Hazleton Hawks
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| Hazleton Hawks | |
| Founded | 1955 |
| League | EPBL 1955-1962 |
| Arena | St. Joseph's High School (1955–1962) |
| Team History | Hazleton Professionals 1955-1956 Hazleton Hawks |
| Championships | None |
| Division titles | None |
| Head coach | unknown |
The Hazleton Hawks were a professional basketball franchise in the Eastern Professional Basketball League. The Hawks, based in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, joined the league in 1955, playing as the "Hazleton Professionals"; they were named the "Hawks" in their second season in the league.
In the team's first season, the franchise went through several different lineups and two coaching changes, but later made the playoffs by signing several players who had been part of the college
By the team's second year of operation, the franchise was now known as the "Hawks," and became the first basketball team in an integrated professional league to have an all-black starting lineup, which included White,
The 1957-58 season saw the Hawks finish with an 18-10 record, tying them for first place in the league with the Wilkes-Barre Barons and Easton Madisons; after a three-way playoff, the Hawks were seeded third in the Eastern League playoffs, where the team eventually lost to the Madisons.
Among the notable basketball stars who played for the Hawks were
The Hawks remained in the Eastern League until 1962, when after three consecutive losing seasons the franchise folded.
Year-by-Year
Hazleton Mountaineers, EPBL
| Year | League | Record | Reg. Season | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1954/55 | EPBL | 15-15 | 4th | Finals |
| 1955/56 | EPBL | 11-15 | 5th | did not qualify |
| 1956/57 | EPBL | 20-10 | 2nd | Finals |
| 1957/58 | EPBL | 18-10 | 1st, tie | Semifinals |
| 1958/59 | EPBL | 16-12 | 4th | Semifinals |
| 1959/60 | EPBL | 9-18 | 7th | did not qualify |
| 1960/61 | EPBL | 10-18 | 8th | did not qualify |
| 1961/62 | EPBL | 4-21 | 8th | did not qualify |