Edward Armusik

Outstanding remembrance of the old Eastern Professional Basketball League from the 1940's thru the 1970's. I purchased the book after watching an interview of the authors on PCN TV. Growing up in the Wyoming Valley during the 1960's, I fondly remember going to the Kingston Armory to see the Wilkes-Barre Barons battle with the many outstanding teams of the EBL, especially the heated rivalry with the Scranton Miners. As a member of the St. Hedwig's (Kingston) 8th grade basketball team, we played an exhibition game prior to a Barons vs. Miners game at the Armory. The action started before the game with fights galore among the rival fans before the doors even opened. After our game, we got to meet many of the players from both teams in the tiny dressing room that was noted in the book. The actual game was a furious battle from start to finish with the Barons pulling out the win. A funny moment occurred when Miners guard Jim Boeheim got hit by an egg while bringing the ball up the court. Barons guard Stan Pawlak then stole the ball from the dazed Boeheim, and took it for an uncontested basket. During the ensuing commotion from the Scranton bench, I can still see Miners owner Art Pachter running on the court to contest the play. To the authors, thanks for telling this important story of big time basketball played in small towns for the love of the game.