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Jocko Collins

1905 – 1986

American basketball player

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About Jocko Collins

Lived 1905 – 1986 (aged 80). Jocko Collins was an American scout, basketball player, baseball player, basketball coach and basketball official.

John P. ("Jocko") Collins (November 13, 1905 – March 2, 1986) was a professional basketball referee, and a baseball scout for the Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants, Houston Astros, Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, and Milwaukee Brewers. He was supervisor of officials for the National Basketball Association (NBA) for 12 years, until he was fired in 1961. As a baseball scout, he was credited with finding and signing players (and future executives) such as Del Ennis, Tommy Lasorda, Dallas Green, Bob Bailor, Dick Allen, and Dave May.

Collins was born in New York City and raised in the Port Richmond neighborhood of Philadelphia. He attended Saint Joseph's Preparatory School and Saint Joseph's College, where he was captain of the baseball and basketball teams and graduated in 1927. He also served as a high school basketball coach and scouted for the Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA. He died in Philadelphia in 1986 at the age of 80.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Scout, basketball player, baseball player, basketball coach, basketball official
Nationality
Education
Saint Joseph's University, St. Joseph's Preparatory School

People in Jocko Collins's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Jocko Collins's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Jocko Collins?

American basketball player

When was Jocko Collins born?

Jocko Collins was born on 13 November 1905.

When did Jocko Collins die?

Jocko Collins died on 2 March 1986.

What was Jocko Collins's occupation?

Jocko Collins was a scout, basketball player, baseball player, basketball coach and basketball official.

What nationality was Jocko Collins?

Jocko Collins was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Jocko Collins

· Wikidata: Q6207575

· DBpedia: Jocko Collins

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Jocko Collins. https://biography.guide/jocko-collins/

MLA: "Jocko Collins." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/jocko-collins/.

Chicago: "Jocko Collins." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/jocko-collins/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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