Central AAU Men's Basketball Championships
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| In 1908, Central YMCA took the heavyweight title and 120 pound titles and West Side took the 135 pound title. Hull House teams had never been seen in the finals, but in 1908 the Hull House Midgets team fought the Central YMCA Midgets for the 120 pound title, but lost 28-23. | In 1908, Central YMCA took the heavyweight title and 120 pound titles and West Side took the 135 pound title. Hull House teams had never been seen in the finals, but in 1908 the Hull House Midgets team fought the Central YMCA Midgets for the 120 pound title, but lost 28-23. | ||
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| - | Beginning in 1908, the Central AAU began conducting the tournament in three weight classes—heavyweight (unlimited), lightweight (135 pounds), and 120 pounds. In 1909, the heavyweight part of the tournament was held in Detroit, while the lightweight and midget classes were held in Chicago, where the Wilson Avenue YMCA Clippers won the 135-pound title, and the Central YMCA Midgets won the 120-pound title. | ||
| [[Image:SewardPark1914.jpg|right|frame|'''Seward Park 1914 Central AAU championship 135-pound team''']] | [[Image:SewardPark1914.jpg|right|frame|'''Seward Park 1914 Central AAU championship 135-pound team''']] | ||
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| + | Beginning in 1908, the Central AAU began conducting the tournament in three weight classes—heavyweight (unlimited), lightweight (135 pounds), and 120 pounds. In 1909, the heavyweight part of the tournament was held in Detroit, while the lightweight and midget classes were held in Chicago, where the Wilson Avenue YMCA Clippers won the 135-pound title, and the Central YMCA Midgets won the 120-pound title. | ||
| In 1909-1910 season, the YMCAs left the Central AAU and joined the newly formed American Athletic Federation (AAF), thereafter competing in AAF tournaments. it would be more than a decade before the YMCAs rejoined the Central AAU. In the early years, the tournament was usually held in February or March. Apparently because Chicago played host to the 1910 National AAU tournament in March, the Central AAU did not hold a Central AAU heavyweight tournament that year. Only 120-pound and 135-pound competition was held. | In 1909-1910 season, the YMCAs left the Central AAU and joined the newly formed American Athletic Federation (AAF), thereafter competing in AAF tournaments. it would be more than a decade before the YMCAs rejoined the Central AAU. In the early years, the tournament was usually held in February or March. Apparently because Chicago played host to the 1910 National AAU tournament in March, the Central AAU did not hold a Central AAU heavyweight tournament that year. Only 120-pound and 135-pound competition was held. | ||
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| ==Central AAU Produces National Champs== | ==Central AAU Produces National Champs== | ||
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| - | In the early years of the tournament, Chicago area teams did well in the national tournament. The [[Armour Square Cornells]] — led by two brothers, [[Albert Pressler]] and [[William C. Pressler]]--took the [[AAU Men's National Champions|national AAU title]] in both 1913 and 1914. The team took the heavyweight title in the Central AAU tournament in 1913, but was not allowed to participate in the 1914 tournament because the team was suspended for using [[William L. Johnson]], who had been found to have been playing semi-pro baseball. The tournament saw the participation of the [[West Side YMCA]], playing as the West Side Browns, which won the heavyweight title and took second for the 135-pound title. | ||
| [[Image:ArmourSquare14.jpg|right|thumb|250px|'''Armour Square Cornells, 1914''']] | [[Image:ArmourSquare14.jpg|right|thumb|250px|'''Armour Square Cornells, 1914''']] | ||
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| + | In the early years of the tournament, Chicago area teams did well in the national tournament. The [[Armour Square Cornells]] — led by two brothers, [[Albert Pressler]] and [[William C. Pressler]]--took the [[AAU Men's National Champions|national AAU title]] in both 1913 and 1914. The team took the heavyweight title in the Central AAU tournament in 1913, but was not allowed to participate in the 1914 tournament because the team was suspended for using [[William L. Johnson]], who had been found to have been playing semi-pro baseball. The tournament saw the participation of the [[West Side YMCA]], playing as the West Side Browns, which won the heavyweight title and took second for the 135-pound title. | ||
