World Professional Basketball Tournament (1939-1948)
Introduction
By the late 1930’s through the early 1940’s the NBL champion was
regarded as the professional basketball champion. A Chicago
newspaper even started a World Professional Tournament in 1939.
The NBL League Champion usually won this tournament. The
exceptions being 1939 when the New York Rens won the title in
going 112-7 on the year. In 1940, the Harlem Globetrotters won
the championship and in 1943 an independent team made up of
Tarzan Cooper and some old New York Rens called the Washington
D.C. Bears won the tournament. The tournament lost some of its
prestige when the BAA started in 1946. The two leagues operated
separately until they merged in 1950 to form the NBA as we know
it today. The World Tournament - This was an invitational tournament for
Professional Basketball teams staged in Chicago by the Chicago
Herald American. Professional Players acknowledged the winner to
be the World Champions of Basketball.
Tournament Results
| YEAR |
Champion |
Score |
Runner-Up |
Score |
| 1939 |
New York Rens |
34 |
Oshkosh All-Stars |
25 |
| 1940 |
Harlem Globetrotters |
31 |
Chicago Bruins |
29 |
| 1941 |
Detroit Eagles |
39 |
Oshkosh All-Stars |
37 |
| 1942 |
Oshkosh All-Stars |
43 |
Detroit Eagles |
41 |
| 1943 |
Washington D.C. Bears |
43 |
Oshkosh All-Stars |
31 |
| 1944 |
Fort Wayne Zollner
Pistons |
50 |
Brooklyn Eagles |
33 |
| 1945 |
Fort Wayne Zollner
Pistons |
78 |
Dayton Acmes |
52 |
| 1946 |
Fort Wayne Zollner
Pistons |
73 |
Oshkosh All-Stars |
57 |
| 1947 |
Indianapolis Kautskys |
62 |
Toledo Jeeps |
47 |
| 1948 |
Minneapolis Lakers |
75 |
New York Rens |
71 |
| 1949 |
TOURNAMENT DISBANDED |
|
|
|
Tournament MVPs
| YEAR |
MVP, Team |
| 1939 |
Puggy Bell, New York Rens |
| 1940 |
Sonny Boswell, Harlem Globetrotters |
| 1941 |
Buddy Jeannette, Detroit Eagles |
| 1942 |
Ed Riska, Oshkosh All-Stars |
| 1943 |
Curly Armstrong, Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons |
| 1944 |
Bobby McDermott, Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons |
| 1945 |
Buddy Jeannette, Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons |
| 1946 |
George Mikan, Chicago American Gears |
| 1947 |
Julie Rivlin, Toledo Jeeps |
| 1948 |
George Mikan, Minneapolis Lakers |
| 1949 |
TOURNAMENT DISBANDED |
World Tournament Complete Information:
1939
1st Place: New York Rens 34- Oshkosh All-Stars 25
MVP- Puggy Bell (New York Rens)
Leading Championship Game Scorers:
Pop Gates (New York Rens) 12
Leroy Edwards (Oshkosh All-Stars) 12
3rd Place: Harlem Globetrotters 36- Sheboygen Redskins 33
5th Place: New York Yankees, Chicago Harmons, New York Celtics
8th Place: Fort Wayne Harvesters, Brenton Harbor House of David, Illinois Grads,
Clarksburg Oilers
1940
1st Place: Harlem Globetrotters 31- Chicago Bruins 29
MVP- Sonny Boswell (Harlem Globetrotters)
Leading Championship Game Scorers:
Sonny Boswell (Harlem Globetrotters) 12
Mike Novak (Chicago Bruins) 7
3rd Place: Washington Heurich Brewers 41- Syracuse Reds 30
5th Place: Sheboygen Redskins, Waterloo Wonders, Oshkosh All-Stars, NY Rens
9th Place: Fort Wayne Harvesters, Rochester Seagrams, Kenosha Royals, Canton
Bulldogs, Benton Harbor House of David, Clarksburg Oilers
1941
1st Place: Detroit Eagles 39- Oshkosh All-Stars 37
MVP- Buddy Jeannette (Detroit Eagles)
