Bob Cousy Day, March 17, 1963, was as significant as the revolutionary style of play he brought to the game of basketball. His winning ways and the flair he played with appealed to basketball fans everywhere. He was the ultimate ambassador for the early years of the NBA. Cousy's final game on that St. Patrick's Day afternoon included a three-minute standing ovation by a sold-out Boston Garden, and a monstrous four-and-a-half-minute roar when Cousy came out of the game with 2 minutes 10 seconds left. At one point during Cousy's speech to the fans, he paused to control emotions. Amid the capacity crowd of 13,909, somebody famously shouted "We love ya, Cooz!" from the second balcony.
This original program from that historic day has been signed on the cover by fifteen of Cousy Celtics teammates, coaches and staff in period blue ballpoint. Unfortunately many of those inking this stunning program back in 1963 have since passed away.
Included are:
Red Auerbach (d. '06), Tom Heinsohn (d. '20), Jim Loscutoff (d. '15), Frank Ramsey (d. '18), K.C. Jones (d. '20), Gene Guarilia (d. '16), Buddy LeRoux-Trainer (d. '08), Tom Sanders, Dan Swartz (d. '97), Bill Russell, Clyde Lovellette (d. '16), John Havlicek (d. '19), Sam Jones and Bob Cousy himself.
The Beckett authenticated signatures average 8 out of 10 in our opinion, while the program remains in EX-MT condition overall. Our consignor's father was a close friend of Red Auerbach and they have had this historic Celtics piece in their family since 1963.