Bill Chanecka

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In his senior year at Central High School in Binghamton, NY, the basketball team went undefeated. Bill was named MVP in the Little Falls Invitational Tourney and earned a position on the All-Triple Cities 1942-43 team. After his discharge from the US Navy, where he played with the Iowa Seahawks, Bill tried out with the Wilkes-Barre Barons of the newly formed Eastern Basketball League. That year, as the team’s top scorer averaging 21.9 points per game, he helped capture the title and the President’s Cup. He stayed with the Barons when they were admitted to the American League. He and his brother Steve formed one of the greatest brother combinations at guard in pro basketball. They played on the great 1949-50 Barons team, considered to be one of the top teams in the nation. The Barons scored 4,636 points in 55 games, establishing a new world record by scoring 127 points in a game. Bill was twice American League MVP and an All Star. In March 1949 he set a single game league scoring record of 58 points. After the American League was forced to disband, Bill returned to the Eastern League with Pottsville. Later, as team captain for the Williamsport Billies, he helped win two Eastern Professional League championships. Bill is recognized as one for the greatest players ever in the Eastern League. One his 40th birthday, he returned to pro ball as player/assistant coach with the Scranton Miners. With a total of 14 years in pro basketball, in 1996 he was honored by the Continental Basketball Association as a member of its 50th Anniversary “All–Time” Team. While living in Wilkes–Barre for 10 years, Bill was club champion at Wyoming Valley Country Club in 1954 and 1955. Bill currently resides in Binghamton, NY, with his wife Agnes. They are the parents of four: Bill, Barbara, Jean and Jack.