Chuck Hanger

Charles E. Hanger (February 23, 1924 – July 23, 1995) was an American basketball player, known for his career as a collegian at the University of California, Berkeley (Cal) and as an All-American player in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

Chuck Hanger
Personal information
Born(1924-02-23)February 23, 1924
DiedJuly 23, 1995(1995-07-23) (aged 71)
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Career information
High schoolBerkeley (Berkeley, California)
CollegeCalifornia (1942–1943, 1946–1948)
BAA draft1948 / Round: 1 / Pick: 9th overall
Selected by the Minneapolis Lakers
PositionForward
Career history
1948–1949Oakland Bittners
1949–1952Oakland Blue n' Gold Atlas
Career highlights and awards

Hanger attended Berkeley High School in Berkeley, California before moving to hometown Cal.[1] After playing his first two seasons at Cal, Hanger enlisted in the United States Army in 1943 to fight in World War II.[2] While in combat in Belgium, Hanger was captured on December 19, 1944 and held until released by American forces in April, 1945.[3] Following his service, Hanger returned to the Bears' lineup for the 1946–47 and 1947–48 seasons. As a senior, he was honored as an All-Pacific Coast Conference selection alongside teammate Andy Wolfe.[4]

Following the close of his college career, Hanger was drafted by the Minneapolis Lakers in the 1948 BAA draft. However, he decided to instead play closer to home in the AAU, which was a common route for players of his generation. The 6'6" forward played for the Oakland Bittners and Oakland Blue n' Gold Atlas for four seasons. He won an AAU championship alongside Hall of Fame player Don Barksdale with the Bittners in 1949 and was twice named an AAU All-American (in 1949 and 1950).[5]

After leaving basketball, Hanger was an attorney in the Bay Area for over 30 years. He died on July 23, 1995.[3]

References
  1. "Berkeley comes through". Fresno Bee. January 29, 1948. p. 19. Retrieved December 30, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Chuck Hanger, Bear cage ace, to join Army Jan. 25". Oakland Tribune. January 7, 1943. p. 24. Retrieved December 30, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Obituary -- Charles E. Hanger". San Francisco Chronicle. July 27, 1995. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
  4. "Bears edge out Washington in first playoff". San Mateo Times. March 13, 1948. p. 5. Retrieved December 30, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. Grundman, Adolph (January 2004). "The Golden Age Of Amateur Basketball: The AAU Tournament, 1921–1968, pages 124, 142". University of Nebraska Press.
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