Sunday, March 15, 2020
Thursday, March 5, 2020
Afterwards
Although he didn't get to enjoy it in person, Frank Hill built a memorable team in just his fifth season at Rutgers. Some may have thought it was a one time thing, but just two years later, Rutgers received not one, but two post season invitations - to a larger 32 team AAU event and a new eight team college tournament (not the NCAA). This time, unmoved by student petitions, the faculty declined both opportunities citing the expense, time lost from class and the risk of over commercializing the sport. Undeterred, Hill's 1923 team won even more games, finishing 11-3 with eight straight wins to close out the season. After the 1922 season, Hill gave up the St. Benedict's Prep coaching job and did the same at Seton Hall University in 1930 to concentrate on his work at Rutgers. All told Hill's college teams won 415 games at both New Jersey colleges with a .640 winning percentage. He is a member of the athletic hall of fame of both institutions as well as St. Benedict's Prep. Hill was also a highly regarded referee for 35 years. He retired from Rutgers after the 1943 season and died on August 22, 1944 at the age of 65. His grandson, Chris Hill played basketball at Rutgers in the early 1970s before an very successful career as Athletic Director at the University of Utah.
Both seniors on the 1920 team, Leland Taliaferro and Calvin Meury received well deserved recognition for their achievements at Rutgers when both were elected to Cap and Skull, Rutgers highest honorary society. After graduation, Taliaferro attended Columbia Law School and worked first in private practice before beginning a long career at Public Service. He died relatively young at the age of 55 on August 5, 1952. Meury also pursued further education after Rutgers, attending the New Brunswick Theological Seminary and was ordained a minister in the Dutch Reformed Church, the denomination that founded Rutgers. After serving long pastorates at churches in Syracuse and Schenectady, he became National Youth Director for the Church in North America. On his death in 1985, Meury asked that memorial gifts be made to support athletic scholarships at Rutgers. Art Hall, the sole junior on the 1920 team was chosen captain of the 1921 team. After graduation, he had a long career in business both in the food industry and real estate. His son, Frederick Arthur Jr graduated from Rutgers in 1953.
As noted earlier, Walter French was one of the greatest athletes ever to play at Rutgers, but is largely forgotten today because he left Rutgers after his sophomore season to enroll at West Point. Under the rules of the day he had four more years of eligibility and could have played college sports for six years. French enjoyed football success at West Point, but academic problems forced him to leave the academy. On the brink of enlisting in the army, the Moorestown product was offered the opportunity to play minor league baseball which began a journey that led him to Philadelphia Athletics where he hit .305 in 1926 and was a reserve on the A's 1929 World Series championship team. While a member of the Athletics in 1925, French played professional football for the Pottsville Maroons in the National Football League and was a key contributor when his team defeated the Chicago Cardinals for the 1925 championship. Although the title was vacated on a technicality, French is the only player to be part of a World Series and NFL championship team. French served with distinction in the army in World War II, became baseball coach at West Point and was named an honorary member of the West Point Class of 1925. He died on March 3, 1984.
The sole freshman on the 1920 starting five, Edward Benzoni was the first four year basketball starter in Rutgers history. The second leading scorer on that team without taking a single foul shot, the Union Hill product used his 1920 success as a springboard to becoming the greatest offensive player in the first 30 years of Rutgers basketball. By the time he graduated in 1923, Benzoni had set records for points in a game (three separate times), points in a season and points in a career among other achievements. Most of his records stood until the late 1940s. Especially impressive was his junior season when he became the first Rutgers player to average 20 points in a season, a major achievement in that low scoring era. He stood alone in that category until the 1950s and remains one of only 13 Rutgers players to average 20 points per game. Benzoni was the captain of the 1923 team and like Taliaferro and Meury before him was elected to Cap and Skull as a senior. After a brief period of professional basketball, Benzoni worked in a family business until his death in March of 1966.
A century has passed since the 1920 team first brought national recognition to Rutgers basketball. Not only was it a very different time, Rutgers was a very different school and basketball was a very different game. Indeed its hard to know who would experience more cultural shock, today's players transported to the school and game of 1920 or those long ago athletes experiencing today's state university competing in a premier athletic/academic conference. At the same time, however no matter how different the uniforms, both teams wore the red jerseys of Rutgers basketball. Besides school colors, however, there is another thread that connects all Rutgers basketball teams, the potential to bring positive recognition to the school. Even in that more limited communication age, the 1920 team's achievements attracted media attention from Florida to California. Be it the 1920 team or this year's squad, a century later, the words of George Harrington Rutgers Class of 1898, an eyewitness to the 1920 AAU tournament, still apply.
"Rutgers name today stands in the South and has been published to the entire country
at the very top, and this the boys have won for their Alma Mater by being themselves,
and that is true gentlemen. They have honored themselves: they have accredited
their college. No one could ask for more."
May it always be so!
Frank J. Hill
Both seniors on the 1920 team, Leland Taliaferro and Calvin Meury received well deserved recognition for their achievements at Rutgers when both were elected to Cap and Skull, Rutgers highest honorary society. After graduation, Taliaferro attended Columbia Law School and worked first in private practice before beginning a long career at Public Service. He died relatively young at the age of 55 on August 5, 1952. Meury also pursued further education after Rutgers, attending the New Brunswick Theological Seminary and was ordained a minister in the Dutch Reformed Church, the denomination that founded Rutgers. After serving long pastorates at churches in Syracuse and Schenectady, he became National Youth Director for the Church in North America. On his death in 1985, Meury asked that memorial gifts be made to support athletic scholarships at Rutgers. Art Hall, the sole junior on the 1920 team was chosen captain of the 1921 team. After graduation, he had a long career in business both in the food industry and real estate. His son, Frederick Arthur Jr graduated from Rutgers in 1953.
Calvin Meury
As noted earlier, Walter French was one of the greatest athletes ever to play at Rutgers, but is largely forgotten today because he left Rutgers after his sophomore season to enroll at West Point. Under the rules of the day he had four more years of eligibility and could have played college sports for six years. French enjoyed football success at West Point, but academic problems forced him to leave the academy. On the brink of enlisting in the army, the Moorestown product was offered the opportunity to play minor league baseball which began a journey that led him to Philadelphia Athletics where he hit .305 in 1926 and was a reserve on the A's 1929 World Series championship team. While a member of the Athletics in 1925, French played professional football for the Pottsville Maroons in the National Football League and was a key contributor when his team defeated the Chicago Cardinals for the 1925 championship. Although the title was vacated on a technicality, French is the only player to be part of a World Series and NFL championship team. French served with distinction in the army in World War II, became baseball coach at West Point and was named an honorary member of the West Point Class of 1925. He died on March 3, 1984.
Leland Taliaferro
The sole freshman on the 1920 starting five, Edward Benzoni was the first four year basketball starter in Rutgers history. The second leading scorer on that team without taking a single foul shot, the Union Hill product used his 1920 success as a springboard to becoming the greatest offensive player in the first 30 years of Rutgers basketball. By the time he graduated in 1923, Benzoni had set records for points in a game (three separate times), points in a season and points in a career among other achievements. Most of his records stood until the late 1940s. Especially impressive was his junior season when he became the first Rutgers player to average 20 points in a season, a major achievement in that low scoring era. He stood alone in that category until the 1950s and remains one of only 13 Rutgers players to average 20 points per game. Benzoni was the captain of the 1923 team and like Taliaferro and Meury before him was elected to Cap and Skull as a senior. After a brief period of professional basketball, Benzoni worked in a family business until his death in March of 1966.
A century has passed since the 1920 team first brought national recognition to Rutgers basketball. Not only was it a very different time, Rutgers was a very different school and basketball was a very different game. Indeed its hard to know who would experience more cultural shock, today's players transported to the school and game of 1920 or those long ago athletes experiencing today's state university competing in a premier athletic/academic conference. At the same time, however no matter how different the uniforms, both teams wore the red jerseys of Rutgers basketball. Besides school colors, however, there is another thread that connects all Rutgers basketball teams, the potential to bring positive recognition to the school. Even in that more limited communication age, the 1920 team's achievements attracted media attention from Florida to California. Be it the 1920 team or this year's squad, a century later, the words of George Harrington Rutgers Class of 1898, an eyewitness to the 1920 AAU tournament, still apply.
