Expert: Fabio Anderle - 10/11/2006

Question
Hi Fabio,

I was just wondering... Who was THE first player ever signed by the Boston Celtics franchise? Was that player able to play on any official Celtics game? Thanks, bye...

Gil

Answer
Well, Gil,

this is an information which is not reported in any of the books telling the story of the Green Franchise. The most interesting review of that period comes from George Sullivan's "Picture History of the Boston Celtics": "(Honey) Russell had to scrape for what was left in uncommitted talent and assemble a squad for the October 1 (1946) start of training camp.... So were the 20 candidates who reported to the first Celtic workout at the Arena Annex on October 1, 32 days before the season opener....the squad worked out on the second floor gym by day, slept on cots by night.... so the new floor and glass backboards weren't installed at the Arena until just before the ill-fated opener-not long after Russell trimmed his squad to the maximum 12 players". Those twelve players were: Wyndol Gray, Connie and Johnny Simmons, Chuck Connors, Al Brightman, Art Spector, Virgil Vaughn, Warren Fenley, "Red" Wallace, Tony Kappen, Harold Kottman and Mel Hirsch. Kappen would go down in history as the first Celtic traded when he was shipped to Pittsburgh in early December for Moe Becker. That's as close as we can go right now, Gil.....but still no cigar.


Fabio