WORLD PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT 1939-48
Reasearch by Dave Quinn, John Duxbury, Steven Brainerd, William F. Himmelman,
Steve Dimitry and Robert Bradley
Organized by Arch Ward and sponsored by the Chicago Herald-American (a William
Randolph Hearst newspaper), the World Professional Basketball Tournament
featured the best teams in professional basketball with the winner widely
acknowledged as world champions.
TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS
Year Winner (League), Second Place (League)
1939 New York Rens (Ind) over Oshkosh All-Stars (NBL)
1940 Harlem Globetrotters (Ind) over Chicago Bruins (NBL)
1941 Detroit Eagles (NBL) over Oshkosh All-Stars (NBL)
1942 Oshkosh All-Stars (NBL) over Detroit Eagles (Ind)
1943 Washington Bears (Ind) over Oshkosh All-Stars (NBL)
1944 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBL) over Brooklyn Eagles (Ind)
1945 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBL) over Dayton Acmes (Ind)
1946 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBL) over Oshkosh All-Stars (NBL)
1947 Indianapolis Kautskys (NBL) over Toledo Jeeps (NBL)
1948 Minneapolis Lakers (NBL) over New York Rens (Ind)
MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS
1939 Puggy Bell New York Rens
1940 Sonny Boswell Harlem Globetrotters
1941 Buddy Jeannette Detroit Eagles
1942 Ed Riska Oshkosh All-Stars
1943 Curly Armstrong Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
1944 Bobby McDermott Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
1945 Buddy Jeannette Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
1946 George Mikan Chicago American Gears
1947 Julie Rivlin Toledo Jeeps
1948 George Mikan Minneapolis Lakers
All-TOURNAMENT TEAMS
1939
F Ed Dancker Sheboygan Redskins
F Puggy Bell New York Rens
C Leroy Edwards Oshkosh All-Stars
G Babe Pressley Harlem Globetrotters
G Zack Clayton New York Rens
1940
F Sonny Boswell Harlem Globetrotters
F Wibs Kautz Chicago Bruins
C Leroy Edwards Oshkosh All-Stars
G Phil Rabin Washington Heurich Brewers
G Pop Gates New York Rens
1941
F Chuck Chuckovitz Toledo White Huts
F Dolly King New York Rens
C Ed Sadowski Detroit Eagles
G Bob Carpenter Oshkosh All-Stars
G Buddy Jeanette Detroit Eagles
1942
F Buddy Jeannette Detroit Eagles
F Moe Becker Aberdeen Army Ordnance Training Center
F Sonny Boswell New York Rens
F Bernie Price Harlem Globetrotters
C Jerry Bush Detroit Eagles
C Gene Englund Oshkosh All-Stars
G Dolly King Grumman Flyers
G Ed Milkovich Hagerstown Conoco Oilers
G Mickey Tierney Chicago Bruins
G Ed Riska Oshkosh All-Stars
1943
FIRST TEAM
F Pop Gates Washington Bears
F Curly Armstrong Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
C Dolly King Washington Bears
G Charley Shipp Oshkosh All-Stars
G Buddy Jeannette Sheybogan Redskins
SECOND TEAM
F Ralph Vaughn Oshkosh All-Stars
F Johnny Isaacs Washington Bears
C Hal Tidrick Dayton Dive Bombers
G Bobby McDermott Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
G Zack Clayton Washington Bears
1944
FIRST TEAM
F Sonny Woods New York Rens
F Mel Riebe Cleveland Allmen Transfers
C Blackie Towery Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
G Mickey Rottner Brooklyn Eagles
G Bobby McDermott Fort Wayne Zollner Piston
SECOND TEAM
F Jerry Bush Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
F Bob Tough Brooklyn Eagles
C Bernie Price Harlem Globetrotters
G Jack Garfinkle Brooklyn Eagles
G Manny Hyatt Pittsburgh Corbetts
