National Basketball League (1937-1949)

NBL

Pre NBL

Before the National Basketball League got under way in 1937, there were a couple attempts to organize the NBL. In 1926 and again in 1929 and once again in 1932. Then the forerunner of the NBL was started. It was called the Midwest Basketball Conference.

Earlier NBL Championship Series Results

Year Winner Runner-up Series
1926-27 Brooklyn Visitations (*1) -
1929-30 Toledo Redmen Dayton Kelly’s 4-2
1932-33 Akron Firestones  (*2)  -

(*1) Declared champs after NY Celtics dropped out while in 1st place
(*2) Won regular season to claim championship

Midwest Basketball Conference Championship Results

Year Winner Runner-up Series
1935-36 Chicago Duffy Florals (*1) -
1936-37 Akron Goodyear Wingfoots  (*2) -

(*1) Won round robin series for championship
(*2) Won regular season to claim championship

National Basketball League 

The NBL was formed in 1937 by three corporations - General Electric and the Firestone and Goodyear rubber companies of Akron, Ohio, who were interested in moving up from their midwestern industrial league origins and backing a fully professional league. The NBL started with 13 previously independent teams in 1937-1938 and although GE, Firestone and Goodyear were gone by late 1942, ran 12 years before merging with the three-year-old Basketball Association of America (BAA) in 1949 to form the present National Basketball Association.

Championship Series Results

Year Winner Runner-up Series
1937-38 Akron Goodyear Wingfoots Oshkosh All-Stars 2-1
1938-39 Akron Firestone Non-Skids Oshkosh All-Stars 3-2
1939-40 Akron Firestone Non-Skids Oshkosh All-Stars 3-2
1940-41 Oshkosh All-Stars Sheboygan Redskins 3-0
1941-42 Oshkosh All-Stars Ft. Wayne Pistons 2-1
1942-43 Sheboygan Redskins Ft. Wayne Pistons 2-1
1943-44 Ft. Wayne Pistons Sheboygan Redskins 3-0
1944-45 Ft. Wayne Pistons Sheboygan Redskins 3-2
1945-46 Rochester Royals Sheboygan Redskins 3-0
1946-47 Chicago Gears Rochester Royals 3-2
1947-48 Minneapolis Lakers Rochester Royals 3-1
1948-49 Anderson Packers Oshkosh All-Stars 3-0
 

Annual Scoring Leaders

Year Name, Team Points PPG Avg
1937-38 Leroy Edwards, Oshkosh 210 16.2
1938-39 Leroy Edwards, Oshkosh 334 11.9
1939-40 Leroy Edwards, Oshkosh 361 12.9
1940-41 Ben Stephens, Akron Goodyears 265 11.0
1941-42 Chuck Chuckovits, Toledo 406 18.5
1942-43 Bobby McDermott, Ft. Wayne 316 13.7
1943-44 Mel Riebe, Cleveland 323 17.9
1944-45 Mel Riebe, Cleveland 607 20.2
1945-46 Bob Carpenter, Oshkosh 473 13.9
1946-47 Al Cervi, Rochester 632    -
George Mikan, Chicago     - 16.5
1947-48 George Mikan, Minneapolis 1195 21.3
1948-49 Don Otten, Tri-Cities 899 14.0
 

Annual NBL Awards

Year MVP Coach of the Year Rookie of the Year
1937-38 Leroy Edwards, Osh. Cliff Byers, Akron-GY Bob Kessler, Ind.
1938-39 Leroy Edwards, Osh. Paul Sheeks, Akron-Fire. Jewell Young, Ind.
1939-40 Leroy Edwards, Osh. Paul Sheeks, Akron-Fire. Ben Stephens, Akron-GY
1940-41 Ben Stephens, Akron-GY George Hotchkiss, Osh. Ed Sadowski, Ind.
1941-42 Chuck Chuckovits, Toledo Lon Darling, Oshkosh George Glamack, Akron-GY
1942-43 Bobby McDermott, Ft W. Carl Roth, Sheboygen Ken Buehler, Sheboygen
1943-44 Bobby McDermott, Ft W. Bobby McDermott, Ft W. Mel Reibe, Cleveland
1944-45 Bobby McDermott, Ft W. Bobby McDermott, Ft W. Red Holzman, Rochester
1945-46 Bobby McDermott, Ft W. Lester Harrison, Roch. Goerge Mikan, Minn.
1946-47 Bob Davies, Rochester Lon Darling, Oshkosh Fred Lewis, Sheboygen
1947-48 Goerge Mikan, Minn. Murray Mendenhall, And. Marko Todorivich, Sheb.
1948-49 Don Otten, Tri-Cities Al Cervi, Syracuse Dolph Schayes, Syracuse
 

