Национальная Баскетбольная Лига (НБЛ): История и Преемственность с NBA

The NBL was initially founded as the Midwest Basketball Conference (MBC) in 1935. It changed its name in 1937 in an attempt to attract a larger audience. The league was created by three corporations: General Electric, Firestone and Goodyear. It was primarily made up of Great Lakes area small market and corporate teams. The league began rather informally. Scheduling was left to the discretion of each of the teams, as long as the team played at least ten games and four of them were on the road. Games played increased yearly as the popularity of professional basketball and the NBL grew in America. Games consisted either of four ten minute quarters or three fifteen minute periods. The choice was made by the home team. Some of the teams were independent, while others were owned by companies that also found jobs for their players. Chicago newspaper sports editor Leo Fischer acted as president of the NBL from 1940–44. In 1946, the Basketball Association of America (BAA) incorporated resulting in a three year battle with the NBL to win both players and fans. The BAA played its games in larger cities and venues. However, NBL tended to have the bigger stars. NBL teams dominated the World Professional Basketball Tournament, an annual invitational tournament held in Chicago and sponsored by the Chicago Herald American. NBL teams won seven out of ten editions of the tournament. On August 3, 1949, representatives from the 12 year old NBL and 3 year old BAA met at the BAA offices in New York's Empire State Building to finalize a merger. Maurice Podoloff was elected head of the new league. The new National Basketball Association (NBA) was made up of 17 teams that represented both small towns and large cities across the country. The NBA claims the BAA's history as its own and considers the 1949 deal as an expansion, not a merger. For example, at NBA History online, its table of one line "NBA Season Recaps" begins 1946–47 without comment. It celebrated "NBA at 50" in 1996, with announcement of its 50 Greatest Players among other things. The NBA does not recognize NBL records and statistics except under certain circumstances. The history of the NBL falls into three eras, each contributing significantly to the growth of professional basketball and the emergence of the NBA. The first dynasty centered on the Oshkosh All Stars and their center Leroy "Cowboy" Edwards. The middle years saw the emergence of the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons, who were later instrumental in the survival of the NBA during its infancy. The final period of note during the NBL's existence centered on George Mikan and the emergence of the big man in basketball. Division Team City Arena Capacity Club Founded NBL Years BAA/NBA successorEastern Division Akron Firestone NonSkids Akron, Ohio Firestone Clubhouse 1,500 1932 19371941 Akron Goodyear Wingfoots Akron, Ohio Akron Goodyear Hall 5,000 1918 1937 1943 (see above) Buffalo Bisons Buffalo, New York Broadway Auditorium 7,500 1925 1937 1938 Dayton Metropolitans Dayton, Ohio Montgomery County Fairgrounds Coliseum 4,200 1935 1937 1938 Columbus Athletic Supply Columbus, Ohio ? ? 1936 1937 1938 Pittsburgh Pirates Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Duquesne U Gym ? 1931 1937 1939 Warren Penns Warren, Pennsylvania Beaty JR High Gym 900 1926 1937 1938 Cleveland White Horses Cleveland, Ohio Cleveland Arena 6,000 1938 1939 Detroit Eagles Detroit, Michigan Detroit Light Guard Armory ? 1939 1941 Toledo Jim White Chevrolets Toledo, Ohio Civic Auditorium 3,600 1941 1941 1943 Cleveland Chase Brassmen/Allmen Transfers Cleveland, Ohio Cleveland Auditorium 10,000 1943 1943 1946 Youngstown Bears Youngstown, Ohio Youngstown South Field House 3,500 1945 1945 1947 Rochester Royals Rochester, New York Edgerton Park Arena 4,500 1923 1945 1948 Rochester Royals# Buffalo Bisons/Tri Cities Blackhawks Moline, Illinois Wharton Field House 6,000 1946 1946 1949 Tri Cities Blackhawks# Toledo Jeeps Toledo, Ohio The Field House (University of Toledo) 6,000 1946 1946 1948 Syracuse Nationals Syracuse, New York State Fair Coliseum 7,500 1946 1946 1949 Syracuse Nationals# Detroit Vagabond Kings Detroit, Michigan Holy Redeemer Church Gym /Dearborn High School Gymnasium 6,000 1948 1948 1949 New York/Dayton Rens Dayton, Ohio Springfield High School Gymnasium 1,200 1922 1948 1949 Pittsburgh Raiders Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Duquesne Gardens 5,000 1943 1944 1945 Western Division Oshkosh All Stars Oshkosh, Wisconsin South Park School Gymnasium 2,000 1929 1937–1949 Fort Wayne General Electrics Fort Wayne, Indiana North Side High School Gym 3,000 1935 1937–1938 Indianapolis Kautskys Indianapolis, Indiana Hinkle Fieldhouse 15,000 1931 1937 1948 Indianapolis Jets Kankakee Gallagher Trojans Kankakee, Illinois Gallagher Business School ? 1937 1937 1938 Cincinnati Comellos Cincinnati, Ohio Freeman Avenue Armory Gym ? 1937 1937 1938 Richmond King Clothiers Richmond, Indiana Richmond Civic Auditorium ? 1937 1937–1938 Hammond Ciesar All Americans Hammond, Indiana Hammond Civic Center 6,000 1936 1937 1941 Sheboygan Red Skins Sheboygan, Wisconsin Sheboygan Municipal Auditorium and Armory 3,000 1933 1938–1949 Sheboygan Red Skins Chicago Bruins Chicago, Illinois Chicago Coliseum 6,000 1925 1939 1942 Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons Fort Wayne, Indiana North Side High School Gym 3,000 1941 1941 1948 Fort Wayne Pistons# Chicago Studebaker Flyers Chicago, Illinois Chicago Coliseum 6,000 1942 1942–1943 Chicago American Gears Chicago, Illinois International Amphitheatre 9,000 1944 1944 1948 Anderson Duffey Packers Anderson, Indiana Anderson High School Wigwam 4,800 1946 1946 1949 Anderson Packers Detroit Gems Detroit, Michigan Ferndale High School Gymnasium 6,000 1946 1946 1947 Minneapolis Lakers Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Auditorium 10,000 1947 1947 1948 Minneapolis Lakers# Flint/Midland Dow A. C.'s Flint /Midland, Michigan Flint Industrial Mutual Association Auditorium/ Midland High School Gym 6,000 / ? 1947 1947 1948 Hammond Calumet Buccaneers Hammond, Indiana Hammond Civic Center 6,000 1948 1948 1949 Waterloo Hawks Waterloo, Iowa McElroy Auditorium 5,155 1948 1948 1949 Waterloo Hawks Denver Nuggets Denver, Colorado Denver Auditorium Arena 6,841 1948 1948 1949 Denver Nuggets

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