1945
FIRST TEAM
F Bruce Hale Dayton Dive Bombers
F Buddy Jeannette Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
C John Mahnken Dayton Dive Bombers
G Bobby McDermott Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
G Dick Triptow Chicago American Gears
SECOND TEAM
F Chick Reiser Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
F Ray Patterson Midland Dow Chemicals
C Jake Pelkington Midland Dow Chemicals
G Jerry Bush Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
G Mel Riebe Cleveland Allmen Transfers
G Puggy Bell New York Rens
1946
FIRST TEAM
F Jerry Bush Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
F Leroy Edwards Oshkosh Stars
C George Mikan Chicago American Gears
G Bobby McDermott Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
G Bob Feerick Oshkosh Stars
SECOND TEAM
F Pat Cloyd Midland Dow Chemicals
F Bob Calihan Chicago Gears
C Mike Bloom Baltimore Bullets
G Stan Stutz Baltimore Bullets
G Bob Carpenter Oshkosh Stars
1947
FIRST TEAM
F Leo Klier Indianapolis Kautskys
F Ralph Hamilton Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
C Arnie Risen Indianapolis Kautskys
G Julie Rivlin Toledo Jeeps
G Herm Schaefer Indianapolis Kautskys
SECOND TEAM
F Paul Cloyd Midland Dow Chemicals
F Hal Tidrick Toledo Jeeps
C Jake Pelkington Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
G Billy Hassett Tri-City Blackhawks
G George Sobek Toledo Jeeps
1948
FIRST TEAM
F Nat Clifton New York Rens
F Jim Pollard Minneapolis Lakers
C George Mikan Minneapolis Lakers
G Charley Shipp Anderson Duffey Packers
G Herm Schaefer Minneapolis Lakers
F Dick Triptow Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
F Whitey Van Nieder Tri-City Blackhawks
F John Hargis Anderson Duffey Packers
C Howie Schultz Anderson Duffey Packers
G Bobby McDermott Tri-City Blackhawks
G George Crowe New York Rens
TOURNAMENT GAME-BY-GAME RESULTS
Site Attendance Date Score
1939
Participants- Benton Harbor (MI) House of David, Chicago Harmons, Clarksburg
WV) Oil, Fort Wayne Harvesters, Harlem Globetrotters, Illinois Grads, New York
Celtics, New York Rens, New York Yankees, Oshkosh All-Stars, Sheboygan
Redskins
First Round
Madison Street Armory 8000 26Mar39 Harlem 41, Fort Wayne 33
Madison Street Armory 26Mar39 New York Y. 40, Benton Harbor 32
Madison Street Armory 26Mar39 Sheboygan 47, Illinois 29
Madison Street Armory 8000 26Mar39 Oshkosh 40, Clarksburg 33
Quarter-final Round
Madison Street Armory 26Mar39 New York R. 30, New York Y. 21
Madison Street Armory 26Mar39 Harlem 31, Chicago 25
Chicago Coliseum 27Mar39 Sheboygan 36, New York 29
Semi-final Round
Chicago Coliseum 27Mar39 New York R. 27, Harlem 23
Chicago Coliseum 27Mar39 Oshkosh 40, Sheboygan 23
Third Place Game
Chicago Coliseum 3000 28Mar39 Harlem 36, Sheboygan 33
Championship Game
Chicago Coliseum 28Mar39 New York 34, Oshkosh 25
1940
Participants- Benton Harbor (MI) House of David, Canton (OH) Bulldogs, Chicago
Bruins, Clarksburg (WV) Oil, Fort Wayne Harvesters, Harlem Globetrotters,
Kenosha (WI) Royals, New York Rens, Oshkosh All-Stars, Rochester Seagrams,
Sheboygan Redskins, Syracuse Reds, Washington Heurich Brewers, Waterloo (OH)
Wonders
First Round
18Mar40 Chicago 45, Fort Wayne 27
18Mar40 Sheboygan 44, Rochester 32
18Mar40 Harlem 50, Kenosha 26
18Mar40 New York 42, Canton 21
18Mar40 Oshkosh 42, Benton Harbor 23
18Mar40 Waterloo 41, Clarksburg 32
Quarter-final Round
132nd Infantry Armory 9000 19Mar40 Syracuse 39, Sheboygan 30