NBL All-League Teams

1937-38
1st Team 2nd Team
Leroy Edwards, Oshkosh Soup Cable, Akron-Firestone
Scott Armstrong, Ft Wayne Jack Ozburn, Akron-Firestone
John Wooden, Whiting Bob Kessler, Indinapolis
Charlie Shipp, Akron-Goodyear Vince McGowan, Whiting
Chuck Bloedorn, Akron-Goodyear Bart Quinn, Ft Wayne
1938-39
1st Team 2nd Team
Paul Birch, Pittsburgh Jack Ozburn, Akron-Firestone
Leroy Edwards, Oshkosh Johnny Moir, Akron-Firestone
John Sines, Indinapolis Jewell Young, Indinapolis
Jerry Bush, Akron-Firestone Chuck Bloedorn, Akron-Goodyear
Barney Cable, Akron-Firestone Charlie Shipp, Akron-Goodyear
1939-40
1st Team 2nd Team
Ben Stephens, Akron-Goodyear Jack Ozburn, Akron-Firestone
Wibs Kautz, Chicago Ernie Andres, Indinapolis
Leroy Edwards, Oshkosh Rube Lautenschlanger, Sheboygan
Charlie Shipp, Oshkosh Otto Kolar, Sheboygan
Barney Cable, Akron-Firestone Nat Frankel, Detroit
1940-41
1st Team 2nd Team
Ben Stephens, Akron-Goodyear Wibs Kautz, Chicago
Ed Sadowski, Detroit Bill Hapac, Chicago
Buddy Jeannette, Detroit Ralph Vaughn, Chicago
Leroy Edwards, Oshkosh John Pelkington, Akron-Goodyear
Charlie Shipp, Oshkosh Bob Calihan, Detroit
Jack Ozburn, Akron-Firestone Bob Neu, Hammond
1941-42
1st Team 2nd Team
Chuck Chuckovits, Toledo Ralph Vaughn, Chicago
Ben Stephens, Akron-Goodyear Jewell Young, Indianapolis
Leroy Edwards, Oshkosh Ed Danker, Sheboygan
Bobby McDermott, Ft Wayne Herm Schaefer, Ft Wayne
Charlie Shipp, Oshkosh George Glamack, Akron-Goodyear
1942-43
1st Team 2nd Team
Ralph Vaughn, Oshkosh Sonny Boswell, Chicago
Paul Armstrong, Ft Wayne Buddy Jeannette, Sheboygan
Ed Danker, Sheboygan Leroy Edwards, Oshkosh
Bobby McDermott, Ft Wayne Ken Suesens, Sheboygan
Charlie Shipp, Oshkosh Jerry Bush, Ft Wayne
1943-44
1st Team 2nd Team
Mel Reibe, Cleveland Rube Lautenschlanger, Sheboygan
Clint Wagner, Oshkosh Jerry Bush, Ft Wayne
Ed Danker, Sheboygan John Pelkington, Ft Wayne
Bobby McDermott, Ft Wayne Charlie Shipp, Oshkosh
Buddy Jeannette, Ft Wayne Ken Suesens, Sheboygan
1944-45
1st Team 2nd Team
Mel Reibe, Cleveland Dick Triptow, Chicago
Stan Patrick, Chicago Ed Danker, Sheboygan
Leroy Edwards, Oshkosh John Pelkington, Ft Wayne
Bobby McDermott, Ft Wayne Jerry Bush, Ft Wayne
Buddy Jeannette, Ft Wayne Huck Hartman, Pittsburgh
1945-46
1st Team 2nd Team
Bob Carpenter, Oshkosh Mike Novak, Sheboygan
Red Holzman, Rochester Jerry Stiener, Indianapolis
George Glamack, Rochester Bob Calihan, Chicago
Ed Danker, Sheboygan Leroy Edwards, Oshkosh
Buddy Jeannette, Ft Wayne Frank Baumholtz, Youngstown
Bobby McDermott, Ft Wayne Al Cervi, Rochester
1946-47
1st Team 2nd Team
Al Cervi, Rochester Bob Carpenter, Oshkosh
Bob Davies, Rochester Bob Calihan, Chicago
George Mikan, Chicago Arnie Risen, Indinapolis
Fred Lewis, Sheboygan Red Holzman, Rochester
Bobby McDermott, Chicago Hal Tidrick, Toledo
1947-48
1st Team 2nd Team
Jim Pollard, Minneapolis Bob Calihan, Flint
Marko Todorovich, Sheboygan Bob Davies, Rochester
George Mikan, Minneapolis Don Otten, Tri-Cities
Red Holzman, Rochester Frank Brian, Anderson
Al Cervi, Rochester Bobby McDermott, Tri-Cities
1948-49
1st Team 2nd Team
Gene Englund, Oshkosh Stan Von Nieda, Tri-Cities
Dick  Mehen, Waterloo Marko Todorovich, Sheboygan
Don Otten, Tri-Cities Ward Gibson, Tri-Cities
Frank Brian, Anderson Bill Closs, Anderson
Al Cervi, Syracuse Ralph Johnson, Anderson
 

