Auerbach to Have Number Retired

August 22, 1984

Auerbach to Have Number Retired

He never played a game for the Boston Celtics, never even wore a Celtic uniform, but

Red Auerbach is going to have a number retired in a ceremony at Boston Garden on Jan. 4. Auerbach has been with the team for 35 years as coach, general manager and now simply as president.

He was coach or general manager during all 15 of the team's championship seasons. But since he never played for Boston, which number is going to be retired? The Celtics decided on No. 2, never worn by a Boston player. No. 1 was already retired in honor of

Walter Brown, the first owner of the Celtics.

Jan Volk, who replaced Auerbach as general manager of the Celtics this summer, said the decision was motivated by a feeling that "as Red's accomplishments have mounted up, they've been taken for granted." The Celtics don't have all that many numbers left. The others who have been retired are:

Bill Russell (6)

Jo Jo White (10)

Bob Cousy (14)

Tom Heinsohn (15)

Tom (Satch) Sanders (16)

John Havlicek (17)

Dave Cowens and

Jim Loscutoff (both 18; Loscutoff's jersey was retired but the number was kept active for Cowens),

Don Nelson (19)

Bill Sharman (21)

Ed Macauley (22)

Frank Ramsey (23)

Sam Jones (24) and

K.C. Jones (25).