Professional teams were hard pressed to fill stadiums immediately after World War II. The Philadelphia Warriors and the New York Knickerbockers drew the most fans - 100,000 paid each.The Chicago Staggs tried playing a longer game in hopes that paying customers would figure they were getting more for their money. Traveling from one cities to another was done mostly on trains and buses.
George Nostrand, Center Toronto Huskies - A college standout center, George Nostrand helped Wyoming go 31-2 w/l in 1942-1943 and win the NCAA basketball championship. Wyoming is the only college to win a NCAA Championship one year and not field a team the next - 1943-1944 because all of its juniors and seniors, including Nostrand, were called for military duty. Returning to basketball after the end of the War in 1946-47, he played 13 games in Toronto then played 48 with the Cleveland Rebels. Altogether he played with 6 different NBA teams in 4 years.
Note: The BAA handed advertised it would give free tickets to any fan entering the building who was taller than the 6-ft 8-inches George Nostrand. |