Eastern Professional Basketball League (1963-1971)
Eastern Basketball Association (1970-1971)
Tombstone
Born: 1963
Folded: 1971
First Game: November 24, 1963 (L 117-102 vs. Sunbury Mercuries)
Last Game: April 4, 1971 (W 146-130 vs. Trenton Pat Pavers)
EPBL Champions: 1966 & 1967
Arena
1963-1970: Salesianum High School
1970-1971: St. Mark’s High School
Marketing
Team Colors:
Ownership
Owners:
- 1963-1969: Bill Kauffman, et al.
- 1969-1971: Joe Horwitz, John J. O’Connor & Harry Bonk
Trophy Case
Eastern Professional Basketball League Most Valuable Player
- 1969-70: Waite Bellamy
Editor's Pick
Boxed Out
Remembering The Eastern Professional Basketball League
In Boxed out of the NBA: Remembering the Eastern Professional Basketball League, Syl Sobel and Jay Rosenstein tell the fascinating story of a league that was a pro basketball institution for over 30 years, showcasing top players from around the country. During the early years of professional basketball, the Eastern League was the next-best professional league in the world after the NBA. It was home to big-name players such as Sherman White, Jack Molinas, and Bill Spivey, who were implicated in college gambling scandals in the 1950s and were barred from the NBA, and top Black players such as Hal “King” Lear, Julius McCoy, and Wally Choice, who could not make the NBA into the early 1960s due to unwritten team quotas on African-American players.
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Background
The Wilmington Blue Bombers made their debut in the minor league Eastern Professional Basketball League on Sunday evening November 24th, 1963, two days after the assassination of President Kennedy. The Eastern League was a weekend only league and the Bombers were actually due to make their debut a night earlier on the road in Scranton, Pennsylvania. But league President Harry Rudolph called off the contest after receiving bomb threats over his initial decision to continue with the game so soon as the President’s murder.1Hukill, Joe. “Bombers beaten in bow, 117-102”. The Morning News (Wilmington, DE). November 25, 1963
The Bombers played their home games at Salesianum High, a private Catholic boys school on the corner of 18th and Broom Streets. For years, Wilmington traditionally played their road games on Saturday nights and then returned home to Salesianum High for Sunday evening games.
In Competition
After a last place finish (7 wins, 21 losses) in their debut season of 1963-64, the Blue Bombers emerged as an Eastern League power during the mid-to-late 60’s. The team won back-to-back championships in 1966 and 1967 and appeared in the playoff finals again in 1969 and 1970, falling one game short of the title in each of the latter years.
Waite Bellamy, a 6′ 4″ guard from Florida A&M University, was the only player to suit up for all eight Blue Bombers seasons from 1963 through 1971. He led the Bombers in scoring in six of those seasons and was named the Eastern League’s Most Valuable Player for the 1969-70 season.
Demise
Change was afoot at the outset of the 1970’s. The EPBL changed its name (slightly) to the Eastern Basketball Association. And the Blue Bombers followed suit, becoming the Delaware Blue Bombers for the 1970-71 season and moving to the newly opened St. Mark’s High School. The Bombers also began playing home games on Saturdays instead of the traditional Sundays.
After appearing in the Eastern League championship series in four of the previous five years, the 1970-71 Delaware Blue Bombers finished in last place (11 wins, 17 losses) amidst heavy budget cutting.2Bodley, Hal. “Where do Bombers go?” The News Journal (Wilmington, DE). February 24, 1971 The team folded at the end of the season.
Links
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4 Responses
Waite Bellamy is my dad and I want to thank the Blue Coats for recognizing him. I want to also thank Syl Sobel and Jay Rosenstein for bringing the EBA and my dad’s career to light. A special thanks to a supporter of my dad’s career and who was instrumental in putting me in contact with the affiliate in Delaware is Jason Sereyka. My dad’s career would have gone into obscurity had it not been for you.
There was no one like him, Troy. Your Dad was a great friend of my husband, Mick Martin, and they enjoyed shooting some baskets at the Rec. Such a treasure!!!
Unfortunately I did not get a notice for the recent acknowledgement of the former Blue Bomber players. I am Willie Davis and I played for the Blue Bombers during the 1968-69 season. We lost the Championship to the Scranton Apollos that year in 7 games. I made the allstar team and led our team in rebounding.
I live in Dallas Texas, but would have loved to be a part of the celebration. Some of my teammates were John Savage, Waite Bellamy and Reggie Lacefield and Frank. I can’t think of his last name.
Thanks for recognizing them.
Best,
Willie Davis
I went to almost every game at Sallies. Waite Bellamy was my favorite player. Even saw 76’s vs Celtics in a exhibition game at Sallies