The leather helmet vid made me think of this.

Maybe someone will enjoy it.

This video is listed as the oldest known video of the game of basketball. Filmed at Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Missouri, it’s ladies playing on an outdoor court in 1904. The building in the background is still there and is the main administration building of the College.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WHW8BZQoC_s

I gotta be honest, until I looked closely I was sure this was a modern WNBA game trying to pass itself off as retro

Basketball really was like rugby back then.

(02-11-2023 05:10 PM)_C2_ Wrote:  Basketball really was like rugby back then.

The balls were heavier, not that bouncy, and were not stitched to be as smooth as modern balls are. Dribbling in that era was tough.


Another bit of history- The Wayland Baptist Flying Queens women’s basketball team in the 1950’s that won 131 straight games. Mostly AAU teams from around the country.

They were the Flying Queens because a local businessman with planes supported them a lot and fly them all over the country so they could play good teams. They’ve been covered quite a bit, but here is an LA Times article that tells the story really well.

In fact, next week they are opening a new Museum in Plainview Texas where Wayland Baptist, an NAIA member, is located. The players of this era are the ones who helped pave the way for women’s sports since this was long before Title 9.

They have a bunch of people in the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and are also have the most wins of any women’s basketball program in the country. Sorry U Conn and Tennessee….

https://www.latimes.com/sports/more/la-s...story.html

I was expecting hanging Peach baskets, but surprised to see the goals looked very modern.

What were the backboards made of? Hopefully not regular float glass. Or did they already have tempered glass back then?

Would this likely have been the 6-on-6 version of the game where 3 players from each team had to stay in the same half of the court?

The original rule of having a jump ball after every basket is my favorite.

Had those rules stuck Wilt Chamberlain’s teams may have pitched some shut outs.

(02-12-2023 11:30 AM)BcatMatt13 Wrote:  The original rule of having a jump ball after every basket is my favorite.

The next time I travel near there, I'll ask him about it:

[url]http://https://www.google.com/maps/place/38°57'14.2"N+95°12'56.5"W/[/url]

(02-12-2023 09:38 AM)PlayBall! Wrote:  What were the backboards made of? Hopefully not regular float glass. Or did they already have tempered glass back then?

The first tempered glass process was patented in 1874

I am certain there is no glass there. There may be chicken wire to stop the ball from flying through or simply nothing. I am not sure why there is a big square frame the size of a backboard, but isn’t strong enough to hold much weight.

In some other other early photos of basketball, there is a pole with a rim almost exactly like modern net ball still uses.

Womens basketball was a very different game back then. The court was divided into zones, and a player couldn't move out of her assigned zone. I dont think you could take steps while holding the ball, dribbling or not.

(02-12-2023 10:46 AM)chargeradio Wrote:  Would this likely have been the 6-on-6 version of the game where 3 players from each team had to stay in the same half of the court?

I'd forgotten about that. When I was younger women still played with very different rules.

(02-12-2023 11:43 PM)Todor Wrote:  There may be chicken wire

That makes sense, and why it would not be very visible.

Why can't we buy chicken wire anymore? "Poultry netting" instead.

(02-13-2023 07:41 AM)PlayBall! Wrote:  

(02-12-2023 11:43 PM)Todor Wrote:  There may be chicken wire

That makes sense, and why it would not be very visible.

Why can't we buy chicken wire anymore? "Poultry netting" instead.

Turkeys got offended.

(02-13-2023 09:04 AM)Captain Bearcat Wrote:  

(02-13-2023 07:41 AM)PlayBall! Wrote:  

(02-12-2023 11:43 PM)Todor Wrote:  There may be chicken wire

... Why can't we buy chicken wire anymore? "Poultry netting" instead.

Turkeys got offended.

The turkeys can go get stuffed!

Add some gravy while they are at it.