Epigraph: “Dr. Naismith, Who Started Basketball in 1891, Dies,” Philadelphia Inquirer, November 29, 1939, 30.
1. Thomas J. Deegan, “The Golden Jubilee of Basketball: The Naismith Memorial and Basketball’s Hall of Fame,” The Official Basketball Guide 1941–1942 (National Basketball Committee, 1941), 6.
2. Deegan, “Golden Jubilee of Basketball.”
3. Deegan, “Golden Jubilee of Basketball.”
4. 1942 World Professional Basketball Tournament program. In the possession of the author.
5. James Naismith, Basketball: Its Origin and Development (New York NY: Association Press, 1941), 33.
6. J. Naismith, Basketball, 33.
7. J. Naismith, Basketball, 33.
8. J. Naismith, “Origin of Basket Ball” (presented at Forum, January 5, 1932), Springfield College.
9. J. Naismith, Basketball, 35.
10. J. Naismith, Basketball, 36.
11. J. Naismith, Basketball, 36.
12. J. Naismith, “Origin of Basket Ball.”
13. Stuart Naismith with Douglas Stark, “Papa Jimmy: The Grandson of James Naismith Remembers the Game’s Inventor as a Delightful and Sweet Man Who Loved to Laugh and Have Fun,” Hall of Fame Tip-Off Program (Basketball Hall of Fame) November 22, 2000, 45.
14. J. Naismith, Basketball, 21.
15. J. Naismith, Basketball, 23.
16. S. Naismith and Stark, “Papa Jimmy,” 45.
17. J. Naismith, Basketball, 23.
18. School for Christian Workers, Springfield, Mass.: Catalogs and Printed Materials, 1885–1890. Springfield College.
19. School for Christian Workers, Springfield, Mass.: Catalogs and Printed Materials, 1885–1890.
20. “Physical Education in the Young Men’s Christian Association,” Luther Gulick Papers, col. 14, box 5, folder 2, Springfield College, Springfield MA.
21. J. Naismith, Basketball, 38.
22. James Naismith, “Basketball—A Game the World Plays,” Rotarian, January 1939.
23. J. Naismith, Basketball, 39.
24. J. Naismith, Basketball, 39.
25. J. Naismith, Basketball, 39.
26. J. Naismith, Basketball, 40.
27. J. Naismith, Basketball, 41.
28. J. Naismith, Basketball, 43.
29. J. Naismith, Basketball, 33.
30. J. Naismith, Basketball, 44.
31. J. Naismith, Basketball, 46.
32. J. Naismith, Basketball, 47.
33. J. Naismith, “Origin of Basket Ball.”
34. J. Naismith, Basketball, 52–53.
35. J. Naismith, Basketball, 56.
36. J. Naismith, Basketball, 56.
37. Ernest Hildner interview, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Springfield MA, hereafter cited as Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
38. “Last of First Basketballers: Rap Freeze, Audiences, Amount of Whistle Tooting,” Philadelphia Inquirer, December 26, n.d.
39. J. Naismith, “Basketball—A Game the World Plays.”
40. “Basket Football Game,” Springfield Republican, March 12, 1892, 6.
41. “Basket Football Game.”
42. “A New Game of Ball,” New York Times, April 26, 1892, 2.
43. “New Game of Ball.”
44. John Devaney, The Story of Basketball (New York: Random House, 1976), 15.
45. Robert Peterson, Cages to Jump Shots: Pro Basketball’s Early Years (New York: Oxford University Press, 1990), 84.
46. “Dr. J. A. Naismith Is Dead in Kansas,” New York Times, November 28, 1939, 25.
47. S. Naismith and Stark, “Papa Jimmy,” 46.
48. “Dr. J. A. Naismith Is Dead in Kansas.”
49. “Dr. J. A. Naismith Is Dead in Kansas.”
50. “Dr. Naismith, Who Started Basketball in 1891, Dies,” Philadelphia Inquirer, November 29, 1939, 30.
51. Rob Rains with Helen Carpenter, James Naismith: The Man Who Invented Basketball (Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 2009), 88.
52. S. Naismith and Stark, “Papa Jimmy,” 46.
53. Milton S. Katz, Breaking Through: John B. McLendon, Basketball Legend and Civil Rights Pioneer (Fayetteville: University of Arkansas Press, 2007), 12.
Epigraph: 1942 World Professional Basketball Tournament program, in the possession of the author.
1. Ralph Kaplowitz, interview by the author, Queens NY, December 2007.
2. Kaplowitz interview.
3. Kaplowitz interview.
4. Kaplowitz interview.
5. Kaplowitz interview.
6. Kaplowitz interview.
7. James M. Gould, “Bears Open Basket Season with McKendree Tonight,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 8, 1941, 2B.
8. “LIU Five to Play Lawrence Tech,” New York Daily News, December 8, 1941, 55.
9. Todd Gould, Pioneers of the Hardwood: Indiana and the Birth of Professional Basketball (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1998), 102–3.
10. Gould, Pioneers of the Hardwood, 103.
11. Gould, Pioneers of the Hardwood, 104.
12. Gould, Pioneers of the Hardwood, 104.
13. Robert Peterson, Cages to Jump Shots: Pro Basketball’s Early Years (New York: Oxford University Press, 1990), 111.
14. Gus Alfieri, Lapchick: The Life of a Legendary Player and Coach in the Glory Days of Basketball (Guilford CT: Lyons Press, 2006), 55.
15. “NYU Meets Notre Dame Five in Feature of College Double Bill at Garden Tonight,” New York Times, December 29, 1934, 18.
16. Everett B. Morris, “NYU and St. John’s Quintets Meet Out-of-Town Foes Tonight,” New York Herald Tribune, December 29, 1934, 19.
17. Jimmy Powers, “Notre Dame Bait as Cagers Hit Big Time,” New York Daily News, December 29, 1934, 28.
18. Stanley Frank, “NYU, Redmen Favored to Pin Back Visiting Quintets’ Ears,” New York Post, December 29, 1934, 17.
19. “NYU Meets Notre Dame Five.”
20. Arthur Daley, “NYU Five Downs Notre Dame, 25–18, as 16,000 Look On,” New York Times, December 30, 1934, Sports 1.
21. Daley, “NYU Five Downs Notre Dame.”
22. Daley, “NYU Five Downs Notre Dame.”
23. Everett B. Morris, “16,000 Watch NYU Beat Notre Dame Five, 25 to 18,” New York Herald Tribune, December 30, 1934, sec. 3, p. 1.
24. Fred Wittner, “Basketball Blossoms Out,” Sports Illustrated and The American Golfer, March 1936, 28.
25. Wittner, “Basketball Blossoms Out,” 29.
26. Jim Savage, The Encyclopedia of the NCAA Tournament: The Complete Independent Guide to College Basketball’s Championship Event (New York: Dell, 1990), 4.
