Bulbs Ehlers

Edwin S. “Bulbs” Ehlers was an American professional basketball player. Ehlers was drafted third overall in the 1947 Basketball Association of America Draft by the Boston Celtics, which was the first official NBA Draft ever held. In two seasons in the league, both with the Celtics, Ehlers averaged 8.1 points per game.

Prior to professional basketball, Ehlers had grown up in South Bend, Indiana and attended South Bend Central High School. While there, he played basketball for future Hall of Fame player and coach John Wooden. Ehlers then played basketball, football, and baseball at Purdue University.

Aside from being the Celtics’ first ever draft pick, the National Football League’s Chicago Bears selected him in the 31st round (293rd overall) in the 1947 NFL Draft. The New York Yankees of Major League Baseball also drafted him. He spent five seasons playing minor league baseball: three seasons with the Yankees and two with the Chicago Cubs. He spent the majority of his career at the AAA level, playing for such teams as the Kansas City Blues, Newark Bears and the Springfield Cubs.

He is unique in being a member of both the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame (1980) and the Indiana Football Hall of Fame (1985).