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Baltimore Bullets (1944–1954)

American professional basketball team (1944–1954)

American professional basketball team (1944–1954)

FieldValue
color1#Fecd37
color2#cd1937
color3#193781
nameBaltimore Bullets
logoThe logo of the original Baltimore Bullets from the postwar era.gif
imagesize120px
founded1944
folded1954
historyBaltimore Bullets (ABL)
1944–1947
**Baltimore Bullets (BAA/NBA)
**1947–1954
arenaBaltimore Coliseum
cityBaltimore, Maryland
colors
h_pattern_b_thingoldsides
h_pattern_s_adidasgold
h_bodycd1937
h_shortscd1937
a_pattern_b_thingoldsides
a_pattern_s_adidasgold
a_body193781
a_shorts193781
3_pattern_b_thingoldsides
3_pattern_s_adidasgold
3_bodyfefefe
3_shortsfefefe
league_champs2
ABL: 1946
BAA/NBA: 1948
capacity4,500

1944–1947 **Baltimore Bullets (BAA/NBA) **1947–1954

ABL: 1946 BAA/NBA: 1948

The Baltimore Bullets were a professional basketball team based in Baltimore. The Bullets competed in the American Basketball League (1944–1947), the Basketball Association of America (1947–1949), and (following the BAA's merger with the National Basketball League) the National Basketball Association (1949–1954). On November 27, 1954, the team folded with a 3–11 record on the season, making the Bullets the last NBA franchise to fold. Out of all defunct NBA teams, the Bullets were members of the association for the longest time and the only defunct team to win a championship.

The Bullets name was revived in 1963, when the former Chicago Zephyrs relocated to Baltimore; even after these Bullets relocated to Washington in 1973, they kept their name for 24 more years until they were renamed the Wizards.

Franchise history

ABL (1944–1947)

The Baltimore Bullets began play in 1944 as an American Basketball League (ABL) team. The Bullets acquired their name in reference to the Phoenix Shot Tower. In the ABL, Baltimore reached the championship round all three seasons, winning the ABL title in 1946. The Bullets won a division title in 1947, but forfeited that season's championship in favor of playing in the World Professional Basketball Tournament (the Bullets' second appearance in the tournament).

BAA/NBA (1947–1954)

The Bullets moved to the Basketball Association of America (BAA) in 1947, and won the 1948 championship over the Philadelphia Warriors (now Golden State Warriors). In 1949, the BAA merged with the National Basketball League (NBL), and became the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Bullets struggled on the court after their championship season, and never posted another winning record. In 1954, Ray Felix won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award and became the second African-American to be named an All-Star. Felix was traded to the Knicks on September 17, 1954, and on November 27, the Bullets became the last NBA franchise to fold.

Season-by-season records

ABL championsBAA/NBA championsDivision championsPlayoff berth
SeasonLeagueDivisionFinishWinsLossesWin%GBPlayoffsAwards
1944–45ABL—4th14168Won First Round (Tigers) 2–1
Lost ABL Championship (SPHAs) 1–2
1945–46ABL—T-1st2113—Won Tiebreaker (SPHAs) 1–0
Won First Round (Gothams) 2–0
Won ABL Championship (SPHAs) 3–1
1946–47ABLSouth1st313—Won First Round (Gothams) 2–1
Forfeited ABL Championship (Tigers)
1947–48BAAWestern2nd28201Won Division Tiebreaker (Stags) 1–0
Won First Round (Knicks) 2–1
Won BAA Semifinals (Stags) 2–0
Won BAA Finals (Warriors) 4–2
1948–49BAAEastern3rd29319Lost Division Semifinals (Knicks) 1–2
1949–50NBAEastern5th254326
1950–51NBAEastern5th244216
1951–52NBAEastern5th204620
1952–53NBAEastern4th165431Lost Division Semifinals (Knicks) 0–2
1953–54NBAEastern5th165628Ray Felix (ROY)
1954–55NBAEasternN/A311N/A

Notes

List of notable personnel

Players

  • John Abramovic
  • Don Barksdale
  • Walt Budko
  • Bill Calhoun
  • Ray Ellefson
  • Ray Felix
  • Barney Goldberg
  • Paul Gordon
  • Billy Hassett
  • Paul Hoffman
  • Bob Houbregs
  • Buddy Jeannette
  • Herman Klotz
  • Jim Luisi
  • Ray Lumpp
  • John Mandic
  • Eddie Miller
  • Ken Murray
  • Bob Peterson
  • Don Rehfeldt
  • Chick Reiser
  • Red Rocha
  • Kenny Sailors
  • Fred Scolari
  • Paul Seymour
  • Dick Triptow
  • Hal Uplinger
  • Mark Workman

Coaches

  • Ben Kramer
  • Red Rosan
  • Buddy Jeannette
  • Walt Budko
  • Fred Scolari
  • Chick Reiser
  • Clair Bee
  • Albert Barthelme

Basketball Hall of Fame members

Baltimore Bullets Hall of FamersPlayersNo.NamePositionTenureInductedCoachesNamePositionTenureInducted
26
6
14Buddy Jeannette1G1947–19501994
Clair BeeHead coach1952–19541968

Notes:

