Ben Berger

Berger was born in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, Congress Poland and moved to the United States at age 16 in 1913 settling in Fargo, North Dakota.^[1] He became a U.S. citizen while serving in World War I.^[1] In 1921, he purchased his first movie house in Grand Forks, North Dakota which evolved into a chain of 19 theaters.^[1] In 1944, he bought Schiek's Cafe, a popular local nightclub.^[1]

In 1947, he along with Morris Chalfen bought the Detroit Gems of the National Basketball League (NBL). They relocated and renamed the team the Minneapolis Lakers.^[2][3] He co-owned the team until 1957. During those years the Lakers won six league titles (1 NBL and 5 BAA/NBA). They sold the team in 1957.

In the late 1950s, Berger was the owner and president of the minor league hockey team, the Minneapolis Millers.^[1]

His wife was Mildred Berger.^[4]

Mimi Ajzenstadt is the Mildred and Benjamin Berger Chair in Criminology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.^[5]

In February 1988, Berger suffered a stroke and died a week later at Mount Sinai Hospital in Minneapolis.^[4]