1948-49 York Victory AA (EPBL)

1948-49 YORK VICTORY A.A.

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
14-15, .483, 5th place

York joined the league in 1948 and wound up hovering around the .500 mark the entire season and despite a late season push, fell short of the playoffs. Art Lentz lead the team at 19.2 PPG.

Head Coaches:

• Bob Hulton (July 10, 1921 - August 25, 1999)  and Les Lehman (May 23, 1917 - May 21, 1997)  co-coached the first four games 1-3
• Eddie Waleski (April 21, 1907 - September 9, 1986)  13-12

PLAYERS:

Jake Ahearn (January 6, 1918 - February 17, 1968) 

Red Bock (September 14, 1925 - November 14, 2002)

Bob Brady (March 27, 1928 - July 8, 2006)

Lee Brymesser (November 8, 1918 - July 25, 2004)

Jim Furey (March 28, 1928 - February 20, 1985)

Don Galloway (November 21, 1924 - July 29, 2002)

Karl Grim (July 30, 1923 - August 3, 2010)

Bob Hulton (July 10, 1921 - August 25, 1999)

Les Lehman (May 23, 1917 - May 21, 1997)

Art Lentz (June 27, 1926 - December 8, 2018)

Bud Long (February 10, 1924 - January 9, 2009)

Eddie O'Halloran (January 4, 1926 - October 11, 2014)

Sid Roche (May 16, 1926 - January 21, 2010)

Shaffer   

Bill Stoerrle (December 24, 1927 - October 25, 1987)  

Bob Walsh (March 31, 1926 - January 21, 2010)

Jack Welsh (August 21, 1925 - December 17, 2007)

Tony Yovicsin (June 15, 1921 - December 25, 1983)

Dave Ziegler (August 14, 1923 - March 21, 1991)

1948-49 Williamsport Billies (EPBL)

1948-49 WILLIAMSPORT BILLIES

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA

18-12, .600, T-1st place

Tie-breaker: Defeated Harrisburg, 100-77

Semi-finals: Lost to Pottsville, 2-1

Looking to improve on a horrible inaugural season, the Billies named Larry Disque as their head coach and with a powerful lineup of Ray Kodish, Wes Myers, Frank Sebest and Perk Stabley,  the Billies won their first five games. However, as hot of a start they had, the had as cold of a stretch right after it and found t hemselves at 6-5 heading into the Christmas break.  A couple additions to the team helped spark the club to win 9 of eleven and put them in the thick of the race for first place. They grabbed a share of first place, tied with Reading and Harrisburg. The Billies would win the regular season in a play-off system, but would fall to Pottsville in the semi-finals for the championship, two games to one.

Head Coach:

• Larry Disque (March 27, 1921 - March 3, 1994) Also played. See below.

PLAYERS:

Bobby Stine

Nick Dietterick (May 22, 1921 - May 16, 2014)

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

Mel Flick (Flichtenfeld) (August 24, 1925 - February 19, 2003)

Martie Goldstein (November 20, 1921 - April 8, 1998)

Pop Goodwin (December 22, 1920 - May 16, 2005)

Joe Harrington (May 29, 1924 - January 16, 1987)

Stan Kaufmann (b. October 6, 1926)

Ray Kodish (June 10, 1923 - March 14, 2012)

Paul Marcincin (June 22, 1921 - October 26, 2009)

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

Wes Myers (December 21, 1927 - February 1, 2002)

John Padgett (November 14, 1923 - August 27, 2007)

Marty Powers (March 27, 1928 - December 21, 1991)

Howard Sanders (October 27, 1923 - February 5, 2017)

Frank Sebest (September 24, 1923 - November 28, 2010)

Perk Stabley (January 24, 1925 - September 25, 1994)

Bobby Stine (b. 1931)

1948-49 Sunbury Mercuries (EPBL)

1948-49 SUNBURY MERCURIES
EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
9-21, .300, 7th place

Coming into their second season in the league, the Mercuries had a new coach in Johnny Barr and a new lineup. However, even with solid players like Johnny Rusinko, Ray Propianka and Fred Sheffield, they dropped their first four games and continued to flounder. Following a 5-game losing streak, they finished January with a 5-13 record and way out of the running for a playoff spot. They finished the season on another five-game skid and mired deep in last place.

