MINUTES OF THE ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING OF BAA AT COMMODORE HOTEL, NEW YORK, JUNE 6, 1946

1. Present were Edward Gottlieb, Emory Jones, James Bolmer, George Lipsius, Harry Bolton, Thomas Loeb, Allen Loeb, James B. Norris, Al Sutphin, Walter A. Brown, James Ailinger, Richard Miller, Michael Uline, Peter Tyrell, Harold S. Shannon, Max Kase, Ned Irish, Louis Pieri, Maurice Podoloff.  Podoloff acted as chairman.
2. Franchises granted to Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Indianapolis.   Action deferred on New York.  Also to Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Providence, St. Louis, Washington.  Toronto application action deferred.
3. As member of original organization committee, Walter Brown called upon to make a report.  Principal recommendations were 27-game schedule and $30,000 team salary limit (see below).
4. Bolton arrived, franchise granted to Toronto.
5. Franchise fee set at $1,000
6. Adopted recommendation of committee that "no college boy will be signed up until his class has graduated."
7. Adopted recommendation that teams should be named for cities rather than industrial establishments.
8. Adopted recommendation that each team keep its own gate.
9. Decided that the actual floor, this does not mean the playing surface, was not to be less than 60' x 100'.
10. Roster of players maximum of 10, must dress at least 8.
11. "The chairman called to the attention of the members the fact that the newly organized Association was a major league in every possible measure of the term."
12. "$40,000 exclusive of the salary of the coach and trainer" adopted as the payroll limit.
13. "Application by Mr. Kase representing a group, and Mr. Irish representing Madison Square Garden for a franchise in New York, were considered.  A franchise was granted to Madison Square Garden on the terms outlined.
14. Territorial limits set at a radius of 50 miles of each franchise holder, the exceptions being Brooklyn in connection with New York and Boston in connection with Providence.
15. Maurice Podoloff was elected President of BAA.

1. The President suggested that the executive committee consisting of Messrs. Brown, Sutphin and Arthur Wirtz (of Detroit) be empowered to consider with Mr. Max Kase the matter of compensation for any efforts or claims to have been exerted by him in connection with the formation of professional basketball with particular relation to the Basketball Association of America.
"Mr. Irish representing the New York franchise holder Madison Square Garden, made the statement that Madison Square Garden does not want any recognition or agree to any recognition of any legal rights on the part of claim in connection with the promotion of professional basketball in New York as related to the organization of the Basketball Association of America, nor does Madison Square Garden recognize that anyone had more to do, or exerted greater effort in the connection than did Madison Square Garden.
"On a motion made by Mr. Irish seconded by Mr. Peter Tyrell (of Philadelphia) and unanimously passed it was resolved that the executive committee be authorized to take such action in connection with compensation to Mr. Max Kase as in its best judgment may deem proper, with full power in the premises."
2.Discussed gate receipts for early part of season - some cities doing poorly.    "...there seemed to be general agreement on the necessity of two rather that one game per evening.  It was the general opinion that arranging a schedule for the balance of the year providing for two games per evening was impossible."
3. Considered making quarters 15 minutes, but not adopted after extended discussion, President was authorized to explore possibility of doubleheaders; if not possible, would try 60-minute game as of January 1, 1947.

1. Canvass of clubs to ascertain who plan to participate during the coming season:
    New York - will operate
    Cleveland - will not
    Pittsburgh - will if a representative team can be secured
    Chicago - not decided
    Toronto - not decided
    Providence - will operate
    St. Louis - will operate
    Boston - will operate
    Philadelphia - will operate
    Washington - will operate
2. Podoloff reported that committee of NBL and committee of BAA (Gottlieb, Irish and Sutphin) met in Buffalo May 15.  NBL was "quite anxious to enter into an agreement with the Basketball Association of America covering as many phases of inter-league agreement as possible."
3. Podoloff reported Baltimore and Louisville wanted franchises.
4. Tentatively agreed to reduce active rosters to 9 men and reduce length of games to 40 minutes.
5. Discussed meeting to be held with NBL on a joint draft on June 2.

