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Chicago Atomics Sweatshirt 1946

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Sweatshirt

Chicago Atomics Sweatshirt 1946

Chicago, Illionis - 1946

- +

$45.00

Materials

A PPLS original design printed using water based inks on a premium sweatshirt
PPLS

The Chicago Atomics

1946

The Chicago Atomics smoked the Knicks and Celtics on their home courts. They were also a professional basketball team for only 2 months, (they later became the Stags). The origin of their name is a mystery, but here is the proof of their existence.

Gems

Photo credit: Associated Press

The Chicago Atomics - Evidence of Existence

The team shows up mysteriously in two Canadian newspapers. The Ottawa Journal and the Ottawa Evening Citizen. FYI The Ottawa Journal is one of the great sources of sports history.

This first article is describing the creation of the Basketball Association of America, drawing parallels between a sport the Canadians can relate to...Hockey. The BAA is a bold endevour and I write about it HERE; suffice it to say, big time arena owners across the country try to capitalize on the booming gate receipts of collegiate basketball crowds.

The BAA didn’t last long, but it gave us two of the most famous NBA teams in history, the Boston Celtics and the New York Knickerbockers, both of which the “Atomics” routed on their storied home courts. More on this later.

State papers pick it up-ish

Strangely, none of the major Chicago papers cover the upcoming battles. Luckily, the widely circulated St. Petersburg Times and The Berkshire County Eagle were hip to the team.

The Gardens host Atomics

This is the first time the Boston Celtics played in the Garden and it’s the debut of the Knicks in Madison Square. It’s also the first time in 21 years that a professional basketball team played there.

HOWEVER, IT’S 1946. MAYBE THE “ATOMICS” ISN’T THE BEST NAME... POLITICALLY SPEAKING

Chicago Basketball Club Inc.

So the team spent a minute as the Chicago Basketball Club, Inc. A name that wasn’t bound to draw a big crowd, or muster any hometown pride.

Nine days later, the once Atomics, once Chicago Basketball Club, Inc., were officially named the Stags. Although spelled differently, the team was a tip of the cap to Chicago legend Amos Alonzo Stagg.

BOMBS DROPPED

I don’t want the significance to be lost here. The Atomics/Stags beat the New York Knicks their first game ever at Madison Square Garden and the Atomics/Stags beat the Boston Celtics their first game ever in the Boston Garden.

LAST LAUGH

They may have lost their home openers but, historically the Knicks and the Celtics made out alright...

1946 season

NY Giants vs. Celtics?


The Original (NY) Celtics and the NY Giants were in attendance for the homecourt drubbing

The Original Celtics, the team who had played professional basketball in the Garden 21 years prior, challenged a group of NY Giants football players to a game leading up to the debut of the NY Knicks game. Nat Holman and Lapchick hadn’t slowed and won handily.

Clippings and Things

Next Team

Detroit Gems

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