The First Basketball Team: (Back row, left to right) John G. Thompson ’93, Eugene S. Libby ’92,
Dr. Edwin P. Ruggles ’95, Wm. R. Chase 93, T. Duncan Patton ’92. (Center) Frank Mahan ’93,
Dr. James Naismith °91. (Front row) Finlay G. MacDonald ’93, William H. Davis 92, Lyman W.

Archibald ’93.

‘‘Father of Basketball’’
Dies in Kansas Home

n November

28, death
came to Dr. James
A. Naismith, ’91
who through his
invention of bas-
ketball at Spring-
field College in
1891 made an
outstanding con-
tribution to the
youth of all na-
tions, Dr.“ Nat
smith died at his
home in Lawrence, Kans., of heart disease follow-
ing a cerebral hemorrhage. He suffered a critical
hemorrhage on November 19, but rallied and
returned to his home from a hospital after four
days. Two days later he was stricken with a
heart attack which resulted in his death.

One of the most widely known and best loved
Springfield Alumni, Dr. Naismith returned many
times to the campus of the school where as a
student instructor in physical education he
originated the game which was to be carried
around the world in a few years by other Alumni
of the same institution.

His last visit to the campus was in the spring
of 1939 when he attended the New England
high school basketball tournament, sponsored by
the College. At the end of the tournament
President Ernest M. Best announced College
plans for the construction of a basketball arena
to be named in honor of Dr. Naismith.

In paying tribute to Dr. Naismith following
his death, Dr. Best said: “Dr. Naismith was one
of the founders of modern scientific physical
education and recreation. He was one of a little
group of unusual men who pioneered at the
Springfield Y. M. C. A. Training School in the
foundation of what became a new vocation.”

It was in the gymnasium of the first building

cy ee

 

 

 

of Springfield College (known then as the Inter-
national Young Men’s Christian Association
Training School) then located on State Street
that the first game of basketball was played
with the 18 members of the class in physical
education all taking part in the game with nine
players to a side. The story has become legend
that Dr. Naismith sent the janitor for boxes to
toss the ball into and the janitor returned with
peach baskets. Thus the game became basketball
instead of box ball. It must have been the same
janitor who, according to the legend, sat on a
stepladder during that first game to retrieve the
ball from the basket when a player made a goal.

When Dr. Naismith looked for a place to
fasten the baskets his eye fell on the side of the
balcony. Since it was nine feet above the floor
the basket was placed at that height. That must
have been a fortunate choice for that has re-
mained the official height of the basket.

Invented to fill a definite need in the winter
program at the College, Dr. Naismith’s game
evidently filled a need everywhere for within a
few years it sprang into wide popularity. It was
estimated by the New York Times two seasons
ago that 18,000,000 persons play the game and
that 90,000,000 spectators watch it annually.
This means that more people participate in and
watch basketball than any other sport.

Dr. Naismith was born in Altmonte, Ont., on
November 6, 1861. He was graduated from
McGill University, Montreal, in 1887, and for
three years was director of physical education
there. He came to Springfield in 1890 and took
the two year training course. He remained on
the staff at the college until 1895, when he went
to Gross Medical College in Denver, Col.
Graduating as a doctor of medicine in 1898 he
went to the University of Kansas as professor
of physical education. At the time of his death
he was professor emeritus.

Dr. Naismith was one of the first four recip-
ients of the Edward Norris Tarbell medallions
for distinguished service to Springfield College
at the commencement exercises in 1935.