The Pitt News The independent student newspaper of the University of Pittsburgh | PIttnews.com | november 8, 2017 | Volume 108 | Issue 64 Courtesy of Heinz History Center THE FORGOTTEN CHAMPIONS The Pittsburgh Pipers were the ABA champions in 1968. Now, 50 years later, the players reflect on their time on the team — a footnote in Steel City sports history. Grant Burgman Th ey won the league’s fi rst title in a seven-game series against the Th e summer of ‘68 would be the only one in Pittsburgh for the Staff Writer New Orleans Buccaneers. Pipers before they moved to Minnesota when Minnesota-based Pittsburgh is oft en considered one of the premier sports cities For Steve Vacendak, one of the guards on the team, the seventh lawyer Bill Erickson purchased a majority share of the team. Th e in America — laden with a prosperous history of baseball, football and fi nal game against New Orleans stands out as a moment of Pipers replaced the Minnesota Muskies, another one of the ABA’s and hockey championships. But the city was once home to a cham- hope and accomplishment. founding teams that failed because of lack of fan support. pionship basketball team, too — a small blip in the timeline of Steel “I think the fi nal game in Pittsburgh was such a wonderful con- Th e team returned to Pittsburgh in 1969, but never found the City sports. clusion to the season to have the fans turn out like that and for us to same support or success. While they are oft en overlooked today, the Th e Pittsburgh Pipers were the inaugural champions of the win in such a dominant manner,” Vacendak said. “Th at last game ‘67-’68 Pipers were a seminal team in a league that would eventually American Basketball Association in 1967 — 50 years ago this year. stands out because it’s what we had been working for all season.” See Pipers on page 9 Artist’s Name POSITION Sports with us. We just loved to play basketball.” Pipers, pg. 1 The first Dr. J Fans who did attend were treated to help change the way basketball is played. a show from one of the best teams in the During its first season in 1967, the league. The Pipers started the season ABA had 11 teams in several markets strong with a 24-12 record by the end of the NBA hadn’t reached yet. The teams December, thanks in large part to star included New Orleans, Houston, Denver player Connie Hawkins and head coach and Oakland in the Western Division, Vince Cazzetta. and Minnesota, Indiana, New Jersey and Cazzetta only coached the Pipers in — of course — Pittsburgh in the Eastern that first season and was forced to leave Division. after a contract dispute led to his resig- The league was a new brand of bas- nation. He passed away in 2005 on the ketball in comparison to its counterpart 37th anniversary of the Pipers’ ABA in the NBA — which was established in title win. His players respected him and 1946 — defined by an exciting style of praised his ability as a coach. play. Ira Harge, who played center for “I don’t think Vince played the game, the Pipers during their championship but he understood the game,” Jarvis said. season, recalls the innovations the ABA “He had to have the ability to get across introduced — including its iconic red, what he wanted to have done and have white and blue colored ball. the players do it even though there was “It was easier to track [the ball],” a difference in personality on the team.” Harge said. “You didn’t have that big Two guards from that ‘67-’68 Pipers brown thing floating in the air. We had team, Arvesta Kelly and Steve Vacendak, more of a running game, a fun game. also remember Cazzetta as a great leader Our teams were running up and down and coach. the floor with this red, white and blue “He was a tremendous communica- ball and shooting the three pointer.” tor, and he knew the game,” Kelly said. The 3-point shot was first introduced “He knew the Xs and Os of the game.” in the less successful American Basket- Vacendak said the coach’s experience ball League in 1961, and was forsaken in raising children “kind of helped him when the league dissolved in 1963. The in dealing with [the players].” ABA reintroduced the idea in 1967, “He was a great father, and I think along with the first dunk contest — two he had wonderful relationships with his ideas the NBA would eventually adopt. children and his entire family,” Vacendak In its inaugural season, the ABA said. “He had the gift of