They may be old, but they are better than you. When Pudgy Hunt, the owner of the East Bank Saloon on Portland’s Grand Avenue decided to start sponsoring master’s basketball teams, he started a dynasty.

It didn’t hurt to have 6’11” former Trail Blazer LeRoy Ellis on the roster for 21 years. East Bank Saloon won 17 AAU national age group championships during that stretch as well as a slew of world masters titles.

In 1985, the heart of the team was in the 45-year-old category. That’s young for masters. As time passed, East Bank Saloon kept winning as they made their way through the age groups, ending in 2006 as 65 and overs at the Pan Am Games in Brazil.

The success of these teams drew other retired professional and elite athletes including Jim Barnett, Frank Peters, Jim Pritchard and Jim Ewers. Pudgy Hunt, a former Knappa High School and Gonzaga player played well into his 60’s. Other not-so-well known players were working men enjoying the game. Most East Bank players kept playing all year round to stay in shape.

Other than titles, AAU records are few and far between. Hunt once said he guessed the Saloon won 80% of it’s games over 20+ years.

It was LeRoy Ellis who was the heart and soul of the teams. He showed his grit playing 14 years in the NBA and stayed in excellent shape, dominating the middle in the AAU ranks into his 60’s. Ellis is in the record books for highest scoring games in multiple tournament championships.

The East Bank Saloon has closed its doors for good, it was always a great meeting place for sports fans and a popular Trail Blazer pre-game gathering place.

The memories will last along with the excellence of these teams. We welcome East Bank Saloon Basketball to the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2018.

Some of the East Bank Saloon members through the years included:  Jim Anderson, Kelly Baker, Brian Barnes, Jim Barnett, Dan Beeson, Jim Brockman, Dave Egelhoff, Jack Forde, Ed Fredenburg, Jack Gilbert, Ed Grossenbacher, Tom Hart, Bob “Pudgy” Hunt, Terry Jackson, Jim Jarvis, Bill Jennings, Ken Jernstedt, Dave Kafoury, Kevin Kelly, Ron Koski, Tom Levak, Nep Lynch, John McIntyre, John Melonas, John Murray, Gorham Nicol, Jim Nielsen, Dennis Oman, Steve Pauly, Frank Peters, Wayne Roberts, Jack Rust, Bill Stoller, Harrison Voigt, John Wagg, Roger Williams, Karl Wustrack, Rod Young, and Gary Ziak.