List of Eastern Basketball Association seasons


The Eastern Basketball Association was a professional basketball league based in the United States. The league began in 1946 and was known as the Eastern Pennsylvania Basketball League. After one season the league changed its name to the Eastern Professional Basketball League. In 1979, the league changed its name again to the Continental Basketball Association.

Eastern Pennsylvania Basketball League / Eastern Professional Basketball League (1946–1970)

1946–47 season

;Teams
;Regular season standings
TeamWLPCTGB
Wilkes-Barre Barons225.815
Lancaster Red Roses2010.6673.5
Reading Keys1513.5367.5
Hazleton Mountaineers1117.39311.5
Allentown Rockets818.30813.5
Binghamton/Pottsville720.25915

;Postseason
;League map
;Notes

1947–48 season

;Teams
;Regular season standings
TeamWLPCTGB
Pottsville Packers199.679
Reading Keys199.679
Hazleton Mountaineers1810..6431
Lancaster Red Roses1414.5005
Sunbury Mercuries1315.4646
Harrisburg Senators1116.4077.5
Williamsport Billies918.3339.5
Philadelphia Lumberjacks820.28611

;Postseason
;League map

1948–49 season

;Teams
;Regular season standings
TeamWLPCTGB
Williamsport Billies1812.600
Reading Keys1812.600
Harrisburg Senators1812.600
Pottsville Packers1614.5332
York Victory A.C.1515.5003
Lancaster Rockets1119.3677
Sunbury Mercuries924.3009

;Postseason
;League map

1949–1950 season

;Teams
;Regular season standings
;Postseason
;League map

1950–51 season

;Teams
;Regular season standings
;Postseason
;League map

1951–52 season

;Teams
;Regular season standings
TeamWLPCTGB
Pottsville Packers219.700
Sunbury Mercuries2010.6671
Williamsport Billies1712.5863.5
Lancaster Rockets1316.4487.5
Reading Merchants1117.3939
Hazleton Mountaineers620.20015

;Postseason
;League map

1952–53 season

;Teams
;Regular season standings
TeamWLPCTGB
Sunbury Mercuries173.850
Williamsport Billies137.6504
Lancaster Rockets910.4747.5
Berwick Carbuilders812.4009
Harrisburg Capitols712.3699.5
Lebanon Seltzers515.33312

;Postseason
;League map

1953–54 season

;Teams
;Regular season standings
TeamWLPCTGB
Sunbury Mercuries228.733
Williamsport Billies2010..6672
Hazleton Hawks1515.5005
Lancaster Red Roses1515.5005
Berwick Carbuilders1416.4676
Lebanon Seltzers426.13316

;Postseason
;League map

1954–55 season

;Teams
;Regular season standings
TeamWLPCTGB
Williamsport Billies1911.633
Wilkes-Barre Barons1812.6001
Scranton Miners1515.5004
Hazleton Hawks1515.5004
Sunbury Mercuries1317.4336
Lancaster Red Roses1020.3339

;Notes
  • William Morgan, the league commissioner since its inception, was succeeded by Harry Rudolph.

1955–56 season

;Teams
;Regular season standings
TeamWLPCTGB
Williamsport Billies189.667
Wilkes-Barre Barons1812.6001.5
Scranton Miners1413.5194
Sunbury Mercuries1313.5004.5
Hazleton Hawks1115.4236.5
Trenton Capitols
New York–Harlem Yankees
214.12510.5

1956–57 season

;Teams
;Regular season standings
TeamWLPCTGB
Scranton Miners219.700
Hazleton Hawks2010.6671
Sunbury Mercuries1416.4677
Williamsport Billies1317.4338
Wilkes-Barre Barons1118.3799.5
Easton-Phillipsburg Madisons1019.34510.5

1957–58 season

;Teams
;Regular season standings
TeamWLPCTGB
Wilkes-Barre Barons1910.655
Hazleton Hawks1911.633.5
Easton-Phillipsburg Madisons1811.6211
Sunbury Mercuries1811.6211
Scranton Miners1812.6001.5
Williamsport Billies1712.5862
Wilmington Jets622.21412.5
Reading Keys127.03617.5

;Notes and events

1958–59 season

;Teams
;Regular season standings
TeamWLPCTGB
Scranton Miners217.750
Wilkes-Barre Barons199.6792
Easton-Phillipsburg Madisons1711.6074
Hazleton Hawks1612.5715
Sunbury Mercuries1216.4299
Baltimore Bullets1216.4299
Williamsport Billies919.32112
Allentown Jets622.21415

;Notes and events
  • League president Harry Rudolph announced that Bill Spivey of the Wilkes-Barre team was fined $10 for fighting during a game. It was Spivey's second fine of the season and Rudolph said if another incident occurred it would result in a suspension.

