Laddie Gale
Inducted:
1977
Player Stats
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Born
April 22, 1917
Grants Pass, Oregon, U.S.
Died
July 29, 1996
Gold Beach, Oregon, U.S.
Position
Forward
College
Oregon (1936–1939)
Laddie Gale was a foundational force in the development of the "big man" role in basketball. A 6'4" forward/center with remarkable agility and a soft shooting touch, Gale rose to national prominence as a cornerstone of the University of Oregon's legendary "Tall Firs" team. He led Oregon to victory in the first-ever NCAA Tournament in 1939, finishing as the leading scorer of the Pacific Coast Conference.
Gale’s professional career saw him dominate the early integrated circuits, playing for the Detroit Eagles of the NBL (National Basketball League). He was a two-handed set-shot specialist and a tenacious rebounder whose high-post play paved the way for the versatile forwards of the modern era. For his role as one of the game's first true national stars, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1977.
Gale's Awards & Honor
- NCAA champion (1939)
- First-team All-American – Helms (1939)
- 2× First-team All-PCC (1938, 1939)
- 28 retired by Oregon Ducks
- Inaugural National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame (Class of 2006)
- University of Oregon Hall of Fame (Charter Member)
NBA Teams
Detroit Eagles (1939–1940)
NBA Stats
NCAA Championships:
1 (1939)
NBL Tenure:
Detroit Eagles (1939–1940)
PCC Scoring Leader:
(1938, 1939)