Midwest Basketball Conference History
The Midwest Basketball Conference operated for two
seasons in the mid-1930s and was one of the important early
professional and semi-professional basketball leagues in the Midwest.
The league played as the Midwest Basketball Conference in
1935-36 and 1936-37. After the second season, the
organization was reorganized under the name
National Basketball League.
The MBC included several industrial and company-sponsored clubs that
later became important parts of early professional basketball history,
including the Akron Goodyear Wingfoots, Akron Firestone Non-Skids and
Indianapolis Kautskys.
1935-36 Midwest Basketball Conference
The inaugural MBC season was divided into Eastern and Western
Divisions. Akron Firestone finished first in the Eastern Division,
while Indianapolis Kautskys posted the best record in the Western
Division.
1935-36 Eastern Division
| Team |
W |
L |
Pct. |
GB |
| Akron Firestone Non-Skids |
11 |
7 |
.611 |
— |
| Pittsburgh Y.H.M.A.s |
10 |
7 |
.588 |
0.5 |
| Buffalo Bisons |
7 |
8 |
.467 |
2.5 |
| Dayton Metropolitans |
4 |
6 |
.400 |
3.5 |
1935-36 Western Division
| Team |
W |
L |
Pct. |
GB |
| Indianapolis Kautskys |
9 |
3 |
.750 |
— |
| Chicago Duffy Florals |
3 |
2 |
.600 |
2.5 |
| Detroit Hed-Aids |
9 |
7 |
.563 |
2 |
| Indianapolis U.S. Tires |
5 |
9 |
.357 |
5 |
| Windsor Cooper Buses |
2 |
11 |
.154 |
7.5 |
1935-36 MBC Playoffs
Chicago defeated Akron, Indianapolis and Pittsburgh in the MBC
round-robin tournament to win the league championship.
The playoff field included the
Chicago Duffy Florals, Indianapolis Kautskys,
Akron Firestone Non-Skids and Pittsburgh Y.H.M.A.s.
Chicago defeated Akron 33-30 and then defeated Indianapolis 39-35
in the championship game. Indianapolis had defeated Pittsburgh 46-18,
while Akron defeated Pittsburgh 33-29 in the third-place game.
1936-37 Midwest Basketball Conference
The league expanded for its second season. The
Akron Goodyear Wingfoots dominated the Eastern
Division with a 16-2 record, while the Dayton London Bobbys finished
first in the Western Division.
1936-37 Eastern Division
| Team |
W |
L |
Pct. |
GB |
| Akron Goodyear Wingfoots |
16 |
2 |
.889 |
— |
| Akron Firestone Non-Skids |
13 |
5 |
.722 |
3 |
| Warren Hyvis Oilers |
8 |
6 |
.571 |
6 |
| Columbus Athletic Supply |
6 |
5 |
.545 |
6.5 |
| Detroit Altes Lagers |
2 |
8 |
.200 |
10 |
| Pittsburgh Y.M.H.A.s |
2 |
9 |
.182 |
10.5 |
1936-37 Western Division
| Team |
W |
L |
Pct. |
GB |
| Dayton London Bobbys |
8 |
6 |
.571 |
— |
| Fort Wayne General Electrics |
6 |
6 |
.500 |
2 |
| Whiting Ciesar All-Americans |
3 |
5 |
.375 |
2 |
| Chicago Duffy Florals |
4 |
7 |
.364 |
2.5 |
| Indianapolis Kautskys |
2 |
5 |
.286 |
2.5 |
| Indianapolis U.S. Tires |
3 |
9 |
.250 |
4 |
1936-37 MBC Playoffs
The Akron Goodyear Wingfoots won the Midwest
Basketball Conference championship.
Fort Wayne advanced after Dayton did not appear for its scheduled
playoff game and the General Electrics were awarded the series by
forfeit.
Akron Goodyear then defeated the
Fort Wayne General Electrics, 2-0, in the
championship series.
Historical Significance
The 1936-37 season was the final season played under the Midwest
Basketball Conference name. The league was reorganized as the
National Basketball League for the following season.
The NBL eventually became one of the two major professional basketball
leagues that combined in 1949 to create the modern NBA.
