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The SPHAS: The Life and Times of Basketball's Greatest Jewish Team Kindle Edition

by Doug Stark (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 12 ratings
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Founded in 1918, the South Philadelphia Hebrew Association's basketball team, known as the SPHAS, was a top squad in the American Basketball League-capturing seven championships in thirteen seasons-until it disbanded in 1959. In The SPHAS, the first book to chronicle the history of this team and its numerous achievements, Douglas Stark uses rare and noteworthy images of players and memorabilia as well as interviews and anecdotes to recall how players like Inky Lautman, Cy Kaselman, and Shikey Gotthoffer fought racial stereotypes of weakness and inferiority while spreading the game's popularity. Team owner Eddie Gottlieb and Temple University coach Harry Litwack, among others profiled here, began their remarkable careers with the SPHAS.



Stark explores the significance of basketball to the Jewish community during the game's early years, when Jewish players dominated the sport and a distinct American Jewish identity was on the rise. At a time when basketball teams were split along ethnic lines, the SPHAS represented the Philadelphia Jewish community. The SPHAS is an inspiring and heartfelt tale of the team on and off the court.



 

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  1. Print length
    344 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
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  4. Publisher
    Temple University Press
  5. Publication date
    May 13, 2011
  6. File size
    3277 KB
  7. Page Flip
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  8. Word Wise
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"[A]n extremely well-researched book, one that captures in detail a bygone era, and belongs on the bookshelf of anyone with an interest in basketball history."
— Providence Journal

"Douglas Stark has made a valuable contribution in bringing back to life a vibrant era in early basketball history. His portraits of the players, their fans, and such memorable figures as team founder Eddie Gottlieb and announcer Dave Zinkoff will entertain and instruct lovers of not only basketball but also American urban history."
—Lee Lowenfish, author of Branch Rickey: Baseball's Ferocious Gentleman

About the Author

Douglas Stark is the Museum Director of the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B006D9Z0QQ
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Temple University Press (May 13, 2011)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 13, 2011
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3277 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Not enabled
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 344 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 12 ratings

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Douglas Stark

Douglas Stark

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
12 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Jay Rosan
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2017
Verified Purchase
Super book about the real history of basketball and how the initial teams were Jewish and Black
One person found this helpful
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Mark S. Zinman
3.0 out of 5 stars Informative
Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2013
Verified Purchase
Interesting documentation of the SPHAS and basketball's early years. Well-researched. I learned a lot that I didn't know about the topic.
Helpful
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Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Informative Sports Book
Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2011
For Basketball Fans this is a wonderful piece of history-----well researched and nicely written
Very interesting and worth reading
and sharing with friends and family
One person found this helpful
Helpful
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