132nd Infantry Armory 19Mar40 Washington 35, Waterloo 21
132nd Infantry Armory 19Mar40 Chicago 40, Oshkosh 38
132nd Infantry Armory 19Mar40 Harlem 37, New York 36
Semi-final Round
20Mar40 Harlem 34, Syracuse 25
20Mar40 Chicago 46, Washington 38
Third Place Game
22Mar40 Washington 41, Syracuse 30
Championship Game
22Mar40 Harlem 31, Chicago 29
1941
Participants- Bismark (ND) Phantoms, Chicago Bruins, Davenport (IA) Central
Turner Rockers, Dayton Sucher Wonders, Detroit Eagles, Fort Wayne Zollner
Pistons, Harlem Globetrotters, Indianapolis Kautskys, Kenosha (WI) Royals,
New York Rens, Newark (NY) Elks, Oshkosh All-Stars, Philadelphia Spahs, Rochester
Seagrams, Toledo White Huts
Chi Int'l Amphitheater 10000 17Mar41 Chicago 53, Davenport 17
Chi Int'l Amphitheater 17Mar41 Detroit 58, Indianapolis 43
Chi Int'l Amphitheater 17Mar41 Harlem 38, Newark 29
Chi Int'l Amphitheater 17Mar41 Toledo 36, Sheboygan 28
Chi Int'l Amphitheater 17Mar41 Kenosha 40, Rochester 36
Chi Int'l Amphitheater 17Mar41 Philadelphia 48, Bismarck 30
Chi Int'l Amphitheater 17Mar41 Oshkosh 47, Fort Wayne 41
Chi Int'l Amphitheater 17Mar41 New York 43, Dayton 20
Quarter-final Round
Chi Int'l Amphitheater 17Mar41 Detroit 37, Harlem 36
Chi Int'l Amphitheater 9500 18Mar41 Toledo 43, Chicago 33
Chi Int'l Amphitheater 18Mar41 New York 43, Kenosha 15
Chi Int'l Amphitheater 18Mar41 Oshkosh 38, Philadelphia 31
Semi-final Round
Chi Int'l Amphitheater 9000 19Mar41 Oshkosh 40, Toledo 37
Chi Int'l Amphitheater 19Mar41 Detroit 43, New York 42
Third Place Game
Chi Int'l Amphitheater 12000 20Mar41 New York 57, Toledo 42
Championship Game
Chi Int'l Amphitheater 12000 20Mar41 Detroit 39, Oshkosh 37
1942
Participants
Aberdeen (MD) Army Ordinance Training Center, Chicago Bruins, Columbus (OH)
Bobb Chevrolets, Davenport (IA) Central Turner Rockets, Detroit AAA, Detroit
Eagles, Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons, Hagerstown (PA) Conoco Oilers, Harlem
Globetrotters, Indianapolis Kautskys, Long Island Grumman Flyers, Michigan
City (IN) Steelers, New York Rens, Oshkosh All-Stars, Sheboygan Redskins,
Toledo White Huts
First Round
Chi Int'l Amphitheater 8Mar42 Detroit E. 46, Toledo 29
Chi Int'l Amphitheater 8Mar42 Harlem 40, Hagerstown 33
Chi Int'l Amphitheater 8Mar42 Aberdeen 56, Fort Wayne 42
Chi Int'l Amphitheater 9Mar42 Chicago 56, Detroit AAA 46
Chi Int'l Amphitheater 9Mar42 Sheboygan 34, Columbus 26
Chi Int'l Amphitheater 9Mar42 New York 55, Michigan City 37
Chi Int'l Amphitheater 9Mar42 Oshkosh 44, Davenport 29
Chi Int'l Amphitheater 9Mar42 Long Island 54, Indianapolis 32
Quarter-final Round
Chi Int'l Amphitheater 9Mar42 Detroit 40, Aberdeen 34
Chi Int'l Amphitheater 10Mar42 Harlem 37, Sheboygan 32
Chi Int'l Amphitheater 10Mar42 Long Island 48, Chicago 38
Chi Int'l Amphitheater 10Mar42 Oshkosh 44, New York 38
Semi-final Round
Chi Int'l Amphitheater 8200 11Mar42 Detroit 44, Long Island 43
Chi Int'l Amphitheater 11Mar42 Oshkosh 48, Harlem 41
Third Place Game
Chi Int'l Amphitheater 11000 12Mar42 Long Island 43, Harlem 41
Championship Game
Chi Int'l Amphitheater 12Mar42 Oshkosh 43, Detroit 41
1943
Participants- Akron Collegians, Chicago Ramblers, Dayton Dive Bombers, Detroit
Eagles, Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons, Harlem Globetrotters, Indianapolis Pure
Oils, Minneapolis Sparklers, Oshkosh All-Stars, Sheboygan Redskins, South Bend
Studebaker Champions, Washington Bears
First Round