27. Al Corona, “Luisetti: Versatile, Graceful, Unselfish,” San Francisco Examiner November 9, 1979, 70.
28. Robert Stowe, “A Star in Basketball and in Business: Luisetti Elected to All-Time College Basketball Team,” Hillsborough & Burlingame—Boutique & Villager, December 19, 1984, in Hank Luisetti clipping file. Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
29. Moe Goldman, interview with Robert Peterson, May 3, 1987, Robert Peterson Collection, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
30. Anne Byrne Hoffman, Echoes from the Schoolyard: Informal Portraits of NBA Greats (New York: Hawthorn, 1977), 9–10.
31. Billy Packer with Roland Lazenby, Fifty Years of the Final Four (Dallas: Taylor, 1987), 28.
32. Stowe, “Star in Basketball and in Business.”
33. Jon Entine, Taboo: Why Black Athletes Dominate Sports and Why We’re Afraid to Talk about It (Westport CT: Greenwood, 1994), 200.
34. Jerry Fleishman, telephone interview by the author, September 2006.
35. Sam “Leaden” Bernstein, interview by the author, Philadelphia, summer 2006.
36. Entine, Taboo, 200.
37. Ossie Schectman, telephone interview by the author, January 2007.
38. Steve Cohen, “They Took Their Shots: Gil Fitch, a Member of Philadelphia’s All-Jewish Basketball Team in the 1930s, Reflects on Violence in Sports,” Naked City, Philadelphia Citypaper, December 30, 2004–January 5, 2005, available at www.citypaper.net/articles/2004–12–30/naked.shtml.
39. Cohen, “They Took Their Shots.”
40. Marty Levin, “Blue Bombers Trounce SPHAS, 40–24, on Armory Court,” Wilmington (DE) Morning News, December 4, 1941, 22.
41. “Blue Bombers Defeat SPHAS, 48–36, to Take Second Place in Loop,” Wilmington (DE) Morning News, December 15, 1941, 20.
42. “Blue Bombers Defeat SPHAS, 48–36.”
43. Bernie Fliegel, telephone interview by the author, May 2007.
44. Official program, Wilmington Blue Bombers, 1942–1943, in the possession of the author.
45. Fliegel interview.
46. Fliegel interview.
47. Official program, Wilmington Blue Bombers, March 22, 1942, in the possession of the author.
48. Official program, Wilmington Blue Bombers, 1944–45, in the possession of the author.
49. 1942 World Professional Basketball Tournament program.
50. 1942 World Professional Basketball Tournament program.
51. 1943 World Professional Basketball Tournament program, in the possession of the author.
52. Rodger Nelson, The Zollner Pistons Story (Fort Wayne IN: Allen County Public Library Foundation, 1995), 136.
53. Gould, Pioneers of the Hardwood, 105.
54. Murry R. Nelson. The National Basketball League: A History, 1935–1949 (Jefferson NC: McFarland, 2009), 95.
55. Gould, Pioneers of the Hardwood, 107.
56. Gould, Pioneers of the Hardwood, 108.
57. Gould, Pioneers of the Hardwood, 108.
58. Gould, Pioneers of the Hardwood, 108.
59. Peterson, Cages to Jump Shots, 132–33.
60. Peterson, Cages to Jump Shots, 133–34.
61. “Playoff Finals Slated for Tonight, Thursday,” Oshkosh Daily Northwestern, March 4, 1942, 14.
62. “Stars Lose Opener, Must Win at Home Tonight, or Else,” Oshkosh Daily Northwestern, March 5, 1942, 19.
63. Leo Fischer, “Fort Wayne, Toledo Quints in Title Tourney,” Chicago Herald American, February 13, 1942, 22.
64. Jerry Rullo, interview by the author, Philadelphia, July 2007.
65. Gould, Pioneers of the Hardwood, 109.
66. Gould, Pioneers of the Hardwood, 110.
67. Gould, Pioneers of the Hardwood, 111.
68. “All-Stars, Zollners Play for Title Tonight,” Oshkosh Daily Northwestern, March 6, 1942, 12.
69. Leo Fischer, “Oshkosh Enters World’s Title Cage Tourney,” Chicago Herald American, February 20, 1942, 17.
70. Gould, Pioneers of the Hardwood, 112.
71. John Schleppi, Chicago’s Showcase of Basketball: The World Tournament of Professional Basketball and the College All-Star Game (Haworth NJ: St. Johann Press, 2008), 5.
72. Ben Green, Spinning the Globe: The Rise, Fall, and Return to Greatness of the Harlem Globetrotters (New York: HarperCollins, 2005), 107.
74. 1942 World Professional Basketball Tournament program.
75. “Great Teams Bid for Pro Berths,” Chicago Herald American, February 8, 1942, pt. 2, p. 4.
76. 1942 World Professional Basketball Tournament program.
77. Leo Fischer, “Greatest Cage Stars to Play in Title Meet,” Chicago Herald American, February 22, 1942, pt. 2, p. 5.
78. Leo Fischer, “Flyers in Cage Classic,” Chicago Herald American, February 15, 1942, pt. 2, p. 4.
79. Fay Young, “Globe Trotters Advance in World Pro Tourney,” Chicago Defender, March 14, 1942, 21.
80. Pop Gates interview, Robert Peterson Collection, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
81. 1942 World Professional Basketball Tournament program.
82. Leo Fischer, “Sixteen Teams Eye World’s Cage Laurels,” Chicago Herald American, March 2, 1942, 18.
83. 1942 World Professional Basketball Tournament program.
84. Leo Fischer, “World’s Cage Meet Opens,” Chicago Herald American, March 7, 1942, pt. 2, p. 14.
85. Peterson, Cages to Jump Shots, 113.
86. Peterson, Cages to Jump Shots, 113.
87. Leo Fischer, “Deluxe Setting for Cage Classic, Chicago Herald American, February 17, 1942, 15.
88. Leo Fischer, “Cage Teams Head Here for World Title Meet,” Chicago Herald American, March 6, 1942, 21.
89. Fischer, “Cage Teams Head Here,” 21–22.
90. Fischer, “Cage Teams Head Here,” 22.
91. Leo Fischer, “Sixteen Teams Eye World’s Cage Laurels,” Chicago Herald American, March 2, 1942, 17.
92. Fischer, “Sixteen Teams Eye World’s Cage Laurels,” 17.
93. Fischer, “Sixteen Teams Eye World’s Cage Laurels,” 17–18.
94. Fischer, “Sixteen Teams Eye World’s Cage Laurels,” 18.
95. Fischer, “Sixteen Teams Eye World’s Cage Laurels,” 18.
96. “Sheboygan Enters World Pro Cage Tourney,” Chicago Herald American, February 14, 1942, 14.
97. Fischer, “Sixteen Teams Eye World’s Cage Laurels,” 17.
98. Leo Fischer, “Rens Test Oshkosh Tonight,” Chicago Herald American, March 9, 1942, 17.
99. “Stars Meet Rens in Pro Cage Contest Tonight,” Oshkosh Daily Northwestern, March 9, 1942, 12.
100. Harry Wilson, “Oshkosh Victory Cage Stunner,” Chicago Herald American, March 10, 1942, 14.
101. Wilson, “Oshkosh Victory Cage Stunner,” 14.
102. Leo Fischer, “Tonight! Oshkosh vs. Detroit for Title,” Chicago Herald American, March 11, 1942, 25.
103. Fischer, “Tonight! Oshkosh vs. Detroit for Title.”
104. Harry Wilson, “Oshkosh Spirit Key to Victory,” Chicago Herald American, March 12, 1942, 16.
105. “World’s Pro Cage Title Won by Stars in Chicago Tourney,” Oshkosh Daily Northwestern, March 12, 1942, 19.
