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Posted By: <b>David Davis</b><p>My brother used to have a Pittsburgh Rens program that was the highlight of his collection over 30 years ago. Even back then, ABL items were very tough to find. Would love to see some vintage ABL items.

Show your ABL memorabilia
 

Posted By: <b>ramram</b><p>1928 Chicago Bruins broadside with a team newsletter on the back.<br /><br />Rob M.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.network54.com/Realm/tmp/1195492301.JPG"> <img src="http://www.network54.com/Realm/tmp/1195492315.JPG">

Show your ABL memorabilia
 

Posted By: <b>Alan</b><p>There were two "eras" of the ABL. The 1920's & the early 1960's. Memorabilia from both are very much desired. Rob - Fantastic item !!! It's what I call "museum worthy" !!!<br /><br />Alan

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Posted By: <b>Walter</b><p>Here are a few items from the new ABL featuring my favorite Connie Hawkins. These are all newspaper clippings from local papers. I really like old papers because it's like a pre-history of the League. Like 48 players trying out for the team. How cool is that? The last item is a contract for an exhibition game between Rochester and a local team in the old ABL.<br /><br /><img src="http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-8/329189/700_rens1.jpg"><br /><img src="http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-8/329189/700_rens2.jpg"><br /><img src="http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-8/329189/700_rens3.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-8/329189/700_rens4.jpg"><br /><img src="http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-8/329189/700_rens5.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-8/329189/800_abl1.jpg"><br /><br /><br><br>Always looking for T59 Flag cards and T113 Types of Nations.<br /><a href="http://www.t59flags.com" target="_new" rel="nofollow">http://www.t59flags.com</a>

Show your ABL memorabilia
 

Posted By: <b>Walter</b><p>Here's a program from 1944 between Baltimore and New York. At least that's what I thought it was until 15 minutes ago. When I looked at the date of the game and the date of the next game on top, I realized that it was not a week, but 8 days. So I checked the 1944 calendar and found that the 17th was a Monday. Also in looking at the standings, I saw Patterson, but they did not come into being until January 1945. <br /><br />So after checking the calendar for 1945 I found that Jan 17 was really a Wednesday, but the 25th was a Thursday. In reality this game was played on Wednesday, January 17, 1945 and not the date printed on the front.I can't say why, but this is very interesting to me. It must not take too much to grab my interest. I guess the moral of the story is don't believe everything you read.<br /><br /><img src="http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-8/329189/750_abl1.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-8/329189/750_abl2.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-8/329189/750_abl3.jpg"><br><br>Always looking for T59 Flag cards and T113 Types of Nations.<br /><a href="http://www.t59flags.com" target="_new" rel="nofollow">http://www.t59flags.com</a>

Show your ABL memorabilia
 

Posted By: <b>Alan</b><p>Walter -<br /><br />FANTASTIC material !!! Thanks very much for sharing !!!<br /><br />Alan

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Posted By: <b>Dave Williams</b><p>Great stuff, but a question.<br /><br />Why were basketball players referred to as "cagers", as noted in the article?<br /><br />Where did that term come from?

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Posted By: <b>ramram</b><p>In the early days they used to literally put a cage around the court - since most of the playing locations were of limited size. The cage might be as high as 30 feet. No out of bounds, kind of like hockey.<br /><br />Rob M.

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Posted By: <b>Walter</b><p>Rob is correct, and I would like to add that basketball was a very violent game through the 1950s, especially in various local leagues. Read the 1st page of the ABL program I posted about the bloody battle between the Bullets and the Sphas. This was not hyperbole. The cage was put around the court to keep the violence from spilling into the stands and vice versa. <br><br>Always looking for T59 Flag cards and T113 Types of Nations.<br /><a href="http://www.t59flags.com" target="_new" rel="nofollow">http://www.t59flags.com</a>

Show your ABL memorabilia
 

Posted By: <b>ramram</b><p>Regarding the use of the term "cagers" - <br /><br />I just picked this image up recently. You'll notice part of the "cage" in the background in the form of a fence and chicken wire. One look at these guys and their equipment and you can probably imagine how rough the game was.<br /><br />Rob M.<br /><br /><img src="http://home.kc.rr.com/ramram/Basketball%20-%20cagers2.JPG">