BILL SPIVEY'S PROFESSIONAL CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Contributed by Jack Black, J. Michael Kenyon, Bill Hoover and
Robert Bradley
1951 – Seven-foot Bill Spivey refuses to cooperate with gambling
scandal investigators. He is indicted for perjury and
suspended, never again allowed to wear his No. 77 Kentucky
jersey. He refuses to implicate teammates accused of
fixing games and, despite a hung jury at his trial, NBA
Commissioner Maurice Podoloff bans him for life.
1952-53 – Spivey plays with a barnstorming team called the Detroit
Vagabonds.
15Oct53 – Spivey signs to play with the Boston Whirlwinds of the
Harlem Globetrotter organization (His player-coach is
Bob Karstens).
1953-54 - Bill Spivey and Bobby Showboat Hall had a big fight in a
game in Brisbane, Australia during the 1953-54 season.
After the fight the game ended with Claude Overton hitting
a shot at the buzzer giving the Boston Whirlwinds a victory
over the Trotters. The Trotters manager ran to the score
table and "found an error." The Trotters won in overtime,
but Kline admits that Spivey was on the team which broke a
regular season win streak of years and years.
WESTERN TEAM - of Bobby Hall, Bobby Milton, Sammy Gee,
Rookie Brown, Jumping Johnny Wilson, Lee Gardner, Frank
Washington, Bobby Knight, and John Kline.
1954 – When Bevo Francis, celebrated collegiate scoring star, is
signed to play with the Whirlwinds, Spivey is switched over
to the Trotters’ “House of David” team for a summer tour of
U.S. ballparks.
29Jul54 – Francis scores 21 and Spivey 27 in the Whirlwinds’ 47-46
preliminary game victory over the House of David. In the
feature, before 13,444 at Fenway Park, the Trotters beat the
U.S. Stars, 61-41, with Goose Tatum scoring 18.
21Oct54 – Bill Spivey scores 29 in an 86-62 House of David loss to the
Harlem Globetrotters before 1,100 at Antioch High as the
1954-55 Trotter season commences.
1954-55 – Spivey is “transferred” to the original Washington Generals.
He scores 27 for them in a 64-58 loss to the Toledo Mercurys
before 3,600 at the Portland (ME) Exposition Bldg on November
17, 1954.
15Jan55 – Goose Tatum scores 21 as the Globetrotters defeat the
Professional All-Stars (a consortium of General, Mercury and
Philadelphia SPHA players, including Bill Spivey), 57-50,
before 9,541 in the Cow Palace at San Francisco. Spivey is
said by Trotter publicist Tom Walsh to be averaging 30 points
a game.
1955 - After the 1954-55 season, Spivey is said to have returned to
the University of Kentucky campus to complete work toward his
degree.
1955-56 – Spivey begins touring with Marques Haynes’ Harlem Magicians,
who now also feature Goose Tatum. Dec. 14, 1955 – The
Magicians, with Tatum pouring in 50, beat the New York
Olympians, led by Bill Spivey’s 30 points, before 2,500 at
the Portland (ME) Exposition Bldg.
NEW YORK OLYMPIANS - Bill Spivey, Charlie Hadden, Bob Fowler,
Bob Righetti, Tom Gatzek, Ted Lyons, and Byron Anderson.
HARLEM MAGICIANS - Goose Tatum, Marques Haynes, Van Phillips,
Boyd Buie, Bertrand, Kenneth McBride, Jerry Johnson, Fred
Andrews, and Lester Burks.
5Mar56 – Spivey’s New York Olympians lose, 97-91, to the Magicians
before 4,000 at Rancho High in Las Vegas. Tatum outscores
Spivey, 57 to 51.
6Apr56 – Spivey scores 50 and Tatum 46 as the Magicians beat the New
York Olympians, 94-81, at the Tacoma (WA) Armory.
1956-57 – The name of the Magician opposition team is changed to the
Kentucky Colonels, probably in Spivey's honor. Tatum and
Spivey continue to be the high-scoring magnets.
AMERICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE
[as member of Elvira Colonels]
16Oct52 Wilkes-Barre 81, Elmira 70 (Attendance - 842)
Spivey's first Colonels game, 21 points scored
23Oct52 Jersey City 95, Elmira 78 (Attendance - 1200)
Spivey's second and final Colonels game, 32 points scored
'LOST' EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE REGULAR SEASON RECORD
[as member of Wilkes-Barre Barons]
DATE OPPONENT SCORE POINTS
15Feb58 @Williamsport 116-126 L 21
23Feb58 Hazleton 109-111 L 22
24Feb58 Reeding Forfeit W
2Mar58 @Hazleton 111-102 W 12
8Mar58 Scranton 108-93 W 12
9Mar58 Easton 123-113 W 36
14Mar58 @Sunbury 100-101 L 27
15Mar58 @Scranton 108-107 W 31
16Mar58 @Wilmington 128-117 W 27
'LOST' EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE PLAYOFF RECORD
DATE OPPONENT SCORE POINTS ATTENDANCE
23Mar58 Hazleton 109-97 W 11 3595
29Mar58 Sunbury 117-114 W-OT 31
5Apr58 @Sunbury 115-114 W-OT 29 1115
12Apr58 Easton 119-107 W 48
19Apr58 @Easton 109-124 L 37
20Apr58 Easton @Scranton 143-124 W 62 746
EBL FACTS
DATE GAME SCORE/FACT POINTS
15Feb58 Wilkes-Barre 116, Williamsport 126 21
First Wilkes-Barre Barons game
23Feb58 Hazleton 111, Wilkes-Barre 109 (OT) 22
First home game in Wilkes-Barre
23Mar58 Hazleton 97, Wilkes-Barre 109 11
First playoff game
20Apr58 Easton 124, Wilkes-Barre 143 62
12th EBL championship, playoff scoring record
24Mar59 Baltimore 91, Wilkes-Barre 117 64
First EBL player to score 1000 points in season
18Apr59 Scranton 106, Wilkes-Barre 113 47
13th EBL championship, final Barons game
12Nov59 Sunbury 86, Baltimore 92 23
First Baltimore Bullets game
5Apr61 Allentown 124, Baltimore 107 27
Special playoff game to determine first place
15Apr61 Allentown 104, Baltimore 119 28
15th EBL championship
26Jan63 Allentown 131, Scranton 109 19
First Scranton Miners game
3Feb63 Wilkes-Barre 108, Scranton 90 13
First home game in Scranton
2Apr67 Wilmington 143, Scranton 110 13
Final EBL playoff game
1Jan68 Wilmington 150, Scranton 130 7
Last Miners game
6Jan68 Sunbury 124, Wilkes-Barre 125 8
Returns to Wilkes-Barre
4Feb68 Scranton 125, Wilkes-Barre 118 3
Final Barons game
EBL PLAYOFF RECORD
DATE OPPONENT SCORE POINTS ATTENDANCE
28Mar59 @Easton 102-109 L 40
29Mar59 Easton 119-109 W 44 1100
4Apr59 Easton 93-85 W 44
11Apr59 @Scranton 112-104 W 45 1678
12Apr59 Scranton 98-109 L 28 1200
18Apr59 Scranton 112-106 W 47 1500
20Mar60 Allentown 103-89 W 44
26Mar60 Easton @Phillipsburg, NJ 112-110 W 40
27Mar60 Easton 120-131 L 41
2Apr60 Easton @Allentown 107-114 L 37
5Apr61 @Allentown 107-124 L 27
9Apr61 Allentown 132-107 W 48
15Apr61 @Allentown 119-104 W 28 3500
15Mar64 @Camden 120-132 L 20 2876
20Mar64 Camden 123-105 W 33 1642
25Mar64 Camden 125-131 L 14 2000
20Mar65 @Sunbury 123-124 L 42
21Mar65 Sunbury 137-129 W 45 1863
27Mar65 Sunbury 123-121 W 20
4Apr65 Allentown 128-126 W 49 2116
10Apr64 @Allentown 133-142 L 30 1680
24Apr65 Allentown 111-131 L 31 1837
12Mar66 @Sunbury 132-136 L 18
11Mar67 Wilkes-Barre 119-408 W 10 3107