| In the 1914-15 season, the Armour Square Cornells team was taken over by the [[Illinois Athletic Club]] (IAC), and proceeded to take the next four Central AAU championships, with such core players as the Pressler brothers, [[Harry Frieling]], [[William Feeney]], and [[Fred C. Kohfeldt]]. In 1916 the IAC took second in the national meet and in 1917 took the national AAU championship. For three years, 1915-1917, the Central AAU conducted the tournament only in the heavyweight class, but in 1918 brought back the lightweight class. | In the 1914-15 season, the Armour Square Cornells team was taken over by the [[Illinois Athletic Club]] (IAC), and proceeded to take the next four Central AAU championships, with such core players as the Pressler brothers, [[Harry Frieling]], [[William Feeney]], and [[Fred C. Kohfeldt]]. In 1916 the IAC took second in the national meet and in 1917 took the national AAU championship. For three years, 1915-1917, the Central AAU conducted the tournament only in the heavyweight class, but in 1918 brought back the lightweight class. | ||
Revision as of 00:29, 23 April 2012
Central AAU Men's Basketball Championships was an AAU tournament conducted by the Central AAU organization based in Chicago, which held it from 1902 to 1943. The early years were dominated by the local Chicago-area YMCAs, but later industrial teams, church teams, various amateur clubs, high schools, and colleges participated. The meet was intended to cover the entire Midwest, but some years the number of out-of-town entries were sparse. On rare occasions early in the tournament some classes were held in other Midwest cities, namely Detroit and Cincinnati. The Chicago papers often did not report the results of the Central AAU tournament when they were held outside Chicago.
Contents |
Era of YMCA Domination
In 1902, the first Central AAU tournament contested was held in the Central YMCA gymnasium, in Chicago's downtown. It was an all-YMCA final as Central YMCA beat West Side YMCA in the title game. In 1903, West Side YMCA had the pieces in place for a championship team, with starters L. A. Mousseau, T. Haebich, Tongalin, A. H. Whitney, and the giant 6 foot, 7 ½ inch Albert Pugner making up the team. They won both the YMCA League and the Central AAU championships that year. Pugner left after the 1903 season to join the First Regiment Athletic Club, but the team got a stellar new center in Moot.
The 1904 season featured another Central AAU final between West Side Y and Central Y for the title. West Side was a veteran outfit by this time and edged Central Y by a score of 39-37. The Central YMCA team featured a new player, one that would win championships for every team he played with, Hall of Famer John Schommer.
In 1905, West Side YMCA had to contend with a powerful Central YMCA team, which went through the regular season undefeated under the leadership of Schommer. As expected in the Central AAU championship, Central beat West Side in the title game, 19-13.
For the 1906 Central AAU championship, the games would be held at the Evanston YMCA gymnasium, March 15-17. Eight teams were entered. Evanston YMCA probably benefitted from its home court advantage, for the 1906 Central AAU tournament saw the power arrangements turned upside down as both Central YMCA and West YMCA were eliminated in the semifinals. Not only did Evanston YMCA beat West Side YMCA in its semifinal, 19-17, but Lewis Institute beat Central YMCA in the other semifinal, 30-17.
In the final game, Evanston YMCA prevailed over Lewis Institute, 18-11, before 1,200 spectators. In a game in which the Chicago Tribune sportswriter had noted the poor free throw shooting, Osborne who substituted for Breggren in the final game provided a number of free throws that were keys to Evanston winning the game.
In the 1907, the first team that was not a YMCA won the Central AAU tournament, namely the University of Chicago, with such great players of Pat Page, John Schommer, and McKeag. The following years, the University chose not to participate, saying that its collegiate schedule kept the team busy enough.
