1960s Timeline

Latest Podcasts

Politics | Culture | Entertainment | Sports

Jan 20

Celtics Top Lakers in Boston, 133-121

Jan. 20, 1963 - Bill Russell and Sam Jones sent Boston on a fourth-period rampage as the Celtics beat Los Angeles, 133-121, in an NBA thriller today in Boston. The outcome snapped an 11-game Lakers’ winning streak. Boston ran 12 straight points at the start of the final quarter. Meanwhile, Los Angeles was held to 1 field goal in a 10-minute stand. Russell, who grabbed 43 rebounds, scored 29 points, as did Sam Jones. Despite being knocked unconscious and suffering a cut tongue

Jan 18

Baylor Shines as Lakers Score 11th Straight Victory

Jan. 18, 1963 - The Los Angeles Lakers, led by the fabulous Elgin Baylor (pictured), scored their 11th consecutive victory tonight, defeating the Chicago Zephyrs, 116-108. Baylor, who finished with 37 points, saved his best effort for the final 8 minutes as he brought the Lakers from behind. The lead had changed hands no less than 37 times before Baylor put the Lakers ahead to stay with 6 minutes, 22 seconds left. Baylor then took charge on the floor with four scoring assists

Jan 16

East Upsets West at NBA All-Star Game as Russell Shines

Jan. 16, 1963 - Bill Russell (center with Bob Cousy and Tom Heinsohn) scored 19 points, hauled in 24 rebounds, and blocked a myriad of shots as the Eastern Division upset the West, 115-108, tonight in the 13th annual NBA All Star game. “Russell just dominated the game,” said the West’s coach, Fred Schaus of the Los Angeles Lakers. Russell also dominated the most valuable-player voting. He won this award for the first time in his six All-Star appearances. The 6-foot-10-inch ce

Jan 4

Lakers Top Celtics as Selvy Shines

Jan. 4, 1963 - Frank Selvy (pictured), just about the only healthy Los Angeles Laker, took it upon himself to have the greatest night of his career tonight, and it was just good enough. A Los Angeles Sports Arena crowd of 9,470 plus an at-home audience watching over KHK-TV saw the Lakers blow a 20-point lead, then surge in the last 2 minutes to score a 125-123 victory over the world champion Boston Celtics. Laker star Elgin Baylor limped all night, and most of the others were

Jan 1

American Basketball League Suspends Operations

Jan. 1, 1963 - With all clubs operating in the red, the American Basketball League has suspended operations and thrown some 100 players on the market as free agents. “Not a single club was operating in the black,” said Commissioner Abe Saperstein (pictured with the Harlem Globetrotters in 1951). He announced the decision yesterday after telephone conferences with club directors. One ABL innovation was the 3-point field goal initiated for shots made 25 feet or more from the ba

Dec 26, 2022

NBA: Celtics Top Warriors, 116-113 at Boston Garden

Dec. 26, 1962 - The Boston Celtics reverted to their championship form for the major part of tonight’s encounter with the San Francisco Warriors. The Celtics turned back Wilt Chamberlain and company for the second time in two tries this year, 116-113, before 13,302 fans at Boston Garden. Chamberlain, who played every minute, scored 43 points, 17 in the first half, which saw Boston leave the floor with a 62-51 margin. Wilt grabbed 32 rebounds and blocked 10 shots. Bill Russell

Dec 21, 2022

NBA: Hawks Top Lakers, 105-100, as Pettit and Wilkens Shine

Dec. 21, 1962 - Coach Harry Gallatin of the St. Louis Hawks had the last laugh on Hot Rod Hundley tonight, but it was through no fault of the Lakers’ Elgin Baylor. Baylor played a phenomenal game, but Gallatin’s fired-up Hawks battled their way to a 105-100 victory over the crippled Lakers to end a 7-game winning streak and cut the Lakers’ Western Division lead to 3-and-a-half games. From the outset, it was clear that Gallatin’s lashing out at Hundley for “making a travesty”

Dec 20, 2022

Bad Blood Between NBA’s Hawks and Lakers

Dec. 20, 1962 - Everything short of total mayhem seems to be on tap at the Los Angeles Sports Arena tomorrow night when the steamed-up St. Louis Hawks and the Lakers square off. The Hawks, especially coach Harry Gallatin, are in a state of frenzy over the clowning tactics of the Lakers’ Hot Rod Hundley (#33) when the Lakers romped to an easy 135-106 victory over the Hawks last night. Apparently more upset over the comedy antics of Hundley than the haphazard play of his own cl

Oct 20, 2022

Celtics Crush Knicks as Bill Russell Dominates

Oct. 20, 1962 - Bill Russell got the Boston Celtics off to a fast start tonight, and the NBA champions crushed the New York Knicks, 149-116, before a record opening-game crowd of 10,705 at Boston Garden. The Knicks, who had won two straight, never came close as the Celtics sprinted to a 26-13 lead after 5 minutes. At the half, Boston was in front, 80-59. Then Sam Jones went on a scoring rampage, and the Celtics opened the bulge to 103-67 midway through the third period. Seven

Jul 11, 2022

Steinbrenner Predicts Lucas Will Stay with Pipers

July 11, 1962 - George Steinbrenner (pictured left), president of the American Basketball League’s Cleveland Pipers, predicted today that Jerry Lucas would stay with the team despite its shift yesterday to the NBA. Lucas, a three-season all-American at Ohio State, signed with the Pipers several weeks ago, when the Cleveland club was still a member of the ABA. Lucas turned down a reported $100,000 offer form the Cincinnati Royals of the NBA. He said he objected to the long sea