The All Time NBL Team:
Bobby McDermott (1941-49)
Leroy "Cowboy" Edwards (1937-49)
George Mikan (1946-48)
Ben Stephens (1939-42)
Buddy Jeannette (1938-46)
Charlie Shipp (1937-49)
Ed Danker (1938-49)
Mel Reibe (1943-46)
Al Cervi (1937-38, 45-49)
Jerry Bush (1938-48)
Don Otten (1946-49)
Gene England (1941-49)
Mike Novack (1939-48)
Bob Carpenter (1940-41, 45-49)
George Glamack (1941-49)
Chuck Chuckovits (1939-42)
Bob Davies (1948-48)
William "Pop" Gates (1946-49)
Arnie Risen (1945-48)
Marko Todorovich (1947-49)

Note: Special voting by the Media for the All-Time Greatest NBL Player - Bobby McDermott

All-Time NBL Scoring Leaders (1937-1949)

Player G Pts PPG/Avg
Bobby McDermott, FtW-Chi-Sheb-TC 287 3583 12.48
Leroy Edwards, Oshkosh 322 3221 10.00
Gene Englund, Oshkosh 238 2600 10.92
Ed Dancker, Sheb-Osh 321 2490 7.76
Al Cervi, Buf-Rich-Syr 187 2326 12.44
Don Otten, Buf-TC 168 2292 13.64
Michael Novak, Chi-Sheb-Syr 267 2279 8.54
Bob Carpenter, Osh-Ham 209 2140 10.24
George Glamack, Akr-Roch-Ind-Ham 202 2138 10.58
Jake Pelkington, Akr-FtW 226 1949 8.62
Charles Shipp, Akr-Osh-FtW-Wat 376 1935 5.15
Stanley Patrick, Chi-Mid-Flint-Ham 212 1765 8.33
George Mikan, Chi-Minn 81 1608 19.85
Arnie Risen, Ind-Roch-Tol 123 1606 13.06
Howie Schultz, Anderson 165 1600 9.70
Red Holtzman, Rochester 138 1500 10.87
Rube Lautenschlegar, Sheboygan 222 1442 6.50
George Sobek, Ind-TC-Ham 148 1434 9.69
Marko Todorovich, Sheboygan 120 1425 11.88
Stanley Von Nieda, Twin Cities 124 1367 11.02
Buddy Jeannette, Cle-Det-Sheb-FtW 161 1320 8.20
Clint Wagner, Osh-Ham 247 1319 5.34
Howie Tidrick, Sheb-Tol 104 1302 12.52
Frank Brian, Anderson 123 1284 10.44
Dick Mehen, Tol-Waterloo 119 1228 10.32
Curley Armstrong, Fort Wayne 150 1211 8.07
Moose Stanczak, Anderson 167 1193 7.32
Bill Closs, Ind-And 163 1184 7.26
Rollie Seltz, Anderson 162 1179 7.28
Bob Davies, Rochester 107 1176 10.99
Billy Hasset, Twin Cities 147 1169 7.95
Jerry Bush, Tol-FtW 238 1147 4.82
William Towery, Ft. Wayne 170 1119 6.58
Mel Riebe, Cleveland 53 1002 18.91
Dolph Schayes, Syracuse 63 809 12.84
Ben Stephens, Akron 76 782 10.29
Jim Pollard, Minneapolis 59 760 12.88
Pop Gates, Buff-TC-Dayton 81 758 9.36
Ed Sadowski, Det-FtW 59 592 10.03
Chuck Chuckovits, Ham-TC 36 496 13.78
Sonny Boswell, Chicago 22 229 10.41
Otto Graham, Rochester 32 165 5.16
Chuck Conners, Rochester 14 28 2.00
 

All-Time NBL Scoring Leaders by Average

Player PPG/Avg
 George Mikan 19.85
 Mel Riebe 18.91
 Chuck Chuckovits 13.78
 Don Otten 13.64
 Arnie Rison 13.06
 Jim Pollard 12.88
 Dolph Schayes 12.84
 Howie Tidrick 12.52
 Bobby McDermott 12.48
 Al Cervi 12.44
 Marko Todorovich 11.88
 Stanley Von Nieda 11.02
 Bob Davies 10.99
 Gene Englund 10.92
 Red Holtzman 10.87
 George Glamack 10.58
 Frank Brian 10.44
 Sonny Boswell 10.41
 Dick Mehen 10.32
 Ben Stephens 10.29
 Bob Carpenter 10.24
 Ed Sadwoski 10.03
 Leroy Edwards 10.00
 

Other NBL Links:

Robert Bradley's NBL History Web Page

 

Extinct Sports Leagues Home Page

©1998 Steve Dimitry, all rights reserved.

Email: sdimitry@verizon.net