Pittsburgh Triangles

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Pittsburgh Triangles
PittsburghTrianglesWTTlogo.jpg
FoundedMay 22, 1973 (1973-5-22)
Folded1976
League World TeamTennis
Team historyPittsburgh Triangles
1974 – 1976
Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Stadium Civic Arena
ColorsBright Yellow and Green
OwnerFrank Fuhrer (majority)
Chuck Reichblum (minority)
William Sutton (minority)
PresidentChuck Reichblum
Head coach Ken Rosewall (1974)
Vic Edwards (1975)
Mark Cox (1976)
Dan McGibbeny (1976)
General managerChuck Reichblum
Championships1975
Division titles1975
Playoff berths1974, 1975, 1976

The Pittsburgh Triangles were a charter franchise of World Team Tennis (WTT). The Triangles won the 1975 WTT Championship. The team folded after the 1976 season.

Contents

Team history

The Triangles were founded in 1973 as a charter member of WTT by Century Features, Inc. owner Charles "Chuck" Reichblum (later popularly known as "Dr. Knowledge"), [1] industrialist John H. Hillman III, and lawyer William "Bill" Sutton. [2] In 1972, the three Pittsburgh executives had previously founded the similar National Tennis League (NTL), a forerunner to WTT and Reichblum's brainchild, which was made redundant by the advent of WTT (founding members of which had been invited to join the NTL prior to formation of the competing WTT in 1973). [3] [4]

The team began play in WTT's inaugural 1974 season. Just prior to the start of the Triangles' initial season, on May 1, 1974, Fox Chapel insurance broker, sports promoter, and financier Frank B. Fuhrer purchased a controlling interest in the team. Fuhrer was elected the team's chairman. Reichblum remained president and general manager. Sutton remained part of the ownership group and was re-elected as the team's secretary-treasurer and general counsel. [5]

The Triangles played their home matches at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. During their first season, the Triangles, clad in bright yellow and green uniforms, played in the WTT Eastern Division with teams from Philadelphia, Boston, New York, Baltimore, Detroit, Cleveland, and Toronto-Buffalo. The Triangles folded following the 1976 season.

Coaching

The Australian tennis star Ken Rosewall coached the original Pittsburgh Triangles team in 1974. Rosewall's top players were Evonne Goolagong, who had already captured her first Wimbledon singles title in 1971, and young phenom Vitas Gerulaitis. Vitas, nicknamed the Lithuanian Lion, had recently won the West Penn Open in Mt. Lebanon and would go on to win the 1975 Wimbledon men's doubles crown (with Sandy Mayer) and the 1977 Australian Open men's singles title.

Players

Squad 1974

Evonne Goolagong was not allowed to participate in the 1974 French Open due to her association with WTT and the Triangles. [6] [7]

Squad 1975

Two days after winning the WTT championship Fuhrer traded Kim Warwick and Rayni Fox to the Cleveland Nets for Sue Stap.

Squad 1976

With Goolagong-Cawley signed for the 1976 season, Mark Cox was elevated to the Triangles' player-coach. The Triangles also recruited college star JoAnne Russell and Bernard Mitton. Midway through the 1976 season the recently acquired Sue Stap was traded for Nancy Gunter.

Results

References

  1. ↑ McCoy, Adrian "Person of interest: Charles Reichblum (Dr. Knowledge)", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, January 15, 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Next in Pittsburgh Pro Sports—'Triangles': Net Loop Begins Play Next May". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . May 23, 1973. p. 30. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  3. ↑ AP "Plans for Pro Tennis League", The Daily Times, Salisbury, Maryland, October 5, 1972, page 20. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  4. ↑ Shrum, Rick "Love Triangles: Pittsburgh adored its World Team Tennis franchise", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, September 10, 2000. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Controlling Interest". The Hour . Norwalk, Connecticut. May 2, 1974. p. 33. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  6. ↑ John Barrett, ed. (1975). World of Tennis '75. London: Queen Anne Press. pp. 15–17. ISBN   9780362002171.
  7. ↑ "Connors, Goolagong 'Can't Play'". The Palm Beach Post. May 22, 1974.
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