The St. Louis Bombers were an early professional basketball team that played in the Basketball Association of America before joining the NBA. Known for their competitive spirit, the team marked an important chapter in the league’s development. The history of the St. Louis Bombers NBA highlights their role in shaping early professional basketball.
Established
1946
City
St. Louis
League History
1949 - 1950 / National Basketball Association
1946 - 1949 / Basketball Association of America
Team History
1946 - 1950 / St. Louis Bombers
Nickname
Bombers - The St. Louis Bombers are an iconic nickname in the world of sports, and basketball fans everywhere recognize it as representing the city of St. Louis. But where did this name come from? The story's origins date back to the 1940s when professional basketball first came to St. Louis with the Bombers!
In 1946, Abe Saperstein founded a new professional basketball team in Chicago called The Harlem Globetrotters and decided to expand his empire by creating another team for neighboring Missouri - thus, The St. Louis Bombers were born! He chose this unique moniker because he wanted something vital but also lighthearted enough that people would remember it easily - hence why he chose "Bomber" instead of something more serious like "Eagles" or "Hawks."
St. Louis Bombers Origin
Saperstein's original vision was for both teams (the Globetrotters and Bombers) to travel around playing exhibition games against each other while entertaining audiences along their journey; however, due to financial difficulties within two years after their formation, they had disbanded without ever competing against one another in an official game setting! Despite not having any actual on-court success during its brief existence, though, many still consider them part of NBA history, thanks mainly due to how popularized they became through media coverage at the time, which helped spread awareness about pro basketball outside just Chicago/StLouis area alone too!
Today there may be no physical evidence left behind from those early days. However, if you look closely enough, you can still find hints here & there throughout our culture today – whether it’s references made by announcers during broadcasts or even merchandise sporting their old logo, which serves as a reminder all these decades later about what once existed before us: A forgotten piece American sports history known simply as “The Saint Louis BOMBERS.”
Championship
NBA Championships 0
BAA Championship 0
Arena
1946 - 1950 / St. Louis Arena
Owner
1946 – 1950 / Unknown
Retired Number
*Blue is this team’s history
- 1946
-
St. Louis Bombers Team Formation
Coached by Ken Loeffler the St. Louis Bombers faced the Pittsburgh Ironmen on November 2nd in their first game at the St. Louis Arena on November 2nd, winning 56-51. The Bombers were able to get off to a fast start winning 11 of their first 14 games. Leading the way for the Bombers one of 11 charter teams in the ...
St. Louis Bombers History
The St. Louis Bombers were a professional basketball team based in St. Louis, Missouri, that played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1948 to 1950. The franchise was founded by businessman and former NBA referee Harry Hannin, who purchased the rights to an expansion team for 25,000 dollars from the league's owners at its inception in 1948.
The St Louis Bombers NBA began as a charter member of the Basketball Association of America (BAA) in 1946, playing home games at the historic St. Louis Arena. Coached initially by Ken Loeffler and later by Grady Lewis, the St Louis Bombers were guided by GM Emory D. Jones under the ownership of C. D. P. Hamilton Jr.
In 1948, the St Louis Bombers soared to prominence by winning the Western Division—an impressive achievement in just their second season. That same year, guard John Logan earned All-BAA Second Team honors.
Bombers Achievements
The team continued competing after the BAA merged with the National Basketball League (NBL) in 1949 to form the NBA. During the 1949–50 NBA season, attendance dropped and financial struggles intensified; GM Emory D. Jones announced in January 1950 that the franchise would likely be sold or folded, and by April the St Louis Bombers NBA officially ceased operations.
Overall, the St Louis Bombers enjoyed a respectable 122–115 (.515) regular-season record over four seasons, made the playoffs three times, and secured one Western Division championship—a notable legacy among early professional basketball’s defunct teams
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