PLAYER PROFILE

CHARLIE KLEIN

STATISTICS & HISTORY

Charlie Klein  was  one of the first great long distance set shooters in the pro game. In 1896, Klein  debuted with the South End Athletic Club  in the powerful Trenton city  league.  By 1897-98, he was the top scorer on the mighty Trenton Athletic Club which compiled 27-1 record.  When the National Basketball League formed the following season, Klein was among the most sought after players, but he signed instead with the independent Mercer County Wheelman. Klein finally joined the NBL in 1899, when he signed with the new Bristol entry. Klein led the NBL for the next three seasons in field goals. During the 1901-02 season, Klein teamed with Harry Hough to bring the NBL title to Bristol. When the NBL folded in 1903, Klein declined high- paying opportunities to play professionally in Massachusetts in order to remain in the Trenton area where he had embarked on a career in banking. When the Central Basketball League was formed in 1906, Klein again was besieged with offers to move west and play in the new major-league circuit, but once again declined. Klein continued to work in the banking business and remained active playing with independent teams around Trenton. When the Eastern Basketball League was formed in 1909-10, Klein signed with his hometown team. He finished third in the league in field goals and was a key element in Trenton’s capture of the championship. Klein sacrificed many of his prime years as a player to establish himself in business. Despite his relatively few active seasons, he deserves to be remembered as one of the first great offensive stars of the early pro game.

 

CHARLIE KLEIN Height: 5:07 Weight: 135 College: None
Charles Louis Klein Born: Dec 9, 1879 Died:  Dec 24, 1973 Hometown: Trenton, NJ
Brother of Harry Klein REGULAR SEASON RECORD
Year Team League     GA FGM  FTM   FTA  PCT.  AST  PTS AVG
1896-97 Chambersburg South End AC Indep
1807-98 Trenton Trentons Indep
1898-99 Mercer County Wheelmen Indep
1899-00 Bristol NBL 24 88 12 188 7.8
1900-01 Bristol NBL 28 121 17 259 9.3
1901-02 Bristol NBL 39 145 73 363 9.3
1902-03 BristolBurlington NBL 21 120 96 336 16.0
1903-04 Trenton ABL 1 6 5 17 17.0
1904-05 Trenton Indep
1905-06 Trenton YMCA Indep
1906-07 Trenton Indep
1907-08 Trenton Indep
1908-09 Trenton Nationals Indep
1908-09 De Neri PBL 12 27 14 68 5.7
1909-10 Trenton EBL 25 90 0 180 7.2
1910-11 Trenton EBL 3 4 0 8 2.7
Major League Totals 152 595 212 1402 9.2

 

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