garden, West Virginia, Keegan was also the head coach at LaSalle High School in Cumberland as well as being the Police Commissioner. 

Cumberland's season got off to a decent enough start, winning 4 of their first six games, before hitting a six-game losing streak. The regained their winning ways in February and climbed back into third place and a spot in the playoffs. They met their rivals, Wheeling, in the first round and were quickly dispatched

Head Coach:

• Bill Keegan (March 31, 1902 - February 5, 1987) 
  

PLAYERS:

• Ed Athey (October 26, 1921 - February 28, 2010)

• Joe Becker (January 1, 1927 - October 31, 2000)

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

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

• Roger Day (April 4, 1925 - August 31, 2001)

Ike Owen

• Jim Fahey (August 6, 1926 - December 22, 2011)

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

• Buddy Giles (October 6, 1927 - October 26, 2020)

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

• Jeff Kelly (b. 1929?)

• Whitey Mathieson (October 30, 1925 - June 10, 1981)

• Mutt Murphy (January 24, 1927 - May 13, 2001)

• Pete Nobile  

Matt Murphy

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

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

• Ike Owen (b. September 17, 1926)

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

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

1950-51 Beaver Falls Tommies (AABL)

1950-51 BEAVER FALLS TOMMIES

ALL-AMERICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE

9-14 .391, 4th place

Semi-Finals: Lost to Erie, 2-1

The Tommies, coached Dom Casey, were a decent enough club at the start. Lead by Dan McComb (Geneva College) and local athlete Dick Peete, the TOmmies were 8-8 when they lost 6 of their remaining 7 games but still managed to grab the last playoff spot by a game over Altoona. In their playoff series, they managed to surprise the heavily-favored Erie club by winning game 2 and forcing the Admirals to a deciding game 3. Al Vlasic, who had wrapped up his season at Geneva College at the end of February, joined the Tommies and scored 30 in his debut against Cumberland, IN the playoff series against Erie, he had 57 points in the series to lead all scorers in defeat.

Hardy Barrett

Head Coach:

• Dom Casey (February 11, 1914 - August 20, 1999)

PLAYERS:

• Hardy Barrett (April 23, 1927 - September 7, 2013)

• Guy Bennett (January 27, 1924 - July 14, 2012)

• Tom Callahan (February 24, 1923 - August 28, 2010)

• Mike Linkovich (February 2, 1922 - December 4, 2022)

• Dan McComb (January 6, 1926 - April 27, 1984)

  

  Dan McComb

  
  

• George Mrvosh (May 8, 1914 - September 15, 1998)

• Stan Navage (April 23, 1924 - August 8, 1996)

• Felix Oliver (October 18, 1920 - March 17, 1990)

• Dick Peete (February 24, 1925 - July 10, 1960)

• Frank Perkovich (February 10, 1913 - April 25, 1962)

• Sciarro  

• Jack Stirling (November 16, 1917 - September 27, 1970)

• Lou Veltri (March 2, 1918 - September 23, 1985)

  

  Guy Bennett

  
  

• Al Vlasic (September 26, 1924 - September 15, 2014)

• Warren Walcott (January 26, 1921 - May 11, 1975)

Dick Peete

Lou Veltri

Felix Oliver

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)