Providence Steamrollers
Providence Steamrollers | |||
---|---|---|---|
founding | 1946 | ||
resolution | 1949 | ||
Stadion | Rhode Island Auditorium | ||
Location | Providence , Rhode Island | ||
Club colors | Red, white, black |
||
league | BAA (1946-1949) | ||
division | Eastern Division | ||
Head coach | Robert Morris (1946–1947) Hank Soar (1947) Nat Hickey (1948) Ken Loeffler (1948–1949) |
||
owner | Louis Pieri | ||
|
Providence Steamrollers was the name of a US basketball team from Providence , Rhode Island , that played in the Basketball Association of America (BAA) from 1946 to 1949 . The Steamrollers were the last team that competed for the state of Rhode Island in one of the four American professional leagues ( NBA , NFL , MLB , NHL ).
history
The Steamrollers were one of the founding teams of the BAA and became Louis Pieri, then owner of the Rhode Island Auditorium and the local ice hockey team, the Providence Reds . In the first season, the 1946-1947 season , the team posted the best record with 28 wins until the dissolution in 1949 and just missed the play-offs just behind the Knicks . Furthermore, Ernie Calverley even made it into the All-BAA Second Team and was the best passer of the BAA with 202 assists.
In the following season it didn't play so well and could only record six wins, which is still an NBA record today. Still, they had a higher win rate than the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1972-1973 season.
During this season the Steamrollers were able to set another record, because Nat Hickey, the coach, switched himself on at the age of almost 46 and is thus the oldest player to have ever played an NBA game.
In their last season, the Steamrollers were able to double the number of their victories, but were still last in the Eastern Division. On August 3, 1949, the day the NBL was merged with the BAA to form the NBA , the Steamrollers disbanded.
Season statistics
season | S: N | percent | Play-offs |
---|---|---|---|
1946/47 | 28:32 | 46.7 | not in the playoffs |
1947/48 | 6:42 | 12.5 | not in the playoffs |
1948/49 | 12:48 | 20.0 | not in the playoffs |
total | 46: 122 | 26.4 | no playoff participation |
Well-known former players
- Hank Beenders
- Ernie Calverley
- Dino Martin
- George Nostrand
- Howie Shannon
- Ken Sailors