C’s Ramsey was origin of 6th man
Frank Ramsey, dubbed by the Celtics as the “original Sixth Man” who won seven NBA titles in Boston and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, died yesterday in Madisonville, Ky. He was 86.
Ramsey’s death was announced by the University of Kentucky, where he was a part of the Wildcats’ 1951 national championship team and a three-time All-American. The school said he died of natural causes.
The 6-foot-3 guard was selected fifth overall in the first round of the 1953 draft, and played his entire, nine-year NBA career with the C’s.
He went on to win seven NBA championships alongside greats Bill Russell, Bob Cousy and John Havlicek. His 8,378 career points rank 16th all-time in Celts history. He averaged double figures in eight of his seasons, and notched a 13.4 pointsper-game average for his career.
His No.23 jersey is among those hanging from the Garden rafters.
A statement released by the Celtics said: “. . .the original ‘Sixth Man,’ Frank Ramsey helped create a legacy of excellence and selflessness that carried through generations, and remains part of the Boston Celtics ethos to this day. A true gentleman known for his elegance and thoughtfulness, he remained a loyal and active member of the Celtics family throughout his days. We join those celebrating his life and mourning his passing.”
Ramsey went on to coach the Kentucky Colonels in the American Basketball Association for a season and was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1981.