Ed Wachter - HOF BB Players

Ed Wachter
(1883-1966)

Hall of Fame Induction: 1961

Card Shown:
1933 Goudey Sport Kings
(reprint)

Position: C
Height: 6’1″

Ed Wachter played professional basketball in the very early years of the game, from 1899-1924. He never went to high school or college and began his basketball career at only sixteen years of age. At 6’1″, Wachter played center and consistently led his leagues in scoring. Ed had an accurate jump shot and also shot well from the free throw line. He was also a strong defender and rebounder. Wachter played on more championship teams than any other player from his era.

Wachter was a top player for one of the the most successful early pro basketball teams, the Troy Trojans. After his playing career ended, Ed coached at the college level. He also wrote and taught others about the sport. From playing to coaching to writing, Wachter remained active in all aspects of the game of basketball for many years.

Awards and Honors

Wachter is considered to be the best center in the early days of professional basketball.
Ed led the Troy Trojans to five league championships, four of them taking place consecutively. That streak was stopped by the Utica team that featured Hall of Fame players Barney Sedran and Marty Friedman.
The Trojans embarked on a barnstorming tour in 1915 that saw them win all 37 of their games. They traveled as far west as Montana on that trip.
In the 1920s, Ed authored a brochure called, “How to Play Basket Ball.” In it he says that the three keys to successful team basketball are conditioning, teamwork, and spirit. By spirit he meant the confidence and mental strength needed to become a top performing team.
In 1928, Wachter was honored with his inclusion in “Who’s Who in Sports.”

Points of Interest

In 1911-12 Ed and his brother Lew, who both played for the Troy basketball club, introduced a rule that required the fouled player to shoot the free throws. Prior to that time, any player on the team could shoot free throws, regardless of whether or not he was the one that was fouled.
Wachter is believed to be the inventor of the bounce pass, a modification of the original game of basketball that is now fundamental to the way the game is played today.
He also was one of the first players to develop the fast break offense, often throwing long passes down the court before this was common.
Ed was also very interested in the rules of basketball. He campaigned to have one set of rules that would apply to all amateur, college, and pro basketball organizations. In 1927, Ed voiced his opinion against the rule that only allowed players to dribble the ball one time.
After his playing career ended, Wachter coached basketball for 25 years at a number of schools including Albany State Teachers College in New York, Williams College in Massachusetts, and Harvard University in Massachusetts.