Head Coach:

• Johnny Barr (August 8, 1918 - July 1, 2002)  Also played. See below

PLAYERS:

Wade Ackley (June 8, 1919 - January 24, 2007)

Wes Adams (February 21, 1922? - April 8, 1999?)

John Barr (August 8, 1918 - July 1, 2002)

John Bartos (December 19, 1914 - October 17, 1972)

Al Bradley (May 9, 1919 - September 12, 1997)

Aubrey Davis (March 28, 1921 - November 23, 1996)

Nick Dietterick (May 22, 1921 - May 16, 2014)

Oscar Grossman (June 26, 1923 - September 22, 1993)

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

Bucky Harris (October 28, 1926 - December 6, 2006)

Bob Williams

Stan Kauffman (b. October 6, 1926)

Frank Lupashunski (Lupe) (b. February 3, 1926)

Nelson

Lefty Piercey (January 31, 1924 - August 17, 1990)

Ray Posipanka (March 16, 1927 - February 17, 1998)

John Rusinko (March 1, 1925 - October 23, 2013)

Don Schuerholtz (August 28, 1922 - May 2, 2009)

Fred Sheffield (November 5, 1923 - December 8, 2009)

Andy Siket (December 29, 1918 - September 19, 1995)

Kermit Smith (February 2, 1926 - August 23, 2005)

Tom Sweeney (October 15, 1922 - June 27, 2017)

Al Widmar (March 20, 1925 - October 15, 2005)

Bob Williams (April 28, 1926 - November 19, 1989)

1948-49 Reading / Allentown Keys (EPBL)

1948-49 READING / ALLENTOWN KEYS

Jeb Stewart

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
18-12, .600, T-1st place

Tie-breaker: Defeated Harrisburg, 68-66

Tie-breaker: Lost to Williamsport, 100-77

Semi-finals: Lost to Harrisburg, 2-1

Owned and coached by local businessman Arlie Robitzer, Reading got off to a hot start, winning six of their first eight. Attendance, however, lagged a bit and the club was moved to Allentown during the week of Christmas. Their attendance and support in Allentown never really took hold, and the team returned to Reading at the end of January. 

The Keys struggled after returning to Reading, and on February 16 fell to 11-11. The team had made a few roster changes, adding Doug Holcomb and Jim Joyce, and they helped the team take off. They would win 6 of 7 plus a forfeit victory over Lancaster to finish in a three--way tie for first place. They failed to win the playoff for the regular season title, and would then lose to Harrisburg in the playoffs, ending their season.

Jim Joyce

Head Coach:

• Arlie Robitzer (April 23, 1915 - April 20, 1988)

PLAYERS:

Oscar Baldwin (January 7, 1925 - October 31, 2005)

Dewey Boltz (May 18, 1920 - September 18, 2015)

Norm Butz (September 28, 1919 - March 21, 1999)

George Dracha (August 18, 1921 - April 6, 1995)

Russ Guensch (January 12, 1924 - June 14, 2014)

Doug Holcomb (February 9, 1921 - February 3, 2008)

Kenny Hopkins (November 2, 1919 - June 12, 2015)

Jim Joyce (October 23, 1924 - October 24, 2006)

Joe Lord (December 28, 1922 - December 1986)

Paul Marcincin (June 22, 1921 - October 26, 2009)

Don Markward (April 2, 1919 - June 14, 1985)

Jeb Stewart (November 15, 1924 - January 10, 1993)

Herm Wickel 

Pete Yousaitis (September 10, 1917 - December 23, 1995)

1948-49 Pottsville Packers (EPBL)

1948-49 POTTSVILLE PACKERS

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
16-14, .533, 4th place
Semi-finals: Defeated Williamsport, 2-1