Present- BAA- President Maurice Podoloff; Ned Irish, New York; Walter Brown, Boston; Emory Jones, St. Louis; Eddie Gottlieb, Philadelphia; NBL- Commissioner Ward Lambert; Paul Walk, Indianapolis; Maurice White, Chicago; Jack Harrison, Rochester; Leo Ferris, Tri-City.  Podoloff served as chairman of joint committee; Harrison secretary.
Discussed and approved:
1. Uniform players contract to be used in both leagues.
2. Consensus of opinion that no player's name be placed on reserve list unless some form of agreement in writing has been forwarded to the commissioner of his league.
3. Approved the number of players to be placed on the reserve list at various times of the year.
4. Various other provisions on players and contracts, including:
    (a) No player under 16 years old.
    (b) No high school player until one year after the date his class is scheduled to graduate.
    (c) Provision for inter-league trading of players.
5. Joint player draft agreed to after heated debate.  NBL teams had already signed some college players and felt they shouldn't be included in the draft.  Turned out that only 11 players, already signed by NBL teams were on BAA lists, so it was decided that BAA teams would each get one choice before NBL began choosing.  College joint draft was then held.
6. Question of a post season world series was discussed, but was tabled for a possible committee meeting to be held before start of 1947-48 season in the event such a series was considered desirable.
7. Attached was an eight-page "Memorandum of Agreement" covering the points agreed to.  The agreement was to last two years, until June 1, 1949.

1. Permission given to Cleveland to suspend operation for 1947-48.
2. Players formerly on reserve list of the Detroit and Cleveland clubs distributed to other teams.
3. Poll taken on whether games in coming season should be 40 or 48 minutes.  Seven teams were in favor of 48 minutes (9 teams represented at meeting - Boston, New York, Chicago, Toronto, Providence, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Washington).

1. Various business on several players, Chicago situation.
2. It was agree that Washington and Baltimore would become members of the Western Division, and in view of the excess traveling expenses, all of these were to be pooled and equalized among all the teams.
3. Motion to the effect that NBL team not permitted to play in the building of a BAA team unless teams of the NBL are permitted to play in Chicago Stadium.  Motion lost- Chicago, New York and St. Louis in favor, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington and Baltimore opposed.  Motion then made that no NBL team be allowed to play in any BAA building during the schedule season, and not exceeding two games to be allowed per team prior to the season, unless and until such teams are permitted to be booked in all the buildings of the Association, including Chicago.  Unanimously carried.

1. Arthur Morse of Chicago described negotiation preceding the grant of an NBL franchise in Chicago and indicated that the new entry might be weak in player strength "and indicated that in would be definitely to the advantage of the Chicago Stags and the Basketball Association of America if the team was strengthened as much as possible."  Board adopted a plan to have BAA team loan players to Chicago NBL team for the season (players would have to pass through waivers).
2. Set $5 a day meal allowance limit.
3. Motion referred to a committee to make rules for games with NBL teams.
4. Unanimously passed rule disqualifying a player for 6th personal foul.

1. Fairly amicable meeting of the two leagues.    Memorandum of agreement written early was approved by both.  Also discussed intricacies of player draft.
2. Question came up as to what situation would be if a team resigned from its league at the end of a season and later applied for a franchise in the other league.    Consensus was that it would be o.k. and the team would retain title to its players.
3. Considered all-star game between NBL and BAA.  Sentiment was in favor although couldn’t schedule such a game during 1947-48 season.  Will be explored later.
4. Amicable agreement settling a disputed contractof player Carl Meinhold, who was claimed by Baltimore of BAA and Tri-City of NBL.  Baltimore paid $500 to Tri-City for rights to Meinhold.
5. Letter from Southern Basketball Conference suggesting "cooperative operation."  Sentiment was in favor of affiliation with other pro basketball leagues in the country.

1. "Remarks in reference to and criticism of the referees were made by Mr. (Louis) Pieri (of Providence), and it was agreed that a meeting should be held with Mr. (Walter) Kennedy, and such other referees as would be invited by the President, with a committee of coaches consisting of Messrs. (Eddie) Gottlieb, (Joe) Lapchick and (Bud) Olsen."
2. New player limit -  teams may dress not ore than 9 players for a game, except in emergencies might be reduced to 8 by the President.

