Rochester Colonels
Encyclopedia
The Rochester Colonels were a short-lived franchise
in the Eastern Professional Basketball League (the forerunner to today's CBA
) in the 1958-59 season. The franchise played just eight games and lost them all, before folding on December 17, 1958. Despite the team's inability to win, it featured Hubie Brown
at center and Arnie Risen
as a player-coach.
The biggest problem for the team's existence were finances. Rochester was distant from the locations of other teams in the league at the time, forcing the Colonels to pay more for travel expenses, referees, and ask for more pay when they were visiting other teams. In addition to this, they weren't drawing many fans for home games.
Once the team folded, the league decided to erase all games and individual statistics from the official league records. The team would then become forgotten until sports historian Douglas Brei
, in 2005, discovered their existence.
Professional sports league organization
Professional sports leagues are organized in numerous ways. The two most significant types are a European model, characterised by a tiered structure using promotion and relegation to determine participation in a hierarchy of leagues or divisions and a North American model characterized by its use...
in the Eastern Professional Basketball League (the forerunner to today's CBA
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
) in the 1958-59 season. The franchise played just eight games and lost them all, before folding on December 17, 1958. Despite the team's inability to win, it featured Hubie Brown
Hubie Brown
Hubert Jude "Hubie" Brown is a retired American basketball coach and a current television analyst. Brown is a two-time NBA Coach of the Year, the honors being separated by 26 years...
at center and Arnie Risen
Arnie Risen
Arnold D. Risen is a retired American basketball player.A 6'9" center from the Ohio State University, he led the Buckeyes to two straight Final Four appearances....
as a player-coach.
The biggest problem for the team's existence were finances. Rochester was distant from the locations of other teams in the league at the time, forcing the Colonels to pay more for travel expenses, referees, and ask for more pay when they were visiting other teams. In addition to this, they weren't drawing many fans for home games.
Once the team folded, the league decided to erase all games and individual statistics from the official league records. The team would then become forgotten until sports historian Douglas Brei
Douglas Brei
Douglas Brei is a former minor league sports executive who has recently garnered national attention as a sports historian in his hometown of Rochester, New York, United States.- Historical contributions :...
, in 2005, discovered their existence.