American Basketball League (1925-1954)
ABL
The ABL was the first major league of professional
basketball. It's glory years were from 1925-1931, when it disbanded, only to be
resumed in 1933 as more of a minor league type operation. Before the ABL was
formed, the Original Celtics were the perennial champs of professional
basketball. The Original Celtics got together in 1921 and won the Eastern and
Metropolitan Leagues before touring as independents. In 1923 the Kingston
Colonials defeated the Celtics 3 games to 2 to claim the title. And just as the
ABL was getting under way, The Philadelphia (Hebrews) Sphas were formed and
defeated both the Celtics and the Rens in three game series to claim the
unofficial world title. The Harlem Globetrotters were formed in 1927 and had a
101-6 record, but were not taken too seriously.
The professional basketball champions were generally recognized as the ABL
champion from 1925-1931. After that the championship was largely awarded on a
mythical basis. The mythical or unofficial champions of professional basketball
from the 1931-32 seasons through the 1935-36 seasons were the New York Rens, who
compiled a 473-49 record during this span. The only challengers to them were the
Original Celtics, who were the team that snapped the Ren's 88 game winning
streak in 1933. They won the ABL championship both years they were in the
league, before dropping out and reforming again in 1932. They perennially
challenged the Rens for the unofficial world title. The Philadelphia Spahs
stayed as part of the newly formed ABL and won the league title 7 times in 13
years before disbanding. The only competition the Sphas faced were from the old
reformed Brooklyn Visitations team, called the New York Jewels. The Harlem
Globetrotters finished up the 1934 year with a 152-2 record. The Eastern League
along with the Metropolitan Basketball League were the forerunners of the
American Basketball League.
Eastern League (1909-1936)
| Year |
Winner |
result |
Runner-up |
| 1909-1910 |
Trenton, NJ |
2-1 |
Reading, PA |
| 1910-1911 |
DeNeri, Southhawk,
PA (Won regular season title
to claim championship) |
| 1911-1912 |
Trenton, NJ |
2-1 |
Jasper Jewels, New Kensington, PA |
| 1912-1913 |
Reading Bears
(Won regular season title to claim championship) |
| 1913-1914 |
Jasper Jewels
(Won round robin series for title) |
| 1914-1915 |
Camden Alphas and
Reading Bears (Declared Co-Champs after playoffs tied 1-1) |
| 1915-1916 |
Greystock Greys
(Won regular season title to claim championship) |
| 1916-1917 |
Greystock Greys |
2-1 |
Jasper Jewels |
| 1917-1918 |
League Suspended
Operations due to WW-I, (Jasper
Jewels in first place) |
| 1918-1919 |
League Suspended
Operations due to WW-I |
| 1919-1920 |
Camden Skeeters
(Won both halves to claim championship) |
| 1920-1921 |
Germantown, PA |
2-0 |
Reading Bears |
| 1921-1922 |
New York Celtics |
2-1 |
Trenton Royal Bengals |
| 1922-1923 |
League Suspended
Operations (Trenton Bengals won 1st half, leading 2nd) |
| 1923-1924 |
