Indianapolis Kautskys

From Hoopedia

The Indianapolis Kautskys began as an amateur team based in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1930. They were organized by Paul "Pete" Bailey, and sponsored by Frank H. Kautsky, who owned a grocery store on the southside of Indianapolis.

The Kautskys went pro with the 1932-33 season, after considerable amateur success. They picked up several excellent recent All-American graduates of Purdue (John Wooden and Charles "Stretch" Murphy) and Indiana (Clarence Christopher and Branch McCracken). Kautsky was instrumental in organizing the new National Basketball League in 1932. The Kautskys made it all the way to the championship game before succumbing to the Akron Firestone Non-Skids, 32-31 before a crowd of 4,000 in Indianapolis, despite Wooden pouring in 21 points. The NBL ceased operations after only one season (though it would be revived later, with many of the same teams).

The Kautskys went independent in 1933. That same year Frank Baird, the All-American from Butler University joined the roster along with George Chestnut from Indiana State. Leroy “Cowboy” Edwards, University of Kentucky All-American and Indianapolis native also joined in, from 1933 to 1935. The Kautskys had their biggest draws against the top barnstorming teams of the day: the New York Rens. the Philadelphia SPHAs and the Original Celtics.

In late 1935 Kautsky helped form the Midwest Basketball Conference. (In 1937-38 the MBC changed its name to National Basketball League.) Searle T. "Cy" Proffitt, the former Butler captain joined the team that year, along with Big Ten player of the year Bob Kessler (Purdue).

John Miklozek (Indiana State) joined the Kautskys for the 1936-37 season.

The high point in Kautskys history must have been in 1947, when they beat the Toledo Jeeps, 62-47, in the championship game of the World Professional Basketball Tournament. They had no close games in that tournament, breezing past the Tri-City Blackhawks, 65-56, then crushing the Oshkosh All-Stars, 59-38 on their way to the finals. The Kautskys boasted three players on the all-tournament team: forward Leo Klier, center Arnie Risen and guard Herm Schaefer.

In 1948 they joined the National Basketball Association and were renamed the Indianapolis Jets. They lasted only one season, folding in 1949.

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