Recap
In the American Basketball League, longtime owner-coach John Donlin retired. Donlin, whose Visitation teams had been a fixture in Brooklyn for nearly two decades, had moved his club to Baltimore two years ago, but had found little success there. The team with new ownership, transferred for the new season to Trenton, New Jersey. Last year’s Brooklyn entry, which had reached the playoff finals, relocated to Wilmington, Delaware.
The Wilmington Blue Bombers, strengthened by the acquisition of National Leaguers Ed Sadowski and Jerry Bush, dominated the new season. The Bombers accomplished the unprecedented feat of winning both halves of the ABL split-season format. Coach Barney Sedran combined, Sadowki, a former Seton Hall star and Bush, an ex-St.John’s All-American with holdovers Bernie Fliegel, Chick Reiser and Sam Kaplan. Sadowski was particularly intimidating when he parked his 6’5″, 245-pound frame under the basket and demolished anyone foolhardy enough to venture near his favorite spot. In addition, Sedran added 19-year old shooting prodigy Dutch Hoefer to the backcourt and at midseason acquired veteran ABL star Moe Spahn, who proved to be the final piece of the mosaic that when completed made the Bombers virtually unbeatable.
Early in the season, the Philadelphia Sphas seemed capable of challenging Wilmington for the top spot. Brilliant Long Island University rookie Ossie Schectman teamed with his former college teammate Irv Torgoff to provide the Sphas with a potent offensive duo. Weak rebounding and a porous defense, however, quickly stymied any serious hopes Philadelphia had to finish at the top of the standings. Washington plodded through a dull season, posting an identical 5-6 mark in both halves of the season. Panzer College rookie Herm Knupple was a big disappointment. Knupple had led his small New Jersey college to success, but the 6’8″, 260-pounder exerted little impact in the pro game.
The Trenton Tigers returned to the ABL after an eight-year absence. The Tigers first season back brought modest results financially and in the standings. Trenton advanced to second place in the second-half of the season after signing the best of the talent from the minor-league Tri-Counties League that had shut down in late December of 1941. Matt Guokas and Bill Zubic provided immediate dividends for the Tigers frontcourt with their height and rebounding. The venerable New York Jewels dropped out after losing six of their first seven games. Player-coach Mac Kinsbrunner was the only reminder of the one-time glorious “Wonder Team”.
I sincerely appreciate the research work, and the information being shared. It is important and interesting history.