"Rutgers name today stands in the South and has been published to the entire country
at the very top, and this the boys have won for their Alma Mater by being themselves,
and that is true gentlemen. They have honored themselves: they have accredited
their college. No one could ask for more."
May it always be so!
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
The Tournament
Although the Rutgers players were doubtless excited about the trip to Atlanta, some of the glamour probably wore off during the 30 hours it took them to reach the Gate City. The challenges of travel may at least partially explain why they declined numerous invitations to play games in route in places such as Nashville or Louisville. Regardless, it must have been a tired group that arrived in Atlanta at 6:30 am on Wednesday morning where they would be hosted by George Harrington RC of 1898, a "staunch and enthusiastic alumnus." After checking in at the Ansley Hotel, the team practiced, enjoyed a tour of the city and took in an movie on their one free night. During the stay in Atlanta graduate manager Frederic Heitkamp planned to tour area high schools to promote Rutgers and encourage applications from area residents. The collegians from New Brunswick were one of five college teams in the tournaments along with 11 AAU clubs, many boasting former college players on their roster. The presence of so many veteran players may explain why Rutgers was the youngest (average age 20) and lightest (average weight 155) in the event.
To date Rutgers had played only two road games, short train rides from New Brunswick. Now over 800 miles from home, at a supposedly neutral site, their opener would be a virtual road game against the University of Georgia. It was probably no surprise therefore that Rutgers got off to a slow start in the game at the Atlanta Auditorium, trailing by three points at halftime, down six with 10 minutes left and still behind in the "last few minutes." At that point, however, the northern squad made a"wonderful spurt," led by Benzoni who "time and time again" avoided the Georgia defense, making "spectacular shots from difficult angles." According to Atlanta sportswriter Gene Hinton, on one occasion, the Rutgers forward with his back to the basket, "flung the ball over his head" and through the net. Also making a major contribution was Taliaferro who, in spite of a leg injury, contributed 14 points towards Rutgers 36-33 win. Hinton called the game the "most heart fought battle of the first round."
The following evening the Rutgers squad was back on the court to take on an undefeated Utah team, although the Salt Lake contingent had only played five games. Once again Rutgers fell behind in a game Gene Hinton of the Atlanta Constitution called "equally as bitter" as the Georgia contest. Utah's lead grew to eight points, but late in the second half, "a young cyclone," named Edward Benzoni erupted. The Rutgers freshman standout had been shut out in the first half, but he went on a 10 points tear to lead his team to a 35-32 victory. Also making a major contribution on offense was Leland Taliaferro who score 17 points including making 11 of the teams 17 attempts from the free throw line. It was wrote Hinton "a hard game to lose" for Utah and an equally "hard game to win" for Rutgers. With two close wins in two games, Rutgers was now in the semi-finals.
In the first two games, the five Rutgers starters had played all 40 minutes. Now faced with their third game in three nights, they had to stop the two top scorers of the Detroit AAU team, Joe Dermody, who had averaged 23 points in the first two games, and Walter Voss who had put in 18 per game. While Taliaferro and Benzoni continued to lead the offense, Walter French keyed the defense which put the clamps on the Detroit stars. Gene Hinton claimed "the white jerseys of Rutgers were everywhere" and Detroit seemed "powerless," against "the leech-like tactics." Whatever the strategy it clearly worked since Dermody managed only nine points while Voss was held scoreless. All five starters went the distance for the third consecutive night and Rutgers earned the right to play "for the championship of the United States."
Rutgers had one unexpected benefit in the final game. After seeing their local school fall to Rutgers, students from Georgia and Georgia Tech decided to root for Rutgers assisted by graduate manager Heitkamp who "taught them the old familiar college yell and they used it with a vengeance." Unfortunately all the moral support in the world wouldn't have mattered as waiting for Rutgers in the championship game was NYU. Although Rutgers was in the game at halftime, NYU broke it open in the second half, winning 49-24. After the game both teams attended a banquet at the East Lake County Club where Rutgers received the second place trophy. Shortly thereafter, the Rutgers party left for the return trip to New Brunswick, arriving for noon chapel services on Monday where they were warmly received by their fellow students and President William Demarest. Rutgers received no end of accolades from the Atlanta media beginning with Keller Morton of the Atlanta Constitution who claimed there was "no doubt but that Rutgers was the most popular team" in the event. Although he mixed metaphors (or sports), Morgan Blake, the paper's sports editor said "Rutgers will fight with a superb courage until the last man is out in the ninth inning."
Home News - March 2, 1920
To date Rutgers had played only two road games, short train rides from New Brunswick. Now over 800 miles from home, at a supposedly neutral site, their opener would be a virtual road game against the University of Georgia. It was probably no surprise therefore that Rutgers got off to a slow start in the game at the Atlanta Auditorium, trailing by three points at halftime, down six with 10 minutes left and still behind in the "last few minutes." At that point, however, the northern squad made a"wonderful spurt," led by Benzoni who "time and time again" avoided the Georgia defense, making "spectacular shots from difficult angles." According to Atlanta sportswriter Gene Hinton, on one occasion, the Rutgers forward with his back to the basket, "flung the ball over his head" and through the net. Also making a major contribution was Taliaferro who, in spite of a leg injury, contributed 14 points towards Rutgers 36-33 win. Hinton called the game the "most heart fought battle of the first round."
Edward Benzoni
The following evening the Rutgers squad was back on the court to take on an undefeated Utah team, although the Salt Lake contingent had only played five games. Once again Rutgers fell behind in a game Gene Hinton of the Atlanta Constitution called "equally as bitter" as the Georgia contest. Utah's lead grew to eight points, but late in the second half, "a young cyclone," named Edward Benzoni erupted. The Rutgers freshman standout had been shut out in the first half, but he went on a 10 points tear to lead his team to a 35-32 victory. Also making a major contribution on offense was Leland Taliaferro who score 17 points including making 11 of the teams 17 attempts from the free throw line. It was wrote Hinton "a hard game to lose" for Utah and an equally "hard game to win" for Rutgers. With two close wins in two games, Rutgers was now in the semi-finals.
Walter French
In the first two games, the five Rutgers starters had played all 40 minutes. Now faced with their third game in three nights, they had to stop the two top scorers of the Detroit AAU team, Joe Dermody, who had averaged 23 points in the first two games, and Walter Voss who had put in 18 per game. While Taliaferro and Benzoni continued to lead the offense, Walter French keyed the defense which put the clamps on the Detroit stars. Gene Hinton claimed "the white jerseys of Rutgers were everywhere" and Detroit seemed "powerless," against "the leech-like tactics." Whatever the strategy it clearly worked since Dermody managed only nine points while Voss was held scoreless. All five starters went the distance for the third consecutive night and Rutgers earned the right to play "for the championship of the United States."
While not of high quality, this picture shows the Rutgers team at the championship banquet with the second place trophy. The trophy was most likely destroyed by a fire at Ballantine Gym in 1930.
Atlanta Constitution - March 17, 1920
Rutgers had one unexpected benefit in the final game. After seeing their local school fall to Rutgers, students from Georgia and Georgia Tech decided to root for Rutgers assisted by graduate manager Heitkamp who "taught them the old familiar college yell and they used it with a vengeance." Unfortunately all the moral support in the world wouldn't have mattered as waiting for Rutgers in the championship game was NYU. Although Rutgers was in the game at halftime, NYU broke it open in the second half, winning 49-24. After the game both teams attended a banquet at the East Lake County Club where Rutgers received the second place trophy. Shortly thereafter, the Rutgers party left for the return trip to New Brunswick, arriving for noon chapel services on Monday where they were warmly received by their fellow students and President William Demarest. Rutgers received no end of accolades from the Atlanta media beginning with Keller Morton of the Atlanta Constitution who claimed there was "no doubt but that Rutgers was the most popular team" in the event. Although he mixed metaphors (or sports), Morgan Blake, the paper's sports editor said "Rutgers will fight with a superb courage until the last man is out in the ninth inning."
