- 1975
-
Short Stay in Baltimore
The Memphis Sounds were eliminated by the Colonels and would be the last meaningful game that the franchise would play. Although the 1974 – 1975 season saw the highest attendance figures during the team’s stay in Memphis, both Wilson and Hayes were having financial troubles that required them to sell their shares. After the 1974 – 1975 season, the ABA ...
History of the Claws
The Baltimore Claws were an American basketball team that was supposed to appear in the 1975–76 season in the American Basketball Association. The team collapsed before the season started, playing only three exhibition games, all losses, in its brief history.
The team that eventually became the Baltimore Claws had earlier competed in the ABA as the New Orleans Buccaneers from 1967 through 1970, as the Memphis Pros from 1970 through 1972, as the Memphis Tams from 1972 through 1974, and as the Memphis Sounds during the 1974–75 season.
Established
1967
City
New Orleans – Memphis – Baltimore
League History
1967 – 1975 / American Basketball Association
Team History
1975 / Baltimore Claws (Only Played three exhibition Game)
1974 – 1975 / Memphis Sounds
1972 – 1974 / Memphis Tams
1970 – 1972 / Memphis Pros
1967 – 1970 / New Orleans Buccaneers
Nickname
Claws – The new owners first named their team the “Baltimore Hustlers,” and sent out a season ticket brochure using that moniker. When the ABA league office got wind of the “Hustlers” nickname, it strongly objected. The ABA higher-ups felt that the name “Hustlers” had too many negative connotations, and strongly encouraged the Baltimore owners to choose another nickname. Soon after this directive, the “Baltimore Hustlers” quietly became the “Baltimore Claws.” A second season ticket brochure was sent out, with the new nickname.
Name is derived from the claws of a crustaceans species such as a crab or lobster, which is a huge industry in the Baltimore area.
Championship
ABA Championships 0
Arena
*Emmitsburg, Maryland (Baltimore)*
1975 / St. Mary’s College
*Memphis*
1970 – 1975 / Mid-South Coliseum
*New Orleans*
1969 – 1970 / Tulane Gym
1967 – 1969 / Loyola Field House
Owner
1975 / American Basketball Association Office
1972 – 1975 / Charles O. Finley
1970 – 1972 / P. W. Blake
1967 – 1970 / Morton Downey, Jr., Charles G. Smither and 5 other Owners
Coaches
1974 – 1975 / Joe Mullaney
1972 – 1973 / Bob Bass
1967 – 1972 / Babe McCarthy
*Blue is this team’s history
