Rollie Seltz Explained

Rollie Seltz
Height Ft:5
Height In:10
Weight Lb:165
Birth Date:25 January 1924
Birth Place:McIntosh, Minnesota, U.S.
Death Place:Shoreview, Minnesota, U.S.
High School:Humboldt (Saint Paul, Minnesota)
College:Hamline (1942–1946)
Career Start:1946
Career End:1951
Career Number:5
Career Position:Guard / forward
Years1:1946–1948
Team1:Anderson Duffey Packers
Years2:1948–1949
Team2:Waterloo Hawks
Team3:Anderson Packers
Years4:1950–1951
Team4:Saint Paul Lights[1]
Highlights:

Rolland John Seltz (January 25, 1924 – October 13, 2022) was an American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) during its first year of existence. He played 34 games for the Anderson Packers during the 1949–50 season.

Early life

Seltz was born in McIntosh, Minnesota, on January 25, 1924.[2] [3] He attended Humboldt Senior High School in nearby Saint Paul. He then studied at Hamline University, where he was named an All-American by Converse in 1946.[2] [3] While in college, he also played minor league baseball for the Duluth Dukes, Jamestown Falcons, Rochester Red Wings, Lynchburg Cardinals and Allentown Cardinals, posting a .266 batting average with 42 home runs and 242 runs batted in in 400 games.[4] This arrangement attracted controversy during the 1944–45 season, since it was regarded in some quarters as a violation of his amateur status for college basketball.[5] [6]

Professional career

Following his college career, Seltz joined the Anderson Duffey Packers of the National Basketball League (NBL) in 1946. He played two seasons for the Packers and one for the Waterloo Hawks, averaging 8.1 points per game in 1948–49.[7] The following season, Seltz re-joined the Packers as the team moved to the new National Basketball Association (formed through a merger of the NBL and the Basketball Association of America). He made his NBA debut for the franchise on November 3, 1949,[2] scoring 18 points and making four of five free throws against the Tri-Cities Blackhawks.[8] Seltz averaged 7.8 points per game and 1.9 assists per game during the 1949–50 season.[2]

While playing professional basketball, Seltz continued playing baseball for Excelsior of the Minnesota Valley League. He was part of the team that won the Class-A championship in 1949,[9] and was honored as the tournament's most valuable player after batting .643 and committing no errors in 27 chances. He also served as a player–manager that year.

Seltz was inducted into Hamline's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1970.[10] He was also honored in his high school's hall of fame.[3]

Personal life

Seltz's first marriage was to Florence Elliott. After they divorced, he married Muriel. They remained married for 45 years until his death.[3] They raised 11 children together, all from their respective previous marriages.[11] After retiring from professional basketball, he became the owner of Seltz Insurance Agency.[3]

Seltz died on October 13, 2022, at the age of 98.[3]

Career statistics

NBA

Source[2]

Regular season

References

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rollie Seltz. Pro Basketball Encyclopedia.
  2. Web site: Rollie Seltz Stats. Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. 21 May 2023.
  3. Web site: Rolland Seltz Obituary. October 16, 2022. October 19, 2022. St. Paul Pioneer Press. Legacy.com.
  4. Web site: Rollie Seltz Minor Leagues Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. October 19, 2022.
  5. Web site: Westminster Draws Line at Hamline Pros . . January 5, 1945. December 5, 2013.
  6. Web site: Cagers Blacklisted by Amateur Board . . January 5, 1945. December 5, 2013.
  7. Web site: Rollie Seltz NBL Stats. Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. October 19, 2022.
  8. Web site: November 3, 1949 Tri-Cities Blackhawks at Anderson Packers Box Score. Basketball-Reference.com . Sports Reference LLC. November 3, 1949. October 19, 2022.
  9. Book: Thornley, Stew. Baseball in Minnesota: The Definitive History. Minnesota Historical Society. 2006. 133. 9780873515511.
  10. Web site: Rolland Seltz (1970). October 19, 2022. Hamline University.
  11. News: Holidays are not always all merry for stepfamilies. 1A. Paul. Klauda. December 9, 1990. October 19, 2022. Star Tribune. Minneapolis. . ProQuest.