Joe Patanelli
American basketball and baseball player (1919–1998)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Joseph Mathew Patanelli (September 18, 1919 – August 18, 1998) was an American professional basketball and minor league baseball player.[1][2] He played for the Toledo Jeeps and Minneapolis Lakers in the National Basketball League and averaged 3.6 points per game.[1][3] He also played for the Kansas City Blues in the Professional Basketball League of America during the 1947–48 season.[2]
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 18, 1919 Elkhart, Indiana, U.S. |
| Died | August 18, 1998 (aged 78) Elkhart, Indiana, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Listed weight | 205 lb (93 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Elkhart (Elkhart, Indiana) |
| Position | Forward |
| Career history | |
| 1946–1947 | Toledo Jeeps |
| 1947 | Minneapolis Lakers |
| 1947–1948 | Kansas City Blues |
Patanelli was offered an athletic scholarship to play football for Indiana University but did not finish his education, having to return home following the death of his father.[2] He never played for the school's basketball team.[2]
In addition to basketball, Patanelli played minor league baseball for four years – three for Chicago White Sox-affiliated teams, and one affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds.[4] He competed for the Wisconsin Rapids White Sox (1946), Fall River Indians (1947), Superior Blues (1948), and Rockford Rox (1948).[4] In 368 career games, Patanelli batted .258 and hit 16 home runs.[4]
His older brother was Matt Patanelli, a standout football player for the University of Michigan.[2]