Mel Riebe

Melvin Russell Riebe (July 12, 1916 – July 25, 1977) was an American professional basketball player.

Mel Riebe

Riebe in 1948
Personal information
Born	(1916-07-12)July 12, 1916 Cleveland, Ohio
Died	July 25, 1977(1977-07-25) (aged 61)
Nationality	American
Listed height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Listed weight	180 lb (82 kg)
Career information
High school	Euclid (Cleveland, Ohio)
Playing career	1943–1949
Position	Guard / forward
Number	3, 7, 9, 5
Career history
1943–1944	Cleveland Chase Brassmen
1944–1945	Cleveland Allmen Transfers
1946–1947	Cleveland Rebels
1947–1949	Boston Celtics
1949	Providence Steamrollers
Career highlights and awards
2× All-NBL First Team (1944, 1945) NBL Rookie of the Year (1944) 2× NBL scoring champion (1944, 1945)
Stats at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball Reference

A 5'11" guard-forward who also played minor league baseball in the Cleveland Indians' organization, Riebe played professionally in both the National Basketball League (1943–1945) and the Basketball Association of America (1946–1949), finishing his career with two seasons with the Boston Celtics. He led the NBL in scoring twice, averaging 17.9 points per game during the 1943–44 season and 20.2 points per game the following year as a member of the Cleveland Chase Brassmen and the Cleveland Allmen Transfers.

From 1950 to 1954 he attended the College of Wooster, where he was ineligible to play basketball or baseball due to his professional experience but played on the golf team. He spent the rest of his life as a football and basketball coach, athletic director, and physical education teacher at Waynedale High School in Apple Creek, Ohio.

Riebe's brother, Hank Riebe, was a catcher in Major League Baseball from 1942 to 1949.

BAA career statistics

Legend
GP	Games played	FG%	Field-goal percentage
FT%	Free-throw percentage	APG	Assists per game
PPG	Points per game	Bold	Career high

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	FG%	FT%	APG	PPG
1946–47	Cleveland	55	.307	.642	1.2	12.1
1947–48	Boston	48	.309	.620	.9	10.2
1948–49	Boston	33	.291	.603	2.9	11.0
1948–49	Providence	10	.295	.529	.9	6.1
Career		146	.304	.621	1.5	10.8

Playoffs

Year	Team	GP	FG%	FT%	APG	PPG
1947	Cleveland	3	.243	.500	.7	7.0
1948	Boston	3	.326	.700	1.0	14.0
Career		6	.288	.654	.8	10.5

External links

• Career statistics from NBA.com  and Basketball Reference