Clouds of blue cigarette smoke drifted lazily upward from packed houses, further diminishing already-inadequate lighting. On the rock-hard, ankle-killing floor were the Scranton Miners, doing battle — often quite literally — with the Wilkes-Barre Barons, Allentown Jets or some other team from another working-class town in the Eastern League. Nobody played defense, and it was not unusual for the final score to be in the 130-125 range. Two native Scrantonians who grew up as Miners fans, Syl Sobel and Jay Rosentein, comprehensively captured the athletes, culture and personality of the era in Boxed Out of the NBA.
This is no mere reminiscence. It’s a deeply researched, well-documented history of the league that also is timely, in that they were able to interview dozens of the characters, players and impresarios, like recently deceased Miners owner Art Pachter, who made the league not just a minor league alternative to the fledgling NBA but an extraordinary enterprise unto itself.
― Access NEPA
Syl and Jay brought me back to my brief playing days in the Eastern League! The small towns, the tiny gyms, the rabid fans, the colorful owners, and most of all the seriously good players who played with an edge because they fell one step short of the NBA. All the characters, the stories, and the brutally tough competition – it’s all here. About time the Eastern League got some love!
-- Charley Rosen, author, basketball commentator, and former Eastern League player and CBA coach
The authors recognize men who gave their all to a game that gave little back. Men of character and intellect whose stories may never have been told, some of whom failed themselves but lifted themselves up to honor and play a game they loved. Meticulously researched, this book will impact their families forever.
-- Ray Scott, former NBA and ABA player and coach and former Eastern Leaguer
This book brought back some great memories of my six years playing in the Eastern League. The Eastern League really meant the world to me. It provided me with the opportunity to continue playing basketball after I had graduated from Syracuse. The competition in the Eastern League was fierce and the play was high quality. Believe it or not, I even have some fond memories of the drives through heavy snowfall from Syracuse to Scranton to play!
-- Jim Boeheim, Coach at Syracuse University, former Eastern Leaguer, and Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2005
Boxed Out of the NBA is an outstanding story on an unheralded era of professional basketball. Kudos to Syl Sobel and Jay Rosenstein for shining a light on the Eastern League and its many talented players.
-- John Chaney, Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2001, former coach at Temple University, and former Eastern Leaguer
You can tell when you've found a book which is a labor of love. Boxed Out of the NBA is clearly one of them. A history of the Eastern League has been long-overdue, and Syl Sobel and Jay Rosenstein, who saw their first EBL game in Scranton nearly 60 years ago, bring a unique perspective as both fans and authors. The EBL is rife with stories of players who toiled in obscurity like Sherman White, Bill Spivey, Jack Molinas, who were young stars banished from the NBA after gambling scandals; future pro and college coaching legends like Jim Boeheim, John Chaney, Hubie Brown and Jack Ramsay; and countless EBL lifers such as Julius McCoy, Swish McKinney and coach Stan Novak. The EBL was the home of the best players outside the NBA at its peak (1954-67) and the telling of their story is long overdue, making this a must-have for any fans interested in professional basketball history.
-- Robert Bradley, President Emeritus, Association for Professional Basketball Research and author of The Basketball Draft Fact Book: A History of Professional Basketball's College Drafts
Boxed Out Of The NBA is a treasure of wonderful stories about the legendary Eastern League. Syl Sobel and Jay Rosenstein have done a masterful job collecting the most unique stories from some of the game’s most legendary figures. A must read for any basketball junkie!
-- Tommy Sheppard, general manager, Washington Wizards
If you are a basketball fan and are looking for a good read I heartily recommend Boxed out of the NBA: Remembering the Eastern Professional Basketball League!
― Greene County Messenger Syl Sobel is the author of five children's books on U.S. history and government. He is an award-winning journalist, attorney, contributor to the op ed page of various newspapers, and was for many years the director of publications for a federal government agency.
Jay Rosenstein was a reporter for the newspaper American Banker and a financial writer for a federal government agency for many years. He now writes books for adults and children.
The authors grew up together in Scranton, PA, home to one of the Eastern League's anchor franchises, the Scranton Miners and Apollos. Rosenstein was a statistician for the team.
