1937–38 Akron Goodyear Wingfoots season

1937–38 Akron Goodyear Wingfoots season
NBL champions
Head coachLefty Byers
ArenaGoodyear Hall
Results
Record13–5 (.722)
PlaceDivision: 2 (Eastern)
Playoff finishDefeated Akron Firestone Non-Skids in NBL Championship, 2–1
1938–39 >

The 1937–38 Akron Goodyear Wingfoots season was the Wingfoots' inaugural year in the United States' National Basketball League (NBL), which was also the first year the league existed.[1] Thirteen teams competed in the NBL, comprising six teams in the Eastern Division (Akron Goodyear's division) and seven teams in the Western Division.[2] The Wingfoots were one of two teams from Akron, Ohio in the league, the other being the Akron Firestone Non-Skids.[1]

The Wingfoots played their home games at Goodyear Hall.[3] They finished the season with a 13–5 record, placing second in the Eastern Division.[2] However, they went on the win the league's playoffs championship against the Western Division's Oshkosh All-Stars, two games to one in a best-of-three series.[2]

Head coach Lefty Byers won the league's first Coach of the Year Award, while players Chuck Bloedorn and Charley Shipp earned First Team All-NBL honors.[2]

Roster

1937–38 Akron Goodyear Wingfoots roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
F Bennett, Wesley 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1913–03-31 Westminster (PA)
G Bloedorn, Chuck 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1912–05–28 Illinois Tech
F/C Cope, Robert 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1911–09–03 Mount Union
G/F Fitts, Wilson 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 1915–06–16 Akron
G Lins, Leroy 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1913–06–21 Rutgers
G McAdams, Johnny 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 147 lb (67 kg) 1912–04–15 Ohio Wesleyan
C Mealy, Dean 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1915–05–07 Muskingum
F/C Morstadt, Ray 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1913–03–10 Marquette
F Ochsenhirt, Russ 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1912–04–16 Pittsburgh
F Rush, Mal 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1909–04–02 Bethany (WV)
G/F Shipp, Charley 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1913–12–03 Catholic
G/F Tamagno, Chelso 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1912–03–20 Michigan
Head coach
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster

Note: Leroy Lins and Ray Morstadt were not on the playoffs roster.

Regular season

Season standings

Pos. Eastern Division Wins Losses Win %
1 Akron Firestone Non-Skids 14 4 .778
2 Akron Goodyear Wingfoots 13 5 .722
3 Pittsburgh Pirates 8 5 .615
4 Buffalo Bisons 3 6 .333
5 Warren Penns 3 9 .250
6 Columbus Athletic Supply 1 12 .091

Playoffs

Eastern Division Semifinals

(E2) Akron Goodyear Wingfoots vs. (E1) Akron Firestone Non-Skids: Wingfoots win series 2–0

  • Game 1 @ Wingfoots: Wingfoots 26, Non-Skids 21
  • Game 2 @ Non-Skids: Wingfoots 37, Non-Skids 31

NBL Championship

(E2) Akron Goodyear Wingfoots vs. (W1) Oshkosh All-Stars: Wingfoots win series 2–1

  • Game 1 @ Oshkosh: Akron 29, Oshkosh 28
  • Game 2 @ Akron: Oshkosh 39, Akron 31
  • Game 3 @ Akron: Akron 35, Oshkosh 27

Awards and honors

References

  1. ^ a b "NBL Season Index". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 27, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d "1937–38 NBL Season Summary". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 27, 2019.
  3. ^ "Akron Goodyear → 1937–1938". Pro Basketball Encyclopedia. Retrieved September 27, 2019.