1975–76 Baltimore Claws season

On August 27, 1975, the Memphis Sounds franchise was dismantled and sold to a group of Baltimore businessmen headed by David Cohan. The franchise moved to Baltimore. It was first called the Baltimore Hustlers but the league objected to the name so the team was quickly rechristened as the Baltimore Claws.[1]

On September 19, 1975, the Claws obtained star center Dan Issel from the Kentucky Colonels, the team that won the 1975 ABA Championship.

The Claws also traded guard Rick Mount to the Utah Stars for guards Joe Hamilton and Tim VanBlommesteyn.

The Claws signed Skip Wise, the 6'3" star guard from Clemson University who the prior year became the first freshman ever to be named First Team All-ACC while averaging 18.9 points per game.[2]

The Claws played their first game, a preseason exhibition, in Salisbury, Maryland, on October 9, 1975, against the Virginia Squires. The Squires won 131–121; attendance was reported at 1,150.

Two days later the Claws lost to the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers 103–82 in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

On October 17, 1975, the Claws played the Squires again, this time at Knott Arena, Mt. St. Mary's College, Emmitsburg, Maryland. The Squires won 100–88 in front of approximately 500 spectators.[2] http://www.remembertheaba.com/Baltimore-Claws.html[3]

The Claws only managed to sign up 300 season ticket holders. The franchise constantly had money problems. On October 16, 1975 ABA Commissioner Dave DeBusschere gave the Claws four days to send $500,000 to the ABA league office as a "performance bond" for team operations. While their players went unpaid, the Claws sent $250,000 of this amount. On October 20, 1975, five days before the start of the 1975–76 regular season, the ABA folded the Baltimore Claws.

• George Carter
• Mel Daniels
• Scott English
• Joe Hamilton
• Stew Johnson
• Bob Rhodes
• Dave Robisch
• Skip Rozenski
• Paul Ruffner
• Ron Styles
• Claude Terry
• Tim VanBlommesteyn
• Chuck Williams
• Skip Wise

The above would have been the Baltimore Claws' regular season roster had the team continued into regular season play.

[4][5]

Signed Skip Wise of Clemson University to a five-year, $1,000,000 contract[6]

Drafted:

• Lonnie Shelton (stayed in college)
• Rich Kelley (signed with NBA's New Orleans Jazz)
• Terry Furlow (stayed in college)[6]

• September 19, 1975: traded Tom Owens and $500,000 cash to the Kentucky Colonels for Dan Issel[2]
• September 1975: traded Dan Issel to the Denver Nuggets for Dave Robisch and $500,000 cash[6]
• Traded Rick Mount to the Utah Stars for Joe Hamilton and Tim VanBlommesteyn[2]

Dispersal draft:

• Alex English (Indiana Pacers)
• Joe Hamilton (Utah Stars)
• Stew Johnson (San Diego Sails)
• Dave Robisch (Spirits of St. Louis)
• Paul Ruffner (Spirits of St. Louis)
• Claude Terry (Denver Nuggets)
• Chuck Williams (Virginia Squires)