League Suspended Operations |
| 1924-1925 |
League Suspended Operations |
| 1925-1926 |
League Suspended
Operations (Trenton won 1st half, Sphas leading 2nd) |
| 1926-1927 |
League Suspended Operations |
| 1927-1928 |
League Suspended Operations |
| 1928-1929 |
Pattison |
2-1 |
Philadelphia Elks |
| 1929-1930 |
Philadelphia Spahs |
3-2 |
Philadelphia Elks |
| 1930-1931 |
Philadelphia Spahs |
3-1 |
Camden Skeeters |
| 1931-1932 |
Philadelphia Sphas |
3-1 |
Philadelphia Moose |
| 1932-1933 |
Trenton Moose |
3-1 |
Philadelphia Sphas |
| 1933-1934 |
Enterprise
(Won both halves to claim championship) |
| 1934-1935 |
Phillies |
3-2 |
Camden |
| 1935-1936 |
Phillies |
3-1 |
Germantown |
| 1936 |
LEAGUE DISBANDED |
Eastern League Scoring Leaders
| Year |
Leader |
G |
Pts |
PPG/Avg |
| 1909-10 |
Harry Hough, Trenton |
30 |
520 |
17.3 |
| 1910-11 |
John Donohue, Jasper |
39 |
538 |
13.8 |
| 1911-12 |
Harry Hough, Trenton |
37 |
627 |
16.9 |
| 1912-13 |
Jack Adams, Camden |
34 |
649 |
19.1 |
| 1913-14 |
W. Kummer, Jasper |
39 |
697 |
17.9 |
| 1914-15 |
Andrew Sears, Reading |
36 |
616 |
17.1 |
| 1915-16 |
Jack Adams, Camden |
40 |
669 |
16.7 |
| 1916-17 |
Joe Fogerty, Greystock |
40 |
754 |
18.9 |
| 1917-18 |
John Beckman, Deneri |
8 |
74 |
9.3 |
| 1918-19 |
(No League - WWI) |
| 1919-20 |
James Campbell, Camden |
37 |
275 |
7.4 |
| 1920-21 |
Nat Holman, Germantown |
34 |
285 |
8.4 |
| 1921-22 |
No information available |
| 1922-23 |
No information
available when league suspended |
| 1923-24 |
League Suspended Operations |
| 1924-25 |
League Suspended Operations |
| 1925-26 |
No information
available when league suspended |
| 1926-27 |
League Suspended Operations |
| 1927-28 |
League Suspended Operations |
| 1928-29 |
No information available |
| 1929-30 |
No information available |
| 1930-31 |
No information available |
| 1931-32 |
No information available |
| 1932-33 |
No information available |
| 1933-34 |
No information available |
| 1934-35 |
No information available |
| 1935-36 |
No information available |
| 1936 |
LEAGUE DISBANDED |
Metropolitan Basketball League (1921-1933)
| Year |
Winner |
result |
Runner-up |
| 1921-1922 |
Brooklyn Dodgers
(Won on default over New York Macs, who went on strike) |
| 1922-1923 |
Paterson Legionnaires |
2-1 |
Elizabeth, NJ * |
| 1923-1924 |
Brooklyn Visitations
(Won both halves to claim championship) |
| 1924-1925 |
Brooklyn Visitations |
2-1 |
Kingston-Passaic, NJ Colonials |
| 1925-1926 |
Greenpoint Knights |
2-1 |
Yonkers Indians |
| 1926-1927 |
Brooklyn Visitations |
3-0 |
Paterson Crescents |
| 1927-1928 |
Kingston Colonials
(Won regular season title to claim championship) |
| 1928-1929 |
League Suspended Operations |
| 1929-1930 |
League Suspended Operations |
| 1930-1931 |
League Suspended Operations |
| 1931-1932 |
Brooklyn Visitations |
2-1 |
Brooklyn Jewels |
| 1932-1933 |
Brooklyn Jewels |
2-1 |
Union City Reds |
| 1933 |
LEAGUE DISBANDED |
|
|
* NY Celtics dropped out, they were supposed to play
for the title.