Tuesday, February 18, 2020
The Regular Season - Part II
The 1920 Rutgers team had precious little time to enjoy their dramatic win over Princeton. Just two days later the University of Pittsburgh invaded Ballantine Gym as part of a sports doubleheader beginning with a Rutgers - Syracuse swimming match at 7:45. The basketball game against Pitt was to begin immediately thereafter, making for a late night for the attendees. Trying to maximize receipts the Athletic Department charged separate admissions - 25 cents for the swimming meet and a dollar for the basketball game supposedly because of a "large" guarantee to Pitt. Even with the high price, there was another "huge crowd," although understandably without the "excitement and tenseness" of the Princeton game. If the Rutgers team experienced any let down it wasn't obvious as they took the lead from the start and were ahead 18-12 at the halftime break. The visitors closed the gap to two points during the second half, but Benzoni who had been scoreless thus far, made four baskets "in rapid and spectacular succession" and according to Harold O'Neil, the threat disappeared as quickly as "the free lunch counter" and Rutgers triumphed 41-35.
Fortunately there was week before the next game an afternoon contest against West Virginia as part of Junior Prom weekend so the Home News felt the players would be rested "unless the junior prom activity takes some of the starch" out of them. The game was played "amid the rustle of silken gowns and faint though excited cries of girl friends" who saw a Rutgers 28-22 win that was "not indicative of the wide difference" between the two teams. Rutgers led 18-9 at the half and the second half was about even primarily because Coach Hill cleared his bench giving the substitutes a rare chance to play. If the score of the West Virginia game was deceptive that was not true of the final home game against Carnegie Tech as Rutgers broke open a three point game in the second half winning 46-26. Three Rutgers players were in double figures, including, unsurprisingly, Meury and Taliaferro with 14 and 12 respectively. The big surprise was French whose prior contributions had been on defense, but scored 10 points in his best offensive performance of the season.
Rutgers final game of the 1920 regular season was only their second road game, a visit to Hoboken to take on Stevens Tech. Only limited information survives about the game which had a dramatic ending similar to the Princeton game. Apparently the team didn't travel together or at least Walter French was with a separate group which arrived too late for him to start the game. During the first half it seemed to make little difference as Rutgers shocked an overflow crowd of 1500 by jumping out to a 26-12 half time lead. Playing before a large contingent of family and friends, Benzoni led the Rutgers attack, scoring 24 points, a new Rutgers record for points in a game. The second half was another matter however, especially after Meury fouled out of the game which triggered a "whirlwind finish by Stevens." The scored was tied three times in the closing minutes, the final time at 43-43 before, just as in the Princeton game, a foul was called as the timer blew his whistle. This time, however, the foul was on Rutgers and the Stevens player converted giving the local team a dramatic come from behind victory. Even so, Rutgers ended the regular season with an 8-3 record the best in the school's abbreviated basketball history.
Although there was disappointment at the loss, attention quickly turned to a new and unexpected opportunity. In the last line of his account of the West Virginia game, Harold O'Neil mentioned that Rutgers had been invited to represent the East in the upcoming National AAU tournament in Atlanta. The Targum supported the idea arguing it "will be splendid publicity for our school" while the five day absence would not hurt academically since the basketball team's academic performance was surpassed only the track squad. Reportedly some of the school's trustees supported the idea and the student body began circulating petitions urging the administration and faculty to approve the venture. On February 25, the Home News announced that "after a great deal of deliberation," the faculty had agreed. Rutgers was to send a party of ten including just six players with Robert Dornan joining the starters. While he was originally part of the group, amazingly, it was announced that Coach Frank Hill would not make the trip because of his other responsibilities and the birth of a new child. While graduate manager of athletics Frederick Heitkamp and trainer "Doc" Jake Besas would provide adult supervision, Captain Calvin Meury would have to take on full responsibility for practice, strategy and in game decision-making. At least with only one substitute, he didn't have to worry about the player rotation.
Home News - February 14, 1920
Fortunately there was week before the next game an afternoon contest against West Virginia as part of Junior Prom weekend so the Home News felt the players would be rested "unless the junior prom activity takes some of the starch" out of them. The game was played "amid the rustle of silken gowns and faint though excited cries of girl friends" who saw a Rutgers 28-22 win that was "not indicative of the wide difference" between the two teams. Rutgers led 18-9 at the half and the second half was about even primarily because Coach Hill cleared his bench giving the substitutes a rare chance to play. If the score of the West Virginia game was deceptive that was not true of the final home game against Carnegie Tech as Rutgers broke open a three point game in the second half winning 46-26. Three Rutgers players were in double figures, including, unsurprisingly, Meury and Taliaferro with 14 and 12 respectively. The big surprise was French whose prior contributions had been on defense, but scored 10 points in his best offensive performance of the season.
Daily Home News - March 7, 1920
Rutgers final game of the 1920 regular season was only their second road game, a visit to Hoboken to take on Stevens Tech. Only limited information survives about the game which had a dramatic ending similar to the Princeton game. Apparently the team didn't travel together or at least Walter French was with a separate group which arrived too late for him to start the game. During the first half it seemed to make little difference as Rutgers shocked an overflow crowd of 1500 by jumping out to a 26-12 half time lead. Playing before a large contingent of family and friends, Benzoni led the Rutgers attack, scoring 24 points, a new Rutgers record for points in a game. The second half was another matter however, especially after Meury fouled out of the game which triggered a "whirlwind finish by Stevens." The scored was tied three times in the closing minutes, the final time at 43-43 before, just as in the Princeton game, a foul was called as the timer blew his whistle. This time, however, the foul was on Rutgers and the Stevens player converted giving the local team a dramatic come from behind victory. Even so, Rutgers ended the regular season with an 8-3 record the best in the school's abbreviated basketball history.
Home News - March 7, 1920
Although there was disappointment at the loss, attention quickly turned to a new and unexpected opportunity. In the last line of his account of the West Virginia game, Harold O'Neil mentioned that Rutgers had been invited to represent the East in the upcoming National AAU tournament in Atlanta. The Targum supported the idea arguing it "will be splendid publicity for our school" while the five day absence would not hurt academically since the basketball team's academic performance was surpassed only the track squad. Reportedly some of the school's trustees supported the idea and the student body began circulating petitions urging the administration and faculty to approve the venture. On February 25, the Home News announced that "after a great deal of deliberation," the faculty had agreed. Rutgers was to send a party of ten including just six players with Robert Dornan joining the starters. While he was originally part of the group, amazingly, it was announced that Coach Frank Hill would not make the trip because of his other responsibilities and the birth of a new child. While graduate manager of athletics Frederick Heitkamp and trainer "Doc" Jake Besas would provide adult supervision, Captain Calvin Meury would have to take on full responsibility for practice, strategy and in game decision-making. At least with only one substitute, he didn't have to worry about the player rotation.
Tuesday, February 11, 2020
The Signature Win
By 1920 Rutgers had competed against Princeton in athletics for more than 50 years. While the November 6, 1869 inaugural football came is well known, Rutgers first played the neighboring college three years earlier when eight students (not a team) foolishly took on Princeton's well established baseball club and suffered a predictable, but still ignominious 40-2 defeat. Competition between the two schools actually dated back even earlier to 1864 when the state legislature chose Rutgers over Princeton as New Jersey's land grant college, the first step on the road to becoming the state university. While Rutgers also won the first football game, the New Brunswick school had enjoyed no success for almost 50 years until graduation day in June of 1919 when the Rutgers baseball earned a 5-1 victory giving Paul Robeson his long desired win over Princeton in his last collegiate competition.
Basketball competition between the two schools began only three years earlier with Princeton winning all four meetings including two in the 1918-19 season, the second a heart breaking two point overtime loss. Clearly it was an important game and the Home News was scarcely overstating the case by observing that "even if the battle were a game of ping pong or marbles, the interest and spirit would run high." The Targum more than agreed claiming that even if the Rutgers team lost every other game, but beat Princeton, students, alumni and fans would agree "there had never been a better season in the history of the college." So intense was the expected atmosphere that Princeton requested that Joe Deering one of the game's top referees work the game and Deering made a special trip from Washington D.C. to do so. In a step unimaginable today, on several occasions, Deering actually stopped the game and "explained and illustrated" foul calls against Rutgers that weren't received well by the home crowd.
