Cone, Bill

William Cohen

Cone was an early professional basketball player in the 1910s and won two league championships during his career, with Newburgh of the Hudson River League in 1912 and with Utica in the New York State League in 1914.

Birth and Death Dates:
unknown

Career Highlights:
A professional in the early 1910s, Cone was born William Cohen in New York City and developed his game on the Lower East Side with other Jewish basketball pioneers. In the middle of the first decade of the twentieth century, he was a member of the University Settlement team called the "Busy Izzies" that dominated the New York game and was a breeding ground for the great Jewish professionals of the 1910s and 1920s. Among Cone's teammates on this squad were Barney Sedran and Marty Friedman (both Hall of Famers), Ira Streusand, Lou Sugarman, Harry Brill, Joe Girsdansky, and Jake Fuller.

Following their graduation from the settlement house, many of the "Busy Izzies" immediately continued their basketball careers, either in college or as professionals. Cone took a different career path. He became a member of the New York City police force as a detective. Still, the basketball bug remained in his blood, and when many of the "Busy Izzies" reunited on the Newburgh squad in the Hudson River League in 1912, Cone joined up. That year, he helped the team win the league title.

Two years later, Cone was a member of another championship team, but this one claimed the world title. Playing with future Hall of Famers Sedran and Friedman, Cone helped Utica win the New York State League championship by defeating one of the best teams of the early years, the Troy Trojans. They then defeated Camden of the Eastern League and were hailed as the best professional outfit in the world.

Origin:
New York City

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