  • 1 He also coached the team in 1947–1951

Draft

YearLgPlayerCollege1954195419541954195419541954195419541954195419531953195319531953195319531953195319531953195319531953195319531952195219521952195219521952195219521952195219521951195119511951195119511951195119511951195119511950195019501950195019501950195019501950194919491949194919491949194919491948194819481948194819481948194819481948194819481948194819481947194719471947194719471947194719471947
NBAFrank SelvyFurman University
NBASlick LeonardIndiana University
NBAWerner KillenLawrence Institute of Technology
NBABurt SpiceUniversity of Toledo
NBALou ScottIndiana University
NBABob HeimXavier University
NBAJoe PehanickSeattle University
NBAHarry BrooksSeton Hall University
NBARon GoerrsConcord College
NBAGary ShiversUniversity of Houston
NBAElliot KarverGeorge Washington University
NBARay FelixLong Island University
NBAJack CarbyKansas State University
NBABob EmmercikClarion University of Pennsylvania
NBARuss Johnson
NBABob Kraback
NBADennis MurphyGeorgetown University
NBAPaul NolenTexas Tech University
NBABob PetersonUniversity of Oregon
NBAJoe Piorkowski
NBAConnie ReaCentenary College of Louisiana
NBABill SchymanDePaul University
NBAHerman SledzikPennsylvania State University
NBABob SpeightNorth Carolina State University
NBADon Stemmerich
NBAElmer TolsonEastern Kentucky University
NBAEdward Walsh
NBAJim BaechtoldEastern Kentucky University
NBABlaine DenningLawrence Institute of Technology
NBAChuck GrigsbyUniversity of Dayton
NBAFrank GuisnessUniversity of Washington
NBABill LeaMissouri State University
NBAMike MagulaYoungstown State University
NBABud PenwellOklahoma City University
NBABob PetersonUniversity of Oregon
NBAArt PressWestern Maryland College
NBABob PriddyNew Mexico State University
NBABenny PurcellMurray State University
NBAJim WalshStanford University
NBAGene MelchiorreBradley University
NBAJack StoneKansas State University
NBABill MannBradley University
NBABill HaglerUniversity of California
NBALeroy IshmanAmerican University
NBAGlen DugginsUniversity of Utah
NBATom RiachUniversity of Southern California
NBABill HarperOregon State University
NBABob CroweSan Jose State University
NBADan TorreyOregon State University
NBAClem PavilonisDePaul University
NBAJohn BurkeSpringfield College
NBADon RehfeldtUniversity of Wisconsin
NBAJohn PilchUniversity of Wyoming
NBADick DickeyNorth Carolina State University
NBAJerry ReedUniversity of Wyoming
NBANorm MagerCity College of New York
NBARick HarmanKansas State University
NBAFrank ComerfordLa Salle University
NBAGeorge BushUniversity of Toledo
NBAJack LaubUniversity of Cincinnati
NBAMike ZedalisLoyola College in Maryland
BAARon LivingstoneUniversity of Wyoming
BAAPaul GordonUniversity of Notre Dame
BAABill EvansDrake University
BAATom GallagherSt. Francis College
BAAJim McMullenXavier University
BAAEppa RixeyKenyon College
BAARoger WileyUniversity of Oregon
BAABill ZippleLafayette College
BAAWalt BudkoColumbia University
BAAJim BlackOccidental College
BAADarrell BrownHumboldt State University
BAARobert CarrollWest Virginia University
BAAJake CarterEast Texas State University
BAAMarvin EnglishNewberry College
BAAGene FellmothWittenberg University
BAAJ.W. FullertonArkansas State University
BAAMarshall GemberlingLebanon Valley College
BAAVince HansenWashington State University
BAAJoe HollandUniversity of Kentucky
BAAWayne JonesAmerican International College
BAADan KrausGeorgetown University
BAAHerb KrautblattRider University
BAAPaul MarcincinMoravian College
BAALarry KillickUniversity of Vermont
BAARobert BolyardUniversity of Toledo
BAAElmer GainerDePaul University
BAAHarry GallatinTruman State University
BAAScotty HamiltonWest Virginia University
BAAHugh HamptonHigh Point University
BAABob JakeUniversity of Vermont
BAACharles RaynorUniversity of Houston
BAAChick ReiserNew York University
BAAJohn RusinkoPennsylvania State University

References

References

  1. (November 27, 1954). "Bullets Fold For Season". [[The Chronicle (Centralia, Washington).
  2. [https://www.allaboutbasketball.us/basketball-history/nba-teams-that-dont-exist-anymore.html#:~:text=Baltimore%20Bullets%20was%20the%20last,during%201954%2D55%20season). NBA Teams that don’t Exist anymore] ''All About Basketball''
  3. [https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/ NBA & ABA team index] at [[Sports Reference. Basketball Reference]]
  4. (November 12, 1995). "Sports of The Times;Say Goodbye To 'Bullets' As Nickname". [[The New York Times]].
  5. (December 24, 2011). "Former Wizards owner Irene Pollin wouldn't have a problem with name changing back to Bullets". [[The Washington Post]].
  6. (4 August 1949). "NBL, BAA merge, end pro net war". [[The Republic (Columbus, Indiana).
  7. [http://peachbasketsociety.blogspot.com/2018/05/1946-47-baltimore-bullets-abl.html 1946–47 Baltimore Bullets (ABL)] ''Peach Basket Society''
  8. [https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BLB/1955.html 1954–55 Baltimore Bullets Roster and Stats] ''[[Sports Reference. Basketball Reference]]''
  9. (December 22, 1946). "GEARS DEFEATED BY BALTIMORE IN EXHIBITION TEST". [[Chicago Tribune]].
  10. (September 5, 1976). "Howard Rosan, basketball pro". [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]].
  11. "Baltimore Bullets Draft Picks {{!}} Basketball-Reference.com".
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