The SPHAS: The Life and Times of Basketball's Greatest Jewish Team [Hardcover]

Doug Stark (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 13, 2011

The history of the South Philadelphia Hebrew Association's basketball team and the legends it spawned

Editorial Reviews

Review

"[A]n extremely well-researched book, one that captures in detail a bygone era, and belongs on the bookshelf of anyone with an interest in basketball history."
— Providence Journal

"Douglas Stark has made a valuable contribution in bringing back to life a vibrant era in early basketball history. His portraits of the players, their fans, and such memorable figures as team founder Eddie Gottlieb and announcer Dave Zinkoff will entertain and instruct lovers of not only basketball but also American urban history."
—Lee Lowenfish, author of Branch Rickey: Baseball's Ferocious Gentleman

Book Description

Founded in 1918, the South Philadelphia Hebrew Association's basketball team, known as the SPHAS, was a top squad in the American Basketball League-capturing seven championships in thirteen seasons-until it disbanded in 1959. In The SPHAS, the first book to chronicle the history of this team and its numerous achievements, Douglas Stark uses rare and noteworthy images of players and memorabilia as well as interviews and anecdotes to recall how players like Inky Lautman, Cy Kaselman, and Shikey Gotthoffer fought racial stereotypes of weakness and inferiority while spreading the game's popularity. Team owner Eddie Gottlieb and Temple University coach Harry Litwack, among others profiled here, began their remarkable careers with the SPHAS.

Stark explores the significance of basketball to the Jewish community during the game's early years, when Jewish players dominated the sport and a distinct American Jewish identity was on the rise. At a time when basketball teams were split along ethnic lines, the SPHAS represented the Philadelphia Jewish community. The SPHAS is an inspiring and heartfelt tale of the team on and off the court.

 

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 344 pages
• Publisher: Temple University Press (May 13, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592136338
• ISBN-13: 978-1592136339
• Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 1.1 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #621,027 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Informative Sports Book August 29, 2011

By avid reader

Format:Hardcover

For Basketball Fans this is a wonderful piece of history-----well researched and nicely written
Very interesting and worth reading
and sharing with friends and family

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Informative January 9, 2013

By Mark S. Zinman

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Interesting documentation of the SPHAS and basketball's early years. Well-researched. I learned a lot that I didn't know about the topic.