106. 1942 World Professional Basketball Tournament program.
107. Harry Wilson, “1942 World’s Championship Basketball Tournament,” Converse Basketball Year Book 1941–1942, 21st annual ed. (Malden MA: Converse Rubber Company, 1942), 33.
Epigraph: Robert Peterson, Cages to Jump Shots: Pro Basketball’s Early Years. (New York: Oxford University Press, 1990), 130.
1. Todd Gould, Pioneers of the Hardwood: Indiana and the Birth of Professional Basketball. (Bloomington IN: Indiana University Press, 1998), 104.
2. Gould, Pioneers of the Hardwood, 116.
3. Bill Himmelman, interview by the author, Norwood NJ, August 2007.
4. Bill Reynolds, Rise of a Dynasty: The ’57 Celtics, the First Banner, and the Dawning of a New America (New York: New American Library, 2010), 129–30.
5. Gerry Finn, “Bucky Lew First Negro in Pro Basketball,” Springfield Union, April 2, 1958, 27.
6. Kay Lazar, “The Fight for Bucky Lew’s Name: Lowell Native Broke Pro Basketball Color Barrier, but He’s Not Recognized,” Lowell Sun, Summer 1997, 7.
7. Lazar, “Fight for Bucky Lew’s Name.”
8. Lazar, “Fight for Bucky Lew’s Name.”
9. Lazar, “Fight for Bucky Lew’s Name.”
10. Finn, “Bucky Lew First Negro in Pro Basketball.”
11. Lazar, “Fight for Bucky Lew’s Name.”
12. Caroline Louise Cole, “Recalling How Black Star Broke Barriers in 1902,” Boston Globe, NorthWest Weekly, February 16, 1997, 6.
13. Cole, “Recalling How Black Star Broke Barriers.”
14. Cole, “Recalling How Black Star Broke Barriers.”
15. Cole, “Recalling How Black Star Broke Barriers.”
16. Cole, “Recalling How Black Star Broke Barriers.”
17. Lazar, “Fight for Bucky Lew’s Name.”
18. Cole, “Recalling How Black Star Broke Barriers.”
19. Tatsha Robertson, “Echoes of the Underground Railroad,” Boston Globe, February 22, 1999, A12.
20. Robertson, “Echoes of the Underground Railroad.”
21. Robertson, “Echoes of the Underground Railroad.”
22. Douglas Stark, “Paving the Way: The National Basketball League,” Basketball Digest, February 2001, 75.
23. Michael Funke, “The Chicago Studebakers: How the UAW Helped Integrate Pro Basketball and Reunite Four Players Who Made History,” n.d., Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
24. David S. Neft, Roland T. Johnson, Richard M. Cohen, and Jordan A. Deutsch, eds. The Sports Encyclopedia: Pro Basketball. (New York: Grosset and Dunlap, 1975), 36.
25. 1943 World Professional Basketball Tournament program, in the possession of the author.
26. “Invaders to Give Team Real Fight,” Sheboygan Press, November 24, 1942, 12.
27. “Redskins Open League Season Tonight: New Team Has Lots of Class,” Sheboygan Press, November 25, 1942, 18.
28. “Redskins Drub Chicago, 53 to 45,” Sheboygan Press, November 27, 1942, 10.
29. “Oshkosh Wins over Chicago by One Point,” Sheboygan Press, November 30, 1942, 12; “Stars Gain League Victory in Closing Minutes,” Oshkosh Daily Northwestern, November 30, 1942, 13.
30. Peterson, Cages to Jump Shots, 131.
31. Funke, “Chicago Studebakers.”
32. “Chicago Studebakers Oppose Pistons in Opening Contest,” Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, December 1, 1942, 11.
33. “Chicago Studebakers Oppose Pistons.”
34. “Chicago Studebakers Oppose Pistons.”
35. Ben Tenny, “Pistons, Beaten in Home Opener, Go on Road Trip,” Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, December 2, 1942, 22.
36. Gould, Pioneers of the Hardwood, 117.
37. Funke, “Chicago Studebakers.”
38. Funke, “Chicago Studebakers.”
39. Peterson, Cages to Jump Shots, 131.
40. Peterson, Cages to Jump Shots, 131.
41. Funke, “Chicago Studebakers.”
42. Peterson, Cages to Jump Shots, 129.
43. “Zollner Piston-Toledo Clash Is Postponed until Wednesday,” Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, December 8, 1942, 21.
44. “Studebaker Pro Quintet to Face Toledo Tonight,” Chicago Tribune, December 11, 1942, 34.
45. “Redskins Face Heavy Basketball Week-End,” Sheboygan Press, December 10, 1942, 27; “Redskins Drub Rens, 65–47,” Sheboygan Press, December 12, 1942, 10.
46. “Gerber, Chuckovitz to Be Here with Toledo,” Oshkosh Daily Northwestern, December 11, 1942, 15.
47. “Gerber, Chuckovitz to Be Here.”
48. Stark, “Paving the Way,” 76.
49. “Studebakers Turn Toledo Back, 42–30,” Chicago Defender, December 19, 1942, 21.
50. Murry R. Nelson, The National Basketball League: A History, 1935–1949. (Jefferson NC: MacFarland, 2009), 117.
51. “Studebakers Turn Toledo Back.”
52. Peterson, Cages to Jump Shots, 130.
53. “Redskins Drub Rens.”
54. Peterson, Cages to Jump Shots, 130.
55. Sid Goldberg interview, Robert Peterson Collection, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
56. Goldberg interview.
57. “Toledo Out of Pro Loop,” Toledo Blade. December 23, 1942, 19.
58. “Toledo Leaves League,” Sheboygan Press, December 23, 1942, 12.
59. “Toledo Five 70–51 Victim of Zollners,” Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, December 10, 1942, 32.
60. Stark, “Paving the Way,” 77.
61. “National League Suspends Toledo Franchise,” Oshkosh Daily Northwestern, December 22, 1942, 17.
62. “Redskins Beat Fort Wayne 55 to 50,” Sheboygan Press, March 2, 1943, 8.
63. “Redskins Win Championship,” Sheboygan Press, March 10, 1943, 7.
64. Gould, Pioneers of the Hardwood, 119.
65. “Redskins to Be Honored at Banquet Here on Thursday,” Sheboygan Press, March 12, 1943, 11.
66. Minutes of Meeting, December 4, 1942, ABL Collection, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
67. Minutes of Meeting, December 4, 1942.
68. Minutes of Meeting, December 4, 1942.
69. Minutes of Meeting, December 4, 1942.
70. Minutes of Meeting, December 4, 1942.
71. Minutes of Meeting, December 4, 1942.
72. Minutes of Meeting, December 4, 1942.
73. William J. Scheffer, “Trenton Beats SPHAS, 36 to 27,” Philadelphia Inquirer, March 7, 1943, S3.
74. William J. Scheffer, “SPHAS Triumph to Take Crown,” Philadelphia Inquirer, April 4, 1943: S1.
75. Scheffer, “SPHAS Triumph to Take Crown.”
76. Scheffer, “SPHAS Triumph to Take Crown.”
77. Jimmy Corcoran, “Cork Tips: Greatest Basketball Treat of Season on Tap for Next Week, Irony Present in Case of St. Patrick’s Day Final without Celts,” Chicago Herald American, March 7, 1943, pt. 2, p. 2.
