Seven years later, in Russell's rookie season, the Celtics had their first title.

But in 1950, the Celtics hit the jackpot twice: Auerbach was hired as coach and Bob Cousy joined the backcourt. In the years that followed, the Celtics would be outdrawn by the Bruins and college basketball doubleheaders. 16, 1946, that the Boston Celtics of the Basketball Association of America made their debut at the Garden, beating the Toronto Huskies before a crowd of 5,173. Three days later, the Bruins, led by their great defenseman, Eddie Shore, played their first game in the Garden, losing to the Montreal Canadiens, 1-0. 17, 1928, was a nontitle heavyweight bout in which Dick (Honey Boy) Finnegan outpointed Andre Routis. But what it won't have is history - the scent and sound and yes, the obstructed seats of the building known as the GAH-den. It will have 17,200 for hockey, compared to the Garden's 14,448. The Fleet Center will have 18,400 seats for basketball, compared to the Garden's 14,890. It won't end there - the Bruins, and probably the Celtics, will still have playoff dates this spring in Boston Garden - but the buzzer is about to sound on a long and colorful era.Īt the end of September, the old building, situated atop North Station in Boston's North End, will be shut for good, to be replaced by a new, and bigger, facility right next door. Ten days later, the Bruins and the Ottawa Senators will play the last regular-season hockey game on Boston Garden ice. When the Knicks meet the Celtics on Friday night at Boston Garden it will be the last regular-season game ever played on that famous parquet floor.

It is the place where Red Auerbach lighted up his victory cigars, where Bill Russell swatted away shots, where Bobby Orr made the Bruins the best team in hockey and where an early Celtic, Tony Lavelli, played the accordion on the court at halftime. There are more championship banners than you can count hanging from the rafters and more lasting images than you could ever fit on a page. It is 67 years old, and no major arena in this country is older.

Garden story memories