History of the Pittsburgh Pipers

The Birth of an ABA Original

The Pittsburgh Pipers were one of the original franchises of the American Basketball Association (ABA), joining the new league for its inaugural 1967-68 season. While the National Basketball Association was already firmly established, the ABA sought to challenge it by placing teams in both major and underserved basketball markets. Pittsburgh, which had already enjoyed success with the Pittsburgh Rens and other professional basketball teams, was chosen as one of the league's charter cities.

The franchise was owned by Pittsburgh attorney Gabe Rubin and played its home games at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena. The team adopted the name "Pipers" in honor of Pittsburgh's rich Scottish heritage, a nod to the city's large Scottish-American community and its tradition of bagpipe music.

Few expected the expansion franchise to become the league's first champion.

Vince Cazzetta Builds the Foundation

Former NBA coach Vince Cazzetta was hired to assemble the inaugural roster. The Pipers relied on a balanced lineup rather than a collection of established superstars.

The roster included veteran guard Charlie Williams, athletic forward Connie Hawkins, Art Heyman, Chico Vaughn, and several experienced players overlooked by NBA teams. The most important acquisition, however, proved to be Connie Hawkins.

Connie Hawkins Changes Everything

Connie Hawkins entered the ABA with enormous talent and something to prove.

Once considered one of basketball's brightest young stars, Hawkins had been banned from the NBA because of his alleged connection to the college basketball gambling scandal involving Jack Molinas. Although Hawkins denied any wrongdoing and was never convicted of a crime, the NBA refused to allow him to play.

Forced to continue his career elsewhere, Hawkins starred for the Pittsburgh Rens of the American Basketball League and later the Harlem Globetrotters before joining the ABA.

His arrival instantly gave credibility to the new league.

Nicknamed "The Hawk," Hawkins possessed a combination of size, athleticism, ball handling, and creativity rarely seen from a forward during the 1960s. He dazzled crowds with spectacular dunks, behind-the-back passes, and coast-to-coast drives years before they became common in professional basketball.

The 1967-68 Season

The Pipers quickly emerged as one of the ABA's best teams.

Led by Hawkins, Charlie Williams, Chico Vaughn, and Art Heyman, Pittsburgh finished the regular season with a 54-24 record, the best mark in the Eastern Division.

Hawkins averaged 26.8 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game while establishing himself as the league's premier attraction.

Charlie Williams provided steady playmaking and perimeter scoring, while Vaughn contributed scoring and veteran leadership.

The Pipers became one of only a handful of teams in professional basketball history to win a championship during their inaugural season.

The First ABA Playoffs

Pittsburgh entered the first ABA Playoffs as the Eastern Division's top seed.

The Pipers defeated the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Division Semifinals before facing the Minnesota Muskies in the Eastern Division Finals. Pittsburgh defeated Minnesota four games to one to earn the franchise's first championship opportunity.

In the ABA Finals, Pittsburgh faced the New Orleans Buccaneers, champions of the Western Division.

The championship series lasted seven games.

Behind Hawkins' brilliant all-around play and Charlie Williams' leadership, the Pipers defeated the Buccaneers four games to three to capture the first championship in ABA history.

Individual Honors

The championship season produced several major individual honors.

Connie Hawkins won the ABA's first Most Valuable Player Award while also earning First Team All-ABA honors.

Vince Cazzetta was named ABA Coach of the Year after guiding the expansion club to a league-best record and championship.

Hawkins and Charlie Williams were selected to play in the inaugural ABA All-Star Game.

The success of the Pipers helped establish the ABA as a legitimate competitor to the NBA.

Moving to Minnesota

Despite winning the championship, financial problems quickly surfaced.

Attendance in Pittsburgh had been inconsistent throughout the season, and ownership believed a move to Minnesota would generate greater interest. The market had become available after the Minnesota Muskies relocated to Miami and became the Miami Floridians.

For the 1968-69 season, the Pipers moved to Bloomington, Minnesota, and became the Minnesota Pipers.

The move proved disastrous.

The team struggled to build a strong following despite retaining much of its championship roster. Attendance remained poor, and the franchise finished with a losing record.

The Minnesota Pipers

The Minnesota Pipers finished the 1968-69 season with a 36-42 record. They placed fourth in the Eastern Division and qualified for the playoffs.

Minnesota faced the Miami Floridians, the franchise that had previously played as the Minnesota Muskies. The Floridians defeated the Pipers four games to three in the Eastern Division Semifinals.

The Pipers' financial problems continued throughout the season. After only one year in Minnesota, the organization decided to return to Pittsburgh.

Return to Pittsburgh

The franchise returned to Pittsburgh for the 1969-70 season and resumed using the Pittsburgh Pipers name.

Unfortunately, the championship momentum had disappeared.

Connie Hawkins had successfully challenged the NBA's decision to exclude him and signed with the Phoenix Suns before the season began. His departure deprived the Pipers of their greatest player and biggest attraction.

Without Hawkins, Pittsburgh struggled to remain competitive.

The team finished with a 29-55 record and placed last in the Eastern Division. The Pipers missed the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.

Attendance declined dramatically, creating even greater financial pressure.

The End of the Pittsburgh Pipers

Following the disappointing 1969-70 season, the franchise remained in Pittsburgh but changed its name to the Pittsburgh Condors.

The rebranding was intended to create a fresh identity and generate renewed interest in the team. However, the Condors continued to struggle financially and eventually folded after the 1971-72 season.

Although the Pipers name disappeared after 1970, the organization remained best remembered for winning the first championship in ABA history.

Connie Hawkins Reaches the NBA

After successfully challenging the NBA's blacklist, Connie Hawkins signed with the Phoenix Suns in 1969.

He immediately became one of the NBA's biggest stars, earning multiple NBA All-Star selections and First Team All-NBA honors.

His legal victory also challenged the way professional leagues treated players accused of wrongdoing without sufficient evidence.

Hawkins' success confirmed what ABA fans had already witnessed: he was one of the greatest basketball players in the world.

He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992.

Season-by-Season Results

1968 ABA Championship Series

Notable Players

• Connie Hawkins
• Charlie Williams
• Chico Vaughn
• Art Heyman
• John Brisker
• Barry Leibowitz
• Craig Dill
• Trooper Washington

Head Coaches

The Legacy of the Pittsburgh Pipers

Although the Pittsburgh Pipers played only two seasons in Pittsburgh under that name, their impact on professional basketball was significant. They won the first championship in ABA history, introduced fans to the exciting style of play that would define the league, and provided Connie Hawkins with an opportunity to demonstrate his extraordinary talent on a major professional stage.

The franchise also demonstrated both the promise and instability of the ABA. On the court, the Pipers were immediate champions. Away from the court, attendance problems, financial difficulties, relocation, and rebranding illustrated the challenges faced by many ABA organizations.

The 1967-68 Pipers remain one of Pittsburgh's few major professional championship basketball teams. Their combination of Hawkins' spectacular talent, Cazzetta's coaching, and a deep supporting roster gave the ABA a memorable first champion.

Today, the Pittsburgh Pipers hold a permanent place in basketball history. Their championship helped establish the credibility of the new league, while Hawkins' remarkable comeback story became one of the sport's greatest stories of perseverance and redemption.