To no one's surprise, ticket demand was high and all the seats were sold quickly including the 300 added just a few weeks earlier even though the prices had been doubled to an unprecedented $1. Those in attendance were not disappointed as Harold O'Neil of the Home News, wrote that the "vast assemblage which packed Ballantine Gymnasium from floor to roof" saw a game that was "bitter and probably the greatest basketball struggle that has ever been played on the local court." Princeton got off to a 3-1 lead before baskets by Meury and Hall put Rutgers ahead 5-3, a deficit the visitors quickly erased before Benzoni again tied the game at 7-7. After a Princeton foul shot, three straight Rutgers baskets gave the Scarlet a 13-8 advantage and they still led 17-14 after the first 20 minutes. Princeton wasted little time catching up and taking the lead in the second half and the game went back and forth until the visitors led 22-20. At that point, Benzoni, "darting out of a welter of men," scored two straight baskets to put Rutgers up by two points. After Princeton again regained the lead, a Walter French basket put Rutgers ahead by one point, but Stanley Netts of Princeton tied the game at 27-27 with a foul shot and just like a year earlier on the same court, the two teams headed for overtime.
Without a moment's respite, Deering summoned the two teams for the center jump and Princeton scored to take a two point lead. Taliaferro made a foul shot for Rutgers which was matched by Netts, but Taliaferro followed with a basket to tie the game again at 30-30. With 30 seconds left, Rutgers was called for a foul sending Netts, Princeton's designated foul shooter to the line again. He missed producing what the Targum, with masterful understatement, called a "heavy sigh of relief." As time ran down, there was a wild scramble for the ball and just as the timekeeper blew his whistle to signal the end of the first overtime, Deering blew his to call a foul on Princeton, sending Taliaferro to the line. The crowd, "on the verge of a nervous collapse," watched "the ball sailing towards the iron rim and then slip clearly through the net and then to the floor." According to the Targum, "the ball had no more than emerged from the net" that the floor was full of " a mass of joyous, happy loyal followers of Rutgers" Meanwhile, the Home News reported that the "chapel bell tolled in peals of victory" while the "undergraduate body rushed into the streets to let the whole world know a Princeton team had been defeated by Rutgers." It was the Targum noted a "thoroughly satisfactory" result.
Daily Home News - February 12, 1920
Basketball competition between the two schools began only three years earlier with Princeton winning all four meetings including two in the 1918-19 season, the second a heart breaking two point overtime loss. Clearly it was an important game and the Home News was scarcely overstating the case by observing that "even if the battle were a game of ping pong or marbles, the interest and spirit would run high." The Targum more than agreed claiming that even if the Rutgers team lost every other game, but beat Princeton, students, alumni and fans would agree "there had never been a better season in the history of the college." So intense was the expected atmosphere that Princeton requested that Joe Deering one of the game's top referees work the game and Deering made a special trip from Washington D.C. to do so. In a step unimaginable today, on several occasions, Deering actually stopped the game and "explained and illustrated" foul calls against Rutgers that weren't received well by the home crowd.
Leland Taliaferro
To no one's surprise, ticket demand was high and all the seats were sold quickly including the 300 added just a few weeks earlier even though the prices had been doubled to an unprecedented $1. Those in attendance were not disappointed as Harold O'Neil of the Home News, wrote that the "vast assemblage which packed Ballantine Gymnasium from floor to roof" saw a game that was "bitter and probably the greatest basketball struggle that has ever been played on the local court." Princeton got off to a 3-1 lead before baskets by Meury and Hall put Rutgers ahead 5-3, a deficit the visitors quickly erased before Benzoni again tied the game at 7-7. After a Princeton foul shot, three straight Rutgers baskets gave the Scarlet a 13-8 advantage and they still led 17-14 after the first 20 minutes. Princeton wasted little time catching up and taking the lead in the second half and the game went back and forth until the visitors led 22-20. At that point, Benzoni, "darting out of a welter of men," scored two straight baskets to put Rutgers up by two points. After Princeton again regained the lead, a Walter French basket put Rutgers ahead by one point, but Stanley Netts of Princeton tied the game at 27-27 with a foul shot and just like a year earlier on the same court, the two teams headed for overtime.
Daily Home News - February 12, 1920
Without a moment's respite, Deering summoned the two teams for the center jump and Princeton scored to take a two point lead. Taliaferro made a foul shot for Rutgers which was matched by Netts, but Taliaferro followed with a basket to tie the game again at 30-30. With 30 seconds left, Rutgers was called for a foul sending Netts, Princeton's designated foul shooter to the line again. He missed producing what the Targum, with masterful understatement, called a "heavy sigh of relief." As time ran down, there was a wild scramble for the ball and just as the timekeeper blew his whistle to signal the end of the first overtime, Deering blew his to call a foul on Princeton, sending Taliaferro to the line. The crowd, "on the verge of a nervous collapse," watched "the ball sailing towards the iron rim and then slip clearly through the net and then to the floor." According to the Targum, "the ball had no more than emerged from the net" that the floor was full of " a mass of joyous, happy loyal followers of Rutgers" Meanwhile, the Home News reported that the "chapel bell tolled in peals of victory" while the "undergraduate body rushed into the streets to let the whole world know a Princeton team had been defeated by Rutgers." It was the Targum noted a "thoroughly satisfactory" result.
"Ring the bell of old Queens College,
Paint the town as ne'er before
Play the game, boys play together,
Score once more, oh score, once more."
Thursday, February 6, 2020
The Regular Season - Part I
Time would tell whether the schedule was "pretentious and ambitious," but one thing was clear, it would have been difficult to find a tougher opening opponent than New York University (NYU). Rutgers could take some comfort from the prior year's road victory, but the 1920 NYU squad was a different team and a very experienced one at that. Four of the visitor's starters missed the 1919 game due to military service, beginning with Howard Cann, "considered one of the best players on the court," a member of the Naismith Hall of Fame. To make matters worse, NYU had already played three games. As expected, Coach Hill started Taliaferro and Benzoni at the forward positions, Dettlinger at center with French and Meury at the guards. Led by Cann, NYU took the lead after five minutes of play and never looked back, coasting to a 45-27 victory, a deficit that would have been even more embarrassing without Taliaferro's 21 points. The Home News acknowledged that NYU was "superior," but also criticized the Rutgers team for excessive dribbling and too much individual play. Perhaps not surprisingly, Benzoni struggled in his first college game, managing only two points. One positive sign was the "exceptionally large crowd" which confirmed the need for expanded seating.
In the next game, only two nights later, Rutgers bounced back against a strong Syracuse team, showing "remarkable" improvement in route to a 30-20 triumph before a slightly larger crowd estimated at 800. Coach Hill made one lineup change which would proved both valuable and permanent, starting Art Hall at center instead of Dettlinger whose play against NYU had reportedly "lacked spirit." Syracuse led only once in the first half before Rutgers opened a 16-7 halftime lead and the visitors never got closer than four points. As expected/hoped Benzoni played much better scoring eight points while French proved "a wonder" on the defensive end. After turning away prospective ticket buyers at both games, something that had also happened a year ago, the administration announced plans to add new sets of bleachers on each side of the running track as well as a new tier on the main floor. The result would be an announced capacity of 900 that could probably accommodate a 1,000 spectators when necessary. The increased seating capacity was to be in place by the January 24th game against Muhlenberg.
Before that, however, the team would play one of its two 1920 road games, a visit to Swarthmore. Initially Rutgers had a hard time adjusting to a smaller court and trailed 14-6 after ten minutes before rallying to lead 17-15 at halftime. With 11 minutes left in the second half, the score was tied at 22-22, but Rutgers pulled away for a 29-26 victory over the previously unbeaten Swarthmore squad. Back home at Ballantine Gym a week later, Rutgers was supposed to dominate Muhlenberg, but got a rude awakening when the visitors jumped out an 8-0 lead at the 10 minute mark before Rutgers rallied to tie the game at 12-12. Having dodged Muhlenberg's best efforts, Rutgers outscored the visitors 14-5 in the second half for a 26-17 win. Although praising captain Meury who scored 12 points, the Home News claimed Rutgers looked like a high school team. Perhaps part of the problem was Taliaferro was suffering from the flu. After struggling through the first half, the Rutgers star was removed from the game over his protests. Rutgers did not play a whole lot better in the next game where they were consistently inconsistent in a 39-30 win over Temple. Although now suffering from a cut over his eye due to a fall on the ice, Taliaferro led the way with 17 points.
