Sheboygan Red Skins - Barnstorming Roots

Barnstorming Roots

The Red Skins played in the National Basketball League from 1938 to 1949, led the league in defense five times, appeared in five championship series and won the 1942–43 title, defeating the league-leading Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons (today's Detroit Pistons) in the finals.

Before joining the NBL, Sheboygan built a reputation in the Midwest, starting in the early 1930s, with successful industrial-league and barnstorming teams, first with the Ballhorns, then the Art Imig's and finally the Enzo Jels. Brothers John and Joe "Scoop" Posewitz, Les Kuplic, Slim Lonsdorf, Carl Roth, Pete and Dugan Norris and John Cinealis were among the better Sheboygan players throughout the 1930s. The 6-foot-6 Jack Mann, one of the first outstanding black players in the game, starred at center for the Art Imigs during the 1936–37 season. In 1937–38, the Enzo Jels compiled a stellar 17–3 mark against the likes of the New York Renaissance, Harlem Globetrotters, New York Celtics and Chicago Duffy Florals. Based on that success, they were admitted to the NBL on June 11, 1938, at the league meeting in Oshkosh, Wis. They soon were renamed the Red Skins and their first coach was Edwin "Doc" Schutte, a local dentist.

After compiling an 11–17 record in his only season, Schutte stepped down to devote more time to his practice. Then the Red Skins became a consistent winner under attorney and coach Frank Zummach from 1939 to 1942, including a spot opposite the Oshkosh All-Stars in the 1941 NBL finals. Zummach, who had been an assistant coach at Marquette University for six seasons, formed his team around Marquette alums. All-American Dave Quabius, Glenn R. "Sparky" Adams, George Hesik, Bill McDonald and Paul Sokody were former Marquette players who brought their talents to Sheboygan. Sandlotter Otto Kolar, from Cicero, Ill., was rated as one of the best guards in the Midwest and ran the Red Skins offense.