Professional Basketball Pioneer. He came to the United States with his parents as a child and was involved in basketball for most of his life. He began playing in 1910, with the Combine Club, a group of Jewish school boys in Philadelphia. He later organized, managed, coached, and promoted the Jewish South Philadelphia Hebrew Association team. In 1926, the "SPHAs" beat the Original Celtics twice in a three-game series. They also beat the great Harlem Renaissance team twice and defeated three American Basketball League teams. Renamed the Philadelphia Warriors, the team joined the ABL in 1926 and in 1933, they joined a new American Basketball League winning seven American Basketball League championships. In addition to his involvement with the Warriors, he promoted black major-league baseball and did scheduling for the Negro National League and the Negro American League. Known as "Eddie the Mogul" in 1946, he was instrumental in merging the Basketball Association of America with the National Basketball League to form the National Basketball Association. He coached the Philadelphia Warriors from 1947 to 1955, purchased the team in 1952 and sold the team in 1962, for a then record price of $850,000. Remaining with the team as general manager, when they became the San Francisco Warriors, he remained until 1964. Besides the Basketball Hall of Fame 1972, he is also enshrined in the South Philadelphia School Sports Hall of Fame, the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, and the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. The NBA's Rookie of the Year receives the Eddie Gottlieb Trophy.
Professional Basketball Pioneer. He came to the United States with his parents as a child and was involved in basketball for most of his life. He began playing in 1910, with the Combine Club, a group of Jewish school boys in Philadelphia. He later organized, managed, coached, and promoted the Jewish South Philadelphia Hebrew Association team. In 1926, the "SPHAs" beat the Original Celtics twice in a three-game series. They also beat the great Harlem Renaissance team twice and defeated three American Basketball League teams. Renamed the Philadelphia Warriors, the team joined the ABL in 1926 and in 1933, they joined a new American Basketball League winning seven American Basketball League championships. In addition to his involvement with the Warriors, he promoted black major-league baseball and did scheduling for the Negro National League and the Negro American League. Known as "Eddie the Mogul" in 1946, he was instrumental in merging the Basketball Association of America with the National Basketball League to form the National Basketball Association. He coached the Philadelphia Warriors from 1947 to 1955, purchased the team in 1952 and sold the team in 1962, for a then record price of $850,000. Remaining with the team as general manager, when they became the San Francisco Warriors, he remained until 1964. Besides the Basketball Hall of Fame 1972, he is also enshrined in the South Philadelphia School Sports Hall of Fame, the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, and the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. The NBA's Rookie of the Year receives the Eddie Gottlieb Trophy.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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