Baltimore Claws
The Baltimore Claws were a short-lived professional basketball franchise in the American Basketball Association (ABA), relocated to Baltimore, Maryland, in 1975 with plans to compete in the 1975–76 season but folding after only three preseason exhibition games due to severe financial instability.[1] Originally the Memphis Sounds, the team was purchased by a group of seven Maryland investors and moved eastward in a bid for viability, only to face immediate challenges including poor ticket sales and arena disputes at the Baltimore Civic Center.[2][3] Upon arrival, the franchise was initially dubbed the Baltimore Hustlers, but local complaints about the name's negative connotations prompted a quick rebranding to the Claws, accompanied by a striking logo designed by renowned artist Frank Frazetta depicting a fierce hawk clutching a basketball.[2][4] In a desperate attempt to boost interest and secure a star attraction, the Claws executed a major trade on September 19, 1975, acquiring All-Star forward Dan Issel from the Kentucky Colonels in exchange for center Tom Owens and $500,000 in cash, though Issel never played a game for the team.[5][6] Coached by Joe Mullaney and featuring a roster that included players like Mel Daniels, the Claws lost all three preseason contests—against the Virginia Squires, Philadelphia 76ers, and Virginia Squires—before disbanding in late October 1975, just weeks before the ABA-NBA merger.[1][7] The league then conducted a special dispersal draft on October 21, 1975, allocating the seven remaining players to other ABA teams, marking the Claws' abrupt end without a single regular-season appearance.[2]Franchise History
Origins and Early Relocations
The franchise that would become the Baltimore Claws began as the New Orleans Buccaneers, one of the original charter teams in the American Basketball Association (ABA), established on February 2, 1967, as a rival league to the National Basketball Association.[8] The team was awarded to a group of seven local investors, including entertainment figure Morton Downey Jr., who aimed to bring professional basketball to the Crescent City.[8] In its debut 1967–68 season, coached by Babe McCarthy, the Buccaneers posted a strong 48–30 regular-season record, capturing first place in the ABA's Western Division with standout performances from players like Larry Brown and Red Robbins.[9] They advanced to the ABA Finals but fell to the Pittsburgh Pipers in seven games. The following year, 1968–69, the team maintained competitiveness with a 46–32 mark, finishing second in the division behind the Oakland Oaks.[10] However, the 1969–70 season saw a decline to 42–42, placing fifth in the Western Division amid growing attendance issues at the Loyola Field House.[11] Financial pressures mounted for the Buccaneers, as co-owner Maurice Stern noted the team could not sustain operations without new capital, leading to the sale of the franchise on August 21, 1970, to Mississippi businessman P. W. Blake.[12] Ten days later, Blake relocated the team to Memphis, Tennessee, rebranding it the Memphis Pros and shifting home games to the Mid-South Coliseum.[13] As the Pros, the franchise struggled on the court and at the gate during its 1970–71 and 1971–72 seasons, recording 41–43 and 26–58 respectively, missing the playoffs both years amid low attendance averaging under 3,000 fans per game.[14] Ownership instability persisted when Blake sold the team in 1972 to Charles O. Finley, the colorful owner of the Oakland Athletics, who renamed it the Memphis Tams after his tam o' shanter hats.[15] The Tams continued the pattern of poor performance and financial woes, finishing 24–60 in 1972–73 under coach Bob Bass and 21–63 in 1973–74 with Butch van Breda Kolff at the helm, as the team cycled through numerous players and faced mounting debts that forced Finley to relinquish control.[16][17] By mid-1974, the ABA assumed temporary ownership due to unpaid bills and arena disputes at the Mid-South Coliseum, facilitating a rebranding to the Memphis Sounds with a syndicate of local investors including musician Isaac Hayes, Stax Records executive Al Wilson, and Holiday Inn founder Kemmons Wilson.[18] Former ABA commissioner Mike Storen oversaw operations for the 1974–75 season.[19] Under the Sounds moniker, the team showed modest improvement with a 27–57 record, securing fourth place in the Eastern Division and qualifying for the playoffs for the first time since 1969.[20] They faced the Kentucky Colonels in the Eastern Division Semifinals but lost 4–1.[21] Persistent financial challenges, including chronic low attendance and multiple ownership transitions, defined the Memphis era, setting the stage for further relocation.[19]Move to Baltimore
