It’s basketball season! In the past, semi-pro basketball teams were popular in Maine, and Millinocket was no exception. The Emerson Pills were known statewide. Founded by local druggist Clarence Emerson, this team played a variety of Maine opponents from about 1938 into the 1950’s and even earned a trip to play in the National Basketball Tournament in Indianapolis.
In 1938, a group of former SHS players wanted to organize a semi-pro team. For financial help, they went to local pharmacy owner Clarence Emerson. The town allowed them use of the SHS gym and home and away games were arranged for the newly named Pills. Other towns such as Bangor and Waterville had teams.
In 1940, the Boston Goodwins sought a game with the Pills (prior winners of the state independent basketball title). It was played at the new Brewer Auditorium as the Goodwins refused to come north to Millinocket. The Pills lost, but apparently had another chance in 1941 as the museum has a ticket for the Pills vs Goodwins on March 21, 1941 at Stearns Gymnasium. The Pills were state champions (1940-41). Players included Tedda Boynton, Chuck Bonis, George Wentworth, Bob Boynton, Chink Brewer, Charlie Civiello, Buzz Hopper, Lloyd Pound, Jack Tracy and Boom Folsom.
The Pills often played games with proceeds going to a good cause. A game early in the 1940’s was for the Millinocket Red Cross War Drive. At the Stearns gym, the game raised $161.91. Team members were not always the same for games as military and college obligations made some players unavailable at times. Other players named in some 1940’s games were McNamara, Casey, Higgins, Porter, Myshrall, Astle, Benjamin, Gates, Fitzpatrick, Helstrom and Burleigh.
The Pills won many games through the years as indicated in the many wins highlighted in scrapbook articles. In 1950, the Pills played the Boston Celtics (in Ellsworth). Players for the Celtics were Bill Sharman, Ed Macauley and Bob Cousy (all in their 20’s). The coach was Red Aurbach (one of youngest coaches in the NBA).
Another scrapbook contains a letter written to C. L. “Bob” Emerson, P. D., Compounder of “Pills.” “Dear Bob, I have in mind that perhaps your grandchildren may be interested in reading, at some future date, about how that Pharmacist Emerson “cured” the Waterville Celtics of basketballitis with eleven of his State Champion Pills – and all for the benefit of Millinocket’s quota on the American Red Cross War Relief Drive in A. D. 1941. To that end, I have gathered various clippings and present them to you, as a souvenir of the event. I sincerely hope that those same grandchildren will fully appreciate, as the Millinocket Red Cross War Relief committee certainly does, the fine job you and your Pills did, in staging this event. Very sincerely yours, Jack Ward.”
In addition to scrapbooks with Pills articles, the museum has numerous photos, a scorer’s book and Lloyd Pound’s uniform!
Millinocket also another semi-pro team, the Aggies. Their first game was Dec. 16, 1951 against Limestone. Team members included Simpson, Savage, Ouellette, Freeman, Higgins, McNamara, Dore, Albert, Dionne and Pratt.
Comments