National Basket Ball League
From Hoopedia
The National Basket Ball League was the first professional basketball league. Centered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the league's teams stretched from New York City to Central New Jersey, through the Philadelphia area and down to Wilmington, Delaware. The league began operations with the 1898-1899 season and disbanded in January 1904, prior to completing the 1903-04 season.
Top teams included the Trenton Nationals (sometimes called simply "The Trentons"), the New York Wanderers, the Millville Glass Blowers, the Bristol Pile Drivers and the Camden Electrics.
The league debuted on December 1, 1898, with a game between the Trenton Nationals and the Kensington Hancocks at Textile Hall in Philadelphia's Kensington section. The Nationals rallied in the second-half to win, 21-19, before 900 fans.
Champions
1899 Trenton Nationals
1900 Trenton Nationals
1901 New York Wanderers
1902 Bristol Pile Drivers
1903 Camden Electrics
1904 Camden Electrics were in first place when the league disbanded.