In the spring of 1975, following the financial collapse of the Memphis Sounds, the franchise was acquired for $1 million by a Maryland-based group of seven businessmen led by David Cohan, who promptly relocated the team to Baltimore.[5] This purchase came after prolonged struggles in Memphis, where poor attendance and ownership instability had left the team unable to sustain operations.[5] Upon announcement, the team was initially named the Baltimore Hustlers, with plans to play home games at the Baltimore Civic Center, a 12,323-seat arena.[5] However, the relocation faced early hurdles when ABA Commissioner Dave DeBusschere briefly awarded the franchise to a Memphis group in August 1975, citing concerns over the Maryland investors' capitalization; that group defaulted after making a $250,000 down payment, allowing the rights to revert to Cohan's syndicate.[5] Logistically, the new owners secured an office and lease arrangements at the Civic Center to establish a local presence.[5] They also initiated marketing efforts for the inaugural season, issuing brochures to promote season ticket sales and build fan interest ahead of the 1975–76 campaign.[5]Team Identity
Name Evolution
Following the relocation of the Memphis Sounds franchise to Baltimore in the summer of 1975, the team was initially announced as the Baltimore Hustlers on August 29.[22] This name choice was made hastily by the new ownership group led by David Cohan, reflecting a desire to evoke energetic play on the court.[5] However, the name quickly drew criticism from both American Basketball Association (ABA) officials and local Baltimore figures, who viewed "Hustlers" as carrying negative connotations associated with vice, such as street crime or illicit activities, which clashed with the city's image.[23] League commissioner Dave DeBusschere and public stakeholders pressured the owners to rebrand, leading to a low-profile change in early September 1975.[5] The transition was handled discreetly to minimize disruption, with the franchise folding shortly thereafter on October 20 without playing regular-season games.[24] The new name, Baltimore Claws, was adopted following the rebranding.[3] This rebranding was reflected in the distribution of a second season ticket brochure under the Claws moniker, though the team's financial woes prevented further development.[5]Logo and Uniforms
The Baltimore Claws' primary logo featured a yellow claw gripping an orange basketball, enclosed within a green letter "C," reflecting the team's aggressive identity.[25] This design drew inspiration from the franchise's name change to Claws, emphasizing a predatory motif.[5] The team's uniforms consisted of modified jerseys inherited from the previous incarnation as the Memphis Sounds, primarily in red with green trim and a sewn-on "Claws" patch on the front.[5] Shorts matched the red and green color scheme, incorporating subtle claw-like elements through the logo patch. Due to the franchise's brief existence, production was extremely limited, with the designs appearing only in preseason exhibition games and practice sessions, including leftover red practice shirts from the Memphis era.[5]Management and Personnel
Ownership and Front Office
The Baltimore Claws franchise was purchased in August 1975 by a group of Maryland investors led by David Cohan, a Baltimore businessman, who acquired the struggling Memphis Sounds operation for $1 million and relocated it to Baltimore in an effort to revive the team amid prior ownership instability in Memphis.[5][26] Cohan, drawing on his local business connections, assembled the investment syndicate to provide financial backing for the move, positioning the Claws as a new entry in the American Basketball Association (ABA) for the 1975–76 season.[23] As president of the Claws, Cohan oversaw the front office operations following the relocation, serving as the primary executive figure in the franchise's brief existence.[27] No dedicated general manager was appointed in the immediate post-relocation period, with Cohan's leadership handling key administrative decisions, including player acquisitions and league negotiations.[5] The front office remained lean, focused on stabilizing the team's structure amid the ABA's competitive landscape. The initial financial commitments included the $1 million acquisition cost, intended to cover relocation expenses and operational setup, alongside league-mandated performance bonds to ensure franchise viability.[5] However, the ownership group struggled to meet these bond requirements, requesting extensions from ABA Commissioner Dave DeBusschere, who ultimately denied further time and expelled the Claws on October 20, 1975, before the season began.[2]Coaching Staff and Roster
