History By The Numbers (FLCeltsFan)

In case you haven't seen them, I wanted to link to FLCeltsFan's 3 part series on the Celtics retired numbers.  Good, fun reading for the offseason.  Here's a link to each one and a sample:

Part 1 - What Number is a Guy to Wear?

Number 1 was retired on October 17, 1964 for the Celtics founder and the first owner of the franchise, Walter Brown. After succeeding his father as manager of the Boston Garden, he helped to found the Basketball Association of America in 1946, and was instrumental in merging the BAA and the National Basketball League into the National Basketball Association in 1949. He founded the Celtics in 1945, and helped to transform the team into a dynasty, as the Celtics won six championships in the seven years. He also was instrumental in the creation of the first NBA All-Star Game in 1951, which was played in the Boston Garden.

Part 2 - A Dose of Celtics' History by the Numbers

Number 23 was retired for Frank Ramsey who played nine seasons in the NBA, all with the Celtics. He was the Celtics original sixth man. Red Auerbach, is often credited throughout basketball with creating the sixth man role. Though Ramsey was one of the Celtics' best players, he felt more comfortable coming off the bench and Auerbach wanted him fresh and in the lineup at the end of close games. Ramsey was the first in a series of sixth men who won championship rings with the Celtics. After playing his rookie season with the Celtics (1954-1955), Ramsey spent one year in the military before rejoining the team. In the eight seasons he played after military service, he was a member of seven championship teams. Ramsey was also a head coach for one season (1970-71) in the ABA with the Kentucky Colonels, On November 15th, 2005, Ramsey's house was destroyed in a tornado that hit his residence in Madisonville, Kentucky. One of his plaques was found miles away from his home, and Ramsey himself was unhurt.

Part 3 - Celtics History by the Numbers

Number35 was retired on March 22, 1995 in honor of the Celtics' fallen Captain, Reggie Lewis. Lewis starred at Northeastern University in Boston, averaging 22.2 points a game in four years as a starter. He was chosen in the first round of the 1987 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics. Lewis became a starter in 1990-91, when Larry Bird was out much of the year with an injury, and he was named the team's captain after Bird's retirement in 1992. He averaged 20.8 points a game in both 1991-92 and 1992-93. In Boston's first game of the 1993 playoffs, Lewis collapsed and had to be taken to a hospital. Displeased when a team of doctors told him he would have to give up basketball because of a heart disease, Lewis changed hospitals and doctors in the middle of the night. He was then advised that his heart was healthy and that he could begin training again, under medical supervision. He died of a heart attack while taking part in an unsupervised workout. This is one of the saddest chapters of the Celtics' history. He is missed by all as he was not only a promising and talented basketball player, but a very kind and giving person as well.