In 1908, Central YMCA took the heavyweight title and 120 pound titles and West Side took the 135 pound title. Hull House teams had never been seen in the finals, but in 1908 the Hull House Midgets team fought the Central YMCA Midgets for the 120 pound title, but lost 28-23.
Beginning in 1908, the Central AAU began conducting the tournament in three weight classes—heavyweight (unlimited), lightweight (135 pounds), and 120 pounds. In 1909, the heavyweight part of the tournament was held in Detroit, while the lightweight and midget classes were held in Chicago, where the Wilson Avenue YMCA Clippers won the 135-pound title, and the Central YMCA Midgets won the 120-pound title.
In 1909-1910 season, the YMCAs left the Central AAU and joined the newly formed American Athletic Federation (AAF), thereafter competing in AAF tournaments. it would be more than a decade before the YMCAs rejoined the Central AAU. In the early years, the tournament was usually held in February or March. Apparently because Chicago played host to the 1910 National AAU tournament in March, the Central AAU did not hold a Central AAU heavyweight tournament that year. Only 120-pound and 135-pound competition was held.
In 1910, Hull House finally won titles in the Central AAU, facilitated no doubt by the withdrawal of the YMCA teams after the 1909 tournament. In the 120-pound competition, the Hull House Meteors had an easy time, beating the Irving Park Athletic Association, 42-18 in the semifinals, the then the Cornell Square Bullets 48-24 in the finals. In the 135-pound title competition, the Hull House Midgets beat fellow compatriot team Hull House Senators in the semifinals, 34-21, and then the White Eagles in the finals, 41-32.
The heavyweight championship of 1911 in Detroit featured nine entries, eight of which were from Detroit, and Company F of Portage, Wisconsin. No Chicago teams participated. The title game was won by the host, the powerful Detroit Athletic Club (DAC), which beat T.B. Rayl, 46-14.
Central AAU Produces National Champs
In the early years of the tournament, Chicago area teams did well in the national tournament. The Armour Square Cornells — led by two brothers, Albert Pressler and William C. Pressler--took the national AAU title in both 1913 and 1914. The team took the heavyweight title in the Central AAU tournament in 1913, but was not allowed to participate in the 1914 tournament because the team was suspended for using William L. Johnson, who had been found to have been playing semi-pro baseball. The tournament saw the participation of the West Side YMCA, playing as the West Side Browns, which won the heavyweight title and took second for the 135-pound title.
In the 1914-15 season, the Armour Square Cornells team was taken over by the Illinois Athletic Club (IAC), and proceeded to take the next four Central AAU championships, with such core players as the Pressler brothers, Harry Frieling, William Feeney, and Fred C. Kohfeldt. In 1916 the IAC took second in the national meet and in 1917 took the national AAU championship. For three years, 1915-1917, the Central AAU conducted the tournament only in the heavyweight class, but in 1918 brought back the lightweight class.
After World War I
After World War I, for the 1919 tournament, the Central AAU added a women’s competition. The Broadway Armory on the North Side of the city became the usual venue for the tournament. The tournament was usually held in the last part of March and the first part of April, but started as early as the first week in March and in some years even ended in May. The field was often filled with teams that were winners of their respective leagues, such as winners of the Knights of Columbus Basketball League, church leagues, park district leagues, industrial leagues, and other amateur conferences. The tournament also included academic teams—not varsity outfits—but such teams as the DePaul Freshmen, Loyola Freshmen, and the DePaul Art School.
The Central AAU officers were truly ecumenical, inviting Jewish teams, Catholic teams, Protestant church teams, and when many athletic organizations practiced a policy of exclusion, African American teams.
The Central AAU was also progressive with regard to women’s athletics, and conducted a women’s championship the same time as the men’s competition, integrating them into the annual tournament, so that attendees would see not only lightweight and heavyweight games but also one or more women games during a long day of competition.
