Cleveland Rosenblums
Encyclopedia
The Cleveland Rosenblums (also known as the Rosies) was an American basketball
team based in Cleveland, Ohio that was one of the original members of the American Basketball League
. The Rosenblums played in the league between 1925-1930, winning three championships before dropping out.
owner, Max Rosenblum (1877-1953). Originally known as the "Rosenberg Credits," the 1919 team compiled a record of 18-2 and was selected by Cleveland sporting editors as "the recognized champions of Ohio."
During the 1922-1923 season, the team became known as "the fastest basket ball aggregation in this part of the country," and consisted of "an array of former college stars," including Kelly McBride, who was the team's top scorer for several seasons. The 1922-1923 team was coached by Bill Lange
, who later led the North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball
team to its first NCAA tournament
appearance in 1941.
In April 1924, the Rosenblums traveled to Brooklyn to compete in a tournament of five professional basketball teams. The tournament was organized as a fundraiser for the U.S. Olympic Committee. The Rosenblums lost in the tournament to the Original Celtics
by a score of 25 to 17 in a game that featured a fight late in the game between Celtics player Nat Holman
and Marty Friedman
, forward for the Rosenblums. Both players were ejected from the game.
(216 points), Nat Hickey
(198 points), and Carl Husta
(158 points). On April 9, 1926, the Rosenblums won the ABL's first championship by defeating the Brooklyn Arcadians
by a score of 23-22 in the final game of the league's first championship series played at Brooklyn's 71st Infantry Regiment
Armory. The championship was decided in a best-of-five series, and the Rosenblums won in three consecutive games. The Rosenblums won the first and second games at Cleveland's Public Hall by scores of 36-33 and 37-21. The New York Times
described the Rosenblums' playing style in the final game as follows:
The starting five for the Rosenblums' 1925-1926 championship team was Carl Husta
(left forward), Nat Hickey
(right forward), Rich Deighan (center), Dave Kerr
(left guard), and John "Honey" Russell
(right guard).
. The team's leading scorers for the 1926-27 season were Nat Hickey (343 points) and Carl Husta (330 points). Having won the first half of the season, the Rosenblums returned to the ABL championship series in the spring of 1927. They lost the championship series in three consecutive games to the Original Celtics
.
The team won its second and third ABL championships, known as the world series of professional basketball, in the 1928-29 and 1929-30 seasons. The team dropped out during the first half of the 1930-31 season on December 8, 1930.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team based in Cleveland, Ohio that was one of the original members of the American Basketball League
American Basketball League (1925-1955)
The American Basketball League was an early professional basketball league. During six seasons from 1925-26 to 1930-31, the ABL was the first attempt to create a major professional basketball league in the United States...
. The Rosenblums played in the league between 1925-1930, winning three championships before dropping out.
Early years
The Rosenblums were organized in the late 1910s and were owned by Cleveland department storeDepartment store
A department store is a retail establishment which satisfies a wide range of the consumer's personal and residential durable goods product needs; and at the same time offering the consumer a choice of multiple merchandise lines, at variable price points, in all product categories...
owner, Max Rosenblum (1877-1953). Originally known as the "Rosenberg Credits," the 1919 team compiled a record of 18-2 and was selected by Cleveland sporting editors as "the recognized champions of Ohio."
During the 1922-1923 season, the team became known as "the fastest basket ball aggregation in this part of the country," and consisted of "an array of former college stars," including Kelly McBride, who was the team's top scorer for several seasons. The 1922-1923 team was coached by Bill Lange
Bill Lange (coach)
William Fisher "Bill" Lange was an American basketball and football player and coach. He played college football and basketball for Wittenberg College from 1918 to 1921...
, who later led the North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball
North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball
The North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball program is the intercollegiate men's basketball of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and is considered one of the most successful programs in NCAA history...
team to its first NCAA tournament
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
appearance in 1941.
In April 1924, the Rosenblums traveled to Brooklyn to compete in a tournament of five professional basketball teams. The tournament was organized as a fundraiser for the U.S. Olympic Committee. The Rosenblums lost in the tournament to the Original Celtics
Original Celtics
The Original Celtics were a barnstorming professional basketball team in the 1920s. There is no relation to the modern Boston Celtics. The Original Celtics are often credited with extending the reach of basketball across America and for establishing the importance of aggressive defensive play...
by a score of 25 to 17 in a game that featured a fight late in the game between Celtics player Nat Holman
Nat Holman
Nat Holman was one of the early pro basketball players and one of the game's most important innovators.-Career:...
and Marty Friedman
Marty Friedman (basketball)
Max "Marty" Friedman was an American pro basketball player and coach.-Career:He played almost 20 years of pro basketball , while being mostly known for playing with the New York Whirlwinds....
, forward for the Rosenblums. Both players were ejected from the game.
