Providence Steamrollers
The Providence Steamrollers were a Basketball Association of America team based in Providence, Rhode Island.[1] As of 2021, the Steamrollers remain the last professional sports franchise from one of the Big Four leagues to be based in Rhode Island.
| Providence Steamrollers | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Division | Eastern |
| Founded | 1946 |
| Folded | 1949 |
| History | Providence Steamrollers 1946–1949 |
| Arena | Rhode Island Auditorium |
| Location | Providence, Rhode Island |
| Team colors | Burgundy, pink, black |
| Ownership | Louis Pieri |
Franchise history
The Steamrollers were one of the original eleven NBA franchises (when the league was called the Basketball Association of America). The franchise posted an all-time record of 46–122 (.274) before folding after three seasons.
The Steamrollers still hold the dubious NBA record for the fewest games won in a season with six, in the 1947–48 season. However, the 2011-2012 Charlotte Bobcats hold the record for the lowest winning percentage in NBA history, with .106. During that 1947–48 season, the Steamrollers' coach Nat Hickey activated himself as a player for two games, the second of which was two days before his 46th birthday, setting a still-standing record as the oldest player in NBA history.
Players of note
- Ernie Calverley – Second-team All-NBA and led league in assists during NBA's first season
- George Nostrand – Tallest player in the NBA's first year
- Howie Shannon – Leading NBA rookie in 1949
- Nat Hickey – Oldest player in NBA history
- Kenny Sailors – Led team in scoring in 1948 and 1949
Draft
| Player name | College | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Howie Shannon | Kansas State University | 1949 |
| Ed Leede | Dartmount College | 1949 |
| Warren Perkins | Tulane University | 1949 |
| Ray Corley | Georgetown University | 1949 |
| Bob Royer | Indiana State University | 1949 |
| Paul Courtey | University of Oklahoma | 1949 |
| Carl Schaeffer | University of Alabama | 1949 |
| Bill Tanzler | University of Florida | 1949 |
| Jack Theolan | DePaul University | 1949 |
| Andy Tonkovich | Marshall University | 1948 |
| Al Bennett | Oklahoma State University | 1948 |
| Jack Coleman | University of Louisville | 1948 |
| Ed Faber | Trinity University | 1948 |
| Verl Heap | Arizona State University | 1948 |
| Otto Snellbacher | University of Kansas | 1948 |
| Brady Walker | Brigham Young University | 1948 |
| Walt Dropo | University of Connecticut | 1947 |
| Joe Barry | 1947 | |
| Dick Furey | University of St. Thomas | 1947 |
| Bob Hubbard | Springfield College | 1947 |
| Bob Joyce | Bates College | 1947 |
| Roy Lipscomb | St. Mary's College of Maryland | 1947 |
| John Mills | Hofstra University | 1947 |
| Al Nicolas | University of Rhode Island | 1947 |
Coaches and others
- Robert Morris (1946–47)
- Hank Soar (1947–48)
- Nat Hickey (1948)
- Ken Loeffler (1948–49)
Season-by-season records
| BAA champions | Division champions | Playoff berth |
| Season | League | Division | Finish | Wins | Losses | Win% | GB | Playoffs | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946–47 | BAA | Eastern | 4th | 28 | 32 | .467 | 21 | ||
| 1947–48 | BAA | Eastern | 4th | 6 | 42 | .125 | 21 | ||
| 1948–49 | BAA | Eastern | 6th | 12 | 48 | .200 | 26 | ||
| Regular season record | 46 | 122 | .274 | 1946–1949 | |||||
| Playoff record | 0 | 0 | .000 | ||||||
References
- Providence Steam Rollers Franchise Index
- "Providence Steam Rollers Draft Picks | Basketball-Reference.com". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-11-13.