Stanley Stutz

Stanley Stutz
Personal information
Born(1920-04-14)April 14, 1920
Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedOctober 28, 1975(1975-10-28) (aged 55)
New Rochelle, New York, U.S.
Listed height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Listed weight170 lb (77 kg)
Career information
High schoolClassical (Worcester, Massachusetts)
CollegeRhode Island (1938–1942)
Playing career1943–1949
PositionGuard / forward
Number7, 5
Career history
1943–1944New York Americans
1944–1946Baltimore Bullets
1946–1948New York Knicks
1948–1949Baltimore Bullets
Career highlights and awards
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Stanley John Stutz (né Modzelewski; April 14, 1920 – October 28, 1975) was an American professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the Rhode Island Rams where he was known as Stanley "Stutz" Modzelewski. Stutz played professionally in the Basketball Association of America (BAA) for the Baltimore Bullets and New York Knicks.

Early life

Stutz was born Stanley Modzelewski to a poor Polish family.[1] He received the nickname "Stutz" as a child when he admired a friend's Stutz car.[1][2] Modzelewski was raised in Worcester, Massachusetts, and started playing basketball in the fourth grade.[1] He was taught how to play by former football player Archie Golembeski and was childhood friends with fellow basketball player Chet Jaworski.[1] Modzelewski attended Classical High School in Worcester.[1]

Basketball career

Stutz was known as Stanley "Stutz" Modzelewski when he played for the Rhode Island Rams.[2] He led the NCAA in scoring for three consecutive years from 1940 to 1942. He changed his surname to Stutz after he graduated in 1942.[3]

Stutz then played three seasons (1946–1949) in the Basketball Association of America (BAA) as a member of the New York Knicks and Baltimore Bullets. He averaged 7.1 points per game in his BAA career.[4]

Later life

Stutz later coached the Washington Tapers of the American Basketball League.[5] Stutz quit playing in 1949, but in 1950 returned to the court as a referee in the NBA, staying until 1959. He went into the corporate world, becoming a vice-president at Tucl Cellophane Tape in New York City.

Stutz was married and had three children.[6] He died on October 28, 1975.[6]

BAA career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played  FG%  Field-goal percentage
 FT%  Free-throw percentage  APG  Assists per game
 PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

Regular season

Year Team GP FG% FT% APG PPG
1946–47 New York 60 .268 .782 .8 8.0
1947–48 New York 47 .218 .837 1.2 7.0
1948–49 Baltimore 59 .281 .824 1.4 6.3
Career 166 .256 .813 1.1 7.1

Playoffs

Year Team GP FG% FT% APG PPG
1947 New York 5 .277 .875 1.4 16.8
1948 New York 3 .273 .818 .3 5.0
1949 Baltimore 3 .200 .500 .0 1.7
Career 11 .274 .816 .7 9.5

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Watterson, Jimmy (January 10, 1942). "The Sports Docket". The Day. p. 12. Retrieved October 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b King, Bill (February 11, 1942). "Modzelewski Is New King In Collegiate Hoop Ranks". Burlington Daily News. p. 6. Retrieved October 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Reveal Two R. I. Players Played Pro-Basketball". Sun-Journal. January 21, 1943. p. 2. Retrieved October 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Stan Stutz. basketball-reference.com
  5. ^ Association for Professional Basketball Research American Basketball League page
  6. ^ a b "STUTZ, Stanley J." The Standard-Star. October 30, 1975. p. 14. Retrieved October 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
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