Golden Age of Buffalo Sports

When World War II ended in September 1945, Buffalo was the eighth largest city in the United States. Its economy was booming, its population growing, its downtown bustled with commercial activity in the daytime, and lit up with excitement at night. In this setting, sports entered a golden age. During 1945-1950, veterans enrolled in Buffalo’s colleges and universities on the GI Bill, and unprecedented numbers of Buffalonians cheered on George Ratterman, Bob MacKinnon, Leroy Chollet, Zeke Sinicola, Freddie Hunt, and Joe and Phil Muscato. Gorgeous George, Yukon Eric, Howie Willis, and Tom and Phil Colella. They are all here and many more in a thoroughly documented history of postwar sports in Buffalo, New York.