1911 Leading Scorers of Eastern League
John Donohue of the Jasper Jewels led the EBL in scoring
Stars Elwood Gowdy, Bill Riley, Mike Wilson and Gus Krueger led DeNeri to the Eastern League Title in 1910-1911. The DeNeri team hailed from DeNeri Pennsylvania and finished the regular season with a solid 28-12 record.
Players in this era had to overcome numerous obstacles to succeed, including traveling in snowstorms, playing injured, and above all getting a fair wage for their services.
Basketball History
1911 Eastern League Leading Scorers
John Donohue, Jasper PA, 538 points, 13.8 ppg, 94 FG, 350 FT in 39 games
Jack Boyd, Greystock PA, 437 points, 12.5 ppg, 58 FG, 321 FT in 35 games
Michael Wilson, DeNeri PA, 410 points, 11.4 ppg, 76 FG, 258 FT in 36 games
Hodge Roland, Reading PA, 350 points, 9.7 ppg, 75 FG, 200 FT in 36 games
Army Fitzgerald, Camden NJ, 337 points, 9.4 ppg, 98 FG, 141 FT in 36 games
Howard Thomas, Camden, 321 points, 13.4 ppg, 43 FG, 235 FT in 24 games
Fichthorn, Reading PA, 251 points, 7.0 ppg, 54 FG, 143 FT in 40 games
William Riley, DeNeri PA, 241 points, 6.0 ppg, 69 FG, 103 FT in 40 games
Fred Mulliner, Trenton NJ, 231 points, 11.0 ppg, 35 FG, 161 FT in 21 games
John McGraw, Jasper, 205 points, 5.3 ppg, 84 FG, 37 FT in 39 games
Note: One of the main differences between basketball then and today’s game was, then a designated free throw shooter was used. Meaning one player shot all
of the free throws for the team. Basketball Historian
Eastern Basket Ball League 1910s
In the weeks prior to the season openers two of the six original teams disbanded due to lack of money, Princeton and Germantown. However, the EBL president William Scheffer was able to entice two well-known independent teams to join the league. The Camden Alphas of New Jersey and the Greystock Greys of Philadelphia came on board mainly because the Eastern League was increasing its schedule from 30 games to 40, and, ‘more games meant more money.’
Note: One of the main differences between basketball then and today’s game was, then a designated free throw shooter was used. Meaning one player shot all
of the free throws for the team.
The same six teams played in the same location for the next eight seasons, until World War I caused the league to suspend play because most players were drafted.
1911 Standings
DeNeri 28-12… Jasper 23-17… Greystock 22-18… Reading 21-19… Camden 14-26… Trenton 12-28
1911 World Series of Basketball
DeNeri played McKeesport of Pittsburgh, the champions of the Central Basket Ball League. McKeesport handily won all four games, 33-22, 35-21, 42-22, and 57-20. The first two games were hosted by DeNeri of Philadelphia, the last two in Pittsburgh. The games were played on April 1 1911, April 8, April 12, April 15.