being able to drew a respectable total attendance communicate ... in a way that made you of 1,200,439 compared to the NBA’s accept it and want to execute it.” 2,935,879 the same year. Some ABA Just as the season was reaching its franchises, like the Indiana Pacers, aver- halfway point, the Pipers made sweeping aged had impressive turnouts. The Pip- changes to the roster, ending the season ers, though, weren’t exactly packing the with just four of the players who began Civic Arena with fans. it. But Hawkins, one of the best players Jim Jarvis, who played point guard for in the league, led the team through the the Pipers, remembers the unimpressive personnel mix-up. crowds the Pipers drew in the first sea- Hawkins led the ABA in scoring that son, but he says it never bothered him. first season, and is enshrined in the Bas- Connie Hawkins led the Pipers to their ABA championship in 1967. Courtesy “The crowds were not that big, but ketball Hall of Fame for his accomplish- of Wikimedia Commons we had a lot of good guys on that team,” ments in the ABA and later the NBA. He Jarvis said. “The crowd situation was not something I remember being a big issue See Pipers on page 10 pittnews.com November 8, 2017 9 against the Pipers. Pipers, pg. 9 “He gave me a little fake and he passed away this year on Oct. 6, but his went by me and he teammates have clear memories of his said something to game. the effect of ‘Well, “He was really the predecessor to to- I’m glad you didn’t day’s game with his physical abilities,” stay with us in Jarvis said. “He could run the floor, he Pittsburgh ‘cause could rebound. He wasn’t a deep shooter, here I am on one but he could turn and face the basket.” leg and I went by Jarvis, Harge, Vacendak and Kelly all you,’” Harge said. remembered Hawkins the same way — “Did you see me as the best player they ever shared the block that shot?” court with. The Pipers beat “He’s the top of the list,” Jarvis said. the Indiana Pac- “I always thought Connie was the ers and Minnesota best thing that happened, not to [dispar- Muskies in the age] Julius Erving or Rick Barry or any- Eastern Division body,” Harge said. playoffs to reach “Connie Hawkins was the first real the finals against Dr. J,” Vacendak said. the New Orleans “He’s definitely the best ball player Buccaneers. In the that I’ve ever played with,” Kelly said. finals, Pittsbur- The Heinz History Center has a display case dedicated to the championship Pipers squad. Kelly also remembers Hawkins’ ghers jumped on Aaron Schoen STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER struggles with a leg injury during the the bandwagon. second half of the ‘67-’68 season. “I remember “Connie was the one that really kind that we did have a of spearheaded everything. And I think pretty good crowd he was hurt, there was something wrong for that series,” I live. Art was always doing something.” Even with Heyman’s antics and with his leg, but he played and he said, Jarvis said. “I don’t know if they gave Heyman was famous for his eccen- Hawkins’ leg injury, the Pipers pulled ‘Come on, we got to win this,’” Kelly said. away tickets or what.” tricity. Jarvis, who roomed with him on through to win in game seven against If Hawkins was bothered by injuries, “Those last games that we played, the the road, recalled a habit Heyman had the Buccaneers, beating New Orleans it didn’t show. In the second half of the arena was packed,” Kelly added. after games. 122-113. Hawkins was the MVP of the season, the Pipers found momentum, According to Kelly, the final series “Art was the guy that constantly series. finishing with a 54-24 record. Hawkins against the Buccaneers was tension filled needed praise. After a game he’d come Forgotten legends averaged 30.9 points per game over the and — on one occasion — that tension back in the motel room late and wake me Pittsburgh hardly had a chance to last 30 games and won the first ever ABA led to a fight with a fan. up and say, ‘Gosh, what did you think celebrate the new champions — there MVP award. “We were going into the locker of that pass I made, wasn’t that a great were no parades, no rallies. The players Harge was one of the players who was room and one of the fans was heckling pass? Did you see me block that shot?’” left after game seven and most never re- traded during the midway point, end- Art Heyman,” Kelly said. “Art Heyman Jarvis said.