Passon, Harry

In 1918, Passon, Hughie Black and Eddie Gottlieb organized an amateur team under the Young Men's Hebrew Association (which provided the uniforms). After the YMHA withdrew its sponsorship in 1921, they found a home at the South Philadelphia Hebrew Association. The social club provided uniforms with the acronym SPHAs across the chest in Hebrew letters.

Following the 1921 season, the uniforms had become too ragged to wear, but there was no money for new ones. In response, Passon, Black, and Gottlieb started a local sporting goods store, Passon's (which became a city landmark) in order to pay for the uniforms. Still, the club's name would be forever known as the Philadelphia Sphas! The Sphas became one of the greatest barnstorming teams in the early professional basketball and under the leadership of Gottlieb, dominated any league they entered.

Birth and Death Dates:
unknown

Career Highlights:
From 1920-1922, Passon was the head coach at the University of Science in Philadelphia and compiled a record of 15-10.

Origin:
unknown

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