History of the St. Louis Bombers Basketball Team

The St. Louis Bombers were one of the original franchises of the Basketball Association of America (BAA) and later became one of the early teams of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Based in St. Louis, Missouri, the Bombers played an important role during the early years of professional basketball as the sport transitioned from regional leagues into a national organization. Although the franchise existed for only three seasons, the Bombers helped establish professional basketball in St. Louis and were part of the foundation of the modern NBA.

The Bombers were created during a period of rapid growth for professional basketball following World War II. Along with teams such as the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, Philadelphia Warriors, Chicago Stags, and Minneapolis Lakers, St. Louis helped launch the Basketball Association of America in 1946. The franchise later joined the NBA when the BAA and National Basketball League merged in 1949.

Despite their short existence, the St. Louis Bombers were one of the more competitive teams of the early professional era. Their history reflects the challenges faced by many original NBA franchises, including financial struggles, changing markets, and the difficulty of establishing professional basketball as a major American sport.

The Creation of the St. Louis Bombers

The St. Louis Bombers were founded in 1946 as one of the eleven charter franchises of the Basketball Association of America. The league was created by owners of large arenas who believed professional basketball could become a major spectator sport similar to baseball and hockey.

St. Louis was selected as one of the original BAA markets because of its strong sports tradition and central location. The city already had a history of professional sports, including baseball's St. Louis Cardinals and football's St. Louis Cardinals, and league officials believed basketball could succeed in the market.

The team was named the Bombers in recognition of the city's wartime aviation connection. The name also reflected the popularity of military-inspired team names during the post-World War II era.

The Bombers played their home games at the St. Louis Arena, a major sports venue that had previously hosted hockey and other events. The arena provided the team with one of the larger home courts in the early BAA.

The Inaugural 1946-47 Season

The St. Louis Bombers began play during the first BAA season under head coach Howie Dallmar. The team quickly established itself as one of the stronger franchises in the new league.

The Bombers were led by star center Joe Fulks, who was one of the most dominant scorers in early professional basketball. However, Fulks was traded to the Philadelphia Warriors before the team's first season began, leaving St. Louis to build around a balanced roster.

Key contributors included Bob Doll, Ed Macauley, Chick Halbert, and Johnny Logan. The team relied on strong defense and disciplined play rather than a single dominant scorer.

St. Louis finished the 1946-47 season with a 38-23 record, one of the best marks in the BAA. The Bombers qualified for the playoffs and defeated the Philadelphia Warriors in the opening round before losing to the eventual champion Philadelphia Warriors in the division finals.

The Bombers Become a BAA Contender

The St. Louis Bombers remained competitive during the next two seasons. During the 1947-48 BAA season, the team finished with a 29-19 record and again reached the playoffs.

The Bombers were led by Ed Macauley, a talented forward who became one of the most respected players of the early professional era. Macauley was known for his intelligence, passing ability, and all-around skills. He later became an NBA champion with the Boston Celtics and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

St. Louis also featured players such as Don Forman, Stan Miasek, and Leo Mogus. The roster was filled with experienced players who helped the Bombers compete against the strongest teams in the BAA.

The 1948-49 season was another successful year for St. Louis. The Bombers finished with a 29-31 record and qualified for the playoffs. However, the team was eliminated before reaching the championship round.

The St. Louis Bombers Join the NBA

In 1949, the Basketball Association of America merged with the National Basketball League to create the National Basketball Association. The St. Louis Bombers became one of the original NBA franchises.

The 1949-50 NBA season proved to be a difficult transition year for the franchise. The new league featured more teams, increased competition, and financial challenges for many smaller-market organizations.

The Bombers finished the season with a 26-50 record and missed the playoffs. Although the team still featured talented players, attendance and financial problems became increasingly difficult to overcome.

The End of the Franchise

After the 1949-50 season, the St. Louis Bombers folded. The franchise became one of several early NBA teams that failed to survive during the league's first years. The Chicago Stags, Denver Nuggets, Indianapolis Jets, Sheboygan Red Skins, and Waterloo Hawks also disappeared during this period of league contraction.

The collapse of the Bombers marked the end of NBA basketball in St. Louis for more than a decade. Professional basketball eventually returned to the city in 1955 when the Milwaukee Hawks relocated to St. Louis, becoming the St. Louis Hawks.

The St. Louis Hawks went on to become one of the NBA's strongest franchises during the 1950s and 1960s, winning the 1958 NBA championship before eventually moving to Atlanta in 1968.

Notable St. Louis Bombers Players

The Bombers produced several important players who went on to influence NBA history.

Ed Macauley became the franchise's greatest star. A seven-time NBA All-Star, Macauley was one of the league's first elite forwards and later became a Hall of Fame player. He was a key member of the Boston Celtics championship team in 1958.

Johnny Logan was one of St. Louis' most consistent guards and provided leadership throughout the team's BAA and NBA seasons.

Bob Doll was another important contributor during the early years of the franchise and helped establish the Bombers as a competitive team.

Legacy of the St. Louis Bombers

Although the St. Louis Bombers existed for only four seasons, they played an important role in the early history of professional basketball. They were one of the original BAA franchises and helped create the league that became the NBA.

The Bombers also demonstrated that St. Louis could support professional basketball. Their success helped pave the way for the later St. Louis Hawks franchise, which brought NBA championship basketball to the city.

The team's history represents the uncertainty of professional basketball's early years. Many original franchises struggled financially, but their contributions helped the NBA grow into a stable national league.

Today, the St. Louis Bombers are remembered as one of the forgotten pioneer teams of professional basketball. Their story remains an important chapter in NBA history and the development of the sport.

St. Louis Bombers Historical Facts