Springfield Fame
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]
| Springfield Fame | |
|---|---|
| League | United States Basketball League |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Dissolved | 1986 |
| Arena | Springfield Civic Center |
| Location | Springfield, Massachusetts |
| Championships | 1985 (no playoffs) |
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 |
Team awards
USBL Player of the Year
- Tracy Jackson (1985)
USBL Coach of the Year
- Gerald Oliver (1985)
- Henry Bibby (1986)
All-USBL Teams
First Team
- Tracy Jackson (1985)
- Billy Goodwin (1986)
Second Team
- Larry Lawrence (1985)
- Michael Adams (1985 and 1986)
- Jerome Henderson (1986)
USBL All-Rookie Team
- Andre Goode (1985)
- Michael Adams (1985)
- Dominic Pressley (1986)
USBL All-Defensive Team
- Michael Adams (1985 and 1986)
- Jerome Henderson (1986)