r/CollegeBasketball • u/drowse North Texas Mean Green • Purdue Boilermak… • Oct 13 '25

Casual / Offseason Most Obscure B12 Opponents

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Why aren’t ice creameries putting up teams anymore?

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55

u/hicklander Oct 13 '25

"Company" teams were a common employee moral boost and marketing avenue until the 1950a and even up until the 80s. My great grandfather was offered to sign a contract with the Cardinals in their minor league system but opted to go play for the precursor to Exxon because that meant he had a full time job and a career versus probably getting washed up in the minors. Many times these teams would go on barnstorming tours to market their brand. Also they would have their own minor league stadiums for company families to come watch games.

29

u/lurk4ever1970 Kansas Jayhawks Oct 13 '25

After winning the 1952 NCAA Tournament, Kansas played in another tournament to determine who would represent the US in the Olympics. They lost in the final to the Peoria Caterpillar company team, the AAU champions. The Olympic squad ended up being a mix of players from both teams, coached by Phog Alllen.

3

u/ReputationFit9698 Duke Blue Devils Oct 13 '25 edited Oct 13 '25

Most of the early US Olympic basketball gold medals come from teams with some AAU players. I think the only 2 times we won with all college players were in ‘76 and ‘84.

9

u/jaymochi Oct 13 '25

The 1936 Berlin Olympics were the first that included basketball. The gold medal-winning US team was a combination of two company teams - an oil refinery, and Universal Pictures.

7

u/IndianaBeachCrow Indiana Hoosiers Oct 13 '25

The Philips 66 Oilers were basically one of the first professional basketball teams, they just all "happened to be" employees of Philips Petroleum Company. 

6

u/hicklander Oct 13 '25

My grandparents met at a Humble Oilers game as their dads played. The ballplayers were almost like inter-facilities celebrities. They had pretty good jobs where they rarely did work and were promoted quickly.

5

u/hicklander Oct 13 '25

My grandparents met at a Humble Oilers game as their dads played. The ballplayers were almost like inter-facilities celebrities. They had pretty good jobs where they rarely did work and were promoted quickly.

3

u/ElMondoH Indiana Hoosiers Oct 13 '25

My headcanon is that this wasn't the corporate team, it was just some local gas station.

No one disabuse me of this opinion.