16th Street Armory 15Mar43 Fort Wayne 56, Indianapolis 52
16th Street Armory 15Mar43 Detroit 33, Akron 31
16th Street Armory 15Mar43 Dayton 46, Chicago 41
16th Street Armory 15Mar43 Minneapolis 45, South Bend 44
Quarter-final Round
16th Street Armory 15Mar43 Oshkosh 65, Detroit 36
16th Street Armory 16Mar43 Fort Wayne 48, Sheboygan 40
16th Street Armory 16Mar43 Dayton 44, Harlem 34
16th Street Armory 16Mar43 Washington 48, Minneapolis 21
Semi-final Round
16th Street Armory 17Mar43 Washington 38, Dayton 30
16th Street Armory 17Mar43 Oshkosh 40, Fort Wayne 39
Third Place Game
Chicago Stadium 12000 18Mar43 Fort Wayne 58, Dayton 52
Championship Game
Chicago Stadium 11000 18Mar43 Washington 43, Oshkosh 31
1944
Particpants- Akron Collegians, Brooklyn Eagles, Camp Campbell (Ky) Tankmen,
Cleveland Chase Brassmen, Dayton Aviators, Detroit Suffrins, Fort Wayne
Zollner Pistons, Harlem Globetrotters, Indianapolis Pure Oils, New York Rens,
Oshkosh All-Stars, Pittsburgh Corbetts, Rochester Wings, Sheboygan Redskins
First Round
7200 20Mar44 Dayton 52 Akron 38
20Mar44 Brooklyn 55, Camp Campbell 41
20Mar44 New York 39, Detroit 33
8500 21Mar44 Cleveland 55, Indianapolis 52
8200 21Mar44 Oshkosh 51, Rochester 40
21Mar44 Harlem 41, Pittsburgh 40
Quarter-final Round
22Mar44 Fort Wayne 59, Dayton 34
11820 22Mar44 New York 62, Cleveland 38
22Mar44 Brooklyn 49, Sheboygan 43
22Mar44 Harlem 41, Oshkosh 31
Semi-final Round
10428 23Mar44 BrooklynEagles 63, Harlem 41
23Mar44 Fort Wayne 42, New York 38
Third Place Game
14226 24Mar44 Harlem 37, New York 29
Championship Game
14226 24Mar44 Fort Wayne 50, Brooklyn 33
1945
Participants- Chicago American Gears, Cleveland Allmen Transfers, Dayton
Acmes, Detroit Mansfields, Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons, Harlem Globetrotters,
Hartford Nutmegs, Indianapolis Oilers, Long Island Grumman Hellcats, Midland
(MI) Dow Chemicals, New York Rens, Newark C-O Twos, Oshkosh All-Stars, Pittsburgh
Raiders
First Round
8500 19Mar45 Chicago 58, Hartford 47
19Mar45 Oshkosh 60, Detroit 56
19Mar45 New York 67, Indianapolis 59
7085 20Mar45 Midland 61, Cleveland 46
20Mar45 Pittsburgh 53, Newark 50
20Mar45 Dayton 43, Long Island 27
Quarter-final Round
14702 21Mar45 Fort Wayne 63, Oshkosh 52
21Mar45 New York 61, Pittsburgh 52
21Mar45 Dayton 52, Midland 50
21Mar45 Chicago 53, Harlem 49
Semi-final Round
9472 22Mar45 Dayton 80, Chicago 51
22Mar45 Fort Wayne 68, New York 45
Third Place Game
15119 23Mar45 Chicago 64, New York 55
Championship Game
15119 23Mar45 Fort Wayne 78, Dayton 52
1946
Participants- Anderson Duffey Packers, Baltimore Bullets, Chicago American
Gears, Cleveland Allmen Transfers, Dayton Mickeys, Detroit Mansfields, Fort
Wayne Zollner Pistons, Indianapolis Kautskys, Midland (MI) Dow Chemicals, New
York Rens, Oshkosh All-Stars, Pittsburgh Raiders, Toledo White Huts, Sheboygan
Redskins
First Round
25Mar46 Chicago 69, Pittsburgh 58
25Mar46 Anderson 59, Cleveland 46
25Mar46 Midland Dow 72, Indianapolis 59
27Mar46 Oshkosh 60, Detroit 32
27Mar46 New York 82, Toledo 39
27Mar46 Baltimore 61, Dayton 58
Quarter-final Round
16981 29Mar46 Oshkosh 50, New York 44
29Mar46 Chicago 52, Sheboygan 51
29Mar46 Fort Wayne 65, Midland 62
29Mar46 Baltimore 67, Anderson 65
Semi-final Round
3Apr46 Fort Wayne 50, Baltimore 49
12235 3Apr46 Oshkosh 72, Chicago 66
Third Place Series
5Apr46 Chicago 59, Baltimore 54
6Apr46 Chicago 65, Baltimore 50
Championship Series