Finals: Defeated Harrisburg, 2-1

The previous season's runner-up, Pottsville came in hoping to achieve what they couldn't last year: a Eastern League title. With Obie O'Brien now the head coach, the Packers stumbled out of the gate O'Brien was fired after six games. Veteran Red Dehnert, who started the season with Saratoga in the New York State league, was brought in as player coach but the team saw little improvement and Dehnert was let go ten games later over a dispute with compensation. Co-owners Felix Kadel and Eddie Romance named veteran player Tommy Bell as player/coach. The Packers played noticeably better and by the first week of March had climbed over .500 and on the verge of a playoff berth when tragedy struck. 

Bell was at home in Philadelphia when he collapsed. Rushed to the hospital, he was in critical condition with internal hemorrhaging. A benefit league-wide All-Star game was played to help defray the hospital costs of Bell, but he remained hospitalized. Kadel took over as coach as the team won their final two games of the regular season and claimed the fourth playoff spot. 

When the playoffs began March 25, Pottsville defeated Williamsport in three games and then dispatched Harrisburg in three games to claim the Eastern League's President's Trophy.

Meanwhile, Tommy Bell's illness turned out to be lymphoma, and he would die in December of 1949 at the young age of 27. The league would name the annual MVP Award after Bell.

Head Coaches:

• Obie O'Brien (January 5, 1909 - August 20, 1978) 2-4
• Red Dehnert (January 24, 1924 - September 23, 1994) 6-5  Also played. See below.
• Tommy Bell (September 11, 1922 - December 17, 1949) 6-5 Also played. See below.
• Felix Kadel (May 30, 1912 - December 7, 2003) 2-0

PLAYERS:

Tommy Bell (September 11, 1922 - December 17, 1949)

Fred Bernhart (September 14, 1923 - June 1, 2011)

Alfy Burch (November 2, 1928 - September 1, 2000)

Neal Conway (November 24, 1924 - February 15, 1997)

Red Dehnert (January 24, 1924 - September 23, 1994)

Joe Dougherty 

Jack Flannery (December 7, 1925 - January 22, 2007)

Dave Fox  (May 24, 1926 - May 9, 1984)

Walt Geoghan (March 28, 1925 - Mar 22, 1997)

Pop Goodwin (December 22, 1920 - May 16, 2005)

John Gozdenovich (March 8, 1924 - July 7, 1997)

Oscar Grossman (June 26, 1923 - September 22, 1993)

Jack Harvey (March 10, 1928 - August 30, 2006)

Bill Henry (May 23, 1924 - April 24, 1999)

Jack Kane (June 18, 1928 - October 12, 1987)

Jack McCloskey (September 19, 1925 - June 1, 2017)

Bill McClure (December 21, 1927 - September 7, 2001)

Moon Mullen 

John Murphy (September 13, 1924 - January 29, 2003)

Tom O'Connell (November 10, 1923 - February 5, 2011)

Eddie O'Hallloran (January 4, 1926 - October 11, 2014)

Johnny Phoenix (April 2, 1924 - August 31, 1988)

George Prendergast (December 8, 1922 - July 1, 2009)

Bob Walters (November 15, 1926 - March 21, 1991)

1948-49 Lancaster Red Roses (EPBL)

1948-49 LANCASTER RED ROSES

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
11-18 .379, 6th place

Lancaster started the 1948-49 season in trouble. Even though the team started decently with 2 wins in five games, the financial issues surrounding the club flared up, forcing the league to temporarily suspend the club's actions until they could square things away with the home court, payroll and travel. In early January, owner Roxy Wise replaced Matt Guokas with George Eshelman and the business showed other signs of improvement. The team's suspension was "lifted" and they re-entered league play on January 9. With a new coach and some new personnel (Bells Colone and Johnny Emich), over the few weeks they would continue to add other players to try to bolster their fortunes. They never really put it together, and by season's end they were forced to forfeit their last two games and finished in 6th place, well out of the playoff picture.  Bill Zubic stuck with the team from beginning to end, averaging 22.2 PPG.