78. Leo Fischer, “Sidelines,” Chicago Herald American, February 24, 1943, 21.
79. 1943 World Professional Basketball Tournament program.
80. Pop Gates interview, Robert Peterson Collection, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
81. James Enright, “Basketball’s Best: ’39 Cage Champs Back, but As Bears,’” Chicago Herald American, March 10, 1943, 24.
82. Leo Fischer, “World Champs in Title Cage Tourney,” Chicago Herald American, February 18, 1943, 19.
83. Leo Fischer, “Army ‘Jive Squad’ Cage Feature,” Chicago Herald American, March 9, 1943, 18.
84. James Enright, “Firing Starts for Cage Title,” Chicago Herald American, March 14, 1943, pt. 2, p. 3.
85. Leo Fischer, “Trotters, Dayton Top Cage Tonight,” Chicago Herald American, March 15, 1943, 19.
86. Fischer, “Trotters, Dayton Top Cage Tonight,” 21.
87. “Studebakers Out of Pro Cage Meet,” Chicago Defender, March 20, 1943, 21.
88. Fischer, “Trotters, Dayton Top Cage Tonight,” 21.
89. “Bears Pro Basketball Champions,” Call, March 26, 1943, 10.
90. “Bears Pro Basketball Champions.”
91. 1943 World Professional Basketball Tournament program.
Epigraph: Lieutenant Commander Frank H. Wickhorst, “Basketball, a Naval Training Device,” The Official Basketball Guide 1941–1942 (New York: A. S. Barnes, 1941), 17.
1. Bill Himmelman, interview by the author, Norwood NJ, August 2007.
2. “Special Services Division” handbook, February 15, 1944, RG 160, Records of Headquarters Special Services Division General Records, 1941–45; RG 353.8, Research File—Sports (box number not recorded), National Archives and Records Administration II, College Park MD.
3. “Great Lakes, a Commanding Force in the Athletic World,” Chicago Stadium Review, 1942–43, 3, in the possession of the author.
4. “Great Lakes, a Commanding Force in the Athletic World,” 3.
5. “Great Lakes, a Commanding Force in the Athletic World,” 21.
6. Lieutenant Commander J. Russell Cook, “Basketball at Great Lakes,” Converse Basketball Year Book 1941–1942, 21st annual ed. (Malden MA: Converse Rubber Company, 1942), 27.
7. “Rival Coaches Bring Great Cage Records,” Chicago Stadium Review, 1942–1943, 16, in the possession of the author.
8. “Rival Coaches Bring Great Cage Records.”
9. Cook, “Basketball at Great Lakes.”
10. Cook, “Basketball at Great Lakes.”
11. “1,000 Teams to Play in Basketball Program Here,” Great Lakes Bulletin (United States Naval Training Station, Great Lakes IL) 17, no. 46 (November 13, 1942): 7.
12. “1,000 Teams to Play.”
13. Cook, “Basketball At Great Lakes.”
14. Lieutenant Joseph G. Daher, “Wartime Conditioning through Basketball,” Converse Basketball Year Book 1943–1944, 23rd annual ed. (Malden MA: Converse Rubber Company, 1944), 10.
15. “Great Lakes Five Spanks Northwest’n, 47–38,” Great Lakes Bulletin (United States Naval Training Station, Great Lakes IL) 17, no. 3 (January 17, 1942): 3.
16. “Great Lakes Five Spanks Northwest’n, 47–38.”
17. “Incidentally . . . ,” Great Lakes Bulletin (United States Naval Training Station, Great Lakes IL) 17, no. 12 (March 21, 1942): 3.
18. “Station’s Sport Stars Carry On 1918 Tradition,” Great Lakes Bulletin (United States Naval Training Station, Great Lakes IL) 17, no. 52 (December 25, 1942): 7.
19. Seymour Smith, Jack Rimer, and Dick Triptow, A Tribute to Armed Forces Basketball 1941–1969 (Lake Bluff IL: self-published, 2003), 126.
20. “Midwest’s Top College Quintets to Perform Here,” Great Lakes Bulletin (United States Naval Training Station, Great Lakes IL) 17, no. 45 (November 6, 1942): 7.
21. “Midwest’s Top College Quintets.”
22. “Midwest’s Top College Quintets.”
23. “Short Shots,” Chicago Stadium Review, January 17, 1943, 28, in the possession of the author.
24. “Short Shots.”
25. “Great Lakes Wins Third Straight Championship,” Great Lakes Bulletin, March 10, 1944, 7.
26. Bruce Jenkins, A Good Man: The Pete Newell Story (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1999), 22.
27. Jenkins, Good Man, 23.
28. Jenkins, Good Man, 24.
29. Ned Irish, “Basketball’s Third War Season,” National Basketball Committee Official Basketball Guide 1944–45 (New York: A .S. Barnes, 1945), 15.
30. Converse Basketball Year Book 1943–1944, 21.
31. Converse Basketball Year Book 1943–1944, 25.
32. Randy Roberts, A Team for America: The Army-Navy Game That Rallied a Nation at War (Boston: Mariner Books, 2012), 61–62.
33. Wickhorst, “Basketball, a Navy Training Device,” 20.
34. Roberts, Team for America, 87–88.
35. Al Del Greco, “For the Record: Ben’s Impossible Dream,” Ben Carnevale Hall of Famer File, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
36. Del Greco, “For the Record.”
37. Jerry Radding, “Two Elected to Cage Hall of Fame,” Springfield (MA) Republican, January 25, 1970, 57.
38. Bernie Fliegel, telephone interview by the author, May 2007.
39. Ken Shouler, Bob Ryan, Sam Smith, Leonard Koppett, and Bob Bellotti, Total Basketball: The Ultimate Basketball Encyclopedia (Wilmington DE: Sport Classic Press, 2003), 672.
40. Vadal Peterson, “Skyline Basketball,” National Basketball Committee Official Basketball Guide 1944–45 (New York: A. S. Barnes, 1945), 16.
41. Peterson, “Skyline Basketball,” 16.
42. Louis Effrat, “Kentucky and Oklahoma Aggies Triumph in Invitation Tourney before 16,273,” New York Times, March 21, 1944, 22.
43. Louis Effrat, “Utah Upsets Dartmouth in Extra Period to Take N.C.A.A. Basketball Title,” New York Times, March 19, 1944, 16.
44. Effrat, “Utah Upsets Dartmouth.”
45. Effrat, “Utah Upsets Dartmouth.”
46. George L. Sheibler, “Utah Comes Thru in Red Cross Classic,” National Basketball Committee Official Basketball Guide 1944–45 (New York: A. S. Barnes, 1945), 28.
