The Scranton Miners, known as the Scranton Apollos from 1970 to 1977, were a
professional basketball
In professional sports, as opposed to amateur sports, participants receive payment for their performance. Professionalism in sport has come to the fore through a combination of developments. Mass media and increased leisure have brought larg ...
team based in
Scranton, Pennsylvania that was a member of the
American Basketball League and the
Eastern Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association (CBA) (originally known as the Eastern Pennsylvania Basketball League, and later as the Eastern Professional Basketball League and the Eastern Basketball Association) was a men's professional basketball m ...
. Arthur Pachter was the owner and coach for many years.
The team was previously known as the
Jersey City Atoms before moving to Scranton in 1946. They played in the ABL until 1953. After a two-year hiatus, they were resurrected in the middle of the 1954-55 season in the Eastern Professional Basketball League as a replacement for the Carbondale Celtics. For many years the team was owned by local businessman, Art Pachter, and played games at the Scranton CYC building. During its brief existence the team won two championships, led by
Syracuse University
Syracuse University (informally 'Cuse or SU) is a Private university, private research university in Syracuse, New York. Established in 1870 with roots in the Methodist Episcopal Church, the university has been nonsectarian since 1920. Locate ...
alum
Jim Boeheim (who later became its head coach). They were renamed the Scranton Apollos in 1970, and folded in 1977.
In June 1963, Scranton Miners owner Arthur Pachter announced the team had signed
Paul Seymour to a one-year contract as head coach. The details of the contract were not disclosed, but Pachter told the ''Associated Press'', "
t isunquestionably the highest ever paid to a coach in the
Eastern Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association (CBA) (originally known as the Eastern Pennsylvania Basketball League, and later as the Eastern Professional Basketball League and the Eastern Basketball Association) was a men's professional basketball m ...
." Scranton hosted the 1969 Eastern Basketball Association (EBA) All-Star Game. The league also held the 1971 EBA All-Star Game on February 17 in Scranton at the Scranton CYC Building. On January 25, 1976, Scranton Apollos player
Charlie Criss
Charles Washington Criss Jr. (born November 6, 1948) is an American former professional basketball player born in Valhalla, New York.
A 5'8" guard from New Mexico State University, Criss began his professional career in the Continental Basketbal ...
set an EBA record for points scored in a game with 72.
The Scranton Miners were resurrected in 1993 by an investment group led by attorneys
George Daniel and Anthony Daniel. The Miners were charter members of the Atlantic Basketball Association and again played at the Scranton CYC for 3 seasons The Miners captured the league's regular season title in 1993-94 and in 1994-95. The Miners defeated the Trenton Flames to win the 1994-95 ABA championship. The franchise was sold and moved to Connecticut following the 1995-96 season.
Year-by-year
References
Sports in the Scranton–Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area
Defunct basketball teams in Pennsylvania
Scranton, Pennsylvania
American Basketball League (1925–1955) teams
Basketball teams established in 1947
1977 disestablishments in Pennsylvania
Basketball teams disestablished in 1977
1947 establishments in Pennsylvania
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