Leading Championship Game Scorers:
Ed Sadowski (Detroit Eagles) 11
Bob Carpenter (Oshkosh All-Stars) 8
3rd Place: New York Rens 57- Toledo White Huts 42
5th Place: Chicago Bruins, Kenosha Royals, Harlem Globetrotters, Philadelphia
Sphas
9th Place: Davenport Central Turner Rockets, Indianapolis Kautskys, Newark Elks,
Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons, Dayton Sucher Wonders, Rochester Seagrams, Sheboygen
Redskins, Bismark Phantoms
1942
1st Place: Oshkosh All-Stars 43- Detroit Eagles 41
MVP- Ed Riska (Oshkosh All-Stars)
Leading Championship Game Scorers:
Gene Englund (Oshkosh All-Stars) 17
Buddy Jeanette (Detroit Eagles ) 14
3rd Place: Long Island Grumman Flyers 43- Harlem Globetrotters 41
5th Place: Aberdeen Army Ordinance Training Center, Sheboygen Redskins, Chicago
Bruins, New York Rens
9th Place: Detroit A.A.A., Columbus Bobb Chevrolets, Northern Indiana Steelers,
Davenport Central Turner Rockets, Toledo White Huts, Hagerstown Conoco Oilers,
Indianapolis Kautskys, Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
1943
1st Place: Washington D.C. Bears 43- Oshkosh All-Stars 31
MVP- Curly Armstrong (Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons)
Leading Championship Game Scorers:
Johnny Isaacs (Washington D.C. Bears) 11
Leroy Edwards (Oshkosh All-Stars) 7
3rd Place: Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons 58- Dayton Dive Bombers 52
5th Place: Detroit Eagles, Sheboygen Redskins, Harlem Globetrotters, Minneapolis
Sparklers
9th Place: Akron Collegians, Indianapolis Pure Oils, Chicago Ramblers, South
Bend Studebaker Champions
1944
1st Place: Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons 50- Brooklyn Eagles 33
MVP- Bobby McDermott (Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons)
Leading Championship Game Scorers:
Jake Pellington (Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons) 19
Bob Tough & Bernie Opper (Brooklyn Eagles) 11
3rd Place: Harlem Globetrotters 37- New York Rens 29
5th Place: Dayton Aviators, Cleveland Chase Brassmen, Sheboygen Redskins,
Oshkosh All-Stars
9th Place: Akron Collegians, Camp Campbell Tankmen, Detroit Suffrins,
Indianapolis Pure Oils, Rochester Wings, Pittsburgh Corbetts
1945
1st Place: Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons 78- Dayton Acmes 52
MVP- Buddy Jeanette (Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons)
Leading Championship Game Scorers:
Buddy Jeanette (Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons) 18
John Mahnken (Dayton Acmes) 16
3rd Place: Chicago American Gears 64- New York Rens 55
5th Place: Oshkosh All-Stars, Pittsburgh Raiders, Midland Dow Chemicals, Harlem
Globetrotters
9th Place: Hartford Nutmegs, Detroit Mansfields, Indianapolis Oilers, Cleveland
Allmen Transfers, Newark C-O Twos, Long Island Grumman Hellcats
1946
1st Place: Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons 73- Oshkosh All-Stars 57
Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons 56- Oshkosh All-Stars 47
Oshkosh All-Stars 61- Ft. Wayne Zollner Pistons 59
(Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons wins series 2 games to 1)
MVP- George Mikan (Chicago American Gears )
Leading Championship Game Scorers:
Bobby McDermott (Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons) 20
Leroy Edwards (Oshkosh All-Stars) 24