47. Sheibler, “Utah Comes Thru.”
48. Douglas Stark, “Wat Misaka: An Asian Basketball Pioneer,” Basketball Digest, February 2002, 51–52.
49. Stark, “Wat Misaka,” 51–52.
50. Stark, “Wat Misaka,” 51–52.
51. Leo Fischer, “Jeannette in 4th World Cage Meet,” Chicago Herald American, March 7, 1944, 14.
52. Robert Peterson, Cages to Jump Shots: Pro Basketball’s Early Years. (New York: Oxford University Press, 1990), 128.
53. Peterson, Cages to Jump Shots, 134.
54. Peterson, Cages to Jump Shots, 136.
55. Rodger Nelson, The Zollner Pistons Story. (Nappanee IN: Evangel Press, 1996), 128.
56. “Zollner Pistons’ Home, League Road Schedules Are Completed,” Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, October 27, 1943, 19.
57. Robert Peterson, Cages to Jump Shots, 141.
58. Todd Gould, Pioneers of the Hardwood: Indiana and the Birth of Professional Basketball. (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1998), 110–11.
59. Gould, Pioneers of the Hardwood, 111.
60. Jerry Fleishman, telephone interview by the author, September 2006.
61. Shikey Gotthoffer, interview by Robert Peterson, May 1987, Robert Peterson Collection, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
62. Sam “Leaden” Bernstein, interview by the author, Philadelphia, summer 2006.
63. Gotthoffer interview.
64. “Wilmington Passers Meet SPHAS Tonight on Latter’s Court,” Wilmington (DE) Morning News, February 19, 1944, 9.
65. Ossie Schectman, telephone interview by the author, January 2007.
66. John J. Brady, “SPHAS Beat Bombers, 42–35—Keglers Tie for Top Prize,” Wilmington (DE) Morning News, March 6, 1944, 12.
67. Brady, “SPHAS Beat Bombers, 42–35.”
68. “Bob Dorn Signed by Bombers—Savold Beats Baski,” Wilmington (DE) Morning News, March 11, 1944: 12.
69. “Bombers Add Fitzgerald—Wilmington Park Mud Doomed,” Wilmington (DE) Morning News, March 18, 1944, 12.
70. John J. Brady, “Bombers Win 1933–44 American Basketball League Title,” Wilmington (DE) Morning News, March 29, 1944, 12.
71. Official Program. Wilmington Blue Bombers, 1944–45, in the possession of the author.
72. Harry D. Wilson, “1944 World’s Championship Tournament,” Converse Basketball Year Book 1943–1944, 23rd annual edition (Malden MA: Converse Rubber Company, 1944), 45.
73. Harry Wilson, “World Cage Briefs: Picks Rens for Title,” Chicago Herald American, March 11, 1944, 12.
74. Harry Wilson, “Sheboygan in World Cage Meet,” Chicago Herald American, February 23, 1944, 18.
75. Leo Fischer, “Oshkosh 13th Bidder for World Cage Title,” Chicago Herald American, March 3, 1944, 22.
76. Leo Fischer, “Cleveland Five in World Cage Play,” Chicago Herald American, February 28, 1944, 14.
77. “Trotters Take Rens, 37–29, for 3rd Place as Zollners Top Pro Cagers, Chicago Defender, April 1, 1944, 9.
78. Harry Wilson, “World Cage Briefs: Best of the Trotters,” Chicago Herald American, March 8, 1944: 18.
79. “Rens, Zollners, Eagles, Trotters in Cage Race,” Chicago Herald American, March 23, 1944, 18.
80. “Rens, Zollners, Eagles, Trotters.”
81. “Rens, Zollners, Eagles, Trotters.”
82. “Trotters Take Rens, 37–29, for 3rd Place as Zollners Top Pro Cagers,” Chicago Defender, April 1, 1944, 9.
83. “Trotters Take Rens, 37–29.”
84. “Trotters Take Rens, 37–29.”
85. Leo Fischer, “Ex-Champs in Cage Bid,” Chicago Herald American, March 6, 1944, 14.
86. Harry Wilson, “Army Five Bids for World’s Title, Chicago Herald American, February 14, 1944,14.
87. Harry Wilson, “World Cage Briefs: Meehan Courts Magic,” Chicago Herald American, March 14, 1944, 14.
88. Harry Wilson, “World Cage Briefs: Sheriffs; Stars Shine,” Chicago Herald American, March 3, 1944, 23.
89. Jack “Dutch” Garfinkel, telephone interview by the author, October 2006.
90. Alex Zirin, “Chuckovitz Lines Up Strong Quintet,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 8, 1942, C-2.
91. Stan Friedland, Play It Again Sam: The Sam Schoenfeld Story (Xilibris Corporation, 2004), 154.
92. Garfinkel interview.
93. Garfinkel interview.
94. Leo Fischer, “Brooklyn, Dayton, Rens Win Openers,” Chicago Herald American, March 21, 1944, 14.
95. Leo Fischer, “World Cage Meet Brews ‘Civil War,’” Chicago Herald American, March 16, 1944, 18.
96. Fischer, “Brooklyn, Dayton, Rens Win Openers.”
97. Leo Fischer, “Fort Wayne Wins Cage Title, Flays Eagles, 50–33,” Chicago Herald American, March 26, 1944, pt. 2, p. 1.
98. Fischer, “Fort Wayne Wins Cage Title.”
99. Fischer, “Fort Wayne Wins Cage Title.”
100. James Enright, “Zollners Hold Up Name; Perform like Pistons,” Chicago Herald American, March 26, 1944, pt. 2, p. 1.
101. Ben Tenny, “Pistons Rule Professional Basketball Realm for 1944,” Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, March 27, 1944, 9.
102. Gould, Pioneers of the Hardwood, 113.
103. Gould, Pioneers of the Hardwood, 113.
104. Gould, Pioneers of the Hardwood, 114.
105. Gould, Pioneers of the Hardwood, 114.
106. Gould, Pioneers of the Hardwood, 115.
107. Gould, Pioneers of the Hardwood, 114.
108. Gould, Pioneers of the Hardwood, 102.
Epigraph: Ken Shouler, Bob Ryan, Sam Smith, Leonard Koppett, and Bob Bellotti. Total Basketball: The Ultimate Basketball Encyclopedia (Wilmington DE: Sport Classic Press, 2003), 673.
1. William D. Richardson, “Giant Centers Top Court Bill Tonight,” New York Times, March 29, 1945, 27.
2. Michael Schumacher, Mr. Basketball: George Mikan, the Minneapolis Lakers, and the Birth of the NBA (New York NY: Bloomsbury USA, 2007), 31–32.
3. Charles Salzberg, From Set Shot to Slam Dunk: The Glory Days of Basketball in the Words of Those Who Played It (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1987), 9.
4. George L. Mikan and Joseph Oberle, Unstoppable: The Story of George Mikan, the First NBA Superstar (Indianapolis: Masters Press, 1997), 41.
