Day 169 - Tuesday June 17, 2008

Original Bradley Fieldhouse

Since 1949, Robertson Memorial Field House has provided the on-campus home for Bradley Braves basketball but became the town Civic Center before it opened downtown in 1982.

Modernized Bradley Fieldhouse Before Destruction

Future Facilities

Peoria Cats 1954

The Peoria Cats were in the industrial league and sponsored by Caterpillar. They were very successful in the 1950s, winning five AAU national tournament championships in the the years 1952-60. The team sent players to the U.S. Olympic teams. The Cats represented the United States in the second FIBA World Championship in 1954 and won the tournament.

Doug remembers the Cats very well. This was the era before pro basketball took off. It was when almost every one shot free throws underhanded, Bert Born, John Prudoe and other centers shot hook shots, Howie Williams shot two hand set shots, Ron Bontemps showed how to shoot jump shots, and Dan Pippin, at a little over 6 feet, would dunk the ball in warm-ups but never during the game.