Carl Edgel Shaeffer (October 25, 1924 – October 25, 1974) was an American professional basketball player. He played for the Indianapolis Olympians in the National Basketball Association between 1949–50 and 1950–51 after a collegiate career at the University of Alabama.[1] Shaeffer was Alabama's first-ever professional basketball player.[2] He became a businessman in Indianapolis, Indiana after his short-lived NBA career.[2]

Carl Shaeffer
Personal information
Born(1924-10-25)October 25, 1924
Delphi, Indiana
DiedOctober 25, 1974 (aged 50)
Delphi, Indiana
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High schoolDelphi (Delphi, Indiana)
CollegeAlabama (1945–1949)
NBA draft1949: undrafted
PositionForward
Number18
Career history
19491950Indianapolis Olympians
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference

Personal life

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Shaeffer served in the United States Army during World War II and was taken prisoner of war by German forces in Belgium on January 18, 1945.[3] Initially reported missing in action, he was later found to be a prisoner and was released at the end of the war.[3] Following his basketball career, Shaeffer operated a tavern in Brookston, Indiana.[3] He committed suicide by shooting himself on his 50th birthday in 1974.[3]

Career statistics

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Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

Source[4]

Regular season

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Year Team GP FG% FT% RPG APG PPG
1949–50 Indianapolis 43 .369 .561 .9 3.5
1950–51 Indianapolis 10 .273 1.000 1.0 .6 1.5
Career 53 .357 .583 1.0 .9 3.1

Playoffs

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Year Team GP FG% FT% APG PPG
1949–50 Indianapolis 6 .333 .000 1.2 3.5

References

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  1. ^ "Carl Shaeffer NBA/ABA stats". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  2. ^ a b Millburg, Steve (2013). Gone Pro Alabama: Crimson Athletes Who Became Pros (2nd ed.). Covington, Kentucky: Clerisy Press. p. 311. ISBN 978-1-57860-525-5.
  3. ^ a b c d "Carl Shaeffer". Peach Basket Society. July 28, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  4. ^ "Carl Shaeffer". Basketball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved February 12, 2023.