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Detroit Eagles
Founded: 1939
Folded: 1941
Location: Detroit, MI
Arena: Brodhead Naval Armory
Also known as: R. Thornton Brodhead Armory
7600 East Jefferson Avenue
Built in: 1930
Capacity: 3,000
Titles: 0 NBL
1 WBT
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The Eagles moved from Cleveland in 1939 where they were previously known as the White Horses.
The Eagles played from 1939-41. In 1941 most of the men of the team either were drafted or enlisted into the military due to World War II. The Eagles won the 1941 World Professional Basketball Tournament in Chicago with a 39-37 victory over the Oshkosh All-Stars. They returned to the tournament in 1942, but this time lost to Oshkosh 43-41
The Eagles were managed by basketball legend Dutch Dehnert

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Season | League | W | L | % | Position | Division | Play-offs | |
Warren Hyvis Oilers | |   |
1937-1938 | MBC | 8 | 6 | .571 | 3rd | Eastern Division | DNQ | |
Warren Penns / Cleveland White Horses | |   |
1937-1938 | NBL | 3 | 9 | .250 | 5th | Eastern Division | DNQ | |   |
1938-1939 | NBL | 14 | 14 | .500 | 3rd | Eastern Division | DNQ | |
Detroit Eagles | |   |
1939-1940 | NBL | 17 | 10 | .630 | 2nd | Eastern Division | Lost Semifinals | |   |
1940-1941 | NBL | 12 | 12 | .500 | 3rd | Only group | Lost Semifinals |
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  | 1941-1942 | Ind | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Played in WBT | |
  | 1942-1943 | Ind | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Folded due to World War II |

The Detroit Naval Armory was built in 1930 and is still standing today. Like all other Armories, it served a duel purpose for the citizens of Detroit. It was both an armory and a place for the community to gather.
The armory held about 3,000 people for a basketball game, and was popular amongst basketball players for having a well taken care of floor where slips were uncommon.
Now known as the R. Thornton Broadhead Armory, after the captain of the USS Yantic, a Civil War era gun boat, at the time there Eagles played there it would have been known simply as the Detroit Armory. The name change did not take place until 1942.

This image here is of the Detroit Eagles after winning the World Professional Basketball Tournament Championship in 1941. The logo you see on the truck door was used for barnstorming and the WPBT, and not during their NBL play. Their NBL logo can be seen on their uniforms.
 Eagles guard Buddy Jeannette

Eagles program from 1940-41
 Ed Sadowki
Buddy Jeanette passing the ball
 Al Cervi of the Rochester Seagrams drives past a Detroit Eagles defender in 1941.
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