NATIONAL BASKET BALL LEAGUE [1898-99 TO 1903-04] Contributed by John Grasso and Robert Bradley
Bristol Pile Drivers 1899-00 to 1902-03 Burlington 1900-01, 1902-03 Burlington Shoe Pegs 1902-03 Camden 1901-02 Camden Electrics 1898-99 to 1899-00, 1902-03 to 1903-04 Camden Skeeters 1900-01 Chester 1899-00 Clover Wheelmen [Bikers] 1898-99 Conshohocken 1902-03 Conshohocken Conshos 1903-04 Germantown Nationals 1898-99 to 1903-04 Hancock Athletic Association 1898-99 Millville Glass Blowers 1899-00 to 1901-02, 1903-04 New York Wanderers 1899-00 to 1902-03 Pennsylvania Bicycle Club 1900-01 Philadelphia Clover Wheelmen [Bikers] 1898-99 Philadelphia Phillies 1901-02 to 1902-03 St. Bridgets Biddies 1903-04 Trenton Nationals 1898-99, 1901-02 Trenton Potters 1902-03 to 1903-04 Trenton Trentons 1899-00 to 1900-01 Wilmington 1902-03 Wilmington Peaches 1902-03
1898-99 NBL W L T Trenton Nationals 18 2 1 Millville Glassblowers 14 6 2 Camden Electrics 7 13 1 Clover Wheelman/Philadelphia Clover Wheelmen*** 5 14 1 Germantown Nationals* 1 4 0 Hancock Athletic Association** 0 6 1 *Germantown played their last game on 29Dec98 and dropped out of the league shortly afterwards. **Hancock failed to show for a game in Camden on 31Dec98. Shortly afterwards a letter dated 28Dec98 was received by the League from Hancock who withdrew from the league. On 07Jan99 a league meeting was held in which the Hancock franchise was officially annulled. ***Since the loss of the Hancock franchise left the city of Philadelphia with just one team, the "Big Five of the Clover Wheelmen" were ordered to rename their team "the Big Five of Philadelphia" for the balance of the season. 1899-00 NBL FIRST HALF W L T SECOND HALF W L T Trenton Nationals 8 0 0 Trenton Nationals 14 4 1 New York Wanderers 3 2 0 Millville Glassblowers** 14 4 1 Camden Electrics 4 4 0 New York Wanderers 13 7 1 Pennsylvania Bicycle Club 4 4 0 Camden Electrics 11 9 0 Bristol Pile Drivers 3 6 0 Bristol Pile Drivers 6 14 1 Chester* 0 6 0 Pennsylvania Bicycle Club 0 20 0 *Chester dropped out during the first half **Millville joined the league on 3Jan00 NBL PLAYOFF - 2nd half 28Apr00 at Bristol - Millville 18, Trenton 13 (game protested by Trenton since Millville used Hilly Wallace who was ineligible to play for them - League President Fogel ruled that game was to be replayed) 05May00 at Camden - Trenton 4, Millville 0 forfeit (Millville refused to play game since they wanted to use Wallace) 08May00 at Camden - Trenton 22, Millville 19 NBL CHAMPIONSHIP Trenton wins 2nd half playoff and thus wins both season halves making championship series unnecessary 1900-01 NBL W L PCT. New York Wanderers 23 9 .719 Trenton Nationals 20 12 .625 Millville Glassblowers 18 14 563 Bristol Pile Drivers 17 15 .531 Camden Skeeters 16 16 .500 Pennsylvania Bicycle Club 8 24 .250 Burlington* 0 12 .000 *Burlington dropped out during the season 1901-02 NBL W L PCT. Bristol Pile Drivers 28 12 .700 Camden 25 15 .625 Trenton Nationals 23 17 .575 Millville Glassblowers 21 19 .525 New York Wanderers 18 21 .461 Philadelphia Phillies 4 35 .103 1902-03 NBL FIRST HALF W L PCT. SECOND HALF W L PCT. Camden Electrics 15 2 .882 Camden Electrics 21 7 .750 New York Wanderers 11 2 .846 Burlington Shoe Pegs 16 11 .593 Bristol Pile Drivers** 12 5 .706 Wilmington Peaches 14 12 .538 Philadelphia Phillies* 10 7 .588 Trenton Potters 14 15 .483 Trenton Potters 6 9 .400 New York Wanderers 11 14 .440 Conshohocken 4 11 .267 Conshohocken 4 21 .160 Burlington Shoe Pegs** 2 12 .143 Wilmington* 2 14 .125 *21Dec02 Philadelphia resigns from league Phillies Manager Frank Morgenweck purchases the Wilmington franchise from Charles Kraus. **30Dec02 Burlington resigns from league. Burlington Manager Reber purchase the Bristol franchise and has the former Bristol team represent Burlington. NBL CHAMPIONSHIP As Camden won both halves of the season they were awarded the NBL pennant and cup without the necessity of any playoff games. 1903-04 NBL W L PCT. Camden Electrics** 10 4 .714 Conshohocken Conshos 8 4 .667 Trenton Potters* 8 5 .615 Millville Glass Blowers 6 9 .400 St. Bridget's Biddies 2 12 .143 *Trenton resigned from league on 26Dec03 **Camden resigned from league on 31Dec03 League disbanded Jan04