1. Podoloff re-elected President for 2 years.    Podoloff giving permission to buy a car for about $2,000 with BAA funds.
2. Canceled non-operating franchises -  Toronto, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Buffalo and Indianapolis.  "At this point, there was a series of interviews with prospective applicants including Mr. Carl Bennett for Fort Wayne, Paul Walk and Frank Kautsky for Indianapolis, Mr. Max Winter for Minneapolis, Messrs. Jack and Lester Harrison for Rochester, Mr. Lon Darling for Oshkosh, and Mr. Virgil Gladieux for Toledo."
They were told that hey must first resign from the NBL.  Carl Bennett said Fort Wayne had resigned from the NBL.  Fort Wayne was unanimously voted a franchise in the BAA.    Bennett then seated as the Governor for Fort Wayne. Same thing happened when Paul Walk said Indianapolis Kautskys had resigned from the NBL.  BAA unanimously voted franchise for Indianapolis and Walk and Kautsky seated as Governors. Same thing for Minneapolis.  Voted unanimously.  Also Rochester voted unanimously in.    Then BAA voted to table requests for permission to apply for franchises presented by Toledo and Oshkosh.  Then BAA voted to table application of franchises held by W.B. Wemyss of Louisville; John D. Herring of Buffalo; and E.J. White of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
3. Criticisms voiced of equipment in some buildings and following rules were established:
    (a) approved nets must be used.
    (b) net hoops must be painted orange.
    (c) glass backboard made mandatory.
    (d) standard of lighting to be established by President and executive committee.
    (e) size and markings of playing floor must meet BAA standards.
    (these rules apply to old teams as well as new)
4. Midway in the meeting, Podoloff recessed it to go to meeting room of the NBL in the Morris Hotel and advised Leo Ferris, acting Chairman of the NBL, of the intention and desire of the BAA to conduct a joint draft with the NBL "in accordance with the terms of an agreement entered into between both organizations.  Mr. Ferris advised the President that a decision on the joint draft would be reached by the National Basketball League by 5:00 p.m."
Podoloff, Brown, Gottlieb and Irish went back to NBL meeting at 5:00 and "were advised by Mr. Ferris that the National Basketball League would not conduct a joint draft with the Basketball Association of America and would not comply with the terms of the agreement heretofore referred to.
"In response to a question address to Mr. Ferris by the President, as to whether or not the members of the National Basketball League intended to observe and honor the contracts held up by the members of the Basketball Association of America with players, Mr. Ferris replied that a decision had not been reached at that time on this point."
The BAA then went ahead with its own draft.
No later mention of NBL in the meeting, but later this - "The President was authorized to appoint a committee to negotiate affiliation agreements with other professional basketball leagues."
5. New rules:
(a) not less than 9 or more than 11 players may dress for a game.
(b) any team may loan up to 2 players to a team in another league with which it has a working agreement.
6. All members of BAA favored 48-minute game except Rochester and Minneapolis, who wanted 40.
7. Salaries paid for 1947-48 by new BAA teams - Fort Wayne, $62,000 for 11 men; Rochester, $67,000 for 10 men; Minneapolis $64,000 for 9 men; Indianapolis, $61,505 for 9 men.
8. Salary limit per team for 1948-49 set at $58,000.
9. Suggestion made that "a very determined effort be made to recruit a permanent staff of referees."

1. Announcement that Paul Walk had acquired interest of Frank Kautsky and would be sole owner of Indianapolis.
2. Chicago wanted doubleheaders, and 10 teams agreed to play one of their home games allotted to them as a game as a part of a doubleheader in Chicago.
3. Discussed playoff system.
4. Appointed a staff of 18 referees.

1. Podoloff reported on negotiation with Mr. (Ike) Duffey of NBL in reference to an affiliate agreement and indicated that the first attempt at Chicago ended in disagreement because of Mr. Duffey's refusal to recognize the rights of Rochester to compensation in connection with the signing of player Al Cervi. Second meeting also ended in disagreement because Duffey refused to recognize the professional negotiating lists of the BAA and to arbitrate any conflicting claims.
2. Long discussion of draft procedures
3. Entered discussion of policy to be adopted toward players signed by NBL teams. "It was decided that any players offered were to be routed through the BAA office."
4. BAA banned NBL teams from arenas and prohibited games between BAA and NBL teams.

1. Not much.
2. "Mr. Irish advised the Board of Governors that unless there is a rigid and strictly adhered to salary limit for the 1949-50 season, that Madison Square Garden would retire from membership in the Basketball Association of America."

1. Podoloff reported that executive committee had loaned $20,000 to Indianapolis Jets. Collateral was all the stock of the Jets and assignment of contracts of all players. Loan to be repaid by July 1, 1949.
2. All clubs said they will operate in 1949-50.
3. Annual draft held at this meeting.

1. Report that Indianapolis in receivership, petition for bankruptcy. Franchise was canceled.
2. Most teams favor 30-game schedule season.
3. Podoloff's salary was $8,000 for fiscal year June 1, 1948 - May 31, 1949. Total cost of running BAA was $121,131.

1. President reported on conferences with Ferris and Duffey to consider merger or affiliate agreement. General discussion of the possibilities.
2. After a preliminary committee session, Board of Governors of BAA convened and adopted a resolution that each team play not more than four exhibition games during the season.
3. Later, Ferris, Duffey and (Mangus) Brinkman of the NBL returned for conference with executive committee of BAA and said NBL was interested only in a merger, not any other type of agreement. They said eight teams of the NBL wanted to merge. The BAA's Governors said because of the number of teams, merger not feasible.

1. The agreement for merger with NBL was read.
2. Had lunch with members of NBL.