Lenox Merchants Explained

Lenox Merchants
League:	-->
Founded:	1949
Dissolved:	1959
Location:	Lenox, Massachusetts

Lenox Merchants were an American semi-professional basketball team based in Lenox, Massachusetts. Founded in 1949 by William "Butch" Gregory,^[1] it regularly played exhibition games against NBA teams.^[2] During the 1954–1955 season, the Merchants beat the soon-to-be NBA champions, the Syracuse Nationals, twice, and scored victories against the Minneapolis Lakers and the Milwaukee Hawks.^{[3] [4]}

Notable players

• Glenn Bissell
• Tom Brennan
• John Burke^{[5] [6]}
• Gerald Calabrese^[7]
• Fred Diute
• George Feigenbaum
• Ray Felix^[8]
• Billy Harrell^{[9] [10]}
• Bob Knight^[4]
• Francis Mahoney^[4]
• Al McGuire^[11]
• Boris Nachamkin^[12]
• Ronnie Shavlik
• Zeke Sinicola^[11]
• Dick Surhoff^[4]
• Skippy Whitaker

Notes and References

1. News: Derek Gentile . Lenox Merchants founder Butch Gregory has died . 31 December 2022 . . 2 July 1998 . B1–B2 . Newspapers.com.
2. News: Garry Brown . NBA once got a toehold in the Berkshires . 31 December 2022 . . 23 October 2021.
3. News: Derek Gentile . Lenox hoopsters of the '50s as good as pros — really . 31 December 2022 . . 25 February 2016.
4. News: Garry Brown . Earl Lloyd's passing stirs memories of NBA teams losing to the Lenox Merchants . 31 December 2022 . . 6 March 2015.
5. News: Ernie Roberts . New B.U. coach faces tough task . 31 December 2022 . . 5 June 1959 . 39 . Newspapers.com.
6. News: Ex-Merchant named coach . 31 December 2022 . . 8 June 1959 . 22 . Newspapers.com.
7. News: Roger O'Gara . Fair or Foul . 31 December 2022 . . 9 December 1959 . 38 . Newspapers.com.
8. News: Roger O'Gara . Ray Felix, giant center, to play for Merchants against Celtics tonight . 31 December 2022 . . 21 October 1954 . 14 . Newspapers.com.
9. News: Harrell to be given day sunday afternoon at Armory . 31 December 2022 . . 5 March 1954 . 20 . Newspapers.com.
10. News: Roger O'Gara . Harrell stars on his day in leading Merchants to 93-84 win over Rens . 31 December 2022 . . 8 March 1954 . 16 . Newspapers.com.
11. News: Roger O'Gara . Fair or Foul . 31 December 2022 . . 16 November 1955 . 34 . Newspapers.com.
12. News: Roger O'Gara . Merchants beat Milwaukee 98-86; Gregory ponders when to resume . 31 December 2022 . . 17 December 1954 . 16 . Newspapers.com.