1959–1960 season

;Teams
;Regular season standings
TeamWLPCTGB
Easton-Phillipsburg Madisons217.750
Baltimore Bullets208.7141
Allentown Jets1512.5565.5
Scranton Miners1513.5366
Williamsport Billies1216.4399
Wilkes-Barre Barons1018.35711
Hazleton Hawks918.33311.5
Sunbury Mercuries919.32112

;Notes and events
  • During the offseason before the 1959–1960 season, the league announced their collegiate draft was postponed so the league could vote on an expansion franchise from Baltimore, Maryland.
  • In January 1960, the league announced it had scrapped a rule permitting National Basketball Association teams only one option per season on players. This rule would allow NBA team to call-up and send down players as much as they wished.

1960–61 season

;Teams
;Regular season standings
TeamWLPCTGB
Baltimore Bullets199.679
Allentown Jets199.679
Scranton Miners1513.5364
Sunbury Mercuries1315.4646
Wilkes-Barre Barons1315.4646
Easton-Phillipsburg Madisons1116.4077.5
Williamsport Billies1116.4077.5
Hazleton Hawks1018.3579

;Notes and events
  • The league held its annual preseason meeting on June 13, 1960 where league president Harry Rudolph was re-elected to a two-year term. He was also elected treasurer of the league. Ray Saul was re-elected as public relations director and secretary.
  • EPBL president Harry Rudolph announced plans to file a $1,000,000 defamation of character lawsuit against National Football League commissioner Pete Rozelle for saying, "several players in the Eastern Basketball were accused of gambling on games involving teams for which they formerly played." The comment was about Rozelle's decision to bar NFL player Gene Lipscomb from joining the EPBL Baltimore Bullets.

1961–62 season

;Teams
;Regular season standings
TeamWLPCTGB
Allentown Jets225.815
Williamsport Billies188.6923.5
Sunbury Mercuries1611.5936
Trenton Colonials1313.5008.5
Wilkes-Barre Barons1315.4649.5
Camden Bullets1015.40011
Scranton Miners816.33312.5
Hazleton Hawks421.16017

;Notes and events
  • At the league's annual meeting during the offseason before the 1961–62 season a proposal to relocate the Baltimore franchise to New England was to be proposed. The potential move would have been to either Bridgeport or Milton, Connecticut as facilitated by the prospective owner, Herb Kables. The proposal was ultimately rejected.
  • The league postponed its collegiate draft due to the 1961 NCAA University Division men's basketball gambling scandal.
  • Rules were adopted before the 1961–62 season to mirror the rules of the National Basketball Association.
  • The Allentown Jets announced they had signed Andrew "Fuzzy" Levane to a one-year contract as coach in September 1961.
  • In October 1961, the EPBL passed a resolution that would give a lifetime ban to any player who left an EPBL team for another league. The rule came in response to players who left the league the fledgling American Basketball League.
  • In December 1961, a "State Basketball Championship" for Pennsylvania was proposed by Pittsburgh Rens owner Lenny Litman between his ABL team, the NBA Philadelphia Warriors and the EPBL Sunbury Mercuries.
  • EPBL president Harry Rudolph announced that the Camden franchise had been fined $150 for failing to have the required seven players in uniform for a game on January 27, 1962 in which Camden lost to Williamsport 153–126. According to the Associated Press several Camden players were delayed by car trouble forcing the team to play with six players.
  • EPBL president Harry Rudolph announced that Trenton Colonials coach Harry Landa had been fined for pushing a referee during a game on February 3, 1962. According to Rudolph, if Landa failed to pay the fine he would be suspended for the remainder of the season.

1962–63 season

;Teams
;Regular season standings
TeamWLPCTGB
Allentown Jets208.714
Camden Bullets208.714
Wilkes-Barre Barons1513.5365
Williamsport Billies1216.4298
Scranton Miners1117.3939
Trenton Colonials1018.35710
Sunbury Mercuries1018.35710

;Notes and events
  • During the offseason before the 1962–63 season, the EPBL considered admitting two new franchises in Philadelphia and Carbondale, Pennsylvania/ The Philadelphia franchise was not approved as the team's owners could not find a suitable venue. The Carbondale franchise was admitted to the league, but that deal was eventually voided when team owners failed to meet their financial obligations according to league president Harry Rudolph.
  • In November 1962, after the American Basketball League folded, EPBL president Harry Rudolph announced that players who were banned for leaving their EPBL teams for the ABL could apply for re-admittance to the league if they wrote a letter to the league president with $25 as payment for a fine. Players affected by the ban were: Hal Lear, David Gunther, Hershel Thurner, Kelly Coleman and Spike Gibson.
  • In April 1963, EPBL president Harry Rudolph announced that Camden Bullets player Tom Hoover was fined $100 and suspended for four games following a physical altercation with referee Jim Armstong.

