St. Louis Bombers

1946/47:Coached by Ken Loeffler, the St. Louis Bombers faced the Pittsburgh Ironmen on November 2nd in their first game at the St. Louis Arena on November 2nd, winning 56-51. The Bombers were able to get off to a fast start winning 11 of their first 14 games. Leading the way for the Bombers, one of 11 charter teams in the Basketball Association of America was Guard Johnny Logan, a second-team All-Star who led the team in scoring with 12.6 points per game. The Bombers would battle the Chicago Stags all season for first place in the Western Division, losing a tie break at the end of the season, as they posted a record of 38-23. Facing the Philadelphia Warriors in the quarterfinals, the Bombers and Warriors split the first two games of a three-game series, with each team winning on their floor. However, despite Game 3 being at the St. Louis Arena, the Bombers would suffer a letdown losing 75-59 as the Warriors went on to win the league’s first championship.

1947/48:Once again, the Bombers were one of the top teams in the BAA, with Johnny Logan still leading the team in scoring with 13.4 ppg. Logan was a second-team All-Star for a second straight season, but he was not alone as Red Rocha (12.7 ppg), Belus Smawley (11.1 ppg), and Bob Doll (10.6 ppg) all averaged more than ten points per game. The Bombers powered by extra scoring would capture the Western Division Championship with a record of 29-19. In the semifinal battle of division winners, the St. Louis Bombers would once again face the Philadelphia Warriors. The two teams would alternate wins through the first five games, with the Bombers leading 3-2 in the best of seven series. However, once again, the Bombers once again sputtered at the finish, losing blowouts in Game 6 and 7, including an embarrassing 85-46 home loss in Game 7.

1948/49:With Grady Lewis taking over as player and coach, the Bombers would have an up and down season as Johnny Logan was a second-team All-Star for the second straight season. Belus Smawley also had a big season leading the team in scoring with 15.5 ppg. Despite slipping to 29-31, the Bombers made the playoffs by finishing fourth in the Western Division. However, they would make a quick exit losing two straight games to the Rochester Royals.

1949/50:The BAA would merge with the NBL, becoming the National Basketball Association as local legend Ed Macauley made his professional debut. Macauley quickly became the Bombers’ best player with a team-high 16.1 ppg. However, the Bombers struggled against the improving competitiveness of the NBA and finished in last place in the Central Division with a record of 26-42. It would be the final season of the Bombers as they ceased operations after just four seasons. The NBA would return to St. Louis in 1955 when the Milwaukee Hawks became the St. Louis Hawks. Ed Macauley would end up back in St. Louis in a deal that sent Bill Russell to the Boston Celtics and played a crucial role in the Hawks 1958 championship.