While the team and its fans had to be pleased with the 4-1 record, two lackluster performances were a concern especially heading into back-to-back games with CCNY and Princeton. The New York City school was 6-1 having lost only to Princeton and was coached by future Naismith Hall of Fame inductee, Nat Holman, "probably the best player who ever put on a pair of suction shoes." A record crowd was expected and the fans more than did their part with a 1000 spectators braving a snow storm to watch the closest game of the season. The visitors led 11-10 at half time and the game went back and forth in the second half before CCNY came out on top by the margin of a single foul shot, 25-24. Benzoni was Rutgers high scorer with 10 points while Taliaferro had 8. Unfortunately, Taliaferro's performance at the foul line hurt his team. Taking all the team's foul shots (as he did all season), the leading Rutgers scorer was 6 of 10 compared to CCNY's designated shooter who was 7 of 9. The crowd certainly did their part especially in the second half when "the gymnasium was in an uproar with the pleading cries for victory." Alas it was not to be, but there was little time to mourn with the Princeton game only five days away.
Howard Cann of NYU
In the next game, only two nights later, Rutgers bounced back against a strong Syracuse team, showing "remarkable" improvement in route to a 30-20 triumph before a slightly larger crowd estimated at 800. Coach Hill made one lineup change which would proved both valuable and permanent, starting Art Hall at center instead of Dettlinger whose play against NYU had reportedly "lacked spirit." Syracuse led only once in the first half before Rutgers opened a 16-7 halftime lead and the visitors never got closer than four points. As expected/hoped Benzoni played much better scoring eight points while French proved "a wonder" on the defensive end. After turning away prospective ticket buyers at both games, something that had also happened a year ago, the administration announced plans to add new sets of bleachers on each side of the running track as well as a new tier on the main floor. The result would be an announced capacity of 900 that could probably accommodate a 1,000 spectators when necessary. The increased seating capacity was to be in place by the January 24th game against Muhlenberg.
Art Hall - Home News - March 3, 1920
Before that, however, the team would play one of its two 1920 road games, a visit to Swarthmore. Initially Rutgers had a hard time adjusting to a smaller court and trailed 14-6 after ten minutes before rallying to lead 17-15 at halftime. With 11 minutes left in the second half, the score was tied at 22-22, but Rutgers pulled away for a 29-26 victory over the previously unbeaten Swarthmore squad. Back home at Ballantine Gym a week later, Rutgers was supposed to dominate Muhlenberg, but got a rude awakening when the visitors jumped out an 8-0 lead at the 10 minute mark before Rutgers rallied to tie the game at 12-12. Having dodged Muhlenberg's best efforts, Rutgers outscored the visitors 14-5 in the second half for a 26-17 win. Although praising captain Meury who scored 12 points, the Home News claimed Rutgers looked like a high school team. Perhaps part of the problem was Taliaferro was suffering from the flu. After struggling through the first half, the Rutgers star was removed from the game over his protests. Rutgers did not play a whole lot better in the next game where they were consistently inconsistent in a 39-30 win over Temple. Although now suffering from a cut over his eye due to a fall on the ice, Taliaferro led the way with 17 points.
Naismith Hall of Fame Inductee - Nat Holman - while still playing professionally for the original Celtics, Holman coached CCNY
While the team and its fans had to be pleased with the 4-1 record, two lackluster performances were a concern especially heading into back-to-back games with CCNY and Princeton. The New York City school was 6-1 having lost only to Princeton and was coached by future Naismith Hall of Fame inductee, Nat Holman, "probably the best player who ever put on a pair of suction shoes." A record crowd was expected and the fans more than did their part with a 1000 spectators braving a snow storm to watch the closest game of the season. The visitors led 11-10 at half time and the game went back and forth in the second half before CCNY came out on top by the margin of a single foul shot, 25-24. Benzoni was Rutgers high scorer with 10 points while Taliaferro had 8. Unfortunately, Taliaferro's performance at the foul line hurt his team. Taking all the team's foul shots (as he did all season), the leading Rutgers scorer was 6 of 10 compared to CCNY's designated shooter who was 7 of 9. The crowd certainly did their part especially in the second half when "the gymnasium was in an uproar with the pleading cries for victory." Alas it was not to be, but there was little time to mourn with the Princeton game only five days away.
Thursday, January 30, 2020
The Players
Although a six win season doesn't sound like much, the limited schedules of the era and Rutgers lack of success against those schedules made the 1918-19 season the most successful in the school's limited basketball history. Not only was six a record for wins, there was a road triumph over powerful NYU and a respectable overtime loss to Princeton, the only home defeat of the season. Hopes were high therefore when the team (minus any football players) took the court for the first practice of the season in mid-November. The first order of business was replacing the two seniors loss to graduation, team captain Al Neuschafer and the legendary Paul Robeson. Robeson's loss hurt in a number of ways, in addition to being the team's second leading scorer, he took the all important jump after each made basket and was a dominating physical presence at both ends of the court. Even with those losses, however, there was plenty to build on, beginning with the two senior starters, Calvin Meury and Leland Taliaferro.
Meury, from Dickinson High School in Jersey City, was the team's third leading scorer and had been a starter since the end of his freshman season. As team captain, he would have extra leadership responsibilities including running practice the two days a week when Frank Hill wasn't available. In addition, the senior would make all in-game strategy decisions since coaches were prohibited from talking to the players even during time outs. Also providing senior leadership was Leland Taliaferro, leading scorer on the 1919 team even though he had only played the last seven games. A native of Atlantic City, a high school basketball powerhouse, Taliaferro had served briefly in the military during World War I, although he had not gone overseas. Also a baseball letter winner, the Atlantic City native was clearly a leader off the court as he had been elected president of the senior class. There was one other military veteran on the squad, Art Hall of Passaic, who had missed the prior academic year while on duty in the Coast Guard.
Perhaps even more intriguing than the returnees however were two newcomers, or more accurately one newcomer and a sophomore with limited experience. The latter was Walter French of Moorestown, New Jersey, one of the greatest athletes ever to play at Rutgers, who is understandably forgotten today because, as we shall see, he played only two years on the banks. French had been a member of the 1919 team, but his active participation had been limited because as the Home News put it, he had been "stranded along the way on the scholastic shoals." President of the sophomore class, French had already earned two letters in football and played a major role on the 1919 team. Although out for four weeks with a neck injury, he scored seven of the team's seventeen touchdowns recording six runs of over 30 yards including a 75 yard jaunt against Northwestern. Described by the Home News, as "almost untackable," French's arrival after the end of the football season was doubtless eagerly awaited by coach Hill.
New to Rutgers basketball, but not the Ballantine Gymnasium was freshman Eddie Benzoni, from Union Hill (today's Union City). A year earlier Ballantine Gym hosted the first New Jersey state high school tournament, a four team, invitation only affair. In addition to Union Hill, considered the weakest team in field, the invitees were Trenton, Atlantic City and Passaic. Trenton only agreed to participate if they did not have to play Atlantic City in the first round, a team they had already beaten twice. Matched up against Union Hill, the clearly over-confident Trenton team were rudely awakened when Benzoni led his team to an upset win, ending Trenton's 42 game winning streak. A day later, Benzoni again starred when his underdog team defeated Passaic ending the north Jersey school's 32 game winning streak. Known to history as the "Wonder Team," Passaic would go 200-1 over a ten period, the only blemish at the hands of the Benzoni led Union Hill team. While this was long before recruiting and scholarships, a year later the Home News claimed Benzoni's attendance at Rutgers was due to his participation in the high school tournament on the Ballantine Gym court. Regardless of how he got there, the Hudson County's product's appearance in a Rutgers uniform was doubtless eagerly anticipated.
