Joe Cackovic

Joe Cackovic
Cackovic with the Harrisburg Senators
Personal information
BornFebruary 21, 1923[1]
Steelton, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedDecember 16, 1984(1984-12-16) (aged 61)[2]
Career information
High schoolSteelton (Steelton, Pennsylvania)
Playing career1947–1953
PositionForward
Career history
As player:
1947–1951Harrisburg Senators
1951–1952Lancaster Rockets
1952–1953Harrisburg Capitols
As coach:
1948–1949,
1952–1953		Harrisburg Senators / Capitols
Career highlights and awards
  • All-EPBL First Team (1950)
  • All-EPBL Second Team (1951)

Joseph Anthony Cackovic (February 21, 1923 – December 18, 1984) was an American professional basketball player and coach. He spent the majority of his career with the Harrisburg Senators / Capitols of the Eastern Professional Basketball League (EPBL).

Cackovic emerged as a star basketball player while at Steelton High School in Steelton, Pennsylvania,[3] and graduated in 1941.[4] He was signed by the Senators in 1947 after bargaining with general manager Bill Britsch.[3] Cackovic had been playing for the York Victory in independent circles and negotiated to still be able to play with the team despite being contracted to the Senators.[3]

Cackovic led the EPBL in scoring during his first season with 430 points.[5][6] He served as a player-coach for 9 games during the 1948–49 season.[7] Cackovic was selected to the All-EPBL First Team during the 1949–50 season as he averaged 18.9 points per game.[8] He was selected to the All-EPBL Second Team in the 1950–51 season as he averaged 14.8 points per game.[8] Cackovic moved to the Lancaster Rockets for the 1951–52 season.[8] He returned to Harrisburg as the team was renamed the Capitols for the 1952–53 season and served as the player-coach.[9]

References

  1. ^ "1950 United States Federal Census". Ancestry. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  2. ^ "U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007". Ancestry. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c "Senators Beaten By Sunbury Five; Cackovic Signed". The Evening News. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. December 18, 1947. p. 34. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  4. ^ "Graduating Class Has 170 At Steelton High School". Harrisburg Telegraph. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. May 13, 1941. p. 42. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  5. ^ "1947-48 Eastern Professional Basketball League Leaders". Stats Crew. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  6. ^ "Eastern League Playing Statistics 1946–47 to 1950–51". The Association for Professional Basketball Research. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  7. ^ "1948-49 Harrisburg Senators Statistics". Stats Crew. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  8. ^ a b c "Joe Cackovic". Stats Crew. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  9. ^ "1952-53 Harrisburg Capitols Statistics". Stats Crew. Retrieved April 29, 2022.