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??? 1947 |
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Maurice White, owner of the National Basketball
League's Chicago Gears, withdraws the team from
the league. Joining forces with fifteen other
businessmen, White's group establishes
Commercial Sports Advertising, Inc. and in turn
forms the Professional Basketball League of
America.
The Gears were the National Basketball League
champions last year. |
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October 1947 |
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Harry D. Wilson, vice president of the PBLA,
announces that Fred Lewis will be player-coach
of the Birmingham franchise. A two year contract
will be in effect.
An outstanding player for Sheboygan, Lewis
was voted the Most Valuable Player in the
National Basketball League last season. Lewis
played for the Eastern Kentucky Teacher's
College prior to his professional career began.
Wilson also announced the team will play in
the Municipal Auditorium. |
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Coach Lewis announces that Elmo Morganthaler,
the tallest professional basketball player in
the nation at 7' 1" has agreed to join the
Birmingham team. Morganthaler led the nation in
scoring in 1945-46 while at Boston College. Last
year, Morganthaler played with the Providence
team in the Basketball Association of America. |
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A "Name the Team" contest is began, offering
$100 and two season tickets to the winner. Once
a name has been selected, the team name will be
unveiled at the first home game on October 30th. |
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The team wins their
first home game 51-42 against the New
Orleans Hurricanes and will now be known
as the Birmingham Skyhawks.
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1947-48 Professional
Basketball League of America
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Northern Division |
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Southern Division |
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Chicago Gears |
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Atlanta Crackers |
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Grand
Rapids Rangers |
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Birmingham Skyhawks |
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Kansas City Blues |
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Chattanooga Majors |
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Louisville
Colonels |
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Houston
Mavericks |
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Omaha Tomahawks |
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New Orleans Hurricanes |
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St. Joseph
Outlaws |
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Oklahoma
City Drillers |
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St. Paul Saints |
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Springfield Squires |
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Waterloo Pro-Hawks |
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Tulsa Ranchers |
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November 1947 |
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Officials announce that the Professional
Basketball League of America has folded. James
O. Brooks, attorney for Commercial Sports
Advertising, Inc. made the announcement. Brooks
cited poor attendance as the main reason for
terminating the league. All players will
immediately become free agents.
The folding of the PBLA leaves the country
with two basketball leagues, the National
Basketball League and the Basketball Association
of America.
Henry A. Foote, an executive director of the
league, said he "couldn't add any more to the
statement except that the league has disbanded."
Fred Lewis, the Skyhawk's player-coach, was
stunned to discover the news. "It was a complete
surprise to me and the players. Naturally, I
have no comment to make until I get confirmation
from league headquarters," Lewis said.
The Chicago Gears were undefeated in their
eight games and could be considered as the
PBLA's champion. |
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Lewis announces the Birmingham Skyhawks will
play two more games, a home-and-home series with
the Atlanta Crackers. If enough interest is
shown at each game, the teams would be willing
to play a few more games. The Chicago Gears,
who withdrew from the NBL last year, are in
negotiations to return to that league.
Lewis remained shocked by the news of the
league failing. "We were given assurance the
league would not fold. The players and I were
caught by surprise when we read it in the
(Birmingham) News that the league had disbanded.
It's a tremendous blow to the boys and me,"
Lewis said. |
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Lewis announces the Atlanta Crackers series has
been cancelled due to the majority of the
Atlanta players leaving to accept other offers.
Lewis said the Skyhawks players would remain in
Birmingham to await the outcome of a move to
develop a new basketball league. |
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Epilogue |
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Shortly after the announcement to fold, St.
Joseph, Oklahoma City, Springfield, Kansas City,
Tulsa and Des Wines began a two week series of
exhibitions with plans to begin league play on
December 1st.
However, attendance was poor and after
playing games through November 27th, they
decided to quit for good. |
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