Today in Celtics history: Carr signed, Fox, Boykoff, Eliason born

Today, July 24th is the 38th anniversary of the Boston Celtics signing former small forward M.L. Carr - for the second time.

Carr, who was signed by the Celts in 1974 after being cut by the Kentucky Colonels of the American Basketball Association (a competing league that would eventually merge with the NBA) only to be cut by Boston as well, spent time in Israel and with the Spirit of St. Louis (also of the ABA) before joining the Detroit Pistons, where he would spend three seasons.


Carr joined the Celts in 1979 for real, however, as a free agent - much to their then-coach Dick Vitale's chagrin. Carr would never live up to the lofty numbers he recorded with the Pistons, but he was a solid contributor for the Celts over six seasons, logging 6.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game over that stretch, during which he won two championships (1981 and 1984). He would retire from playing in 1985, only to return to coach the team a decade later.



Today is also the 99th birthday of Don Eliason, who played just one game for the Celts in their inuagural season (1946-47). He also played football for the NFL's Boston Yanks and Brooklyn Dodgers (both long defunct), and may have the record for the most minimal contribution to team stats ever held by a player who actually saw the court - he attempted a single shot, and missed.


It is also the birthday of former Celtic center Harry Boykoff, who joined the team a half-decade after Eliason, and contributed much more to the team - if 32 games counts as much more. In that stretch, he recorded 6.3 points, 4.2 boards, and 1.2 assists per game after having his contract sold to Boston by the Baltimore Bullets (now Washington Wizards). He would later be traded to the Tri-City Blackhawks (now the Atlanta Hawks) for Kleggie Hermsen.

Finally, it's the birthday of former Celtic small forward Rick Fox, who turns 48 today. Fox was drafted by Boston 24th overall in the 1991 NBA Draft, making the 1992 NBA All-Rookie Second Team his first season with the team. He was released by Boston in 1997, joining the rival Los Angeles Lakers for seven seasons, only to be traded back to Boston in a deal that sent Gary Payton and the pick which would be used to select Rajon Rondo for Chris Mihm, Chucky Atkins and Jumaine Jones, but opted to retire instead of playing for the team that drafted him, which has not done much to endear him to fans since.



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Data: Basketball-reference.com
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