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Full Court: The Untold Stories of the St. Louis Hawks
Full Court tells the story of an often-forgotten but remarkable time in St. Louis sports history—the era of the NBA’s St. Louis Hawks. Author Greg Maracek has woven together a compilation of interviews from the Hawks players to deliver a history of a former perennial power in the National Basketball Association. Between 1955 and 1968, pro basketball closely rivaled the attention—and at times outstripped the success—of baseball’s St. Louis Cardinals. A storied rivalry with the fabled Boston Celtics is credited by many as the single most important catalyst to the national growth of NBA interest. Names of Hawks’ stars became legendary to basketball fans. Leading the way is Hall of Fame superstar Bob Pettit , the first player to score 20,000 points—and later 25,000—in a career. Other Hall of Fame Hawks include Cliff Hagan , Slater Martin , Len Wilkens , and “Easy” Ed Macauley . Pettit’s 50-point performance in the 1958 championship game, NBA doubleheaders at Kiel Auditorium, owner Ben Kerner’s sometimes wild and wacky postgame promotions, division and conference titles, sold-out crowds, Bill Russell , Wilt Chamberlain , Bob Cousy , and one incredible St. Louis World Championship season makes for riveting reading not only for fans of St. Louis sports but also for lovers of NBA lore.
- GenresSports
246 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 29, 2025
I enjoy reading about this era of pro basketball. Today’s pro game isn’t worth a damn. I appreciate this book being a labor of live for the author but it sure could have used a good proofreading. There are mistakes on every page.
December 23, 2025
Workmanlike account of the St. Louis Hawks. Worth a read, though.
November 26, 2013
The historic team the St.Louis "Hawks" Was brought to St.Louis at a time when the St.Louis Cardinals were booming at an all time high.They were our first time NBA team.They brought a lot of hope to the area.There was a lot of hostility because of the racism that surfaced in the city at these times.
Bob Cousy and Bill Russell with the Boston Celtics Came into St.Louis and there wasn't a restaurant downtown that would serve them and that had a lot of bad publicity against us at the time.The hawks recruited more players because of the complaints and black people who bought their tickets dropped them and wouldnt go to the games almost clearing the gyms at times.
There were several reasons why this team would not work later on .Racism made it worse,the city wouldn't fix the area but still did it for the blues hockey team.But lets look at what the team really consisted of.
The team had big names such as Bob Pettit known as "big blue",Cliff hagan known as"Lil Abner",Ed Macauley known as "easy ed",Dugie Martin known as "tornado from texas",Alex Hannum known as "sgt.York" and Clyde Lovellette as "Boom Boom.
In their first season in the Gateway City, Pettit would earn the very first MVP award in NBA history while leading the Hawks into second place with a 33-39 record. In the playoffs against the Minneapolis Lakers the Hawks would take Game 1 by a single point, before heading to Minneapolis where they were blown out by 58 points in Game 2. However, in the decisive third game back in St. Louis the Hawks would again win by one point to advance to the Western Finals, despite being outscored by 56 points in three games. In the West Finals the Hawks would get off to a quick start taking the first two games against the Fort Wayne Pistons. However, the Pistons would rebound to take the next three games and the series in five games.
The Hawks would get off to a fast start taking Game 1 in double overtime 125-123 in Boston. After the Celtics rebounded to take Game 2 the Hawks took Game 3 at home by two points the Celtics evened the series with a five point win in Game 4. After losing Game 5 in Boston the Hawks needed another two point victory at home to force a decisive 7th game. Game 7 in Boston would be a tight battle al the way going into double overtime. However the Celtics would emerge victorious winning by 2 points.
With Zelmo Beaty and Lenny Wilkens averaging more the 20 ppg, the Hawks had their finest season in St. Louis posting a 56-26 record and finishing in first place. However, in the playoffs the Hawks would be stunned in the first round by the San Francisco Warriors in six games. Following the season St. Louis fans would be further stunned when Owner Ben Kerner sold the team to Georgia real estate developer Thomas Cousins and former Georgia Governor Carl Sanders, who moved the team to Atlanta.
(A SNIPPET FROM )(http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/...)
There isnt much to go off of with because of their short time being here .
Bob Cousy and Bill Russell with the Boston Celtics Came into St.Louis and there wasn't a restaurant downtown that would serve them and that had a lot of bad publicity against us at the time.The hawks recruited more players because of the complaints and black people who bought their tickets dropped them and wouldnt go to the games almost clearing the gyms at times.
There were several reasons why this team would not work later on .Racism made it worse,the city wouldn't fix the area but still did it for the blues hockey team.But lets look at what the team really consisted of.
The team had big names such as Bob Pettit known as "big blue",Cliff hagan known as"Lil Abner",Ed Macauley known as "easy ed",Dugie Martin known as "tornado from texas",Alex Hannum known as "sgt.York" and Clyde Lovellette as "Boom Boom.
In their first season in the Gateway City, Pettit would earn the very first MVP award in NBA history while leading the Hawks into second place with a 33-39 record. In the playoffs against the Minneapolis Lakers the Hawks would take Game 1 by a single point, before heading to Minneapolis where they were blown out by 58 points in Game 2. However, in the decisive third game back in St. Louis the Hawks would again win by one point to advance to the Western Finals, despite being outscored by 56 points in three games. In the West Finals the Hawks would get off to a quick start taking the first two games against the Fort Wayne Pistons. However, the Pistons would rebound to take the next three games and the series in five games.
The Hawks would get off to a fast start taking Game 1 in double overtime 125-123 in Boston. After the Celtics rebounded to take Game 2 the Hawks took Game 3 at home by two points the Celtics evened the series with a five point win in Game 4. After losing Game 5 in Boston the Hawks needed another two point victory at home to force a decisive 7th game. Game 7 in Boston would be a tight battle al the way going into double overtime. However the Celtics would emerge victorious winning by 2 points.
With Zelmo Beaty and Lenny Wilkens averaging more the 20 ppg, the Hawks had their finest season in St. Louis posting a 56-26 record and finishing in first place. However, in the playoffs the Hawks would be stunned in the first round by the San Francisco Warriors in six games. Following the season St. Louis fans would be further stunned when Owner Ben Kerner sold the team to Georgia real estate developer Thomas Cousins and former Georgia Governor Carl Sanders, who moved the team to Atlanta.
(A SNIPPET FROM )(http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/...)
There isnt much to go off of with because of their short time being here .
March 15, 2016
Really interesting book. Great firsthand stories and insight into the team and it's players.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews