Summary: The Chicago American Gears were the city's first basketball champions — until their trophy was taken away, and a team with the makings of a dynasty was forced to disband. Founded in the late 1940s by Maurice White, the owner the Chicago American Gear manufacturing company, NBA legend George Mikan said the Gears were the best team he ever played for. They even won the National Basketball League tournament, but had the title taken away. Larry Potash spoke with the family of Dick Triptow, who played point guard on the Gears, and hoped to keep their memory alive by publishing "The Dynasty That Never Was" before he passed away in 2014. This is the Backstory of the Chicago American Gears.
