Alfred Heerdt

Alfred Heerdt was considered the driving force behind the Buffalo Germans basketball team just after the turn of the 19th century. He served as business manager, coach and was also the club’s primary ball handler and shooter. Heerdt was a Buffalo native who later coached in two early professional basketball leagues. In 1925-26 he coached the Buffalo Bisons in the American Basketball League and in 1937-38 he coached the Buffalo Bisons in the National Basketball League.

Under Heerdt’s guidance, the Buffalo Germans were known for sportsmanship and clean play. He was also a tough-minded businessman who realized that it was better to create a great record against average teams rather than always playing the best competition. Led by Heerdt the Germans won 111 straight games from March 1908, through the middle of the 1910-11 campaign, finally losing to the Oswego Indians of Herkimer, New York. The Buffalo Germans were disbanded in 1925 after compiling a 792-86 record.