5. Schumacher, Mr. Basketball, 31.
6. Schumacher, Mr. Basketball, 31.
7. Shouler, Ryan, Smith, Koppett, and Bellotti, Total Basketball, 674.
8. Mikan and Oberle, Unstoppable, 44.
9. Schumacher, Mr. Basketball, 32.
10. George Mikan as told to Bill Carlson, Mr. Basketball: George Mikan’s Own Story (New York: Greenberg, 1951), 41–42.
11. Richardson, “Giant Centers Top Court Bill Tonight.”
12. Richardson, “Giant Centers Top Court Bill Tonight.”
13. Mikan and Oberle, Unstoppable, 57.
14. Schumacher, Mr. Basketball, 47.
15. Schumacher, Mr. Basketball, 48.
16. Louis Effrat, “Oklahoma Aggies Top De Paul, 52–44,” New York Times, March 30, 1945, 20.
17. Mikan as told to Carlson, Mr. Basketball, 41–42.
18. Ray Meyer with Ray Sons, Coach (Chicago: Contemporary Books, 1987), 55.
19. Mikan and Oberle, Unstoppable, 59.
20. Robert Peterson, Cages to Jump Shots: Pro Basketball’s Early Years (New York: Oxford University Press, 1990), 149.
21. Richard F. Triptow, The Dynasty That Never Was: Chicago’s First Professional Basketball Champions, the American Gears (Lake Bluff IL: R. F. Triptow, 1996), 1–2.
22. Triptow, Dynasty That Never Was, 160.
23. Triptow, Dynasty That Never Was, 156.
24. “Brevities,” SPHAS Sparks 7, no. 3 (November 11, 1944): 2, in the possession of the author.
25. Todd Gould, Pioneers of the Hardwood: Indiana and the Birth of Professional Basketball (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1998), 124.
26. “Fort Wayne, Cleveland Fives Start Playoff Series,” Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, March 6, 1945, 8.
27. Ben Tenny, “Pistons Shoot, Play Well to Hand Cleveland Quintet 78–50 Trimming,” Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, March 7, 1945, 10.
28. Ben Tenny, “Pistons Enter Final Series against Sheboygan,” Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, March 9, 1945, 11.
29. Ben Tenny, “Sheboygan Five Backs Pistons to Wall,” Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, March 13, 1945, 8.
30. Tenny, “Sheboygan Five Backs Pistons.”
31. Gould, Pioneers of the Hardwood, 125.
32. ABL Minutes October 20, 1944, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame collection.
33. ABL Minutes December 23, 1944, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame collection.
34. Official Program, Wilmington Blue Bombers, 1944–45, in the possession of the author.
35. “SPHAS Beat Bombers, 49–44, in Opener of Court Series,” Wilmington (DE) Morning News, March 19, 1945, 13.
36. William J. Scheffer, “SPHAS Triumph in Playoff Game,” Philadelphia Inquirer, March 18, 1945, 1S.
37. “SPHAS Beat Bombers, 49–44.”
38. Scheffer, “SPHAS Triumph in Playoff Game,” 4S.
39. Jack Gibbons, “Bombers Trounce SPHAS, 48 to 29, to Even Playoff,” Wilmington (DE) Morning News, March 22, 1945, 8.
40. “Wilmington Beats SPHAS; Evens League Playoffs,” Philadelphia Inquirer, March 22, 1945, 23.
41. William J. Scheffer, “SPHAS Victors: Reaches Finals,” Philadelphia Inquirer, April 1, 1945, 2S.
42. Robert Elmer, “Bullets Face SPHAS Tonight,” Baltimore Sun, April 5, 1945, 16.
43. Elmer, “Bullets Face SPHAS Tonight.”
44. “SPHAS Defeat Bullet Five in Playoffs,” Philadelphia Inquirer, April 6, 1945, 25.
45. “SPHAS Defeat Bullet Five in Playoffs.”
46. William J. Scheffer, “Baltimore Beats SPHAS, Tie Series,” Philadelphia Inquirer, April 8, 1945, 2S.
47. “Bullets Nip SPHAS, 47–46,” Baltimore Sun, April 8, 1945, 18.
48. “SPHAS Defeat Bullets, 46–40,” Baltimore Sun, April 15, 1945, 23.
49. William J. Scheffer, “SPHAS Capture 7th Title, 46–40,” Philadelphia Inquirer, April 15, 1945, 2S.
50. Harry Wilson, “Stadium Scene of World Cage,” Chicago Herald American, February 1, 1945, 16.
51. Wilson, “Stadium Scene of World Cage.”
52. Wilson, “Stadium Scene of World Cage.”
53. Harry Wilson, “Ticket Sales under Way for World Cage Meet,” Chicago Herald American, February 5, 1945, 12.
54. Keith Brehm, “Cleveland Second World Cage Entrant,” Chicago Herald American, February 19, 1945, 12.
55. Triptow, Dynasty That Never Was, 228.
56. Keith Brehm, “Dow Chemicals to Bid for World Cage Title,” Chicago Herald American, February 26, 1945, 12.
57. Brehm, “Dow Chemicals to Bid for World Cage Title.”
58. Brehm, “Dow Chemicals to Bid for World Cage Title.”
59. Keith Brehm, “4 Battles Tonight on World Cage Card,” Chicago Herald American, March 21, 1945, 22.
60. “Grumman Five Is Returning to Pro Picture,” Long Island Daily Press, December 1, 1944, 20.
61. Harry Wilson, “Grumman Returned for World Cage Try,” Chicago Herald American, February 27, 1945, 12.
62. Keith Brehm, “Zollners, Gears, Rens, Acmes Advance,” Chicago Herald American, March 22, 1945, 18.
63. Brehm, “Zollners, Gears, Rens, Acmes Advance.”
64. Keith Brehm, “Chicago Gets First World Cage Meet Bid,” Chicago Herald American, February 18, 1945, 21.
65. Brehm, “Chicago Gets First World Cage Meet Bid.”
66. Keith Brehm, “Hartford, Dayton Fill World Cage Field,” Chicago Herald American, March 3, 1945, 14.
67. Keith Brehm, “Gears, Stags, Rens Win in World Cage,” Chicago Herald American, March 20, 1945, 12.
68. Triptow, Dynasty That Never Was, 17.
69. Keith Brehm, “Globe Trotters Bid for World Cage Role,” Chicago Herald American, March 2, 1945, 26.
70. Brehm, “Zollners, Gears, Rens, Acmes Advance.”
71. Brehm, “Zollners, Gears, Rens, Acmes Advance.”
72. Triptow, Dynasty That Never Was, 17.
73. Keith Brehm, “World Cage Semifinals Slated Tonight,” Chicago Herald American, March 23, 1945, 22.
74. Brehm, “World Cage Semifinals Slated Tonight.”
75. Brehm, “World Cage Semifinals Slated Tonight.”
76. Keith Brehm, “Zollners, Acmes Meet for World Title,” Chicago Herald American, March 24, 1945, 18.
77. Brehm, “Zollners, Acmes Meet for World Title.”
78. Harry Wilson, “Famous Rens Third to Enter World Cage,” Chicago Herald American, February 20, 1945, 12.
79. Keith Brehm, “Indianapolis Fives Join for World Cage,” Chicago Herald American, March 1, 1945, 18.
80. Brehm, “Gears, Stags, Rens Win in World Cage.”
81. Keith Brehm, “Newark Five Seeks World Cage Crown,” Chicago Herald American, February 23, 1945, 18.
82. Keith Brehm, “4 Battles Tonight on World Cage Card,” Chicago Herald American, March 21, 1945, 22.
83. Keith Brehm, “Detroit Eagles Earn World Cage Perch,” Chicago Herald American, February 21, 1945: 20.
84. Brehm, “Zollners, Gears, Rens, Acmes Advance.”
85. Brehm, “Zollners, Gears, Rens, Acmes Advance.”
86. Ben Tenny, “Pistons Face Rens Friday in Semi-Finals of Pro Cage Meet,” Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, March 22, 1945, 15.
