Franklin Wonder Five
Encyclopedia
The Franklin Wonder Five was a 1920s basketball team from Indiana's "Hoosier Hysteria
" era. With basketball
king in Indiana, the team from Franklin
was dubbed the “Wonder Five”. This small town about 20 miles south of Indianapolis
produced a team that captured the Indiana State Basketball Championship three years in succession, 1920-1922. They became national college champions in 1923, playing with Franklin College and staying undefeated against teams from major universities. While they passed on a match with the New York Celtics
, they twice defeated the professional team of the Omars from Detroit, Michigan
.
The “Wonder Five” team took on those of large universities, including Notre Dame
, Illinois, Purdue
, and Wisconsin. The team was undefeated in its first college season of 1922-23 and became national champions. It was not until February 1924 that the team suffered its first defeat, by Butler University
, ending a string of 50 consecutive victories over a 2-season span.
After ending the 1923 season undefeated, the "Wonder Five" were proclaimed nationally; the Detroit Free Press
wrote: "Not only has this team been the best Franklin College ever had, but it is considered as the best collegiate team ever seen in Hoosier
dom, the basketball center of the world." Later Coach Wagner turned down an offer to play the New York Celtics
, the top professional team in the nation, saying his team was "ready for a rest".
The leading scorer on the Wonder Five was "Fuzzy" Vandivier
. In 1924, the Chicago Tribune
named him one of the "Five Best Players" in the nation. Coach John Wooden
, of UCLA fame, considered Fuzzy the greatest high school basketball player he had ever seen. After graduation, Vandivier returned to Franklin High School as the basketball coach. In 1939 he led the team to a runner-up in the state basketball tournament. He retired from coaching in 1944 but continued as the school's athletic director, as well as teaching history.
Since the years of the "Wonder Five", the Franklin High School team took the nickname of Grizzly Cubs, and Franklin College athletic teams took the Grizzly Bears, both in honor of "Griz" Wagner. In 1980, Franklin College unveiled a banner proclaiming the "Wonder Five" as national college champions of 1923.
Hoosier Hysteria
Hoosier Hysteria is the state of excitement surrounding basketball in Indiana, or more specifically the Indiana high school basketball tournament. In part, the excitement stemmed from the inclusion of all tournament entrants into the same tournament, where a small town's David might knock off a...
" era. With basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
king in Indiana, the team from Franklin
Franklin, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 19,463 people, 6,824 households, and 4,872 families residing in the city. The population increased by more than 50% during the 1990s , with new residents attracted by jobs in the community, as well as some people commuting to Indianapolis for work. The...
was dubbed the “Wonder Five”. This small town about 20 miles south of Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
produced a team that captured the Indiana State Basketball Championship three years in succession, 1920-1922. They became national college champions in 1923, playing with Franklin College and staying undefeated against teams from major universities. While they passed on a match with the New York Celtics
Original Celtics
The Original Celtics were a barnstorming professional basketball team in the 1920s. There is no relation to the modern Boston Celtics. The Original Celtics are often credited with extending the reach of basketball across America and for establishing the importance of aggressive defensive play...
, they twice defeated the professional team of the Omars from Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
.
History
The boys had started playing together as children and developed synergy. In high school, they thrived under the coaching of Ernest "Griz" Wagner and had a 104 to 10 win/loss record in their four years. After their high school successes, most members of the team followed Wagner to Franklin College, where he became basketball coach. At the time, total enrollment of the college was around 350 students.The “Wonder Five” team took on those of large universities, including Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
, Illinois, Purdue
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
, and Wisconsin. The team was undefeated in its first college season of 1922-23 and became national champions. It was not until February 1924 that the team suffered its first defeat, by Butler University
Butler University
Butler University is a private university located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 1855 and named after founder Ovid Butler, the university offers 60 degree programs to 4,400 students through six colleges: business, communication, education, liberal Arts and sciences, pharmacy and health...
, ending a string of 50 consecutive victories over a 2-season span.
After ending the 1923 season undefeated, the "Wonder Five" were proclaimed nationally; the Detroit Free Press
Detroit Free Press
The Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. The Sunday edition is entitled the Sunday Free Press. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep"...
wrote: "Not only has this team been the best Franklin College ever had, but it is considered as the best collegiate team ever seen in Hoosier
Hoosier
Hoosier is the official demonym for a resident of the U.S. state of Indiana. Although residents of most U.S. states typically adopt a derivative of the state name, e.g., "Indianan" or "Indianian", natives of Indiana rarely use these. Indiana adopted the nickname "Hoosier State" more than 150...
dom, the basketball center of the world." Later Coach Wagner turned down an offer to play the New York Celtics
Original Celtics
The Original Celtics were a barnstorming professional basketball team in the 1920s. There is no relation to the modern Boston Celtics. The Original Celtics are often credited with extending the reach of basketball across America and for establishing the importance of aggressive defensive play...
, the top professional team in the nation, saying his team was "ready for a rest".
The leading scorer on the Wonder Five was "Fuzzy" Vandivier
Fuzzy Vandivier
Robert P. "Fuzzy" Vandivier was a well-known high school and collegiate basketball player during the 1920s...
. In 1924, the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
named him one of the "Five Best Players" in the nation. Coach John Wooden
John Wooden
John Robert Wooden was an American basketball player and coach. Nicknamed the "Wizard of Westwood", he won ten NCAA national championships in a 12-year period — seven in a row — as head coach at UCLA, an unprecedented feat. Within this period, his teams won a record 88 consecutive games...
, of UCLA fame, considered Fuzzy the greatest high school basketball player he had ever seen. After graduation, Vandivier returned to Franklin High School as the basketball coach. In 1939 he led the team to a runner-up in the state basketball tournament. He retired from coaching in 1944 but continued as the school's athletic director, as well as teaching history.
Since the years of the "Wonder Five", the Franklin High School team took the nickname of Grizzly Cubs, and Franklin College athletic teams took the Grizzly Bears, both in honor of "Griz" Wagner. In 1980, Franklin College unveiled a banner proclaiming the "Wonder Five" as national college champions of 1923.
In popular culture
- 1986, Phillip Ellett wrote a history of the team, entitled The Franklin Wonder Five: A Complete History of the Legendary Basketball Team.