The Baltimore Claws' coaching staff for the intended 1975–76 season was led by head coach Joe Mullaney, who was retained from the franchise's prior incarnation as the Memphis Sounds. Mullaney brought extensive experience in the American Basketball Association (ABA), having previously coached the Kentucky Colonels from 1971 to 1973, where he guided the team to a 124–44 record over two seasons (68–16 in 1971–72 and 56–28 in 1972–73), and the Utah Stars in 1973–74, earning ABA Coach of the Year honors after leading them to a 51–33 mark and the Western Division title. His tenure with the Memphis Sounds in 1974–75, though ending in a 19–65 finish amid financial turmoil, positioned him as a stabilizing figure for the relocated Claws, emphasizing disciplined play and veteran leadership.[5][28][29] In assembling the roster, the Claws' front office pursued a mix of trades, signings, and draft picks to build around experienced ABA talent, though financial constraints limited major deals. The Claws announced the acquisition of All-Star forward Dan Issel from the Kentucky Colonels on September 19, 1975, in exchange for center Tom Owens and $500,000, but failed to complete the payment. Consequently, Issel was traded to the Denver Nuggets, and the Claws received forward Dave Robisch as compensation.[5][27] Key signings included veteran center Mel Daniels, a three-time ABA MVP and rebounding leader who had averaged 9.8 points and 9.0 rebounds per game with the Memphis Sounds in 1974–75 before joining the Claws as a free agent. Forward Stew Johnson, an eight-year ABA veteran known for his baseline shooting, was also signed after posting 17.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game with Memphis that season. The team further bolstered its backcourt by signing rookie guard Skip Wise to a five-year, $700,000 no-cut contract; Wise, a Baltimore native and Clemson freshman standout, had averaged 18.5 points per game in college during 1974–75, earning All-ACC honors. Additional acquisitions came via trades, such as guards Joe Hamilton and Tim van Blommesteyn from the [Utah Stars](/page/Utah Stars) in exchange for guard Rick Mount.[5][30][31][5][32][33][34] The preseason roster comprised approximately 12 players, blending established ABA contributors with promising newcomers across positions to form a competitive core despite the franchise's instability. Guards included journeyman Chuck Williams (14.5 points, 7.1 assists per game with Memphis in 1974–75), Joe Hamilton (a quick playmaker who averaged 4.2 points per game with the Kentucky Colonels in 1974–75 before being traded to Utah), Skip Wise (high-scoring rookie), and Tim van Blommesteyn (limited ABA experience, averaging 2.5 points in 1974–75 with Utah). Forwards featured Stew Johnson (versatile scorer), Dave Robisch (efficient inside-out threat), and George Carter (power forward with rebounding prowess from prior ABA stops). The frontcourt was anchored by center Mel Daniels (dominant rebounder), with depth from players like Bill Franklin (shooting guard) and Scott English (forward). This composition aimed to leverage Daniels and Johnson's experience for interior strength while relying on Wise's athleticism for perimeter speed, though the group's cohesion was tested by the team's rapid dissolution.[5][35][36][31][33][30][1]| Position | Player | Notable Prior Stats (1974–75 Season) | Acquisition Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guard | Skip Wise | 18.5 ppg (Clemson freshman) | Free agent signing (5-year, $700,000 contract) |
| Guard | Chuck Williams | 14.5 ppg, 7.1 apg (Memphis Sounds) | Free agent signing |
| Guard | Joe Hamilton | 4.2 ppg (Kentucky Colonels; prior to trade to Utah Stars) | Trade from Utah Stars |
| Forward | Stew Johnson | 17.8 ppg, 6.1 rpg (Memphis Sounds) | Free agent signing |
| Forward | Dave Robisch | 13.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg (Denver Nuggets) | Trade from Denver Nuggets |
| Center | Mel Daniels | 9.8 ppg, 9.0 rpg (Memphis Sounds) | Free agent signing |