Scranton Aces

The Scranton Aces, based in Scranton, Pennsylvania, played one season in the Continental Basketball Association, 1980-81. The club was the old Wilkes-Barre Barons under a new name. Owner Art Pachter changed it in November 1980, hoping a fresh identity would win back fans who had stopped showing up for the Barons and the Scranton Apollos.

The franchise traced its roots to the long-running Eastern league of Pennsylvania. That league had become the CBA in 1978, and by 1980 it was spreading well beyond its small-town Pennsylvania base. Longer trips and higher player salaries pushed costs up for owners like Pachter.

Pete Monska, a longtime Eastern League player and coach who had led Pachter's Barons to the 1978 title, coached the Aces. They played at the Scranton Catholic Youth Center and went 13-27, last in their division. Guard Rory Sparrow was a late find on that roster and later played twelve seasons in the big leagues.

Pachter left the CBA after the season. He said local fans no longer seemed to want professional basketball, and the Aces folded.