Metropolitan Basketball League Scoring Leaders
| Year |
Leader |
G |
Pts |
PPG/Avg |
| 1921-22 |
Benny Borgmann, Powers |
18 |
218 |
12.1 |
| 1922-23 |
Benny Borgmann, Patterson |
28 |
338 |
12.1 |
| 1923-24 |
Benny Borgmann, Patterson |
38 |
407 |
10.7 |
| 1924-25 |
Benny Borgmann, Patterson |
33 |
390 |
11.8 |
| 1925-26 |
No information available |
| 1926-27 |
No information available |
| 1927-28 |
No information available |
| 1928-29 |
League Suspended Operations |
| 1929-30 |
League Suspended Operations |
| 1930-31 |
League Suspended Operations |
| 1931-32 |
No information available |
| 1932-33 |
No information available |
| 1933 |
LEAGUE DISBANDED |
American Basketball League (1925-1954)
| Year |
Winner |
result |
Runner-up |
| 1925-26 |
Cleveland Rosenblums |
3-0 |
Brooklyn Arcadians |
| 1926-27 |
Brooklyn Original Celtics |
3-0 |
Cleveland Rosenblums |
| 1927-28 |
New York Celtics |
3-1 |
Fort Wayne Hoosiers |
| 1928-29 |
Cleveland Rosenblums |
4-0 |
Fort Wayne Hoosiers |
| 1929-30 |
Cleveland Rosenblums |
4-1 |
Rochester Centrals |
| 1930-31 |
Brooklyn Visitations |
4-2 |
Fort Wayne Hoosiers |
| 1931-32 |
League Suspended Operations |
| 1932-33 |
League Suspended Operations |
| 1933-34 |
Philadelphia Sphas |
4-2 |
Trenton Moose |
| 1934-35 |
Brooklyn Visitations |
3-2 |
New York Jewels |
| 1935-36 |
Philadelphia Sphas |
4-3 |
Brooklyn Visitations |
| 1936-37 |
Philadelphia Sphas |
4-3 |
Jersey Reds |
| 1937-38 |
Jersey Reds |
4-2 |
New York Jewels |
| 1938-39 |
New York Jewels |
3-0 |
Jersey Reds |
| 1939-40 |
Philadelphia Sphas |
1-0 |
Washington Heurichs |
| 1940-41 |
Philadelphia Sphas |
3-1 |
Brooklyn Celtics |
| 1941-42 |
Wilmington Bombers
(Won both halves to claim championship) |
| 1942-43 |
Philadelphia Sphas |
4-3 |
Trenton Tigers |
| 1943-44 |
Wilmington Bombers |
4-3 |
Philadelphia Sphas |
| 1944-45 |
Philadelphia Sphas |
2-1 |
Baltimore Bullets |
| 1945-46 |
Baltimore Bullets |
3-1 |
Philadelphia Sphas |
| 1946-47 |
Trenton Tigers
(Won forfeit, Baltimore Bullets could not play finals) |
| 1947-48 |
Wilkes-Barre Barons |
2-1 |
Paterson Crescents |
| 1948-49 |
Wilkes-Barre Barons |
3-2 |
Scranton Miners |
| 1949-50 |
Scranton Miners |
1-0 |
Bridgeport Aer-A-Sols |
| 1950-51 |
Scranton Miners |
1-0 |
Wilkes-Barre Barons |
| 1951-52 |
Wilkes-Barre Barons |
1-0 |
Scranton Miners |
| 1952-53 |
Manchester British Americans |
1-0 |
Wilkes-Barre Barons |
| 1953-54 |
League Suspended Operations |
| 1954 |
LEAGUE DISBANDED |
ABL Annual Scoring Leaders
| Year |
Leader |
G |
FG |
FT |
Pts |
PPG/Avg |
| 1925-26 |
Ray Kennedy, Washington |
27 |
66 |
84 |
216 |
8.0 |
|
Rusty Saunders, Bkn-Wash |
34 |
73 |
92 |
238 |
7.0 |
| 1926-27 |
Benny Borgmann, Ft. Wayne |
34 |
87 |
206 |
380 |
11.2 |
|
Rusty Saunders,
Washington |
42 |
119 |
161 |
399 |
9.5 |
| 1927-28 |
Harry Topel, Rochester |
52 |
171 |
96 |
438 |
8.4 |
|
