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Springfield Fame

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Springfield Fame
LeagueUnited States Basketball League
Founded1985
Dissolved1986
ArenaSpringfield Civic Center
LocationSpringfield, Massachusetts
Championships1985 (no playoffs)

The Springfield Fame were a men's spring-professional basketball team in the United States Basketball League from Springfield, Massachusetts, the hometown of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, which gave the inspiration of the team name.[1]

History

The Springfield Fame were founded in 1985. In their inaugural season, they finished with a record of 19-6 and were the first USBL Champions. The league did not add a playoff system until the 1987 season. In their second season, the Fame made national headlines by signing 27-year-old women's basketball legend Nancy Lieberman. Lieberman thus became the first female basketball player to play regular season minutes in a men's pro league. They would finish second with a 23-10 record and 0.5 game behind the Tampa Bay Flash. The Fame would fold following the 1986 season.

Season-by-season records

Year Wins Losses Win % GB Head coach
1985 19 6 .760 .. Gerald Oliver
1986 23 10 .697 0.5 Henry Bibby

[2]

Team awards

USBL Player of the Year

USBL Coach of the Year

  • Gerald Oliver (1985)
  • Henry Bibby (1986)

All-USBL Teams

First Team

  • Tracy Jackson (1985)
  • Billy Goodwin (1986)

Second Team

USBL All-Rookie Team

USBL All-Defensive Team

  • Michael Adams (1985 and 1986)
  • Jerome Henderson (1986)

References