Hank Beenders
Encyclopedia
Henry G. "Hank" Beenders (June 2, 1916, Haarlem
, Netherlands
– October 27, 2003, Somerset, New Jersey
) was a Dutch-American basketball
player.
Beenders was born on June 2, 1916 in Haarlem, Netherlands, and migrated to the U.S. at age eight. He lived in Brooklyn
, New York
and Scotch Plains, New Jersey
, moving to Bridgewater Township, New Jersey
in the late 1960s. He attended North Plainfield High School
in North Plainfield, New Jersey
.
He played the center
position on the 1941 NIT champion Long Island University
team, and was team captain during the 1941-42 season under Hall of Fame coach Clair Bee
. He became one of the first international basketball players in the NBA
) (when it was the Basketball Association of America) and the first to reach the NBA finals. Beenders played for the Providence Steamrollers
in 1947 and 1948, the Philadelphia Warriors in 1948, and for the Boston Celtics
in 1949. In 1949 the year he left basketball, the BAA became the NBA after adding several teams from the rival National Basketball League
(NBL). Beenders averaged 12.3 points in his rookie season with Providence, which was 13th best in the league that season.
Beenders was also a war veteran (He served with the Army Air Corps
during World War II
). He had started his professional basketball career after the war. After ending his basketball career, he become an international sales representative for a clothing exporting company in New York City
for 35 years. He was 87 when he died at the Somerset Medical Center in Somerville, New Jersey
.
Haarlem
Haarlem is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of North Holland, the northern half of Holland, which at one time was the most powerful of the seven provinces of the Dutch Republic...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
– October 27, 2003, Somerset, New Jersey
Somerset, New Jersey
Somerset is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located at the easternmost section within Franklin Township, in Somerset County, New Jersey. At the 2000 United States Census, the CDP population was 23,040...
) was a Dutch-American basketball
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...
player.
Beenders was born on June 2, 1916 in Haarlem, Netherlands, and migrated to the U.S. at age eight. He lived in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and Scotch Plains, New Jersey
Scotch Plains, New Jersey
Scotch Plains is a township in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the township population increased to a record high of 23,510.-History:...
, moving to Bridgewater Township, New Jersey
Bridgewater Township, New Jersey
Bridgewater Township is a township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. , the township population was 44,464.Bridgewater Township was originally created by Royal Charter on April 4, 1749, from portions of the Northern precinct, and was incorporated as one of New Jersey's initial group of...
in the late 1960s. He attended North Plainfield High School
North Plainfield High School
North Plainfield High School is a four-year public high school, serving students in ninth through twelfth grade from North Plainfield, in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the North Plainfield School District...
in North Plainfield, New Jersey
North Plainfield, New Jersey
North Plainfield is a Borough in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 21,936....
.
He played the center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
position on the 1941 NIT champion Long Island University
Long Island University
Long Island University is a private, coeducational, nonsectarian institution of higher education in the U.S. state of New York.-History:...
team, and was team captain during the 1941-42 season under Hall of Fame coach Clair Bee
Clair Bee
Clair Francis Bee was an American basketball coach, who led the team at Long Island University in Brooklyn, New York to undefeated seasons in 1936 and 1939, as well as two National Invitation Tournament titles...
. He became one of the first international basketball players in the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
) (when it was the Basketball Association of America) and the first to reach the NBA finals. Beenders played for the Providence Steamrollers
Providence Steamrollers
The Providence Steamrollers were a National Basketball Association team based in Providence, Rhode Island. As of November 2011, the Steamrollers remain the last pro sports franchise from one of the Big Four leagues to be based in Rhode Island....
in 1947 and 1948, the Philadelphia Warriors in 1948, and for the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
in 1949. In 1949 the year he left basketball, the BAA became the NBA after adding several teams from the rival National Basketball League
National Basketball League (United States)
Founded in 1937, the National Basketball League, often abbreviated to NBL, was a professional men's basketball league in the United States. The league would later merge with the Basketball Association of America to form the National Basketball Association in 1949.- League history :The...
(NBL). Beenders averaged 12.3 points in his rookie season with Providence, which was 13th best in the league that season.
Beenders was also a war veteran (He served with the Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
). He had started his professional basketball career after the war. After ending his basketball career, he become an international sales representative for a clothing exporting company in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
for 35 years. He was 87 when he died at the Somerset Medical Center in Somerville, New Jersey
Somerville, New Jersey
Somerville is a borough in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 12,098. It is the county seat of Somerset County....
.