3rd Place: Chicago American Gears 65- Baltimore Bullets 50
Chicago American Gears 59- Baltimore Bullets 54
(Chicago American Gears wins series 2 games to none)
5th Place: New York Rens, Sheboygen Redskins, Midland Dows, Anderson Chiefs
9th Place: Pittsburgh Raiders, Cleveland Allmen Transfers, Indianapolis Kautskys,
Detroit Mansfields, Toledo Whites, Dayton Mickeys
1947
1st Place: Indianapolis Kautskys 62- Toledo Jeeps 47
MVP- Julie Rivlin (Toledo Jeeps)
Leading Championship Game Scorers:
Leo Klier (Indianapolis Kautskys) 12
George Sobek (Toledo Jeeps) 20
3rd Place: Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons 86- Oshkosh All-Stars 67
5th Place: Sheboygen Redskins, Tri-Cities Blackhawks, Anderson Duffy Packers,
Midland Dows
9th Place: Herkimer Mohawk Redskins, Pittsburgh Pirates, Syracuse Nationals,
Portland Indians, New York Rens, Baltimore Bullets
1948
1st Place: Minneapolis Lakers 75- New York Rens 71
MVP- George Mikan (Minneapolis Lakers)
Leading Championship Game Scorers:
George Mikan (Minneapolis Lakers) 40
Sweetwater Clifton (New York Rens) 24
3rd Place: Anderson Duffey Packers 66- Tri-Cities Blackhawks 44
5th Place: Bridgeport Newfield Steelers, Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons,
Indianapolis Kautskys, Wilkes-Barre Barons
1949
TOURNAMENT DISBANDED
All-Time Championship Game Scoring Records
| Player
(Team) |
G |
Pts |
PPG/Avg |
| Leroy Edwards (Oshkosh) |
5 |
53 |
10.6 |
| Bobby McDermott (Ft.
Wayne) |
3 |
49 |
16.3 |
| Jake Pelkington (Det-Ft.
W) |
4 |
45 |
11.2 |
| Buddy Jeanette (Det-Ft.W) |
4 |
42 |
10.5 |
| George Mikan
(Minneapolis) |
1 |
40 |
40.0 |
| Pop Gates (NY-Wash) |
3 |
37 |
12.3 |
| Ed Sawowski (Det-Ft.W) |
3 |
34 |
11.3 |
| Jerry Bush (Det-Ft.W) |
5 |
30 |
6.0 |
| Nate Clifton (NY Rens) |
1 |
24 |
24.0 |
| Gene Englund (Oshkosh) |
3 |
22 |
7.3 |
| Chick Reisen (Ft. Wayne) |
3 |
22 |
7.3 |
| Bob Tough (Bkn-Ft.W) |
2 |
21 |
10.5 |
| Duke Cumberland
(Harlem-NY) |
2 |
20 |
10.0 |
| Jake Ahearn (Detroit) |
2 |
20 |
10.0 |
| George Sobek (Toledo) |
1 |
20 |
20.0 |
All-Time World Tournament Team Records
| Team |
App. |
Gms |
W-L |
Title
record |
| Oshkosh All-Stars |
9 |
30 |
20-10 |
1-4 |
| Fort Wayne Zollner
Pistons |
8 |
21 |
15-6 |
3-0 |
| New York Rens-Wash. Bears |
10 |
28 |
18-10 |
2-1 |
| Harlem Globetrotters |
7 |
20 |
13-7 |
1-0 |
| Detroit Eagles |
3 |
10 |
8-2 |
1-1 |
| Chicago American Gears |
2 |
9 |
7-2 |
0-0 |
| Chicago Bruins-Ramblers |
4 |
9 |
5-4 |
0-1 |
| Toledo White
Huts-Whites-Jeeps |
4 |
10 |
5-5 |
0-1 |
| Sheboygen Redskins |
8 |
14 |
5-9 |
0-0 |
| Anderson Chiefs-Duffy
Packers |
3 |
7 |
4-3 |
0-0 |
| Minneapolis Lakers |
1 |
3 |
3-0 |
1-0 |
| Brooklyn Eagles |
1 |
4 |
3-1 |
0-1 |
| L.I. Grumman
Flyers/Hellcats |
2 |
5 |
3-2 |
0-0 |
| Dayton Acmes-Mickeys |
2 |
5 |
3-2 |
0-1 |
| Midland Dow Chemicals |
3 |
6 |
3-3 |
0-0 |
| Indianapolis Kautskys |
5 |
7 |
3-4 |
1-0 |
| Washington Heurlick
Brewers |
1 |
3 |
2-1 |
0-0 |
| Tri-Cities Blackhawks |
2 |
5 |
2-3 |
0-0 |
| Baltimore Bullets |
2 |
6 |
2-4 |
0-0 |
8 Teams Had 1 win: Including Cleveland Chase Brassmen-Allmen
Transfers (1-3)
The world famous Philadelphia Sphas were (1-1) in 1941
27 Teams Did not win a game including Pittsburgh Corbetts-Raiders-Pirates
(0-4),
Indianapolis Pure Oil-Oilers (0-3) and Rochester Seagrams-Wings (0-3).