87. Brehm, “Zollners, Acmes Meet for World Title.”
88. Brehm, “Zollners, Acmes Meet for World Title.”
89. Leo Fischer, “15,119 See Ft. Wayne Keep Pro Title,” Chicago Herald American, March 25, 1945, 25.
90. Ben Tenny, “Pistons Are First Repeaters in World’s Pro Hardwood Tournament,” Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, March 26, 1945, 11.
91. Gould, Pioneers of the Hardwood, 126.
92. John Schleppi, Chicago’s Showcase of Basketball: The World Tournament of Professional Basketball and the College All-Star Game (Haworth NJ: St. Johann Press, 2008), 74.
Epigraph: Red Holzman and Harvey Frommer, Red on Red (New York: Bantam Books, 1987), 16.
1. “122. Radio Address to the American People after the Signing of the Terms of Unconditional Surrender by Japan,” Public Papers of the Presidents Harry S. Truman 1945–1953, Harry S. Truman Library and Museum, Independence MO.
2. 1945–1946 Rochester Royals Program, copy in the possession of the author.
3. Robert Peterson, Cages to Jump Shots: Pro Basketball’s Early Years (New York: Oxford University Press, 1990), 138.
4. 1945–1946 Rochester Royals Program.
5. 1945–1946 Rochester Royals Program.
6. Peterson, Cages to Jump Shots, 138.
7. Murry R. Nelson, The National Basketball League: A History, 1935–1949 (Jefferson NC: McFarland, 2009), 144.
8. 1945–1946 Rochester Royals Program.
9. “A Special Tribute to Al Cervi in Recognition of His Election to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame,” Al Cervi Files, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
10. “Special Tribute to Al Cervi.”
11. Nelson, National Basketball League, 143.
12. “Special Tribute to Al Cervi.”
13. “Special Tribute to Al Cervi.”
14. Nelson, National Basketball League, 147.
15. Holzman and Frommer, Red on Red, 14.
16. Richard F. Triptow, The Dynasty That Never Was: Chicago’s First Professional Basketball Champions, the American Gears (Lake Bluff IL: R. F. Triptow, 1996), 229.
17. Leo Fischer, “Youngstown Sixth Team in World Cage,” Chicago Herald American, March 8, 1946, 26.
18. Triptow, Dynasty That Never Was, 232.
19. Richard Triptow, Dynasty That Never Was, 228.
20. Todd Gould, Pioneers of the Hardwood: Indiana and the Birth of Professional Basketball (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1998), 130.
21. “Harrison Sees Royals in Top Form,” Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, March 6, 1946, 20.
22. 1945–1946 Rochester Royals Program.
23. Leo Fischer, “Sheboygan Tenth World Cage Entry,” Chicago Herald American, March 12, 1946, 14.
24. Triptow, Dynasty That Never Was, 147.
25. Triptow, Dynasty That Never Was, 227.
26. Gould, Pioneers of the Hardwood, 127.
27. Gould, Pioneers of the Hardwood, 128.
28. Elliot Cushing, “Fort Wayne Clips Royals in Opener, 54–44,” Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, March 13, 1946, 20.
29. Ben Tenny, “Can Pistons Take Two-Tilt Series Lead? Learn Answer Tonight?” Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, March 13, 1946, 11.
30. Elliot Cushing, “Royals Whip Zollners to Even Series, 58–52,” Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, March 14, 1946, 22.
31. Cushing, “Royals Whip Zollners to Even Series.”
32. Cushing, “Royals Whip Zollners to Even Series.”
33. Elliott Cushing, “Royals Defeat Ft. Wayne for 2–1 Lead, 58–52,” Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, March 16, 1946, 16.
34. Cushing, “Royals Defeat Ft. Wayne for 2–1 Lead.”
35. Cushing, “Royals Defeat Ft. Wayne for 2–1 Lead.”
36. Elliot Cushing, “Royals Win, 70–54; Gain Playoff Final,” Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, March 17, 1946, 1C.
37. “Pistons Eye Pro Tourney as Their Comeback Chance,” Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, March 18, 1946, 7.
38. Elliot Cushing, “Royals Humble Sheboygan in Opener, 60–50,” Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, March 20, 1946, 20.
39. Nelson, National Basketball League, 144.
40. Elliot Cushing, “Royals Clip Sheboygan, 61–54, for 2–0 Lead,” Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, March 22, 1946, 28.
41. Elliot Cushing, “Royals Rip ‘Skins for League Title,” Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, March 24, 1946, 19.
42. Elliot Cushing, “Royals Speed Lauded,” Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, March 25, 1946, 20.
43. Cushing, “Royals Speed Lauded.”
44. Ralph Kaplowitz, interview by the author, Queens NY, December 2007.
45. Kaplowitz interview.
46. Kaplowitz interview.
47. Robert Elmer, “SPHAS Whip Bullets, 70–46, to Force Playoff for Pro Cage Loop Title,” Baltimore Sun, March 14, 1946, 15.
48. Robert Elmer, “Bullets Rally to Defeat SPHAS for Pro Basketball Tournament Title,” Baltimore Sun, March 7, 1946, 18.
49. Robert Elmer, “Bullets and SPHAS Score Victories in Professional Basket Tourney,” Baltimore Sun, March 6, 1946, 15
50. Elmer, “Bullets and SPHAS Score Victories in Professional Basket Tourney.”
51. Robert Elmer, “Bullets Rally to Defeat SPHAS for Pro Basketball Tournament Title,” Baltimore Sun, March 7, 1946, 18.
52. Robert Elmer, “Bullets Seek Title Tonight,” Baltimore Sun, March 13, 1946, 14.
53. “Bullets Top SPHAS, 63–61, to Win Pro Cage Title,” Baltimore Sun, March 17, 1946, Sports 1.
54. “Bullets Top SPHAS, 63–61.”
55. “Bullets Top SPHAS, 63–61.”
56. William J. Scheffer, “SPHAS Beat Bombers, 75–72, Gain Finals with Baltimore,” Philadelphia Inquirer, April 24, 1946, 1S.
57. “Bullets Lose Playoff Game,” Baltimore Sun, March 31, 1946, Sports, 1.
58. “Bullets Lose Playoff Game.”
59. Robert Elmer, “Bullets Subdue SPHAS to Even Professional Basketball Playoff Series,” Baltimore Sun, April 1, 1946, 14.
60. Elmer, “Bullets Subdue SPHAS.”
61. “Baltimore Wins to Even Series,” Philadelphia Inquirer, April 1, 1946, 25.
