Tombstone
Formed: March, 1988
Disbanded: August 1, 19921Key dates and events and Michael Monus case, AP via The Allegheny Times, Feb. 26, 1995
First Game: May 18, 1988
Last Game: July 31, 1992
Seasons: 4.5
States & Provinces: 14
(Alberta, British Columbia, CA, FL, IL, MA, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, NV, OH, Ontario, PA, Saskatchewan, TN)
Leadership
Commissioner:
- April 1988 – January 1992: Steve Ehrhart
- January 1992 – July 1992: Dr. John Geletka
Attendance
Trophy Case
World Basketball League Most Valuable Player
[etable]
Year, Player, Position, Team
1988, , ,
1989, , ,
1990, , ,
1991, Tracy Moore, Forward, Florida Jades
1992, Disbanded Midseason, ,
[/etable]
World Basketball League Rookie of the Year
[etable]
Year, Player, Position, Team
1988, , ,
1989, , ,
1990, , ,
1991, J.J. Eubanks, Guard/Forward, Nashville Stars
1992, Disbanded Midseason, ,
[/etable]
Background
The World Basketball League was a summer season minor pro basketball league that was active from 1988 to 1992. Then league dissolved in the middle of its fifth season of play when it was revealed that league founder and Youngstown Pride owner Mickey Monus was funding the league’s losses through systematic embezzlement of his Youngstown, Ohio-based Phar-Mor chain of discount pharmacies. The league collapsed immediately and Monus went to federal prison.
The unique gimmick of the WBL was that players could be no taller than 6′ 5″ tall (raised to 6′ 7″ for the final season in 1992).
World Basketball League Franchise List
| Franchise | Years Active | WBL Champions |
|---|---|---|
| Calgary 88’s | 1988-1992 | None |
| Chicago Express | 1988 | None |
| Dayton Wings | 1991-1992 | 1991 |
| Erie Wave | 1990-1992 | None |
| Florida Jades | 1991-1992 | None |
| Fresno Flames | 1988 | None |
| Halifax Windjammers | 1991-1992 | None |
| Hamilton Skyhawks | 1992 | None |
| Illinois Express | 1989-1990 | None |
| Jacksonville Stingrays | 1992 | None |
| Las Vegas Silver Streaks | 1988-1990 | 1988 |
| Memphis Rockers | 1990-1991 | None |
| Nashville Stars | 1991 | None |
| Saskatchewan Storm | 1990-1992 | None |
| Vancouver Nighthawks | 1988 | None |
| Winnipeg Thunder | 1992 | None |
| Worcester Counts | 1989 | None |
| Youngstown Pride | 1988-1992 | 1989-1990 |
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More teams and franchises
These additional team histories are filed under this league.