Expert: Fabio Anderle - 9/15/2003

Question
I have a Boston Celtics souvenir basketball in green and white with autographs on it. I can only make out the names of Chris Ford and Kevin McHale. The other names are difficult to read. Can you please tell me about what year this ball was issued.
Thank you

Answer
Hi, Gene,

Chris Ford played alongside with Kevin McHale only in the 1980-'81 season, but they were part of the Boston Celtics for a lot of years more: Chris Ford, in fact, was a Boston Celtics assistant coach from 1981 to 1990, when he was appointed coach of the Celtics. He managed to remain at the helm for five seasons, until june 19, 1995 when he was relieved from the duty. Kevin McHale's last season in the NBA was in the 1992-'93. So, your ball could have been signed by any of the Boston Celtics teams from 1980-'81 to 1992-'93. Larry Bird's autograph is quite easy to single out, can you find it on the ball? If not, the ball has surely been signed in McHale's last campaign, 1992-'93, since Bird had retired in August 1992 after the Barcelona Olympic Games. I could provide you a photo with the copy of Bird's signature, if you are not sure about it, so you can match it with the autographs you have on the ball. E-mail me at legend33@libero.it if you want, and if you have a photo of the ball I will be able to help you a little more.

Fabio