Chicago American Gears

From Hoopedia

The Chicago American Gears were a National Basketball League team who played from 1944 to 1947.

In 1945 the Gears captured third place in the World Professional Basketball Tournament, defeating the highly regarded New York Rens, 64-55. In 1946 they again took third place, defeating league rivals the Baltimore Bullets, two games to none; George Mikan was named tournament MVP.

The American Gears debut season (1944-45) in the NBL was nothing to write home about. They finished with a regular season record of 14-16 and lost to Sheboygan in the playoffs, two games to three.

In the 1945-46 season they improved to a 17-17 record, but missed the playoffs.

The 1946-47 season was different. Led by NBL veteran Bobby McDermott (as player-coach) and rookie center George Mikan, the Gears improved to a regular season record of 26-18, which put them in a tie with Sheboygan for third-best record. The playoffs were another story, however. The Gears squeaked by the Indianapolis Kautskys three games to two in the Eastern Division opening round. They dispatched the Oshkosh All-Stars two games to none in the Division finals (though only by a total differential of five points). The Gears then lost the first game of the league finals to the Rochester Royals, but won the next three straight to win the 1947 NBL Championship.

[edit]