Standard Transformers
From Hoopedia
Standard Transformers, a women's industrial basketball team from Chicago during early 1940s. The team competed in the American Tournament and the Central AAU tournament, winning an American Tournament novice title in 1940, and major title in 1941.
The Standard Transformers, a typical industrial team, were sponsored by the Standard Transformer Corporation, of Chicago. They began playing in the 1939-40 season. A notable team that the Transformers played that year was the Brills Lassies. They met the older Transformers—led by veterans Ann Lydon and Millie De Lord--in the finals of the American Tournament, sponsored by the Chicago Herald-American. The Transformers competed in the novice division of the tournament, and swamped the younger Brills Lassies, 19-11.
In the 1940-41 season, the Standard Transformers had one of the most formidable teams in Chicago, with such players as Ann Lydon, Mercedes DeSutter (who now was playing as Mercedes McGrath), Mary Moran, and the sisters, Alyce and Millie De Lord. Other players include the Lannon sisters and Lowery. They faced only one other strong opponent, their rival from the previous season, the Brills Lassies.
In early February, the Transformers played in the American tournament, beating the Parichy Bloomers (girls more famous for their softball triumphs) in the semi-finals, 28-14, and then met the Lassies in the championship game. The Lassies were a stronger team than the previous year, augmented by three players from the powerful Queen Anne Aces, but now disbanded. They were forward Stella Kiligen, center Frances Rospond, and guard Evelyn Krubaeck.
The 1941 championship game was a barn-burner for its day. The Transformers were down 19 to 22 with one minute to go, but Captain Ann Lydon made up two points with a mid-court shot, then a scramble and Mary Moran came up with the ball and at the center line with a second to go, let go a buzzer beater, swishing the winning basket for a winning score of 23-22. A week later, however, in the Central AAU tournament, the Transformers were upset by the American College of Physicians, 30-15.
In the 1941-42 season, the Standard Transformers found their main competitor was again the Brills Lassies, but now called the Ducky Sloans, and stronger than the previous year. In January, the Transformers were beaten by them 19-9 as the preliminary game for the Chicago Bruins-Fort Wayne Zollners NBL game. Then in February, the Transformers were beaten again by the Sloans for the American Tournament championship, which doubled as the Central AAU title, 31-12.
The Standard Transformers made their last impact in women's amateur basketball in Chicago in 1942, ranking as one of the last great teams of the golden era of Chicago women's amateur basketball.
