Professional basketball first came to minnesota in 1947 when ben berger and morris chalfen purchased and relocated a nearextinct national basketball league nbl franchise, the detroit gems. Truly taken with the awesome history of this first giant of the nba. Ames later fled the state, spending a short period as a. The colors have a nice look with powder blue and yellow. The team played only one season in the nbl under the gems name. Minneapolis lakers alternate logo the lakers only alternate logo is a simple initial of the city of minneapolis. Browse a new selection of discounted kindle books each month. Contact your local library to find even more great ebooks. Its also available for football, hockey and baseball. The collection was made possible in part by funding from the minnesota department of education through a grant from the institute of museum and library services. Louis hawks in the playoffs, minneapolis dropped game 1, 116115, then. That makes michael schumachers book on mikans career, mr.
In the national basketball league, a fledgling professional league based in the midwest the first year minneapolis lakers benefit when another rival league known as the professional basketball league of america folds. George mikan, the minneapolis lakers, and the birth of the nba. Minneapolis lakers version and the early 70s westchamberlain goodrich. Player info team info lakers history stats the laker franchise began its existence as the detroit gems basketball team of the national basketball league nbl. The first book, 50 amazing years is an update from last years version, necessitated by the. As of summer 2012, the l akers hold the alltime records for wins 3,125, winning percentage. Schumacher tells a fascinating, detailed history of a player who at times seemed to carry. Statistics is included to allow nonenglish speakers to find our pages. A free, curated, authoritative resource about minnesota. These appearances include eight nba finals appearances in the 1980s.
Since moving from minneapolis in 1960, pioneering the nbas expansion to the west coast, the lakers have won 10 nba championships, 24 western. The book is packed full of history and fact however, the author is able to. The arena held 10,000 people and was built in 1927. Organized crime in minneapolis first attracted national attention in 1903 when mobster mayor doc ames 18421911 was exposed by lincoln steffens in the book, the shame of the cities. Way back in the 1940s, big people who played the game of basketball were generally considered freaks and uncoordinated. Steffens account and subsequent trials revealed a police department recruited from exfelons shaking down the minneapolis underworld on the mayors behalf. In 195051, the nba reduced the number of teams to 11. Home of mpls lakers youth traveling basketball program inc the minneapolis lakers is a nonprofit 501 c 3, that was established to provide traveling basketball programs for boys and girls 4th8th grade, who live in andor attend school in minneapolis. Mikan was an early superstar of the league, and he showed everyone how it should be done in a lot of areas. Recent game results height of bar is margin of victory mouseover bar for details click for box score grouped by month. Compiled by stew thornley author of basketballs original dynasty. It hosted the nbas minneapolis lakers from 1947 until they moved to the minneapolis armory in 1959. Sid hartman born march 15, 1920 is an american sports journalist for the minneapolis star tribune and the wcco 830 am radio station.
The team announced monday that its players will sport throwback mpls jerseys for five games this season, beginning wednesday against the. As the minneapolis lakers, their road uniform is powder blue with gold trim. Paul pierce and the celtics rally in the second half to overcome a 24point deficit vs. The new team began playing in minneapolis, calling themselves the minneapolis lakers. It is notable that it featured the city names abbreviation mpls on their road uniforms. The minneapolis lakers and the dawn of professional.
Minneapolis lakers team history sports team history. Uniform numbers worn by the minneapolis lakers of the national basketball league 194748, basketball association of america 194849, and national basketball association 194860. It was demolished in 1989 to make way for the minneapolis convention center. Every day, well send you an email to your inbox with scores, todays schedule, top performers, new debuts and interesting facts and tidbits. Summaries of each season in lakers history records of every lakers playoff appearance. List of the last five seasons completed by the lakers. Minneapolis lakers alternate logo sports logo history. The 195051 nba season was the franchises third season in the national basketball association nba. The minneapolis lakers were basketballs original dynasty. A look at the minneapolis lakers team members and management in the late 1940s and early 50s. For 20 years, he was also a panelist on the weekly television program sports show with mike max, which aired sunday nights at. This website is powered by the sportsengine platform, but is owned by and subject to the minneapolis lakers youth basketball privacy policy.
The lakers are one of the most successful teams in the history of the nba, and have won 16 nba championships, the secondmost. We were established to provide traveling basketball opportunities for boys and girls who live in andor attend school in minneapolis. Nba finals 1987 the 1987 nba finals was the championship round of the 1986 1987 nba season. Lakers objectively dope throwback minneapolis jerseys. Compiled by stew thornley, author of basketballs original dynasty. Records of every lakers playoff appearance list of the lakers owners, gms, and head coaches. The minneapolis lakers were basketballs original dynasty, winning six championships in seven years in a time long before multimillion dollar player contracts and tv deals.
Celebrating a century of minnesota hockey chronicles everything hockey minnesota over the past 100 years. The true story of how the nbas minneapolis lakers almost. With more than 300 photos, this coffeetable book features complete histories of minnesota s amazing state high school hockey tournament, the north stars, fighting saints, warroad lakers, duluth hornets, all of the states di and diii college and universitys, womens. Our boys program has grown from 2 teams our first season to 11 teams our 20162017 season and 11 teams for the 20172018 season. The minneapolis youth basketball association, mpls lakers, was started in 2012 as a 501 c 3 nonprofit organization. The twotime defending champion lakers continued to dominate by winning the western division with a 4424 record. The expansion lakers who already had a solid roster with forward jim pollard and playmaker herm schaefer added center george mikan, who quickly became the most. The building fell into obscurity after the opening of the met center in suburban bloomington. Fondly remembered and celebrated throughout minnesota, oldfashioned town team baseball was the glue that held a community together and generated a great sense of pride and passion among its residents. The minneapolis lakers and the dawn of professional basketball ebook. Michael schumacher is the author of nine books, including dharma lion. In it, the full lakers history is covered in glorious detail from the early black and white era of the teams first superstar george mikan, to all the glory years once the team moved from its minnesota roots in 1961 hence the name lakers to the halloffame years associated. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers. Inadvertently, the tail wheel had hooked on the top strand of a barbed wire fence, helping.
And they were named lakers because the region was know. Minneapolis, meanwhile, would remain without an nba franchise until the debut of the minnesota timberwolves in 1989. A love of baseballand, of course, the desire to whomp the neighboring towns teamspurred on players and fans alike. The gems were owned by dearborn, michigan, entrepreneur c. As professional basketball stumbled to find its feet, the lakers were the envy of the league.
Records of every lakers playoff appearance list of the lakers. The game was intense and personal, connecting people from all walks of. The expansion lakers who already had a solid roster with forward jim pollard and playmaker herm schaefer added center george mikan, who quickly became the most dominant player in the sport. Gifford told stew thornley, author of basketballs original dynasty. The most exciting are chaptors concerned showtime era magic, riles, kareem, coop, scott and others. The lakers have won 16 nba titles and have appeared in the nba finals 15 other times.
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