11132 5Apr46 Oshkosh 61, Fort Wayne 59
15000 6Apr46 Fort Wayne 56, Oshkosh 47
8440 8Apr46 Fort Wayne 73, Oshkosh 57
1947
Participants- Anderson Duffey Packers, Baltimore Bullets, Fort Wayne Zollner
Pistons, Herkimer (NY) Mohawk Redskins, Indianapolis Kautskys, Midland Dow
Chemicals, New York Rens, Oshkosh All-Stars, Pittsburgh Pirates, Portland
Indians, Sheboygan Redskins, Syracuse Nationals, Toledo Jeeps, Tri-City
Blackhawks
First Round
7Apr47 Oshkosh 60, Herkimer 54
7Apr47 Anderson 59, Pittsburgh 38
7Apr47 Midland 71, Syracuse 39
11230 8Apr47 Sheboygan 62, Portland 48
8Apr47 Toledo 62, New York 59
8Apr47 Tri-City 57, Baltimore 46
Quarter-final Round
Chicago Stadium 9Apr47 Oshkosh 53, Sheboygan 44
Chicago Stadium 9Apr47 Indianapolis 65, Tri-City 56
Chicago Stadium 9Apr47 Fort Wayne 52, Anderson 40
Chicago Stadium 9Apr47 Toledo 59, Midland 55
Semi-final Round
Chicago Stadium 10Apr47 Indianapolis 59, Oshkosh 38
Chicago Stadium 10Apr47 Toledo 61, Fort Wayne 56
Third Place Game
Chicago Stadium 11Apr47 Fort Wayne 86, Oshkosh 67
Championship Game
Chicago Stadium 11Apr47 Indianapolis 62, Toledo 47
1948
Participants- Anderson Duffey Packers, Bridgeport (CT) Newfield Steelers,
Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons, Indianapolis Kautskys, Minneapolis Lakers,
New York Rens, Newfield Steelers, Tri-City Blackhawks, Wilkes-Barre (PA) Barons
Quarter-final Round
Chicago Stadium 8Apr48 New York 67, Bridgeport 51
Chicago Stadium 8Apr48 Tri-City 57, Fort Wayne 50
Chicago Stadium 8Apr48 Anderson 59, Indianapolis 53
Chicago Stadium 8Apr48 Minneapolis 98, Wilkes-Barre 48
Semi-final Round
Chicago Stadium 9Apr48 Minneapolis 59, Anderson 56
Chicago Stadium 9Apr48 New York 59, Tri-City 55
Third Place Game
Chicago Stadium 11Apr48 Anderson 66, Tri-City 44
Championship Game
Chicago Stadium 11Apr48 Minneapolis 75, New York 71
ALL-TIME CHAMPIONSHIP GAME SCORING RECORDS
Player Teams GP Pnts PPG
Leroy Edwards Osh 5 53 10.6
Bobby McDermott FtW 3 49 16.3
Jake Pelkington Det-FtW 4 45 11.2
Buddy Jeanette Det-FtW 4 42 10.5
George Mikan Mpls 1 40 40.0
Pop Gates NYR-Wash 3 37 12.3
Ed Sawowski Det-FtW 3 34 11.3
Jerry Bush Det-FtW 5 30 6.0
Nate Clifton NYR 1 24 24.0
Gene Englund Osh 3 22 7.3
Chick Reisen FtW 3 22 7.3
Bob Tough Bkln-FtW 2 21 10.5
Duke Cumberland Har-NYR 2 20 10.0
Jake Ahearn Det 2 20 10.0
George Sobek Tol 1 20 20.0
ALL-TIME WORLD TOURNAMENT TEAM RECORDS
Team Yrs GP W-L Champ
Oshkosh All-Stars 9 30 20-10 1-4
Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons 8 21 15-6 3-0
New York Rens/Washington Bears 10 28 18-10 2-1
Harlem Globetrotters 7 20 13-7 1-0
Detroit Eagles 3 10 8-2 1-1
Chicago American Gears 2 9 7-2 0-0
Chicago Bruins-Ramblers 4 9 5-4 0-1
Toledo White Huts/Jeeps 4 10 5-5 0-1
Sheboygan Redskins 8 14 5-9 0-0
Anderson Duffey Packers 3 7 4-3 0-0
Minneapolis Lakers 1 3 3-0 1-0
Brooklyn Eagles 1 4 3-1 0-1
Long Island Grumman Flyers/Hellcats 2 5 3-2 0-0
Dayton Acmes/Mickeys 2 5 3-2 0-1
Midland Dow Chemicals 3 6 3-3 0-0
Indianapolis Kautskys 5 7 3-4 1-0
Washington Heurlick Brewers 1 3 2-1 0-0
Tri-City Blackhawks 2 5 2-3 0-0
Baltimore Bullets 2 6 2-4 0-0
Eight Teams have had 1 win: Including Cleveland Chase Brassmen-Allmen
Transfers (1-3), the world famous Philadelphia Sphas were (1-1) in 1941. 27
Teams did not win a game including Pittsburgh Corbetts-Raiders-Pirates (0-4),
Indianapolis Pure Oil-Oilers (0-3) and Rochester Seagrams-Wings
(0-3), the world famous New York Celtics were (0-1) in 1939.