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List of Philadelphia Sphas seasons

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Philadelphia Sphas were an American professional basketball team active from 1917 to 1959. Throughout the team's tenure, they played in many ramshackle leagues, which was commonplace in the time before the formation of the NBA. Most of the Sphas' existence was spent in the Eastern Basketball League and the American Basketball League. They won twelve championships, one each in the short-lived Philadelphia League and Philadelphia Basket Ball League, three in the Eastern Basketball League, and seven in the American Basketball League.

Year League Regular season Playoffs Ref
1917–18 American League of Philadelphia 5th (tie for last) No playoffs were held by the ALP [1]
1918–19 American League of Philadelphia 5th (1st half); 5th (2nd half), 5th overall [1]
1919–20 American League of Philadelphia 3rd (1st half); 4th (2nd half) [1]
1920–21 American League of Philadelphia 4th (1st half); 7th (2nd half), 6th overall [1]
1921–22 American League of Philadelphia 1st (1st half); 3rd (2nd half) ALP folded before the season completed [1]
1922–23 Manufacturer's League 3rd (1st half); 6th (2nd half) No playoffs were held by the Manufacturer's League [1]
Philadelphia League 2nd (1st half); 6th (2nd half) No playoffs were held by the Philadelphia League [1]
1923–24 Philadelphia League 5th (1st half); 1st (2nd half) Champions (2–0 over Tri-Council Caseys) [1]
1924–25 Philadelphia Basket Ball League 1st (1st half); 3rd (2nd half) Champions (2–1 over Tri-Council Caseys) [1]
1925–26 Eastern League 3rd (1st half); 1st (2nd half) No playoffs were held by the Eastern League [1]
1926–27 American Basketball League (as Warriors) 2nd (2nd half) Did not qualify [1]
1927–28 American Basketball League (as Warriors) 2nd Lost division playoffs [1]
1928–29 Philadelphia Basket Ball League 5th (1st half) Sphas dropped out of the league after the first half [1]
The team was not part of any league and played independently [1]
1929–30 Eastern Basketball League[2] 2nd (1st half); 1st (2nd half) Champions (3–2 over Philadelphia Elks) [1]
1930–31 Eastern Basketball League 1st (1st half); 2nd (2nd half) Champions (3–1 over Camden Skeeters) [1]
1931–32 Eastern Basketball League 2nd (1st half, lost 1st half title to Philadelphia Moose); 1st (2nd half) Champions (3–1 over Philadelphia Moose) [1]
1932–33 Eastern Basketball League 1st (1st half); 3rd (2nd half) Lost championship (3–1 to Trenton Moose) [1]
1933–34 American Basketball League 3rd (1st half); 1st (2nd half) Champions (4–2 over Trenton Moose) [1]
1934–35 American Basketball League 2nd (1st half); 2nd (2nd half) Lost second half title (2–1 to Brooklyn Visitations) [1]
1935–36 American Basketball League 1st (1st half); 5th (2nd half) Champions (4–3 over Brooklyn Visitations) [1]
1936–37 American Basketball League 2nd (1st half); 1st (2nd half) Champions (4–3 over Jersey Reds) [1]
1937–38 American Basketball League 4th (1st half); 3rd (2nd half) Did not qualify [1]
1938–39 American Basketball League 2nd Lost semifinals (2–0 to New York Jewels) [1]
1939–40 American Basketball League 1st Champions (defeated the Washington Brewers, Troy Celtics, New York Jewels, and Baltimore Clippers in round-robin series) [1]
1940–41 American Basketball League 1st (1st half); 4th (2nd half) Champions (3–1 over Brooklyn Celtics) [1]
1941–42 American Basketball League 2nd (1st half); 3rd (2nd half) No playoffs were held by the ABL [1]
1942–43 American Basketball League 2nd Champions (4–3 over Trenton Tigers) [1]
1943–44 American Basketball League 4th (1st half); 1st (2nd half) Lost championship (4–3 to Wilmington Blue Bombers) [1]
1944–45 American Basketball League 1st Champions (2–1 over Baltimore Bullets) [1]
1945–46 American Basketball League 2nd Lost championship (3–1 to Baltimore Bullets) [1]
1946–47 American Basketball League 2nd Lost second round (2–1 to Trenton Tigers) [1]
1947–48 American Basketball League 6th Did not qualify [1]
1948–49 American Basketball League 8th Did not qualify [1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah Stark, Douglas (2011). "Appendix E". The SPHAS: The Life and Times of Basketball's Greatest Jewish Team. Philadelphia: Temple University Press. pp. 295–297. ISBN 9781592136339. OCLC 859555296.
  2. ^ No relation to earlier Eastern League