During much of its history, the Central AAU tournament mainly attracted teams from Chicago and surrounding suburbs, but sometimes the field included a fair number of teams from other Midwest states, such as Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan. The 1919 and 1920 heavyweight champions came from Wisconsin; the Olympics, from Madison, and the Edisons, from New London. Thereafter all other champions came from the Chicago area.
The 1922 tournament was held at the 202nd Artillery Broadway Armory, on Chicago's north side, with a heavyweight tournament February 23-25, and a lightweight tournament March 2-4. The Armour Square American Legion Post team won the heavyweight title, defeating the De Soto Council Knights of Columbus team, 29-13. The Armour Square Cornells won the lightweight tournament, and for the second successive year beating the Division Street YMCA Clippers, 30-22. The Division Street Y was an emerging new power on the Chicago amateur scene.
By 1923, the Central AAU was attracted 42 mens teams and 10 womens teams to its annual tournament, which was held April 4-7 and 11-14 at the 202nd Artillery Broadway Armory. The heavyweight class attracted 22 teams, with the Armour Square Cornells beating the Forges Post team, 17-14 for the title. Twenty teams competed in the lightweight class, which had Calument Council Knight of Columbus team beating Alverno Athletic Club for the title, 14-13.
By 1925, there were 59 teams competing, 29 heavyweight and 25 lightweight. For two years, the Central AAU included a high school competition, in 1926, when Lane Tech beat Marshall High for the title; and 1927, when Lane Tech repeated by beating Loyola Academy.
Tournament in the 1930s
By the late 1920s, however, the Central AAU became concerned about issues of professionalism, and significantly downgraded the tournament after 1927, eliminating the women's competition and the high school tournament, and erratically conducted the lightweight class. The Duffy Florals was Chicago's entry into the national AAU meet, but it is unknown the criteria by which the team was chosen. Briggs Realtors won the 1929 heavyweight meet, and took second to the DePaul Freshmen in the 1930 meet. Briggs Realtors was the Chicago representative in the 1930 national AAU meet. The 1930 meet featured only one class, heavyweight, and involved 32 teams.
In 1931, the Central AAU revived the tournament under the vigorous sponsorship of the Chicago Herald and Examiner. The meet became a huge extravaganza with a heavyweight, lightweight, and women's class. The first year 658 teams took part, drawn from the Central AAU territory of Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. The heavyweight class had 363 teams, the lightweight 236 teams, and the women 59 teams. The DePaul Freshmen, which had just come back from the national AAU tourney in Kansas City, repeated as the heavyweight champs, again defeating Briggs Realtors for the title. The lightweight title was won by an extraordinary team, the Owl Indians, who won the title game over the Bill Farrs 36-11. The Owl Indians were a near north side team,and were essentially an all-star team from various Knights of Columbus teams put together and coached by Dr. A. J. Lendino.
The following year, however, the Central AAU reverted to a more modest event, when the Chicago Herald and Examiner abandoned its sponsorship. What the paper did, however, was move the extravaganza it had been sponsoring to its sister paper in the afternoon, the Chicago American, which continued the tournament as the "American Tournament". It preceded the Central AAU and in some years its champions were selected to compete in the title game of the Central AAU tournament.
The 1935 tournament saw the introduction of new classifications based on age rather than weight, senior and junior. Junior competition was for players under 20 years. The junior class only lasted that single year. The 1935 tournament also saw the first African American team win the tournament championship, when the Olde Tymers won the senior title. The four finalists for the tournament that year were selected in the American Tournament just preceding the AAU tourney. The American Tournament had crowned four men's tournament winners--Cuneo Press in the commercial class, the Olde Tymers in the men's major class, the Klingens in the free-lance class, and the Roseland Mission in the church class. The Cuneo Press beat the Klingens and the Olde Tymers beat the Roseland Mission in two semi-finals. In the finals, the Olde Tympers beat the Cuneo Press, 32-23. A junior title was decided by pitching the American Tournament boys under 17 and boys under 20 classes against each other. The boys under 20 team, Southwest Bakery, prevailed over the boys under 17 team, the University of Chicago Flashes, 23-3.