Formation of the American Basketball League
In April 1925, Rosenblum hosted an organizational meeting at the Hotel Statler in Cleveland to establish a professional basketball league that was originally called the National Basketball League. The Pittsburgh Press reported at the time, "Max Rosenblum, of Cleveland, who has sponsored professional basketball on a large scale for many years, is the leading spirit in the organization."First ABL championship
In the inaugural 1925-1926 season of the American Professional Basketball League, the Rosenblums compiled a record of 23-7. Their leading scorers were John "Honey" RussellJohn Russell (basketball)
John "Honey" Russell was an American basketball player and coach born in Brooklyn, New York. He turned professional after his sophomore year of high school, playing for numerous early 20th century pro teams, including many in the American Basketball League...
(216 points), Nat Hickey
Nat Hickey
Matthew "Nat" Hickey was an American professional basketball player and coach.A 5'11" guard/forward, Hickey played during the 1920s through 1940s as a member of multiple professional teams, including the Cleveland Rosenblums of the American Basketball League and the Pittsburgh Raiders,...
(198 points), and Carl Husta
Carl Husta
Carl Lawrence Husta was an American Major League Baseball infielder. He played for the Philadelphia Athletics during the season.-References:...
(158 points). On April 9, 1926, the Rosenblums won the ABL's first championship by defeating the Brooklyn Arcadians
Brooklyn Arcadians
The Brooklyn Arcadians were an American basketball team based in Brooklyn, New York that was a member of the American Basketball League.The team was replaced by the New York Celtics 5 games into their final season.-Year-by-year:...
by a score of 23-22 in the final game of the league's first championship series played at Brooklyn's 71st Infantry Regiment
71st Infantry Regiment (New York)
The 71st Infantry Regiment is an organization of the New York State Guard. Formerly, the 71st Infantry was a regiment of the New York State Militia and then the Army National Guard from 1850 to 1993.-Foundation:...
Armory. The championship was decided in a best-of-five series, and the Rosenblums won in three consecutive games. The Rosenblums won the first and second games at Cleveland's Public Hall by scores of 36-33 and 37-21. The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
described the Rosenblums' playing style in the final game as follows:
"Although Cleveland deceived the Brooklyn players by short, tricky passes at various stages of the game the main strategy of the invaders seemed to be to get a few points ahead and then play catch with the ball to prevent the Brooklyn players from getting a chance. In the final six minutes, when Cleveland's margin was never more than a point or two, the ball was 'frozen' or passed from hand to hand for four minutes of the time."
The starting five for the Rosenblums' 1925-1926 championship team was Carl Husta
Carl Husta
Carl Lawrence Husta was an American Major League Baseball infielder. He played for the Philadelphia Athletics during the season.-References:...
(left forward), Nat Hickey
Nat Hickey
Matthew "Nat" Hickey was an American professional basketball player and coach.A 5'11" guard/forward, Hickey played during the 1920s through 1940s as a member of multiple professional teams, including the Cleveland Rosenblums of the American Basketball League and the Pittsburgh Raiders,...
(right forward), Rich Deighan (center), Dave Kerr
Dave Kerr
David Alexander Kerr was a Canadian NHL goaltender who played for the Montreal Maroons, New York Americans and New York Rangers-Playing career:...
(left guard), and John "Honey" Russell
John Russell (basketball)
John "Honey" Russell was an American basketball player and coach born in Brooklyn, New York. He turned professional after his sophomore year of high school, playing for numerous early 20th century pro teams, including many in the American Basketball League...
(right guard).
Later years
During the 1926-1927 season, the Rosenblums went 17-4 in the first half of the season but fell to 9-12 in the second half. The team's decline in the second half of the season followed a falling-out between Max Rosenblum and Honey Russell that ended with Russell being traded to the Chicago BruinsChicago Bruins
The Chicago Bruins were an American basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois that was a member of the American Basketball League. The Bruins later played in the National Basketball League and World Professional Basketball Tournament....
. The team's leading scorers for the 1926-27 season were Nat Hickey (343 points) and Carl Husta (330 points). Having won the first half of the season, the Rosenblums returned to the ABL championship series in the spring of 1927. They lost the championship series in three consecutive games to the Original Celtics
Original Celtics
The Original Celtics were a barnstorming professional basketball team in the 1920s. There is no relation to the modern Boston Celtics. The Original Celtics are often credited with extending the reach of basketball across America and for establishing the importance of aggressive defensive play...
.
The team won its second and third ABL championships, known as the world series of professional basketball, in the 1928-29 and 1929-30 seasons. The team dropped out during the first half of the 1930-31 season on December 8, 1930.
Annual record
| Year | League | Reg. Season | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1925/26 | ABL | 2nd (1st half); 1st (2nd half) | Champion |
| 1926/27 | ABL | 1st (1st half); 5th (2nd half) | Finals |
| 1927/28 | ABL | 2nd, Western b lnx |
Playoffs |
| 1928/29 | ABL | 1st (1st half); 3rd (2nd half) | Champion |
| 1929/30 | ABL | 1st (1st half); 2nd (2nd half) | Champion |
| 1930/31 | ABL | 7th (1st half) | N/A |