Chicago American Gears
From Hoopedia
The Chicago American Gears, a professional basketball team that played in the National Basketball League (NBL) (1944-1947), the Professional Basketball League of America (PBLA) (1947-48), and the World Professional Basketball Tournament (1945 and 1946).
The American Gears began as an amateur industrial team, sponsored by the American Gear & Manufacturing Company, in Chicago, owned by Maurice White. The team first made an impact in 1944, when it won the Industrial class championship in the American Basketball Tournament, sponsored by the Chicago Herald-American. They next won the Central AAU state title, and won the right to go to the national AAU tournament. They were barred from competition, however, because Maurice White had hired professionals to augment the team.
The Gears were then ready to really turn professional and join the National Basketball League, and began recruiting heavily during the spring and summer of 1944. The team's one great player was Swede Roos, and he was used to recruit pros for a more competitive team. Besides Roos, among the players on the initial Gears team were Stan Patrick, Dick Triptow, Bill McDonald, Ed Scheiwie, Elmer Gainer, and John Orr.
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 in the Western Division and lost to Sheboygan in the playoffs, two games to one. Stan Patrick took third in the NFL scoring with a 16.4 average and garnered first team all-league, while [{Dick Triptow]] earned second team all-league. Gears did better in theWorld Professional Basketball Tournament, defeating the highly regarded New York Rens, 64-55, for third place.
Adding such excellent players as Bill Hapac, Bob Calihan, and Stan Szukala, the Gears improved to a 17-17 record in the Western Division in the 194546 season. The team's their third place finish, however, put them out of the playoffs. Calihan earned second team all-league recognition. George Mikan was added to the team at the end of the season, and played with them in the World Professional Basketball Tournament, and brought the team a third place trophy. In the tournament, Mikan earned all-touranment first team and most valuable player awards, while Bob Calihan made second team.
NBL Championship
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 in the Western Division. The playoffs, which for the first year included more than the top two finishers in each division, 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. George Mikan led the league in scoring with a 16.5 average, and was selected for the first team all-league, along with Bobby McDermott. Bob Calihan made second team.
After the 1946-47 season the Gears jumped to the newly-formed PBLA. They ran up an 8-0 record--the best in the league--before the league disbanded. The Gears then folded, too. Mikan's 193 total points will remain forever the most in the league.