Naturally one of the focal points as practices began was filling the two vacant spots with special emphasis on the center position because of the center jump. Hill hoped that Don Storck, who he claimed could out jump Robeson, would claim the position but a football injury kept him out of action until January. As a result the position seemed to belong to Frederick Dettlinger almost by default. Gradually the squad was cut down from about 35 to 12 while the team also worked on plays off of the center jump. Supposedly the 1919 team had utilized 20 different such plays and Hill hoped to do the same with this year's squad. Both Benzoni and French won starting positions and by the time of the Christmas break, center remained the only issue. After about 10 days off for the holidays, the players returned before classes resumed to prepare for a schedule the Home News called "pretentious and ambitious," beginning with a visit from powerful NYU on January 7, 1920.
Calvin Meury - Home News - January 7, 1920
Meury, from Dickinson High School in Jersey City, was the team's third leading scorer and had been a starter since the end of his freshman season. As team captain, he would have extra leadership responsibilities including running practice the two days a week when Frank Hill wasn't available. In addition, the senior would make all in-game strategy decisions since coaches were prohibited from talking to the players even during time outs. Also providing senior leadership was Leland Taliaferro, leading scorer on the 1919 team even though he had only played the last seven games. A native of Atlantic City, a high school basketball powerhouse, Taliaferro had served briefly in the military during World War I, although he had not gone overseas. Also a baseball letter winner, the Atlantic City native was clearly a leader off the court as he had been elected president of the senior class. There was one other military veteran on the squad, Art Hall of Passaic, who had missed the prior academic year while on duty in the Coast Guard.
Leland Taliaferro - Home News - January 18, 1920
Perhaps even more intriguing than the returnees however were two newcomers, or more accurately one newcomer and a sophomore with limited experience. The latter was Walter French of Moorestown, New Jersey, one of the greatest athletes ever to play at Rutgers, who is understandably forgotten today because, as we shall see, he played only two years on the banks. French had been a member of the 1919 team, but his active participation had been limited because as the Home News put it, he had been "stranded along the way on the scholastic shoals." President of the sophomore class, French had already earned two letters in football and played a major role on the 1919 team. Although out for four weeks with a neck injury, he scored seven of the team's seventeen touchdowns recording six runs of over 30 yards including a 75 yard jaunt against Northwestern. Described by the Home News, as "almost untackable," French's arrival after the end of the football season was doubtless eagerly awaited by coach Hill.
Walter French - Home News - March 3, 1920
New to Rutgers basketball, but not the Ballantine Gymnasium was freshman Eddie Benzoni, from Union Hill (today's Union City). A year earlier Ballantine Gym hosted the first New Jersey state high school tournament, a four team, invitation only affair. In addition to Union Hill, considered the weakest team in field, the invitees were Trenton, Atlantic City and Passaic. Trenton only agreed to participate if they did not have to play Atlantic City in the first round, a team they had already beaten twice. Matched up against Union Hill, the clearly over-confident Trenton team were rudely awakened when Benzoni led his team to an upset win, ending Trenton's 42 game winning streak. A day later, Benzoni again starred when his underdog team defeated Passaic ending the north Jersey school's 32 game winning streak. Known to history as the "Wonder Team," Passaic would go 200-1 over a ten period, the only blemish at the hands of the Benzoni led Union Hill team. While this was long before recruiting and scholarships, a year later the Home News claimed Benzoni's attendance at Rutgers was due to his participation in the high school tournament on the Ballantine Gym court. Regardless of how he got there, the Hudson County's product's appearance in a Rutgers uniform was doubtless eagerly anticipated.
Edward Benzoni - Home News - March 6, 1920
Naturally one of the focal points as practices began was filling the two vacant spots with special emphasis on the center position because of the center jump. Hill hoped that Don Storck, who he claimed could out jump Robeson, would claim the position but a football injury kept him out of action until January. As a result the position seemed to belong to Frederick Dettlinger almost by default. Gradually the squad was cut down from about 35 to 12 while the team also worked on plays off of the center jump. Supposedly the 1919 team had utilized 20 different such plays and Hill hoped to do the same with this year's squad. Both Benzoni and French won starting positions and by the time of the Christmas break, center remained the only issue. After about 10 days off for the holidays, the players returned before classes resumed to prepare for a schedule the Home News called "pretentious and ambitious," beginning with a visit from powerful NYU on January 7, 1920.
Tuesday, January 21, 2020
The School, the Gym, the Coach
Perhaps no United States college or university has changed more in the last one hundred years than Rutgers. Founded in 1766, the school, then known as Queens College, was founded, like other colonial colleges, primarily to prepare young men for the ordained ministry, in this case the Dutch Reformed Church. Unfortunately, the denomination was one of the smallest in the United States and unable to provide any significant financial support. Gradually separating itself from the church during the 19th century, Rutgers began to achieve some degree of financial stability during the Civil War while also becoming New Jersey's land grant college, thereby adding agriculture and the manual arts to the school's classical curriculum. By the time basketball arrived on the banks in 1907, however, the school was still quite small with a student body of 236. The size of the student body almost doubled over the next decade and by the beginning of the 1919-20 academic year was approaching 700. Tuition that year had increased by 50% to an unprecedented $150 and was scheduled to go up another $50 the following year which with fees of $70 would push the cost of an academic year to almost $300 probably about the equivalent of $5,500 today, still a bargain by modern terms.
When basketball arrived at Rutgers a decade after the first college game, it did so not because of student demand for an indoor winter sport, but as a means of supporting the school's football team. In January of 1907, football coach Frank Gorton announced the introduction of basketball on both the inter-class and intercollegiate level. According to Gorton, the new emphasis on passing in football meant that the "college that does not play basketball will be greatly handicapped in the great fall game" so "Rutgers cannot afford to go on another year without basketball." In addition to a series of intramural contests, a team representing Rutgers was to play two games with New York University and one with Lehigh. The school's first intercollegiate game was played at NYU on January 18, 1907 and not surprisingly for a new team, resulted in a 20 point loss. Far less understandable was a 88-23 shellacking at the hands of Lehigh where the Home News incredibly claimed "The game was more closely played than the score would indicate." Although the team showed improvement in a one point loss in a return match against NYU, the team would have to wait until the following season, for it's first victory, a win over Manhattan on December 19, 1907.
Both the 1907 season ending loss to NYU and the victory over Manhattan were played at Ballantine Gym, the first home of Rutgers basketball. Ballantine Gym opened its doors in April of 1894 thanks to a $60,000 donation from Robert F. Ballantine a trustee of the school. Thanks to a further gift from his widow, a pool was added in 1915. By that point, however, the amount of intercollegiate basketball played there had been spotty at best. Perhaps because of the somewhat mixed motivation for taking up the game, the sport was dropped after the second season with a combined record of 4-14. Basketball returned in 1913 with little success over the next two years as the team managed only three wins against 10 losses. While it wasn't obvious at the time, a major change for the better came in 1915 with the arrival of Frank J. Hill as head coach. Although Frank Hill has been well recognized by the schools where he coached, detailed information about his long basketball career, especially before he went into coaching is somewhat sketchy. According to the Pro Basketball Encyclopedia Hill was "one of the best centers of the early years of professional basketball" who played for the Paterson Crescents around 1910 when the team played in the Hudson River League, an early pro league.
As his pro career, wound down, Hill branched out into both coaching and officiating. In a 35 year career as an official, Hill quickly earned an "outstanding reputation" to the point that he was the only official to work the New Jersey high school tournament (a much smaller affair) for the event's first 16 years. Even more unique was Hill's career as a coach which began at St. Benedict's Prep in Newark which he followed by adding Seton Hall University and Rutgers to his portfolio. As hard as it may seem to believe, Hill coached all three teams at the same time while simultaneously holding a full time job with the Newark water department. The feat is somewhat explained by the fact that at the time the coach's role during games was much more limited because of the prohibition on reentry limited substitutions and the coach could not speak to the players during the game. The captain's role was much greater and included running practice when the coach wasn't available. After only a 7-9 record in his first two seasons, Hill led Rutgers to winning seasons the next two years setting the stage as the team began preparations for the historic 1919-20 season.
