Red Wolfe (basketball)
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 18, 1905 |
| Died | October 9, 1970 (aged 65) |
| Listed height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Listed weight | 165 lb (75 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | DeWitt Clinton High School (New York City, New York) |
| College | St. John's (1927–1928) |
| Playing career | 1928–1944 |
| Position | Guard/Forward |
| Career history | |
| As a player: | |
| 1928–1929 | New York Hakoahs |
| 1929–1944 | Philadelphia Sphas |
| As a coach: | |
| 1943–1945 | LIU Brooklyn |
| Career highlights | |
As player:
| |
George "Red" Wolfe (July 18, 1905 – October 9, 1970) was an American basketball player and coach who was a member of the Philadelphia Sphas for fifteen seasons and was head coach of the LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds men's basketball from 1943 to 1945.
Playing
Wolfe attended DeWitt Clinton High School in New York City. He was a member of the St. John's College men's basketball team during the 1927–28 season, then dropped out of school to play professional basketball. During the 1928–29 season, he was a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers, an independent club, and played three games for the New York Hakoahs of the American Basketball League.[1]
In 1929, Wolfe joined the Philadelphia Sphas. He holds the team record for most seasons played and is second in total games played.[2] He was a member of nine championship teams.[1]
Coaching
In 1943, Wolfe took over as head coach at LIU Brooklyn after Clair Bee entered the United States Merchant Marine. In inherited a roster led by Eddie Younger and Irv Rothenberg.[3] Over two seasons, Wolfe complied a 26–8 record.[4]
Wolfe learned from a bookmaker friend that his team was fixing games. He threatened to turn in any player who took part, the fixing continued and he did not discipline any players.[5] After a match fixing scandal at Brooklyn College came to light, he and CCNY head coach Nat Holman publicly denounced New York City mayor Fiorello La Guardia's accusation that "the practice of "bribing athletes was widespread".[6] Players from LIU and CCNY were implicated in a 1951 point-shaving scandal, which led to LIU shutting down its basketball program.[7]
References
- ^ a b "Red Wolfe". Pro Basketball Encyclopedia. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
- ^ Stark, Doug (2011). The SPHAS: The Life and Times of Basketball's Greatest Jewish Team. Temple University Press. p. 3. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
- ^ Kurtz, Paul (December 7, 1943). "Sports Stew – Served Hot". The Pittsburgh Press. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
- ^ "George Wolfe". SRCBB. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
- ^ Rosen, Charley (1999). The Scandals of '51: How the Gamblers Almost Killed College Basketball. Seven Stories Press. pp. 28–29. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
- ^ "LaGuardia Charges Bribing Widespread". The Daily Times. February 5, 1945. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
- ^ Figone, Albert (2012). Cheating the Spread: Gamblers, Point Shavers, and Game Fixers in College Football and Basketball. Urbana: University of Illinois Press. ISBN 9780252037283.
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