Boston Whirlwinds Explained

The Boston Whirlwinds were an American basketball team based in Boston, Massachusetts that was a member of the American Basketball League.^[1]

The team started its only season playing in the Boston Arena, then downgraded their venue first to Mechanics Hall and then to the Mount Benedict Knights of Columbus Hall in suburban Somerville.^[2] The team, consisting of players who were younger and less experienced than most other ABL teams, did not do well, compiling a 6-10 record during their short run under player-coach James S. "Fiddle" Morley,^[3] who had played for Boston College.^[4] The general manager was Sam Snyder.^[2]

The team, beset by money troubles,^[2] did not complete its only season, folding^[3] or being expelled^[1] (or both)^[2] after the first half, with the franchise being given to a team in Canton, Ohio.^[2]

Later incarnation

Another, non-league team called the Boston Whirlwinds was extant in the early 1950s.^[5] These Whirlwinds, who featured Norm Baker, traveled with, and acted as a foil for, the Harlem Globetrotters.^[6]

Notes and References

1. Web site: AMERICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE [1925-26 TO 1930-31, 1933-34 TO 1952-53] ]. Robert Bradley . John Hogrogian . John Grasso . Steve Brainerd . Association for Professional Basketball Research . December 30, 2014.
2. Book: Foulds, Alan E. . 2005 . Boston's Ballparks and Arenas . Northeastern . 79 . 978-1584654094 . December 30, 2014.
3. Book: Marcus, Jeff . 2003 . A Biographical Directory of Professional Basketball Coaches . Scarcrow Press . American Sports History Series . 226 . 978-0810840072 . December 30, 2014.
4. Web site: BASKET-BALLERS DEFEAT SPRINGFIELD 34-33 IN WHIRLWIND GAME . January 20, 1921 . The Heights . Boston College . December 30, 2014.
5. Web site: Boston Whirlwinds to test 'Trotters . December 12, 1950 . 10 . Lewiston Daily Sun . December 30, 2014.
6. Book: Daly, Brian I. . 2013 . Canada's Other Game: Basketball from Naismith to Nash . Dundurn . 42–43 . 978-1459706330 . December 30, 2014.