Hank Rosenstein Inducted in 2007
The year was 1943 and his Naval career and a star were about to be born. He became a starter with the Sampson Naval Training Base squad in '43-44 and a year later was transferred to the Armed Guard Center in Brooklyn. The angular 6-5 swingman, who could play the pivot, dish to the open man, or hit the two-hand-ed set from deep with equal aplomb, joined our 1991 NYC "Hall of Fame" inductee, Fuzzy Levane, on the third Naval District All-Star team. Then came his big break, the formation of the Basketball Assn. of America (BAA), in 1946, the NBA of back-in-the day. In 1946 along with a 1992 NYC "Hall of Fame Legend", Sonny Hertzberg, he became a part-time starter on the original N.Y. Knickerbockers. His contract was transferred to the Providence Steamrollers at mid-season but
Providence soon ran out of steam. He spent half a season in the American Basketball Lg. with the Jersey City contingent before leading Cohoes (NY) to a pair of N.Y. State Basketball League, championships in '48 & '49, a NYSFL All-Star both years. It was back to the ABL and the famed Scranton Miners under the direction of "Red" Sarachek, and league titles in '49.50 & 50-51 and an All-Star berth for Hank in '49-50. His last playing stop was Elmira (NY) in the Eastern League in 1951-52. With all that said Rosenstein may best be known by today's hoop aficionados for his coaching acumen. In 1956-57 he delivered back-to-back Eastern League championships to Scranton and mentored the Miners till 1960. In'60-61 he took the well-known N.Y. Tucktapers of the NIBL Industrial Lg to the finals of the National AAU Tournament
It was back to the Eastern Lg. with Williamsport PA in '61-62, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. in '62-63, and Scranton again for the next two seasons guiding them all to Division titles. And he was voted "Coach of the Year" on no less than five occasions: '56-57, '57-58, '61-62, '62-63, and "64-65. Hank is also inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.