American Basketball League

The American Basketball League (ABL) was an early professional basketball league. During six seasons from 1925–26 to 1930–31, the ABL was the first attempt to create a major professional basketball league in the United States. Joseph Carr, who was, in 1925, the president of the recently founded, three year old National Football League, organized the ABL from nine of the best independent pro teams from the East and the Midwest. George Halas of the NFL Chicago Bears was the owner of the Chicago Bruins, and department store magnate Max Rosenblum, a part owner of the NFL's Cleveland Bulldogs, financed the Cleveland Rosenblums. Future NFL (Washington Redskins) owner George Preston Marshall, the owner of a chain of laundries, was owner of the Washington Palace Five. Other teams were the Boston Whirlwinds, Brooklyn Arcadians, Buffalo Bisons, Detroit Pulaski Post Five, Fort Wayne Caseys, and Rochester Centrals. With the exception of 1927–28, the ABL season was divided into two halves, with the winner of the first half playing the winner of the second half for the championship.

In 1953, ABL and NBL merge to form the American Basketball Association (ABA), ABL and NBL become the two conferences in ABA.

ABL Conference
The eight teams chosen for the first ABA season in 1953-54 are Baltimore Bullets, Brooklyn Visitations, Scranton Miners, Trenton Tigers and Washington Brewers joined by two new teams: Cleveland Thorns, Pittsburgh Harlequins and the Sphas moved to Atlanta.

The eight teams are divided into two divisions as follows:

Brooklyn Visitations, Cleveland Thorns, Pittsburgh Harlequins and Scranton Miners join the Western ABL Division.

Atlanta Sphas, Baltimore Bullets, Trenton Tigers and Washington Brewers join the Eastern ABL Division.

In 1958 Tigers moved to Chicago. In reaction ABL swap Chicago Tigers and Brooklyn Visitations.

In 1961 Miners moved to Des Moines and replaces Miners to Farmers.