1926–27 Rochester Centrals season

Rochester Centrals American Basketball League (original) 1927 18 12 Garry Schmeelk (player-coach) Jack Neiman Jack Neimanhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-union/202009397/ Fathers Of The Newly Formed American Basketball League The Times-Union June 6, 1925 22 Newspapers.com"Reported Neiman Has Sold Central Basketball Quintet: Eddie Schlegel and Murphy Mentioned Among Trio to Buy Local Basketball Team," Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, April 26, 1927, p. 33 Naval Militia ArmoryROCHESTER CENTRALS - Pro Basketball Encyclopedia en-US Pro Basketball Encyclopedia 2014-05-26 2026-07-05 https://probasketballencyclopedia.com/season/rochester-centrals-2/ T–5th (1st half); T–6th (2nd half) Did not qualify The 1926–27 Rochester Centrals season was both the Centrals' second season of existence as a professional franchise in the city of Rochester, New York and the second season of existence for the American Basketball League, which was the first professional basketball league that had truly attempted to go fully national after previous professional basketball leagues were mostly regional at the time. For the second straight season in a row, the American Basketball League would start out their season with nine teams competing in the split season formatting, with the two half seasons being utilized instead of one whole season being utilized throughout the entire season (which would be the case throughout the majority of the league's existence in the first place). However, unlike the previous season of play, not only would the original Brooklyn Arcadians team (sometimes referred to as the Brooklyn RocketsBradley Grasso Robert John Total Basketball: The Ultimate Basketball Encyclopedia 2003 SPORT Media Publishing, Inc. 1-894963-01-6, p. 410) end up being replaced by the Original Celtics under the temporary distinction of the Brooklyn Celtics for this season only, but the Detroit Pulaski Post Five / Lions would end up folding operations after six straight losses to their season (and by extension, get their record officially stricken from the record books entirely), with the Philadelphia Quakers / Phillies team also later being replaced by the Philadelphia Sphas under the Philadelphia Warriors name that would inspire the future Golden State Warriors NBA team by the time the second half of the season began.1926-1927 https://probasketballencyclopedia.com/seasons/1926-1927/ Pro Basketball Encyclopedia Despite the early uncertainties involved at the time, Rochester would unfortunately still end up being one of the weaker teams of the entire ABL this season despite their roster not being raided by the rivaling "original" National Basketball League (which was a failed attempt by the rivaling Metropolitan Basketball League to steal away clout from the ABL during this season, though it would ironically also feature the Original Celtics as a team there at the time) this season. During the first half of the season, the Centrals would end up having a below-average 8–13 record that ended up tying with the since-rebranded Fort Wayne Hoosiers for a fifth place finish that had them both be ahead of only the Chicago Bruins and the Baltimore Orioles in terms of teams that actually finished their seasons properly. As for the second half of the season, Rochester would perform even worse than they did in the first half of the season, with the Centrals ending this half of the season being tied with the Chicago Bruins this time around for a sixth place finish with an even worse 6–15 record, with both of them being only one game ahead of the Orioles basketball team from finishing in last place instead this time around. This underperformance from this season despite their roster not being raided by the rivaling "original" National Basketball League would lead to the Centrals failing to qualify for the ABL championship series for this season. Roster Due to information on American Basketball League players being generally hard to find, there are bound to be more gaps and/or inaccuracies found in certain areas on the team's roster spots than usual.1926 Rochester Centrals basketball Statistics en StatsCrew 2026-08-21 2026-08-21 https://www.statscrew.com/basketball/roster/t-ABLROC/y-19261926-27 Rochester Centrals (ABL) en peachbasketsociety.blogspot.com Mike Wilk 2026-08-21 https://peachbasketsociety.blogspot.com/2017/11/1926-27-rochester-centrals-abl.html Player PositionPhil BarlowCMarty BarryG/FLester BerloveGJim CullenCSwede GrimsteadCManny HirschG/FTrixie MessingerG/FMike MumbyG/FJohn MurphyGJimmy NolanG/FBuck PiersonG/FLou RabinG/FLefty TopelGBill UhlenG/FJoe WallaceC American Basketball League Standings +First HalfTeamWinsLossesWinning %Cleveland Rosenblums174.810Washington Palace Five / Laundrymen165.762Philadelphia Quakers / Phillies*147.667Brooklyn Arcadians/Brooklyn Celtics**138.619Rochester Centrals813.381Fort Wayne Hoosiers813.381Chicago Bruins714.333Baltimore Orioles120.048Detroit Pulaski Post Five / Lions†06.000 * – The Philadelphia Sphas would replace the Philadelphia Quakers during the second half of the season, albeit while playing under the original Philadelphia Warriors name instead of their typical Philadelphia SPHAs name.Philadelphia Warriors Team Standings by Year - Pro Basketball Encyclopedia en-US Pro Basketball Encyclopedia 2014-01-26 2026-07-05 https://probasketballencyclopedia.com/team-standings-by-year/?y=1926-1927&t=Philadelphia ** – After playing only in five total games this season (all of which ended in defeats), the Brooklyn Arcadians would have their franchise rights be both transferred and replaced by the Original Celtics franchise under the temporarily implemented name of the Brooklyn Celtics for the rest of this season in the ABL.Brooklyn Celtics Team Standings by Year - Pro Basketball Encyclopedia en-US Pro Basketball Encyclopedia 2014-01-26 2026-07-05 https://probasketballencyclopedia.com/team-standings-by-year/?y=1926-1927&t=Brooklyn%20Celtics † – Withdrew from the ABL after playing only six total games during the first half of this season, with their games being stricken from the official league record books during this season.Team Standings by Year - Pro Basketball Encyclopedia en-US Pro Basketball Encyclopedia 2014-01-26 2026-07-05 https://probasketballencyclopedia.com/team-standings-by-year/?y=1926-1927&t=Detroit +Second Half TeamWinsLossesWinning %Brooklyn Celtics*192.905Fort Wayne Hoosiers156.714Washington Palace Five / Laundrymen147.667Philadelphia Warriors**1011.476Cleveland Rosenblums912.429Rochester Centrals615.286Chicago Bruins615.286Baltimore Orioles516.238 * – After playing only six total games this season (all of which ended in defeats), the Brooklyn Arcadians would have their franchise rights be both transferred and replaced by the Original Celtics franchise under the temporarily implemented name of the Brooklyn Celtics for the rest of this season in the ABL. ** – The Philadelphia Sphas would replace the Philadelphia Quakers during the second half of the season, albeit while playing under the original Philadelphia Warriors name instead of their typical Philadelphia SPHAs name. References Category:Rochester Centrals Rochester Rochester Centrals Rochester Centrals