Ernie Calverley
A flashy playmaker who led the BAA in assists as a rookie and authored one of college basketball's most famous half-court shots.
1924–2003 (age 79)·American basketball player and coach·Birthday: January 30·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Ernie Calverley was a basketball savant whose slight frame—he was famously listed at 5'10" and 140 pounds—belied a giant's impact on the game. At the University of Rhode Island, he became a national sensation in 1946 when he sank a 55-foot, two-handed set shot at the buzzer to force overtime in the National Invitation Tournament, a moment still replayed in montages of college basketball lore. He turned professional with the hometown Providence Steamrollers in the fledgling Basketball Association of America, the precursor to the NBA. In his debut season, Calverley's wizardry with the ball led the entire league in assists, earning him a spot on the All-BAA Second Team. His professional career was brief, cut short by the league's instability, but he transitioned seamlessly into a long and respected coaching tenure at his alma mater, URI, where he mentored future stars. Calverley's story is that of a local hero who operated with a point guard's vision, creating opportunities for others and seizing a legendary moment for himself.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Ernie was born in 1924, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ernie Was Born
The biggest hits of 1924
#1 Movie
The Sea Hawk
Ernie's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1924Born
First Winter Olympics held in Chamonix, France
President: Calvin Coolidge"It Had to Be You" — Isham Jones
1929Started school
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1937Became a teenager
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1940Could drive
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1942Could vote
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1945Turned 21
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1954Turned 30
Brown v. Board of Education desegregates US schools
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $8,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Little Things Mean a Lot" — Kitty KallenBest Picture: On the Waterfront
1964Turned 40
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1974Turned 50
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1984Turned 60
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1994Turned 70
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2003Died at 79
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Key Achievements
- Led the Basketball Association of America (BAA) in assists during his rookie 1946-47 season.
- Named to the All-BAA Second Team in 1947 for his playmaking prowess with the Providence Steamrollers.
- Earned All-American honors while playing for the University of Rhode Island.
- Executed a famed 55-foot game-tying shot in the 1946 NIT, a landmark moment in college basketball history.
Did You Know?
His legendary half-court shot in the 1946 NIT was a two-handed set shot, not a modern jump shot.
He served as head coach of the University of Rhode Island men's basketball team from 1958 to 1968.
Despite his professional success, his listed playing weight was a mere 140 pounds.
He spent his entire three-year BAA/NBA career with the Providence Steamrollers.
“I just let it go and hoped for the best.”
