Henry Arcado Biasatti was a Canadian National Basketball Association player. He was also a Major League Baseball first batsman. Born in Beano in Italy, he is known as the only Canadian who had played at the top professional level in both basketball and baseball.
Biasatti grew up in Windsor in Ontario where he practiced and became a star basketball player at the Gordon McGregor Continuation School and Assumption College High School. He even played baseball for the East Windsor Cubs. Later on, he played both baseball and basketball at the Windsor’s Assumption College.
Whilst playing baseball in 1946, he was invited to attend the inaugural training camp of the Toronto Huskies. The inauguration was to prepare for the first season of the Basketball Association of America that actually evolved into NBA. Henry was the only player who made the team. He played almost six games for the Huskies which also included the BAA ’s first game in 1946. Because of his appearance, the NBA mentions him as the first international player in the history of the league.
| Position | Point Guard |
| Born | 14 Jan 1922 |
| Nationality |
United States
|
| Nickname | Hank |
| Team History | |
Toronto Huskies
|
1947 - 1948 |
Biasatti told his team that his top priority was baseball after which they gave him an outright release. He went ahead to attend the training camp for the Philadelphia Athletics. Subsequently, he was picked by the Boston Celtics team during the BAA draft in 1947, which he never joined.
This five feet 11 inches athlete weighed 175 lbs. During his basketball career, at the age of 25, he played for the Toronto Huskies Roster team. During this period, he played around six games with 6 points and free throw of 2.
Biasatti was also the player and the manager of the Waterloo Tigers team in 1953. This team played for the Intercounty Baseball League. Biasatti played first base and managed the Drummondville A’s team in 1954 of the Provincial League. He also managed the Lancaster Red Roses team of the Piedmont League in Class B.
Biasatti became the head basketball coach at the Assumption University in 1956. During his first season, he guided the team to the Ontario-Quebec Senior Intercollegiate Basketball League championship. For consecutive six seasons, he was the head coach and guided the OQAA team championship in the 1958-1959 season.
