Team owner Carl DeAngelo had everything in place. He assembled a basketball team that would commence play in the Eastern Pro League, beginning with the 1955-56 season. The team would be the league's first New Jersey-based franchise, and early newspaper reports mentioned that the Capitols might just be the dominant cagers in the Eastern League.
There was just one small problem.
The Capitols needed a court.
The original plan was to play Sunday night contests at Trenton High School, but the Trenton school board vetoed the idea of having a professional squad playing sports in a school building. After the initial rejection by the school board, DeAngelo postponed his opening day games, and came back to the school board with a counterproposal that would donate all profits over his operating expenses, plus $70 to the charity of the board's choice.
The school board reaffirmed its decision, returning a 5-0 verdict barring the Capitols from playing at Trenton High School or at any other school facility.
DeAngelo tried to relocate his team to Bristol, Pa., but only played two games in that town (one at Delhaas High School, the other at a fire company gymnasium) before giving up. The Capitols played sporadically, honoring its road commitments while postponing home games.
By January 1956, DeAngelo had divested himself of the franchise, a Trenton franchise that didn't even play a single game in the Garden State. The team's lowest point occurred on January 29, 1956, when three of the Capitols were involved in a car crash on an icy highway. One of the Capitols, Andy McGowan, suffered body bruises, while the other two players, Bob "Zeke" Zawoluk and Sal Amodio, escaped injuries and were able to make the game at Hazleton - a game in which the Capitols lost, 110-95.
One week later, the Capitols were replaced, as the Harlem Yankees, a touring team owned by Art Josephs, finished the season. The Capitols players were declared free agents, and several of them finished the season with other clubs.
Regular Season Standings
EPBL STATISTICS
W L PCT GB Result
1955-1956 1 11 .091 xx relocated in mid-season
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Home Courts: |
| ALL-STAR GAME: Never hosted. | |
PLAYOFFSEASTERN PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL LEAGUE 1955-1956 relocated in mid-season | |