Midwest Basketball Conference Team History
The Midwest Basketball Conference operated for two seasons before
evolving into the National Basketball League in 1937. Several MBC
clubs continued directly into the NBL, while others folded or returned
to independent basketball.
The league included industrial teams sponsored by major companies,
city-based professional clubs and established barnstorming teams.
Several organizations on this list later became important parts of
early professional basketball history.
Teams
| Team |
MBC Seasons |
Fate |
Ended / Folded |
Notes |
|
Akron Goodyear Wingfoots
|
1936-37 |
Joined NBL |
1942* |
Won the 1936-37 Midwest Basketball Conference championship and
continued into the NBL, where the Wingfoots won the league's first
championship in 1937-38.
|
|
Akron Firestone Non-Skids
|
1935-37 |
Joined NBL |
1941 |
One of the strongest early professional teams. Firestone later won
back-to-back NBL championships in 1938-39 and 1939-40.
|
|
Buffalo Bisons
|
1935-36 |
Later joined NBL |
1938 |
Left the MBC after the 1935-36 season, played independently in
1936-37 and returned as a member of the NBL for 1937-38.
|
|
Chicago Duffy Florals
|
1935-37 |
Did not join NBL |
1937* |
Chicago competed during both MBC seasons but did not continue into
the National Basketball League.
|
|
Columbus Athletic Supply
|
1936-37 |
Joined NBL |
1938 |
Joined the NBL for the 1937-38 season and disbanded after one season
in the league.
|
|
Dayton Metropolitans
Dayton London Bobbys
|
1935-37 |
Joined NBL |
1938 |
Played as the Dayton London Bobbys during the 1936-37 MBC season.
The club returned to the Metropolitans name when it entered the NBL.
|
|
Detroit Hed-Aids
Detroit Altes Lagers
|
1935-37 |
Did not join NBL |
1937 |
The franchise changed sponsorship and became the Detroit Altes Lagers
for 1936-37. It ceased operations when the MBC became the NBL.
|
|
Fort Wayne General Electrics
|
1936-37 |
Joined NBL |
1938 |
Reached the 1936-37 MBC championship series before losing to the
Akron Goodyear Wingfoots. Played one NBL season in 1937-38.
|
|
Indianapolis Kautskys
|
1935-37 |
Joined NBL, later BAA |
1949 |
Joined the NBL in 1937. The franchise moved to the BAA for 1948-49
and changed its name to the Indianapolis Jets before ceasing operations
after that season.
|
|
Indianapolis U.S. Tires
|
1935-37 |
Did not join NBL |
1937* |
Competed in the Midwest Basketball Conference but did not continue
into the NBL.
|
|
Pittsburgh Y.M.H.A.
|
1935-37 |
Joined NBL |
1939 |
The Pittsburgh Young Men's Hebrew Association became the Pittsburgh
Pirates when the club entered the NBL in 1937. The Pirates played
two NBL seasons before folding.
|
|
Warren Hyvis Oilers
|
1936-37 |
Joined NBL |
1941 |
Became the Warren Penns in the NBL, relocated to Cleveland as the
White Horses during 1938-39 and later moved to Detroit as the Eagles.
|
|
Whiting Ciesar All-Americans
|
1936-37 |
Joined NBL |
1941 |
Entered the NBL in 1937 and relocated from Whiting to Hammond in 1938,
becoming the Hammond Ciesar All-Americans.
|
|
Windsor Cooper Buses
|
1935-36 |
Did not join NBL |
1937* |
Played in the Midwest Basketball Conference but did not appear in
the NBL after the MBC era ended.
|
* Historical note:
For teams whose exact date of dissolution is uncertain, 1937 is used
to indicate that the club did not continue into the National Basketball
League. The date should not necessarily be interpreted as a confirmed
formal disbanding date.
Akron Goodyear note:
The Wingfoots stopped NBL operations during the World War II era but
later resumed play outside the NBL and continued as an amateur/AAU
organization.
From the MBC to the NBL
The Midwest Basketball Conference was an important predecessor to the
National Basketball League. When the NBL began play in 1937, several
MBC teams moved directly into the new league, including the Akron
Goodyear Wingfoots, Akron Firestone Non-Skids, Columbus Athletic
Supply, Dayton Metropolitans, Fort Wayne General Electrics,
Indianapolis Kautskys, Pittsburgh Pirates, Warren Penns and Whiting
Ciesar All-Americans.
The transition makes the MBC an important link between the industrial
and barnstorming basketball era of the early 1930s and the more
organized professional leagues that eventually helped produce the
modern NBA.
