Ralph Hamilton
Encyclopedia
Ralph Albert Hamilton was an American
professional basketball player for the Fort Wayne Pistons and Indianapolis Jets
of the National Basketball League
and the Basketball Association of America
(BAA), precursors to the modern day National Basketball Association
(NBA). Hamilton was traded by the Pistons to the Jets in December 1948.
Hamilton, a native of Fort Wayne
, Indiana
, played collegiately at Indiana University
in Bloomington
. He played for the Hoosiers
in 1941–42 and 1942–43 (his sophomore
and junior
years, respectively) but then served in the United States Army
for three years during the end of World War II
. When he came back as a 25-year-old senior
in 1946–47, he served as team captain and led them in scoring, was named First Team All-Big Ten Conference
and was dubbed a consensus First Team All-American
. He also scored nearly 1,000 points during his staggered college career.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball player for the Fort Wayne Pistons and Indianapolis Jets
Indianapolis Jets
The Indianapolis Jets were a Basketball Association of America team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team lasted for one season and was later replaced by a new franchise.-Franchise history:...
of the National Basketball League
National Basketball League (United States)
Founded in 1937, the National Basketball League, often abbreviated to NBL, was a professional men's basketball league in the United States. The league would later merge with the Basketball Association of America to form the National Basketball Association in 1949.- League history :The...
and the Basketball Association of America
Basketball Association of America
The Basketball Association of America was a professional basketball league in North America, founded in 1946. The league merged with the National Basketball League in 1949, forming the National Basketball Association ...
(BAA), precursors to the modern day National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
(NBA). Hamilton was traded by the Pistons to the Jets in December 1948.
Hamilton, a native of Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city in the US state of Indiana and the county seat of Allen County. The population was 253,691 at the 2010 Census making it the 74th largest city in the United States and the second largest in Indiana...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, played collegiately at Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
in Bloomington
Bloomington, Indiana
Bloomington is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County in the southern region of the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 80,405 at the 2010 census....
. He played for the Hoosiers
Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball
The Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing Indiana University . The school competes in the Big Ten Conference in Division I of the NCAA. The Hoosiers play on Branch McCracken Court at the Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana on the IU...
in 1941–42 and 1942–43 (his sophomore
Sophomore
Sophomore is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the second year of study at high school or university.The word is also used as a synonym for "second", for the second album or EP released by a musician or group, the second movie of a director, or the second season of a...
and junior
Junior (education)
"Junior" is a term used in the United States to describe a student in their 3rd year of study . A Junior is considered an upperclassman...
years, respectively) but then served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
for three years during the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. When he came back as a 25-year-old senior
Senior (education)
Senior is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the 4th year of study .-High school:...
in 1946–47, he served as team captain and led them in scoring, was named First Team All-Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
and was dubbed a consensus First Team All-American
1947 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans
The Consensus 1947 College Basketball All-American team, as determined by aggregating the results of three major All-American teams. To earn "consensus" status, a player must win honors from a majority of the following teams: the Helms Athletic Foundation, Converse, and True Magazine.-1947...
. He also scored nearly 1,000 points during his staggered college career.