Kingston Colonials
The Kingston Colonials were an American basketball team, based in Kingston, New Jersey, that was a member of Hudson River League, the New York State League, the Metropolitan Basketball League, and the American Basketball League. The team merged with the Troy Haymakers in the middle of the 1939/40 season to form the Troy Celtics.
History
[edit]Hudson River League
[edit]The Colonials were playing in 1910 in the second of two seasons of the Hudson River League where they were beaten by the Troy Trojans.[1]
New York State League
[edit]In 1911-12, the Colonials played in the Catskills league.[2] After the league folded in 1912, the team joined the New York State League where they played until 1914-1915.[2]
In 1921-23, the Colonials returned to the New York State League.[2] In 1923, the team included George 'Babe' Artus, Benny Borgmann, Nick Harvey, Carl and Mickey Husta, and Charles Powers,[1] with Frank "Pop" Morgenweck as manager/coach.[1][3] That year, the team beat the Original Celtics in 2 out of 3 games to win the World Basketball Championships.[2][3][4][5]
Metropolitan Basketball League
[edit]In 1924-25, the team played in the Metropolitan Basketball League.[1][2] On 10 March, the all-white Colonials played an interracial matchup against the black Renaissance Big Five ("Rens").[3] Renaissance were up 24-14 at half, but the Colonials made a comeback before losing to Renaissance 39-31.[3]
In 1927, the team included Fritz Knothe and Morgenweck's son Frank Jr was Assistant Manager.[6]
The Colonials won the Metropolitan League title in 1928.[7]
American Basketball League
[edit]From 1935 to 1940, the team played in the American Basketball League from 1935–36.[2] In 1936-37, the Colonials finished the season 20-17 and did not make the playoffs.[8] In 1938-39, the Colonials finished the season in 1st place with a win-loss record of 28-7.[9] However, they faced, and loss to, the 3rd place Jersey Reds in the playoffs,[9] who were themselves beaten by the New York Jewels.[1]
During the 1939/40 season, the team was merged with the Troy Haymakers to form the Troy Celtics[9] on December 19, 1939. The team had an 8-4 win-loss record before the merger[9] with Phil Rabin led the league in scoring.[10]
Year-by-year
[edit]| Year | League | Reg. Season | Record | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1935/36 | ABL | 5th (1st half); 4th (2nd half) | Did not qualify | |
| 1936/37 | ABL | 3rd (1st half); 5th (2nd half) | Did not qualify | |
| 1937/38 | ABL | 6th (1st half); 4th (2nd half) | Did not qualify | |
| 1938/39 | ABL | 1st | 28-7[9] | Playoffs |
| 1939/40 | ABL | 7th | N/A |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Peterson, Robert (2002-01-01). Cages to Jump Shots: Pro Basketball's Early Years. U of Nebraska Press. pp. 63, 74. ISBN 978-0-8032-8772-3.
- ^ a b c d e f Thorn, John (2025-03-28). "Hoops, Hebrews, and the Hudson River League". Medium. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
- ^ a b c d Kuska, Bob (2004-03-29). Hot Potato: How Washington and New York Gave Birth to Black Basketball and Changed America's Game Forever. University of Virginia Press. pp. 145–149. ISBN 978-0-8139-2425-0.
- ^ "BK Tale of Two Cities". njsportsheroes.com. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
- ^ "The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame :: Bennie Borgmann". www.hoophall.com. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
Bennie Borgmann... in the same year [1923] averaged 11.7 points per game taking the Kingston Colonials to the New York State League title.
- ^ Spring, William A. (14 Jan 1927). "This and That: Many Court Stars". Sports. Yonkers Statesman. p. 14. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
- ^ "The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame :: Frank Morgenweck". www.hoophall.com. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
- ^ "Rabin, Phil 'Fishy'". www.jewsinsports.org. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
- ^ a b c d e Stark, Doug (2011-05-13). The SPHAS: The Life and Times of Basketball's Greatest Jewish Team. Temple University Press. pp. 4, 57, 75, 85, 118, 138, 250, 253–255, 283, 323. ISBN 978-1-59213-633-9.
- ^ "Phil Rabin Stays Ahead of League Scoring Ranks". The Paterson Evening News. 2 March 1939. p. 25. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
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