Keller's Korner: South Florida's Jewish Basketball Fraternity

Beginning in the early 1990s, I became involved with a unique group known simply as "The Basketball Fraternity." This “Frat” was composed of many former Jewish basketball players who played in the early NBA, the Basketball Association of America (BAA), and even pre-NBA professional leagues.

Most members had retired and moved to South Florida, while others traveled from New York and around the country to attend gatherings. I was often the youngest person in the room, but they welcomed me as one of their own because of my passion for Jewish basketball history.

My closest friend in the Frat was Ossie Schectman, who holds a unique place in sports history. Playing for the New York Knicks, Ossie scored the first basket in NBA history during that inaugural game against Toronto on November 1st, 1946.

Ossie lived in Delray Beach just a few miles from my parents' home in Boynton Beach. We spent countless hours discussing Jews in basketball and sharing meals at his home or local restaurants. Through Ossie, I became more connected to the Frat and eventually was a guest speaker at several of its annual December 26 gatherings.

One of the oldest athletes I met was Harry "Jammy" Moskowitz, who was born in 1904. A standout player and coach from New York City's early basketball scene, Jammy loved discussing Jewish basketball during the sport's formative years.

Another memorable figure was Sol "Butch" Schwartz, who proudly displayed basketball memorabilia in his Palm Aire home in Pompano Beach. He once told me his nickname was "Butch" because his father was a Kosher butcher.

Living in Delray Beach, Leo Merson became another friend. Leo told me how the 1935-1936 Long Island University basketball team boycotted the Berlin Olympics because of Adolf Hitler and his antisemitism.

Hy Gotkin and Sid Gerchick organized the Frat. Gotkin, a former St. John's player, worked tirelessly to keep members connected. I still have my 1997 fraternity directory, signed on the cover by Hall of Famer Dolph Schayes. In my opinion, Dolph is the greatest Jewish basketball player. Dolph just happened to show up at the 1997 event but never joined the Frat.

Among the many basketball legends associated with the group was Hall of Fame coach Harry Litwack, who lived in Miami Beach. Although I only saw him occasionally at events, I enjoyed visiting him at his Collins Avenue condo.

Red Auerbach was a good friend of mine as we got to know each other in the Washington, DC area. The Hall of Fame coach never attended an event despite my efforts to recruit him, but I did get to know his brother Victor, who lived in Boca Raton.

One fascinating piece of trivia involves the Knicks' inaugural 1946-47 roster. The team featured six Jewish players: Ossie Schectman, Sonny Hertzberg, Ralph Kaplowitz, Nat Militzok, Hank Rosenstein, and Leo Gottlieb. It was my honor to meet five of them. Leo passed away in 1972.

Listening to these pioneers discuss the early NBA was like attending a living history class. I often brought memorabilia to gatherings and acquired items that eventually became part of my extensive collection. I shared some of the rare memorabilia with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and league officials in New York. In fact, they filmed the meeting.

One story still makes me smile. During a lunch in Broward County, Ossie loudly proclaimed that Leo Gottlieb had thrown him the pass that led to the first basket in NBA history. Nat Militzok immediately challenged the claim, insisting he had made the pass. Ossie loved stirring the pot, and the debate generated plenty of laughs. Nat, a longtime attorney, jokingly defended his position by telling me, "A lawyer never lies." Nat was a lawyer in Hallandale Beach.

The Frat also included legendary Yeshiva University coach Red Sarachek, former NBA player Irwin Rothenberg, Washington Capitols player Ben Goldfaden, LIU great Ben Kramer, Baltimore Bullets player Norm Mager, Louisville All-American Don Goldstein, Saul Cohen, and many others whose careers stretched across basketball's earliest years.

Besides Ossie, I became personal friends with many Frat members. This included Nat Frankel who I was stunned to learn he lived in the same Boynton Beach building as my parents. That made things easy to visit Nat.

It was fun to get calls from Jerry Fleishman asking me when I was coming down to Florida as he loved reminiscing and seeing my basketball memorabilia. Many afternoons were spent discussing Jews in basketball and the evolution of the game.

Longtime NBA referee Norm Drucker of north Miami Beach loved my hobby. When I asked Norm to autograph a 1959 photo showing him arguing with Red Auerbach, he looked at me and called Red a "schmuck." Ironically, Red used the exact same Yiddish word when I asked him to sign the photo.

I visited former North Carolina star Lennie Rosenbluth in Coral Gables and thought I could get him to join the Frat, but he politely declined. Lennie led the Tar Heels to the 1957 NCAA championship over Wilt Chamberlain and Kansas.

The original Frat was going strong until around 2005 and with the passing of many players a change was needed. Hy Gotkin had passed and Sid Gerchick wanted to stop running the club so Red Sarachek asked Stan Diamond to run the “new” group. Stan told me, “We have a spirited group and meet for breakfast every Tuesday. There is a luncheon once a year.”

I have fond memories of the Frat. Today, when fans celebrate the modern NBA, few remember the remarkable contributions of Jewish players, coaches, referees, and pioneers who helped build professional basketball. I was fortunate to know many of them personally, hear their stories firsthand, and preserve pieces of their history.

For me, The Basketball Fraternity was more than a social group. It was a living connection to basketball's earliest days and to a generation that helped shape the game we love today.

Neil Keller is a Jewish sports historian, collector, and writer. To learn more about Jewish athletes and sports history, visit: www.NeilKeller.com.