The Anderson Packers, also known as the Anderson Duffey Packers and the Chief Anderson Meat Packers, were a professional basketball team based in Anderson, Indiana, in the 1940s and 1950s.
| Anderson Packers | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Leagues | NBL: 1946–1949 NBA: 1949–1950 NPBL: 1950–1951 | |||
| Founded | 1946 | |||
| Folded | 1951 | |||
| Arena | Anderson High School Wigwam (8,996) | |||
| Location | Anderson, Indiana | |||
| Team colors | Red, navy blue, white | |||
| Head coach | Murray Mendenhall | |||
| Championships | 1 NBL championship | |||
|
| ||||
The team was founded and owned by brothers Ike W. and John B. Duffey, founders of meat packing company Duffey's Incorporated, which had purchased the Hughes-Curry Packing Co. of Anderson in 1946, at which time the brothers founded the Anderson Packers. John Duffey was president of the club, and its secretary-treasurer was Ike. The Duffeys profitably sold their Anderson packing plant three years later, although they retained ownership of the team until its demise.[1]
The Packers played in the National Basketball League from 1946 to 1949. The team moved into the National Basketball Association for the 1949–50 season. The franchise withdrew from the NBA on April 11, 1950, when the organization was absorbed by the league.[2][3]
After that season the team moved to the National Professional Basketball League, which folded entirely at the end of their only (1950–1951) season.
Season-by-season records
editKey:
| NBL champions | Division champions | Playoff berth |
| Season | League | Division | Finish | Wins | Losses | Win% | GB | Playoffs | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946–47 | NBL | Western | 5th | 24 | 20 | .545 | 4 | ||
| 1947–48 | NBL | Eastern | 2nd^ | 42 | 18 | .700 | 2 | Won Opening Round (Nationals) 3–0 Lost Division semifinals (Royals) 1–2† |
Murray Mendenhall (COY) |
| 1948–49 | NBL | Eastern* | 1st* | 49 | 15 | .766 | — | Won Division semifinals (Nationals) 3–1 Won NBL Championship (All-Stars) 3–0 |
|
| 1949–50 | NBA | Western | 2nd^ | 37 | 27 | .578 | 2 | Won Division semifinals (Blackhawks) 2–1 Won Division finals (Olympians) 2–1 Lost NBA Semifinals (Minneapolis) 0–2 |
|
| 1950–51 | NPBL | Eastern | 2nd | 22 | 22 | .500 | 6.5 |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Hill, Max A. (Spring 2013). "Running a Railroad for Fun". Classic Trains. 14 (1): 32–37.
- ^ "Anderson Leaves Pro Hoop Ranks". Spokane Daily Chronicle. 1950-04-11. Retrieved 2009-09-04.
- ^ "Packers' five out of N.B.A." The Winona Daily News. Associated Press. 11 April 1950. p. 13. Retrieved 23 June 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