 

Head Coaches:

• Matt Guokas (November 11, 1915 - December 9, 1993) 2-3
  
• George Eshelman (April 15, 1913 - June 14, 1989) 9-15

PLAYERS:

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

Red Dehnert (January 24, 1924 - September 23, 1994)

Jim DiGiacomo (b. December 19, 1928)

George Ehemann (September 11, 1918 - July 10, 1991)

Johnnie Emich (January 21, 1918 - May 20, 2001)

Dick Fitzgerald (November 18, 1920 - April 13, 1968)

Dave Fox  (May 24, 1926 - May 9, 1984)

Marshall Gemberling (August 6, 1924 - September 10, 2004)

Art Hillhouse (June 12, 1916 - October 27, 1980)

Bill Hoover (September 27, 1920 - October 17, 1999)

Steve Juenger (February 10, 1915 - November 18, 2003)

Jerry Kelly (June 14, 1918 - July 23, 1996)

Bud Long (February 10, 1924 - January 9, 2009)

Bink Manning (August 29, 1920 - April 7, 1986)

Don Markward (April 2, 1919 - June 14, 1985)

Ed Masterson (January 24, 1923 - May 21, 1991)

Jack McCloskey (September 19, 1925 - June 1, 2017)

Stan Novak (April 10, 1923 - October 21, 2006)

Tom O'Connell (November 10, 1923 - February 5, 2011)

Joe Proksa (June 30, 1914 - October 25, 1999)

Fred Sheffield (November 5, 1923 - December 8, 2009)

George Shoemaker (December 21, 1927 - October 16, 2000)

Mac Simpson (February 28, 1927 - May 17, 2013)

Sammy Van Hook (June 29, 1916 - April 5, 1997)

Bill Zubic (August 7, 1918 - July 24, 1994)

1948-49 Harrisburg Senators (EPBL)

1948-49 HARRISBURG SENATORS

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
18-12, .600, T-1st place

Tie-breaker: Lost to Reading, 68-66

Semi-Finals: Defeated Reading, 2-1

Finals: Lost to Pottsville, 2-1

Hoping to improve on last year's disappointment, Joe Cackovic, star player of the team, took the coaching job at the start of the season, but after 8 games was relieved of his duty so he concentrate on scoring (he would average a team-best 15.0 ppg). After a mediocre 8-8 start, they would go 10-4 the rest of the way to tie for first at the end of the season. They would lose to Reading, 68-66, in a short playoff to determine regular season winner. They would force the same Reading club in the playoffs, beating them in three games to advance to the finals. After splitting the first two with Pottsville, Harrisburg would lose, 88-69, in the rubber game to fall short of the Eastern League championship.

Joe Cackovic

Head Coaches:

• Joe Cackovic (February 21, 1923 - December 16, 1984) 4-4 Also played. See below
• Steve "Pie" Eckhart (December 26, 1912 - September 12, 2002) 2-1
• Russ Tuckey (March 24, 1904 - April 1986) 12-7 

PLAYERS:

Joe Cackovic (February 21, 1923 - December 16, 1984)

Jim Coughlin (August 18, 1919 - March 27, 1969)

Dick DeWees (March 18, 1929 - July 19, 1986)

Jackie Goepfert (May 24, 1932 - May 1, 2002)

Stretch Hall (June 23, 1926 - December 10, 1989)

Jimmy Hernjak (June 10, 1927 - December 27, 1980)

Johnny Hopper (January 9, 1923 - June 12, 1996)

Dave McWhite (November 6, 1919 - December 8, 1997)

Danny Sandler (b. March 21, 1927)

Jeb Stewart (November 15, 1924 - January 10, 1993)

Vince Smith (August 20, 1922 - January 17, 2019)

Mike Yovic (July 23, 1923 - July 19, 2001)

Johnny Hopper

Danny Sandler

Dave McWhite

Jeb Stewart