On this day in Boston Celtics history, in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, former Boston Celtic forward Francis H. Mahoney was born in 1927.
Better known as “Mo” for a nickname during his tenure with the Celtics, the New Yorker played his college ball with Rhode Island’s Brown University. During his time there, he earned a Bachelor’s degree in English, and unlike today’s players, Mahoney did not make the jump to pro ball in the NBA immediately after college, electing to serve his country instead, enlisting in the U.S. Army to fight in the Korean War between 1950 and 1952.
Before he went overseas, however, Mahoney was selected by the Celtics with the 62nd overall pick (there were many more rounds in that era) of the 1950 NBA draft.
Happy birthday in heaven Mo Mahoney! #Celtics pic.twitter.com/kB7tc7IB6L
— Honest☘️Larry (@HonestLarry1) November 20, 2020
Mahoney would join the team in time to start the 1952-53 NBA season with them, spending much of his time with the US Army Reserves until 1956.
He would play just eight games over two seasons for the club as a result, over which he averaged 1.5 points and 1.1 rebounds per game as a Celtic.
Happy birthday in heaven to Somerville and the Boston Celtics’ own Tony Lavelli! So now, without further ado, enjoy the musical stylings of the man, the myth, the legend: Tony Lavelli:
— Honest☘️Larry (@HonestLarry1) July 11, 2021
Today is also the date that Celtics forward Tony Lavelli made his debut for the team in a 99-89 road loss to the (then) Fort Wayne (now, Detroit) Pistons in 1949.
The Somerville native would go scoreless, and Boston would end up starting the season 3-7 with the loss to the Pistons.
Finally, it is the day that small forward Gene Guarilia left us in 2016 as well.
A product of George Washington University, Guarilia was selected by Boston with the 16th overall pick of the 1959 NBA draft and played four seasons with the team.
He won a title with the Celtics each of those four seasons — rest in peace.
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