Davey Banks, New York |
49 |
170 |
72 |
412 |
8.4 |
| 1928-29 |
Benny Borgmann, Ft. Wayne |
42 |
100 |
125 |
325 |
7.7 |
| 1929-30 |
Benny Borgmann, Ft. Wayne |
50 |
149 |
118 |
416 |
8.3 |
| 1930-31 |
Benny Borgmann, Pat-Chic. |
33 |
111 |
68 |
290 |
8.8 |
| 1931-32 |
NO LEAGUE |
| 1932-33 |
NO LEAGUE |
| 1933-34 |
Benny Borgmann, Newark |
32 |
120 |
81 |
321 |
10.0 |
|
Moe Spahn, New Britain |
38 |
92 |
149 |
333 |
8.7 |
| 1934-35 |
Carl Johnson, Brooklyn |
43 |
N/A |
N/A |
310 |
7.2 |
| 1935-36 |
Bobby McDermott, Bkn |
40 |
157 |
68 |
382 |
9.6 |
| 1936-37 |
Phil Rabin, Kingston |
37 |
187 |
114 |
488 |
13.2 |
| 1937-38 |
Phil Rabin, Kingston |
39 |
203 |
108 |
514 |
13.2 |
| 1938-39 |
Phil Rabin, Jersey Reds |
33 |
116 |
109 |
341 |
10.3 |
| 1939-40 |
Bobby McDermott, Balt. |
31 |
130 |
81 |
341 |
11.0 |
| 1940-41 |
Petey Rosenberg, Phil. |
31 |
122 |
31 |
275 |
8.9 |
| 1941-42 |
Nat Frankel, Washington |
20 |
59 |
70 |
188 |
9.4 |
| 1942-43 |
Steve Juenger, Harrisburgh |
10 |
38 |
40 |
116 |
11.6 |
| 1943-44 |
Mike Bloom, Trenton |
26 |
94 |
85 |
273 |
10.5 |
|
Ossie Schechtman, Phil. |
19 |
89 |
21 |
199 |
10.5 |
| 1944-45 |
Steve Juenger, Paterson |
25 |
92 |
89 |
273 |
10.9 |
|
Mike Bloom, Trenton |
30 |
118 |
85 |
321 |
10.7 |
| 1945-46 |
Art Hillhouse, Philadelphia |
34 |
139 |
145 |
423 |
12.4 |
| 1946-47 |
Ash Resnick, Troy |
35 |
191 |
181 |
563 |
16.1 |
|
(MVP-Buddy
Jeannette, Baltimore) |
| 1947-48 |
Kugler Ostrowski, W-B |
31 |
214 |
133 |
561 |
18.1 |
| 1948-49 |
Richard Holub, Paterson |
41 |
285 |
265 |
835 |
20.4 |
|
(MVP-Bill
Chonecka, Wilkes-Barre) |
| 1949-50 |
Elmore Morganthaler, Scra. |
37 |
267 |
194 |
728 |
19.7 |
| 1950-51 |
Ike Walthour, Saratoga |
29 |
201 |
185 |
587 |
20.2 |
|
John Ezersky, W-B |
39 |
242 |
234 |
718 |
18.4 |
| 1951-52 |
Joe Colone, Wilkes-Barre |
39 |
260 |
242 |
762 |
19.5 |
| 1952-53 |
Ray Felix, Manchester |
28 |
208 |
200 |
616 |
22 |
| 1953-54 |
NO LEAGUE |
| 1954-55 |
LEAGUE DISBANDED |
All Time ABL Scoring Leaders
| Player |
G |
Pts |
PPG/Avg |
| Carl
Husta, Cle-FtW-King |
319 |
2194 |
6.9 |
| Kugler Ostrowski, Wilkes-Barre |
125 |
2138 |
17.1 |
| Benny Borgmann,FW-Rc-Pat-Ch-New |
242 |
2131 |
8.8 |
| Phil Rabin, Pas-Kings-Jersey-Wash |
203 |
2109 |
10.4 |
| Moe Spahn, NB-Jersey-Wilmington |
232 |
1902 |
8.2 |
| Inky Lautman, Philadelphia |
216 |
1867 |
8.8 |
| Bill Chanecka, Wilkes-Barre |
107 |
1830 |
17.1 |
| John Ezersky, Bkl-WB-Scranton, NY, Hart. |
120 |
1747 |
14.6 |
| Mike Bloom, Trenton-Baltimore |
154 |
1639 |
10.6 |
| Nat
Hickey, Cle-Chi |
217 |
1577 |
7.3 |
| Rusty Saunders, Bkl-Was-FtW |
206 |
1391 |
6.8 |
| Richard Holub, Paterson |
75 |
1378 |
17.8 |
| Nat Frankel, Bronx-Bkn-Kings-Jersey |
152 |
1292 |
8.5 |
| Davey Banks, NY-FtW-Tol |
173 |
1217 |
7.0 |
| Mac Kinsbronner, Brooklyn |
145 |
1213 |
8.4 |
| Elmore Morganthaler, Phil-Scranton |
65 |
1209 |
18.6 |
