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 The Scranton Miners, known as the Scranton Apollos from 1970 to 1977, were a professional basketball team based in Scranton, Pennsylvania that was a member of the American Basketball League and the Eastern Basketball Association. Arthur Pachte ...

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

." 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 George Bedford Daniel (born 23 March 1990) is a Belgium-born English musician and record producer. He came to prominence as a founding member, principal producer, and drummer of the pop rock band the 1975. His work with the band made him the ...

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 {{Pennsylvania-basketball-team-stub