Scranton Miners


The Scranton Miners, known as the Scranton Apollos from 1970 to 1977, were a professional basketball team based in Scranton, Pennsylvania that was a member of the American Basketball League and the Eastern Basketball Association. Arthur Pachter was the owner and coach for many years.
The team was previously known as the Jersey City Atoms before moving to Scranton in 1946. They played in the ABL until 1953. After a two-year hiatus, they were resurrected in the middle of the 1954-55 season in the Eastern Professional Basketball League as a replacement for the Carbondale Celtics. For many years the team was owned by local businessman, Art Pachter, and played games at the Scranton CYC building. During its brief existence the team won two championships, led by Syracuse University alum Jim Boeheim. They were renamed the Scranton Apollos in 1970, and folded in 1977.
In June 1963, Scranton Miners owner Arthur Pachter announced the team had signed Paul Seymour to a one-year contract as head coach. The details of the contract were not disclosed, but Pachter told the Associated Press, " unquestionably the highest ever paid to a coach in the ." Scranton hosted the 1969 Eastern Basketball Association All-Star Game. The league also held the 1971 EBA All-Star Game on February 17 in Scranton at the Scranton CYC Building. On January 25, 1976, Scranton Apollos player Charlie Criss set an EBA record for points scored in a game with 72.
The Scranton Miners were resurrected in 1993 by an investment group led by attorneys George Daniel and Anthony Daniel. The Miners were charter members of the Atlantic Basketball Association and again played at the Scranton CYC for 3 seasons The Miners captured the league's regular season title in 1993-94 and in 1994-95. The Miners defeated the Trenton Flames to win the 1994-95 ABA championship. The franchise was sold and moved to Connecticut following the 1995-96 season.

Year-by-year

YearLeagueReg. SeasonPlayoffs
1947/48ABL4thPlayoffs
1948/49ABL2ndFinals
1949/50ABL1stChampion
1950/51ABL1stChampion
1951/52ABL1stFinals
1952/53ABL4thPlayoffs
1954/55EBL3rdPlayoffs
1955/56EBL3rdPlayoffs
1956/57EBL1stChampion
1957/58EBL5thDNQ
1958/59EBL1stFinals
1959/60EBL4thDNQ
1960/61EBL3rdPlayoffs
1961/62EBL7thDNQ
1962/63EBL5thDNQ
1963/64EBL3rdPlayoffs
1964/65EBL2ndFinals
1965/66EBL3rdPlayoffs
1966/67EBL1stFinals
1967/68EBL7thDNQ
1968/69EBL2ndPlayoffs
1969/70EBL7thDNQ
1970/71EBA1stChampion
1971/72EBA2ndFinals
1972/73EBA3rdPlayoffs
1973/74EBA2ndPlayoffs
1974/75EBA3rdPlayoffs
1975/76EBA2ndPlayoffs
1976/77EBA2ndChampion