| Ike Walthour, NY-Saratoga |
64 |
1120 |
17.5 |
| Shikey Gotthoffer, Philadelphia |
150 |
1085 |
7.2 |
| Cy Boardman, Paterson |
92 |
1027 |
11.2 |
| Hank DeZonie, NY-Saratoga |
61 |
1015 |
16.6 |
| Red Conaty, Was-Bkl |
168 |
995 |
5.9 |
| Mike Wallace, Scranon |
69 |
958 |
13.9 |
| Honey Russell, Cle-Chi |
119 |
831 |
7.0 |
| Al Kellet, Phi-Ttrn-Chi-Bkl |
117 |
756 |
6.5 |
| Harry Topel, Roch |
89 |
691 |
7.8 |
| Tom Barlow, Phi-Tren |
81 |
609 |
7.5 |
| Johnny Beckman, Bkl-Bal-Roch-Cle |
75 |
592 |
7.9 |
| Nat Holman, NY-Syr-Chi |
81 |
526 |
6.5 |
All Time ABL Scoring Leaders by Average
| Player |
PPG/Avg |
| Elmore
Morganthaler |
18.6 |
| Richard Holub |
17.8 |
| Ike Walthour |
17.5 |
| Bill Chanecka |
17.1 |
| Kugler Ostrowski |
17.1 |
Un-official World Basketball Champions/Championships
1920-21 Original Celtics (Independent team) tied
New York Whirlwinds (Independent team) 1 game apiece (declared co-champs)
1921-22 Eastern League Championship decided championship (New York
Celtics defeated Trenton Royal Bengals 2-1)
1922-23 Kingston/Paterson Legionnaires (Metropolitan League)
defeated Original Celtics (Independent team) 3-2
1923-24 Original Celtics (Independent team 134-6 record) defeated Cleveland Rosenblums (Independent team) 25-17
1924-25 Original Celtics (Independent team) defeated Brooklyn
Visitations (Metropolitan League) 2-0
1925-26 ABL championship decided championship (Cleveland
Rosenblums defeatd Brooklyn Arcadians 3-0)
1926-27 ABL championship decided championship (Original Celtics
defeated Cleveland Rosenblums 3-0)
1927-28 Original Celtics (ABL) defeated New York Rens (Independent
team) 2-1
1928-29 Original Celtics (Independent team) defeated New York Rens
(Independent team) 3-0
1929-30 ABL championship decided championship (Cleveland
Rosenblums defeated Rochester Centrals 4-1)
1930-31 Brooklyn Visitations (ABL) defeated New York Rens
(Independent team) 37-31
1931-32 New York Rens (Independent team) defeated New York Celtics
(Independent team) 37-34
1932-33 New York Rens (Independent team 102-8 record) defeated
Original Celtics (Independent team) 8-6
1933-34 New York Rens (Independent team) declared champs
1934-35 New York Rens (Independent team) defeated Original Celtics
(Independent team)
1935-36 New York Rens (Independent team) defeated Kate Smith
Celtics (Independent team)
New York Rens Annual Records
1Year W-L
1923 15- 8
1924 67-12
1925 89-16
1926 89-13
1927 101- 9
1928 112- 8
1929 111-10
1930 125-10
1931 119-14
1932 111-14
1933 112-14
1934 127- 7
1935 121-13
1936 112-15
1937 116-17
1938 115-15
1939 119-16
1040 110-14
1941 112-13
1942-45 no records
1946 90-17
Other ABL Links:
Robert Bradley's ABL History Page
Robert
Bradley's ABL Stats Page
Paul
Luchter's Original Celtics Page
Paul
Luchter's New York Rens Page
Extinct
Sports Leagues Home Page
©1998 Steve Dimitry, all rights reserved.
Email:
sdimitry@verizon.net
