Logan Square in Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

The SPHAs Basketball Team

Photographed by Don Morfe, May 17, 2015

1. The SPHAs Basketball Team Marker

Inscription. The South Philadelphia Hebrew Association was a dominant professional team from 1918 to 1959, winning 12 league championships. During its heyday in the 1930s, the team was all Jewish. Owner/coach Eddie Gottlieb was a seminal figure in the establishment of the NBA. Instrumental in the growth of pro basketball in its formative years, in later years the team toured with the Harlem Globetrotters. Home games were played here at the former Broadwood Hotel.

Erected 2013 by Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Religion & Religious Structures • Sports. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1918.

Location. 39° 57.556′ N, 75° 9.74′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in Logan Square. It is on North Broad Street just south of Callowhill Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 322 N Broad St, Philadelphia PA 19102, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally,

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this marker is in Southeast Pennsylvania. It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

New Netherland,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Terminal Commerce Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Inquirer Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Thomas E. Cahill (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Workshop of the World (about 800 feet away); Rail Park (about 800 feet away); NFL Films (approx. 0.2 miles away); Walnut Street (approx. 0.2 miles away); Philadelphia Arts (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.

Photographed by Don Morfe, May 17, 2015

2. The SPHAs Basketball Team Marker

Mural on building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, May 17, 2015

3. Mural on building

The mural is on a building one block north on Broad Street.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 23, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 20, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 690 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 20, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.