Daily Home News - January 31, 1907
When basketball arrived at Rutgers a decade after the first college game, it did so not because of student demand for an indoor winter sport, but as a means of supporting the school's football team. In January of 1907, football coach Frank Gorton announced the introduction of basketball on both the inter-class and intercollegiate level. According to Gorton, the new emphasis on passing in football meant that the "college that does not play basketball will be greatly handicapped in the great fall game" so "Rutgers cannot afford to go on another year without basketball." In addition to a series of intramural contests, a team representing Rutgers was to play two games with New York University and one with Lehigh. The school's first intercollegiate game was played at NYU on January 18, 1907 and not surprisingly for a new team, resulted in a 20 point loss. Far less understandable was a 88-23 shellacking at the hands of Lehigh where the Home News incredibly claimed "The game was more closely played than the score would indicate." Although the team showed improvement in a one point loss in a return match against NYU, the team would have to wait until the following season, for it's first victory, a win over Manhattan on December 19, 1907.
Ballantine Gymnasium
Both the 1907 season ending loss to NYU and the victory over Manhattan were played at Ballantine Gym, the first home of Rutgers basketball. Ballantine Gym opened its doors in April of 1894 thanks to a $60,000 donation from Robert F. Ballantine a trustee of the school. Thanks to a further gift from his widow, a pool was added in 1915. By that point, however, the amount of intercollegiate basketball played there had been spotty at best. Perhaps because of the somewhat mixed motivation for taking up the game, the sport was dropped after the second season with a combined record of 4-14. Basketball returned in 1913 with little success over the next two years as the team managed only three wins against 10 losses. While it wasn't obvious at the time, a major change for the better came in 1915 with the arrival of Frank J. Hill as head coach. Although Frank Hill has been well recognized by the schools where he coached, detailed information about his long basketball career, especially before he went into coaching is somewhat sketchy. According to the Pro Basketball Encyclopedia Hill was "one of the best centers of the early years of professional basketball" who played for the Paterson Crescents around 1910 when the team played in the Hudson River League, an early pro league.
Frank Hill - Pro Basketball Encyclopedia
As his pro career, wound down, Hill branched out into both coaching and officiating. In a 35 year career as an official, Hill quickly earned an "outstanding reputation" to the point that he was the only official to work the New Jersey high school tournament (a much smaller affair) for the event's first 16 years. Even more unique was Hill's career as a coach which began at St. Benedict's Prep in Newark which he followed by adding Seton Hall University and Rutgers to his portfolio. As hard as it may seem to believe, Hill coached all three teams at the same time while simultaneously holding a full time job with the Newark water department. The feat is somewhat explained by the fact that at the time the coach's role during games was much more limited because of the prohibition on reentry limited substitutions and the coach could not speak to the players during the game. The captain's role was much greater and included running practice when the coach wasn't available. After only a 7-9 record in his first two seasons, Hill led Rutgers to winning seasons the next two years setting the stage as the team began preparations for the historic 1919-20 season.
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
The Game
Unlike baseball whose origins are shrouded in the mist of myth and legend, basketball's birth is well documented perhaps more definitively than any other major sport. Instead of debating Abner Doubleday and Cooperstown, there is no question that basketball was invented by Dr. James Naismith in Springfield, Massachusetts in December of 1891. Naismith, then an instructor at the International YMCA Training School, was challenged to come up with an indoor game that would satisfy a class of 18 "incorrigible" students who had driven two prior instructors away in despair. Initially Naismith was also unable to solve the problem until, according to an account written many years later, he realized that any viable indoor sport required some kind of ball. Since games with smaller balls like baseball or lacrosse required a stick or bat to move the ball, Naismith opted to start with a soccer ball. Next came decisions to prohibit physical contact, running with the ball and to make the objective putting the ball in an elevated goal or basket. Especially interesting is how Naismith chose 10 feet for the height of the goal - the legendary peach baskets were tied to railings in the Springfield Gym that were - wait for it - 10 feet high.
Since the class had 18 students there were nine on a team for that first game which ended with a final score of 1-0 on a 25 foot toss perhaps anticipating the three point shot. Not only had Naismith solved the problem of an indoor game for those 18 "incorrigible" students (perhaps basketball fans today owe them a debt of gratitude), he had invented a new game so popular that within two weeks games began attracting fans. Wisely resisting the suggestion to call his new game "Naismith ball," the inventor chose basket ball which remained two words for many years. Nor did it take long before the first public game played between teams of students and faculty, on March 11, 1892 in front of a crowd of over 200, won by the students by a 5-1 score (baskets initially counted as one point). The faculty's one basket was scored by legendary Hall of Fame football coach Amos Alonzo Stagg. Also noteworthy was that Naismith himself also played on the faculty team, one of only two known times, he played the game he invented. Since basketball was invented in a YMCA training school, there was a nation wide network of organizations ready and willing to host a new sport. Basketball arrived in New Jersey only six months after its invention and the first Rutgers team took the court in 1907.
The rules of basketball began evolving almost immediately so that the game played by the 1920 Rutgers team and their opponents differed significantly from the initial 1891 contest. But if that first group of players would have a hard time recognizing the 1920 version, we, a century, later would likely be even more confused beginning with the Ballantine Gym court about two-thirds the size of a modern court. While the center of the court was marked, there was no half-court or ten second line and the free throw lane was a mere six feet wide. Neither absence meant very much since there was no three second restriction in the foul lane and teams could hold the ball in the back court as long as they wanted. Center court was put to heavy use because every made basket was followed by a center jump, a rule that survived until 1937-38. Naismith lived along enough to see others change his game dramatically and supposedly he was particularly upset about the elimination of the center jump and the institution of the ten second rule (1932-33).
As this picture suggests, having a tall center like Bogota High School's Ray Nolte (6'7") was key
to basketball success. Not quite so tall was Henry Zinn, second from the right, front row.
Bergen Record - February 9, 1933
Unfortunately game accounts tell us little about how the game was played, but it appears that after each center jump teams would try to advance the ball, primarily by passing, towards the opponents goal. Most shots were either layups or two handed both of which took time to set up. Players had to be especially careful of violations like traveling which were penalized not by a change in possession, but a foul shot for the opposing team. Such violations were likely to be costly since each team chose a designated foul shooter who took all of the team's free throws. One thing teams with the ball did not have to worry about were offensive fouls which were not introduced until 1928-29. Players did however have to be more mindful of personal fouls since the fourth foul resulted in disqualification. Marvin Riley, an early referee, claimed that fouls were called, not unlike pass interference in football, based on whether the defender was playing the ball or the man. From a strategy standpoint, once the game began, the players were on their own because coaches were not allowed to "coach" during the game, including speaking to the players during time outs. In game strategy was the responsibility of the team captain who was a coach on the floor both literally and figuratively.
Games were incredibly low-scoring perhaps partially because of player fatigue since once a player left a game there was no re-entry and, as we shall see, in close games starters played the full 40 minutes. While there were no restrictions on who could shoot, the names of the different positions suggest roles with the forwards chosen for offensive ability while guards focused on defense and the center, the multiple, and all-important center jump. The ball itself was made of leather with laces which presented its own challenges for shooting and dribbling. Box scores of the day are very limited and don't provide much in the way of team statistics, but for three 1920 games the Home News provided team field goal shooting percentages which were very low. In those three contests Rutgers averaged 25% with a high of 34% and a low of 18% and the opposition figures were similar. Rutgers averaged 55 shots per game compared to 59 attempts per contest by the 2018-19 squad suggesting the problem wasn't getting shots but making them. As unattractive as the game may seem to us, it had gradually become more popular at Rutgers and was about draw crowds that might have shocked Naismith himself.
Dr. James Naismith with ball and peach basket
Since the class had 18 students there were nine on a team for that first game which ended with a final score of 1-0 on a 25 foot toss perhaps anticipating the three point shot. Not only had Naismith solved the problem of an indoor game for those 18 "incorrigible" students (perhaps basketball fans today owe them a debt of gratitude), he had invented a new game so popular that within two weeks games began attracting fans. Wisely resisting the suggestion to call his new game "Naismith ball," the inventor chose basket ball which remained two words for many years. Nor did it take long before the first public game played between teams of students and faculty, on March 11, 1892 in front of a crowd of over 200, won by the students by a 5-1 score (baskets initially counted as one point). The faculty's one basket was scored by legendary Hall of Fame football coach Amos Alonzo Stagg. Also noteworthy was that Naismith himself also played on the faculty team, one of only two known times, he played the game he invented. Since basketball was invented in a YMCA training school, there was a nation wide network of organizations ready and willing to host a new sport. Basketball arrived in New Jersey only six months after its invention and the first Rutgers team took the court in 1907.