The winner of the Central AAU tournament usually went to Denver to compete in the National AAU tournament, but no Chicago representative ever won the tournament after 1916. The 1939 winner, the Frankie Harmon Demons went to the quarterfinals, as did the 1940 winner, Acme Steel, and the 1942 winner, Division YMCA Clippers.
1940s, Last Years
The men’s tournament continued up through the 1943 season. The 1942 and 1943 Central AAU tournaments were sponsored by the Chicago Herald-American, which infused the tournament with new vigor by adding an intermediate class for boys, and providing for a more robust women's tournament. The intermediate class was for boys less than six feet high and weighing less than 146 pounds. The Herald American dropped its sponsorship after 1943, and the Central AAU decided not to continue with the basketball tournament. Instead, the Central AAU chose to sponsor an Illinois state tournament, the winner of which would go to the national tournament.
Central AAU Men’s Tournament Champions, 1902-1943
| Year | Heavyweight/Senior | Lightweight/Junior/Intermediate | 120 pound | High School | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1902 | Central YMCA | ||||
| 1903 | West Side YMCA | ||||
| 1904 | West Side YMCA | ||||
| 1905 | Central YMCA | ||||
| 1906 | Evanston YMCA | ||||
| 1907 | University of Chicago | West Side YMCA Midgets | |||
| 1908 | Central YMCA | West Side YMCA Midgets | Central YMCA Midgets | ||
| 1909 | Illinois Athletic Club | Wilson Avenue YMCA Clippers | Central YMCA Midgets | ||
| 1910 | no tournament | Hull House Midgets | Hull House Meteors | ||
| 1911 | Detroit Athletic Club | Chicago Comets | Central Turners | ||
| 1912 | no tournament | ||||
| 1913 | Armour Square Cornells | ||||
| 1914 | West Side Browns | Seward Park Meteors | |||
| 1915 | Illinois Athletic Club | ||||
| 1916 | Illinois Athletic Club | ||||
| 1917 | Illinois Athletic Club | ||||
| 1918 | Illinois Athletic Club | Seward Park Meteors | |||
| 1919 | Olympics (Madison, WI) | Seward Park Meteors | |||
| 1920 | Edisons (New London, WI) | IAC Reds | |||
| 1921 | DeSoto Council K of C | Armour Square Cornells | |||
| 1922 | Armour Post American Legion | Armour Square Cornells | |||
| 1923 | Armour Square Cornells | Calumet Council K of C | |||
| 1924 | Armour Square Cornells | Armour Square Lightnings | |||
| 1925 | New Home A. C. | Calumet Council K of C | |||
| 1926 | Evanston YMCA Chandlers | Division Street YMCA Bullets | Lane Tech | ||
| 1927 | Briggs Realtors | Division Street YMCA Bullets | Lane Tech | ||
| 1928 | no tournament | ||||
| 1929 | Briggs Realtors | unknown | |||
| 1930 | DePaul Freshmen | ||||
| 1931 | DePaul Freshmen | Owl Indians | |||
| 1932 | Schuessler Athletic Club | Owl Indians | |||
| 1933 | Six Points | ||||
| 1934 | DePaul Art School | ||||
| 1935 | Olde Tymers | Southwest Bakery | |||
| 1936 | Western Austins (Aurora, Ill) | ||||
| 1937 | 124th Field Artillery | ||||
| 1938 | Frankie Harmon Demons | ||||
| 1939 | Frankie Harmon Demons | ||||
| 1940 | Acme Steel | ||||
| 1941 | Acme Steel | ||||
| 1942 | Division 'Y' Clippers | Hyde Park 'Y' Columbians | |||
| 1943 | Division 'Y' Clippers | Max Straus J.P.I. Center |
