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The Chicago Bruins were an American basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois that was a member of the American Basketball League. The Bruins later played in the National Basketball League (1939-1942) and World Professional Basketball Tournament. The team was owned by Chicago Bears owner George Halas. In 1942 they became the Chicago Studebaker Flyers (also known as the Chicago Studebakers) They were funded by the United Auto Workers who had bought majority control of the franchise. During the 1942-1943 NBL season, the Studebakers and the Toledo Jim White Chevrolets became the first teams in the league to integrate. The Studebakers did so by signing six former Harlem Globetrotters: Tony Peyton, Duke Cumberland, Bernie Price, Sonny Boswell, Roosie Hudson, and Hillary Brown. Though some claimed that the former Globetrotters experienced racism from their white teammates, coach Johnny Jordan insisted that "there was no strife", adding, "All the blacks were treated well by players and fans. People knew the Globetrotters were great ballplayers. They were well received.
Arenas: The following year when the team was purchased by the United Auto Workers and renamed the Studebaker Flyers the team played at several locations, which made it almost impossible for die hard fans to know where the team was playing. This lead to the eventual demise of the franchise.
Year League Reg. Season Playoffs 1925/26 ABL 7th (1st half); 7th (2nd half) Did not qualify 1926/27 ABL 7th (1st half); 6th (2nd half) Did not qualify 1927/28 ABL 3rd, Western Did not qualify 1928/29 ABL 4th (1st half); 7th (2nd half) Did not qualify 1929/30 ABL 4th (1st half); 3rd (2nd half) Did not qualify 1930/31 ABL 5th (1st half); 1st(t)(2nd half)2nd Half Tiebreaker Place W L Pct. HW HL RW RL GB 1939/40 NBL 3rd(west) 14 14 .500 10 4 4 10 1 1940/41 NBL 5th 11 13 .458 8 4 3 9 7 1941/42 NBL 6th 8 15 .348 4 8 3 8 11.5 1942-43 NBL 4th 8 15 .349 5 6 3 9 9 Playoffs 1942-43 NBL 1-2 Lost Semi Finals to Pistons
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