12Mar67 @Wilkes-Barre 151-160 L 13 1600
15Mar67 Wilkes-Barre 141-130 W 24 3500
18Mar67 Allentown 124-122 W 29 2017
19Mar67 @Allentown 139-132 W 4
26Mar67 @Wilmington 116-119 L 16 1217
27Mar67 Wilmington 149-142 W 35 2150
30Mar67 @Wilmington 103-121 L 8 1650
31Mar67 Wilmington 110-143 L 13 2100
ABL FACTS
DATE GAME SCORE/FACT POINTS ATTENDANCE
27Oct61 Los Angeles 96, San Francisco 99 20 5137
First ABL game, first Los Angeles Jets game
30Oct61 Chicago 116, Los Angeles 119 17 8384
First game in Los Angeles
6Nov61 San Francisco 116, Los Angeles 113 19 1634
First Jets game in Olympic Stadium
22Nov61 Chicago 118, Los Angeles 90 11 2895
Played in Milwaukee
1Dec61 Cleveland 113, Los Angeles 92 12
Played in Columbus
26Dec61 Los Angeles 110, San Francisco 114 34 3045
Most points scored as a Jet
5Jan62 Chicago 106, Los Angeles 103 26 5000
Played in Wichita
9Jan62 Hawaii 103, Los Angeles 140 22 2791
Free admission
10Jan62 Los Angeles 123, Hawaii 122 19 2684
Played in San Francisco, final Jets game
23Jan62 Cleveland 100, Hawaii 106 31 2819
First Hawaii Chiefs game
4Feb62 Kansas City 105, Hawaii 92 30 7857
Played in Los Angeles
6Feb62 Kansas City 88, Hawaii 85 24 4200
Played in San Diego
14Feb62 Cleveland 115, Hawaii 103 29 1240
Played in New Castle, PA
15Feb62 Cleveland 112, Hawaii 108 44
Most points as Hawaii Chief
17Feb62 New York 103, Hawaii 85 29 5600
Played in Oklahoma City
18Feb62 Hawaii 105, New York 103 19 5000
Played in Tulsa
26Feb62 Chicago 97, Hawaii 77 22 1553
Played in Hilo, HI
9Mar62 Chicago 104, Hawaii 92 16 7322
Played in Miami Beach
10Mar62 Hawaii 110, Chicago 103 28 7656
Played in Miami Beach
11Mar62 Chicago 111, Hawaii 95 19 5500
Played in Jacksonville
12Mar62 Chicago 113, Hawaii 93 21 4800
Played in Jacksonville
29Mar62 New York 125, Hawaii 116 28 3453
Played in Pittsburgh, first ABL playoff game
Last Hawaii game
17Nov62 Kansas City 96, Long Beach 105 20 3453
First Long Beach Chiefs game
28Nov62 Long Beach 96, Chicago 87 27 6829
Played in Toronto
29Nov62 Long Beach 107, Chicago 74 21 5000
Played in Rochester
29Dec62 Oakland 111, Long Beach 124 38 2141
Most points as Long Beach Chief
30Dec62 Oakland 100, Long Beach 104 31 1003
Final ABL game
BILL SPIVEY'S CAREER STATISTICS
Contributed by Robert Bradley
Center, 7'0", 200 lbs.
Hometown - Warner Robins, GA
Born - 19Mar29, Lakeland, FL
Died - 8May95
COLLEGE STATISTICS 1949-50 - 1950-51
SEASON TEAM GP PNTS PPG
1949-50 University of Kentucky 30 578 19.3
1950-51 University of Kentucky 33 635 19.2
PROFESSIONAL STATISTICS 1957-58 - 1967-68
SEASON TEAM LEAGUE GP PNTS PPG
1957-58 Wilkes-Barre EBL 8 188 23.5
1958-59 Wilkes-Barre EBL 28 1004 35.9
1959-60 Baltimore EBL 27 979 36.3
1960-61 Baltimore EBL 28 793 28.3
1961-62 Los Angeles/Hawaii ABL 78 1773 22.7
1962-63 Long Beach ABL 29 849 29.2
1962-63 Scranton EBL 13 323 24.8
1963-64 Scranton EBL 28 457 16.3
1964-65 Scranton EBL 28 756 27.0
1965-66 Scranton EBL 26 362 13.9
1966-67 Scranton EBL 28 425 15.2
1967-68 Wilkes-Barre EBL 18 187 10.4