OT: A wonderful player from the Early Days of Pro BB died today

[msf22b]

Bboby Wanzer of the Rochester Royals, a player Geno would have admired...maybe does.
A slick guard from New York, played college ball at St Bonaventure and made up an All-Star backcourt with Bob Davies (and Red Holtzman).

I remember well his wonderful 2-handed set shot, which i tried to imitate, his deadly full shooting and slick passing.

A classic pioneer. whom I still think of fondly.

 

[Monte]

Bboby Wanzer of the Rochester Royals, a player Geno would have admired...maybe does.
A slick guard from New York, played college ball at St Bonaventure and made up an All-Star backcourt with Bob Davies (and Red Holtzman).

I remember well his wonderful 2-handed set shot, which i tried to imitate, his deadly full shooting and slick passing.

A classic pioneer. whom I still think of fondly.

Yes, I remember him. After Davies retired, (he worked for Converse ),I bought some basketball shoes from him.

 

[Sonny44]

He was one of the great ones. I grew up in Rochester and my father took me to some of the games. Faded memories return.

 

[Aluminny69]

He was one of the great ones. I grew up in Rochester and my father took me to some of the games. Faded memories return.

I read that the Rochester team moved to Cincinnati just to get Oscar Robertson. If true, that has to be unprecedented.

 

[Trappist]

Yes, I remember him. After Davies retired, (he worked for Converse ),I bought some basketball shoes from him.

 

[Trappist]

Bob Wanzer played his collegiate basketball at Seton Hall not St Bonaventure.

 

[Monte]

Bob Wanzer played his collegiate basketball at Seton Hall not St Bonaventure.

Right, Davies played there too.

 

[winlots]

Bboby Wanzer of the Rochester Royals, a player Geno would have admired...maybe does.
A slick guard from New York, played college ball at St Bonaventure and made up an All-Star backcourt with Bob Davies (and Red Holtzman).

I remember well his wonderful 2-handed set shot, which i tried to imitate, his deadly full shooting and slick passing.

A classic pioneer. whom I still think of fondly.

MSF: very glad that you posted this. Indeed the GOOD old days of pro basketball and indeed an All Star back court as you say. I think they won a title or two with those guys and a couple of big front court players named "Arnie, " the biggest of which was Arnie Risen. Liked their players, their name, and their colors which were like UCONN's current colors as I recall.

 

[Sonny44]

I read that the Rochester team moved to Cincinnati just to get Oscar Robertson. If true, that has to be unprecedented.

In those days the league was very small. One of our rivals was the Syracuse Nationals who had Dolph Shayes. Anybody remember the Fort Wayne Pistons? Guess where they moved to.
Rochester NY Royals were in the Western Division.

Western Division[edit]
Western Division


W L PCT GB Home Road Neutral Div
x-Minneapolis Lakers 44 24 .647 - 29-3 12-21 3-0 24-12
x-Rochester Royals 41 27 .603 3 29-5 12-22 - 18-15
x-Fort Wayne Pistons 32 36 .471 12 27-7 5-27 0-2 18-6
x-Indianapolis Olympians 31 37 .456 13 19-12 10–24 2-1 15-20
Tri-Cities Blackhawks 25 43 .368 19 22-13 2–28 1-2 12-24

 

[msf22b]

In those days the league was very small. One of our rivals was the Syracuse Nationals who had Dolph Shayes. Anybody remember the Fort Wayne Pistons?

The Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons...Sure do...Did a read-up on Fred Zollner, Mr. Pro Basketball