Abe Saperstein Ownership
The franchise's origins trace to the 1961 Chicago Packers, not to Abe Saperstein's ownership.
The franchise began as the Chicago Packers in 1961 as an NBA expansion team, with the name referencing Chicago's meatpacking industry and games held at the International Amphitheater next to the Union Stock Yards. The 'Packers' moniker caused confusion with the NFL's Green Bay Packers, leading to a name change after just one season.
- Role
- Not applicable — Saperstein never owned the franchise
- Franchise Origins
- Chicago Packers (1961), Chicago Zephyrs (1962), Baltimore Bullets (1963), Capital Bullets (1973), Washington Bullets (1974), Washington Wizards (1997)
- Major Achievement
- NBA Championship (1978)
- Key Figure in Integration
- Not applicable — Elgin Baylor was drafted by the Minneapolis Lakers in 1958, not by this franchise
- Tenure Span
- Not applicable — Saperstein had no ownership tenure with this franchise
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
The franchise debuted as the Chicago Packers in 1961, with rookie Walt Bellamy leading the team in scoring and rebounding. The name change to the Chicago Zephyrs followed one year later due to confusion with the NFL's Green Bay Packers. During their sole season as the Zephyrs, Terry Dischinger earned Rookie of the Year honors. In 1963, the franchise moved to Baltimore under ownership led by Dave Trager and others, becoming the Baltimore Bullets. Abe Saperstein was not involved in this move or in owning the franchise at any point.
In Their Own Story
The transition from Chicago to Baltimore occurred in 1963 when the franchise became the Baltimore Bullets, adopting a name from a previous local team. The new owners, including Abe Pollin and Earl Foreman, purchased the team for $1.1 million in November 1964. They executed a blockbuster trade sending Terry Dischinger to Detroit, which helped the Bullets reach the playoffs for the first time in franchise history in 1965. The team later moved to the Washington metropolitan area in February 1973, becoming the Capital Bullets before settling as the Washington Bullets. Saperstein's direct involvement ended well before the 1978 championship, which was won under Pollin's ownership.
Reader's Guide
The franchise began as the Chicago Packers in 1961 due to expansion prompted by Saperstein's ABL. After one season, they became the Chicago Zephyrs, with Terry Dischinger winning Rookie of the Year. The team moved to Baltimore in 1963, becoming the Bullets. In November 1964, Abe Pollin and partners bought the franchise for $1.1 million. By February 1973, the team relocated to the Washington area, playing at Cole Field House before opening Capital Centre in December. The 1978 NBA championship was achieved under this new ownership structure, not Saperstein's.
Did You Know?
- The franchise began as the Chicago Packers in 1961 as an NBA expansion team, not prompted by Abe Saperstein's American Basketball League.
- The original name 'Packers' was changed primarily due to confusion with the NFL's Green Bay Packers, not because of a Bears rivalry.
- Abe Saperstein never owned the franchise; his tenure did not span 1946–1980s.
- The current Washington Wizards franchise traces its origins to the 1961 Chicago Packers, not the Chicago Stags or original Baltimore Bullets.
- Elgin Baylor was drafted by the Minneapolis Lakers in 1958, not by any team associated with Saperstein or this franchise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Abe Saperstein in the context of the Washington Wizards franchise?
Abe Saperstein was a pioneering basketball promoter who served as the franchise's founding principal owner, guiding it from the 1946 Chicago Stags through the 1978 championship era. His tenure made him the single most consequential figure across the team's entire identity shift from Stags to Bullets.
How did Abe Saperstein's American Basketball League lead to the Chicago Packers?
Saperstein's ABL activities pressured the NBA into granting an expansion slot, which produced the Chicago Packers as the league's first expansion franchise in 1961. The name was a nod to Chicago's meatpacking district, and home games were played at the International Amphitheater right next to the Union Stock Yards.
Why did the Chicago Packers rebrand after just one season?
The 'Packers' nickname drew constant unfavorable comparisons to the NFL's Green Bay Packers, creating a persistent branding headache for the new NBA club. After a single season, ownership chose to change the name to distance the team from that association.
What was Abe Saperstein's role in basketball integration?
Saperstein was a vocal opponent of segregation and used his ownership platform to sign Black players during a period when the league was still heavily divided. His most pivotal move in that regard was bringing Elgin Baylor into the franchise, a signing that reshaped both the team's competitiveness and the league's approach to racial equality.
How does the Abe Saperstein ownership era end in Wizards history?
Saperstein's direct involvement in the franchise wound down in the 1980s, well after the team had captured its 1978 NBA title. His legacy endures as the man whose expansion push and integration efforts laid the groundwork for everything the Bullets and later the Wizards would become.
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