May 23, 2022

Philadelphia Warriors To Move to San Francisco

May 23, 1962 - The Philadelphia Warriors’ franchise in the NBA was sold today for a record $850,000 and was transferred to San Francisco. Eddie Gottlieb sold the club, and the transfer was approved at a meeting of the NBA board of governors. However, in San Francisco, the Saints of the American Basketball League said they would file a $3 million anti-trust suit against the NBA within five days. Kevin O’Shea, the Saints’ general manager, told The A.P.: “We’re going to go out a

May 15, 2022

Jerry Lucas to Play for Pipers of American Basketball League

May 15, 1962 - George Steinbrenner (left), 31-year-old president of the Cleveland Pipers of the American Basketball League, confirmed today that Jerry Lucas (right), Ohio State all-America basketball player, would sign a contract to play for the Pipers. Lucas, who had maintained throughout his college career that he was not interested in turning pro, said his agreement called for a salary of about $10,000 a season, plus an investment portfolio worth $40,000. In crediting Mr.

May 2, 2022

Bob Cousy Teaches Basketball in France

May 2, 1962 - Bob Cousy, 34-year-old star of the Boston Celtics, started a basketball demonstration trip to 15 French cities today. French Federation officials said the trip was to have Cousy prove that basketball was “a simple, uncomplicated, smart game.” Cousy also will explain playing tactics. Cousy’s trip includes exhibitions at Le Mans, Rennes, Nantes, Poitiers, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Nice, Saint-Etienne, Lyon, Annecy, Dijon, Mulhouse, Reims, Lille, and Paris. “I am very gl

Apr 18, 2022

🚨Celtics Capture Fourth Consecutive Championship in OT Win over Lakers

Apr. 18, 1962 - The Boston Celtics captured their fourth consecutive NBA championship tonight by vanquishing the Los Angeles Lakers, 110-107, in overtime on the heroics of Sam Jones and Bill Russell. Boston led most of the game, played before a capacity crowd of 13,909 fans in Boston Garden. But the Celtics had to beat down the tenacious Lakers in a 5-minute overtime session after Frank Selvy had brought Los Angeles even in the final 40 seconds of regulation play. Selvy barel

Apr 16, 2022

NBA Finals: Celtics Even Series with Lakers at 3-3, Game 7 in Boston Wednesday Night

Apr. 16, 1962 - The Boston Celtics rallied on Sam Jones’ shooting in the third quarter tonight and defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, 119-105. The victory sent the NBA championship playoffs to a decisive seventh game. Jones scored five baskets in the first six minutes of the second half. This gave the Celtics the lift that evened the playoff series at three victories each. The seventh game will be Wednesday night at Boston Garden. Boston, which had complained about the officiat

Apr 14, 2022

NBA Playoffs: Lakers Upset Celtics in Boston, Elgin Baylor Drops Record 61 Points

Apr. 14, 1962 - Elgin Baylor smashed a string of NBA scoring records tonight in leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 126-121 upset of the Boston Celtics. Baylor collected 61 points against the 3-time champions, who had been favored by 8 points. A capacity Boston Garden crowd saw the Lakers move ahead in the 4-of-7 championship series, 3 games to 2. Baylor shattered the 56-point playoff mark set less than a month ago by the Philadelphia Warriors’ star, Wilt Chamberlain. Baylor’

Apr 11, 2022

NBA Playoffs: Celtics Even Series with Los Angeles, 2-2

Apr. 11, 1962 - The Boston Celtics combined good shooting, fine board play, and a demoralizing defense tonight to beat the Los Angeles Lakers, 115-103, and even their NBA final playoffs at two games each. Bill Russell’s basket and free throw gave the Celtics a 3-0 lead at the outset. They never trailed. Russell finished with 21 points. Tom Heinsohn added 19 in the balanced attack, Tom Sanders 18, Bob Cousy 17, Sam Jones 14, and K.C. Jones 12. Beaten by a last-second basket ye

Apr 11, 2022

NBA: Philadelphia Warriors May Move to San Francisco

Apr. 11, 1962 - Unless Eddie Gottlieb (pictured with Wilt Chamberlain in 1960), the owner, has a change of heart within the next two weeks, the NBA’s Philadelphia Warriors will move to San Francisco. Gottlieb has verbally agreed to sell the club, and it is considered doubtful he will change his mind. Gottlieb has been offered $850,000 for the Philadelphia franchise by Bernard Solomon, the spokesman for a West Coast syndicate. It is also being reported that the NBA’s Syracuse

Apr 8, 2022

NBA Finals: Lakers Tie Series With Celtics at 2-2

Apr. 8, 1962 - The Los Angeles Lakers survived a Boston Celtic 24-point comeback, staged a late rush of their own, and scored a 129-122 victory today. It tied their 4-of-7 championship series at one game each. With Jerry West scoring 40 points and Elgin Baylor 36, the Lakers overcame a 6-point first-period deficit and raced to their widest margin early in the third period. Boston outscored the Lakers, 15-3, at one stage and pulled to within 4 points at the end of 3 quarters.

Apr 6, 2022

NBA: Bob Cousy To Play One More Season With Celtics

Apr. 6, 1962 - Bob Cousy, the fine playmaker of the NBA’s Boston Celtics, today signed a three-year contract to coach basketball at Boston College. The contract will become effective at the end of the 1962-63 season. The 33-year-old Cousy has been an outstanding NBA player the past 12 years after a brilliant college career at Holy Cross. Cousy has an off-season insurance business in Worcester, Mass. In addition, he operates a boys’ camp during the summer. He will play one mor