The 1960-61 Federal Basketball League (FBL) season showcased the St. Louis Rockets' continued dominance, as they secured the league's best regular-season record for the third consecutive year. Their success was built on a formidable defense that led the FBL in steals and forced turnovers, complemented by a potent offense spearheaded by veteran center Rick Sims, who averaged 21.4 points per game, and forward Wayne Wyrick, contributing 13.9 points per game. The Rockets also benefited from the addition of two impactful newcomers: 26-year-old Bill Melton and 29-year-old Charlie Glidewell. Glidewell, after years of perseverance, finally found his place in the league, adeptly orchestrating the Rockets' offense as point guard.
In the West Division, the Detroit Mustangs were the closest challengers, finishing five games behind the Rockets' league-leading 55 wins. Detroit boasted the FBL's most productive offense, led by the backcourt duo of Erv Corwin, who averaged 20.1 points per game, and Lew Bayne, a local Detroit talent from Whitney College, contributing nearly 17 points per game.
The Chicago Panthers and Toronto Falcons vied for the third playoff spot in the West. Despite a late-season slump, the Panthers secured the berth, extending their playoff streak since 1952. Veteran Luther Gordon, at 33, earned his fifth league MVP award, averaging 15.8 points per game. The Falcons, finishing with a 28-52 record, saw promise in first overall draft pick Jim Bromberg, who averaged 13.0 points and 4.6 assists per game, and Bill Spangler, who delivered a career-best 20.2 points per game, earning All-League first-team honors.
The East Division crowned the Philadelphia Phantoms as champions, marking their return to the top after four years. With a 52-28 record, the Phantoms excelled defensively, allowing a league-low 71.7 points per game. Veteran center Mel Turcotte led the team with 16.2 points and 13.0 rebounds per game, earning second-team All-League honors.
The Boston Centurions secured second place for the second consecutive year, propelled by guard Steve Barrell and his backcourt partner T.J. Grimm, who averaged over 14.0 points per game. The Washington Statesmen returned to the playoffs, led by league scoring leader Fred Lillard, who averaged 21.9 points per game, and Doc Daniels, contributing 13.4 points per game. The New York Knights, despite strong performances from Howie Farrell (19.5 ppg) and Ed Morrison (19.5 ppg), finished last in the East, three games behind Washington.
Playoffs
In the East Division semifinals, the Boston Centurions swept the Washington Statesmen in three games, with forward Bert LaBrecque leading the charge, averaging over 20 points per game in the series. The Centurions then faced the Philadelphia Phantoms in the division finals. After dropping the opener, Boston won three straight, but Philadelphia responded by taking the next two games. In the decisive Game 7, the Phantoms secured a 79-73 victory, advancing to the league finals.
In the West, the Detroit Mustangs defeated the Chicago Panthers in four games, setting up a division final against the St. Louis Rockets for the third consecutive year. St. Louis took a commanding 3-0 series lead, with center Rick Sims dominating, including a 30-point performance in Game 3. Detroit avoided a sweep with a Game 4 victory, but the Rockets closed out the series in Game 5, advancing to the finals.
Championship Series
The finals featured the Philadelphia Phantoms against the St. Louis Rockets, a matchup of two teams with recent championship pedigrees. Philadelphia took the first two games on the road, with rookie Dan Holland's 38-point outburst in Game 2 highlighting the Phantoms' offensive prowess. The Phantoms extended their lead to 3-0, but an injury to Mel Turcotte in Game 3, who was averaging 16.2 points and 13.0 rebounds per game, cast a shadow over their success.
St. Louis capitalized in Game 4, avoiding the sweep with an 83-63 victory. In Game 5, the Rockets led entering the fourth quarter, but Dan Holland's 27 points and 19 rebounds propelled the Phantoms to a 74-66 win, clinching their second FBL title. Holland's stellar postseason performance, averaging 20.3 points and 11.2 rebounds per game, earned him the Playoff MVP award.
The 1960-61 FBL season was marked by the Rockets' regular-season dominance, the Phantoms' resilient playoff run, and standout performances from both seasoned veterans and emerging talents, setting the stage for an exciting future in the league.
| Division | Team | Wins | Losses | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Division | Philadelphia Phantoms | 52 | 28 | .650 |
| Boston Centurions | 39 | 41 | .487 | |
| Washington Statesmen | 36 | 44 | .450 | |
| New York Knights | 33 | 47 | .413 | |
| West Division | St. Louis Rockets | 55 | 25 | .688 |
| Detroit Mustangs | 50 | 30 | .625 | |
| Chicago Panthers | 30 | 50 | .375 | |
| Toronto Falcons | 28 | 52 | .350 |
League Leaders
Scoring
- Fred Lillard (Washington Statesmen) - 24.0 PPG
- Howie Farrell (New York Knights) - 22.5 PPG
- Bill Spangler (Toronto Falcons) - 21.8 PPG
Assists
- Lew Bayne (Detroit Mustangs) - 7.2 APG
- Jim Bromberg (Toronto Falcons) - 4.8 APG
- Steve Barrell (Boston Centurions) - 4.7 APG
Rebounds
- Mel Turcotte (Philadelphia Phantoms) - 13.1 RPG
- Rick Sims (St. Louis Rockets) - 12.9 RPG
- Wayne Wyrick (St. Louis Rockets) - 12.7 RPG