Scranton Miners

The Scranton Miners, known as the Scranton Apollos from 1970 to 1977, were a professional basketball team based in Scranton, Pennsylvania that was a member of the American Basketball League and the Eastern Basketball Association. Arthur Pachter was the owner and coach for many years.

Scranton Miners
LeaguesABL (1946–1953)
EBA (1954–1977)
HistoryScranton Miners (1947–1970)
Scranton Apollos (1970–77)
LocationScranton, Pennsylvania
Team colorsred, white, blue
     
OwnershipArthur Pachter
Championships1950, 1951

The team was previously known as the Jersey City Atoms before moving to Scranton in 1946. They played in the ABL until 1953. After a two-year hiatus, they were resurrected in the middle of the 1954-55 season in the Eastern Professional Basketball League as a replacement for the Carbondale Celtics. For many years the team was owned by local businessman, Art Pachter, and played games at the Scranton CYC building. During its brief existence the team won two championships, led by Syracuse University alum Jim Boeheim (who later became its head coach). They were renamed the Scranton Apollos in 1970, and folded in 1977.

In June 1963, Scranton Miners owner Arthur Pachter announced the team had signed Paul Seymour to a one-year contract as head coach. The details of the contract were not disclosed, but Pachter told the Associated Press, "[it is] unquestionably the highest ever paid to a coach in the [Eastern Basketball Association]."[1] Scranton hosted the 1969 Eastern Basketball Association (EBA) All-Star Game.[2] The league also held the 1971 EBA All-Star Game on February 17 in Scranton at the Scranton CYC Building.[3] On January 25, 1976, Scranton Apollos player Charlie Criss set an EBA record for points scored in a game with 72.[4]

The Scranton Miners were resurrected in 1993 by an investment group led by attorneys George Daniel and Anthony Daniel. The Miners were charter members of the Atlantic Basketball Association and again played at the Scranton CYC for 3 seasons The Miners captured the league's regular season title in 1993-94 and in 1994-95. The Miners defeated the Trenton Flames to win the 1994-95 ABA championship. The franchise was sold and moved to Connecticut following the 1995-96 season.

Year-by-year

Year League Reg. Season Playoffs
1947/48 ABL 4th Playoffs
1948/49 ABL 2nd Finals
1949/50 ABL 1st Champion
1950/51 ABL 1st Champion (no playoff)
1951/52 ABL 1st Finals
1952/53 ABL 4th Playoffs
1954/55 EBL 3rd Playoffs
1955/56 EBL 3rd Playoffs
1956/57 EBL 1st Champion
1957/58 EBL 5th DNQ
1958/59 EBL 1st Finals
1959/60 EBL 4th DNQ
1960/61 EBL 3rd Playoffs
1961/62 EBL 7th DNQ
1962/63 EBL 5th DNQ
1963/64 EBL 3rd Playoffs
1964/65 EBL 2nd Finals
1965/66 EBL 3rd Playoffs
1966/67 EBL 1st Finals
1967/68 EBL 7th DNQ
1968/69 EBL 2nd Playoffs
1969/70 EBL 7th DNQ
1970/71 EBA 1st Champion
1971/72 EBA 2nd Finals
1972/73 EBA 3rd Playoffs
1973/74 EBA 2nd Playoffs
1974/75 EBA 3rd Playoffs
1975/76 EBA 2nd Playoffs
1976/77 EBA 2nd Champion

References

  1. "Seymour Takes Scranton Post". Delaware County Daily Times. Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Associated Press. June 2, 1966. p. 24.
  2. "New Haven Joins EBL". Delaware County Daily Times. Delaware County, Pennsylvania. United Press International. May 14, 1968. p. 17.
  3. "Scranton Is Host to Stars". The New York Times. New York, New York: The New York Times Company. Associated Press. January 31, 1971. p. S7.
  4. "CBA weekly review". oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. January 23, 2002. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
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