Springfield Republican - March 12, 1892
The rules of basketball began evolving almost immediately so that the game played by the 1920 Rutgers team and their opponents differed significantly from the initial 1891 contest. But if that first group of players would have a hard time recognizing the 1920 version, we, a century, later would likely be even more confused beginning with the Ballantine Gym court about two-thirds the size of a modern court. While the center of the court was marked, there was no half-court or ten second line and the free throw lane was a mere six feet wide. Neither absence meant very much since there was no three second restriction in the foul lane and teams could hold the ball in the back court as long as they wanted. Center court was put to heavy use because every made basket was followed by a center jump, a rule that survived until 1937-38. Naismith lived along enough to see others change his game dramatically and supposedly he was particularly upset about the elimination of the center jump and the institution of the ten second rule (1932-33).
As this picture suggests, having a tall center like Bogota High School's Ray Nolte (6'7") was key
to basketball success. Not quite so tall was Henry Zinn, second from the right, front row.
Bergen Record - February 9, 1933
Unfortunately game accounts tell us little about how the game was played, but it appears that after each center jump teams would try to advance the ball, primarily by passing, towards the opponents goal. Most shots were either layups or two handed both of which took time to set up. Players had to be especially careful of violations like traveling which were penalized not by a change in possession, but a foul shot for the opposing team. Such violations were likely to be costly since each team chose a designated foul shooter who took all of the team's free throws. One thing teams with the ball did not have to worry about were offensive fouls which were not introduced until 1928-29. Players did however have to be more mindful of personal fouls since the fourth foul resulted in disqualification. Marvin Riley, an early referee, claimed that fouls were called, not unlike pass interference in football, based on whether the defender was playing the ball or the man. From a strategy standpoint, once the game began, the players were on their own because coaches were not allowed to "coach" during the game, including speaking to the players during time outs. In game strategy was the responsibility of the team captain who was a coach on the floor both literally and figuratively.
Games were incredibly low-scoring perhaps partially because of player fatigue since once a player left a game there was no re-entry and, as we shall see, in close games starters played the full 40 minutes. While there were no restrictions on who could shoot, the names of the different positions suggest roles with the forwards chosen for offensive ability while guards focused on defense and the center, the multiple, and all-important center jump. The ball itself was made of leather with laces which presented its own challenges for shooting and dribbling. Box scores of the day are very limited and don't provide much in the way of team statistics, but for three 1920 games the Home News provided team field goal shooting percentages which were very low. In those three contests Rutgers averaged 25% with a high of 34% and a low of 18% and the opposition figures were similar. Rutgers averaged 55 shots per game compared to 59 attempts per contest by the 2018-19 squad suggesting the problem wasn't getting shots but making them. As unattractive as the game may seem to us, it had gradually become more popular at Rutgers and was about draw crowds that might have shocked Naismith himself.
Wednesday, January 8, 2020
The Picture
About five years ago I was doing some research in the Special Collections Department of Alexander Library at Rutgers in anticipation of the upcoming 50th anniversary of the 1967 men's basketball NIT team. Included in the archival material was a file of images and the first photo was the below picture of what was clearly a very early Rutgers basketball team. While the names of the five players and the young man in street clothes were on the back of the picture, the most valuable information was painted on the basketball - "Rutgers 31 - Princeton 30 - February 11, 1920." Clearly there was a story here and a visit to the microfilm department produced a Daily Home News article which described a dramatic Rutgers victory at Ballantine Gym, then Rutgers home court. My interest might have ended there, but a few days later, I was telling longtime friend, Bill Bess about the game and he asked, rhetorically, or so he thought, who Rutgers played in those days.
A look at the "All Time Scoreboard" in the Rutgers media guide reflected many familiar opponents - Syracuse, West Virginia and Pittsburgh to name a few. Also included were schools like Swarthmore, Stevens Institute, NYU and CCNY, the latter two were among the college basketball powerhouses of the day. None of this was surprising until I got to the end of the schedule when suddenly Rutgers had played some very different opponents - major state universities like Georgia and Utah. Even more intriguing was a notation next to these and two other games indicating that they had been played on a neutral court. The notation led me to the end of the media guide where I read the words "National AAU Tournament, Atlanta, Georgia." But that couldn't be, the 1967 squad was the first Rutgers team to play in the post-season or so I had believed for almost 50 years.
Further research confirmed that not only had Rutgers played in the 1920 National AAU tournament (there was no NCAA tournament at the time), they finished second, winning three straight games before losing in the championship game. When I looked into the 1920 season in more detail, I realized that this remarkable story had largely been forgotten. As a result, I decided to nominate the 1919-20 team for the Rutgers Athletic Hall of Fame and was delighted when they were inducted in October of 2019, in time for the 100th anniversary of a season that should never be forgotten. I'm especially grateful to the Hall of Fame committee since it isn't easy to evaluate players and teams that no one living today saw play. Some schools avoid the issue like another New Jersey university that won't consider Hall of Fame nominations unless the school's Sports Information Department can confirm the relevant statistics. That kind of policy would doom the first 70 years of Rutgers athletics to oblivion since a 1930 fire not only destroyed Ballantine Gym, but took with it almost all of the records dating back to the first football game in 1869.
Somehow the picture I found by accident survived and it's a good thing it did. Without it, the story of the 1920 team would have remained lost unless, as in my case, someone stumbled upon it. One of the many differences between Rutgers basketball then and now is that no games were played until January so these next three months mark the centennial of a season when, just as in 1967 and 1976, a Rutgers basketball team brought national recognition to the school. In order to both preserve and tell that story in more detail, the 2020 version of this blog will feature weekly posts on the team and its achievements beginning with some background about college basketball and Rutgers, both of which were very different 100 years ago.
Left to right, second row, Leland Taliaferro, E. L. Casey, Art Hall, first row, Edward Benzoni, Calvin Meury, Walter French
Rutgers University Archives
Rutgers University Archives
A look at the "All Time Scoreboard" in the Rutgers media guide reflected many familiar opponents - Syracuse, West Virginia and Pittsburgh to name a few. Also included were schools like Swarthmore, Stevens Institute, NYU and CCNY, the latter two were among the college basketball powerhouses of the day. None of this was surprising until I got to the end of the schedule when suddenly Rutgers had played some very different opponents - major state universities like Georgia and Utah. Even more intriguing was a notation next to these and two other games indicating that they had been played on a neutral court. The notation led me to the end of the media guide where I read the words "National AAU Tournament, Atlanta, Georgia." But that couldn't be, the 1967 squad was the first Rutgers team to play in the post-season or so I had believed for almost 50 years.
Daily Home News - February 12, 1920
Further research confirmed that not only had Rutgers played in the 1920 National AAU tournament (there was no NCAA tournament at the time), they finished second, winning three straight games before losing in the championship game. When I looked into the 1920 season in more detail, I realized that this remarkable story had largely been forgotten. As a result, I decided to nominate the 1919-20 team for the Rutgers Athletic Hall of Fame and was delighted when they were inducted in October of 2019, in time for the 100th anniversary of a season that should never be forgotten. I'm especially grateful to the Hall of Fame committee since it isn't easy to evaluate players and teams that no one living today saw play. Some schools avoid the issue like another New Jersey university that won't consider Hall of Fame nominations unless the school's Sports Information Department can confirm the relevant statistics. That kind of policy would doom the first 70 years of Rutgers athletics to oblivion since a 1930 fire not only destroyed Ballantine Gym, but took with it almost all of the records dating back to the first football game in 1869.
Daily Home News - February 18, 1920
Somehow the picture I found by accident survived and it's a good thing it did. Without it, the story of the 1920 team would have remained lost unless, as in my case, someone stumbled upon it. One of the many differences between Rutgers basketball then and now is that no games were played until January so these next three months mark the centennial of a season when, just as in 1967 and 1976, a Rutgers basketball team brought national recognition to the school. In order to both preserve and tell that story in more detail, the 2020 version of this blog will feature weekly posts on the team and its achievements beginning with some background about college basketball and Rutgers, both of which were very different 100 years ago.
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