A Tribute to the Crompton Park Summer Basketball League

Over the span of three plus glorious decades, the Crompton Park Summer Basketball League, played on the Cousy Court in Worcester, was characterized by high level skill, fierce competition and large enthusiastic crowds.

“The Basketball Bugle” is pleased to pay tribute to this important slice of the New England Basketball Culture.

Special thanks to NEBHOF Hall of Famers Bobby Szklarz and Don Cushing, both of whom tirelessly worked with NEBHOF founder Dan Doyle to identify a list of over 200 exceptional players who competed on such teams as Cristy Dry Gas, Baroni Glass, Charlie’s Surplus and Avolizia Trucking.

The Presentation.

Beginning today, “The Basketball Bugle” will publish a series of posts, each of which will identify 25 outstanding players who competed in the league. Each group of 25 will be similar in notable talent.

Special feature!

In due course, “The Basketball Bugle” will present the Superlative Category. This category will recognize exceptional performance in such areas as:

Greatest Crompton Park career by a player.

Greatest Teams, beginning with The Sweet Sixteen, followed by The Elite Eight, The Final Four, The Championship Game, and the All-Time Best Team.

Greatest individual season by a player.

Great rebounders.

Great Scorers.

Great Defenders.

Great Passers.

Great Hustlers.

Great Coaches.

Great Referees.

And a special tribute to League Founder Paul X Tivnan and League Director Tommy Burns.

Here is our first “25” post!

Gene Booth.

Bob Grady.

Tim Cooney.

Jack Chasse.

Paul Degnan.

Larry Francoise.

Tommie George.

John Gaudette.

Ted Haglund.

Bobby Johnson.

Ken Kaufman.

Kim Kaplan.

Toby Kimball.

Tony Koski.

Fran Lee.

Owen Mahorn.

Fred O’Connor.

Matty O’Connor.

Ted Paulauskas.

Milt Price.

Marvin Safford.

John Safford.

Al Staziniski.

John Wendelken.

Joe Winters.

Next Post August 26!