The world famous New York Celtics were (0-1) in 1939.
Other World Tournament Links:
Robert Bradley's World Tourny
Web Page
World Series of Basketball Tour (1950-1963)
The Harlem Globetrotters competed against a team of College
All-Americans in the World Series of Basketball tour. The All-American team was
selected from a college coaches poll.
| Year |
Winner |
Result |
Runner-up |
MVPs |
| 1950 |
Globetrotters |
11-7 |
All-Americans |
College- Paul Arizin, Villanova |
|
|
|
|
Harlem-Sweetwater Clifton and |
|
|
|
|
Marques Haynes |
| 1951 |
Globetrotters |
11-7 |
All-Americans |
College- Don Sunderlage, Illinois |
|
|
|
|
Harlem- Goose Tatum |
| 1952 |
Globetrotters |
11-5 |
All-Americans |
College- Leroy Leslie, Notre Dame |
|
|
|
|
Harlem- Goose Tatum |
| 1953 |
Globetrotters |
14-7 |
All-Americans |
College- Jack Molinas, Columbia |
|
|
|
|
Harlem- Ermer Robinson |
| 1954 |
Globetrotters |
15-6 |
All-Americans |
College- Dick Rosenthal, Notre Dame |
|
|
|
|
Harlem- Willie Gardner |
| 1955 |
Globetrotters |
14-10 |
All-Americans |
College- Tom Golla, LaSalle |
|
|
|
|
Harlem- Clarence Wilson |
| 1956 |
Globetrotters |
11-10 |
All-Americans |
College- Ron Sobieszczyk, DePaul |
|
|
|
|
Harlem- Charlie Hoxie |
| 1957 |
Globetrotters |
15-4 |
All-Americans |
College- John Symth, Notre Dame |
|
|
|
|
Harlem- Willie Gardner |
| 1958 |
Globetrotters |
13-5 |
All-Americans |
College- Guy Rodgers, Temple |
|
|
|
|
Harlem- Roman Turmon |
| 1959 |
Not Held, Due to Pan
Am Games |
| 1960 |
Not Held, Due to Pan
Am Games |
| 1961 |
No information
Available |
| 1962 |
No Information
Available |
| 1963 |
Series Disbanded |
Cleveland Pro Basketball Invitational Tournament
1940-41 Philadelphia Sphas (ABL) defeated Original Celtics
(Independent team) 43-38
1941-42 New York Rens defeated Chicago Bruins 62-51
1942-43 New York Rens defeated Aberdeen Proving Grounds of Maryland
?-?
1943-44 New York Rens defeated ?
1944-45 ???
Other World Series of Basketball Links:
Robert Bradley's World
Series of Basketball Web Page
Extinct
Sports Leagues Home Page
©1998 Steve Dimitry, all rights reserved.
Email:
sdimitry@verizon.net
