Caterpillar Diesels Olympics Basketball

 

1952

In 1952, five basketball players from the Caterpillar Diesels, a team of Caterpillar employees in the National Industrial Basketball League, led the U.S. men’s Olympic basketball team to a gold medal. The Diesels also won three consecutive Amateur Athletic Union tournaments in the 1950s before disbanding in 1960.

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After winning Olympic gold with this ball, the U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team signed their names on it. See if you can find the five members of the Caterpillar Diesels: Frank McCabe, Ron Bontemps, Dan Pippen, Marc Freiberger, and Howie Williams.

basketball

“These men, who built yellow iron by day, were some of the world’s greatest basketball players by night.” — Caterpillar Corporate Archives

USA team that won olympic gold
USA team that won olympic gold

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