Recap
In the Eastern Basketball League, the defending champion Philadelphia Sphas, with three straight titles to their credit, stood out as the pre-season favorites. In addition to last year’s talented squad, Eddie Gottlieb added Mac Posnack (moonlighting from the Brooklyn Jewels) to beef up his frontline. In addition to Posnack, the other Jewels all signed on for part-time duties with EBL clubs. Kinsbrunner and Begovich played the Philadelphia Moose, while Schuckman shared scoring duties with old pro Benny Borgmann at Bridgeton.
The newly formed Trenton Moose, a team without any Jewels, turned out to be the most glittering combination in the circuit. Early pro star Teddy Kearns built his team with veteran ABL stars. Trenton natives Rusty Saunders and George Glasco were the first to sign up, to be followed by former CCNY speedster Lou Spindell and 6’8″ center Howie Bollerman. As the final and most important ingredient Kearns signed veteran all-star Honey Russell who still performed with icy efficiency.
The Sphas managed to hold off Trenton and win first place in the first half, but Kearns’ team completely controlled the second- half of the season with fourteen wins in fifteen games. The two teams split the opening games of the best-of-five game championship series. Spindell and Saunders combined for 18 points in a dazzling exhibition of pivot play execution to lead Trenton to an upset 34-29 victory in Philadelphia in game three. The Moose wrapped up the championship at home a week later behind 15 points by Russell.
I sincerely appreciate the research work, and the information being shared. It is important and interesting history.