Expert: Fabio Anderle - 2/13/2008

Question
When did the Celtics start putting player last names on the back of their jerseys? I see photos from the 60s with no names, photos from the 70s with names. Which year did they make the switch?

Answer
Hi, David

as it often happens in matter like this, there's not a definite date when the Celtics decided to stitch the players' names on the back of the jerseys. But after scouring my personal database and analyzing the photos I can safely say that the decision was made in  between the end of the 1970-71 season and the beginning of the 1971-72 season. So, if they try to sell you a #6 Celtics jersey replica with Russell's name on, you know the seller doesn't have a clue since William Felton Russell retired in 1969, two years before the names were put on the back of the jerseys. Dave Cowens, instead, managed to wear both the "nameless" jerseys (in his rookie year) and the jerseys bearing the name (in the following years).
I hope this helps.



Fabio