Founded: 1937 Folded: 1938 Location: Kankakee, IL Arena: Kankakee National Guard Armory Built in: 1937 Capacity: 750 Titles: none |
The Kankakee Gallagher Trojans began as one of the original NBL teams in 1937 but lasted only one season before disbanding. They took the name Gallagher because most of its players were taken from the Gallagher school in Kankakee.
Fun Fact:
The Trojans had two players with unique names. Little Moose Meyers and Big Moose Meyers both played for the Trojans during their first and only season. Both men were of the local Kickapoo tribe and may be some of the first Native Americans in professional basketball, however, neither were closely related.
Big Moose Meyers or Myers, was named Don Meyers, and Little Moose Meyers was named LaVerne Meyers. Don Meyers did have a brother named LaVerne but they are different people.
Big Moose Meyers was probably only half Kickapoo as it appears his mother was white. It is unknown what percentage Native American Little Moose Meyers was, but he is listed as a player on an all-Native American team from 1935.
First Game:
The First game for the Kankakee Gallagher Trojans was on December 1, 1937, at the Kankakee Armory, against the Whiting Ciesar All-Americans. The Ciesars All-Americans won the game easily 50-32, though Kankakee put up a fight and lead 13-12 after the first quarter and the game was tied at 23 at half-time.
Hawaiian Exhibition:
On January 25, 1938, the Trojans took on a barnstorming team from Hawaii in an exhibition game in Kankakee. The Hawaiians had won 43 games to 4 losses and were one of the best barnstorming teams in the United States at the time. However, due to an train accident the Hawaiian all-stars only had 5-players and lost 72-52 to Kankakee.
The Trojans are unique for being the only NBL team to never have a player from another NBL team play for them, and to never have any of their players every play again in the NBL. In fact, there are no records of anyone who played for the Trojans playing before or after in any other professional basketball league. Even for the early days of basketball this is an oddity, as even leagues who lasted only a few weeks had players play on other teams and leagues.
The End:
It appears that the Trojans had ever intention of competing in the 1938-39 NBL season. owner EN Black said at the end of the season that "Gallagher will be in the National League near year with a much stronger squad". A newspaper report from December 3, even noted that the team was brining back six players from the season before, and that the New York Shamrocks were set to visit that season. However, when the NBL season kicked off there was no team in Kankakee and the teamw as pretty much lost to time.
Standings
Year W L % Playoffs W L % 1937-38 3 11 .214 - - -
A rare photograph showing the entire Kankakee Gallagher Trojans team.
Kankakee National Guard Armory was home to the Trojans.
Gallagher building
News Article from the Bradley times dated September 23, 1938.
John Hoekstra
Kankakee National Guard Armory
Gallager Business School where most the Trojan players worked during the day
The inside of the Kankakee National Guard Armory, and the court where the Kankakee Gallager Trojans played their games
Kankakee Gallager Trojans player and coach Don Betourne
| Tweet |