1963–64 season

;Teams
;Regular season standings
TeamWLPCTGB
Camden Bullets217.750
Allentown Jets217.750
Scranton Miners199.6792
Trenton Colonials1612.5715
Wilkes-Barre Barons1018.35711
Sunbury Mercuries917.34611
Williamsport Billies719.26913
Wilmington Blue Bombers721.25014

;Notes and events
  • During the offseason before the 1963–64, the Wilmington Blue Bombers of Wilmington, Delaware were admitted into the league. The league also announced it had abolished its territorial draft.
  • The Wilmington Blue Bombers announced they had hired Alexander Severance as coach during the offseason before the 1963–64 season.
  • In October 1963, the Camden Bullets announced that Charles "Buddy" Donnelly was hired as coach.

1964–65 season

;Teams
;Regular season standings
TeamWLPCTGB
Camden Bullets1810.643
Sunbury Mercuries1711.6071
Scranton Miners1711.6071
Allentown Jets1612.5712
Wilmington Blue Bombers1216.4296
Wilkes-Barre Barons1117.3937
Trenton Colonials721.25011

;Notes and events
  • EPBL president Harry Rudolph was re-elected to a two-year term during the offseason before the 1964–65 season. The league also re-elected Ray Saul as secretary. David Waters was newly elected to the position of vice president. Hal Simon, Spike Shandelman and Arthur Pachter were elected to the board of governors.
  • In June 1964, the EPBL held its annual collegiate draft in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
  • Before the 1964–65 season, the EPBL established a three-point field goal from 25 feet away from the basket.
  • Brendan McCann replaced Pete Monska as the Allentown Jets' head coach during the offseason before the 1964–65 season.

1965–66 season

;Teams
;Regular season standings

1966–67 season

;Teams
;Regular season standings

1967–68 season

;Teams
;Regular season standings
TeamWLPCTGB
Allentown Jets239.719
Hartford Capitols2111.6562
Wilmington Blue Bombers2112.6363
Wilkes-Barre Barons2012.6253.5
Sunbury Mercuries1814.5635
Scranton Miners1616.5007
Binghamton Flyers1022.31313
Asbury Park Boardwalkers923.28114
Trenton Colonials725.21916

1968–69 season

;Teams
;Regular season standings

1969–1970 season

;Teams
;Regular season standings
TeamWLPCTGB
Allentown Jets208.714
Wilmington Blue Bombers199.6791
Hamden Bics1810.6432
Hartford Capitols1512.5564.5
Wilkes-Barre Barons1314.4814.5
Sunbury Mercuries1018.35710
Scranton Miners819.29611.5
Binghamton Flyers720.25612.5

Eastern Basketball Association (1970–78)

1970–71 season

;Teams
;Regular season standings
;Postseason
;Notes
  • William J. Montzman is named the commissioner of the league, making him the third person to serve in that capacity. He succeeded Harry Rudolph, who was commissioner since 1955.
;ABA and NBA affiliations

1971–72 season

;Teams
;Regular season standings
TeamWLPCTGB
Allentown Jets219.700
Scranton Apollos1713.5674
Hartford Capitols1713.5674
Trenton Pat Pavers1317.4338
Hazleton Bits1119.36710
Wilkes-Barre Barons1119.36710

;Postseason
;ABA and NBA affiliations

1972–73 season

;Teams
;Regular season standings
TeamWLPCTGB
Hartford Capitols2517.781
Wilkes-Barre Barons2210.6883
Scranton Apollos2012.6255
Allentown Jets1517.46910
Garden State Colonials1319.40612
Hamilton Pat Pavers1119.36713
Hamburg/Hazleton Bullets426.13320

1973–74 season

;Teams
;Regular season standings
;Notes
  • The East Orange Colonials were owned by author Larry Armour and his 14 year-old son, Andy Armour, who was the youngest team owner in EBA history. The Colonials had a working agreement with three NBA teams: the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Golden State Warriors and the Detroit Pistons.

1974–75 season

;Teams
;Regular season standings
TeamWLPCTGB
Hazleton Bullets1812.600
Allentown Jets1614.5333
Scranton Apollos1614.5333
Cherry Hill Pros1020.3338

1975–76 season

;Teams
;Regular season standings
TeamWLPCTGB
Allentown Jets243.889
Scranton Apollos215.8082.5
Lancaster Red Roses195.7923.5
Hazleton Bullets149.6098
Long Island Sounds815.34814
Trenton Capitols616.26116
Wilkes-Barre Barons618.2506.5
Gold Coast

;ABA and NBA affiliations

1976–77 season

;Teams
;Regular season standings
TeamWLPCTGB
Allentown Jets215.808
Scranton Apollos206.7691
Lancaster Red Roses1210.5457
Brooklyn/Wilkes-Barre810.4449
Hartford Downtowners519.20815
Hazleton/Jersey Shore318.14315.5
Syracuse Centennials89.471

;Timeline
;NBA affiliations

1977–78 season

;Teams
;Regular season standings
;Postseason
;NBA affiliations