62. “Bullets Drub SPHAS, 68–45,” Baltimore Sun, April 14, 1946, Sports 1.
63. William J. Scheffer, “Bullets Beat SPHAS, 68–45; Lead Playoff,” Philadelphia Inquirer, April 14, 1946, 1S.
64. Robert Elmer, “Bullets Beat SPHAS, 54–39, for Pro Cage League Playoff Championship,” Baltimore Sun, April 15, 1946, 16.
65. Letter from John J. O’Brien, February 27, 1945, ABL collection, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
66. “World Cage ‘Ceiling’ Set,” Chicago Herald American, February 3, 1946, 27.
67. Keith Brehm, “Announce World Cage Schedule,” Chicago Herald American, March 13, 1946, 23.
68. “World Cage ‘Ceiling’ Set.”
69. Keith Brehm, “World Cage Teams Bolstered by Vets,” Chicago Herald American, March 18, 1946, 15.
70. Brehm, “World Cage Teams Bolstered by Vets.”
71. Brehm, “World Cage Teams Bolstered by Vets.”
72. Keith Brehm, “Pittsburgh, Cleveland in World Cage,” Chicago Herald American, March 11, 1946, 14.
73. Keith Brehm, “Mikan Turns Pro: To Play in World Cage,” Chicago Herald American, March 16, 1946, 14.
74. Triptow, Dynasty That Never Was, 47–48.
75. Triptow, Dynasty That Never Was, 150.
76. Triptow, Dynasty That Never Was, 40–41.
77. Brehm, “Mikan Turns Pro.”
78. Brehm, “Mikan Turns Pro.”
79. Keith Brehm, “‘60-Grand’ Mikan Set for World Cage Play,” Chicago Herald American, March 17, 1946, 30.
80. Brehm, “‘60-Grand’ Mikan.”
81. Brehm, “‘60-Grand’ Mikan.”
82. Brehm, “Mikan Turns Pro.”
83. George L. Mikan and Joseph Oberle, Unstoppable: The Story of George Mikan, the First NBA Superstar (Indianapolis IN: Masters Press, 1997), 68.
84. “Mikan—and the Rest!,” Chicago Herald American, March 23, 1946, 14.
85. Keith Brehm, “World Cage Meet Opens Tomorrow,” Chicago Herald American, March 24, 1946, 31.
86. Leo Fischer, “Gears, Dows, Chiefs Win World Cage,” Chicago Herald American, March 26, 1946, 14.
87. Leo Fischer, “Sheboygan Tenth World Cage Entry,” Chicago Herald American, March 12, 1946, 14.
88. Fischer, “Sheboygan Tenth World Cage Entry.”
89. Fischer, “Sheboygan Tenth World Cage Entry.”
90. Leo Fischer, “16,951 Cheer Gears in Cage Triumph,” Chicago Herald American, March 30, 1946, 14.
91. Fischer, “16,951 Cheer Gears in Cage Triumph.”
92. Leo Fischer, “Mikan Turns to Play in World Cage,” Chicago Herald American, March 16, 1946, 14.
93. Keith Brehm, “Powerful Oshkosh Team in Cage Meet,” Chicago Herald American, March 14, 1946, 20.
94. Leo Fischer, “Rens Enter World Cage,” Chicago Herald American, March 3, 1946, 27.
95. Keith Brehm, “Resume Cage Tomorrow,” Chicago Herald American, March 26, 1946, 14.
96. Leo Fischer, “H-A Classic Provides Many Thrills,” Chicago Herald American, March 23, 1946, 14.
97. Cliff Jaffe, “Battle of Scorers Marks World Cage,” Chicago Herald American, March 24, 1946, 22.
98. Leo Fischer, “Baltimore in Cage Meet,” Chicago Herald American, March 10, 1946, 23.
99. Leo Fischer, “Dayton Bombers to Try Again for World Cage Title,” Chicago Herald American, March 15, 1946, 15.
100. Leo Fischer, “Rens, Baltimore, Oshkosh Cage Victors,” Chicago Herald American, March 28, 1946, 28.
101. Gould, Pioneers of the Hardwood, 133.
102. Gould, Pioneers of the Hardwood, 134.
103. Gould, Pioneers of the Hardwood, 134.
104. Gould, Pioneers of the Hardwood, 133.
105. Keith Brehm, “Of World Cage Play,” Chicago Herald American, March 23, 1946, 23.
106. Fischer, “Gears, Dows, Chiefs Win in World Cage.”
107. Fischer, “16,951 Cheer Gears in Cage Triumph.”
108. Gould, Pioneers of the Hardwood, 134.
109. Gould, Pioneers of the Hardwood, 135.
110. Keith Brehm, “Dow Chemicals Out for World Cage Title Again,” Chicago Herald American, March 7, 1946, 21.
111. Fischer, “Gears, Dows, Chiefs Win in World Cage.”
112. Fischer, “16,951 Cheer Gears in Cage Triumph.”
113. Mikan and Oberle, Unstoppable, 68–70.
114. Leo Fischer, “Fort Wayne, Oshkosh in World Cage Finals,” Chicago Herald American, April 4, 1946, 20.
115. Michael Schumacher, Mr. Basketball: George Mikan, the Minneapolis Lakers, and the Birth of the NBA (New York: Bloomsbury, 2007), 70.
116. “It’s Pistons vs. Oshkosh in Pro Finals,” Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, April 4, 1946, 14.
117. “It’s Pistons vs. Oshkosh in Pro Finals.”
118. Leo Fischer, “Oshkosh near World Cage Title,” Chicago Herald American, April 5, 1946, 15.
119. Ben Tenny, “Pistons Start Final Bid for Another Pro Net Crown Tonight,” Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, April 5, 1946, 12.
120. Ben Tenny, “Pistons to Bid for World’s Pro Net Championship,” Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, April 8, 1946, 8.
121. Ben Tenny, “Zollner Pistons Retain World’s Pro Basketball Championship,” Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, April 9, 1946, 11.
122. Keith Brehm, “Fort Wayne, Ind., Zollner Pistons: World Professional Basketball Champions,” Chicago Stadium Review Eighth Annual World’s Championship Basketball Tournament Official Program, 6.
1. Charley Rosen, The First Tip-Off: The Incredible Birth of the NBA (New York: McGraw Hill, 2009), 182.
2. Phil Jasner, “Joe Fulks: NBA’s 1st Superstar,” Philadelphia Daily News, March 22, 1976, 61.
3. Rosen, First Tip-Off, 183.
4. Rosen, First Tip-Off, 184.
5. Rosen, First Tip-Off, 182.
6. Jasner, “Joe Fulks.”
7. Rosen, First Tip-Off, 182.
8. Ray Kelly, “Jumping Joe Tells of Greatest Game as a Pro,” n.d., clipping files, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
9. Kelly, “Jumping Joe Tells of Greatest Game.”
10. Kelly, “Jumping Joe Tells of Greatest Game.”
11. Kelly, “Jumping Joe Tells of Greatest Game.”
12. Kelly, “Jumping Joe Tells of Greatest Game.”
13. Pop Gates interview, Robert Peterson Collection, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.